Inky Impressions Challenge #5

It's been a busy few days so I am running late with cards for my favorite challenges. Inky Impressions is one such challenge and the images are so adorable!

For this challenge followed the sketch, but hid the image of cute little Lili inside the card. The iridescent flowers are Blossoms and Leaves from Creative Expressions and the DP is from Daisy D's.

Here is Lili with the birthday cake. She is so cute and looks a lot like my grand-niece. She is colored with Copics.

Inside the card is the Happy Birthday greeting --- and the peep hole (cut with Nesties) that the cake shows through.

For the sake of saving time I scanned the card rather than photograph it. I'm not sure I like the results. Tell me what you think.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to put in your entry for my blog candy (at the top of this page).

Barb

In God We Trust

A Very Pleasant Surprise Kept Me Away for a Few Days!

Last Thursday I had a very pleasant surprise: friends from Phoenix, whom we hadn't seen for nearly two years, were on their way to Branson! They weren't on a set time schedule, and since they had not been here before, we talked them into staying for a few days to see the sights, a show or two, and spend hours catching up! We had three wonderful days before they had to continue on their trip. Hopefully, it won't be another two years before we see them! I'm sure it won't --- they loved it here, as do we!

So, I have some catching up to do! My first priority is to post a very special celebration of my blog which, of course, means C-A-N-D-Y! So, please some back soon to see what I have in store!

Barb
In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy 1st Anniversary Blog Hop Guest DT Call!

Whiff of Joy is one year old! They have done so much in one short year and have a lot to celebrate. Katharina is getting ready for a big blog hop on July 25th, and new stamps will be released at that time! Woo Hoo! More of their fantastic stamps!

To introduce the new stamps Katharina is choosing 15 --- that's right! --- 15 guest designers to showcase the new stamps during the blog hop. Well, in case you didn't know, I LOVE Whiff of Joy stamps and would love the chance to be a guest designer, even for a day. So, I made this card from Katharina's unique sketch and am submitting it for the blog hop guest designer spot.

Oakley and the wooden bench are colored with Copics, my favorite media for WOJ. The papers are from my age-old stash of scrapbook paper. The buttons from Oriental Trading Co.

He is just so cute, sitting there on the bench. He almost looks like he should have a fishing pole leaning against the bench!

This is Katharina's great sketch!

Wish me luck, everyone! Oh, if you want to try out for the guest designer spot for the blog hop, Katharina is taking entries until July 8th, 8 pm GMT+1.

Inky Impressions Challenge #4

Hey, y'all! There's a new challenge on the block! If you haven't already, check out Inky Impressions. While you are there click on their link to Inky Impressions Rubber Stamps. You've just got to meet their adorable girls Angelica and Lili.

I have a card for their 4th challenge, which was to use distressing. Angelica's Daydream was my choice of stamp and I colored her with Copics. The papers are from the Basic Grey Sugared collection. I even used the stickers that came with the package and dressed it all up with some rhinestones.

Isn't she just the cutest?! I love the stamps of children, and these are definitely my newest "kids".

Thanks for stopping by!

In God We Trust

Barb

Whiff of Joy Challenge #37

Wow! Two posts in one day! Well I have a bit of catching up to do, so a little bit of doubling up is in order.

This card is for the Whiff of Joy Challenge #37. No sketch this week, but a recipe. The recipe calls for 3 patterned papers, 3 flowers and 1 ribbon --- and, of course, a WOJ stamp. I chose the new stamp Pregnant Willow and colored her with Copics, primarily blue. Hmm, must be expecting a boy? The rose swing is also WOJ from the new Woman's Delight collection. The full recipe for the card is down the page a bit.

Card details:

3 patterned papers: 2 coordinating papers of blue and lace from Daisy D's; rose paper from Anna Griffin.

3 flowers: from my stash --- I've got so many I forget where I got them all!

1 ribbon: the last of a roll of bridal ribbon from Michaels.

Copics for Willow: Skin E00; Hair Y21, E33, YR 21; Dress B21, B24

Copics for rose swing: Roses RV11, RV25, R27. Leaves G21, G28. Seat YR24, E37

Thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to visit Whiff of Joy Challenge blog and see all the beautiful cards from the design team and participants. Hey, join in, too, if you haven't already!

In God I Trust

Barb

Sunday Sketch and Stamp #6 --- and a Big Surprise!

Thanks to everyone who joined us in the Sketch and Stamp #5! So many fabulous creations!

This fortnight it is my turn to provide the sketch! Woooo Hooo! This is actually my first published sketch and it is so much fun to see the different interpretations. I've already seen the Design Team's cards and they are terrific! Our sponsor is Crafts 4 Eternity (C4e) digistamps. I used the cute little bunny image called "Butterfly Kisses".

Now for the big surprise! All the Design Team cards are actually surprise birthday cards for our friend and sister designer Clare!! Today is her birthday! We "hid" all of our cards from her until today. Plus, we mailed the actual cards to her.

Happy Birthday, Clare!

Here is the sketch....

Now, be sure to jump over to Sunday Sketch and Stamp to see the rest of the DT's cards and to see the goodies in store for Sketch #6. Also, take an extra few minutes to visit Clare's blog, wish her a happy birthday, and browse through her wonderful creations.

Happy 4th of July!

Have a safe and Happy 4th!

God Bless America!

House Mouse Monday Challenge #44 - Paper Tole

This week's House Mouse Monday Challenge is Paper Tole. I wasn't sure what that was but the gorgeous cards by the Design Team gave me some wonderful inspiration.

I just had to ink up this new stamp, but I probably could have chosen a simpler one for the paper tole technique. But I'm a bit of a jump-in-with-both-feet kind of gal, so here I go. The roof of the well, the middle and right-hand bunnies, and the pile of pennies are paper tole. I used Copics to color the whole image.

Other supplies:

Card base: Kraft paper

Patterned paper: Basic Grey

Effects: Cuttlebug bubble embossing folder with Kraft paper

Rhinestones

Sentiment: my own (yea! I actually wrote a sentiment!)

I just love this stamp. It is so animated and can be used for several types of cards.

Thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to pop over to the House Mouse Monday and look at the fabulous cards by the DT and the participants. Join in with your paper tole card, too!

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

God Bless America!

Barb

Whiff of Joy Challenge #36

My goodness, the weeks are flying by! Here I am under the wire again for one of my favorite challenge blogs. To make matters worse, blogger gave me fits when I was uploading my photos! But, here they are!

This week's Whiff of Joy Challenge is a brilliant sketch from Heather. Wow! What fun this one was! I just received my new wedding and new mother stamps from Whiff of Joy and they are just beautiful! Of course I had to ink them up for a card!

I used Copics for all images. The wedding dress is highlighted with E41 Pearl white and coated with Angel Wings Shimmerz. The flowers are colored with RV11, R22, YR21, G21, and G85. The bride image was stamped on Papertrey Select White with Memento Black. That is the best combination for Copics! The die cuts were done with the Nestibilities labels dies, the lower paper is Papertrey Vintage Cream. The DP is from K & Company and has the most beautiful sentiment around the boarder. All the embellies are from my stash. The dove is from the new WOJ collection and I highlighted him with C1 Cool Grey and covered with the same Shimmerz.

Here is Heather's sketch. I'll just have to use this again and again!

On the inside I just had to add the cake image and the ring pillow. I used the same colors as for the dress and coated both pieces with the Shimmerz.

I know that I will be using these stamps over and over! There are just so many possibilities!!

Thank you for stopping by! Please be sure to visit the WOJ Challenge blog and see all the gorgeous cards from the design team as well as the participants!

House Mouse Monday Challenge #43

Oh my gosh! Here it is Sunday evening and I haven't posted my card for the House Mouse Challenge #43, even though I have it finished! In fact, I was at Starbucks picking up some coffee beans when I realized that this is Sunday, not Saturday!

With no further ado, here is my card. I love this image of the happy mice in the coffee bag. I found the sketch to be a bit more challenging than it looks, but I am quite happy with the results.
The image is colored with PrismaColors blended with baby oil. The paper for the circle and the mesh are from my scrapbooking stash. When you've been scrapbooking as long as I have the stash will hold many surprises! The brown paper looks like crumpled burlap and the mesh comes pretty close to burlap. I have hundreds of buttons from my days of sewing. (True to the scrapbooker's oath, I never throw anything away!) So, a few buttons here and a few more there, a couple of tabs of houndstooth ribbon and it's done!

Hopefully I'll get a quicker start on the next challenge. I can't wait to see what it is!

Thanks for stopping by. Please drop by the House Mouse Monday blog to see the DT's fabulous cards as well as the participants.

Roses On Paper Challenge Combined with Sketch and Stash Challenge

The Roses On Paper Challenge this week is to combine with one other challenge and add flowers. My entry for this challenge is also my entry for a Guest Designer for their new Belles n' Whistles store.

I combined with the Sketch and Stash Challenge #13 which is a sketch. The stamp I used is a new one for me, Sarah Kay's "First Kiss", which I think is just adorable!! I colored it with Copics and layered it with deckle cut Nestibilities dies. The flowers are from Spare Parts and coordinate with the papers so nicely. This card is a little old-fashioned, just the way I like it. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Thank you for stopping by and please do visit both challenge blogs. The design teams are so creative, as are the many, many participants. Oh, and wish me luck for the Guest Designer spot!

It's Been a Busy Week!

The past week has gone by so fast and I just realized I didn't get a couple of my favorite challenges done! Well, it has been a good busy, and I did get a couple of birthday cards done using my new Penny Black stamp. This is Cinnamon with a birthday cake. I colored both images with Copics and the cards are built with scraps of DP and card stock. For the top card I ran a piece of yellow paper through the Cuttlebug with the birthday candle embossing folder and the sentiment was a matching die. The second card uses another die from the Cuttlebug birthday set.

Now to get really busy! I just received all the new Women's Delight stamps from Whiff of Joy and can't wait to get them mounted and inked! Not to mention the adorable Angel's Landing digistamps I won over at Paperville , and other new stamps! Whew! I need more hours in the day!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are all having a fantastic week!

Sunday Sketch and Stamp #5 --- Arianne's Sketch

First, a HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in Sketch #4 at Sunday Sketch and Stamp. There were so many beautiful and creative cards and papercraft items! It is such fun to look at all the interpretations of the sketch.

Now we on Sketch #5 already! Wow! The sketch for this fortnight is from the very talented Arianne, and a great sketch it is, too!


Here is my card for this sketch. Since today is Father's Day I did a Father's Day card. The image is the adorable Ian from the Greeting Farm. He is just so adorable! He is all ready for a day of fishing with Dad.

Ian is colored with Copics and framed with Nestabilities Deckle die cuts. The plaid DP is Karen Foster and the Bass Fishing DP is from Sugartree. The solid brown card stock is Bazzill.

I hope you join us during the next two weeks over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp with your take on Arianne's sketch. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Barb

House Mouse Monday #42 --- Neapolitan

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! What's your favorite? Vanilla? Strawberry? Chocolate? This week the fun designers at House Mouse Monday picked all three flavors and created a challenge to use the colors of Neapolitan ice cream.

Well, I like ice cream that has extra goodies in it like caramel, cookie dough, or cherries. But whether it already has chocolate in it or not I love to pour hot fudge over the top. Oh, who am I kidding? Forget the ice cream. Just give me the hot fudge! That's why this adorable image is near and dear to my heart!

I colored the image with PrismaColors blended with baby oil. The DP is two-sided scrapbook paper from Heidi Grace. One of the papers had circles of various designs so I cut those out for the embellishments. The corners are made from one circle cut into quarters. The wide twill ribbon is some I grabbed at Michael's at one time or another and it just happened to be a perfect match with this paper. A couple of shiny embellies and it's finished. And I am left with a craving for a very large hot fudge sundae!!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to pop over to House Mouse Monday Challenge and take a look at the Design Team's delicious creations. The participants are showing very fun cards, too.

Barb

A Special Father's Day Card

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 21st, and I have made a few simple masculine cards. It is often a challenge for me to leave off the flower and sparkles, but with stamps like this amazing lighthouse from the "Keep My Lamp Burning" collection at Our Daily Bread Designs.

This card is for my very special uncle who has been like my own father. My own father died suddenly when I was very young. He was my uncle's little brother. I love my uncle very much for all that he and my aunt (see the Mother's Day card for her) have done for us.

I stamped the image on Kraft paper, as well as the sentiment. The card base is also Kraft paper. The DP is scrapbook paper I recently purchased, but I forgot to get the name before I attached it to the card. With black card stock to highlight the image and a touch of herringbone ribbon and gold pearls, I like what is see.

The inside will have a personal note. I also stamped his favorite Bible verse which was in the ODBD set "He Is Risen". His love for our Lord and Saviour is the foundation of his life, and he is an inspiration to so many.

Thanks for stopping by. The time you spend here and the comments you leave are much appreciated!

Barb

Roses on Paper Challenge #13 -- Pink, Yellow, Green

This is my first time participating in the Roses on Paper Challenge. If you love Magnolia, Alota, Sarah Kay, Rachelle Ann Miller or Greeting Card stamps this is the challenge blog for you, too!

This fortnight's challenge was to use pink, yellow and green colors. I am actually showing 2 cards because one looks more like peach than pink, but she's cute all the same.

This first card most definitely looks pink along with the yellow and green. The image is colored with Copics and the DP is Basic Grey Two Scoops. The flower and the charm, which says "Love" are from my stash. I love this image. My grand-niece is such a little sweetheart and takes care of her dollies and teddy bears much like this lovely.



The Copics used for this image: Skin E00 and E11; Hair YR24 and YR21; Dress Y26, Y21, RV04; Apron G21

The second card looks more like peach, yellow and green, but since peach is a pinkish orange decided to include it. Besides, this image is so cute!! The image is colored with Copics and framed with the Nestibilities Labels. The DP is more of the Basic Grey Two Scoops collection. I just love BG papers! The bunches of flowers are from little bouquets in the bridal department at Michael's. They are just perfect for cards. The corner flourishes were cut from Cuttlebug dies.

The Copics used for this image are: Skin E00 and E11; Hair E37; Dress YR00 (Powder Pink), R22 (Light Prawn), and YR21 (Cream); Apron Y11 (Pale Yellow) and Y21 (Buttercup); Apples YG25 (Celadon Green)

I am getting these entries in under the wire! There will be a new challenge posted tomorrow. Check back with Roses on Paper and join in the fun. There is also a Guest Designer call out!!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you all have a great week.

Whiff of Joy Challenge #34 --- Bev's Sketch

The Whiff of Joy Challenge this week is a wonderful sketch by Bev. Bev is not only one of the brilliant designers for WOJ, but a papercrafter extraordinaire! Just pop over to her blog and see!

Recently I found a paper stack by Making Memories called English Garden. Now, the last thing I need is more paper! But these sheets are perfect for WOJ Summer Collection. They have a vintage wallpaper look about them. There is even a sheet with strawberries on it! So I did what anyone would do --- grabbed it!

And here is my card with three of the papers, all backed with a bright coral textured cardstock for definition.

Beautiful Willow is framed on a Nestie die cut which is dusted with Tim Holtz Tattered Rose distressing ink. She is colored with Copics: Skin E00 and E11; Hair E33 and E37; Dress RV11; Apron G00 for shading, R27 for strawberries, and YG25 for apples. The flowers are from 5th Avenue Blossoms & Buttons from Making Memories and embelishments from Oriental Trading Company. There is also a WOJ strawberry placed on the card. Do you see it?

Here is Bev's sketch to stretch the creative imagination! Thanks, Bev! I loved it!
The inside of the card is without sentiment for now, but shows off the paper again.

I love this card with the paper combination. It makes me think of some of the wonderful old parlors of my grandmother's friends, all wallpaper and lace!

Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to check out the designers' fabulous cards and all the participants, too!

House Mouse Challenge #41 "Red White and Blue"

The House Mouse Challenge this week is a color scheme: red, white, and blue! I just can't think of those colors without visualizing fireworks, summer picnics, days at the beach, and so many activities that come around this time of year.

These two Gruffies friends are enjoying a day at the beach, though one seems to have found the water a bit chilly. And aren't they smart bears, using sunscreen?

I colored the image with PrismaColors and baby oil. The DP with fireworks is from a collection from Oriental Trading Company, as are the metal embellies and the stick-on "America" ribbon. The ribbons around the edges are from my stash.

This was a pretty simple layout to put together, but it took me forever to get the embellies just right. I think it came out ok. Please, tell me what you think and be sure to pop over to the HM Challenge blog and see all the terrific cards by the design team and participants.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you all have a fun weekend! Remember, Sunday June 14 is Flag Day here in the US. Fly her high and proud!!

Whiff of Joy Challenge #33 --- Charm

My goodness, I've had a lot of posting lately! But that's good! Fun challenges, awards, our fabulous Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge Design Team -- good stuff!

This post is for the Whiff of Joy Challenge #33. This week we could make our own layout and only two rules: must add a charm and, of course, use any of the adorable WOJ stamps. I love the new summer kit, so here is Willow with a basket of strawberries. She is so pretty and those berries look scrumptious!

Card details:
Image colored with Copics: Skin E00 and E11; Hair Y11, Y15, E33; Dress BG72; Apron E95 and YR21; Basket E53
Designer Paper: Laundry Line from My Mind's Eye
Butterfly charm: jewelry-making department at Michael's.
Flowers: larger flowers from Michael's (forgot the brand) and centers of flowers from little bunches available in the bridal section of Michael's -- lots of sparkly little accents for less than $2.00!
Gold-colored stick-on "pearls" also from bridal department at Michael's.

This card went together really quickly. I guess because I love this craft so much!!

Thank you for stopping by! I welcome your comments, even if it's just to say "Hello!" Here's wishing you a fulfilling week with lots of time for your art!