More MFT!

I hope your holidays are all that you'd hoped for!  Mine are going wonderfully with the chance to spend time with family and friends, and, of course, my DH, Dave who also has a little extra time off this time of year.

I am completely besotted with these polar bears from My Favorite Things!  What could be cuter than a polar bear in a cozy sweater!  These are so fun to color!  For his sweater I used a technique I found online-don't remember where!  I colored the sweater with my copic markers, then take a loopy washcloth (aka-cheap!) and dip a little corner into copic blending solution, then dap it on the colored image.  The blender removes some of the color (where the loops touch) and gives it a fuzzy look.  Cool!!

The tree is from a penguin  set from Darcies' Heart and Home stamps, the set is 

Just Chillin'.  Very cute set as well!

Thanks for stopping by!  Remember the JUGS challenge is up until Thursday, Jan. 1 at 9 ET and has a gorgeous pink and grey photo for inspiration.

My card is also for the Christmas Card Challenge that I've linked to.

Have a great day!!

Cheryl

Gift Card Boxes

Hello!! In case you missed it (and I did!!) the Just Us Girls team has a color challenge for you this week! You have until Thursday, Dec. 25 at 9 ET to post your card.  So maybe, just maybe you have time for a little crafting today! I don't, but I'm not going to let a little thing like cooking and cleaning to stop me for getting together with my crafty supplies!

 Dave and I needed several gift card boxes this year. I was forced to buy a few from a big box store, but had to make some for a few special people.  I used the My Favortie Things paper bag die (can't say enough about how much I LOVE this die!!)  I cut my box from Pool Party

Then I used my mini foam tool to apply color to the edges (before putting the box together).  I used Coastal Cabana, then distress Peacock Feathers, then Not  Quite Navy to darken the edges.  My snow hill is cut from the Simon Says stamp snow hills.  The tree is from SU!s Loads of Love (you know, the truck set!)  The snowmen are from the Adorable Paper Smooches set called Cool Dudes.  I bought it just for this snowman, but the sentiments are nice, too!  Also before assembling the box I punch two small holes in each side and tied in some coordinating twine. Finally, I just wrapped some of the glittery grass around the card and stuffed it in.  Oops!  the snow is applied through the falling snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp) with Liquitex Modeling Paste.  The flakes just pop, don't they!?

I guess that about sums up this project! I made half dozen of these and they look adorable displayed on our tree!  I'll be back soon with an MFT polar bear card!  Maybe even tomorrow morning!
Please check out the JUGS blog for our color challenge and loads of inspiration, won't you!?
Until then, Happy Christmas Eve!
Cheryl

Just Us Girls #271 TREND week!

And the TREND is MiXED MEDiA!  I'm not the best at conceptualizing Mixed Media, but I gave it a shot with this tag!  Please check out the inspiration from our fabulous design team HERE!  

 I started with a basic manilla tag and stenciled it with Distress ink in Evergreen Bough with my Memory Box snowflake border stencil.  Then I used the mini foam applicator (Tim Holtz) tooo put tea dye on the edges. Next I stamped some (retired) SU! snowflakes in white pigment ink and embossed them with white detail embossing powder.  After that I added glue and glitter to the snowflakes.

 I have been coloring several of these polar bears up from MFT's Cool Day set (love them!!)  This one has a berry pink sweater with a bit of sparkle.

 I cut 5 (yep 5!) of the  Joy die (SU!) from bright pink cardstock.  Then added one more on top that is cut from a platinum glitter paper, also from SU.  It's nice and thick.  There's a bit of Liquid applique under the polar bear.  finally there's ribbon, brown twine and baker's tine tied to the top.

And here's my bear in close up.  I made his sweater look textured by added a little copic colorless blender to a wash cloth and dabbing the loopy part onto the sweater.  Then watch while color disappears and leaves a fuzzy look!  So fun!!
This tag makes me so happy! I hope you like it, too.  Wishes for a great day and weekend!
Please join us in the challenge this week and add your card/project to the blog by Thursday, Dec. 18 at 9 pm!
Cheryl

Speaking of Sparkle!

Hey there!! A Monday post-that's just not like me!  Well, this was actually a card I made yesterday for the Featured Stamper on Splitcoast Stampers.  I was inspired by a card to use these SU dies that had never touched paper!  And now they have!

 I also want to mention, remind that the Just Us Girls word challenge this week is SPARKLE!! I added lots to my card and the DT at JUGS wants to see your sparkle! Details are on our BLOG.

 I'm sure this card took me more steps than were necessary, but I had a vision of what I wanted and I enjoyed every minute-even the tries that had to be thrown out!  The scene with the trees is the white card base. I die cut a scrap to make a pattern for where to place the snow hills and trees. I cut the smaller SU die out of white card stock.  The I cut the larger one out of pool party card stock.  Of course, I had to make sure that they lined up.  I sponged the white one with coastal cabana and then used a copic marker on the 'embossed' edge to darken it.  I used a Memory Box snowflake border stencil on the pool party layer and used a sponge and stencil brush to apply coastal cabana ink in order to make the snowflakes show up.  Some of those tiny holes were hard to get color into!  The two top layers were put together with foam tape pieces and then the whole thing was adhered to the card front with double sided tape.

My sparkle is Prisma glitter and Stardust Stickles.  Oh yes, I also stamped a tiny snowflake image around the trees and snow in pool party.
The polar bear cutie is from My Favorite Things Cold Day set.  I looooove these guys!  More to come with them.
Well, I gotta finish supper and try to get some crafty time in this evening!
thanks so much for visiting!!
Cheryl

Challenge #270 The word is.....

SPARKLE!!  Isn't that a great word for this time of year?!  Super challenge!  So, come on and get out your stickles, your glitter, whatever ya got and go crazy! Here's my card!

 I started with a bright pink card base.  It's Papertrey ink cardstock, but I can't seem to remember the color!  It is stamped in SU's flannel background in Purely Pomegranate.  I made an attempt to then spatter it with white. that didn't make large enought spatters so I used an old SU set with random 'dots'. I stamped them in pigment ink-white.  Still not completely satisfied I then used a falling snow stencil and Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle texture paste.  So that's why you see so many dots on my flannet bg!

 Trees from a new SU set make the background for my snowman. That circle is then sponged in pool party, coastal cabana and not quite navy. Then lots of sparkle was added with Stardust Stickles.  The snowman is from Darcie's  (search snowmen on DarciesHeartAndHome.com) .

 He's colored in copic markers and then MORE Stardust Stickles were added to his scarf, hat and cup.

One more close up!
Now, if you haven't already, go on over to JUST US GIRLS and check out all the DT inspiration!  We sure hope you'll join in this week!  You have until Thursday, Dec. 11 at 9 pm. to do so!
Thanks for coming by and have a great day!
Cheryl

Just Us Girls #269 ANYTHING GOES!!

Hello!  Just Us Girls has its weekly challenge up on the blog, and it comes to us courtesy of Vicki!  She has chosen ANYTHING GOES!  Wow, I love that challenge! This is a card we made in the group of lovely ladies that I stamp with.  They seemed to like it so I hope you do too!

 I used Poppy red for my card base.  It is stamped in burgundy with Hero Arts woodgrain stamp and the edges are also sponged in the dark red.  The snowglobe die is from My Favorite Things. I've been using it a lot recently!  I cut the circle with the set from white cardstock. Then I stamped on the trees from the SU set, White Christmas.  The trees are colored with brown copics and the Santa and sleigh from another SU set (Holiday Home) is stamped in black.  Then I went to work with my stencil brush and blue inks.  First, I used Pool Party, then Coastal Cabana, then Not Quite Navy to get the deepest blue for a night sky.

The base of the snow globe is cut from Kraft, dry embossed with the SU woodgrain folder and sponged with soft Suede.  The little snowman is from a retired SU set (Winter Play) and fussy cut.  Then I added snow and glitter to the tree.  The snow 'dots' were added with my Versamark pen and embossed in silver embossing powder.  I added the star at the top with white pen and then went over it with a Wink of Stella pen.  The globe was taped together and then raised up on dimensionals and mounted to the card front.

I really hope you'll check out all the amazing inspiration pieces at the Just Us Girls blog and then create something to share with us for our Anything Goes challenge!
Take care,
Cheryl

I was chosen....

to be the Featured Stamper this week on Splitcoast Stampers!  What an honor!  It's the first challenge I check each week and is my favorite, probably because I am such a copycat creatively!  It was fun to look through my own gallery through the eyes of other stampers as they chose my cards to CASE (Copy and Share with Everyone).  I am just so thrilled to have been chosen by the great challenge team at SCS!  Sincere thanks to them!

I made this card on Sunday as a CASE of another card I had made with Papertrey Ink's Friendship Jar and Friendship Jar Holiday fillers.  Such fun sets, and of course I had to buy them all!
Here's the Sunflower Card that I CASEd, if you're interested.
I used some Sea Shimmmer cardstock (also from PTI) and a Memory Box die to create my snowy background.  The lavendar cardstock is grapesicle from My Favorite things.
The image is colored with copics, then covered with Stardust Stickles.
I also added stickles to the white snowflake border for extra sparkle.
Thanks for coming by today.  I'll have another snow globe card to show you soon!
Cheryl

Please see post below for my current Just Us Girls challenge!  We would love to have you join in with us in this Photo Challenge!

JUGS 268-PHOTO

Hi there!  It's my turn to be challenge hostess and I chose this great photo from Pinterest.  I love all the elements in the photo in which to find inspiration!  The sled, the tree, the copper tub, the door, the wreath, wood floor and framed music. I love it all!! Please check out the ways that out Design Team show how they were inspired by this photo- Just Us Girls Challenge Blog.

And, my card shows how I was inspired by the photo!  I used the pine (die from Impression Obsession), I tried to show the shiny copper with my glitter snowflake die from Memory Box.  Behind that is a music background stamped in kraft ink on white.  The sled is from Papertrey Ink's set called Two Feet Deep.  The little cat is from Impression Obsession.

 That adorable elf is one of two that comes in a set from Stamping Bella.  It's called Buddy and Jolly.  I used the little one on my card.  They are both sooooo cute!

 Here's a close up~

And one more picture of my card which opens from the bottom.
I really hope you'll check out the blog and show us what you can create from this photo!  You have until Thursday, Nov 27 (USA Thanksgiving) until 9:00 pm to add your work!
Until then, have a great weekend!
Cheryl

#267 Mr. Freeze Warms Things Up!!

And  so does Sharyn!! It's challenge number 267 and Sharyn has a great color challenge for YOU!  It's turquoise, gold, red and any neutrals!  Here's the graphic for inspiration! Are those great colors or what!!

My first thought with these colors is summer or fall, but I decided to go outside the box and make a winter card with Whipper Snapper Designs Mr. Freeze.  I just adore him!  (Advance warning-I took a lot of photos!)

 I stamped him on Express it Blending Card and colored him up with lots of copics.  Mostly from the BG group and the Y and YR groups.  I cut him out with My Favorite Things piereced tags and then shortened the tag at the bottom.  With the way he's standing (dancing!!) he should have been tilted, but then he didn't fit on the standard card base, so I decided he's dancing down hill!  Be careful, Mr. Freeze!!

 The card base is white and the layers of dp are from Papertrey Ink in Hawaiin Shores and Summer Sunrise.  The snowflake and tag border are Martha Stewart punches.  I added Stickles dry glitter in Diamond to the snowflake and falling snow.

 Close up! and then, one more!

Please show us your creation this week with these great colors!!  You have until Thursday, Nov. 20 at 9:00 pm to link up what you've made.  You can see what the rest of the design team has to show you on our blog: Just Us Girls.
We  have snow now in Western New York, so we're feeling all Christmasy!!
Have a great day and weekend!
Cheryl

Christmas Cuteness!

Hi!  I'm enjoying this beautiful day off from work!  However, I also want to thank all the Veterans who helped preserve our freedom in the past and those who continue to do so. 

Now, onto my card.  I think I'm lovin' the softer colors this holiday season!  Here is another one!  See previous post for a blue and pink snow globe.  I started with a kraft card base.  On top of that is Pink Lemonade from MFT.  Then a layer of Aqua Mist (PTI) stamped in pool party with JustRite's lace background stamp.  I've shaded the edges in Baja Breeze.  That gorgeous swirl that represents the wind is from MFT and is called Medium Fancy Flourish.  It's cut from Stampin Up's silver glitter paper. The snowman is also My Favorite Things and is called Christmas Cuteness!  It's a great set of small Christmas images and there's also a set of dies!  I love them all!  The 'joy' is made of three die cuts glued together. A bit of glitter pen is added to the pink and then it's covered with Glossy Accents.  The snowman is colored with copics in BG10 and 11.  The pink is R81, 83 and 85.

Thanks so much for coming by!
See you soon! Cheryl

Soft Snow Globe

Hi there! I'm back two days in a row!  I couldn't resist this week's featured stamper on Splitcoast when I saw a snow globe card in her gallery! I was inspired to make this card.

 I used a Just Rite background stamp (lace) on MFT pink lemonade card stock. It's stamped in Blushing Bride. I stenciled a stencil from Memory Box (birch landscape) on white paper with pool party ink and then with Adirondack Stream (did this with a stencil brush).  After I stenciled it I cut the snow globe circle from it.  I also cut a piece of white card stock with the Simon Says stamp Stitched Slopes and Hills and SSS Village.

The snow globe base is cut from some silver card stock.  I cut a piece of SU silver glitter paper to fit the back of the houses (maybe I should have used the gold?) Once that was adhered to the base I ties some silver twine around it and glitter some of the brances and housetops. My snowman is cut with PTI dies from white and then stamped with Memento black and colored with copics. He is raised on dimensionals.  The whole globe is also raised up on the pink background.  The card opens at the bottom.
Well, that's it for this time!  Thanks for coming by! gotta get ready to start the week!
Cheryl

Just Us Girls- Word Challenge!

Hello!  I'm a bit late with my card, but LISA has a great word for our challenge (#265) this week- WREATHS!  You know you love them, and so do we!  Just check our BLOG Just Us Girls for some super inspiration!



                                          I'm not just ready for too much in the realm of Christmas, so I went with a fall inspired birthday card that I need for this week! Happy birthday to my friend, Carole!

I used Papertrey Ink's A Wreath for All Seasons for my focal point.  The basic twig wreath is stamped in Early Espresso, then the berries are stamped in Coastal Cabana, Summer Sunrise and Orange Zest.  My papers are white, coastal cabana, pumpkin pie and honey.

The background piece is stamped in Coastal Cabana using SUs retired flannel background-a fall and winter favorite of mine!

The sentiment is one of PTIs mini sets-Friends and it has a coordinating die which I put on the inside.

I'll get a picture posted of the inside when we get back from dinner!

I'm off for now!

Thanks for coming by and please join us this week for the challenge at Just Us Girls!! (You can win a chance to be our Guest Designer for January!!

Details are on the blog!

And. here's the inside of my card>

Just Us Girls-Photo challenge!

Hello!  It's challenge number 264 at Just Us Girls this week and Maria has a great photo for inspiration!!  It screams fall, and for me, fall means PUMPKINS!! I'm just crazy about orange and the other fall colors so I pulled out this Penny Black stamp (called pumkins) and colored to my heart's content!

My card base is the In Color orange from SU (um, forgot what it's called.  It's stamped with the flannel background stamp (Retired SU) that was still out from my last post.  I stamped it in Canyon clay from PTI, but maybe should have used a more 'rusty' color.

Anyway, I made a hinge style card by scoring JUST THE CARD FRONT at 1.25 inches and taping that section closed.  The remaining panel is a 4.25 in square which was perfect for my colored and mounted image.  The image is stamped on express it blending card and die cut with pierced squares from My Favorite Things.  The ribbon is dk brown dotted from Papertrey Ink.

I used mainly YR12, 15 and 18 for my pumpkins and some blender pen.

Won't you please visit Just Us Girls to see Maria's chosen photo (and tons of DT inspiration!) and then maybe create something to share with us!  Winners for Chic of the Week have a chance to be our guest designer in December!  You have until Thursday, Oct. 30 to enter YOUR design! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheryl

Christmas Card Challenge!

Hello!  It's been awhile since I've had two posts in a week!  Things just get away from me and before I know it the evenings are gone!  Well, The Christmas Card Challenge had such a great inspiration photo this week that I couldn't resist!  It's a Snow Globe! My buddy Lisa is on the design team!

 My Large snow globe is one of the new My Favorite Things die sets.  I want to build scenes in it, but this time I started with a large snowman from Darcie's Heart and Home.  I colored it pretty much like it was on the package (with copics), so that's what drove my colors.  I used a piece of Papertrey's Autumn rose card stock for the base. It is stamped in Scarlet Jewel using the OLD flannel background from SU!  I still love it! I added plenty of sparkle with prisma glitter.  My sentiment is from a PTI set.  I love that you can curve acrylic stamps to fit your needs! I used a die cut of the base to stamp on and then cut it closer to the sentiment.

Close up of this adorable snowman!
Thanks for visiting .  Now come on back tomorrow and see what the Just Us Girls team has in store for you this week.  It's something to go with the current season rather than the next one!
Cheryl

JUGS 263 COLOR CHALLENGE!!

Oh, my is the challenge Lisa has for this week ever a great one!! YES, it is! When she told me, I had a tiny bit of a doubt about these colors being dark, but they are GREAT together! And when I got this stamp from WhipperSnapperdesigns.com I knew just how I would color it!

 This is Parsnip (in case you'r'e looking for it at Whipper Snapper designs). She is stamped on watercolor paper and painted with reinkers.  I used Sahara Sand for the cat and elegant eggplant, old olive and night of navy for the scarf and hat.  Adorable!!

 Then I went looking for background paper, but it wasn't long until I remember this Tim Holtz stencil, called Holiday Knit. I have the stencil because of Lisa, too~she said she had it so I needed it too!  If I wasn't a tad late with my post I think I would have used texture paste for a raised sweater design, but short on time I used my stencil brushes to brush on my colors (rich razzleberry, old olive and night of navy).  I shaded the edges with a bit of pool party and I think it made it look very sweatery (?) and fuzzy!

I have thin gold twine, but I wanted SILVER!  All I have in silver is this chunkier string so I had to go with it.  Why in the world don't I have silver twine!  I'll fix that soon! I mounted the image and sweater on Rich Razzleberry and my card was done!
I hope you like it!
Now, please get to creating something to show us your take on these colors!  Check out the JUGS BLOG for much inspiration and directions!  You could be our guest designer for December if chosen Chic of the Week!
thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!
Cheryl

Just Us Girls 262 TREND!

Hi there!  It's TREND week at Just Us Girls and Sue T has a trend we are all loving right now! It's OMBRE!!  I looked on Pinterest and found so many great examples and ideas.  Please check out our BLOG for some great inspiration from the team!

 For my card I made a black card base and layered this die cut from Papertrey Ink on it.  The zig zag stripes cut out so cleanly! I layered that on my black card base and proceded to cut the same die from barely banana, harvest gold (PTI), peach parfait, canyon clay (PTIm and finally cajun craze. IMO a full range of beautiful, fall colors!

 

 This stamp is Gilley, from the new fall images over at Whipper Snapper Designs.  Here's a LINK to the image.  I stamped him in Stazon on watercolor paper and the colored him up with a paintbrush and  SU reinkers.

Gilley in a close up! Now that you've had  a look here, head on over to the blog for more eye candy. and then we hope you'll join in Sue's challenge along with us!  You have until Thursday, Oct. 16 at 9 pm ET.
Have a great weekend!! Cheryl

The Creative Blog Hop!!

A couple of weeks ago I opened my email one evening and there was an email from my friend, Diane (Cookiestamper).  She was asking to 'tap' me for the Creative Blog Hop!  It's so nice of her to think of me!
Here's Diane!



I don't think I have anything very original to say and I expect my answers will be short, but here goes!

What am I working on right now?
Right now I'm working to make order out of my 'studio'.  Oh, that's not what this means?  Ok, right now I am working on cards for the challenges for the Just Us Girls upcoming themes.  I am also trying to use some new things I've just purchased (you'll see that below), and I'm working on cards for my family with information on our Family Camping Weekend next summer!  Sort of  'Save the Date' cards, if you will!

How does my work differ from others in its genre?
I don't think my work really differs from many others.  I love to color-with copics, with reinkers, pencils, whatever!  I also love to create now with all the dies that are on the market! Whatever did we do before we had all these DIES!!?  I also love CAS styles.
I'm just a big copycat really!


Why do I create what I do?
Most people seem to have talked about their past craft lives here, and I'm no exception!  My mom was always creating something and she fed the need to create in me from an early age.  We got 'Pack 'o Fun magazine in the mail, we lived near a wood shop (building!), we were farmers (pumpkins to carve!).  I've had bags and boxes of macrame cord, brushes and paints, sketchbooks, yarns, candlemaking and any other craft supplies you can think of!
I also 'worked' the craft show circuit for awhile!  Again, with my family for support! My dad cut my wood, my mom sanded and sealed and my little sister worked the shows with me.  In general, it was called 'tole painting'. I painted Halloween items, Santas, snowmen and all things 'Country' for home decoration.

How does your creative process work?
As I mentioned, I'm a big copycat!  I'm inspired by Debbie Olsen, Nichole Heady, Kittie Caracciolo Lisa Kind, Diane herself and so, so many others!  The Featured Stamper on Splitcoast is a favorite challenge of mine!  I love Diana Crick and all the lovely Magnolia image she carries in her store! I'm proud to call her my friend!

Lisa Kind (Kind Creations) is a good friend of mine and she's the one I want to nominate for The Creative Blog Hop!
I hope she has the time in the near future to tell us all about her creative process!

Here's a card I made on Sunday:

Dave and I have a niece who is a fourth grade teacher.  this card has been on my mind for awhile now-to wish her an awesome school year!  Better late than never, right?
Images are from My Favorite Things from the set Class Act.  I saw this Graphic 45 paper at our LSS and it reminded me of a schoolgirl's skirt! The images are cut from watercolor paper, stamped with Stazon and colored with SU reinkers (and I learned from Debbie O that you can use copics where the color needs to be deepened!).  I might have done something else with the pencils, but they are covering a 'boo boo' I made with the black ink!!  That's part of the creative process too!!

If you've read all this I sure appreciate it!! Have a great day and week!
Cheryl

Just Us Girls-WORD WEEK- Celebrate!

Hello!  Just Us Girls has a fun WORD challenge for you this week-It's CELEBRATE!!  Show us ANYTHING you celebrate with a card you've made!!  There is tons of fun inspiration (and details, too) on the JUGS BLOG!  Take a look!

We are also welcoming TWO new design team members-Ina and Chris!! They do some great work!

 My card is actually a CASE of a card I've seen at our local craft store (Local being a 70 minute drive from home, but worth the trip!!)   I used a retired stamp (but I found it online!). Gotta love the internet!  I wanted to try this 'new to me' technique that the store artist had used~ coloring on craft card stock with prima pencils.  The image is stamped in black ink on kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink.  I didn't use any Gamsol, but instead went back in and blended the edges of the brown with the white colored pencil.  I love the effect.  The word 'happy' is from My Favorite things and is die cut 5 times from burgundy card stock and glued together before adhering to the card.  Dotted paper is Antique Rose from PTI and the scallop punch is from Martha Stewart.  Those vertical panels with stitching are also from MFT.

I went over his nose with gel pen and then added shine with a white pen. Also used a black sharpie to go over some of the edges and fussy cut the puppy out.
The puppy reminds me of LISA's dog-Lizzie!!

Please remember that you have until Thursday, October 9 to show us your card/project that expresses the word CELEBRATE!!
Thanks for visiting!  Cheryl

Just Us Girls #260 Photo Challenge!

Good Saturday morning to you!!  It's going to be a beautiful day and weekend here in Western New York.  I have already been out with a friend for a 3 mile walk around the lake and a kayak paddle on the lake! Now to get my card posted and some house work done!  

But, first-Sue V. has a great inspiration photo for us this time over at Just Us Girls!

There's a ton of inspiration on our blog for you to feast  your eyes on!  Thank you Bobby for being such a great and fabby Guest designer!

For my card, which is more richly colored IRL than I am able to photograph, I used Wagon from Impression Obession.  If you search wagon on iostamps.com you will also see the Wagon Accessories.  Really cute, just right sized things to put in your wagon!  I cut a slit using my craft knife and slid the pumpkin and cider jug into it.  Then I used dimensional pieces to lift them a bit.  I love the 'country' prints you see in some catalogs and this reminds me of one.  I was going for a matted and framed look for my card and used a black card base for the 'frame'.
Thanks so much for coming by to look!

Did everyone out there have a Radio Flyer when they were growing up?  I know we did!  Wish I still had it!  I'd set it out on the porch and fill it with mums for this wonderful season!
Hope you're spending the day doing something you love!
thanks for visiting!
Cheryl

In the PINKS-challenge #259

Hello!  I feel like the tiredness from school and fighting a bad cold have really sapped my creative juices! But, today I made a card!  Color me happy!  I couldn't let Nancy's amazing color challenge for Just Us Girls this week pass me by!  You can find all the details on our blog HERE!

And, while you're there take a look at what the fabulous DT members have created for inspiration!

 Speaking of inspiration, you may also have noticed an element (or TWO) from Kittie747!  Her blog was featured yesterday in the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers.  I just adore THIS CARD that she made a short time ago.

The JUGS challenge is to use a Warm Pink, Light Pink and Cream.  I sort of forgot about the cream and used white instead. I sure hope Nancy doesn't send the challenge police out for me.
Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I've been up to!
Cheryl

WATERCOLOR!!

Hi! Just a mid week reminder that you have until tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 18) night to enter our Just Us Girls challenge this week!

And we're having a DT CALL as well!  for details please check out the blog link above!

And, Enter your watercolored card/project!!

Hope to see your card soon!

Have a great day,

Cheryl

Just Us Girls #258 TREND week!

AND, a Design Team Memeber Call!  Hello, friends!  Vicki has a great Just Us Girls challenge for us today!  It's TREND week and she has asked us to WATERCOLOR!  You KNOW how popular that has been for awhile now. So, come on, create something new with this great trend in papercrafting!

And check out our BLOG because we are having an ALL CALL for a new DT member. Could it be you? (While you're visiting you can also check out some GREAT inspiration from the DT Members!

 I decided to watercolor this new stamp from Whipper Snapper, so that's how I started.  I have all my SU reinkers in a basket and since there are so many color choices that's what I usually watercolor with. I use an inexpensive paint palette from Joanns to put drops of the color into.  That way I don't have to have all the ink pads out on the table. I stamped the image in waterproof black. The colors used are as follows: crumb cake, soft suede, early espresso, soft sky, cool caribbean, rose red, kiwi kiss and old olive as far as I remember. I cut it with a nestability, mounted it on early espresso, sponged the edges and mounted it on early espresso. Oh, yes, I also added some Spica Gel Pen lots of places on the image.  I don't think you can see that very well, though.  So sorry!

 My tag is a large manilla one from Ranger Ink.  I stamped it with the Impression Obsession gingham background with Versamark and embossed it with white.  Then I got out my Tim Holtz sponge daubers (which don''t see enough action) and my Distres Ink Pads and added Pine Bough, Tattered Rose and Scattered Straw to the tag.  To distress it more I added Vintage Photo and Early Espresso to the edges. It got a little darker than I wanted, but you can still see the colors a little.  The back was so 'inky' that I mounted the whole tag on Early Espresso!!

The "hello" is cut about 6 times from cream paper and glued together.  That didn't show up as much as I wanted so I added an Early Espress die cut on top.  BETTER! then I added gen pen sparkle to that.  After that I covered it with Glossy Accents. A seam binding bow that was distressed a bit with the Vintage Photo ink pad and a little more added to the top and I was done!

I REALLY like how this came out. I liked it so much that I actually decided to send it to my friend and fellow Design Team member LISA, who, like me, is just beginning another year teaching school.

Wow! I've gone on long enough!  Now get busy and watercolor something for us!  And check out the blog for more inspiration and maybe even enter to become a DT member!

Thanks for coming by!! 

Hugs, Cheryl