Dabbling with Watercolor

This week my neighbor and I got together and we did a little watercoloring. She wanted me to show her how to use the Stampin' Up! Aqua Painters. I used a retired stamp for my focal image from the Bordering on Romance stamp set by Stampin' Up!. I stamped the image on watercolor paper with StazOn Jet Black ink and then used the following Stampin' Up! colors: Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Island Indigo and Wild Wasabi to watercolor the image. The thanks sentiment is from the Another Thank You Photopolymer stamp set (136835). I dry embossed the wild wasabi cardstock and added calypso coral twine with a little butterfly charm. The details on this card are minimal but it keeps the focus on the watercoloring. Well, that's about it. If you haven't tried watercoloring yet, you should give it a try. The Aqua Painters make it super easy to do! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Just Add Ink: Just Add Watercolour
• Inkspirational: Bloom
• Addicted to Stamps: Make your Mark!

Thinking of You Card

We are one day closer to the new Stampin' Up! catalog release! Are you excited? I must say I love the new 2014-2016 In Colors! They are deep and beautiful!!! Here is a Thinking of You Card featuring the new Moonlight paper stack and the new colors Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey. I used the Mixed Bunch stamp set, Blossom punch, Sassy Salutation sentiment stamp set and the Secret Garden stamp set for the leaves. To create the flower I used a clear block that I coated with Blackberry Bliss ink and then I sprayed the block with vanilla shimmer smooch spritz and then used it to ink up the flower stamp. I repeated the process with the leaves using Sahara Sand ink. The center of the flower was made using white cardstock and sponging with Hello Honey ink and then stamped using the same color. I then used a 3/4" circle punch and layered it with a 1" circle of Sahara Sand cardstock. I hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My Thinking of You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
• Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls: Anything Goes

Patriotic Thank You Card

Today is Memorial Day here in America and the holiday stirs my feelings of thankfulness to all the men and women who have served our country through the years.  The sacrifice the many individuals and families make to ensure we live free continues to impress and amaze me. A heartfelt Patriotic Thank You to those serving in the past and present. This thank you card was made with you in mind.

The layout comes from the sketch challenge at The Paper Players. For the patterned papers I used All American Type and Blue Jean La Fleur by Doodlebug Design Inc. The sentiment is from the Another Thank You stamp set by Stampin' Up! and I used three red glitter and rhinestone stars I found at Hobby Lobby.

My Patriotic Thank You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• The Paper Players: Sketch
• Sister Act: Anything Goes
• Bloggers: Armed Forces

Birthday Photo Inspiration Challenge

Welcome to Savvy Handmade Cards! Our challenge for the next two weeks is a Birthday Photo Inspiration Challenge. The month of May is full of birthdays in my family and I just celebrated my 40th last weekend. Therefore a birthday challenge just seemed appropriate. Plus there is always room for more birthday cards in your stash, so I hope you will play along. The randomly drawn winner will receive a birthday themed goody surprise from me.

Inspirational Designs:

Erin's Card using Simply B Stamps

Andrea's Card using Bugaboo Digi Stamps

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Create a New card using the challenge theme, no linking to old posts. 
2. Only one entry per blog address.
3. This is a card only challenge.
4. You must use a stamp, either rubber or digital.
5. You can combine this challenge with other challenges.
6. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to this challenge. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
7. All brands of stamping products are welcome.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

This challenge will run for 12 days from 5/23/2014 - 6/3/2014.

Zoo Animal Winner

Another bi-weekly challenge has come to a close and I want to thank each of you for sharing your Zoo Animal card creations. It's a good thing the winner was randomly selected because picking would have been an absolute challenge! The winner is:

Debra Miller from Cream City Angels

Debra's panda anniversary card is super adorable and the colors really grabbed my attention. Thanks for playing along Debra! In the next few days I'll send you an email requesting your mailing address to send you the challenge prize.

Come back tomorrow for the start of another photo inspiration challenge.

Blackberry Blooms Sympathy Card

This Blackberry Blooms Sympathy Card was made for a distant cousin who recently lost her brother. Although I haven't seen her in years I wanted to send her a card to let her know she is in my thoughts. Sometimes it's the small unexpected things that help during a difficult time.                                    

I kept the card really simple and used the new hostess stamp set called Bloom with Hope that will be coming out in the new Stampin' Up! catalog on June 1st. The flowers were colored using a blender pen and Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow inks from the 2014-2016 in colors. I dry embossed the mossy meadow cardstock strip and added a stamped bitty butterfly for detail. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Blackberry Blooms Sympathy Card is entered into the following challenges:

• The Paper Players: Clean & Simple Floral
• Suzy Bees's: Clean & Simple
• Hiding in My Craft Room: Embossing

Classic Car Birthday Card

Hello! I hope you're having a super Saturday. My most recent card was made for my brother. His birthday is next week and he likes classic cars. It was perfect timing because I just received this classic car image by Doodle Pantry. It comes pre-colored or you can color it yourself. I used the pre-colored image and digital patterned paper that comes with the set. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from TPC Studios and I used StazOn Jet Black ink. I die cut a couple of stars and used a large circle for the focal backdrop. Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by!



My Classic Car Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Craftitude: Anything Goes/Die Cuts
• Sister Act: Anything Goes
• Paper Crafting Journey: For that Special Man
• Left of Center: Card for a Male
• A Creative Romance: One for the Boys