Thanks in Maroon

'Tis the season to be thankful.  Here's another of the cards I made for my son's graduation thank you notes.  So glad that he doesn't mind writing thank you notes or using hand-made cards.

This one features a rose in college colors cut from Garden Picks dies.  The sentiment is retired from Verve, and the card base was cut using a PTI Noted die.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge

AHSC 318: Best Teacher Ever

Happy Wednesday!  Today is the day the the AHSC design team members share their interpretations of Michelle's sketches.  The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is set up in such a fun way:  a new sketch is posted each Monday, and design team inspiration is show on Wednesday.  That way, participants can choose to play either before or after being influenced by the DT's interpretations of the sketch.  Such fun!  Hope you will visit the AHSC Blog and play along!





Thanks so much for taking a look!
Christine


Linking to
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge

Thanks for Being so Kind

I am still enjoying experimenting with colors and ink blending to create a faux watercoloring look with Fleur Impressions from The Greetery.  They are layered over a panel created by softly ink brushing the Watercolor Stripes stencil from Altenew.  The sentiment is a beloved Verve stamp from the retired Kindness Matters set.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a wonderful day,
Christine

Linking to:

Tuesday Throwdown (Stencils)
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Bright Mood Board)

When Kindness Touches

Have you discovered The Greetery?   It's the oh-so-talented Betsey Veldman's new company.  Not only does she have gorgeous images, but there are a wealth of ideas and videos to teach new techniques.  She is starting a week long watercolor series soon.  Her video on blending inks to stamp this beautiful Fleur Impressions set taught me so much!

Thanks so much for visiting.  Hope you have a lovely day,
Christine

Linking to Word Art Wednesday

Close to the Broken-Hearted

Needing another sympathy card, I recreated a layout from earlier this week, changing the colors to these shades of aqua and peacock. These shades are favorites of mine, and I hope that the card will bring comfort.

Supplies include
Garden Picks dies
Peacock Sequins
Flower sequins
Scalloped Stackers die

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Mojo Monday: Thanks a Million

Look at the beautiful Mojo Monday sketch and the pretty color palette provided by SSS!  I had so much fun creating this card using MFT Stitched Flowers, a Reverse Confetti Wreath die, and a sweet little thank you stamp from Verve.  The oh-so-cute embellishments adorning the top right corner are Mixed Flower Sprinkles and are part of a prize package I won from Kat Scrappiness.  I HAD to make sure they would have a place on this card.  Thanks a bunch, Kat!

Thanks for taking a moment to visit,
Christine

Linking to:
Mojo Monday
SSS Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

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 had the opportunity to use the sweet Randy image.  Before I knew it, the autumn vibes coming from his light jacket and muffler led me to do some fun paper piecing. I used digital paper found here.  Since it was digital, the pattern could be resized for piecing his clothing and for the accent panel.

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

The Lord is Close to the Broken Hearted

This is such a precious verse to me, and I am so thankful to have it in my stamp collection.  It brings me such comfort that I love to share it.  The flowers and foliage are cut from Altenew's Garden Picks die set and are layered over the large Scallop Stackers die from Papertrey Ink.

I am entering this in Laurie's Fabulous Favorites Challenge which is to use a favorite color scheme for summer.  Mine is purple and green.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Also Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday

Deepest Sympathy

Verve's Deepest Sympathy Plain Jane is framed using a Sizzix embossing folder and is accented with a soft yellow flower cut from Altenew's Garden Picks dies.  I love this Little Inker stitched rectangles set because the largest one cuts only the stitches on the card base.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Stitches)
Ellibelle's  Crafty Wednesday Challenge (Sentiment)

Mother's Day Wishes

A friend requested a Mother's Day card, and I had such fun making this one with lots and lots of layers and some soft pink flowers cut from Altenew's Garden Picks dies.  Just can't put these pretties away!

Since there's lots of die cut stitching on this card, I am entering in the SSS Wednesday Challenge -- Stitches--- and in my favorite A/G challenge, Word Art Wednesday.

BTW, this isn't actually late because the recipient was traveling last weekend and still hasn't returned home...so she will never know it was created after the big weekend.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Inky Paws Color Challenge

The wonderful  Floral Fringe stamp landed in my mailbox yesterday afternoon, and I have watercolored it twice.  I love the inspiration colors provided by the Inky Paws challenge and the cheerful look they created.  I used Arteza Real Brush markers (light green, bumblebee, and teal) and  a water brush.

Thanks so much for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Inky Paws Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Stitch It--see stitched scalloped panel)

Floral Fringe

Today's mail included a happy little package from Newton's Nook containing Floral Fringe.  The image was embossed in gold and colored with Arteza Real Brush markers and a water brush.  It was cut with MFT Stitched Squares and mounted on a panel cut from MFT Stitched Scalloped Squares.

I am so thankful for a win at the PIP Challenge a couple weeks ago that provided this sweet NN stamp set!  Thanks so much to the good folks at the PIP Challenge and to the Newton's Nook for sponsoring!

Thank you for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
 PIP Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Stitches)
Word Art Wednesday

Mojo Monday 515- A Note of Thanks

This card will join the collection of graduation thank you notes requested by our son.  The central panel is from a beautiful MME stack I picked up at Tuesday Morning a week or so ago.  The papers are all in cream and black with touches of gold.  This embossed floral panel goes well with Aggie maroon and the sweet little thank you stamp once enclosed with a Verve order.  I was thrilled that is was the right size for my banner die! 

Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to Mojo Monday
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

AHSC 316

Happy Wednesday!  Today is the day the the AHSC design team members share their interpretations of Michelle's sketches.  The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is set up in such a fun way:  a new sketch is posted each Monday, and design team inspiration is show on Wednesday.  That way, participants can choose to play either before or after being influenced by the DT's interpretations of the sketch.  Such fun!  Hope you will visit the AHSC Blog and play along!



This card features watercolored florals from the Simon Says Stamp set called Sketch Ranunculus.  Such fun to heat emboss and watercolor!

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
PIP Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Fun Friday Challenge: Fun with Crates

Happy Friday!  It's time for another Fun Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack where the theme is always Anything Goes.  I was given "Fun with Crates"  from the Cutting Cafe.  I used neutral card stock with a subtle pattern for the box and accented the handles with pieces cut from kraft card stock to create a simple box to be given to a male teacher.  It is the perfect size for a dozen Snickerdoodles packaged in a cellophane bag.

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!

Thanks so much for taking time to visit,

Christine

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.

Jesus in my heart and coffee in my hand

I found this "Ooh La La!" 6x6 cardstock stack on sale at Michael's.  The prints include shades of pink, the Eiffel Tower, shoes, lipstick, flowers.....lots of things a girl loves. This page has  had a wreath including shoes and the sweetest flowers right in the center.  To my symmetrical mind, this presented a challenge, but I cut it down to 4 x 5.25 inches and decided to play around.  Included are a PTI heart die that always seems to be the right size, a section of a PTI scalloped layer, and images from Fill My Cup and Happiness is by Verve (retired).  It's a little crooked, but I had SO much fun creating this card.  My favorite thing about coffee cards is piecing the cups.

Thanks a bunch for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
CLC Blog Hop
Kat Scrappiness

Happy Birthday with Fleur Expressions

Have you heard the news?  The oh-so-talented Betsey Veldman has started her own line of stamps and dies at The Greetery.  If I could have had it all, I would have ordered the first release in its entirety, but my absolute favorite set is Fleur Impressions, which landed in my mailbox Thursday. The flowers are gorgeous and are quite easy to align!  I found the MME "Yes, please" papers  at Tuesday Morning, on the way home from church.  I love the pastels against the tiny black and cream prints.

Thanks for taking time to visit,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Birthday)

Coffee Lover's Hop: Shine!

If anyone read my first Coffee Lover's Blog Hop post, you know it's a crazy, busy, happy time of life for me.  Definitely need lots of coffee to keep going.

For this hop, I challenged myself to use scraps (from that huge pile)  to create miniature coffee cards.  This one features a (retired) sun die from Rise Above and a tiny coffee image from Carpe Diem.  The set is intended for use in planners, and it's just adorable.

Thanks for taking a look!
Christine

Linking to CLC Blog Hop
Kat Scrappiness 

Thanks for being Awesome

One last teacher appreciation card.....as mom and an educator, I am always thankful for inspiring  and effective teachers.  During his senior year in college, my son has really bonded with a teacher who nurtured interests and skills and provided some wonderful opportunities. My son took time to seek out the teacher and to verbally thank him.  I offered to make a card and to send some goodies, and my son was thrilled.  (I remember those junior high days when I was forbidden from these activities, and am glad he got over it pretty quickly!)

The "last times" are bittersweet as we watch our children grow up, but I am glad my young man is willing to share a word of thanks during this busy graduation season. 

I turned to a favorite Mojo sketch to create a clean masculine card and am pleased with how it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday

Birthday Blessings

Love, love the Garden Picks dies from Altenew.  These blooms are cut from paint samples!  I stamped a gingham border with this pretty stamp from Echo Park and stamped a greeting from Verve's Cake and Candles on a tag from Reverse Confetti.

Thanks for your visit,
Christine

Linking to
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Birthday)
Word Art Wednesday

Let's TACO 'bout your birthday

We have lots of celebrations coming this week.  I am so glad that a graduation will bring family together around the time of my dad's birthday!  Masculine cards are hard for me...my stamps and dies are primarily flowers, but isn't this little Lawn Fawn set adorable!?  This taco trio was heat embossed in black and watercolored with Arteza Real Brush Markers.

Wishing you the happiest of days,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Birthday)
Happy Birthday SSS!  This sweet set came right out of your store!
PIP Challenge (CAS)

Coffee Lover's Hop: (Heart) you more than Coffee

This 3x 3 inch miniature card features another cutie from the Carpe Diem set I picked up on sale after Christmas and some of the (many) scraps from my desktop pile.

Hope your day is filled with love and enough coffee!

Christine

Linking to:
CLC Blog Hop

Laurie's Fabulous Favorites: Layout

Here's a gorgeous card by Melissa Phillips that inspired a PTI purchase and a number of cards I've produced by copying her great ideas.  I love to layer a central strip of patterned paper behind the Mix and Mat Heart Die and the perfectly sized You Have My Heart Die.  This time I topped the heart with a bloom from Gran's Garden and a fun little sentiment tag. 

Here are a couple other cards using this layout. 

Thanks so much for visiting,
Christine

Linking to
Laurie's Fabulous Favorites
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Birthday)
Word Art Wednesday

Coffee Lover's Hop ---A favorite mug

We all have our favorite coffee cups---both for consuming coffee and for stamping.  One of my favorite coffee stamps is this mug from Verve's Coffee set (retired).  It's cut from a scrap of watercolor panel as are the Stitched Flowers from MFT.

Have a wonderful day!
Christine

Linking to:
CLC Blog Hop
Word Art Wednesday

Coffee Lover's Blog Hop--Take Out

I adore participating in the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!  This has been a crazy, busy, happy year, and the last time the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop rolled around, I told myself to be responsible and to take care of business rather than play along.

I enjoyed visiting and commenting, but boy did I miss playing along.  As the school year comes to a close, we celebrate a couple of really important graduations, and gear up for summer volunteer opportunities, I am determined to enter a few cards.

This one features a take-out cup using MFT's Coffee Cup Die-Namics  cut from scraps of watercolored and stenciled paper.  It's a mini cutie!

Thanks for taking a look!
Christine

Linking to
Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
PIP Challenge (CAS)

Atlantic Hearts Sketch 314

Happy Wednesday!  Today is the day the the AHSC design team members share their interpretations of Michelle's sketches.  The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is set up in such a fun way:  a new sketch is posted each Monday, and design team inspiration is show on Wednesday.  That way, participants can choose to play either before or after being influenced by the DT's interpretations of the sketch.  Such fun!  Hope you will visit the AHSC Blog and play along!

It was fun to bring this sketch to life...the leaves and even the narrow black strips of paper were in my little crystal bowl of extras and scraps.  The ever-so-loved sentiment and pretty flower are from Verve's Kindness Matters (retired).

Thanks so much for taking a look!
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge