Something Patriotic

I cannot take credit for this layout..... I was inspired by Mary Fish's card I found on her blog:

She really does come up with some lovely cards with lovely layouts!  Thanks Mary for your inspiration!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Set - Something to Say

Paper - Real Red, Whisper White, Night of Navy

Ink - Night of Navy

Accessories - Itty Bitty Accents Punch

Something to Like

I saw a card with a color combo of Basic Gray, Real Red and Whisper White..... I wanted to create a card using those colors.

Well, I added a few more colors -- Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Basic Black. LOL!  See how my mind starts with something..... and it goes in a different direction. Ha!

I LOVE how this card came out.  The Red and Yellow really stand out against the Gray.

I stamped the image on Whisper White with Memento Ink and colored it with the new blendabilities markers.  I carefully cut around the edge with scissors (I didn't cut out the spray).  I decided to stamp the spray part twice on the background piece.   I believe it looks great with two sprays instead of just the one the stamp has.

I used the Simply Scored Scoring Tool to create the three lines up and across the background piece and I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig Tool to align the sentiment just right.

I finished by 'popping' the flowers up with the dimensionals.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Sets - I Like You, Something to Say
Paper - Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink - Blendabilities (Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler), Memento, Black Staz-on
Accessories - Stamp-a-ma-jig, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, scissors, dimensionals, Blendabilities (Color Lifter)

Sand - DGSCPR0025Task4

Working on a scrapbook page from our recent trip to the coast (of California).  I played along with the June Progressive Digi-Scrap Challenge on the Splitcoaststampers website.  The challenge gives you a few tasks to do each week (within the month) so, at the end of that month, you have a completed page.

If you'd like to view the challenge for June, start here: June Progressive Challenge - Task 1 . From that one you can find tasks 2-4.

Thanks for looking!
 Supplies Used: My Digital Studio

Background - Nautical Expedition DSP #10

Punch - Square (filled w/Nautical Expedition DSP #4 , #12 and Crumb Cake); Circle (underneath life preserver - Whisper White)

Stamp Brush Sets - Natural Composition Overlays (Very Vanilla); Anchors Away (anchor - Early Espresso)

Embellishments - Ruffle Trim (Baked Brown Sugar); Anchors Away (life preserver); Baker's Twine (cropped - Whisper White); Sunshine and Sprinkles (sunburst)

Font - Freehand951, Chalkdust and Lativa(Early Espresso)

Grateful Blooms

Working with the new blendabilities markers are FUN!  I tried to do some masking with the So Very Grateful set (flowers in the background).  But, when I colored them in.... it didn't show an even line across the sentiment piece. SOOOO..... I created straight lines myself with the Taffeta Ribbon!

Just a note, too, regarding the blendabilities and the color lifter marker.  It does bleed a bit if there's no memento ink to block it's path.  Just a note to make people aware that this happens!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set - So Very Grateful, Blooming with Kindness
Paper - Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Ink - Memento, Black Staz-on, Blendabilities markers (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive)
Accessories - Taffeta Ribbon (Early Espresso)

Banner Pennants - CTS81

 

Playing along with the sketch I saw on the CAS(e) This Sketch Blog (CTS81).  I chose not to use the colors in the photo.... just concentrated on the sketch.  If you'd like to view the challenge, here is the link: http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2014/06/case-this-sketch-81.html

I had fun with this sketch, if I have time.... maybe I'll try to fuse the too.  We shall see!  Thanks for the inspiration CAS(e) This Sketch!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Sets - Perfect Pennants, Peaceful Petals

Paper - Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay, Naturals White

Ink - Baked Brown Sugar

Accessories - Big Shot, Banners Framelits, Stylish Stripes TIEF, Taffeta Ribbon (Bermuda Bay), scissors, dimensionals

Oak Point Preserve

 

As I started this two-page spread, I was trying to figure out what colors to use.  My initial thought was blue and brown -- as it is a nature page.  I've used brown in many of my layouts, so I wanted to try something different.  I decided to try using green (Certain Celery to be exact).... and then I thought it would be great to only incorporate two colors within the page -- making my photos stand out.  So here you have Basic Black paired with Certainly Celery.

My two-page spread is of a trip we took to Dallas.  We met up with Mike's co-worker (at the time), and became good friends, as we spent a lot of time together during the weeks we were there.  The van Belzen family (Peter, Louise, Emer and Caoimhe)!  We spent the day on a nature walk through a preserve that was very close to their home.

I think it turned out rather sophisticated with just the two colors.  What are your thoughts!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:

Background - Certainly Celery

Stamp Brush Sets - Green Tea (flower stem - Basic Black); Simple Friendship (flowers - Basic Black); Fresh Vintage (border - Certainly Celery); Decorative Overlays (flourish - Basic Black)

Font - Freeze and Wide Latin (Basic Black)

Easter 2013

 

I decided to create a few scrapbook pages for our 2013 Photobook  (still trying to get caught up-to-date).  While Mike and I were in Dallas, we drove down to Hutto (three hour drive) to see my sister and her family to spend Easter with them.  It was great to be around family during the Holiday!

In creating this page.... I 'editted' the circle punch to get the easter egg punch that you see on these pages.  To edit punches within the My Digital Studio software.... it's a bit tricky, but with trial and error.... I got a shape that I liked.  Within MDS, select punches from the Design Center (right-hand side), then select the shape you'd like to edit...... now, select 'Edit Shape' on the bottom left-hand

corner. Once the shape editor comes up, just drag the 'black boxes' around the shape to adjust it. Once you have the shape you want..... select 'ok' (it'll ask you to name it, so you may use the editted shape again and again in your projects!).  Cool - huh?
After creating the egg shaped punch, I was able to fill them in with the Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP.... which (to me) reminds me of dyed egg colorings.

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies Used:
Background - Blossoms Abound DSP #11
Embellishments - Blossoms Abound (leaves, flower bunch and banner); Narrow Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (Melon Mambo)
Stamp Brush Sets - Spring to Life (leaves - colored to match with color picker green in leaves); Twitterpated (basket weave - Early Espresso)
Punch - Square (filled w/Crumb Cake to go behind basket weave stamp); Egg (filled w/Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP #18, 20, 21 and 23)
Font - CK Honey (Early Espresso)

Penguin Petals - HSS188

 

The punch art reminds me of those cute stuffed animals with the HUGE eyeballs!  LOL!  I know my niece will LOVE it! =)

I saw this sketch on the Hand Stamped Sentiments Blog (HSS188), and wanted to try my hand at creating something with it.  You may view the challenge on their blog (along with all the fabulous creations that others' have made) here: http://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/2014/06/hss-sketch-challenge-188.html

Thanks so much for the inspiration and thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Sets - Remembering Your Birthday, Petite Petals

Paper - Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink - Black Staz-on

Accessories - Two-Step Owl Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Corner Round Punch, Basic Rhinstones, glue dots, stamp-a-ma-jig, Banners Framelits, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF

Wooden Bloom

In creating the card up top, I started out by trying to incorporate this sketch in my card.  However, when I added the '9' white butterflies (that I wanted because of the sketch)...... you could hardly see that there was a flower underneath all those butterflies.  It looked way to busy and I wasn't liking it at all.  So, I created my own card...... with just one butterfly.  Not sure if my card will be a Birthday or a Thank you card, so I left it blank inside.

Maybe I'll try the sketch again later this week..... we shall see! =)

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Sets - Hardwood, Blended Bloom
Paper - Hello Honey, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink - Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Accessories - Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Big Shot, dimensionals, scissors

Responsibility - MDSM70

 

I incorporated two challenges within this scrapbook page.  One, the sketch, is from the MDS Monday Blog - MDSM70.  You may view their challenge here: http://mdsmonday.blogspot.com/2014/06/mdsm70-joans-going-in-circles.html

The second is from the Splitcoaststampers website - DGSC118 Responsibility.  You may view that challenge here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/digital-scrapbooking-tuesdays-f253/dgsc-118-responsibility-t588590.html

Now, I struggled with attempting to create a page with the quote for the Digi-Scrap Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  I'm not a person to talk about myself, so I like scrapping 'events' and not feelings or attitudes.  My photos are of a time of fun in the sun walking on the beach and rocks.  As you can see from the bottom photo..... I walked too close to the waves, as they got my socks, shoes and pants soaked! EEkk!  Those were the only shoes I had with me.  It so reminded me of the time (when I was 12) that I road my bike through a huge puddle and got stuck in the middle, and got my shoes, socks and pants wet there too.  Boy, did I get in trouble that long ago day with my parents..... had to write a 1000 word essay on 'obedience'.  Now, when I got wet this time.... those same feelings of failure came back out.  My husband (I love him!)... just laughed and said they'll dry eventually.  He even finished the drying process with a hairdryer when we got back to the hotel room.  He's amazing!

Well, I do dread responsibility sometimes.... but I know you need that in order to provide for your family. We are blessed that we can have fun as well as provide for our living at the same time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Background - Daffodil Delight

Stamp Brush Sets - Anchors Away (words - Midnight Muse; starfish and seahorse - Sahara Sand)

Embellishments - Anchors Away (sea banner, sun banner, words - relax, circle - good life); Brad (Daffodil Delight); Dahlias (Daffodil Delight)

Punch - Square (filled w/Anchors Away DSP #4 and #5); Circle (filled w/Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight and Textured Cardstock - Midnight Muse)

Font - CK Cutie (Midnight Muse)

Blissfully Baroque - SSC78

 

I'm really lovin' the new In-color Blackberry Bliss!  So very elegant looking....especially when you add rhinestones! LOL!

I saw this sketch on the Sunday Stamps Blog.  You may view the challenge here: http://sundaystamps.blogspot.com/2014/06/ssc78-its-sketch-time.html

Thanks so much for the wonderful sketch!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Sets - Peaceful Petals, Perfect Pennants, Memorable Moments

Paper - Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss

Ink - Blackberry Bliss

Accessories - Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque TIEF, Basic Rhinestones, Stitched Satin Ribbon (Blackberry Bliss), stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals, scissors

Perfect Wildlife

My niece loves animals..... wolves and raptors in particular, so I wanted to create a card that had an animal on it, but still be 'girly'.  She's more of a tomboy, so I chose not to use pink. I believe that my choice of the Bermuda Bay ribbon really makes this card more feminine than masculine.  I'm hoping you like my card too!

I used a retired stamp set..... Wildlife Reserve.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:
Stamp sets - Wildlife Reserve (retired), Perfect Pennants
Paper - Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink - Smoky Slate, Bermuda Bay
Accessories - Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Bitty Banners Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Taffeta Ribbon (Bermuda Bay), glue dots, dimensionals

Hello Pennants - CTS80

Working with the sketch I saw on the CAS(e) This Sketch Blog (CTS80), I wanted to incorporate the new In-Colors.  I chose Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow.

To view the challenge, Click here: http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2014/06/case-this-sketch-80.html  Thanks for such a wonderful sketch!

To create the dotted background piece, I used the 'Perfect Pennants' stamp with my stamp-a-ma-jig to align the stamp and make it as wide as you see here.  I used the Two-Step Owl Punch to punch out the 'a' in the sentiment in Hello Honey and attached it with a glue dot.

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Sets - Perfect Pennant, Petite Petals

Paper - Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Whisper White

Ink - Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey

Accessories - Big Shot, Windows Framelits, Petite Petals Punch, Two-Step Owl Punch, Basic Rhinestones, glue dots, stamp-a-ma-jig

Whoo hoo!  Just saw that I was a "Favorite" in this sketch challenge!  You may view all the winners here: http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2014/06/cts-80-winners.html

Great Sports Wish

Since most of my sports "stamps" are within My Digital Studio, I used it to create the card you see here.

I laid the background image down (in Basic Black).  I decided to use the color tool to color the stars Daffodil Delight.  I used a circle punch (filled w/Tangelo Twist) to color the middle portion of the stamp.  Then I added the basketball stamp on top.

I printed the page on Whisper White, matted it with Daffodil Delight and attached it to Night of Navy cardstock.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Brush Sets - Great Sports, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Coloring tool - colored stars Daffodil Delight
Punch - Circle (filled w/Tangelo Twist)
Paper - Night of Navy, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Petite Moments

I believe Tangelo Twist is my new favorite color! So summery and cheerful!  On this card, I paired it with my all-time favorite color Old Olive.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set - Petite Petals, Memorable Moments
Paper - Tangelo Twist, Whisper White
Ink - Old Olive, Tangelo Twist
Accessories - Taffeta Ribbon (Old Olive), Petite Petal Punch, Big Shot, Decorative Dots TIEF, Basic Pearls, glue dots, stamp-a-ma-jig

Blissful Petals

I'm having fun playing with my new blendabilities markers from Stampin' Up!.  These are the Rich Razzleberry assortment pack (along with the Daffodil Delight for the middle of the flower).

I used the new Blackberry Bliss cardstock and ribbon.....what a delicious color!  It's so rich looking with the rhinestones on top of the ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Sets - Perfect Pennants, Peaceful Petals
Paper - Blackberry Bliss, Haiku DSP (retired), Whisper White
Ink - Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities
Accessories - Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Banners Framelits, Basic Rhinestones, Stitched Satin Ribbon (Blackberry Bliss), glue dots, scissors, dimensionals

Grad Invite

My beautiful niece graduated from high school this year. The photo of her was what she wore on her graduation day....such a beautiful photo.... I didn't want it to just sit on my computer folder.  I decided to play with My Digital Studio software to create a graduation invite.
Here's what I came up with.  Her class colors are purple and gold..... which look great next to her soft green dress that she wore.  I love how this turned out!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies Used: Paper - Blackberry Bliss
Embellishments - Glimmer Kit (Gold Trim)
Punch - Square (filled w/Whisper White at 80% opacity); Timeless Type Junior Numbers (filled w/Glimmer -Gold)
Font - Majestic and Cordial (Basic Black)

Hardwood Bloom

I cannot take credit for this lovely card.  I copied almost everything from Amy Koender's lovely card. You may view her blog here: http://stampwithamyk.com/2014/05/23/blended-bloom-birthday-stampin-up/
Thanks Amy!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Sets - Blended Bloom, Blooming with Kindness, Hardwood
Paper - Poppy Parade, Hello Honey, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink - Daffodil Delight Blendabilities, Memento Ink, Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Accessories - scissors, Color Lifter marker

Friendly Blessings

This is a hybrid card.  The center piece was created within My Digital Studio software using the words from the stamp set "God's Blessings" and the flower image from "Friends 24-7".  It was printed on Whisper White cardstock and matted on Basic Black cardstock.

I completed the card the traditional way.  I masked the right-hand side of the Whisper White cardstock and stamped the "Peaceful Petals" several times on the left side creating a border.  I finished the card by adding the Basic Black taffeta ribbon along the border edge and mounted it on Smoky Slate cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

MDS

Stamp Brush Sets - Friends 24-7 (floral image - Smoky Slate)

Font - Regency and Bliss (words from the stamp set "God's Blessing" and the word "Sympathy - Basic Black)

Stampin Up

Paper - Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink - Smoky Slate

Stamp Set - Peaceful Petals

Accessories - Taffeta Ribbon (Basic Black)

So Very Blendable

I wanted to test out my new blendabilities markers (from Stampin' Up).  They are alcohol-based inks, so they blend easier than the regular markers.  I do have to say....they are great to work with.  One word of note.... they do seem darker in color than what I was expecting.  But, as you can see.....lovely coverage and beautiful results!  So very cool!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies Used:
Paper - Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink - Memento, Blendabilities (Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive)
Stamp Sets - So Very Grateful, Peaceful Petals
Accessories - Big Shot, Fancy Fan TIEF, Satin Ribbonn (Basic Black), glue dots

Modern Party

Working within My Digital Studio, creating a card for my nephew.  This card came together quickly.....I used the Modern Medley DSP (arrows) in the background, added the stacked sentiment and finished it with a candle on top -- to resemble a birthday cake!

I printed it out on Whisper White cardstock and attached it to Bermuda Bay cardstock.

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies Used:
Paper - Bermuda Bay
Stamp Brush Sets - Modern Medley DSP (arrows - Bermuda Bay); Party Hearty (candle - Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry)
Punch - Square (Whisper White - matted in Baked Brown Sugar)
Font - Curlz MT (Baked Brown Sugar and Bermuda Bay)

Redwoods - MDSM67

Mike and I took a much needed vacation with his parents to Northern California this past week to see the Redwood Trees.  Such beauty in the surrounding areas.... it helped us to relax and reflect on the things that are important to us -- being with family. =)

As I saw this sketch challenge on the MDS Monday blog.... I just knew I had to use one of the photos from our recent trip to the Redwoods.  If you'd like to view their blog, click here:MDS Monday Challenge - MDSM67

A few things I'd like to point out as I was creating this page are: 

I grouped the photo boxes together in order to create the look you see here.

In the My Digital Studio software, simply create your photo boxes and align them how you'd like them to be.  Then, select all of the boxes, right-click and select 'group', than 'group'.  Next add your photo.

I created my own DSP to use in the Alphabet punches for the title.

In the My Digital Studio software, open a separate page. I used Crumb Cake for the background and added the Bunch of Backgrounds (weathered) stamp brush set in Early Espresso over the top.  I saved this as a .JPEG file to my desktop. I then added this new file into the My Digital Studio software (into backgrounds), so that I could use it for future use. 

Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies Used: My Digital Studio software, Stampin' Up!

Background - Textured Cardstock (Early Espresso)

Punch - Square (filled w/Textured Cardstock - Always Artichoke); Timeless Type Junior Alphabet (Weathered DSP.... my own from Bunch of Backgrounds)

Embellishments - Timeless Taffeta Trimmings (Crumb Cake)

Font - CK Ali's Hand (Very Vanilla)