It's A Hot Chocolate Kind Of Day

 

Today's card was created for the latest Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge. I created my card by stamping the three mugs from Newton's Nook Designs Cup of Cocoa stamp set onto white Copic-friendly cardstock and colored them using my alcohol markers. I then die cut a scalloped edge panel using powder blue cardstock from Hobby Lobby and a Gina Marie Designs nesting scalloped edge rectangle die. I layered that directly onto my white card base. Using the square Window Trio 1 die from Waffle Flower, I cut a focal panel using white cardstock. Before adhering directly to the scalloped panel, I stamped snowflakes from Stampabilities Winter Wonderland stamp set using Stampin' UP's bashful blue ink. I then stamped the sentiment from the Cup of Cocoa stamp set using Gina K Designs black ink. I adhered the panel to the card, added some Nuvo Crystal Drops in white blizzard, some gel pen detail, and clear rhinestones from Recollections to the snowflakes. I love how adorably cute this card turned out! Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Hope you have an amazing day!

But First Coffee-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

Hello, and welcome to the September collaboration of Coffee and Cards with Celeste and Deb. We decided to use this fabulous fall photo as inspiration for our cards this month. After the blistering temperatures we had this summer, I know we are all anticipating cooler Autumn weather! To create my card, I started by layering some beautiful fall patterned paper by Design Group that I picked up in the dollar bin at Target last year. I added a small strip of espresso brown cardstock from Stampin' UP in between the patterned papers to add some interest and break up the busy patterns. I die cut a circle panel using kraft cardstock from Recollections and a circle nesting die from Gina Marie Designs. Using the coffee bean stamp from the Stampabilities Coffee mini stamp set and Versamark ink, I stamped the entire background for a nice tone on tone pattern. It's subtle, but it's there. I then stamped the large mug from Stamplorations Coffee Cup Large stamp set onto white cardstock and then paper pieced the rest of the cup using more patterned paper from the same Design Group paper pad and some simple kraft for the sleeve. I then stamped the sentiment from the Stampabilities Coffee stamp set directly onto the coffee cup's sleeve. I then popped the circle panel and the coffee cup up off the card using 3M foam tape. To finish off this beautiful fall-themed coffee card I added some espresso sequins from the Ton around the focal panel. 

My lovely boyfriend Nathan just flew back from Great Dunmow, England and brought me back this gorgeous mug and some lovely Twinings tea. I had to feature that as my beverage this month, despite this being a coffee card.  I love a nice cup of hot tea in the afternoon. Now, be sure to head over the Deb's bog to see what fun she created this month!

Happy Birthday

 

Today's card was created for the latest Color Throwdown challenge.To create my card, I started by stamping a few of the adorable cactus images from Pawsome Stamps Prickly Friend stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock and colored them using my alcohol markers. I fussy cut them out and set them aside to work on the background. I layered a piece of bright yellow patterned paper from Simple Stories Sunkissed paper pad onto my card base. Using a scalloped edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs I cut a smaller white focal panel. I inked it with a bit of squeezed lemonade and mowed lawn distress ink from Tim Holtz, and then attached my cactus images. I stamped the sentiment from the same Pawsome Stamps set using Gina K Designs black ink. I popped the focal panel up off of the card using 3M foam tape and added a few green gems from Honey Bee Stamps around the images and sentiment for a little additional interest. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

It's A Brew-tiful Day

 

Happy Friday! Today's card was created for the latest Color Throwdown Challenge. To create my card I started by die cutting a panel using a piece of crumb cake cardstock from Stampin' UP and a Gina Marie Designs scalloped edge rectangle die. I adhered that directly to my white A2 card base. I then die cut a focal panel using white cardstock and a stitched rectangle die from Paper Rose. I stamped the sentiment from Reverse Confetti's Drink More Coffee stamp set using Versafine onyx blank ink. I stamped the mugs, saucers, and a single spoon from the same stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock and colored the images using alcohol markers. I fussy cut the images out and adhered them onto my focal panel using Stampin' UP foam dimensionals. To finish my card I added some mocha 6mm sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and white gel pen accents on the mugs. I appreciate you stopping by my blog today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Easter-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

Hello, and thank you for visiting my blog today! Deb and I are celebrating Spring in our coffee and cards collaboration. I recently picked up a few new stamp sets on clearance from Whimsy Stamps, and thought it would be fun to use one of my new sets for this card. I started by die cutting a panel of pretty green gingham patterned paper from Simple Stories  Summer Lovin' 6x8 paper pad using a stitched rectangle die from Paper Rose, and matted it with some olive green cardstock that I had in my stash. I adhered that panel directly onto my white A2 card base. Using a lacy border metal die I cut down more of the olive green cardstock and adhered that onto the card slightly lower than halfway. I stamped out my images from Whimsy Stamps Easter Memories stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock and colored the images using my alcohol markers. Using a scalloped and pierced edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs I created a focal panel. I matted that panel onto another piece of olive cardstock and popped the panel up using 3M foam tape. I stamped Happy directly onto the focal panel using Memento tuxedo black ink. I then stamped the Easter sentiment onto a seperate piece of paper using Gina K Designs ink in Avocado and fussy cut the sentiment out. I adhered it to the card using liquid glue and finished my card off my added some white gel pen detail to all of the images. 

For my beverage this month, I opted to create a nice "adult" hot chocolate by using a chocolate bomb with a huge dollop of Whip Shots vodka infused whipped cream in Mocha! Now, be sure to stop by Debra's blog and see how she was inspired by this month's theme!

 

Coffee & Friends-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

Hello! Welcome to the September Coffee and Cards with Celeste and Deb collaboration. Debra found this amazing inspiration photo for us to use, and I was so excited to play with some fall themed stamps! To create my card I started by layering some early espresso cardstock from Stampin' UP onto my white A2 card base. I then layered a gorgeous piece of plaid patterned paper from the Paper Rose Autumn Plaid 6x6 paper pad on top. I stamped the images from Simon Says Stamp's Pumpkin Spice Sentiments stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored them using my alcohol markers in tones complimenting the plaid paper. I die cut the panel using a Gina Marie Designs wonky stitch edge rectangle stacking die. I popped the panel up off of my card using 3M foam tape. I die cut two of the stitched autumn leaves from Jillian Vance Designs using some coordinating-colored cardstock and added them to the upper right corner. To finish up my card I added some natural twine from American Crafts to the leaves and some white gel pen details to the pumpkins and the scarf. 

For my coffee this month I chose an iced pumpkin spice latte from McDonald's. I don't usually go there but it was handy and on my way home. Now, be sure to stop by Debra's blog and see what fun, crafty goodness she created! 

 

 

You Rock!-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

I cannot believe it's June already! Where is this year going? This month Send A Smile 4 Kids is focusing on cards for teens. I dug into my stash and found a scrap of old patterned paper that is so old I cannot recall who made it. I cut it down using a stitched rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs and cut it into two parts. I adhered it to a panel of dusty pink cardstock I picked up at Hobby Lobby. Using a Spellbinders decorative edge circle die I die cut a focal panel and stamped the sentiment from the My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments stamp set using Memento tuxedo black ink. I added some faux stitched lines using my dual tip Memento marker in black and adhered it to the card. I then die cut a lace border using a My Favorite Things border die and white cardstock. I adhered that where I cut the patterned paper to separate the two patterns. I then stamped, colored, fussy cut, and popped up the adorable focal image from the All Dressed Up Girl's Night Out stamp set using Memento tuxedo black ink and my alcohol markers. To finish the card off I added some white gel pen details to the girl and a few berry colored gems from Simon Says Stamp. I can't wait to see how everyone is inspired by this month's challenge! 

America, Home Of the Brave

Hello! Can you believe it's June 1st already? This year seems to just be flying by. My card today was created for The Card Concept card challenge. To create my card I started by stamping the sentiment from Taylored Expressions Patriotic stamp set using Memento inks in reds and blues. I cut the panel down using a Pink & Main stacking rectangle die and then mounted it onto a scalloped edge panel I die cut using some navy cardstock from my stash and a die from Gina Marie Designs. I added a few navy 4mm sequins from Pretty Pink Posh in the four corners of the panel. For my card base I layered more navy cardstock and layered a piece of plain white cardstock on top for a frame. Die cutting pieces of patterned paper from the American Crafts American 6x6 paper pad using a zig zag border from Pretty Pink Posh I layered all of the pieces together to create a background and then cut it down into a rectangle slightly smaller than my white panel. I then mounted the focal panel on top using 3M foam tape. Thank you for stopping by my blog today!

April Showers

 

I could not think of a more appropriate theme for a card challenge than the April Showers theme at The Paper Players. I'm not sure what the weather is like anywhere else in the world, but here in Southeast Missouri we have had more than our fair share of rain. It's actually raining right now as I am crafting. So, in honor of all of that rain I created this card. I stamped this beautiful image from the Unity Stamp Company Harmony girl in Memento tuxedo black ink onto Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored it with my alcohol markers and then die cut the panel using a Gina Marie Design stitched edge rectangle die. Using some cellophane from a recent stamp purchase I added some Tim Holtz distress ink in broken china and spritzed it with a mini mister. I then selectively added the ink around the colored image to create a misty, rainy sky. I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set and die cut it using a fishtail banner die from Jillian Vance Designs. I attached it to the card and then popped the panel up off of the card using 3M foam tape for a little dimension. Love how beautifully simple this card is! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you're dry wherever you are. 

Flowers For You-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

Hello, happy April! This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are creating cards for Mom. I have been on a mission to try and start using more of my older stash of crafting supplies. I was gifted this image last year on a card swap and have never used it. I'm not even sure now who gave it to me or who created this sweet digital image. Even my patterned paper is so old I no longer recall who makes it. LOL. Anyway, I colored this darling image using my Copic markers and die cut it using a Gina Marie Designs stitched edge rectangle die. I went around the edge of it using a foam tool and Stampin' UP's perfect plum ink. I adhered some plum cardstock from Hobby Lobby onto my A2 white card base. I then die cut a scalloped edge rectangle using white cardstock and a die from Gina Marie Designs. I cut the panel of patterned paper down to fit inside the scalloped rectangle and then popped the focal image up using 3M foam tape. To finish my card off I added a few 6mm lilac sequins from Pretty Pink Posh around the focal image. I can't wait to see what everyone else creates this month!

Happy Winter-Send A Smile 4 Kids December

 

Hello! Can you believe that it's December already? This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are celebrating winter by creating winter cards for kids. And before anyone gets upset with me...yes, this is the same stamped image I used for last month's challenge but I shook it up with a winter sentiment and a new layout and winter themed patterned papers. To create my card I started by layering some early espresso cardstock by Stampin' Up onto my white A2 card base. I then cut and adhered a piece of dusty blue patterned paper from the My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas 6x6 paper pad on top. I die cut a large strip of pretty snowflake paper from the same paper pad and matted it with more early espresso cardstock. I adhered it to the card to the far left. I then stamped the adorable image from Margaret Sherry's Christmas Cuties stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock and colored it with my alcohol markers. I die cut the image using a pierced edge oval die from My Favorite Things and then another decorative pierced edge panel using a Gina Marie Designs die and more early espresso cardstock. I adhered the two panels together and popped it up off of the card using 3M foam tape. To finish off my card I added some fun details and highlights to the image using my white gel pen and added some dark brown sequins from The Ton around the focal panel. I'm kind of obsessed with this adorable image! I can't wait to see what everyone else creates for this challenge!

Have A Boo-Tiful Halloween-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

Hello, happy October! We have finally arrived at my favorite time of the year...Fall!! This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are creating holiday/celebration cards. Since Halloween falls in this month I thought it would be fun to create a sweet little Halloween card to send to one my grandmunchkins. To create my card I started by layering some fun Halloween patterned paper from American Crafts Haunted 6x6 paper pad onto some basic black cardstock from Stampin' UP. I used a fun sketch I found on Pinterest. I then stamped the ghost from Darcie's Heart & Home's Bootiful Halloween stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock. I then stamped the small pumpkin from Lawn Fawn's So Thankful stamp set and colored both images using my alcohol markers. I fussy cut them both out leaving a small white border around the image. I then cut down a small rectangle panel using a Gina Marie stitched rectangle die. I then cut down a grass border using a Lawn Fawn border die and some olive green cardstock from my stash. I die cut the tree using a Paper Smooches die and adhered them both to the focal panel. Using a small circle mask I created with a Stampin' UP circle punch and Inkadinkado masking paper I blocked off an area for the moon and then stenciled the clouds in using the MFT mini cloud stencil and Shaded Lilac distress ink from Tim Holtz. I removed the mask and colored the moon in using an alcohol marker. I adhered the ghost and pumpkin down to the focal panel using some Stampin' UP foam dimensionals. Love how adorably cute this card turned out. Thank you for stopping by my blog today. If you like my card be sure to leave a comment. I read and appreciate them all. Now, pop on over to the Send a Smile blog and see what the rest of the team created this month!

Baby It's Cold Outside-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

Hello and welcome to another Coffee and Cards with Celeste and Deb! This month we are celebrating Christmas in July! I recently picked up the Unity Stamp Company's Planner Girl Cold Outside stamp set from a fellow crafter on a destash thought this would be the perfect opportunity to ink it up for the first time. I stamped the image and sentiment out onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock and then die cut the image with a wonky stitch rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs. I colored the image using my alcohol markers and then wrapped some white twine and created a bow from Stampin' UP around the left side of the panel and adhered a small black button on top using a glue dot. Using some pretty patterned papers from My Mind's Eye's Oh What Fun 6x6 paper pad I layered a panel directly onto my white A2 card base, covering the entire front of the card. I popped the focal panel up off of the card using some 3M foam tape. I then die cut a fishtail banner using a Jillian Vance fishtail die and some more of the coordinating patterned paper. I cut the fishtail banner down to a small banner and adhered it directly to the focal panel. To finish my card off I added some Stickles in white blizzard to the hat, scarf, and snowflakes. This card turned out so sweet that I may have to duplicate it using different patterned papers and colors. 

For my coffee selection this month I popped into the Starbucks at my local Target and got myself a tasty caramel ribbon crunch Frappuccino! Now be sure to head over to Debra's blog and see what gorgeousness she created for our Christmas in July collaboration. 

 

A Very Merry Christmas-SAS4Kids

 

Hello, and welcome to the July Send A Smile 4 Kids card challenge! This month we are celebrating Christmas in July. The challenge is to create a Christmas card to give to a child. To create my card I started by stamping the adorable Santa image from Inkadinkado's Christmas Characters stamp set onto some 110lb white cardstock using Memento tuxedo black ink. I did some simple coloring on the image using my alcohol markers and then die cut the image into a circle focal panel using a Gina Marie Designs double pierced edge circle die. I die cut a larger circle out of real red cardstock from Stampin' UP using a Spellbinders circle die and then layered the two panels together. I then embossed the background panel using a Provocraft 25 Days Of Christmas embossing folder and adhered it directly to my white A2 card. I cut down some panels from the My Mind's Eye Oh What Fun 6x6 paper pad, framed them out using more real red cardstock and adhered them directly to the card panel. I stamped the sentiment from the same Inkadinkado stamp set using Memento tuxedo black ink, cut it down into a small sentiment panel, and backed it against more real red cardstock. To finish the card off I popped both the sentiment and the focal panel up off the card using some 3M foam tape. I can't wait to see what everyone else on the design team came up with this month! Thank you for stopping by and have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!

Thank You Ever So Much

 

Hello, happy Saturday! Today's card was created for the latest Inspired By card challenge. To create my card I started by stamping the fun watermelon image from the Impression Obsession Watermelon Layering stamp set onto some 110lb white cardstock using Altenew inks. I fussy cut the image out and popped it up onto a focal panel I created by die cutting it with a Gina Marie stitched rectangle die. I stamped the sentiment from the Altenew Apothecary Labels stamp set using Versafine onyx black ink and Versamark clear ink, black cardstock, and Ranger white detail embossing powder. I adhered the mini sentiment below the stamped one and mounted the watermelon above it using some Scrapbook Adhesives foam squares. I then framed the focal panel onto some basic black cardstock from Stampin' UP and then framed that onto some light green textured cardstock from Hobby Lobby. I mounted all of that onto my white A2 card base and finished it off using some black gems from Ki. I don't make them very often but I love when I can pull of a clean and simple card. If you like my card be sure to leave a comment. I read and appreciate them all!

Happy Mother's Day-Send A Smile 4 Kids

Hello, happy Saturday! Today's card was created for this month's Send A Smile 4 Kids, where our challenge was to create a card for a child to give to a mother/grandmother. To create my card I started by stamping the adorable birds and sentiment from Hero Arts Mother's Day stamp set using Memento tuxedo black ink and some 110lb Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored the images in with my alcohol markers and die cut the image into a focal panel using a x-stitch circle die from Gina Marie Designs. Then I picked some plain blue paper from the Echo Park Spring Fling 6x6 paper pad and stamped the Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Lines background stamp onto it using Gina K ink in ocean mist. I cut the panel to fit my A2 card base and adhered it directly to the front. Using the scrap that was left over from the 6x6 blue paper I stamped the same background stamp and cut it down to a smaller strip. I then die cut the scalloped and stitched rectangle panel out using another Gina Marie Designs die and then adhered more of the patterned paper from the same paper pad in the center for some contrast. I adhered the small strip across the center and popped the circle panel up directly in the center using 3M foam tape. That finished up my cute Mother's Day card. Be sure to pop over to the Send A Smile 4 Kids blog and see what the rest of the design team created this month and be sure to play along. I always enjoy seeing how everyone is inspired! 

 

Stay Wild

 

Hello and happy first day of spring! It's still a little cool here in Southeast Missouri but things are definitely starting to bloom here and I suspect I will have to start mowing my lawn in the next few weeks. I created this fun springtime card for the latest Addicted To Stamps And More card challenge. To create my card I layered some beautiful springtime patterned papers from Echo Park's Spring Fling 6x6 paper pad onto my white A2 card base. I added some black lines around the outer edge of the blue paper for a bit more visual interest and contrast. The focal image is a digital stamp from Angie Blom that I was gifted from a friend on a recent card swap. She shipped it to me uncolored so I colored it using my Copic markers to matc the colors in the plaid patterned paper and die cut it into a focal panel using a Gina Marie stitched rectangle die. I popped the panel up using 3M foam tape and adhered it to the card at a wonky angle. To finish it off I added some clear sparkling 6mm sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. Thank you for stopping off at my blog today and enjoy your weekend!

Have A Happy Sunny Bunny Day-SAS4Kids

 

Hello, happy February! This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are creating spring/Easter cards for kids. I wanted to create a fun card that would work for either a boy or a girl. I cracked out my Darcie's Heart & Home Feathers and Fur stamp set and stamped the adorable bear, bunny, and chick images onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored them using my alcohol markers and then stamped their "hands" separately, colored them, and fussy cut them out. Using patterned paper from the Doodlebug Springtime 6x6 paper pad I layered a green base onto my A2 white card base and then created a panel using the colored images and more of the patterned paper and die cut it using a stitched edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs. I popped it up off of the card using some 3M foam tape for some fun dimension. I added a small fishtailed banner at the lower left side of the card. I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set using Memento tuxedo black ink and then die cut it using a pierced edge circle die from My Favorite Things and then added it some of the same patterned paper I used in the background using a slightly larger Spellbinders circled die. The sentiment also got popped up for a bit more dimension. To finish this fun card off I added some white gel pen details to the critters and then added some light green enamel dots from Snap at the corners. I love this adorable card and can't wait to see what the rest of the team created for this month's challenge!  

You're fabulous Dahling!

 

Hello and happy Sunday! It's cold and dreary here in Southeast Missouri, so the perfect day to stay inside and get crafty. My card today was created for the latest Less Is More card challenge. To create my card I started by layering some beautiful pink patterned paper that I've had in my stash for years onto my white A2 card base. I cannot even recall who made the paper but I know the name of the collection is Amore.  Next I stamped one of the purses from Skipping Stones Design Birthday Purses stamp set onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored the image using my alcohol markers, fussy cut it, and went around the edges with my dual tip Memento tuxedo black marker for a nice crisp look. I die cut a focal panel using a stitched edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs and stamped the sentiment from the same Skipping Stones Design stamp set using Versafine onyx black ink. I popped the purse image up using some 3M foam tape and adhered it to the focal panel above the sentiment. I kept this card pretty simple so I finished it off my added some clear rhinestones from Paper Recollections in the four corners and on the clasp of the purse. Thank you for stopping by my blog today, and if you like my card be sure to leave a comment. I read and enjoy them all!

Merry Christmas

 

Today's card was created for the latest Sunday Stamps card challenge. To create my card I started by layering a piece of kraft cardstock from Hobby Lobby onto my A2 white card base. I then die cut a stitched rectangle panel out of white cardstock from Staples using a Gina Marie Designs die. Using patterned papers from the My Mind's Eye 6x6 Signature Christmas paper pad I cut 3/4" strips in various lengths to create the branches of my tree. I adhered each piece using snail adhesive. The trunk of the tree is a piece of early espresso cardstock from Stampin' UP cut down to a 3/4" by 3/4" square and the star is more of the patterned paper cut out using a simple star die I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I stamped the sentiment from the Amy R Big Christmas Wishes stamp set using Gina K Designs charcoal brown ink. I love how primitive and simple this card is. Thank you for stopping off at my blog today and if you like my card be sure to leave a comment. I read and appreciate all of them!