Upcycled Valentine...

Today's card is my "take" on Inspired by All the Little Things # 79.   I loved the bicycle with the basket and all the hearts in the inspiration picture.   I went with a unique (for me) color scheme because I wanted to use a "bow" that I had tied in my "remnants box" (basically where I store parts I ended up not using in other creations).  My goal is to try and use as much as I can before I start with new (we'll see how long this lasts).  I found a card base that I had stamped with lace across it and felt it was a close enough match for the ribbon...I then found some light purplish cs in my "cs pieces box"(which I thought was wisteria wonder-but it wasn't).   after I finished the card I felt it needed another layer so I cut the rest of the cs (purpish-who knows the color) and adhered it to the front panel...I will confess I cut and wrangled with it so it's not quite an A2 card.....Overall I think it is a very nice card to send to a good friend or family member.  It has a feminine look!             Thanks for stopping by and Happy Valentines to everyone!  kathy

birthday cheers...

I made this for the Inspired by all the little things #78 challenge using the FreshlyMade Sketch #321.
I loved the soft colors and the delicate textures of the challenge.  I wanted to create something dainty and sweet.  So I used the center of a doily to die cut the butterflies.  I couldn't post in time for the FMS sketch to get linked.   I had to take my computer (literally) in to Best Buy to reset the Password....I am not totally computer illiterate.  Here is what happened.  Evidently there are some still some cliches in Windows 10 (or so says the Geek Squad Member who helped me).  When I did a "normal" update, my sign on was corrupted and it would not except my password.   In order for me to reset the password myself, I needed to have made a "flashdrive" password reset to start with when windows was installed, which I somehow missed.   The one good thing is that my password was not controlled by microsoft and the cloud whatever that means, otherwise the geek guy could not have fixed it.  Maybe my "computer woe story" will help someone else!    Thanks for stopping by!  kathy   

Supplies still current:
lace stamp from SU Touches of Texture
sentiment stamp from SU Perennial Birthday
Powder Pink CS and Ink
Juniper cs (CTMH)

happy owl...

I had 2 challenges in mind when I made these cards....Inspired By all the Little Things # 77 

and CAS(E) This Sketch #   254  .  I went "prowling" in my "card parts" box every now and then it needs cleaning up, I didn't find the frame I was looking for but I ran across some fall wreath die cuts and decided to use that die and make a spring card using the sketch. I was in a quandary about what to do about a  woodland creature and then remembered this little owl that I've had from a very old set and played around with them and got the above.    I used colored pencils and current SU cs and markers (top-Soft Suede) and (bottom Sahara Sand). It was hard to decide but I'm linking the top card.  I think he/she (the owl) really is happy, but owls just naturally have "poker faces", in my opinion.  I can use this for retirement,graduation, getting engaged, a promotion at work....many occasions.......Thanks for stopping by--comments are so appreciated!   Have a good day         Kathy

Skates and Jingles

SU crumb cake, early espresso

Simple Stories Winter Wonderland paper

CTMH Planks embossing Folder

Bells SU (retired)

Metallic Thread (thrift store-who knows)

Sentiment-Stampabilities 

Holly Stamp-Time of Year (SU retired)

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive (SU) and Chocolate (CTMH)
Stardust Glitz (CTMH retired I think)

I wanted to make a card using the Inspired by all the Little Things # 75, so I went looking through past FreshlyMade Sketches and ended up using the current sketch #315.  I had already used the sketch for this card.  I don't have a skates stamp so I shuffled through my background papers and came up with a pair which I gussied up a little.   Here is the end results and the product list.  Thanks for stopping by!    Kathy

Hint:  you may know this but I learned by error---I stamped the Holly in Red first, because it would be easier to cut just the leaves by themselves.  When I trimmed the Holly I stamped in red, I should have trimmed the leaves in a lot more so when I put the others on top the bottom wouldn't show...The camera shows all!

Christmas Pines Card...

Today's card was inspired by FreshlyMade Sketches #315.  Yesterday I bought some new Christmas wrap at Hobby Lobby.  Getting new Christmas paper is a vice of mine,  I like it all matchy matchy with my Christmas tree etc. Here in South Carolina we have the scruffly pines and Cardinals.  I often see the cardinals out my kitchen window, and the pines look so beautiful when the snow falls, which isn't often... While I was standing in line the more I kept looking at the paper, I found myself thinking I could use it to make a card..  The sentiment is from the current CTMH annual catalog, it made such a clear impression on the first stamp.   I colored the sequins (retired SU) red with a sharpie and cut the Panel so it would fit closer to the edge of the card base, barely showing the white.   It took very little time and was fun to make.  I will probably make some more for my swap buddies!   Thanks for stopping by.

Poinsettia Christmas card...

This card was inspired by the FreshlyMade Sketches #314 and  I also entered it on Inspired by All the Little Things  #74, because of it's "vintage" feel.  It was also inspired by my first handmade card 58 years ago when I was in first grade.  One day,  my teacher handed out "old" Christmas cards (we didn't get to pick) and using "clunky" scissors I cut out a "boring old Poinsettia" while the rest of the kids were cutting out Santa or Snowmen (needless to say I was miffed and anything but merry as we worked).....I glued it onto construction paper and hand wrote Merry Christmas and gave it to my  mother. She kept it for years, not sure where it finally ended up.    I'm glad I've grown up to realize that not only are they not boring, but poinsettia's are so beautiful and so alluring as part of the Christmas Season setting.   For this card I used a sentiment stamp from a local craft store and a doily from Su and cs crumbcake and tranquil tide SU.  Unlike my first card, the Poinsettia isn't cut from an old card, it's a--do I dare say it--sticker that I adhered to watercolor paper and fussy cut around so that the sticker smooth edge doesn't show.  I then added a glittered enamel (SU) in its' center.   Thanks for looking and may you enjoy reminiscing and making memories this Christmas season.

Hebrews 4.16

I made this card with two challenges in mind Case This Sketch   #238, and also  Inspired By All the Little Things #63.  I fell in love with the colors chosen by guest artist Bev Kastman Buenker so I used Pool Party and Calypso Coral SU as my colors.   I didn't have little peachy-coral sequins...so I colored some pink ones with a coral sharpie.   The verse and vine is from Verve New Mercies Set.  I created the background with my Calypso Coral and Pool Party markers.  I ran them back and forth across a big stamping block, then used the water brush to blend them.  I then placed the piece of water color paper on the block and pressed in.  I removed the paper and laid it face down on scrap paper pulled it around and drug it down to get all the water off, before removing it.   After it dried I stamped the Bible verse on it and the vine with pool party. This is my first time to do two challenges with one card...it was fun and the sketch By Norine was amazing and was very challenging!   Thanks for looking,  Kathy