Hello There!

I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted anything to my blog! I'm glad to be back at it!
This card is for the IN{K}spire_me challenge #388.
inkspireme-challenge-388
I used Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, and White. It was also a sketch challenge.
I used a Simon Says Stamp set called To Thine Own Shelf. The books are stamped with 1st and 2nd generation stamping. I really love this color combination! The main image is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

More Cards

I just wanted to post a few photos of some cards I've made. These are all cards that will be going out to family and friends in the next month or two!!

Peachy Cupcakes!

I was inspired this afternoon by the sketch  from the Pals Paper Arts Challenge #193! I loved the 3 circles off to the side, although I used rounded squares!
Stamps: SSS-Square Sayings, The Stamps of Life-postage2stamp, and Hero Arts-cupcake set
Paper: SU-Peach Parfait, misc. Bazzill, and MME-Reunion
Ink: SU-Peach Parfait, Soft Sky, Bermuda Bay, and Cajun Craze, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark
Accessories: American Craft-Twine, 3D Foam Squares, a la mode-glitter glue

Catch up!!

Between the Dr. visits for my 2 girls, gymnastics, and being under the weather, I have been MIA!! But I think things have settled down for a little while and I think I'm on the mend!! So here are some cards I made. No details, just pretty cards!! These are for family members, so I won't say who they are going to!

More Embossing Paste!

I'm really loving the embossing paste I bought!! I was checking out all the challenges that I follow on Thursdays and 2 of them popped out at me!! I knew I had to use the embossing paste and my chevron stencil!! The Seize the Birthday challenge was to use chevrons and  I liked the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge. I used some Post-It paper to mask off a diagonal section of the card base. The embossing paste went on and the mask came off. I'm still getting the hang of the embossing paste, so it didn't turn out as clean as I wanted it to. I guess I need to practice some more!!! :) I then sprayed some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Tinsel onto the card front. I'm not liking the way it makes the dry paste look dirty instead of gray. I even took the spray nozzle out and applied the spray by hand. I still think it looks dirty, but it will work. I used my "happy" die to add a pop of color and paired it with some gray alphabet stickers. I thought the white stripe was a little stark, so I dripped the Color Shine onto it.
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp-Cupcake Party
Ink: SU-Island Indigo
Paper: misc. blue, white, and orange
Accessories: Wendy Vecchi-white embossing paste, Heidi Swapp chevron stencil, pop dots, SSS-Happy  die, Heidi Swapp Color Shine Tinsel, Basic Grey-stickers

Embossing Paste

I've been seeing quite a few card makers I like using embossing paste. So, I broke down and bought some to see what the fuss is all about. I LOVE IT!!! It is so much fun to use! I get to control the amount of texture that goes on!!  Now I just need to break down and buy some new stencils...3 of them isn't going to cut it!!!
Here's a card I made using the embossing paste and my Heidi Swapp chevron stencil! I just added the paste to a small section of the card. I wanted a distressed look, so I tried not to smooth it out too much. When it dried, I put the stencil back on and sponged 3 different shades of red ink onto the dry paste and even left some areas white. I love the ombre effect it gives!!
Stamps: SSS-Thinking of You and Cupcake Party
Ink: SU-Poppy Parade, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, and  Midnight Muse; VersaMark
Paper: PTI-Kraft; misc.-white
Accessories: Wendy Vecchi-White Embossing Paste, Heidi Swapp chevron stencil, 3D Foam Squares,  SSS-chipboard arrow, Zing! white embossing powder, Ranger Glossy Accents

Golden Thanks

I'm in love with this card!!! This might be one I will have a hard time sending to someone!! I used the sketch from Retro Sketches today. I wanted to do a one layer card today, so I used embossing powder for some texture.I masked off the two side panels and then sponged an white pigment ink around the edges, before I remove the masks, to give the panels a little more definition. I didn't have any gold paper to match the embossing powder, so I took a white Thanks die cut and embossed it with the gold e.p.
Stamps: SU-Best Blossoms, and SSS-Thanks
Paper: PTI-Kraft, and Post-It Craft paper
Ink: VersaMark and Wplus9 White pigment ink
Accessories: Zing!-White Opaque embossing powder, Inkadinkadoo Gold Glam E.P., Stampendous Fine  Detail Black E.P., SU puncch-Trio Flowers, SSS-Thanks die, Recollections Faux Pearls,  3D Foam  Squares, and a Corner Chomper

Flowers for You

I'm loving my cardmaking mojo right now!! I'm loving the inspiration that I get from following challenge blogs!!! This card was inspired by two challenges, Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.
Stamps: The Stamps of Life-flowers2share
Ink: SU-Wisteria Wonder, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, and Almost Amethyst, Memento-Tuxedo Black,  and  VersaMark
Paper-Bazzill-Blackbird, Misc. brown, amethyst, and white
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Zing! embossing powder, Stampedous embossing powder, 3D  Foam Squares, and ribbon

Another Birthday Card!

This is another card I made for a family member's birthday. Since it is in March, I'm going to share it now!! Especially since I made it with a challenge in mind!! I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches!!
The sketch was so much fun to work with!! I think I will be using it again soon!!
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp-Cupcake Party
Ink: SU-Kiwi Kiss, Blushing Bride, and Basic Gray, VersaMark
Paper: Coredinations-Nostalgia, Bazzill-Berry Blush, misc white, and My Mind's Eye-Life of the Party
Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon, Stampendous embossing powder, 3D Foam Squares

Christmas Snowman

Okay, this little snowman has been hanging out on my table since early December when I put him together. I thought it would be cute to make a snowman wearing a top hat!!! Well, that is as far as I got. I couldn't figure out how to utilize him on a card. So there he sat, taunting me to use him!! While I was looking at all the challenges for today, inspiration struck with two of them!! The Merry Monday Christmas Challenge and the sketch from Mojo Monday were perfect for this guy!!
Stamps: Hero Arts sentiment, Misc. SU circles, and Recollections hat stamp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU-Poppy Parade
Paper: Misc.-white, orange, and black, Crate Paper-Peppermint Collection
Accessories: misc. crystals, pop dots

Burgundy Birthday

More birthday cards!! This is for a family member's birthday, but I have to share it!! I think it turned out great!!! I took my color inspiration from the Colour Q challenge. I struggled with the colors at first, then once I got all the cardstock out, I was struck with layout inspiration! 

Stamps: PTI-Fillable Frames #8, SU-Small Sayings, KaiserCraft-Distress

Ink: Su-Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray, Poppy Parade, and Summer Starfruit

Paper: SU-Summer Starfruit, Misc.-gray, red, and burgundy

Accessories: Scrapbook Adhesives-3D Foam Squares, Ranger-Glossy Accents, PTI-Fillable Frames #8 die