Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #9

Okay, I'm at the last stretch! :)



I'm back from dinner and racing! The challenge can be found here and I was excited to see the brackets of Top Ten could make a neat frame. :)

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Top Ten (PTI)

Ink:  Taken with Teal, Garden Green (both SU!)

Paper:  Lemon Tart, New Leaf (both PTI!); White CS

Other:  ATG; Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers); Sakura gel pen



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #8

Okay, this challenge wasn't too hard and I'm actually VERY happy with the results. I may mass-produce these... once I catch my breath!  :P

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps:  Year of Flowers: Violet; Turning a New Leaf (both PTI)

Ink:  Cameo Coral (SU!); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper:  So Saffron, Cameo Coral (both SU!)

Other:  Swiss Dots EF (Provocraft); Clear Glitter (MS); Scor-Tape; ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #7

Phew! I think I've lost count of how many hours I've been at this! LOL! It's a record for me, for sure! ;)



Here's the latest challenge----------> here.



This was the hardest challenge...but I was thrilled when I saw Women of Life and Dot Spot make some pretty cool images together!



Here's my card. :) (Notice my descriptions are getting shorter and shorter?!  ;) )

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Dot Spot, Women of Life, Butterfly Dreams (all PTI)

Ink:  Really Rust, Cherry Cobbler (both SU!); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper:  Pumpkin Pie (SU!); Harvest Gold (PTI); White CS

Other:  1 3/4" circle punch, 2" scallop punch (both EK Success); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #6

Okay, I think I'm heading back to more "Thank You" cards. :) At least one of my goals is sustained! ;)



Here's the challenge in case you want to read what Nichole's asking. Basically, she wants us to make a couple of notches (square, circular, etc.) onto which we can hook our ribbon or twine. I went with ribbon. :)

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Some close-ups:

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Tranquility Trilogy (PTI)

Ink:  Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa (both SU!)

Paper:  Bordering Blue (SU!); Berry Sorbet, Kraft (both PTI)

Other:  Berry Sorbet twill, Ocean Tides button, Rustic Twine, Triangle die (all PTI); 1/2" circle punch (EK Success); Bow Easy; ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #5

Phew! Halfway there!  :)



For this challenge, Nichole asked us to use a solid image to make an interesting border. My image isn't entirely solid...but I hope it still counts. :) When I saw the dots in the banners, I just knew I had to incorporate "Dot Spot" somewhere on the card.

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And a close-up of my heat embossing. :)

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Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps:  Dot Spot, Banner Builder, Think Big Favorites #5 (all PTI)

Ink:  Versamark; Onyx Black (Versafine); Basic Gray (SU!)

Paper:  Basic Gray, Bravo Burgundy (both SU!)

Other:   3/4" Circle punch (EK Success); Black EP; ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #4

Phew! Just at #4, but going strong... I don't think I've pushed out this many cards in quite a while! :)



Here's where you can find more information for the latest challenge --------> here. This time around, Nichole is asking us to use: Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Hawaiian Shores, and one of my favorites, Enchanted Evening.



Remember how I said I was going to do mostly thank you's? Yeah... well, that went the way of the dodo!



Here's my latest birthday card:

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and a close-up of the Stickles on the ice cream itself!

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Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Sweet as Can Be (PTI)

Ink:  Always Artichoke

Paper:  Fine Linen, Ripe Avocado, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Enchanted Evening (all PTI)

Other:  Dark Chocolate felt, Simply Chartreuse felt, Edger #1 die, Sweet as Can Be die (all PTI); Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers); Stickles; ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #3

Well, I think I'm running quite behind, but having fun doing it! :)



Here is the information you'll need to read about this challenge, which is asking us to use a window and have some ribbon connecting it to the outside edge of the card.

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And some close-ups:

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Use your imagination...that swirly embossing is "wind".  ;)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps:  Up, Up, and Away (PTI)

Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Old Olive (both SU!)

Paper:  Rustic White, Blueberry Sky (both PTI); Old Olive (SU!)

Other:   Balloon Dies, Fillable Frames #5 die (both PTI); Old Olive grosgrain ribbon (SU!); D'vine Swirls EF (Provocraft); Bow Easy; ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #2

Okay, this next challenge was LOADS of fun for me... I mean, what guy would NOT want to play with HOT PINK?!



Me, that guy.



Yeah... it may come as no shock that hot pink is NOT one of my favorite colors. I think even if I was FEMALE, hot pink would NOT be one of my favorite colors. But, I'm a trooper and played along with Nichole's challenge --- click here to find more information.



Here's my submission (there was NO way I was going to make a thank you card... ;) )

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And the obligatory close-up.

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Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps:  Beautiful Blooms I, Daily Design Sentiments (both PTI)

Ink:  Fresh Snow (PTI); Pink Passion (SU!)

Paper:  Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow (both PTI); White CS

Other:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #1

Papertrey INK (PTI) is hosting a wonderful event (both in-person and online). Read more about it here.



All day long, Nichole is hosting on her blog challenges! There will be ten (10) in all. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make the marathon, but I'll have fun trying. :) Each challenge offers a chance to win the limited edition stamp set! :)



The first challenge has us creating some patterned paper and using them as strips on our cards. Seeing as I've been hankering to take out my Guidelines and use them, this was perfect. Also, I plan on using each challenge to buff up my "Thank You" card collection! :)



Here's my submission:

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Hard to see in the picture, but that is Concord Crush (a deep purple) along with Sage Shadow. :) Love that combo!



Here's a close-up of the sentiment, complete with my tracing over the "you" with a glitter pen:

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If you look closely, you can spot some glitter in the pattern as well!



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Guidelines I, Giga Guidelines (both PTI)

Ink:  Sage Shadow, Concord Crush (both SU!)

Paper:  Sage Shadow (SU!); Guidelines (PTI)

Other:  ATG, Clear Star Gelly Roll pen (Sakura)



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

With Sympathy - PDCC 91 Color Splash Challenge

My mom recently heard some sad news that her mobile home park's manager lost his battle with cancer. Thankfully, he and his wife are both believers, so they'll be reunited soon. Of course, right now the pain is still deep, so I figured I'd create a sympathy card. Although I don't know her that well, I wanted her to know that people are praying for her comfort and solace.



My Google Reader told me of a PDCC challenge (find out the details here) and I have ALWAYS loved the look of neutral colors (especially black and gray) with color splashes. So elegant and eye-catching, right? :)



Here's my submission:

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This isn't my first sympathy card I've created with Turning a New Leaf. Not sure why I go to that stamp set for sympathy cards. I guess it's just a calming image to me.  :)



Here's a close-up of the leaf and accompanying flowers:

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A close-up of the sentiment... (the line drawn around the square front was hand-drawn.  :) )

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Go on over to the Cafe and play along! It's a fun way to challenge yourself to NOT bombard your card front with all types of colors. I think you'll really enjoy the outcome. :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps:Turning a New Leaf, Think Big Favorites #3 (both PTI)

Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine); Basic Gray (SU!)

Paper:  True Black, Melon Berry (PTI); Basic Gray (SU!); White CS

Other:  Melon Berry twill, Turning a New Leaf die (both PTI); Black Enamel accents (Ranger); Daisy Punch (EK Success); ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

I've been a nauti boy. ;)

Well, if you know me at all, you know I have a love for anything maritime or nautical. Not sure what it is, but there's something about lighthouses, ships, and lore of long ago coastal adventures that bring me back to being a boy and reading about pirates, whaling, and haunted harbors! Fun stuff! :)



That's why when I saw the color challenge of Embellish magazine located here, I just knew it was my type of challenge!



Here's the inspirational image:

Ah...look at that old boat...what stories could it tell and how many captains were at its helm, steering it safely through winds that were anything but smooth? :)



I was inspired to create this card:

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And some close-ups for you:



First off, you can see the bottom panels are embossed with white EP and raised with dimensionals:

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Next is a close-up of the focal image. I intentionally made the compass askew. :)

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Next is a close-up of the baker's twine. Funny story: At first, as I searched through my baker's twine, I was bummed because I didn't have any navy blue. Then I remembered that one of the colors of the challenge was a softer blue! Yay!

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Not sure how I'll use the card, but I figure if I have a friend or family member who sometimes feels overwhelmed, this would be a perfect reminder that life throws us stormy seas at times. One of my favorite phrases:

"Don't tell God how big your storms are, but tell the storms how big your God is."  :)

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Out to Sea (PTI)

Ink:  Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa (both SU!); Versamark

Paper:  Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler (both SU!); Dark Chocolate, Fine Linen (both PTI)

Other:  Baker's Twine; White EP; Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Homewarming Gift for Kathleen

A friend of mine, Kathleen, is about to move into a brand new apartment. She states that she doesn't know how to cook but that she'd like to start. :)



Well, my wheels got to spinnin' and I thought I'd create a recipe box as a homewarming gift, using Papertrey Ink's Recipe Box and Recipe Box Label stamp sets.  :)



I also purchased a box from PTI...



Here's my finished product:

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A close-up of the label/focal image:

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A side view:

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A look at the inside:

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That foam divider was an idea I got from Nichole Heady's blog... here.



And a close-up of the divider cards...these were a BEAR to line up...making sure the circle punch-out wasn't too high or too low on the Melon Berry card! :P Then to arrange them so they are staggered!

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And a close-up of the recipe cards themselves:

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Again, using Nichole's tip to line up the stamps to make this quicker! :) I created 60 cards to get her started.  ;)



I hope she likes it.



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Recipe Box, Recipe Box Label (both PTI)

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip (all SU!)

Paper:  Fine Linen (PTI); In the Kitchen DSP (Little Yellow Bicycle)

Other:   Mod Podge; Melon Berry twill (PTI); Xyron machine; Egg box (PTI); Scor-tape; ATG; Nestabilities



 Happily Ever Yours,