CDD Twinkle Toes

Happy news!  I've joined the Craftin' Desert Divas design team so you're going to be seeing lots more of me rocking CDD cuteness.  Woo hoo! 

Each month we have a mood board challenge on Facebook to inspire you. How was I inspired? Pretty obvious methinks. Yellow, geometric patterns, black/white, mod vase (or on my card a base). The October mood board will start tomorrow so be sure to check it out and join in the fun!

Before I forget! One of my favorite parts about this card is using the hill die from the Fall Borders set to add ribbon impressions to the background. 

The Details:  Craftin Desert Divas Twinkle Toes, Fall Borders Die, and Fancy Frames Dies, Doodlebug Designs Hello Sunshine 6x6 Paper and Official Stripe Washi

Happy Birthday, Tonya!

Happy birthday to my dear friend, Tonya. If you didn't know already, she's the owner of The Heart Desires Store and just an all around fabulous person. Love you, girl! We've having a birthday hop in her honor. You should have arrived from Kimberly's blog where you'll find the full list of participants and are on your way to Kate's. Happy hopping!

For my card I created a magical little scene using Tonya's favorite color--PINK! And my favorite part of the card is the way the brick transitions into dream clouds. So cool! I also love the manga style image. There's just something about those giant eyes.

The Details:  Craftin Desert Divas Play Time, MFT Brick and Mini Cloud Edges stencils, Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick and Broken China, Copics, Versafine Onyx Black, Gina Maria Designs Nested Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Die

Is That a Flying Mouse?

I snagged one of the NT-Simon Stamptember sets as soon as I saw it because it's so darn cute! I went really simple in this plaid-framed scene with a bit of masking on the stacked diving board, Copic flicked grass, sponged clouds and a big 'ol pile of leaves overlaid by the embossed sentiment.

I'm entering this in The Male Room #69 Masking, Cardz 4 Guyz #178 Nature, Make My Monday #55 Autumn Colors

The Details: Neat and Tangled Hello Pumpkin, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Fall 6x6 Paper, Copics, MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Stampendous Detail Fine Black Embossing Powder, Distress Oxide Broken China

Peace Yeti

I think the new ME holiday Yeti release is brilliant. So clever and cute!  For my first Yeti card of the season (oh, yes, there will be more . . . someday), I stamped the Yeti with Versafine on watercolor paper then did the watercolor wash, staying outside the lines. Mostly. I spattered the card front too. Next I colored in the yeti with Copics, not remembering that Copics make Versafine bleed. This happened on his face and by one of the hearts. He's a dirty little Yeti which is a-okay. Finally I stamped and colored the banner. Actually fussy cut that out but I assure you I will be buying the die in the near future!

I'm entering this in CASology 267 Big, Jingle Belles Tic Tac Toe, Watercooler Wednesday 137 Anything Goes

The Details:  Mama Elephant Me and My Yeti, and Sentiments from a Yeti; Distress Oxide Broken China, Memento Tuxedo Black and Danube Blue, Copics, Distress Ink Blueprint Sketch, Tumbled Glass, and Mermaid Lagoon, Canson 90lb watercolor paper

THD 16 Mid-Challenge Reminder

Halfway through The Heart Desires Challenge 16 and still time to play along with us!

For my card I used a bunch of dies from different companies to create a pretty wreath. I don't have patience to create a wreath like this in real life and yet I'll work with paper to fake it--LOL!

I'm entering this in Mod Squad Leaves, Paper Players 362 CAS Harvest

The Details: Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Leaves dies and Fall Perfectly Plaid 6x6 Paper, SugarPea Designs Birthday Journal Card Dies, Concord & 9th Take a Bough dies, Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Circle Frames, MFT More Essential Sentiments, Ranger Multi Medium Matte

Stamplorations Typografia Christmas Hop!

I love the new Christmas Typografia sets from Stamplorations, don't you? Now's your chance to buy them for a discount or even win some!  Be sure to read more about it on the main Stamplorations post and check out the other inspiration projects from the DT. I assure you they're amazing!

The Details:  Stamplorations Typografia Build a Snowman, Typografia Most Wonderful Time, Warm Hands,Warm Hearts and Be Jolly die; Distress Inks, Cobalt Brushos, Brilliance Pearlescent Blue, Versafine, Ranger Detail Fine White Embossing Powder and watercolor cardstock, Copics, Recollections Silver Embossing Powder

Timber!

Squeee! I love how this turned out! The trees are a combo of wet on wet watercoloring, smooshing (ground) and spattering. I layered those and left them curved from the water so they have even greater dimension. The cool thing is that they lie flat but spring right back up so great for mailing. I framed them with a circle in white so the scene really pops. I used Copics to color the rest of the card. This card is a great example of why I have a stupid amount of Copics--so I always have the perfect colors!  LOL.

I'm entering this in Make My Monday #55 Autumn Colors, HLS September Watercolor Challenge, HLS Anything Goes with Dies Challenge, SIP #117 Watercolor

The Details:  Craftin Desert Divas Timber, Shake It Up and Fall Borders dies, Distress Ink Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs, Distress Oxide Peacock Feathers, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Copics, Canson 90lb watercolor paper

Pumpkin Spice Everything

Even though I knew it was coming, it seems like the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop snuck up on me. Hi! Miss me? Why, yes! LOL.

I've made a few cards for the hop, including this little number using a new character, Lili C, to the Love Cynthia lineup.  Isn't she adorable? I paired her with a variety of pumpkin images and fall paper in an homage to everything pumpkin spice. I may hate the texture of pumpkin pie but I love me some pumpkin spice!

The Details:  Love Cynthia Lili C #1 and Coffee Addict, Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Duo 3, Thoughtful Greetings and Giving Thanks (pumpkin), Lawn Fawn Forest Feast (pie), Pebbles Midnight Haunting 6x6 Paper, PTI Kraft cardstock, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Scor-Tape, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle Die, Copics

Cards in Envy Easy as 1, 2, 3

My card for the current Cards in Envy Challenge is indeed easy as 1,2,3. I wanted super easy and reproducible. This card totally fits the bill.  Stenciled leaves, simple diecut and an embossed sentiment. Boom!

I'm entering this in AAA #99 CAS Autumn Colors, Less Is More #346 Take Flight

The Details:  Waffle Flower Feeling Gratitude, Neat and Tangled Maple Thanks die used as stencil, Gina Marie Designs Stitched Scalloped Rectangle die, Versamark, mystery embossing powder, Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed, Distress Oxide Candy Apple

Long Time No Tea

Another fall-inspired card using some of the elegant florals from the Midnight Haunting pad. And a two-fer for using NBUS with the MFT stamps and dies. Woo hoo!

I'm entering this in the Fall Coffee Lovers Hop, Fusion Teacup Flowers

The Details: MFT Cup of Tea and Tea Party dies, Pebbles Midnight Haunting 6x6 Paper, Distress Oxide Abandoned Coral and Spiced Marmalade, Distress Ink Mustard Seed, Recollections Mirror Board, Ranger Multi Medium Matte and Fine White Embossing Powder, Versafine

Shh . . . Coffee Time

I have another fun card for the Fall Coffee Lovers Hop using Stamplorations--working on the Stamplorations cards for the hop launch yesterday made me go through my stash and find stamps I had forgotten about.  Becca's line is one of my favs because of her love of the snark! Isn't that sentiment and image perfect for a funny Halloween card? And so true!

I'm also entering this in the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #93 Lost and Found and the Stamplorations Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge

The Details: Stamplorations Dark Coffee - Big Grins and Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Die, Pebbles Midnight Haunting 6x6 Paper, Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks, Carta Bella Witch Hats stencil, Sugarpea Designs Spooky Border die (bats)

Stamplorations and the Coffee Hop!

Stamplorations has released some new coffee sets just in time for the Fall Coffee Lovers Hop!  They are divine! Go check out the main post for more ideas on how to use them.

These typografia sets remind me of old timey sandwich boards--large and in charge and fun. For the first card I wanted the illusion of freshly poured coffee, like a LOT of coffee. Check! I had thought to include a background of clocks on my design then realized what I had on hand was a compass. Sorta close. LOL.

For the second card, I went back to the sandwich board and pieced together a girl with the mug as her skirt. Stands between?  Get it? Oh, yes, I went there!

The Details Card 1: Typografia Coffee Now, Coffee Happy, Dark Brown Brushos, Copics, Distress Oxide Vintage Photo, Zigs

The Details Card 2:  Typografia A Girl and Her Coffee, Party Girl, Coffee Happy,  Stamplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black

Mice Friend

Playing with one of my new CCD sets. The country girl in me is peeking out!

Notables notes for this card:

1. I used a stencil and Distress Oxide Ink to create the subtle shading on the skirt.
2. I used a Sakura white gel pen for the dots on the apron.
3. I mottled the scarecrow's face using a tiny sponge and Copic 0 various ink
4. The subtle green at the bottom of the circle reminds me of Autumn so much as the colors of summer leach away.

I'm entering this in AAA 98 CAS Creatures Great or Small, Simon Says Wednesday CAS, SIP 116 CAS Fall

The Details: Craftin Desert Divas Harvest Wishes and Harvest Borders die, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Chill 6x6 paper, Distress Oxide Antique Linen and Broken China, Distress Ink Mowed Lawn, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Banner die, MFT Pierced Circle die, Copics, Echo Park Diagonal Buffalo Plaid Stencil

Why, Hello, Birdie

These little birds are stuffing themselves silly in preparation for winter--just like me! Love the fall images in the THD challenge board. My favorite time of year is Autumn so you'll be seeing lots of that from me!

I stamped the image on watercolor paper but forgot I was doing that and used Memento which bleeds with water.  Poo! My Copics worked wonderfully on this paper tho so no worries.  I think it has a good tooth for colored pencils too but who has time to experiement with that?

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday CAS, Addicted to Stamps and More 259 CAS, SIP 116 CAS Fall, CAS on Friday 116 Color Me Pretty (Use Pencils or Markers)

The Details:  Waffle Flower Enveloper Little Birdie and Enveloper Hello, Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Canson 90lb watercolor paper

Halloween Hello

I loved the colors featured in Sunday Stamps 161 Color Rainbow and am so glad I was able to fit them into a current project.

Fav things about this project:

1. Love the stitched swirl on the two layers.
2. I used purple and like the outcome.
3. That broom kicks coloring ass.
4. Spattering water on a sponged background looks cool even partially hidden.

The Details:  MFT Witch Way is the Candy, Hero Arts Star Confetti Cover Plate, Simon Says Stitched Whirl Background Cover Plate, Impression Obsession Halloween Hill die, Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Oxide Seedless Preserves and Salty Ocean, Copics

Autumnal Sympathy Card

A masculine sympathy card today.  Always sad to need these but good we cardmakers can offer comfort in unique ways.

The Details:  Simon Says Birch Tree Window, Lawn Fawn Leafy Tree Backdrop, Distress Oxide Candied Apple and Distress Ink Mustard Seed, Versamark, MFT More Essential Sentiments, Ranger Detail White Embossing Powder and Multi Medium Matte, Gmund Savanna Limba Woodgrain Cardstock

So Thankful

A batch of cards for a few coworkers. We've been working hard and deserve a treat!

I'm entering this in AAA CAS #98 Creatures Great and Small

The Details: Lawn Fawn Forest Feast, Neat and Tangled Maple Thanks Die and Sunset Shimmer Sequins, Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, and Mustard Seed, Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick and Broken China, Ranger Multi Medium Matte and Super Fine White Embossing Powder, Versafine, Gmund Savanna Limba Woodgrain cardstock

THD Challenge 16

Time for a new challenge at The Heart Desires and ever so perfect for the season. Don't know about you but I am SO ready for fall, my favorite time of year!

I smooshed some Distress Oxides and Inks to create the changing colors of the leaf.  I could have easily used Brushos. Next time! I cut the leaf out of both kraft and the smooshed panel then pieced it all together. Of course, the cat got to part of the little bits so using the rest for a second leaf didn't go as planned. Instead I used a vibrant apple green impressed with the die. I don't know why my camera doesn't like that color. It's much more like the color in the inspiration pic. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Vintage Sepia. I love using that color, especially in Autumn!

The Details:  Neat and Tangled Maple Thanks and coordinating die, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Distress Oxide Candy Apple, Peeled Paint and Spiced Marmalade, Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet

Fall Window

This is what I did on Labor Day. If only every day were a holiday!

I'm entering this in Lawnfawnatics #12 Create a Scene, AAA CAS #98 Creatures Great or Small

The Details:  Lawn Fawn For You, Deer; Ready, Set, Shake; Wonderful Window Die; Stitched Cloud Backdrop Portrait Die; Stitched Tree Border Die; Perfectly Plaid 6x6 paper; Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Distress Oxide Twisted Citron and Broken China, Gmund Savanna Limba Woodgrain Cardstock

Fall is Just Around the Corner

I'm over on The Heart Desires blog with a card that is all about the transition between summer and fall.  Go check it out, why don't you?!

I'm entering this in Naughty or Nice #43 Framed, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Lawnfawnatics 12 Create a Scene

The Details:  Waffle Flower Fruity Thank You, Lawn Fawn Leafy Tree Backdrop Portrait dies, Everyday Sentiment Banner die, Picket Fence die, Simple Grassy Hillsides die, Stitched Cloud Portrait die and Jump for Joy (sentiment), Carta Bella Magical Plaid Stencil, Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade, Mermaid Lagoon, Cracked Pistachio, Mowed Lawn, and Tumbled Glass, Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Scor-Tape

Cards in Envy Cheers to You!

We're kicking off the Cards in Envy September challenge with a fun one!  Come join us in making a celebration card of some sort.  Easy peasy!

I've been playing around with ombre coloring these past few weeks so went super bright with the ombre in this one.  BRIGHT yellow transitioning down to a deeeeeeep pink.  On fire for sure! A few layers of sponged clouds with a stitched whirl--oh, yes! Lots of details but ever so CAS!

The Details:  MFT Magical Dragons and Large Cloud Stencil, Simon Says Stitched Whirl Background, Distress Ink Peacock Feathers, Copic 0, Y11, Y13, Y15, RV02, RV04, RV06

Guesting for the Sisterhood

I'm guesting for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers--woo hoo!  Challenge #92 is J for Jumble. Think collage, mixing up a bunch of images, supplies, etc.  Very fun!

Now if this card doesn't make you chuckle AND cringe, then nothing will! LOL. I started out stamping the mutt then put down a Distress Crayon yellow focal point and a blue ground. I added a brick stencil using Distress Ink. What an easy way to create shadow and depth. Next I colored the mutt using Copics which performed beautifully on the Strathmore mixed media paper.

The string gel guts, colored with a bit of acrylic paint, turned out perfectly in the pouring (used a q-tip with the tip broken off) but I wanted to keep working on the card rather than waiting for it to dry. Leaf on the guts? Covers fingerprint. Swirls? More fingerprint covering.  All turned out fine tho.

I used a branch die to create ivy and layered another die on top of that for the ivy leaves. That's about as collagey as I get! I did layer the sentiment although my CAS self wanted to stamp it directly on the background. The things I'm willing to do when I'm guesting!

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Cards 4 Guyz #177 Something with the Letter D, Addicted to Stamps and More #257 Make Your Mark, Mod Squad For a Friend  

The Details:  Tim Holtz Crazy Dogs, Distress Crayons Mustard Seed and Chipped Sapphire, Distress Ink Fired Brick and Vintage Photo, Ranger Archival Ink, Black Enamel Accents, Glossy Accents and Multi Matte Medium, CZ Designs Simple Sentiments 1, Memory Box Grove Branch Die, MFT Spring Wreath and Brick stencil, Copics, Liquitex Spring Gel and Basics Acrylic Light Portrait Pink, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Christmas 6x6 paper