A Fox Sitting

Foxes are plentiful in Wisconsin and I've had the joy of seeing the beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, however I don't think I've ever seen one sitting!

I created a card with the Simon Says Stamp: Wednesday Challenge: Create with Critters and the Lawnscaping Challenge #122: Watercoloring in mind. 

 

I started by free watercoloring a muted background of oranges and yellows onto a white piece of cardstock. After letting it dry, I stamped the cute fox from Lawn Fawn's Into the Woods and then after a bit of masking, the log from Critters in the Forest. I then watercolored each, the fox with heavy pigment, the log with light pigment, and then stamped a sentiment from Critters in the Forest. I embossed my card base with Lil' Inkers Designs' Cover Up Die: Stitched Woodgrain and then attached a strip of orange pinked paper and some moss fabric tape and the main image. I finished the card with a wrapped bow of May Arts Natural Burlap String.

The Ribbon Resource:: Cardmaker Magazine Hop (Take 2)

Welcome to The Ribbon Resource and Cardmaker Magazine Valentine's Themed Hop! (This is Take Two, so I apologize if you've seen this post before, we went up a bit earlier than expected so I'm reposting.)  You should have arrived from Jennifer Davey's amazing Blog if you are following the hop. Did you know there are prizes? Refer to the bottom of my post for the details!

I have a two cards featuring the same line of ribbon and the same composition, but I love how one is soft and sweet and the other is classical and romantic.

For the soft and sweet card, I die cut a heart from white cardstock and lined it with The Ribbon Resource's 5/8" Adhesive Rosettes in Pink. So easy to do because the roses come backed with adhesive! I snipped away the overhang and then adhered the ribbon-lined heart to the stamped card base.

For the classical, romantic card I used the same techniques and steps as the soft and sweet card, but changed it up by using the 5/8" Adhesive Rosettes in Red and a different stamped sentiment. The description for the Rosettes is perfect: "The 5/8 inch red rosettes have an acrylic glue backing that allows you to stick it on every kind of surface, from cloth, to plastic, to clothing." It literally is the perfect ribbon for any use for Valentine's Day!

Your next stop is: Kim Klinkovsky!

Two people can win a prize of a $25 gift cards to The Ribbon Resource! More details on entering can be found on The Ribbon Resource's Blog.

Here's the complete line-up if you need:

• CardMaker
• Amy Rysavy
• DeeDee Catron
• Carisa Zglobicki
• Gini Williams Cagle
• Jenifer Cowles
• Dawn Lusk
• Jennifer Davey
• Karen Baker
• Kim Klinkovsky
• Karen Hanson
• Latrice Murphy
• Linda Beeson
• Lori Williams
• Michele Kosciolek
• Lisa Silver
• Rebecca VanDeMark
• Tami Mayberry
• Pamela Haskin
• Terri Burson
• Jen Shears
• Tracy McLennon
• The Ribbon Resource

Stamp sets featured: Lil' Inkers Designs Modern Mehndi Stamps, Lil' Inker Designs Sending You Stamps

Watercolored Roses

I was inspired by two challenges to make this card. Challenge is a good word to use, as this was my second attempt!

I knew I wanted to use the color inspiration picture at the Fusion Challenge, and I was intrigued to try out some watercoloring techniques for The Lawnscaping Challenge #122. I used Lawn Fawn's Flutter By Stamp Set and stamped a cluster of roses and leaves in the corner, similar to the picture. I then bordered the watercolor with bright yellow. I then mounted this panel to a green cardstock base, and added a strip of woodgrain and white paper. I finished the card with a bannered sentiment and some May Arts Natural Burlap String.

Here's a close up of the watercoloring. When I think of Lawn Fawn Stamps I think of bright, fun, clean designs, so it was neat to branch them out a bit!

It takes me a while to come up with designs now, and I feel as though my designs and techniques are still from when I started card-making...some day I will tell my story for the reason for my break, but I need to gather my thoughts first. Thank you all that have stopped by!

May Arts:: Retro Rose Hair Pin

I adore PinUp in the Park, the day that I get to dress up in the styles from the 1940s and take pictures with my cousins. Please stop by for a tutorial up over at the May Arts Blog for a Retro Rose Hair Pin. I want to make more for next year, they are sooooo easy!

Doves

There is something about seeing two mourning does side by side perched on a telephone wire that melts my heart. These creatures know what it is like to find someone that they'd like to be with for the rest of their lives...

Inspired by the latest Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge to create something "new", I worked with my Wplus9's Love Birds and Folk Art Dies to make a wedding card to congratulate a couple on their new life together as a couple. I chose a sentiment from Lil' Inker Design's Sending Pretty Mail Stamp Set and the "wire" is May Art's Black Burlap String.

Let's Shell-ebrate

Another card "just because"...for me, it is a reason to celebrate!

I was inspired by the January Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge to use four colors on a card (neutrals don't count). I used the technique I saw on Jen's blog to create the orange background, then matted the rectangle to purple cardstock and adhered that all to a white card base. I stamped one sentiment onto a die cut banner in rose cardstock and then finished the card with a fussy cut green turtle and punny sentiment as well as some rose colored enamel dots. The images and sentiments are from Paper Smooches Party Posse stamp set. Something was still missing so to tie the cute artwork from the turtle in with the entire design and make everything "pop", I outlined all other elements in black. I like it better.

Other products mentioned: Lil' Inkers Anytime Tags 2 Die Set and Stitched Mats: Rectangles.

Silver Fox

Well, here I am, my first challenge card...really...to be honest, my first card "just because" in close to three years!

I stamped, fussy cut and colored the cute fox into a silver fox (from Into the Woods by Lawn Fawn) as well as the scarf from Lawn Fawn's Frosty Friends and assembled him onto a white card base that has been stamped with a Lawn Fawn sentiment and snowflakes.

I was inspired by the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch #154 and the current Lawnscaping Challenge: Winter Wonderland. Thank you for the inspiration!

The Ribbon Resource:: 2016 Design Team

No project to feature today, but just a little exciting announcement for me. I'm honored to have been chosen to stay on for another term designing for The Ribbon Resource, featuring May Arts Ribbon. There is the standard ribbon in literally thousands of designs, colors and widths, but they also feature amazing Baker's Twine and Burlap String, Pearls and Raffia, just call out a few of my favorite extras. Their ribbon simply is the best, and I'm swimming with additional ideas and projects to do for this year!

Please stop on by The Ribbon Resource Blog for the full reveal of the design team. Of course, there are prizes too! There will be three sets of prize packs:  2 - 5 yard rolls of ribbon, winner's choice!

The Ribbon Resource:: Layered Sheer Card

There's just something about the Sheer Ribbon Line available at The Ribbon Resource that makes my heart melt. It is perfect for big projects, wrapping gifts, and cards! There are so many colors and shades available in this line as well. I have a quick tutorial over at The Ribbon Resource Blog featuring a cool way to use this beautiful ribbon, please stop on by!

The Ribbon Resource:: Winter Wonderfland Ribbon Bow Wreath

Right before the holidays, a wreath I made featuring the The Ribbon Resource's Silk and Sheer Ribbon and the ribbon bow method went up over at The Ribbon Resource. It's one of my most favorite ribbon-y creations yet!

I  hope you and yours had a very happy holiday season! I intend to craft more this year and visit your sites featuring your lovely creations more this year too...those are good resolutions, right?!