March 25, 2016

Just Us Girls Challenge #336: Photo Week

Hiya!

How's your weekend, so far?  I hope everyone had a great week, and were able to get crafty.  I am thankful that the craziness is over, and I got to relax a bit this week.  Unfortunately, my R&R will be short lived.  I have been given several work projects, and will be mostly MIA for a while.  I will try to get some stuff made, as time allows though.  Fortunately, as you read this, I am out and about having a great wonderful time exploring with a friend who is visiting for the weekend.  I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity I get, to do fun things. :-)

So there is another Just Us Girls challenge posted today.  This week's challenge is: Photo Week.  The photo inspiration this week is beach themed, and so lovely.  It's a little bittersweet for me.  I've had a great time guesting, but this is my last week to be featured.  Here is the beautiful photo we got to work with.


And here is the card I created.


I was hoping to create something more "beach" looking, but for the life of me, I couldn't find any stamps or embellishments that were beach themed.  I then decided to pick a few colors and elements from the photo, and created a nautical, masculine card.  I love how this turned out.  I love the white on kraft, and will be using this again, with other stamps.  I'm excited to have another card to add to my stash.  Never know when someone will need it.

That's all for me today.  I hope you'll head over to the Just Us Girls blog to see what beautiful cards are posted.  They're nothing short of awesome, as always!  Hoping you'll get a chance to join in the fun this week too.

Have a great weekend!
 




March 18, 2016

Just Us Grls Challenge #335: Color Week

Greetings my friends!

I apologize, but this post is going to be short and sweet.  Working about 80 hours this week, plus inventory this weekend, makes for very limited personal time.  Hopefully, I will get some rest on Sunday.

I'm back with my next guest card for Just Us Girls.  This week is a Color Week: Pink, Yellow and Purple.  Here is the card I created.


Again, I'm attempting to keep it CAS here.  I wanted to incorporate the colors in a non Easter kind of card.  I inked up the background panel and then added the top panel, that was cut with my circle dies, with foam adhesive.  I then added some purple splatters, and some Pretty Pink Posh sequins.  After that, I embossed my sentiment on black cardstock for a contrast of color, and added it to my card.  This is my take on Sunday Stamps Challenge #122, which is a sketch.  I'm excited to get this in the mail to a great friend, who has been very helpful recently. 

That's all for me today.  I'm off to get some sleep, and start another day of work in the morning.  I'm hoping you'll head over to the Just Us Girls blog to see the other gorgeous projects that are posted today.  Hopefully you'll get to join us for this challenge also. :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!
      





March 11, 2016

Just Us Girls Challenge #334: Trend Week

Hello hello!

How was your week?  Were you able to get crafty?  It's been pouring like crazy here, all week.  We've had several flash flood warnings, and I feel like I should be taking a boat to work, rather than driving. lol  The nasty weather outside though, has made it easy to stay inside and make pretty stuff.  It looks like I'll get caught up on lots of stuff indoors this weekend.

It's Saturday, which means there is a new Just Us Girls challenge posted.  How exciting!  I love their challenges, and am still shocked to be their guest designer this month.  This week is a trend week: Shaker Card.


And here is the card I made.


I've really been trying to step outside my comfort zone this year, to try things that I wouldn't normally try.  I believe my style is considered clean, classy and elegant, but for this card I went with cute.  I LOVE how Nichol McGourick creates all of those adorable cards, and I was hoping to try my luck at one of them.  In all, it turned out pretty adorable.  I think I'm going to put my clouds on the inside of the frame next time though, to add different layers of dimension.  I added a bit of foam tape behind my clouds also, so that some of the sequins would "land" in those areas and stay there.  Looking at the picture, I think you get what I'm talking about.  I've had this beautiful WPlus9 stamp and die set in my possession for over a year, but this is the first time I'm using it.  *sigh*  I feel like I have tons of stuff that never gets used.  I think it may be time to challenge myself to use anything that hasn't ever been used or purge it. lol  I'm going to send this card to one of my best friends who is in need of some cheering up.  I think she'll like it. :-)

So that's all for me today.  I'm going to clean my place, do laundry, and work on prepping meals for the week.  I will also probably catch up on a few shows on Netflix and watch a couple movies.  It's going to be a great, relaxing weekend for me.  I do hope you'll head over to the Just Us Girls blog to see all of the amazing projects posted today.  Oh my gosh are they wonderful!!

Have a great weekend!






March 6, 2016

Pile It On Challenge #103

Hello my friends!

It's another gorgeous weekend here in East Texas.  I am headed out on an early morning hike with my friends again, before we go to church.  I love being able to get out and do stuff, before the heat sets in this spring and summer.  Fortunately, I got some time to make some stuff during the week, after work.  It was a crazy, busy week for me, so I needed that crafty time to unwind.

There is a new challenge posted over on the Pile It On blog today.  This weeks challenge is to use the color green, with two other colors.  Here is the card I made.

     
I actually watercolored with distress inks for this card.  I wasn't sure if I was going to like the outcome, but in the end, it's really pretty.  I chose to use Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn.  I blended them onto my panel, and then spritzed with it with lots of water so that the colors would blend more, and pool up a bit.  Once it was dry, I cut it down with the largest Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangles die.  I popped it up with some fun foam, and added some  Tumbled Glass splatters, before adding it to my card base.  This is such a cool card, and it was so easy to put together.  I'm glad I finally dove into trying the watercoloring thing.  Now I'm going to try my other watercolors I have on hand, that have never been used.  Wish me luck! :-)

I'm going to submit my card for the following challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz #109: Create your own background
Star Stampz Challenge: Embossing
Crafty Creations #310: Sentiment As Focal Point
AAA Cards #59: Embossing
Less Is More: Color Week - Citrus
Hiding In My Craft Room #241: Spring Colors

So that's all for me.  I do hope you'll head over to see what my friends have also created for you today.  They're always so beautiful.  Hopefully, you'll get the chance to join us for this challenge.  You have two weeks to play along.  We enjoy visiting your blogs to see your creations and leave bits of love.  I hope ya'll have a great day, and an even better week!

Hugs!
 





March 4, 2016

Just Us Girls Challenge #333: Word Week

Hiya!

Thanks for stopping by today.  How's your weekend going?  Are you able to get some crafty time in?  I have plans to head out on a hike with some friends from work, since it's going to be a gorgeous day today.  I'm LOVING the warm Texas weather!  Fortunately, I got some time to play with my crafty stuff during the week, after work.  

I have some exciting news to share with y'all.  Last month I was chosen as Chic of the Week #328, at the Just Us Girls challenge blog, and I was invited to be their guest designer for the month of March.  I was completely shocked, but I'm super excited!  I hope you'll join me for this month's challenges.  This week is a word week: Flowers.


 Here is the card I made.


I've had this Vintage Roses stamp set from Altenew forever, but this is the first time I've used it.  I love the definition of the flowers, and I am going to have to play around with them more often.  I used my Wink of Stella clear glitter pen on the flower, and it's so sparkly and pretty in real life.  I stamped my sentiment in VersaFine Onyx Black and embossed it with clear embossing powder, to add a bit of texture.  Once I was done, I used my Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles dies to cut it out and add it to the stamped background panel, also cut out with one of the stitched rectangle dies.  Once I had my card put together, I added a couple of Pretty Pink Posh sparkling clear sequins, and called it done.  I love all of the white space, and the pop of color.  I'm hoping the recipient of this card enjoys it.  I'm excited to combine the following challenges into my card too.

Curtain Call Challenge: Key Lime (I was inspired by the colors)
Sparkle & Shine Challenge #25: Inspiration Photo
Simon's Monday Challenge: Take A Leap Into The Unknown (I used a new, to me, layered stamp set/technique)
Try It On Tuesday Challenge: Feminine & Fancy
Time Out Challenge #51: Easter and/or Spring

That's all for me today.  I am hoping you'll get a chance to check out the other cards that are posted today.  They're absolutely gorgeous!!  I'm also hoping you'll get the chance to join us for this weeks challenge.  You have until 9pm on Thursday, March 10th to join us.  I cannot wait to see what you create with all of those gorgeous floral stamps that you have, itching to be inked up! :-)  

Have a wonderful day!






What's In It?
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Stamps:  Altenew Vintage Roses, WPlus9 Pretty Peonies, MFT Garden Flourish Background, Verve Beautiful
Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black, Studio Calico Lemon Zest & Going Green Dye Ink, MFT Lemon Chiffon, Orange Fizz & Gumdrop Green Dye Ink, Simon Says Stamp Green Leaf Dye Ink
Accessories:  Simon Says Stamp Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles Dies, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins

March 1, 2016

House of Cards March Challenge

Welcome!

How are y'all doing?  It's been a crazy week for me at work, and it's only Tuesday. lol  Since I was in training all last week, this week is catch up and month end.  I'm sure it'll all get taken care of, but until the weekend, it's going to be very busy.  As I'm typing this post, I'm finding it hard to believe we're in March already.  Wasn't it Christmas just yesterday? lol  Time continues to fly by, and all we can do is watch. 

Since it is March 1st, it's time for a new House of Cards challenge.  This month's challenge is Silhouette. 



Here is the card I made.


I was aiming for a CAS look, again, and think it worked out pretty well.  I love how these inks from Avery Elle blended together.  I used Pixie and Mint To Be.  Once I was done blending the inks, I added my silhouette flowers and the sentiment.  I splattered on some white Mister Huey's and a few Pretty Pink Posh sequins, and I was done.   I'm excited to combine the following challenges in my card:

Addicted To Stamps & More #182:  Make Your Mark
Color Throwdown #381:  Pink, Light Green & Kraft (this challenge is now closed, but I still loved the color combo)
Freshly Made Sketches #225:  Sketch (my loose interpretation)
Simon's Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #414:  Florals
Crazy 4 Challenges #325:  Spring

I hope you'll head over to the HOC blog to see what the other DT members have created for you.  As always, they're pretty fantastic.  And don't forget, you have a whole month to join us!

Stay crafty my friends!