'Hedge'-y Note - Whimsy Grunge

Another out of the ordinary lay out tonight.  All those arrows had me seeing tags, lots and lots of tags.  So I cut lots and lots of tags!  :D  I made this card primarily as a masculine card but seeing as I had to incorporate some peach color for the challenge, I chose a couple peach tags and peach thread.  The sentiment on the last tag is a digital stamp from Whimsy Stamps, just altered a bit using brown instead of black on my computer and ran through the printer a few times.  The green 'coin' in the slot was a fluke.  The space it is in is actually a ticket, but the slit popped open.  So, I decided to slip in the stamped circle as sort of a coin.  The hedgehog digital stamp I thought gave the card a little bit of fun ---'whimsy grunge'.

CHALLENGE:  ColourQ #43

SPIES:
Stamps:  Digital hedgehog - DigiDoodle Shop.  Sentiment - Whimsy Stamps.  Leaf flourish - mini stamp from stash.
Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Old Olive - StampinUP!, Peach , white, and light brown -stash.
Ink:  Staz On Timber Brown; Vintage Photo distress ink - Tim Holz.  Sienna brown watercolor pencil - Prismcolor.
Extras:  Peach embroidery thread. Patchwork emboss folder - Tim Holz.  Tag Die - Sizzix.


Well, August is literally around the corner ---30 minutes to be exact.  I guess that means we will be entering the dog days of summer, although around here it has already been like that for some time. 

"Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones."  ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

Well,

Seeds Of Love

This card made Top 5 at Cupcake Inspirations

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #69

The challenge at Cupcake Inspirations  was so much fun to play today!  I believe I am closing out July with my favorite card of the month here.  It was one of those projects where I had no definitive idea completely and then it just grew and grew! 

SPIES:
Stamps:  Sentiment - My Favorite Things.
Paper:  White, green and teal cardstock.  Teal Searsucker DP from The Paper Company.  Yellow DP from stash (flower middles).
Ink:    Kelly Green - Inkadinkadoo.
Extras:  Green floral wire. Flower Dies - Sizzix.  Small flower punch.  Label four Nestabilities--I used the smallest one to make the patterned hinges on the fence.  Flower emboss folder - Quickutz (embossing on the fence).  Flower Texturz - Sizzix - on medium daisies.  Circle punch. Butterfly punch. Yellow brads.  Yellow gems. Yellow heart button.  Green embroidery yarn.  Wave and mountain decorative scissors.  Yellow ric rac ribbon.

Gaelic Vintage Style

SPIES: 
Stamps:   Large clock - Tim Holtz. Fleur de lis, small clock - The Paper Company. Sentiment - Hero Arts.
Paper:  Tan, Silver grey textured, shiny grey, black and white cardstock.  DP from stash.
Ink:  Staz On Jet Black
Extras:  Black tassel; black brads; Tim Holtz hardward die.

Prayers & Lillies

Trying something new this evening.  I took one of my photos of a tiger lilly from my garden, printed it out, sanded it and distressed it.  Then, I printed another photo of it again, sanded it a little, cut out the flower only and pasted it on top of the first photo.

CHALLENGES:

Shabby Tea Room  - From The Garden

SPIES:

Stamps:  Sympathy sentimet:  My Sentiments Exactly.  Photo:  Taken by Nance Salkeld.
Paper:  Orange and green DP from stash.  White cardstock.and white.
Ink:  Tim Holtz Vintage Photo.
Extras:  Lace ribbon, Martha Stewart Double Loop punches.

Wish ~ Embossing Resist

SPIES:

Stamps:  Corner stamps, flower, sentiment - Inkadinkadoo.

Paper:  Lilac, purple and white cardstock.
Ink: Lilac and lime green.
Extras:  Lime ribbon.  Spellbinders Impressabilities  Floral & Stone.

Tutorial for Embossing Resist from Splitcoaststampers.

Vintage Treasure

Getting off the beaten path a little today.  I thought I'd share a couple of my flea market finds.  I found these vintage postcards at a local flea market a couple weeks ago when I went looking for vintage buttons and what not.  I did find some buttons and some belt buckles for projects too!  The first card here is dated 1912 - 98 years old and signed for someone's birthday.  I love the embossed effect of it.  It will probably find its way in a framed creation on my bedroom wall.  The other is not dated but probably around the same age.  I love the shiny gold paper.  It will find its way into some special project for my home.

Happy Tuesday!

Spinning Wishes

SPIES: 
STAMPS: Compass - Glitz It Now. Birthday Wishes - Inkadinkadoo.
PAPER:  Cardstock from stash. Basketweave DP from stock.
INK:   Staz On Jet Black
EXTRAS: Kraft ribbon.  Metal cogwheels and spinner.

CHALLENGES:

Color Throwdown: Color Challenge #101

Repeat Impressions: Sketch Challenge J1410

Circling 'Round Retro

Happy Saturday Evening!  It's been a stormy day here, but I'm not complaining.  We need rain!  And, it's a good excuse to do more crafting and watch movies.  Hubby and I watched 'Hachi' while I crafted. If you haven't seen it, it's very cute and family friendly.  It is about a dog named Hachi who was an Akita (Japanese dog breed) and very loyal to his master.  It seemed kind of fitting since Arielle's inspiration for the ColourQ challenge this week is from a Japanese flower.

I apologize for the poor photographing.  The dark pink is really dark pink and not red. 

SPIES:
STAMPS:  Grateful sentiment from stash.
PAPER:  grey, white, light pink and black cardstock.  LOADS of DP from stash.
INK:  Pink
EXTRAS:  Black decorative ribbon.  Light pink ribbon.  white, pink and black buttons.  Flower and circle punches.  Light pink gems.

As my SIL would say ~ ~Peace, Love, & Stamp!

Holiday Chic

Christmas In July!  A nice alternative way of cooling off in these hot summer days.  However, I can't say I'm in the holiday spirit just yet.  A little outside the box today with nontraditional Christmas colors for this holiday card!

SPIES:
STAMPS:  For Tag:  Face- Rubber Stampede; Holly -Recollections; Joy sentiment - Inkadinkadoo (I think). Christmas sentiment - Recollections.  Sheet Music - Glitz It Now.  Madonna Image - The Graphics Fairy.
PAPER: DP: Paper Pizzazz; Tan and brown cardstock. 
INK:  VersaFine Vintage Sepia; For the Tag:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo; Ink It Up -French Blue .
EXTRAS:  Champagne lace ribbon, gold string; brown silk flowers, light green buttons.

CHALLENGES:
The Shabby Tea Room:  #18 - Christmas In July
Christmas Cards All Year Round: Any Kind of Christmas Card - July Challenge
No Time To Stamp: #147 Christmas In July
Flourishes: #FTTC174 Christmas In July

Merry Friday!

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Love's Sweet Song

Off The Wall Craftiness Challenge #15

Would you call this retro shabby chic or retro vintage shabby?  Either way, I was going for a type of retro yet vintage feel.  When I began this card I had no idea what I wanted to do other than I wanted to use my new stamps and finally use my Tim Holtz birdcage die.  I believe this was one of the longest making cards I've had.  Probably had my creative flow been flowing it wouldn't have taken so long.  Oh well, it's done now and I am very happy with the results.

I began with  rolling yellow ink on white cardstock.  Then using a sponge I lightly brushed turquoise ink on top and inked the sides in the turquoise.  I stamped the background images in dark orange.  The bird cage is cut out of transparent vellum with white netting applied to the back.  I cut the bird out of turquoise patterned fabric.  The sentiment tag is inked in the yellow and dark orange and stamped with turquoise.

SPIES:
STAMPS:  'Nest' and scrolling floral stamps from Red Land Paperworks.  Keys from TPC Studio Classic set.  Sentiment from Hampton Art.
PAPER:  White cardstock, transparent vellum and fabric.
INK: yellow, dark orange, turquoise from Hampton Art.
EXTRAS:  white decorative buttons, turquoise brads, pearl gem,  turquoise ribbon, white netting, metal chain.

I'm having issues again with my light box which is why one pic looks a little dark.  My light also broke and the replacement is not as big or flexible.  I may have to find other alternatives for a while.  Such is life.

Blessings!


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Whimsical Wishes

This card has received 2 Honors:  
A Ginger Gem and A Fluttering!



"Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature."

                                                               ~ Lynn Holland

It's been a roller coaster ride of events and emotions over the past two weeks with no time or energy to stamp until now.  Sadly, my uncle passed away on July 2nd after a short battle with lung cancer.  While it was good to see family and friends who I hadn't seen for a very long time, I wish it had been under happier circumstances that would have included my uncle.  My sons and I spent 3 very short days in WV saying goodbye and offering condolences to my aunt and cousins.  Two days later my husband and I accompanied our oldest son for orientation at Campbell University where he will be attending a month from now.  So, I have run the gamut of emotions in a week.

Needless to say, my creativity has been pretty nil and needed a shot in the arm.  What better way than to have a package of new stamps waiting for me this week in which to absorb myself!  This card started out as an entry for The Play Date Cafe this week, but slow as it was going it turned into a completely different direction and I am very happy with it.

I have lots of stamps on this card, far from my usual endeavors.  I love the little fairy girl, one of my new stamps from Red Land Paperworks.  The big yellow flowers were inspired by Play Date Cafe's color challenge.  Plus, the little fairy looks as if she could be hiding something behind her back, so I made a big flower for her to actually hold behind her.  And, I wanted the flower to be more 3D instead of just stamping it behind her.  The background is a plethora of stamps placed together. 

SPIES:
STAMPS:  Fairy - Red Land Paperworks; Flower- Inkadinkadoo; Flower stems-Prima Go Green clear stamp; Butterfly - BoBunny Clearly Stamps.
PAPER:  White, turquoise, red cardstock.
INK: Staz On Black;  Yellow, Red, Lt. Blue and Lt. Green Marvy pens.
EXTRAS:  Polka dot ribbon; birthday sentiment cloth sticker; red flower button; yellow brad; red swirl brad; turquoise gems, glimmer mist.

CHALLENGES:

SWEET STAMPIN:  Things With Wings

GINGERSNAP CREATIONS:  #59 -Fairies

FLUTTERBY WEDNESDAYS: #113 -Layers & Wings

STAMP w/FUN:  #67 Fairies
POLYCRAFT MONDAY: Bold & Bright
Moxie Fab World - Fun & Cute

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly!  
 ~Author Unknown

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Stripes N Stars

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #65

Pals Paper Arts #49

TGIF!  Happy Holiday weekend too!  Lots of celebrations to be had to celebrate our nation's 234th birthday!  Here is another holiday card to celebrate with Cupcake Inspirations, Pals Paper Arts and Wee Memories.

SPIES:

Stamps:  4th of July:  Hampton Arts; red stripe background - Glitz Design. Stars - Rubber Stampede.
Paper:  Red cardstarck; navy star DP and white embossed DP from stash.
Ink:  Cranberry from Colorbox; Versamark and navy emboss powder.
Extras:  Sizzix nesting star die; buttons, blue twine, red twist ribbon, red embroidery thread; Spellbinder label die.

CHALLENGES:
Cupcake Inspirations:  Color Challenge #65  
Wee Memories:  Red, White & Blue Color Challenge
Pals Paper Arts: Photo Inspiration Challenge

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! 

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Independence Day Apron Card

Another template card for me to try --- an apron card for the JUGS challenge this week along with a color challenge from Stacey's Stamping Stage.  These are so adorable!  The template and tutorial are from Mirkwood Designs Adventures in Creativity. You can use them as invitations, gift card holders, ATC, just a card or even a magnet.  I distressed everything and also stamped red stars on the DP paper.  I make cards all the time for others, so I decided this time to make one for myself.  So, up on the frig it goes!

SPIES:
Stamps:  Flag & 4th of July - Hampton Art; Stars - Rubber Stampede.
Paper:  Tan, Navy and Red cardstock; Stars & Stripe DP from stash.
Ink:  Fired Brick Distress Ink  from Tim Holtz; Dye Based Royal Blue.
Extras:  Star punch; navy star brad; navy rope.

  

Happy 4TH of July!   

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