Dahlia Sympathy...

I was inspired by Card Concept Challenge #89 going for a layered clean look using "yellow" as my focal point.   Sketch #330 at  Freshly Made Sketches worked so well for me to use a new stamp set to make a sympathy card.   It's pretty straight forward.   I stamped the dahlia on water color paper with staz on and used SU retired water color crayons (Yo Yo Yellow and Barely Banana) with an aqua brush.    I also painted SU pearls with a Yellow sharpie.   You can't see it very well, but I highlighted the dahlia with a Nuvo Shimmer glitter pen (from Simon Says).
Supplies
Paper Studio-grey gingham
FSJ-  dahlia stamp set and dies and black licorice string-
SU- Sentiment "Bloom With Hope" hostess retired now
Spellbinders-embossing folder (bought it on clearance at Michaels---very thick folder--took some fanangling to get it run through the cuttlebug, soon realized why it was on clearance)

Psalm 93.4

I've tried to participate at Match The Sketch for a couple of weeks now, but somehow kept missing the link cut-off.   I really like this sketch.   For my card, I turned the sketch vertical. The downloaded Bible verse is from the Word Art Wednesday challenge.  It is such a beautiful verse and is so encouraging to my heart.   I had just bought a magazine at Barnes Noble "Love Cardmaking Vol. 4" over the weekend.   It featured a free beach-ocean stamp set, embossing folder and die cuts and free digital downloadable designer paper at the magazine website.   With the freebies it was worth the $15.00.   It is a UK publication.  Anyway  I printed a piece of the paper for this card.  I downloaded 15 very nice patterns.  The colors appear to be shades of blue and a coral-terracotta color.   I used the die cut for the small shell and cut the other shells from two pieces of paper that I embossed.  The main panel is embossed with an SU waves folder.  It was a fun card to make and I like how it turned out alot.....Not sure of the colors I used, but the sequins are SU Tutti-Fruitti            Thanks for stopping by!  Kathy

Wellies- floral birthday

 This card is made with the cutest stamp from a set called "Showers and Flowers" from the March Kit of the month--Simon Says.   I am trying to use items from my stash so I chose this long fold card from CTMH in Ivory...I cut of the part that folded over the end and made it just one long card that opened on the side.  To soften the ivory I stamped a patterned stamp with color box white...let it dry over night.  I used the ribbon stamp from  "Choose Joy" also a stamp set in the Simon Says Box.   I stamped it in SU wild wasabi and it picked up the pattern that I had stamped on the paper...I then stamped an ivory panel with the welly boots and colored them with the panel laying on the soft side of my ctmh cutting mat...it helped the pencil colors to blend well (they are not expensive pencils--maybe some day with a coupon that will change)   I then fussy cut used some burlap behind the boots and some baker twine with gold.  It will make a good card for someone you give a check too as a birthday present...even a guy would welcome the flowers if it comes with money!        The sentiment was from the SU Perennial Birthday Set (current SU catalog for spring)   I love this set and also the card kit that came with it....very nice card bases and embellishment included!
Thanks for stopping by,  Kathy

Cutie Pie.....

I've been trying for awhile to get in on the action over at Fab Friday Stampin Challenge and so today is the day!    This really came together so well for me, which is usually not the case...Not really much to say, except I think it is definitely a good choice to make for a card swap I participate in.   Thanks for stopping by,   Kathy
Paper:   Paper Studio Hooray Baby (Holly Lobby)
Ribbon:   Michaels
CS and Inks   Smoky Slate (panel and hanger) Pirouette Pink for Onesie Trim
Onesie download from Buddlycrafts.com (digital stamps to color)
I also received a new Nuvo shimmer pen in the March Simon Says box so I experimented with some of that on onesie, but it doesn't show very well!

When birds get married...

Today's card story goes like this:  This cute wedding cake stamp came from FSJ.   I dug in my stash and came up with this vintage style black and white paper.   I stamped the image, sponged around with (SU) crumb cake) and then ran it through the dotted swiss embossing folder.  I stamped a few more of the cake images.  I fussy cut around the hearts and the cake and then the birds (themselves) again...because when I colored them in it just didn't work,  (wasn't clean looking-too much color going on) so I finally decided to leave them naked except for their head wear.  I apologize if anyone finds this offensive and if you can think of another way...I'm open to hear about it!      Thanks for stopping in and blessings on your week and your work.   Kathy

Sentiment and paper -CTMH (retired I think)
SU Markers,   pool party and pirouette pink
I also used nuvo shimmer pen in places on the birds and cake (don't think it shows well)

Wood Pile Birthday...

My remarks today are a "confessional."   I love doing challenges and they are a great source of inspiration and help in getting the creative juices flowing.   But my card today is an outright copy with some minimal adds on my part.   When I first looked at the Freshly Made Sketch for this week, my first thought was whatever can I do with that?   But as I scrolled down to see what the design team had made...the first card by Jen Brum caught my eye....I had just finished making the cards that came in the March FSJ Bloom box (photo below).   It included this cute little cross section of a log...so I not so random stamped them to resemble Jen's wood pile.  All the while thinking back to when I was a very young child and my dad would "make" a load of wood to truck it to mill.   I also thought about my nephew who loved as a teenager to get out and chop a big stack of fire wood for fun (imagine that).   I popped some of the ends of the logs since not all logs are the same length...I then colored with pencils and used a stippling stamp to create man glitter (saw dust)....I used deckle scissors to give a sawed appearance to my sentiment and added twine....I really like the card and I already have another idea with a new Dahlia set from FSJ to create a bouquet using this sketch...Thanks for stopping by and blessings on your week and work!    Kathy

Supplies:

Sentiment, SU Perennial Birthday (Spring Occasions 2018)

Log Stamp:   FSJ   A great Adventure, March bloom box

Texture stamp:   Touches of Texture (current SU annual book)

ink and cs Chocolate chip, Lemon Lime Twist (SU)

Sentiment Ink:   Black Memento

blue Christmas...

I've been a little under the weather this week, but I still got to play and finish some stuff.  I made about 5 which I will post at other challenges...but on this card...I'm using the sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.   I like the sketch, but it was challelnging.   I would like to say I was moving forward with a well made plan.  (lol)  I went looking through my paper stash and found this piece of DP and then remembered I had the dapper denim frame in my card pieces stash box and I found an oval cut with a bird stamp on it. Whatever I planned it wasn't anything about Christmas.  I'm very traditional when it comes to Christmas colors.  Well the good news is the bird oval went back in the box...someday-maybe!   I like the colors and the outcome.  I also brushed with a shimmer pen from nuvo (Simon Says).   Thanks for stopping by, have a good week!       Kathy

Supplies:

Sentiment:  CTMH  Holly: Inkadinkadoo

gold cord, SU baker twine Cherry Cobbler

Dapper Denim Ink and Frame

Memento Black

dots (from my stash, not sure name but came from Hobby Lobby awhile back)

Subtle Florals Birthday...

I "missed" the link to matchthesketch challenge #219...but I love how this card turned out so I am linking it to thies week's sketch #219....feel free to unlink it...I loved the sketch and I like how my card turned out.

I used Prisma Papers Cherry Blossom and Nettys' sentiment circle free download.  Thanks for looking!

I plan to make this week's sketch and get it in on time!     Kathy

Dragonfly birthday...

When I saw this week's FreshlyMade Sketches #328 I thought of this dragonfly set and die cuts.   I haven't used them at all to speak of.   But I stamped the dragonfly on the square panel and then layered the die cut on top of it.  It is only glued down the middle the wings are spread.  I haven't done CASology before and while I think technically a dragonfly is an insect not a bug...here it is anyway!  I did some stippling with lavender on the white panels because I think it captures the idea that dragonflies hover and move around and are quite busy.   I realize this isn't everyone's taste, but also it kept the card from being to stately, it added some friendliness to it!  I'm in the midst of a springtime cold....so the only thing I feel like doing is messing around and what better place than my craft-guest room.  I just received my first order from Fun Stampers' Journey, if you want to know about this company just click on the name and it will take you to my friend's site...I don't belong to any company...I like it all!       Thanks for looking and I love comments even suggestions for improvement.  When I finish a card I almost always see something I would change. 
Supplies:
SU:   black cs, dragonfly dreams, stamps and dies, Touch of Texture, Stitched Dies
CTMH:   white daisy cs, retired sentiment
FSJ:  Lavender Fusion Ink Pad, licorice black thread and lavendar mini dots
Memento Black Ink

get well bear...

I found this cute little bear at buddlycrafts (a digi stamp).   My stamp stash is not very large, shoot my whole craft area is not very large!    Anyway I printed him on both sides of the bottom of a portrait microsoft label page in word.  I then cut the 8/12 by 11 in two lengthwise pieces folded them over and have the bases for 2 bear cards.  I also printed some same size bears on another sheet.  I then found the get well (digi) at Nettys' Cards.  I just copied to a word page and printed a few.    To make the card I laid a mask over the card and sponged with lilac mist (retired ctmh).   I colored one of the other bears using colored pencils.  I played around with the scarf on his head and on his arm, I then fussy cut him out and attached with glue dots over the one on the card base.   I cut the get well and rounded the corners and puffed it with dots in the middle and colored around its edges with grey to make it look like a jazzy band-aid....it was fun and I plan to get some more of these made!   The sketch was from CAS(E) this sketch!   Thanks for stopping in, I love comments!           Kathy

Birthday circles...

I've never "played" over at Tuesday Morning Sketches but here is my card for #443.   It really was a challenge, but a fun one.   The night before I saw this sketch I was looking around at various blogs and I discovered a place called Netty's Cards and she has free downloadable digital stamps..I really was quite taken by her "cicle" sentiments.  So when I saw this sketch I knew it was perfect for this sketch.   I also wanted to use some paper I had just gotten from Hobby Lobby at half price! (yeah) One thing just kind of led to another.   I used an SU embossing folder to create an unfolding piece of satin on SU smoky grey...or at least that's what it looks to me. I printed the digital stamp on one of the papers from the pack that was marbled pink (you can't tell that in the photo) and also in different sizes so I could fussy cut the flowers a little bigger.  I then adorned them with little (SU) pearls.  I also fussy cut another butterfly so it would lap over the circle sentiment.  Small things that add depth and texture.  I used a couple of colored pencils for the little flowers.  I was afraid of alcohol markers and water since it was printed on the computer.I also used stitched framelits from SU to cut the circle, if I make anymore I probably will use a plain circle.  To me it looks kinda like a fashion swatch board, anyway thanks for stopping by, and comments are so appreciated!       Kathy

get well hugs

"girl power"

I have been looking at Fun Stampers' Journey for awhile so a couple of days ago I met with a new friend, Marty, one of their stamping coaches.    If interested you can find her at martyZstamps.   I loved everything she showed me.   She also gave me a sheet of stamped images....which I used to make this card using the FMS sketch #327.   The panel paper is CTMH Adventure Fundamentals to which   I added some green from a retired SU watercolor pencils set, not sure you can see it in photo.   I used retired watercolor pencils to color the images which are from the FSJ February bloom box.   The sentiment is FSJ as well.   I added some natural twine and some black enamels (from stash).   I definitely like the sketch and plan to use this with different stamps to create (with a group of ladies from my neighborhood) about 20 cards to donate to a local ministry group.  I placed an order with FSJ and I can't wait until it comes....I'm excited to learn new techniques each month with a bloom box.     Thanks for stopping in...kathy 

Latte Thanks...

Please note - I posted the card with the pink cup and then made another card with the pool party (su) lid. I like to change my mind....sorry for the confusion....

For this card I combined two challenges...I bought the stamp awhile back at Hobby Lobby and have been waiting for a chance to use it.   I am making this card for a ladies swap group.   It's what I call a contemporary vintage look that was inspired by the card Concept #87 and the design is pretty much a "copy" of CAS(E) this sketch #261 retro93.   I think more jpg than png....meaning I layer as opposed to thinking transparency....I do like how this card turned out.  It was a step out of the box, to use this color scheme.  The panel is cut from designer paper and looks like the ceiling tiles that are either restored in old buildings or added to create a warm atmosphere...this I got from the card concept photo as well as the colors and of course the coffee.When I saw the challenge sketch below I was excited, because it shows exactly where to put stuff.    Thanks for stopping by, may the Lord bless your week-end!

                                             

Supplies:

Stampabilities Stamp, (SU)Chocolate Chip ink pad (SU) Pink Pirouette marker,  Cherry Blossom paper pad prima marketing, (SU) Crumb Cake cs, Pink Pirouette cs, (SU) lace retired, light teal enamels ?