I created a Mother’s Day or Special Friend card last week and then I stepped it up in a revised version. I added some thin ribbon this time and outlined the leaves with a white gel pen to follow the flower swirls pattern.  I rounded the paper banners using a circle punch that matched the rounded edges of the card design. I also rounded the corners of the card as well.  Adding glittery gems to the center of the flowers completes the look! This makes me happy!  Now it is time to send a copy to the #alwaysplayingwithpaper blog for the card challenge which is Polka Dots my favorite go to pattern!

Hero Arts stamps are still one of my favorite stamps.  I colored the stamp with Tombow markers and then spritzed the inked image with water.  Coordinating patterned paper, stenciling and adding a border and some final touches finished the look.  This was an entry for #simonsaystampchallenge!

Time to start thinking about thanking teachers and educators for their dedication with some special gifts at the end of the school year.  I selected some beautiful double sided scrapbook paper from Scrapbook Cove in Mystic, CT to create all of the paper projects- mini-shopping bag, coffee cup gift card holder and coin holder that fits a gift card as well.  A gift card for a cool iced coffee in a cute gift bag will bring lots of smiles!

I found a new card challenge on waffleflower.com so I created a card that matched the color challenge. I found paper scraps from a sunburst layout  class I took at Stampin’ Up stamp camp a long time ago that matched the color theme.  I die cut a hello  from Penny Black and die cut a eggplant colored banner from myfavoritethings.com.  I use the same dark purple for the card itself.  A any occasion card.  I think I will try another one!  I think I have enough scraps to cut more pieces!

#waffleflowers  #pennyblack #myfavoritethings  #stampinup

I finally had a card sketch challenge that I could use this cute Magenta stamp. This is for the Wednesday card challenge for Splitcoast Stampers and for the challenge alwaysplayingwith paperblogspot.com Challenge #31 SPD 15for i got it last year at the annual stamp show in Springfield, MA.  I colored the stamped image with colored pencils,  inked and stenciled the green background paper.  I added the I love you tag.  I found stick on wooden buttons at the Papyrus store in the mark down bin.  I just added a cording bow.   l like the dark colors that show off the love birds!

It was time to play around with paper to create a Mother’s Day card to send to special friends.  The card is also appropriate for any occasion as well.  The squiggly flowers are cling on stamps that are stamped with white ink and embossed with white embossing powder.  I cut these out as I did not have any die cuts.  The white paper was embossed with a embossing folder.  The word banner is from a new Stampin’Up set.  White cording and a Memory Box die cut completed the arrangement. Time to make a few more for my special friends!

Clean and simple Make It Masculine birthday card for #splitcoaststampers.  The technique was inspired by a video by #Jennifer McGuire.  Select an embossing folder and ink with various colors of distress inks. Spritz with water to make colors blend together. Insert watercolor paper and run through a  machine like a Cuttlebug.  Blot excess ink and dry.  Assemble the pieces together including the accent banners and happy birthday banner. Add the small star as an accent. You can change the look by using a different embossing folder and ink.  Have fun playing with paper and ink!

The weekly sketch challenge for My Favorite Things included using a circle, star and word banner.  I repurposed a MFT little girl stamp from  another set.  I stamped her on white paper and colored the image with Copic markers.  I stamped the dress on the red patterned paper and cut it out.  I cut out the little girl and then added the red dress.  The circle and stars were coordinating Stampin’ Up patterned paper.  The little dog  and glittery star finished the look.  I think I have my July 4th cards all planned!!!  #mftstamps #stampinup #copicmarkers#sizzixdiecuts #lawnfawncuts

Here is my creation for the Wednesday Splitcoaststampers  challenge.  I used an Impression Obsession  bird stamp, inked and shaded with stencils.  I added a book page wing and a tiny heart.  Tiny strips of brown paper created the nest.  The graph paper was printed from http://www.printablepaper.net.  Inked stencils and embossed paper added accent and textures.  Ready to send to someone special!  #impressionobsession  #splitcoaststampers #rangerink