Sunday, August 31, 2014

Veteran's Day with Verve

Getting started on my Veteran's Day cards.  A little early but I know the time will fly by and it will be here before I know it.  Each year I create 15 cards for some veterans living in a local retirement home.
Used a couple of the August Viva la Verve Sketches and stamps from Verve's American Hero to get started with this years cards.
Here is my card using Week Three's sketch.


   And here is my card using Week Four's sketch.


    

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a fun and safe Labor Day!
God Bless!

Entered in:
Viva La Verve Week 3 and Week 4
Simon Says Stamp - Wed. Challenge - Anything Goes

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

TMS and Zap Pow!

Good Tuesday morning!
Welcome back!  I hope you are ready for a another fun sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.
We have a easy sketch this week, tons of possibilities with this one!
Our terrific sponsor this week is Zap PowOwners Lizzie and Cassandra have created a store of digital stamps that are cheeky, fun and quite whimsical images and are great to work with.
The winner this week will get to choose 3 fun Zap Pow images!
Are you ready to play?
Here is this weeks sketch...
   
I used Olive You to create my very first shaker card.  I've always loved the look/idea of shaker cards, I just never made one until now.  I'm happy with the end results, still need a little practice, but over all, not bad for a first try!  
This is going to be an anniversary card for my hubby.  I know, not very romantic!  When I saw this image I knew immediately I wanted to use it for his anniversary card. Did you know that when you mouth the words olive juice it looks like I love you!  Yea, it does and yes, my husband fooled me by silently mouthing them to me.  I know, what an odd sense of humor! Just one of the things I love about him! 
So that is why I wanted to use the olives for our anniversary.  
I used the Spellbinders A2 matting basics dies to cut out a frame from green card stock.  I adhered some acetate to the frame then added foam tape completely around the frame.  I used sequin, heart punches and a couple Happy Anniversary confetti pieces inside the "window".  Added some doodling to the frame.  The olives are colored with Prismacolor pencils then popped up with more foam tape.  I wanted to added a little more interest to the polka dot background so I randomly added some doodled hearts.  A strip of washi tape was used as accent.  In real life the background is more purple then blue.  
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Simple sketch, so many awesome ideas, go check them out, then get busy playing!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Nobody Sweeter

During last Thursday's Unity hop, Kassi over at k.lynne art shared a beautiful watercolor card using the strawberry stamp form Unity's KOM Botanical Bliss.  Click here to see her card.
I loved the look so much I thought I would give the technique a try.
Mine is not near as beautiful as Kassi's, but I had a lot of fun trying something new.
I used the Deconstructed sketch #165 for my layout.
Deconstructed Sketch No. 165    
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless!!

Entered in:
Unity Friends with Flair 8/22/2014
Deconstructed Sketch 165
Savvy Handmade Cards - Strawberries

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

A Little Verve Congrats

Played with my new Verve set Peaceful Medallions!
Such a beautiful set!  I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch to create a little congrats card.
Love the fonts Verve uses for their sentiments, so fun!!
  
Used Versamark and clear EP on the large medallion and one of the smaller medallions.  Used the emboss resist technique to add color to both medallions.  Stamped the smallest medallion then used spellbinder circle dies to cut each of them out. Added little gems to the center of the two smaller medallions.  Stamped the congrats sentiment with Versafine black ink on a vellum banner. A little bit of ribbon and a few Verve Shine Bright sequins finish off the card.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of blog land!
Hope you will consider following!
God bless!

Entered in:

Monday, August 18, 2014

TMS #263 and Sami Stamps

It's Tuesday!  Woot! Woot! You know what that means!?
Another sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches!  Who's ready to play?
Not only do we have a fun sketch, but we have a wonderful sponsor also!  Our sponsor this week is the one and only Sami Stamps! 

        

Sami has some beautiful digital stamps that are so fun to color!
For your chance to win some of Sami's beautiful images, just make a project using this sketch as inspirations, then link it up over at the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog.

   



I used Sami's Poppies Bunch to create my card! I used a 4 1/4 inch square card base.  The image is colored with Inktense pencils and a water brush. Inked up the edges of each panel with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. A little twine and a few buttons accent the card.   Now for more beautiful inspiration, visit the other Design Team members -
Debbie
Jenee
Jessi
Melissa 
Nina
Thanks for stopping by, can't wait to see what you create!

Entered in:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #145 - Anything Goes

Friday, August 15, 2014

Another Anniversary card

I needed another anniversary card for my brother-in-law and his wife; thanks to Sweet Sunday Sketch for the sketch inspiration.
Used the blossom stamp from this months Layers of Life set from Unity.
Colored the stamp with Distress markers on mixed media paper.  I then used my water brush to soften the lines and spread the color.  Stamped the blossoms again into my background paper.  Added a die cut "happy" and a die cut banner stamped with "anniversary", three banners and some twine.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the Internet!
God bless!

Entered in:
Sweet Sunday Sketch #231
Unity Friends with Flair - Aug. 15, 2014

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Anniversary Wishes

Playing around with some of my Verve goodies tonight!
Created an Anniversary card using the Aug. Week 2 Viva la Verve sketch...
 
I used the Verve set On Occasion  for this Anniversary card for my brother and sister-in-law.  They are celebrating their 25th this year, so I embossed the frame and sentiment with silver embossing powder.  I added some silver stickers and die cut the heart frame from silver cardstock.  The patterned paper came from Hobby Lobby.  A little paper piercing in the corners of the red mat and some hand dyed seam binding for the banner layer.
Thanks for stopping by my little blog!
God bless!!

Entered in:

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

TMS #262 - Watercolor

Happy Tuesday!
I'm excited about this weeks challenge!  Not only do we have a fun Tuesday Morning Sketch, but we are using one of my favorite techniques - watercolor!
We also have a wonderful sponsor this week - Craft Classes Online!

Craft Classes Online (CCO) brings multiple Creative Arts Instructors together on one site to provide students with the best choice in online craft workshops. Classes are advertised on the CCO website, but are paid for and held on individual instructor's blog/website. This enable instructors to have more freedom and flexibility in their independent businesses. 

Our instructors offer online workshops that are engaging, affordable, and time-saving. Students from across the globe can learn any number of techniques and creative projects from the comfort of their own home and on their schedule. 

In September we will relaunch our blog, My Creative Life 2014, where we issue challenges to help us use all of our craft supplies during the year.

We are excited to be sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches Blog. You can view our class list on our website atwww.CraftClassesOnline.com. We are bringing in more instructors throughout the fall, so check back often. Sign up for our newsletter. Visit us on our Facebook page, too! One lucky winner will receive a free seat to a Workshop class valued at $25 or less.  Good Luck!

Remember to win this week you need to do the twist, watercolor.  
Are you ready to play?  Here's the sketch....


  


I brushed a piece of patterned paper with some Gesso.  The Gesso toned down the background and added a layer so I could use watercolors on the paper without it ripping from the moisture.  After the Gesso dried, I stamped the Technique Tuesday Greenhouse daisy image with Vesafine black ink.  First laid down some blue then painted the image.  One of the things I love about watercoloring is you don't need to worry about staying in the lines, just let the paint and water flow.  As much as I love watercoloring, I am new at it and need lots more playtime practice.  If you're just getting started, go to YouTube, there are lots of videos to help you.  After the paint was dry, I die cut the bottom of the image panel, added a seam binding bow that I had dyed with Distress inks.  Love the color variegation you get when you dye your own ribbon.  Some twine, a button and a few pearls finish off the card.  
The rest of the DT has more inspiration for you, so hop on over and check out their creations.

Now it's your turn.  Remember to use the twist - watercolor!
Have fun! Can't wait to see what you create!

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Beach Bum

Click HERE for my Tuesday Morning Sketch.

Played around with the August week 1 sketch from Viva la Verve and some cute flip flop's from Newton's Nook.

Colored the flip flops with Prismacolor pencils.  Printed the digi twice then fussy cut the straps.  Added a little glitter and popped them up for a little dimension.  The "waves" are from a Sizzix swirl die.  Drew some doodle stitches around the sentiment circle and the green panel, and a little twine accent to finish it off.
Wishing I was on a beach right now.
Thanks so much for stopping by! 
God bless!

Entered in:


TMS # 261

Happy Tuesday morning everyone!
Are you ready for another great Tuesday Morning Sketch and prize?

Our sponsor this week is returning sponsor Yours or Mine Paper Crafts.  Mei has a sweet little shop with all kinds of paper crafting treats.

And now the sketch..

and my card....
After stamping my sentiment, I cut it out using MFT banner die.  I stamped the heart from the sentiment stamp onto some pattern paper then cut it out and popped it up with foam tape.  The larger hearts were die cut from patterned paper and stacked and then popped up with more foam tape.  Added a little zigzag stitch to the banner and a button to the hearts.  
For more awesome inspiration, check out the other DT blogs.  Be sure to welcome our newest DT member Nina! 

Now it's your turn!  Remember to link up your project to be eligible to win some crafty goodies from Yours and Mine Paper Crafts!
Thanks for stopping by!

Entered in:

Friday, August 1, 2014

FWF Christmas

Quick little post to share a Unity Christmas card.
Since Christmas is a little over 20 weeks away, I thought I better get started on some Christmas cards.
Used the sketch from this month's Unity Be Inspired challenge to create this quick and easy card.

   
Used Almighty God to create a background.  Then stamped the manger from A Child is Born in gold ink and embossed with clear EP.   Added a little ink around the edges and a few gold stars finish off the card.
Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend.
God bless!

Entered in:
Unity be Inspired Challenge - Wish with your heart
Friend with Flair Friday - Aug 8 2014
Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge - ATG