Gorjuss Girl - Dear Apple

I'm popping in to share a card made with my Gorjuss Dear Apple stamp.  She was colored with Inktense Watercolor Pencils last fall and recently made it onto this charming notecard.  I've left the notecard blank so that I can stamp it for a use to be determined in the future.  I'm really pleased with her hair and that apple, though the dress could use some work.  Guess I need to keep practicing.  Yay!

Hope all your coloring dreams are coming true.

Cutting with the Silhouette

I've mentioned before that I am making cards for a wonderful fundraiser at work.  These are more Mother's Day cards to be sold this week.  I decided some of the cards needed to be simple (men don't typically send overly flowery cards to their mom!).  Here I used a digital cut file from the Silhouette store to create the white flower outline and paired it with some ribbon, a bling brad and jewel toned cardstock make up these minimalistic creations.

I think the pink is my favorite in person, though the blue photographs very well.  All are sweet enough for the card sale, which starts this week!

Happiest of Birthdays

I'm sharing this faux watercolor card with you created using my Art Impressions stamps.  The flowers  and grass are made using the Foliage stamp set and the bucket was made using their Containers stamp.  Their stuff is so easy to work with, this card flew together in a flash.  They have wonderful tutorials on how to use their products over at their Youtube channel.  I simply followed the video which outlines how to use these stamps!  Go ahead, give it a try.  They are easy to use and create a beautiful result.  A couple of pattered papers and a sentiment stamp and this card is done!

Purple-y Birthday Wishes

I'm going to apologize for the photo of this card.  It should be more crisp.  I snapped it quickly one Saturday morning last month before whisking it off for a lunch meeting to wish Brandy a very happy birthday.  I'd even forgot I had these photos until now!  

Those purple flowers are my first attempt at the Heartfelt Creations poppies dies.  I used a piece of light purple mulberry paper.  They were difficult to shape because the paper is so flimsy. However, I think they look rather realistic and they work so well with that patterned paper!  The butterflies are cut from coordinating patterned papers using my Prickly Pear Mini Butterflies dies.  A few metal keys (Brandy enjoys keys) and some heavy fibrous yarn for a bow and this card practically made itself.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday challenge: Show Us Your Metal
Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge: Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday: Challenge 228/229 Anything Goes

The Last of These Mother's Day Cards

Ths is the last of a set of cards made with my Stampin' Up Apothocary Art stamp (retired now) and a sentiment stamp.  I used Peeled Paint and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to color the flowers and leaves.  Some more patterned paper from the stash - can you believe I think I consumed 6 pieces  which are a drop in the bucket.  Still, I'm pleased that these papers found a wonderful use and hopefully will earn money for the charitable event at my work.  I also hope you are inspired to use up that stash and make something pretty.

I've a few more ideas to contribute and will try to put them into creation in the coming days, stay tuned!

A Very Kind Batch of Goodies

I had the great fortune of winning some blog candy over at my blog friend, Loly's Card Ville.  She is so crafty - her creations never cease to inspire.  I simply comments on one of these lovely creations and she sent this package over to me.  Oh my, but I think I'm in heaven!  I couldn't help but but some of those lovely papers to work.  I decided to use them on some of the Mother's Day cards I've been whipping up for the fundraiser at work.  Here's what I made

The sentiment die cut was cut using my Silhouette and the image a cut file from their store.  These images cut apart to mix and match and create this set of cards, all of which are to be sold for the fundraiser.

Only a few vines with leaves were left behind after I glued everything in place.  Those patterned papers worked very well in this project and I still have a pile of goodies to use on future projects.  I'm looking forward to putting it all to good use.  Thank you Loly, for the kind and generous blog candy.  I've enjoyed it already, though there's more to come!

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Make a Project with a House

The ladies over at the City Crafter Challenge Blog have a new challenge this week and I just had to join the fun as their inspiration is to make a project with the word house or including a house.  I had purchased the Art Impressions Watercolor Series 8 Set 1 stamp set during a stamp show last fall and needed to break it out and use it. This card is my first attempt at using the Art Impressions stamps including my foliage and flower sets too.  Art Impressions YouTube channel has all the information you need to create stunning works of art with just a little help from their great stamp sets.

All colors are from Distress Inks including Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Worn Lipstick, Shaded Lilac, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, and Ripe Persimmons.  Some are ink pads and others are markers.  I really enjoyed working with the colors and the stamps and would highly recommend all of these products.  If you are new to watercoloring, this is an excellent technique to raise your experience working on watercolor paper and with the inks while having a bit of a "crutch" using these beautiful stamps.  Go over and check them out. I'd recommend giving them a try!

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

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 308 Make a Project with a House

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #226/227 Anything Goes

Come join the fun!

More Mother's Day Cards

I mentioned yesterday about the project at my work to sell cards for Mother's Day with the proceeds from the cards going to a charity which encourages our military personnel.  Here's another set of cards made for the event using my Stampin' Up Apothocary Art stamp (retired now) and a sentiment stamp.  I used Shaded Lilac and Peeled Paink Distress Ink to color the flowers and leaves.  Some patterned paper from the stash in geometric shapes coupled with fantastic organza ribbon and these cards are done.

I hope your Mother's Day card making (if you are doing so) is going well.  We only have a few short weeks to get prepared for this day.  Be inspired!

Mother's Day Cards

The folks at my work have decided to step up our social responsibility activities and planned a way for employees to participate in socially uplifting activities.  Once such activity is a card sale for Mother's Day with the proceeds from the cards going to a charity which encourages our military personnel.  In addition to selling Mother's Day cards, there will be an opportunity to purchase and write a encouraging notecard to a soldier in honor of Memorial Day.

Of course I just had to get in on the fun.  Supplies from the stash need to get going!

The stamped sentiment is a combination of the Stampin' Up Apothocary Art stamp (retired now) and a sentiment stamp.  I used Peeled Paint and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to color the flowers and leaves.  Some patterned paper from the stash roughed up with my Distress Tool and these cards practically made themselves.  I like this so much, I made a set of a different color.  I'm working to get those photos edited and posted.  More to come...

I'm going to link this up with a few challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: Make it Girly
Word Art Wednesday's challenge: # 226/227 Anything Goes

Heartfelt Thanks

Brandy knocked another one out of the park folks!  I had the distinct honor of receiving this card along with a small crafty gift from our illustrious crafter.  Green being my favorite color, the card is perfectly displayed downstairs in my front room.  I could feel the heartfelt nature of her thanks from this hand drawn and watercolored image.   Brandy's talent is seriously working the scene recently and I think card among the top three.

One can't say thank you for a thank you card, but I can cherish it and the sentiment from which it springs.  Join me in the wonder at this beautiful card.

Gorjuss Girl - The Hatter

Just stopping by to share this card made using my Gorjuss The Hatter stamp.  This image was colored last fall on one of my business trips and then made into a card recently.  All patterned papers were from the scrap bin - leavings from other projects.  The style and colors worked well here.  I cut those teeny, tiny flowers using my IO Spiral Flowers die.  A single Tu Tu Pink prill is in the center of each flower.

This notecard is left without a sentiment so that I can add it later when I decide the occasion of it's use.  This gives me a bit of a stash for those last minute cards that I find myself needing.  What is sitting around waiting to join the finished pile?  Get going, the results are always inspiring.

Presents and Cake and Balloons, Oh My!

I have the distinct please of sharing this Birthday card with you today.  Brandy used the We R Memory Keepers Next Level Circle Embossing folder to make that colorful background.  After that, it was simply a matter of coloring with the Copic markers and adding a bit of Wink of Stella shimmer to the cake, candles and presents.  Brandy mentioned she had to slow down a bit on the sequin accents.  I just love the whole creation - the color combination, the ink blending and the reflection captured on the balloons.  All fantastic.

What have you been doing that's fantastic?  I think I've finally caught up with my blog visiting after my bout with the flu.  It was a fantastic glimpse at what you've been doing.  We rock!

I'm linking this creation up at the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Let's Do the Polka
Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 226/227 - Anything Goes

Come join the fun!

Our Beautiful World - Books

I'm getting back to myself after a bit of an unplanned hiatus.  I contracted the flu along with a good portion of my workplace and spent a week sick.  My hiatus wasn't during this time of illness, but in the week or so after the illness where catching up was the order of the day.  I've been slowly getting back into the swing of things - taking a bunch of pictures today for which I have a fair bit of editing to do.  I'm going to try to finish that and get some posts together for this week - maybe one day at a time!

I couldn't help myself and just had to join the fun over at Our Beautiful World.  The word prompt this week is Books and since we've been doing spring cleaning and taking a ruthless stance on keeping "stuff", I've these photos to share.








I've decided I'm not going to jealously collect books that I don't read and so we've taken down our 25 year old, hand-me-down bookcase.  Along with it, I used a sharp "knife" to glean a few precious jems from the pile and stacked these to sell at a local used book store.  There are a few like Medicine Road by Charles de Lint that I had signed by the author over a decade ago.  These were precious to me, but I still didn't want to keep them so I've created listings over at Ebay to pass these onto a waiting fan.  I've sold a few already as they are first edition books with original author's signature (that scribble off to the left is Charles').  I still have my fond memories of meeting Mr. de Lint, which no one can take from me.

What books do you cherish or are cluttering up space in your home?  Whether they are preciously displayed treasures, simple literary pleasures or something to pass onto another willing home, why not snap a photo and join the fun over at Our Beautiful World?  I did and I'd love to see your photos there!

In the meantime, if you see anything in the photo you'd like I am sure we could arrange a small fee to box and ship to you.   Leave a comment with the title you might be interested in and we'll arrange a method to sort it out!

Another Freehand Watercolor Image

Brandy sent me this photo of a card she free hand created.  I love all the color blending and the way the scene is created by the pond and trees.  This is still something that intimidates me, but I'm working on the courage to give my own a try.  I've I muster the courage, I'll share here with you.  Until then, we get the distinct pleasure of enjoying Brandy's work for now.

Gorjuss Girl - The Dreamer

I borrowed Brandy's Gorjuss The Dreamer stamp to try my hand at coloring this image.  Once again, I used my Intense colored pencils to color this image.  I'm not sure it is my best effort, but the charm of the stamp and that background paper cannot be resisted, so I'm still liking this card very much.  I'm grateful for the borrowed image from Brandy for sure!