Smile, It's Your Birthday!

We have a special birthday shoutout to an amazing woman today who is part of Crafter's Companion. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KENDRA! I made this little card just for you for today. Enjoy your day today and do something fun. You definitely deserve it. :)

If you'd like to send her birthday wishes, head on over to Kendra's blog to wish her a Happy Birthday or post below if you'd like! I know she would appreciate all the wonderful wishes.

Supplies:

Angelica & Adam, Bunches of Joy

Memento, Tuxedo Black

Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock

Die'Sire Decorative Dies, Nouveau Stamping Frame

Shimmering Cardstock, Yellow Pearl

Spectrum Noir Markers: FS2, FS5, FS6, CR6, IB1, DG1, DG2, 

HB1, HB2, BP2, BP4, CT2, CT4, GT1, GT3, PL1, PL2, CG3, CG4

Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils: 095, 091, 009, 036, 0404, 088, 057, and 020

Just a Note and Envelope

For this little card, I made it a different size just simply because I had this piece of darker grey cardstock already to a good size for me to score in the middle and go to town. That meant I needed to make a custom envelope. No biggie!

The background of the card is done on simple watercolor paper using a stencil and some spray mists and Distress Ink in Tea Dye watered down and painted on. Really simple. 

For the red strip, I used a small piece of Shimmering Cardstock in Candy Red.

The tag is from UmWow Studio and I stamped on the Just a Note sentiment in Memento Luxe, Love Letter from the Sentimentals, Vintage stamp set. I love the pop of red on the natural looking tag! I tied on some twine, glued it down and then added a couple grey sequins. 

I found a video on YouTube (sorry, I didn't save the link!) for creating square envelopes. I made the envelope and glued that together and stamped the flourish frame on the back flap to place a return address. I stamped it in Tea Dye and it's from the Sentimentals, Vintage set. 

The envelope isn't an exact match for the card size, but it works :) Have fun creating special sized cards and making your own envelopes. 

Special Friends Deserve Special Cards!

I saw a sketch in my Pinterest paper crafting board that I wanted to try out. I simply LOVE the way this card turned out, and I can't wait to send it to a special friend :)

The sketch was found HERE and I went to town with a bright color palette on a kraft base. Who doesn't love kraft?! I used painter's tape (or you can use washi) to mask off the large stripe that I sponged on my Radiant Neon ink in Electric Yellow and Electric Coral. These blend so beautifully together. I carefully removed my tape and it left a nice clean stripe! This is a great tip to make these types of things. 

I just cut down different pennants, triangles, and then rounded the corner on one just to have fun elements behind the sentiment circle. I glued some down with regular tape runner adhesive and some with foam adhesive to create that dimension. The sentiment circle is from the Sentimentals, Imagine stamp set which I stamped in Versafine ink in Onyx Black and heat embossed. I cut it out using the Die'Sire Essentials, Circles dies. Stuck it down, and I was finished. Really quick, but colorful card!

Christmas Wishes Tag

I have a large gift tag that is perfect for pairing with a simple wrapping paper or gift bag. I used the largest cream tag from this large package of tags I have in my stash. I used various Distress Inks and water on an acrylic block to create the background. I used Iced Spruce, Tea Dye, Festive Berries, and Evergreen Bough. 

After that dried, I used Distress Ink in Tea Dye to stamp on the snowflake and trees from the Stamp-It Australia Twinkle, Believe and Joy & Spirit stamp sets. 

For the red strip, I took a piece of Shimmering Cardstock in Candy Red and used Versafine ink in Onyx Black and heat embossed it to make it stand out on the red paper. I then ran it through my machine with the Christmas Elegance embossing folder, using only the dotted pattern. 

The holly and berries were colored in with my Spectrum Noir Markers (DG2, DG3, and DR5) and then I rubbed more Tea Dye Distress Ink over that to soften it. For the rhinestones, I applied them and used the GB10 Spectrum Noir Marker to color them in to make them appear golden.

I used a piece of cream ribbon at the top to finish it off. I encourage you to use those Distress Inks like this tag I created. It's so fun to see how they blend together with just a spritz of water! 

Lawnscaping Challenge #96: Merry Christmas! sponsored by Lawn Fawn

It's almost that time...nothing like a little last minute holiday crafting to get you in the spirit, right? I've got a really cute and fun card for you today. And since you're needing to make items for the holidays, why not enter in the latest Lawnscaping Challenge?? This theme is MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And try to win an amazing prize from Lawn Fawn. 

Special thanks to Lawn Fawn for generously sponsoring our challenge!

For my project today, I've used a couple Lawn Fawn stamp sets. I always try to think of fun ways to use my sets to really stretch my stamps and creativity!

I chose a kraft card base. I used a simple red patterned paper glued down to that trimmed just a bit shorter to let it "peek" out.

The top section, I stamped JOLLY in Memento Red and HOLLY DAYS in Memento, Tuxedo Black inks. The sentiment is from the Lawn Fawn Deck the Halls set.

Under that, I used a scalloped die I have and cut that out of kraft. For the dots, I wanted some color behind them, so I selected a green patterned paper from my stash and glued that onto there.

The strips at the bottom are four separate, equal pieces of white cardstock. I used the Lawn Fawn Deck the Halls (pinecone, red trio of dots, pine needles) and the Lawn Fawn Trim the Tree (dot, ornament, gingerbread man, star, and bow for the pinecone) sets for these. I colored them in with my Spectrum Noir markers and inked the edges with Distress Ink in Tea Dye.

I used a simple olive green and white twine bow to separate the white sentiment strip from the kraft scalloped shape. This was a lot of fun to make.

I hope you are inspired to grab your crafting supplies and enter this challenge all while making a useful holiday project! Check out the Lawnscaping Challenge blog for full details and to enter your project. Happy Crafting! Fa-la-la-la!

Festive Fun

Good morning! I have a card I absolutely LOVE for the holiday season. I just love this Moonbeam Meadow, Rudolph & Friends stamp set. It's just so cute, and festive! I stamped this image onto my Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock with Memento ink in Tuxedo Black. I colored him in with my Spectrum Noir Markers (IB1, IB2, IG1, IG3, TN4, TN7, TN3, TN5, DR1, CG3, JG2, EB7, GB7, GB10, IG6, BGR3, BGR5, TN9, OR2, OR3, BT7, BT9, LV2, LV3, CR6, CR7, CR9, FS4, FS9, JG5, CG2, CG4, CT2, GB6, GB11, Blender). I used a glitter pen to add accents to the snowflakes/mounds of snow underneath the deer and sled. 

For the background, I used my Spectrum Noir Markers in addition to Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass to create the sky. I love how soft, yet realistic it looks! I used a craft sponge and foam dauber to apply the inks to blend the sky together with the markers. 

The sentiment, Festive Fun, is from the same stamp set. I used Memento, Nautical Blue to stamp that onto my diet tag which is from the Die'Sire Essentials, Just the Ticket die set. I cut that out, stamped the sentiment and heat embossed it and then used a sponge on the edges with Distress Ink in Old Paper to soften it up. I snuck in some diecut snowflakes in behind it and added a pearl to the center of the front one for interest.

I hope you enjoyed it! Take a look around the store at Crafter's Companion at all the great holiday (and non-holiday) products offered.

Lawnscaping Challenge #95: White on White (Monochromatic)

Hi everyone! I'm back with another project I made for the newest Lawnscaping Challenge, #95 (we are SO close to the 100th challenge!!). The theme for this challenge is WHITE ON WHITE (Monochromatic). No color, what?! That's right. It is a challenge, but this one is really made to make you think of new and fun ways to use white.

We LOVE the amazingly wonderful peeps over at  Simon Says Stamp! They are super awesome, super talented and just super sweet!  They are sponsoring this challenge with a $25 gift card to Simon Says Stamp!!!!

Here's what I came up with:

For this card, I used a white card base (my normal card size is an A2, 4.25x5.5 when folded down). I then took a shimmery white cardstock and ran it through my machine with an embossing folder in a harlequin pattern. 

The panel with the ampersand was a white cardstock that I used a Studio Calico Ampersand Mister Huey's Masks with some Versamark Frost Dazzle. I dabbed that on around the stencil and applied a clear embossing powder by Hampton Art. I heat set it and glued that down to my embossed panel.

The PEACE lettering are wood veneers by American Crafts. To make this work for this challenge, I stamped on my Memento Luxe, Wedding Dress ink pad. Once dry (okay, I heat set it to make it dry!), I went and dabbed on Claudine Hellmuth Studio High Gloss Acrylic Paint in Blank Canvas. I used a scrap piece of crumpled paper to dab the paint while wet to make it appear textured. I love how it came out. I wanted the ampersand to stand out as well to read the sentiment I made on the card, so I turned this wood piece on it's side to show more of the ampersand. 

 JOY was cut out with the same shimmery cardstock I used on the embossed panel. That was cut with the Lawn Fawn Scripty Joy lawn cut. I adore this simple little die!

I used 3 sequins from Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love Lawn Ornaments, Mixed Sequins in white for the dot of the "j" and in the upper right for fun.

I hope you play along with us! Please visit the Lawnscaping Challenge blog for full details and to enter your project in the challenge for your chance to win a fab prize from Simon Says Stamp!

Christmas Thank You Card

I've got a non-traditional color combination for you today for a holiday thank you card. I think these are wonderful to have on hand for sending to someone who gives you an unexpected gift, and you want to thank them. What's a better way than a hand crafted card and a little message? 

My card used an aqua, white and pink for this Christmas thank you. I took a photo on an angle to show you the cardstock and embossing that was done to the aqua panel. I've listed all my supplies below. I hope you enjoyed the project, and that I've inspired you to make some thank you cards for your stash and to embrace non-traditional color palettes. So fun!

Supplies from Crafter's Companion: 

Sentimentals, Jingle Bells

Sentimentals, Christmas Magic

Die'Sire Essentials, Scalloped Circles

Vintage Christmas Collection 6"x6" Embossing Folder, Christmas Merriment

Shimmering Cardstock, Coastal Pearl

Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock

Delicata, Silver Shimmer

Memento, Tuxedo Black 

25 Days of Christmas Tags

The Lawnscaping Design Team is excited to be participating in the 25 Days of Christmas Tags over at Tracey McNeeley's blog, In My Creative Opinion. There are some amazing sponsors for the prizes including:

· Reverse Confetti

· Clearly Besotted
· CAS-ual Fridays
· Neat and Tangled
· Paper Smooches
· Lawn Fawn

You can view all the details over at her blog. Leave me a comment on this blog post for your chance to win an awesome prize. Deadline is November 27th! 

I was pretty excited to be able to make projects for this special blog challenge because I LOVE decorating pretty packages and making cute little tags. Although everyone in the family knows which packages are ours because it, so it's kind of a giveaway when they see the package and they immediately know who their Secret Santa is. Hey, I can't help being crafty...

I've listed the supplies used for each tag from top row, left to right, then bottom row, left to right.

1. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

- Lawn Fawn Winter Gifts, Love You a Latte, Winter Sparrows

- Memento, Tuxedo Black

- Lawn Fawn Patterned Paper, Gloria

- Wink of Stella, Clear (it's hard to photograph this, but the white in the striped paper has the glittery look from the pen!)

2. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, PULL HERE

- Lawn Fawn: Deck the Halls, Milo's ABC's, Winter Gifts

- Spica Pen, Black

- Distress Ink, Tea Dye

- Staz-On, Emerald City

- Memento, Tuxedo Black

3. FRIENDS WARM THE HEART

- Lawn Fawn, Making Frosty Friends

- Lawn Fawn Patterned Paper, Gloria

- Die'Sire Essentials, Circle Dies

- Wink of Stella, Brush Glitter Silver

- Memento, Tuxedo Black

- Memento Luxe, Wedding Dress

- Spectrum Noir Markers

4. JOY 

- Lawn Fawn: Scripty Joy Lawn Cuts, Deck the Halls

- Lawn Fawn 6x6 Sweater Weather Petite Paper Pack

- Memento Luxe, Love Letter and Grey Flannel

5. OWL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

- Lawn Fawn, Winter Owl

- Lawn Fawn 6x6 Sweater Weather Petite Paper Pack

- Memento, Tuxedo Black

- Spectrum Noir Markers

6. HAPPY HOLIDAYS PENGUIN

- Lawn Fawn, Winter Penguin

- Spectrum Noir Markers

- Memento, Tuxedo Black

Just For You

I have a really pretty card to show you today that I created using the Art Kure Britian in Bloom, English Rose stamp. I stamped the image with Memento, Tuxedo Black and of course, used my Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock. I cannot rave enough about this paper for any of your coloring needs!

I colored it in using my Spectrum Noir Markers (LG2, LG4, LG5, EB7, CR1, CR4, FS5, FS8). For the background/sky, I used a craft sponge and Memento, Summer Sky and filled in the white space of the paper I used.

For the side of the card, I just cut a strip and adhered it to my colored piece and then rounded the corners to soften it up. I then took the sentiment, Just for you, from the Moonbeam Meadow, True Love set and inked it up with Versafine in Onyx Black and stamped that onto the scalloped circle I cut out using the Die'Sire Essentials, Scalloped Circles dies. I stamped it towards the bottom so that I could fold it in half and tuck the other half behind the colored card piece to hide the adhesive.

The cameo in the upper left corner was placed to give a little something extra girly to the card, and to hold down the circle from flipping up. :)

Hope you enjoyed my card! Stock up on supplies at Crafter's Companion, or put a gift certificate on your wish list this holiday season!!

Lawnscaping Challenge 94: Count Me In!

Hey there! We have a new challenge over at Lawnscaping. The theme is COUNT ME IN! Use numbers somewhere on project, Birthday, anniversary, whatever comes to mind.

Special thanks to Lawn Fawn for generously sponsoring our challenge!

Here is the cute little card I came up with for my son's birthday next month. I cannot believe he's going to be 5. Wow!

I used the Lawn Fawn Beep Boop Birthday stamp set for the robot, cupcake and happy birthday wording and speech bubble. I also was able to cut these out super easy with the Lawn Cuts for the set! I'm telling ya, I need to get any Lawn Cuts for any set I have because it's so much easier and quicker than fussy cutting. I colored these in with my Spectrum Noir Markers. 

For the number 5 the robot is holding in his hand, I stamped the 5 from Lawn Fawn Milo's ABC's and fussy cut around it (yes, it took me a little bit!). I stamped the dotted border at the top with Memento Rich Cocoa from the Lawn Fawn Deck the Halls set. I just thought it was a fun place to put a faux stitch type element. 

The sketch for the card was something I pulled off my Pinterest board. I often refer to what I've pinned (isn't that the point?? ha!) when I need some fresh ideas. 

I hope you liked my project and that you play along for the fab prize up for grabs from Lawn Fawn!

PLEASE READ the rules in the sidebar in order to be eligible for the prize!!!!!

Don't forget to keep checking our Facebook page, where our 

Facebook Inspiration Team will be sharing projects throughout the challenge!

Butterfly Thanks

I have a really fun technique for this card I created today that I'd like to share with you!

I wanted a very simple, but pretty thank you card for my stock of cards. All the cards you see that I create for projects, or just for fun, are kept and then given to friends or family! I'm also looking at using handmade cards to send to my photography clients as well. I think anyone would appreciate receiving a handmade card in the mail in the days of email, social media and Instagram!

For the pink layer in the back of the card, I used the Vintage Floral, Rose Plaid embossing folder. This design is gorgeous. And it's a bigger 6"x6" embossing folder, so this would be great to use to use for a scrapbook page element, or to die cut images. The paper I used for the pink, which you can't see the beautiful shimmer in the photo, was the 6"x6" Shimmering Cardstock, Pink Pearl. It's so pretty!

I then chose a strip of aqua paper to use behind my butterfly image to make the butterfly pop against the pink background. 

The little thank you sentiment I have stamped onto patterned paper from the Sentimentals, Vintage stamp set (which is amazing by the way, so you'll be seeing more of that set on the blog) in Memento, Tuxedo Black. I then glued that to a chipboard button shape I have and sanded the edges and set it aside. 

For the butterfly, I first colored stripes of color, not making it perfect, onto a sheet of the Spectrum Noir High Gloss Cardstock with my Spectrum Noir Markers in PL3, BP5, CR6, and IB3. I then took my Spectrum Noir Blending Solution Reinker and used the dropper and dropped on the solution right on the cardstock. I waited for that to dry and then took the Die'Sire Butterflies die set and ran it through my die cutting machine. 

I then adhered a strip of simple pearls for the butterfly's body in the center, and used my Extra Strong Permanent Tape Runner (which I HIGHLY recommend for EVERY crafting project you have) and adhered it down to the aqua and pink layers. I then used the same adhesive and snuck in the thank you sentiment circle behind the wing. I only glued down the center/solid portion of the butterfly so I could curl up the wings to provide some movement to the card. 

I hope you enjoyed the technique and that you try that soon! And you can use any coloring method you want. You can blend it smoothly in lines, circles, diagonals, or just dot on colors here and there, and even use just one single color and the blender solution. Have fun with it! 

Visit Crafter's Companion to see all the wonderful dies and embossing folders offered and have some fun with your cards. 

Have a Very Fawny Holiday Week!

Hi everyone! I am excited to be taking part in A Very Fawny Holiday Week where the Lawnscaping Challenges design team girls are teaming up with the Lawn Fawn design team girls to bring you LOADS of holiday inspiration! Make sure to tune in each day for loads of fun and inspiring holiday projects! AND there are prizes!! 1Check the Lawn Fawn blog for details, other amazing projects, and find out how to win a prize!

For my card today, Deer Joy, I used a lot of different things to create this little scene! I had an idea in my mind that I really wanted a Polaroid type feel to the card, so I took a white card base, scored and folded that.

I glued a piece of the Peace, Love, Joy Lawn Fawn paper from last year's line. I just love it, so I kind of keep it and don't use it. But for this card, I did! :) I then took a strip of corrugated kraft paper and glued a strip to the bottom. I just wanted to give it a little interest down there. I then rounded the bottom corners.

I stamped the Christmas tree from the Trim the Tree set and colored it in with my Spectrum Noir Markers. I then fussy cut that out. For the deer, I used him from the Into the Woods set and colored him as well with the same Spectrum Noir Markers, and fussy cut him out. For the bow, I used that from the Beep Boop Birthday set and you guessed it, fussy cut that out as well. The hat on his head I used another of last year's paper from Lawn Fawn and cut out the hat from the Winter Sparrows set.

The "Polaroid" frame was something I just handout out to fit my little scene. I cut that out and placed my colored deer and tree the way I wanted it and then glued that down to the patterned paper background. 

The joy wording was die cut out of Lawn Fawn patterned paper using the Scripty Joy die. I tucked the black in behind the red to make it stand out. I just didn't use the dot over the J on this particular card.

The pennant in the upper left corner is another small scrap I had leftover that I just hand cut into the shape, stamped the open heart from the Trim the Tree set. I simply stamped that in Memento, Tuxedo Black. I then added a little piece of the corrugated kraft to the top of it.

I hope you enjoyed the card I made for Lawn Fawn's, "Have a Very Fawny Holiday" Week! 

Lamp Post Christmas

I've got a nice card that's easy to mail and will remain in tact when your friend or family get it! It's always hard to send bulkier handmade cards without protecting it. This card that I've made today can be mailed in a regular announcement envelope without worry.

I chose the Stamp-It Australia, Twinkle-Joy & Spirit stamp set for the lamp post and the sentiment at the top. I used Memento, Tuxedo Black and stamped it onto a trimmed down piece of the Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock. I wanted a lot of "white" space for this layout, so I stamped the lamp post in the lower right hand corner. I colored it in with my Spectrum Noir Markers (CG2, CG4, TN4, TN7, BG3, BG5, BG7, GB5, GB10, GB4, OR1, TN1, TN3, BGR1, BGR2, DR3, and LY2). I colored a yellow glow around the lamp post at the top to mimic candlelight by using LY2. For the sky, I used Memento, Summer Sky with a sponge and swirled it on to blend it. For the darker areas in the sky, I sponged off onto a piece of scrap paper first, and then lightly touched the craft sponge to the background here and there to make the sky more realistic. I used Memento, Nautical Blue for that. 

I really love the way this card came out! Check out all the wonderful holiday sets that Crafter's Companion has to offer. And remember, ANY crafter you know would love a gift certificate for the holidays ;)

Lawnscaping Challenge #93: Fall & Pumpkins

Who doesn't love fall?! It is my favorite season. I adore the leave changing colors, the crispness in the air, sweaters, hot coffee, fleece blankets...I could go on and on. Again, my perfect year-round weather would be fall like and decorated like fall/Halloween. Sigh. A girl can dream, can't she?

We LOVE the amazingly wonderful peeps over at  Simon Says Stamp! They are super awesome, super talented and just super sweet!  They are sponsoring this challenge with a $25 gift card to Simon Says Stamp!!!!

Here is my card this time for the Lawnscaping Challenge for Fall & Pumpkins. It incorporates my favorite things - leaves and coffee! I turned this card into a gift card holder on the outside. I was inspired by a layout I saw on Pinterest that was similar!

I used the Lawn Fawn 6x6 Sweater Weather pad of paper for the fall leaf paper behind the gift card pocket. For the pocket, I just cut a piece of kraft cardstock to fit onto my leaf patterned paper and rounded the top corners and scored it where I wanted my "holder" to be. For the notch in the center, I used a circle punch and just lined it up to the center of the circle and punched it out. You could certainly use a smaller size circle for a small notch, but this is what I had on hand :) 

The coffee cup is from the Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte set. I colored in the shadowing on the cup with my Spectrum Noir Markers in light grey tones. For the corrugated band, I actually used some stock I had on hand, but you can use the back side of the Starbucks cup sleeve and do the same. I then used a green enamel dot to mimic the Starbucks logo! So much fun. 

The smile sentiment is also from the Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte set. I thought it was fitting for this card. I'd def smile if I received this!

The leaves are from Lawn Fawn, which I sponged on different distress inks (Festive Berries, Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Iced Spruce, and Scattered Straw). The blend so nicely on the wood shapes!!! 

Play along with the challenge!! You can find all the details at the Lawnscaping Challenge blog. 

It's Almost Halloween!

BOO! It's almost Halloween. I love this holiday so much!! So I created a fun card to celebrate the spooky night ahead...

I saw these cards that were available and I knew I HAD to have them. They're coffin cards. How amazing is that?! I used the Regal Corner embossing folder on just the front of the card. 

For the main image, I used the hat and sentiment from the Best Witches stamp set and colored it in with my Spectrum Noir Markers (IG7, IG9, LG1, PL2, PL3, PL4, CG3, CG2, CG1, OR1, OR3, GB6, GB9, GB10 and Blender). For an aged look, I sponged around the edges with my Distress Inks in Scattered Straw and Tea Dye. Then on the green bottom of the image, I swirled on some Stickles Glitter Glue in Star Dust. I cut out the shape with a die I have in my supplies. I then used foam adhesive to pop it up off the card. 

Best Witches to YOU!

Lawnscaping Challenge #92: Halloween OR Color Combo

Welcome back to another fun Lawnscaping Challenge! This time, we have Halloween OR Color Combo. Anyone who knows me knows I LOOOOOOVE Halloween. I seriously live for it all year long. I'd love to be able to decorate for Halloween all year round. :)

We are sponsored by the always amazing Lawn Fawn! 

For my project, I chose to do BOTH the Halloween theme and used the color combo. I used the Lawn Fawn Monster Mash for the little purple monster and the candy corn from the Lawn Fawn Critters in Costume. I adore those little monsters. For the eyeballs, I used some simple pearl accents and a black marker to dot in the eye. LOVE it. And he's super fancy with his little bow tie. Ready to party! I colored them in with my Spectrum Noir Markers.

For the sentiment in the corner, I used the Have a Boo-tiful Day from the Monster Mash set and the pennant tag from Lawn Fawn's Winter Gifts.

For the card, I used a cream base and used an edge distressing tool to roughen up my purple and orange patterned paper. It gives it that creepy look for Halloween. For the black piece, I used my Tim Holtz Alterations Embossing Folder, Notebook Paper. 

I think this might be tucked into my oldest's lunchbox for Halloween :) 

Have a blast playing along with our challenge. You can find all the rules at the Lawnscaping Challenge blog!