TCC173 Shabby Chic

Hi there, stampers!  Today I have a card for the new Card Concept challenge, and the challenge gave me a chance to do a shabby-chic card! They're just about my favorite style to make but they do take me a wee bit longer, so I don't make them as often as I would like to!  Anyway, here's Julie's prompt:

Aren't those pillows gorgeous?  I am a pillow nut, I have tons on my couch, but then we have to take them off when we all want to sit on it, LOL!  Anyway, I pulled out a couple of old SU sets, Freehand Florals from W+9, and some Prima Farm Sweet Farm papers to create my shabby chic/vintage card for this week:

I started with the sketch from Sunday Stamps:

 

then layered on some of the papers to a Sahara Sand base.  I stamped the birdcage from Nature Walk in Stazon Black, then added a few more elements from the same set to the background; the flower in Blushing Bride, the "number" in Sahara Sand, and I also stamped from script from French Foliage:

The flowers are from W+9, stamped in Blushing Bride and Merry Merlot along with Sahara Sand foliage.  The sentiment, heat embossed in white, is from Our Daily Bread Design Mini Tag Sentiments.  I diecut the circle and the banner with the new Stylish Shapes dies that will be coming out next month!  Love them!  Finally, I diecut a little wren from Sahara Sand and added a little color and shading to him so he could perch just below the bird cage.  I also added some Black & White gingham ribbon for fun!

I didn't stamp anything on the inside; I will leave it blank until I know for what occasion I'll be using it!  Now, I hope this gorgeous sets of pillows will whet your stamping appetite to come play with us.  Just be sure to tell us your stamping "style" (you can see all the styles on the Card Concept's blog); we can't wait to see what you create!  Thanks for visiting today!

A little arcade game action!

Enjoy your day and be blessed!

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.  I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:9-10

Project Details—All Products SU! Unless Otherwise Specified
Stamps	Nature Walk (ret), French Foliage (ret), Mini Tag Sentiments (Our Daily Bread Designs), Free Hand Florals (W+9)
Card stock & Papers	Basic White, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Farm Sweet Farm DSP (Prima)
Ink	Stazon Black, Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Craft White
Accessories	Black & White Gingham Ribbon, White Embossing Powder
Tools	Big Shot, Circle Dies (ret), Stylish Shapes Dies, Birds & Blooms Dies (ret), Free Hand Floral Dies (W+9)

RRCB157 Vintage Sketch

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  It's time for a new RetroRubber challenge, where we encourage you to use your older stamps!  We have a sketch for you today:

What a great sketch...lots of layers to play with!  As I was trying to "clean" my craft room, I remembered I hadn't played with these two sets from 2010 and 2011:  French Foliage and Nature Walk.  I also haven't done a vintage-style card for a while, so here we go:

I started with some vintage ephemera background papers, probably from My Mind's Eye, but they were in my scrap bin, so I don't know the maker for sure; I stamped images on a Naturals White panel in Stazon Black, Crumb Cake and Sahara Sand, and lightly stenciled a pattern over them:

I added some "splatters", a couple of honeycomb diecuts in silver glimmer paper and a tattered organdy rose, which also had some glitter adhered to it.  I stamped the bird once on the panel and again on a scrap, then watercolored and fussy-cut him out:

The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Greetings; I did a bit of sponging as well to add to the shabby, vintage look.  It felt good to use all these sweet images and I always love a vintage-styled creation!  

I hope you'll play along with our RetroRubber sketch this week; just remember to use stamps at least a year old, and tell us the approximate age!  Thanks for popping in today!  

Three fun-lovin' girls!!!

Enjoy your day and be blessed!

Project Details—All Products SU! Unless Otherwise Specified
Stamps	Itty Bitty Greetings, Nature Walk (2011, ret), French Foliage (2010 ret), Gorgeous Grunge (2013, ret), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (2006, ret)
Card stock & Papers	Naturals White (ret), Misc DSPs, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink	Stazon Black, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede
Accessories	Dimensionals, Organdy Rose (ret), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (ret)
Tools	Big Shot, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Stitched Shapes Dies, Detailed Bee Dies (ret), Sponge Daubers, Aquapainter, Basic Pattern Decorative Mask, Blending Brushes

TCC132 Vintage Sympathy

Happy April, peeps!  I was happy to turn that calendar page from March, how about you?  Hopefully brighter days ahead!  It's time for another Card Concept challenge:

In the midst of the corona virus stuff, a sweet lady at my church lost her sister (not virus-related).  I thought the photo inspiration above had some nice elements to create a Shabby/Vintage montage sympathy card:

I pulled some vintage-style papers from my plethora of 6x6 pads, and did some collage-style stamping with a few oldie but goodie stamps!  I also had a piece of inked/embossed Crumb Cake cardstock that I cut in pieces so I could use the Sketch Saturday sketch:

I stamped some elements from Nature's Walk and French Foliage on my background papers, and stamped the bird on a separate piece and fussy-cut it out.  Everything was sponged and distressed, then I added a faux button, some linen thread and a wee little bit of lace. I finished it off with a couple of metallic gold pearls:

The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Greetings, die cut with a banner die.  I hope my friend likes it! 

Be sure to pop over to The Card Concept blog to see how the other designers were inspired!  You've got two weeks to play, so we can't wait to see what you create!  Just be sure to tell us what "style" you're using!  Thanks for visiting today--enjoy it and be blessed!

Getting in some reading!

Project Details—All Products SU! Unless Otherwise Specified
Stamps	Itty Bitty Greetings, Nature Walk, French Foliage (both ret)
Card stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz,  French Flea Market DSP (Photo Play), Oliver Lost & Found DSP (My Mind's Eye)
Ink	Crumb Cake, Balmy Blue, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Accessories	Crochet Trim, Gold Metallic Pearls, Old Olive Linen Thread, Dimensionals
Tools	Big Shot, Coastal Weave Embossing Folder, Blue Gel Pen, Sponges, Button Die (ret), Acrylic Ruler (to distress edges), Banner Dies (Nestabilities)

RRCB131 Eggs Eggs Eggs

Happy Tuesday, peeps!  Time for another Retro Rubber challenge, and we have a fun tic-tac-toe grid this week!  Check it out:

I chose to do the left diagonal down:  eggs, diecut and patterned paper!  So here we go!  I used a set from 2000 called Soft as a Feather!  It was one of my favorite sets long ago, but I sold it!  Luckily, I found it online and bought it again!  I paired it with Nature Walk from 2011:

I stamped the nest and eggs from Soft as a Feather on Very Vanilla cardstock with Early Espresso ink and colored them with Blends and Copics, then fussy cut the eggs and popped them up on mini dimensionals:

I used the Stitched Shapes circle die to cut it out.  I then stamped two rows of eggs from Nature walk and colored them as well, did a row of double stitched embossing on them and mounted the panel on a piece of retired DSP (can't remember the name!!!) and ran the whole panel through the Big Shot with the largest Stitched Rectangle die:

I used my Stamparatus to stamp the sentiment, mounted everything on a Soft Sky card base and added a linen thread bow. Finally I popped up the nest image and added a birthday sentiment on the inside.  I love the soft look of these eggs....and it's not an Easter card, LOL!

I hope you'll play with our Retro Rubber challenge this week...remember that your stamps have to be at least a year old, and you must tell us their approximate age!  Can't wait to see what you create!  Enjoy your day and be blessed!

Project Details—All Products SU! Unless Otherwise Specified
Stamps	Soft as a Feather, Nature Walk (both ret), Stitched All Around
Card stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Soft Sky (ret), DSP ???
Ink	Early Espresso
Accessories	Linen Thread, Dimensionals
Tools	BIg Shot, Stitched Shapes Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Stitching Lines Dies (Ellen Hutson), Blends

IB66 Speckled Eggs

Happy Thursday, peeps!  Hope your week is going well....I haven't felt very crafty lately, my craft room has been a disaster so hopefully in cleaning it up I might find my mojo!  Today is Inspired By day, and I have to admit that this is one of my favorite challenge photos ever.  I nudged my mojo along enough to make this:

And here is Laurel's prompt:

Aren't they pretty?  And when I saw this photo, I knew just what I wanted to use!  I had this SU stamp Soft as a Feather many years ago and sold it....and then regretted it!  I found it again on ebay a while back and this is the first time I have "re-used" it!  I began by painting a page from an old book with some white craft paint, then stamping the nest on it with Early Espresso ink.  I stamped the eggs from the same set, along with some others from Nature's Walk and colored them with Pool Party Blends, then cut them out and popped them up:

I diecut the book paper with a Spellbinder's die (thanks, Claire) and mounted it on a Pool Party card that I ran through the Woodgrain embossing folder, then sponged with Crumb Cake ink.  (Since this folder really weakens the fibers of the paper, I adhered a piece of cardstock to the inside left side of the card to stabilize it.)  Finally, I added a linen thread bow, some tiny punched hearts, and stamped a sentiment and some "stitch" lines, both from Close to My Heart sets:

I left the inside blank; it might be an encouragement card, a sympathy card or an Easter card....I haven't decided yet!  I hope you'll play along with our pretty challenge this week at Inspired By too!

I saw directions to make a little Easter basket in the latest BH&G, so I thought I would try it out with Cassidy....and it was a bust!  It was a little too fussy for her, although she really gave it a good try! 

She was relieved when I told her she didn't have to finish it, LOL! (Grammy even thought it was a challenge, LOL!)

Enjoy your day and be blessed!

Project Details—All Products SU! Unless Otherwise Specified
Stamps	Soft as a Feather (ret), Nature Walk (ret), Stitched Borders, Inspired Words (both Close to My Heart)
Card stock & Papers	Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Soft Sky (ret), page from an old book, Naturals White
Ink	Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories	Linen Thread
Tools	Big Shot, Woodgrain EF, Curved Matting Dies (Spellbinders), Triple Heart Punch (ret), White Craft Paint, SU Blends, Sponges

Vintage Nature Walk

Happy Wednesday, peeps!  We survived the big storm...it wasn't really much of a blizzard, a few inches of snow and lots of sleet!  Gave me some time to spend in my craft room, though!  I created a vintage sort of card, one I haven't done for a while, and it incorporated three challenges:

The Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration sketch challenge, the Retro Rubber challenge and the SU Only Challenge of Things That Fly!

I pulled out one of my favorite stamp sets, Nature Walk (January 2011) and paired it with Tiny Tags (January 2010) for my vintage creation today:

I don't remember the name of this DSP, but I am pretty sure it came out around the same time as Nature Walk; I added some additional "flying" things, stamped directly on to the DSP with Marina Mist ink, in the form of bees and butterflies:

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I stamped the bird with Versamark and Marina Mist ink, then heat-embossed it with clear embossing powder so I could watercolor him a wee bit with Marina Mist ink.  I did some diecutting to mount him on a stitched circle and scalloped square, then added my embellishments:  leaves, paper button, little tag, burlap, lace and stitched ribbon trims!

Remember this button die?  It's one old die I will never part with!  I cut out the button three times and adhered them together, then stamped it with the woodgrain image from Timeless Textures...it really looks like wood!  I did the same thing with the Flourishes leaves:

I left in the inside blank; I could use this as a get well or a birthday card, or just about anything!  Love this little bird!

We went out sledding yesterday but the wind was pretty wicked and raw, so we didn't stay out too long, but we got in a few good rides! Cass & Dana almost ran into a tree, but it was still fun! At least we got a chance to use the new sled I just bought to replace the one I broke last time I went sledding, LOL!

Enjoy your day!

Project Details--All Products Stampin Up Unless Otherwise Noted
Stamps	Nature Walk, Tiny Tags, Timeless Textures
Card stock & Papers	Naturals White, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, DSP (ret)
Ink	Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Versamark
Accessories	Burlap Ribbon, Stitched Marina Mist Ribbon (ret), Crochet Trim (ret), Linen Thread
Tools	Big Shot, Button Die (ret), Flourish Dies, Stitched Shapes Dies, Layering Squares Dies, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Tiny Tag Punch

Stamp Ink Paper 80 - Get Well Bird

Happy Tuesday, peeps!  I am thrilled that I've been asked to be on the Stamp Ink Paper DT on a permanent basis!  Today's challenge is cardmaker's choice!  

Honestly, this was more difficult than I imagined, because I have SO MANY favorites!!  My favorite on  any given day might change with the season, my mood or the holiday!  Anyway, I decided in the end on this sweet bird from Red Lead, along with some other images I randomly stamped on some pretty Pool Party-hued paper from Fancy Pants:

It wasn't hard to choose my favorite color, and I love birds, and I love collage stamping, and I love shabby ribbon, so the rest was easy!  There are feathers, eggs, lace and postmarks, all stamped in various shades.....the eggs (Nature Walk) were colored with some ink and a blender pen, cut out and popped up:

I added a tag, also lightly stamped with a honeycomb design:

and the inside sentiment was stamped over the egg image as well!  I never have enough get well cards, so this is beginning my stash!  I'll have the supply list at the bottom!

Just thought I would share a photo from the weekend get-together with John's family!  Here are some amazing women that I am blessed to have in my family:

Me, John's sister Mimi, John's sister-in-law Colleen, and John's stepmother, Trish!  Mimi is a great hostess and we had a wonderful brunch together.  And here are a few of the guys...they seem to be deep in discussion, probably solving the world's problems:

John's BIL Charlie, his stepfather Bob, John, and Dana's boyfriend Wayne!  I think the girls were having more fun than the guys, though, LOL!

Enjoy your day and thanks for popping in!

Project Details
Stamps	Nature Walk, French Foliage, (both retired SU), Butterfly Basics, Delicate Details (new SAB), Trendy Feathers (Stamplorations), Bird (Red Lead), Hero Arts CL342 (Inside sentiment), Our Daily Bread Designs Mini Tag Sentiments (Tag sentiment)
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Basic Gray, Park Bench (Fancy Pants)
Ink	Basic Black, Basic Gray, Pool Party, Soft Sky
Accessories	Hand-dyed shabby seam binding, black & white baker's twine
Tools	Big Shot, old Cuttlebug tag die, dimensionals, sponges