Altenew // Vintage Roses

Playing along with Altenew's February challenge, using this beautiful inspiration piece...

...and also for Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes challenge,
There is so much pretty in this picture that I had a hard time choosing which elements to focus on. In the end, I decided to mimic the embossing, jewelry, gold and pink, and then those little pops of blue.

For the base, I took my Love Triangle embossing folder, then lightly wiped my Versamark ink pad over the raised part. I wasn't particularly concerned with getting perfect coverage, and once I embossed the front of the card base, I covered it with gold embossing powder. I had to brush off a decent amount of powder that was clinging to the wrong triangles, but it wasn't too labor intensive.
I topped off the card base with a die cut and embossed sentiment, then some roses from Altenews gorgeous Vintage Roses set - love love love this set! Again, I wasn't concerned with stamping the roses perfectly or using all coordinating inks - you should know that when I say "I wasn't concerned with", it's basically my code phrase for "I was too lazy/impatient". ;) Anyways, I trimmed the flowers, adhered them to the base with some scrap die cut leaves, and, to mimic the jewelry in the photo and to bring out the blue, I topped off the base with some blue pearls.

Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: Canson, Bazzill
Stamps: Altenew "Vintage Roses", MFT "Framed Greetings"
Ink: Versamark, Studio Calico, Tim Holtz
Other: pearls and embossing powder (Darice)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Love Triangles embossing folder, MFT Framed Greetings die, PTI Life is Sweet die, heat gun

Hero Arts // Russian Dolls

Another card using up some scraps. The colored doll is at least a couple years old, and I have several other versions still sitting in the scrap bin. I know I made a card with whatever version I settled on, years ago, but I can't remember.

Tri-fold cards are tricky to photograph. ;) The kraft border wasn't done by myself - I got a large box of David Tutera envelopes and card bases on sale at Joann's a year or to ago, and the pretty edge is just from one of those kraft card bases.

Thanks for stopping in and have a blessed Sunday!

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Cardstock: Canson, DCWV, David Tutera
Stamps: Hero Arts "Russian Dolls", MFT "Framed Greetings"
Ink: Stazon, Versafine
Other: gems (Darice), coloring pencils

It's a Good Day

...I have solved my dilemma of taking card pictures, with the notable exception of the card below.
But that's just 'cuz it has a funny border, and that makes it difficult to photograph anyways.

This card made for the MFT Color Challenge #14 - I didn't really have any of the cardstock colors except for navy, so watercolor it was. I kept looking at the screen to see if I was getting the combo right, but on further review, it looks like I didn't quite catch the spirit of Wild Wisteria. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.

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Cardstock: Canson, Bazzill
Stamps: MFT "Chalkboard Sayings"
Ink: Hero Arts, Versamark
Other: embossing powder

Tools: border punch, heat gun, Cuttlebug, Memory Box die, paintbrush and water

Special Day

...I had one today - my university finally closed for the day due to terrible weather!

This is for WPlus9's birthday challenge - comfort zone.
The thing is, I don't have a comfort zone, a set style.
I used to be a pretty much shabby chic kinda girl, then I got more simple, then graphic, and now I just kinda wander from one style to another. I do like detail though, and that's pretty much the only consistent thing you'll see in my cards. ;)

I have absolutely no idea how to make the cool "scattered thread" thing look so perfectly imperfect, but here's my go at it. ;)

To continue on with my little "500th post" celebration, today, I'll be giving away a goodie bag filled with embellishments! Just leave a comment, and maybe tell me what your favorite type of embellishment is, and you'll be entered!

Also, I just want to thank you again for all the kind comments - I really appreciate your encouraging and thoughtful responses to my feelings concerning "rejects".
I thought I'd share this little graphic while I'm on the topic...

...it's something I'm really trying to make second nature to me. Till then, the struggle is real. ;)

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Stamp: WPlus9 "Fresh Cut Florals"
Ink: Versamark
Die-cuts: Dear Lizzy "5th and Frolic"
Other: string, embossing powder (Martha Stewart), doily, enamel dots (My Minds Eye)

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, MFT Framed Greetings die

Back

.....and feeling overwhelmed by everything that's happened since I've been gone! I'm pretty much at a loss at what to write, I'm so overwhelmed!
So I guess I'll cut to the chase and show you the cards...
I needed a quick birthday card for my great uncle, so I took the sketch from a card of mine that was published in a CARDS issue - I don't remember what issue it was and I'm too tired to look it up, but here's the published card...

...and my manly version - I usually don't crow about my cards (or at least, I try not to), but I have to say, I was pretty impressed that I made a man card with this many layers in less than an hour and a half! The time spent alone is pretty amazing to me, since I'm on the top ten list of worlds slowest crafters. ;)
Card for the Moxie Fab World Postage challenge - thanks Maria!

 Lovin' these big ol' black gems from Michaels and adorable paperclips by Tim Holtz...

When he came up two weeks later, he told me how surprised he was that I made it and how much he liked it - I love it when people say how nice it was to get a handmade card (though I always feel kinda overwhelmed by their kind words), and I need to remember to send them out more often. I have too many gathering dust, and too many people that would love one to not send them out.

Anyways, I'll share a few of the 2000 pictures I took in Europe another day - right now I'm still recuperating from all the crazieness. ;)
Have an awesome day and thanks so much for stopping in! :)

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Cardstock: LSS, Bazzil
Patterned paper: Bazzil Basics 'Wayfarer'
Stamps: PTI 'Mat Stack 1'
Ink: Ranger, Staz-on
Other: paperclips (Tim Holtz), twine (Celebrate It!), gems (Michaels)

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, Cuttlebug, PTI Doily Details die, MFT Framed Greetings die

a beautiful day

Here's a card I made wayyy back using MFT Stamps first sketch challenge. Just a littttttle late, but still, here it is. ;)

The butterflies...

Wow, am I tired tonight. Yawwwnnn. lol
Well, thanks for stopping in and have a blessed day! :)

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: October Afternoon "Thrift Shop", Basic Grey
Stamps: MFT Stamps
Ink: Staz-on
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Trim: Websters Pages

Tools: trimmer, scissors, MFT Stamps die, Martha Stewart punch, adhesive