THD Challenge #12: Flights of Fancy

When I think of this month’s challenge graphic, fancy free comes to mind.  This is absolutely one of my favorite inspirations of the year– and our team really rose to the challenge in their bold and fanciful interpretations.  Can’t really get better than aqua, hot pink and silver or gold.  Look at those old books stacked up (those colors–swoon) or that gilded table setting; not to mention the dress with that bag!

Last month’s turnout was stellar, and I hope you will participate again, and bring your friends to this colorful party!

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I’ve incorporated the colors, butterflies, florals and even books into my piece– and I’ve even upcycled!  The craft/art world sadly generates quite a bit of plastic and waste, so I try to reuse as much of the packaging as I can, and recycle what I cannot.  Here I have used a glossy cardboard purple-dotted background piece from a selection of paperclips. It is cut from the Gina Marie Cross Stitch rectangle die.

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My card also features a favored technique you’ve seen me use before with the Altenew Wild Hibiscus florals and butterfly stamped on vellum and, this time, patterned paper, then heat embossed.  This set is designed for Mother’s Day, which is coming up soon, so I will be featuring the set in a future post that also uses our challenge graphic.  Stay tuned!

Wild Hibiscus

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Where are the books in my design?  Well, hidden a bit, but I have cut a strip from Maggie Holmes’ Chasing Dreams paper collection that matches our inspiration graphic perfectly. This paper is a line up of vintage books– and all our colors are featured!

Crate Paper - Chasing Dreams Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Library

 

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I am having a serious love affair with these Doodlebug Design Matte Sprinkles.  They are exactly  like the old-fashioned button candy that comes on the paper strips.  I loved this candy as a kid, but hated getting the paper off the candies.  The goal was a perfect peel-away.  Nothing worse for a kid with hyper-sensory processing than eating paper!  I am a really tactile person, and certain textures create extremely negative responses. But these little epoxy dots, I really, really want to eat. The colors are ridiculously delicious too. (No sprinkles were hurt or consumed in the making of this card)

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Finally, I used Waffle Flower’s With Love die for the sentiment, adhering only one corner and popping it up for dimension.  You know I love my dimension and texture!  The inside is finished with some ombre washi.  If you are wondering about the phenomenal background paper– well, sadly it is no longer available.  This is truly a one-of-a-kind card because it uses a scrap of old Basic Grey paper.  Amy and I horde our Basic Grey, but it comes out every now and again for special cards!  I sure do miss that company!

But Tonya’s has many great items from some of your favorite companies– so this month play along, possibly with some new goodies from THD–check out her updated selection!

I can’t wait to see how you’re inspired!

Take flight!

The Heart Desires: Challenge 9

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Hey Everyone!  It’s that time of the month again over at The Heart Desires and I am so excited to bring you some cards to brighten your February!

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Using Altenew’s Wild Hibiscus and Concord & 9th’s Crazy Awesome sets, I created my first card.  The flowers and bird were stamped on vellum in Unicorn white, heat embossed and fussy cut.

I have layered the focal point on Maggie Holmes’ Bloom and Gather papers.

For my red card, I am featuring Studio Calico’s scissors die— which isn’t easy to find, but Tonya has it for sale in the store!  Cut from foam and layered with pattern paper.

The flowers below are from the Crazy Awesome set, created the same way as those on the other card.  Border papers are from Maggie Holmes’ Bloom collection.

I hope you will get crazy creative with us this month over at The Heart Desires!

Snow Fun: THD Challenge

Are you ready for retro, for winter, for all things sparkly and kitsch?  Then you are ready for The Heart Desires Challenge 7!

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I have a few other cards up my sleeve for this challenge, as it’s just so darn inspiring– but aren’t they all?  This card is a bit less of that kitschy mid-century vibe, but it does incorporate the Snow Fun papers by Carta Bella that will take you back to a snowy fun day in th 50’s!

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I used a wood veneer tree from Richard Garay’s Lumberjack collection– a nice contrast to the cherry wood of the die cut moose, which is by Echo Park.  Tonya has a fabulous die set, Buck and Doe from Gina Marie of which the Buck would have fit perfectly here.

The pink plaid is from Bloom paper collection.

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The sentiment is part of the Snow Fun collection by Carta Bella.  In the photo above, you can see how I have propped up and curved it on the vellum die cut.

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It has been stamped with silver Delicata ink and heat embossed.

Thanks for dropping by and walking through a snowy woodland with me.  Make sure to play along this month!  You have until the last day of 2016!  Can you believe it!

Can’t wait to see what festive creations you submit!

Happy holidays!

 

Bright Birthday

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Happy Birthday, Lenae! Love this graphic Kimberly picked for Lenae, as she spent the last month, and then some, in Hawaii. I lived vicariously through her gorgeous pictures, and can’t wait to finally catch up with this girl soon IRL, as it’s been far too long.

I hope today brings her some sun (after a rainy, cold PNW weekend so far) and fond reflections on her past year with an eye on all that is to come!

Won’t you join me in wishing a bright, creative, lovely lady a day that is just the same?!

Hop along with us for inspiration and fun!

I actually made this card for Lenae specifically back in April!!! Early for once! 😉

Digi 1″ flair made with epoxy clear sticker. Up cycled coffee bag cottage leaf die.

Tonya sent me some goodies from The Heart Desires shop, including the new Concord & 9th Cake Stamp. So I figured I’d do it up for our hop, tropical style, coloring it with Prismas and Gamsol.

She also has the fab We R Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folders, like this pillow design. She has Maggie Holmes’awesome Bloom paper too. 

Don’t you love how the little bird is popping up behind the cake? I deliberately cut and positioned the panel, and punched a hole on the banner, threading the sequin strand behind.

The sentiment is cut from Rose Gold metalic paper from Bazzill.

Hope you have lots of cake, Lenae, and enjoy your hop!

Hop Participants:

Amy

Kate: You’re here!

Katie

Kimberly

Laura

Lisa 

Toni 

Tonya

Vicki 
Birthday Girl! Lenae

PNW Birthday Hop

happy birthday laura
Photo Credit: Amy Tsuruta

Hello Everyone!

Today we are celebrating our friend Laura and I hope you will hop along with us.

Laura is kind, gentle person who is a good listener (a rare quality!) and creator of lovely cards.  I am glad she is part of our crafty crew!  Happy Birthday Laura! I hope it is a sweet start to a new year.

You should have arrived here from Lisa’s site.

If not, head over to Amy’s site and catch up with the rest of the group.

 

I used all papers and most embellishments from Maggie Holmes’ collection, Confetti, for my card.; sentiment is from Hero Arts stamped, embossed on vellum and fussy cut; the heart is from Amy Tangerine’s Stitched die set.

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April is full of birthdays so I have been busy pulling together some projects for students and family.  Here’s a sample of what I’ve been up to lately. Click on any image to enlarge.

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Alright, on to the next stop, which is the birthday girl’s site!  Make sure to stop over there and wish her a happy day and year ahead, and check out her work!

Thanks for spending some time with me and the rest of my crew today!  Happy weekend!