Sending You A Big Hug

Sunshine through my window is always such a welcome sight.  It's the nice before the snow which is coming later today.  It was an early morning for me so making a card and sharing it with you seemed like the thing to do.  Others in the house are still sleeping and it's a quiet way to begin my day.

For this clean and simple card, I started with a card base of Bermuda Bay and added a strip of Pretty Peacock.  I stamped the hibiscus flower from the Timeless Tropical Stamp Set in Calypso Coral ink onto Calypso Coral cardstock then, cut it out using the In The Tropics Dies.  I love the tone on tone look.  The leaves are cut out of Grapefruit Grove cardstock using the In The Tropics Dies.  For the finishing touch, I added some clusters of clear gems.

Here is a close up of the flower and those clear gems.  They are a favorite of mine as they pick up whatever color happens to be under them but still remain clear.

The sketch I used is from the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

The colors I used are from Colour INKspiration Challenges.  It's a Facebook group for those who enjoy using Stampin' Up! products.  You can find more information about this group by clicking the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Products Used

Stampin' Up! Timeless Tropical Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips-Friendship Stamp Set

Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral Ink

Altenew Jet Black Ink

Stampin' Up! cardstock in Bermuda Bay, Pretty Peacock, Calypso Coral, 

Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White

Stampin' Up! In The Tropics Dies

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Die

Studio Katia Clear Gems

A Simple Hello

Good morning from the Sierra Nevada Mountains!  It's shaping up to be another fantastic day with lots of sunshine.  I love mornings like this when you know that Spring is on its way.

Can you believe there is no stamping done on this card?  When I started to make it, I never gave it a thought, it just happened.  I looked at it and said, "Wait a minute, there is no stamp or ink on this one."  I must say I do love the results.

The banner is cut from the, now retired, Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up! and it is actually vellum.  I think the Petal Pink color made for a very pretty design.  From Soft Sea Foam cardstock, I used the Petal Pop-Up 2 Dies from Taylored Expressions for the dimensional flower and attached it using foam tape.  The Hello Die is one of the free little dies I received from Taylored Expressions as a thank you for an order.  I cut five out of Smoky Slate cardstock and glued them together to add dimension to the sentiment.  I used my Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen to add some shimmer to the flower.  For the finishing touch, I added a clear gem to the flower center.

As you can see in the flower close-up, the sparkle pen added just the right amount of shimmer and gave the flower a wee bit of personality.  It is really pretty in real time.

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

The colors I used are from the Just Add Ink Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Products Used

Taylored Expressions Hello Die, Petal Pop-Up 2 Die 

Stampin' Up! Cardstock in Soft Sea Foam, Smoky Slate and Whisper White

Stampin' Up! Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper

Other:  Clear Gem, Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen

Flowered Cake

It's a beautiful here in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The sky is blue, the sun is shining and the snow is on the mountain tops.  Actually, there is more snow to come this weekend but at this time of year it will most likely stay on those mountain tops.  I have to say that does not bother me one bit.

Today's card was a bit of an experiment.  I tried to do some blending to show the different levels that are in the sketch below.  I did change to order of color from light to dark versus the dark to light in the sketch.  I think it worked.  The transition between colors is subtle but there.  I took a piece of Rococo Rose and ran it through the crimper after I had cut it out using the Rounded Rectangle Dies from Altenew.  Then, I sponged the edges with some Mulled Wine ink from Taylored Expressions.  The cake die cut was one in my stash.  I had stamped and colored several, cut them all out and had them ready to go when I needed them.  It's the Happy Birthday To You stamp set and the Birthday Dies from Stampin' Up!  For the finishing touch, I added a few clear gems that I had left over from a Paper Pumpkin Kit.

As of yet, I've not added a sentiment because I don't know if it will be a birthday, thinking of you or just a note card to send to someone.  And, you never know, I just might not add a sentiment.

Stamp Set(s):  Happy Birthday To You (Stampin' Up!)

Ink(s):  Strawberry Shake, Guava, Mulled Wine, Oreo (Taylored Expressions)

Stampin' Write Markers:  Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss, 

Curshed Curry, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Flirty Flamingo, Rococo Rose, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Patterned Paper:  Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!)

Die(s):  Rounded Rectangle Dies (Altenew); Birthday Dies (Stampin' Up!)

Other:  Clear Gems

The photo above shows the different levels of color a bit better.  These color blended together so well that, as I said, the transition between them is subtle.

The sketch I used is from the Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

The theme I used is from The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC260 - Karen's Challenge: All About Occasions

You know, it's Wednesday.  It's time for a new challenge at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Karen is hosting our All About Occasions challenge.

It's the last challenge of the month and again I'm sharing a Christmas card.  I plan to have all of my cards done before they are needed.  I was a little lax last year and found myself needing to make more and more and more.  Well, maybe not that many more but more than what I already had made. 

Stamp Set: Holiday Florals; Mini Strips Holiday (Taylored Expressions)

Ink: Lime Zest, Sweet Basil, Guava (Taylored Expressions); Jet Black (Altenew)

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Dies: Holiday Florals; Mini Strips (Taylored Expressions)

Other: Modern Holly Layering Stencil (Taylored Expressions)

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  You'll see all the great projects from our Watercooler Artists.  We’d love to have you take the challenge and link your project.  You have until Monday, March 2nd at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC259 - Dawn's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Masculine Twist

Wednesday!  Wednesday!  Wednesday!  Oh, right, it's time for another challenge at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Dawn is hosting our Anything Goes With a Masculine Twist.

This was such a fun card to make.  As you see, I cut an oval in the middle of my card front and added a sentiment strip across the opening.  For the center of the card I made a smaller card that measured  5-1/4" x 8"  and folded in half.  I stamped the image onto the front making sure the fold was to the right.  

 

Stamp Set: Nature's Beauty, Waterfront (Stampin' Up!); Simple Strips-Friendship (Taylored Expressions)

Ink: Frayed Leaf, Gray Denim, Silver Lake (Altenew); Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock: Granny Apple Green, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Dies: Stitched Oval Stacklets, Simple Strips Die (Taylored Expressions)

Other: Weathered Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions)

When you open the center card, you have plenty of room to write a note or, if you prefer, stamp a sentiment.  I usually write an note to whomever will be receiving the card.

For all of our 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, February 24th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha