Thanks for all you do!

As promised I'm back to share the second card I made for my niece's teacher for the end of the year!

My niece is moving up to middle school next year (I can't believe it!)- I made her teacher a simple yet pretty card using this Hero Arts Large Flower background (cling) stamp!


I stamped the flower image in white ink of kraft card stock and colored with Copic markers- I love the muted tones the kraft paper soesntoncopics, even when using the bright colors! I diecut  a banner flag and added the thanks diecut (Mama Elephant) to keep the card simple, I didn't want too much to take away from the stamped image.  I finished the card with faux stitching and a couple of clear sequins!

I've finally gotten the chance to clean off my craft desk so here's hoping for more cards in the near future!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Road trippin'

Oops, Almost forgot to post this! (it's been a bit of a hectic week!)

Tiddly Inks is back with a new monthly challenge, ROAD TRIP!

I used this super fun image of Wryn Scooting by for my card, she comes in some different variations too- the other give her a furry sidekick riding along!



Added some cute coordinating patterned papers & a doily to pull it all together. (My sentiment is from Hero Arts.)

Now I want to go on road trip!

Hope to see you join the fun!

Flying by to say...

BOO!

There's a new Tiddly Inks Challenge going on and it's SPOOKALICIOUS!

I used this new witch Molly image (that you can get as a two-some, with another Halloween Molly- I used her here!)



My finished card is TOTALLY not what I originally had in mind when I started coloring her, I had a big ink blob fall right next to her foot! So I fussy cut her out and layered her with some Halloween themed patterned paper, die cut tags- the purple tag I embossed using a Tim Holtz/Sizzix embossing folder, and adhered Molly using some foam tape. The sentiment is two stamps from a Hero Arts Halloween sentiment set (doesn't look like it's available anymore), I cut the words apart after I stamped them, inked up the edges a bit so it wasn't so white compared to the rest of the card, and adhered those on top of some random strips of glittery black washi tape.

Copics: 
skin: G20, G21, G24
hair: E44. E47, E49, V04
dress/hat: N3, N5, N7, V04, V06, V09

I hope to see you join in on the SPOOKALICIOUS challenge! Thanks for stopping by!!

Sending hugs

Sympathy cards are such difficult cards to make, but a close friend recently lost a family member, and I wanted to make her and her mom cards to send my condolences.

I paired the flower from the Shine Brighter stamp set by Concord & 9th with a sentiment from Neat & Tangled's Better Together stamp...



I stamped and masked the flower to create a bundle, added the leaves and colored using Copic markers. I kept the card very simple by embossing the card base and adding a small strip of patterned paper.

The second card I made for my friend's mom...



I used a background cling stamp I had hiding in my stash by Hero Arts, Flowing flowers and Leaves (sorry I can't find it available). I stamped it in white pigment ink (Hero Arts, Unicorn),  and using fantastix coloring tools with other pigment inks (Memento Luxe: Love Letter, Pear Tart, ) I colored on top of the white flowers and leaves. I stamped the  'sympathy' using another set from Concord & 9th- Sophisticated Script, I love this set- it makes it easy to look like I wrote calligraphy!

Thanks for stopping by.. I'll be back tomorrow with another card to share!

Let's Coffee!

Who couldn't use a nice tall glass of iced coffee to start their Monday off? Especially when it's the first day of Summer too!

I made another card for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop...



This time I used Coffee Town from Sweet Stamp Shop!


For the background, I stamped the "COFFEE" stamp in versamark ink on Kraft cardstock after drawing lines in pencil to keep things straight!  I die cut the stitched circle- it's the largest tag from Lawn Fawn's Stitched Circle Tag dies, I just trimmed off the hanging tab. I stamped the same 'COFFEE' sentiment and added the iced coffee cup Cuppa Coffee (also Sweet Stamp Shop) colored, with copics, an ombre effect to look make it actually look like coffee and topped it off with some glossy accents. (The 'lets' is from It's Your Day stamp set by Hero Arts.) Finished off my card by adding some white faux stitching after mounting everything together and called my card done!

Thanks for stopping by! Planning to get some more (at least one more) coffee card in during my kids' naptime today! :)

Strumming Hello!

Happy Weekend crafty friends!

My last card certainly got the wheels turning in my brain on what to make for another #craftchella2016 card! Also with the sad tributes for Prince popping up all over, I definitely had music on my mind :(..

While digging through my stash finding stamps to use for my punk rock girl card, I found these two stamp sets and thought they would go perfect together- can you spot them?



Figure it out?  I'll give you a hint- I used 2 Lawn Fawn stamp sets for the guitar...
.
.
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Ok, I used the round pizza from Pizza my Heart for the guitar center and Schoolhouse Backdrops for the frets and the guitar neck!

I also used circle die cuts as a guide for the guitar body shape. Colored with my trusty copics, I pieced the sentiment using Hero Arts (All Occasion Messages, Thoughtful Messages) and Sweet Stamp Shop's Lower Script.

#craftchella2016 was so much fun- great way to STRETCH your stamps and to use them in more ways! Thanks for the inspiration Sandy!


Thanks for stopping by!

Color Layered Bird-day!

Happy Monday!

I decided to play with some new stamps from Hero Arts that are quickly becoming my favorites! I recently got my hands on the Color Layering Bird & Branch and couldn't wait to play! To be honest, I was trying very hard to avoid these color-layering stamps because I don't really have many inks other than Distress Inks, and don't really have the space to store more-but that might have to change very soon because I had SO much fun with this bird!

And just in time too! I'm joining the fun with Right at Home's National Craft Month celebration!

After playing with a couple of color combinations and figuring out the inks that I had that worked how I wanted it to look, and finally settled on this...



I stamped the bird base layer in (Hero Arts) white ink, and used a fantastix to dab on Memento Luxe pinks and a bit of red for the belly and heat set it since they were pigment inks. I then  used Hero Arts Soft Pool and Tide Pool to Navy Ombre ink pad for the remaining layers. Finally, the leaves were stamped using the Lime to Forever Green ombre ink pad. (Now I definitely *need* more inks!) I added the Chinese character for happiness to give a bit of an 'Asian' touch since this birthday card was for my dad. :) Birthday sentiment is  from Mama Elephant's Lunar Extras.

Be back soon with a few more cards I was able to make this weekend...

Sending {bunny} Hugs!

Hi... I'm still here! (Finally seeing the light -sort of- at the end of this sickness tunnel!)

I decided to dig into the pile of colored goodies in my stash from the latest 30 Day Coloring Challenge! (hosted by the FAB Kathy Racoosin) for days 29/30 I did some rainbow coloring of some die cut words with my trusty copics.  Which happen to be perfect for March Challenge at A Blog Named Hero- Rainbow!

I colored up this sweet rabbit from Hero Arts Baby Animals set to pair with the hugs die cut from Winnie & Walter for a sweet CAS card...



I wish there was an easy way to photograph shimmer- because that 'hugs' is COVERED in sparkly wink of stella!

Thanks for stopping by, off to enjoy some weekend family time!

Halloween Witches

Sneaking in another Halloween card before Saturday!

I'm joining in on the October Farm Fresh challenge on the TGF blog: Black, Orange & Purple! I finally got my hands on this *sweet* Hallo Witch from The Greeting Farm. (I've had my eyes on her every Halloween since she was released! LOL)



Again, I colored her up a few days ago since participating in Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge! I've been a bit behind the past few days but hoping to catch up with some new stamps that just arrived- Woohoo!

I'm also joining in on the fun at Simon Says Stamp for their Anything Goes Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cacti Wishes

Hello!

Surprisingly, I was able to get some crafty time this weekend- doesn't usually happen often on the weekends!

Again, I was able to use an image I colored a few days ago (from Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Color Challenge) and put it on a card!

For those of you that don't know- I live in sunny Arizona, in a desert, so when Hero Arts came out with this cactus stamp set I knew I had to have it! AND then they came out with a holiday version with cacti decked out in Christmas lights! Since I haven't been able to get my hands on it (yet), I decided to create my own Christmas cacti!



I stamped the cacti in green distress inks and colored with copics, I used the string of lights from Lawn Fawn's Baah Humbug to make them 'festive'! I'm pretty happy with how this turned out... can't wait to decorate some more! ;)

I'm entering this card into the Hero Art's October Holiday Cardmaking challenge!

Thanks for stopping by... will be back soon to share more cards!

Halloween Bunny

Can you believe that Halloween is in 2 weeks?!?  Are you all ready?

I colored this cute bunny from Lawn Fawn's Critters in Costume set the other day for the 30 Day Coloring Challenge (hosted by the fabulous Kathy Racoosin!) and just had to get him on a card! I put it together with the CAS(E) this Sketch #145 challenge



and came up with this...



I always forget to pull out my lighter ink to do more no-line coloring, but I remembered the other day! The little bunny is stamped in Antique Linen and colored in copics. I also felt like getting inky since I had my distress inks out, the background is blended with Seedless Preserves, Broken China & Mowed Lawn. And the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Happy Friday!

50th Anniversary!

Hello there!

I'm finally back after having my husband's family in town last week to celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary!  (which actually isn't until December, but it was best time for everyone to travel)

Anyway, I helped with the party decor by making some centerpieces for a few of the tables. I painted some small terra cotta pots gold, and planted succulents in them! (Have I mentioned that I love succulents?)


I finished them off with die cut tags (Hero Arts) and number dies (MFT) tied on some black twine.

and of course I had to make them a card too...


Keeping with the gold and black theme, I stamped the large flower from Avery Elle's Petals & Stems in gold and embossed. I used the 'happy' cutaways die from Winnie & Walter along with the anniversary sentiment from the Big, Bold & the Happy, and created a 'shadow' effect my layering the same die cut from black card stock. I tied in the same 50 number dies from the centerpieces in gold glitter card stock.

Hope to get to more crafting this week, but I have been coloring along (when I can) with Kathy Racoosin's newest 30 day coloring challenge and posting onto Instagram- check it out if you're not already joining in! Such an easy to squeeze in a bit of craftiness, even if it's not a complete card!

Until next time...

I Love You & Coffee

Ok, back again (last time... for today!) Post #3 for me!

I'm just having too much fun with all these coffee cards! Surprisingly, at least for me, this is probably the most I've been able to participate compared to the previous hops!



A few weeks ago, I had colored this awesome coffee pot from Sweet Stamp Shop and stuck him on a little tag - my favorite one from Pretty Pink Posh (posted to my instagram) and finally managed to put it on a card! I found some cute Fall patterned paper scraps in my stash and made this card pretty simple.



OK.. so I think that's it for me this time around for entries for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! (have you SEEN all the fabulous sponsors????) But it IS still early in the week...

Thanks for stopping by!

Cream in my Coffee

Woohoo!  Happy Friday and Happy Fall Coffee Lover's blog hop day!



I have a few cards in mind for the hop, but this is the first one I've been able to finish so far. I used this sweet Cocoa Wishes (but made her cocoa into coffee!) from Tiddly Inks, so cute & definitely one of my favorite Tiddly images!

Oh, and since it's not *that* cold here... we're still hanging onto 100 degree weather (yuck) so I colored her ear muffs into headphones... she's enjoying her cup of joe while listening to some tunes! :) But I did incorporate some fun fall-ish colors!



I stamped the background with stamps from Lawn Fawn (Love You a Latte), and the sentiment is one from Hero Arts (Need Caffeine), I had just masked and stacked it instead of leaving it long.

Have a fabulous weekend! & happy hopping!

Cacti Shaker

I pulled out this cacti shaker tag I had made back during the first 30 Day Coloring Challenge! (via Kathy Racoosin aka The Daily Marker) I have a nice bowl full or colored images ready for cards now...bring on the next challenge in October! :)

Playing along with the Sparkle & Shine Challenge at Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday Challenge)

Here is what I came up with using this cactus and die set from Hero Arts!



and a view of it flat to see all the sequins and sparkles inside...



Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Cacti

Back again!

This time with a card I made using one of the images I colored during Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge!
I had an itch to do some watercoloring, and I just love using distress inks with that technique.  And since I live in the desert I thought watercolored cacti would be appropriate! ;)

I layered and masked the cactus from this Hero Arts, Stamp Your Own Cactus set, and created this little desert scene.  The orange bloom is from the Simon Says Stamp Succulents set.



I kept everything one layer except for the flower (because I forgot to add it while I was stamping & masking- oops!) Finished it off with a sentiment and sequins of course!

Thanks for swinging by!

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Hi again!

(This is my second post today, please scroll down or click here for some Tiddly Inks cuteness!)

It's time for another blog hop... a Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!



It's definitely feeling like summer here we've already been hitting the 100F degree marks (except we're actually getting some unusual rainy weather today! LOL)

Anyway, It's always a good time for coffee, especially a nice cool refreshing one, and what makes any drink better? Boba! I was so excited when I saw this stamp set from Shop Evalicious, I just had to have it! I colored it up the other day as apart as The Daily Marker's 30 Day Coloring Challenge, and thought it would be perfect for my card.



I paired it with this cutaways die from Winnie & Walter, and stamped the background in Versamark ink using coffee bean stamps from Lawn Fawn and Hero Arts.

Thanks for stopping by!

I Ruff You!

Happy Saturday friends!

Squeezing in a bit of blogging while I still have the time.  We're officially on baby watch as I am almost a week from my due date! YIKES! So far, it doesn't feel like she's ready to make her debut yet! LOL

So just a quick to share some cute mini cards I made using some of the colored images from Kathy of The Daily Marker's 30 Day Coloring Challenge!

I recently received some new Hero Arts goodies thanks to a prize winning and just had to color them up right away. I thought these cute pups (from the new Playful Animals set) would make cute little mini cards that I could have my sister sneak into my nieces' lunch boxes- hope they are surprised ;)




Thanks for stopping by...

Merry Lil' Owl!

Can you believe it's exactly ONE WEEK until Christmas?  I most definitely can't, I say it all the time, but I'll say it again, this year has flown by! Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?  I think I'm officially done as of today- now to just get it all wrapped! (where's that wrapping fairy when I need her?)

Anyway, I finally had a chance to play with some stamps that were screaming to be inked...

This sweet little owl from Lawn Fawn had been hiding in my stash- glad I found him *before* Christmas! ;) and just in time to join in on the Lawnscaping "Merry Christmas" Challenge!

Paired up with this Christmas Banners & Messages set from Hero Arts, I kept my card pretty simple with a few diecuts & sequins!

Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween Macarons!

(ok, this one is even a surprise for me- but there's so much fun stuff going on I can't keep up! THIRD post of the day! Please see my Paper Sweeties post here, and Chi Chi Memories post here!)

If you haven't noticed yet, I've been a little obsessed with tags lately... that's not a bad obsession right?

Especially since I got this one from Pretty Pink Posh! So when I saw that the challenge over on Avery Elle was to use tags- how could I not join in on the taggy fun??



Paired it up with the color coordinates from the Wednesday Challenge on Simon Says Stamp and I was set!


I colored the macarons in orange, purple & green and matched it with some cardstock scraps that I can never seem to find the end of! & added the sentiments from a Hero Arts Halloween greetings set.


Ok, that *SHOULD* be it for me today....



until tomorrow! :D