Shabby Sympathy

Wow, we woke up to rain this morning---lots of nice, soft falling rain!  We needed it!  I actually got some housework done and found a little stamping time.  The Sugar Creek Hollow challenge #20 is to make a sympathy card; we always need them.  I pulled out Fan Fair DP (such vintage yumminess), Blessings from Heaven, and Papaya Collage:

  

I also used the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 264:

and the color challenge of pink, navy and my choice (rose) from Our Creative Corner:

I just used the elements from the Papaya collage set and stamped them in Primrose Petals and Midnight Muse on VV cardstock and cut them out, adding some pearls, glitter, seam binding and lace:

 

I realized (too late) that my seam binding doesn’t exactly match my DP…..oh well!  I included a Bible verse on the inside along with elements from the set, stamped off once:

I know this is mean…..but this is how Cassidy awoke this morning, and she HATES to have her hair combed or brushed:

She is feeling better, despite the look on her face!  Enjoy your day!

ColourQ 144 & Sketch Frenzy Friday

 

Happy Fourth of July eve, everyone!  Arielle has a patriotic color theme for us today:

You can see that patriotic colors can be used for lots of other items as well---isn’t this dress so pretty?!  For my card, I used a new set, Bootiful Occasions, along with the sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday:

and here is my simple little card:

 

I wouldn’t say this was my most original card---I think my mojo  went on vacation and forgot to return!  I will keep plugging along and hope it makes an appearance again!  I used the new Chevron embossing folder; stamped my Calpyso Coral boot in Poppy Parade, and stamped “celebrate” from Fabulous Phrases in Brocade Blue on a little banner from Itty Bitty Banners.  I added another banner in some “denim” DP and a piece of denim ribbon under the sentiment, as well as some star brads and red rhinestones for some kickin’ boots:

I did cut the sentiment apart from the boot, and I’ll stamp that on the inside:  “Kick up yer heels!”  Cute!  I hope this will give you some inspiration to create your own special card or project, and share it with us on the ColourQ blog!  There are some amazing creations there!!!  Be sure to stop by and give the designers some love!

We had a lovely weather day yesterday and Cassidy expended a LOT of energy pushing her little toy through a puddle on the driveway (made by yours truly---a watering can of water is a wonderful thing!):

 

 

 

SSSC259

 

Sneaking in here with another quick little post today; I needed some thank you cards, and I just loved the Stampin 411 sketch this week:

I stuck to the sketch literally, using the one of the bolder-imaged sheets from the new Floral District DP.  I usually tend to use smaller prints, but I really liked this bold one once I started playing around with it:

I used flowers from Itty Bitty Bits and popped them up; the sentiment is from Tiny Tags, and it is topped off (or maybe I should say “bottomed off”) with a pretty stitched Daffodil Delight bow.  EASY, fun, cute sketch!

Yesterday we had a nice, soft steady rain.  I was happy because our garden needed it, and I wouldn’t have to water my new hanging basket I got on Saturday:

Isn’t that amazing?  A local Amish market was selling it for a reasonable price, too!  THIS is what it looked like this morning when I went outside:

It was literally resting on the ground!  I guess the water soaked it so much and the ground was so wet, it just bent over!!!  Thanks for visiting today!!

SSC256 Graduation

 

Popping in quickly with a graduation card I made for my nephew; it uses the sketch from Stampin 411, which I turned on its side, and a retired set called Go, Graduate, that my friend Maryanne let me borrow.  Here’s the sketch:

And here’s the card:

Our school colors are maroon and gold, so I used More Mustard and Cherry Cobbler for the embossed pieces; the image was colored with a blender pen and ink.  Quick & easy!  Thanks for visiting! And be sure to come back tomorrow for a fun challenge from the Paper Players!

A girl on a mission!

SSC252

I just loved the Stamping 411 sketch this week!  I love that big panel just waiting for some pretty designer paper:

I had gotten my new Summer Smooches DP but really had not had any time to play, so I pulled out one of those bright, cheerful prints to make a birthday card for a special friend:

I used markers to color the little floral image, then sprinkled them with Dazzling Diamonds; the Real Red panel was cut with the Labels Framelit and the buttons are from the Buttons #5 die. 

Here’s another little card I made using this set:

A quick simple card using Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo and Certainly Celery.   I’ll have some other cards featuring this cute set, Bright Blossoms, tomorrow!  Remember, this set is available until April 30, then you’ll have to wait to see it in the new catalog!

You’re probably sick of seeing Cassidy “reading”, but she finds lots of places to do it, even if the book is sideways:

Thanks for visiting today!

Paper Players 85

Hi everyone!  It's Sunday and the Paper Players have a lovely theme challenge for you today!  Jaydee is our hostess, and she's chosen:

There could be any number of ideas you could do for this challenge! Be creative!  I chose to use this little lamb and Easter greeting, as well as the sketch 245 from Stamping 411:

And here is my fun, fresh, springy creation:

I stamped some fun backgrounds, popped up my little lamb and added some rickrack and a pretty crocheted flower....I think I can actually imagine that spring will be here soon!  Hope you can play with us today---gambol over to the Paper Players blog and show us your springy creation!!  We can't wait to see them!  And you can check out all the other designers' creations as well, including our new 3-month DT designers Heidi Boos and Jenn Picard, and our Guest Designer for March, Sherry Eckblad!  Welcome, ladies!

A pensive moment from my wee DGD:

As always, feel free to email me (my email address is on the right sidebar) if you have any questions!  Have a blessed day!

Sympathy SSC244, CTD181

Squeezing in another post today, so I can make the Stamping 411 deadline!  Unfortunately, we needed a sympathy card this week, and as I was looking through my DP for something appropriate, I found some beautiful papers that matched the Color Throwdown colors for this week:

I let most of the work be done by the paper....I added a couple of sentiments, some nesties & pearls, and finished it with a seam binding bow:

I used the Stamping 411 sketch for this week:

and tucked in a little sentiment under the bow:

Now, off to the mail it goes!  Edited to add:  Paper is K&Co Cut & Paste Designer pad, Naturals Ivory card base, Blush Blossom, and Certainly Celery; sentiments are from SU's Thoughts & Prayers and Verve; seam binding is from SU.  

This morning I moved this little table & chairs to our living room so that Cassidy would have a place to sit, look out the window (one of her first words was "tree"), read and play.  This set belonged to my maternal grandmother; the bottoms of many of my cousins warmed it for probably 60 years or so!

Now, another generation is putting it to good use!  Have a blessed day, everyone!

SSC243 & HSS106 & A Little Tutorial

I made a pretty little monochromatic birthday card with the Stamping 411 sketch:

and using the color block technique from the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge this week:

Here’s a closeup of the color blocking:

In the P.S. I Love You set from the mini, there’s a circular heart image, and SU has very kindly popped out the center rubber, which I saved and used as a stamp!   I inked it up with Wisteria Wonder ink, stamped once on scrap paper, then stamped on Whisper White.  I did this three times, then stamped the outline floral image from Fabulous Florets.  The rest is pretty straightforward—--an embossed background embellished with some pearls, a little  lace from my stash and a shabby bow!  A lot of people have asked how I make my shabby bows, so here is my really, really easy technique:

1. I use seam binding for my ribbon, either white that I dye with reinkers, or one of the coordinating colors from SU.  I’ll start with the pre-dyed ones.
2. Cut off a liberal amount of binding; if you’re going to make some, you might as well make a stash of it!  Wet the binding; squeeze out all the water.  Crumple it up in a ball; you can twist a rubber band around it a couple times if you like (think tie-dye), pop it in the microwave for 45-second intervals until it is completely dry.  Uncrumple it after the second drying to see how it’s progressing.  It usually takes three dryings for my microwave. 
3. Unravel it and you should have a nice crumply shabby-chic wad of seam binding!  I then just make a loopy bow and tie it with another piece of binding or some floss. 
4. If you want to hand-dye your ribbon, get a little bowl or container and place a few drops of reinker ink and a couple drops of water in it.  (Wearing gloves is helpful unless you don’t mind getting your fingers stained.)  Crumple up the seam binding, swish it around in the dye until it is the color and intensity that you want.  You may need to add more ink if necessary.  I like to start light; you can always add more, but it is difficult to take the color away!
5. Continue as in step 2; I sometimes wrap the binding in a paper towel if I’ve dyed it; this just helps you get the moisture out without making any more of a mess in the microwave!
6. To adhere my shabby bow to a card, I usually resort to my handy-dandy hot glue gun.  Sometimes it’s just quicker and I know it will stay put! 

Hope that’s helpful to you!  Remember, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me, but be sure to give me an email address to which I can respond.

Little Miss Congeniality!