Cheer on Some Spring!

I'm HOPING that this spring-like card will spur on some happy thoughts and spring-like behaviour. (I don't think the weather is ready to co-operate yet)!
I tried some sponging on a MS stencil. I LIKE it! Fast and easy. Years and years and years ago, I used to stencil onto fabric, etc. I never thought I would be doing it again, but I like this easy new version. Bonus:your card is lighter in weight if you want it to be.
I painted the magnolias with inks and then fussy-cut them. There is glimmer mist on the flowers but the photo doesn't show it. I also spritzed the stencilled area with water but you can't tell that either! LOL!
I HOPE your heart is lighter after seeing the spring colours. I know it perked me up. Thanks for stopping by. ((((Hugs)))) to anyone who needs one.

PS: go to djkardkreations if you want a more regular pick-me-up! Darnell keeps you chuckling while reading her blog. She delights you with her designs as she fractures English to make you laugh.

Materials:
Stamps: sentiment and flowers "Magnolia" by Flourishes
Inks: TH spun sugar, victorian velvet, shabby shutters, peeled paint, broken china, dusty concord, crushed olive, wild honey.
CS: SU whisper white, yellow scrap framing the sentiment.
Other stuff: sponges, MS stencil, paint brushes, doily, scissors, water mister, glimmer mist, tape gun.

Challenges:
Fusion #5: http://fusioncardchallenge.blogspot.ca/
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Paste http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Sister Act: Anything Goes http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/

Thank You Very Much Plumrose Lane!

Hello, hello! Glad you're here! Welcome! You've come in time to observe my HUGE THANK YOU to  

Plumrose Lane.   http://www.plumroselane.com/ 
I've been searching the internet, looking for help with adding and updating my blog. Putting it mildly, I'm challenged when it comes to implementing directions. I stumbled upon the Plumrose Lane website and found the tutorial (FREE) that explained how to accomplish what I needed! The explanations were simple and straightforward.  I was so happy when the directions proved to work exactly as they said! Not only that, the site owner said she was in an ongoing process to update the instructions as needed. I can't ask for more than that. Please visit as soon as you can! It's a site for "graphic designs, tutorials and treasures for creative indie souls".
I am still learning, so bear with me, okay?
Take care and thanks to all those creative souls out there who have shaped, inspired and challenged me to try my best to be the best that I can be. :)

Love You Grungely

Happy Birthday to my husband! I made him a card inspired by sistersandie at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2469397?&si=cc460 . I'm not sure if he'll like it 'cause he's a "what is that?" kinda guy. He likes high realism when he looks at pictures. I'm sure the verse inside and the "Love You" will win him over. Besides, it's the thought that counts, right? LOL! Here it is.

Stamps: Close to my Heart "Happy Forever", Stampers Anonymous/TH "Bitty Grunge", SU "Happy Birthday" (don't know which set), miscellaneous larger heart stamp

Ink: SU really red. 

Paper: SU whisper white, generic dark gray CS

Other: black and white acrylic paint, palette knife, pop dots, brad, black Sharpie.

Of all the shades of ink that I have, I do not have grey, so I tried something new and used acrylic artists paint to stamp. The thickness of the paint changed the look of how the stamp created the image. Notice the textured look. I randomly mixed the paint so that a marbled mixture was created. The shade variations don't show as well as I would have liked in the photo. The red blotches are created with SU ink. I edged the white panel and words with the black Sharpie to add a little more definition to the edges. I think the tiny hearts are nestled amongst the splatters nicely. I didn't want the card to appear too feminine. With leftover paint, I "grunged" another panel to use for an additional card sometime. 

Hints: I mixed the paint on a margerine lid and you only need a black dab less than the size of a dime. Use more white than black to create the grey shade. Don't mix thoroughly to create a marbled effect. Cover with a wet paper towel or plastic wrap to keep moist in between uses within an hour's time frame. 

Thanks for visiting! Comments are welcome and appreciated. 

Challenges entered:

Loves Rubber Stamps #86 Use Metal  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Member Gallery Splitcoast Stampers Keyword LRSBC8   http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2472042?&cat=500&ppuser=354073

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

Inky Impressions IIC #141 Try Something New 

http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.ca/

Creative Moments Challenge #33 Anything Goes

http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.ca/

Crafting By Design Birthday Challenge - theme Birthdays

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/its-birthday-challenge.html

Crafting By Design Anything Goes 

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/first-challenge-of-2014-and-anything.html

A Very Special Birthday for a 5 Year Old

Happy New Year and welcome to my page. The card I'm posting today was a labour of love for a very special five year old girl in our family. I worked on it for I hate to say how long! I have lots of trouble sometimes making decisions on colours and embellishments. Mostly I'm happy with how this turned out.
I'd like to mention that the birthday candles on the cake are from a never used yet digi stamp from JellyPark. There is also a piece of cake to the set. I used the cake on the inside of the card. Check out JellyPark. If you join as a member, they periodically give you free digi stamps.(which is how I got the birthday cake and candles.) Check the link below.
 Please leave a comment. It's always great to hear from you. Thanks for visiting.

PS: There's a brand new challenge blog out there for patterned paper by Craftyhazelnut. See the link below and enter the challenge. 

Polkadot Birthday

Paper: Die Cuts with a View Polka Dots, generic card stock.

MS punch

Spellbinders Nestabilities

Jelly Park Happy Birthday digi stamp (candles)

Cricut banner

Cuttlebug embossing folder: Seeing Spots

Paint brush and paint with SU ink, SU markers to print Happy Birthday on the banner and colour candles.

Challenges:

January Patterned Paper Challenge  http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.ca/

Happy New Year New Beginnings  

http://jellyparkchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Anything Goes Celebrate Something New

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.ca/

Anything Goes Party/Celebrate

http://avenue613.blogspot.ca/

Anything Goes

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.ca/2014/01/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-159.html

          

Owl Old are You this Year?

It's almost a new year! Time for resolutions and celebrating new starts. My resolution is to keep up with blogging, learn new blogging skills and MOST  importantly, reaching out to learn new paper crafting skills while sharing with others. Happy New Year everyone! Thank you to everyone who has left a comment. It's a bigger world than I thought it was, here in my cozy chair. 

The Happy Birthday card was made for a friend who loves watching owls in nature. I stamped, coloured with marker and fussy cut the owl. I dry embossed him to look 3 dimensional. The panel behind the scallop is also a stamp. Unfortunately, I can't find it to tell you which company made it. All the panels are layered with CS. I stamped HB and fastened it with a brad. Hope you like it and THANK YOU for looking. I love hearing from you. Leave a comment and join my 1 follower so she doesn't get lonely.  LOL!

Stampin' Up: Ink, CS, scallop punch, markers, and DP. 

Colours: Night of Navy, Really Red, shades of green. 

Owl Stamp: Inkadinkado

Challenges entered:

Seize the Birthday:Anything Goes http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.ca/2013/12/happy-birthday-toyou.html

Papertake Weekly Challenge Pick of the Yearhttp://papertakeweekly.blogspot.ca/2013/12/pick-of-year.html

Post Christmas Relax Mode

Did you have the kind of Christmas Day you desired? Ours flew past as fast as Santa and his coursers. With no little ones around, we all slept in and didn't get around to opening gifts until after lunch! I never entertained the thought of being so laid back, decades ago.(smile) I remember (as a kid) being puzzled that my Dad didn't seem concerned to open his presents in a "timely" fashion! Now, here I am....longer on patience and savouring the anticipation of receiving a gift.

What I loved best this year was a card. My 20 something sons drew pictures inside it, depicting scenes from their youth. I told them I will treasure it forever!

My wish for all is that you had people with which to spend Christmas, and that you have happy memories to sustain you in the new year. 

I want to thank Darnell of http://www.djkardkreations.com/ 

She is encouraging me along my journey by the kind things she said, and featuring my site on her blog. I aspire to create a blog that is as funny, witty and engaging as her blog. Beautiful cards too! Check it out. 

Tim Holtz reindeer die on sticky back foil that I stuck to cardstock after running through the Big Kick with a swirls embossing folder. Then it was fussy cut.  I sponged ink on it to give a little definition, and tied on the ribbon to help give the illusion of flying through the air.

The background is a snowflakes embossing folder. I inked the folder with shades of blue and sponged around the edges with a darker hue. 

The tag is stamped with a SU greeting (I love this stamp). Here's a hint someone gave me: place your tag into a corner punch in such a way as to make the fish tail on the end. Easy and economical! 

As always,THANKS for stopping by. 

Challenges entered:

Always Playing with Paper Merry Monday #88 http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.ca/2013/12/merry-monday-88-use-animal-on-your.html

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra  http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/chnc-challenge-extra-for-december.html

Coffee, Chocolate and Cards #54

http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.ca/

Christmas Card Challenges#4 Make it Masculine

http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-card-challenges-4-make-it.html

Charizma Cardz Challenges #49 Anything Goes

http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.ca/2013/12/challenge-49-anything-goes.html

Sister Act Card Challenge #38

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/12/challenge-38.html

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Bling it On 

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Counting the Days to Christmas with Treat Holders! Yum!

Hello to all and hope you are celebrating the season with those you love. I made these matchbook holders to hold a single treat. Stick them in with pop dots and watch the smiles as they are opened. Thanks to Alicia from SU, who originally taught me how to make them. 
Make someone in your life smile with a small treat. 

To make a matchbook, cut a piece of cardstock 3"x 6.5". Lay lengthwise along a scoreboard and score at 3", 31/4", 6". Fold on score lines to make matchbook shape. Staple the bottom fold and cover with a strip of paper to hide the staple and embellish with scraps. I was happy I could use up odds and ends to decorate mine. Have fun. They all turn out differently. Thanks for looking! Come back again.  

I entered Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #76 Anything Goes

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge extra
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/chnc-challenge-extra-for-december.html