Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

I just had to play along with the last Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge! Thanks, Stacey, for keeping this challenge going for as long as you did! It was one that I enjoyed a lot.  This last challenge has a "pine" theme going on, so I immediately went for PTI's Holiday Greens stamp set with matching dies.  The sentiment - also by PTI - was cut three times from Cherry Cobbler CS to give it more dimension.  The V-cut die is MFT's Stitched Basic Elements.  Papers are from Stampin' Up's Trim the Tree pad. 

It was a great, mild winter day in VA with temps up in the 50's!  Perfect for doing some shopping and picking up our favorite ham!
Thanks for stopping by...

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

A quick card that was inspired by the "Hang Out" photo for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge. 
I was initially inspired by the diamond pattern on the blue side table.  I then went with the remaining pink/green/white colors.  I dry embossed the Enchanted Evening CS panel using a Sizzix embossing folder.  The florals and sentiment are from stamp sets by The Stamp Market: Pretty Peony and You. 

Edited to add:  When I posted this card on IG, I received numerous questions about the embossing folder.  It's called Sizzix Textured Impressions embossing folder - Argyle #2 and can be found on Amazon at this link. 

I'm off and running to work...hope you're having a terrific Tuesday!

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

I decided to make a quick CAS card for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge which has a dreamcatcher theme.  I still had a wee bit of energy left after working a 2:15 to 10:45 PM shift and stamping is one of my favorite wind-down options after I get home! 

 I went with an oldie but goody stamp set by Waltzingmouse Stamps called Fine Feathers.  I've always loved this Dickinson quote!  Patterned paper is from Recollections' Blush and Mint 6x6 pad.  The feathers were white embossed on a solid sage green paper from the same pad.  The tiny scallop die is Edge Essentials by Reverse Confetti.

So, that's all folks!  Thanks so much for stopping by...

Curtain Call & Sunday Stamps Challenges

The new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge has a Hibiscus theme going on, so I also went with the colors from the current Sunday Stamps color challenge for my card. I knew I wanted to use Verve's Hibiscus Plain Jane stamp along with more florals from their Happy Days stamp set.  I colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped with foam tape over a watercolored base using Mijello Mission Gold paint.  I'm again using my new favorite sentiment set from Reverse Confetti (Sentiment Essentials).  Initially, I placed the rounded rectangle panel over a white background which just looked too blah.  I then switched to using this black and white patterned paper by Recollections and thought it had so much more pizazz!

DIES: Stitched Dome Frames and Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX Die-Namics by My Favorite Things; Sentiment Essentials Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti.

Cool Birthday

With temps going up to 90 degrees this weekend, I'm trying to stay cool! So, it was easy for me to choose what I did for this cool birthday card.  I'm using the sketch for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge #292 and am going with the sorbet theme for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge. 

I started by stamping the largest sentiment circle from Simon Says Stamp's Circle Sayings stamp set.  Patterned papers are from Fun in the Sun 6x6 pad by Pebbles - 

love the fun, happy colors!  I then added a popsicle die (Reverse Confetti "Let's Chill") and a banner sentiment (Reverse Confetti "Bitty Banners").  My MISTI was a must for the black ink stamping, since it's hard to get a crisp black outcome with only one inking!  I topped it off with Moonshine sequins by Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks for stopping by... stay cool!

Inspired By All The Little Things

Hello weekend and hello to a new Inspired By All The Little Things challenge! Check out this fun inspiration photo which led me to focus on the peachy/pink colors and the silver glitter details.  I also created my card for the tulip themed Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and the sketch is for the Fusion Card Challenge! 

I went deep into my archives of old SU stamp sets for this two step tulip set and paired it with Reverse Confetti's Beautiful Banners set and matching die.

STAMPS: Terrific Tulips (SU); Beautiful Banners (Reverse Confetti).


INK: Little Piggy, Flamingo, Beanstalk, Last Leaf by WPlus9; Versafine Onyx Black.

The silver glitter cardstock was perfect for an elegant border that mimics the borders on the bows.

We're happy to have Marie Peters guesting with us.
https://www.instagram.com/a_country_home/
   
Here's hoping to see you in the gallery!

Speckled and Snarky

I created this card for two challenges - CAS(E) This Sketch and Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - but totally missed the deadline for CC. Nothing like being a day late - lol! Anyway, their photo led me to splattering black and then gold paints on watercolored flowers. The layout was perfect to once again use this MFT die for the background.  
Here's what I used:
STAMPS: Snarky Sentiments by Lil' Inker Designs.

PAPER: Color Splash by Recollections; Whisper White (SU); Ranger watercolor CS; True Black (PTI).
DIES: Spring Blooms, Perky Posies, and Seriously by Lil' Inker Designs; Striped Sentiment Strip Cover Plate Die-Namics by MFT.

XOXO

Another Valentine creation here...this time for Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge to use a love theme and also for the new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge with an XOXO theme. Since Reverse Confetti is sponsoring the SSS challenge, I knew I wanted to use their products - from paper and ink to stamps and dies!  The inspiration photo has bold X's and O's, so that led me to the border idea.

What did I use?
STAMPS: Garden Bunch by Reverse Confetti.
PAPER: True Love 6x6 pad, Piggy Bank, Flamingo and Lime Green CS (Reverse Confetti); Black and White CS by PTI.
INK: Piggy Bank, Flamingo (RC); Versafine Onyx Black.
DIES: Fancy Words, Topped Off Tag, Heart Tag Toppers, Swirlies, Edge Essentials, Leafy - all by Reverse Confetti.

If you haven't figured it out by now, you know I'm a huge fan of Reverse Confetti products.  They have super fast shipping, great customer service and wonderful products!  Thanks for stopping by...

Freshly Made Sketches

My card uses the layout for the new Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and I was inspired by the photo for the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge with a glittery gourds theme. I started with the heavy weight cardstock from Recollections' Vintage Glam 6x6 pad using the dotted paper for the base and the striped paper for the horizontal elements.  I gold embossed the pumpkin using Ranger Queen's Gold embossing powder.  The stem was stamped with Early Espresso

ink and the leaves with Lucky Limeade ink - both by SU.  The matching dies make it so easy to assemble the card!

STAMPS/DIES: Pumpkin Patch by Reverse Confetti.   

On an oily side note...
My current fave diffuser blends to build up immunity at home and at work are Thieves and Orange oils in the nurses' station and Orange, Cinnamon and Clove oils in the family room.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't use a variety of Young Living oils!  Love them!

Happy Fall

 **Scroll on down for my Color Throwdown card**

It's a welcome time of year for me when the temperatures dip just a

wee bit from the sweltering humid days of summer. I've already gotten some fall decor in the house which I'll share with you below.  This is an exceptionally happy week for me with having our daughter who is a traveling nurse - currently going to start her second contract in Omaha - home for the week!  Our oldest son and his wife just had a baby on 9/12 - just minutes before midnight - and we're so thrilled to welcome Matilda Mary into our lives!  Can't wait until Sunday when we plan to travel to DC to see her! 

Oh, yes...I do have a card to tell you about - lol!  I was inspired by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge fall floral theme and also used the great sketch for the Retrosketches Challenge.  Nothing says fall like some mums, so I dusted off PTI's Mum's the Word set and found an old PTI Fall Prints and Patterns 8x8 pad and I was ready to roll.  I used Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery and Old Olive inks by SU.  The coordinating floral dies make it so quick and easy to whip up a quick card!

I'm a huge fan of Pinterest and this centerpiece for my kitchen island is the result of a couple of inspiration photos I came across.

I love hydrangeas and never thought to mix them in with a fall arrangement, but I totally love it!  Here are the pics that inspired me...

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this rather lengthy post!  Happy fall y'all!

Apple Duo

Another quick card post today for two more challenges. The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge for September has a candy apple theme and I'm using the sketch for the current Freshly Made Sketches #252 challenge. This older patterned paper by Recollections is always perfect for school-themed cards.  Stamps are from Reverse Confetti's Class Act stamp set with matching dies.  I'm also using RC's clipboard Confetti Cuts.  The notebook

border punch is by SU.  A bit of red jute twine was the finishing touch.  As you can see, I changed up the sketch to a vertical version rather than a horizontal one.  

For all my U.S. friends...enjoy your Labor Day tomorrow!  I will have to go in to work, so it will very literally be a labor day for me - lol! 

Happy Bird-day!

I had fun creating this card for the new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, the Retrosketches challenge and Seize the Birthday challenge where anything goes!  I had a piece of watercolored paper in my leftover pile (Spun Sugar with a hint of Picked Raspberry distress inks were used then mottled with splatters of water) which was perfect to diecut the flamingo.  The wing was stamped with Melon Mambo (SU) ink.  I love how the tropical flowers and

foliage in the new Toucan of Friendship stamp set coordinate perfectly with the Fabulous Flamingo set - both by Reverse Confetti!  The florals were popped with varying thicknesses of foam dots/tape and highlighted with Crystal Effects and Yellow Stickles.  I used the following Copic markers:
YG05, RV02, RV06, Y17, YR68.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

You're So Cool!

It is one of those sweltering hot and humid days that make you melt when you step outside the door! :-( I ran some errands and had to chill in my craft room for awhile after I returned home.  I decided to bring out these fun Reverse Confetti popsicles after being inspired by the snow cone theme at Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.  I combined it with the layout for Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and was happy with my "cool" creation!

I did a watercolor wash on the background panel using Twisted Citron distress ink then splattered with a Yellow Green color from my Mission paint set.  After that was dry, I splattered clear water spots over the background to have some subtle bleached spots.  

Here's what I used:
STAMPS: Let's Chill (Reverse Confetti).
PAPER: Summer Days (Echo Park); Ranger watercolor CS; White (PTI).
INK: Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron distress inks; Memento Tuxedo black.
DIES: Wonky stitched rectangle by Lil' Inker Designs; Popsicle dies by Reverse Confetti; Stitched Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT.