Summer ice cream--or should I say sherbet?!

Hi, friends!  I've already told all the DTs that I'm on, but I am under an amazing amount of stress at work right now and so I am taking a semi-break from visiting others' blogs and pairing down on my DT duties for right now.  Work has been incredibly insane and I am actually contemplating quitting which is equally as stressful as we do need the money.  Luckily, some options are starting to emerge.  I will continue to post as crafting is the only thing that brings me some sort of comfort and joy.  Okay, so do my DH and darling fur baby, but I NEED crafting right now.  I understand if I don't get many comments, but I do hope you'll keep coming by to see me as I appreciate all of you--even if I can't reciprocate the comments. 

That said, I have a super fun card for you tonight!!!  I recently purchased some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Graphic 45 sets during a round of "retail therapy".  This card features stamps from the "A Ladies' Diary" line.  SO FUN!

Here's the card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Fashionable Stamping: Summer Ice Cream Colors

(I always think of sherbet for summer--hence the bright sherbet colors!)

Frosted Designs: Twine & Ribbons

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Use Your Favorite Technique

(The background...my favorite ever!)

So, like I said above, I got to use my favorite technique on the background!!!  I started by stamping random  G45 images onto white cardstock with black Staz-on ink.  I then used inks and watercolor markers to color in the panel, spritzed it with homemade glimmer mist, heat dried it with my embossing gun, and ran it through a dry embossing folder.  It turned out AMAZINGLY!!!  I adore this and I am so happy with it! :)

Thanks for stopping by--I hope that you've been inspired by something that you've seen and that you try something new today!!!  Happy stamping, friends! :)

LIM Sketch: Take 2--Tres Inky!

Yep.  I got inky!  I've been having lots of fun playing around with ink, and so, as I wasn't too happy with my Take 1, I decided to play with the sketch again, this time turning it and using a bit more of an artsy technique.

Here's the card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Less is More: Sketch

Simon Says Stamp & Say: What do you say?

(Thanks for this one--I used a sentiment I've never used before!)

Sentimental Sundays: Paint/Inks

(Water coloring and spritzing is soooo much fun!)

Fashionable Stamping: Anything Goes

This one was so much fun!  I stamped my silhouette floral image and then water colored my inks over the top.  I then sprayed some of my homemade glimmer mist (made with metallic paints and water) just a bit and dried the panel most of the way.  After doing this, I ran it through a dry embossing folder to add some more interest.  A few rhinestones as well for a bit of pizazz.  Layered it onto the card and then added my pennant sentiment and there you have it! :)  Can you see the bird?  I hope so--it looks so pretty in real life!

Okay, let's take a look at another fruit card, shall we?  Made with the same Fiskars stamp set called Fresh Fruit, this is another super fun and CAS card. :)

Here it is~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Pile It On: Cute as Can Be

(I hope this is cute enough...I rather think

the sentiment is darling!)

Stampalot Challenge: What's Your Crafty Passion?

(I've been really into CAS and am trying

to perfect my technique as well as working

on paper masking technique)

Catch the Bug: Color Inspiration

 

 So much fun using these bananas!!!  Instead of glossy accents, as I don't really perceive bananas as "juicy", I used some glitter!  And of course, a few rhinestones!  I've made another banana card as well, going the other way, but you'll have to wait to see it. ;) 

Thanks for stopping by--hope you can come and play along at these fun challenges!  Happy stamping! :)

Wow...I need to control myself...

I just spent way too much time on the JoAnns site making a wishlist.  I have zero money this summer since I'm not working, and it made me want to take out a small loan to pay for it all.  But I didn't.  And that is really good!  Because we're trying to get OUT of debt--and we're almost there!  But I digress...

I've got a card to show you...YES.  It's another easel card!  I'm hoping my obsession with them calms down a bit as I'm sure you're sick of them by now!  I want to try some shaped ones before I'm totally done, so PLEASE don't unfollow me because all I do is easels right now! ;D

Here's the card for today~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Pals Paper Arts: Color inspiration

Fashionable Stamping: Oriental

(My main image has Asian lettering and a zen feel--is that Oriental?)

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Spritz, Spray, or Stencil
(I did all three!)

Since I've been really bad about telling you how I made my card, I thought I'd tell you a bit about this one.  I'm going to mainly focus on the spritzing, spraying, and stenciling. 

You can barely see it, but I used a Spellbinders stencil to stencil my large yellow and smaller cream panels.  I tried to spray, but my papers kept getting too saturated and you couldn't see the floral design SO I came up with a solution.  For my brown shimmery panel, I spritzed and sprayed the stencil THEN placed it on the paper.  I inked up a sponge with red ink and smeared it around the paper--the shimmer from the stencil transferred to the paper and it looks so fabulous!  It looks better than I thought it would--you can actually see the red ink on the brown paper!!!  The larger cream panel was stenciled and then collage and generational stamped to create a scene. I sponged all lighter paper edges with brown for a distressed feel, stamped over my main image to further the scene behind it, and added a bit of clear Spica pen to the sentiment.

After that, I just put my panels together, layered them, added my image panel, added some bling, decided on some butterflies, and voila!  Okay, I made it sound easier than it was--I really took my time with this one as I wanted it to be really nice so I could display it in my living room with THIS JAR that I made last year--I think they go really well together!  I need to use some more of my glass items this summer...but I digress again!

Thanks so much for stopping by--I hope that all of my friends in the USA had a happy and safe 4th of July and I hope that everyone else is having a fabulous week!  Happy stamping--can't wait to see what YOU'VE made today!!! :)

My NEW favorite card ever...

Yeah.  I know that this card was my new favorite, but I now have another favorite card!  I finally got out my new-ish Prima cling stamps and used a fabulous image of a vintage little girl near a gigantic poppy--so dream like and it reminds me of Alice In Wonderland! :)  And I chose super fun bright colors for my little one.

Here is the card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Card Patterns: Sketch

Fashionable Stamping: Magical & Mystical

{PIN}spirational Challenge: Photo Inspiration

Creative Card Crew: Song Inspiration (I Have a Dream by Cristy Lane)

So, what do you think?  I LOVE that polka dot paper with my polka dotted ribbons!!!  The colors just leaped out at my from the photo above, and I KNEW they'd be perfect for a card like this!  I hope you like it, too, and that you join in some of the fabulous challenges!  Happy stamping!!! :)

PS: Have you checked out my BLOG CANDY yet?!

There's still time!!!

Hi, all!!!  I hope you've had a productive/restful weekend.  I'm gonna brag about mine a little later--got some PHENOMENAL DEALS at a local craft store garage sale, but that'll be tomorrow.  AND, I'll get to the reason for my title later on, but I have a card to share first.

Here it is~

Details~

This is another sympathy card I made to send to my cousin who recently lost her husband.  She's still having a rough time, and even though we aren't as close as I'd like, I still wanted to brighten her day, so this card was given to my mom to send to her.  I'm going to try and make her a card a month for awhile to help her know how loved she is by me, even if I've been rubbish about telling her.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges~

Amusing Challenges: Anything Goes

{Cupcake Inspirations}: Photo Inspiration (my background paper was inspired by this)~

Fashionable Stamping: Embossing (do you like my faux cross stitched image panel?!)

Also, I'm sure you are all wondering if there is still time to enter my NEW monthly challenge, Technique Tuesday.  YES!  You still have approximately 30 hours to enter!  I'd LOVE to see all of you enter--and I am amazed by those who have linked up this month, as you will be, too!  So, what are you waiting for?!  Join me at Technique Tuesday, and come on back for a new challenge this Tuesday, May 1, 2012! :)  Happy stamping, friends!!!

Well...

...we've got just a little bit before the humongous storm system heading our way hits.  So, I've got 2 bright cards to show you!!! :)

Here's the first one~

Details~

This card is for these challenges~

Fashionable Stamping: Nautical

Cards for Men: Spring Colors (these colors remind me of tulips...)

I had a lot of fun using different textures on this card.  I stamped my under the seahorses and elements, ran the panel through my dry embossing machine, sponged the "waves", added crackle accents, used Prima crystals as bubbles, and used a gold gel pen to create a sandy bottom.  My sentiment is covered in glossy accents with some Prima crystals anchoring the bottom of it.  TONS of fun.  I really wasn't sure how it would come out, and I am pleasantly surprised!!!

Now onto the second card~

Details~

This card is for these challenges~

Mojo Monday: Sketch

Inky Impressions: Create Your Own Embellishment

Paper Pretties: Use 2 or More DP

This one was also really fun to make and I had a blast creating my flower!!!  I used the baby wipe reinker technique to create a stamp pad for my flower images.  I used up some more of the green butterflies I had made for this card, as I do not like to waste.  And some Aurora Borealis Prima crystals for some added sparkle!

So, there ya go!  I also used some more of the green butterflies to create a panel that I'll be using in the near future.  Fancy a peek?!

Here it is~

Also, have you checked out Technique Tuesday?  I'm hoping this will be a great success, but I need YOUR help to make it one!  Won't you join me, please! 

And with that, I say good night, all!  Hope you have a restful Sunday!  Happy stamping!!! :)