Inspired Stamps- Whimisical Tree Christmas



Hello Everyone! 
It is time for the weekly Inspired Stamps DT post.  This week we were challenged to make Christmas themed projects.  Please check out my fellow DT blogs (their links are located under the Inspired Stamps DT logo) and visit the Inspired Stamps store to see these sets and many more.  Please check out Antoinette's blog for details on the Operation Write Home (OWH) blog hop this Saturday, October 1.  This is such a neat way of sharing your "missing you" and "love you" cards with the men and women serving in our military.

Using the pine tree from Whimsical Tree set (Inspired Stamps).

I masked the center tree and stamped the trees on either side.

I colored the trees with Copic markers and used my colorless blender to create the plaid pattern.

I added red gems to tree tops.  The sentiment is from Perfect Sentiment set (Inspired Stamps)



Inside of card:  I used Isaiah 9:6 verse from the Christmas Verses set (Inspired Stamps)



Card details:

Stamps: Whimsical Trees, Perfect Sentiments, Christmas Verses, Inspired Stamps

Ink: tuxedo black and rich cocoa, Memento

Paper: Kraft card base, DCWV; white cardstock, Wausau; old olive and real red, SU!

Tools: Spellbinder dies; Cuttlebug folder

Embellishments:  red checked ribbon, recycled from Bath and Body Works gift; red gems, Michael's; red button with twine

Thank you so much for stopping by to see my post, I would love it if you would leave me a comment.  The comments really make my day.  Please stop by each of my DT member blogs and see their creations as well. Have a blessed day!

Sweet Bundle of Joy

Hello Happy Wednesday!  It is happy for me because I can try to catch up on things that need to be done, like laundry and paperwork.  I know you are saying those things make you happy?  No, not technically those things, but I do like to know that things are in good order and that I am taking care of my family's needs.  So I am happy that I have a little extra time to work on the things that help my family.
Here is a baby card, I recently made for a sweet couple who had their third baby.  Can you tell from the card that the baby is a little girl?  I hope so.  Babies are such precious bundles of joy, perfect gifts from God.  I recently purchased the accordian fold flower die (Tim Holtz, Sizzix) and I just had to use it.  So here is what I came up with.  It is not your traditional baby card, but hopefully it works.
Card details:
Stamps: baby set (Martha Stewart); baby girl (Fiskars)
Ink: angel pink, rose bud (Memento)
Tools: border punch (Martha Stewart); accordian flower die (Sizzix); leaf (Sizzix die); birds on branches embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Embellishments: prima flowers and pink gems (Michael's); sticky threads (stem)
Come back and visit me tomorrow (Thursday) for another Inspired Stamps post with a Christmas theme.
Thanks for stopping by.  I love your comments they make my day brighter.

Inspired Stamps Fall Cards

Hello Everyone!  Happy Thursday.  Fall is in the air and that is what this weeks Inspired Stamps Blog post is all about.  Each DT member has created their own Fall themed card using different Inspired Stamps stamps. 
I chose to stamp it 3 ways. I love the colors of Fall, so I chose to use rust, mustard and olive to depict the leaves changing color.  I could not decide how I wanted to display my focal image (Whimsical Trees), so I tried several techniques.  The top card was made using glossy white cardstock and embossing the trees with clear embossing powder and then inking over the image with really rust, old olive and more mustard inks (resist embossing).  I used the ticket Sizzix die for large and small tickets.  The sentiment is from the Perfect Sentiments set. 

 The second card was made with watercolor paper  and watercolor crayons (same colors as listed above) to create the background.  I then heat embossed the trees with brown embossing powder.  I used the smaller trees in the Whimsical Trees set to stamp on the twill ribbon and colored with SU! markers in old olive and more mustard.

The scripture was and individual scripture verse, Inspired Stamps.

The third card was stamped in black onyx Versafine and colored with Prisma pencils.  It is very bright and cheery.  For the last two cards I used different Spellbinders dies to cut out focal image and matte as well as scallops.  It was a lot of fun to stamp it 3 ways and to get very different looking and feeling cards.  Please leave me a comment, I love to hear from you all. Also please use the links on the left hand side to visit my DT members blogs and look at their beautiful fall creations.  Have a Blessed day and thanks for stopping by and looking.  Please feel free to use the link to the Inspired Stamps store to see these stamps and many more, including last weeks new September releases.

Bowling Birthday Treat bags

 Hello Everyone, 

We had a very busy weekend.  Everyone going this way and that.  My middle daughter celebrated her birthday.  She wanted a bowling party this year.  We invited boys and girls.  I needed to make the treat bags with items appropriate for all.

I decided to use small brown paper sacks (which I purchased at Sam's Club) as the base.  I cut a scalloped circle from white cardstock and the circle from red cardstock that I embossed with Cuttlebug folder for some texture.  I wanted to simulate the wood texture of a bowling lane, but I do not own a wood grain embossing folder.  I used a sticker as a template to trace my bowling pins (I used two layers, sticking together with foam tape).  I hand drew black outline of the pin.  I used scor tape to add the red ribbon embellishment at top of pin.  The bowling ball was a 1 and one quarter inch circle (one black, one white).  I added small holes with Crop- a- dile for finger holes.  I adhered the layers with foam tape.  I coated the top of ball with Glossy accents.  I made the girl bowling balls pink and the boy bowling balls black.

I used mini composition books for the boys and cut white circle and stamped the Boy Basics: Out of this World set, PTI.  I colored the rocket and flame with Copic markers.  I used the coordinating dies to cut out the rocket, moon and star.  I used foam tape to adhere these elements.

My son made each of the boys a beadie baby.  These are his own creations, because he did not consult a pattern.  My son also made a wrist watch out of beads (not shown).

I hand sewed pencil topper for each of the girls.  These were from an AG kit.  They turned out so cute. In each goodie bag was a coordinating pencil and notebook.  For the girls I found these cute glittered spiral notebooks to which I added the foam flowers.  The kids also received a fruit roll up, pack of gum and pack of life savers at my dd request.  These were fun to put together.  Thanks for stopping by and looking.  I would love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment.

Sending up Knee-Mail

Hello Everyone,
Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday.  I am admidst several projects, which I will share at another time, but I just wanted to share this CAS card.  I love the sentiment, how clever!
In our fast paced, hustle and bustle, e-mail at the ready way of communicating, we need to slow down and remember to get our our knees and send up a prayer for those around us.  What encouragement to receive a card that lets you know that someone has got on their knees on your behalf.
Card details:
Stamps: sentiment, Insprired Stamps; library card, PTI; flowers, Garden Words, Inkadinkado
Ink: dandelion, tangerine, lady bug and tuxedo black, Memento
Paper: real red cardstock, SU!; white, Wausau; dp, DCWV
Tools: floral Cuttlebug folder
Embellishments: orange ribbon, OTC
Please leave me a comment. I love to hear from you all.  Have a blessed day!

Inspired Stamps September Release

 Hello Everyone,

It is release week for Inspired Stamps and here is a sneak peak at two of the stamp sets I have had the privilege to work with this week, they and the entire release will be available Friday, September 16th at noon in the Inspired Stamps store.  The two new sets are called Choir Angel (HLO)  and Sing for Joy.  The angel's parts are all separate so you can make him any way you would like.  I made him like he was floating in the clouds, singing praise unto the Lord.

Open view with 2 Samuel 22:50 from Sing for Joy set.  The music strip on the front of the card is also from the Sing for Joy set.  The rest of the images are from the Choir Angel set.

Here is a close up of that sweet Choir Angel.  I used Stickles on his wings and halo and colored him with Copic markers.  I sponged clouds in background using a mask.

Card details:

Stamps: Choir Angel (HLO), Sing for Joy, Inspired Stamps

Paper: White cardstock, Wausau; Hawaiian Shores, PTI

Tools: Lacey ovals, Spellbinders; open scalloped border punch, Fiskars; circle punch, oval punch lg. Fiskars; word window punch, SU!; music embossing folder, Cuttlebug

Techniques: asymmetrical gate fold, embossed large side with embossing folder, inked cloud background behind angel, colored angel with Copic markers.

Embellishments: gem stones colored with Copics, turquoise grosgrain ribbon (source unknown), Stickles for wings and halo 

Please be sure to visit the other DT members blogs for each day this week two DT members will showcase two new releases.  Thank you for visiting and please let me know what you think of my card and these two new releases by leaving me a comment. 

I have another announcement, last week Antoinette said she would give away 2 prizes to two random comment givers, but she changed her mind and chose 8 winners!!!!  SaraMac you are the winner from my blog, congratulations!  You need to select from the inspired stamps store your favorite His Little One character (new release HLOs included) and contact Antoinette by Friday, September 16 11:59pm with your choice and mailing address.  Congratulations again Sara and thank you for leaving me a comment.

God Bless and have a great day!

Unity Blog Hop: Gratitude=Joy

And Now.... Time For Friends With Flair

Unity Stamps

Here is the card I made for the Unity Blog Hop.  I think this was $5.00 Friday set a while back.  It is called Gratitude = Joy.  I make many thank you cards and other general encouragement cards and I thought this set would be perfect. 

Card details:
Stamps: flower and sentiment (Gratitude=Joy), Unity
Ink:  Tuxedo black, Memento
Paper: Simply Chartreuse, PTI; white cardstock, Wausau; dp (unknown source)
Techniques: distress ink (Linen); colored image with Copics; masking (to stamp second flower)
Tools: Lacey circles and Fancy tags (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: ribbon (Michael's store)
I would love to hear from you, please leave me a comment.  Have a great weekend.

Inspired Stamps Design Team Announced

 I am privileged to announce that I have been chosen to be on the Design Team for Inspired Stamps this Fall.  Inspired Stamps is an online clear stamp company, which manufacture scripture stamps for all occasions and these cute little characters, like the one seen here.  The stamps are made in the USA and are very affordable, check out the store by clicking on the girl character in my side bar.

This card was made with Psalm 23 stamp from the Lord is My Shepherd stamp set (6) and the Boy Praying (1)( His Little Ones), which I colored with Copic markers.  

Card details:

Stamps: The Lord is My Shepherd and Boy Praying (His Little Ones), Inspired Stamps

Ink: Tuxedo black, Memento

Paper: White cardstock, Wausau; buckaroo blue and more mustard, SU!

Tools: Spell binders dies, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Here is a close up of this sweet little praying boy, those big eyes.  Don't you just love him.  You need to check out the other character stamps at www.inspiredstamps.com .  Please check out my other design team members blogs.  Next week we will be posting the September release stamp sets.  Please come back and see the new sets and the beautiful creations.  Also check out Antoinette's blog, she is running a contest the whole month of September for Operation Write Home (OWH).  OWH sends cards to the men and women in the armed forces for them to use to write home to family and friends.  If you love to make cards, here is a way to touch lives and possibly win great prizes. I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment.  Antoinette is selecting a few random comment leavers to win one of His Little Ones stamps as a token of her love and appreciation for you showing your love and kindness to the Fall DT. Thank you in advance and have a blessed day!

Mobile Phone Enabled

You can now follow me from your mobile phone.  I have enabled my blog to viewed from mobile phones.  Let me know what you think.
Have a great day (hopefully you are off work and resting, spending time with your family or crafting)

Make it Monday PTI Challenge

This week for the Make it Monday Challenge we were supposed to "kick it old school" and use color pencils.  I chose to use Up, up and away set with coordinating dies for balloons and clouds.  I chose to outline the clouds in stickles to emphasize the silver lining sentiment.

Up close look at clouds and balloons.

I have a question for anyone out there.  I purchased the tin of Prisma pencils a while back and was discouraged when I sharpened them that some of the pencil leads kept falling out, some of the pencils were very short by the time I got a point.  I purchased the manual pencil sharpener from Prisma as recommended.  I was so discouraged I put them up.  I just pulled them out again for this challenge.  I love how they blend, but still having trouble with the points breaking off, has anyone experienced this?  Do you have any tips or pointers for me?  I would love to be able to use these on a regular basis. 
Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer me.

Happy Birthday- PTI Anniversary set

Hello again, here is another birthday card.  For most of these cards I tried to add something extra to the inside of the card.
Stamps: PTI anniversary set
Ink: rich cocoa, dandelion and cantaloupe, Memento; old olive, SU!
Paper: real red, SU!; harvest gold, PTI; white cardstock, Wausau
Tools: Spellbinder dies
Techniques: rock and roll, used dandelion and rolled edges in canteloupe before stamping.
Embellishments: gems colored with red Copic marker
Have a great labor day weekend.  I know my family is going to enjoy some time off.  Please let me know what you think.  I just love this set, so simple yet beautiful.

Birthday Wishes- Basket of Flowers

I recently made birthday cards for a friend, so I had to come up with many different versions.  I remembered a SU! hostess set I got years ago called Basket Full of Fun.  It caught my eye when I earned it because it is so versatile.  But as many of you know, when you purchase new stamps and tools, some of the old stamps and tools become neglected.  So it was for this set, I have not used it in years but here it is looking as cute as I remember it.  So gals, here is a challenge for you, go back into your neglected stashes and see what you can make.
Stamps: image, Basket Full of Fun, SU!; sentiment, Tea for Two, PTI
Ink: Tuxedo black, Memento
Paper: Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse and dp, PTI; white cardstock, Wausau
Tools:  Embossing folder, Sizzix; corner rounder, EK Success
Techniques: Copic marker coloring
Embellishments:  aqua ribbon, Martha Stewart

Let me know what you think.