Happy Little Stampers July Sketch Challenge

Hello and Happy July! This is my first post as a new designer for the Happy Little Stampers sketch challenge.
You can find all the details about the challenge HERE.
Here's the sketch

I started by die cutting the scalloped panel from MFT's Blueprints #20 and the working panel with Blueprints #1. This is just about my favorite combination for cards. I still get a CAS style but with added depth and interest.
The working panel of my card was embossed using PTI's Cross Stitch Cover Plate to give my card texture. The tree trunk was stamped using Simon Says Stamp "Giving Thanks" and the circles were stamped in bright fun colors using dots from PTI's Day Dreamer and Petite Pots. The sentiment is from PTI's Flower Favorites.

Be sure to stop by the Happy Little Stampers Challenge Blog to see the design team's fabulous cards and join in on the fun!
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Adding Color To Cover PlatesMIM #216

Laura's got a great video on adding color to cover plates for this weeks PTI MIM.

I used the cover plate from Garden Gild kit and used copics to color and add a little shading in the center of the flowers for depth. Some sequins to finish it off.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

You're The Coolest!

I needed to make a card for one of the coaches at my local Curves gym and used Nance's sketch from The Paper Players.

I used MFT's Penguin's in Paradise to create this fun and whimsical card.
The front panel is cut using MFT's Blueprints #13 and the circle is from Spellbinders. The swirly leaves are cut from vellum using MFT's Leaf Filled Flourish. I also used the Waves Die-namics and Stitched Fishtail Stax for the sentiment which was heat embossed in black. I added some Wink of Stella to the little cocktail drink and clear blue sequins finish it off.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
Simon Monday Challenge
Simon Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Special Delivery

Just popping in to make a quick post for the card I made using the colors from Color Throwdown

I started by cutting my working panel using MFT's Blueprints #1. I stamped the sun rays from PTI's Hello Sunshine to the top portion of the panel and added waves from MFT's Die-namic Waves. I added MFT's Die-namic Sailboat, omitting one sail to make room for little Ellie from WPlus9's Unforgettable set. The sentiment is from PTI's Bundle of Love set and the little footprints are from an unknown company that I picked up in the craft store a long time ago.
I'm also adding this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge
V's Sweet Ideas
WPlus9 Throwback Thursday


Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's June Blog Hop

Nichole's got a fabulous inspiration photo for this months blog hop!

Aorable? Yes!
I want to know if they're made of paper or fabric and can actually be worn.
They're just too sweet!

Here's my take on this month's blog hop challenge.

I started with a strip of striped paper going down the edge of the card panel which was dry embossed using the Center Style Feminine Die. The scalloped border is cut using the Heart Border Die and adhered just so the tops of the hearts show, like a scalloped edge. I stamped some flower buds from Just Rite's Wild Rose, very lightly on the front panel before adding the Simple Sunflowers over the top. The sentiment is from A Little Inspiration.

I'm also entering this into the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday


Have fun along the hop and thanks for stopping by my little corner of blogland!
Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's MIM Challenge #215

Danielle's got a great video challenge on Nichole's blog this week on "Bringing the Inside Out". Sound like fun?
You must check out her sweet card and video.

I started with a white cardstock base and used PTI's Everyday Treats die to create the window and then stamped the coordinating image in Spring Rain Ink. I then used my score-pal to make the crosshatch lines on the face of the card. The flowers were stamped and cut using Nostalgic Notions. I adore this sweet little vintage set!!
The sentiment is cut using one of the Big Hugs dies.
Here's the inside of the card:

I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Party!

This fun little card was made using the Sweet Sunday Sketch for the CAS Summer Treats challenge over at The Paper Players.

I used PTI's Summer Sweetness, stamping the Popsicles in both aqua mist and raspberry fizz and then covering them with Stickles. The wavy borders were cut using WPlus9's Landscape borders and the front panel was cut using MFT's Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Stax. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Cupcake Party.

I'm also entering this card into the challenge over at Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Celebrating with Neutrals

Good morning paper crafting friends! The talented designers at Seize The Birthday have a challenge going on right now to use only neutral colors. Here's a card I made that meets the challenge.

Is die cutting considered a technique?
I use dies on every card I make, so I'm considering die cutting as my favorite "go to" technique.
I used several MFT Blueprints and dies to create all the panels for this card, #1, 13 and stitched rectangle stax. The gears and clock hands are cut and stamped using MFT's Timeless set. The sentiment is part Timeless and part of a birthday sentiment set, which was heat embossed in white on black to give a chalkboard look.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
V's Sweet Ideas

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Hang In There

Good Wednesday morning friends!
This is the day that the Lord has made! We will rejoice and be glad in it!
The sun is finally shining again in our neck of the woods and this little elephant is still rejoicing in the Lord, even after his little mishap. ;o)

I was looking through my sentiments and found this one that I had never inked up from PTI's "A Little Inspiration". I immediately thought of Dawn's sweet elephant from WPlus9's "Unforgettable". I stamped a tree limb from PTI's "Out On A Limb" and made little Ellie look like he was hanging from the branch.
I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch to create this little cutie of a card.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday
CASology ~ Kids challenge
V's Sweet Ideas
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Throwback Thursday

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Praying For You

Today's card uses color inspiration from The Shabby Tea Room. Sweet Summer colors, I must say!!

My card was also created using the "RULE OF THIRDS" as found over at My Favorite Things. I used the left and middle of my card to create my focal point.

I used my good ole' stand by dies to create the scalloped panel and working panel for my card. That would be MFT's Blueprints #20 & #13. I turn to one or both of those on almost every card I make. The working panel was stamped using PTI's Natural Beauties stamp set. I also used MFT's Pierced Fishtail Flag Stax and the In & Out Stitched Rectangle. The flowers are from PTI's 1940's Stamp A-Faire and the sentiment is from SNSS Morning Glories.
I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.

To get some great Summer School lessons on crafting and a chance to win, hop on over to the My Favorite Things blog and enter into one of their challenges today!
Thanks so much for looking!!
Blessings~ Birgit

Congrats to the Grad

Good Saturday morning! Just popping in real quickly to post a card to the CASology challenge where the theme is Graduation.

I used sets from PTI, For The Graduate and MFT's Graduation Accents.

Told you this was a real quick post. ;0)
Have a great weekend! Blessings~ Birgit

Sending LOVE

Today I'm sending love to you with this card I made for the Designer Challenge over at My Creative Time. Here's the color palette I went with:

And here's my card:

I used the "Tweet Me" stamps and coordinating dies to make this inlaid die cut card. The clouds are cut using PTI's 1980's Stamp A-Faire set.
I'm also entering this card into the challenge over at Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

You've Been On My Mind

Today's card was made for this weeks Make It Monday challenge on Nichole's blog.

I recently received my order from last months release and couldn't wait to ink up the Nostalgic Notions.
I started with a Kraft cardstock base and cut a panel using MFT's Blueprints #1, out of Rustic Cream cardstock. I stamped the streamers from NN a few times and then stamped a script text background from Background Basics Text, in Fine Linen ink. The flowers from the set were stamped in Scarlet Jewel and Pure Poppy. The leaves were stamped in Fine Linen and Dark Chocolate. If you look carefully, you can see the little star from NN, stamped in Soft Stone.
I just love all the new vintage-y sets that have been coming out lately.
I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

I'm a Happy Little Stamper!!

I'm a day late with this exciting news as I spent yesterday with my dad. Important, special and treasured time.
But I'm super excited to share with you that I am officially a member of the Happy Little Stampers sketch design team!!

In honor of this exciting news, I put together two cards for each of the current challenges they have going on right now. The first is the sketch challenge

I did some ink blending with Ranger Inks Peacock Feather, Mustard Seed and Antique Linen using a large oval as a template. If you look closely, you can see little sand dunes under each of the trees and under the penguin chilling out on his blanket. Those were stamped using PTI's Friendship Jar Summer Fillers. MFT's Penguins in Paradise couldn't have arrived at a better time yesterday so I could create this adorable card to celebrate today.
"Today" is always a new day and a new reason to celebrate because "this is the day that the Lord has made!"
I added some clear Wink of Stella on the pretty little hibiscus flowers at the top of the scene. The sentiment is from PTI's Friendship Jar.

My next card was made using the sprays and mists challenge

The rectangle panel was cut using MFT's Stitched Rectangular Stax and I sprayed on cherry and gold sprays from Heidi Swapp using a polka dot stencil also from Heidi Swapp. The flower was cut using MFT's Layered Rose with gold leaves cut from Royal Leaves. The sentiment is cut three times and stacked to give dimension, using My Creative Times Hello Frame Dies. I then added a couple of coats of black Wink of Stella to the sentiment.

A white candy dot from Queen Co. to the center of the flower finishes it off.

July will bring exciting new challenges to the Happy Little Stampers blog as all their new designers will start their journeys and the new Christmas challenge will also be starting.
So be sure to pop on over to the Happy Little Stampers Blog and meet their new design team members and join in on one of the fun current challenges going on right now!
Thanks so much Kylie and Loll for this new adventure!

I'm also adding one or more of these cards to the following challenges:
Seize the Birthday "Animal" challenge
Word Art Wednesday challenge
Simon Says Monday Challenge

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Watercolor Blog Hop

So I thought I would join in on the fun at the Pretty Pink Posh Watercolor Blog Hop
I haven't done any watercoloring in a really long time so here's a couple of cards I made for the hop.

My first card uses the colors from ColourQ

I started with a panel of Strathmore watercolor paper cut using MFT's Blueprints #20. I did my watercoloring using Rangers Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade. I flicked on little flecks of color in Peacock Feather. After it was dry I stamped images from PTI's Doodlie-Do in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The sentiment is PTI's Graceful Greetings.

This next card was made using PTI's Nostalgic Notions to create this faux watercolored scene. I inked up the stamps in the colors of choice and then spritzed them with water and stamped them on Strathmore watercolor paper and allowed the ink to absorb into the paper before removing the stamp. I enjoy the watercolor look the stamps give when sprayed with water. This is sort of the cheaters way to watercolor, but when you don't have good images for watercoloring, this is a good second choice. I realize I don't have many images that are good for coloring in so I hope this will still count for the hop.

My last card uses Simon Says Stamp "Best Mother Ever". I stamped it on Strathmore watercolor paper in Rangers Antique Linen ink and then watercolored the flowers. The background of the card base was stamped using PTI's "Watercolor Wonder". A button, some string and a little strip of washi tape finish it off.
I'll also be adding one of these cards into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.

Have fun on the hop!
Thanks for visiting! Blessings~ Birgit

Color Throwdown #345 ~ Thanks

Hello~ I'm still working on thank you cards so forgive me if they get repetitive. These two cards were made using the colors from Color Throwdown.

I wanted to try something different and outside of the box for me so I went with monotone flowers and added the color elsewhere on my cards.

I used PTI's "You've Been Framed Oval" and "Rosie Posie" to create this first card. They are set on a panel cut from MFT's Blueprints #20. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp "Beautiful Words".

For my second card, I cut the printed panel using MFT's Blueprints #20 and stamped the flowers from PTI's "Sweet Life" again, in monochromatic colors. I used the oval from the center of the first card to add the sentiment with stickers because my heat gun died and I couldn't heat emboss my sentiment in white like I wanted to. (Guess I need to add a new one to my wish list.)
I'm also adding one of these cards to the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Hello Sunshine ~ A Shaker Card

Hello paper crafting friends! Today's card was made for the WPlus9 Throwback Thursday challenge. I used Sending Sunshine to create a shaker card. It has been anything but sunshine here in the northeast. I've been wrapped in a blanket for days and even put a fire in the wood stove on one of those days. This card brings me hope of sunshine to come!

I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Moving Forward with Make-It Monday #213

Today is a new day filled with new strengths. I found the time and energy to play along with PTI's Make-It Monday challenge. Betsy does it again with her clever crafting ideas to use Glossy Accents to create condensation or water droplets on your stamped images.
I used the colors from Curtain Call

to create this vintage themed card.
It makes me think of a vintage linen kitchen towel.

I used PTI's 1940's Stamp A-Faire set paired up with Second Helping of Sunshine. A true match made in heaven!
I ran the front panel through the embosser with the cross stitch cover plate. The sentiment are combined using Tag It's #5 and Flower Fusion #11.
Here's a close up with the water droplets

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
CASology
Word Art Wednesday
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Again, a warm thanks to all of you who continue to express your kindness on the loss of my mom. Each day is new.
"Weeping may endure through the night, but joy cometh in the morning." ~ Psalm 30:5
I'm so thankful to have the Lord's promises to rest in until I can see my mother again someday.
Thanks for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit