Celebrate - PDCC125 - Color Challenge

Hello all! Already Thursday and I'm looking forward to the weekend. How about you? :)



Today, I have a card I created for the Play Date Cafe Color Challenge 125. Click here to play along! The challenge was to create a card with mostly black and white and just a SPLASH of brown. Now, I guess "splash" is subjective... but I would reckon they don't want a tidal wave of brown. ;) Hopefully the amount of brown I used qualifies as a "splash".  ;)

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I'm actually quite pleased with how this turned out. See the stars through those circles? Well, you may have seen me do that before with ribbon. And I thought, "What the heck. How hard can it be with a star border?" Hahaha...yeah. Those little points were a dream to weave in and out of those circles, especially those smaller circles! Such fun! But I think the effort was worth it. I like the look and am thinking this look may be great for Independence Day. :)



Here are some close-ups:

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As I said, I hope I didn't use TOO much brown. :) I do like this color combination... especially for a masculine card such as this one. :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Celebrations (PTI)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Close to Cocoa (SU!)

Paper: Stampers Select (PTI); Real Black, Close to Cocoa (both SU!); Wal-Mart White

Other: Sheet Music IP, Celebrations die, Star Border die, Circle Border die (all PTI); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Janelle - an inspiration to us all.

Have you met Janelle?



If not, please go check out her blog, read it, and then tell me that you weren't moved by her faith, encouragement, and love of our Savior. Janelle is the type of person I want to be when I grow up. God doesn't work in coincidences. He just doesn't do that. It's not His style, so to speak. :) It was all part of His plan that I be exposed to His beautiful daughter, Janelle. If I could have just a GRAM of faith she has, I'd be a hundred times better a person. And I can only hope (and pray) that someday I will.



The papercrafting community is an interesting creature. Not only does it create and encourage others to create, but it takes care of itself. It looks after its own. And that is why it's no surprise that a sweetheart of a paper crafter (Laurie Beth) is hosting a blog hop to show Janelle how much we all love her and support her. You can find details here.



Seeing as I've had personal contact with Janelle and how much she's impacted me, I just had to join in. It was a given. So this morning I created a card. I wanted it not to be dark, grey, and somber. I wanted it to be bright so that when I send it to Janelle and Ken (her husband), they're hopefully uplifted by its simple message.



Here's my card:

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and a close-up (hopefully you can see the tiny dots of glitter on the taller plant. :) )

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That Bible verse speaks volumes, doesn't it? Knowing that the very Creator of the universe loves me that much... is really enough to make me go silent for a while. Just in awe.



The same Creator is holding Janelle and Ken in His almighty hands... and I know that He loves them both more than any of us can even come close to.



But, nevertheless, with His strength... I attempt to play a tiny role in letting Janelle and Ken know they're in my daily prayers.



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Life, Beautiful Blessings (both PTI)

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

Paper: Melon Berry, Classic Kraft (both PTI); Real Black (SU!)

Other: Clear Star glitter pen (Sakura); Woodgrain and Linen impression plates (both PTI); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Two Challenges: CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC45 and March PTI Blog Hop

Wow! Not only ONE more challenge...but TWO. A la Jim Carrey in The Mask: SOMEBODY STOP ME! ;)



I know I've already created a card for the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge (CFC45), but I wanted to make another one. And they allow it. So there. :P I am liking the pastels and black combo!

And today is also PTI's March Blog Hop... and we're to use the following photo as inspiration:

Not only was I inspired by the aqua and yellow...but also the clear cellophane lid! :)



Here's my card (with some clear cardstock for good measure!):

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and some close-ups:

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Overall, I'm happy with the card. It's not something I could mass-produce, but it does have a unique look, doesn't it? :)



So how about it? Why not go and check out those challenges yourself! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Mehndi Medallion (PTI); Hunny Bunnies (TSG)

Ink: Aqua Mist (PTI); So Saffron (SU!)

Paper: Clear cardstock, Stampers Select (both PTI); So Saffron (DSP and cardstock) both SU!)

Other: Aqua Mist felt, True Black gingham ribbon (both PTI); Out to Sea pearls (Queen & Co); Black rhinestones, ATG, Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

PDCC124 - Color Challenge: Raspberry, Mustard, Ocean

Another challenge?! Can you believe it? :) Well, do. Because it's true.



Here are the details for a recent challenge at Play Date Cafe -----> here.



We are to use colors from this picture:

So here's my creation:

and a close-up of the texture I impressed in the background (which I created with the MSS Argyle stamp :) )

They were certainly challenging colors, but I did my best! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: 2012 Birthday Tags (PTI); Argyle Background (MSS)

Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores (both PTI)

Paper: Ocean Tides, Stampers Select (both PTI); More Mustard (SU!)

Other: Limitless Layers: Oval, Raspberry Fizz button, Rustic Twine, By the Numbers Impression Plate (all PTI); Mustard ribbon (from my stash); Bow Easy; ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC45 - Pastels & Black

Happy Friday, everybody! :)



You know...when I first saw the challenge HERE on the CAS-ual Fridays blog, my first thought was: "Uh oh... pastels and black?" Wayyy out of my comfort zone. :) But now that I've tried it, I'll be coming back to it. Even for baby cards, etc! :)

and not only is this away from my comfort zone in colors, but it's not TOO often that the only thing I stamp on a card's front is the SENTIMENT! :)



This was primarily made with paper (cardstock and patterned paper):

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and some close-ups:

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So head on over to CAS-ual Fridays blog and play along. :) You might be as surprised as me that pastels and blacks really work. Or you may not be! ;)



Have a blessed weekend, all! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Egg Hunt (PTI)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Basic Black (SU!); Stampers Select white, Aqua Mist patterned paper (both PTI)

Other: Egg die, Aqua Mist twill (both PTI); ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Happy Easter, Everybunny! :) (TSG148)

I have to be honest and say that I wasn't going to share this card (as I wasn't ENTIRELY thrilled with it. :) ), but then I saw they were having a challenge to use Easter with animals over at the There She Goes blog (click here for details) and figured it's always fun to join in challenges. :)



Here's the card:

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and some close-ups:

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See that fancy edge? I did that! :) I recently purchased a Grand Calibur and with Spellbinders Edgeabilities, it's not too had to mix and match edges for varied looks. :) It's a fun technique to which I'll come back again and again.

Click image for larger version. 

Click image for larger version. 

A side story about this focal image: If you go and look at the stamp set here, (by the way they're currently on sale!) you'll see that the bunny and cross are TWO separate images. I honestly thought I'd have a heck of a time lining them up but I lucked out! :) Phew! And see that ring of patterned paper? Well, I thought I'd try something different by creating a ring of patterned paper. Then, after I assembled it, I thought, "Doofus! I could have just created a circle of patterned paper and then placed a smaller circle of white paper on it to give the same look!" Yeah...sometimes I over-think things. :P I wanted to give him a bit of a "pop" from his white background so I used some T1 (Copic) around him. Overall, I'm happy with how he turned out. :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Hunny Bunnies (TSG)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Paper: Lemon Tart, Stampers Select (both PTI); Floral Garden DSP (Recollections/Michaels)

Other: Copics; Fresh Snow twill (PTI); Rhinestone (Queen & Co.); Nestabilities, Edgeabilities (both Spellbinders); Scallop Edge punch (EK Success); ATG; Dimensionals; Zots



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Market Street Stamps - Paint the Town Color Challenge #12

Hello all,



When I saw the following colors over on the Market Street Stamps blog, they spoke to me. They said, "Why are you looking at us that way? We're just pixels on a computer screen, weirdo."

Okay, well they didn't say that... but I love all things nautical and these colors are quite nautical. :) Sadly, however, I didn't have any MSS stamps that were nautical, but it DID give me an excuse to use the cute stamp set "Cheep Talk" again! :)

and a close-up:

Aren't they adorable?! :) It's my hope that Angelica (the owner of MSS) will consider someday creating additional comments to put in the speech balloons! :) One can hope, eh? ;)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Cheep Talk (MSS)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Paper: Fine Linen (PTI); Night of Navy (both CS and DSP), Taken with Teal (all SU!); Pure Luxury White (Gina K)

Other: Copics; Fine Linen twill (PTI); Ticket corner punch (EK Success); Nestabilities (Spellbinders); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Friendship is a plant we must often water...

... and don't dump too much fertilizer on it. (Yes, I had to add the "guy" element...sorry).  ;)



Ever wake up in the middle of the night when an idea for a color combination? Well, I did a couple of nights ago... it was going to be aqua, brown, and kraft. And I also had an idea of a flowing meadow with a butterfly silhouette. It was PERFECT in my mind.



Then I sat down at my craft table. :P



Yeah, well long story short? My mental picture of my creation was MUCH different than what was the outcome. But nonetheless, I still like it. :)

Click image for larger version.

and, of course... a close-up. :)

Click image for larger version.

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Wildflower Garden (PTI)

Ink: Aqua Mist, Classic Kraft (both PTI); Chocolate Chip (SU!)

Paper: Wal-Mart white; Classic Kraft, Aqua Mist patterns (both PTI); Chocolate Chip (SU!)

Other: Dark Chocolate satin ribbon (PTI); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Comment Moderation - Word Verification

Hello folks,



For some reason I've lately received more comment spam on my blog. As a result, I'm afraid that I've had to turn back on the word verification on commenting.



I sincerely apologize for this, but it seems there are people in this world who have nothing better to do with their time than to spam others' blogs.



I just want to see if by adding this step it will help decrease spam.



Thank you for any understanding.



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

St. Paddy's Day - 4 of 4

Top o'the mornin' to ye! It's Wednesday --- happy Hump Day! --- and the last of my St. Patrick's Day cards (for now anyway). ;)

I'm especially proud of this card... particularly the burlap texture I gave to the die. Oh...and if you're wondering about the die. It's really just a Mega Mat Stack (from PTI) with a Nestabilities circle cut out of it. :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Luck of the Irish (PTI); Bit of Burlap background (MSS); Shamrocks 4 Us (Stamps of Life)

Ink: Spring Moss, Classic Kraft (both PTI)

Paper: Stamper's Select, Classic Kraft (both PTI)

Other: Wood button; Spring Moss twill, Rustic twine, Mega Mat Stack 3 (all PTI); Nestabilities (Spellbinders)



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

St. Paddy's Day - 3 of 4

Well, Tuesday already and here's my third card I made for this green-lovin' holiday! ;)

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Tag-Its #1, Framed Out #1 (both PTI); Shamrocks 4 Us (Stamps of Life); Holidays Galore (TSG)

Ink: Perfect Plum, Lucky Limeade (both SU!)

Paper: Vintage Cream, 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (both PTI)

Other: Take Three Window Die (PTI); Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Frog Spinner Card (& bonus video!)

Well, I created my first Spinner card...using PTI's Movers & Shakers dies! :) I knew the moment I saw Nichole introduce the spinner dies that I would want to create a card using PTI's Boy Basics: Frog Hop.



It was a bit challenging and I'm not sure it entirely works. I can see room where I may need to refine the process... but overall, I'm happy with the results.

Click image for larger version.

and some close-ups:

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and

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And as promised in the blog post title...the video of the frog in action. Prepare yourself for ultimate suspense! Will he land on the left lily pad? Will the right lily pad be his new home?! It's a nail-biter for sure!

Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Boy Basics: Frog Hop (PTI)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, 2009 Bitty Dots Basics, Ripe Avocado (all PTI)

Other: Vintage Cream felt, Clouds dies, Mover & Shakes: Spinner dies, Frog Hop dies (all PTI); Scallop Edge punch (EK Success); Googly eyes; ATG; Dimensionals; Felt glue



 Happily Ever Yours,