Monday, November 21, 2016

colourQ challenge #368

Today's card and Scripture for this week's colourQ challenge turned out to be even more meaningful than I realized when I started it yesterday. There is just so much sadness in the world but especially in my little corner today. Please lift up prayers tonight for so many families who are hurting. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Freehand Florals


Oh, my goodness, I am so in love with this card!! I found the inspiration for it on Pinterest, and I simply cannot believe it turned out so well. Even with my MISTI, I always make at least one mistake on my cards, but NOT THIS TIME!! Wplus9's Freehand Florals isn't the easiest layered floral stamp set to use, but it is fairly forgiving so, even if you don't have a MISTI, you should be able to stamp beautiful cards. The sentiment is from PTI's Inspired: Hope, and I'm pretty sure I will be using this stamp set constantly! It is very easy to use and includes part of one of my favorite Scriptures. In case you need a lift today, here is the entire passage:

"But those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)


The colors I used are PTI Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Autumn Rose, Limeade Ice (my new FAVORITE green), Simply Chartreuse, & Winter Wisteria, and Tim Holtz Milled Lavender. The sentiment inside is from Prayers by Honey Bee Stamps.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! As we approach a busy time of year, I pray that you will appreciate each day at the blessings you have for they are abundant.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

PTI Create Along with Us: November 2016

As luck would have it, I received my most recent PTI order yesterday so that I could participate in their November Create Along with Us challenge today! My stamping friend, Annie B. has created some beautiful cards with PTI's Paper Clippings: Birthday set, so I bought it in hopes of creating some pretties myself. My inspiration card from this month's release is this beauty from Kay Miller. I love the colors so much! I used three shades of pink (SU! Melon Mambo, PTI Hibiscus Burst & Sweet Blush) and three shades of yellow (SU! Daffodil Delight, PTI Harvest Gold & Summer Sunrise) to give the card some interest. I just love how the "Happy" cuts and stamps. The "Birthday" banner gave me some trouble since I had to stamp it multiple times. Even with the MISTI, it's still a tiny bit blurry. I was also inspired by a card by Betsy Veldman who always makes the most beautiful cards! She used the string image stamp in soft stone on her card but I don't have that color nor did I think I could stamp it well, so I used my Wink of Stella Silver 102 marker to add a little string detail. I love the random stars because they give the card an even more playful and happy feel. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Friday, November 11, 2016

My Favorite Things Thankful Challenge

When I saw this challenge from My Favorite Things recently, I knew I had to participate! I feel like I am one of a dying breed of people who still send handwritten cards. I loathe talking on the phone (a harsh side effect of the iPhone age), but I text a lot and I also love making and sending cards. It's just my little way of keeping alive the tradition of written correspondence. I made this card using Concord & 9th's Flourish stamp set for a dear, sweet 96-year-old lady who goes to my parents' church and who called and checked on our sweet #1 daughter during her last surgery and recovery. With so many people today being rather self-absorbed, I am always so grateful for those few people who take the time to care. They are such a blessing to me! Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

colourQ challenge #367

This week's colourQ challenge colors worked great as an alternative color scheme for this teacher appreciation card I need for next week. Believe it or not (and I didn't!), I had all the colors. I used Reverse Confetti's great stamp set, All Apples on white cardstock with a bit of Really Rust cardstock as an accent. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great week!

Monday, September 26, 2016

colourQ challenge #360

I can't believe I haven't blogged all month! I've made a few cards but I haven't participated in any challenges so no blogging. It's officially fall but, sadly, here in E. TN, it's still 90 degrees (we've had 76 days of 90+ degree temperatures), which is so discouraging when all I want to do is bake and make soup and drink coffee (if you haven't tried Starbucks new Chile Mocha, it is delicious and has replaced my go-to Pumpkin Spice Latte!). Anyway, for this week's colourQ challenge, I dug out my old SU! Carved and Candlelit set and stamped a few variegated pumpkins. And any day with pumpkins is the best day ever so the sentiment fits me perfectly! I didn't have soft suede so I subbed early espresso. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!!

Saturday, August 20, 2016

colourQ challenge #355

Short and sweet today, folks. For this week's colourQ challenge, I used SU! Branch Out and Thoughts & Prayers, and I added a bit of embossing and a few sequins. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Monday, August 15, 2016

colourQ challenge #354

I have always wanted to make a cool graphic card like this, but I am so bad at 1.) stamping straight and 2.) getting good ink coverage. However, my mini MISTI helps me make some serious magic! I used the Boy Crazy stamp set from My Mind's Eye. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Converse high-top stamp! For an easy sentiment, I used Everyday Circles by Neat & Tangled. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!!

Friday, August 5, 2016

colourQ challenge #353

For this week's colourQ challenge, I used Sketch Ranunculus by Simon Says Stamp. I actually had three of the four colors this week and only had to substitute PTI's Hibiscus Burst for Blushing Bride. School starts next week and my older daughter starts 10th grade and my little one starts kindergarten. Kindergarten!! I can't believe it! She's super excited and I know she's ready but I will miss her. I'll miss having both my girls around. School is very important, of course, but it's so intense here, and I hate to see them in the rat race at such young ages. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Friday, July 29, 2016

Southern Comfort

Since this card isn't part of a challenge, I know the only person who will see it is my friend, Mary Ann (hey, there!!), but I posted it anyway since I love it so much! I wanted to make an exceedingly Southern thank-you note, so I pulled out my new fave gingham background stamp from Hero Arts - can you believe this isn't patterned paper? I love this Mason jar stamp set and die from PTI and of course my love for Brushed Blooms is well-known! It is such a fantastic set!! The colors I used from PTI are Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse. and Pure Poppy, and Tim Holtz's Blueprint Sketch, which is a surprisingly perfect shade of blue. You would think is would be entirely too bright, but it's the best. The sentiment is also one of my faves from PTI Mini Blooms. Thanks for stopping by, Mary Ann, and good luck when school starts next week! :D

colourQ challenge #352



I really love this week's colourQ challenge colors! They are so bright and reminiscent of spring, which is nice since it's like 100 degrees here in East Tennessee. And if the heat doesn't make you completely miserable, then the humidity certainly will!! Anywho, I still don't have So Saffron (and I probably never will!), so I subbed my very favorite Daffodil Delight. This card, inspired by one I found on Pinterest, is very simple, but I like the way it turned out, and it would be a great card to make en masse, especially if you have a mini MISTI. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Monday, July 25, 2016

colourQ challenge #351

This week's colourQ challenge colors stumped me again. No Midnight Muse or Concord Grape here. I used Tim Holtz's Faded Jeans and PTI Royal Velvet instead. My card was inspired by one I found on PTI's website. I don't use Circle Scribbles much although I'm sure I had high hopes for it when I bought it. Isn't that what always happens? I see a stamp set I love and many, many ways to use it so I order it, and then, by the time it arrives, I have no idea what I wanted to create with it! Happens. Every. Time. Hope y'all had a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, July 15, 2016

colourQ challenge #350

So, my colors are a bit off, but I love the way my card for this week's colourQ challenge turned out! I do not have a light pink but I am going to have to get one. SU!'s new Flirty Flamingo is the lightest pink ink I own. Since I used my MISTI, I was able to stamp multiple times to get different shades of the same color which is pretty fantastic! I also subbed Daffodil Delight for So Saffron. The background is by Hero Arts and I ADORE it!! It's been a little tricky to stamp perfectly but shabby chic is still in so my imperfections are, too. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

colourQ challenge #349

For someone who loves blues as much as I do, I didn't have Island Indigo or Marina Mist for this week's colourQ challenge, so I subbed Tim Holtz's Peacock Feathers and Broken China. The stamp sets I used are PTI Painted Petals (limited edition anniversary set - get it if you can!!) and SU! All About Everything. And, as usual, when I don't have all the colors, I have trouble with the design so this is all I've got this week. Here's hoping I have more to offer next week. Have a great night!!

Sunday, July 3, 2016

colourQ challenge #348

I love this week's colourQ challenge colors! They are so bright and summery, and I had them all which is a minor miracle. I really miss Certainly Celery. I still have a decent ink pad but just a few scraps of cardstock. I found the inspiration for this card on Pinterest and I love the polka dots. They are so much fun and these colors work perfectly for a summer birthday card. The sentiment is from PTI's A Day at the Beach. Thanks for stopping by and have a great holiday weekend!!  

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Team Makres

So, I know that no one will see this except my friend, Mary Ann (hey!!), but I really like how it turned out so I wanted to share it. Every summer, my #1 daughter goes to the beach with a friend and her family, and I send snacks for the road. This year's request is muddy buddies - they practically inhale them! But I can't just send little loose bags of snacks - they have to have a cute little container to keep them in, and this year's container has a soccer theme since the family is very much into soccer. Isn't it the cutest?!?! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

colourQ challenge #347

This week's colourQ challenge colors were indeed challenging, but I found some inspiration on Instagram and was able to knock out this card without too much trouble. I used Simon Says Stamp's newer set, Sketch Ranunculus, along with PTI's Mini Blooms (seriously, one of the most versatile stamp sets ever!). The white frame I die cut needed some grounding against the white card base, so I added two little enamel dots that I had on my craft table. Crafters love to improvise, don't we? I'm sorry for the shadow on my picture. I am having a bit of trouble successfully lighting my cards. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Saturday, June 18, 2016

colourQ challenge #346

This week's colourQ challenge colors are perfect for a Fathers' Day card. I found the inspiration for this card on Pinterest using Washi tape, but I didn't have the correct colors, so I embossed and cut cardstock to resemble Washi tape. I used SU!'s Gorgeous Grunge for a little splatter action and my Silhouette to cut "Dad," which I popped up with dimensionals. Quick and easy Fathers' Day card! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!