Serene orchids

I found this image I had from Jeremiah Ketner "Orchids" and I just love the image. I have a distress oxide background that I made a while back so I don't even remember the colors that are involved. I love the deep in thought, serene look which is where I feel that I have been as I have been trying to go through my belongings and pack up my house as I am getting ready to move. When I get to the craft area I think I will have a much different look...….

Cardstock: Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections
Stamp: Jeremiah Ketner - Orchids
Spellbinder
Ribbon: Offray
Gems: Paper Studio

Challenges
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - Sketch 207
Penny's Paper Crafty - Ch. 497  Anything Goes
As You Like It Challenge - Favorite coloring medium and why? (Copics, love the blending of the alcohol markers and the variety of colors)
Creatalicious Challenge - Ch. 211 Anything Goes with optional for any woman
Dies R Us - Ch. 169 Anything Goes (Spellbinder)
Let's Craft and Create - Ch. 170 Anything Goes with no patterned paper

Allsorts - Wk 625 12th birthday Anything with Happy Bright and Sunny Colors  

It's You and Me against the world

I have been seeing everyone's gorgeous cards and I had to make just one. I have been overwhelmed by life, but had to take the time since I have so many coffee "things".  So I grabbed two different Tattered Angel Mist brown sprays for the background. I had some paper scraps of  paper that I had made by blending my Distress oxide inks together and die cut a small Spellbinder coffee cup.  I had a sentiment from TLC Create.  Then added a some twine, Spellbinder butterfly circle and flowers. There now I won't feel so jealous and left out, but I will need the coffee since I stayed up later than usual, lol.

Cardstock: Recollections
Sentiment:  TLC, Create
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Flowers:  Prima, Recollections
Punches:  EK Success
Spellbinder:  Butterfly Circle, Coffee set
Distress Oxides: unknown what colors I used
Divine Twine

Challenges
2021 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop
Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 516 Flowers
Cardz 4 Galz - Ch. 143 Tea or Coffee Time
Crafty Creations - Ch 419 Anything Goes
Allsorts - Wk 616 Spring flowers for the first day of spring 

Limes bringing smiles or Tequila

I have two cards that I made using a stamp step from Picket Fence Studios and then I used my own sentiments that I printed off on the computer. For both of these card I used my Distress Oxides to make a blended page using Squeezed Lemonade, Pine Needles and Twisted Citron. On the one card I dry embossed a piece of the cardstock. Lately I just have a taste for some zesty limes and I tend to add it to my water....along with some lemon, oranges and strawberries for a fruity flavored water.

Patterned Paper: Paper Studio; Recollection
Cardstock: Bazzil; Core-dination; Recollection
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
         Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Pine Needles, Twisted Citron
Spellbinders: Small and Large Circles
Enamel Dots: Paper Studio
Flowers: Prima
Embossing Folder: Sizzix

Challenges
Creative Sketchy Girls - Ch. 50
Mix it Up - Ch. 40 Anything Goes with optional Embossing
Crafting Happiness - Ch. 61 Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 252-253 Anything Goes

Plaid Floral Birthday Wishes

Welcome to my new follower Darcy. I am having fun playing with my inks...especially my Distress Oxides.  For these two birthday cards that I made for co-workers for this week I used two pink shades and blended the inks and stamped an old set of Hero Art stamps that I have had in my collection for a LONG time along with a retired Verve sentiment.

Patterned Paper: Core-dinations

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamps:  Hero Arts Fashion Flowers

Ink:  Memento - Tuxedo Black

      Distress Oxide - Spun Sugar & Picked Raspberry

Ribbon:  Stash

Challenges

AAA CAS - Ch. 170 Use maxi white space with optional flowers

Creations in Pink - Ch. 24

Creative Knockouts - Ch. 360 Flora or Fauna

Krafty Chicks - Ch. 517 All Occasions

Scrapping 4 Fun - Ch. 171 Birthday

Embossed tulips you are in my thoughts

Today I made a card with blending distress oxide inks for the background then I heat embossed Early Tulip Bouquet from Picket Fences Studio in white and the sentiment in a dark purple.  I added some white butterflies and then distressed the edge with ink. I have been playing with my inks and having fun.
Welcome to my new followers. Just and update and thank you for your prayers, Jessica, my cousin is home from the hospital and will be recovering at her parent's home. I believe that prayers help so much more than we can ever know. Hugs.

Patterned Paper:  Recollection

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Picket Fences Studio - Early Tulip Bouquet (see above for direct link)

VersaMark

Embossing Powder:  Hampton Arts; Stampendous

Inks: Distress Oxides - Picked Raspberry; Peacock Feathers; Wilted Violet

Punch:  Martha Stewart

Challenges

Allsorts - Wk 576 Embossing wet or dry

Creative Knockouts - Ch. 354 Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Ch. 227 Summer Colors

Crafty Friends - Ch. 137 Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Ch. 133 Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar - June Flowers

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 442- 443 Anything Goes

Deer Scene Happy Birthday Brother

I made a bunch of blended ink backgrounds and punched out this deer landscape.  So here is a birthday card that I made for my Mom's stash. I used some washi tape, dry embossed the navy piece and framed the landscape.
Well I did it! I went out to dinner with 2 other nursing friends tonight and we went to a restaurant. We actually ate outside since it was cool, but sunny. Then we went to one of my friends places to continue our conversation. Now as I said when I did my Stella post previously I may talk smart, but I don't usually drink alcohol and I didn't tonight, but my girlfriends were celebrating that we were able to finally get together. I did have a piece of carrot cake.

Cardstock: Recollections

Deer Landscape Die:  Unknown maker

Die:  Tutti

Inks:  Distress Oxides:  Faded Jeans; Peacock Feathers; Salty Ocean

Washi Tape:  Recollection

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Challenges

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - It's a Man Thing

613 Ave Create - Ch. 234 Anything Goes with optional create a blended background

Allsorts - Wk 494 Embossing Wet or Dry

Sweet Stampin' - Die Cuts and Punches

Crafty Gals Corner - Ch. 208 You're the Man

Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 638 Masculine

Tuesday Throwdown - Ch. 459 Special Guy

Crafty Animals - Ch. 39

Dragonfly Dreams - Make It Masculine

Alphabet Challenge - E for earth bound animal

As you like it - Scene or not and why? (Scene, looks more realistic and 3D)

O come let us adore Him

I have to let you know that I just love sketch challenges and I am wanting to get my Christmas card done for the month. So I was actually cleaning the other day and found a magazine with some stamps and decided to use them with this Nativity set and my Distress Oxide.  I heat embossed the sentiment and die cut some snowflakes.

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio
Cardstock:  Recollections
Stamps:  Creative Stamping - Issue 77 Phill Martin
Ink:  Versafine - Onyx  Black
       Distress Oxide - Frayed Burlap; Mustard Seed
Bling: Recollectiions
Dies: My Favorite Things
VersaMark
Embossing Powder:  Hampton Arts

Challenges
Christmas Card Throwdown  - June Sketch
Fezziwig's Festive Frolics - The Christmas Story
The Holly and Ivy - Ch. 73 Anything Goes
613 Ave Create - Ch. 234 Anything Goes with optional a blended background
CHNC - Ch. 493 Anything Christmas with optional winter fun
Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 442 - 443 Anything Goes

May your Holidays Sparkle

I was having fun playing with some Distress Oxides and then I decided to use some for this sketch. They are not the traditional colors for Christmas, but that's was intrigued me. I also found some ribbon that I had recycled from a gift. I dry embossed the white background and then pulled out some snowflake die cuts and put a pearl in the center of the smaller ones. Then used a My Favorite Things Christmas Sentiment that I have had for quite sometime as a freebie set.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  My Favorite Things

Ribbon:  Stash (recycled from gift)

Pearls:  Jolee

Dies:  My Favorite Things; Sizzix

Inks:  Distress Oxides - Spun sugar; Fired Brick; Worn Lipstick

                                     Peacock Feathers; Picked Raspberry; Mustard Seed; Wilted Violet

Embossing Folder:  We Are Memory Keepers

Challenges

Christmas Card Throwdown - June Sketch (see above)

CHNC - Ch. 493 Anything Christmas with optional winter fun

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Ch. 73 

CCARY - June Recycle/Upcycle (ribbon)

613 Ave Create - Ch. 234 Anything Goes with optional twist create a blended background

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 442- 443 Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Ch. 23

Live Love Laugh

Today at Catch the Bug we have New Release or older images that are brought into the new shop. For my card the I have Chinese live love laugh symbols.  I used the new Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Speckled Egg Ink and also blending it with Distress Oxide Frayed Burlap. Then I added 3 layers of Tutti Fairies and layers of Martha Stewart Butterflies.

Cardstock:  Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Chinese live laugh love symbols

Dies:  Tutti Designs

Punches:  Martha Stewart

Pop Dots

Inks:  Distress Oxides - Speckled Egg & Frayed Burlap

Challenges

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Make your own background

Always Fun - Ch. 165 Layers

Crafty Catz - Ch. 508 At least 2 layers

CRAFT - Ch. 557 Decoupage / 3D

Allsorts - Wk 574 Magical Worlds

Get Creative - Ch. 92 Fantasy
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Favorite Technique (blending of distress oxide inks)

Three Cheers

Well I had to make a few more coffee cards to complete the Coffee Hop.  This is from an older Verve digi set from years ago. I made the background by blending distress oxide inks on some watercolor paper. I tried to keep it in stripes for a red, white and blue effect.

Cardstock:  Recollection

Watercolor Paper:  Stratham

Stamp:  Verve digis

Distress Oxides:  Salty Ocean & Candied Apple

Stars:  Darice

Challenges

2020 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Hop

Mojo Monday - Ch. 537

Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 636 Stripes

Krafty Chicks - Ch. 509 All occasions

Polkadoodles - Wk 22 Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Ch. 46 Anything Goes

Flowers from the same garden

Well as I keep working on some cards for my Mom I was having fun with some backgrounds.  I used my watercolor paper and played with my distress oxides and then added a Tim Holtz stencil keeping it monochromatic.  So I found a silly birthday saying to add and added a couple of flowers.

Cardstock:  Recollections

Watercolor Paper:  Strathmore

Stencil:  Tim Holtz

Sentiment:  Computer generated

Distress Inks: Cracked Pistachio, Pine Needle, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover

Flowers:  Prima

Enamel Dots:  Paper Studio

Challenges

Color My Heart Color Dare - Ch. 394

Aud Sentiments - Ch. 251 Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Ch. 46 Anything Goes

Love to Scrap - Ch. 133 Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner - Ch. 207 For the ladies

International Art & Soul - Ch. 84 Humerous

Deer Scene Merry Christmas

Well I know it's the beginning of May, but since it's my goal to complete several Christmas cards each month I thought I would do one right away.  I used this die cut that I have in my stash with this deer scene and added a blended distress oxide background. I embossed and added some layers, ribbon and die cut sentiment.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections

Die:  Unknown for deer; QuicKutz for sentiment

Border Punch:  Fiskars

Embossing Folder:  Creative Expressions

Ribbon:  Michael's

Inks:  Distress Oxides - Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers

Challenges
Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - CAS
12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Ch. 65 Anything Christmas with optional Deck the Paws
Scrapping 4 Fun - Ch. 165 Use die cuts/embossing folders
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Ch. 38
CHNC - Ch. 487 Anything Christmas with optional bell or bells
Sparkle Christmas - Ch. 112 Use ribbon, lace or twine
Always Fun - Ch. 160 Embossing Folders
Crafty Friends - Ch. 134 Lace/ribbon
Dream Valley - Ch. 224 Our 4 legged friends
Merry Little Christmas - Ch. 22

Praying for you

Today at Tuesday Morning Sketches we have a new sketch 552 and some good news! For my card I made a background of blending Distress Oxide inks, heat embossing a sentiment from a retired Verse stamp set and added a rose. Kept it simple and just love the pastels.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  Verve (retired)
Embossing Power:  Hampton Arts

Versa Mark

Inks:  Distress Oxides - Peakcock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet

Flower:  Recollection

Challenges

Cupcake Inspirations - Ch. 492 (Color Challenge see above)

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 436 - 437 Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Ch. 130 Anything Goes

Use Your Stuff - Ch. 396 (Mood Board) (Pastels, flower)

Love to Craft - Ch. 45 Anything Goes

Happy Easter Cross

I made a bunch of background papers by blending my Distress Oxide Inks which is Just so much fun. I wanted to do more card for Easter and just haven't had time. One that I wanted to make for a special Aunt is used a Spellbinder Cross that is also embossed, a sentiment from Lawn Fawn, flowers and some pearls. She is an elegant and refined lady so I think this is perfect for her.

Patterned Paper:  Recollections

Cardstock:  Recollections

Spellbinder:  Cross

Flowers:  Paper Studio and Recollections

Pearls:  Recollections

Inks:  Distress Oxides:  Mustard Seed; Citron; Cracked Pistachio

Challenges

Dies R Us - Ch. 142 Anything Goes with any brand that DRU sells (Spellbinder and Lawn Fawn)

Scrapping 4 Fun - Ch. 164 Easter/Spring

The Card Concept - Ch. 132 (Clean and Layered)

Crafty Gals Corner - Ch. 206 Easter/Spring

little red wagon - Ch. 544 Mix'em up (Spellbinder and Lawn Fawn)

Crafty Cardmakers - Ch. 254 Easter

Always Fun - Ch. 157 Easter

Crafting Happiness - Ch. 43 Anything Goes with Easter

Watercooler Wednesday- Ch. 266 All About Ocassions

Another level up! Happy Birthday

My nephew turns 10 on Thursday and I made this card for him using the Mo Manning image, Evan with ipad. And I had to make it in Packer colors naturally being in Wisconsin. Do I made my background with smooshing Distress Oxide inks of green and then adding some washi tape.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  Mo Manning - Evan with ipad (see above with direct link)

Washi Tape:  Recollections

Distress Oxide - Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover, Pine Needles

Challenges

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 432 - 433 Anything Goes

Mo Manning - Ch. 289 Anything Green with a Mo image

Creative Knockouts - Ch. 343 Anything Goes

Allsorts - Wk 565 Men and boys

Sweet Stampin' - Make your own background

Make My Monday - Ch. 119 Make your own background

Animals Down Under

I was playing with my Distress Oxides and making some backgrounds and put together this simple but fun card using a die cut.  Just wish that I had more time to play.

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections

Inks:  Distress Oxides - Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed

Die:  Paper Rose - Kangaroo in Forest

Challenges

Allsorts - Wk 564 Anything in the Animal Kingdom

Crafty Animals - Ch. 36

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Ch. 36

Mix It Up - Ch. 35 Anything Goes with optional smooshing

Southern Girls - Anything Goes

Freya Fairy with Hare

I am still working with the Lavinia stamps and trying to figure out how to get the effects that I want. I made a background of distress oxide inks. Then I stamped the images this time instead of embossing them. I am not as happy with the results. I added Spectrum Noir to the wings and stars to give a glimmer and sparkle.

Cardstock:  Recollections

Ink:  Distress Oxides:  Soot; Wilted Violet; Salty Ocean; Twisted Citron; Pine Needles

Stamps:  Lavinia - Freya; Meadow Grass; Woodland Hares; Fir Tree 1; Toadstool Mini; Stars 1 mini

Spectrum Noir - clear

Challenges

Lavinia World - Ch. 21

Mix it Up - Ch. 35 Anything Goes with Smooshing

Crafty Creations - Ch. 407 Anything Goes

Allsorts - Wk 562 Anything with wings

Crafty Animals - Ch. 36

Penny's Paper Crafty - Ch. 466 Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Blossom Word Block

Welcome to my new follower Tania B, leave me a message so I can follow you too. Today at Catch the Bug we have a new release which is Blossom Word Block. I did two different variations of this image. I had a lot of fun with it. First, I pulled out my distress oxide inks and did some smooshing of the inks.  I added some bling to the butterfly in the image and then added to die cut butterflies along with some enamel dots.  I ran a strip of washi tape diagonal across the patterned paper. For the second card, I used my Copic Markers and colored the image and high lighted the word blossom. I added a doily and ribbon. It just makes me hopeful for spring.

Update on the sad side, yesterday I got the bad news that my wonderful cat was not responding to the treatment at the UW Veterinary Clinic at noon.They now believe that she had lymphoma. So I finished work with a required meeting I had then I went to pick Jazzy up and brought her home so that her sister from the same litter would have a chance to say good-bye. We then we to our regular vet and my little girl is now in heaven with my husband. I sent her with an extra kiss to give to him since I know that she will cuddle up with him and give him my kiss. 

Card 1

Patterned Paper: Paper Studio

Cardstock: Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Blossom Word Block

Ink:  Distress Oxide - Worn Lipstick; Cracked Pistachio; Squeezed Lemonade

Enamel Dots:  Paper Studio

Bling:  Recollections

Washi Tape:  Recollections

Punch:  Martha Stewart

Card 2

Patterned Paper:  Recollections

Cardstock:  Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Blossom Word Block

Doily:  Recollections

Ribbon: Michael's

Challenges

CHNC Patterned - March

Mix it Up - Ch. 35 Anything Goes and Smooshing

Crazy Catz - Ch. 495 Anything Goes with optional pretty papers

Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 623 Spring Fever

Scrapping 4 Fun - Ch. 161 Anything Goes

the Sisterhood of Crafters - Patterned Paper

the Sketchy Challenge - Ch. 161 Anything Goes

QKR - Ch. 387 Anything Goes