Bloggers' Challenge - In Bloom

Well the weekend is almost over! Between caring for a sick husband and finalizing Valentines for precious family, there has been little time for my artistic pursuits the past few days. I did manage to work on the latest Bloggers' Challenge, which is called "In Bloom." How we interpret is up to us. I just received a miniature book of clip art with flowers and butterflies from Crafty Individuals (CI) and decided to use this pink daisy for my bloom. I mounted it simply on a white doily and then mounted it to a manila tag that I hand dyed years ago with Easter egg dye. To mute the pink tag, I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The little girl looking upward is also from CI, as are the butterflies and dragonfly and sentiment. All the elements were added to a distressed background paper panel which was softened with Pan Pastels. The ribbon and bow were hand dyed with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. Finishing embellishments include stacked vintage buttons, pink and white baker's twine, lace and pearls. Thanks so much for dropping by. Yvonne

FSC - New Year, New Stash!

As this post goes live, it is a New Year in many parts of the world! Over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge, they thought it might be fun to use some of your new stash you received over the holidays to kick off the New Year! For my own card, I received a new stack of designer background card stock from my daughter. The stamps from Vintage Circus and Big Top Circus by Oxford Impressions were a gift to myself and are making their debut with this post. I stamped the various images and sentiments with Black Memento Ink and water colored the images with a variety of Distress Inks. I elected to keep the colors muted to give a vintage feel to my scene. The embellishments are limited to some Black Liquid Pearls and some black and white Baker's Twine, which I also distressed to tone down the bright white. You will absolutely want to check out the other Design Team Members samples for inspiration, and then it is your turn! Please remember to check FSC for the specifics. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

( I am also adding this card to Lisa Somerville's Blogger's Challenge - Celebrating the Circus Coming to Town!)

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Traveling Around the World

There's a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge! For the next two weeks, we will be focused on the the theme "Traveling Around the World!" The skies the limit on this one. Will you choose a plane, a boat, or some other image to convey travel? For my own card, I decided to work with a brand new plate of stamps called French Flight by Artistic Outpost. A big thank you to AO who gifted me with the plate of stamps as a thank you for being published in the latest Take Ten Magazine with cards featuring AO stamps. I began with a white card stock panel and distressed it with Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Faded Jeans Distress Inks. I stamped the script in Iced Spruce Distress Ink over the distressed panel. The various images were also stamped with Distress Ins and mounted either directly or with foam dots for dimension. I added several words in Festive Berry Distress Ink for contrast. Bits of red, white and blue twine and ribbon, some silver Liquid Pearls, and some very vintage buttons complete my card. You will be delighted with the variety of samples on display at FSC by the other Design Team Members. As always, there is a wonderful prize at stake and please make sure to read the few rules associated with this challenge. Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to seeing what each of you dream up! Best, Yvonne

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - As Time Goes By

Greetings! It is sooooo great to be back on my blog and back to following many of yours. The past two weeks have been a blur as my husband underwent some surgery. My apologies to those of you who have been so kind to leave comments, I should be able to do a better job of responding from here out.

I am most excited about the new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenge (FSC). The theme is "As Time Goes By." For those who know me, it is no secret that I am a literalist! My first thought went to the movie with the song in it with the same name. I confess I have never seen the movie, but my research on the movie, Casablanca, led me to select the elements above for my card. The loving couple image is by Art Declassified. The beautiful Eiffel Tower is by Stampsmith. (I just love how you look up at the tower!) The postcard stamp was a gift by Crafty Individuals when I ordered some other stamps. (Thank you!) The plane is by K & Company, and the sentiment was made with an Alphabet Set by Studio G. Other elements include lace, number stickers, background musical paper, LOTS of Distress Inks, vintage buttons and Baker's Twine.

I cannot wait for you to take a peak at the creations from the rest of the Design Team. You will be so inspired! We cannot wait to see your take on the theme, too. Just a reminder, we must be able to see your stamping and, please, no Digis. See FSC for full details including the deadline for your submission.

Have a wonderful weekend. Best, Yvonne

Tuesday Trigger - Finesse the Dress

It's another Tuesday Trigger at Moxy Fab! This week, we are to make a card as inspired by the dress above. I immediately thought of this previously uninked stamp by Inkadinkado and stamped it in London Fog Memento Ink onto a Turquoise scrap and matted the image in white and metallic gray. A simple gray strip punched with a Martha Stewart border punch replicates the hem of the dress. The scalloped doily behind the image also replicates, somewhat, the bodice of the dress. The sentiment is by Stampa Rosa and embellishments include gauze flowers by Tim Holtz and Baker's Twine by Divine Twine. Looking forward to seeing everyone else's takes on the photo! Thanks for dropping by. Best, Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 182 - buttons and bows

Wow! It seems like forever since I have sat down to make a card! Been traveling a lot, preparing for Hurricanes and hosting family. Finally had a quiet day before I head out again and tried to catch up on long lost challenges. At 365 Cards, for Day 182, the challenge is Buttons and Bows. Your card must have five buttons and five bows. I made this card today for the challenge and it will go to my niece for her birthday. The image and sentiment are by Anita's and the embellishments include Divine Twine , flowers by Martha Stewart. and gems by Bazzil Basics. Great to be back in blogland. Take care. Yvonne