Wonderful World

Are you ready for some absolutely adorable inspiration?!  Let's hope so, cause I have it RIGHT HERE!

If that sneak peak wasn't enough to get you squealing, check out the full reveal....

This card was created by starting with these absolutely darling turtles from Pink and Main, they had me at first sight; I knew I would own them.  I colored them, and adored them, and cut them out and adored them some more.  I figured they needed an ocean setting, so cut some watercolor paper with my Avery Elle die and set to adding color with my Spectruim Noir sparkle pens.  I intentionally left a section white so I could add the sentiment from Hero Arts.  I found a small circle stamp from another stamp set, I believe it was a Simon Says set, and stamped them here and there once my watercolor was dry.  I mounted my turtles and came back in to add highlights.  Lastly I mounted it on blue and then white cardstock for the finish.   (Ignore my poor adhesive job in the upper right- doh!)

Curious minds want to know.... when you create, you start with inspiration idea, or an image or stamp, or have a layout you want to use?

Entering this into:
Simon Say Stamps Wednesday Challenge- anything goes

Today's commercial is sponsored by...

If you are here today, well then you made it through Monday!  It was touch and go for me a few times but I got through- AMAZING! IF I was a beer drinker, I might have counted on it to get me from one end of the day to the other...but I am not, so this one goes out my dear old dad. 

My Daddio's birthday is coming up in a few days and we had an early celebration over the weekend.  This is the card I presented him with.  Man's best friend is NOT a dog, it is beer and pretzels! lololol. 

This card features a combo of stamps.  The pitcher is from Unity and the pretzel is from Sweet Stamp Shop.  Obviously colored and placed on top of this journal card, on which I stamped the sentiment from Hero Arts.  Beneath that is some DP from We R Memory Keepers.  I cut that using the Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Die.  All around mounted on white cardstock and the final touch was sparkly enamel dots from Freckled Fawn. 

This was fun to make.  Happy Birthday Dad!  Enjoy!

Entering into:
Simon Says Wednesday- Food or Drink

You may now return to your regularly scheduled program......

CLC and Graciellie

Hey there!  Coffee Loving Cardmakers is teaming up with Graciellie Designs again to share this amazing new release!

This set is called Stay Strong and can be purchased at Unity Stamp Co here. It is soooo inspiring, I love the sentiments! And here is what I did with this set.

Isn't it pretty!! I love the colors! It was a little outside of my comfort zone with colors but I went for it anyway and that is a risk that paid off. I made this by using distress inks and a stencil for the background. I used two circle dies to cut this circle and used red and orange distress inks to color it. I also used red distress inks on the sentiment. The star of the show of course is the image which I colored using my Copics. It just looks sooooo delicious doesn't it?!

This isn't a traditional hop but head to Graciellie Designs HERE and CLC blog HERE to see all the fabulous creations.  You'll want to comment on all blogs to be eligible to win the prize!  Which is..... 

Prize: $10 Gift Card to Graciellie Design

commenting open through August 30th with the winner announced on Saturday, September 1st.

Have fun hoppin' and thanks for stoppin'!

YNS DT Dare

Today Your Next Stamp is doing a DT DARE with the theme Monochromatic.  

Here is a sneak peak of my project...

...BUT you will have to head on over to the YNS blog to see the full reveal and all the other fabulous projects! I guarantee you are going to want to because #1- amazing inspiration and #2- they are giving a away a stamp set of your choice to one lucky commenter! 

Camelot

Happy Monday Friends!  Just wanted to swing by and share a fun card with you all.  

This card takes you straight into a fairy tale and that made it extremely fun to make. I was first inspired by the thought of a green dragon thinking of Puff the Magic Dragon.  While I was able to create my green buddy using this MFT stamp set, I failed at creating the scene I wanted, so I decided to go a different direction.  Like the dragon, I stamped my little princess and knight on some watercolor paper and used my Zigs to color them.  Setting them aside to dry, I tackled the background.  I had some cloud DP that was perfect for the sky , cut with Avery Elle Wonky stitches die.  I also cut some grass using a Lawn Fawn die for the foreground.  Next I die cut out the MFT castle pieces.  I added texture to the castle with distress ink and a Tim Holtz stencil.  The drawbridge was cut then embossed with woodgrain to add texture.  Again I used a distress ink for color and add.d some darker gray slats along the front to look like iron you would see holding this together.  I added some color to my flag and placed all my elements with dimensional. 

Thanks for stopping today.  I hope you find some magic in your day, if needed you can always comeback here for a glimpse at this magical dragon.

YNS DT Dare

Today Your Next Stamp is doing a DT DARE with the theme Celebrations.  

Here is a sneak peak of my project...

...BUT you will have to head on over to the YNS blog to see the full reveal and all the other fabulous projects! I guarantee you are going to want to because #1- amazing inspiration and #2- they are giving a away a surprise pack of YNS goodies to one lucky commenter! 

Ready- Set- Go! 

Have a bloomin' good birthday!

By now you've seen the news!  I am thrilled to be joining the Trinity Stamps DT & Social Media Team!

While this isn't one of my offical DT projects I figure why not get out there and start celebrating!!!

This project is pretty clean and easy to make.  Obviously, the focus is the watering can from the Trinity set Hopeful Flowers.  I created the look by stamping the image on watercolor paper and using my Zigs to color it.  I love this color combo, it is so fresh and vibrant!  The backdrop paper is also bright and adds some zing to the card.  It was cut using Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Die.  Other than that, I simply Added the sentiment and this MFT porthole window (odd element considering the title, but I love how it looked).   Wahlah!  Finito!  Fresh and fun!

I hope you found some inspiration here today and will come visit me again soon!

Entering this into:
Seize the Birthday- additional Topping of Water

Your Next Stamp August Release Blog Hop!

Back again I see and I am sooooo glad!  Welcome to the Your Next Stamp August Release Blog Hop!!!

They are celebrating 9 fabulous years creating amazingly cute and funny stamps!  WOWZA!  I am thrilled to be part of it.  There are prizes and sales!

You should have arrived here from Julie’s blog.  If not, be sure to hop back to the beginning to Koren’s blog.

I know you perked up even more at the word prizes.... what are they you ask?!  Well 9 (DUH!) $20 Gift Certs to YNS!  There is a fun GAME too! Simply count the gumdrops on the creations along the hop and leave your count on the InLinkz on the YNS blog post for a chance to win a gumdrop prize pack!

Here is what I have for you today:

For this creation I inked up the adorable Sweet Treat Cart set.  Perfect for using your favorite coloring tools and shades. I went with pastels and I often think of these types of treat carts with those colors.  The scalloped edge die, papers and twine compliment it in every way, it just oozes sweet and cute!

Next up on the Hop is Kerri head over for more FUN!

A big thank you to YNS for inviting me to be part of the fun this month and to YOU for visiting me. Don't forget to comment to increase your odds of winning prizes! 

In case you get lost along the way here is the complete list.

An InLinkz Link-up

Your Next Stamp- August Sneak Peaks

Happy Day to you!  I am excited to be guest designing with Your Next Stamp this month and tomorrow is the new release AND 9^th Birthday!  So are you ready to party?!  Let’s start low key with a few sneak peeks shall we? 

Here is what I have for you today:

This card features the new set Tini Sips.  I just love those cute little olives!  The corrugated cardboard on the backdrop with the green DP really help this card lean toward masculine, but it could easily go feminine too.  I used Copics and added the twine and gumdrops for a bit of extra pop!

Be sure to head over to the YNS blog for a full list of the sneak peeks…  

Be sure to come back at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT for the official New Release Blog Hop!

Thanks for stopping!

SUBlime

Happy Sunday!  I am taking a little ocean excursion with my family today, so I thought it would be appropriate to share an ocean themed card. 

I love this Lawn Fawn You are Sublime stamp set!  It is so fun!

I stamped all these images on watercolor paper and colored them with my Zigs.  After they dried, I cut them using my Scan n' Cut and set them aside.  I used white paper and my distress inks (Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint to make a gradually darker background.  I die cut the Lawn Fawn Bayou Backdrop in dark green and flipped it upside down to make seaweed.  I love the look it creates and leaves spaces for the critters to hide. 

Hoping you have a SUBlime day!

Entering this into:

Simon Says Stamp Monday- Wild Things

CLC and Our Daily Bread Designs

Happy Hop Friday!  The Coffee Loving Cardmakers has teamed up for another fun coffee inspired hop with Our Daily Bread Designs.  

You should have arrived here from Ms. Erin Thiem's blog.    If you get lost along the way, head back to either ODBD or Coffee Loving Cardmakers to start at the beginning. 

Here is what I have for you today: 

Card one is a fun combo of bright!  The orange paper with the leaves are the perfect backdrop for this doily and bright green cup.  The cup features the Beverage Cup die set.   I cut the whipped topping in white and used my markers to add some shadows.  I then added the cup topper cut out of  vellum.  I love the added sentiment form the I Love Coffee set.  Lastly are those shiny and florescent bits of bling!  

Here is another shot:

The Next card also features the Beverage Cup Die set.  But you are going to be amazed at what you can do with the whipped topping and coffee sleeve...

Right?!  I was feeling brilliant when I decided to use them to make a cupcake!!!  I used sleeve with some fun DP to make the cupcake wrapper.  The whipped topping became the frosting. I cut it in pink and again added shadows.  And the cherry is the perfect cupcake topper, colored with markers.  The cup was cut with white and black paper and adding shadows and highlights.  I backed this with some fun bright DP to make for another fun birthday card.  

Here is another shot: 

Next up on the hop list is Kathy Schweinfurth's blog, be sure to stop and leave her some love.  Leave comments on all for your chance at that $25 gift certificate!

BONUS!  OBDB is offering a sale code is valid from August 3rd - 10th, and is valid on the purchase of ODBD, NCC and AO stamp sets, Custom Dies and Paper Collections on the ODBD Website when you enter the code coffee in the discount codes area.  Please note that Bundles are NOT included in this sale.

Thank you so much for your visit today!  Happy Hopping!

YNS NEWS!!

I am thrilled to share that I am going to be a Guest Designer for Your Next Stamps this month!  Please head on over to YNS blog to see my inaugural post!  Here is a sneak peak:

Please come visit me!