"We do not remember days, we remember moments." Cesare Pavese

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

happy anniversary colour me...!

Hey friends!!  Popping in with a special post to help Colour Me...! celebrate their first anniversary!   Yep it has been one whole year since Colour Me...! debuted on the challenge scene.  I was pretty excited and honored when Hayley and Tara approached me to be on the first Colour Me...! design team.   I really enjoyed being part of the team and when the girls asked me to help them celebrate I just had to say "yes"!   Hayley and Tara have some fun things in store... I heard mention of prizes!  So make sure you hop over to the Colour Me...! blog to find out all the details!  Here is my card that I made for the celebration using the colors from challenge #26.


I pulled out my very favorite Stampin Up! set Kinda Eclectic, as well as the Stampin Up! set French Foliage and did some collage stamping.  After I finished all the stamping I added some bits of washi tape in the upper corner.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Thanks for stopping by and make sure you check out the Colour Me...! blog!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Stamps:  Stampin Up!; Inks:  Stampin Up!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

you are awesome...

Hey friends!!  Quick post to share a card I made for a couple of challenges:  Runway Inspired Challenge and CAS(E) this Sketch.   Runway Inspired isn't a challenge I have played along with, but Kimberly's card for the challenge (found here) inspired me to give it a try.   Kimberly always blows me away with her amazing ability to use bold, dramatic colors in innovate and stunning ways. 


 
I pulled out my long neglected Stampin Up! Pleasant Poppies to create my card.  I tried something a bit different for me.  I stamped the top portion of the image at the bottom of my cardstock piece using Memento Tangelo ink.  Instead of coloring the flowers with markers I used some splatter images from the MFT set Abstract Art.  I inked up the different images with SU!'s Pumpkin Pie ink, spritzed the images with water and then stamped away.  I mixed in some Memento Dandelion using the same method.  When I was satisfied I let the piece dry, adhered it to my card base and added the sentiment (from the Altenew set Label Love). 

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Simon Says Stamp fog; Stamps:  Stampin Up!, My Favorite Things & Altenew; Inks:  Stampin Up! and Memento

Sunday, December 28, 2014

sharing a couple of cards...

Hello friends!!  Popping in with a couple of cards to share for a several challenges.   First up is a card for the current CASology challenge:  Light.   CASology is such a fun challenge with cue words that are always so clever.   I can tell you that when I was on the CASology design team there were times when I was completely stumped by the cue word!   I spent some time thinking about the current cue word and finally came up with this little card.


 
I used the Simon Says Stamp set Bring the Sunshine as well as the matching dies.  I die cut the sun and then stamped it with Memento Dandelion ink.  The sun was stamped again in black and then the center sentiment punched out and adhered over the yellow sunshine.   I die cut the cloud patterned paper (from BasicGrey) using the pinked edge rectangle die from the same die set and adhered that to the white cardstock.   A little banner was die cut, stamped with a sentiment from Bring the Sunshine, adhered it and then added the sunshine sentiment.


The second card is for the current Colour Me...! challenge and PTI's Make It Monday.  I pulled out Harvest Berries and got to work making this super simple take on the MIM technique.   Think I will pop this one into the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge:  Anything Goes


Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white;  SU! Always Artichoke; Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp and PTI; Dies:  Simon Says Stamp; Inks:  Stampin Up!; VersaFine, Memento; Circle punch

Friday, December 26, 2014

pti december blog hop... silver & gold

Hello friends!!  Popping in with a couple of cards for the December PTI blog hop.  This month Nichole provided us with some beautiful inspiration photos featuring silver and gold.  I have been into silver and gold lately thanks to two different Teresa Collins paper crafting lines:  Studio Gold and Tinsel and Company.   The papers from both lines are just gorgeous.  For my cards today I used papers from Tinsel and Company.  Both cards, especially the second one, are a bit outside my comfort zone, but I really like how both turned out.  ETA:  Adding this one to Stampin Celebration.  (Thanks, Kimberely for suggesting it.)

 
When I saw the PTI blog hop information I decided that it was finally time to get Delicate Silver Shimmer ink so I made a quick trip to Impress Rubber Stamps and picked up one (along with some Pretty Pink Posh sequins!).  (Here is just one of the beautiful photos that Nichole provided.) When I got home I went right to work creating the first card.  I used the PTI set Pretty Peonies, as well as the matching "happy" word die.  I die cut the word and stamped it using the Silver Shimmer ink.  A second happy was cut from gold glitter paper and then offset behind the first one.  A tangle of Kreinik metallic blending filament was adhered to some patterned paper and then the word adhered over top.  I dipped some wood veneer stars in the Silver Shimmer and Golden Glitz inks and then adhered them around the word.  Finished by stamping the sentiment "anniversary" in black ink. 


The second card came about as I was digging around through my stuff looking for my silver baker's twine (which I found, but did not use!).  A month or so ago I purchased several package of Teresa Collins wood veneers and one of the packs contained this big word "wonderful".  I thought it would look fabulous inked up with Golden Glitz ink and paired with the feathers from PTI's Feather Finery.   After dipping the word in Golden Glitz I applied some clear embossing powder and heat set it to keep the ink from smearing.   I die cut a feather from vellum and then stamped it with Silver Shimmer and Golden Glitz ink.  That piece was also clear embossed.   A second feather was die cut from patterned paper and then stamped, as well.  Before layering everything up I partially embossed my cardstock and splattered it with the Silver Shimmer and Golden Glitz ink.  A tangle of the blending filament, some sequins and the sentiment "friend" finished things off.

I adding this to the current Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday because I really do love how these cards turned out... especially the second one.  And to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge... anything goes. 
Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Simon Says Stamp Fog & Smoke; PP:  Teresa Collins Tinsel and Company; Stamps:  PTI Pretty Peonies and Feather Finery; Inks:  Delicata Golden Glitz and Silver Shimmer; Memento Tuxedo Black; Kreinik Metallic Blending Filament; Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh silver and gold 4mm; Teresa Collins wood veneer word; Dies:  PTI; Studio Calico wood veneer stars

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas...

Hello friends!!  Popping in to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and to post a card for a couple of challenges:  Make it Monday (stamped borders) and ColourQ.

 
 
Keeping this short and sweet.  I used the MIM technique and the PTI little mini set Ruby Reprise (I think it was a freebie back in February).  After doing all my stamping I used the PTI Boutique Borders set Sympathy and the matching die for my center sentiment. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; SU! Poppy Parade; Inks:  Stampin Up! Old Olive, Calypso Coral, So Saffron; Memento Ladybug, Tuxedo Black; Stamps and dies:  PTI Boutique Borders Sympathy

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

some fun news to share...

Hey friends!!  Christmas is almost here and my little guy is just beside himself with excitement!  I'm pretty excited too because I have some fantastic news to share... I'm joining the Top Dog Dies design team!!  Starting in January I will be sharing projects here on my blog and over at the Top Dog Dies blog using fabulous Top Dog Dies!   The announcement is being made today on the Top Dog Dies blog and as you can see I will be joining some very, very talented ladies!


Thanks for stopping by...

Saturday, December 20, 2014

a couple of cards to share...

Hello friends!!  Everyone ready for Christmas??  I think I'm pretty much ready.  Just a few more cards to send out and a few presents to wrap and I'm done!  Have a couple of cards to share today for a couple of different challenges:  PTI Make It Monday:  Camouflaging Die Cuts, CASology:  Snow and Freshly Made Sketches.

First up is my card for CASology and Make It Monday.  Instead of inking up my cardstock the way Laura did in the video I did some stamping using images from the PTI set Winter Swirls and inks from Close to My Heart (Grey Wool, Twilight and Outdoor Denim).  The snow die and sentiment are from the PTI Wonderful Words: Snow set.    The grey cardstock is Simon Says Stamp Fog.



The second card uses the Freshly Made Sketches layout, stamps from Simon Says stamp and patterned paper from the Teresa Collins Studio Gold 6x6 pad.  The circle image from the SSS set Sparkle & Shine was stamped using Delicate Golden Glitz ink.  At first I just trimmed out the entire circle, but as I started layout things out I decided to trim out the center, as well.  I like how it looks.  The sentiment was stamped using SU!'s Baja Breeze ink.  Some gold baker's twine from SU! and a few gold sequins finished things off.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; SSS fog; PP:  Teresa Collins; Stamps:  PTI and SSS; Inks:  Delicate Golden Glitz, Stampin' Up!; Close to My Heart; Baker's Twine:  Stampin Up!; Sequins:  SSS; Dies:  PTI

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

guest designing for color throwdown #323!!

Hello friends!!!   I have something fun to share today!!  I'm a guest designer for Color Throwdown!!   When you win Color Throwdown you get the opportunity to guest design.  Guest designer for Color Throwdown?  Uhmmm... yes, please!!!   This week's color palette is a soft pretty one.  Take a look:


The colors are pale pink, rose pink, green and kraft.  I took a break from Christmas cards and made this fun birthday card using some fun Reverse Confetti products, glitter paper and the layout for the current CAS(E) this Sketch.   Popping this into the current Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge:  Anything Goes!

 
I started my card by die cutting pale pink, kraft, glitter rose and glitter green cardstocks using the fun Reverse Confetti die, Circle Garland Confetti Cut.  I adhered the garlands on a piece of white cardstock and then die cut it using the largest die from the PTI Tipped Top die.  The banner and sentiment are from the Reverse Confetti Beautiful Banners stamp set.  The banner was cut using the companion Beautiful Banners Confetti Cuts die.  Popped everything on the cardstock base and I was done.   Love how it turned out.  Hope you will take the time to play along with Color  Throwdown this week!
Thanks for stopping by...
 
Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, kraft and sweet blush; Glitter cardstock: Die Cuts with a View Green and Rose; Stamps:  Reverse Confetti; Dies:  Reverse Confetti and PTI; Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black 
 
 

Friday, December 12, 2014

winter wishes...

Hello friends!!  Wow.. we had a crazy windstorm last night!  Once, again, I had to deflate our Santa to make sure he didn't blow away.  My little guy was rather worried that he still would even after I took him down!   Today it is partly sunny with very little wind... hoping it stays that way!  This morning I took some time to make a little shaker card for a couple of challenges:  CASology (silver) and Colour Me! (silver and navy).


A few weeks ago I purchased the Hero Arts Stamp & Cuts set "Let It Snow" at my local craft store.  When I saw the set I thought it would be perfect for making a shaker card.   This is a pretty simple card, but given that it was a shaker it still took me way too long to make!  Sigh... I'm shaker challenged, lol!   After I cut the top piece to the size I wanted I die cut the opening using the die that came in the set.  I then positioned the panel on my card base and stamped the snowflake in the opening using Night of Navy ink.  I trimmed off a bit more of bottom, added some silver glitter paper and then stamped the sentiment in navy ink. To finish the shaker element I surrounded the snowflake with foam tape and placed silver and clear sequins inside.  A piece of clear cardstock (acetate) was adhered over the opening, more foam tape added to the piece and then it was adhered to the card base.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Die Cuts with a View silver glitter; Stamps and dies:  Hero Arts; Ink:  Stampin Up! Night of Navy

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

wishing you...

Hello friends!!  Wow... we are having some seriously wild and crazy weather here in the Pacific Northwest.   It poured rain all night and then eased up a bit this morning.  Now the wind has come up again and it is pouring rain!   There is so much rain our local golf course now has two ponds instead of one!  Anywhoo... I do have a card to share.  This kind of weather is perfect for staying inside and getting some crafting done!   I will be posting this one to Merry Monday (silver, white and gold with one more color), Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (Bring on the Bling) and Freshly Made Sketches. 


I'm not one to follow trends very closely.  In fact I consider myself rather untrendy when it comes to paper crafting.  But recently I jumped on the trend bandwagon and picked up the fun little Prized Stag die from Ellen Hutson's new Essentials by Ellen line.  I paired it with an image from the Essentials by Ellen stamp set Merry & Bright, some glitter paper and patterned paper from the Teresa Collins Tinsel and Company 6x6 pad.   My one other color (for the Merry Monday challenge) is red and I added just touches of it.  I must say that I really, really like the stag head done up in that silver paper!  The little panel and scalloped trim were die cut using some Reverse Confetti dies.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp Fog; PTI white; PP:  Teresa Collins; Glitter Paper:  Die Cuts with a View; Dies:  Ellen Hutson & Reverse Confetti; Stamps:  Ellen Hutson; Enamel Dots:  BasicGrey; Inks:  Delicata Golden Glitz, Memento Tuxedo Black & Rhubarb Stalk
 

Precious Remembrance Shop ... {create it wednesday}

Hello friends!!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up over at the Precious Remembrance Shop blog.  This is my last one for the year using the Joy stamp set.   I hope you will take the time to pop over and take a look.  Here is a little peek:


Thanks for stopping by...
 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Top Dog Dies - Xmas Special!

Hey friends!! Popping into let you know that Top Dog Dies has another fun Christmas special.  This one starts today and runs through December 14th.  Just spend $50.00 and you will get the Merry Christmas die set for free!!  How cool is that??  Just click on the link here to go to the Top Dog Dies website.  Here is what the set looks like:


Thanks for stopping by... happy shopping!  Oh and one more thing... Top Dog Dies is having a huge giveaway!  One lucky person will win $500.00 in dies!!!  All the details are to found at Top Dog Dies.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

sparkle & shine...

Hello friends!!   Have a little non-Christmas card to share today!  Will be posting this one to Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches


I recently got the Simon Says Stamp December kit of the month and so I inked up this fun sentiment that comes in the stamp set.  Some of the sequins are also from the kit.  The background was created by using a Memory Box stencil and some silver ink from Hero Arts.  I stamped the circle image and sentiment in brown ink and then trimmed it out.  You can't really see it in the photo, but I stamped the circle image over the top of the first one using watermark ink, applied Ranger Enchanted Gold embossing powder (also from the kit) and then heat set it.  Sprinkled around the sequins and I was done.  (ETA - I also posted this to the Simon Says Stamp flickr challenge found here)

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp #120 white; Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp; Ink:  SU! Chocolate Chip, VersaMark watermark ink, Hero Arts Silver; Sequins: Verve and Simon Says Stamp; Ranger Embossing Powder

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Top Dog Christmas Deals!

Hey friends!!  Popping in with a quick post to let you know that Top Dog Dies has two special Christmas deals.  Here is deal #1:

Free Top Dog Dies Ornament & Tags #2 Die Set with $60 purchase.  Click on the link to see this fun set!  This deal starts today and ends on December 7, 2014

http://www.topdogdies.com/top-dog-dies-ornament-tags-2-die-set.html

Deal #2:

Free Top Dog Dies Merry Christmas Die Set with $50 purchase.  Click on the link to see this cool set!  This deal starts on December 9, 2014 and ends on December 14, 2014.

http://www.topdogdies.com/top-dog-dies-merry-christmas-die-set.html

And the fun doesn't stop with these two deals!  Tog Dog Dies is also having a sweepstakes/giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by... and happy shopping! 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

blue noel...

Hello friends!!  Still in Christmas card mode... gotta get them done and quickly, lol!!  Today's card is for the current AAA Cards challenge, blue Christmas.  I used the new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  The new challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is Christmas/Holiday so I will post this there, as well.


Yesterday I picked up the Stampin Up! stamp Wondrous Wreath and the matching dies, Wonderful Wreath from my SU! demo, Jenna.   So I thought I would get started on making a card for the AAA Card challenge.  Well... the only thing I got accomplished last night was die cutting the sparkly "noel" because the "noel" word die did not want to cut through the glitter paper.  Took four attempts, I think...so frustrating!!  Finally got the card finished today (after more frustration, but I won't go into that, lol!).   Used three shades of blue ink for the wreath (SU! Marina Mist, Pacific Point & Midnight Muse), as well as pale blue cardstock.  Peeking out from the center of the wreath is the starburst image from Kinda Eclectic that I stamped in pale blue.   Before adhering the finished wreath, I partially embossed the outside edges of my white cardstock and then added some Crystal Stickles.   This week's Freshly Made Sketch is so cool I may have to make something else with it!

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white and spring rain; Stamps:  Stampin Up!; Inks:  Stampin Up!; Dies:  Stampin Up!; Embossing folder:  Stampin Up!; Ranger Crystal Stickles

Monday, December 1, 2014

have a cup...

Hello friends!!  Popping in with a card that I made using the Viva La Verve week #4 sketch.  I think I will also post it to the current Simon Says Stamp challenge:  anything goes.   I seem to have a theme going with all of my cards for the Verve challenge:  kraft and red!  I think this is the fourth card I have made using those colors!   What can I say??  Kraft and red are perfect together and perfect for Christmas cards!  ETA:  Popping this little number into the Verve December Diva Dare.   This is another card I made using my Verve that I absolutely love how it turned out!  And I love those cute little coffee cups!!


Anywhoo... I recently bought this pad of Teresa Collins paper called Tinsel and Company.  The main colors are kraft, red, white, silver and gold.  So for my card I pulled out that pad of glitter paper I bought and used some of the silver glitter paper to die cut the lacey circle.  Additional circles were die cut from red and kraft cardstocks and then I layered everything.  The sentiment and little cups are from the Verve set Holiday Treats.  The cups were die cut with the coordinating die.  Aren't they cute???  The little banner is also from Verve.  I die cut it from white cardstock, stamped the sentiment and then added a second banner die cut from the silver glitter paper.  A twine bow finished things off.   Love the little touches of silver glitter paper!

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white and kraft, SU! Cherry Cobbler; PP:  Teresa Collins; Stamps:  Verve; Dies: Verve, Spellbinders and My Favorite Things; Ink:  SU! Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake; Memento Tuxedo Black

 

Top Dog Dies... Cyber Monday Sale!

Hey friends!!  Popping in to let you know that Top Dog Dies is having a Cyber Monday Sale!  Here are the details:
10% off Top Dog Dies brand and free shipping on any order (US only)
Use Coupon Code Cyber and just follow this link:

 Cyber Monday Sale: 10% off Top Dog Dies brand and free shipping on any order (US only)
Thanks for stopping by... and happy shopping!

TopDogDies.com