Cat tails grass

Here's another set of cards I've made using a watercolor technique with distress markers.  The base cardstock is from the #Kaisercraft Heirloom collection and blended perfectly with my theme.  I used a Darice embossing folder with my Cuttlebug and May Arts chevron twill ribbon, capped off with a Prima Marketing sugar dot.

Additional supplies: Tim Holtz distress ink Brushed Cordoruy and Tumbled Glass, Pentel brown paint ink brush, Tombow Xtreme adhesive runner, The Paper Studio 5x7 white card 

#watercolor #Cre8time #primamarketing #mayartsribbon #timholtz #Ranger #tombow

Bunches of Wheat

This past summer, I attended the Scrapbook Expo in Duluth, GA, where I fell in love with this wheat flower stamp from Jenny Bowlin Studios.  I was lucky enough to hang out with Jenny and her family for a bit.  They are really sweet folks.  At one point, the power went out in the entire building,  so I pulled out my cellphone flashlight app so Jenny's hubby could finish the transaction. 

That was a fun day!

I made this set of cards featuring the Jenny Bowlin wheat flower stamp.   This set is simple, but elegant.  In addition, I've used Queen and Company polka dot washi tape, Tim Holtz distress ink in Brushed Corduroy, May Arts Ribbon natural jute and Prima Marketing enamel dots.  The sentiment is from the Unity Stamp Co Jillibean Soup set "Blossom Soup".

#Cre8time #jennibowlin #queenandcompany #unitystamp



Birthday card trio, upcoming blog hop and a giveaway!

I'm working on a custom order of all occasion cards and wanted to show you this sweet trio using the Unity Stamp kit, Birthday Jubilee. I adore this versatile set and was lucky enough to score it on a super sale not long ago. This set actually didn't take long at all to put together.

I used my Tim Holtz distress markers and did some water coloring on the lettering and balloons and added some Ranger glossy accents to the balloons as well. I wanted to have all the cards alike, with a pop of different colors on each card.
As you can see, the buttons match the balloons!

We've got an upcoming blog hop and giveway at Mountain Plains Crafters on Nov. 13-14 so be sure and check in. We'll be featuring Unity Stamps and Tombow Adhesives and there's a fabulous prize up for grabs! See you then......

Additional supplies:  May Arts Ribbon jute, mini Glue Dots, washi tape from Target

#gluedots #unitystamps #mayartsribbon #cre8time #washi #buttons #timholtz

Scripture Doily card

Here's a lovely card using a Unity Stamp Co "Vintage Scripture" sentiment.  I adore scripture sentiments and have used this stamp numerous times.  I've also created a doily with Spellbinders Celebra'tions Doily Art Embossing folder.  I inked it twice, first with Golden Glow Spellbinders ink, then ran it through my Cuttlebug again after stamping Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass ink.  I actually inked the folder itself rather than the paper. 

 

Next,  I did some paper piercing to enhance the doily effect, using my Stamper's Secret Weapon.  If you're a crafter, you need one of these.  I love mine!  Find out about it here. 

 

All these lovely goodies, lying on top of this pretty Heirloom paper from Kaisercraft and twinkling with Maggie Holmes butterflies and May Arts Ribbon twine.  I love how it turned out.  I'm entering this project into the Friends with Flair challenge at Unity Stamps and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge using stamps.  Come join in on the fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies: Kaisercraft Heirloom paper pad, Spellbinders Celebra'tions Golden Glow ink and Doily Art embossing folder, Zing black opaque embossing powder, Unity Stamps Vintage Scripture set, May Arts ribbon natural twine, Tombow Hook & Loop Fastener tabs, Tombow X-treme adhesive runner, Maggie Holmes foil butterflies, Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass distress ink, The Paper Studio kraft card 5x7, October Afternoon Cakewalk die cut (not pictured), Sizzix Stamper's Secret Weapon and paper piercer

 

#Cre8time #CHASHOW

Halloween card....Enter if you dare!

I recently had a visit with my cousin who is all about Halloween.  This girl goes all out.  I've seen it and yes, it is quite the spectacle.

With Fall just around the corner, I was totally in the mood to ink up some Unity stamps that I've had for awhile, and after getting all pumped up from my cousin on Halloween, that's the direction I went.  I actually won this set last year in a blog hop.  It's called Halloween Chatter.

I plan on entering this in a couple challenges this week:  Simon says stamp Wednesday challenge and Unity Friends with Flair.  Scroll down if you'd like to see how I made this.

First, I started out with a metallic silver embossed card, then cut several frames with nesting dies and my Cuttlebug.  Next, I inked up the smaller frame (which was cut on watercolor paper) using Spellbinders Celebra'tions Pretty Plum ink (this ink is luscious & juicy!), an orange distress marker and the Unity sentiment.  Once stamped, I touched up with water and a paintbrush to add some fading around the lettering.  Need some spooky, right?

I splattered some October Afternoon Jack O'lantern Sprinklers around the sentiment for more creepy fun.  I usually unscrew the spray nozzle and tap lightly for better control. 

The orange fuzzy ribbon was cut in strips and secured with rolled up mini glue dots.  I added some sparkly orange Queen & Company bubbles, fussy cut the spider and black cat, and adhered with pop dots.  Happy Halloween!

You are Wonderful

I created this to be a thank you card to EVERYONE!  Seriously, I'm getting a lot of support and love from people in my life lately, online and off, so I just wanted to express my appreciation.  You are wonderful and a bit fabulous too. Of course, I can't just leave it at that, right?  Oh no.  A good crafter shares their showcased products and a little tutorial.  

So here goes:

You can see in the photos below some of the products I used, several of which are lovely sponsors of Mountain Plains Crafters; Unity Stamp Co, Graphic 45, Clearsnap, and Xyron.  I've also got a couple new products I tested for the first time, the Pretty Pink Posh sequins and the butterfly dies from Paper Smooches.

The first thing I did was cut 6 mini butterflies with the die and my Cuttlebug.  This is the perfect time to use up scraps.  Do you save your scraps?  You should!!  I had a scrap piece I saved from my Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments pad and ran it and some of the butterflies through my Cuttlebug again; this time in a flourish embossing folder.  For the G45 paper, I sanded the raised surface for a fun, worn look.  I also cut a strip of black cardstock and trimmed it to be the shadow for my box of butterflies.  To make these little bugs easier to handle, I ran a few through my Xyron sticker maker.  The rest I plan to raise with foam dots.

Next, I painted my butterflies with Clearsnap Smooch Glitz Frost glitter polish for some sparkle and shine and quickly dried with a heat tool.  I glued sequins to the butterflies with a drop of glitter glue.  The tool you see in the photo is from the Cricut tool kit.  I use it all the time for delicate work in keeping my fingers away from messing up glueing, painting, and also to hold my item down while heat drying. 

While working with the sentiment, I did a boo boo.  I used distress markers and tried to watercolor the word "wonderful", but I was NOT happy with how it turned out.  Solution?  Cover it up!  So I restamped on a piece of cardstock, colored and trimmed, and placed it over my boo boo, raising again with foam dots.  Crisis averted and we are done!  I hope you learned a new tip or trick today.  If you did, share your thoughts in the comment section.  

Thanks!

My Pinterest-click here

I'm entering this in the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes challenge.

and featuring the Butterflies Wise dies

Supplies:  Unity Stamp Co sentiment, Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments paper, Smooch Glitz Frost glitter polish, Stickles yellow glitter glue, Xyron 2.5" sticker maker, Paper Smooches dies,  Pretty Pink Posh sequins, The Paper Studio black cardstock, Teresa Collins Xyron adhesive mega runner, TPC Studio lilac ink, Tim Holtz distress markers in squezzed lemonade and seedless preserves, Sharpie light pink paint glitter pen,  Tim Holtz sand paper

Hello Flower

I got lucky recently and won this cool stamp set from Waffle Flower.  I love freebies, but I REALLY love crafty freebies!  I used the large circle, scallop, leaf, stem and sentiment from this kit.

I used my Tim Holtz distress markers to color the inside of the flower and stem, but used American Crafts Apricot ink for the border around the flower.  Freckled Fawn neon dots are here and there along with some twine from The Twinery that I got from a crop..another freebie!  Do you like the distressed polka dot paper?  I've had it forever.  It's from a Making Memories baby pad that I got on clearance at Michael's for 1.99.  I think this turned out sweet and summery.  ;)

My Pinterest-click here

Silhouette Wedding card

Here's a quick wedding card I made with the Unity Stamp kit Insightful Meadows by Donna Downey and sentiments from the LIVE LAUGH LAUGH kit by Samantha Walker.  I've got another wedding coming up and had in my mind exactly what I wanted to do: silhouette flowers embossed with black powder.  

Once I embossed the flowers, I stamped again for a shadow effect, just to the left in gray ink.  Let me tell you, I wanted to add ribbon and bling and more crafty stuff...I literally made myself stop.  You have no idea how HARD it was!  But I really tried to keep it simple and elegant and I think I succeeded, even if I had to talk myself down several times.  Ha!  

The pictures below show the inside also where I used die cut frames and most of the items used are also pictured.  This was a fun one to make, aside from cuffing my hands together to stop.....  #grin. (Oh wait...the butterflies...fussy cut from We R Memory Keepers Inked Rose pad and colored with distress markers) 

My Pinterest-click here

Additional Supplies: 

Colorbok Poolside DP, The Paper Studio heat tool, Versamark ink, Tim Holtz distress markers in Salty Ocean and Ripe Persimmon, The Paper Studio Damask paper, Cuttlebug, Zing embossing powder, Stickles stardust glitter glue, Memento London Fog ink and black luxe ink

Let not your heart be troubled

For those.of us who are crafty obsessed, we follow trends, blogs, company forums....you name it.  I'm a big fan of Teresa Collins products and follow her blog. 

I'm asking you to lift her family up in prayer as they deal with her husbands cancer.   Her recent post inspired me to make this card.  There's a lot of hurt and pain in this world.  But if you trust in Christ, you have hope.  Blessings to each one of you.

Sympathy card watercolor sky

I hear a lot from the crafting community that folks often don't like making sympathy cards.  I understand the reasoning behind it but I feel quite the opposite.  Enjoy is not the word I would use but I do feel a purpose in the creative process.  I also believe that when you pour your heart into a sympathy card, or any card for that matter, the recipient knows it is truly heartfelt.  

That is the goal.  Believing that this card will bring some measure of comfort.  That's what spurs me on when making a sympathy card.....maybe even distract from the pain and grieving, if only for a moment.

My Pinterest-click here

Supplies:  Unity Stamp Season under Heaven, Tim Holtz distress markers, Twinkling H20's Watercolor paint, Pink Paislee floral stamp, Pentel yellow and sepia watercolor brushes

Father's day card splash

Here's another Father's Day card I made using distress markers and my new October Afternoon Sprinkler.   I seem to get the best results by unscrewing the mister and just letting droplets fall from the end of the tubing.  I found this cool "kings crown" button in my stash that's from the Teresa Collins Vintage Finds collection and paired that with my May Arts Ribbon natural jute.  Isn't it perfect?!

Again, I relied on these awesome stamps from the Unity Stamp Co.  the background image is called Tattered Chicken Wire and the sentiment is from the set,  All about Dad, from the Stamp of the week collection which is 5 bucks and change every week.  That includes the cost of shipping!!  You can't beat that!  You also get to purchase previously released SOTW at under $4.00 each.  That's how I obtained this set.  Well, I didn't intend on sounding like a commercial, but I think Unity is one of THE best stamp companies around.  Did I mention ya get freebies with every order too?  Just sayin.....  #grin

Entering in:

Unity Friends with Flair

Simon says Stamp Wednesday challenge masculine card

My Pinterest-click here

LOVE YOU PAPA

Father's day will be here soon and with that in mind, I've made this card for my son to give his Pop.  They have a very special relationship and I know Pop will love this card.  I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The challenge is masculine cards.

I made some watercolor paper using Pentel watercolor brushes, Tim Holtz distress markers and Unity stamps.  Then, I made the focus trees and grass in watercolor also.  Pops and my son love to hit the golf balls and this scene reminds me of a golf course.

I hope this card inspires you to get creative and do something special for your Dads and Grand dads.  Happy Fathers Day!

SUPPLIES:  Unity Stamps Triple Tree Line, All about Dad, Tattered Chicken Wire, Inkadinkadoo dragonfly stamp by Brenda Walton, Pentel watercolor brushes in yellow, green and sepia, Tim Holtz distress markers, Basic Grey candy buttons, MAY ARTS RIBBON Natural jute, Cuttlebug and embossing folders

My Pinterest-click here

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.