Stamp What?! ~ Everything nice ...

 

Hi friends!

Happy weeekend!

Today's card is for the Stamp What?! card series

that was created by my teenage son :)

Here is how it all started and his creative idea 

is to breath new life into {much} older stamp sets that go unused!

This month, here is the stamp set he chose:

And Everything Nice w/Hollyhocks

circa 2005

As always, I like to 'rib him' a little bit and ask why he chose it :)

Me:  'INTERESTING choice!  Why did you pick this one?"

Him:  "It reminded me of Singing In The Rain."

Wow I haven't used this stamp set in a month of Sundays!

And ... I was a bit stumped so here it is.

Not my favorite card I've made but it. is. what. it. is!

How I modernized this older, wooden stamp set is

that I've used copics (didn't own those in 2005),

designer paper and dies that are current to the last few years.

And that's my card!

Barb and Jeanette are joining me this year on this card journey

and you can see there cards on their blogs, too.

Here's one final look:

Thanks for stopping by 

and have a wonderful weekend!

3M: Hey there, crafty friend!

 Hi friends!

Happy Friday to you all

and wishing you the best start to your weekend :)

Today's card is for the 3M card group, or 3 Musketeers,

which is Jeanette, Barb and I.

This card group was started by Jeanette many years ago

where we take turns sending a stamped image to each other

and all 3 of us make a card.

Jeanette sent us this month's dreamy bouquet of flowers

from Taylored Expressions called Field Notes 2.

Oh, how I've drooled over this stamp set!

like .... drooled!

I decided for this card to color with my Karin markers.

I have the regular set and the neons which I LOVE ~

they give way brighter pops of color!

I've added these colorful blooms to a distress ink grid background

that I'd previously done and tucked a circle die cut behind them.

The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions Simple Strips - friendship

and I've used the simple strips die to cut out the strip.

You can see Jeanette's card here

and Barb's card here.

Next month, I'm up to send the image and it's already on it's way!

And that's one of the wonderful things about this card group ...

The super fun part of going to the mailbox and finding a surprise :)

Here's a final look:

Thanks for stopping by

and have a GREAT weekend!

Card entered to: word art Wednesday 

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/?m=1

CCEE2114 - Zoo Lovers Day!

Hi friends!

Today is Zoo Lovers Day!

And that's also the theme this week for the new 

CCEE Stampers weekly challenge.

It's brought to us by Frances, our hostess for the month of April.

She writes:

For this week's challenge, create a card that features 

at least one animal found in the zoo.

My card is using Sugar Pea Designs Caring Critters.

This stamp set is long retired but I still think it's adorable!

My coloring isn't the best here - eeeek!

But do love the sweet addition of the zoo designer paper :)

Be sure to check here for the DT card inspirations

and to link up your cards, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS - Optical Illusion!

 

Hi friends!

Spring Break is over here and today school starts once again.

I LOVED being off for the school break

but I also know that before I can blink, it will be summer :)

I hope you all had a beautiful Easter week/end!

I went WAY off the deep end with my healthier eating lifestyle

and have not exercised in 4 days :(

I know as soon as I drop my son off at school ...

at 6:15 AM - eep! -

I'll be hitting the track and going the EXTRA mile!

I. Got. This!

Today's card is (sort of!) an optical illusion.

I was looking at this card after photographing it

and realized the left looks WAY larger than the right ....

except .... they are equal!

I've used the Dragonfly Garden stamp set from Stampin' Up

because .. of course .. dragonflies :)

This is the first time I've used this wildflower bunch included in it

and I love the contrast of the stark black in against the sunset colors.

I know this is a set I'll use over and over and over :)

My card is very clean and simple because it's for the CAS card

at Splitcoaststampers where it's a One Sheet Wonder challenge.

Thanks for stopping by 

and Happy Monday!

I'll enter this to:  World Art Wednesday

One Plus Twelve - April

 Hi friends!

Happy Easter ~ He is Risen!

I hope today is a sweet day for you all :)

My card today is for my April card challenge called One Plus Twelve.

It's where I take one stamp 

- and just one -

and use it creatively twelve different ways!

The stamp I chose for 2021 is Altenew's Build-a-flower Magnolia

and this is my April card ↓

I love coming up with creative ways to use this ONE stamp!

Sometimes it's hard not to stamp it twice or repeat stamp

but I am personally sticking to the challenge 

and just using the magnolia once.

There are so many techniques and ways to create a card.

I love that it's a challenge to be so out of the box creative

AND keep the intrigrity of the challenge :)

For April, I'm using a technique called Wrinkle Free Distress 

(you can see how it gets it's name here)

Instead of using the distressed background as just that,

I stamped directly to the background and die cut the flower out of it.

And that's my card :)

If all goes well, my May card is already thought out and planned!

Thanks for stopping by!

Entered to: Beyond the Blue: wrinkle free distress 

https://beyondthebluechallenges.blogspot.com/?m=1

CCEE2113 ~ Find a Rainbow Day!

Hi friends!

Happy April!

There's a new challenge at the CCEE Stampers

and our hostess for this month is Frances.

She says: 

Did you know that the 3rd of April is Find a Rainbow Day.

For our challenge this week, include a rainbow of some type on your card 

either a rainbow image or rainbow colors … whichever you prefer.

Such a fun theme!

I decided to use a rainbow panel that I created for a distress oxide

class last month.

I decided to switch it up and use it as the focal point!

I used Floral Focus from My Favorite Things stamps

and stamped directly onto the rainbow panel to create the flowers.

The sentiment is from another stamp set Cheerful Blessings.

I used Black Soot distress oxide inks with water to create splatter

and added just a few sequins.

Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers blog

and add your RAINBOW cards using the Mr. Linky.

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenge entered to:  Word Art Wednesday

Writing My Story (card #3) ~ Crime shows!

 Hi friends!

Today's card is a crime!

Thank you SO MUCH for the birthday greetings! 

Crafty friends are the BEST friends!

Today's card is the 3rd installment of my blog series:  

Writing My Story :)

I asked my husband, 4 children and my son-in-law 

to write down 2 things about me that makes me ME in their eyes.

I don't know what they all said but I'm SO curious!

.My daughter gives me one each month to create the card 

and all the details are here on the first post!

 you can read all the details here on the intro post

March is from my daughter, Victoria!

 I do!

Although I don't watch tv very much at all, when I do,

it's usually a crime related movie or show.

And I LOVE a good crime book!

I used several Lawn Fawn stamps to create this card 

to resemble Nancy Drew. 

My first set of books was the Nancy Drew series which I had to have

after seeing my brother read the Hardy Boys series.

She's a little more modern with a cell phone, LOL!

I created the desk/lamp from You're Just My Type,

the stool is from Merry Mice Chibitronics,

the girl and phone and foods are from Screen Time

and finally, the WOW bubble is from Super Star.

The papers are from Spiffy Speckles and Perfectly Plaid remix.

 I'm sure she's getting all the details to solve the latest crime!

Here's the inside. 

This summer, my daughter and I binge watched all 3 seasons of

The Fall from her house and mine

and we stayed up all night, texting.

It was SO exhilerating and supsenseful!

One final look:

I'll enter this to the Lawn Fawnatics challenge #97 :

Inspired by a Book (Nancy Drew), movie or song.

Thanks for stopping by!

card entered to: Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - L is for Layers

Happy Birthday to me! :)

 Hi friends!

It's the beginning of Spring Break for my son

 so LOTS of time to goof off make some cards :)

Today is also my birthday so I'm sure 

it's going to be a super fun, festive day!

I'm the hostess this month for the Challenge Your Stash card group

and this was my theme:

March 2021 - Kelly -MiamiKel4 CYSMAR

~~Today is my birthday! March is also World Literacy Month - 

create a card based on any book or book characters.

I chose the book (and the popular Pixar movie) Ratatouille!

I loved the moved and have seen it so many times.

I don't know if the book was first or vice versa but that's what I chose!

Here's my card,

 using a mix of Lawn Fawn and My Favorite Things stamps.

I used the plaid remix dsp from Lawn Fawn and the border frame

from Hello Bluebird and copic markers to color the images.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card entered to: Word Art Wednesday - AG

CCEE2112 ~ Happy National Pencil Day!

Hi friends!

For today's blog post, no monkeying around ~ 

I'm penciling it in!

There's a new challenge at the CCEE Stampers from Frances:

 Apparently the 30th March is Pencil Day … For our challenge this week, feature pencils, colored pencils, crayons etc on your card creations. Either use this medium to color your image, or feature an image of pencils, crayons etc.

How fun!

I decided to take the literal approach and use colored pencils.

I used the Arteza watercolor pencils to color this SUPER FUN

Cheeky Monkey image from Your Next Stamp.

He is just the CUTEST!

I know these are meant to be used as watercolors

but I left them as just coloring pencils - and it worked :)

Be sure to stop in the CCEE Stampers blog here

and link up your PENCIL themed cards this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

A cuppa for a friend :)

 

Hi friends!

Cheers to one of the Mondayest Mondays ever!

What.  A.  Day!

But ... the sun will go down and come back up

and tomorrow is another day!

Can I get a cheers :)

I wanted to share one of the cards I made 

using Tricia Girl from Unity Stamp Co.

I found her in that cache of stamps I found in a box in my garage ~

Yay me! :)

She's actually colored with pastel because I changed the dsp.

Originally, the paper was the colors of her clothes and I matched it ~  

but at the 11th hour, I changed it to blue and grey.

The sentiment is from MFT Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

Entered to Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Hop!

One Stamp Four Seasons ~ and a SURPRISE!

 

Hi friends!

Happy 1st day of spring 2021!

Today is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Miami.

The sun is shining, the weather is breezy and the birds are chirping :)

I love spring!

You may remember from this post at the beginning of the year

that I have several monthly/quarterly posts planned.

This is one of them :)

I've spotted this idea on Pinterest last year and thought I'd give it a try.

The idea:  Use ONE stamp for each of the FOUR seasons!

And the stamp I chose for 2021 One Stamp Four Seasons is ....

this very sweet House Mouse Dragonfly Ride!

Of course, it has a dragonfly :)

First, here's my card:

I just love the fresh spring colors!

I paired this image with papers from Lawn Fawn and used

oval stitched frames from My Favorite Things and colored with copics.

You may notice from the thumbnail that the dragonfly wings

have a bit of sparkle from some Wink Of Stella.

So ...... what a WONDERFUL surprise I had today!

While I was outside photographing this card for this post,

an actual dragonfly was fluttering around me and landed in the tree.

I was able to take a quick video (watch to the end!)

and this beautiful dragonfly's visit was perfectly timed :)

Here it is with my card, circled in white!

Wow - so thankful for that unexpected gift today :)

I'm excited for summer, fall and winter :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Card entered to:  House Mouse and Friends challenge - bugs

VSN and new YOUTUBE video!

 

Hi friends!

I hope you are having a great start to your weekend!

Today is my son-in-law's birthday 

and we're still celebrating :)

I've snuck away to let you know I'm hosting a challenge

 on Splitcoaststampers

for the VSN (Virtual Stamp Night)!

The theme this VSN is Parks and Recreation

and the challenges are all park(ish) related!

My challenge:  *TRAILing off the edge!*

I have a new YouTube video up on my channel

and it's a short one - 

you can see the making of this card here!

Thanks in advance for peeking!

For my paper card, 

                the idea comes from the many hiking trails 

my family and I venture onto both for recreation locally ~

the Everglades and biking trails and mangroves are amazing!

When we vacation, I often map out trails through the 

moutains and hiking passes that gives us fresh, new views.

So, pulling from that, my idea is to take any image

and have it 'trail' off the edge of the card.

Like trees or birds or branches like on mine above.

I used Altenew's aptly named "Under the Cherry Blossom Tree"

and I just love this stamp set! 

Even if you can't play along on SCS, I hope this card inspires you!

Thanks for stopping by!