SSS Monday Challenge: In The Middle

Hello there!

I had some time for creating today so I decided to play along with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. The theme this week is In The Middle.

I chose to interpret that as a focal point in the middle of my card.

I masked a circle and sponged Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Inks and then covered that with the SSS Tiny Dots stencil and Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste. I then added the Darling Poppies die from Memory Box and the SSS Small Hello die cut from black cardstock. A butterfly cut from gold glitter cardstock and vellum using the Memory Box Effera and Rhone Butterfly Wings dies and a few Pretty Pink Posh Metallic Gold sequins finishes things off.

I am also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: April Showers/ Spring Flowers.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

Creating Just for Fun!

Hello there!

I haven't had a chance to do much of anything creative lately, but I found myself today with some extra time, so I made a few cards.

I used the Mojo Monday Sketch for the first one -- it is for my sweet cousin who is still battling some serious health issues.

Hopefully this will bring a little sunshine to her day.

I made the background paper by spritzing some water on white cardstock, then adding some Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers Distress Spray, sponging on a bit of Vintage Photo and Wild Honey Distress Ink and then using the Tim Holtz 'Spritz and Flick' technique. I used the Trellis Die by Tim Holtz/Sizzix to cut the design from Kraft Resist paper and added a bit of Maya Road Rose Trim. The beautiful sentiment is from one of my all-time favorite stamp sets by Verve: Wonderfully Made.

The second card is for my niece who will be turning 13 in a few weeks! They are all growing up so fast! 

This card uses papers and stamps from the Simon Says Stamp April 2015 Card Kit. Such fun colors. Hopefully a 13 year old will like it. ?

Well that's all from me for now.

Hope you have a wonderful day... Thanks for stopping by!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 196

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

As usual, Jen has created another super fun sketch for us to play with this week.

For my card this week, I used two of my favorite stamp sets from Avery Elle: Petals and Stems (and coordinating dies) and So Happy. I stamped the images with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and then went over them with a water brush to give them a softer, watercolor look.

I also used the Chicken Wire Die-namics from MFT, Stitched Circles die from Simon Says Stamp, all three sizes of Sparkling Clear Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh, a Studio Calico wood veneer butterfly, and a bit of crochet trim by May Arts.

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see how they were inspired by this week's sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Kadie Ensley 
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain  
• Tracey Pickersgill  

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

I am also entering this in the AE I ♥U Challenge, which for this month, is Watercolor and in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which is April Showers/Spring Flowers this week.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 191

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

Jen has created another awesome sketch for us this week! I had a lot of fun with this one.

I used the new Simon Says Stamp card kit for this card along with the Fishtail Flags STAX by My Favorite Things, crochet trim by May Arts, the Floral Ovals die from Spellbinders, and a random butterfly leftover from a previous project cut with my Silhouette. I have to say that I LOVE this kit-- the colors, patterns and stamp set... so perfect!

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see how they were inspired by this week's sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Kadie Ensley 
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain  
• Tracey Pickersgill  

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

I am also linking this up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week. The theme is Special Lady/Girly. 

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 188

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

Since it is almost Valentine's Day, I decided to make one more love themed card before I put my Valentine's supplies away.

This one uses Authentique's Crush papers and journaling card. I cut the heart with a Spellbinders Nestabilities die and then heat embossed the "xo" stamp from the Simon Says Stamp Paper Hugs set and layered the Love Script die from Memory Box over top. The fancy angles are made with My Favorite Things Blueprints 18 Die-namics. The wood veneer hearts were colored with the Rose Red Copic marker and coated with Glossy Accents.

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see how they were inspired by this week's sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults 
• Kadie Ensley
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain  
• Tracey Pickersgill  

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 186

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of  The Deconstructed Sketch!

I love this week's sketch for all of the layers that it gives us to work with.

I started out with some new Serendipity papers from the Dear Lizzy line by American Crafts. I also used the large Love You die by Simon Says Stamp, the hearts are made from a die by Savvy Stamps and a We R Memory Keepers embossing folder. The wood veneer heart is from Teresa Collins Save the Date collection and painted with some Golden Goddess Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam.

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see how they were inspired by this week's sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults 
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain  
• Tracey Pickersgill  

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 184

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

I hope you are all having a wonderful new year. Mine is getting off to a pretty good start. I took a little trip this past weekend to the beautiful Oregon Coast. It is the only place around lately where we can see the sunshine! We have been stuck in an inversion here for what seems like weeks. It was really good to get away and see the sun!

For my card this week, I used some new-to-me products that have been sitting around in my craft room for awhile just waiting for the right project... so here it is!

I used several papers from the Maggie Holmes Open Book 6x6 pad by Crate Paper, the Happy for You stamp set by Papertrey Ink and the Rhone and Effera Butterfly Wings Dies from Memory Box. I also used the angled stripe stamp from Hand Lettered Winter Wishes (Simon Says Stamp) with Enchanted Gold embossing powder (Ranger), The beautiful gold sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh.

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see how they were inspired by this week's sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults 
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain  
• Tracey Pickersgill  

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 181 Week 2

Hello there! 

Welcome to this 2-week edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

I hope you are all having a Merry Christmas!

Here is my card for this week using some fabulous gold foil dot paper from American Crafts, along with the Simon Says Stamp Eliza Snowflake die cut from gold vellum, and a beautiful Merry  Christmas script die from Impression Obsession. The tiny black bow was created using the Mama Elephant Dainty Bow die. The beautiful gold sequins are by Pretty Pink Posh.

You have one more week to play with this sketch. I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try, if you haven't already. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

See you back here next week for a brand new Deconstructed Sketch!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 179

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

I took my cues from the My Mind's Eye Sleigh Bells Ring 6x6 paper pad and made a cozy Christmas card this week. It kind of just makes me want to curl up by a nice, warm fire with a blanket and a big mug of hot chocolate!

I used the Eliza Snowflake die from Simon Says Stamp, the 'merry' from The Big, The Bold and the Merry Cutaways by Winnie and Walter and the "Christmas" stamp is from a cool set I just got from Amber over at the Damask Love blog. She designed a set called Over the Edge: Merry and I really love it!

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see how they were inspired by this week's sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults 
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain  
• Tracey Pickersgill 

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

Chevron Hello

Hello!

I am lucky enough to have another chance to play in my craft room today, and as I was working on my card to-do list, and getting only slightly distracted... =) I came across this fun challenge on the Winnie + Walter Blog, and thought I would play along to get my mojo going today!

The challenge is to create a card in 10 minutes, use at least one product from Simon Says Stamp, and one from Winnie & Walter...

Well, I downloaded some cut files from W&W, set my timer, and started creating!

I would have made it in time, I think, but I changed my mind at the last minute and switched out the die for the SSS small hello die and cut it out of Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz cardstock 3 times to make it stand out.

The Winnie and Walter Chevrons are cut from Bazzil Black cardstock and layered over Neenah Solar White cardstock, the gold sequins are by Teresa Collins.

Anyway, it was super fun to challenge myself to try to make a card in only 10 minutes because it usually takes me at least a couple of hours. =)

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 159

Hello there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

It's another good one!

I was lucky enough to be a winner in last month's Work it Wednesday Challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp blog, and was the happy recipient of a goody box that contained one of their awesome Card Kits from a previous month. It was full of lots of fun! I especially liked the stamp set... I know I will get a lot of use out of it!

This card is going to a special friend of ours who really is always there when we need her. This sentiment is so perfect!

Be sure to stop by and see what the other DT members have created using this week's fantastic sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Joanne Basile (sitting out this week)
• Kim O'Connell
• Sheri Gilson
• Tammy Hershberger
• Tangii Crain 
• Tracey Pickersgill 

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog!

I am linking this up to this month's Work it Wednesday Challenge which is to just create! If you would like to play along, just click on Simon!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

Supplies used:

Paper:Kraft,Vintage Cream {Papertrey Ink}, Country Boutique {Fancy Pants}

Stamps: Always and Forever {Simon Says Stamp}

Dies: Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics {My Favorite Things}, Tattered Florals {Tim Holtz}

Ink: Black Dye Ink {Hero Arts}

Accessories: Always Alterable Part {Simon Says Stamp}, Vintage Pattern, Flowers from "Forever and Always" Card Kit {Simon Says Stamp}, Stencil {Teresa Collins}, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste {Ranger}, Pearl Embellishment {Want 2 Scrap}

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 154

Hello there!

Are you ready for another fabulous Deconstructed Sketch?

Jen has created another awesome sketch for us to work with this week.

I decided to play with a bit of watercolor, stencils, and embossing paste this week. I also wanted to use a couple of new dies that I recently purchased. My LSS just got in some fabulous new Butterfly Wings dies from Memory Box, so I put to use the Effera and Rhone dies on this card. The hello die is from Simon Says Stamp.

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see the amazing creations they have come up with using this week's fantastic sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults 
• Joanne Basile (taking a break this week)
• Kadie Ensley
• Kim O’Connell
• Sheri Gilson (taking a break this week)
• Tangii Crain
• Tracey Pickersgill 

I hope you are inspired to give this fabulous sketch a try. If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog! 

I am also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday Challenge, which for this month, is to use a Simon Say Stamp brand product on your creation.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 139

Hi there!

Welcome to this week's edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

I was able to get my hands on some new My Mind's Eye papers this week, and of course, I had to pair them up with Jen's fabulous sketch!

I used the new Pretty Things paper from the Record It! collection by My Mind's Eye and combined it with my new Simon Says Stamp small Hello die that I cut out four times and stacked up for extra dimension. That sweet little heart is from the Studio Calico Sugar Rush card kit.

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see what they have created with this week's fabulous sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Joni Wilson
• Joanne Basile
• Judy Rozema
• Kadie Ensley
• Kim O'Connell
• Lori Boyd (out this week)
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain
• Tracey Pickersgill

If you want to play along with us at The Deconstructed Sketch this week, the linky tool and details are over on Jen's blog! 

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 138

Hello there!

Welcome to another edition of The Deconstructed Sketch!

Jen has another excellent sketch for us again this week. I just love this one, and I know I will put it to use again!

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I have one last love-themed card to share with you... it is my favorite so far. :)

I recently placed my first order with Simon Says Stamp and it will definitely not be my last! I am addicted to their dies! They are the absolute best! I also placed my first order with Neat & Tangled, where I picked up the super fabulous You + Me stamp set. I love it soooo much! It is so cool, and it pairs perfectly with my new dies!

Here is the list of the other DT members so you can see what they have created with this week's fabulous sketch:

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Joni Wilson
• Joanne Basile
• Judy Rozema
• Kadie Ensley
• Kim O'Connell
• Lori Boyd
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain
• Tracey Pickersgill

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day!

Supplies:

Paper: Love Notes {Crate Paper}

Dies: Big Love You {Simon Says Stamp}, Fishtail Flags Stax Die-namics {MFT}, Femme Frames Creative Cuts {Mama Elephant},  Heart Banner, Heart Set {Savvy Stamps}

Stamps: You + Me {Neat & Tangled}