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! :)

Get ready...

...to not hear from me for a while!  IF I get time, I'll be posting some posts, but I won't have a ton of time for the next few weeks to post regularly, other than the scheduled DT post (hopefully they post...fingers crossed).  Okay, so there you have it!  I've got some cards I HAVE to show you before I leave, though!

Here's the first one~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Addicted to Stamps: Make Your Mark

(Use markers--I used mine to color my stamp!)

Waste Not Wednesday: Use Your Stash

(I've used up some of my washi tape, scraps, & rhinestones!)

The Paper Players: Tic Tac Toe

(I used the Circles, Dry Embossing, Punches line.)

I had the idea to use lots of color to showcase my SU! markers and this was the perfect stamp!  I grabbed my washi tape and couldn't figure out how to use it until I realized it would make a fun fake ribbon bottom!  So, that's what I used it for!  Hope you like it--this card was super fun to make and I LOVE it! :)

Second card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

{PIN}spirational Challenges: Photo Inspiration

House of Gilli: Fall Colors

Simon Says Stamp & Show: What do you say?

This one totally had a mind of it's own...my original thought was to create some sort of brick wall or something, but then I spied this stamp set from Prima (not sure the name) and it had this wonderful border stamp and I KNEW I should use it!  Just a bit of bling and then I turned it into an aperture card...because that's fun!  Voila! ;)

Thanks for stopping by--I'll miss you all while I'm away but will look forward to seeing you when I return from my sister's wedding!  Happy stamping--and THANK YOU for being here! :)

Globes & Doggies

Hi, friends!  It's coming down to the wire for us to leave, and so I am trying very hard to get all my cards posted!  You may hear a lot from me tonight...let's get started!  I'm doing 2 cards per post right now so I can show these things off! ;)

Here's my first card for this post~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

CAS-ual Fridays: Color Inspiration

Simon Says Stamp & Show: What do you say?

Sentimental Sundays: Ink/Paint

I had TONS of fun with this card!   As soon as I saw the colors at CASF, I KNEW I had to use my new globe stamp sent to my from my dear blogging friend, Katy, from a Jillybean Soup set.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up!  I also knew I wanted to watercolor and use my homemade glimmer mist to add paint splatters.  A large layered pennant seemed appropriate and some dry embossed gears by Tim Holtz as a background and to add texture for the white on white, a bit of bling and there it is! ;)  And now onto another card!

Here it is~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Digi Haven: FREE Digi Doggies

(find this absolutely darling and FREE digi HERE)

The Stamping Boutique: Anything Goes

Paper Makeup Stamps: Endless Summer

This one was so fun to make--I colored the doggie to look like my sweet fur baby then added some glitter glue for some added interested.  Layered it onto fun summery paper and added a sentiment and some bling and there you go!

Thanks for taking some time out of your day to come and look at my cards--your kind words and encouragement mean the world to me!  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! :)

Have you ever...

...had one of those days where you just want to quit one aspect of your life?  Me, too.  Today is that day.  I am SOOOOO glad that I can come online and be greeted by your kind words and encouragement--you all mean the world to me and I am so grateful to have a Christ-like place to retreat to besides my home.  THANK YOU.

Now that I'm done moping, let's get to business, shall we?  I've made the cutest little shaped easel card--I'm immensely proud of it and hope you'll like it, too!!!

Here it is~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Shabby Tea Room: Photo Inspiration + Add a Flower
 

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Hey, Girl!

Tuesday Alchemy: Very Vintage

I started by die cutting all my shapes using one of my favorite Stampin' Up! die sets.  I then layered things on continually until I got the look I wanted.  A fabulous quote from the PTI "Simply Jane" set, and voila!  Isn't it darling?!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek--I am so glad you came!  I hope that you come back again and I'll see you in blog land! :)  Happy stamping!!!

Hola again!

Hi, friends!  I know I had a DT post this morning, but I've got two more cards to share with you tonight (in separate posts)!!! :)  So, you're stuck with me! ;)  Let's get right to it, shall we?

Here's my card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

JUGS: Faux Window

 

Dynamic Duos: Color Inspiration

Simon Say Stamp & Show: No Rules

Thanks so much to the girls at JUGS--I had never tried this technique and LOVE it!  I got to use 2 Kaiser Crafts stamps that haven't gotten much, if any, use so that makes me very happy!  I stamped the images in Baja Breeze and then used a watercolor pen to color the roses pink and add more blue to soften the scene.  Oh, and of course some glitter for a little bit of fun!  I decided that my window needed some shabby chic drapery, and so I added some lace, punched paper, and satin stitched ribbon to create a soft and feminine feel.  Did I succeed?  I like to think I did!  I LOVE the way this turned out--so pretty!

Thanks for stopping by--I hope to see some of YOUR creations soon, so please come and play along at these fabulous challenges!  Don't forget to join my BLOG CANDY and my challenge at TECHNIQUE TUESDAY as well!  Happy stamping!!!