Brought to you by a Steaming Cup of Coffee

I was blessed with a generous win during the Stamplorations Birthday Bash, and this uber cute sentiment was part of my gift.  The background was created using two retired Verve sets: Rise Above and Happiness Is.  This is much more CAS than my usual style, so it was a little hard to stop and to keep the card simpler.

Thanks for stopping by and happy Saturday!
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge: Create Your Own Background
CASual Fridays Challenge:  Stamp a Pattern
PIP Challenge Sunny Day 
Stamplorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge

Build your Own Background: W Plus 9 Freehand Florals

I have seen so many gorgeous cards with W Plus 9's Freehand Florals.  I love working with this set, and I don't have an extensive collection of inks.  Each each of the flowers stamped on this panel was stamped with only one shade of ink, so don't be discouraged from giving this set a spin with what you have on hand.

After cutting the panel with stitched dies, the center was layered over black and the sentiment was added.  It's from a W Plus 9 sentiment set, Hand Lettered Hello.  The card was finished with a few large clear sequins.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Make your own background)
Word Art Wednesday

Inspired by Back to School: To Teach is To Love

 I am so excited to be returning to school next week for professional development and to meet my new students the following week.  There will surely be an opportunity to share a card like this with a colleague in the coming days.

The inspiration photo is adorable:  I was drawn to the tiny chalkboard and to the gingham and knew it was time to pull out Verve's Teachers Count (retired set, but a favorite to be sure).

Love the MFT Sketch and framed the big rectangle to create a chalkboard look.  The sweet Verve heart die created a nice element, but the open hearts conflicted with the gingham.  I swiped the red ink pad used for the apples across a scrap of white card stock and inset the contrasting hearts.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please remember to pray for our students and teachers as school begins.
Christine

Linking to:
Inspired By Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

MFT Sketch Challenge: Ham It Up on Your Birthday

Happy dance!  I have groceries and something simmering on the stove, and my husband called needing a birthday card.  Yay!  I can stop and craft one more time before summer's over.

Love the MFT Sketch made into a cute scene.  After sponging a cloudy background with Salty Ocean,   I added some Mowed Lawn distress ink using a make up brush.  It's a good way to get a subtle and even application of ink.  Hog Heaven takes center stage, and the bright sun is a retired Verve die.


Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the August sun,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Sketch Challenge
PIP Challenge Sunny Day Cards
Die Cutting Divas (Hog Heaven dies, stitched rectangle, and sun dies)
Word Art Wednesday
SSS  Wednesday Challenge Make Your Own Background

Lawn Fawn Interactive: It's a Boy

The current Lawn Fawn challenge is to create an interactive card.  I am not an engineer....I am not great at building cards more complex than top- or side-folding.

However, I was so enchanted with Lisa Bzibziak's card (Click the link and say, "Awwww how darling!") that I had to find the Lawn Fawn challenge blog and give it a try.

I used Plus One to create a simple pop-up gift card holder for to celebrate the arrival of a baby boy this fall.  The only gift card I had on hand was Starbucks, but it worked for photo purposes.  (Insert laugh....new parents need coffee!  I didn't start drinking it until I had a new baby and a full time job.)


Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Lawn Fanatics Challenge 33

MFT Color Challenge: Happy Birthday

To meet the MFT Color Challenge, I decided to have a little watercolor fun.  After preparing panels in shades of lavender and peach, I die cut lots and lots of MFT Stitched Flowers.....there are more for another project later!  These were layered over and MFT Mandala Die, and I tucked in a few watercolored leaves from anther project. The deep purple sequins didn't photograph well, but they are pretty IRL.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Color Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
Die Cuttin' Divas

Make Your Own Background: Happy Birthday

I sponged Peacock Feather Distress Ink through a DIY stencil made from a Tim Holtz thinlits die.  Reverse Confetti's Build a Bunch flowers and foliage elements were embossed on watercolor paper, and color was added by scribbling with Arteza Markers and spraying them liberally with water.  The sentiment is from Bloom Brighter (Retired Verve) and is embossed in gold on a vellum strip.

I had such fun making this card!
Thanks so much for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge -- Make your own background
Word Art Wednesday-- A/G
Die Cuttin' Divas -- A/G----I used a die cut as a stencil and die cut all the Build a Bunch Elements