You Are My Happy Place!

Happy Saturday!  I have a card to share today that combines a few challenges.  I am playing along with PTI Make It Monday Challenge.  This week is debossing stamped images.   I am using the colors from The Color Throwdown and the the sketch from Seize the Sketch.  



It took a couple of tries to get the background look I was going for exactly the way I wanted it.  I thought I could stamp first then deboss, but for this particular look and with the number of passes through my Vagabond, it looked better and was infinitely easier to deboss the background, make a stencil, then mask and stamp the background in that order.     

I combined many PTI stamp sets to get the background look.   I went vintage with this card.  The background sort of took on that look while I was stamping so I went with it.  I used Phrase Play 1 for the focal frame.  I have decided that I just love these Phrase Play dies. For some added dimension I offset the pink sentiment intentionally just for effect.  I finished my card with a seam binding bow topped with an aqua mist button and some clear sequins.  I really like the finished product.   I am also playing along with Simon Says Challenge.  This week is "Anything Goes!"



Supplies
PTI houndstooth, newsprint, gingham, venice, and woodgrain backgrounds and Phrase Play #1 Mini  stamps
PTI rustic white, hibiscus burst, soft stone, aqua mist card stock PTI hibiscus burst, soft stone, aqua mist, and chamomile inks, Verve's Signature Ribbon Collection seam binding in Water, Verve's Shine Bright Sequin Mix,  aqua mist button, natural jute, foam tape, glue pen, Phrase Play #1 die, and Building Blocks die
 


As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Thinking of You!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!  This is Day 3 of Get Togethers and Cookouts!   My grandfather was a Veteran of World War I and my dad was in the National Guard for many years.   A special thanks to the many who gave all so we can do Get Togethers with family and friends in this land of freedom!

I have been cleaning today getting ready for some more company.  Of course, I did have to stop to get crafty for a bit.   I am playing along with this week's MFT Sketch Challenge 177.  I am also playing along with the Fusion Challenge.  I chose to use the inspiration picture not the sketch.


 
I started with MFT Smooth White card stock for the base.  I used MFT Card Stock sampler kraft and wild cherry.  I used Blueprints 15 to die cut background panel using kraft.  I stamped with some tonal ink using MFT Woodgrain BG stamp.    Next, I used MFT Polka Dot Cover Up with the wild cherry card stock.  I pieced together a frame using the larger of the Rectangle Frame dies.  I layered white card stock behind the polka dotted die cut.  I die cut the middle frame from Blueprints 1 using vellum because I did not want to cover up all of my polka dots.  I stamped and adhered using dimensionals the Forget Me Not stamps and Forget Me Not dies.  The sentiment I used is from Pretty Poppies stamp set.  I then cut out circles and a button from MFT Blueprints 1,  Blueprints 15,  and Blueprints 14.  I finished my card with a hemp cord bow behind the paper button.   I love the hemp cord because it does not fray or get fuzzy like jute.  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

PTI May 2014 Blog Hop!

Today I am playing along with PTI's May Blog Hop Challenge!   This month is all about colors  Aqua & Melon!

 
I gleaned my card inspiration from the two pictures on the right.  I love the florals in the second picture and love how the black background in the top picture frames the white cards.   I morphed the two.  I  created a background of florals using PTI Bigger Blooms and two of the leafy images from Embellished Elegance.  I stamped a combination of aqua and melon florals with black leaf accents.    For my sentiment I used the Phrase Play 4 die and stamp set.  I kept it simple and completed the card with three buttons.  

As always thanks so much for hopping by!

Betty

Life is Good!

Happy Saturday!  I had a little time to spend in my craft room today.  I have 2 cards to share!  One I made the other day and one I made today.  First up, the one I made today.

I am playing along with this week's Just Us Girls Challenge.  This week is an inspiration challenge.  I was mainly inspired by the colors and the afghan on the couch.  When I saw the afghan I immediately remembered a Lifestyles die I purchased a few years ago and sort of forgot I had.My card base is aqua.  I glued the background die cut to a white piece of card stock to create the afghan look.  I used a strip of green on the side and around the frame image for a few pops of green.  My sentiment uses the flower color.  I finished with a few silver pearls.  I am using this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.   I am using Verve's Stronger Love and On Occasion stamp sets along with Verve's Cut Above Occasion Frame and Banner Bundle die set.

I wanted to make a fun whimsical card.  I made this card this week, but did not have a chance to finish it.  I am playing along with this week's VLV Sketch Challenge.  Sarah is hosting this fun sketch.

 

 I am playing along with this week's Color Throwdown Challenge.  I combined several Verve stamps for this card.  I used Bountiful Background  for the aqua background.  I stamped the dot/stripe background vertical and horizontal in a tonal ink to create a grid look background.  Next, I stamped one of the script backgrounds from Text Object in a tonal color to create some more depth and dimension on the green panel.  I finished with the focal image.   I stamped the polka dotted image from Bountiful Background onto vellum for the fishtail flag coming out from below the oval. I used Verve's  Banner Bundle die set.  I then die cut Verve's Classy Label die and stamped with coordinating frame in Love Notes.  I stamped the sentiment from PJ Life Is Good.I finished the card with some Verve's Pastel Sequin Mix. 

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Artsy Watercolored Hydrangeas with MIM!

Happy Wednesday!  I had a few moments this evening to get crafty!  I decided to play along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge.  This week's challenge is about Artsy Watercolor backgrounds.  While watercolor stuff is all the rage right now, I find that when I try watercoloring, there is a fine line between artsy and a hot mess.   I was determined not to let this challenge get the best of me.  I am not sure how I feel about this card, but it was the best of my four attempts.  I decided this was as good as it was going to get.  LOL!

I decided to use the Happy Hydrangea set and the Shakers and Sprinkles heart dies.  I think I will gravitate toward these dies a lot because I just love them and because of their size.  At first I mounted the background on a rustic white base, but felt it needed just a tiny pop of color.  I ended up adding a narrow strip of the new leaf card stock and it gave it just a little something to keep it from looking too drab.  While there are several colors used, the watercolor look seemed to lighten the intensity of the hues to me so more color was needed.  I love my heart within a heart look with the heart dies.  I popped the center one up on two layers of dimensional tape to create even more depth.  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Hugs: I Love You! Viva La Verve Sketch!

 

Happy Tuesday!  I  have a card to share to remind you of this week's Viva La Verve Week 3 Sketch Challenge!  You can check out more information at the Viva La Verve Sketches Blog!  Week 3 is a combo of  fabulous sketch and inspiration picture.  


        

This is my take on the sketch and inspiration picture.  Can you say, SPARKLE?  I just love all the sparkle in the inspiration picture. I see several pillows I would love to own.  I let the sparkle and sketch guide me to my card creation.    For my card I am using Verve's Remember This and Love Notes stamp sets along with Verve's Cut Above Starry die, Banner Bundle, Wavy Hearts, Jotted Heart, and I Heart U die sets.   I finished my card wit a tiny bow and a few of Verve's Shine Bright Sequin Mix.

 I used some "vintage" MME papers and combined some black, silver, and gold glitter card stocks.  I went all out with sparkle and dimension!   

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty
 

Absolutely Amazing!

Happy Saturday!  I have a fun colorful card to share today!  I am playing along with The Curtain Calls Inspiration Challenge and MFT Stamps Weekly Sketch Challenge 176.  

For my card I chose to recreate the blue and pink panels in the inspiration photo.  I started with MFT Card stock sampler.  From the pack I am using razzle berry and lemonade.  I also used some MFT smooth white.   The blue came from my own stash.  I wanted a more of a royal blue color.  I cut the blue panel using the newly released Blueprints 15.  I love the stitched detailing around the edge.     I die cut smooth white using Chevron Stripes die namics.  For the razzle berry, I die cut using Rounded Banner Stax.  I stamped it using the BG Woodgrain Background in white pigment ink and let dry.  I  added the lemonade strip using the stitch edge from the newly released Vertical Stitched Strips.  For the stitched circle, I went back to the newly released Blueprints 15.  I am over the moon with BLUEPRINTS!  Love Love!   I added colorful sentiment from Simply Fabulous Sayings.  I added some accenting using the newly released DC You Were Meant to Sparkle stamp set and Sequins dienamics.  I finished this fun, bright card with what is supposed to be light bulb filament from the Lightbulb dienamics, but I love the curly que look so I tucked in behind the sentiment circle.  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Enjoy Your Day!

Happy Tuesday!   I am playing along with this week's Papertrey's Make It Monday Challenge.  For this challenge, we  week's challenge is Clustered Stamped Sentiments!  

Paintball?  For my card I used a harvest gold base layered with rustic white.  I stamped my painted words from Wet Paint stamp set in versa mark and clear embossed.  I arranged the small paint dollops from Watercolor Wonder stamp set  on a grid block and stamped hibiscus burst, harvest gold, and limeade.  I  changed the cluster up a bit with each color change.  I added the extended sentiment in true black and finished with some sequins.  Clean and simple and very colorful!

Just in case you missed my first shaker card using the new Shaker & Sprinkles kit, check it out here and find out what I learned!








As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

I Hope Your Day is Sprinkled with Love!

Popping in with a quick shaker card.  When I got home from school yesterday, my PTI Shaker and Sprinkles Kit had arrived!  Oh, my word!  I am totally blown away by this kit.  EVERY piece is fabulous! 

  

I am playing along with this week's Fusion Card Challenge.  I chose to just use the inspiration piece.     First of all, I started with a rustic white card base.  I used one of the pattern paper pieces from the kit.  LOVE this paper pack layout for future paper packs.  It is awesome to just cut the paper into four panels.  

I have only made one shaker card before and it was square.  When you start making shape shakers it changes the process a wee bit.  Having the foam adhesive sheets was imperative.   Makes it go so much easier.  Becky thought of everything!

What I learned from making this shaker card!  

• I needed to know what I wanted my shaker to look like beforehand.  Everything has to be done in a specific order in order to close the frame with the confetti.   I had to have sentiment placement, embossing, die cut sentiment all ready to go before the process of putting stuff together took place. In other words, this is not a create as you go kind of card .
• Also, I learned that less is more.  I think my shaker is way too full.  I got confetti happy!  LOL!  A few pieces is all it takes. 
• I learned that the clear card stock window has a lot of static.  What I still need to know is how to get rid of all that static?  It made the confetti cling to to the window before I could even glue it down.  Not to mention all the little paper dust pieces wanted to stick to the window.  I must figure out how to get rid of some of the static without marring the acetate or putting smudges on it.  Anyone know?

 While this shaker is far from perfect, I still like it.  Makes me happy!   I love the glitter card stock die cut word which I layered with some harvest gold card stock die cut with same word twice for some stability.  The whole word just sparkles! 

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Thank You! C4C Bingo and a Sketch!

Happy Saturday!  We have a new and fun challenge for you this week at Crazy 4 Challenges!   Check out the C4C blog for more challenge details at Crazy 4 Challenges(C4C235).  

This week's challenge is  

"Let's Play Bingo"   

Pick vertical, horizontal, or diagonal!

For the challenge, I chose to go horizontal through the center with Stitching(faux), Fiber(hemp cord), and Distressing(ink).    I am using MFT Card stock sampler (primitive white, red hot, banana split, and sweet tooth).  I used the fishnet cover-up, Blueprints 9,  and Blueprints 14 dienamics along with MPD Damask Designs, and  LJD Pretty Poppies stamp sets. I die cut the larger of the damask images using MPD Damask Designs dienamics.  This die is large enough to act as the oval focal point on my card for the sketch.  The faux stitch look on many of the Blueprints dies works and looks fantastic for a stitched effect.  I inked distressed some of the edges.  I finished with a hemp cord bow topped with button for my fiber detailing.  I am playing along with this week's MFT Sketch Challenge #175.  
 

Check out what the rest of the team did with this week's challenge!   

• Anja de Regt 
• Barbara Anders 
• Betty Wright (<---ME...you're here) 
• Frances Byrne
• Heather Pulvirenti 
• Helen Cryer 
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak  
• Kelli Hull
• Kristine Reynolds
• Peggy McCurry
• Danielle Lounds 
• Melody Rupple (May Guest Designer)

As always thanks so much for stopping by!  

Betty

VLV Sketch Week 2 : You Lift Me Up!

  
It is week 2 of  Viva La Verve Sketches.   Janelle is host for the second week of May.  Check out this fun and fabulous sketch!

For my card I am using Verve's Petals & Wings and Brighter Days stamp sets along with Verve's Cut Above Wings & Petals and Scalloped Trim Trio dies.  I finished with Verve's Signature Ribbon Collection in Sugar and  Verve's Shine Bright Sequin Mix.  I combined some retired SU papers in a rich purple color contrast with some crisp white card stock.  I love the mix of the patterns with the butterfly image. 

 
As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Birthday Wishes!

Happy Thursday!  I am playing along with Papertrey's Make It Monday Challenge.  The challenge this week is to create an envelop wrap.  I generally use clear envelops when mailing cards so this concept works great to give an added touch to the outside of a clear card.  

The challenging part for me since the envelop is clear was to make sure the wrap portion worked with the card front since it can be seen through envelop.  This is what I came up with.  I layered two of the half and half dies and stamps. 

One die was folded to create a short tab on the front side where the card was exposed.  The rest was folded around back.  This strip added some decor as well as covered the adhesive flap.  I decorated this flap for the challenge, but for future reference I think leaving some white space for the address would be perfect.

I am also playing along with PTI Inspiration Archive.  We have  color challenge and sketch to choose from.   For my card I used the wish stitch die.  I die cut it several times to create a peek a boo background effect.  I then used the herringbone impressions plate.  I layered my sketch elements(die from Fabulous Frames) added sentiment on top(Birthday word die and Four Squares flag die)  and the card was complete.  Well, I did add a few sequins.   

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Verve's May Diva Inspirations Hop!

Welcome to Verve's May Diva Inspirations Hop. It's the 5th of the month and that means it's hopping time! This month we've got a fabulous challenge that's sure to take you on a sentimental journey! So in addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!

Our April challenge is Font Focus:



Fancy fonts are all the rage! Let your inner wordsmith shine and make a gorgeous sentiment (or two or three!) the focus of your card. Whether you draw inspiration from the graphic or take some poetic license of your own, just flash us some fonts!

 For my card I used Verve's Wings of Love, Words of Wisdom, Borderline, and Purely Sentimental stamp sets along with Verve's Cut Above Rounded Scallop Frame, Arrow, Starry, and Flag It die sets.  I am also playing along with the Curtain Calls Inspiration Challenge.


Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines, and a little bit about our brand new Diva!

	1. Julee	9.  Susan
	2. Amy	10. Chaitali
	3. Anya	11. Stacey
	4. Betty	12. Maureen
	5. Karen	13. Marisa
	6. Sankari	14. Andrea
	7. Sarah	14. Charmaine
	8. Sony	14. Christyne

Check out our May special...

Next on the hop is Karen! 

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

OH BOY!

Happy Sunday!  Popping in with a quick baby boy card!  For this card I am playing along with MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge 174.  

I started my card with the MFT Card stock Sampler pack.  I am using smooth white, sno cone, nightshift blue, and natural).  I used Blueprints 1, Blueprints, 13, and Blueprints 14 along with Negative Dot Alphabet dienamics.  I stamped the BG Typewriter Text Background using a linen ink onto the smooth white.  I then used a blue ink and stamped at a diagonal the BG Striped Background onto the nightshift blue panel.  I finished my card with a die cut button and some hemp cord. 

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Absolutely Wonderful!

Happy Saturday!  We have a new and fun challenge for you this week at Crazy 4 Challenges!   Check out the C4C blog for more challenge details at Crazy 4 Challenges(C4C234).  

This week's challenge is  

"April showers bring May flowers"   

Use flowers on your cards this week!

For my card I am playing along with MFT Color Palette Challenge #5.  I combined some MFT stamps and dienamics to create my card.   I am using MFT Card stock sampler.  I used the fishnet cover-up, Blueprints 1, Blueprints 10, Blueprints 13, and Blueprints 14 dienamics along with MPD Damask Designs, Simply Fabulous Sayings, and  LJD Pretty Poppies stamp sets.  I also used one of the centers to the  Gerber Daisy dienamics for the center of my flower.  I am using this week's Deconstructed Sketch #149. 
 

Check out what the rest of the team did with this week's challenge!   

• Anja de Regt 
• Barbara Anders 
• Betty Wright (<---ME...you're here) 
• Frances Byrne
• Heather Pulvirenti 
• Helen Cryer 
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak  
• Kelli Hull
• Kristine Reynolds
• Peggy McCurry
• Danielle Lounds 
• Brenda O'Rear (April Guest Designer)

As always thanks so much for stopping by!  

Betty