Happy Birthday Kelly!

Today is the day I am posting my card for our Challenge Your Stash group on SCS.  This is our 80th month of de-stash and we are into our 5th year of our challenges.  

The premise is to create a card or something else that uses only items that are in your own stamp room--nothing new is to be purchased.  The hostess each month posts their challenge to the group. Each person in the group creates their card with their own image, their own papers, their own embellishments with their own supplies--using up items from their own stash!  The card can be for any occasion and each person is encouraged to send the card on its way to someone so it can be admired.  It is a way for us to step out of the box a bit and create something that follows a challenge--isn't that what a challenge is supposed to be.  And--no money is spent as all items are to be already available in each of own stamping spaces.

Kelly posted our March challenge--Today is my birthday! March is also World Literacy Month - create a card based on any book or book characters.

First--Happy Birthday my Friend Kelly.  I hope it is an awesome day!

Back to my card...............  I knew what patterned paper I wanted to use--so then I needed to find a stamp to use.  I went with an older Unity Stamp set called Quote Bundle Pack.  It has a five great quotes and I love this one by Emerson.  He is an author, right?! I inked it up with Early Espresso and layered with the same color and Bermuda Bay.  The fun paper pack is from Lawn Fawn, called Dewey Decimal. I added some Studio Katia Clear Drops for the final touch!

If you check some of the blogs on my sidebar, you may find others who have posted their cards in the next few days. There may be more posted in the thread on SCS, so you might want to check out the link here.  We also have a keyword for the SCS Gallery--it is CYSMAR.  You might see many cards there if you do a search.  They probably will be posted today or in the next few days.

I hope you enjoyed my card and I know I am excited to check out what my other hoarders, I mean stash reducers have made!  Thanks for stopping by today!  For April, Shelly is up for our challenge.  Be sure to check back to see what we create then!

Image/Sentiment:  Unity Stamp Company Quote Bundle Pack

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# Ivory; Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay; Lawn Fawn Petite Paper Pack Dewey Decimal

Ink:  Stampin' Up Early Espresso

Accessories:  Studio Katia Clear Drops

Maturity is.....

This is my March card is for the monthly swap that Pam hosts on SCS.  Each month we make 8 cards and include a matching envelope.  They can be any theme for any month.  All of the swappers are wonderful and I have received awesome cards each and every month.  

I inked up one of my favorite wood mounted stamps from Outlines Stamp Company, who are no longer in business.   There is no name on the side-I just call it Maturity!  I die cut the image and the layer from my CottageCutz Double Stitched Ovals.  The background paper is from Stampin' Up called It's My Party Designer Series Paper.  I added a strip of Melon Mambo Scalloped Ribbon under the sentiment-and the dots are face down!  A few black enamel dots are the final touch.  I think everyone can use a birthday card.

Here is the inside of my card:

I hope Pam and the others swappers like my card this month!

Image/Sentiment:  Outline Rubber Stamp Company-Maturity

Cardstock:  Neenah Class Crest 110# Solar White; Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron, Crushed Curry, It's My Party Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Stampin' Up Melon Mambo

Accessories:  CottageCutz Double Stitched Oval Dies; Black Enamel Dots; Stampin' Up Melon Mambo Scallop Ribbon

Flowers in Bloom

Here we go.  This is month #3 of another challenge for the trio of stampers—Barb, Jeanette and Kelly!  This is our 7th challenge that the three of us are doing together! This was a thought that I had in the middle of the night, similar to what Kelly has had in the past.  Plus, it is a bit of offshoot of our Stamp What Challenge! This one is called Double Duty!

 

Each month, we get to pick a stamp set from a predetermined company. Then, we will use that one stamp set and make two cards from the set.  Different images and sentiments from the same set can be used, or use the same image two different ways—Double Duty either way!  But, as an added challenge, one item must be used on both cards—same color cardstock, same ribbon, same stencil, same something.  Double Duty Again!  We will post both cards on our blog on the the 22nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  We will be sure to have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

For March, the company that I picked was MFT-My Favorite Things. They really have some sweet images, many different varieties and many have coordinating dies.  I picked the cute floral set called Flowers in Bloom--and it has matching dies!    I love the image and coordinating sentiments!

For both cards, I went with an orange theme for the poppy floral image.  I also decided I would use the same patterned paper from We R Memory Keepers Simply Spring-Baskets on both cards, as the second part of the Double Duty!

For my first card, I stamped the flower stem on a watercolor panel I had in my stash.  I think it was made with Taylored Expressions Liquid Watercolors.   I stamped the word Hello from the same stamp set and die cut it with Stampin' Up Stitched Nested Labels.  I also die cut the patterned paper background with my Gina K Designs Masters Layouts 2.

For my second card, I stamped the flower stem and die cut it.  I then embossed the image with my Stampin' Up Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder to give it a bit of fun texture.  I stamped the word Thanks from the same stamp set and die cut it with Sizzix Dotted Rectangles, along with the Calypso Coral layer.  I added some orange enamel dots on both cards.

I had a number of Double Duty elements on these cards.  I used the same image and coordinating die,  the same color theme, the same patterned paper and orange enamel dots.

I hope you enjoyed my card for our group.  Please be sure to check out the other Double cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of sets of great cards! I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card. Avery Elle is the company we will use in April, so be sure to check back to see how we double up and make two cards on the 22nd!

Image/Sentiment:  MFT-My Favorite Things Flowers in Bloom

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White;  Watercolor Cardstock;  Stampin' Up Calypso Coral, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight; We R Memory Keepers Simply Spring-Baskets

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:   Sizzix Dotted Rectangles Dies;  Stampin' Up Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder, Stitched Nested Labels; Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Orange Enamel Dots

Critter Crew!

Today is the 18th and the due date for a Mystery Swap on SCS. This is my card for that swap.  It is a group of us who do a bi-monthly swap where we all use the same mystery image, sent to us by the hostess. This swap was created by Forest Ranger—Jeanette--back in 2010 and we are now in our 62nd round!  I am our hostess this month and sent everyone this fun birthday image from Avery Elle called Critter Crew.  I will also send everyone the next image, which Tracie stamped and sent to me! We then get to do it all again, for round #64, in May!   

I think this image is so cute.  I colored all of the fun guys in the present with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I did not think there was room for a sentiment, so I layered the image on some fun birthday patterned paper from the Celebrate line by American Tradition Designs called Brights!  I then added a few yellow enamel dots as the final touch.

Here is the inside of my card:

I hope you and all of the mystery swappers like my card.  If you check my sidebar on the left, you might see some other swappers who have posted their cards today or in the next few days.

Image/Sentiment:  Avery Elle Critter Birthday

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest 100# Solar White; Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape, Pineapple Punch, Highland Heather; American Tradition Designs Celebrate-Brights

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Yellow Enamel Dots

A Lucky Penny!

Today is the third Wednesday of the month and this is my Ready, Set, Go Challenge Card! The 3 Musketeers--Kelly, Jeanette and me--are back with another challenge for March, our 47th month!  That means that next month is the start of year #5 for us--WOW!

Jeanette provided the challenge for us this month:

Our posting date is March 17^th; St. Patrick’s Day… so you know I had to incorporate that into our Ready, Set, Go! theme. I did a little research and learned some interesting facts about this holiday. For instance, did you know 90% of Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? I had no clue – and truthfully, I’m not even sure if that fact is accurate (how can they know???) but we’re going to go with it.

 

Our March 2021 Challenge is to make a card that is at approximately 90% green – BUT that’s too easy! Of course, we can’t stop there. As a child, I always loved hearing the myths about the leprechauns and their pots of gold at the end of rainbows; that always seemed to fascinate me… so the other part of our challenge is to use at least one ACTUAL coin in some way when making our cards. And one more thing just for fun – but not a challenge requirement – you’ll put a great big smile on my face if you also use a tad bit of the color gold on your card.

 

Have fun! I’ll look forward to seeing your cards on St. Patrick’s Day.

 

Ready? Set? Go!

I knew I wanted to use one of my Whipper Snapper Designs stamps as I have a few St. Patrick designs from them.  And, I knew when I saw this large wood-mounted stamp, how I could incorporate the coin!  I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and layered it on two shades of green.  I added a flag of some shamrock ribbon.  The background paper is from Authentique called Lucky--it is so pretty! Then--I added a shiny penny from 2020 to the pot of gold--but last year was sure not very lucky!

Here is the inside of my card, with another WSD stamp:

Please be sure to check out the other Ready, Set, Go cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of great cards! I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card. Kelly is up for the next theme, so be sure to check back to see what we are up to on the 3rd Wednesday in April.

Image/Sentiment:  Whipper Snapper Designs Rainbow Wishes/Sentiment is  Happy St. Patrick's Day

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive; Authentique Lucky-Lucky Three

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Shamrock Ribbon; Penny

Happy Easter

Good Morning Friends!  This is another card that I made for a challenge two weekends ago for a virtual event called Creative Crate sponsored by Firefly Farms in Minnesota.  I picked one of my newest stamps from Taylored Expressions called Springtime Smiles--so cute!   I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and die cut it and the additional layers with CottageCutz Double Stitch Circles and  Stampin' Up Circle Dies. The background is three strips from a fun new patterned paper pack I received in my Creative Crate from Lawn Fawn called Perfectly Plaid Remix--great colors!  The sentiment is from the same set and I used a Taylored Expressions banner tag to cut it out.  An Easter Egg brad and a few clear dots from Studio Katja are the final touch!

Here is the inside of my card:

I think this card is so cute and that you might too! 

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Springtime Smiles

Cardstock: The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight; Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Remix Patterned Paper

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Banner Tag Dies; CottageCutz Double Stitched Circle Dies; Stampin' Up Circle Die; Studio Katia Clear Dots; Easter Egg Brad 

Learn About Butterflies

Today is the 15th and that means it is another posting day for our group, the Crafty Card Ladies!   The team names are the Pearls and the Diamonds--very Classy names for us!   For our March Challenge, Tracie and I are the hostesses. Tracie is a Pearl and I am a Diamond!   And we are all team Classy Card Ladies!  

The theme for March that we picked are butterflies. March 14th is Learn About Butterflies day--did you celebrate yesterday?  I sent everyone a kit with a Tim Holtz Alternations Limitations butterfly image-some die cut and some on full quarter sheets.  I also include a coordinating sentiment that comes in the same set, one also die cut. I also included Stampin' Up's designer series paper called Frosted Floral along with some fun ribbons and pretty embellishments. 

I colored the butterfly image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I die cut a banner from the Stampin' Up Banner Dies from the DSP and layered that over the background of another sheet of the DSP.   I layered two of the pretty ribbons under the sentiment, which was also colored with my Copic Sketch Makers.  I added some Gina K Designs Angel Aura Rhinestones.  This was fun card to make!

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip paper:

I hope all of the Classy Card Ladies enjoy my card this month. Please be sure to stop in to see what all of the Diamonds as well the Pearls have created this month.  There are two members who do not have blogs: Suzy who is on the Diamond team and Debby who is a Pearl. You will be able to check out their creations in their SCS gallery, if you click on the link for their name.  All of the others should be found on my left sidebar.  I am sure you will enjoy all of the wonderful creations this month!  See you next month in April, when Darlene and Laura Jean are the hostesses!

Image/Sentiment:  Butterfly from Tim Holtz Alternations Limitations Stamp Set and Matching Dies

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White; Stampin' Up Mint Macaron, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Frosted Floral Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Stampin' Up White and Mint Macaron Ribbons; Gina K Designs Angel Aura Rhinestones

Mission Possible

This is the 5th card of a new challenge started in 2020 with the three collaborators you have seen many times in the past--Kelly, Jeanette and me!  This is our 6th challenge amongst us!  Jeanette came up with this new challenge called Mission Possible!  Jeanette sent us a mystery item three times in 2020 and asked if we would accept the challenge to make a project with the items even before opening the package!  Of course, Kelly and I said yes, so the challenge is on.  We plan to do this quarterly and the item will change each round!  This Will be Mission Impossible Possible!

This is what Kelly sent to use this round: Good Day, Ms. Card-Maker. You did an outstanding job with your last mission and are to be commended!

Your next mission, should you decide to accept it, involves the use of the stencil in this package.  You may use stamps or other supplies from your stash with it, just make sure the stencil is the focal point of your card.  

 This message will not self-destruct in five seconds, since I have no ability to do that and besides, you might need to refer to it again at some point.

Kelly sent us a sweet stencil by Pretty Pink Posh called Birthday Background.  It is a large stencil, 6x6!  I love this stencil and I wanted to try something new when using it.  I went with Brutus Monroe Velveteen Glaze, the colors were Blueberry Bushel, Happy Heather and Banana Split.  l put the three colors on the stencil at an angle and let it dry overnight.  It is really thick and such fun colors.  However, I did not like the look of the entire stencil, so I decided to use a die to cut out a image to showcase.  I used my Gina K Master Layouts 4 to cut a heart and the black background.  I used an Embossing Folder from Lifestyle Crafts called Happy Birthday for the background. I picked the die cut Hugs and layered it three times from Astro King Snow White Metallic.  I added some white enamel dots to highlight the white from the stencil  I think met the challenge--mission accomplished! And, I am excited to do this again! We are going to continue in the next quarter and I have the item ready to send out!

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of the stenciled background:

Please be sure to check out the other Mission Possible projects with this fun stencil.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of great cards! I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card. Be sure to check back to see what else create this year. As I mentioned before, I am up next, so the Mission Impossible Possible Continues!

Image/Sentiment:  Pretty Pink Posh Birthday Background Stencil/Hugs Die 

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Pacific Point; The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White; Astro King Snow White Metallic 

Ink: Brutus Monroe Velveteen Glaze-Blueberry Bushel, Banana Split, Happy Heather

Accessories:  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 4l White Enamel Dots; Lifestyle Crafts Happy Birthday Embossing Folder; 

Bubbles and More Bubbles

Hello Friends!  This is a card that I made for a challenge last weekend for a virtual event called Creative Crate sponsored by Firefly Farms in Minnesota.  There were three teachers during the weekend who each taught a 2 hour class.  It was a very fun weekend.  This is a brand new stamp set from Lawn Fawn called Scripty Bubbles Sentiments and it comes with coordinating dies. I colored the word Smile with a Copic Marker and cut it out with the Smile Die. The bubble background is another that I made in the Jenn Shurkus Distress Ink Class a few weeks ago.  AND--Jenn was one of the teachers in the Firefly Farms event! The bubble background is from Impression Obsession and was heat embossed with white, then I used various colors of Tim Holtz Distress inks over it.   I added another layer of bubbles from a We R Memory Keepers Polka Dot Embossing Folder. The additional words are also from the same set.  

Here is the inside of my card:

I really love the colors of my card and that you might too! 

Image/Sentiment:  Lawn Fawn Scripty Bubbles Sentiment Stamp and Die Set; Impression Obsession Bubbles Background

Cardstock: The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Basic Black, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black; Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Versamark

Accessories:  Teal Enamel Dots; Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Copic Markers; We R Memory Keepers Polka Dot Embossing Folder; White Embossing Powder

Have Faith

Today is the 12th and it is time for another Hot Mess card.  This is card number 20 and we are well into year #2. The idea of Hot Mess ~ Success started with Kelly and the general theme is to Get Messy and you will have Success!  Messiness can be almost anything that we come up with--glitter, alcohol inks, glimmer glitz, sponged backgrounds, etc., anything that is a bit messy.  We are a group of 6 and we will post a card each month on the 12th.  The links to the other 5 members are on my left side bar and I will also link them at the bottom at this post.

For this month's messiness,  I picked some Tim Holtz Alcohol inks and this time I added rubbing alcohol the ink on a sheet of Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Silver Sparkle Cardstock.  I love the sparkle of the silver cardstock behind the inks. 

I die cut the colorful layer from Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2, along with the black layer.   I use a brand new to me die cut from Erin Lee Creative called Have Faith from Gorgeous Grape and the backer The Paper Cut Silver Glitter Cardstock.   I added a few purple enamel dots for the final touch. 

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of the colorful paper:

Here are the links to the other members of Hot Mess ~ Success.  Please be sure to check out Jeanette's, Terry's, Kelly's , Carol's and Darlene's blogs. I am sure you will enjoy seeing how everyone got messy and was successful in making some great cards!   We will all continuing this year, so be sure to check back to see what we are up to on March 12th.  

Image/Sentiment: Erin Lee Creative Have Faith Dies

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: Yupo; Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape, Basic Black; The Paper Cut Silver Glitter Cardstock

Ink: Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks

Accessories:  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Purple Enamel Dots;