I Admire You

I had previously shared this on Instagram and forgot to include here on the blog.  Ann Corbiere-Scott is a local artist who is responsible for the stamp sets featured in these cards and these and these.  I really enjoy shopping local so when Ann launched her website featuring digital images, I went ahead and purchased some.  These were printed onto Bristol cardstock at the local Kinkos and colored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.

So fun!

A Sympathy Card with Spring Flowers

I'm checking in to share this sympathy card.  I've had more cause this year to make sympathy cards and they never get easier.  I decided to go with a very pale watercolor theme for this card.  I stamped the Simon Says Stamp's Spring Flowers and leaves onto Bristol cardstock and then used my Clean Color markers and a waterbrush to finish the accent.  I fussy cut out the flowers and the leaf stems.  I used my Mission Gold watercolors to make a soft wash for the background and splattered some of the rose gold Starry Colors watercolor over the background.  A simple sentiment in London Fog grey ink.

Since Sorry is a word that starts with an "S", I've decided to link this card up with the City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 372 - Something Beginning With S.  That's why I sent the card - because of something beginning with S.

I've also linked to the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 292/293: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: Simon Says Anything Goes

Celebrating 90 Years - A Milestone Birthday Card

I've been traveling for work... long story.  Anyway, I wanted to get this card posted so I am popping in today sharing the birthday card I gave my Grandma on her 90th birthday.  You might remember these invitations to her birthday party that I made to send out.  I thought I needed to go in a different creative direction just to make her feel good.

I used my Concord and 9th Happy Day stamp set to make this card.  The cake stamp was inked using brown ink on Bristol paper.  This was so I could color the image with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a waterpen.  I finished the image with a little glitter pen to make some shine - you can almost see the glitter on the flowers.

I fussy cut the image out - getting much closer to the edge than the matching dies would do.  I used some fun foam to back the image so that the image would be evenly raised.  The banner is raised using two toothpicks I had on hand.  .  Both the banner and the sentiment are from the Concord and 9th stamp set.  They make milestone birthdays easy to celebrate!

On the inside - a simple added wish with a sparkle heart.  We had a fantastic time at the party and the follow-up dinner on her actual birthday.  I am so very blessed to have both my material grandparents with me to celebrate on such an occasion.  I ended up making her a set of Thank You cards for her actual gift.  I'll try to get those photos edited and posted soon.

Welcome Home

I get the lovely opportunity to share this card made by Brandy today.  She needed to wish a friend a happy new home and this card is her work of art.  So full of fun details to catch your eye.  Brandy used the Art Impressions Cottage and Die set along with her Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers  on Bristol paper to create the image.  That's her handwriting in the sentiment folks...Such a wonderful way to wish someone a brand new start in their home, don't you think?

I'm entering this card in the following challenges, you should stop by and check it out and maybe even join the fun!

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Through the Window since the house's window features so prominently!
Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge - Layer it Up as Brandy used a combination of die cuts, coloring and stamping to create the different layers on this card
Word Art Wednesday's challenge - week 274/275 Anything Goes

Have a spectacular weekend.

A Special Milestone Birthday

I've a milestone birthday card to share with you today.  The big "5" "0".  I'm rapidly approaching this milestone myself and my husband will achieve this milestone later this year so it should come as no surprise that my friends are achieving this milestone as well.

I stamped the focal image using my Concord and 9th Happy Day stamp set onto Bristol paper.  I colored the image with my Zig Clean Color Clear Brush markers using a waterbrush to spread the color on the image.  The image was then fussy cut out.  I used the matching dies to cut the image out of the polka dot patterned paper creating a window to place the image over some black cardstock.  A little grosgrain ribbon from the stash and the card is finished simply. I think the result is a cute card that hopefully cheered the recipient.  

What cute card creations do you have up your sleeve?  I'm still feeling the new year swell of creativity so I'll be back with more creations later this week.  Hope it is a good finish to your week!

I'll linking up with the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge:  Cute 
Word Art Wednesday's challenge #268-269 Anything Goes

Add a Little Birthday Sparkle

I've been in a watercoloring mood for a while now and this card set I'm sharing from you didn't dampen my spirits a bit.  Instead, they turned out so lovely that it spurred me on.  I'm expecting more for 2017 myself, but you never know what latest and greatest might catch my crafty fancy.

Today I'm sharing cards stamped in black Archival Ink using my new to me Rubbernecker Stamps Thorny Rose stamp.  I also used my new to me Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I stamped onto Bristol paper because everyone says how easy the Zig markers are to use on that type of paper.  They were right!  I used the markers to lay down color in strategic places and a waterbrush to spread the color over all the petals.  The results are amazing!  A simple finish with a Spectrum Noir Glitter pen adds some sparkle to the page.  This is why I had to use my Penny Black Sprinkles and Smiles stamp set for the sentiments.

Wow - that's a lot of cards.  They, too, will go into the stash to be given away - probably as a set or in a card set for gifts.

A Happy Little Birthday to My Dear Katie

Stopping by to share with you today the card that I made for my daughter on her 18th birthday.  Pink is her favorite color and I couldn't resist pairing this image with some soft, tiny patterned papers.  Its a simple card design, but on purpose to keep my sweetheart the focal image.  I considered adding a bunch of flowers and fluff to the card, but opted for this simple layout.

Time is passing quickly - her senior year is nearly 1/2 over.  I find myself with a curious mix of elation at her growing independence, sadness because the time of having my own in the house is growing closed and urgency to see where then next phase of life will lead for them and for me.  I suppose that characterizes life as a mom no matter what season you find yourself.

At least she's not too old or too hip to miss the opportunity to have her mom create a picture of love for her daughter.