Die Cuttin' Divas: Enjoy Today

Loved using the Die Cuttin' Divas Sketch with some MME scraps.  The beautiful yellow peony is a Birch Press Design stamp, and the sentiment comes from Verve's Rise Above set.  The focal panels are MVT Stitched Scalloped Squares, and the border dies are Verve's Lacey Scalloped dies.....love them!

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to Die Cuttin' Divas
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge

Heartfelt Gratitude

Look, Mom, no flowers, doilies, gems, or bows!  This set of thank you notes is for my son to express gratitude to those who are mentoring him during his summer internship.  The maroon background is a nod to his college colors, and the layers were intentionally kept clean and masculine. I like the outcome!

"A Big Thank Thank You" is the name of the Stampin' Up collection....not only does it contain versatile sentiments, but there are some fun design elements in the collection, too.  I owe a big thank you to Kathy Schweinfurth who provided this as a prize in the most recent Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Many thanks, Kathy, for a fun and useful set and thanks to all who took a peek.

Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch

Fun Friday With Little Blue Button Stamps--Miss Lily and the Teacup

Happy Friday!  It's time for another Fun Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack where the theme is always Anything Goes.   This week the design team is showcasing  images from Little Blue Button Stamps.  I used Miss Lilly Tea layered over a vintage image.

Please take time to see the design team's samples and to link up your own creations.  It's always fun to see what you have to share!

Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool below. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 
The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date & the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge & prizes

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements

WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo
All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.

Thanks so much for taking time to visit,
Christine

Cards for Little Hearts: Hello

I am so excited to complete a few cards to share in the Cards for Little Hearts Drive coordinated by  Christina Hor, a very kind and talented artist.  She organizes three different card collections to cheer and encourage children and teens who are hospitalized with complications from congenital heart problems.  I am working on cards for the general collection which is explained here.

Please thoughtfully consider sharing some cards.  As a teacher of healthy elementary students, I can attest to the fact that a simple card to say, "I am proud of you", "I believe in you", or "You did a great job" are treasured by the students.  The cards that Christina collects are shared by the doctors and nurses that care for the young patients.  I can't imagine how these acts of kindness would uplift the children and help with the healing process.

Before sharing cards, please read Christina's guidelines to keep the cards safe and encouraging for the kids.

Thank you for visiting.  Have a lovely weekend,
Christine

Linking to:
Crop Stop
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge

Birthday Wishes

Today's professional development was on an emotionally heavy topic, so I decided to treat myself to a little card-making inspiration time. I checked my favorite crafters' blogs, completed a blog hop and came across a couple of challenges that looked like fun.  

The colors for my project came from Color Throwdown.  I started by hand painting (key word for they are crooked) some stripes in aqua watercolor.  The pretty pink roses are W Plus 9's Handpainted Florals, and the lacy tone on tone die was cut using retired Verve dies.  The sentiment is from Verve's Cake and Candles.  The bottom panel incorporates the warm gray tone and also covers the more crooked portions of the stripes!

I am also entering this isn Paper Sweeties' Sixth Anniversary Celebration.  The theme is:  Birthdays!  I would LOVE to win some of their amazing products.

Thanks for visiting,

Christine

AHSC 276--Plentiful Polkadots and Poppies

 Hello!  It's a wonderful Wednesday and time to share my interpretation of the Atlantic Hearts Sketch.

Since spending some time organizing my craft room, I set a goal to use more papers from those "almost finished" stacks of card stock.  This one is called Hip Hip Hooray by American Crafts and has been well enjoyed.  I decided to see what would happen if  the flowers from Verve's Poppy Birthday were stamped over the patterns.....and the coolest thing happened to the centers of the dotted flowers!  The black ink "took" to the white dots and left a wonderful effect in the centers.  Wish I could say I planned it!!!


Thanks so much for your visit,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
Crop Stop

Praying for You

 The inspirational pieces of this card have several sources:  The coloring book background is a Stamplorations sample that can be downloaded here and colored using any desired media.  I used Prismacolor pencils and blending oil.  There are some uh-oh spots, but I will chalk that up to learning.  To keep the colored panel intact, I used the Sunday Stamps Sketch with its fun tilted panels and took the color scheme and purpose from the Calling All Sistahs challenge.  CAS has provided a vivid color palette and the challenge to create encouraging cards.



Thanks for taking a look at my project,

Christine

Stamplorationns Blossom Bliss Link-up
Sunday Stamps (Sketch)
Calling All Sistahs Color Palette
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Create Your Own Background)