Puppy's New Friend Card

Well, it's the last Wednesday of the month and honestly I feel March just flew by. Today I'm sharing my latest card using the Puppy's New Friend stamp from the Crissy Armstrong Collection at Whimsy Stamps. The image was colored with Copic markers. For the layout I found a sketch from Mojo Monday 439 from March of 2016. I substituted a square for the focal area but I really like the way the sketch was designed. The papers are from several different paper pads and I matted them to a piece of kraft cardstock to go with the kraft striped paper. A Just Because sentiment was added and that's it. Everything was adhered flat for easy shipping and no other embellishments. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Challenges entered: Allsorts (Feathered Friends), Always Fun (Use Kraft), Simon Says Wednesday (Anything Goes) and Through The Craft Room Door (Anything Goes).

Hello Fabulous! Card

Hello and happy Friday! Are you starting to see signs of Spring? The maple trees in my yard are starting to bud and the daffodil shoots are above ground. Yesterday a Mockingbird was making quite the chatter in the bush by my front window. So when I can across this bird image for a progressive challenge by Limited Run Stamps on Facebook, I decided I had to play along. Copic markers were used to color the image and it was die cut with a stitched square die. The floral patterned paper is by Authentique and the polka dot is by Simple Stories. To finish the card the Hello Fabulous! sentiment by Fiskars was stamped with Memento black ink and three light pink enamel dots by Stampin' Up! were added to the bottom right corner. That's it! So glad you stopped by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• Creative Knockouts: Recipe
• Creative Moments: Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday: Buttons/Enamel Dots

Snowflake Winter Birds Card

Oh my! I stayed up way too late last night trying to get some things accomplished. One item finished was making a card for the current Inky Paws challenge to use Silver and/or Gold. This Snowflake Winter Birds Card features the Winter Birds stamp set by Newton's Nook and the coordinating dies were used along with a Big Shot. Copic markers were used to color the little Chickadee and Red-Breasted Nuthatch. The gold foil patterned paper is from American Crafts (2016) and was matted to a piece of Basic Gray cardstock. The focal oval was created using distress inks and splattered with watered down acrylic paint, once dry it was die cut with a pierced oval by Avery Elle and the sentiment was heat embossed. That's it! So glad you stopped by!

Challenges entered:

• Crafty Gals: Anything Goes
• Double D: Let it Snow
• Inky Paws: Use Silver and/or Gold
• The Cutie Pie: Add a Little Sparkle
• Watercooler Wednesday: Anything Goes

Cardinal Joy Card

When Newton's Nook unveiled their November release I knew I had to have the Winter Birds and Poinsettia Blooms stamp sets! So when Black Friday arrived I didn't hesitate to place my order. Then last Friday Ellen Haxelmans posted four stunning cards using the Winter Birds stamp set and I was inspired again by her designs. Tonight I made an inky background and used my new stamp sets to make this Cardinal Joy Card. The layout is from the Inky Paws Sketch #86 Challenge and patterned papers are from the Merry Merry 6 x 6 paper pad by Pebbles (2016). The sentiment was heat embossed and everything was adhered flat for easy shipping. That's it! Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.

Challenges entered:

• Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes + Sentiment
• Inky Paws: Sketch #86
• Simon Says: 'B' us For? (Bird)
• The Crafty Addicts: Anything Christmas
• Word Art Wednesday: Anything Goes

Sketch #86:

Quick Bird Card

It's a twofer Thursday! The hubby has the day off tomorrow, so I'm taking some extra craft time today! There are a couple of challenges that inspired this Quick Bird Card. The challenge at Cards in Envy is to use Yellow & Black and Creative Knockouts challenge is Something to Say. I love this sentiment by Stampendous and the Birds on a Wire die cut by Spellbinders made this a quick and easy card. The patterned paper is from the Summer Mood paper pad by Bo Bunny (2017). To add a little sparkle three yellow sequins were added and that's it. So glad you stopped by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered: Cards in Envy (Yellow & Black), Creative Knockouts (Something to Say), Simon Says (Anything Goes) and Word Art Wednesday (Anything Goes).

You're So Tweet Card

Good day crafty friends! There are only a couple of days left to play along with the current Inky Paws color challenge. So, today I made this You're So Tweet Card using the Newton's Nook Toucan Party stamp set and coordinating dies for my entry. It's always challenging for me to use black Copic markers, but I did it.  Neutral grays were used for blending and I tried a white gel pen for highlighting, but the pen was a little dry. Other than that I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The papers are from the Summer Fun paper pad by Echo Park and the large pierced oval is by Avery Elle. That's it!

Challenges entered: Addicted to Stamps (Anything Goes), Craftaholics R Us (Anything Goes), Inky Paws (Color #76) and Simon Says Stamp (Use a Die and/or Punches).

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Always on My Mind Card

Hello! You know what they say "when the cats away the mice will play." That's exactly what I did tonight when the hubby worked late. I was inspired by the current Inky Paws color challenge to use: white, blue, green and yellow. After looking through my Newton's Nook stamps the Newton's Birdbath stamp set got the pick. The images were colored with Copic markers and die cut using the coordinating dies and my Big Shot. For the background Tumbled Glass distress ink was sponged onto mixed media paper and then die cut with the Frames & Flags die set by Newton's Nook. Yellow polka dot paper was also die cut and some green grass punched with a Fiskars grass punch. It was a pretty simple card to put together. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• Crafty Creations: Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments: Water
• Inky Paws: Color
• Show Us Your Pussies: Furrything Goes

Bright Birthday Bird Card

It's been pretty cold the last couple of days, so I was happy to see a challenge for something bright. I like making cheerful cards and I think the image and colors on this Bright Birthday Bird Card will be perfect for my youngest niece. Her birthday is in April, so nice spring colors are perfect. I also want to wish a happy 8th birthday to Bugaboo Digi Stamps! My very first digital image came from Bugaboo and they continue to be one of my favorites. Wishing them many more years of creative success.

This Bright Birthday Bird Card design started with the selection of the bird image by Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Copic markers were used to color the image. The fun striped paper is by Doodlebug Designs and it was matted to a piece of black and white chevron. A black die cut frame was used along with a die cut happy birthday sentiment. To add a little sparkle, three sequins were added and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Catch the Bug: Bold & Bright Birthday
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp: Patterned Paper
• Brown Sugar: Birthday
• A Gem of a Challenge: Happy Anything 

Bird Card Remake

Hello and happy Tuesday! I started my part-time job yesterday and we were busy all day getting ready for Black Friday. It's been awhile since I've stood on feet for over six hours straight but it wasn't too bad. Just wish me luck with the opening shift on Black Friday!!!

One of my favorite things to do is remake cards using the same layout and details but changing the papers and colors. So, I picked one of my favorite cards (click here for original) and decided to make it in Autumn/Fall colors. Papers selected for this Bird Card Remake include: Plaid by Lawn Fawn, Red Floral by Pebbles and Woodgrain by Stampin' Up!. The Hello sentiment is by TPC Studio and three brown sequins finished it off. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Bird Card Remake is entered into the following challenges:

• Unicorn Challenge: Anything Goes
• Deep Ocean Challenge: Things with Wings
• Creates and Makes Challenge: Anything Goes
• Hiding in My Craft Room: 3X Designer Paper

Friendship Card with Bird

Are you like me and love your stash of older stamps? The current challenge at SU! Only is A Blast from the Past and the Inkspirational challenge is Oldie But Goodie. I was happy to use my older stash to play along. I started as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in 2012, so I dug out that old catalog for inspiration and decided to use the retired Language of Friendship stamp set. It's still a favorite of mine although it hasn't seen much action lately. Many demonstrators will sell their retired stamp sets when a new catalog is launched, but I just can't do it! I usually only buy what I really want and keep it.

Besides cardstock and Night of Navy ink everything on this card is retired. The retired Top Note die was used with retired Flowerpot and Blushing Bride dsp. The Bird Builder and Boho Blossoms punches were used and the finishing touch are three Blushing Bride sequins from the Fancy Frost sequins pack. That's it!

This Friendship Card with Bird is entered into the following challenges:

• SU! Only: A Blast from the Past
• Watercooler Wednesday: Anything Goes
• Inkspirational: Oldie But Goodie
• Cards und More: Anything Goes

Sentiment: 

The language of Friendship is not words but meanings. 

~Henry David Thoreau

Cardinal Christmas Card

The Cardinal is one of my favorite backyard birds. We have several adults and juveniles that frequent our bird feeders. The males red color makes them a popular choice on Christmas cards. A couple of years ago Stampin' Up! made this stamp set called Beauty of the Season. I loved it and bought it, but this is the first time I've used it. The image was stamped with Memento black ink and then colored with Copic markers. An Avery Elle pierced oval and scalloped frame were used to cut out the image. The red patterned paper has been in my stash for awhile, it's by Pebbles from their Welcome Christmas paper pad (2012). The blue snowflakes is another older one by Recollections. Some retired Pool Party twine was added along with the Peace & Joy sentiment from the retired Good Greetings stamp set by Stampin' Up!. Three small sequins were added and a drop of glossy accents for the bird's eye. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Cardinal Christmas Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Moo-Mania: Birds
• Sweet Stampin' Christmas: Anything Christmas Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Christmas
• Holly and Ivy Christmas: Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Christmas Card

The Christmas in July challenges have started and I like making Christmas cards when it's super hot outside. Since I tend to procrastinate on my holiday cards I found the July challenges really helpful.

This Merry Christmas Card features a retired quirky bird by Bugaboo Digi Stamps and some fun patterned papers. The polka dot red paper has glitter dots but it doesn't show up well in the photo. Both the plaid and candy cane papers are by The Paper Studio and I used a Merry Christmas sentiment from a retired Stampin' Up! stamp set. Three green sequins add some extra sparkle and that's it for this Christmas card.

Challenges entered:

• Catch The Bug: Make It Sparkle
• Christmas Card: Christmas Anything Goes
• Come and Get It: 2 or More Designer Papers
• Simon Says Stamp: Use Plaid
• Dragonfly Journeys: Christmas in July

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Newton's Birdbath Card

As usual I've waited until the last day to create my card for the Inky Paws Challenge to use Stripes. My crafting table was covered in fabric for a sewing project but I finally finished and cleaned it off. Then I totally messed it up with papercrafting supplies. Oh well! It never stays clean. What fun would a clean table provide?

This is the first time I've used the Newton's Birdbath stamp set and coordinating dies. I love my backyard birds and I love cats, so this is one of my favorite new stamp sets by Newton's Nook. Copic markers were used to color the images. The sky background was created using a brayer with tumbled glass distress ink on white cardstock. The scalloped plaid frame was die cut using frame cutting plate by Taylored Expressions and the green striped grass was punched with a Fiskars grass punch. That pretty much sums it up. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Newton's Birdbath Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Inky Paws: Use Stripes
• Little Red Wagon: Dogs/Cats
• Show Us Your Pussies: Furrything Goes
• Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes

Photo Challenge at Catch The Bug

Happy Saturday and happy Earth Day! Today is the start of a photo challenge at Catch the Bug and I love the sweet bird photo. The colors were fun to work with and I hope you will think so too. So, go outside and do something earthy for Earth Day and then use the photo as your inspiration during some afternoon crafting. I can't wait to see what you create! Click here for all the challenge details and design team inspiration.

Using birds on cards is one of my favorites, so I went with a literal interpretation of the photo. The Cherry Bird image by Bugaboo was colored with Copic markers and then die cut with a stitched square die by Lil' Inkers. All patterned paper is by Bo Bunny from the Butterfly Kisses Collection. To add some detail I stamped and punched a flower from the retired Polka Dot Pieces stamp set by Stampin' Up! accented with die cut leaves. The Just for You sentiment is from the Watercolor Wings stamp set and a glitter sticker was added to the middle of the flower. That's it!

This Cherry Bird For You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Brown Sugar: Use a Die Cut
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes
• QKR Stampede: Feathered Friends or Anything Goes

Be Joyful Gift Tag

Tag and/or bookmarks is the theme for this weeks challenge at Tuesday Throwdown. It's fun to switch things up and do something different and we would love for you to join the challenge this week. Our wonderful sponsor is Joy Clair and they graciously provided the design team with the Uh-Oh Ink Splatter Clear Stamp Set to make our inspirational creations. Click here for all the challenge details and design team inspiration. You have until mid-day on Monday, March 20th to link your tag and/or bookmark.

To create this Be Joyful Gift Tag I started with a precut chipboard gift tag by East of India. They are really sturdy, so I decided to paint a base layer of Martha Stewart glitter paint. Once it was dry I stamped the splatter design using Staz On Jet Black ink and then it was outlined with Nuvo Crystal Drops in Caribbean Ocean. Joy Clair also provided the cute Be Joyful Bird stamp but I couldn't find it on their website. The bird was colored with Copic markers and then punched with a 2" circle punch. A piece of Pool Party cardstock was die cut with a slightly larger stitched circle die and used to mat the bird image. Two yellow gingham banners were punched and adhered to the back of the circle for detail. Dimensionals were used to adhere the image to the tag, that's it!

This Be Joyful Gift Tag is entered into the following challenges:

• Get Creative: Favorite Color Combo 
• Love to Create: Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes/Twist: Stamped Images Only

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Let It Snow Card

Brrrr.... it's cold outside today! The sky is gray and gloomy and the wind is has a bitter bite. There is a possibility we may see a few snow flurries but it's not supposed to last long. It's a great day to cook a pot of stew for dinner. Of course that means I have to make a trip to the grocery store, but it will be worth it.

In anticipation of possibly seeing snow I made this Let It Snow Card with a Bugaboo Digi Stamp called Snowman 003. The image was colored with Copic markers and framed with a layer of Marina Mist cardstock where I fussy cut the window using a pair of deckle scissors by Fiskars. A light blue piece of cardstock was embossed with a snowflake embossing folder by Darice and Sky Blue chalk ink was added to the raised areas for detail. Once the card was assembled some Star Dust Stickles was added to the snow beneath the snowman for sparkle. The Let It Snow sentiment by Stampin' Up! was added which was anchored with one snowflake. Everything was adhered flat to make it easy to ship. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

This Let It Snow Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Catch The Bug: Clean As Snow
• Make My Monday: Show Me a Snowman
• Sunny Day Crafting: Anything Goes

Best Birds Giveaway

It might be a couple of days late but Happy December! This time of year I know our schedules get crazy but I hope you still find time to craft and unwind. In the spirit of the giving season and to show my appreciation for my loyal followers I'm having a giveaway for a new Best Birds stamp set by Stampin' Up!. This stamp set is one of my favorites and I want to share this favorite with one lucky winner. To win you need to be a follower of my blog and link your blog to this post with the linky tool at the bottom of this post, that's it. The winner will be announced on Saturday, December 17th, 2016.

The month of December includes many birthdays and my hubby's mother is one of them. I made this birthday card for her using the Best Birds Stamp Set, the sketch from Just Add Ink and colors from Color Throwdown. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Best Birds Birthday Card

Happy Saturday! With nothing on the agenda for the weekend, the hubby and I are taking it easy today. My one goal was to make a card using primary colors for challenges at SU-Only and Color Throwdown. Last night I searched through the current Stampin' Up! catalog to find some inspiration and decided I would use the Best Birds for the challenge. The design is from a card I cased on page 52 of the Stampin' Up! catalog. All images and sentiment came from the Best Birds stamp set and I used the coordinating Birds & Blooms Thinlit Dies. Watercolor paper was used for the images and background. After heat embossing the background with clear embossing powder I used Aqua Painters and the Dapper Denim ink pad for color. The bird was watercolored with three shades of yellow: Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry and Delightful Dijon. Real Red was used for the flowers, Wild Wasabi for the leaves and Crumb Cake for the branch. To anchor the focal area a 1.25" of Dapper Denim cardstock was embossed with the Petal Burst embossing folder and Craft ink applied for highlights. That's pretty much it!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Best Birds Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Color Throwdown: Red, Yellow, Green & Blue (CTD408)
• SU-Only: Primary Colors
• Cut It Up!: Watercolor

Best Birds Thoughts for You Card

If you asked me what my favorite stamp set is from the current Stampin' Up! catalog, I would tell you it's Best Birds. I truly adore this set mostly because I adore birds but also because there are so many uses for this set. It comes with some great sentiments and can be used for many different occasions. Have I convinced you of how much I love the Best Birds stamp set yet?

To create this card I combined three challenges and they include:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch #364
• Paper Craft Crew: Designer Series Paper
• Cards in Envy: Wings

All supplies on this Best Birds Thoughts for You Card are by Stampin' Up! with the exception of Copic markers used to color the bird and branch. Some supplies are new and some are retired and here is the list:

• Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Pacific Point and Basic Black cardstock, along with the retired Pretty Petals designer series paper.
• Stamps: Best Birds
• Inks & Coloring: Memento black and Classic Stampin' pad in Mint Macaroon. Retired Calypso Coral Blendabilities markers and Copic markers: W1, W3, W5, E31, E50, E57, G99, Y23, YG61 and YR21.
• Other Stuff: Big Shot, Birds & Blooms Thinlit dies, decorative edgelit die and Stampin' dimensionals.  

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Thoughtful Branches Card

This morning the UPS guy delivered my latest Stampin' Up! order. I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new Thoughtful Branches stamp set and coordinating dies. It's a limited time set that will only be available for the month of August or while supplies last. Click here for all the details.

When creating this card I was going for a gender neutral design, just in case I decide to send it to my uncle in Texas. The embossed cloud background was sitting on my desk from a previous project and I decided to rescue it for this card. I colored around the clouds with a B000 Copic marker and used the blender pen to eliminate the harsh lines. The streaky lines at the bottom were stamped using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and colored in with a G12 Copic marker. Some linen thread was added for detail along with three Soft Sky sequins (they will be available in the upcoming 2016 holiday catalog). The little red bird was stamped using Real Red and adhered flat to the tree. Using the Thinking of You sentiment from the Wetlands stamp set, it was punched with an oval punch and layered to a scalloped oval punch. The cardstock colors include: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi and retired Pistachio Pudding. That's it!

This Thoughtful Branches Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies
• Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: Use Dies