Lovely as a TREE

Happy Friday, Everyone!  I have another card for you for this week's Friday Mashup which I happen to be hostessing. :)  The mashup for this week is...

Create a project with "Trees".

Create a project with "Heat or Dry Embossing".

Or Mash it up and create a project with "Embossing and Trees".

I have no idea why I chose these two things for the mashup, but I had to run with it once I did. lol  I figured I should try to use a tree stamp that I haven't used in a while, so I picked the oak tree from Lovely as a Tree.  Well, what was I supposed to do with that tree?  How about put it in a field.  Hey didn't I just do that with another card? lol  I did, but it's definitely not the same.  This time I used the direct to paper technique with a bit of sponging to fill it all in.  Do you ever look at the sky and see different colors in it, and they seem to be woven into the next color?  I don't know about you, but I sure do, so that's what I tried to create in this card.  I did dry embossing on a couple of colors of my card, but I have to admit it's a little hard to see in the picture.

Head on over to the Friday Mashup HERE.  We have some great cards to show you and would love to see what you create for this week's challenge.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Field Flowers

Card Stock:  Old Olive, Pool Party, Island Indigo,

So Saffron, Crisp Cantaloupe & Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Old Olive, Pool Party, Island Indigo,

So Saffron, Crisp Cantaloupe & Early Espresso

StazOn:  Black

Embossing Folder:  Pretty Print

Sponges

Lovely as a Christmas Tree

Wow, was there a great turnout over at 'Tis the Season while we joined up with the Jingle Belles!  That was fun, so hopefully we get a chance to do it with them again some time.  This week we have an inspiration sketch, and wow did I have to think about it!  I don't have a lot of Christmas stamps, so I decided to go with the colors for my inspiration.  I pulled the green and red from the wreaths to be my main colors and the gray as a part of the background...I know, the opposite of what is in the picture. lol  I love how they turned out though, and was surprised that my hubby and daughter liked the green cards more than the red.  I thought for sure everyone would turn their noses up at them.  Personally I can't decide which color I like better. lol  Make sure you head on over to 'Tis the Season HERE to to see the other great cards and play along with us too.

Yeah, I got a little carried away with the pics this time, but I had so many turn out this time!  The cards even show the sparkle I added when I spritzed them, and that's pretty hard to catch most of the time.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Christmas Collectibles

Card Stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green & Basic Gray

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Cherry Cobbler & Gumball Green

Ribbon:  5/8" Seam Binding in Cherry Cobbler

 & 5/8" Organza in White

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Brayer

Lovely as a Tree Sunset

Hi Everyone.  It's Tuesday, so that means it's time for a card for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge.  However we are doing things a little bit differently this week.  We're doing a blog hop!  If you're following the order of the blog hop you should have come here from Rose's blog, and when you're done looking at my card I'll leave you with the link to Sarah's blog.  You'll want to keep going through all the blogs to check out the great cards everyone made!  My card has actually been in my mind for a few weeks.  As I was driving home from work one evening I couldn't help but see the sun starting to set behind the trees, and thought it would make for a nice picture on a card.  The only difference is there was still snow on the ground.  Yup I changed it to grass!  I just thought the touch of green would be nicer. :)  This card also goes along with this week's twist:  A Masculine Touch.

This was great sketch to work with and who doesn't need more masculine cards to add to their pile for when you need one. :)  Now make sure you hop on over to Sarah's blog HERE to check out her great card!  Thanks for joining all of us!  Oh, I almost forgot to mention one thing...CherylAnn, the creator of Try Stampin' on Tuesday, will be holding a drawing for anyone who comments on any of the blogs.  I don't know what the drawing is for, but I guess that will have to be a surprise. :)  So go ahead and comment away on any or all of the blogs if you get a chance.   It's always nice to hear that someone likes something you've created. :)  Don't forget to join us by creating your own card using this week's sketch.

Sara H.

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Island Indigo, Old Olive & Pool Party

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe,

Crushed, Curry, Island Indigo, Old Olive & Pool Party

StazOn:  Black

Embossing Folder:  Argyle

Punch:  1" Circle

Brayer & Sponges

Celebrate Today

 Well, I'm excited to say that today is my first official post as a Friday Mashup designer. :)   I've played with them off and on over the past year or so, and what I love about their challenge is there are two things to work with.  You can do either one of them, or mash them up and do both. :)  Today we have a sketch by Cindy and the Theme is "Time".   I thought I'd use the colors from another challenge, but couldn't seem to fit the brown sugar color in anywhere, so I just stayed with the blues instead.  It's also the first day to order out of the new Occasions Catalog!  So much good stuff in it!  You can click on the side of my blog to check it out.  

Don't forget to check out what the other designers made HERE.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Perfectly Penned

Card Stock:  Night of Navy, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Night of Navy, Pool Party & Bermuda Bay

StazOn:  Black & Uni-ball Gel Pen:  White

Embossing Folders:  Woodgrain & Square Lattice

Brayer & Sponges

Winter Wonder

Today's card is something I've wanted to make since Christmas Day.  I looked out the front window and the sky in the distance was a dark blue just above the tree line and the farther up you looked the lighter the sky got.  I snapped a few pictures of it, but neither my pics or this card does it justice!  It was so cool to see!  I know a lot of you don't like the cold and snow, but I have to admit I do. :)  My thought is if it's going to be cold it might as well be cold with snow instead of cold with rain and mud.  

The design for this week's card is from Try Stampin' on Tuesday, so don't forget to check all of the other ladies cards HERE.  I'll admit I fudged a little on the bottom part of this week's design, but I just didn't think the circles went with the scene I created, so I went with the "skid marks" from Gorgeous Grunge instead. lol  The twist is Sparkle it Up, which I did do, it's just hard to tell.  I spritzed it with smooch spritz that's mixed with rubbing alcohol.  I guess you can see just a bit of it if you look for it.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree, Gorgeous Grunge & Sassy Salutations

Card Stock:  Marina Mist, Smoky Slate & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray,

Marina Mist & Island Indigo

Craft Pad:  Whisper White

Stampin' Emboss Powder:  White

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges & Brayer

Lovely as a Tree Gift

Just a quick post today...I sponged and brayered (is that even a word? lol) this scene as a gift at our annual Red Hot Stampers Christmas party.  We had to bring a $5 gift for our Bingo game.  Since I HATE to shop (except at Hobby Lobby occasionally) I figured I could make a pic to put in a frame.  I actually bought three and the colors I used went best with this frame.  Guess I'll need to come up with pics for my other two frames.  

This is the gift I received...A beautifully decorated bag using the Festive Flurry Ornament kit and a candle with another ornament on top of it.  What scent was it???  Spiced Cranberry, and it smells wonderful!  Thanks, Melinda! :)  Yup, always a fun night with the Red Hots!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Everything Eleanor

Card Stock:  Naturals White & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Wisteria Wonder,

Perfect Plum & Elegant Eggplant

StazOn:  Black

Sponges

Brayer

Lovely as a Tree - Winter Anniversary

Today's card is for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's anniversary...and it's late!  I have SO many cards I need to make and get out there soon.  Anyone else feel that way?  I really need to learn to speed up my card making process and plan ahead...months ahead! lol  Yeah, I'm laughing because I know that's never going to happen!  

I've been trying to put something on the inside of my cards.  It doesn't always happen, but I'm sure giving it a try. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Express Yourself

Card Stock:  Pool Party, Island Indigo,

Basic Black & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Pool Party, Island Indigo

& Midnight Muse

StazOn:  Black

Sponges

Brayer

Let It Snow!!

Let It Snow!!  That's the theme of today's card using the SUO (Stampin' Up! Only) challenge #84.  I needed a card for my brother-in-law's birthday so I thought it would be a good theme to go with for a guys card. :)  Let's just hope he doesn't read his emails before he goes to work early in the morning since my cards get emailed to my sister.  Anyway, lots of sponging and embossing for this card, and I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to actually make sure the trees were a little offset from each other.  Wish I could get a better picture because the card looks so much better in person, but that's the way it goes sometimes. 

 I had to quickly stamp and do just a bit of sponging on the inside too because I think it adds just a little more to the card.  I know it's a little light, but that's the point.  I need to be able to write on the inside so the writing can be seen instead of being covered up by the stamp.  Wish I could whip out the front of a card as fast as I can the inside! lol

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree, 

Gorgeous Grunge & Express Yourself

Card Stock:  Night of Navy & Naturals White

Classic Stampin' Pad:  Night of Navy

VersaMark

Stampin' Emboss Powder:  White

Punches:  Decorative Label & 1 1/4" Circle

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges

Let it Snow...

Today's card is my design for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge.  And like my title says the twist is Let it Snow!  I actually had a different card in mind, but another designer had the same idea as I did, so I went back to the drawing board.  I came up with this card using the colors from Dynamic Duos...black and smoky slate.  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Smoky Slate & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Smoky Slate

StazOn:  Black

Punch: 1 1/4" Circle

Sponges

Lovely as a Tree for Sunday Stamps

Today's cards are for the Sunday Stamps color challenge which I have the privilege of being a guest designer for.  The colors are Lime, Gray and Turquoise so I chose the Stampin' Up! colors Lucky Limeade, Tempting Turquoise and Basic Gray.  I grabbed a piece of card stock for each color to try and inspire myself, and boy did I have to think a little bit before I could use these colors.  At first I was trying to think of how I could use them with a flower or just something feminine.  Then I thought blue, green and gray...why not do some sponging?!  So that's what I did. :)

 They are pretty similar, but one card is a little darker than the other. 

 I've decided that it would be a good idea to start making two of the same card for every challenge I do.  I just need more cards on hand! :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Set:  Lovely as a Tree

Card Stock:  Lucky Limeade (retired), Basic Gray

Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Lucky Limeade (retired),

Tempting Turquoise & Basic Gray

Embossing Folder:  Woodgrain

Window Sheets (for tree reflections)

Candy Dots:  Regals

Sponges

Nature & Northern Lights

What did I see the other day?  A tutorial over on Splitcoast Stampers on how to make a card with Northern Lights using sponges.  Well, if it involves sponging I'm all over that!  I had to get my sponges out and give it a try, but first I checked out a bunch of pics of the northern lights.  There is such a variety of color and shapes, and they are so beautiful to look at!  I've seen them in person a few times and the last time it was actually a bit red.  What an amazing sight!  That's why I added the verse on each card.  I did do my sponging a bit differently than the tutorial, but after looking at the pics I knew exactly how I wanted to attempt to make my cards. :)

I was going to throw this piece away because the first time I stamped the trees on they weren't dark enough. :(  Then I thought I'd highlight them with a white gel pen, but it ended up looking terrible.  That's when I remembered I had the stamp-a-ma-jig (I know, Red Hot Stampers, not the thing-a-ma-jig! lol).  Whew, I managed to save a piece and make a card.  The trees are a lot whiter in this pic than in person though.  I just can't get the white to not reflect so much when I'm taking the picture.

This is actually the first piece of card stock that I sponged.  I liked it so much I just kept going! :)

The theme for this card from this week's Paper Players theme challenge #170...Wildlife.  I couldn't make a card without at least one animal. :)

Like usual I had to take a pic of the group. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

First Card

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Pool Party & Naturals White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Night of Navy, Pacific Point,

Pool Party, Coastal Cabana & Pistachio Pudding
StazOn:  Black

Embossing Folder:  Argyle

Punches:  Modern Label & Word Window

Candy Dots:  Neutrals (Black)

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges

Second Card

Stamp Sets: Evergreen

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Pool Party & Naturals White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Night of Navy, Pacific Point,

Pool Party, Coastal Cabana & Pistachio Pudding
StazOn:  Black

Embossing Folder:  Argyle

Punches:  Modern Label & Word Window

Candy Dots:  Neutrals (Black)

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges

Third Card

Stamp Sets: Walk in the Wild

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Pool Party & Naturals White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Night of Navy, Pacific Point,

Pool Party, Coastal Cabana & Pistachio Pudding
StazOn:  Black

Embossing Folder:  Stripes

Punches:  Modern Label & Word Window

Candy Dots:  Neutrals (Black)

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges

Lovely as a Tree Anniversary

Today's card is inspired by the sketch challenge Freshly Made Sketches.  Yesterday was my 23rd anniversary and I had to have a card for my hubby.  I don't want to be accused of making cards for everyone but someone in my family! lol  We went to P.F. Changs for dinner, a movie, then to FYI for some ice cream...well, yogurt really.  Yummy!!  Anyway, I used this set for another masculine card a couple of weeks ago and it turned out great, so I thought I'd make another one using the same technique...triple layer.

I know it doesn't look like much, but there are trees on the inside of the card.  I like to stamp it lightly on the inside, then write over it or stamp over it with a darker ink.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Express Yourself

Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Sahara Sand & Naturals White

Classic Stampin' Pad:  Sahara Sand

Punches:  1" Square & 1 1/4" Square

Ribbon:  3/8" Taffeta in Soft Suede

Creative Crew Creations for November

Welcome to November!  It's hard to believe it's already here.  Where has the year gone?!  Just to warn you my first post for this month is a long one since I'm going to combine all of my Creative Crew projects into one post instead of doing four this month.  I tried to keep my projects and little more simple this time.  I like to go all out and need to learn to do simple but elegant.  So let's start from the beginning...

Oh November, the time of sweaters & blue jeans, cocoa & fires, and just about every kind of yummy food you could ever be thankful for! This month we're going to take ourselves a trip down memory lane and remember what we have to be thankful for.

The first challenge...DSP/Color Focus: Since we're starting Sweater Weather why don't we take our trip down that road first. Show us Chocolate chip, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango all getting happy together.

Since we've had our leaves on the trees for so long here in Michigan I figured I'd use the Lovely as a Tree set using the colors from the first challenge.  

I like to stamp the image on the inside after I've stamped the first time.  It leaves the same image just a lot lighter so you can write over it.

The second challenge...Creative Focus: KITS! We have a mountain of kits to choose from, they make a class or a workshop easy peasy! The next part of our trip takes us into packaging territory, show us something with the Pretty Packages line on pages 158 & 159 of the main catty or any of the kits or packages in the mini catty, tell us why you choose what you did.

The reason I chose this kit is because you can make so many cute things using the bags and tags and add anything you want to it to match what you're using from the kit.  Plus I have an open house coming and I'm trying to figure out ideas for some of the make and takes. :)

Just a close up. :)

The third challenge...Holiday focus: Did you know that November 26th is national cake day? Trip number three is to be inspired by the cake pictures and show us what creation one of these cakes led you to, please see the attached ideas.

I usually like color, but I love black and white cards as well.  Since it's November and a month to be thankful I thought it would be nice to make a thank you card that's clean and simple.

I had to make a matching envelope too. :)

The fourth and last project...Scrapbook focus: The last leg of our journey is to take that walk down memory lane and share a favorite childhood memory, event, toy, or treat on scrapbook page, mixed media project or with This & That!

Well, a scraper, scrapbooker (not sure what you call it!) I am NOT!  But I didn't want to do a mixed media this time, and I don't have a This and That journal so a scrapbook page it is.  I decided to make a quick page of when we brought our kids to Disney World with my brother's family in 1998 and for our fifteenth anniversary in 2005.  I made quite a few visits there while growing up, and it's also where we went on our honeymoon.  Love that place! :)  I think it's time to go back!! :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Lovely as a Tree Card

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree, Dictionary & Express Yourself

Card Stock:  Chocolate chip, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, 

Soft Sky & Tangerine Tango

Classic Stamp Pads:  Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, 

Crushed Curry & Tangerine Tango

Punch:  Modern Label

Candy Dots:  Neutrals Collection

Decorative Bag

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry & Teeny Tiny Wishes

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Coastal Cabana & Bermuda Bay

Framelits:  Festive Flurry

Ribbon:  3/8" Ruffled Stretch Trim in Coastal Cabana

Tag a Bag:  Gift Bags & Accessory Kit

Jewel:  Basic Rhinestones

Thank You Card

Stamp Sets:  Hello Doily & Blooming with Kindness

Card Stock:  Basic Black & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pad:  Smoky Slate 

StazOn:  Black

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Scrapbook Page

Stamp Set:  Everything Eleanor

StazOn:  Black

 Card Stock:  Basic Black, Real Red, 

Pacific Pride & Garden Green

Punches:  1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle & 1 3/8" Circle

CAS - Lovely as a Tree

Today's card is a pretty clean and simple one inspired by the Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge.  Since I had pulled this set out to show to someone at my stamp a stack I thought I would use it since it's been a while.  Plus I needed a birthday card for my nephew. :)  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Set:  Lovely as a Tree & Express Yourself

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla

Ink:  StazOn Black

Punches:  1 1/4" Square & 1 3/8" Square

Candy Dots:  Neutrals

Lovely as a Tree Anniversary

Today's card is the first card I made for Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  I love using blues when I'm doing a winter scene and trying to do just the right shading on the hills.  However I wanted to make another card because I forgot to check the theme.  I could have left it, but wanted to do both the sketch and the theme. :)

I did just a little bit on the inside too.  Sometimes I just like to add pics on the inside so I don't have to write so much (plus it just looks nice).  It's not that I don't like writing notes.  I just don't always know what to say or feel like I'm always writing the same thing in every card. lol

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Express Yourself

Card Stock:  Night of Navy, Soft Sky & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Night of Navy & Soft Sky

Punch: 1 1/4" Circle

Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Sponges

Lovely as a Tree Birthday

Last week was my brother-in-law's birthday so I made him a card using a simple sponging technique and Lovely as a Tree.  I would have made him a card with horses, but I don't have any horse stamps!  What is up with that!?  Stampin' Up! even has one too...hmm. lol

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Sets:  Lovely as a Tree & Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock:  Soft Suede & Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Soft Suede, Garden Green, 

Blushing Bride & So Saffron

Punch:  1 1/4" Circle

Sponges

Lovely as a Tree

Today's card is another b-day card that I made for my nephew.  I need to get a little sponging practice in since I'm going to be a guest designer this summer, and that is what I said I'd be featuring.  I actually had a "scrap" piece of paper with the trees stamped on it that I just couldn't throw away.  I figured it was time I used something that I had sitting around, so I stamped the trees again in a darker ink.  Then I ripped some scrap paper for the mountains and started sponging away.  I wasn't sure if I'd like how it turned out, but since I gave it away that means I actually liked it. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Set:  Lovely as a Tree

Card Stock:  Basic Gray, Sahara Sand & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Sahara Sand, Basic Gray & Marina Mist

Sponges & Patience

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