Flourishes and Friends

Hurry, hurry, hurry! I have visitors arriving today and will be here through the weekend. I wanted to play in the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday blog challenge #125 challenge today...really bad. LOL So, I ran to the craft room and got busy. Their challenge this week is to make a friend card and you must have the word 'friend' in the sentiment.

I had a terrible time with this card because I could not find the designer paper I wanted to use. Probably because I was in a hurry. In the end, I think I am happy with it.
I am using two of Flourishes sets, FRIENDLY REMINDERS for the sentiment and A YEAR IN FLOWERS CALENDAR Set 3 - Sept thru December. Well, it's July but I guess that's close enough.

I used a good bit of stickles on the butterfly and centers of flowers and some greenery around the sentiment. Colored with Copics. I used a corner punch at the top. Of course, I sponged with my  Memento Dandelion ink which I love.

Also, I'm entering my card into the  Divas by Design challenge #5-die cuts and/or punches. I certainly used several of those.

Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Friendly Reminders (sentiment) and Calendar Set 3 (Sept. thru Dec.)
Paper: Stampin'Up Perfect Plum and So Saffron, Georgia Pacific for image, unknown dp
Ink: Memento Dandelion and Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilitie (Deckled), SU circle punch, EK Success punch for greenery, yellow stickles, Martha Stewart laurel leaf punch for corners, Martha Stewart classic butterfly punch, gemstones, Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder

Stampin' B's --- Beach Scene

This week,  Anne with the Stampin' B's Design Team asked that we do a beach scene and include sand-real or stamped. I used Flower Soft (sand) for mine.
I'm using a Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamp set called Seaside for my image and sentiment. I think it is really sweet. I colored with Copic and used a 'punch around the page' by Martha Stewart called called Beach Shells and a crab punch by Martha Stewart.
We hope you'll join us this week for challenge #118 and link your card or project to the inlinkz tool here.

Challenges I'm entering:
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations #71-Summer
Oldie But a Goodie #22-Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge #74-On the Beach

Recipe:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps-Seaside
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Navy cs from Hobby Lobby, dp is Memories in the Making-Surf's Up-Toile
Ink: Stampin'Up! Rich Cocoa, Memento Dandelion
Accessories: Martha Stewart 'punch around the page'-Beach Shells, Martha Stewart crab punch, Flower Soft-sand, Copics

Christmas in July at Tuesday Throwdown

This week at Tuesday Throwdown #56,  we are being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish and have been given these adorable images to use. Christmas cards are my favorite to make so I had no trouble getting this put together. I decided to make some 3 x 3 note cards and put them in the little box I made using a Sizzix Scoreboards Die. It is a box w/scallop flap and flowers. I didn't use the flowers and added a snowflake instead. Or, you could use these as gift tags by just adding an eyelet and stringing some ribbon through in the top, left corner. They would be adorable hanging on a gift package with your 'to' and 'from' inside.
I did an out of the box on the one with the long, green ribbon and added stars, fir, corners on the others after coloring with Copics and putting together.

My recipe is below. We hope you'll join Tuesday Throwdown this week so we can see your Christmas creations.

Challenges entered: KB Cute Monday #20-Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges #31-Twas the Night Before Christmas-(my packages are wrapped with note cards or tags attached)


Recipe:
Images by Robyn's Fetish-Christmas Bear, Christmas Lamp Post, Christmas Wreath, Christmas Twee
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up!  Cherry Cobble cardstock  and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Ivory white matboard from Hobby Lobby's art dept., Martha Stewart fir punch, red and yellow gemstones, snowflake, corner punch, Copics, adhesive stars, Labels 3 Spellbinders nestabilitie, Spellbinders circle and Blossom nestabilities

For a Queen

Just a quick post as I'm a busy girl. Of course, tomorrow is the 4th of July and then on Thursday, my son, his wife, and little munchkin will be arriving for about a 5 day visit. My other son, wife, and two little munchkins will arrive and stay for a while, also. They only live two hrs. away so I see them often. The other one is almost 9 hrs. away.

I did this card for a friend, Nancy aka nwilliams6 (another Alabama girl) who was crowned Queen for the Day...actually for the week..on Splitcoaststampers this past Friday. I was going out of town and didn't get it posted that day. I cased this card of Nancy's. Well, kind of..I did get off the sketch a bit but I think she sees the resemblance.

I made the flower and added some greenery, sponged butterflies that were run throught the textile embossing folder,  and a sentiment. I was really wanting to use this paper as I love birds

Wishing my American friends a Happy July 4th.

Recipe:
Stamps- Flourishes - Humming Along
Paper- The Paper Studio (Birdwatcher Beauties), PTI white cardstock, Bo Bunny Orange citrus dot (opposite side)
Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Accessories: Spellbinders Shapeabilities Floral Doily Motif, Spellbinders Blossom die cut for making flower, Smooch Spritz, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Foliage die cuts, Martha Stewart fir punch and classic butterfly punch, rhinestones, Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder for butterflies

Cyclamen from the Garden

This week the hostess of the Stampin' B's Design Team, Faith, asked us to use two different dies and piercing on our card. Well, I ended up with three dies but because there are no rules on our challenge, I'm A-OK. The piercing was done with the die still in the nestabilitie making it really easy.  This is for challenge #117. We hope you'll play along. If so, just use the inlinkz tool to upload your card.

I'm using a Flourishes image called A Year in Flowers-calendar set 3- for my image. I chose Cyclamen and did a bit of masking and stamped the image twice. I really love it. I colored with Copics and gave the white area some sponging with Memento Dandelion ink. The sentiment is also from a Flourishes set called Seeds of Friendship. I am entering my card into the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday blog challenge #124. Tammy Hershberger gave us this wonderful sketch this week. Oops! I guess I didn't exactly do the circle as shown on the right side.

Over at Mark's Finest Papers, Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge is given by my good friend, Carol Hurlock. She asked that we use a lot of sparkle and bling. I have added the green rhinestones and some sparkle (which may or may not show up very much in my photo) from my Gelly Roll pen, along with a flower button.

For Your Inspiration #8 has a lovely scene for getting you inspired: I loved the earthy tones of the cliffs along with the  green bushes and vines.

Also, my card will be entered into the Splitcoaststampers Fan Club challenge. Their monthly them is 'Text Me'. I computer generated my text which was found at Wikipedia.

Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes-A Year in Flowers-calendar set 3, Flourishes Seeds of Friendship
Paper: PTI white cardstock, ColorMates Deep Caribbean Coral, designer paper is BasicGrey/Curio
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Dandelion
Accessories: Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle nestabilitie, Spellbinders nested pennants, green rhinestones, button from Jo-Ann Stores, piercer, text from Wikipedia, Celebrate It ribbon

Two Blog Awards

The first award I'm showing is from Dr. Sonia S V at Cards, Crafts, and Kids Projects. Thank you so much Dr. Sonia! You should visit her blog as she has some very interesting projects. I'm thinking soon she may start stamping cards as her interest may have peaked on that craft after winning some stamps from blog candy, Right, Sonia? I say that with a smile.
I am to list 7 things about myself and pass on to 7 others bloggers.

1. I love needlepoint pillows and framed needlepoint.
2. I sing in two choirs (sometimes just one) as I have been slack in my church choir recently.
3. I don't really like to cook...just eat.
4. I have three grandchildren 2 yrs. and under.
5. I love to work in my yard.
6. Love Mexican and Italian foods.
7. I love shopping for just about anything...crafts, decorative items for my house, baby items, clothes...on and on.



On to the next award:

This award is from Asmita at Ruchi Art and Craft. Please visit her blog as she makes some lovely things, too.  Thank you so much for this Award! I am glad you thought I was deserving.  Gosh, it makes me want to go the market and buy some luscious strawberries and make a pie or whatever. There is so much to do with those wonderful berries.
Now, I am to do the same thing to accept this award as with the first one.

1. I don't watch much tv but listen to the tv news all day.
2. My favorite color is..........hmmmm..maybe turquoise.
3. I LOVE going to the beach.
4. I don't have any pets, but love dogs.
5. I am trying to quit staying up so very late at night commenting on cards and uploading (bad habit).
6. I don't get a lot of sleep.
7. I have never had a hobby I like as much as card making.



Now, as I am not sure I can narrow this down to 14 people and not leave out anyone, I am just saying to each person that visits my blog, consider yourself deserving and pick up the award if you like because I know you are all very talented.
Hope that is o.k. with you Dr. Sonia and Asmita.

Tuesday Throwdown-MyGrafico--double flap card

Good Tuesday morning to you! This morning I have some good news to share. I have been asked to join the Tuesday Throwdown blog challenge girls as a Design Team member and I look forward to working with each one.
This week MYGRAFICO is our sponsor and gave us some lovely, pre-colored florals to work with. The name is called Spotsy Dotsy Floral Collection.There are a lot of elements, borders and papers in the collection.
I saw this double flap card at Dawn's Stamping Studio and wanted to give it a try. There is a video and the card is really easy to make. I curled my flower a bit with the stylus, put some greenery behind it that I punched out, and added a butterfly punched out of red glitter paper.
I'm using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots  and my favorite, Textile, embossing folders.



My left flap opens and show the sentiment. I used a Happy Birthday sentiment and it could be Happy Birthday America (as we are doing red, white, and blue) or it could just be a birthday card for anyone.

You can open the right flap and this is where you can write a note. I added some plain paper for writing as I had embossed this area. I also printed out the same flower as on the front, just a smaller version, and added to the top of the notecard...just for a pretty touch.

Hope you'll join us at the Tuesday Throwdown challenge.

Challenges I'm entering:
Sentimental Sundays #61-Use patriotic colors and a sentiment
Penny's Paper Crafty #56-red, white, and blue
Scrapbook Sisters #41-card challenge/Anything Goes

Recipe:
Image: MYGRAFICO-Spotsy Dotsy Floral Collection, Mark's Finest Papers-Hearts, Hearts, Hearts (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy, Old Olive, Baja Breeze,  Real Red, misc. red glitter paper
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folders-Swiss Dots and Textile, Martha Stewart fir punch and classic butterfly punch, Spellbinders nested pennants

Island Beauty

I love Rubber Stamp Tapestry's 3 peg stamp sets. They're easy to use and there is so much you can make with them. Today I'm using their Island Beauty set and just mixing up the colors.

The QFTD66 on Splitcoaststampers is Marie aka momof5sons and I cased this card of hers, changing the stamp set, turning my card, and using a different sentiment and colors. Just mostly kept her design.

Challenges:
Moving Along with the Times #104-Clean and Simple
4 Crafty Chicks-Clean and Simple-no more than 2 layers
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #118-Clean and Simple

Recipe:
Stamps: Rubber Stamp Tapestry Island Beauty, Stampin'Up! Well Scripted
Paper: PTI white cardstock
Ink: Memento Purple hydrangea, Spring pansy, Angel pink, Bamboo leaves, Pear Tart
Accessories: Go with the Grain ribbon

Stampin' B's----Diamond Fold

I love trying new techniques so this week I decided to make a diamond fold card.  I went through 2-3 different papers before I found one that was as strong as needed (that wouldn't tear on the scores). I thought this would be a great card for my Stampin' B's Design Team card. Joanne asked that we use a friendship sentiment.
I won this stamp set, Planted With Love, recently from Mark's Finest Papers. I think it is such a good set for summer and I had a lot of fun with it.
The tutorial for this technique can be found here on Splitcoaststampers.


Below is the card after it is unfolded. You should give it a try. It did take me quite a bit of time to make
but mostly because of the problem with the cardstock I was using. I was wishing I had a piece of good cardstock in 12 x12 for the base (which you need) but all my good go to was 11".


I used several items making this card and the recipe is at the end of this post.

The Stampin' B's hope you will join us. If so, just link with the inlinkz tool here.

I have a few challenges I want to enter:
Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #60-make a card with at least one button
Stamp Something-Make something with pretty papers.
Make it Monday-#42-inspirational creations
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge Blog #33-Use red
Hooked on Craft Challenges #1-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Planted with Love, Blackberries, Sunflowers, and Bees (sentiment)
Paper: Base (unknown), Stampin'Up! Real Red, PTI white cardstock, designer paper is a Cosmo Cricket Mini Deck pad called Salt Air
Ink: Sponged the doilies and MS corner punch piece with Memento Aloe Vera, Memento Tuxedo Black for image
Accessories: Copics, Martha Stewart Laurel Leaf corner punch, Martha Stewart doily, Sizzix branch with leaves die cut, BigBag buttons from Michael's, Spellbinders nested pennants die cut

My Big Yellow Flower

Today on Splitcoaststampers, the Queen for the Day #65 is Vicki Dutcher. I wanted to case this card of hers.  I am mostly just keeping the sketch. I am using a big flower instead of a butterfly and different papers/ribbon. I want to enter it into the Dirty Dozen Monthly Theme challenge on SCS which is 'Text Me' so I used my text background stamp.

Use it Tuesday #9-Use your unused dies, punches, cut-outs.  Mine is the large flower die cut by Sizzix  called Flower, Beauty Bloom that I've had for about a month and never used. I did my flower with Stampin'Up! Crushed Curry and a soft Martha Stewart yellow paper and sponged the tips on the middle layer with SU Crushed Curry ink.

Southern Girls Challenge #21-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampendous Dream Text, Stampin'Up! Vintage Labels (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Crushed Curry,  Martha Stewart yellow cs,  ColorBok designer paper
Ink: Stampin'Up! Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Sizzix Die-Flower, Beauty Bloom, Martha Stewart Double Loop punch (showing one loop only), sponge, Offray ribbon, EK Sucess brad, gemstones Stampin'Up! oval punch