Here Fur You

I have a friend in need of cheering so I worked this up tonight based on the current CAS(E) this Sketch 210! I love the effect of no-line coloring and would love to get to the point where it is more intuitive rather than experimental.

I'm also entering this in Cupcake Inspirations 396 Cats

The Details:  Hero Arts Raining Cats & Dogs, Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nested Rectangle Dies, Hero Arts Ombre Tide Pool to Navy, Simon Says Stitched Whirl Background die, Copics, Memento Toffee Crunch, Distress Oxide Broken China, Distress Peacock Feathers

Welcome, Spring?

Even though the weather tells me spring is by no means here, I'm ignoring the signs like a good little optimist and posting my spring-themed card anyway.  This is a CASE of one my friend, Tonya, saw at Impress on Saturday. I made do with supplies on hand and added some Toni flavor. Super cute, right? I adore the little Doodlebug birdies.

I'm entering this in CAS on Sunday #102 Critters , Addicted to Stamps and More 230 Photo Inspiration

The Details: Altenew Bunny Love, Avery Elle Dotted Borders die, Impression Obsession Egg die, MFT Jungle Friends and Pierced Square die, Hero Arts Soft Pool Shadow Ink, Doodlebug So Tweet Sprinkles, Copics

Avery Elle Dotted Borders Die

Altenew Bunny Love

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Cray Cray

Umm, can we say obsessed? I am loving these Hipsters! I based my design, believe it or not, on the latest The Heart Desires Challenge--the chicken, the splashes of color, the random mix of patterns and textures. Who knew, right?!

Now take a look at my previous Hipster card. That one is much more muted and masculine. My chicken is opposite land and way cray cray!! LOL. This time I mixed Recollections shimmer crayons (I had those for so long that I had thrown them in the summer yard sale pile!) with the Distress ones. The Recollections spread very smoothly but had less vivid color. I also learned that I prefer to dampen my finger a bit and pick up color from the crayon then spread it on the paper. Just a different effect.

Thanks again to Doodlebugs for the demo on this set! I have a friend who will be in the area weekend after next with her mom and she's added the shop to their itinerary--have fun, Katie--I'm so jelly! And thanks as well, Katie, for the stencil. It took me months to use it but I finally did!

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Mod Squad Geometric, Shopping Our Stash #291 Mardi Gras

The Details: Tim Holtz Hipster stamps, Distress Crayons, Recollections Watercolor Crayons, Simon Says You Matter background stamp, Ranger Archival ink, Distress Inks, Cutplorations stitched rectangle die, Ranger Glossy Accents,  Studio Calico Circle Graph Mask

'Sup?

Dude, this card cracks me up! The goat is hilarious: (in a goat's voice) Suuuuuuup?  LOL!

Some girlfriends and I went out to the peninsula Sunday to explore a new-to-us shop, Doodlebugs, in Sequim. It is a hidden gem. The owner was lovely and gave us an impromptu demo on Distress Crayons. I couldn't resist snatching up some supplies. If you happen to be over that way, you can catch the demo this Saturday and perhaps take one of their classes in the future. We'll definitely be visiting again, won't we, Amy and Tonya?

I'm entering this in Try it on Tuesday Get Messy, City Crafter #350 A Few Stitches, Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes and Watercooler Wednesday #107 Masculine Anything Goes

The Details:  Tim Holtz Hipster stamps, Distress Crayons, and dotty stencil, Simon Says You Matter background stamp, Ranger Archival ink, Distress Inks, Cutplorations stitched rectangle die, Ranger Glossy Accents, Versamark, Stampendous Detail Fine White Embossing Powder

A Friend Worth Fighting For

I tried my hardest but finally had to give in and get these MFT stamps and dies. So flippin' cute! As you can see I added lots of texture with the clouds and cobblestone castle. Ramparts. That's the word I was thinking of!

I'm entering this in SIP #87 Kindness, Crafty Cardmakers #182 Add Some Texture, HLS Anything Goes with Dies, Cute Card Thursday #465 No Patterned Paper

The Details:  MFT Castle die, Knight in Shining Armor and Once Upon a Time, Lawn Fawn Simple Stitched Hillside Borders, VersaFine Onyx Black, Versamark, Hampton Art clear embossing powder, Bazzill Fig Swirl cardstock, PopTone Sour Apple cardstock, Copics, Darice embossing folders, Distress Peeled Paint, Copics

Cards in Envy Rhyme Time

Roses are red

Violets are blue

This card is cute

And so are you!

Time for a new Cards in Envy Challenge! I bet you can guess that you feature red and blue on your cards. 

Look at that little unicorn spreading love everywhere it frolicks! Sooooo cute! Did you notice I diecut the sentiment banner so it would blend into the clouds above? I'm going to remember this technique for the future.

I'm entering this in CAS on Sunday 102 Critters, Addicted to Stamps and More 229 CAS.  

The Details:  Lawn Fawn Winter Unicorn, Merry Messages, and Puffy Cloud Borders, Simon Says Heart Breeze, Copics, Memento Nautical Blue and Tuxedo Black

Lawn Fawn Winter Unicorn

Lawn Fawn Merry Messages

Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies

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Stamplorations CAS #14 Mid-Challenge Reminder

It's mid-challenge reminder time for Stamplorations CAS with the optional color twist of HOT PINK.

Black and hot pink is such a wonderful combo, don't you think? So very vibrant. I love the grungy writing on the bird which adds a lot of interest and still perfectly CAS.

Use the code STAMPGIRLTONI to get 20% off all regular- and sale-priced stamps, stencils and dies! This code cannot be combined with any other discount codes. Happy crafting!

The Details:  Stamplorations Trendy Birds 2, Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Memento Tuxedo Black

Sealed with a Hug

I took inspiration from The Heart Desires Challenge 9 for this cutey patootie. The seal (or whale or narwhal!) is amazing. Such a great way to use up little bits of paper and the perfect vehicle to create a virtual stuffed animal. I used the hugs sentiment as beach foam and used the cast off of the scalloped edge die for waves. Stretching those supplies!

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday Cute

The Details: Lawn Fawn Narwhal and Friends dies, Avery Elle Dotted Borders and Sentimental dies, Doodlebug Kitten Smitten 6x6 paper, Ranger Multi Medium Matte

Avery Elle Sentimental Dies	Avery Elle Dotted Borders Die	Lawn Fawn Narwhal and Friends Dies	Doodlebug Kitten Smitten 6x6 Paper
Ranger Multi Medium Matte

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Sending Watercolor Hugs

I was so excited to try a new product while crafting with some girlfriends a couple of weeks ago. Have you heard of Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals? I used them like Brushos to create the background of my shaker. You totally can't see it in my pic, but some Magicals like the one I used have shimmer. It's like I coated everything with Wink of Stella without the effort. My kind of product! LOL.

Since the sentiment is so large, I kept the rest of the card really CAS, adding some darker tones to the owl and her hair for visual balance. The red tones in the hair also cover up a hair experiment gone wrong. I should learn to leave well enough alone--I'm sure you know what I mean!

Do join in the latest The Heart Desires Challenge #9 if you have the chance. I drew from the colors, the patterning, block letters, and stuffed animal.

The Details:  Neat & Tangled Better Together, MFT Hugs die, Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical Magenta, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Doodlebug glitter

Cards in Envy Be My Valentine Challenge

Exciting news! Today's post kicks off my first as a member of the Cards in Envy team--yay! This is going to be F.U.N!

If you're not familiar with Cards in Envy, the premise is to make cards that are no more than 1/4" (approx 6mm) thick so they fit in a regular envelope--cards in env(elopes)y. Cute, right?!

Anyway, our challenge this round is to make a Valentine card. Perfect since I wanted to make a V-day card for my partners using a squirrel since he loves them and I love him. I have to admit squirrels can be super cute, especially when mounted on plaid and kraft and bordered in blue! I love this combo of colors, don't you? I didn't have quite the red I wanted for the heart pennant so colored that up ombre style with Copics. I "heart" it--lol!

I'm entering this in Little Tangles 77 Diecutting, Cute Card Thursday 463 Be My Valentine, Simon Says Wednesday Color of Love, Addicted to Stamps and More 227 Make Your Mark, Tuesday Throwdown 328 Love Notes

The Details:  Neat and Tangled My Favorite Nut, Waffle Flower Lacy Layers die, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Fall 6x6 Paper, Gina Marie Dropped Pennant Die, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Distress Ink Candied Apple and Vintage Photo, Copics, Taylored Expressions Falling Hearts Coverplate die, PTI kraft cardstock, Waltzing Mouse Stitched Scalloped Rectangle die

Gina Marie Dropped Pennant Dies

Waffle Flower Lacy Layers Dies

Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Fall 6x6 Paper

Ranger Multi Medium Matte

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Stamplorations CAS #14 Challenge

It's time for a new challenge over at Stamplorations CAS with the optional color twist of HOT PINK. Oh, yes, please!!!! I love hot pink!

I masked a stamped a few houses from the Houses set, choosing to color only one that luscious hot pink. I used the congrats sentiment from Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Squares as this is meant for a coworker who bought an old Victorian house and is wondering what she has gotten into--LOL!

Use the code STAMPGIRLTONI to get 20% off all regular- and sale-priced stamps, stencils and dies! This code cannot be combined with any other discount codes. Happy crafting!

The Details:  Stamplorations Houses and Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Squares, Cutplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle die, Copics

Happy Birthday, Kate

Today we are celebrating the birthday of our cardmaking buddy, Kate of Pinned and Penned. Kate is the queen of layered collage which is so not my area of expertise so I used elements that reminded me of her work--the textured background, the banner, the unexpected pops of color. CAS and (virtually) collaged!  LOL.

You should have gotten here from Lisa and are next on your way to Tonya in our birthday hop. Happy hopping!


The Details:  MFT Sending Big Hugs, Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder, Copics

The Heart Desires Challenge 9

We start challenge #9 today over at The Heart Desires. I am particularly enamored with the inspiration photos as I've been doing various crafts since I was wee; that's just how my family rolled.  I'm talking quilting, hand sewing, machine sewing, embroidery, crosstitch, jewelry making, knitting, yarn dyeing.  You name it, I've probably dabbled.

So when I picked up the Neat and Tangled hoop die, I thought of the Avery Elle set a friend had (thanks for the loan, Katie!).   The set reminded me of a baby quilt I had once hand embroidered.   Anyhoo, the card came together quickly after that.

Chose the fab vintage flower paper and coordinating ombre ink.   Decided to cut the hoop out of balsa wood.   Gold foil hoop knob led to gold sequins and gold hearts.   Added a strip of glitter washi because the sequins were lonely.  Popped up the sentiment panel on foam.  Also impressed the panel with linen texture.

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday The Color of Love, Tuesday Throwdown 328 Love Notes, SIP 84 Tic Tac Toe (sequins, circular element, diecut), House of Cards Love Theme

The Details:  Neat and Tangled Hoop die, Pebbles Jen Hadfield Everyday 6x6 paper, Hero Arts Pink to Red Ombre ink, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Avery Elle Needle Little Love stamps and Finished Frames dies, Top Dog Lacy Border die, balsa wood, Recollections gold and white cardstock, Waltzing Mouse scalloped rectangle die, PTI kraft card stock and linen impression plate

Pebbles Jen Hadfield Everyday 6x6 Paper

Neat & Tangled Hoop Die

Hero Arts Ombre Ink, Pink to Red

Ranger Multi Medium Matte

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