Time for Tea!

Hello!  Back with another "day late" post for the new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu where this week the Pink Team is focused on projects around the theme of "Time."  I am traveling and have my trusty duffle bag with me and just happened to have this beautiful new collage image by Crafty Individuals along.  The image was stamped with Black StazOn Ink and water colored with Distress Markers.  The stacked teacups on the card base, also by CI, were stamped with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  A bit of lace, some buttons and seam binding complete my card.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  I sure hope you will consider joining the EE challenge and you will certainly want to pop over to see the varied projects by the talented Design Team.  Hugs, Yvonne

Go Wild! See the World!

Greetings!  I am a bit late with this post, which should have been on my blog yesterday.  It is for the new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge where the theme this week is "Mail Time."  Lots of different ways to interpret this one.  I hope you will stop over to see what the Design Team has created for some inspiration and then create a project of your own for the chance to win a $20 gift voucher from our generous sponsor FlonzCraft.  

For my own card, I decided to work with a new plate of images from Crafty Individuals.  Both focal images include postmarks.  Everything was stamped with Timber Brown StazOn Ink and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The panel along the left side is from Classics#6 Stampers Anonymous, which I purchased recently from the lovely Linda over at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  I will also be submitting this to The Sunday Share Challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  

This has been an extremely emotional week for me.  My dear husband retired on Thursday after 36 years at his position.  Since we married 13 years ago, we have traveled throughout our State and the Country and have many wonderful friends we catch up with on a regular bases.  It caught me quite unaware that going forward I may not see most of these folks ever again.  Retirement is surely a transition, and a new beginning!  Thanks for listening and for dropping by.  Always love to hear from you.  Hugs, Yvonne

Girlfriends Rock!

Greetings! Today, we have a new challenge over at Inkspirations.  We are working on the sketch below.  

After layering Designer Background Paper onto a card base, a Sizzix die was used to create frame.  The image within the frame is from Crafty Individuals as is the sentiment under the frame.  A touch of tissue tape, some black Liquid Pearls and vintage seam binding complete my card.  Our sponsor for June is Milk 'N Coffee Digital Stamps.  We hope you will join in for a chance to win the monthly prize.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Yvonne

The Beauty of a Mother and Child

Greetings!  It is Wednesday and that means a new Word Wednesday Challenge over at 365 Cards!  This week, our challenge is to create a card around the word "Beautiful."  My youngest daughter had a baby last week, and first thought that came to my mind around the word "beautiful" was seeing a mother bond with her newborn child.  Designer background paper was layered over a white card base and a paper doily was layered next.  The images and sentiment are from Graphic 45, Hampton Arts, and were stamped with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink.  The edges were distressed with Faded Jeans Distress Ink.  The baby carriage was lifted with foam dots for dimension.  I look forward to seeing how you interpret the word "beautiful."    

Remember Unicycles?

Time for another challenge over at The Craft Barn for their Alpha Challenge.  This time around, we are focused on the letter "U."  I had several ideas, but others had already selected the same word.  Hopefully, the word "unicycle" was not yet chosen, but it is okay if it was.  I chose an image from Artistic Outpost for the unicycle.  Metal sprockets by Idea-ology were added for a touch of sparkle.  Thanks for dropping by.  Yvonne

Memories Are Forever

Greetings!  It's time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational.  This week, we have a CASE challenge based on the sample below.

For my card, I embossed a piece of card stock with an embossing folder by Alterations.  The sentiment and accompanying image are by Stampington.  Paper leaves were layered along the bottom of the card.  A simple paper bow by Idea-ology was added to complete my card.  I hope you will check out what the rest of the Design Team has created to inspire you to create a project of your own.  Our sponsor for June is Milk 'N Coffee and you could be win 3 Digis if you are the monthly winner!  Thanks for stopping by.  Yvonne

Glad to Hear You're on the Mend!

Greetings!  It is Wednesday and that means it is time for Word Wednesday over at 365 Cards.  This week, our word is "Cheer."  How we interpret the challenge is up to us.  After looking through my stash, I decided to create this card around a sewing theme and the little note in the sewing box that says "Glad to Hear You're On the Mend."  The images are from Gecko Galz, the sentiment is by Artistic Outpost.  Some buttons, seam binding fashioned into a bow, a portion of a paper doily, liquid pearls and braid complete my card. I cannot wait to see what you come up with for your project! Thanks for stopping by.  Yvonne

Life is a Circus

The weeks fly by and already it is time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge!  This time around, our challenge is to "Try Something New."  It could be a new to you technique, new paper, ink, images... you get the picture!  I am really trying to learn more techniques, so I decided that was what I would focus on for my own card.  I began with a square of white card stock, sprayed Dylusions inks, spritzed on some water to add spots and then for my new to me technique, dug out some embossing paste and a spatula that has literally been sitting in my art room at least seven years and smooshed it through a Dylusions stencil.  Now when I purchased the paste and spatula, they were featured at my local stamp store for use with brass stencils!  Remember those?!  Life got busy and I never got around to it until now.  The paste was white, but the water based Dylusions Inks softened the white as they melded together.  Love the raised texture that was achieved and it was truly not difficult.  The images and sentiments are from Oxford Impressions.  They were stamped with Timber Brown StazOn Ink, trimmed, water colored with Distress Markers and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The clown in the corner was raised a bit with foam dots.  I recently, while packing up my art room, found an unopened pouch of tiny jingle bells for which I have been searching for years.  They finally appeared and I thought it was a nice touch for the clown's hat.  Some Chrome Liquid Pearls and my card is complete.  I hope you will hop on over to FSC to see how my Design Team Sisters challenged themselves.  Then, I hope you will challenge yourself and submit a project of your own for a chance to win a $20 gift voucher from our generous sponsor, FlonzCraft!  Thanks for stopping by!  Yvonne 

Jump for Joy!

Greetings!  It's Saturday, and the Pink Team's turn over at Eclectic Ellapu for a new challenge.  This time, we are asked to create a project around summer and sunshine.  

I chose to work with this beautiful set of images from Crafty Individuals.  As soon as I saw this set, I was drawn to it.  I love the beach, and the young ladies just embody that free spirit you have for a day at the beach.  

I began by smooshing Bundled Sage, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Peeled Paint and Burnished Brass Distress Paints on my Craft Pad and spritzing with water.  I dragged my card stock through it and spritzed more water until I was satisfied with the marbling.  The edges were distressed and torn and the then mounted to a blue mat and the card base.  The images were stamped with Timber Brown StazOn Ink and adhered to Crunchy Wax Paper by Paper Artsy using Kraft Photo Corners.  I lightly water colored the images with Distress Markers.  I decided to add the white ribbon along the bottom as the stars added sparkle and reminded me a bit of star fish.  I added some cheese cloth to the card front, bits of burlap string and some metal sea charms.  Can you smell the salt air?!  I sure hope you will check out the rest of the Design Teams projects and then share your own with us.  I am also submitting this card to the current Sea, Sun and Beach challenge at Crafty Individuals.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Best, Yvonne

Huge News!

No card to share this evening, just some great news!  I am excited to share with you that I will be the featured Guest Artist for Stampers Sampler published by Stampington Co. in July 2013.  

I have been pouring over Stampers Sampler and Take Ten magazine for a decade and have learned so much from all the submissions shared by artists from around the world.  

In 2008, as one of my New Year's Resolutions, I decided to submit some cards to one of their challenges and was amazed and delighted when a complimentary copy of their magazine showed up in my mail drop.  I was exhilarated!  What a wonderful opportunity for anyone in the papercrafting community!

I was delighted beyond belief to be asked to be the Guest Artist in the upcoming Stampers Sampler issue  and hope you will have an opportunity to pick up a copy when it becomes available. Thank you for sharing in my joy!

Best wishes,
Yvonne

Sailing, Sailing, Over the Waves We Go!

Hello!  Back with another post today for the start of a new challenge over at Inkspirational based on the Photo below.  

I was most excited when I saw the Photo Inkspiration as I love all things nautical.  (My husband is a sailor!)  For my card, I chose to work with these gorgeous images from Paper Artsy.  The background was created by smooshing various Distress Inks on a Craft Mat, spritzing with water and dragging my card stock through it.  The images were stamped onto more card stock, water colored with Distress Markers and the edges distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  A metal charm, bits of dark blue burlap string and some Copper Liquid Pearls and my card is complete.  I encourage you to pop over to Inkspirational to see what the rest of the design team has come up with and then I hope you will submit a project of your own.  Our sponsor for the month of June is Milk 'N Coffee and one lucky submitter will win three Digis.  Thanks for dropping by.  Yvonne

Vintage Father's Day

Greetings!  It's Wednesday, and that means it is time for another Word Wednesday over at 365 Cards!  Maybe you guessed, but if not, our word this week is "Father."  Perfect timing, as this Sunday, we celebrate "Father's Day" in the United States.  I love all things vintage and when I saw these images at Gecko Galz, I knew they would be perfect for upcoming Father's Day cards.  The edges were distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, matted with black paper and layered onto chocolate textured paper before adding to the card base.  Simple embellishments include Chrome Liquid Pearls and vintage seam binding.  My own father is gone some 29 years, but I have lots of other family members to honor on Sunday.  I hope you will consider joining us for this week's Word Wednesday!  Thanks for stopping.  Yvonne

Happy Swirly Bird-Day!

There's a new Color Challenge over at Inkspirational.  You will delight in the crisp, colorful inkspiration pieces my design team sisters have created for you!  Our sponsor this month is Milk N' Coffee Digital Stamps.

I am rather new to digital images. My card features this beautiful Swirly Bird by Milk N' Coffee.  I decided to go for a CAS design  rather than my usual collage style.  After sleeping on my creation, I switched out the seam binding bow to add more of the star fruit color and added some Wild Honey Distress Ink through punchella to the white background.  We sure hope you will be inkspired to create a piece of your own to be in the running for 3 Digis from Milk N' Coffee at month end.  Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs, Yvonne

We All Have Magic Inside Us

Greetings! It's Wednesday and that means another Word Wednesday Challenge over at 365 Cards.  The challenge word is "Magic."  I must admit that I was at first stumped about what to create.  I wasn't certain I had any stamp images that were appropriate.  Fortunately, after going through my Artistic Outpost images, things started to come together.  I chose several images from the Picture Star plate and a sentiment from Quote and Quotables.  The background was created with Squeezed Lemonade and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks.  Simple embellishments include gold star stickers, a black seam binding bow and a piece of film strip and some playing cards by Idea-ology. A far cry from what I first envisioned, but I am pleased with the end result.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Yvonne

Go Fish!

Greetings!  This post is in response to the current Alpha/Dictionary Challenge at The Craft Barn where our challenge is to create a project around the letter F and specifically between Fe and Fr.  I chose the word "Fish."  The fish images are by Paper Artsy and were water colored with Distress Markers and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Burlap string and Copper Liquid Pearls complete my page.  We will soon be at the half way point!  My book is starting to take shape.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Best, Yvonne

By Your Side

Greetings!  It is time once again for a new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu for the the Pink Team!  Our challenge is to create a project around "Things with Wings."  That gives you a lot of latitude  as you will see when you see what the Design Team has come up with.  For my own card, I decided to work with this quirky set of ducks (with wings) and sentiment from Crafty Individuals.  The background was created with Mowed Lawn, Wild Honey and Broken China Distress Paints.  A snippet of seam binding, buttons and burlap string complete my card.  I sure hope you will consider joining our challenge and please do stop over to Eclectic Ellapu to peruse the rest of the Design Team's inspiration pieces.  Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs, Yvonne

Under the Boardwalk Down By the Sea

Greetings!  The weeks fly by so fast.  Already, it is time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  Our latest challenge is called "Tag Time."  Unbelievably, right after I joined FSC back in 2011, we had a Tag Challenge.  It was probably the very first time I had ever made a tag!  How can a tag be so different than a card?  Not sure, but to this day, I struggle with tags.  I have been traveling for nearly 10 days and just got home to find my new plate of stamps from Artistic Outpost called Boardwalk.  If you follow my blog, you know that AO stamps are some of my very favorites.  When I saw the release of Boardwalk, there was NO question as to acquiring this plate.  Since I was old enough to remember (age 3 to 4), I have vivid memories of vacationing in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  We always visited the Steel Pier and it was indeed a genteel experience.  Times have changed but my memories will be there for a lifetime.  My tag was created from white card stock, sprayed with various colors of Dylusions Ink Sprays.  The Boardwalk images were stamped directly onto the tag or onto card stock and trimmed and water colored and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The trio of sun bathers were mounted on foam dots and I cannot help but think at least one of them has eyes for the brawny gentleman in the corner of the tag!  A few sea shells and some vintage seam binding complete my tag.  I hope you will stop over to FSC to see the glorious, inspiring tags of the Design Team, and then create a tag of your own to share with us at FSC for a possible Gift Voucher for $20 from our sponsor FlonzCraft.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Yvonne

Memories Are Forever

Greetings!  It is time for another challenge over at Inkspirational!  With five weeks in May, this week's challenge is "Anything Goes!"

For my project, I played with Distress Paints to create this colorful backdrop.  Tissue tape was layered over top.  The ledger image by Artistic Outpost was colored with Distress Inks.  The letters, also by Artistic Outpost were stamped, trimmed and assembled to say "School Days."  The focal image is one of my very favorites and has been in my collection a long time.  After stamping it on a scrap of white card stock, the children were water colored with Distress Inks.  I hope will stop over to Inkspirational to see what the rest of the Design Team has created to inspire you and then I hope you will inspire us with a creation of your own!  

Our sponsor for the month of May is Tammy of Creatively Me!