Black and White Christmas card

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I posted. For several weeks I was busy preparing for my trip to Phoenix to the FSJ Journey Station. While I was there, I filmed 13 videos (Product Spotlight videos on our dies, so keep an eye out for them)!! And helped prepare and participated in the FSJ Presents event! It was an amazing trip! I'm back now and after a few days off to put up my Christmas tree and decorations, I am back to work.

To help with my slow mojo, I played along with the current Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #674. It was a fun traditional sketch and I decided to use some of the black and white Christmas paper from the Christmas Cheer Prints pack and made a (nearly) black and white card. It was out of the norm for me and I am still not sure how much I like it. But here it is...

I lightly colored the lovely shopping lady image from the Merry Melody stamp set using the Journey Color Burst Pencils. I get asked a lot how I blend my colors, I use the Color Burst Blenders with some generic baby oil and it blends beautifully! My white background panel is embossed with the Love Stripes folder.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! Here's a close up picture.

All products used are Fun Stampers Journey.

Silver and gold Christmas doves

Hi everyone! I have another Christmas card to share. I played along with this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. You know for YEARS, I played along with the sketch challenge every single week. I've just recently started it back up again and I'm really enjoying it. 

My card uses the Winter Doves stamp set for the doves and swirls, the sentiment comes from the Snowmen Days set.  I don't usually mix silver and gold, but I tried it with this card and I think it turned out pretty!  It doesn't photograph well, but I used the silver mirror cardstock behind the white pieces and it looks so pretty with all the silver and gold embossing!  The embellishments I used are the Fashion Silver pearls (a FAV of mine) and one Golden Poinsettia.

If you want to play along in the sketch challenge and show off your favorite stamps, you can find the SC665 details here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

All products used are Fun Stampers Journey.

Find Joy in the Journey

Hi everyone! Whenever I get blue, I love to make something with pretty flowers. Today I busted out the new stamp set, Pretty Petals (which is a Hostess benefit set) and combined it with this week's Splitcoast Sketch, SC664.

I used my favorite embossing folder, Love Stripes for the main background.  I water colored the flowers and added Journey Glaze with some Sparkle Dust to flower centers. Love the extra sparkle this gives! The sentiment is from the set, Happy Sentiments.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

All products used are Fun Stampers Journey.

 

Holiday Cheer candy cane

Hi everyone! Well, it's that time of year that I start working on a few Christmas cards. I usually send out 20-25, and since I don't make duplicates, I like to make 1 or 2 a week starting right about now!

I played along in this week's Splitcoast Challenge 663.  It's a fun block-type sketch! I used the candy cane image from the Holiday Sparkle stamp set and kept the embellishments for the blocks simple with poinsettia flower (Poinsettia Burst pack), sentiment and patterned paper (Christmas Cheer prints) with ribbon. This didn't take too long and I may use it again!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

All products used are Fun Stampers Journey.

If you got it, HAUNT it!

Hi everyone! I played along with this week's SCS sketch and it brought me back to the old classic card layout. Love it! I made a Halloween card using some of the new goodies from the Journey Holidays mini catalog.

I embossed the haunted house image (from the Hallows Eve set) with black powder and colored it lightly with the water color pencils.  I used the sentiment from the Creepy Kids set because it was sooo cute with this house!  Other goodies used is the Fall Fest Prints and the Pumpkin Patch ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

 All products used are Fun Stampers Journey.

Introducing the FSJ 2017 Journey Holidays catalog

Hi everyone!  It's that time again, the new Journey Holidays mini catalog is here!  Oh boy, lots of really amazing stamps, dies and embellishments.  You can view it online HERE.  Check it out and let me know what are some of your favorite things.

A few of my favorites are:

Bountiful Thanks stamp set

Poinsettia Burst stamp set

Poinsettia Baskets stamp sets

Both Poinsettia flower embellishment packs

For You die set

Snow Blooms die set

 

I have a quick card to share today, I used some new goodies from the Holiday mini and played along in this week's SCS Sketch challenge. It's always fun to play along when I have time.

I used the Santa image from the Sleigh Ride stamp set (with matching die set), a piece of the Christmas Cheer prints paper, some of the new Candy Apple Journey Tape (ummm, did I mention there is a NEW washi tape pack?!) and a poinsettia from the Poinsettia Burst pack.  And last but not least, the gold mirror frame is also new from the main catalog and from the Foiled Frames pack. So much new good stuff on one card!  lol!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day. Here is a close up picture.

All products used are Fun Stampers Journey.

A special sketch card

Hi everyone!  I played along with a very special SCS Sketch challenge today!  I say special because it is based off of THIS card from Sharon Johnson, which was inspired by MY cards on this post!  How cool is that!?!

Today's card uses some of the new MME 6x6 pad, Be Happy, of course lots of Spellbinder Circles die templates, some white wrinkled ribbon and a Prima Fairytale Rose.  The sentiment is from the set, Everyday Greetings.  I should mention that the quality of these Wordsworth clear sets is very high (like Verve and MFT), not the cheapo material used on the $1 clear sets.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.  Here is a close up picture.

Card Deets:

Stamps - Everyday Greetings
Paper - white and grey cardstock, Be Happy 6x6 pad (MME)
Accessories - Spellbinders Circles die templates, burlap string, wrinkled ribbon and prima fairytale rose

Ribbon Inspiration Stamp Simply Style -Suede

Hi everyone!  Welcome to this week's Ribbon Inspiration Stamp Simply Style. This week we are showcasing SUEDE RIBBON.  I love the look and feel of suede.  It is soft and can add such texture to your project.  It can be thicker than other kinds of ribbons, but don't let that "suede" you (LOL), it's easy to use.  So be prepared for some wonderful SUEDE inspiration today!

All Suede ribbons can be found here

 My card uses the brown ruffled suede ribbon and some fabulous papers from the Prima Madeline pad.  My tag is made from a Spellbinders Labels Four die template and a  sentiment from JustRite, Family Garden.  I stamped the edges with a swirl stamp in the set in blue ink.  I dipped into my package of Prima Madeline Whisper Collection and splurged by using TWO flowers!  I should mention, I added a strip of the 1/8" velvet on top of the suede.  The 1/8" Scor-Tape is perfectly sized for this!  This card is also for this week's SCS sketch 349 challenge.  Love this sketch, perfect top showcase the ruffles!!

Each week we will have fabulous Blog Candy (pictured below) made up of the ribbons that we feature.  The winner will be drawn from comments on one of today’s participating blogs, so leaving a comment on each blog to increases your chance to win.  Only one comment per blog, please.  The winner will be selected at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday , September 13th and posted on Sharon's blog on Wednesday. 

Sharon Johnson - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
Deb Saaranen
Michelle Woerner
Holly McMillen
Barb Schram
Tammy Hershberger - Our fabulous guest designer this week!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!  I'll leave you with a close up picture.

Card Deets:
Stamps - Family Garden (JustRite Stampers)
Paper - brown and ivory cardstock, Madeline 6x6 pad (Prima)
Accessories - ruffled suede in brown, 1/8" velvet ribbon, pearls in Latte (Kaisercraft), Spellbinders Labels Four Nestabilities, burlap sting in natural

A Proper Gentleman to the rescue

Hi everyone!  I had a chance to play along with this week's SCS sketch challenge.  I really liked this one!  I had a birthday card to make for my dad, so I used this to get me motivated.  You see, I stress every year about making cards for my dad (here is the card I made in 2007, my post from 2008, and post from 2010).  SERIOUSLY I really struggle.  I searched my stamp sets for something to use that I haven't ALREADY used multiple times, when I got the idea to pull out my Graphic 45, A Proper Gentleman 8x8 pad!
My card has no stamping!   I only used pattern papers from Graphic 45.   I also used some of my much neglected 1.5" wide striped grosgrain which I found was a perfect match with the fine linen cardstock.  The sketch called for an oval, but I changed it to a rectangle to accommodate the trio of oldie cars.

I was really torn on adding the buttons, but I tried all kinds of different stuff for the "circle panel" of the sketch, but nothing worked.  In general, buttons are borderline girlie, but I thought by sticking to masculine colors and threaded them with black floss it would work.  And I am surprised, but I think it did!

So, this was mailed off and I really hope he likes it.  Thanks for stopping by, have a great Friday!!

Card Deets:

Paper - Black, Fine Linen (PTI)
Accessories - Striped grosgrain ribbon, buttons, black floss (DMC), swiss dots EF

A couple challenge cards

Hi everyone!  I have a couple challenge cards to share tonight.  Yes, more circle cards -WHAT!  LOL!  I can't help it, I am on a roll and with all my Spellbinder dies out it makes it easier for me!

First up, a double challenge card.  I haven't played along with Cath's Tuesday Trigger in forEVAH, so I made some time tonight JUST before the deadline of tomorrow -LOL!  This card is also for Technique Tuesday's challenge (TTSCS4) to use a flower image on your card.  The little stems image are from the set, Long Stemmed Sentiments. I thought they would be perfect for that amazing lipstick image!! The paper is from the new Cosmo Cricket, Winter Mittens paper (LOVE) and some Baker's Twine and Taylor's Twinkles finish the look.

Next I had a chance to play along this week's SCS sketch challenge.  Only I turned it into a circle card!  heehee!  I used Verve's new set, Carpe Cupcake. I couldn't figure out how to put a sentiment on this one. hummm... I pieced the cupcake bottom with the adorable pattern paper from October Afternoon, Ducks in a Row. Again, I used the tiny rhinestones from Taylor's Twinkles to the cupcake "sprinkles". Both the pattern paper and the bright and lovely twill ribbon are from the Stamp Simply Ribbon store.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening!

Card Deets (Trigger Tuesday):

Stamps - Long stemmed sentiments(Tech Tuesday)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - vintage cream, pure poppy CS and Mitten Weather PP
Accessories - dotted scallop border punch, circle nestabilities, SU butterfly embosslit die, copic markers, bakers twine, sponge

Card Deets (Sketch challenge):

Stamps - Carpe Cupcake (Verve)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - blushing bride, vintage cream, Ducks in a Row PP
Accessories - Taylor's twinkles, circle nestabilities, copic markers, twill ribbon and silver cord

2 challenge cards using Verve sneak peeks

Hi everyone!  I have a couple challenge cards to share and both are sneak peeks of Verve's new stamps!!  Have you checked out the Verve Blog for all the spotlights and chances to win some Verve stamps?

My first card is for the SCS sketch challenge, SC277.  I love this layout!  My card is a sneak peek for two Verve sets being released tomorrow (4/23), Relax and Dude. 

The pattern paper is My Mind's Eye, Breaking Free -I still have 2 Accessory Kits with this paper available.  And the striped grosgrain ribbon and burlap string are from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store! 

My next card is for this week's The Shabby Tea Room challenge.  It is a sketch challenge based on this inspiration photo.  My card gives you another peek at the new set, Blessings.  I used pattern paper from Pink Paislee 365 Degrees, and the amazing May Arts crocheted ribbon is from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  I am kinda new to this challenge blog, does anyone know if you have to make a "shabby chic" card to play along?  I wasn't sure, so I made mine a bit "shabby" just in case.

And, BONUS!  I remembered to bust out my new Beautiful Bloom dies from PTI!!  Do you ever buy something you HAD to have, use them once and promptly put them away never to be used again?  Yeah, guilty as charged!  So, I am making an effort to USE my new stuff.  Sigh... anyway, the flower blossom is topped of by an amazing Zva Creative Sweet Blossom. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to check back tomorrow as it's the last day of Verve's sneak peeks and the RELEASE PARTY!!  It's tomorrow night at 6pm PST.  Hope to see you there!!

Card Deets (SC277):

Stamps - Relax and Dude
Ink - Black
Paper - Vintage Cream, MME Breaking Free
Accessories - 1.5" grosgrain ribbon, button and orange rhinestones (Pinkhedgehog Papercrafts), Upper Crest border punch (EK Success) 

Card Deets (Shabby):

Stamps - Blessings
Ink - Chocolate Chip
Paper - Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (PTI), 365 Degrees 6x6 pad (Pink Paislee)
Accessories - Crocheted lace (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store), Silver cord and Denim rhinestones (Pinkhedgehog Papercrafts), scalloped border punch (SU!), Beautiful Blossom Dies #1 (PTI)

A couple sketch cards

Hi everyone! I have a couple sketch cards to share with you today. First up, Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch. I love the simplicity of this week's sketch. And now that Karen is one of my fellow HSE SWEETIES, I need to make time play along more and support my girl!!

I used my new favorite pattern paper (sorry Early Bird, can't do shabby chic with you), Devonshire by KaiserCraft. I used some lace from my stash and the beautiful flower blooms are from Verve's new set, Feel the Sun. The sentiment is from Big Wish -told you this set would be my GO TO set for birthday sentiments!

All the flowers are stamped and pieced from pattern paper, I even found a piece that was embossed with Swiss Dots tucked in my scraps! I thought it added some texture and used it on 2!

Next up is a card for today's SCS sketch challenge. I used the cute masculine set from Skipping Stones design -I can't find the name and link to the set right now, but I will add it as soon as I can find it. I created the background from the many screw, hammer, bolts, and screwdriver images -even the tread panel is a stamp!

The pattern paper is Archaic from Basic Grey. I rediscovered this paper as I was cleaning out my Basic Grey stash! I love the patterns in this pad.

Thanks for stopping by.

Card Deets (SSSC60):
Stamps - Big Wish, Feel the Sun (Verve Stamps)
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Distress Ink Vintage Photo (for sponging)
Paper - White, Devonshire PP
Accessories - stickles, lace, sewing machine, sponge, swiss dots EF, teal pearls (KaiserCraft)

Card Deets (SC272):
Stamps - unknown stamp set (Skipping Stones Design)
Ink - Chocolate Chip
Paper - Kraft, Chocolate chip, Archaic PP
Accessories - distress tool, copper brads

Some challenge cards and one just for fun!

Hi everyone! I have a three challenge cards to share and a card I DID JUST FOR FUN! Remember when we used to have time to do that? Pfft! Now with Daniel in Kindergarten, my "stamping just for fun" time has pretty much gone out the window -LOL!

First up is my card for this week's SCS Featured Stamper challenge who happened to be RACHEL (aka RachelHope13)!! Of course you all know Rach is my BFF AND a wonderful stamper! I chose her cutie fun tree button card to case. I changed the pattern paper to a piece of Cosmo Cricket, Nutmeg 6x6 pad. I also added some scoring at the bottom and added a tag. All the buttons and burlap string are from Pinkhedgehog Papercrafts. 

 

This next card is for SCS Sketch challenge #252 (are we really up to 252?)!! I like this sketch altho it was a bit tricky chosing the pattern papers to go with the holly leaves and buttons. I used PTI's Holiday Button Bits for this card and the Pattern paper is Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly. The buttons are from the Fuchsia Collection, they are a perfect match to Raspberry Fizz!!

This Christmas card is for Jen's Sketch For you to Try challenge. I don't get to Jen's sketches very often, but I just love them and bring them out every week! This one REALLY caught my eye and I had to make time. So I busted out my Verve set, O Christmas Tree and My Mind's Eye, Merry Days of Christmas. The sentiment is from last year's Ornamental Christmas.

Next up is my Just for Fun card! No challenge, no deadline, I was digging thru my stamp stash and found this cutie $1 Studio G stamp. I bought it ages ago and never used it. I used some Basic Grey, Lemonade scraps and some Creative Cafe felt flowers from my LSS. Man, looking at this photo, I need to edit it again. It looks so dark... anyway, I love this little birdie! Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned tomorrow for some Friends with Flair Unity goodness!!

Card Deets (Featured Stamper): Stamps: Tiny Giggle Grove Paper: kraft, vintage cream, Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg Ink: Memento Espresso Accessories: buttons, score-pal, burlap string

Card Deets (Sketch): Stamps: Holiday Button Bits Paper: white, black, raspberry fizz, PP Jolly by Golly Accessories: raspberry fizz grosgrain, silver pearls, buttons from the Fuchsia Collection

Card Deets (SFYTT):

Paper - White, Pure Poppy, Merry Days of Christmas (MME)

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories - Light blue and yellow rhinestones, blue taffeta ribbon, circle nestabilities, double ended tag nesties, copic markers

Card Deets (Birdie): Stamps: Studio G Paper: white, pink pirouette, lemonade Ink: black Accessories: score-pal, felt flower, $1 yellow grosgrain ribbon, Michael's silver pearls

Verve's project parade and 2 sketch cards

Hi everyone! I have a couple cards to share with you today. AND Saturday is my day to post my Project Parade card over on the Verve blog. This month's theme is Encouraging Words which is quite fitting to many of Verve's stamp sets.

Here is a peek at my project, you'll have to check out the blog (it will be posted in a couple hours) to see the whole card and be sure to comment for a chance to win a Verve stamp set!

Lately, I haven't had time to play along with SCS sketch challenges, but this week's sketch SC249 stopped me in my tracks! I LOVE it! In fact, I made 2 cards!!

This first one is very soft and pretty. I used I used one of my oldie but goodie Verve sets, Floral Whimsy and the sentiment is from Enjoy. The DSP is the retired SU! Pink Pirouette and pieced the vase from the retired Bella Rose.

I added some buttons with silver cord and silver pearls for the finishing touches. I found the silver pearls at Michaels, they are made by Michaels, Inc.

This next card also uses the SC249 sketch and is very different for me and lots of fun to make! I busted out my Crafty Secrets folder I have that I keep my Cotton Scraps, Stickers and Cuts. I REALLY need to use these more often (I need to channel Sharon-LOL) as they are lovely images and no coloring involved. This card uses the Autumn Blessings Vintage Cuts. It comes in the shape of a tag with a blank spot for the sentiment.

I stamped my sentiment on and set it aside. Then, on the disaster area that is my desk, it SMEARED! Warning - Vintage cuts are slightly glossy. UGH! So, I held my tag up to the window and traced the shape onto a piece of cream cardstock and made one of my own. Not as perfect as I would like, but I think it turned out fine. The colors in the tag image screamed for my Basic Grey Ambrosia pad. The rich reds/oranges and deep yellows were PERFECT! I used some Martha Stewart seam binding ribbon in Yellow Dahlia (one of my awesome $1 finds at Big Lots) and gold pearls from Michael's.

Thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow for another wonderful Cupcake Inspiration challenge!

Card deets:

Stamps: Floral Whimsy, Enjoy (Verve)

Paper: white, sweet blush, kiwi kiss, SU DSP

Ink: kiwi kiss, pink pirouette

Accessories: buttons, silver cord, silver pearls, SU! scallop border punch, paper piercer, mini butterfly punch, White grosgrain ribbon

Card Deets:

Stamps: Many Sentiments (Flourishes)

Paper: White (PTI), Ambrosia (Basic Grey)

Ink: black

Accessories: Autumn Blessings Vintage Cuts, yellow stickles, gold cord, gold pearls, edge distresser, upper crest border punch, Swiss dots cuttlebug folder, paper piercer, SU corner punch, Martha Stewart seam binding

P.S. I get questions all the time about the gold and silver pearls I use. So I took a picture of the front and back of the package so you all can see what they look like. As you can see, they are not a name brand, but rather made by Michael's Inc.