A Little Birdie Told Me...

Hello, everyone!  There is a big celebration going on over at Freshly Made Sketches this week - it's their 200th sketch! Congratulations, Freshly Made Sketches!  I decided to join in the fun!  Check out their sketch at the bottom.

I stamped a cute kitty from High Hopes Rubber Stamps called Kitty Tag and I fussy-cut him off his tag. I stamped him on the card base as well so you can see all his whiskers!  He's coloured with Prismacolor pencils and popped up with foam tape. The patterned paper is from MME and I embossed the striped panel with Cuttlebug Simple Flowers. The sentiment stamp is from Newton's Nook - Newton's Birthday Flutter.  The fun sentiment continues on the inside:

Such a fun sentiment hehe!  I finished the card by adding a few sequins from Pretty Pink Posh - Marshmallow 6 mm.

Here's the 200th sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  Head over and join the celebration!

I would also like to enter these 3 challenges:

Card Mania Anniversary/Birthday 2/3

Tuesday Throwdown Texture (embossing) 3/3

Vintage Stamping AG 2/3

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Hummingbird Shaker Card

Hello, everyone!  Before I share my card, I would like to welcome my newest follower - Michelle Lancaster - so nice to have you here!

I won some gorgeous images from Imagine That... digis by Kris the other day (thank you, Kris!), and I couldn't wait to use them!  I have been inspired by the beautiful hummingbirds that we've had in our backyard feeders this summer.  They are such a joy to watch - they are mesmerizing!

This image is from the Pretty Petunias set from Imagine That... digis by Kris.  I did not colour this!  I thought the pre-coloured images in this set were already so beautiful that I didn't want to change a thing!  I have been wanting to make another shaker card and this time I used seed beads.

The white cardstock is die-cut with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circles.  The patterned paper on each edge was leftover snippets.  The die-cut greeting is Simon Says Stamp Happy, and I added the word "day" with some tiny alphabet stickers. I finished off my card with a few sequins.

This card will be going to my Mom, who also loves hummingbirds!  Here's a photo of a hummer at one of our feeders.  The ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate to our part of the country each summer. These tiny birds only stay for a few short months and some of them have already started their journey home. I miss them already!

I would like to join the following challenges: Artistic Inspirations AG UE; Beccy's Place AG UE; Cosmic Colours #16 See Colours Below 1/3 (TOP 3); Craft Your Passion AG 3/3; Crafting by Designs August AG 2/3; Crafting from the Heart AG 1/3; Crafty Gals Corner AG 1/2; Creative Fingers AG 2/3; Creative Ladybirds AG 1/3; Dies R Us The Great Outdoors 1/3; DL.ART August AG UE 1/day; Doodle Panty AIMPDC8 Any Digi 1E; Dragonfly Dreams Wings UE (RANDOM WINNER); Emerald Faeries Favourite Colours (Pink/Magenta) 1/3; Imagine That... digis by Kris Customer Link-up and Win UE; Inspiration Destination AG UE; Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG 3/3; Little Claire's Favourite Colour Combination (Pink/Magenta/ Green) 1/3; Not Just Cards August AG UE; Papertake Weekly To Die For 3/5; Penny's Paper-Crafty AG 3/3; Scrappy Moms Stamps Summer Fun (watching hummigbirds) UE; Simon Says Stamp Work-it Wednesday Die Cuts 1/3; Sister Act Cards Only AG UE; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 4/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Window Kitty

Hello, everyone!  Here is a card I made using some items I received from two very kind bloggy friends. I am working on getting my mojo back - I would like to come back from my blog break early so we'll see how it goes with the mojo!

The beautiful window die-cut was a lovely gift from Alice - thank you so much! You know I love everything you sent!  The cute kitty cut-out was a sweet gift from Ike - thank you for the goodies you sent! You know I love kitties!  Both of you are very kind and I really appreciate the crafty surprises from you!

For my card, I recycled a piece of thin chipboard, embossed it with Tim Holtz Bricked, and inked it lightly with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  I added a piece of MME patterned paper behind the window, stamped a sentiment from Clearly Besotted, and added a number of sequins.

I would like to join the following challenges: Artistic Inspirations AG UE; Beccy's Place AG UE; Creative Fingers AG 1/3; DL.ART Thankful Thursday Birthday Alt. Thank You 3/3; DL.ART August AG UE 1/day; HIMCR Use Die Cuts 1/3; Inspiration Destination AG UE; Lunagirl Moonbeams August Animals 1/3; Not Just Cards August AG UE;  Paper Creator's Crafts Dies and/or Punches 2/3; Papertake Weekly To Die For 2/5; Quirky Crafts Embossing 2/3; Sister Act Cards Only AG UE; Tuesday Throwdown Texture (embossing) 2/3; The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Add an Animal 1/2; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 3/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

STAMPlorations GD - Stamps and Watercolour

Hello, everyone!  I am back again today to share some fun news!  I am a Guest Designer over at STAMPlorations this month!  Yay!  I am super excited about it!

I was invited to share some mid-month inspiration for the August challenge, the theme of which is Stamps and Watercolour.

Actually there is a sketch for you too (see below), so if you'd like to join in, you may choose the theme, the sketch, or both!  There are lots of options!  See here for all the details.

I had the pleasure of stamping with the beautiful Vignette: Trendy Feathers.

These are my first stamps from STAMPlorations!  Thank you, Shery!  I love your stamps! They are photopolymer clear stamps - they stamped perfectly the first time, and I got a clean impression every time. I recommend checking out their store - they have so many awesome stamps and stencils - and I saw a coupon code for free shipping there too!  Here is my Stamps and Watercolour Card:

I did lots of heat embossing: gold on black, white on black, black on white, and white on vellum. Then I fussy-cut around each feather. For my watercolour background I used Distress Ink reinkers and water. I made a few splatters too! I stamped the sentiment vertically and added a strip of gold washi tape with a snippet of black cardstock.

There are lots of prizes to be won so head over and check out the STAMPlorations August challenge! Then get inky with your Stamps and Watercolour - or the sketch!

Thank you, Shery, for having me as your Guest Designer!  I had a lot of fun!  Check out my cool GD badge:

Other supplies used on my card:

• Ink pads: Versafine - Onyx Black, Versamark - Watermark
• Distress Ink reinkers: Tim Holtz - Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade
• Embossing powder: Zing - Glitter Finish Gold, Ranger - Clear, The Artful Stamper - White
• Watercolour paper: Bienfang 90 lb

I would also like to join the following challenges: Artistic Inspirations AG UE; Beccy's Place AG UE; Clique Kits August AG 3/3; Craft Your Passion AG 2/3; Creative Fingers AG 2/3; Crop Stop Linky #7 Distress Inks available at Crop Stop here 1/5; Cute Card Thursday AG UE; DL.ART Thankful Thursday Birthday Alt. Thank You 2/3; Great Impressions August Add a Sentiment 3/3; Inspiration Destination AG UE; Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG 2/3; Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday 1E; Love to Scrap AG 1/3; Not Just Cards August AG UE; Penny's Paper-Crafty AG 2/3; Pixie's Snippet Playground All stamping done on leftover snippets; Quirky Crafts Embossing (heat embossing) 1/3 SECOND-PLACE WINNER); Sister Act Cards Only AG UE; Sparkle N Sprinkle AG with Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flocking UE; Tuesday Throwdown Texture (heat embossing) 1/3; Vintage Stamping AG 1/3; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 2/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Butterfly Challenge GD Inspiration - One Week Left

Hi, everyone.  Here I am again - popping in from my blog break to share some more inspiration for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge!  Before I do, I would like to extend a warm welcome to my four new followers - Sammy, Barb Williams, Tina Z., and ShazInOzCalligraphyCards - thank you for joining me!

Now for my Butterfly Challenge inspiration card.  You might remember that our theme is Butterflies and Washi Tape. Normally these challenges run for two weeks, but this one is four weeks, so you still have one week remaining to find your washi tape and play along!

My card features just one type of washi tape but it is multi-coloured and multi-patterned, so it looks like more! I added it to the card base as vertical stripes. I used Lawn Fawn Stitched Journaling Card and Memory Box Oriel Butterfly to create a focal point, which is popped up with foam tape. Although not visible in the photos, the center of the washi-tape-covered panel is die cut with Memory Box Moonlight Butterfly and popped up slightly with foam tape. I added a 3-D butterfly sticker to the center.  The sentiment is a wood-mounted stamp from The Old Island Stamp Company, and I finished off the card by adding a number of sequins.

There's still time to join the fun over at the Butterfly Challenge!  Remember to include Butterflies and Washi Tape. Thank you, Mrs. A, for having me as your Guest Designer!  I had fun!

I would also like to join the following challenges: Artistic Inspirations AG UE; Beccy's Place AG UE; Clique Kits August AG 2/3; Craft Your Passion AG 1/3; Creative Fingers AG 1/3; Cute Card Thursday AG UE; DL.ART August AG UE 1/day; DL.ART Thankful Thursday Birthday Alt. Thank You 1/3; Dragonfly Dreams Wings UE; Great Impressions August Add a Sentiment 2/3; HIMCR Use Die Cuts 1/3; Inspiration Destination AG UE; Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG 1/3; Not Just Cards August AG UE; Paper Creator's Crafts Dies and/or Punches 1/3; Papertake Weekly To Die For 1/5; Penny's Paper-Crafty AG 1/3; Sister Act Cards Only AG UE; V's Sweet Ideas August AG 2/2; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Butterfly Challenge GD - Mid-Challenge Inspiration

Hello, everyone.  Before I get started, I would like to welcome my newest follower - Pia - so happy to have you here!  I am popping in from my blog break today to share some inspiration for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge.  I am the Guest Designer this month, and you might remember that our theme is Butterflies and Washi Tape.  Normally the challenges run for two weeks, but this challenge will run for four weeks, so you still have another two weeks to dust off your washi tape and play along!

I managed to use four kinds of washi tape on my card, two black-and-white, one sparkly silver, and one sparkly black.  The butterfly stickers are also sparkly black. I stamped a sentiment from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings, added a few sequins, and rounded all four corners of my card.  

Please join the fun over at the Butterfly Challenge and remember to include Butterflies and Washi Tape. Thank you, Mrs. A, for having me as your Guest Designer! 

I would also like to join the following challenges: Beccy's Place AG UE; Card Mania Anniversary 1/3; Clique Kits August AG 1/3; Come and Get It Feature a Creature 1/3; Craft Your Passion AG 1/3; Creative Card Crew Sparkle 1/3; Creative Fingers AG 1/3; DL.ART August AG UE 1/day; Fab n Funky Things with Wings; Fan-Tastic Tuesday AG Include a Butterfly 1/4; Great Impressions August Add a Sentiment 1/3; Jo's Scrap Shack FFC 100 AG 1/3; Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG 1/3; Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday 1E; Not Just Cards August AG UE; Sister Act Cards Only AG UE; Suzy Bee's Bloomin' AG Celebration (Anniversary) UE; The Outlawz Saturday Paper A La Mode All that Glitters 1E; V's Sweet Ideas August AG 1/2; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Taking another break in August

Hello, everybody!  No card to share today.  I am taking another break from blogging for August. However, I will be popping in a few times this month with special scheduled posts, so stay tuned! 

Happy crafting, and I hope you have a great summer! And if you see my crafty mojo anywhere, please send it back!