JUST US GIRLS #356 - Trend Week

Hello crafty peeps! It's Trend Week at JUST US GIRLS. Ina is hosting this week and she's picked water coloring as your prompt this time around! Here's what I made:

and the inside:

I smooshed a few blue ink pads on my craft mat, spritzed with water, and made the background panel. The polaroid die cut I've had for at least six months, but I've just now used it. *koff - hoarder - koff* I cut it twice, from black cs and sliver glitter paper, then adhered slightly off to get a shadow effect. I found some glittery dimensional snowflake stickers and popped those on as well.

I know you'll be itching to play along this week, as water coloring is still a major trend right now! Just link up your project at Just Us Girls so we can admire it! For even more inspiration, please do check out what my teammies and our Guest Designer, Colleen, have created for your viewing pleasure! Thanks for visiting and take care!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts - Merry Christmas Message
Ink: Memento - Summer Sky, Nautical Blue, Paris Dusk; Brilliance - Starlite Silver
CS: Strathmore water color paper; Bazzill; Darice
DP: American Crafts - glitter paper
Accessories: GC; Avery Elle - Pierced rectangle die; SSS - Holiday Frames die; Michael's - snowflake stickers
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner; Scotch foam tape, scrapbooker's glue

Under the wire, but wanted to play along

Hi friends and welcome! I have a to make this short and sweet, as the challenge I want to add this card to is about to end. (I know, always late to the party) I only recently discovered the Share Joy challenge at Taylored Expressions. (Yes, apparently I live under a rock) So, here is my card:

 and the inside:

I was experimenting with using memento inks as water colors. I didn't like how the panel came out, because the colors didn't blend as well as I'd have liked. Hindsight - wet the water color paper first. Also, one of the blue inks I used made spots of purple on the card. I thought I could save it by using the birch tree cover plate, and now I like it much better! I added some Diamond Stickles to the branches, die cut the cardinal and adhered it and the sentiment panel to my card. I drew faux stitches around the sentiment before adhering. Added some enamel dots and it was done. This card will be sent to my MIL for Christmas. She lives in northern WI, and is surrounded by the forest, birch trees included!

We are back up to the mid 90's and humid for the next few days after having a couple days in the low 80's with low humidity. Ugh. I wouldn't mind it so much if I was sitting beside the ocean. LOL! Thanks for visiting!

I'd like to enter this at Taylored Expressions Share Joy challenge #47 - using the middle column: stitching/blue/enamel dots

Supplies:

Stamps: STAMPlorations - Christmas Bell Medley; Hero Arts - Merry Christmas Message

Ink: Memento - Paris Dusk, Nautical Blue, Summer Sky, Lady Bug

CS: Strathmore water color paper; Bazzill; Darice

Accessories: GC; Taylored Expressions - Birch Tree cover plate & accessories; Avery Elle - Pierced rectangle die; paintbrush; Ranger - Diamond Stickles; Clearsnap - Sundance Smooch; Sakura - white Gelly Roll pen; fine tipped black marker; MME - enamel dots

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D & Thin 3D foam squares; Scotch - scrapbooker's glue

SHOPPING OUR STASH #264 - Card Shark

Hello crafty peeps, and welcome! This week at SHOPPING OUR STASH, we challenge you to use a playing card on your card or project! You can use an actual playing card, a stamp, designer paper, an embossing folder, etc. You can even find free clip art of playing cards if you Google it, then just print it out! I have a couple decks of playing cards, but since we actually play card games at Casa Dring, I didn't want to sacrifice a deck just for one card. But it's ok, since I had designer paper with card images on them. Here, check it:

 Here is the finished inside:

The name of the paper collection is called Well Played by Carta Bella, and it gave me the idea of using it as part of my sentiment. (Yeah, I went a bit snarky on this one. I already have someone in mind to send it to!) I used alpha stamps to spell out well played, since I didn't have a stamp that already said that. I also based my design from the now ended Tuesday Morning Sketch #363. (Always late to the party. Sigh.)

Anyhooo, now it's your turn to create something with a playing card image on it! Be sure to link it up at Shopping Our Stash so we can admire it! For more inspiration, please check out what my teammates came up with to inspire you - they really went all out for this challenge, and I hope you do to! 

Just a reminder, we will be awarding one lucky player a Guest Designer gig for a month starting in September. If you are interested, just add DT after your name when you link up. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Thanks for visiting, and I hope to see your creations in the gallery! Have a great day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Alpha Dot, Mini Monograms, Digits; Paper Issues - Ahh Real Birthday Sentiments
Ink: VersaMark
DP: Carta Bella - Well Played
CS: Bazzill, Darice
Accessories: GC; SB - Std. Lg Circle Nesties; Stampendous - white EP; heat gun; MME - twine; Recollections - star rhinestones
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D foam squares; Glue Dots

SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS #65 I is for Inappropriate

Sister Lee is a wizard at graphic design. A WIZARD!!!

Ok, I'm just warning you now. If you are offended at off color humor, or

if the kiddies are around, you may want to either skip this post or come 

back to it later.

You've been warned.

Well, hello snarky peeps! Since the SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS are all about pushing the envelope on what's appropriate or not, we said screw it and let's go all out for Inappropriate!! 

Here is my offering:

 and the inside:

You know what's great about the internet? You can Google 'inappropriate memes' and a plethora of inspiration shows up on your screen! LOL! This was based from one of them. I found free clip art of Professor Snape, and typed in the sentiment myself. (Obviously.) If you are a fan of the Harry Potter books and/or movies, you'll get this. Leave it to me to take a beloved young adult book series and corrupt it. 

For more amazingly naughty inspiration, please check out what my Sisters and our newest Guest Designer, Mimi, have created for your viewing pleasure. 

Also, we really didn't want Peggy or Jo to end their designer stint with us, so we made them official Sisters permanently! Woo hoo!!

I hope you let your freak flag fly and join us here at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers for our Inappropriate challenge! I look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery! Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:
Ink: Ranger DI - Ground Espresso
CS: Bazzill; Darice
Accessories: free Snape clip art and sentiments computer generated; Avery Elle - Pierced Rectangle die; Tonic - distressing tool
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner

JUST US GIRLS #355 - Word Week

Hello friends and welcome! We have a fun challenge for Word Week at JUST US GIRLS! Sharyn is your hostess, and she's picked the most perfect word: WATER! I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but it has been sweltering HOT here. I'm looking forward to my upcoming beach trip, but in the mean time, here is the card I made:

I'm glad that I made a couple of these watery panels last year. This is the second one, and it came in really handy for this challenge! The first panel was used on this card, and explains the process of making the panel. Some ripped kraft paper made for a nice sandy beach, with die cut flip flops. The sentiment is one of my favorites. ☺

I hope that you find some time this week to play along with our water theme at Just Us Girls! I look forward to seeing what you create in our gallery. For more inspiration, please visit the blogs of my teammates, and leave them some bloggy love! This is our first challenge for August, so that means we have a new Guest Designer! A warm welcome to you, Colleen Foelker! Glad that you are joining us this month! 

Just a reminder, if you are picked as Chic of the Week for any of our August challenges, you'll be in the running to be our Guest Designer for the month of October! Good luck and happy crafting!

Supplies:
Stamps: Impression Obsession
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass
CS: Darice, scraps
Accessories: Simon Says Stamp - wave stencil; Dreamweaver - Embossing Paste; Martha Stewart twine; GC; Taylored Expressions - Flip Flop die; Wescott - hole punch
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, Thin 3D foam squares; Scotch scrapbooker's glue; Recollections - red tape

SHOPPING OUR STASH #263 - Silhouettes

Good morning all! Ok, so we apparently scared you a couple weeks ago with the matchbook/box challenge, but this week I'm sure you'll be participating at SHOPPING OUR STASH, because this week's challenge is to create a card or project with a silhouette on it! So many possibilities for this!

Here is the card I made:

 and the finished inside:

I used Distress Inks and water colored my panel first. When that dried I stamped the image a few times in black, using my MISTI. Since I used water color paper, the image towards the bottom wasn't as solid as I liked, so I stamped over it again in VersaMark, and heat embossed it with black embossing powder. Wrapped some floss around the top, added the stamped and die cut sentiment, then adhered the panel to the card base with foam tape.

So, ready to play along? Of course you are! Just link up your card or project at Shopping Our Stash so we can admire it! For more inspiration, please visit the blogs of my teammates and leave them some bloggy lovin! Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:
Stamps: Penny Black - Woodland Wonder; Taylored Expressions - Care & Comfort
Ink: Ranger DI - Scattered Straw, Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry, Dusty Concord; Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
CS: Bazzill; Strathmore water color paper
Accessories: GC; Cuttlebug Cricut - Labels & Such dies; MISTI; Inkadinkado - black EP; heat gun; WRMK - floss; paint brush
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, Thin 3D foam squares; Scotch - foam tape; Recollections - red tape

One more Christmas card in July...

Hello friends and happy Sunday to you. It's the last day in July, can you believe that? Where did this month go?! Pretty soon the kiddies will be heading back to school (insert secret squeal of joy here) and the days will be noticeably shorter. (how depressing)

So, to send off July, I made a Christmas card:

 Here's the inside:

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly this card came together. Quite possibly in under an hour. (It takes roughly at least 2 hours for me to make a card, because I agonize over which stamps, or DP, or colors, or embellies, or sketch, etc. to use. I can never make up my mind) I think what took the longest on this card was the placement of those alpha stickers (HO HO HO). Yep, those are ancient stickers from my stash. Made of thin paper. And I rearranged them at least 12 times. Yikes! 

Anyhoo, the planets must have aligned last night, since I'm able to enter this card in three challenges:

Jingle Belles - We Three Kings (my 3 is the HO HO HO)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - pick a sketch - I used the May 2016 sketch

Mod Squad Challenge - Christmas in July

 

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you have an enjoyable day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts - Merry Christmas Message
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: Graphic 45 - Christmas Emporium
CS: Bazzill, Darice
Accessories: GC; SB - Std Sm & Lg Oval Nesties; K & Co - Santa stickers; Recollections - alpha stickers
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner

JUST US GIRLS #354 Wild Card Week!

Good morning and welcome crafty friends! Since this is the 5th Saturday of the month, we have a Wild Card week at JUST US GIRLS! Nancy is your hostess this week, and she wants to see any card or project that has a girly theme to it!

Here's my card:

 and the inside:

I just picked up this sweet little miss from Taylored Expressions retirement sale. Loved coloring her! I still need more practice with coloring the ruffles in a skirt, but they came out ok. Lots of pretty embellies on this: lace, ribbon, rhinestones. My card is a total case of this card by Melissa Sauls. (Thank you Melissa!) I just loved the card design so went with that. ☺ 

So, ready to make something with a girl theme on it? Of course you are! Be sure to link it up at Just Us Girls so we can admire it. While there, please visit the blogs of the design team, and our Guest Designer, Carol Mayne, and leave some bloggy love! This is Carol's last week as GD with us, and I'd like to say a big thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us! 

Just a reminder, if you are picked as Chic of the Week for any of our July challenges, you'll be in the running to be our Guest Designer for the month of September! Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions - Moka Taylor; Stampendous - Birthday Wish
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: Basic Grey - South Pacific
CS: TE; Bazzill; Crafter's Companion
Accessories: Spectrum Noir markers; GC; Std Lg & Lacey Ovals Nesties; Sizzix EF; Simplicity - lace; Tim Holtz - ribbon; Nicole - Rhinestones
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D & thin 3D foam squares; Glue Dots; Recollections red tape

SHOPPING OUR STASH #262 - A Stitch In Time

Hello and welcome crafty peeps! We have a fun challenge for you this week at SHOPPING OUR STASH: A Stitch In Time - for this challenge, we want to see stitching on your project, whether that be from a sewing machine, cross stitching, faux stitching, etc. You get the gist. Here's my card:

 and the inside:

I dug out my Sew Easy tool for this one, and used a few of the different attachments for my stitching. (Yes, I know my rows look wonky. Maybe I meant for that to happen! LOL!) My card base is a dark grey, but I lightly sponged over it with Gathered Twigs DI to get some brown tones in it. (I had no taupe card stock, so I made it. Sort of. It definitely looks more taupe irl.) The panel is popped up on foam squares, and a simple sentiment was added.

I hope you find some time to play along this week at Shopping Our Stash. We'd love to see your project in the gallery. For more inspiration, do check out what my teammies created, and leave them some love on their blogs! Thanks for visiting, and stay cool - it's another hot one out there!

I'd like to enter this at:
Less Is More #286/287 - Use something tactile
CAS - Colour & Sketches #183
CAS on Sunday #88 - Thank You

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT - Essential and More Essential Sentiments
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Gathered Twigs
CS: Darice; Bazzill
Accessories: WRMK - Sew Easy tool; DMC - floss
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D foam squares

SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS #64 R is for Resist Technique

Hello and welcome snarky peeps! I'm back from vacation and perhaps now I'll be able to catch up on commenting. (wink wink) As Edna is showing us in the awesome graphic above, our new challenge at the Sisterhood is to use the Resist Technique on your card or project. There are a boat load of video tutorials out there on Mr. Google, so if you haven't tried this before, never fear, just Google it! LOL!
Here's my card:

and the inside:

No snark on this card. It's all warm and toasty feely. I heat embossed the pine bough in white EP, then sponged Pine Needles DI over it, making it darker around the image. Then I smooshed Iced Spruce DI on my craft mat, spritzed with water, and flicked that on the panel with a paint brush. 

Now it's your turn to try out the resist technique! We'd love to see what you come up with. Just link up at the Sisterhood so we can admire it! Need more inspiration? Then please visit the blogs of my Sistahs and our Guest Designer, Helen, and be sure to leave them some bloggy lovin! Thanks for hanging out!

I'd like to enter this at Jingle Belles - sketch challenge

Supplies:
Stamps: Rubber Dance - Pines Fir You; BoBunny - Holiday Wishes
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Gathered Twigs, Pine Needles, Iced Spruce; VersaMark
DP: Frances Meyer; HOTP
CS: Darice
Accessories: GC: Std. Sm & Classic Scalloped Circle Nesties; Sizzix - Flowers EF; Avery Elle - Pierced Rectangle die; Stampendous - White EP; heat gun; TH - sponging tools
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, Thin 3D foam squares