FTL 155 +ColourQ 44

Clean and Simple has combined challenges, this week with ColourQ, giving us a sketch and asking us to pick a color combo at ColourQ challenge site. I chose week # 44 and the sketch follows:

                                                                                                         

What a cool site and fun challenges...color combos are a real stretch for me...so it was hard to choose a set of colors...but then to make a card using all the colors...well...I kept my card VERY clean and simple!!!

Used a Quickutz embossing folder, flower punches and a sentiment from Papertrey Ink(flower fushion #7) with the colors of papers for the card and flowers as in the #44 colors.  Thanks for looking, hope you have a great day!!

Sunflowers for Hannah #1

 My daughter Hannah will be celebrating her 1 year anniversary of being married this coming Sunday!!  I have made a few cards to send her (she lives 11 hours away in Tennessee...boo hoo) and will be posting them for the next few days.  She had sunflowers as the theme of her wedding...so if you don't like sunflowers, you might want to check back in in a few days...my cards are all about sunflowers.  The cards are all very different...I am hoping they make her and Nic happy:)!  Here's the first:

I used a couple shapabilities from Spellbinders for the sunflowers and centers(the same ones I used for all her shower thank you notes:)).  Ran the brown middles through to emboss...a side view shows these a bit better:

I popped up the whole panel after cutting the 2 sunflowers that were hanging over the side onto another white card.  I used a sentiment from Papertrey Ink(Mega Mixed Messages) and Early Espresso ink.  The paper: Bazzill white and Java and Summer Sun.
Thanks for looking, hope you have a great night!!

Less is More 30...Recipe: Taking 3 Challenges

The hurricane-rushed wedding we attended on Friday night was lovely...the rain held off until after the reception, then it poured!!  The bride was beautiful...and yes, the couple will have much say about their special day for the rest of their lives!  The hurricane came through our area of Virginia yesterday.  There are 250,000 people without power, a tornado destroyed 5 beach houses(evacuated) and 5 people died.  There is much flooding, but compared to Isabel in 2003, the destruction is SUPER MINIMAL!!  Our lights flickered many times last night, but we never lost power.  An incredible family from our church let us borrow a generator just in case...but quickly came to collect it this morning for a family member who WAS without power. We were spared and feel very blessed today!! Church was cancelled today, but the sun is shining and our backyard is no longer flooded...it is beautiful outside...and best yet...I got to make a card this morning!!!
    Thank you to all who were praying and those who left such sweet, caring comments...it touched my heart!!!
   The challenge this week at Less is More is to make a card combining 3 of the last 29 challenges.  I chose #1:to use black white and pink, # 12: Off center the image and # 25: To use button or ribbon.  What fun!  And although I try to make several cards, I figured if I just make one and get it posted early in the week, I will have more time to comment:)!!

I LOVE black, white and pink...used stamp sets from Papertrey Ink(Flower Fushion #1 and #7) and a Papertrey texture/impression plate for the black panels.  The white paper and polka dotted is Papertrey Ink.  Popped up all the panel and the flower(which was cut with a PTI die).  Super simple..thanks for looking, hope your week is WONDERFUL:)!!

Less is More 28...Things That Move

 I am right under the wire, but have to post this fast...we were invited to a much anticipated wedding that was supposed to have taken place tomorrow night, then moved to tomorrow morning, and will now be taking place in a couple hours due to the hurricane.  My husband and I were not going to attend if tomorrow, the wedding destination being an hour away and having to go through one of only 2 tunnels used for the whole area's evacuation...now it will be in the backyard of her parents(our dear friends)!!
  The theme at Less is More this week was to make a card with something that moves...the possibilities endless...but I guess with so many possibilities, it was difficult!  I settled on a new set(new to me) from Papertrey Ink(Springtime Doodles) and made it super simple.  I stamped dragonfly and cut with fiskars finger exacto knife(not sure what it's actually called).  I colored it with SU markers(Bermuda Bay, Taken with Teal and Close to Cocoa)...used close to cocoa paper and bermuda bay, the white is Papertrey.

So being a dragonfly, he moves and with his wings cut out, he really moves!!  Thanks for looking, hope you have a great weekend!!

Music Cards for Mom and a Redo

Hurricane Irene is coming our way...not sure what the rest of the week will hold.  We are praying and believing that she will be pushed away from our shore.  I got water today and looked for a generator, but they were gone everywhere and I am on a waiting list at Sears(60 are coming in on Friday, I'm 17th on the list).  Even though it does not look like we will have a direct hit by the hurricane, the winds will be super strong.  Remembering hurricane Isabel in 2003, the last strong one to hit our state...it was pretty bad(just google Isabel in Virginia), we were without power in our house for about 4 days...our neighborhood is on the same power grid as the area hospital, so our power is on pretty quick(some didn't have power for WEEKS).  Noah's injury 4 years ago changed our need for electricity.  His bed, the way he's fed...and having at least  a fan...well I'm amazed that we have made it the last 4 years without a thought of having a generator!!
I must admit, I think my mojo left town with the news of Irene, but these are cards that I made for my mom for the music group that she is secretary for and sends birthday cards to the members, last week.  Made with paper, felt, and dies from Papertrey Ink, the sentiment from Hampton Arts(I thought the "to you" went perfect with a music score....like when you sing it:)!!):

This one is one that I did about a month ago as a birthday card.  My daughter's best friend asked me to do this as a wedding card for her to give...so here is the birthday followed by the wedding(I made one for myself for a shabby chic wedding we will be going to in October...it fit the colors, too:)!!):

Thought the versatility was cool...just wanted to share that with you!  The scalloped die is My Favorite Things, the sentiment Papertrey Ink (Giga Guide Lines).
Thanks for looking, hope you have a great night:)!!

Fun with Papertrey Bloom Builder 3

I made this card with a new die from Papertrey Ink(Bloom Builder 3):

I made 2 of each size flower and threaded them with a button on the top through the bottom flower with dark brown floss, I viewed Nichole Heady's blog where she showed how to make this flower in this post HERE  Used a "ribbon" I got from Walmart(I guess it's ribbon, but LOVED the texture and makeup as well as the width of it). I tied a piece of floss around the ribbon behind the flower to gather it a bit before placing the flower over it.  Added Papertrey Ink senitment (Through the Trees).  This is a fun flower...love that it lies pretty flat, you don't have to worry about smooshing it when mailing...SWEET!!  The color of the flower is Riding Hood Red.  Lined the inside of the card with the same colored paper as the flower.

Thanks for looking!!!

Less is More 28...One Layer...Use Ink

This week's challenge kind of eluded me.  I did, however, use ink in a way I haven't before...with a solution called Ink Potion No. 9, an ink blending solution by Tsukineko.  While on an outing last week, I was looking for something "different" at Michaels (I call it Mikes) and purchased a bottle of this solution.  I'm not sure if I'm using it exactly as it's supposed to be used (although there are not much in the way of instructions), but the directions do say that Ink Potion can be sprayed to create a watercolor effect, or to blend inks.  I am thinking, though, that it DOES make the stamped color image a bit brighter than when the image is stamped without it...perhaps because of the added liquid(whatever it is???).  I used it on both cards:

 I used more spray  on the wheat stamp, so it looks a bit more watercolor"y".   The leaves on the second card are a bit bolder and more defined:

The wheat stamp is a very large Hero Arts stamp with a Stampin Up sentiment(Beautiful Borders).  Used Crumb Cake and Early Espresso Ink...the ribbon is from Mike's.
The leaf card is made with stamps from Papertrey Ink(Leaf Prints and Falling Leaves)...the ink colors are old olive, cajun craze, more mustard and soft suede.
I lined the insides of both cards with colored paper...for a one layer card, I think it just adds a little something nicer than just plain :)
Thanks for looking, hope you have a great rest of the week.

Fun with Vines

I made this card this morning, with the new Papertrey Leafy Vine Border.  Love the endless possibilities!!

Used a sentiment from another PTI set and popped up over vines.  Used Melon Mambo, black and bazzill white papers.

A Special Casual Friday/Clean and Simple 153

This week at Clean and Simple Stamping, challenges are being combined with CAS-ual Fridays, here is the sketch:

And I came up with a couple cards:

I used a rectangular solid Stampin Up stamp(Great Shapes) to stamp the background, stamping a second time on the very bottom using Ranger Antique Linen distress Ink and after masking the 2 areas, stamped again using Tea Dye distress ink in between them.  I misted the inked stamps with Ink Potion No. 9(supposed to help the flow of ink on stamps, but not so sure I'm sold on it).  I then stamped 2 stamps from Annabelle Stamps All Things Grow and a sentiment from Verve(Wordy Birds).  Layered on bazzill Java and popped up on bazzill white card..  Here's another view:

Here's my first card I made, but felt that it didn't really go with the sketch quite as well in that my top and bottom pieces of the panel were not the same. I know, there is creative liberty, I just generally tend to take sketches literally, so this card is a bit on the "wild side" for me:)!!

When I thought of this card...I had the idea to make sky, water and sand...not sure if anyone will "get" it but me, but that was my intent.  I used the same stems from the Annabelle set as the first card with the sentiment from the same set.  I used the small rick rack die from Papertrey Ink to make the "waves" and the Linen/Canvas impression/texture plate for the texture of the card from Papertrey Ink, as well.  The paper: Stampin Up Bashful Blue and Marina Mist, some sand colored paper, and bazzill Java.  Here's another view:

 A fun challenge...how great to get to know of other like-minded challenges...thanks for looking!!

Textured Birthday Card

I made this card having used one side of the 2 sided Papertrey Ink impression plate on some baby onesie cards I made a couple days ago and wanting to see what the other side looked like. You might have to click on the pictures to get a closer look...the look is subtle and didn't pick up too well in pictures...but made a definite impression...on the card and on me!!

 Here's a close up view of the impression.

  I stamped the grasses(All Things Grow by Annabelle Stamps) with Soft Suede and then textured the piece of Papertrey Ink white paper with the PTI canvas/linen impression plate.  I added the sentment(Papertrey Ink Signature Greetings)with Pacific Point.  I also added a Happy Birthday from Birthday Basics by Papertrey Ink.

 I think the texture is different...and cool....what do you think??
Thanks for looking, have a great day:)!!

Pink Popping Petals

I made this card a couple weeks ago...just never got around to putting it on the blog. I was, in part, inspired by the lovely cards that Susan Riahala made when she was inspired by another stamper.

 I was inspired by the way Erin and Susan used a line of text(script) across the bottom of the card and then put the sentiment over the script. The script I used was by W Plus 9 Design Studio, the sentiment is Inside and Out: Thank You   by Papertrey Ink.  I stamped a flower( Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions by W Plus 9 Design Studio) and then stamped a second one right next to the first one.  I colored with SU markers(Pretty in Pink and Regal rose) and cut out.  I thought to attach them and lay them flat on the card, but kinda liked how the petals looked bending off the card, so I left them that way. Popped up and layered on a Regal Rose textured card. Here's a slight side view:

Thanks for looking, hope your day is wonderufl!!

Baby Onesies...too cute!!

Can I just say....I Love Papertrey Ink!!  They are a company that I first "met" by seeing Susan Riahala's(LateBlossom on SCS and Simplicity blog) use of their stamps on her wonderful and amazing cards!!  Now, countless stamp sets and dies later...well...I LOVE them!!  I just got the Onesie die that I had been waiting for(out of stock) since the beginning of July.  I first learned of this die on Maile Belles site Simply Stamped  ...another artist whose work I think is amazing and wonderful...and these cards are, aside from color and stamping the animals(the stamped animals have hearts on their behinds:)!!) instead of using dies(were still out of stock, but are back in now:)!!), exact cases of her lovely cards...how can you improve on perfection?? Ok....I know I've used this word a lot in this paragraph, but I Love these baby cards...toooooo cute...thanks Maile for your creative inspiration:)!!

I used the Onesie dies, the linen textured plate, Sweet Baby, Mixed Messages and Mega Mixed Messages stamp sets all things PTI.  I used Papertrey Ink white paper and Stampin Up ink: Pretty in Pink, Ballet Blue, More Mustard and So Saffron.  I added a little white stick on heart from EK Success.  The bows were made with Bow Easy  and held on to the card with a sticky dot.
Thanks for looking, hope you have a great day!!

Less is More 27...Colour meets Clean and Simple 152

The sketches at Clean and Simple Stamping have been a bit of a challenge for me the last couple weeks.  I don't do this often, but when I saw the color challenge at Less is More...to make a card with the colors of our nation's flag colors...I decided to at least make one of my cards to fit both challenges.  My flag is "The Red White and Blue"..."Old Glory"..."The Star Spangled Banner"..."Stars and Stripes"...the flag of the United States of America!!!!:

I made the first to fit both the Less is More 27 challenge and Clean and Simple 152 sketch the second is simply for Less is More:

Here's the sketch:

For the first one, I used 2 Papertrey Ink sets(Everyday Button Bits, Botanical Silhouettes) and some heart buttons I had bought a long time ago.  Stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink.  I made my red panel by using a Stampin up corner punch. Popped up the panel on a 4" x 8' card. Bazzill red, white and blue paper used on card.  Super simple!!
This second one I made with a stamp from W Plus 9 Design Studio(LOVE the way these stamps stamp!!) the set is called Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions and a Hero Arts sentiment(Everyday Sayings).  I inked the stamp with Riding Hood Red and misted with water(Ranger spritzer) before stamping...kinda like the spotted look...having fun with that little spray bottle!!  Dotted the leaves with red rhinestones and added sentiment with Memento Paris Dusk ink. Stamped on and popped up on Papertrey Ink white paper.  Another super simple card!!

Thanks for looking, hope you have a fantastic week!  I love the Less is More challenges...the variety in the different types of challenges keep me challenged, keep me stamping...and keep me having sooooooooo much fun:)!!!!  I rarely think  to put red, white and blue together too often and in different ways...you challenged me to think outside my comfort zone...thanks Mandi and Chrissie!!

Less is More 26...Feeling Fruity

 The challenge at Less is More this week is to make cards with fruit on them!  I was having so much fun, I came up with 3:

 This was made with a couple very old stamps by A Stamp in the Hand.  I colored the pear with More Mustard, Crumb Cake along the edges and Old Olive markers and used a Ranger spritzer and misted water on the stamp and then stamped it on Gina K Pure Luxury paper.  I masked the pear and added the sentiment in what else...Pear Pizzazz.  Added ribbon. Layered on Old Olive card.

 I made this with a Stampin Up stamp(I just bought the cherries and the stems separately, not a set, on ebay...I LOVE all things cherry:)!!). I stamped the cherries with ruby red,clear embossed and cut out.  The stem is stamped in Wild Wasabi, embossed and cut out.  I popped them up on piece of dp from Mike's(I think...or Joann's) .  The sentiment is Papertrey Ink....masking the sweet and stamping in Ruby red and Stazon black.  White paper is bazzill .

This card was made with an apple stamp from a set of 4 apples by Hero Arts, the sentiment Hero Arts, as well.  Stamped on polka dotted bazzill from Mike's, clear embossed and cut out.  Layered on same paper and then on bazzill white dry embossed with apple folder(quickutz).  Added ribbon tied with Bow Easy and red button threaded with floss. I know this one is a little complex for Less is More...I'm sorry...there is a bit of white, but this card took on a life of it's own when I got going....
Thanks for taking a look...another fun challenge:)!!

Less is More 25...Buttons and Ribbons

I made this card for Less is More's challenge 25, this week's challenge is to use a button or ribbon...I used both!

I had a ribbon hole maker( very loud hammer hitting metal tool) and made two slits, threaded my $1.97 ribbon from Walmart through the slits and put some dark brown floss through wooden leaf button(Joann's).  Added sentiment(verse from Verve) to panel and popped up and popped up again on white card.

AND...I decided to put up my first attempt, but this one doesn't qualify...I thought there wasn't enough white space...but thought the Papertrey Berry Sorbet colored card, buttons and ribbon were just too "sweet"...so here it is:

I know...nothing original under the sun, but fun to make, anyway.   I am trying hard to start thinking out of the box when I stamp, but unlike so many other incredible stampers...I have to work REALLY hard at it...so I'm working on it...but not this card...it's still ok to just make a row of button flowers and add ribbon and sentiment...and you know...I like it!!  The ink, card, buttons, and ribbon are Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet, the other ink and paper Early Espresso.  Flowers stamped on bazzill white, the sentiment Hero Arts and pink twine threaded through buttons.

Thanks for looking, hope you have a great day!!

MojoMonday 200!!

Congratulations, Julee Tilman, on your 200th MojoMonday sketch and challenge!!  When I came back into stamping two years ago, after having left for seven years(and TOTALLY starting over after giving all but a couple favorite stamps away), MojoMonday was a challenge I would look at and tell myself...wow...those are incredible cards...that is one challenge that's out of my league...kind of like the grouchy ladybug who would say, "Oh, you're not BIG enough."...well I would tell myself, "Oh, you're not GOOD enough."  Well, last year, around my one year back into stamping anniversary(yes, we can ALL have anniversaries), I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone, and  decided to conquer my biggest stamping fear, MojoMonday!  I can't tell you how liberating it was for me...and how much fun!  I am a clean and simple stamper...I have discovered my style...that's who I am...that's what I do.  I am a puzzle maker, though, too, and LOVE putting pieces together.  I  love to take the Mojo Monday sketches and although I may not be the most creative banana of the bunch, I can interpret literally pretty good and make cards true to my style.  I have LOVED the fact that no matter if you are a stamper who is clean and simple like me, or one who is super creative, or loves lots of layers and "foof"(as I call it:)!)...all cards are admired and valued on MojoMonday...the diversity is wonderful...all this to say...WAY TO GO, JULEE and TEAM!!  Thank you for the wonderful sketches, and inspiring us with your creativity!!
Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

The colors are a result of inspiration from wrapping paper at Target I saw while out shopping with my daughter yesterday.  The only thing I will say is that I stamped the flower twice, one on white paper and again on blue with black ink and then polka dotted over both the white and blue in versamark and clear embossed...just so you know.  OK, I talked enough..it was fun... thanks for looking, hope your day is great!

Things I used:
Stamps: Stampin up Dot Dot Dot, Hero Arts Sew Me Flower Jewel, Stampendous Party Invite
Paper: textured taken with teal, bazzill white, black the lighter  blue unknown, polka dotted from Mike's
Ink: stazon black, versamark
Extras: SU border punch, white enamel accents, large black brad., lacey square nestie, ribbon from Mike's, pop up dots

Less is More...Circles

I had time to play in my stamp room yesterday and came up with a few cards for Less is More's 24th challenge...a card made having circles on it:

This is my Hero Arts card...made with a new set of flowers I just got(Dotted Flowers) and sentiment as well(Friends).  Used Marina Mist, Bashful Blue and black . Used various circle punches and dotted them amongst the flowers.  Masked the sentiment and used black and marina mist for that.  Popped up panel.

This is my Papertrey Ink card...cherry stems from Everyday Button Bits, the sentiment from Signature Greetings, the buttons also PTI. Popped up panel.

This was made from a Clean and Simple sketch( I LOVE their sketches when I need inspiration). Punched circles with 1" punch and added sentiment(Hero ArtsThinking of You) and popped up on A Muse Bubblegum card.

Thanks, Mandi and Chrissie, for this blog and the wonderful challenges...It sounds funny putting fun and challenged in the same sentence...but you make it fun being challenged!!  Thank you!!!

Clean and Simple 149

I made these cards for Clean and Simple's 149 challenge with this sketch:

This sketch was a bit difficult to work with for me, and my cards are perhaps a bit boring and quite a bit alike, but I had fun...and that IS what's important...well, and that you like your cards, too!  Sometimes I LOVE my cards, sometimes LIKE my cards, and then there are those that you never see...only the "circular file"!  These I LIKE...and that's good!

Things I used:
Stamps: Verve Great Friend, Papertrey Ink Gracious Vases, Stampin Up Cherries, Papertrey Ink Signature Greetings
 Paper: Riding Hood Red, papertrey white, dp from Mike's, More Mustard, black, bazzill black, bazzill polka dotted
 Ink: Riding hood Red, More Mustard, Old Olive, Stazon black
 Extras: SU and EK border punches, White and Black enamel accents, black nail head stick ons, pop up dots, clear embossing powder(sentiments)

Clean and Simple 148

Here's the sketch for this week's Clean and Simple challenge:

This is what I made with it:

In cleaning my stamp room...I have discovered a LOT of things I had long forgotten about.  I had purchased a big stamp set from Gina K Designs which came with paper, design paper and ribbon of various colors...this dp, yellow card and circle around the sentiment are Gina K as well as the ribbon.  I added daffodil delight for the top and bottom circles.  It's been fun "rediscovering" and using some stored away supplies!! The circles were a bit intimidating...I think circles do that to me...and then when I chose to use the yellow dp....I couldn't make the circles work...but I'm pretty happy with some embossing and added Enamel Accents to work with the dp.  Thanks for looking, have a great day!!

Things I used:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics
 Paper: Gina K, daffodil delight, bazzill white
Ink:stazon black
Extras: flowered embossing folder, GKD ribbon, white enamel accents, circle punch, circle nestie, SU tri flower punch