New Friends, Sugar Nellie Challenge #20 Gayle's Sketch

It has been rainy day here in New England today. I'm not complaining because all the plants could use a good soaking before the Fall temps come along for good. It was a great day to stay inside and make some cards. This card was made for the challenge over at Sugar Nellie's Sugar Bowl, Challenge 20 Gayle's sketch . I always love their challenges, so many beautiful cards to see and they always add a little twist. This week is a sketch and on the card you need to paper piece something on the card. I pieced her coat, mittens, scarf and hat. I also colored on the paper on the hat and scarf to tie it into the mittens.

I didn't have any idea what I was going to do on the card when I started. I am not one to pick out my DP before I start coloring so picking out the DP that I was going to use for the paper piecing was no different. Luckily the new pack of winter DP from Basic Grey had this really cute reindeer paper that matched the finished image perfectly. I did mess up though. When I do the sky I usually have green grass on the ground. I wasn't thinking and I masked off for snow and when the sky and the snowy ground were done it looks they are somewhere barren I should have added some trees into the back round, next time I'll know. I did add flock on the sleeves and the pompom on her hat. I also bought at the convention some snow glitter. It looked great on their samples and I couldn't walk away without it. It does give a different sparkle than glitter.
I didn't add a saying yet because I am not sure if I'll use this as one of my Christmas cards this year.

Supplies Stamps: Sugar Nellie
Paper: SU Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Papertrey White, DP Basic Grey, Bo Bunny
Coloring: Copics, SU Bashful Blue
Accessories: Cloud Maker, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Stampendous Flock and Twinklets Snow Glitter, Paper Shaper Snowflake Border Punch, Maya Road Pearl Pin, LSS Ribbon, Felt Snowflakes, EK Success Snowflake Punches, Kaiser Pearls

I hope you liked the way this card came out. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments about my creations, it is truly appreciated.

Have a wonderful day,
Mary

A Real Beauty, TSSC88

I am so glad that it is the weekend! I have been fighting off a major cold and by the middle of the week it was getting the better of me. With all the stuffy noses and coughing is starting early at school this year with the kids it was bound to get to me. I couldn't wait to make a card with my new digi stamps from Squigglefly designed by Crissy Armstrong. This is one of my favorites and I thought she would look cute in bright colors.

I did this card for Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime sketch Challenge, TSSC88. I really liked the sketch but I had to put the circle underneath the image because when I printed out the image I didn't realize how big I printed it until it was all colored and I went to make the card with it. Luckily the sketch was easy enough to work with either way. I saw this saying in a magazine and thought it fit this image perfectly! The feathers on the hat were a last minute thought because I remembered I had some in my generel craft bin. Putting them on I had feather pieces floating all over the place, boy was I laughing. I hope this card puts a smile on your face like it did mine while I was making it. Sometimes it's fun making a card just to make someone smile.

Supplies

Stamps: Squigglefly digi stamps

Paper: SU Pixie Pink, Paper Co. Shimmer White, Papertrey White, DP Melissa Frances and Bo Bunny

Coloring: Copics, Memento Black

Accessories: Nesties, MS Punch, SU Slot Punch, Prima Flowers, Hero Arts Jewels, Michaels Sticker Pearls and Ribbon, JoAnns String Pearls and Craft Feathers

I hope you liked this card as much as I enjoyed making it. Please stop by again soon to see what else I have created.

Enjoy the weekend,

Mary

Fall Pleasures, Copic Creations Challenge #12

I love making Fall themed cards. I don't know if it's the beautiful colors or what the card represents, warm sweaters, colorful trees, crisp apples and pumpkins or Thanksgiving right around the corner. I made this card for the Copic Creations challenge #12, Copics and pencils.

I always knew you could color pencil over Copics to give depth or a touch of shading to an image, I just never thought to do it. Before I used Copics I seemed to color everything with Prisma Colored Pencils and Gamsol, then the Copic bug bit me and the pencils went into the draw and haven't seen the light of day until now. I colored over the Copics on the mouse's fur, the pumpkin and the leaves. I like the look of it, so thanks for this challenge. I think the pencils will stay out.

This cute image isn't my usual Fall image that I would buy but at my LSS it caught my eye on a sample card just as we walked in the store and sure enough it came home with me. I really didn't need another pumpkin but the candy corns were so different. The back round on the card was something new for me, it is digi DP from Gina K. I think I could really get use to using digi DP. I will still love my 6x6 packs of paper because it is scaled down for cards but this is a nice alternative. On top of the DP I punched squares out of the Cuttlebug embossed pumpkin patch.

I wanted to try something diffeent with the embossing. I also popped up some of the candy corns and glittered the veins on the leaves for some sparkle.

Supplies

Stamps: Great Impressions

Paper: SU Only Orange, Kiwi Kiss, Garden Green, Papertrey White and DP Gina K digi

Coloring: Copics, Prisma Colored Pencils, SU Kiwi Kiss, Memento Black

Accessories: Su Square Punch, Nesties, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Kaiser Pearls, Michaels Ribbon, Signo White Pen and SU Glitter

I hope you like what I created. I really appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment about my cards.

Enjoy the day,

Mary

I WON!!!!!

I am so excited! I just had to tell someone my news.

I never win anything but today that all changed, I won the blog candy from SQUIGGLEFLY Blog Hop yesterday. I got ALL the new releases from Crissy Armstrong. I love her work from when she designed for High Hopes and now I have her new digis from Squigglefly. Crissy is also sending goodies from her own private stash. I feel so lucky, thanks for letting me share it. For some reason no one at my house, (my DH and my DD) just couldn't understand my excitement.

I hope to get to play with them tomorrow now that I cleaned the house today, so stop by again soon to see what I created with them.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,
Mary

Good to the Last Drop, TSSC87

I am going to try to be better about posting earlier on challenges. This card was made for Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime sketch challenge 87. This is one of the Sugar Nellies that came in the Fall set. It is the first "boy" stamp that I have bought and I really like it, I usually go right for the girls.

The DP on this card was from a sheet that I saw at my LSS and loved the non-traditional Fall colors and the sparkle on it. Little did I know that it would be so hard to match to any other colors. I think I came close but it's not perfect like I like it to be. I am sure I'll try again with the scraps I have. I added Stickles to my leaves to tie it in to the DP leaves. I love my cards to sparkle whenever possible!

Supplies

Stamps: Sugar Nellie, Amuse

Paper: SU Cranberry Crisp, Sage Shadow, Papertrey White, DP Best Creations

Ink: Copics, Cranberry Crisp

Accessories: CloudMaker, Nesties, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Stickles, Jo Anns Ribbon, Leaf Punch, Kaiser Pearls

I hope you like my interpretation of this week's sketch. Mary Jo's sketches are always a lot of fun and every one's cards are fantastic! You should check them out or better yet play along.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think of my creations. I really do appreciate all your wonderful comments.

Have a wonderful day,

Mary

Fall Beauty, TSSC86

I started this card a couple of days ago planning on finishing it pretty quickly for Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime challenge, TSSC86. But things got in the way and I just finished it today. The only good thing about it was that I used some of my new Fall Basic Grey paper and the whole 6x6 pack is beautiful! I loved them all so much that I bought two packs of it! Also I used Smooch to make the berries and originally I only had red ones then yesterday I picked up the pumpkin color so then I decided to use my harvest color(yellow) to make three different color berries on the wreath. It now looks a lot more fallish. I guess things worked out for the best. I tried to take a close up of the wreath so you could see the bright, metallic shimmer of the Smooch colors, IRL it still shimmers a lot more.

Finally I thought the card needed a bit more texture so I used my Scor-it to make lines in the solid DP and the sanded them to make them stand out a bit more. I like the card to look balanced, KWIM? I am happy with the finished card though it evolved a lot from my first ideas.

Supplies
Stamps: Memory Box, Hero Arts
Paper: SU Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Papertrey White, DP Basic Grey
Ink: Memento Brown, Pumpkin Pie, Smooch Colors
Accessories: Scor-it Mini, Nesties, Recollections Pearls, Leaf Punch, Michaels Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my creation. I hope you liked it as much as I liked making it. Pleas stop by again soon.

Have a great start to the week,
Mary

Fall Friends, Sugar bowl Challenge 18

It definitely feels like Fall here in New England. The leaves are started to turn color and the air is crisp today. The only thing missing is the sun. I just got my new Fall Sugar Nellie set in the mail and couldn't wait to ink them up. This girl and the leaf are part of the set. The whole set is wonderful!

Since I was using my new stamps it was a perfect time to play in the sugar bowl again. The challenge, challenge 19, this week is a color, pink and brown, and a sketch challenge. It's a great sketch because it worked great to turn it on it's side to fit the image. Basic Grey must love this color combo because it was really hard to pick which papers to choose because they have a lot using these two colors. Our LSS called today and the new Basic Grey 6x6 paper packs are in and I'm picking mine up tomorrow, I love having new things to play with. Don't you?

Supplies
Stamps: Sugar Nellie
Papers: SU Choc. Chip, Pretty in Pink, DP Basic Grey
Ink: Copics, Choc. Chip, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Cloud Maker, Nesties, Punch Bunch Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Kaiser Pearls, Michaels Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you liked what I created for the challenge.
Come by again soon.

Have a wonderful day,
Mary

A Special Plea

It has been a beautiful day here in New England. The feel of Fall is here even though it is Labor Day. Everyone was gone this morning at my house so I got to finish up this card. It is going to a young girl in a hospital in Boston. Dustin Pike put out a plea for cards for this girl who had her arm amputated because of a boating accident while on vacation. My heart goes out to her and her family so this is the least I could do. If you would like to send her a card or read about her accident Erin has all the info on her blog here. Dustin is giving a free Digi Stamp of your choice to everyone who sends a card and Erin has blog candy to win for sending a card.

I was at Peggy's house so I stamped some images of her Motivet stamp she has, thanks Peggy. I love these stamps and thought it would be perfect for this card.

I also made this card for the Basic Grey Challenge week 3 this week's challenge is an inspiration challenge. I decided to use the colors in the room and a some frills to the card because of what looks like lace curtains on the windows.

One last tidbit I have to offer. The first time I used this Spellbinder die on a card I hated it because of all the trouble to get it separated from the die. I said this exactly in my post! Well I now have to say I found the solution and love this design now. All you need to do is put a piece of wax paper on top of the die before you put your paper down on top of the die. After you crank it through the Cuttlebug the cut paper and the wax paper pop right out of the die, soo easily now!So if you love these new intricate dies don't be afraid to buy them just make sure you have the wax paper handy.

Supplies

Stamps: Motivet, Stampin Up

Paper: SU Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, The Paper Co Shimmer White, DP Basic Grey

Ink: Copics, memento Black

Accessories: Spellbinder die, Nesties, MS punch, Bow Easy, Primas, Walmart Ribbon, Michaels Sticker Pearls and JoAnn's Eyelet trim

I hope if you have a minute you will consider sending a card to this young girl. She has a rough road ahead and could you all the prayers and well wishes that we can send.

Thanks for stopping by,

Mary

Motivet Blog Candy!

Motivet is giving away as blog candy these wonderful new stamps. They are just sooo cute. I would love to win them. How about you? Just go to their blog and follow the instructions, just too easy! Hurry though you only have until September 13.

Good Luck,

Mary

Happy Birthday Peggy!

Anyone who knows me knows my sister Peggy. Today is her Birthday, Happy Birthday Peggy!!!
I made this card for her. I wanted to use an image that she didn't know that I had so it would be a surprise. Since we go shopping together for our stamping stuff (we usually pick the same things to buy) it was tough. I found this pretty flower pot on Fred, She Said's blog and thought immediately that Peggy would like it. Thank you Tracey (Fred), it was so nice of you to offer it to everyone.

I decided to do it in bright colors because I wanted the flowers look like they were in full bloom. . I was lucky though the card was almost done and I was stamping the Birthday Wishes and the ink pad was open. I bumped the table and knocked the card over and it fell on the ink pad. I almost died, but luckily I was able to pull it apart and replace the paper where the ink hit it. It ended up good as new! The only think different on the second try was I changed the ribbon because I didn't really like my first choice as much. I am sure Peggy is going to like it, which is all that matters!

Supplies
Stamps: Fred, She Said Digi Stamps, SU
Paper: SU Lavender Lace, Papertrey White, The Paper Co. Shimmer White, DP Basic Grey and Magenta
Ink: Copics, Memento Black
Accessories: Nesties, MS punch EK Success Corner Punch, Michaels Sticker Pearls, LSS Ribbon and Misc Pearl Pins.

Thanks for stopping by today. If you have a minute let me know what you think of this Birthday card, I really appreciate your comments.

Have a wonderful holiday,
Mary

Happy Fall, TSSC85

I couldn't wait to pull out all my fall stamps, especially the new ones like this cart. When we went to the Springfield Convention there was a stamp company there, Class Act Stamps, with lots of wonderful stamps, I couldn't resist buying a few. I am glad I did I think their image makes a really nice Fall card, don't you.

I made this card for Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime challenge, TSSC85. It was a fun sketch to work with, nice and simple so I could use a creative touch to make it my own. The whole card was made with scrap pieces of paper that I kept because I loves the colors or design on them. I am not sure who made them because I couldn't find the names anymore and I sort my paper by everything but maker. The mesh ribbon is really pretty and it looks great IRL but I couldn't get it to photograph well, it looks messy in the pic, it is done in a ribbon candy sort of wave.

Supplies
Stamps: Class Act Stamps, SU,
Paper: SU Choc. Chip, Papertrey White, Paper Co. Metallic Rust, DP unknown
Inks: Copics, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Nesties, EK Success Punch, Recollections Fall Pearls, Michaels Ribbon and misc. brads

Thanks for stopping by today to see my latest creation. I really appreciate your wonderful comments that you leave for me.

Have a wonderful Holiday weekend,
Mary

Treasure The Moment, Copic Creations Challenge #11

I am officially back to school and the kids are wonderful this year just like many other years. I guess because it is just about Labor Day I decided this would be my last "summer" card. I am so ready to move onto Fall. I didn't want to save this cute High Hopes stamp though till next year.

I made this card for the Copic Creations #11 challenge, use your favorite color combos. Mine happen to be Earthy browns, pinks, purples and shades of green when it comes to Copics. I love all the Copic colors but don't always have combos that I like together. The DT cards are gorgeous like always and the Sponsor is Mo's Digital Pencil Too. The images are so cute with lots of beautiful details.

I didn't do a lot of extras on this card, I thought the image was detailed enough. I did pop up the flower to give the impression of an umbrella and added the floating leaves after to balance the card out. The saying seemed fitting because we'll be knee deep in snow before we know it longing for a summer day again!

Supplies

Stamps: High Hopes, PSX, Stampin' Up

Paper: SU Bashful Blue, Orchid Opulence, Papertrey White, and DP Basic Grey, Magenta

Ink: Bashful Blue, Memento Black and Copics

Accessories: Nesties, Twine and Beads from JoAnns

I hope you enjoyed this card. I really appreciate you stopping by and letting me know what you think of my creations.

Have a wonderful day,

Mary