At the End of My Rainbow - Spring2017CLH

... there is a pot of coffee!  This fun card was created for the Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop.  I used MFT Die-namics to make the rainbow and cloud.  The pot of coffee was made using an SU punch.  The sun is from a Verve die. I used coffee colored Tear Drops to create coffee drops coming down the rainbow.  The word "coffee" in the cloud was stamped with Smokey Slate and Illuminate inks then clear embossed.  The grass at the bottom was from a cutting file included in the Brother Scan N Cut II and alcohol markers.  I coated the coffee beans in the pot with a little Wink of Stella for some shimmer.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Coffee - Verve, Sprinkles of Life - SU

Paper:  WW, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight

Ink:  Early Espresso, Smokey Slate, Illuminate, Memento London Fog

Accessories:  Chameleon Pens, Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, Sharpie Markers, Die-namics, Verve Die, SU Punch, Brother Scan N Cut II, Tear Drops, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, MISTI, Wink of Stella

Citrus Butterfly Ombre

I was playing around with Jennifer McGuire's ombre technique again.  This time I did it with 2 tones in citrusy colors.  I didn't like how it looked when the tones came together so I took the opportunity to use some ribbon in my stash.  I added a die cut butterfly in a color that matches the butterfly in the ribbon.  I left the sentiment off so I can tailor this card to whatever occasion arises.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Acorns Background - Judykins

Paper:  WW, Marigold Morning

Ink: WW Craft, Daffodil Delight, Marigold Morning, Mowed Lawn - Distress Ink

Accessories:  Butterfly Thinlet Die, Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Blending Tool, Foam Brush, Glimmer Mists, Metalic Dot

Bringing Back the Buzzin' Bees

 

I dug out one of my older SU stamp sets to color with my alcohol markers.  I had so much fun making the first one that I may a second in landscape.  I made the background using a stencil from Hampton Art and Distress Ink.  Wink of Stella was used on the bees' wings and antennae to add a bit of sparkle.  

Recipe:

Stamps: Just Buzzin' By - SU

Paper:  WW, Soft Suede, So Saffron

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir and Chameleon Alcohol Markers, Circle Punches, Hampton Art Honeycomb Mask, Wink of Stella, Circle Punches, Paper Flower, Brad, MISTI

Superstar Graduate

Another close friend of mine graduated last month with her Master's degree.  I am very proud of her and all the hard work she has put in to finishing her program.

I chose the colors for this card from the DP and the sketch is a mixture if different cards I've seen on Pinterest and Splitcoast Stampers.  The flower embellishments are actually beads that I found at Wal-mart some years ago.  I did some paper piercing on the corners of the mat for the main image and used an embossing folder on the 3 strips of Elegant Eggplant.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Starstruck - Verve
Paper:  WW, Tangerine Tango, Concord Crush, Melon Mambo
Ink:  Rich Razzelberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Embossing Folder, Flower and bead embellishments, piercing tool

Bringing Back Big Blooms

I am a stamping hoarder.  There I admitted it.  I have so much stuff that I often forget about the stuff I haven't used in years.  This stamp set is one example.  Big Blooms is a SU set that I got when I first started as a Demo.  I used it quite a bit back in the day but haven't touched in about 6 years, until now.

I love the whimsical little flowers and the stems to create my own little paper and ink garden.  This card expresses my joy that we now have warm weather and the flowers are blooming.  I left off the sentiment to add this card to my generic stash for when I need to send a random card at a moment's notice.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Big Blooms - SU
Paper:  WW, Wild Wasabi, Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, DP
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Island Indigo, Midnight Muse, Wild Wasabi
Accessories:  Ribbon, Stick on Gem

Cupcake Dreams

Sweepie is turning 7 next month and this is the card I made for her.  She is growing up to be quite a young lady that sometimes it seems too fast.  She requested that I make her a "grown-up" card and not a little kid's card.  So this is the card I made for her.  I think it is whimsical without being childish.  I would feel comfortable giving this card to an adult.  I would even give it to a guy if I changed the Primrose Pink to a more masculine color.  I didn't use any stamping on this card.  I just used my SU cupcake punch and an embossing folder.

Recipe:
Stamps:  None
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, WW, Pool Party, Primrose Pink, Calypso Coral, DP
Accessories:  Cupcake Punch, Embossing Folder, Ribbon, Button, Corner Rounder Punch

Cup of Kindness

This was a fun little tag I made last year but stashed in a drawer and forgot about it, until now.  I used the now retired SU Scentsational Season stamp set and the coordinating dies.  I hate fussy cutting so if a set has a coordination die or punch I am more likely to use it.  I used DP on the tag and then sponged over it.  I sponged WW craft ink on the blue and pink pieces to give it some winter frostiness.  This card would be perfect to describe this winter, as I spent many days watching snowfalls with a cup of coffee in hand.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Scentsational Season - SU, Latte Love - Fiskars
Paper:  Pretty In Pink, Marina Mist, Soft Suede, DP - SU
Ink:  Marina Mist, Soft Suede, WW Craft
Accessories:  Embossing Folders, Nestabilities, Dies, Sponge, Ribbon, Glitter Pen, Stick on Gem, Cropadile

You're So Sweet

I knew I needed a little break from studying and writing all these essays when I ended up with a tension headache.  The sketch for this card just came to me; and before I took a nap, I scribbled on a piece of paper.  I had looked at so many cards on Pinterest and SCS that it is probably inspired by a combination of designs but I can't think anyone in particular right now.  The colors are from SCS Color Challenge 393.  This card represents 2 of my favorite things:  coffee and butterflies.  The background DP has little butterflies fluttering by, which makes this card qualify for the Flutter By Wednesday #207 challenge.  I colored the gems with my alcohol markers to get exact matching shades of Lucky Limeade and Primrose Petals.  I used my piercing tool around the edges of the DP.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Delightful & Delicious - Verve
Paper:  Kraft, Pink Pirouette, Lucky Limeade, DP - SU & SEI
Ink:  Primrose Petals
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Piercing Tool, Stick on Gems, Alchohol Markers, SU Punches, Ribbon, Buttons

A Snowy Hello

In my part of the world, this summer has been a real scorcher.  I originally colored this image in early July when the temps were over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and many people had power outages from a record breaking electrical storm.  I was fortunate enough that I never lost power but I empathized with all those that had.

I had been searching for a sketch for this image and I found this weeks Freshly Made Sketches 48.   I die cut the image to make it a little more interesting than a plain rectangle.  The image is colored with alcohol markers and I used long retired SU DP for accent.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Snow Much Fun, Elementary Elegance
Paper:  Real Red, WW, SU DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Markers, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Buttons

Flutter-By Birthday

These colors have been staring at me from the scrap file for over a week.  It is like they were just pleading with me to use them together to make something.  So this is the card I came up with.  I think these colors go very well together especially with this design.  I made it a birthday card as my stash is getting low.  This card also qualifies for the Flutter By Wednesday #201 Challenge.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes
Paper:  WW, Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, Concord Crush, Lovely Lilac
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder
Accessories:  Beautiful Wings Embossilit, Cuttlebug

Blue Essence

The colors of this card are from SCS Color Challenge 388.  I dusted off my retired SU Essence of Love set which I haven't used in probably 3 or 4 years.  The sketch is one I came up with on my own.  I left the sentiment off so I could use the card for whatever occasion comes up.

This card also qualifies for the Flutter By Wednesday #201 challenge.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Essence of Love
Ink:  Night of Navy
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, MS Punch, Twine, Paper Piercer

Mixed Kindness

My card making mojo has been on fire this month.  I try to make at least one card a week or 4 cards a month however, for this July I made 7!  This card was for no particular reason, just on a whim.  I looked at the paper scraps lying on my craft table and used them to create this card.  This card was very quick and easy to make.  To make the banner stick up in the middle took a small piece of foam from the extra rubber that is around SU stamp sets and stuck it on.  The foam is about twice the thickness of the SU dimensional adhesives.  On the white layer you can see score lines.  That was unintentional as the paper was left over from making rosettes for another project.  Next month I will have a few friends over for a beginners card making class and I think I may use this as one of the designs.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Kindness Matters
Paper:  WW, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, DP
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  SU Blossom and Boho Blossoms Punches, Corner Rounder Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punches, Stick on Gem

No Coffee = Sleep

I love coffee so I am happy to have finally played with this SU stamp set called Morning Cup!  I have posted about my love (okay its an addiction!) of coffee previously.  The sentiment could easily be my motto!

I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  The SU DP in the background is partially distressed so I went a little crazy and distressed the rest of it and all the other papers.  I did something whimsical by wrapping bakers twine around the ribbon in an X pattern.  I used Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #104.  I don't have any WM stamps so I hope that my card will not be disqualified.  It's not that I care if I win the challenge or not, but I love the sketch and it fit well with my image that I had stamped and colored.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Morning Cup

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, WW, DP

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Walnut Stain and Tea Dye Distress Inks, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, Sizzix Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Ribbon, Nestabilities, Bakers Twine, Stick on Gem

Pearls and Prayers

This card is going out to someone going through a very difficult time right now.  I originally was making this card using the colors from SCS Color Challenge 363 without a sentiment so it could be generic.  I received the difficult news before I finished the card so I thought I would send it as an encouragement.

The main image is cut out from DP.  I used my colored pencils and Goo-Gone to add a little depth to it.  The little butterflies I cut out from a border punch.  This card qualifies for the Flutterby Wednesday 191 challenge.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Serenity - Verve
Paper:  WW, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, DP
Ink:  Basic Gray, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, MS Punches, Word Window, Spellbinders Impressabilities, Pearls, Buttons, Prisma Pencils, Goo-Gone, Ticket Punch

Mixed Bunch Birthday

I found the sketch for this card on Pinterest but the website link of the original post was broken so I don't know who to give credit to.  I used the new papers from the SU Salebration brochure and a stamp set from the current SU mini catalog.  The paper is partially distressed but I wanted a little more so I added some Walnut color to it.  I dipped into my hoard of ribbon and used some ruffled ribbons in coordinating colors.  The flower I made using the retired Three for You punch.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Happiest Birthday Wishes
Ink:  Early Espresso Classic and Craft - SU, Walnut Stain Distress - Tim Holtz
Paper:  VV, Early Espresso, Peach Parfait, DP - SU
Accessories:  Clear EP, MS Border Punch, Ribbons, SU Punches, Handmade flowers, Sponge

It's Your Day

My cousin's birthday is coming up and so I made this card from her.  The inspiration for the design and colors came from several different places.

Recipe:


Stamps:  Grateful Elegance - Verve, Happiest Birthday Wishes - SU
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, WW, Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Gold EP, SU Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder, MS Punch, Ribbon

Christmas card for Sweepie

I made a card for my little niece Sweepie and have one for her little sister, Little Munchkin, in process.  I had a lot of fun with this card as I got out my colored pencils, Goo-Gone and blending stumps.  I'm a bit out of practice with my coloring technique.  I also finally set up my Cricut and used my new Paper Lace cartridge.  I love this cartridge as there are so many fun shapes and designs, even ones that are doily-like as the one on this card.  It is hard to tell in this photo but I used Stickles to accent the ear and hand muffs.  I ran DP through the Cuttlebug and then lightly sanded it to bring out the white core.

Recipie:
Stamps:  Elisabeth Bell
Paper:  WW, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, DP
Ink:  Stazon Black
Accessories:  Colored Pencils, Goo-Gone, Blending Stump, Cuttlebug, Martha Stewart Punch, SU Snowflake Punch, Cricut, Sanding Block, Stickles, Buttons, Stick on Gems

Let Your Light Shine

I'm finishing up my Christmas cards and I took a little break to participate in the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge 252.  This week's Featured Stamper is Studbo and her gallery is amazing!  I see myself CASing many of her cards.

This card has my typical winter theme of blue, white and silver.  Giving you a hint of the colors that I used in my Christmas card this year.  After I mail out my Christmas cards I will be posting pics.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Baroque Motifs - SU, Starstruck, Grateful Elegance - Verve
Paper:  WW, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Ink:  Not Quite Navy Classic & Craft, Baja Breeze
Accessories:  Cuttlebug Folder, Clear EP, Stickles, Corner Rounder, Dew Drops, Ribbon

Cuttlebug-Crazy Cupcake

I'm still building up my stash of birthday cards for the next couple of months.  This year I decided that I would make Christmas card to send out to all of my friends (to those that I have current addresses for) and that won't leave me much time for other cards.

This card is inspired by Michelle Pearson's card.  She is SCS Featured Stamper 247.  The colors are from TCPTUES183 color challenge.  The card also fits the OCCC Masculine Card Challenge I used 4 different Cuttlebug embossing folders on this card which may be a bit extreme.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Punch Bunch - SU

Paper:  VV, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight

Ink:  Chocolate Chip Craft

Accesories:  Cuttlebug, Embossing Folders, Cupcake Die - SU, Corner Rounder Punch, Paper Piercing, Clear EP, Heat Tool

Be Strong & Courageous

I made this card using the sketch from Mojo Monday 211.  The colors came from the ribbon I chose.

Recently I saw the movie Courageous and I found it to be very inspiring.  Even though I don't have a husband or sons, I feel that I am called to pray for the men that I come in contact with at church, work, friends and even internet acquaintances to be courageous in God and rely on His strength.  I made this card for one young man who has been struggling with discouragement and loneliness recently.  To keep his identity private I will refer to him as Jay.  For those of you that know the Lord Jesus Christ, I would ask that you keep Jay and the other men that God may lay on your heart in prayer.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Joshua 1:9 from Scripture Collection 3 - ODBD
Paper:  Taken with Teal, Barely Banana, DSP
Ink:  Taken with Teal - SU, Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Tim Holtz
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Dies, Button