Bee Thankful (ESS #135, CR84FN35, PTI: MIM)

I hope you all had  a great day today!  It was finally hot and sunny here in the Pacific Northwest.  I think we actually hit above 80 degrees!  It's ironic that it happened on the first day of summer.  Hopefully it's a sign of good things to come. :)

My card this evening is based on a several challenges.  The first is the PTI Make IT Monday Challenge on Nichole Heady's blog.  It begins every Monday morning and ends the next Monday morning.  This week's challenge was reverse masking.  I punched a scallop circle from my Eclipse art masking tape and temporarily adhered the negative (what was left over) to the circle I die cut with my Nestabilities circle die.  I used the small flower stamp from the Snail & Co. stamp set from A Muse Studio and stamped the flower all over within the mask.  When I lifted it up there was a "flower ball".  I had seen this technique with the "flower ball" before on Julie Ebersole's blog, but I couldn't find the specific post for you.  I used bermuda ink from A Muse Studio for my flower.  I drew the stem with a Copic marker.  The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie paper pad.  The beautiful green ribbon is American Crafts.  The sentiment stamp is one I picked up a couple of years ago from the Stamp Convention and it's from Eccentric Images Rubberstamps.  I bought a couple other ones from them and they are super cute!  I had always wanted to try this "flower ball" technique when I saw it on Julie's blog and I'm really glad I got the chance.

The layout for my card was inspired by this week's sketch at Eat Sleep Stamp.  I pretty much followed the sketch almost to the letter.  I chose to use ribbon where the vertical line on the left is, but decided not to put my image circle over it.  Other than that my card looks like the sketch.  The colors for my card came from the color challenge this week at CR84FN.  The color board is just below.  These three colors were very easy to work with and the first thing I thought of was a flower or something summery.  It could be because the sun is shining outside my window and I have the a/c on for the first time all year. :)  I hope you all enjoy this card.  Once again I tried something new and I really like the results.  Happy Crafting!

You're Eggstra Special (PDCC #73, ESS #122, GRAC107)

I had such a perfect day today!  I slept in, played in my craft room and made this card, and then went for a walk with my hubby and my dog.  What could be better than that?!  I hope you all had a great day as well. :) 

I thought I'd make an Easter card since it's only a month away.  This card is inspired by the color story below from The Play Date Cafe and based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp.  I also found a new challenge this week called Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge and this week you're supposed to use more than one punch/die on your card or project.  I managed to do that so I thought I'd enter.  The challenge runs for another week or so there's plenty of time for you to play along if you feel inspired.  I used A Muse cardstock, gingham paper, and a notecard.  The polka dot paper is from the Fly A Kite paper pad by October Afternoon.  The stamps are my new ones from Waltzingmouse.  I used both label one and eyelet circle dies from Nestabilities.  And as always, I colored the Easter basket and eggs with my Copic markers. I really like this color combo and how the card turned out.  I wasn't sure in the beginning, but in the end I really like it.  I hope you do too!  Have a great weekend!  Happy Crafting!

The Road to a Friend's House (PDCC #70, ESS #119)

Tonight's post will be short and sweet.  This card is based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp and inspired by the color story below from The Play Date Cafe.  The stamps are from A Muse, big surprise, and so is the notecard, cardstock, and gingham paper.  The patterned paper is from the Wander paper pad by Basic Grey.  I love the colors and patterns in this paper pad, although I haven't used very much of it yet.  I used my Copics to color the image.  I used the banner die from PTI to make the gingham banner and added the cute little orange buttons to add just the right detail.  I think it turned out pretty cute, but maybe that's just me. :)  I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week and have a chance to fit in some creative time.  Happy Crafting!

stamps: road to friend, house & trees (A Muse Artstamps)
ink: black dye ink (A Muse Artstamps)
notecard: surf (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: white, orange crush (A Muse Artstamps)
patterned paper: grass petite gingham (A Muse Artstamps), Wander paper pad (Basic Grey)
markers: Copic
die: banner (PTI)

Shabby Thank You (ESS #118, Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: Comfy Cozy)

Tonight's card is based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp and inspired by the picture below from the  Comfy Cozy Tuesday Trigger in the Moxie Fab World.  The stamps are from PTI, the patterned paper is from the October Afternoon Thrift Shop collection, the die is Nestabilities, and the border punch is Martha Stewart.  The metal thank you is from Making Memories and is inspired by the iron bed frame.  I chose a kraft card and sponged white ink on the edges to resemble the tan walls and the distressed mantle.  The blue flower paper matches the rug and the red paper reminds me of the toile in some of the pillows.  I chose to replicate the rose pillow and the french blue pillows on my stamped white couch.  I attempted a shabby chic card.  I think it still needs a little work to really be shabby chic, but I like it anyway.  I hope you do too!  Happy Crafting!

Tuesday Trigger: Comfy Cozy

stamps: On my couch (PTI)
ink: black dye ink (A Muse Artstamps), frost white pigment ink (Clearsnap)
cardstock: white (A Muse Artstamps), kraft (PTI)
patterned paper: Thrift Shop paper pad (October Afternoon)
markers: E57, BG10 (Copic)
dies: Nestabilites classic scalloped circles large
punch: doily lace border punch (Martha Stewart)
accent: adhesive metal saying (Making Memories)

I Love You More Than..(PDCC #68, ESS #117, Moxie: Tuesday Trigger Decadently Yours)

Happy early Love Day all!  I hope you're all enjoying a romantic weekend with your sweeties.  I have a Valentine's Day card for you!  It's based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp, the color story below from The Play Date Cafe, and the Tuesday Trigger Challenge Decadently Yours from Moxie Fab World.  The stamps are from A Muse, of course, and so are the heart twinkle stickers.  The patterned paper is PTI's 2008 Bitty Dot Basics and the die is Nestabilities label 16.  The border punch is from Fiskars, and is one of my faves!  I really enjoyed this sketch, color story, and Trigger challenge.  I hope you like the card I made because I made it for you!  Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Crafting!

Tuesday Trigger: Decadently Yours

stamps: Elyse, I love you more than, Chocolate assortment (A Muse Artstamps)
ink: Adirondack espresso dye ink (Ranger)
notecard: plum (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: blush, natural (A Muse Artstamps)
patterned paper: 2008 Bitty Dot Basics (PTI)
markers: assorted (Copic)
punch: apron lace border (Fiskars)
die: Nestabilities label 16 (Spellbinders)
gems: twinkle stckers mini heart

Cool Yule Penguin (PDCC #56, ESS #109, A Muse Challenge: Dashes, Dots, and Doodles)

I have some exciting news to share! Today on the PaperCrafts blog my Stamping Royalty card was featured along with a little blurb about me and a photo of me wearing my crown.  It was so exciting!  Thanks for indulging me.  Now on to the card for today...

 This card is based on the sketch below from Eat, Sleep, Stamp, the color challenge in the picture below from The Play Date Cafe, and the November challenge from the A Muse Lounge called Dashes, Dots, and Doodles.  Here are the details for the card.  The paper, stamps, and ink are all from A Muse.  The patterned paper is actually Reversed Asterisk Pretty Little Papers from A Muse.  Sadly they aren't making Pretty Little Papers anymore.  They had the cutest patterns and were such a great size.  I just cut it in half to make two squares for the card.  The present stamp is a separate stamp from the penguin stamp and is from the Baby Wishes Clear Set.  I paper pieced the present with blue gingham patterned paper then drew a line connecting it to the fishing line.  I colored the penguin image with my trusty Copics.  I used the large oval Nestabilities die and adhered it with pop dots to add some more interest to the card.  I really like how it turned out.  It looks really festive for the holidays!  If I didn't already have my Christmas cards already worked out I would consider using this card.  I hope you all get some good crafting in this holiday week.  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders

Happy Holidays Girl (PDCC #55, ESS #108)

This evening's card is based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp and the color challenge below from The Play Date Cafe.  I used A Muse stamps, of course.  I colored the image with my Copic markers, mainly the colors from the PDCC challenge.  I punched a snowflake from my Martha Stewart arctic snowflake punch, adhered it to the card with a pop dot, and adhered a clear gem to the top.  Let me know what you think of my card.  I hope you all get a chance to have some creative time this weekend.  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
punch: Martha Stewart

You're Sweet Ice Cream Girl (Embellish Magazine, Card Patterns #86, CPS #189, ESS #105)

Today's card is based on the challenge at Embellish Magazine, the sketches at Eat Sleep Stamp, Card Positioning Systems, and Card Patterns.  I made the card from patterned paper and then cut rectangles of gingham paper and adhered them to the card.  I stamped the image on cardstock, colored it with my Copics, stamped the sentiment, trimmed it, and adhered it to the card with pop dots.  I adhered the brad and felt flower with an adhesive dot.  I adhered the ribbon with adhesive and then tied the ends with string.  It's a technique I've seen many times, but I've never actually tried it until today.  I think it's very cute.  I love how this card turned out and I absolutely love the color combination! :)  I hope you can find some creative time this weekend.  Happy crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
ribbon and felt flower: American Crafts
brad: Queen and Co

ESS #101

I hope you all had a great weekend!  It's so incredibly muggy here, which is not like the Northwest, plus it's also 80 degrees.  Not a great combination for us out here.  I normally love this time of year, the temperature begins to fall, there is a crispness in the air, it's still sunny out, and my favorite part is that the leaves begin to change color.  Fall is my favorite season if you hadn't guessed.  I love taking walks in the fall air and observing all the changes in nature in my neighborhood.  What's your favorite season?

On with the card for today...this card was inspired by the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp, which you still have time to play.  I used patterned papers from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety mini deck.  I thought they went perfectly with the super cute Carrot Car stamp by A Muse.  This is one of my very favorite spring stamps!  I think it is sooo cute!  The sentiment stamp is also A Muse.  I know that this card is a little out of season, but I just bought the Garden Variety mini deck and wanted to play with the papers and this stamp just went so well.  Has that ever happened to you, you feel like making a card that's completely out of season either just because or because you have great new product you want to play with?  Anyway, I promise my next post will be back to "normal".  And if you're still with me, here's the card and happy crafting!

white cardstock, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
markers: Copic
ribbon: American Crafts

ESS #100, Offset Scallop Gallop

This card was based on this sketch at Eat Sleep Stamp and this challenge, the Offset Scallop Gallop, at Moxie Fab World (which you can play until Oct. 4th). I looked through my paper stash to find offset scallops and found some by October Afternoon.  I found a couple different choices, but I liked this one the best.  I didn't realize offset scallops were that trendy, but after visiting the Moxie Fab blog and going through my stash I have to say I found they really are. 

I used my Rainy Day Lisa stamp by A Muse because I thought she would go with the papers and the color scheme.  I have to admit this is the first time I have inked her up and I don't know why, she is so cute!  She is fun to color too!  When I was all done putting the card together I thought it needed just a little something else, so I added the chocolate pretty pearls by A Muse.  I think they added just the right touch I was looking for.  I love how the card turned out!  I put it on my card shelf and realized I have done a lot of cards with yellow, which isn't a color I thought I used often.  Is there a color that you use more often than others?  Or is there a color that when you take a second look at your cards you realize you use more often than you thought you did?

notecard, stamps, ink, pearls: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic

ESS #98

This post is going to be short and sweet because I'm sick and don't feel very well. :(  This card is based on last week's sketch on Eat Sleep Stamp.  I didn't get it posted in time to be entered in the challenge, but I made it for my darling friend as a thank you note for my wonderful birthday gifts.  It was the first time I got to ink up my Lawn Fawn stamps and was able to use my Cosmo Cricket Material Girl paper pad.  It's not my favorite card, but I'm glad I got to play with a bunch of new stuff.  Without further ado...

notecard, ink: A Muse Artstamps
clear stamps: Lawn Fawn
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
markers: Copic
punches: Marvy Uchida