Ehh? It's Your Birthday?

Who doesn't love the set From the Herd in the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog?  I know I do!  It's definitely not my usual style, but it's so cute and funny that I had to use it on one of my stamp a stack cards.  The ladies loved it too, but we all agreed that coloring it in sure takes a while!  I have to say I'm sad that the Blendabilities had to go, but I know I'll still color this using an aqua painter and ink pads because it's too cute not to use. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the boxes above. It will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" right at the top of my blog under the header. If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bloom with Hope

Today's card is made using the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  It's a fun one!  I have to admit I tried doing it with circles, but nothing seemed to turn out the way I wanted it to so I went back to using flowers on my card instead.  Yup, trusty flowers for me.  They seem to do the trick most of the time. :)   They were a bit bigger than the circles too, so I flipped my card so they would fit on it. 

Make sure you head over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday HERE and play along when you get the chance.  It's a pretty quick and simple card if you don't do fussy cutting like I did! lol

I used watercolor paper for my flower and used blendabilites to color them in.  I love how they bleed when I use watercolor paper.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the boxes above. It will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" right at the top of my blog under the header. If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Apothecary Art

Today's post is for this week's sketch from Try Stampin' Tuesday.  I can't say I'm super happy with it, but I don't hate it either! lol  I loved the sketch, but just couldn't seem to get the look I was looking for.  Does that make sense to anyone else?  It seems like I'm so overwhelmed with the new sets I have lately that I just wanted to use a set that's been out for a little while.  This set is so pretty, but it does take a bit to color it in.  I definitely wanted to go with non-traditional colors for this so went with green flowers and blue leaves with a touch of yellow mixed in too.

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It's hard to tell, but I cut out all the flowers that have pearls on them and popped them out a bit.  I really like how that looks and you can't even tell it! lol

Make sure you head on over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday's blog HERE to check out the other great cards the designers made using this sketch.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card: 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the boxes above. It will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" right at the top of my blog under the header. If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Layered Corner Garden

So glad it's Friday!  I am ready for this week to be done, but not before I show you my card for this week's Friday Mashup.  I'm the hostess this week and this is what my mashup is...

Create a project with the "Triple Layer Technique" Tutorial HERE.

Create a project that's "Floral". 

or Mash it Up! and create a "Floral Triple Layer Project".

I think I've said it here before, but if not I love winter.  Well, not winter so much but the snow.  If it's going to be cold I want snow.  Not rain, not mud, not dead brown grass and weeds...pure white snow to cover the yuck!  We've had it for a bit again, but as much as I love it I always miss stepping outside and seeing all kinds of flowers in my back yard.  That's what today's card is about...anything floral and add the triple layer technique to it.  A few month's back I did a different twist on the triple layer technique using the stamp set Lovely as a Tree.  I loved how that card turned out, so I decided to try that twist again using the stamp Corner Garden.

Let me tell you I will NEVER color all these flowers in again!  As much as I like how it turned out it was a LOT of coloring especially since I had to double some of it!  I actually used water color paper and colored everything in with Blendabilities.  It's a lot different coloring on watercolor paper with them than on Very Vanilla or Whisper White card stock.  It bleeds and blends a lot better, but you do have to really watch it a lot more.  Make sure you head over to the Friday Mashup HERE.  The designers made some fabulous cards!  I hope you'll play along too.  I'd love to see what you create!

Just a few more pics at different angles so you can see the layers. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card:

1 1/4" square punch & 1 3/8" square punch

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Setting Sun on Moon Lake

It's Friday and what a day it is!  The scene on this card is the total opposite of what I see outside my windows right now!  A calm, warm night just as the sun sets versus a night of snowing, blowing and the wind howling and waking up to lots of white!  Now let's see if I can drive in it!  

You might be thinking to yourself, "What did she do to this scene?!"  Well Lisa's challenge will explain that to you....

Create a project with a "Embossing Folder Stamping Technique". Link Here. 

Create a project  with "Mix & Matched Shapes". 

or Mash it Up! and create a "project using the technique with different shapes".

I decided to just chop my picture up and say that's my mix and matched shapes.  Strange I know, but it's not too bad...at least my daughter and hubby say it isn't. lol  I also did the embossing folder stamping technique but for some reason it didn't show up really well in the picture.  If you look  closely you can see the wood grain on the crumb cake paper.

Make sure you stop by the Friday Mashup and check out how everyone else interpreted this challenge.  Lot's of fun cards out there!  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Christmas Bauble Inspiration

Now that the holidays are over I'm starting my cards again for Christmas 2015.  Seems so far away, but that's what I thought for 2014 too! lol  I must say I love being a part of 'Tis the Season Christmas card challenge since I didn't need to sit down for extended periods of time and stamp the same thing over and over and over and over...I think you get the picture. ;)  It's so nice to create a few cards every couple of weeks and have a stack of them ready to go just before Christmas!  I hope you'll join us for our bi-weekly challenge as much as you can throughout 2015!

I have to say this was a VERY hard challenge for me!  I do NOT like blue and orange together, but I definitely like how this card turned out!  I've seen a few cards here and there with these two colors together and I actually really liked them, so I knew I could get it to work if I took the time to think about it.  I didn't quite use the same blue as the Inspiration does, but I really wanted to use my Blendabilities markers so I went with Bermuda Bay andCalypso Coral.  Make sure you head over to challenge HERE to check out all the other great cards using these colors and play along too!  We'd love to see what you create!  

I almost forgot to add that I used Try Stampin' on Tuesday's sketch challenge for this card.  Definitely a little different than what I posted on Tuesday, but it still fits for this card too. :)  The idea for this card popped into my mind while I was creating my other one for this challenge.  Love how that happens, don't you?!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Indescribable Gift

I finally got some new sets from the Occasions Catalog that is coming out on January 6 for Stampin' up and wanted to use all my stamps as soon as I could!  I had a few ideas going through my head, but I've only been able to make this one card so far.  Since my niece's birthday is so close to Christmas I've heard it through the grapevine that she would like cards that are NOT winter themed.  No problem this time around.  I chose to use the new set Indescribable Gift.  It reminds me of an apple tree in my back yard.  Every year I go out and take pics of the thousands of beautiful flowers that bloom on it.  Sometimes I stand under it and take a pic up into the sky.  The blue is just beautiful behind all the lovely flowers.  That's where the inspiration came for this card.  I figured why not add the sun in the background.  I know...it's not yellow, but on bright days like that when the sky is blue it tends to be pretty white. :)

I added this pic so you could see how the flowers shine.  That's from using a VersaMarker and embossing over all the flowers, leaves and branches so I could brayer the sky in the background.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card:

VersaMarker

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

From Our House To Yours...

Today's card is definitely not my norm since it's pretty plain and simple, but I have to admit I had fun coloring in the house.  I really don't know how to color things in so I just looked around at other cards using this same house that were colored and tried to learn a little bit about basic lighting.  I don't think it turned out too bad for my first try.  Someday I'll get a chance to study and practice it a little more in depth. :)  Anyway this card is for 'Tis the Season's sketch challenge #31.  I really liked this clean and simple sketch, and hope you do too!  

Head over to 'Tis the Season HERE to check out the other fun Christmas cards using this sketch and to play along too.  Christmas is almost here!  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies use on this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Open House Make & Take -1

Today I'd like to show you my first make and take that I had at my open house last week.  Since I did the diamond dust technique previously on a Friday Mashup challenge I decided I wanted to do it with the cardinal stamp Beauty of the Season from the Holiday catalog.  I definitely think this was the ladies' favorite!

This pic doesn't look too bad, but seeing the diamond dust technique in person is SO much better!  I stamped it with Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black and colored the cardinal in with Cherry Cobbler and Pumpkin Pie Blendabilities. I also used the Stampin' Write Basic Black for the branches and on the bird, plus Basic Gray for his legs.  I didn't have enough candy dots for everyone coming and didn't feel like making my own, so I used the cupcake punch to punch out three circles. 

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used to make this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thank You with An Open Heart

Today I have a pretty thank you card to show you.  This card is inspired by this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge #27.  I've had this set for a month and finally had a chance to ink it up a bit because I went away for the weekend to see a bit of fall colors (and that's all it was...a bit!).  I also brought a bunch of my stamping supplies too. :)  Yup, I get to see the fall colors and stamp all weekend.

Because there was a turkey on the sketch I thought I'd stick with the bird theme.  I stamped the branches and bird with black Memento ink, then colors them in with Blendabilities.  

Make sure you stop by Try Stampin' on Tuesday HERE to see the other fun cards using this sketch and play along too!  We'd love to see what you create. :)

Here are a few pics I was able to get this past weekend.  The first picture is one I take every year because of the location.  I have no idea where the rest are taken.  We just drove around until I found some color that I liked and took a few pics. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Supplies used on this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Brightly Blooming

Is it sunny or is it rainy?  That's what it's like here today in Michigan.  Wonderful sun, then pouring rain, and as I'm typing this warm sunshine again...oh, change that.  Looks like it's about to rain again. lol  Today I have a card for two different challenges and I'm excited that I had some time to do it today!  

My colors come from the Colour Me...playful challenge.  I've been following them for a bit now and was determined to play along.  Love the colors they have for this week, however I couldn't figure out how I was going to add in the color Melon Mambo.  It just didn't look right where the black strips are, and I felt it would have been too bright where the gold embossing is.  That's when I decided to sponge the tips and a bit of the center of the flower that I had colored in with Daffodil Delight Blendabilities.  

I also decided to play along with Freshly Made Sketches.  It's a nice CAS sketch and I was determined to keep my card that way.  For those of you who know me I tend to over-do my cards, so it was a bit of a challenge, but I think I managed it this time. :)

I decided not to put a sentiment on my card yet.  Who knows what I might need it for.  I need a few of those kinds of card around so if something comes up all I have to do is stamp the sentiment on and it's ready to be sent off.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Flowering Flourishes & Bloom with Hope

Card Stock:  Basic Black & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Melon Mambo

Memento:  Tuxedo Black

Blendabilities:  Daffodil Delight Assortment

VersaMark

Stampin' Emboss Powder:  Gold

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges

Summer Sunflower

Happy Tuesday, Everyone.  I have a card to show you using this weeks' Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge.  I love the new hostess set from Stampin' Up! called Bloom with Hope.  I've used most of the flowers a few times already, but not the sunflower yet.  I didn't want it to feel too neglected so I pulled it out and inked it up.  Then I used the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities to color it in.  Love using them to color things in.  They make it so easy to do!

Here's the sketch for this week.  Make sure you stop by Try Stampin' on Tuesday to see what the other designers have created with this sketch and play along too.  We'd all love to see what you create!

Just a close up to see how I colored it in.  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Set:  Bloom with Hope

Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry & Whisper White

Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black

Blendabilities:  Daffodil Delight, Skin Tone & Old Olive

Framelits:  Deco Labels Collection

Embossing Folder:  Decorative Dots

Ribbon:  3/8" Taffeta in Whsiper White (retired)

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Bloom with Hope

Today's card is for Try Stampin' on Tuesday's sketch challenge #173.  Such a cute sketch that we have this week.  I used the new Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Blendablilties, however the cardstock is one of the new In Colors...Blackberry Bliss.  I guess I can get away with that since the Blendabilites have varying shades. :)

Make sure you head on over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday to see all the other lovely cards made using this sketch, and once you're inspired why not play along. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Set:  Bloom with Hope

Card Stock:  Blackberry Bliss, Daffodil Delight & Whisper White

Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black

Blendabilities:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive & Daffodil Delight

Punch:  Scallop Trim Border (retired)

Framelits:  Circles Collection

Ribbon:  3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Blackberry Bliss

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today's card is special since it's for my mom and it's her birthday today.  :)  She loves the color blue so I thought I'd play with some new stuff I got from Stampin' Up!  It was waiting for me when I got home from work...yes!  My card didn't turn out as I had planned, but I think that happens a lot.  I just change what I'm doing and go in another direction.  I can't forget to say that my design is from Hand Stamped Sentiments sketch challenge #186.  I haven't played along with a sketch challenge in quite a while unless I've combined it with one I'm a designer for, so it was relaxing to just come up with a card and not be pushing for a deadline after a loooong day at work.  I have to admit I do work better when there's a deadline though. lol  Crazy, I know.

If you get a chance head over to HSS and check out the designers cards using this sketch and play along.  It's a great one!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Set:  Bloom with Hope

Card Stock:  Pool Party, Coastal Cabana,

Bermuda Bay & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Pool Party, 

Coastal Cabana & Bermuda Bay

Memento:  Tuxedo Black

VersaMarker

Embossing Folder:  Decorative Dots

Framlits:  Ovals Collection

Occasions Paper-piercing Pack

Stampin' Emboss Powder:  Clear

Brayer & Sponges