day twelve: be the exception

It's day 12...the last day of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway event. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 12 prize: $15 gift certificate

Today's card is another one layer card. I was so happy to finally find my calligraphy pen just when I really, really needed it for a specific technique. It's a super-simple technique with very artsy results ;o). I used the calligraphy pen to ink up the hibiscus stamp. I spritzed a little water then stamped it on my card base (watercolor paper). Then I simply ran a damp waterbrush on the edges of the stamped image to pull the ink out and let it bleed. The wonderful thing about the calligraphy pen is that it has black ink but when I let the ink bleed, the ink produces a pretty dark blue/teal color. I grunged up the background a little by stamping grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set in teal. I also sponged teal ink all around the card base and finished the card with the Say It Big sentiment.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day eleven: every flower

It's day 11...the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway event is just about over. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 11 prize: Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 Shery Russ Designs stamp set ($15 value)

I was in the mood for some all-over-the-page stamping so that's what I did. I stamped the stylized sunflower from Bloomful in yellow, orange, and cyan, leaving just little bit of space on the lower right for the sentiment. I grunged up the background a little by stamping grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set in yellow. I also sponged yellow ink all around the card base. I finished the card with a sentiment from Blossom Dreams.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day ten: thank you

Can you believe it's been 10 days since the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway started over at STAMPlorations? Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 10 prize: Choice of 1 in-stock 4x8 stamp set ($20 value)

Another one layer card from me today...combining clear stamps and a brand new digital stamp. (The STAMPlorations digital store just opened!). I printed out one of the 3 Floral Frap digital stamps on cardstock and colored it with Bic alcohol markers. I added faux texture with the grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set in coffee brown. I finished the card with a sentiment from Bloomin' Spring Coffee Basket.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day nine: day to shine

Today is day 9 of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 9 prize: Choice of 3 in-stock CUTplorations word/phrase dies ($30 value)

Yep, you're seeing yet another one layer card from me. This time around, I used a digital stamp called Spring Blooms Circle Frame. (It's one of several that will be released in our soon-to-open digital stamp store.) I printed out the image (actual size) on cardstock and colored it with Bic alcohol markers then added faux texture with the grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set in gray. I finished the card with the Shine - Say It Big sentiment.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day eight: good things take time

Happy Monday! We're now on day 8 of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 8 prize: Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 Big Grins by Becca Cruger stamp set ($15 value)

For today's one layer card, I used the brand-new free digital stamp, Cupcake Blooms and Coffee. (You can download it here.) I printed out the image (actual size) on cardstock and colored it with Bic alcohol markers. I resisted the urge to color it the lazy Shery way ;o) Of course, I had to grunge it up a bit by stamping various grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set in coffee colored ink. I finished the card with one of the Bloomdala Bliss sentiment stamps.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day seven: welcome the unexpected

We're a week into the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 7 prize: Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 The Bee's Knees stamp set ($15 value)

I decided to go monochromatic for my one layer card today. I stamped the Fancy Frangipanis stamp in yellow and then added subtle faux texture with various grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set. I finished the card with one of the Bloomdala Bliss sentiment stamps.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day six: choose happy

It's me again ;o) We're now on day 6 of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 6 prize: Choice of 1 CUTplorations cover plate thin metal die ($25 value)

I'm back with another one layer card. I smooshed yellow, orange, and teal inks on the Shower of Flutters mask and spritzed it with water before pressing my card base down on it to transfer the ink. Then placing the mask over where the impression was, I sponged teal ink over the card base. Added faux texture by stamping various grungy-artsy stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge and Art Marks sets. I finished the card with a sentiment from Noteworthy 2.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day five: be you

We're now on day 5 of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 5 prize: Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 Dee's Artsy Impressions stamp set ($15 value)

For my card today, I sponged yellow and orange ink through the Peeking Dahlias stencil on the bottom corner of my card base and then sponged vintage antique DI through it on the upper corner. Next, I created a subtle frame with faux texture by stamping various grunge stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set. Finished with the Be You sentiment stamp.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day four: a little sparkle

Well hello again! It's day 4 of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 4 prize: Choice of 3 Sanna Lippert Designs stencils ($15 value)

To create my one layer card, I sponged yellow and orange ink through the Bloomdala Bliss #14 mask. Then I started building the background  by collage stamping with my go-to grungy-artsy stamps, Mixed Media Grunge and Art Marks, as well as the Daisy Row Artsy Border stamp. I did third-generation stamping of one of the flowers in Bloom Doodles to fill the middle of the card. Finished with the Leave A Little Sparkle typography art stamp.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day three: happy spring

It's the third day of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Day 3 prize: $25 gift code to the STAMPlorations store

Yep, you guessed it...I am back with another one layer card. What can I say...it's my favorite card to make (plus I am lousy at creating cards with real layers!). I partially stamped the Coffee Cup Parade border stamp and did some faux collage stamping using my go-to grungy-artsy stamps, Mixed Media Grunge and Art Marks. I "colored" the cups with splatter stamps (Art Marks) and finished the card with a sentiment from Bloomin' Spring Coffee Basket.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day two: bloom and grow

It's the second day of the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway over at STAMPlorations. Every day for 12 days, we're giving away one prize a day to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blogs and participating designers' blogs.

Day 2 prize: Choice of 3 in-stock 3x5 stamp sets ($21 value)

Today's spring-themed project is yet another one layer card. I stamped the Zinnia Row stamp in black and used splatter stamps in the Art Marks set to color the blooms. I also stamped the Darling Dog Roses stamp several times in light ink (Vintage Photo) and finished the card with a sentiment from Sweet Spring Wishes.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

day one: hello sunshine

Over at STAMPlorations, we've got a fun 12-day event that starts right now: the Spring Fling 12 Days of Giveaway. Every day for the next 12 days, we're giving away one prize a day to one lucky crafter who hops and leaves comments on the STAMPlorations blogs and participating designers' blogs.

Day 1 prize: $15 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store

For my spring-themed project, I created a one layer coffee-themed card. I stamped the Finding Coffee background stamp in coffee brown ink and then colored it the lazy Shery way: using the splatter stamps in the Art Marks set. Finished the card with a sentiment from Sweet Spring Wishes.

Have fun with the hop -- commenting closes on April 19, with winners announced on April 22.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

three layouts

It's been ages since I posted here. I've been making a few cards...but for the most part, I've been busy taking care of my two little girls. They're a handful. And full of mischief. And do things every day that make my hair turn gray just a tad. 

Earlier tonight I found myself creating digital layouts. Haven't done so in years. I'd love to create some actual scrapbook pages but I have a non-existent craft area...as my trailer has become a storage space for anything and everything that doesn't fit in the house. I've rearranged and reorganized my craft supplies in there that I don't know where most of the stuff is. 

But I have thousands of photos of my two beautiful girls and I'm dying to do something artsy with them. And so I turn to digital layouts. I love Photoshop styles! Sharing here the three I finished today :o)

hat love

tornado sleeps

treasure hunters

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

friends and dreams

  

  

It's been a while! I'm back to share 4 cards featuring 2 new stamp sets: Beautiful Friends and Blossom Dreams. We've got a little hop over on the STAMPlorations blog with Nancy and Tanja sharing beautiful projects featuring these sets as well. A $20 gift code is up for grabs and one lucky commenter will win it. Commenting closes this Saturday, March 2.

  

This is a quick clean and simple card -- I stamped just the cacti repeatedly along the bottom of my card base, colored it with alcohol markers, stamped the sentiment, and finished with matte enamels.

In my second card, I stamped the dog roses all over the card base in Rusty Hinge DOx ink, sprayed a little water to make the ink bleed a bit, and after it dried, sponged more Rusty Hinge DOx and Antique Linen DOx then stamped the grungy script. I stamped the sentiment and then finished the card with matte enamels.

For my third card, I once again stamped I stamped the dog roses all over the card base. This wouldn't be a quick card if I colored the background so I resorted to my favorite way to color large images: using a few grunge/ink splatter stamps (from this set and this set) and stamping them all over. I rather like the artsy look it gives. Next, I die-cut one of the smaller pierced curly frames, stamped the sentiment, and adhered it to the card base with foam tape.

For  my last card, I white embossed the hibiscus and used Inktense pencils to watercolor the image. I added purple and blue splatters then stamped the sentiment. I think this is my favorite from the lot :o)

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)