Joan's Gardens Challenge #19 Wedding in B&W

     I had a little time to create this afternoon, while the DH was napping.  I decided to drag out some of my older, neglected SU! sets, to do the current challenge at Joan's Gardens.

Here are the requirements:

Make it a wedding theme
Create in black and white
Use rhinestones or pearls
Add some kind of flourish

Materials Used:

Stamps: SU! Voila, Voila To Go, Congrats, solid flower stubby from Stamps By Judith, and some tiny hearts and flowers from an unknown clear set.

Papers:  card stock is Pure Luxury, designer paper is Little Black Dress from Basic Grey

Inks:  Versafine

Coloring: Copics

Embellishments:  pearls, opaque black stone flourish, Prima rose, polka dot ribbon

Die:  Simple Buckles by Memory Box  (gift)

     This was great fun!  So glad I got to play along.  DH had another day full of improvements, and we plan a relaxing holiday weekend.  Hope you have one, also!

Friday Friends

     Hi everyone, it's that time again!  I was able to get a card ready for Friends with Flair, before life got in the way.  I used the May KOM, and some of the fun new dies I received for Mom's Day to create this fun card.  I used the crown stamp but did not ink the attached word, and who can resist this adorable sentiment!  Love it!  I colored parts, with Copic Marker, cut it out, glittered it up and added gems.

     My papers are scraps with the designer paper being from K&Co.  The leaves are an old punch I had, but the dies are from Memory Box, and include the Small Pinwheel Posie, plus the Elegant Scrollwork die.  The card is a little bright, but I think it came out cute.

     Quick update:  My hubby got out of ICU yesterday, and is mending quicker than I ever imagined.  Thanks for all of the prayers.  I know they are what did the trick.

     Update #2:  Just got a call that they are sending him home today!  Yikes!  You may not see me for a bit.

     I am also not sure if I will be able to get around to everyone for comments, so please excuse me in advance.

Art Impressions #63 Inspiration Photo

Art Impressions has a gorgeous Inspiration Photo for us to draw from this week.  I just love the soft colors!  Here is what I came up.  Most of my Art Impressions stamps are of the funny variety, so I went with one of the cute sentiments I own.

I used an oak tag card stock, and a paper I printed from I digi in my stash.  My sentiment is AI E-1414.  I tried out my new Memory Box Valencia Border die, which was a Mother's Day gift.  I added some gems, Prima flowers, and Stickles.  Punches are from an unknown and EK Success.

On a personal note.......  Most of the people that follow my blog, know that my DH has been having some health issues lately.  He will be undergoing surgery on Wednesday, and after a few days in the hospital, he will be home with me for 6-8 weeks.  Sooner, if he behaves.  Please keep him in your prayers, and I will  give an update when there is one.  Thanks.

Unity FwF plus my Monthly Sketch Challenge

     Hi, everyone!  I'm a little late posting this today, so I thought I would do a double take and post my Unity May Sketch Challenge, along with my Friday Friends with Flair!  Please be sure to check out all of the inspiration that is flowing over there, this week!

     First up let me share my FwF card for this week.  I did some crazy things with this one.  Using the clouds from the May KOM, I stamped them with Galaxy Gold Brilliance ink and then clear embossed them.  That gave me a sparkly outline.  I dabbed in Picket Fence Distress Stain, and was pleased at the softness I achieved.  I used the trio of hot air balloons, also from the kit, colored, paper pieced, and sparkled them, then popped them over my background.  The greatest sentiment is included, also.  This month's kit is wonderful!  A bit of ribbon and gems, and  my card was complete!

     For my next card, let me show you the Sketch of the Month, that Unity has come up with!  Using more KOM stamps,  here is what I came up with.
 

      My base card stock is a pearlized champagne color, layered with Basic Grey designer paper.  I created my side panel by double inking one of the background stamps in the kit, with Anna Griffin inks, which I have had for ages.  I cut my oval out using a Labels Ten die from Spellbinders, and then ran it through the Cuttlebug with a brocade EF, and did direct ink to paper for highlights.  Next came my dress form image, which I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossed.  It was colored with Copics, fussy cut, and popped over my oval.  I jazzed up the dress with clear gems and sparkle from a Sakura Stardust pen.  There are the best sentiments in the kit and I thought this one suited beautifully.

     Well, that's it for me today.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

May Challenge at Craft A Scene

     Good Morning!  This month, at Craft A Scene, the challenge is "Spring Flowers".  I though about this one until mid month, and decided to use an old PSX stamp from my collection.  It has Wisteria, Iris, Tulips, Jonquils, Forget-Me-Not's, and a flowering Dogwood or Cherry! The # is K-2151.  I think that covered most of the flowers in my garden.

     I started with a bright coral card stock for the base.  Layers of Out of Print, and Indie Bloom, from Basic Grey were added.  My image was stamped with Versafine Ink, and clear embossed.  Copic Markers were used for coloring.  I then cut out the image with a Labels Twenty Three die, from Spellbinders. The sentiment is from an Impression Obsession clear set, called Spring Seals.  I punched it out with an SU! scalloped circle punch.  Peach/Coral ric-rac was added, and topped off with pearls.

     It is so funny, but back in the day, I fell in love with so many stamps, would buy them and stick them in the drawer.  That was because I had no clue how to even begin coloring them.  If it were not for our blogging friends, new products, and people who are willing to teach us,  I think that many of these beautiful images would remain tucked away.  Thanks for the inspiration you share with me, each and every day!

Art Impressions Time!

     Good Morning!  I planned on going into work today, but after I called them, there was nothing for me to do.  Sounds good to me!

     This week at Art Impressions, the Challenge is #62 Beverages.  After a quick search of my AI stamps, I found their stamp of the 3 ladies having tea.  It is an oldie, and is # T-1522.  I colored the two ladies on the left and right, fussy cut them, and set them aside.

Here is what I used for the rest of my card.

Stamps:  SU! Tea Shoppe set
Card stock:  SU! Pool Party, Pure Luxury Pumpkin Spice, generic white.
Designer Paper:  scraps of Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket
Dies:  Spellbinders Lg Scalloped Oval
Punches:  Martha Stewart
Ink:  Copic Markers, Pool Party, and Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink
Embellishments:  Copper brads, Sparkle from a Sakura Stardust pen (eyeglasses, earrings, tea cups, scrollwork)

We are expecting 3" of rain over the next couple of days.  Perfect crafting weather, huh?

HM #119 Humor

     Happy Mother's Day!  Hope all of you hard working mom's, had a bit of a rest and were pampered for a time. I was fortunate to have each child for a visit today.  The new groom did not stay past lunch at Olive Garden, as he is fighting a cold and was trying to keep his distance. It is now quiet, and I get to play in the stamp room.

     The newest House Mouse Monday Challenge is about humor.  I dug out the funniest HM stamp I own, and went to work.  It is called Monster Mouse.  When I found this unmounted stamp, in the bottom of a bag, I was sure I found the right sentiment.  Life sure gets crazy sometimes, and we have to stop and give it a giggle.

Ink:  Versafine, Copics, Distress Ink
Stamps:  House Mouse, and Unknown
Card stock:  All scraps from Marco's Paper
Designer Paper:  Basic Grey Out of Print
Embellishments:  Prima flowers, Dew Drops, MS branch Punches
Dies: Spellbinders Labels Twenty-three, Fancy Tags

     Thanks for stopping around, and enjoy what is left of your day!

Friends with Flair

     I needed to create a card for the lady who gave me the strawberry plant, that I talked about in my last post.  I decided to print off a picture of the strawberry basket, and create a card with it as my background.  I inked up my new Itty Bitty set that I won from Sarah M.'s blog, called Dance In The Rain, and use it and it's partner saying to embellish the card/photo.  I also used a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper, she included in my prize!  What fun!

      Some gems, and sparkle from a Stardust pen were added for my bling.  Here is a link to the Unity Blog, so you can check out what the rest of the gang has posted for Friends with Flair this Friday.

Beary Sweet! Nope, not Berry!

     Happy Thursday!  I don't have a card to share today, but I wanted to make your mouth water with my hanging pot of strawberries.  This plant was an Easter gift from my SIL's Aunt.  When she handed it to me, she thought it was just a hanging flower, because the blooms were huge.

     This poor plant has survived so many surprise frosts, I am shocked it produced.  I am praying that the berries hang in there until the kids come home for a Mom's Day visit, this weekend.  Sure hope a hungry bird does not decide to have a free lunch.

     I have another crazy story to share.  Did anyone see the news report of the bear in NJ on Tuesday?  Well, he paid a visit to my DD's back yard, before being caught and relocated the next day.  How do we know?  Her bird feeder that was on a heavy steel post was bent at a 90 degree angle and the feeder was thrown across the lawn and empty.  It had been filled the day before when they did the yard work.  She is real glad she did not meet him in the dark as she left for work.  We are talking a super residential area.  Here is a link to the News report on Fox.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/black_bear_safely_captured_nea.html

     It is almost the weekend, hang in there!

Art Impressions Challenge #61 Circle Cards

     Had a little time to play this weekend, so I decided to get into the Circle Card Challenge over at Art Impressions.    I recently bought the Girlfriends, Work Out set, and could not wait to ink it up!

     Not too much to explain on this one.  I went with a lime, teal, and white card stock combo.  Colored with Copics, cut with Spellbinder's Classic dies, added some Dot Pastels from Sticko, and gave a little sparkle with my Stardust Pen.

     We were able to get the veggie garden planted, and a few more chores that my DH is worried would not get completed if his surgery is soon.  We even did a couple hours at our newly opened Valley Forge Casino, for some fun!  He had a blast!  Hope you had a great weekend, also.  Thanks for stopping around, it means so much to me.

Joan's Gardens Challenge #17

Happy National Scrapbook Day!  I have not scrapped in ages, but I may just do a page or two today.  Anyway, I just had to do the Challenge over at Joan's Gardens, again this week.  I was so very fortunate to be the winner there last week.  This week Joan has a new set of guidelines for her challenge.

Stamp a background
Use the colors Green and Tan
Make it vintage
Use feathers on your creation

Let me tell you, I ripped this room to shreds looking for feathers!   I finally got ready and went to work, walked in and yelled, "what do we have in this store that has feathers?"  Some of you know that I have worked at Goodwill Industries as a supervisor for the last 15 years.  The clerk promptly advised me of a pair of feather earrings in her showcase!  Excellent, I purchased them for 1.52 and went to work my shift.  The whole time I was working, I was plotting my card.  What you see, is what happened after an over stimulated brain!!!!  My card is 5.5 x 5.5.

Card stock:  Pure Luxury Soft Sand and Ripe Avocado
Designer Paper: Out of Print by Basic Grey
Stamps: Feather and sentiment are from Vintage Chic, Stamp TV Kit, by Gina K. Designs.
Embellishments: Pearls, Feathers, and bird from Melody Ross, Artsy Urban Collection

I hope you like what I have come up with.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Oh, and my DH is not going to avoid surgery.  I may have his wonderful company for 5-8 weeks as he recovers.  Yippie!  I'll keep you updated on that one.

My Friday Unity Post

      Another Friday has arrived and I am here to post  a little something for the Unity Friend with Flair linky party.
     I would like to share a little sign I created for my desk.  It is to remind me to stop, and look around me.  Everything I stamped is from the Stampin Store Kit called Moments in Bloom & Naturally You.

     I started with a kraft panel, and added a stand-up flap on the back.  The background was stamped using the ledger and fern stamps from the kit using Memento Rich Cocoa, and Versa Magic Olive.  I stamped on my sentiment, and added a horizontal panel with the Beauty definition stamp (also in the kit).  Stitched ribbon, Prima Flowers, Gemstones for centers, and strips of Basic Grey's Picadilly paper were used to finish.  The back of the sign was also fitted with the BG papers to give it a clean look.

    Thanks for visiting, and have a wonderful weekend!  Please be sure to check out what all the other Unity Friends have been up to this week!