Sweet Snowflakes

Wow, I've had a bit of a blog break, and it feels so good to be creating again!

 I love the intricate design of these snowflakes, and this cute little reindeer with his knit scarf and sweater from Stampin Up.  I'm participating in a new challenge for me, Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, and this is their  photo.  Love it!

 I'm also popping this in CASEology Cue Card, Knit.

This is one of the reasons I've been slacking on my blog posts- meet the newest member of our family, Rio.  He is a purebred Golden Retriever who was found running loose in Louisiana.  He was pulled from a high kill shelter by the group Labs 4 Rescue on his last day there after not being claimed by his owners.   We adopted him about 2 months ago, and it has been a whirl wind ever since!  He's a great dog, though, worth the work. 

Happy Holidays!

Enjoying the Simple Things

 

I can't think of a better way to enjoy a fall day than to go off to the orchard and go apple picking.  I thought this stamp went perfectly with that bushel of apples.   I hope you've had a chance to enjoy some of life's simple pleasures this weekend.

 

 

I made this for Tag Tuesday, a blog I contribute to regularly, and I am also adding it to Crazy for Challenges- Let's Frame It, since I made a little hand stitched frame around the edge, and to Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House, and Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy.

 

Thanks for stopping by!



Autumn Maple

The fall foliage in Massachusetts have been beautiful this year!.  I was inspired to take out my Stampin Up set and use the maple tree stamp to make this card.   It looks just like the tree at the end of my driveway.    I used my Twinkling H2O's to paint it in on watercolor paper, and it was so easy to blend the colors.

The challenge at Less is More this week is Trees, so this fits right in.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you can leave a comment.  I'll visit you back.

Crisp Fall Leaves

It's been a gorgeous fall here in New England,  and I was inspired by all the beautiful foliage around me to create this card with a Hero Arts maple leaf and some Tim Holtz stamps.  Fits perfectly in the CAS-ology Cue Card challenge Crisp.  There is nothing more enjoyable than taking an autumn hike and hearing the crunch of the fall leaves under your feet. 

Thanks for stopping by!

The Perfect Blend

This fun stamp set is from Stampin' Up, and it's called Perfect Blend.  I was using it to make some cards to sell at the local coffee shop/book store in our town, and thought the image was a perfect fit for the latest Retro Sketch challenge here-

Thanks for stopping by.  I love to read your comments!

Party Time

I've had these party hats for a while, and thought they would work well with the sketch from
CAS(E) This Sketch.

I'm also linking up to Runway Inspired Stella McCartney

and the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- Celebrate!

Thanks for stopping by.  If you have time to leave a comment,  I'll be sure to visit you back!

Make Lemonade!

Wow, we've been in the middle of a heat wave, and it has been intense!   I think I need an icy lemonade to cool down with.

This is a Lawn Fawn set, and I paper pieced the glass and pitcher.  Fun!

It's going in these challenges:
Lawnscaping Paper Piecing, Casology Cue Card- Cool, and Runway Inspired with this photo of a Stella McCartney dress.

I broke down this week and went out on a mission to buy an air conditioner for my craft room, because it was impossible to work in there.  When we arrived at Home Depot we had a hard time finding one, and finally came across a small pile of 4 air conditioners near a register.  Apparently there had been a huge pile of them there in the morning, and by noon they were almost cleaned out.  So glad I got one, what a difference it makes!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you are staying cool!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!  We are sweltering in high humidity here, so I am trying to keep cool in my craft room.  I paired this cute little chick with the sparkler with my new Tim Holtz blueprint stamp to make a patriotic card.

 I used this color inspiration from Color Q with this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.
I'm also adding to CASology Cue Card- Fireworks, and Simon Says Stamp-Patriotic.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have time to leave a comment, I'll be sure to visit you back!

A Little Sunshine and WOYWW

 

I've been painting and stamping quite a bit this week.  The butterflies are going on cards to sell at a local gift shop and the tag is for Tag Tuesday.  I went with a bright sun on my tag because we have had such rainy, dreary weather for the last few weeks, I needed to see some sunshine!  At the top you can see  some new stamp sets that I haven't used yet, along with a Stamp-a-majig that I am using to practice 2 -step stamping. 

 

If you are wondering why I am showing you my workdesk, it's because it's Wednesday, and Julia over at Stamping Ground Blog is letting us show off our desks.  Check it out!

I'm linking my tag up to Simon Says Stamp and Show, where anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dream, Inspire, Create

What is better than a glittery dragonfly flitting around a garden?  I used the CASology Cue Card "Free" as inspiration for this card.  Hope you can see all the glitter on the wings.

Have a great day!

Thanks For Your Support and WOYWW

I've missed playing along with WOYWW lately, but hopefully now that school is out, I can be a regular participant. 

 My friend gave me this empty Crayola marker container because she thought I might be able to use it for my crafts , and as soon as I saw it, I thought of my distress inks and paints. 

This is what it looks like from the top.  I'm definitely going to alter it, since I have lots of Tim's papers, and took his configuration class.

I also picked up this vintage stamp holder at a yard sale for a dollar, so I feel so organized now!  All my distress inks, paints and stains will be easy to find. 

 

The last thing I want to show you all is a card I just finished that is made with a fun Stampin Up stamp.  

I'm entering this in 3 challenges, CAS(E) this Sketch,  Retro Sketches and Casology Cue Card "Free".

Birds have so much freedom with their ability to fly.

 Thanks for stopping by, and definitely check out lots of other creative work spaces over at Julia's Stamping Ground Blog.

 I love reading all of your comments!

Need for Speed

The challenge over at Less is More is called the "Need for Speed".  I don't have lots of vehicle stamps, so I went with my sailboat. Since it had to be one layer, I stamped it on watercolor paper and then painted around it.  We used to own a sailboat when we lived on a lake, and I can remember how fast we could zip across Spofford Lake.  When the wind died down, it was a whole different experience, and we would drift around for a while until it picked back up.  Fun memories!
I'm also linking with Simon Says Stamp, where the theme is Transport, and The Dedicated House- Anything Blue Friday.

Seashells

Life has gotten in the way of my blogging late, but hopefully I'm back and full of creativity.  I sure have missed it!   I used this gorgeous background stamp by Impression Obsession to make my own patterned paper and used this Retro Sketch for the card layout.

 It looks great stamped in my favorite Distress Ink, Salty Ocean.  I am entering in these challenges-
Retro Sketches #65
Simon Says Stamp and Show Favorite Ink
and Crazy for Challenges- no patterned paper unless you make your own

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you can leave a comment, I'll be sure to visit you back.

Hey, Dad and WOYWW

I've been neglecting my blog a little lately, but mostly for fun reasons.  In the last 3 weeks, I've taken a class with Tim Holtz, attended classes at a 2 day Scrapbook Convention, taken a Tim Holtz technique class at my local scrapbook store, and participated in an all day crop on National Scrapbooking Day.  Fun!
Here are some of the goodies that I purchased at the CKC Scrapbook Convention.

Can't wait to use those cute Lawn Fawn sets!

 

I also got a large card order from one of the stores that carries my cards, so as I was designing some Father's Day cards I played around with a fun Paper Smooches set.  This is entered in a new challenge- The Fusion Card Challenge.  I picked Jackie's sketch challenge as inspiration. 

 I am also entering in the Less is More Challenge-using 2 opposite colors from the color wheel, green and red (the washi tape is actually a light green, although in this photo it looks yellow) . 

 

If you are wondering why I am showing you what is on my workspace, hop on over to the Stamping Ground, where every Wednesday we show off our workspaces.  Check it out!

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you can leave a comment.  I'll be sure to visit you back!

Smile All Over

I was working on designing some Mother's Day cards, and remembered I had this cute stamp.  I thought it fit perfectly with the Shabby Tea Room Challenge to use yellow, polkadots and a flower.  Since the sentiment is a child's quote, I added flowers that look like they were drawn by a child.  I used this sketch from Retro Sketches. 

Have a great day!  I love your comments!

Wonder of Watercolor

When I saw that the Moxie Fab World was doing a Wonder of Watercolor Challenge, I was in!  I love my watercolors.  I made a little sunset scene with the embossed flower silhouettes and my Twinkling H2O's.

 

I used this sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!

 

and am entering in the CAS-ual Friday Birthday Bash., and Simon Says Stamp and Show- Color.  Also popping into Make it Pretty Monday.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I love your comments!

Blooming with Love

 

 



I love this canning jar stamp from Unity, and today I paired it with an older sentiment from Stampin Up.  I was inspired by this lovely photo from The Shabby Tea Room.  I incorporated the wood from the ladder by using a wood patterned paper.

The ribbon is my recycled element, it came off of a package, and I didn't even untie the bow, just cut off the ends and attached it to the card. 

 

 

I just got back from my weekend of crafting with Tim Holtz, I'll be posting more on that later this week.  He is a fantastic teacher, and he packed so much into a 5 hour class!

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy the Journey and WOYWW

This is what is on my workdesk today.  I love the blueprint stamps by Tim Holtz, and I made a quick card for my friend who has turned 50 and is taking a motorcycle trip from Mass. to Florida.  Perfect for him.

I have some fantastic news!  I am scheduled to take a class with Tim on Saturday in Connecticut, and I am so excited!  He is teaching at Beautiful Impressions in Westbrook,  and is using lots of  new products in this class.  Look for the finished project in a future post.

There are also a few other card fronts in the making on my desk.  If you want to see other interesting workspaces, check out Julia's Stamping Ground, where crafters from around the world show what they have been up to.

I'm entering this card in a few challenges-

Color Throwdown with these beautiful colors, and CASology- Word.  I used 3 words, they are heartfelt and to the point!

Thanks for stopping by,  I hope you have time to leave a comment.  I'll be sure to visit you back if you have a blog!

Fly

This is a tag I made for the Stampers Anonymous Swap that I participate in.  I used the Tie Dye technique-

 apply Dylusion inks to a folded, wet paper towel, open it after it is fully saturated, and then cover a tag with it, and roll over it with a brayer.

I love the vibrant towel that was left over, I will definitely incorporate that into a project!  I am linking this up over at Simon Says Stamp and Show- Fly.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you can leave a comment, I'll be sure to visit you back!

Have a Hoppy Day!

I love this happy little rabbit, and put him on a tag for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge, Funny Bunny, which is to use a rabbit on something other than a card.  I made some of these to put on Easter baskets last week.
Thanks for stopping by!

A Little Spring and WOYWW

We are desperately waiting for Spring here, just when it seemed to have arrived, we got hit with cold, windy weather.  Here are some pictures from my photo assignment class of a few glimpses of spring taken a few weeks ago at a Spring Bulb Show.  That's what's on my workdesk this week.

I love these crazy looking tulips!

 Fun little flowers with a checkerboard design.

 

A cluster of yellow and orange tulips.

 

Hope this brightens your day a little!  Hop over to the Stamping Ground and see what's going on at other crafty desks.  I am also linking up to Orange You Glad It's Friday.
Thanks as always for your kind comments,  would love to have you follow me.  I will be highlighting the blogs of my next 3 followers in  a future post.
Barb

Ombre Chevron Love

Chevron stamps are so trendy right now, and I love that look.  This is a Unity set that I inked up with an older ink pad that had a rainbow of dark to light color across it.  I had the perfect size circle punch that I used to make a circle in the chevron, and mounted that piece over a heart that I had stamped on the white base.  I am entering this in the Moxie Fab World Chevron Challenge and the Ombre Challenge, and also the Unity Challenge using this sketch-

and Anything Goes over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you can leave a comment or consider following me.  I love new followers!!!