Peony Blooms with Polychromos Pencils

I have totally been enjoying my Polychromos colored pencils.   This card is one of the most satisfying that I've made in a while.  It was meant for my Grandma whose favorite color is blue.  I can say that the picture doesn't entirely capture the finished product.  The images where stamped onto Bristol cardstock using my Papertrey Ink Especially for You stamp and die set.  Those are some Studio Katia crystals on the card for accent.

So fun and a beautiful result, I have to be happy.  I'm entering this card in theSimon Says Stamps Wednesday challenge Simon Says Anything Goes.

Cupcake Fun!

I'm popping in to share some fun decorated cupcakes that my friend Kyle brought over.  She attended a local class on creating this delightful succulents look on cupcakes.  I thought they were so fun that I wanted to share them with you today.

My family reports that they are as delicious as they are cute.  Win, win!

Pop-up Box Card - Celebrating a Happy Birthday

What a festive happy birthday box card Brandy shared with me.  She snapped a picture quickly in the car on the way to the birthday party so that I can share with you here.

How fun are those candles and balloons?  Don't they make a lovely three dimensional card?!

This card is proof that one can whip up a pretty cool card with the right patterned papers, cardstocks and dies.  Happy Birthday indeed!

I'm linking this card up at the Simon Says Stamps Wednesday challenge Simon Says Anything Goes

Andie for 

Distress Oxide Painting - A Second Card Set

I had shared earlier that I enjoyed the Distress Oxide painting technique that Jennifer McGuire used and detailed here.  I decided to give it another try with this stamp set.  I did make a few mistakes on this card - maybe you've already figured that out.  I used my MISTI stamp platform along with my SSS Beautiful Day stamp set and wasn't thinking that one of the butterflies would be completely upside down.  I went ahead and finished the cards as I didn't think it was catastrophic, but looking at these now I'm guessing that it might be :)

I've put together a whole set of cards and I will just have to use these no matter what.

I'm linking this card up at the City Crafter Challenge Week 422 - Butterflies.  Come join the fun!

Rustic Man Card

Along with my ancient mother's day cards, I found this card Brandy made for father's day.  I super like the distressed details, embossed background on the kraft card base, the layered stamping on patterned paper, the distressed stars... all creating a fine finish that a manly, man will enjoy and find special.
Andie for 

Belated Mother's Day Cards

Whew!  I found these pictures in my online album and figured out that I'd not shared them before Mother's Day.  I made these using my Polychromos colored pencils.  These two cards are one of the first times I used the colored pencils and I'd have to say, I'm more than pleased with the look and finish for both cards.  I'm especially proud of the look pairing kraft with soft pinks and reds.

The images were stamped with white pigment ink onto kraft cardstock using my SSS Even More Summer Flowers stamp set.

One card was for my own mother and one card was for my MIL.  I couldn't have been more pleased with the results.

I'm linking this card up on Simon Says Stamp's Monday challenge: Add a Little Sparkle.  Those Studio Katia crystals definitely add a little sparkle.

Thinking of You Card Set

I'm back with a wonderful card set Brandy made using her Concord & 9th Detailed Blooms die set.  The background was stamped with a woodgrain background stamp paired with the lovely die cuts.

It's tough to decide which card is the most lovely.  Let's just decide that the most lovely is in the eye of the beholder.  What a wonderful card set that will make a beautiful gift!

I'm linking this card up with the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Simon Says Use a Die or Punch

Where Creativity Meets C9 monthly challenge: Mixed Media because these cards used embossing, stamping and die cuts. 

Andie for 

Another 45th Wedding Anniversary Card

I had whipped up this card for my parent's 45th wedding anniversary.  I decided to use the sapphire blue card that I shared with you in May and the pieces for this card were set aside.  I decided to go ahead and put the card together anyway.

The blooms are stamped with my Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp set and then partially die cut on the edge.

Not sure when I'll need this card, but it goes into the stash for someone to use for their special milestone event.

Pretty Purple Lady

This pretty little girl was colored by Brandy using her Polychromos colored pencils.  I am just so in love with her and astounded once again by my friend's incredible talent.  So beautiful!

Andie for 

A Vintage Happy Birthday

I've been especially enjoying my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers lately.  I almost always use them with Bristol cardstock.  They are so easy to use and create a great result such that my limited skill isn't on clear display.  Today I'm sharing some images I had previously colored, but only recently mounted on some patterned paper to finish off the card.  In this case, I stamped the poles for the sentiment banner on the patterned paper and they used foam squares to raise up the cake and the sentiment banner.

On the inside, a simple stamped sentiment.

I also used the star burst stamp to gold emboss the patterned paper and add some accent to the base of the card.  It is difficult to see on the first card, but easier to identify in this second card.

Much Delayed Graduation Card

Brandy shared this card with me that she made as a graduation card last month.  I am just now sharing this with you as I think this is such a clever card.  The balloons were stamped using the Sunny Studio Bold Balloons stamps and dies.  Definitely a reason to celebrate!

Andie for

Distress Oxide Painting with Water

I am so in love with this technique using Distress Oxides and water.  I followed the almost exact same technique as Jennifer McGuire.  The cards are more stunning in person that these pictures show.  I used multiple die cuts layered to create some dimension with the sentiments. 

These cards will go into the stash and probably become gifts.  I enjoyed this technique and will most likely use it in the future again as the cards turned out to be wonderful.

Happy Birthday Banner and Card

In my absence, I have quite a few pictures from Brandy's projects to share with you.  I decided to start with these photos from a birthday banner and card that Brandy made. The flowers on the card are made using the Heartfelt Creations Classic Rose stamps and dies.  The flowers on the banner are quite a mix of different layered flowers and letters cut from the Cricut.  Of course, there's a bit of butterflies thrown in for accent as well.

Ever so colorful and pretty, I'm always impressed by the beauty of her creations.  Matching the colors with the black and white stripes is classic as well.

We'll hope this is a return to the blog for both Brandy and I.  I'll be around visiting again as well.

Andie for