So Grateful For You-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

 

This month Deb and I decided to use this mail image as our inspiration. Who doesn't love happy mail, right? I was gifted the lovely Sugar Pea Designs Floral Envie stamp set from my friend Maria. I figured it was perfect for our inspiration this month! I created my card by stamping the background of my kraft card base the scripty stamp from Unity Stamp Company's Pumpkin Hearth using Stampin' UP's Sahara sand ink. I die cut a scalloped edge stitched rectangle focal panel using green cardstock from Hobby Lobby and a die from Gina Marie Designs I stamped Unity Stamp Company's Faithful Letter background stamp and Gina K Design fresh asparagus ink for a nice, subtle look. I stamped the envelope, butterflies, mini stamp, sentiment from the Sugar Pea Floral Envie stamp set, colored them with alcohol markers, fussy cut them out, and adhered them to the card using thin foam tape. I adhered some pretty clear confetti from Pink & Main around the image and some white gel pen details to finish off this fun card!

For my coffee this month, I actually opted for a dirty chai latte that I created at home with a liquid mix I found at my local Aldi's. It's a nice mix of black tea, chai, and coffee, and it's delicious! I suspect I will be going back for more of that before it sells out. I appreciate you stopping by my blog. Now, be sure to head on over to Debra's blog to see how she was inspired this month! 

Believe In The Magic Of Christmas-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids, we are celebrating all things hearts or snowflakes. I chose to use snowflakes. I adhered a piece of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye's Oh What Fun 6x6 paper pad directly onto my white A2 cardbase. I die cut a large circle using die from Gina Marie Designs and used a drifting double edged border die from Simon Says Stamp, I created a snow drift. I inked the background of the circle die with Tim Hotlz salvaged patine distress ink. I stamped the polar bear and sign from My Favorite Things Cool Day stamp set and colored them using my alcohol markers. I fussy cut them out and popped them up off of the card using thin foam tape. I stamped a few of the snowflakes from the same stamp set using my salvaged patina. I added clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh around the images. I stamped the sentiment below the focal image using Memento tuxedo ink and Miss Ink Stamps Season's Greetings stamp set. I finished this card off with some star dust Stickles on the snow drifts and the sign. Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Be sure to stop by the Send A Smile 4 Kids blog and see how everyone else was inspired. We would love for you to participate in our challenge too! 

Queen For The Day

 

Today's card was created for the latest AAA Birthday card challenge. My daughter's birthday is coming up next month and this card is perfect for her. This image looks just like her, including the messy bun. I started by stamping the Unity Stamp Company's Queen Girl onto white Copic-friendly cardstock, colored it with my alcohol markers, and fussy cut the image out. Using some terra cotta cardstock from my stash, I die cut a panel using a scalloped edge die from Gina Marie Designs and layered it onto a white card base. I die cut two panels using a Paper Rose stitched edge rectangle stacking dies and patterned paper from Pebbles Sunny Side 6x6 paper pad. I stacked the panels together and adhered them to the scalloped edge panel. I popped the main image up using foam tape. I die cut a tag topper using more of the same patterned paper and a die from Papertrey Ink and adhered that onto the focal panel using more foam tape. I finished off the card by adding an orange button and some white twine to the tag topper, some glittery heart stickers from Heidi Swapp, and some Crystal Stickles to the crown and balloons on the focal image. I'm sure my daughter will be tickled by this card. Thank you for stopping by my blog today!

You're Not Old-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

Hello, and happy May! This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are creating cards with punny sentiments, and a focus on dads. I had to crack out my Art Impressions Golden Oldies "Norm" stamp set with matching sentiment. I stamped the focal image and the sentiment onto white Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored the focal image using alcohol markers, and cut it out with a pierced edge nesting circle die from Gina Marie Designs. I didn't have a die for the sentiment, so I fussy cut it out. Using paper from October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker 8x8 paper pad, I selected papers that I thought would be as fun and "loud" as the focal character's Hawaiin shirt. I put the card together using a fun sketch I found on Pinterest and popped the focal panel and the sentiment up off of the card using thin foam tape. This card literally cracks me up! Please pop on over to the Send A Smile 4 Kids blog and see how my fellow design team members were inspired by this month's challenge. We would love for you to join us by submitting a card too! Have a wonderful weekend!

Nope. Not Today-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

 

This month Debra and I decided to create a card using any Unity Stamp Company stamp. I love all of my Unity stamps but am partial to my Angie girl stamps. I seem to grab for them a lot. This month I opted to use Tricia Girl and do some fun paper piecing. I started by stamping the image onto some white Copic-friendly cardstock, and then die cut that into a panel using a wonky stitch nesting die from Gina Marie Designs to create a panel. Using the Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic 6x6 paper pad, I stamped her scarf, shirt, skirt, jacket, purse, and boots and fussy cut them out. I edged each piece using my dual edge Memento marker and adhered them to the base stamped image. I added shadows to all of the pieces using my Copic markers. I die cut some banners using the same paper pad and some nesting banners from Unity Stamp Company and adhered them to the top of my focal panel, which I matted with some black cardstock. I finished off my card by adhering some black gems around the image. 

For my coffee this month, I opted for a nice deep Italian Espresso in my adorable Miss Etoile espresso cup that Nathan and I brought back from London last year.

Now, Debra did tell me that she was going to be using a new to her stamp from Unity this month, so be sure to stop by her blog to see what fun she created!  

Hello My Friend-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

Hello, and happy New Year! This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are celebrating friendship, with a focus on making new friends, but keeping the old. I wanted to break out an old stamp set that I've not used in ages that celebrates friendship. I started by stamping the adorable unicorns from The Greeting Farm Hello Unicorn and Magical Day stamp sets onto white Copic-friendly cardstock. I colored them with my alcohol markers and fussy cut them out. Using some teal cardstock from my stash and a stitched scalloped border nesting die from Gina Marie Designs, I created the scalloped panel. Using white cardstock and a cloud embossing folder from Darice, I created a cloudy sky background that I adhered to the scalloped panel. Using my alcohol markers, I created some interest and shadow the embossed clouds on the background. I stamped the sentiment from The Greeting Farm Hello Unicorn stamp set using Memento tuxedo black ink onto a white panel that I die cut using a stitched speech bubble border die from The Cat's Pajama's. I adhered that to the top of the cloud background panel and added more interest with my Copic marker. I popped the unicorns up on the panel using foam squares and finished the card off with some sparkling clear gems from Recollections and some white gel pen detail on the unicorns. 

Have A Sweet Holiday-Coffee and Cards with Celeste and Deb

 

This month Debra and I are using this fun holiday photo as our inspiration. I created my holiday card by layering some plaid patterned paper from the American Crafts Hot Cocoa 6x6 paper pad onto my A2 card base. I die cut a focal panel using white cardstock and a Gina Marie Designs scalloped edge rectangle die. I layered another piece of patterned paper from the same paper pad at the bottom of the focal panel to look like a tablecloth. I die cut the focal elements using Momenta's Christmas Mug die set and a mix of cardstock and more papers from the same paper pad. I adhered them onto the focal panel using liquid glue. I stamped the sentiment from Avocado Arts Gingerbread Goodness stamp set at the right upper corner. To finish off the card, I did some shading on the whipped cream using a Copic marker and added a few shimmery red heart sequins around the sentiment. 

While I was crafting, I opted to sip on a delicious mug of Barissimo's Tiramisu coffee. It's positively delicious! Now, be sure to stop by Debra's blog and see how she was inspired this month by our inspiration photo! 

Fall For Autumn Leaves

 

My card today was created for the latest Color Throwdown card challenge. I started by embossing a panel of kraft cardstock using the Lisa Horton Knitted embossing folder and mounted the panel directly onto my white A2 card base. I die cut a white panel using a stitched scallop edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs, and stamped the focal image from Newton's Nook Designs Falling For You stamp set. I popped that panel up off of the card using thin foam tape. I stamped the pumpkin image twice and several of the leaves. I colored them using my alcohol markers and then adhered them to the panel. Such a cute and easy card! Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Let It Snow-Send A Smile 4 Kids

 

Good morning, and welcome to the November Send A Smile 4 Kids card challenge! This month we are celebrating Holidays. I created my card by stamping the adorable penguin and trees from My Favorite Things Snow Globe Singles stamp set onto white cardstock. I colored them and die cut them images using coordinating dies. Using the Snow Globe die set I die cut the elements for the snow globe using light blue, teal, and black cardstock from my stash. I embossed the sentiment on the bottom of the snow globe using the snow globe singles stamp set, Versamark ink, and Ranger detail white embossing powder. I die cut a piece of snowflake patterned paper from My Mind's Eye Sweater Weather using a stitched rectangle die from Paper Rose, adhered some black twine from Spellbinders at the top, and adhered it to a postage panel I die cut from black cardstock using a Gina Marie postage edge rectangle die. I adhered that panel to my white A2 card base and adhered the snow globe at the center. I finished off this adorable winter card using some Nuvo Crystal Drops in white blizzard to the trees and the penguin's hat. Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Now be sure to head over the Send A Smile 4 Kids blog and see what fun everyone else has created this month!

Take Me To The Beach

 

My card today was created for the latest Just Us Girls card challenge. I love this beautiful mood board, and just had to play along! I created my card by stenciling the Newton's Nook Retro Sun & Palms stencil (a freebie that I won recently) onto some white cardstock using Tim Holtz distress inks. I die cut the panel using a wonky stitch stacking rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs. I stamped the images and sentiment from Honey Bee's Flippin' Fabulous stamp set and used the coordinating die cuts to cut them out. I colored them and adhered them to my focal panel. I popped the focal panel up off of the card using foam tape and added a few clear rhinestones from Recollections for a pretty finishing touch. Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I hope you have a fabulous day!

You Make Me Happy

Today's card was created for the latest Color Throwdown card challenge. To create my card, I die cut a white card panel using a scalloped edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs and popped it up off my kraft A2 card base using some low-profile foam tape. I then die cut a kraft panel using a stitched rectangle die from My Favorite Things. I stamped the subtle background using Stampin' UP's crumb cake ink and Unity Stamp Company's Faithful Letter red rubber background stamp. I then stamped the poppies from Altenew's Painted Poppy stamp set directly onto the kraft panel. I stamped the Happy sentiment from the same stamp set directly onto the panel using Versafine onyx black ink. On separate white cardstock I stamped the leaf using Altenew's moss green ink and the poppy's in Gina K Designs red hot ink. I fussy cut the poppy's and the leaf out and popped them up off of the card using more foam tape. I stamped the additional sentiment onto black cardstock using Versamark clear ink and heat embossed it using Ranger's detail white embossing powder. I cut the sentiment down into little strips and adhered them around the word happy. To finish off my card I die cut a few butterflies in more black cardstock using Stampin' UP's Beautiful Wings embosslit. I adhered those around the card, and added some white gel pen details. I love how this turned out!

 

Happiness Is A Warm Cup Of Coffee

 

Hello, and Happy New Year! Today's card was created for the latest Color Throwdown card challenge. To create my card I started by die cutting a piece of dark olive cardstock using Gina Marie Designs nesting scalloped rectangle dies. I adhered that directly onto my white A2 card base. I then die cut a piece of watercolor paper using Paper Rose nesting stitched rectangle dies. I stamped the image from Unity Stamp Company's Pure And Simple stamp set using Versafine ink. I stamped the happiness sentiment from the same stamp set right below it. Using Papertrey Ink's Simple Alphabet, I stamped the rest of the sentiment. Using Unity Stamp Company's Scallops & Banners die set I die but a few fishtail banners using more of the olive cardstock and a piece of patterned paper from Authentique's Remembrance 6x6 paper pad. Using Tim Holtz distress inks and some watercolor brushes I picked up from Hobby Lobby, I water colored the image to match the colors of the card challenge. To finish of the card I added Nuvo glitter drops in white blizzard to the snow around the image. Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you like my card, please be sure to leave a kind word. I read, and appreciate, them all! 

Ho Ho Ho-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

 

HelloI cannot believe we are rapidly approaching the end of 2023. Deb and I decided to create Christmas cards again this month. I found this adorable ornament image to use as our inspiration this month. To create my card I started by die cutting letters from patterned paper from Heidi Swapp's Noel 6x6 paper pad using Honey Bee Stamps Bee Bold Alphabet dies. I then die cut the holly leaves and berries using Memory Box's Stitched Holly Leaves die set and more paper from the same Heidi Swapp paper pad. I die cut a white rectangle panel using Paper Rose stacking stitched rectangle dies. I matted that onto a panel of real red cardstock that I die cut using a Gina Marie postage edge rectangle die. I put the card together and arranged the letters on the card by popping them up with foam tape. I adhered the holly leaves and berries directly to the panel. I finished this card off by adding some white gel pen details to the berries. This card was so easy to make that I may have to mass produce a few of them next year. 

For my coffee I opted for a hot chocolate peppermint latte. Now be sure to pop on over to Deb's blog and see how she was inspired this month. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I wish you and yours a beautiful holiday season and a safe and Happy New Year!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year-Coffee And Cards With Celeste And Deb

 

With Halloween right around the corner, Deb and I decided to use this fun Halloween photo as our inspiration for our Coffee and Card collaboration this month. I started with an A2 card base and layered on some mats of orange and black cardstock from my stash. I layered some fun polka patterned paper from the American Crafts Haunted 6x6 paper pad on top. I then die cut a rectangle panel using the Gina Marie Designs wonky stitched stacking rectangle dies. I stamped the sentiment from Essentials by Ellen Boos Inside stamp set using versafine onyx black ink at the top right side of the focal panel. I then stamped the stars from Pebbles/American Crafts Midnight Haunting stamp set onto the panel around the sentiment and at the bottom right. I stamped all of the fun Halloween mugs from the same Ellen Hutson stamp set onto white Copic-friendly cardstock, and colored the images using my alcohol markers. I then fussy cut the images, darkened the eyes and mouths of the images using my Sakura black glaze pen. I popped the images up using Stampin' UP foam dimensionals, and adhered them around the focal panel. I finished the card by adding some Nuvo glitter drops in white blizzard to the stars. I love how adorable this card is!

 

I had the opportunity to visit London this month, and had a wonderful Turkish meal complete with Turkish coffee. I absolutely adored the texture and richness of the coffee! Now, be sure to pop over to Deb's blog and see what fun she created using our inspiration photo! 

Merry Christmas-Caffeinated Christmas

 

Hello, happy Labor Day weekend! I don't know about the rest of you, but I always get a little excited around this weekend because it marks the beginning of Autumn for me. Today's card was created for the latest Caffeinated Christmas Card challenge. This month's challenge is to create a coffee, cocoa, or tea card with cookies on it. To create my card, I started by layering a piece of patterned paper from the American Crafts Very Merry 6x6 paper pad onto my A2 card base. Then using a stitched scalloped edge rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs, I die cut a forest green panel. I stamped the sentiment from Amy R Stamps at the top using Versamark ink and embossed it using Ranger's detail white embossing powder. Using the Momenta Christmas Mug & Cookie die set (which I picked at Hobby Lobby on clearance a few months ago for a steal) I created the mug, cookies, and all of the elements using more patterned paper from the same Very Merry paper pad and cardstock from my stash. I adhered them together with liquid glue, and then popped them up off of the card using Stampin' UP foam dimensions. For some additional bling, I added Nuvo crystal drops to some of the elements for a nice touch of glitter. I love how adorably cute this card is. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and, if you left a comment, I greatly appreciate it! 

Happy Birthday-Send A Smile 4 Kids

This month at Send A Smile 4 Kids we are celebrating birthdays! I had purchased the MFT Green Pastures and The Whole Herd stamp sets during the Memorial Day sales and had not had a chance to use them yet. I have a birthday party I'll be attending in two weeks for a little girl and thought this set would be perfect for her card. To create my card I started by layering some fun bandana patterned paper from the American Crafts Heartland Farm 6x6 paper pad onto my white A2 cardbase. Using real red cardstock from Stampin' UP, I cut down some small slivers and attached them to the top and bottom of the cardstock to break up the patterned paper from the white cardbase. I stamped the sentiment from the Whole Herd stamp set using Gina K Designs black ink. I then die cut a stitched circle using a Gina Marie Designs stitched circle nesting die, inked the background in bashful blue ink from Stampin' UP, splattered some water on the background and dried it for some visual interest. I diecut a piece of olive green cardstock from Stampin' UP using an MFT border grass die and cut it to fit the circle panel. I adhered the two pieces together and popped it up off of the card using 3M foam tape. I stamped the little girl from Green Pastures, and colored her using my Copic markers. I stamped her shirt in more patterned paper from the same American Crafts Heartland Farms paper pad and paper pieced that onto the little girl, and used the coordinating diecut to cut her out. I stamped the pig and chickens from the Whole Herd stamp set, colored them with my alcohol markers, and fussy cut them out since I don't have the coordinating dies. I adhered them to my focal panel. I popped the little girl up using Stampin' UP foam dimensionals. To finish off my card I added some fun little clouds in the sky using a Fiskars mini cloud punch and added some white gel details to all of my critters. Thank you for stopping by my blog today, and if you left a comment I just want you to know how much I appreciate you! Be sure to stop off at the Send A Smile 4 Kids blog and see how everyone else was inspired by this month's theme.