SSC158 BE SQUARE & CCC #18

Does anyone else listen to Christmas music in July?  I Love it.  It helps to calm me down and just puts joy in my heart.  So as I was listening I decided to make this lovely card for the Christmas Card Challenge it's such a great blog to help get those Christmas cards ready by Dec. The inspiration photo they gave us this week↓

Yay for snowmen.  I have had this single stamp for quite some time.  In fact back when our kids still lived at home.  My son mentioned that I should color the little mouse ears a soft pink, and so I did, and have been doing that ever since then.  I used the sketch from the challenge at: Sunday Stamps.   My card is a 5x5 inch square.  I stamped the black base with snowflakes and then used candy cane stripe washi tape. for the banners.  I stick it on white paper first so that it looks better.  Then just cut it out and glue it down.  I used an embossing folder behind the snowman, and to "tie" it all together I strung two of the cutest ever jingle bells to the banners on top.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you take a look around at my other cards too.  Perhaps you can follow me here on my blog or on pinterest.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

TTTC008~Faux Tile Technique ~Use Your Stuff

 I just tried a new technique on my card.  Well it's new to me, apparently it's been around a bit, but here is my first take on the Faux tile look.  I thought it would tie in perfect with the TicTacToe Challenge.  Since I'm playing the top row straight across.  I've got the Yellow down, I would say in this card, (wink) and then also the  black rectangle, along with the sentiment rectangle.  However the scoring is where my new to me technique comes in to play.  So I used a 4 by 5 inch piece of white card stock and scored it one inch across the top and turned the card and scored again one inch.   Then I stamped very lightly the background flowers.  I colored them in and then liberally applied versa mark over the whole card stock.  I poured on some clear embossing powder and then took my blender pen and traced the score lines before setting with the heat gun.  I repeated this step twice to give it a glossy tile appearance.  I'm not to pleased with the background images but totally thrilled with the tile look.  I can't wait to play around with this technique again.  I added a little clear gem to the middle flower and a butterfly to break up all those yellow flowers.

I had to put all 3 pictures in so you could hopefully see the faux tile appearance of the card.  It's quite amazing how it turned out.  
I'm also going to submit my card to the free week at: Use Your Stuff.  Indeed I did "use my stuff" on this card.  Not very often do I pull out the embossing powder. 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

FUSION Hello Cards

Well Marvin Winston has not come back to the yard for a visit in a couple days now.  I suppose that might be a good thing.  Apparently Ground hogs can be quite destructive, but gosh he was so cute.  I have a few pictures in my previous posts if you want to see him.

Today I made a card for my SCS(Scripture Card Sunday) theme.  Although it's not a verse it works well as a good reminder. 

In making this card I played along with the fun challenge at: Fusion

I like the sketch design along with the sentiment placement which I thought worked really well on my card today.  The soft colors are very elegant with that hint of gold.  I used sequins in the flowers for my gold accent.  

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  

Hope you have a Spectacular Sunday.

Since you are here, take a moment to look around my blog at my other cards, projects and pictures.  It is so much fun to share.  I would love it if you decided to follow me.  Thank you. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

#GDP097 & LIM#339~ In the Spotlight

 I can't believe I actually had all three colors for the challenge at: Global Design Project

I'm so excited to play along.  I didn't have matching card stock so I just stuck with basic white.  I used the Berry Burst marker for the flowers, I just stamped off to get a lighter shade. The wild wasabi for the stems and leaves and then the crumb cake for the sentiment, it was actually one stamp I just stamped it twice there was some scotch tape involved. haha  This is an older stampin up set called: In the Spotlight.

I'm also submitting my card to the challenge at: Less Is More

Such a fun technique, I forgot about paper piercing.   So after I used my dies to make the lovely rectangles I pierced around the outer edges of the flowers and leaves.   For my embellishments I chose these little gems for the center of the flowers.  They are not brads or eyelets, in fact they are nail jewelry art, but I bought them specifically for cards.  I had to pop dot the flowers up a bit because the gems are quite chunky, but it all turned out.   I finished if off with some clear wink of stella glitter on the petals.  Love how it made them sparkle. 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  

Hope you will take a look around at my other cards/projects and pictures.   Perhaps I can get you to follow my blog.  

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

CTS#232~ Mountains

Well this does it for me today when it comes to using my new clearance stamp sets.  I'm totally out of my comfort zone with these..  You'll have to check out my previous cards to see what I mean.   I have broadened my horizon today.  Any ways I  made this card for the challenge at:  CASE this Sketch

  I stamped my little line up of mountains and then started playing around with the cactus that came in the set, but nothing was looking quite right, until this odd looking long horn skull thingy.  I mean seriously this is so not my kind of stamp, but it was from a lovely set of 9 and only 3 dollars.  any ways I tried to brighten up the dessert with a few flowers and a little sun peaking over the mountain tops.  Over all it's a pretty simple little card.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope to have you sign up to follow my blog journey.   It's a real Joy to think others appreciate what I do.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Challenge #88~SunBeam

 I made this card for the Time Out Challenge our inspiration is a word:   'If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely' 

So I went to work on a bright cheery card.  I LOVE the sentiment, that and the sunbeams are from Mama Elephant, the sun/moon is from Michael's and is a clearance item.  I colored it all in and cut it out, then I used pop dots to give it some dimension on top of the sun beams.  So I took a second picture so you could see the shadow.  This card and my last one I just posted this morning are quite different images.  That is why I bought these clearance items, I thought I would give it a go with something out of my comfort zone.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hope you will take a look around my blog and sign up to follow.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

FMS298~Adventure

 A bit overwhelmed today.  So very  thankful for card blog challenges to play along with.  I must say I have more cards at home then I know what to do with, I think I've exhausted my friends and family with cards, but  I've decided stamping is my way of escape and at least I don't gain anymore weight while doing this.      So this morning I made a card for Freshly Made Sketches by Linda

I went on an "adventure" with this card.  Quite out of the normal for me, that is if I even have a normal way of stamping.  If you check out my other cards you will see that I'm all over the board with them.  I embossed the white background to give it a bit of texture and then did some layers and painfully colored in the elephant, my hands are so shaky and eyes blurry it's amazing Mr. E turned out that well.  Hence the reason I left the stamped circles uncolored and just used enamel dots for the centers.   This stamp set was on clearance at Michael's  YAY for 3 dollars and a cute stamp set.  I included two pictures of this card, because one showed the embossed background so nicely and the other showed the pretty gem.  

Well Mr. Marvin Winston our groundhog has not made an appearance today.  So much for giving him bread, peanuts and water, thought He would appreciate the gesture.  Apparently NOT. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a look around my blog at the other cards, pictures and projects.

Would love to have you become a follower of my blog.  

Keep Smiling (trying here) and Keep Stamping (always)

Challenge #338 - NO Stamps~ Hearts

 Well here is my last post for the day.  Card number 3.  This card I made for the no stamp challenge at: Less Is More  This was so fun trying to figure out what to do without stamps.  Makes a gal think a bit.  So I made a sweetheart card.  The hearts and "love" are die cut and I layered  it all with black, as to give it a shadow appearance.  I embossed the white with some fancy little swirl folder.  I think it turned out rather cute.  

Up next is our new side yard friend.. Marvin Winston.  Thought I'd share a couple more pictures of him.  If you take a look around my blog you will see all kinds of little critters that come visit us, along with  pictures of our yard.  He's such a cutie, but big.  Now HP our dog has to stay on his lead just in case MW is out and about. 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I truly appreciate your comments. I hope you can take a moment and look around and see my other cards, projects and pictures.  Please sign up so you can follow my little blog journey.   That would make my day.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Challenge #338 - NO Stamps!

 I have been up early making cards, but then got busy  and didn't get a chance to post until this evening.  So here is post number 2 for the day.  I have one more to blog about after this.  I hope you will check them ALL out.  This card I made for the Less Is More Challenge

 I used the snowflake embossing folder for my background and then die cut and embossed the Christmas tree.  I sponged it with green.  I think perhaps if I would have just colored it with marker it might have looked better.    I added some glitter to the snow flakes to make it sparkle.  

Oh gosh.. look what's visiting my yard this week.  Two days in a row now.  We believe it's a groundhog.  We have named him Marvin Winston.   Isn't he cute.  I have posted more pictures so please take a look around my blog, if you go back a few days you'll see my yard which is why I think the critters like to pop in for a visit.  

So glad you popped in to check out my card.  Hope you will like what you see and want to sign up and follow.  

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Challenge # 174 Christmas in July

 I Love making Christmas cards so I had to make one more for the challenge at: Cardz 4 Guyz where it's Christmas in July.   This card is one huge stamp so I basically just had to color it with markers and pencils.  I also highlighted it heavily with clear wink of stella glitter.  I stamped the background with snowflakes to stick with the snowy scene.  I think it turned out sweet.

I'm also sharing a picture of this little critter.  I noticed him the other day in my yard but couldn't get to my camera quick enough before he went under the fence to the junk yard.   But  today I got a bunch of pictures.. I will add another super cute one in a bit on my next post.  Be sure to check it out.  We found out he is a ground hog.  We have named him Marvin Winston.  I have no idea where he came from, but it doesn't surprise me, probably you either if you are a follower of my blog.  We have quite the amount of wild life  that visit us even though we live pretty much in an industrial park.  I guess it's the yard.   

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope you take a look around my blog, and sign up to follow me  that would be ideal.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Addicted to CAS Challenge #116 - Wheels~Loads Of LOVE

I'm feeling like this little lady on my card. Sometimes a gal just wants to hit the trails and enjoy some solitude.   Of course my camper would be loaded with stamps and accessories.    I'm going to submit this card to the challenge at: Addicted to CAS

I used a stampin up set called Loads of Love.  I just kept it very simple, with no embellishments and used colored pencils and markers.   Hope you like it.  

Big "SHOUT OUT" to my new follower THANK YOU!!  

Makes this gal so happy to gain the trust and admiration of fellow bloggers and stampers.  

Thanks for taking the time to sneak a peak at my card, hope you will take a look around now that you're here, and perhaps sign up to follow me too.  That would be swell.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

#TGIFC117 & TMS #413~Swan Lake

 I made this card today for the challenge at: TGIF

and also for the challenge at: Tuesday Morning Sketches

I used the Swan Lake stamp set from stampin up.  and then colored and cut out the images. I used two different embossing folders on this card, along with 2 oval dies.  I did add some wink of stella clear glitter to the water, just hard to see in this picture.   I have so much fun playing with this stamp set, I think it's so sweet.

I also am sharing a picture of this big beautiful, very detailed moth sitting on my window.  Nothing like summer to bring out all these lovely insects.  

Thank you for taking time to come look at my card.  Hope you will take another moment and check out my other projects and perhaps if you are willing sign up to follow me.  That would be sweet.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

The Challenge #92 {Colours}~Love ya Lots

 I wanted to make one more card for the amazing challenge at:  Always Playing With Paper..

ok you got me two.  😉 But I'll only submit the top card, with the green frog.   I used two stamp sets from stampin up.  Love you lots and Swan Lake.  I really like how simple the Frog card turned out, and it reminds me of when our kids were younger and a man at church handed my son a little rubber frog the size of a nickel.  He  asked our son Xavier, do you know what that frog means?  and nope was our reply, he then told us this sweet acronym 

F~fully

R~rely

O~on

G~God

How precious is that. 

My bottom card even though I'm not submitting it to the challenge I still played around with the pop of color theme.   I used a  stamp set from amuse called perk up, and the background is a stamp from stampin up. 

Thank you so much for taking a look at my cards.. Hope you will parooz my blog, and perhaps if you're willing sign up to follow me.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

The Challenge #92 {Colours}~This Little Piggy & Painter's Palette

I made this delightful card for the challenge at: Always Playing With Paper

I used This Little Piggy, and the Painter's Palette from stamping up.   I think Miss. Piggy fit perfectly on the canvas sketch board.   Perhaps I should have given her some googly eyes.  My color choice was a soft pink that I layered with the black and white, and then I stamped Miss. Piggy on the soft pink too.

  I'm not sure if we can enter twice in this fantastic challenge, but golly gee this is fun to keep the colors to a bare minimum.  

Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Would love to have you follow my blog.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

CTS #231 & CCC #17 Snow Globe Christmas

 Hello Again.    One more post today.  I really enjoy playing around with this marvelous simple sketch at: Case This Sketch

 

And since I was  sitting at my porch desk listening to Christmas music, I found a new to me challenge YAY😊 

 Christmas Card Challenges

How super duper fabulous.   So I started playing with my snow globe stamp set from Mama Elephant, Believe in Magic, the inside of the globe is from Stampendous .  I think they look like they are having quite the "Merry" time around the Christmas tree.  The bow is from Holly Berry Happiness a stampin up set.  I colored the little snowflakes with a soft pink and added some wink of stella clear glitter.  I embossed the background to match the falling snow.

I even stamped a sentiment on the inside which I never do, and then I forgot to take a picture of it.  

Well I didn't forget to share a picture of my hound.  That sweet little guy loves to play ball.  He is so patient with me. 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Please check out my other cards and projects.  I'd love to have you follow my blog.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

CTS#231~ Owl Punch for SCS

Today is SCS (Sripture Card Sunday) on my blog, and I tell ya I needed a little something to remind myself to be thankful.  Have you ever noticed people love to give advice?  Sometimes it's helpful other times just want to say been there done that.. I mean I've tried about everything to get back what I use to have as far as the strength and walking/running just not happening yet.  Any ways my latest adventure in listening is taking Vitamin D3.  Anyone else take that supplement?  This is day number two, and day number two of blurry eyes.  Could be a coincidence could be I'm tired.. I don't know.. perhaps it's all my stamping and blogging.. haha.  But I do know I  had to get my head in a proper thinking mode.. so this thankful verse seemed to work very appropriately today.  I am going to be submitting this card to the challenge at: Case This Sketch

What a divine like sketch so simple and elegant. 

 I used a single stamp for my background, I masked where I would put the polka dot ribbon banner.  Then I punched out my owl, and use matching polka dots for his tummy.  I used a scallop circle punch for his wings that are holding my sentiment verse.  I just had to put googly eyes on him.  Sort of brings him to life.  

I hope I explained the card well.  If you have any questions please just leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

FMS297~Wedding

I'm submitting my wedding card to the challenge at: Freshly Made Sketches 

I started by making the polka dot ice cream cone card, and realized that the challenge had a few of those already.  SO I began looking around my porch to find a stamp set I could use.  I found this little wedding cake and sentiment.  I think it turned out super fabulous with the pattern paper.   It's elegant and simple.  I don't know how I pulled it off.  Wink wink.

Gosh I've got another idea already again, such a great sketch to work with, and I'm loving the square cards.  

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Take a look around my blog, perhaps you would like to be a follower too, that would be great.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping