Just for You

You know, some days I just can't seem to write a blog post that makes any sense at all.  Unfortunately, today happens to be one of those days.  It's taken me five minutes just to get these three sentences written.

I  think I'll just share that I made my card for The Paper Players Challenge.  It was a great sketch with which to work and I think those patterned papers made a great background for that pretty flower. 

Stamp Sets:  Delightful Daisies (Heartfelt Creations), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Basic Black Archival, Fired Brick Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Lemon Meringue, Wild Wasabi; Cardstock:  Cajun Craze, Delightful Dijon, Sugar Cube; Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove (KaiserCraft); Other:  Delightful Daisy Dies (Heartfelt Creations), Pocket Die (Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I used is from The Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

You Make Me Smile

Well, today dawned bright and sunny and I dawned with the start of a cold.  I'm so not happy but to make things better, I headed for my craft room for some therapy.  No matter how lousy I feel, I always find comfort creating.

Today, I combined the sketch from the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge with the colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  The colors were rust, green, orange and aqua so I pulled out my Cajun Craze, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie and Pool Party.  The Pumpkin Pie is hard to see but it is on the center of each flower.  I think the glitter gems covered too much of it up but you can see some of it peeking out.  I really like the way this came together.

Stamp Sets:  Colorful Seasons (Stampin' Up!), Delightful Daisies (Heartfelt Creations); Inks:  Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Timber Brown StazOn, Wild Wasabi; Cardstock:  Pool Party, Sugar Cube; Other:  Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Delightful Daisy Dies (Heartfelt Creations), Glitter Gems (Triveni Crafts), Stitched Rectangle Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I used is from the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

The colors I used are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challnege #138 - Marsha's "All About Christmas" Challenge

This week I'm hosting our "All About Christmas" challenge over at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I've been wanting to make one of these z-fold cards for a while now and thought a Christmas one would be a good place to start.

My design is actually a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) of one made by Su Mohr.  You can see her card by clicking on her name.  I made a few changes as I didn't have all of things she used.  What you can't see is the sparkly snow on the white strip where the deer and trees are placed.  I coated the strip with White Blizzard Glitter Drops to give the illusion of snow.  It was a fun card to make. 

Stamp Sets:  Bells & Boughs - sentiment, Carols of Christmas; Inks:  Baked Brown Sugar, Night of Navy; Cardstock:  Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions), Tranquil Tide; Patterned Paper:  Merry Little Christmas (My Mind's Eye); Other:  Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies, Decorative Label Punch, Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Tonic Studios)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, October 2nd at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link up your project.

I'm also entering my card in the Christmas Card Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Use Dies

Hi everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  Anna is our host this week and she has challenged us to use Dies on our projects.  Since I mail out so many Christmas cards, I made this one with just the one die from the Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies by Stampin' Up!

The Twinkle Twinkle Background stamp by Taylored Expressions is stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock using Night of Navy ink.  I stamped a sentiment from the Carols of Christmas stamp set by Stampin' Up!  A bit of Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon and the card was done.  I added some White Blizzard Glitter Drops to some of the stars on the background and love how the blue from the ink comes through.

Stamp Sets:  Carols of Christmas (© Stampin' Up!), Twinkle Twinkle Background (© Taylored Expressions), Ink:  Night of Navy; Cardstock:  Crumb Cake; Other:  1" Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon, Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Tonic Studios), Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

For all the challenge details and to share your project at The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge, just click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Hope

Friday was the first day of Autumn but you wouldn't know it in Iowa.  Our temperatures were in the 90s and it was so hot and humid that it was down right tropical outside.  Me?  I stayed in over the weekend and made more cards in my nice air conditioned craft room.  I'm always happy whenever I can spend time creating.

Today's card was made for the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge.  The card base is Sugar Cube cardstock to which I added a Crumb Cake die cut made using the Wreath Cutting Plate by Taylored Expressions.  The feathers were first stamped using Frost VersaMark Dazzle Watermark Stamp Pad onto Dapper Denim, Perfect Plum and Tranquil Tide card stock and cut them out using the dies from the Light as a Feather Stamp & Die Combo by Taylored Expressions.  The sentiment was stamped using Poppy Seed ink.    

Today, I've entered my card in the following challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Bold Daisy

Just a quick post for you today.  I wanted to share a card I made that fits two challenges.  For The Flower Challenge Tic-Tac-Toe, I followed the diagonal row of white, watercolor and sentiment.  For the Addicted to CAS Challenge this big, bold daisy certainly is floral.  It's a simple but pretty card.

Today, I've entered my card in the following challenges.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Silhouette Thanks

It seems like forever since I've been able to spend any time in my craft room.  I've been away every day for the past couple of weeks and when I get home I'm ready to curl up and do absolutely nothing.  As you know that's not a good way to get anything done.  But, today found me up way too early but well rested and ready to get some projects made.

For this card, I did a little bit of water coloring with some Distress Oxide Inks.  I used Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade and Wilted Violet for the background.  On top of the watercolor panel, I used the birds in flight stamp from the High Tide stamp set from Stampin' Up!  The trees were cut out in Basic Black cardstock using the dies from the Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies.  I set the panel off center so I could add the die cut from the Thanks die by Taylored Expressions.  My card base is Crumb Cake. 

Today, I've entered my card in the following challenges.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

 Using stamping, watercolor wash and die cuts

 

 

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #137 - Penny's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Today Penny is hosting our Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge over at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I was thinking of my two sons who live quite a distance away and whom I don't get to see as often as I would like.  So, I made a masculine thinking of you card.

For the background, I blended Frayed Burlap, Fired Brick and Wild Honey Distress Oxide Inks together.  I really like the way these three compliment each other.  I love silhouettes and, with Autumn just around the corner, I decided on a leafless tree with the birds flying south for the winter.

Stamp Sets:  High Tide, Sheltering Trees; Distress Oxide Inks:  Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey; Ink:  Basic Black Archival; Cardstock:  Whisper White

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, September 25th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Atlantics Hearts Sketch Challenge #230

Welcome to another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  Today's sketch said it was perfect for a masculine card and that's just what I needed to add to my birthday card stash.  Most of my end of the year birthday cards are for the guys in my life.  I also wanted to use colors I don't often use rather than the darker colors I seem to think are necessary for a guy card. 

The little pocket, banners and strip across the card were all cut from the same piece of patterned paper.  I just picked the colors I wanted to use and cut from there.  And, yes, there are hearts on my masculine card.  You do know that guys like hearts, too, right?  The heart with the linen thread bow was cut from a scrap watercolor paper I had left over from another project.  It's hard to see but in the left banner there is just a wee bit of blue and it kinda sorta matches the blue in the heart.

Stamp Set:  Wetlands - sentiment; Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar; Cardstock:  Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla, Watercolor Paper (Strathmore); Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove (Kaiser Craft); Other:  Banner Punch, Pocket Dies (Taylored Expressions), Linen Thread, Mellow Ribbon (Basic Grey), Sequins, Square Lattice Embossing Folder. Stampin' Up! product used unless otherwise noted.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us and share how you were inspired by the sketch.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #136 - Gail's "All About Birthdays" Challenge

Today Gail is hosting our "All About Birthdays" challenge over at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  For the background, I blended three Distress Oxide Inks onto Glossy White paper.  Then, I spritzed it with water and dried it with a heat tool.  Once dry, I rubbed the paper with a paper towel to bring back the glossy look of the paper.  It looks like its been polished although it doesn't show up well in the photo.

Stamp Set:  Perfect Pairings; Distress Oxide Inks:  Fossilized Amber, Lucky Clover, Wilted Violet; Inks:  Melon Mambo, Tuxedo Black Memento; Cardstock:  Glossy White, Melon Mambo; Other:  Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, September 18th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters - What Makes You Say "Oh Boy!"

Well, how's that for an early morning surprise!  I always check to see that any posts I have scheduled go off without a hitch.  Not this morning.  My post for today's Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge somehow faded into obscurity never to be seen again.  Sigh... not how I planned to start my day, but it's all good.

Agata is our host this week and it's all about What Makes You Say "Oh Boy!"  I made this thank you card for my oldest son.  He found, and is sending me, an old Scrabble game he found.  I have a project in mind for it and was very happy that he found one.  They are hard to find.  So, now it's your turn to create a masculine, new baby, declaration of pregnancy, something fun project that makes you say oh boy and share it with us on the challenge.  We'd love to have you join us.

Stamp Sets:  Background Bits, Gorgeous Grunge; Inks:  Cajun Craze, Night of Navy; Cardstock:  Crushed Curry, Night of Navy, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions), Whisper White; Other:  Nuvo Golden Harvest Glitter Drops (Tonic Studios)

For all the challenge details and to share your project at The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge, just click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

W is for Wish

Yesterday I had the fun of attending Taylored Expressions 9th birthday party.  There was cake and ice cream and a great make 'n take.  It's the card I'm sharing with you today and entering it into the Seize the Birthday Challenge. 

I'm entering my card in the Seize the Birthday Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #135 - Judy's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

This week Judy is hosting our Feminine "Anything Goes" challenge over at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  As I needed a thank you card, it was the perfect time to make some pretty flowers for the thoughtfulness of my friend.

Using my Clarity Stencil Brushes and Flirty Flamingo ink, I made a softer background to showcase the flowers.  I think the Flirty Flamingo and Pacific Point colors look so well together.

Stamp Set:  Bloomin' Birthday (Taylored Expressions); Inks:  Flirty Flamingo, Pacific Point, Peekaboo Peach, Wild Wasabi; Cardstock:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Whisper Thick; Other:  Bloomin' Birthdays Dies (Taylored Expressions), Clarity Stencil Brushes, Golden Harvest Glitter Drops (Nuvo), Thanks Die (Taylored Expressions)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, September 11th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Birthday Wishes for Taylored Expressions

Today, I'm once again playing along with the Taylored Expressions 9th Birthday Sketch Challenge.  I just had to get one more card in before the challenge ends.  For this one, I went with more of a Fall theme as it feels quite like Fall today.  And, I love that Bushel of Blessings stamp set and the matching dies.  It's been a while since I've done any coloring with my Copic markers so I'm a wee bit rusty.  Well, let's face it, I'm still a novice and just need lots more practice.

Tomorrow I plan to attend the 9th birthday celebration and it's also the day she shows off the new products that will be released on Thursday.  It's so much fun to have her just a few miles away so I can attend events that she sponsors.  Life is good!

Stamp Sets:  Bushel of Blessings (Taylored Expressions), Zinnia Bouquet - sentiment (Taylored Expressions); Copic Sketch Markers:  E33, E37, E39, V12, V15, V17, Y17, YG11, YG13, YG17, YR07, YG09; Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento; Cardstock:  Delightful Dijon, Whisper White; Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove Paper Pad (Kaiser Craft); Other:  Bushel of Blessings Dies, Nuvo Golden Harvest Glitter Drops (Tonic), Stitched Oval Stacklets (Taylored Expressions), Weathered Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I used is from the TE 9th Birthday Sketch Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #228

Hello and welcome another great sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  And, it would seem I'm stuck on the Autumn theme for my most recent Design Team cards.  Today is no exception.  But, I promise, that my next card will be totally not one for Fall.

The other night I was playing around with my Distress Oxide Inks, making different backgrounds on watercolor paper.  I took two of those backgrounds and turned them into the leaves you see on the card.  What doesn't show up well is the fact that I painted them with Distress Crackle Paint to give them the crinkly look that leaves have once they dry and fall off the trees.

Here is a close up of the leaves with the Distress Crackle Paint but, as I said, the crackle does not show up well in the photo.

Stamp Sets:  A Season of Giving (Hero Arts), Colorful Seasons; Distress Oxide Inks:  Candied Apple, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Wilted Violet; Inks:  Soft Suede, Timber Brown StazOn; Cardstock:  Watercolor Paper (Strathmore), Whisper White Thick; Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove (Kaiser Craft); Other:  Distress Crackle Paint (Ranger), Golden Harvest Glitter Drops (Nuvo), Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies. Stampin' Up! product unless otherwise noted.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Celebrating You

Due to a Design Team obligation, I wasn't able to share this card with you yesterday.  I made it for Taylored Expressions 9th Birthday Sketch Challenge with you yesterday.  I've been having a lot of fun with this sketch and coming up with different designs to showcase it.

Today's is white on white on white with a few splashes of color.  Because there is so much white, the little details don't show up well in the photo.  For instance, the embossed chicken wire has a layer of Powder Blue Embellishment Mousse over it.  And, the dots down the side are none other than White Blizzard Glitter Drops.  You know, maybe some day I'll learn how to get those little details to show up in a photograph.

Stamp Sets:  Bloomin' Birthday (Taylored Expressions), Simply Stamped - Butterflies (Taylored Expressions); Inks:  Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Sweet Sugarplum; Cardstock:  Whisper White, Whisper White Thick; Other:  Chicken Wire Embossing Folder, Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Tonic), Powder Blue Embellishment Mousse (Tonic), Simply Stamped - Butterflies Dies (Taylored Expressions), Tear Drop Circles Dies (Spellbinders)

The sketch I used is from the TE 9th Birthday Sketch Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Kids/Babies

It's the first Saturday of September and you know that means it's time for our September challenge at Crafty Calendar.   The theme of the challenge is to create something for kids or babies.  I chose to make a baby card using my Baby's First Framelits Dies by Stampin' Up!  The little ducks were cut out of dotted paper from the Rainbow Brights Paper Pack from Taylored Expressions.  It's a simple card but, in my humble opinion, so cute.  Our sponsor for the month is Wild Orchid Crafts.

Stamp Set:  Something for Baby; Ink:  Basic Black Archival; Cardstock:  Whisper White, Whisper White Thick; Patterned Paper:  Rainbow Brights Paper Pack (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Baby's First Framelits Dies, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch.  Stampin' Up! product unless otherwise noted.

For all the challenge details and to share your project at the Crafty Calendar Challenge, just click on our name.

Our sponsor for the month of September is Wild Orchids Crafts.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Happy TE Birthday!

Well, do you think this one is even brighter than the one from yesterday?  I think I have a "let's be bright and cheerful" thing going.  Once again, I've created a card using the sketch from Taylored Expressions.

It's been a very busy day so this is it for me.  I'm going to kick back in the recliner and read a book until I get so sleepy that the book is bouncing off my nose when I doze off.

Stamp Set:  Wish Big (Taylored Expressions); Ink:  Basic Black Archival; Stampin' Write Markers:  Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum; Cardstock:  Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Whisper White; Patterned Paper:  Rainbow Brights Paper Pad (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Glitter Gems (Triveni Crafts), Sheet Music Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Small Octagons Dies (Spellbinders), Wish Big Dies (Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I used is from the TE 9th Birthday Sketch Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha