I think I like...

Hello, howdy, hey ya'll!  I'm here today to share something with you.  Something personal, in a way.  I have been having a ROUGH time the last month.  The first half of June found me in the hospital, then 2 weeks of serious health issues.  The second half has been one tragedy for close friends after another, a car dying on us, and SERIOUS BLOG BURNOUT.  

I was starting to think I should just quit.  And then, I realized what I needed.  I needed some craft therapy.  I needed to make something NON-design team related and JUST for me.  Or rather, for my amazing and long-suffering husband.  He's been my rock through all of this.  Because, you know what?!  I think I LIKE crafting and blogging.  And I think that I need to do more of it FOR ME/those I love, not just for teams!  Thus...this card was born...

This little stamp set has sat in my stash for quite some time.  It was sent to me by a craft friend months ago.  It needed to be used!  Just like my "just because I want to stamp" skills.  I think I like these kiddos...

I think I also kinda like the way my coloring turned out.  I used Spectrum Noir markers, and I made sure to be EXTRA CAREFUL.  It took me over an hour to color these kids.  I didn't care.  It was SO therapeutic to not be on a deadline.

Well, there you have it, friends.  It was really hard to write this post and get real, but it was also part of the therapeutic process.  I hope you enjoy this cute card and like it as much as I do--and as much as I hope my husband does!  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! :)

I'm entering this card into these fabulous challenges~

Crafty Cardmakers: Sentiment

Cards and More: Dots

Deep Ocean Challenge: Two Stamped Images

Retarte: Anything Goes

Sweet Stamps: Bright Colors

That's all for now, friends.  Be assured, my monthly onslaught of posts for design teams WILL happen in the VERY near future.  I AM excited for all the creations I have coming up, but I am so glad I got to share this "just because" card with you today!  THANK YOU so much for all your kind words and support--YOU are all amazing!  Until next time, HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

Paper Sweeties July Inspiration Challenge #33 - Red, White & Blue

Hi, SWEETIES!  I am here today to share a card for the July Paper Sweeties challenge!  Our inspiration is so fun, I hope you like it and play along!  Take a peek...

SO fun--and perfect for July here in the USA!  I decided to go with the colors and stripes/star motifs, but my card isn't necessarily patriotic.  Take a peek at my creation...

I used the hot air ballon from the new Let's Go To The Beach stamp set.  I heat embossed it in clear, then watercolored with red and blue inks.  It was die cut with the new Let's Go To The Beach Sweet Cuts dies.

I created the background by using a technique that I call "Ink 'n' Emboss".  I've got a tutorial on it HERE, or watch below.  I added some washi tape and some clouds from the Let's Go To The Beach stamp set that were also cut with the Let's Go To The Beach Sweet Cuts dies.

The sentiment is from the new Surf's Up stamp set.  I created a "cloud" by tearing some white card, then stamping the sentiment in blue ink.

Some Marshmallow sequins were added as a finishing touch.  I like all the different textures on this card, and it was so fun to make!  I hope you like it, too!  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

As promised, the tutorial video on the background.~

That's all for me today!  I'll be back later this month with some creation using the July release, so stay tuned!  For more inspiration for the challenge, make sure to visit the other gals on the DT, as well.

Here's the hop list~

Angel Johns 
Annette Witherspoon

Cheryl Lea

Debbie Marcinkiewicz– Paper Sweeties

 Emily Frasier

Jill Norwood

Julie Tucker-Wolek

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

July Guest Designer:  Lin Brandyberry

HUGS and happy stamping, friends! :)

Project supplies:

Let′s go to the Beach Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Surf′s Up Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Let′s go to the Beach Sweet Cuts--Paper Sweeties

Paper Sweeties - Marshmallow Sequins

Great Impressions: Elegant Wedding

Hi, all!  I'm back today with another card that uses a gorgeous sentiment stamp from the Great Impressions online store!  This card was made for my little sister, who was married last month.  Come and check it out...

The sentiment, E36 On Your Wedding Day, was stamped onto some glimmer cardstock and heat embossed in gold.  It is SO hard to photograph the shine, but it is so pretty!  

This amazing sentiment can stand on it's own, so all I did was layer some cardstock, glitter paper, and dry embossed glimmer cardstock onto the card base. Like I stated, the shine on this card is totally unreal!  SO elegant!

I'm pleased to say that my sister and new brother-in-law really loved this card!  Hopefully they keep it forever...they better! ;)  What do you think of it?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

That's all for me today!  I'll be back next soon with another creation using stamps from the Great Impressions store.  I hope you join in our current challenge, and, if you use Great Impressions stamps, link them up in our Customer Gallery, too!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all!

Project supplies:

E36 On Your Wedding Day

The Stamps of Life: Hello, Again!

Well, I'm back again with another NON-STAMPED card.  Seriously, this die from The Stamps of Life online store makes these cards way too easy!  Take a peek...

Once again, I've used the Hello My Friend Dies Set to create my focal point and sentiment.  It was cut out of Licorice cardstock, and some Powdered Sugar cardstock, embossed with the Regal embossing folder, was added on top for some texture and contrast.  Some bright enamel dots help lend more color, and the patterned paper behind my sentiment is from the Love Story Collection Patterned Paper Pad.

The pieces of cardstock added to my Powdered Sugar cardstock base were cut using the Large Rectangle Dies.  They make layering SUPER easy!  I used some more Licorice cardstock to mat a piece of patterned paper from the Celebrate Collection Patterned Paper Pad.  I really like how all the colors POP with the black, don't you?  Please leave me a comment and let me know! :)

That's all for me today, friends!  Thank you ever so much for stopping by!  I feel so blessed that you did, and I read all of your sweet comments--thank you for cheering me on!  I hope you take some time to craft and create today, and that you hop over and grab these goodies from The Stamps of Life online store!  Until next time, HUGS and happy stamping, friends! :)

Project supplies:

Hello My Friend Circle Dies Set

Large Rectangle Dies

Licorice Cardstock

Powdered Sugar Cardstock

Love Story Collection Patterned Paper Pad

Celebrate Collection Patterned Paper Pad

Regal & Flower Burst Embossing Folders

CASE-ing Christmas: Sponged Snowflakes

Hello, all!  It's time for another weekly challenge at CASE-ing Christmas!  This week, we are CASEing DT member Donna, and her card is just brilliant!  Come and look...

I absolutely LOVED the fun masking and sponging Donna created, as well as the snowflake theme, so that was what I chose to focus on for my CASE.  Take a gander at what I came up with...

The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I accented it with a few small snowflakes from Waltzingmouse Stamps and added some liquid pearls for accents.  I also added some dry embossed lines for a bit more texture.

I chose some cool tones in non-traditional colors for the sponging and snowflakes.  More liquid pearls accent each individual snowflake.

I love this card, and I do believe it will mail well!  Nothing too lumpy, and nothing heavy.  What do you think?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Thank you so much for stopping by, friends!  I hope you come and join us at CASE-ing Christmas this week--I can't wait to see what you create using the CASE card as your guide!  HUGS and MERRY stamping, friends! :)

The Stamps of Life: Sweet Butterflies

Hi, all!  Ready for more butterflies from The Stamps of Life?!  I've got a CAS card that uses some fun summery colors and a lot of tiny, darling, and sweet butterflies stamps to create patterned paper!  Come and see...

I used the three small butterflies from the triplitbutterfly2stamp set, put them in a random pattern on a clear block, then stamped them onto a piece of Powdered Sugar cardstock using Grape, Guava, and Banana inks.  

I matted the stamped panel onto some Guava cardstock.  I then stamped the sentiment from the triplitbutterfly2stamp set onto some vellum.  I stapled the vellum panel to the created patterned paper, and added a few enamel dots.

The last step was to add the focal panel to a card base made from Powdered Sugar cardstock!  I think this turned out super cute, do you?  I would love to hear your opinion in the comments below!

I'm entering this card with these fabulous challenges~

Amusing Challenge: Vellum

Sunday Stamps: Sketch Inspiration

Allsorts: Use A Stamp

That's all for me today, friends!  Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by--your visits and comments make my day!  Go grab these goodies from The Stamps of Life online store, and I will be back soon with more paper creations!  Until then, HUGS and happy stamping, friends! :)

Project supplies:

triplitbutterfly2stamp

Powdered Sugar Cardstock

Ink Pads - Set 2

Ink Pads - Set 1

Guava Cardstock