Spring At Last

I have fallen in love with Santoro images. They come in different sizes, the minis you can from from around $2. Medium are a little over $7 and is my favorite size. Then there are some high ones, I'm talking 8"tall for the one I purchased which I think was over $12 (I only have one, they're just too big for me).

For today's card (standard A2), I uses Spring At Last which I just received this week in my Blitsy order! It comes with not only this great image, she's about 5" tall, and the little flowers, butterfly & book come in the kit as well. Plus a few images I didn't use like a bee & postage stamp.

I stamped thr image using Memento in Tuxedo Black, colored with Copic markers. The b.s. ground I made with Tim Holtz Oxide & regular Distress inks.

Here's what the package looks like, so you even have a coloring idea

Authentic

Two Paper Divas has a great little sketch going right now, my friend Terri told me I should play along. So today on my graduation recovery day, I played with some paper, a little ink, and some scissors! What a great way to recover ;)

I used Carta Bella 6x6 Paper Pad called Beautiful Moments, I distressed the edges & stamped using Tim Holtz Ground Espresso, I even fussy cut out the pieces of the flower!

Here's where you can enter & the sketch itsself:

TPD Card Challenge

So long, Fair well

Oh no, my week is over... time to take off my crown and pass it along to the next GIU GalHopefully I have inspired you to create something this week!

Sometimes this sentiment is harder to realize than others as I strive for perfection way too often, so I have to tell myself

"dood you are NOT perfect, get over yourself"

Speaking of imperfect, this background was super for with dripping Tim Holtz Distress Inks, spritzing with water, patting with a paper towel and repeating until it looked like this.

First this I did was stamp the image and butterfly wings from Nov. 2013 KOM with Ranger Archival Ink in Black, then I began the background journey and added the sentiment,
Donna Downey's As I See It, once all that was dry.

I used watercolors to paint in the butterfly wings and topped that with a pretty heavy coat of Wink of Stella (no matter how hard I try, I cannot photograph that stuff so just imagine sparkles)

Now don't forget to leave me a comment for a chance to win  random stamps from Unity Stamp Company. If you missed a previous day this week, no worries just go back and comment on those creations now!

Day 4 of my GIU week

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!

I always look forward to my husband fumbling with what to get me

and my two sons attempts at helping him out on this...

I get a lot of M&M's

they try

Featuring: ...Everything Love stamp set

I started this one off with a blank white card front, and decided the heart should be embossed

Zing in Silver to the rescue.

Once that was heat set, I dripped Tim Holtz Distress Inks down from the top then sprayed with water to create a marbling effect.

Next came the simple stamping of the sentiment.

I sat & looked & looked before deciding it just needed more then I remembered my

Prima flower jar! Topped those off with a little bling from Imaginisce and *Boom*

Valentine's Day!

Leave me some love for a chance to win  random stamps from Unity Stamp Company. If you missed a day this week, just go back to Monday and work your way through my posts for better odds of winning. See you tomorrow for my grand finale! 

Mojo 416

well this card has taken me

all.week.long.

to create!

just too busy with too many things

the sentiment is why I bought this stamp set but the wonderful butterfly didn't hurt

fro Unity Stamp Co. Letting Go-Not Loving Less

Black ink - Memento

Colored ink - various Tim Holtz Inks

Unity Love

in my last post I told you about winning the $100 Unity Stamp Company Shopping Spree

Well all those wonderful stamps arrived yesterday in my mail box!

{I shared the first card I created using one of those stamps in that post as well}

Also I received a smallish order I had placed on Tuesday too

So.Many.NEW.Stamps.

Last night I got busy & today I'm going to stay busy

creating with Unity & just taking it easy at my house.

This is a little 3x3 gift card

Unity Stamp Set - Be Joyful

Stamped using Black Memento Ink

Watercolored (with a handy dandy water brush) using Tim Holtz Inks in Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, and Mowed Lawn

Cardbase is from Studio G

little bit of bling in flower centers from Tulip "Beads in a Bottle"

Next Up, I think I may give this one to the pastor of our church

I created this wonderful background using Tim Holtz Ink pads in Iced Spruce, Dried Marigold, Victorian Velvet, and Milled Lavender

Unity Stamp Set - Blossoms & Blessings

Stamped using Ranger Archival Ink (3 generations)

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot around the edges

mounted on plain black cardstock

And last ( at least for this post)
is another small card, a 4x4 from the mystery cardbase drawer

sweet Unity Stamp Set - Little Bunny for you
stamped using black Memento on a plain white cardstock
I colored the flower & leaves with Twinkling H2O's
the rest is Copic marker
I punched the "sun" from pearlized cardstock
the pearl brad is My Mind's Eye
and that tag, well that's from those big packs you use when labeling for garage sales

Kitty

there is nothing like a cat, I have two tuxedo kitties in my life

they make me happy

This Hallow's Eve Kitty from Unity Stamp Company

makes me happy too

I created the center circle using various mists

stamped the kitty/moon/bats using Ranger's Archival Ink

then using a tiny paint brush I painted the moon with Liquid Pearls in White Opal

Printed papers are an old Making Memories 8x8 pack Spook Alley

The awesome little chipboard bats are from UmWowStudio

I painted the bats with Tuxedo Smooch

edges are distressed with Tim Holtz Black Soot

I played along with Sketch Saturday #379

I made very small changes: left off the staples, added a sentiment strip, changed the stars to bats plus dropped one and moved them over but I think you can still see the basic sketch idea :-)

Many Thanks

My friend DeeDee is an amazingly talented designer!

She works wtih 7 Dots Studio, designing these awesome papers, stamps, stencils & chipboard pieces;

Plus she owns & designs for UmWow Studio coordinating chipboard pieces (the nice heavy kind) along with masks & flair. The latest is called Lost & Found and it is wonderful!

Background - 7 Dots Studio Wonky Halftone Mask used with Heavy Gesso (let that dry overnight)

smeared Tim Holtz Abandoned Coral & Twisted Citron on my craft mat, spritzed with water & dipped Background piece,
Using one of the 7 Dots Studio stamps in teh same inks, I added 3 splats of full color
Then I dipped my drinking glass in some Tim Holtz Ground Espresso and created some "coffee" stains

My friend from Mountain Plains Crafters, Marilynn, recently sent me these awesome little upcycled {pizza box} scrabble pieces, applied those with some thermo-web glue dots

Added a bit of May Arts Jute and topped it all of with a few sequins

New Day Rooster

tonight while playing along with Unity Stamp Company on Facebook 

I also played with one of my newest Unity stamps...

New Day Rooster!

 My three grandpas were farmers and of those three, two had chickens

I remember one particularly evil rooster

New Ink from Tim Holtz!

Printed papers from Graphic45 French Country

there is magic

it's been a really good week for me!

I received my Unity Stamp order

My kids have made it on time for school everyday & the oldest is driving them

I helped some people at the food pantry I volunteer at weekly who really needed it

and I got to play in my craft room two nights!

For this one I played along with Freshly Made Sketches #201

my girls over at Mountain Plains Crafters did an unofficial challenge to use

WOODGRAIN, mine is part of an old CloseToMyHeart Stamp Set called Weathered Backgrounds, which I stamped on Kraft cardstock using Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs.

The sentiment & image stamps are from Unity Stamp Company's new sentiment set called

... Butterflies & Moonbeams, which I stamped with black Memento and colored with Copic markers.

The sentiment was stamped using Tim Holtz Walnut Stain.

the printed papers are from a big pad of Michael's called Homespun.

and the finishing touches (tiny bits of bling) from Imaginisce

a vintage stroll

I love love love this stamp from Stamper's Best/Deep Red

it's just so peaceful

this gorgeous paper from Authentique is called Peaceful

Distressing Ink - Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters

Ribbon, Vine & Flower - May Arts Ribbons

Metal Heart & cardstocks - misc stash

My inspiration came from Sketch Saturday #369

yep, I rotated it and traded out the tiny star for a fairly large flower/heart/vine thing

so many ways to say

Thank You

I would like to say Thank You to Sandy and all those "behind the scenes" people at

Operation Write Home

for all their work over the years!

I used sketch (#258) to create this

Isn't that paper beautiful? It's from Graphic45 called French Country

The little Bird stamp is from Unity Stamp Company

Distressing Ink - Tim Holtz Black Soot

Celebrate Life

sometime we all need a little reminder

and a little uplifting

I am so excited for how this one turned out!

Printed Papers - Echo Park Everyday eclectic

Mat Cardstock - core'dinations ColorCore

Ink Distressing - Tim Holtz Iced Spruce

Sentiment - Unity Stamp Company Celebrate Life Up

Ribbon - May Arts Ribbon

Inspiration: 

Freshly Made Sketches 194

Celebrating with Creative Chick

Happy Happy Blogiversary!

Big party time... TEN YEARS

wahoooooo

So Jenn asked us to CASE a creation of hers and wow! that was really hard to do, finding just one

but actually I found three and had to force myself on which to start with

I think the hardest part was I went in knowing I'd be using what I have in my paint room

not all of my crafty stash. But then once I decided,

this one came together fairly easily once I decided which sentiment I wanted

I really like how this turned out!

I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mermaid Lagoon

Heart Stamps & Sentiment from Unity Stamp Company

a little clear embossing powder (somehow I do not have black? what!)

plus a few sequins

and here is Jenn's Original Post that I CASE'd

so I discovered that I MUST have this hello stamp or something similar with "hello"

because I'd use that thing all the time

and since Jenn enjoys the kitterfluffs, I thought she might appreciate a little Checkers luvs

Mojo Monday 405

Wahoo, I played along with a sketch tonight! YES! lol

I know I sound like a crazy person but if you could see my stuff, you would understand my problems in my little card making world, don't even get me started on my lack of scrapbooking... so.far.behind. (not normal in my world)

ok ok but yay, I played along and I made this card for my very best friend in the world

we've been friends since we were 12

(a really really long time)

She got some very sad news today and her life is going to be tough for a while

but I'm here for her, just as I have always been

I'm like a rock

ok that got weird

I love the diagonal band across the sketch!

These cute & fun printed papers are from Echo Park's So Happy Together 6x6 pad

Stamp Set is Unity Stamp Company KOM 

{Warmth of Winter}

Flower from Prima

and that yellow band is actually Pearlescent Cardstock from Colorbok, gives it that little extra umph that every card should have

Ink is Tim Holtz Abandoned Coral

The Mojo Monday Sketch

it's all about Love... and Unity

that would be Unity Stamp Company!

because it's Friday which means Friends with Flair, which I finally made time for again

this one had a scary-bad phase then I finally hit the OMGosh I love it stage so I stopped ;-)

I stated out with Top Boss & UTEE, topped that with Gelatos in Metallic Mint & Acqua Dolce which I smeared around with my finger, sprayed with water until it dripped then sprayed again

Last I splattered with black paint

The LOVE stamp is Unity's Big Inspiration Big Words

Last time I was at Hobby Lobby, they had Tim Holtz on 30% off sale and they had these three of his new ink pad colors so I snagged them! mermaid lagoon, abandoned coral & cracked pistachio

and some sequins to finish it off

Happy Blogoversary Deb

My friend & sister Design Team Member, Deb is having her very first Blogoversary!
We're doing a little Hop so make sure you go visit her blog: Meticulosity and leave lots of love

To help her celebrate, I created this with her in mind.

Her favorite colors: Lilac & Pink, plus she loves turquoise!

 this is an 8x10 canvas

inspired by Vicky Papaioannou

I selected this song just for Deb from an old Methodist Hymnal 

I used Penny Black's stamp Devine

along with Tim Holtz Bird Crazy 

and the stars are a Mask from UmWow Studio topped with Faber-Castell Glass Bead Glitter Gel

a little mixed lilac & purple sequins to detail out the purple flower

 along with a little Faber-Castell PITT in Dark Sepia & black

A little detailing on this one using Faber-Castell PITT in  Pink Madder Lake

and some Sakura White Glaze pen

All Paints are from Golden

To celebrate my crafty friend, Deb
I am having a little Blog Candy!
So be a follow of this blog, comment below with a way to contact you
(due to price of postage, my drawing is only open to the U.S.)
I will select a winner via randomizer.org and announce the winner on Sunday, May 24th.

*****MAY ******
WINNER WINNER Time
and my lucky commenter is......
MARY!
I've sent you an email on what to do next!

I hate Cancer

I really hate cancer. so many friends & family have suffered and some have been lost.



This is in honor of all my girlfriends (too many to list) and my great great Auntie... my Aunt Leila was the matriarch of our family. She helped raise not only myself/cousins, but my mom/aunt/uncle AND my grandpa/great aunt. She is forever known for growing her own fruit to make a special jelly I named "LeilaBerry" and I can still see her face as clear as if she was standing in front of me. She passed when I was pregnant with my 16 year old but unfortunately I didn't know yet, what a joy it would have been for her had we known!

This one is for all the men I have known and know of going through treatments. Especially in remembrance of  Johnny, my dad's best friend when I was a kid who was like another father to me, we lost him years ago to breast cancer but no way was I making a pink card for a strong mountain man like him so I mixed together blues (for the sky & water) and green (for the grass & trees).

And this last card goes out to my sister Design Team Member, Sheryl, and her husband Leon, who is currently undergoing treatment. They have really been struggling financially but there is a fund set up to give them a hand.  Please consider going HERE to give them a little help!



All cards were made with Stencils (UmWow Studio & Tim Holtz) along with Gelatos and Unity Stamps

Aargh Matey... Are you after my Treasure

Time to talk like a pirate!

In celebration of this great day of fun, aargh Design Team at

Mountain Plains Crafters needed very little push

to take it to the next level & get crafty with it!

You can see the DT members {who could play along}

creations at Mountain Plains Crafters

Well Shiver Me Timbers... last Halloween I just happened

to dress up as a pirate!

Background Paper - Creative Imaginations Dead Men Tell No Tales

Strip Banners - FabScraps Rustic Fishing

Sunburst Chippie - UmWow Studio

added a bit of Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Picket Fence then topped that with

Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Hay Ride

Clock embelly - Spare Parts

Compass Brad - Oriental Trading Post

U.S. Stamp - Unity Stamp Co.

 Felt "X" - Thickers in Playroom

misc trinkets in bottom left corner

I would like to send a special thanks to Tombow for the Adhesive!
Xtreme & Mono Aqua

***REMINDER***
I'm still doing my 100,000 Page View Giveaway.... Check it out
HERE!
Currently at: 97,752 views & counting!

Celebrating Fall

oh Fall... so much beauty wherever you look!

of course {for me} because I live in the woods so it's completely amazing when the leaves start to turn, then when they fall and cover the drive and roads and the floor of the woods... ahhhh.

Then once they've fallen, I can once again see the sunrise from my bedroom window!

Well, if you came here from the Mountain Plains Crafters blog,

you've already seen this first creation

Pinecone - Tim Holtz Tattered Pinecone Die using misc brown cardstocks, then blinged using CloseToMyHeart Glitz in Bronze

Leaves - misc stash paper

Ribbon - CloseToMyHeart Burlap

Liquid Pearls in Dark Chocolate

Sentiment - Unity Stamp Co. ...Grateful Hearts

Branches - UmWow Studio

Fine Twine - May Arts

Leaves - misc stsash

and just a touch of CTMH Glitz in Bronze

Sentiment Stamp - Unity Stamp Co. 

{Layers of Life} Trees of Gratitude

Brads - The Paper Studio

Background Info: Gelli Plate & regular Acrylic paint

first I used UmWow Studio Hexagon Mask,

next I stamped using CloseToMyHeart Nature's Vein,

then i used Quick Stampz Triplets (the swirl one)

last I used the very detailed leaf from Making Memories Autumn Splendor

Give it a little time to all dry before I started layering on the pretties.

I hope you like my Fall Cards!  Now show us what you've got & make something,

linking it up on the Mountain Plains Crafters blog!