Look Who's Turning 51

Snicker snicker snort snort!  When I saw LORi Boyd's Sugar Sticks Grandparents digi stamp, I think I may have actually laughed outloud! That "Grandpa" looks EXACTLY like a certain someone I know and his birthday happens to be coming up so I couldn't wait to color "Grandpa"up with copics and get him on a birthday card.  I jazzed up the kraft card stock using PTI's Background Basics: Retro.  I stamped the pattern in versamark and then used a white gel pen to enhance it.  PTI's By the Numbers dies and Big Birthday Wishes stamp set were all I needed to complete the card.  I popped "Grandpa" up with some foam dimensionals.  BA HA HA HA!    The resemblance is hysterical!  How fun!  I crack myself up!  :)

Stamps:  By LORi Designs Sugar Sticks Grandparents, PTI Big Birthday Wishes, PTI Background Basics: Retro   Ink:  SU real red  CS:  PTI white, kraft, pure poppy, SU night of navy  Tools:  Nesties cicles, PTI By the Numbers dies, copics, white gel pen  Accessories:  red satin ribbon 

CSP 207 - Birthday Beer

Masculine birthday cards....ugh.   However, tonight I was inspired by the Card Positioning Systems Challenge #207 and came up with this cute birthday card!  I inked up the beer mug from te SU "Cheers to You" stamp set, colored it with copics, and added some glossy accents to the mug.  I pulled out my PTI 1.75" limitless layers dies and the double-ended banner die and paired it with patterned paper from the Basic Grey marjolaine paper pad.

I added a coordinating strip of paper along the bottom edge of the inside of the card after layering onto coordinating card stock.

Stamps:  SU "Cheers to you", Savvy Stamps "It's your birthday"  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black  CS:  PTI white and simply chartreuse, SU night of navy  PP:  Basic Grey marjolaine paper pad  Tools:  PTI 1.75" limitless layers dies and double-ended banner dies, copics Y23 and Y24, glosy accents

Kiddie Birthday

I made this card for one of my co-workers whom I call the "little brother" of the department.  If we had pig tails, he'd pull them.  So, it only seemed fitting to make him a kid-like birthday card.  I found this cute digi stamp over at Bugaboo Stamps and paired it with PTI's Banner Builder stamp set to make a fun, festive card.  I colored the image with copics and added some glossy accents to the balloon......which clearly hasn't dried yet as you can see in the picture.  Excuse my impatience.  ;)  I popped the kids up with dimensionals and used the sentiment from the MFT a la mode "Time to Celebrate" stamp set. 

Stamps:  Bugaboo Stamps "A kids view brithday party," PTI Banner Builder, Sentiment from MFT a la modes "Time to Celebrate"  Ink:  Memento tuxedo black, Color Box Moss Green , SU real red, delightful daffodil, and marina mist  CS:  SU delightful daffodil and wild wasabi, PTI black, white, and pure poppy  Tools:  Nesties circles, 1.5" circle punch  copics, glossy accents

SSSC106 - Celebrate

It's snowing again.  Another 4-7".  Sigh.  I am trying to ignore this fact by playing along with Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #106.   I inked up one of my favorite MFT a la modes for a 2nd time in the past fews days, but went with a totally different color scheme (and layout, of course) for a whole new look and I like it just as much!  I did the "out of the box" technique with the circle nestie so the cake could pop outside the circle a bit.  I left it in the die and sponged some SU cameo coral pastels onto the die cut. I used some beautiful velvet patterned paper by SEI and colored my gemstones with copics to match.  I glittered up the frosting and added an MFT Die-Namics mini rolled rose to the cake.  My PTI beautiful blooms II #1 die collection, button, and twine to make the flower embellie.

This card was named one of the MFT's design team's favorite finds!

Stamps:  MFT a la mode "Time to celebrate"  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black, VersaMark   PP:  sei velvet paper form Winnie's Walls collection  CS:  PTI Kraft, white, melon berry, berry sorbet, and dark chocolate  Tools:  Nesties circles, PTI double-ended banner die, PTI Beautiful Blooms II #1 die colelction, MFT Die-Namics mini rolled rose, copics, white embossing powder, foam dimensionals  Accessories:  PTI white button and twine, Inkadinkadoo pearlescent gliter powder, rhinestones

Easter Candle and Card Set

Just wanted to share this cute candle and card set I made for my parents for Easter.  
Hand stamped candles are so fun and easy to make!  Cut a piece of tissue paper so that you can wrap it once around your candle.  Stamp directly on the tissue paper with colored inks or color in your image with markers. 



Wrap the tissue paper around the candle and then wrap enough wax paper around the candle so you can hold it tight around the candle with one hand and use your heating tool with the other. Heat one section at a time (keep moving in small circles to avoid causing te wax to drip) and you will be able to see a change when the tissue paper melts into the candle.  Move on to the next section.  You can unwrap the wax parer and re-wrap as you move around the candle melting the tissue paper into the candle.  I added some stickles to the ceners of the flowers once the tissue paper had been melted into the candle.    Easy peasy!

Stamp:  Outlines Rubber Stamp Company Ink:  StazOn jet black  CS:  SU white, lovely lavender, and mellow moss  Tools:  SU markers, SU eyelet border punch, wax paper  Accessories:  candle, SU seam binding, stickles, cotton ball

SSS97 - Note of Appreciation

For the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #97 I wanted to try out the the "Out of the Box" technique using my nestabilities dies.  You can find a tutorial HERE!  I was also thrilled to have found Heather Ellis' Pure Innocence images available as digi stamps in her Digi Stamp Characters Etsy Shop!  This cute Pure Innocence 029 only cost $2.50!  I colored her with copics and then printed the image a 2nd time onto patterned paper so I could paper piece her dress.   I added some bling to little paper flower and the butterfly.

Stamps:  Pure Innocence 029 from Digi Stamp Characters by Heather Ellis, SU Picture This  Ink:  SU black and melon mambo  CS:  PTI dark chocolate and white  PP:  DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies Stack  Tools:  Copics, Nesties circles, MFT Die-Namics jumbo scallops  Accessories:  mini paper flower, rhinestones

PTI Blog Hop - Scallops!

Happy PTI Blog Hop and thanks for hopping by my blog!  The challenge was to make something with scallops and so I made this birthday tag!  All supplies are by PTI (except the PP)!  It coordinates with THIS fun birthday card that I made.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Inside and Out: Birthday , Borders and Corners: Circles
Ink:  Momento rich cocoa
CS:  kraft, vintage cream and ocean tides
PP:  DCWV Linen Closet matstack
Tools:  Tag Sale #1 die, Limitles sLayers 1.75" circle die, 1.75" circle punch
Accessories:  vintage cream ribbon, SU scallop border punch

Friday Sketchers #143 - Birthday Cake for You

I used this great sketch for the Friday Sketchers Challenge #143 as  inspiration for a birthday card I needed to make.  I love this patterned paper from DCWV's Linen Closet Matstack and it pairs perfectly with PTI ocean tides, kraft, and vintage cream card stock!  I inked up this cute MFT a la mode "Time to Celebrate" stamp and colored her with copics.  I added some glitter to the frosting a tiny rolled rose.  It coordinates with THIS gift tag that I made as well.

I jazzed up the inside of the card with some layered card stock

and a strip of matching patterned paper.

Stamps:  MFT a la modes Time to celebrate, sentiments from PTI Birthday basics and Inside & Out: Birthday  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black and rich cocoa CS:  PTI ocean tides, kraft, white  PP:  DCWV Linen Closet Matstack  Tools:  copics, MFT Die-Namics mini rolled rose Accessories:  glitter, PTI ocean tides ribbon, and PTI vintage cream button



BLDC6 - 70 and Fabulous!

This week I have the honor of being the guest designer over at by LORi Designs for challenge #6!  I had it in my head that I would use this challenge as my inspiration for a birthday card I needed to make for my spunky aunt who is soon to turn 70 years old.   I have to admit, I was stumped when I first saw the color combo, but after a few attempts I ended up with a card that makes me smile and I am sure my aunt will get a kick out of it, too!  How cute is that image?!  She is from the Sugar Sticks Grandparents digi that you can find HERE.  My collection of copics isn't nearly as plentiful as I would like it be so I did some paper piecing to be all matchy matchy! 

Stamps:  by LORi Designs Sugat STicks Grandparents, PTI Background Basics: Retro, and PTI Big Birthday Wishes  Ink:  StazOn Jet Black, VersaMark  CS:  PTI white and kraft, SU old olive, pacific point, and pretty in pink, vellum   Tools:  copics, PTI By the Numbers die collection, PTI Mat Stack #3 die, MFT Die-Namics mini rolled rose, white gel pen

Picture Perfect New Home

There is no better stamp set than Papertrey Ink's Boards & Beams stamp set for a new home card.  I used a SU top note die to give the look of a framed photo of a new home.  I colored the house with watercolor pencils and a blender pen.  I colored the trees with copics, cut them out and then popped them up with foam dimensionals.  I also sponged a little SU bashful blue chalk in the background.  

I stamped another tree on the inside of the card & colored it with copics.

Stamps:  PTI Boards & Beams  Ink: Momento Tuxedo black  CS:  PTI black, white, new leaf, and pure poppy 

Tools:  Copics, watercolor pencils, blender pen, SU top note die

A New Little Someone

I was asked to make a new baby girl card for someone.  I had just made a baby boy card for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge using PTI Baby Buttons stamp set.  So, I pulled it out again to make this simple card for a baby girl:

I stamped the pink panel with a SU polka dot background stamp in SU pretty in pink ink.  I tore the paper around the image and sponged some SU pretty in pink around the edges.  I colored the image with copics and added a button with twine to the bear's belly.  

Stamps:  PTI Baby Button Bits
CS:  PTI white and dark chocolate, SU pretty in pink
Ink:  Momento rich cocoa
Tools:  copics
Accessories:  PTI sweet blush button and twice, brown grosgrain ribbon

Make It Monday #2 and February SFYTT

FINALLY had a chance to play along with the PTI Make It Monday #2, but had to run out and buy some vellum first!  Mission accomplished.  Why oh WHY haven't I used vellum before?!?!?  I love it!  Thanks to PTI's Make It Monday for the inspiration!  I combined this challenge with the February Sketch for You to Try Challenge and the Papertrey Dolls Challenge #32.

As soon as I saw this sketch, the spotlight technique came to mind.  So, I pulled out the PTI Year of the Flowers: Larkspurs stamp set and stamped the flowers in versamark and them embossed in clear embossing powder.  I re-stamped the image in Momento tuxedo black and cut out a section with a Nesties circle.  I colored the flowers with copics and then lined the circle up to originally stamped image.    I ran that melon berry panel through the big shot in the SU square lattice embossing folder (love that thing).  I stamped the sentiment in StazOn black ink onto vellum and attached the sentiment with brads. 

Stamps:  PTI Year of the Flowers: Larkspurs  Ink:  Versa mark, Staz On jet black  CS:  PTI Terracotra tile, melon berry, white, vellum  Tools:  Copics, clear embossing powder, SU sqaure lattice embossing folder, Nesties circles, corner chomper  Accessories:  silver brads

SSSC105 - Cute as a Button

Happy Sunday morning!  I look forward to my morning coffee as much as the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  I pulled out my SEI Granny's Kitchen patterned paper and my PTI Baby Buttons Bits stamp set to play along this week.  

Stamps:  PTI Baby Button Bits  Ink:  Momento rich cocoa, PTI tea dye duo  PP:  SEI Granny's Kitchen  CS:  PTI craft, white, and dark chocolate  Tools:  copics, nesties circles  Accessories:  PTI button and twine

Fortune Cookie Fun

Here is a simple little card that is packed with a punch of funny thanks to a cute little stamp set by A Muse Art Stamps called "Fortune Cookie Words set."  The inside sentiment says, "The cookie has spoken."  HA!

Stamps:  A Muse Art Stamps "Fortune Cookie Words set"  Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, SU real red and apricot  CS:  SU basi black, whisper while and apricot Accessories:  SU ribbon

SSS96 - Butterfly Nora

This week the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge has as spin.  You have to follow the sketch with Spring in mind.  Happy to do so.  I am ALL SET with winter!  I used a couple of digi stamps by C.C. Designs and colored them up with my copics.  I adhered Nora with some foam fots for added dimension.   I used PTI dies to make those flowers and colored a clear rhinestones with my copics.

Stamps:  C.C. Designs Butterfly Nora and Field Fence  CS:  PTI white, spring rain, harvest gold and plum pudding  PP:  SU perfect plum patterned paper  Tools:  Copics, PTI beautiful blooms II ## die collection  Accessories:  rhinestones

BLDC5 - A perfect pair

I was so excited to learn that next week I will be a guest designer for by LORi Designs!   Until then, I am playing along with this week's challenge which you can find HERE!   I am combining this with the 7 Kids College Fund Challenge #15.   This time I used the Sugar Sticks Love You Friend digi stamp.  I colored them with copics and did a litle paper piecing since I didn't have any copics to match the rich razzleberry card stock.  I printed the sentiment from my computer.  

Stamps:  by LORi Designs "Love you friend"  CS:  PTI dark chocolate, new leaf, and white, SU rich razzleberry and pretty in pink   PP:  SU rich razzleberry patterned paper   Tools: SU square lattice embossing folder, white gel pen, copics

Mojo 178 - Heidi among the flowers

I liked this Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge the minute I saw it!  It gave me a chance to color up another C.C. Designs digi stamp that I bought over the weekend.  This time I used "Heidi Among the Flowers."  I added some tiny red rhinestones to the flowers and colored some pearls with my copics. 

Stamps:  CC Designs Heidi among the flowers, sentiment by A Muse Artstamps  CS:  PT hawaiian shores, white, and dark chocolate  PP:  Echo Park A Walk in te Park  Tools:  Nesties circles and scalloped circles, copics  Accessories:  brown satin ribbon pearls, gemstones

FLT 127 - Nora on a Swing

To play along with the Clean & Simple Stamping Sketch Clallenge 127, I decided to color this oh so sweet digi image by C.C. Designs called "Nora on a Swing."  I colored her with copics and used a clear star gelly roll pen to add some shimmer to her wings.   I stamped a small dahlia in white ink on kraft card stock, added som twine............simple as that! 

Stamps:  CC Designs "Nora on a Swing,"  PTI Delightful Dahlia, entiment by A Muse Artstamps  Ink:  Momento rich cocoa, PTI fresh snow  CS:  PTI white, kraft, melon berry, and dark chocolate  Accessories:  PTI twine

Cherry Blossom Birthday

Happy to be back at the crafting table after 2 busy days and evenings leaving me with no time or energy to craft at night.  I think I may have been experiencing withdrawals!  I have a list of challenges in which I want to play along this week and here is the 1st one I've gotten to tackle.   It is Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 104.  I flipped the sketch vertically to make this work with the cherry blossom stamp.  I colored the image with copics and colored the pearls with my copics as well. 

Stamps:  Rubber Stampede cherry blossom, sentiment from PTI Inside and Out: Birthday  Ink:  Momento rich cocoa  CS:  PTI white and dark chocolate PP:  SEI aunt gerti's garden  Tools:  1.25" circle punch, 1.5" circle punch, MFT jumbo scallop Die-Namics, copics  Accessories:  pearls

PTI Tag - Thinking of You

To play along with the Card Patterns Sketch Challenge 102, I decided to make use of one of the beautiful PTI Anniversary tags by Heather Nichols.  You can download the free tags HERE!  This card made with mostly Papertrey Ink products.  Since getting hooked on coloring with my copics, I haven't made an almost pure PTI card in awhile.  It's good to be back!  

Stamps:  PTI digi Anniversary tag by Healther Nichols and PTI Turning a New Leaf  Ink:  PTI fresh snow and tea dye duo  CS:  PTI ripe avacado, fine linen, and white, SU regal rose  Tools:  1.75" circle punch, PTI double ended banners die, Nestabilities Blossoms Two  Accessories:  pearls

SSS95 - Expecting Joy

Every Saturday morning, I wake up, get a pot o' joe brewing and then sit down at my lap top to see newest Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge.  It's definitely one of my favorites and I always end up loving the cards these sketches inspire me to make.  For this week's challenge, I am channeling spring and thoughts of new beginnings.  In fact, I refused to open my blinds this morning while making this card to hide the piles of white stuff outside.  No sabotaging my mojo, you damn snow!  I even created a new blog banner with a spring theme to try and erase this miserable winter from my mind!  Anyway, here is my card for this week's challenge......

Stamps:  Stamping Bella Expectafellabella, A Muse Art Stamps Expecting Joy  Ink:  Momemto Tuxedo Black  CS:  PTI white and Harvest Gold, SU certainly celery PP:  DCWV Nana's Kids  Tools:  PTI Beautiful Blooms II #3 die collection, SU Scallop trim border punch, copics, 1.5" circle punch, 1.75" circle punch  Accesories:  SU ribbon, silver brads



BLDC4 - Ella Celebrations

It's another color challenge this week over at the By Lori Designs Challenge Blog and while color challenges are not my favorite, I do love Lori Boyd's images so I MUST play along!  I used this cute Lollipop Ella digi image for the challenge.  I colored her with copics and paired her with some Echo Park's "A Walk in the Park" patterned paper.  I added some faux stitching with a white gel pen and a button with twine for an embellishment to balance the card. 

This card was selected as a "Sweet 5" for this week's challenge!  Thanks to Lori and the DT for selecting my card!

Stamps:  By Lori Designs Lollipop Ella, sentiment from SU Upsy Daisy  Ink:  SU real red  CS:  PTI white and pure poppy  PP:  Echo Park "A Walk in the Park"  Tools:  Nesties circles and scalloped circles, copics, white gell pen  Accesories:  PTI pure poppy button and twine

Cloud 9 Leah

So, I was just commenting on Stephanie Mino's blog that I am impressed how she and others combine challenges.  I am dipping my toes into these waters by combining Friday' Sketchers Challenge #140  with the 7 Kids College Fund Challenge #14 which was simply to use hearts somewhere on your creation AND with the Flutterby Wedneday #141 challenge.   I used this super sweet image by Whimsie Doodles called Cloud 9 Leah which can be found HERE and paired it with some patterned paper from the Bo Bunny Crush Collection.   I glittered up Leah's wings for some extra glitz!

Stamp:  Whimsie Doodles Cloud 9 Leah  CS:  PTI pure poppy, black, and white  PP:  Bo Bunny Crush Collection  Tools:  Copics, Nesties circles, SU mini heart punch, white gel pen  Accessories:  black satin ribbon, white and glitter



Mojo 177 - Sunflower

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 177 was a tricky one for me.  I was stumped by the layout.  I pulled out a few stamps with long images to fit the sketch, but I couldn't seem to pull anything together with the rest of the elements in the sketch.......and then BAM!  It came to me!   Whew!  I can't stand being stuck, but I obsess about it and can't move on until I figure it out.   I rarely use this PTI new leaf cardstcock, but it was the perfect match for this sunflower image!  I printed the sentiment from my computer.

Stamp:  Northwoods Rubber Stamps, PTI Recipe Box CS:  PTI white, harvest gold, new leaf, and dark chocolate  Tools:  Copics, 1.75" circle punch, 2" scallop circle punch  Accessories:  Brown satn ribbon and pearls

FLT 126 - Cupid

Before I head out work (insert sighing sound here), I wanted to play along with the Clean & Simple Stamping Sketch Challenge #126.  I used another one of the super cute Whimsie Doodles digi stamps that I bought yesterday.  This one is call Cloud 9 Cupid and her can be found HERE!   I colored him with copics and used a gelly roll clear star pen to add some shimmer to his wings.   I made this card for my son to give to my mom for Valentine's Day.  Eeeeek!  I just love this image!

Stamps:  Whimsie Doodles Cloud 9 Cupid, sentiment from MFT Framed Greetings Stamp set  Ink:  Momento rich Cocoa CS:  PTI kraft, pure poppy, dark chocolate and white, SU marina mist  Tools:  Nesties, copics, gelly roll clear star pen

Just for you

Hooray!  I found another weekly sketch challenge!  This time I am playing along with Unscripted Sketches #92.  I bought a bunch of super cute digi stamps from Whimsie Doodles today and I am using "Flowers from Leah.  You can find her HERE!   I have become hooked on coloring cute little images with my copics and Whimsie Doodles has a bunch of cute images that caught my eye.  There will be more to follow so stay tuned!

Stamps:  Whimsie Doodles Flowers from Lea  CS:  PTI Spring Rain, dark choclate, white, and harvest gold  Tools:  SU texture plate, copics, Nestabilities, MFT Die-Namics mini rolled rose die, 1" circle punch

CSP 204 - Kiss that Frog

Playing along with the Card Positioning Systems sketch Challenge 204 this time.  I havn't inked up this stamp in a while and I think it is such a fun card to give to a single girlfriend on the hunt for Mr. Right......especially when you think she has finally found him!  I printed the sentiment from my computer.  Cute, right?!

Stamp:  Inky Antics Bar Girl & Frog  Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black  CS:  PTI black and white  PP:  October Afternoon Modern Homemaker  Accessories:  sher black ribbon, PTI pure poppy button and pure poppy baker's twine

SSSC103 - Tulips

Good Morning!  I have been up since 4:00 AM for some unknown reason and this is my second post of the day.  Yawn!  Before I start my Sunday, I always play along with Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  It's a nice and simple sketch this week.  Since I am sick and tired of looking at the 24+ inches of snow outside my window, I decided to do something springy for today's challenge.  I love PTI's Vintage Picnic stamp set so inked that up and colored in the image with my copics.

Stamps:  PTI Vintage Picnic and sentiment from SU Tenny Tiny Wishes  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black and rish cocoa  CS: PTI dark chocolate and white  PP:  SEI Aunt Gertie's Garden  Tools:  Nesties circles and scallop circles and copics  Accessories:  pink rhinestones and SU ribbon