Paisley Love

I had an absolutely wonderful day. I was able to spend it doing crafty things with my cousin and her new baby girl. I had so much fun chatting with someone over the age of three, a girl and in person! In the seven and a half hours I spent with them I made two cards, and this one was one of them-I was also able to remember why I love scrapbooking and stamping again-to be able to share my creations with others and love what I am creating. It was a good day for my stamping mojo and my sanity. The colors used were based off the latest Color Throwdown Challenge, as well as for the Flourish Challenge to "feel the love".

Supplies Used: SU Paisley Background, SU Regal Rose and Really Rust Watercolor Crayons and Markers, SU Chocolate Chip and Really Rust Cardstock (sorry, no Dusty Durango on hand), SU Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Hodgepodge Hardware, SU Rubons, Fiskar's Corner Rounder Punch, Mini Mister

The Gem Dog

Having visited each of the design team member's for the Jacksonbelle Blog Hop I was inspired by the many patterned papers most of them used in ONE card. Now its been a while since I have purchased a whole coordinating paper pack so I don't have any on hand, but still I wanted to stretch myself and try the same thing. I found two patterns in the colors for the Flourish's Timeless Tuesday Challenge (use black, yellow and a color of your choice) and used the Jacksonbelle Blog Hop sketch to create this modern (?) card. The dog stamp was a bit more intricate than I anticipated so working it with was a challenge as well. The gems on the dog are colored with pencils and then topped with crystal effects. I also wanted to keep the general card flat enough so that I don't have to pay for extra postage should I decide to mail it out.

Here's the Goods: Yellow and Black Cardstock, DCWV Patterned Paper, Me & My Big Ideas DPS, Inkadinkadoo Gem Stone Dogs Stamp Set, SU Birthday Best, Black Stazon Ink, SU Watercolor Pencils, Crystal Effects, Black Brads

Based Off an Almost Christmas Wedding

There is a post on the Flourish website asking viewers to create a card based off their favorite flower, what they are calling Floral Finesse, and a chance to win some of their new stamp sets. I'm not so sure that the poinsettia is my favorite flower, but it does bring some very good memories from my wedding almost eight years ago. We had an Almost Christmas Wedding, and our church flowers were pink and white poinsettias. Lovely, lovely time of the year to get married. I found this image of a pink poinsettia and loved the brightness of the colors and how the pink played off the green. My card is based off these two bright colors and some black to ground the card. The sketch is loosely based off one at Clean & Simple.
Here's the Goods: DSP from Kelly Panacci, Black Cardstock, Whisper White SU Cardstock, CTMH Treaure Life Stamp Set, SU Small Sayings Stamp Set, Checked Ribbon, Black Button, Gable Green and YoYou Yellow SU Ink, Stazon Black Ink

Happiness Always

This clean and simple card was inspired by this beautiful jewelry pendent and was created for the SCS Inspiration Challenge and Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge to keep it clean and simple. I'm thinking this card would either make a nice feminine birthday card or even a wedding/anniversary card.

Here's the Goods: Soft Sky and white cardstock, Black and White Embossing Powder, Fiskars Border scissors, SU Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Pop-up Dots, Happy Harmony SU Stamp Set, CTMH Treasure Life Stamp Set

Pink ThankYou

I loved the various shades of pink from this scarf for the Etsy Inspired Challenge and tried to replicate Barefoot Weaver's view of texture and look of windows with the patterned paper and paper edge distressing. I chose a layout from Divine Coffee Break Designs and decided to use a Thank You sentiment for the latest Flourish's Timeless Tuesday. Making this card was a nice and quick break from the masculine ones I have been creating as of late.
Here's the Goods: DCWV patterned paper, SU Rose Red cardstock and ink, Heidi Grace Thank You stamp set, Flower and Brad, SU Paper Distresser

Colored Leaves Birthday

This card was based on a previous Flourish's Timeless Tuesday Challenge #40 in which we were to combine a colored image, texture, and any shades of neutrals we wanted. The texture was created with a sadly often unused Paper Crimper and Edge Distresser and the I colored the leaves with a blender pen. I'm hoping that I didn't add too much "pretties" so the recipient can give this gift to a distinguished gentleman (see my previous post on my Masculine Mission)...
Here's the Goods: Paper Crimper, Chestnut Roan Colorbox Chalk Ink, SU Green Galore and Old Olive Ink, Blender Pen, Making Memories Button, Floss, Paper Edge Distresser

Blue Butterfly

Navy blue, a bit of silver and Kraft? For some reason, I went with it (probably because Mrs. V. really likes navy blue, I already had Kraft out from my last card and the silver? well, that's the part I'm not so sure about...) The butterfly was stamped on linen white and then sponged with chalk. I love scallops, I think they add just the right amount of grace and sophistication. I think the overall design would have been a bit more dynamic had I used some dimension, but I did have to consider that this will be mailed across seven different states. The layout is based on the Timeless Tuesday sketch at Flourishes. I love finding challenges for the inspiration, but I so would love to win sometime at Flourishes just to have one of their awesome sets.

Here's the goods: CTMH Butterfly Wings, Heidi Grace Thank You, SU Kraft Cardstock, White Linen Paper, Silver Paper, Navy Cardstock, SU Chalks, SU Corner Rounder Punch (to create the scallops)

Just in Time

Oh how fun it is when babies are on the way! This is a bag and frame combo to go along with all the baby cards I've recently made. The mother is doing a "wild" theme for the nursery so I'm hoping that she can use the frame to house a most adorable picture of her little one. I'm just in time for the Timeless Tuesday Challenge at Flourishes which inspired me to make the bag to house the gifts.
Here's the Goods: Altered mdf frame Michael's Craft Store, Mindy's Zoo stamps,Bazill textured paper, Chestnut Roan Ink, various Earth Elements SU inks and sponge daubers.

Raindrops And/On Roses

You know that song from the Sound of Music-"Favorite Things"? It makes for an awesome challenge and Flourishes has done that. My inspiration came from the line Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens. My sister, the veterinarian, has all the kitten sets at her place, so...here's my card using the only rose set I have, which is SU's Both Way Blossoms. I tried for a shabby chic look with the sketch from Card Patterns by using some paper from K&Company and distressing the edges. There is faux stitching around the panels as well. The roses were spritzed with So Saffron and Rose Red before stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and covered with Crystal Effects. The "raindrops," although not exactly ON the roses, are RainDots that have been distressed a bit with Chocolate Chip ink before adhering.