Black & White!

I got a little crafty time, and decided to play with the current SUO Challenge which was to make a black and white project! Glancing over my stamps, I decided this map of the world was pretty much perfect for that!
And then when I linked it here, I noticed it says to have black and white be the "predominant" colors. That could change things.....! But for now I have this, ha! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Watercolor World, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black card stocks

Accessories: Red & Green Pearls, Dimensionals

Peaceful Colors

I have needed to mail out an unreasonable number of sympathy cards over the last 8 or so weeks, so this time, my card class has a pretty and peaceful looking sympathy card. This uses one of the beautiful papers that is a FREE choice from Sale-A-Bration. It coordinates with a lovely bundle in the Jan-April Mini, but I just really liked the prints. This shows both sides of one sheet. Then I just added a sweet sentiment and a bit of ribbon and voila- done! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts 
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Fresh Freesia & Basic White card stock, Dainty Flowers DP
Accessories: White crinkled seam binding ribbon, Dimensionals, 

Flowers!

So, like yesterday, these two cards were also made with supplies prepped for a card class. But the thing is, I spent a lot of time looking, and I can't find the original design on my blog...? So here is what I made for a class in March, using a bunch of about-to-retire products:

And here is what I made the other day! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Ranunculus Romance

Ink: Calypso Coral, Pale Papaya, Mango Melody, Soft Suede

Paper: Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories: Paper Doilies, ribbon, Dimensionals

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature's Harvest, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Mossy Meadow

Paper: Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories: Paper Doilies, ribbon, Dimensionals

Wintery Sympathetic Bird

Happy Thursday! 

Alright so yesterday's card is a pretty close replica of the day before, but its totally different too. haha... Same purpose, different colors.
This time I used the color challenge from Global Design Project, and actually, my daughter had suggested I try shades of blue the first round. So here he is in blue.  

Supplies
Stamps: Perched In A Tree, Inspired Thoughts 
Ink: Memento Black, Balmy Blue, Night of Navy
Paper: Balmy Blue, Basic White card stocks
Accessories: White Bakers Twine, Opal Rounds, Dimensionals, Aspen Tree Dies, big shot 

Happy Paper!

It is FRIDAY people! And I need one of those! 

Sometimes the paper can stand on its own feet, haha, and this is definitely one of those times! This card was made with the sketch from Inspire.Create.Challenge and is for a sweet little girl I know whose favorite colors were all grouped together and that was too perfect to pass up. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts, Happiness Abounds
Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Bermuda Bay
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Basic White card stock, Hues of Happiness DP
Accessories: Opal Rounds, White Baker's Twine, Blossoming Happiness dies, Dimensionals, big shot

Shelter

Another evening post... lol! But I got some stamp time today so I'm going to share it! 
Tonight's card uses the sketch from the latest Fusion Card Challenge, and features this fantastic print from the Sale-A-Bration DP. This paper coordinates with all the stamps in the Ringed With Nature bundle, and purchasing that earns you this paper FREE! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Evening Evergreen
Paper: Basic White, Mint Macaron, Rings Of Love DP (Sale-A-Bration only!)
Accessories: White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon, Dimensionals 

This card is simple but I feel still impactful. I thought this sentiment worked well with cute, welcoming cottages and houses. Annnd I might even know exactly who to send this to. So hooray for making it just in time! sigh...

Gorgeous New DP!

Today was the first chance I have had to create anything this month, and I am prepping for a class! YEAY! (It's on Tuesday if you want to RSVP!) 

For this first card, I used the latest sketch from the Fusion Card Challenge and this gorgeous DP was easily the star of the show. I am the first to admit I don't love gold. I really don't. But I have two kids who like gold and shine, so I knew this DP would be great for scrapping and making cards for them. And then I saw all the pages in the pack and I love every side except one, haha! That's kind of huge! 

So for now, I used both sides of one sheet, and here's what I made! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Soft Suede
Paper: Petal Pink card stock, Texture Chic DP
Accessories: Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon, Dimensionals

And here's a view with the sun shining differently so you don't see the shine.

Ranunculus Romance #2

When I first pulled out Ranunculus Romance, I had a number of color combinations in mind. I pulled the inks and card stocks to try them all but I ran out of time, lol. But I got another chance to play so I made basically the same card with slightly different colors, haha! Also I ran this panel thru my favorite embossing folder too.

Supplies:
Stamps: Ranunculus Romance, Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Soft Seafoam, Gorgeous Grape, Soft Suede

Paper: Soft Seafoam, Basic White

Accessories: White Crinkled Seam Binding ribbon, Basic Pearls, Timeworn Type embossing folder, Ranunculus dies, Dimensionals, big shot (retired) 

Girl Graduation

I don't often post on Saturday, but today I'm playing with a challenge, so it works out. I used the sketch from Global Design Project, which is simple and pretty. 

This card is for a niece who has just graduated. I don't know her school colors, but the outfits she wore for her graduation pictures were kind of exactly Mint Macaron and Cajun Craze, haha, so that worked for me! Once again I used the inked-block method (same block this time too) as a light background for the shape of the sketch. I actually "stamped it off" before stamping it onto this piece of Basic White card stock. Then I added the only small flower I own right now that is current! goodness! Then I added the tiny star bursts from the Nothing's Better Than stamp set, and punched out a greeting. Opal rounds were the final touch! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely You, Nothing's Better Than, Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Mint Macaron, Cajun Craze, Bermuda Bay
Paper: Mint Macaron, Basic White
Accessories: Opal Rounds, Lovely Labels Pick A Punch, Dimensionals, "I" block

Ranunculus Romance!

I have wanted this bundle since the mini came out, but it took me til just this past week to finally order it. (You might want to too, because the bundled discounted price ends June 30!) But since the products carry on in the new catalog, I'm going to keep playing with them FOR. SURE.  

Today I focused on Pale Papaya and Gray Granite with this bundle, and then I added in some Soft Succulent. And it totally works for the latest SUO Challenge which is a theme of flowers! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Ranunculus Romance
Ink: Gray Granite, Pale Papaya
Paper: Gray Granite, Basic White
Accessories: White Crinkled Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Supplies:
Stamps: Ranunculus Romance, Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Gray Granite, Pale Papaya, Soft Succulent
Paper: Gray Granite, Basic White
Accessories: Soft Succulent Open Weave ribbon, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

There's a little bit of a technique here. For this first one, I started with sponging Gray Granite ink onto the white card stock. Then I inked the "I" block in Pale Papaya and stamped that down. Stamped the flower in Pale Papaya, die cut it out and popped up over the Papaya blocked ink. The other images were stamped in Gray Granite and it was all added to Gray Granite base. 

The second card was done the same, the only difference is the Soft Succulent ink and ribbon. And the flower was stamped off once on scratch paper before stamping it here. Simple, but I think it's all very pretty! 

In Color Tulips!

I finally got to make something so I made two, haha! One is a stamped card and the other is a die cut card, using the same bundle and supplies.The layouts use the sketch from Global Design Project, and I used a birthday greeting because I think the happy colors just say "Happy Birthday!" so it works for the SUO Challenge too. 

This super cute set is still available from the Jan-June Mini Catalog, and I definitely haven't played with it enough. So here I am, using three of the new In Colors with this set! The Pebbles are still available with the Mini as well, and they really are so cute! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Tulip Fields, Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party, Sweet Sorbet
Paper: Sweet Sorbet, Basic White
Accessories: Pebbles enamel shapes 

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Orchid Oasis
Paper: Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party, Sweet Sorbet, Basic White
Accessories: Pebbles enamel shapes, Windmill Fields dies, Fine Tip Glue Pen, big shot (retired)

Hoping to make some more fun things! 

Tulips & Windmills

Happy Monday! 

Yep, still have lots of projects to share with you! Just a quick reminder that TODAY is the last day of Sale-A-Bration, so you'll want to place your order now! 

Today's card uses this gorgeous Tulip Fields stamp set, partnered with the Inspired Thoughts stamp set. This is also going to be part of my upcoming class.

Supplies:

Stamps: Tulip Fields, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Cinnamon Cider, Smoky Slate

Paper: Flirty Flamingo, Basic White

Accessories: Dimensionals

And here's a tip on lining up that top row of tulips to then better line up the rest of them. For me, I used the grid scratch paper, which right now we sell in four varieties! Anyway, I line up the bottom of my paper with the grid, then I hold a scrap paper across, lined up with the grid, to place the windmill. Then I line the top of the tulip stamp, so that it lines up with the grid too. I promise it does, even if the picture doesn't look like it.

Clear as mud? haha.... Give it a try. 

Then I center the bottom row of tulips, then I stamp the others in to fill it in. I think I need a hair more practice to space them a bit better, but either way, good results! 

Windmills

I don't know why, but for as long as I can remember, I have loved windmills. I don't know if I've ever even seen one that looks like this, but two towns over has a row of much less beautiful and much less story-book-ish wind turbine things. That doesn't really count tho, haha. Anyway, you can probably imagine how fast I placed the order for the bundle that includes a stamp and two dies for a lovely, old windmill! Seriously, I saw the cover of the new mini and knew what was coming first, regardless of what else might be inside! 

This card is going to someone special in just a few weeks. Rows of tulips heading to a windmill? Yep, that's about perfect. So to give you a quick break in between little girls chasing butterflies, here's today's card: 

Supplies:
Stamps: Tulip Fields, Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, Cinnamon Cider, Smoky Slate
Paper: Gorgeous Grape & Basic White card stocks
Accessories: Lovely Labels Pick A Punch, Dimensionals

Blue Birthday Flowers

I. Got. To. Staaaaamp!!!!!
Hooray!!! haha! I got three cards made in fact, and that is super exciting to me.
So today I'll start with this fun card. This one uses the latest TGIF Color Challenge, along with the sketch from Just Add Ink. The cool colors say January to me, but it won't be around long enough for a January birthday. :)
This bundled set is in the June-Dec mini, but it isn't actually retiring yet! I'm excited about that because it's such a pretty bundle! I did use one stamp from the coordinating set and you can barely tell- it's a distressing image, hidden behind the bouquet. And then, I am in serious need of some current birthday words...!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts, Nature's Harvest
Ink: Pool Party, Misty Moonlight, Whisper White
Paper: Pool Party, Basic White, Misty Moonlight, Just Jade
Accessories: Flowers For Every Season ribbon, Harvest Dies, Circle Dies, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

And then I'll have something else new for tomorrow! 

We Create Blog Hop: Gratitude and Thanks

And Halloween is over and November has arrived!
A new month means a new blog hop, so here we are! This time we're focusing on gratitude and thanksgiving, which is a close runner up for my second-favorite time of year. If you've never tried it, it is true- being aware of what you are thankful for makes a huge difference in your attitude and mood! 

I am planning to send at least one thank you card each week in November to tell someone I appreciate them. I hope to do more, but October was a doozy of a month at my house and I don't need to set myself up for failure, haha! This is a happy goal, not a frustrating one! So here is a thank you card to get me going!
I used the color combination from the latest Color Throwdown and this card can be sent to anyone! I chose to use a lot less leaves this time because while the trees in my own front yard are still mostly green, a lot of trees have already shed their leaves for the season around here. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso & Cajun Craze card stocks 
Accessories: Linen Thread, Inspiring Canopy Dies, Bark Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, big shot (retired)

Now hop on over to Kimberley's blog using the button below. Then hop the rest of the way thru (we're a small group, it won't take long) and let us know what you think! 

We Create Blog Hop November 2021 Blog Roll
Kimberley Morris
Tricia Butts
Cheryl Curtis
Tanya Harvey <-- ME

In November, my family has a tradition of writing down things we're thankful for each day on a paper leaf and then sticking it on the front door as reminders. Today I am extremely thankful to live in such a beautiful corner of the world. Two weeks ago, I snapped pictures of some of my favorite little spots to observe on my daily drives, and here is one of my favorites: 

What are you thankful for today?

Dragonflies & Texture

I needed a couple birthday cards and couldn't pick a color for the dragonfly, haha, so I ended up making four similar but different cards and two of them became birthday cards! I used the current Freshly Made Sketch for the layout. I used the pack of In Good Taste DP and a variety of patterns, some are the flip side of another. I really like all the "textures" and shades in that DP. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Dragonfly Garden, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Mossy Meadow, Soft Succulent 
Paper: Soft Succulent & Basic White card stocks, In Good Taste DP
Accessories: Dragonfly Punch, Dimensionals 

Supplies:
Stamps: Dragonfly Garden, Counting Sheep

Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather
Paper: Highland Heather & Basic White card stocks, In Good Taste DP
Accessories: Dragonfly Punch, Dimensionals 

Supplies:
Stamps: Dragonfly Garden, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Blushing Bride
Paper: Blushing Bride & Basic White card stocks, In Good Taste DP
Accessories: Dragonfly Punch, Dimensionals 

Supplies:
Stamps: Dragonfly Garden, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Misty Moonlight, Balmy Blue
Paper: Balmy Blue & Basic White card stocks, In Good Taste DP
Accessories: Dragonfly Punch, Dimensionals 

Which color do you like best? I think three are going in the mail tomorrow...! 

Thinking of You

Happy Monday!
Today's card quickly became one of my favorites! I used the latest As You See It challenge for this one. I chose a stamp with grass, I used the only current embossing folder I have (I have got to change that!), I used a bit of gingham ribbon and twine, and some Crumb Cake to give a nature-y feel to the card. And I had someone in mind for it to go off to this morning!  

Supplies:
Stamps: Beautiful Moments, Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Memento Black, Flirty Flamingo, So Saffron Marker

Stampin' Blends: Light Melon Mambo, Bronze, Dark Petal Pink
Paper: Flirty Flamingo, Crumb Cake, Basic White card stocks
Accessories: Gingham Ribbon, Linen Thread, Bark embossing folder, Dimensionals, Big Shot

Send out a card this week! Really, really! 

CAS Lighthouse

Today's is a card that worked better in my head than in reality... but sometimes that's okay because other people like stuff I don't necessarily like, haha! Additionally, I had a struggle getting a picture of the card! Our skies are full of smoke from wildfires in neighboring states, which creates a yellowy-orangy light on everything, and it's a lot darker outside than usual. This was the best of many, and it's still wonky... 

This time I used the color combo from the CAS Colours & Sketches blog, along with the sketch from the Fusion Challenge. I thought the colors worked nicely with the sketch to make a sea and a sky.... I just need some kind of wave stamp.... lol! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Sailing Home, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy

Paper: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, In Good Taste DP

Accessories: Smooth Sailing Dies, White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Big Shot (retired)

What are you making this week? And who will you send it to? 

Autumn Trees

This is the first card I've made all month long! Aaaahhhh! But I love how it turned out so okay. haha... I used the color inspiration from Just Add Ink which is a gorgeous autumnal palette, and autumn is my favorite so there you go. 
It was really a very simple card to make. I tapped the D block on my Bermuda Bay ink pad til I felt it was fully inked. Then I sprayed a bit of water at it, and let it drip a bit, then stamped it right on the Vanilla card stock. The tree and leaves are die cut, the word strip is stamped, that's all! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired Thoughts
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Cajun Craze
Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso card stocks
Accessories: Inspiring Canopy dies, D Block, Big Shot (retired)

A Color Challenge

Happy Friday!! 
While looking for challenges to make cards with, I knew immediately I would use this brand new stamp set with the Color Throwdown color combo. This isn't a set I've seen other stamp bloggers use but I absolutely loved it. I take pictures of the sunset at least a few times a week, and sunrays are one of my favorites. (see below. hahaha....) I also love rainy days, and I send a lot of thinking of you style cards, so this set will get a lot of mileage. It also works perfectly for the Global Design Project theme of "sky".

For the color challenge, I used two different grays to add depth, and two different yellows. I sponged a bit of Daffodil Delight to lightly fill in between the rays and in the corner where the rays are coming from.

Supplies:
Stamps: After the Storm

Ink: Smoky Slate, Gray Granite, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Memento Black

Paper: Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Basic White card stocks

Accessories: Stamping Sponge

But I also wanted to play with this other new bundle, Inspired Thoughts. I am a sucker for tree sets, haha. This was the first order my mom got from the new catalog and I hadn't gotten to play with it yet. I noticed that little circle die could be a yellowy moon (or sun) behind the trees and hey! This same color combo would work great with this set too!! Yeay for new toys! There's hardly any stamping, but I really like how this one turned out too. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight card stocks

Accessories: Inspiring Canopy dies, Dimensionals 

It's fun to see the versatility of things. What have you made this week? 
Oh, I almost forgot- I was going to share my favorite sunrise/sunrays picture that has been my phone's background photo since August.