Spring and Summer Delights

Good morning! It has warmed up in my part of the country but very cloudy and dreary. We are expecting just a small amount of sleet and snow tomorrow night....nothing like a week ago.

I'm feeling a little pink and girly today. I love pink and brown together and don't use it enough...so here goes!
Yes, the ribbon is pink and brown...not black. I made a card using a lot of brown last week and almost everyone thought it was black and white. It was Chocolate Chip which is a dark brown, so all are forgiven for commenting about my black and white card. LOL Maybe it was my lighting, huh?

This week on Splitcoaststampers, the featured stamper #206 is whoistracy. Wow! Such beautiful work she does! I don't always manage to case the featured stampers but I try as I know how much fun it is to be a featured stamper and have everyone case-ing your cards and giving you wonderful praise. Sure makes a person want to continue with the craft. I saw this awesome card and knew it was the one I wanted to work with. I love hers because it is a Christmas card but I must move on to other images now.

I'm also entering my card into these challenges:
Wee MemoriesWMC39-For the Love of Ribbon - use ribbon on your card
Stamp Something=Anything Goes

I am using my Martha Stewart peg stamp starter kit and I just love it! It has so many stamps and they are so  easy to work with for mixing and matching. It even comes with the ink (4 colors). I used nesabilities, unlike Tracy. It was so much easier for me...and easy is what I needed. I have one panel behind the stamped squares, added a ribbon and that's it! Easy peasy.

Recipe:
Stamps: Martha Stewart peg stamp starter kit
Paper: Stampin'Up! Kraft and Old Olive, PTI white cardstock
Ink: From stamp kit
Accessories: Spellbinders classic square scallop nestabilities, Ribbon from LSS

Lovely Hearts and a Flower Soft Chain

I'm excited this week to play for the first time with The Play Date Cafe. My friend, Colleen, has joined this team as Private Blend Designer. I am sure I am going to love this color challenge. Here are the colors we are challenged to use this week....and I really love them, especially the soft blue.

I used Baja Breeze and stamped it with a polka dot background in white and then clear embossed. For the gold color, I have used a heart charm, sheer ribbon trimmed with gold, and Flower Soft braid for a chain ...can never get enough of it. It is great for hanging ornaments, hearts, etc.
For the silver/gray color, I stamped my heart image in StazOn Dove Gray.

My card is also entered into these challenges:
Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #38 (Mark's Finest Papers)-use hearts on your card
Technique Tuesday TTSC11-polka dotty dots ( I embossed white dots on my cardstock)
TLC308-Silhouettes (hmmm-some of my leaves)

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, Stampabilities-Polka Dot Background
Paper: Stampin'Up! Baja Breeze PTI white cardstock
Ink: StazOn Dove Gray
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Three nestabilitie, heart charm from Mark's Finest Papers, Flower Soft gold sticker (for chain), sheer ribbon trimmed in gold, Cuttlebug textile embossing folder

QFTD43, Tip Top Tuesday, Stamp Something

Quick post today...have so much I need to be doing. But, what is more fun than this?  I made this card for three challenges. One is QFTD43 on Splitcoaststampers. The Queen this week is Judi Rose aka jovialjudi.
Her cards are just gorgeous. I cased this one and wish I had used brighter colors as she did.

Tip Top Tuesday #17-Anything Goes
Stamp Something-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps-Penny Black-Wildflowers, Stampin'Up! French Script
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: EK Success zig zag chain punch, gold brads, clear embossing powder

WT305, Speedy Friends

Today on Splitcoaststampers, the Ways to Use It challenge #305 is all about butterflies. If only they were flitting around in my yard right now. I am truly getting sick of this snow we got. Was so excited to get it but it does get old after a while. It is still beautiful, though. If it would just warm up, I'd be soooooooo happy.

My card is also entered into Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #37. Their challenge is to use embossing.

I have used two different embossing folders, stamped, colored, cut out, and spritzed my butterfly and placed it among the tulips....just where I think it would love to be.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Hearts, Hearts, Hearts
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers-Corn Husk cardstock, Green is from Grandma's Hope Chest, and white cs
Ink: Stampin'Up! soft suede
Accessories: Cuttlebug Art Deco (pkg of 4) embossing folders, Cuttlebug textile ef, flowers, leaf, ribbon, and brad are from Mark's Finest Papers, gold brad from Mark Richards, Copics

Stampin B's Challenge - Use a Die Cut

This week our hostess for the Stampin B's Design Team, faith aka markie's mom, gave the challenge #93 to use a die cut. O.K., mine is small, but it is there. I used the Spellbinders Blossom die cut to make a sentiment piece. If you would like to play along, and we hope you will, just use the inlinkz to upload your card.

Most of my card is made from paper and images from Mark's Finest Papers. I really didn't want to cover that beautiful rose on my paper but just couldn't be helped. I love that paper. I did a little distressing on the panel behind my heart and wish I had done more. Don't know about you but I love that crinkled ribbon. I'll have to be careful not to put it on every card. LOL

I am also entering my card into these challenges:

Woodware USA #9 - Use Hearts
One Stitch at a Time #9 - Love and Valentine
Bunny Zoe Crafts #8- Love is in the Air

Recipe:
Stamp: Heart and sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers-Hearts, Hearts, Hearts
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, all other paper is from Mark's Finest Papers -Grandma's Hope Chest
Ink: Memento-Potter's Clay
Accessories: crinkle ribbon, Flower and brad included in Grandma's Hope Chest paper pkg. from Mark's Finest Papers, Spellbinders blossom die cut

No Card-Just Snow and Birds

I have a couple of pictures I wanted to share with you. Yes, we had snow in the Southern U.S. this week and it is just beautiful. Not having much around here, we really get excited when it does come. I measured an area in my front yard and it was 10 1/2". My hubby measured a chaise lounge on the patio and there was 8" on top of it. Now, this is not the biggest snow I've seen...16" is the most I've ever seen.

My neighbor is away on a cruise...lucky her, although she is a bit sad she is missing the snow. I am pet sitting for her and took this picture in her back yard. The crape myrtle was just full of cardinals and other birds. She has several bird feeders beside this tree so this was a stopping off place to rest while other birds ate.

O.K., that's it...won't bore all of you people who have more snow every year than you know what to do with. I'm sure it would get old after a while. Now, I'm ready for Spring and hot summer. Bring it on!! LOL

Flourishes Flowers

Flourishes Timeless Tuesdays challenge calls for flowers on your card or project. Well, guess what? We are expecting snow any time now...not pretty pansies as I have used. Yes, we are all excited and hoping the snow doesn't miss us because we just don't get much of the white stuff. I have chili fixins' and hot chocolate and all the warm foods and drinks ready.

I'm trying my hand with Copics. I usually do watercoloring with a brush but decided to give this a try.
I think I am going to enjoy them and will try to practice and watch tutorials so I can get better and better.

My card is to honor Julie aka UKJEM on Splitcoaststampers. She has a beautiful gallery of cards and I chose to case this one. Mine certainly has more color than hers but I did mostly keep her sketch.

My card is also for:
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge (FTTC99) use a flower on your card or project.
I am using Flourishes March pansy in the Calendar Set 1-January through April

Mark's Finest Papers -Speedy the Cat's Friends #37-use embossing on your card


Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Calendar Set 1-January through April
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, all other unknown
Ink: Memento London Fog, Memento Desert Sand for sponging
Accessories: Cuttlebug script embossing folder, misc. buttons, Copics, crinkled ribbon, Spellbinders square scallop nestabilitie

Sweet Baby Boy

I made my card today for the QFTD42 challenge on Splitocoaststampers. The Queen being honored is Pat aka foxy67. I cased this card. I don't make many baby cards but was really in need of one for another SCS
stamper, Pat Smethers. She has just had or very close to having her first grandchild...a baby boy.

I am showing the inside of the card because I just love what it says. I have a baby sticker with this quote and
can't part with it. I actually bought it when I was scrapbooking and was going to use it when I had grandchildren. I never scrapbook anymore, though. I still want to use it in some way. I used a Fancy Tag by Spellbinders and computer generated this one. To frame the sentiment, I am using the outside of the die cut from the square scallop on the front of the card.

My card is fairly simple using some paper I bought sometime ago at a scrapbook store and  adding what I am calling rick rack using a zig zag chain punch. At this same store, I found those these tiny buttons. They are perfect for baby cards and they were also in pink and white. Wish I had more, but the scrapbook store has closed, unfortunately. I embossed my image..stamped in Frost White ink. I just love the sweet image.

I am entering my card into these challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown #30-Use embossing
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges #54-Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamp-American Art Stamp(no name)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, designer paper from scrapbook store (no name)
Ink: ColorBox-Frost White
Accessories: EK Success zig zag punch, Spellbinders Fancy Tags, Spellbinders square scallop die cut, tiny blue buttons, clear embossing powder

Friend to Friend-Stampin B's Design Team

I had Blogger issues last night and finally went to bed without getting my card uploaded for the Stampin B's
Design Team . Stayed up until all hours and now here I am about 4 hours later getting it done.
Joanne challenged us to use and old favorite along with something brand spankin' new. My new is the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus tag I'm using. It was a Christmas present and I've used one of the tags from the
package already but not this one. I love these new tags that die cut, emboss, and let you sponge while still
in the die cut. My old favorite is my textile embossing folder. It is my favorite of all the folders I have.

I first did my card in red, black, and white which are my usual colors for Valentine cards but I just wasn't happy and this color came coming to mind and I was forced to make my card again..and I like it.

If you would like to join the Stampin B's this week, just load your card or project using the Inlinkz or if uploading to Splitcoaststampers, use the keyword StampinB.

This card also fits: Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #36 to use something new.
Pile It on-Use something brand spankin' new
Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings #15-Something new plus ribbon

Recipe:
Stamp: Studiog-(no name) another old favorite
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, designer paper is Miss Elizabeth
Ink: Stampin'Up! Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Plus-embossed tags, Elastic sparkle stretch cord, Offray ribbon-old/gold,
Say It With Studs by Prima Mktg., clear embossing powder

FS Marisa and More

Finally...I'm here with a card. Seems like it has been a while. I cased this card for the Featured Stamper on  Splitcoaststampers this week. The FS is Marisa aka whiterockmama and she is a blogging pal and good friend and I am so happy to see her honored. She has a fabulous gallery and I chose this card to case. I went with a Valentine card instead of the Christmas ornament
.
Also, my card is for the Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers to use red, white, silver or gray, and a dessert option of a ribbon. I have more gold than silver but there is silver in the brad.

I used some gorgeous white paper from a local scrapbook store and it didn't have a name on it but it was already embossed. I crimped my small piece of designer paper but don't think the crimping shows. My punched heart layer is topped with a piece of white cardstock and used Flower Soft gold stickers for the chain to hang the heart. Added a couple ribbons and brad and that's it.

I am entering my card into these challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #39: Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft Challenge: #123-White is White (make your project or card predominately white)
Southern Girls Challenge-#9: Anything Goes

Recipe:
No stamps and no ink
Paper: Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler, white embossed cardstock with unknown name from local scrapbook store, PTI white cardstock, other designer paper is unknown
Accessories: Flower Soft gold sticker for chain, Fiskars heart border punch, Say it With Studs brad by Prima Marketing, sheer gold ribbon, Stampin'Up! Olive Green grosgrain ribbon, Spellbinders Classic Heart die cut