I must need a vacation....tropical card

Well, I started out to make a card for the Unity Stamp Co Be Inspired monthly challenge.  What you see below, is not what I had in mind.  Haha!  I had all the colors in my head , also pictured below, but I couldn't figure out what direction to go.  I settled on the Feeling Happy bird and watercolored the stitched frame. 

Next,  I took some plain beige May Arts flowers and watercolored those to match.  I tried a couple other things but wasn't happy so rip, rip, rip.  I used a mini flower punch and punched about 50 little flowers to cover up the glue ring that I wasn't happy about after the rip, rip, rip.  Next thing ya know, we've got a full on trip to the beach going on!  That DOES make me happy.  #smile

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Twinkling love card

New watercolors equals new card!  I snagged this awesome shimmering watercolor set on clearance at Hobby Lobby, and made it mine!  Aren't the colors on this card just gorgeous?!  The set is called Twinkling H20's from Luminarte.  I posted a pic of the colors below.  

I also had in mind to make a baby shower card using this awesome sentiment and stars from the Unity Stamp Co.  The dangling stars are from a set called Twinkle Twinkle and the sentiment came in a grab bag but I believe its from a set by artist Phyllis Harris.  The polka dot paper is from Graphic 45's Sweet Sentiment collection.  I just love this sweet card.  I'm also entering it in the Friends with Flair contest at Unity Stamps.

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Lawn Fawn Smores card

I used to go camping as a little girl, in upstate New York, with the entire clan: Grandparents, cousins, Aunts and Uncles....loved it!  So many great memories.  Nothing like sleeping in a tent, under the stars...then getting freaked out by a tent full of daddy long legged spiders!  Hope this fireside card puts you in the mood for summer camping. 

 Go check out Lawn Fawn stamps and dies.  This set is called "love you s'mores".  Happy gooey marshmallow roasting! 

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Suppies: Lawn Fawn "love you s'more" stamp and die set, Pentel watercolor art brushes in green and yellow, Stickles glitter glue in Tropical Tangerine and Yellow, Graphic 45 blue/dot paper from the Sweet Sentiment collection, Martha Stewart gold ink, Inkadinkadoo blue ink, Memento black luxe ink, white gel pen, Tim Holt distressed ink in Brushed Corduroy, Tim Holtz distress markers

Be still..Psalms scripture card

Ah, so happy that I had some crafty time today.  Of course my 12 yr old is hollering that he's bored.  Guess what boy...get used to it.  It's called summer vacation!  Ha! 

There's a whole lot going on with this card; Cuttlebug embossing, watercolor, stamping.....it was fun to make and I think the end result is very soothing and calming.  Hope you like it too!

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Supplies:  Unity Stamp Jillibean Blossom Soup kit and scripture quote, May Arts Ribbon green net and natural jute, We R Memory Keepers Large enamel dot, Studio G adhesive gems, polka dot vellum, Fancy Pants Design striped tissue paper, Pentel Green and Sepia watercolor art brushes, Tin Holtz distress markers, mini silver brads

Flash giveaway!! Patriotic crafty prize....ends 5/26/14

We're celebrating this Memorial weekend over at the Mountain Plains Crafters blog and Facebook page.  Click the blog link for several ways to enter. 

Thank you to our Armed Forces and the their families.  I was an Army brat growing up so I know the life.  God bless!

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Watercolor flower joy

It's Friday again.  Yes!  My 2nd favorite day of the week and it's also Friends with Flair time over at the Unity Stamp Co blog.  

I did some watercolor on this Unity Stamp called Well Wishes, using my Tim Holtz distress markers.  Love love love these markers!  I also used my new stitched oval frame and stitched tag dies from Lil Inker Designs.  I am not a sewer so I love that I can still get that stitched look without a needle and thread!  The finishing touches are enamel dots and May Arts Ribbon natural jute and mini pink raffia bow ribbon. Isn't it adorable?  I almost forgot to mention...the sentiment is from another Unity set called Feel the Joy.  

Come check out all the awesome projects today at the FWF challenge at Unity, and hop over to Mountain Plains Crafters where another challenge giveaway is going on, and link up!

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Measurement conversions.....handy chart!

I came across this and had to share.  How many times have you tried to remember how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon or how many cups are in a quart?  I'm saving this to my Pinterest so I've got it at my fingertips when I need it!

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Credit: sblattindesign

Mountain Plains Crafters challenge..Lawn Fawn

I'm super excited about this challenge.  Our design team is in place at Mountain Plains Crafters, and chomping at the bits!

 

The theme is to do a project with a lawn and/or a deer featured.  The prize??  Lawn Fawn is generously donating a 6x6 paper pad and you get to choose a stamp set!   Wowza!  Super prize! 

 

So hightail it over to the Mountain Plains Crafters blog and link your project up to this weeks challenge. Check us out on Facebook too and like/follow so you can be notified of future giveaways!

 

SUPPLIES:  Tim Holtz distress markers, Unity Stamps Jillibean Blossom Soup kit, Woodland Retreat paper from The Paper Studio, Inkadinkadoo blue ink and butterfly stamp, Memento London Fog ink, Memento luxe black ink, Stickles diamond glitter glue white gel pen

 

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Hugs and jewels

This ought to brighten someone's day, don't you think?  All the pretty gemstones and the pretty butterfly....I broke in my Tim Holtz distress markers today.  Man, these things are awesome! 

So here's the breakdown; I inked my watercolor paper with distressed ink using a background stamp called Grainy Background.  All the stamps I'm using today are Unity Stamps, from 3 different kits.  Next, I added in more brown, then painted over my image with water and a paintbrush.  I did mask out an area of my background stamp before inking, to make room for the butterfly.

The butterfly stamp is from a kit called Jillibean Blossom Soup.  Once I stamped it, I then colored in with my distress markers and added droplets of water here and there.  Be sure you blot the excess liquid when done. 

Lastly, the Hug stamp is from a set called Feel Better Soon.  I made a little tag, using Basic Grey Paper Cottage stack, also inking it with my marker.  Nothing like a warm hug in a card.

Watercolor scripture card

I've been dabbling in watercolor lately and here's another, using the Devoted set from Unity Stamps.  I kept it pretty simple, misting my paper with water and adding yellow and green with my Pentel watercolor pens. 

 After drying, I inked my branch with sepia and green watercolor, misted with water and then stamped.  The lovely scripture was stamped with Tim Holtz brushed corduroy distressed ink.  The final touches are some ribbon fiber wrapped around May Arts Ribbon natural jute and glued to MAY ARTS green net ribbon.  In the lower left corner are some candy buttons from Basic Grey.  I love how this turned out.  

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Happy gray skies

Hey everyone, hope your Monday got off to a great start.  I had computer problems at work, came home and crashed for about 3 hrs.  Still getting over pneumonia from last week.  Boy this stuff really wants to hang on!

So, I got crafty and made this cute card with Jillibeans Blossom Soup kit from Unity Stamps.  I took the tiny heart and made butterflies with it.  I also did my own hand inking of the field and grass.

Want to know a trick?  I use a small round green ink pad (Studio G) and just press little circles and half circles directly on the card to get the dimensional effect of a field, dragging the ink pad in places for more color.  Then I used green and a touch of sepia, Pentel arts watercolor brushes for grass.  Just practice, its really easy.

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Hurry...Mountain Plains Crafters challenge ends 5/6/14

Get those crafty entries in!  Challenge ends tomorrow..Graphic 45 prize up for grabs!

 

http://mountainplainscrafters2.blogspot.com/2014/04/welcome-to-our-first.html?m=0

 

 

Choose Hope

How is everyone?  I just stepped outside and it's actually warm weather!  Had to pick my jaw up off the ground.  It seems like I've been cooped up way too long with this pneumonia.  Oh wait....I have!

So I'm up in the wee hours last night, or rather, this morning....and I made this.  I made this watercolor paper recently and chose to work around it.  I used some new samples of May Arts Ribbon which are just precious!  I adore these tiny olive green paper raffia bows.  Gosh, they're adorable.  It's from their spring line, along with the natural twine on the button.  There's a few other touches; Teresa Collins Vintage Finds accessories and Queen & Co Princess cut yellow gemstone.

The stamped flowers are from the Insightful Meadows set at Unity Stamps.  If you look at the close-up, you can see that I double stamped, first with Martha Stewart gold ink, then with American Crafts Apricot ink and added touches here and there of Stickles Tropical Tangerine glitter glue.  Isn't it pretty?  If you love stamping, you NEED this set! 

Finally, we have the quote from actor, Christopher Reeves.  I have some inspirational clear sticker quotes.  I put this on the coordinating olive designer paper (Anna Griffin), trimmed and raised with pop dots.  He was such an inspiring person.  Hope YOU choose hope today!

Friends with Flair at Unity Stamps

I have a cute owl card based on the Whooty stamp set at Unity.  Can you believe this cute stamp was free with my last order?  Love the freebies at Unity. 

The Woodgrain cardstock came from a Martha Stewart Christmas collection and the polka dot paper is from Teresa Collins Vintage Finds.  I topped it all off with a We R Memory Keepers large enamel dot, Studio Calico Woodgrain enamel dots and Jolees Boutique paper twine.

Psychedelic sunshine

I'll admit.  I need a pick me up.  I've been home sick trying to get over pneumonia and this has really thrown me for a loop.  I've NEVER had pneumonia, nor do I ever want to get it again!  So, to cheer myself up, I made a quick, bright, happy card.

Ok so let me confess.  It wasn't that hard to make.  I actually made the butterfly awhile back and have been holding onto it for just the right card.  And that's some scrap paper I found, all colorful and tie-dyed looking.  So basically I just popped the butterfly on there, stamped the sentiment and glued some sequins.  I do love that sentiment..can you believe it's only $1.79 at the Unity Stamp Co?   Cheap!  The butterfly is from a set called Real Shared Happiness which I adore. 

So there you have it.  I feel better already.  A little, anyway.  :-)