Beautiful Blossoms Blog Challenge : A Happy Hello

Welcome back to my little blog, I'm happy that you visited!

This month, the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is another beautiful and inspiring bouquet photo.

Isn't it lovely? I know I'd love to receive a bouquet of those cheery, happy flowers!

I chose to use Flourishes Heartfelt Thanks stamp set, colored in with Copics. I stitched along the photos edge, and matted it with some leftover design paper. Then I cut a banner strip with MFT's Skinny Strips die, stamped with a sentiment from Flourishes Taglines stamp set.

I kept it very, very clean and simple so the colors stand out and speak for themselves. I love how it turned out, all colorful and cheery!

Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you have some inspiration to join us in the BB challenge. I can't wait to see what you create!

Welcome Little One

 Hello again, Friends!

I'm back again with another challenge card, and this time I am using a new stamp & die set from Ebay, called Better Together by My Favorite Things.

I stamped out the main image of the ark and the rainbow, diecut them out and colored everything in with Copics & Touch Twin markers. The design paper is a soft neutral brown gingham from Honey Bee Stamps Gingham Galore Holiday collection, that I stitched around with my sewing machine. Then I matted the stitched DP with some Bazzil Kraft paper. I used a long since retired bookplate die to layer under my images, then started layering my diecuts over it, and adding some clouds from a retired MFT die called Cutest Clouds Ever. I placed some podots under my ark just for some depth and interest, then added my sentiment from the new stamp set, using MFT's Skinny Strips die.

Here are the Blog Challenges I am entering with this card :

Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Inspired By ... Gingham 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you at my next post!

Hope Your Day is Sweet

 Good morning, Friends!

I have another card created from a challenge today. 

Color Throwdown : Pink, Brown & White

I chose to use Colorado Craft's Coffee House stamp and the coordinating dies, placed over a Distress Ink sponged background in Old Paper and Antique Linen.
I matted the main piece over some Kraft paper that I stitched together with Simple Stories Textured Cardstock in Mauve. Then I cut a banner using MFT's Skinny Strips die, and added my sentiment from Honey Bee Stamps "Mini Messages : Sweet" set.

I enjoyed the color challenge and I have a couple other ideas I might try with it.

But that is all I have for today. Until the next blog post, I hope you have a marvelous craft day!

Let's Celebrate!

 Good morning Craft Friends! I'm back with another blog challenge from Lawn Fawn (my first!). This week, their challenge is : Let's Celebrate!

As crafty as I am, I thought I had more Lawn Fawn stamp sets. But alas, I searched my stash, and I actually only have one, long since retired set, called "Blue Skies".

So I decided that my card would be great for a recent graduate, and that's still a great reason to celebrate!

I stamped out my hot air balloon from 'Blue Skies" and lightly colored it in with Copics, then fussy cut it out and around the image. I stitched around the design paper from Lawn Fawn, called "Daisy", and adhered it to some Kraft cardstock, then backed that with Bazzil cardstock called "Chiffon". Then I added some clouds from a random die from my stash that I have no idea where I got it. Then I used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Sentiment Banner die to cut a banner out and stamped out the sentiment from the Blue Skies set.

I really love how this card turned out! I won't lie, it was difficult since I only have one stamp set, one die, and one DP from Lawn Fawn, but I'm still proud of how it looks. Once again, a blog challenge really made me think and I love the results!

Thank you again, Crafty Friends! Join me again when I post another craft challenge to my blog :)

You've Been On My Mind

 Ever had a card that you had all these great ideas for but nothing actually worked? Yep. That's this card, for me. I must have remade this card 3 times before it actually came together smoothly! 

Splitcoast Stampers Monday CAS challenge this week is : What brings you JOY?

For me, it's Family, Friends, Coffee/Tea, and Crafting.

I stamped out my image using MFT's "Latte Love" set and used the coordinating MFT die. Then I colored the image in, keeping it very light. Then I created a background using Taylored Expressions Fanfare Cutting Plate and MFT's Stitched Rectangles. I used scrap pieces of Kraft and Bazzil "Teal" design paper. I used the discard piece of Teal paper I had used MFT's Stitched Pinking Rectangle on, stitching it with my sewing machine, to the Kraft cardstock. Then I used some scrap black cardstock to cut a banner out with MFT's "Skinny Strips", and stamped it with Honey Bee Stamps sentiment from their "Latte" set.

I love how fresh, clean, and uncluttered it looks. Sometimes I think I add too much to cards, so it's nice to see a clean and streamlined card, even if it did take some effort! 

Fall Pumpkins

 Fall. The most beautiful time of year and also my favorite. 

Pumpkins are quintessentially the most symbolic representation of fall and cooler weather, so I decided to create a card featuring my favorite fall food item.

 I chose to use my Flourishes Autumn Blessings stamp set and color it in with Copics. I lightly sponged the edges of the image with Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress Inks, I matted that over a lacy cupcake doily, and some patterned papers that look like the pages of a book. I found a frame that I added some acetate to and stamped out my sentiment on it using Staz-On Timber Brown, placed some Popdots under it and placed it over my image. I added a corner diecut and some pearls to complete my look.

I really love how it turned out and wish all my cards would turn out as nice as this one!!

Happy Fall, Friends!

Kindness Is The Way

 Kindness. Hard to find these days, at times. I like to remind myself it's a long sought after but rarely found gift. I believe in being as kind as you can to everyone as best as you can.

That's why I love this image.

I used Power Poppy's "Kindness Is The Way" free digital stamp to create this card. I used a lighter paper to print it out on, almost vellum like, and colored it in with Copic markers. I paired it with a very light blue gingham checked paper that just added to the intense POP of color I colored the flowers in with that didn't distract from them. After that, I added a simple border of stitching around the image to keep it looking simple and cheery, like I wanted it to be.

Gerbera Daisies are some of the most colorful and cheerful flowers I have ever seen. I mean, who wouldn't want to be given a beautiful bouquet of them?! If you can't give real flowers, this card could certainly take their place, it's so bold. I could walk in a garden of these for hours, they bring such a smile to my face and heart!

Flourishes Irish Blessing

Good morning crafting friends, it's time for my first Flourishes Free For All Friday! I am so excited to show you what I created.

I used Flourishes Cottage Home's Irish Blessing sentiment, that I stamped on a tag I'd saved. I added my card base in Flourishes Classic Cardstock in Taupe. After attaching my base, I used May Arts Champagne and Ivory ribbon in a double bow that I added on my card, and then hat pins and a flower to complete the card.

I try never to stick with one look or style, but if you had to ask what style I love, it would be shabby chic. With that in mind, I had to create a shabby chic card after finding this lovely card from a tag that came with an order of crinkled seam binding ribbon!

I love reusing packaging and things in unexpected ways when crafting. You never know what you will create or come up with. I'd love to hear from you in the comments section when you have used an item in a unique way!

As always come again and have a great crafting weekend!
~ Amanda

Flourishes Release Week: Clover

Did you enjoyed yesterday's DAD You Rock! stamps set? Have you gotten any new creative ideas or just salivating over new stamps? You know I have!

Today's newest Flourishes stamp set is called Clover. Simple and beautiful! Isn't that how crafting and stamps should be? Even if that's not your style or thing, I think you'll love this set.

I chose to make a postcard with my Clover set. I stamped Clover on watercolor paper and colored it in, then matted it in with Color Made Easy: Taupe cardstock then stitched around the image.

Don't forget as you follow the Flourishes stamp release blog hop, to leave comments on each of our blogs and then the Flourishes blog, last! When you do that, you will be entered into our random Grand Opening drawing. One lucky winner will win a $25 gift certificate! But you must comment on all DT blogs and the Flourishes blog, on all 3 of our release days. You will have until Friday, June 3rd to comment!

All of our new stamps are available for purchase each day of their release, and if you buy ALL the new release sets, Flourishes will give a 10% discount!

Time to head on over to the other DT's blogs and don't forget to leave them some blog love!

Amanda Havon - Me

Nancy Nickel

Naomi Gong

Vicki Dutcher

 Flourishes Blog

 Don't forget, I am also giving a prize away on my blog for following the Release Week hops, each day! Remember to leave a comment below ALL THREE blog hop days and I will announce the winner on my blog, June 3rd!!

 

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: Silhouette Images

Good morning Flourishes friends! It's time for another challenging Timeless Tuesday! This week Maki is our hostess and she is challenging us to : Use a Silhouette Image!!

I love the silhouette images but for as much as I love them, I can't decide on what paper I can show them off better! So when I found some canvas paper in my local scrapbooking store, I knew it was perfect for this challenge!

I used Flourishes "Father's Day" sentiment and image, stamped in Memento "Tuxedo Black" onto the Tailor-Made Classic Keyhole die. I stitched around the canvas paper then added a square lace applique, crocheted flower and a metal button that I added to the middle of it. To finish off the card I added a ribbon and some black rhinestone bling from Flourishes "Viola" 123 Create Kit.
I really love this card stamped on canvas paper, and everything all neutral colored so much so that next weeks card I stamped on the canvas paper, too.


Please visit the rest of the team to gather more Flourishes Timeless Tuesday "Fall Off The Page" inspirations!

Cindy

Heather
Broni 
Denise
Ally 

Maki

Karen Wallace - November's Guest Designer

Thank you for visiting and please have a great day!

Timeless Tuesday BINGO

Good Morning! It's time for another fun Timeless Tuesday, again! 
This weeks Timeless Tuesday's hostess is Heather and she is challenging everyone to create a card using the BINGO method. Every time I hear the word BINGO, I think "..And Bingo was his Name-O!" Be careful, that song can get stuck in your head :)
Here is the fun Bingo card with choices for us to choose from.

I chose: Pink, Ribbon and Diecut.

I used Flourishes "Feminine Charm" I stamped in Memento "Rich Cocoa" onto an oval diecut, that I placed over some patterned paper I stitched around. I am using May Arts "White" Silk Ribbon that I placed a couple hat pins in.


Please visit the rest of the team to gather more Flourishes inspirations.

Beate

Cindy

Heather

Maki

Mona

Silke

Tammy

Geri Utterback - April's Guest Designer

Kazan Clark - April's Guest Designer

Thank you for visiting and please have a great day!


~ Amanda