Shine Brightly!

Happy Friday to ya!  Hope your week is going well so far!  I had to make a graduation card and didn't want to use the traditional mortarboard again - so, when I came across the Lawnscaping Challenge#60, to use dimension - I knew exactly what I wanted to create:

I thought this made a creative 'graduation' card.  I stamped the lanterns on watercolor paper and colored them with my Distress Markers.  I used my Dylusions sprays on the background and then popped the lanterns up for the 'dimension'.

I'm also entering this card in the Sentimental Sundays Challenge#159 to use sprays/mists and
the Paper Players #150 to 'bring on the bling.'

  

On a side note.......I am ONE MONTH away from my 1/2 Marathon from Napa to Sonoma!  I'm also SO CLOSE to my fundraising goal (and why not try to EXCEED my goal??).  I'm running for Running for Rescues.

If you feel inclined to donate - click HERE.  

If you want to learn more about Running for Rescues, click HERE.

Hope you have a great day!!!


Thanks for your visit!

Happily ever after!!!

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary!!!!!  I made this card for the Raise The Bar Challenge #130 - but couldn't bring myself to post it yesterday for the deadline!  I didn't want to ruin the surprise!

I embossed this Hero Arts stamp and colored in with Distress Markers.  I used a KSS stamp and then some Lawn Fawn numbers to create a panel.

Here's a look back at February 15, 1997!

Here comes the bride!!!

I do.......but didn't say "Obey!"

I now pronounce you........

Our bridal party!

Introducing for the first time........

It's a match! The wine and the bread is good!!!  So Italian!!!!!!!

Our wonderful parents!!!!!

The moment of impact!!!!!!

Frank and I decided not to smoosh cake in each other's face.  

Instead - we got the best man and maid of honor!!!

I still laugh when I see these shots!!!!  Love all the laughing faces around us too!!

 Happy Anniversary Babe!! 

I love you!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

STB#4 - Best Fishes

Happy Superbowl Sunday to you!!  Are you cheering for one of the contenders?  Not me - but we'll have fun gathering with friends and watching the commercials!! LOL

Today's card is for Seize the Birthday Challenge #4 - which is to make a 'masculine' card based on their sketch.

This is an Impression Obsession stamp that I cut up and layered.  For the 'water' portion of the stamp - I colored it in with Distress Markers and then heavily spritzed it with water so the colors would blend.
Then I colored up the fish with the same markers and popped him up on top.

I used two Cuttlebug embossing folders for dimension and embossed an IO sentiment in silver.  I added some glossy accents to parts of the fish and the bubbles and finished it off with some stars.

Here's the sketch if  you want to play along! You've got until Tuesday at noon!

Have a great day!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

SSSC - Happy Mother's Day

Well, I'm finally starting to feel a bit normal.  About 90% - so it's time to get back in the swing of things!

Here's a card I made last week - before the flu - but am finally posting!  It also fits the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - "Anything Goes" Penny Black challenge.

So......who can identify this flower? Is it a Morning Glory?  I've never used it before because I really didn't know what flower it is!  But - I decided to ink it up last week.  I embossed it in white and used my Distress Markers.  Then I flicked some color at the end.  I used a PTI sentiment and then wanted something fun for the bottom of the card.

So - I looked through my felt and had some coordinating colors and decided to try some rolled flowers.  I hand cut leaves and added some  pearls to the center.

Thanks to those who gave me well wishes!!!  Hope you're all doing well :)

Thanks for your visit!

Poppy Thank You

Happy Monday!  I missed last week's deadline entry for the Dynamic Duo's green/yellow challenge.  I had an hour before the deadline and I was going to race and take a picture, edit, post to blog, enter challenge and then I thought........REALLY?  All for a challenge?  Perspective Maria.......perspective!

So....a few days late...here's the card anyway!

I LOVE this Lulu with Poppies! One of my FAVORITE Stamping Bella images!  This time I colored her with Distress Markers and I really have to admit........I still don't LOVE these markers!  I feel I get better watercoloring with the Distress Ink Pads. Oh well!

I embossed a Nestie die on the green layer and then layed the die cut layer on top! I really like this look!  I added a few gems and a Hero Arts sentiment.

Hope you have a great day!!!

Thanks for your visit!

CAS26/RIC27 - Take A Deep Breath

Happy Saturday to you! Wow - this card was hard for me to photograph.  Not sure if it's all the branches that was throwing my camera off or what, but not the best reflection of what it looks like in real life!

I used the Impression Obsession stamp to participate in the Runway Inspired Challenge#27 and CASology Challenge#26. 

First I inked up the stamp with Weathered Wood Distress Ink and then lightly tapped it with Black Soot.  Then I wiped off the birds and colored them with two different colors of Distress Markers.  I added a MFT sentiment because wouldn't you like to take a deep breath out in nature where these birds are?

There's also glitter on those branches but I just couldn't capture it on my picture.  That makes it fit the 'winter' theme.

Here's the Runway Inspired Challenge picture:

OK - have a great day!

Thanks for your visit!

Bellarific Friday - Serenity Now!

TGIF to you out there!!!!!!  Today's card is one I made following this week's Stamping Bella sketch challenge:

This definitely was a 'different' sketch, but I had fun with it!  I stamped one of Paula Williamson's images and then ever so carefully punched it into a circle.  The image comes with a square outline  - so I had to line it up just perfect!  Then I colored it with my Distress Markers.  I used a Stampin' Up background stamp I got at my LSS thrift sale.  I finished off the card with PTI diecut flowers and a MFT sentiment.

Here's the sketch:

Hope you have a terrific day!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Tag wrap up post!

OK - I've about had it with tags!! LOL  So, today, I'm posting the remaining ones I made for my hubby's gift baskets:

Hero Arts reindeer embossed in black and colored with Distress Markers on watercolor paper.

Memory Box dies cut from green & red paper and Memory Box santa again embossed in black and colored with Distress Markers

Easy Peasy - Inky Antics stamp colored with Distress Markers

Lastly, this one I laid down red/white striped washi tape across tag leaving space in between.  Then I used green Distress Markers and perfect pearls for a nice shine between washi tape. I stamped sentiment on a thick vellum and wrapped around. Finally, embossed a Memory Box image and added bling for the lights.

If you're up for some more pictures...........here's how the basket-filling process went.  

I'll remind you......I had to do THIRTY of them.

Fresh from the store:

Fresh from the grocery store.  Yes - I wish I was an extreme coupon-er at this point!

Packed up!

OK - had to call in the reserves.  Mom is a PRO at cellophane wrap. So, I continued to pack the baskets and the pro wrapped them!!!

Buddy was NO HELP!!!

Ta-Dah!!!!!!!!

Completed!!!!!!

 Have a wonderful Monday!!!!! I hope to get around for blog visits today!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Here's a quick card I made using a MFT set that I've never really used. I think it's called "Branch Out"

Simple and quick........  :)

Don't forget my giveaway!  Leave a comment on THIS POST to enter!

Thanks for your visit!

Blog Giveaway & Wishing you....

Hiya!  New power estimates are Tuesday at 11pm. Oh-well......

Quick post of one of the cards I made last week using my Inkadinkado Fairy stamp and Distress Markers on watercolor paper:

I used my PTI Impression plate and a Verve sentiment.

Oh............and today is my birthday - so I'm having a giveaway!  This is my first ever official giveaway.  So since (as I'm writing this) I still don't have power - I'm going to make this easy.

Here's the giveaway (so far):

(I'll add some paper to this too - once I get to it!!)

So to enter - just leave a comment on this post and I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner on November 20th!  You don't need to become a follower if you're not already - but feel free to share the post.

AND......we got power back at 6pm last night!!!  YAH!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

WCMD & Penny Black Cards

TGIF!! Did all you card makers have fun with World Card Making Day last Saturday?  I was able to spend a lot of time in my craft room and ended up just focusing on the Penny Black blog.  I played along with their sketch challenges and made these 3 cards.

First up:

I did some watercoloring on the PB hydrangeas after punching the circles and embossing.  I painted the background panel and used a PTI impression plate on the card base.

Here's a combo of PB and Inkadinkado stamps and My Mind's Eye paper for the sketch.

Lastly, I used a PB brick stamp colored with Distress Inks.  Then I cut out the mice and gift and popped them up.

Enjoy the day :)

Thanks for your visit!