Tuesday, July 30, 2019

You're Wheelie Great


This is an "I-love-you-and-am-so-proud-of-you" card.  The sentiment is just so perfect for that kind of greeting, and Newton is so very cute zipping by on his scooter. 

I am entering this in Tuesday Throwdown's Challenge to create a card with furry friends and in the Inky Paws Challenge with its summer theme.  What's more summer-y  than scootin' around under the hot sun and drinking out of the water hose?  We did that... ride bikes all day and drink out of the hose...kids don't so much anymore. 


Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Monday, July 29, 2019

"Tis the Season for Pie


In our family's celebration of Christmas, we truly do attempt to worship Jesus and to emphasize that His coming is what is truly important about the season.  We do have a little pie, too....

Likewise, it is time to spend the last week of summer vacation getting both  the house and my classroom in tip top shape.  That means:  I need to close the craft room door.  However, I left just a tiny treat....all the elements for these tags are cut, stamped, and in a bag ready to be assembled.  If I get my chores completed, there will be a little time for these cute tags to be completed.

Just a heads-up:  The Reverse confetti stamp set "Easy as Pie" and the coordinating dies are being retired.  They are on sale, and the price is a good one.  The tag, topper, and smaller layered tag are RC products, as well.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge
The Cats Pajamas (Christmas in July)
Shopping our Stash (Christmas in July)

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Have a Very Merry Christmas


As summer comes to a close, I am mass-producing Christmas tags.  I enjoy the process now and have so much fun adorning gifts with handmade elements during the busy holiday season. This set of 18 tags is identical with the exception of the floral elements.  I used each of the four designs from PTI's Bitty Bouquets stamped in red and green.  These tiny stems are just so cute.  The red and white layers were cut from Reverse Confetti Circles and Scallops dies.  I wanted to add a little green, and there was a perfectly sized circle in MFT's Cross Stitched Circles Stax.  I still love to use the beautifully lettered sentiments from Verve's Peace on Earth set.  I'll add some red and white baker's twine to my tags when it's time to add them to bags.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
The Cat's Pajamas (Christmas in July)
Shopping our Stash (Christmas in July)

You are appreciated


It's so funny that this week's SSS challenge is a Back to School theme because I recently created a collection of said cards for a friend's children.  As a teacher and a mom, I know that the beginning of school is a time of big adjustment.  It's hard to get back into a routine after a couple of months of sleeping in and of a schedule centered around keeping cool and having lots of fun.  I was blessed with a youngster who really enjoyed school, but the morning times were tough!  He was a little extra excited about the first day of school if he had a card or simple gift for his new teacher.

This one was created using left over apples from my previous project, and all the papers and die cuts came out of my presently overflowing "extras" bin.  It was a good feeling to use some bits and pieces to bring the fun Sunday Stamps sketch to life.

Thanks for taking a look and have a great week,
Christine

Linking to:
Sunday Stamps:  Sketch
SSS Wednesday Challenge:  Back to School Theme
Word Art Wednesday:  A/G

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Jeremiah 29:11 for the Graduate


There is a special college graduation to celebrate in a couple of weeks, and I love to use Jeremiah 29:11 for this occasion.  I enjoyed framing the sweet scripture with flowers from PTI's Gran's Garden.

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday

Thursday, July 25, 2019

God is Able


This card comes with prayers for fellow crafter, Larissa Pittman, and her husband who are both struggling with health issues.  You can read about their situation here and join in prayer and support for their needs.

Color Throwdown provided the palette for this card featuring Gina K Designs Sunspot stencil, PTI Gran's Garden stamps and dies, and a pretty mandala die from MFT.  I enjoyed putting it all together.


Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Color Throwdown
Word Art Wednesday
Petals for the Pittmans



Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Snowman Tag



I just finished twenty of these little tags, working on the elements first, and then putting them together assembly line style.  They will be set aside for gifts of Christmas baked goods. I placed the little snowman from Verve's Jolly Jingles over a starry panel by Reverse Confetti to simulate a snowy sky.   The base is a simple stitched rectangle, and I punched a Martha Stewart snowflake from glitter paper,  tucking it behind the snowman to add a bit of sparkle. While working on these, I tried to convince myself I felt a little cooler than the meteorologist says it is. 

Hope you are keeping cool.  Thanks for taking a look,

Christine

Linking to:
Choux Choux Paper Arts Christmas in July
The Cat's Pajamas Christmas in July
Mod Squad All that Sparkles


Happy Birthday to You


I enjoy playing along with the Inky Paws Challenge when I get a chance.  I worked with this sketch for quite a while until it worked for me, cutting three sets of background papers before it felt right.  The central partying trio of kitties replaces the larger circle, and I gave them a couple extra gifts off to the left, because all kitties love treats, right?  The bow replaces the banner since Newton's Birthday Trio has a built-in sentiment.

Thanks for taking a look,
Christine



Linking to:
Inky Paws Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
Kat Scrappiness (Patriotic or Pets)

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Have a very Merry Christmas



Christmas in July challenges help me get a jump start on handmade tags.  I love to wrap gifts in kraft paper or kraft bags, add huge wired bows, and tie on a personalized tag.  This one is designed with a recipient in mind who loves paisley patterns and whose favorite color is green. 

I snagged the Christmas papers at Tuesday Morning today....bragging about the bargain price of just one dollar plus tax for the adorable stack that included several pretty patterns, a few reflective sheets, and some glitter pages.  The paisley stamps and dies are from PTI, and the sentiment is from a beloved Verve set.

Thanks so much for visiting,
Christine

Linking to these Christmas in July Challenges:
Shopping our Stash
Choux Choux Paper Art
The Cat's Pajamas

Also linking to MFT Camp Create (Glitter)

A Merry Little Christmas Tag

I love pink and mint for Christmas projects, so I pulled out some scraps in those colors and whipped up this little tag.  The two tags are Reverse Confetti Dies and the adorable little stitched tree and baubles are from L'il Inker Designs.  A really quick and fun project!

Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to these Christmas in July challenges:

Choux Choux Paper Art
The Cat's Pajamas

Have an amazing birthday!


I am entering this card in MFT's monthly birthday challenge where the theme is Birthday Bouquets.  After inking a piece of watercolor paper with Distress Oxides in Seedless Preserves and Peacock Feathers, I splattered some water and paints in both black and white.  The flowers were cut from MFT Stitched Flowers and MFT Birds of a Feather dies.  One inking created enough flowers for two fun cards!  The beautifully lettered sentiment is a a retired Verve stamp.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day,
Christine

Monday, July 22, 2019

Enjoy your special day


  After applying Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, and Seedless Preserves to watercolor paper and activating the DO inks with water, I used MFT's Stitched Flower dies and Birds of a Feather dies to create this birthday bouquet. The sentiment is from MFT's Birthday Greetings.

Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to
MFT Birthday Challenge

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Watercolor Birthday Bouquet


Flowers are my crafting jam!  The MFT birthday challenge for this month is called "Birthday Bouquets", and it will really give me a chance to build my stash before summer vacation is over.  For this card, I watercolored a rainbow around a rectangle of watercolor paper using Prima Pastel Dreams.  I trimmed the panel with a stitched rectangle, but didn't like the central opening.  I layered another stitched rectangle in the center, and added MFT Pressed Flowers and a few leaves from Birds of a Feather.

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Birthday Challenge

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Let it Snow!



When I was a little girl, I dearly loved to visit my grandparents.  We always spent a couple of weeks with them in the summer, and often, my mom and dad would allow us kids to stay with them for an extra week during Christmas break.  I always prayed that we would be snowed in, thereby extending our visit.  I remember the year a tremendous blizzard came and we got to stay several extra days.  Talk about building the faith of a little child!

Snow is a very rare thing in the part of Texas I now call home, and it is always looked upon as a special gift when it falls here.  A couple of years ago we had a beautiful snowfall, but the children were able to come to school, and we spent the morning outside playing.  By afternoon, it was gone, but the special memory lingers on.  More gifts from a good God.

Anyhooo, I did have lots of fun meandering down memory lane while making this card.  The stamps are from a wonderful Verve set, so sadly retired.  I stamped them all over the background and did a little pencil work.  In real life, some soft gray shading shows, and makes the little snow men look nice and round.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Make your own background)
Mod Squad (Christmas in July)
The Cats Pajamas (Christmas in July)
Visions of Sugar Plums Challenge On Lori Hairston's Blog (Christmas in July)

My Grace is Sufficient


Simon says, "Create your own background," so I wet the edges of a rectangle of Canson watercolor paper and dripped on almost every color in my Prima Pastel Dreams palette.  I trimmed the panel with a stitched rectangle, stamped the wonderful sentiment from Verve (retired), and added a bow down the left side for a little contrast.  I will be trying this technique again!

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Holly Jolly Tag


I used Reverse Confetti's Holly Jolly Layer Tag for this project, a quick and easy one.  The Holly Confetti Cuts are also from Reverse Confetti.  The leaves, berries, and inset letters are nice and shiny because they were cut from paint sample cards.  I splurged on a Crystal Katana last month.  Even using HL's 40% off coupon, it was a bit pricey for a tool, but I love it for placing sequins and such.  It was great for the tiny letters.  

(ETA:  I found the Crystal Katana at Hobby Lobby in the section with beads and flat-backed jewels.  It comes in a plastic case and was hanging on a peg. )

That's all my crafting advice for now.  Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Mod Squad Challenge
The Cat's Pajamas Challenge

Time to "taco"


I am working on a collection of cards to give as a gift, and it became very evident that my love of flowers, doilies, and bling left absolutely no masculine cards in the batch.  So, I turned to this cute little Lawn Fawn set, heat embossing and watercoloring a square panel covered with tacos.  I added a triangle of digital paper won at A Bit More Time to Craft, an accent taco on foam tape, and the cute little sentiment.  What's not to love about a smiling taco?

Many thanks to the kind folks at A Bit More Time to Craft for the random win of three digital paper packs.  It's always fun to have something new to create with, and the papers are lots of fun.  The one I used here provided just the "picnic feel" I was looking for.

Hope you are having a fabulous day,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (make you own background)
Word Art Wednesday
A Bit More Time to Craft

Floral and Plaid Birthday


I could wear pink and gray or pink and black every. single. day, so this week's CTD palette is right up my alley.  I am combining this with the SSS challenge to 'create your own background'.  I did this by stamping MFT Pressed Flowers over a plaid background stamp.  Tried pink flowers over gray plaid, and the flowers were "muddy".  I like this attempt better. 

Thanks for dropping in,
Christine

Linking to:
CTD 
SSS Wednesday 
Word Art Wednesday

Happy Mistake/Happy Birthday


I had every intention of combining the SSS Wednesday Challenge to "create your own background" with a color challenge.  I inked up one of my very few background stamps with Paris Dusk ink when fully intending to use gray ink.  I decided to go with it as opposed to clean off that carefully inked background, and this blue-on-blue card was born.  I stamped MFT's Pressed Flowers over the script background, added a framed vellum panel, and gold embossed some foliage from the stamp set along with a happy birthday sentiment.  The scalloped layer was cut from white card and inked in Paris Dusk using a Life-Changing Brush.  I just had to ink the perimeter, and it was ever so easy with the brush!

I will probably be back with a similar card in the colors of the inspiration challenge.

Thanks so much for visiting.  Hope your day is wonderful!
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Make Your Own Background)
Word Art Wednesday

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room


 "Let every heart prepare Him room."  These beautiful lyrics make me want to sing, and I find that they are a meaningful addition to Christmas cards and tags.  So glad Julee lettered this sweet sentiment for Verve!

My tag was cut using Reverse Confetti's Gift Card Holder Tag,  and I added the Cutplorations Heart Cluster die at the bottom.  The scattering of hearts are also from the Heart Cluster.

There are several Christmas in July challenges going on, and Stamplorations continues to allow linking up although they are on summer vacation.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Mod Squad Challenge (using sponsor die)
The Cat's Pajamas (Christmas in July)
Stamplorations NEAG
Cutplorations Challenge




CASED Birthday


Laurie's Fabulous Favorites Challenge is to CASE a card presented in the recent release.  I loved so many of the samples, and my wish list has grown!  I chose to CASE Laurie's tone-on-tone card.  I imitated her gorgeous red background with white-on-white.  The cover die is leafy rather than floral, and I stacked three layers of the die for dimension.  A central oval and some Bitty Bouquets finish off the card.

Grateful for the beautiful inspiration,
Christine



Linking to:
Laurie's Fabulous Favorites
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

Floral Happy Birthday


I love the vivid jewel tones in the inspiration photo at Sunday Stamps. My ink colors are in the same family, but they are pastel cousins. My card includes: Gran's Garden stamps and dies, Frames and Flags dies, and Pretty Brackets die.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Sunday Stamps
PIP Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Monday, July 15, 2019

Teachers Make the Little Ones Count

With school just around the corner, it's a great time for teacher cards. This one was created with Verve's Teachers Count. I stamped the cluster of numerals on black card stock, using white Brilliance ink for a chalkboard look. 

The plaid strip was created using this background stamp.    My fun plaid stamp went missing in the craft room for a while last month, and I was ever so glad to find it!  With that said.......I do recommend a plaid or checked background stamp as it really stretches your stash!

Thanks for your visit,
Christine

Linking to
PIP Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge (add a number)


Friday, July 12, 2019

2 Teach is 2 Love


I so desperately wanted to play along with the SSS "Add a number" challenge, but most of the people I make cards for are too old to have a cute card with a single-digit number or too young to be honored by a having a really big number planted on their birthday greetings.

Anyway, I love Verve's Teachers Count, which has a couple of images with numbers.   There is a coming (all too quickly!)  need for Back to School cards, so here's my entry.

I also used the Sunday Stamps sketch, nice clean one!


Thanks for taking a peek,
Christine
Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge
Sunday Stamps 

Sketch Challenge Meets Color Challenge



The current Mod Squad Challenge is to use the colors red, white, and blue, and I combined this directive with the fun MFT sketch.  I used MFT Pressed Flowers, inking them with a blender brush.  The authentic ones are called Life Changing brushes, but mine are just good quality make up brushes.  They have truly changed how I feel about (and achieve) ink blending, and I love the effect that can be created on solid stamps like these.  Another benefit is that they truly extend my ink collection.  These flowers were cone in one shade of red and one shade of blue.  I added a little splatter by placing ink on an acrylic block and thinning it with water.


Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Mod Squad Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge

Celebrate Your Special Day



Love the red, white, and blue challenge at Mod Squad.  Patriotic cards are so much fun, but I couldn't bear to make one and wait until Veterans Day or Memorial Day to share it, so I opted to create a birthday card.  There's a party tomorrow....

Included in my card are Altenew's Watercolor Stripe Stencil, PTI's Bitty Bouquets, a PTI Shape Shifter Square die, and a sentiment from MFT.

Hope you have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend,
Christine

Linking to:
Mod Squad Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Paisley Birthday


Laurie's Fabulous Favorites Challenge is to use a favorite background stamp.....and truthfully, I only have a couple of them.  This background was created by randomly stamping the images from What the Doodle:  Paisley over a white panel.  The hearts used to fill in the spaces are from  a Year of Psalms  set.  The focal image was die cut and layered with foam tape.  I really like the option to use the open die to cut the details in the center of the design.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Also linking to Word Art Wednesday

Pressed Flowers--Happy Birthday


I used MFT's Pressed Flowers for this week's sketch challenge.  MFT's sketches are lots of fun as they allow for broad interpretation...as clean or detailed as you like.  CAS is unusual for me, and I am really pleased with the finished project.  I have been experimenting with adding ink to solid images using the Life Changing Brushes and enjoy the various looks.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

May Sunshine and Laughter Brighten your Days


I absolutely adore the combination of pink, black, and gold, so I had to play along at Color Throwdown.  The designers' samples are just gorgeous!

I used Reverse Confetti's Rose Garden stamps and dies along with a retired Verve sentiment that is one of my favorites.  The Rose Garden stamps are no longer on the RC site, but I found them in the spot linked above.  However, I did find the dies in the RC shop for just $5.  I love this set and use it quite a bit, so I am surprised that it is getting hard to find.  Sorry for the ramblings....just consider it shopping assistance.

Thanks so much for stopping by,
Christine

In addition to CTD, I am linking my card to:
Word Art Wednesday

"Taco 'bout your Birthday"


Needing a masculine birthday card, I pulled out this super cute set from Lawn Fawn.  The little tacos were heat embossed on watercolor paper and were tinted with Arteza Real Brush markers and a water brush.  Why not make the card base red, white, and blue and enter the Mod Squad Challenge?  I hope the recipient of this card enjoys it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Thanks for your visit,
Christine

Also linking to:
Word Art Wednesday

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Scalloped Birthday


Just popping in quickly to share a cheerful feminine birthday card that was such a pleasure to create.  The stripes were created with Altenew's Watercolor Stripes stencil.  All the other products are from Papertrey Ink:  Gran's Garden stamps, the scalloped die, and the scalloped tag.

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday (stripes)
PIP Challenge (A/G)

"Mistle Toad" Panel Card


 My son walked into the study/craft room the other day and said, "Mom, you craft hard!"  There were lots of projects going, many supplies out, and more than a few die cut "chads" waiting for the broom.  But, it's true. When school is in session, I teach hard, and in the summer, it's time to craft hard.

Today's card combines two wonderful challenges.  Judy challenges to case her card (left) on the Mod Squad blog, while the Inky Paws Challenge provides a fun summer palette. 
I stamped multiples of the cute  Newton's Nook Mistle Toad and colored her in shades of green and tan, adding red and pink to the bows.  The little hearts used to fill in the gaps are from Newton Scoots By

Judy's design elements include the three layered vertical panels, but I changed the banner and accent image to a ribbon and tag, which go well wit the Christmas theme.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Monday, July 8, 2019

Gran's Garden at Sunrise


I added soft, warm yellow with Altenew's Watercolor Stripes stencil, crossing it in the lower left corner for a few checks.  The next layer is a Shape Shifters Square Die topped with blooms from Gran's Garden stamped in golden yellow, pinks, orange, and a  little lavender.  I love the "sunrise" warmth of the card!

By the way, I really do not have a large ink collection, which has caused me to shy away from ordering too many layering stamps, thinking more inks would be required.  I've learned that applying inks with a brush creates a softer, paler tone, really extending my collection of colors. 

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday (Stripes)
PIP Challenge