Pink Dragonfly

Hi Everyone!

Here is my card for today's MMSC sketch. As you can see I rotated it, to make a horizontal card instead of a vertical card. I didn't realize until after I photographed it, that I completely forgot to put on a sentiment! Oops!! I used Scarlett Jewel (PTI), Regal Rose, Blush Blossom(SU) and pattern papers from Basic Grey's Indian Summer Collection. The dragonfly is from the Priscilla Styles store. I printed it out on Gina K. Luxury White card stock and then colored it in with Copic Markers (RV32, RV34, R59 and E29) I glazed the entire image with crystal effects and then used silver stickles to add some bling and sparkle to it.
This card fits a number of challenges including:

MMSC: Sketch
HYCCT 22: 3-2-1 (3DSPS, 2 Embellishments, 1 Ribbon)
2 Sisters Challenge: Anything Goes
Mark's Finest Paper: Die cuts and punches
Totally Gorjuss: Sparkle
Crafty Emma: Buttons and Bows

Butterfly Sympathy

Good Morning Everyone.

Well, the weekend and and day off yesterday were very good...right up until everyone starting throwing up! Yuck!! A nasty stomach bug has landed in my house and is wrecking havoc on all the kids. No school for anyone today.
I did get a chance to do some crafting over the weekend including this card that I did for the MMSC challenge. The butterfly is from the Priscilla Styles store. I printed it out on Gina K. Luxury white card stock and then colored it in with copic markers. BG72, BG75, BG10, W3. I added some silver stickles (my new found obsession!) around the butterfly to add a bit of depth to it. The card base is Ocean Tide from PTI and I used black and Sahara Sand for the other colors. I thought they were a good color palette to use for a sympathy card, which I needed to for a co-worker in my hubby's office. That's all for me today. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a great day!

You Are Amazing

Hi Everyone!

Here is my card for this week's MMSC74 sketch. I used the "Man with Flowers" digital stamp set from the Priscilla Styles Store. I printed it out of vanilla card stock and colored it in with a variety of Copic Markers. I used the colors for the color throwdown challenge as well. I didn't have any Espresso, so I found a dark brown that matched as well as I could get. I added a bit of Pale Plum just for some contrast with the darker colors. The image was mounted on a circle with scallop circle Nestabilities and also Label 1 Nestabilites. The sentiment is from Hero Arts. I added the gold ribbon and the flowers and completed the card.
Before I go, I also wanted to tell you about the give-away over at Paper Craft Star. They are giving away a $25 gift certificate to PTI! Yippee!! Make sure you hop on over there and read all about it!!
The challenges for this card are:

Sketch: MMSC 74
Color: Color Throwdown (Espresso, Vanilla and Perfect Plum)
Misc: Fab n. Funky (Use a digi image)

MMSC68 and an Exciting DT Announcement!!

***If you are here visiting for the first time, please forgive the unsightly nature of my blog right now! I'm in the process of redesigning and it's a mess right now. Should have it straighten out by tomorrow. Thanks!!***


Good Morning Everyone!!

Well, I am just beyond excited to share with you the most amazing news!! I am pleased to announce that I have been chosen to be a member of the first ever PriscillaStyles Digital Store Design team! How cool is that?!! Many of you know Priscilla through the MMSC challenge. This design team is for her digital stamps store. I am fairly new to the experience of digital stamps; but I have to tell you, it is pretty cool working with them and Priscilla has some incredible images in her store. You will notice with this announcement that I've added some more items to the side bar of my blog. Please take some time to visit the other DT members and of course, be sure to check out Priscilla's store. The other new addition worth mentioning is the Crafter's Digital Art Center. This is an awesome site and if you are into digi stamping, I highly recommend that you visit and join it. It's kinda like a SCS for digital stampers!
Anyhow, I will be having lots of PS images and goodies to share with you over the next three months and I'm going to start today with this week's MMSC68 challenge.
For this card, I chose to use Priscilla's sunflower image, which was free by the way! (through CDAC) It was a no brainer to think of what colors to use: Yellow and Black!! I decided also to throw in some gray as well. I started with a standard size Summer Sun (SU!) card base and then added a layer of gray. This is a piece of Coredination card stock that I embossed with the swirls CB embossing folder and then sanded over it. The strip of black on the side measures 1 7/8 x 5 1/4. Next, I matted a 7/8 x 5 3/8 piece of gray on to a piece of white card stock (I did the stitching on the grey with the yellow thread before attaching it) I used Label 8 Nestabilities and Petite Scallop circles for the center piece. I shrank the sunflower image in Microsoft word, so that I knew it would fit into a 2 3/8 in circle. By the way, I do NOT have a special printer. Just a regular ol Cannon Printer/scanner. I printed it on Gina K. Luxury White Paper and to be safe just set it aside to dry while I was working on the rest of the card. I used E29 and black for the center of the flower. The petals were shaded with Y21, Y35 andY38. Finally I added the ribbon pieces to the back of the yellow center piece and attached it all with dimensional adhesives.
This card also fits a couple of other challenges that I found on the Daily Dare:

1. Papertake Weekly 3-2-1 Challenge. (I used 3 pieces of ribbon, 2 Nestabilities Shapes, and 1 image)

2. Scrapping With I Did It Creations: Flowers

3. Scrap-Creations: Ribbons, Flowers, Brads or Pearls.
Have a great day, and happy crafting!!

4. Stamp Something: Digital Stamp

MMSC 67 Lighthouse

Hi Everyone!

Well, I'm a couple of days late with my card for this week's MMSC challenge. I don't often do square cards; but for this sketch, it just seemed to be the best way to go. I just realized I didn't do the inside of this card. I will, though...I promise!
I started with a 5 1/4 x5 1/4 square Sahara Sand base. The Pure Poppy (PTI) on the left measures 1 7/8 x 5. I embossed the background using Martha Stewart's Clear Pattern Stamps with Versa mark and clear embossing powder. On the right side I embossed a 3 1/4 x 5 piece of Ocean Tide (PTI) using the "Spots and Dots" folder. The Lighthouse image is from OCL's "Coastal Wishes" stamped on Gina K Pure White Luxury card stock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I used Copic Markers (B00, G21, G24, Y67, W3, C1, E07, B45, YG91, E25) to color in the image. I finished the card using the embroidery floss. The flower and button in the middle is from Making Memories "5th Avenue" Buttons and Blossoms collection.
So, that's all for me today. It's been ages since I've gone around visiting other people's creations, so I'm off to do that for a while. Have a fantastic and creative day!!

A Snowman and a Bird

Hello Everyone!

I know you are probably surprised to see a Christmas Card today. I was actually surprised to be making one. However, I guess when you stop and think about it, it's never to early to start on them! I did this one for Saturday's OCC Challenge. The challenge was, of course, to create a Christmas Card. I also combined this challenge with yesterday's Mojo Monday sketch. I used Real Red, Celery, Bashful Blue and White for my color palette. The snowman and sentiment are from OCL "Tweet Winter Wishes" I stamped it with Memento Black ink and used B00, R24, C1 and YG03 Copic Markers to color him in. I used an Only Orange marker from SU for his carrot nose. The Snowflake ribbon is from a Christmas set I got at Michael's last year. I used Petite Scallop Nestabilities for the scallop circle behind the sentiment, which I stamped with Real Red ink. Now, I have to tell you this card was perfect until I decided that I wanted to round the top right corner of the card and my corner punch...yeah, should have LEFT it ALONE!! Other than that, I was very happy with the way this turned out.
My second card for the day is today's MMSC card. For this one I used Tangerine Tango, Saffron, Basic Grey and a piece of Coredination card stock.

I used my floral fantasy cuttlebug folder and then sanded the Coredination paper to make the white come through. I really liked the effect. I used some Weathered Wood distress ink around the edges. The image in the center is from SU's "Serene Spring" I know this set retired; but it still remains one of my favorites. I stamped it again with Memento Black ink and then used Y21, YG67, YG63,C1, C2, and C5 Copic Markers, along with a ColorBox Chalk ink to shade it in. I added the two prima flowers on the side to complete the card.
Now, I realized once it was finished that I forgot the sentiment!
Ok, that's all for me today. Hope you all have a fabulous day!

Challenges, iPhone and Twitter.

Hi All!

Sorry I've been MIA the last couple of days. I have no excuse other than to tell you I've become completely addicted to my iPhone and Twitter. I would love to have some more followers. I only have 5 right now. (Boo!) I would have to say that that has a lot to do with the fact that I am quite particular about who I want to follow me. I do want people who at least have some sort of interest in what I'm twitting about: ie people with some similar interests. So if you are a stamper, scrapper, paper enthusiast, GH fan or just in general a TV junkie than stop on by you can find me @rtjmom
Ok, so on to my cards for today. I have to tell you since it's already late and I'm trying to watch Burn Notice while watching this that I'm just gonna show you what I got and skip the details.
The first card is for this week's Mojo Monday. Not a big fan of this sketch, had a hard time with it; but oh well I guess that's the point of a challenge right? The next card is for this week's MMSC. This one was a lot easier and I was actually pleased with the way it turned out. I think that this is definitely a sketch I could use again.
I'm off to work on some scrapbook layouts for the rest of the evening. Ugh I am such desperate need for good scrapbook paper. Gonna have to go shopping soon. Have a great evening and I'll be back with more creations real soon!

More Mother's Day

Hi Everyone!

I have three more Mother's Day cards to share with you. I'm almost done with my cards for the craft fair. (Yippee!!)
The first card I did is for OCL's sketch challenge. I used Old Olive, Teal, Celery and Blush Blossom for my color palette. I colored the image with Copics and SU markers. The rest is really straightforward..
So on to the second card, which is for Tuesday Morning sketches. I also combined this with SCS color challenge to use Suede, Saffron and TQ. I didn't have enough Suede so I substituted Close to Cocoa. It's a bit hard to see in the photo; but I did stamp the larger Saffron piece with the Fine Lace Background stamp. I used the Birds and Swirls embossing folder on the smaller strips and Label 1 Nestabilities for the image. The hat and glove image is from the same "Vintage Roses" set (OCL) that I used in the first card. I used markers and watercolor crayons to fill it in. The last card is for the MMSC challenge. A few days ago, while blurfing around various blogs I came across one in which someone had done some button flower images and I just thought it was the cutest thing ever! So, I decided to give a go at it and thought this sketch would be perfect for it. I used Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, white and a small bit of Yo Yo Yellow (yes, Yo Yo Yellow!) I didn't even have to stamp anything on this one! (except the sentiment at the bottom) I drew the stems and leaves with a green marker and then threaded some light green thread through each button and then adhered them with mini glue dots. Easy Peasy!!!
Ok, so that's all for me today. Hope to go around and visit a bit later. For now, I'm off to set up my table and get to work!

Sparkly Razzleberry Flower

Hi Everyone!
Well, I sure hope the rest of my day turns out better than my morning. Long story; but let's just say I really wish I could have hit the rewind button and started over! Oh well, nothing to do; but move forward right?

So here is my card for yesterday's MMSC challenge and SCS color challenge using Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence and Old Olive. I rather liked this color combination and could definitely see myself using it again! I used Martha Stewart Pattern background stamps on the Orchid Opulence piece which I embossed with Versa mark and clear embossing powder. Next, I ran the two Old Olive pieces through my CB with the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder. The flower in the middle is from SU's Pick a Petal. I stamped 3 petals in Rich Razzleberry and 3 in Old Olive and then embossed each one with Iridescent Ice embossing powder, to give it that sparkle (that hopefully you can see!) I added the sentiment in the middle which is from a retired SU set called "Riveting" I used Rich Razzleberry ribbon at the bottom and added the two buttons with the "Happy Birthday" in the middle. Finally, I finished the card with some white dots around the card.
A lot going on in this card; but I hope you all like it. Have a great day!!

Floral MMSC

Hi Everyone!

My card today is for yesterday's MMSC challenge. I knew when I looked at the sketch that I wanted to use my Top Note Die in the middle. I also knew that I was going to have to make a larger card in order to be able to see the panels to the side, so this card actually measures 4 3/4x 6 1/2. I also used yesterday's SCS color challenge of Perfect/Pale Plum and Soft Suede. I added a bit of Blush Blossom as well. I guess you could call that my "neutral of choice." I gotta tell ya though...not crazy about this color combo. Don't think it's one I'll mark down in my book to revisit. Everything is really straightforward, and I'm anxious to get started on my projects for today. Since the kids are on winter vacation this week, I am trying to get my stamping done in the morning so that we can do some fun "Mommy and me " things during the afternoon.
Have a great day!

MMSC Cards

Hi Everyone!

Here are my two cards to share with you today. The first one here is for last week's MMSC card. I must have scanned it a bit crooked, because I don't remember it being that crooked when I got done making it. Yesterday I shared a baby girl card and today I have one more for a boy baby. I know lots of people having babies, which is fine...as long as it's not me!! Anyhow, since this was last week's and it's pretty straightforward, I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the details. I couldn't make the angled element at the bottom of the sketch work for me, so I just left it out.
The other card I have is for today's MMSC challenge. The color palette for this card came from a previous KWerner Color Inspiration challenge a while back that I had not participated in. I used Pumpkin Pie for the card base and then added a layer of Ballet Blue which I stamped with the Floral background stamp from SU in Ballet Blue ink for a tone on tone look. Next I added the two triangles in each corner, using Real Red and So Saffron. I cut a circle with my scallop circle nestabilities in Certainly Celery and then another scallop circle in So Saffron. I stamped the flower from "Fifth Ave Floral" in Red ink on white paper and cut it out. I colored it in using Watercolor pencils and blender pens. To accentuate the detail of the flower I went over the lines of the flower with a Bravo Burgundy marker. I added the prima flowers in the corners, and then the eyelets on the rim of the Celery piece. The sentiment at the bottom is from SU's "Sweet little Sentiments" and I used Real Red ink.
Have a great day everyone!!

Cheers to You MMSC

Hi Everyone!

Here is my card for today's MMSC sketch. Nothing fancy this week, so not a lot of explanation needed. I used the SCS color challenge combo of Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Rich Razzleberry. In hindsight, I don't think that this "Cheers to You" stamp set was the best to use with these colors; but I really want to use it, so I just went with it!
Anyhow, I hope you like it. Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you tomorrow for
"What can you Create?" Wednesday!!

Lots of Layers...

Hi Everyone!

Wow, the day has just flown by. I really wanted to get this posted for you a lot sooner than now; but just got busy with other things. I'm sure many of you can relate to that! So, here is my card for today's MMSC challenge. I liked this sketch and the fact that it was actually pretty simple. Lots of layers though, so unfortunately I didn't have room for a sentiment. I used the colors for the SCS color challenge today: Handsome Hunter, Bermuda Bay, and Certainly Celery. The "dessert option" was to use something pink as long as it wasn't card stock. I wrapped pink thread around the bottom of my card and added the pink button at the top.
I've been debating about some more things regarding my blog, particularly the posting details. To help me decided a few things, I put a poll on the side to ask a quick question. Please take a moment to answer the question. It will help me tremendously.

Have a great day!

MMSC and Cricut Flowers

Good Morning!

For Christmas this year, my mom bought me a Cricut machine. No, it's not the expression, just the original one; but considering that the only die cut "machine" I have is my Quickutz hand squeeze tool, it is definitely a step up for me! She bought it while she was here visiting for Thanksgiving when we went to Michael's on Black Friday. Now, since I knew what it was, she made me promise that I would wait to use it until after Christmas. So, the box sat unopened, unused under my tree until last Friday afternoon. Aren't I such a good girl!?
When I saw yesterday's MMSC with the flowers on the side, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to use my Cricut. Right now, the only cartridge I have is the George one that comes with it. So, basically, I played around until I had various sizes and colors of the two flowers offered on that particular one and then set about arranging them the way that I wanted to. The colors I used for this card are for yesterday's SCS color challenge of Barely Banana, Dusty Durango, Going Grey and a neutral (white for me) I stamped the Dusty Durango piece with my favorite background stamp "Fine Lace" The ovals were cut with my Petite Oval Nestabilities and my CB. The image is from "Fruitstand" and is actually stamped with Soft Suede ink on white paper. After I stamped the image I used Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distressing ink to cover the image. Then I used blender pens and other inks and pencils to color in the peaches. Added some other minor details and finished off my card.
So, there you have it. I hope you like it! Have a great day!

Best Wishes Duo Challenge

Hi Everyone!

For today's card I decided to combine two challenges once again. It's been quite a while since I've been able to do a MMSC challenge. The sketch looked fairly safe and simple, so I decided to give it a whirl. The card also meets the SCS color challenge today to use Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry and Real Red. Never thought that I'd use Curry as much as I have the last couple of days! Anyhow, this is what I came up with. It's fairly simple, although I did have a difficult time trying to decide on the stamp I wanted to use in the middle. In the end, I chose to use the "Best Wishes" stamp from SU's Oval All set. The two squares in the middle are from the Curly Labels 1 Nestabilities set. One cut out in Sahara Sand and then the next layer cut out in Real Red. The pattern on the Sahara Sand piece is from Martha Stewart. The card base is actually Sahara Sand, though it's hard to tell by the picture.
That's it for me, I hope you like it. I'm going to try to post again tomorrow; but not sure if I'm going to be able to. If not, have a Merry Christmas and I'll be back for sure on Monday.

MMSC Fruit Stand Flower

Good Morning!

I have not participated in the MMSC in a couple of weeks. To be honest, the last few sketches have scared the bejeebers out of me! I really thought there was no way to compete with the talent I was seeing on Priscilla's blog. That is a seriously awe-inspiring DT over there! I know that it's not a competition; but we all know that we judge our own creativity even if no one else does. There were just so many different elements and layers to the sketches that I just didn't feel like I could make anything that would do the sketch justice. I took a gander again this week and decided that this one seemed challenging but at least doable for me, so I decided to take a stab at it. There were a lot of layers with this one as well; but they were easy layers to work with; and truthfully I probably added more than the sketch called for...how's that for irony! Since there were so many layers this time, I didn't measure each of them. I can still give a general breakdown of the card however. I started with a standard size Close to Cocoa base. Next, I added a layer of Blush Blossom which I ran through the CB with the Swiss Dots folder. The two purple colors in the card are Perfect Plum and Pale Plum and the last color I used was Not Quite Navy. The Blush Blossom piece in the center behind the image is actually stamped with my favorite background stamp, "Fine Lace"; but it's hard to see in the photo. I stamped the main flower image, which is from SU's retired "Fruit Stand" in Cocoa ink and then used my blender pens with Stampin' Pastels to color it in. I added the buttons and the prima flower as the final decoration to finish the card. I know the orginal sketch calls for an additional element in the lower left corner; but I just couldn't make it work for my card, so I opted to leave it out.
So, there were are. I was pretty pleased with how it all turned out. I hope you like it as well. Since today is a holiday, there'll be no crafting for me as I intend to spend the day with family and friends. Therefore, I won't have anything to share again until Friday. Until then, have a great day!

Believe Love MMSC

Good Morning!

I finally got a chance to work on yesterday's MMSC around 4:00 yesterday. I also combined it with yesterday's SCS color challenge to use Cameo Coral, Bravo Burgundy, Artichoke and Vanilla. I have to be honest, this is probably one of my least favorite cards. I had a hard time with the colors. I really don't care too much for the coral and the burgundy together. I only had one scrap piece of Always Artichoke paper, so I decided to make a ditressed textured background that highlighted the color instead. It's been a while since I've made one of these backgrounds, and it seems to work well for this card. I also had a hard time with this sketch, I couldn't decide what to put in the center oval. I finally decided to use one of the flowers from the Fifth Ave Floral Set. I stamped it with Burgundy ink and then used watercolor crayons and my aquapainters to fill it it in. I realized after I stamped it, that it wasn't quite enough to fill the oval and that it looked a bit blank, so I added the copper eyelets on each side. The "believe" and "love" sentiments are from the Heidi Grace set "Reagan's Closet".
Anyhow, as I said, not the best in my stash; but perhaps I'm being too critical...what do you think? I would love to know.
Have a great day, everyone!

Pink and Green Birthday Wishes

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all having a good day. Just a quick post today to share my card for this week's MMSC challenge. This card is a bit larger than what I'm normally due; but that was because I knew that I wanted to use my new paper Pretties image that I got in the mail yesterday. As you can see, it is a bit large, and I wanted to be able to see the elements behind the card more clearly. So, I started with a 4 1/4 x 6 1/4 Celery Base and then added a layer of Pink Pirouette. Then I added two squares of Garden Green and two Melon Mambo. The DSP on the Melon Mambo pieces is from Basic Grey. I colored the image with Copics and SU Markers. The bits of flowers and bling are from various stashes that I had in my craft room.
So, that's all for me today. Thanks so much for stopping by!

One Card for Three Challenges.

Good Morning!

I hope you are all having a great day so far. Mine has been relaxing and I got some time to do some stamping, so I thought I would try to accomplish as much as I can with the time that I had. So,this is my card for today's MMSC challenge, today's SCS color challenge to use Going Gray, Pretty in Pink and Sage Shadow. I was also intrigued by yesterday's SCS foil embossing technique. Put all that together and for me this is the result.
I started with a Going Gray base and added the layer of Sage with the white stitching around the border. The small white squares have flowers stamped from Basic Backgrounds in Pink; but it's hard to see them in the picture. The "Happy" letters are Thickers by American Crafts. So, that's all for me today. I hope you like it. Thanks for visiting me!

Christmas Madness has Begun!

Good Morning!

"Christmas Madness" you say? What is that all about? Well, quite simply that I am beginning to design my holiday cards for this year and for the next month or so that is probably all you're going to see. I always endeavor to have my Christmas cards done by Dec 1 in order to get them all mailed sometime during that first week. The other reason for the title is that this is also my card for yesterday's MMSC #20. Hard to believe there's already been 20 of them. There were a lot of different elements to this card and it took quite a bit of time to put together. I started with a Brocade Blue base and then I took my Cuttlebug and brayered my swiss dots folder with Navy ink before I added my white paper and ran it through the machine. Next, I added two small strips of Kraft to the top and the bottom. I ran a piece of Mellow Moss through the CB. I stamped the tree from "Lovely as a Tree" on White Cardstock with Versamark and Navy ink, and then added irridesscent ice EP before heating. The sparkle doesn't show up in the picture; but it looks really cool IRL! I sponged the bottom of the image with Moss ink and the top with a bit of Bashful Blue. I stamped the snowflakes from the retired set "Frosty" in Craft White Ink. (In hindsight, I should have heated them to try it...but I didn't, so they smudged a bit) I used my CB and petite scallop nestabilities to cut the ovals before I stamped the sentiment from "Best Yet" in Burgundy ink.
That about does it for me. I was really happy with the way this one turned out and I hope you like it as well.