Fishy Birthday

     Yep, I have had a few days off - that means play time!!!  Of course my stamp room is a mess, so my first thoughts this morning were 'clean it up before you play'.  Normally that would mean put the Copics away, refile all the dies you have laying around, give myself some workable space......but I have several projects in the 'half finished' mode laying around, so today I decided 'cleaning up meant 'finish those cards'!
     Since before Christmas (yes, that long) I have had a piece of acetate sitting that I ran through my Cuttlebug to use as an overlay.....for whatever reason after I ran it through it ended up in a corner of my desk.  Then about two weeks ago I saw it and began to think of using it - I actually dug some old paper out from a scrapbook set a friend gave me.  Once again the card got laid to the side.  No more, today I finished it.  It is going to go into my Birthday stash, I'm thinking this will work for a guy, with a sentiment on the inside and a few waves and fish to finish it off.
     It was great fun putting this together - like like the look of the embossed acetate and will certainly be doing more of this in the future.

Materials:  Cuttlebug School of Fish EF, Cardstock, Spellbinders Circle Die, Stampin Up Bliss Blue Ink, Inkadinkado Stamp

Challenges:  Use it Tuesday #57 Masculine

Wisemen & women still seek Him

    Every now and then when I am shopping, and have one of those 'just must use' 40% off coupons, I see a stamp whose image is so serene and lovely I must have it.  The day I spotted this stamp I probably walked by it four or five times, trying to imagine how I would use it on a card.  I imagined it colored in Copics, and for sure with some gold around it.......THEN I come home and begin to play and just can't get any of my coloring or layouts to work the way I imagined they would.  Ughh!!!  To the drawer it goes.  A few weeks later I find myself perusing the gallery at Splitcoast Stampers and lo and behold I come upon this CARD that gives me inspiration.  I kept her basic layout of the image in the circle and the sentiment in the banner.  It didn't seem appropriate to use snowflakes as she did, because she used a tree image, so I used an embossing folder on my background.  To fill the little corner I added some embellies.  This layout has inspired me to think of one or two more ways to use this lovely stamp....so glad I kept the tones earthy, and very glad I found a way to ink this up.

     There is something about the Wisemen following a star, in faith it would lead them to the King, that greatly appeals to me during the Christmas season.......Inside I will use my favorite sentiment "Little baby, sweet and small, born to be the King of all".

Supplies:  Inkadinkadoo Wisemen, Paper Inspirations Sentiment, SB M-Bossabilities, The Paper Studio DP, Cardstock, Memento Ink

Challenges:  Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Kissed by the sun and God

 

  This little cutie from Mo's Digital Pencil "Little Umbrella" screams summer....and I think now that it is mid August (and kids are back to school here) I have realized all those things I meant to do to celebrate the sun.  When we were at the Ranch I had to watch my sun time by the pool, and riding (not easy when its 110 degrees) as the medication I was on warned me to be cautious....I decided to follow the directions and did not get to spend the time I so enjoy in the pool and basking in the sun.  Now, before I know it, summer is just about gone!  So why not color up this lovely lady.
      When I began coloring her I posted her in process on my Facebook page.  One of my friends, who is in charge of Cross Walk Bookstore in Missouri (where I send a lot of my Christian cards for sale) challenged me to put some scripture to it and send it to them.  Loved the challenge - while there were some scriptures I thought of, I just happened to get a Stampin' Up order in the mail a few days later and lo and behold my Trust God set contained what I think is a perfect sentiment.  "Each one of us is God's special work of art".  Inked it up, put it on paper, and viola - a card that makes me 'smile'.  I am in the process of coloring and putting a few more of these together as I think it is the perfect birthday card for a few of my friends.

Materials:  Stampin' Up sentiment, Mo's Digital Pencil, Copics, cardstock, corner punch, Marvy punch, Inkadinkadoo shells stamp

And a one, and a two, and a three...

     Oooh, I just love Mumu by Mo Manning.......just before I went on vacation I purchased this stamp. Next trip to the stamp store I want to get the one with her hanging the laundry.  She just reminds me of a free spirit, unafraid to shake that booty with an in your face attitude.
     The challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ was to do something on your card your afraid of.  I don't really fear trying anything when it comes to stamping, but there are styles and techniques that are for sure out of my box.   Sooooo, I decided to distress the edges of my background paper as well as sew around them. (I am so NOT grunge that it was a challenge for me to even get those edges messy). I also decided to work on perfecting my paper piecing by cutting her skirt out of some lovely paper I have been hoarding.  There were several sentiments I felt fit this cha cha mama, but for today's card I chose this one by Inkadinkado.  The next one I make with her I plan on using another sentiment from this set that says 'Confidence is Sexy' with a truly wild paper pieced skirt!!

Materials:  Mo's Digital Pencil, Copic markers, Pearls, Inkadinkado Sentiment

Challenges:  Stampin Sisters in Christ  , The Perfect Sentiment, Anything Goes  PSC34