Beach Baby

Here's another card I've been meaning to share. I made it a couple weeks ago. Kind of appropriate to share today...as this is the last day of my summer break, and I am already longing for a trip back to the beach. I report back to duty tomorrow in a different school teaching a different grade. Needless to say I am busy, busy, busy seeing as how I just found out about the change in assignment on Thursday. Eek!

The image used on this card is a digital image from The Stamping Boutique. It is called "Baby Boy on the Beach".

I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock, and colored with Copic markers. Highlights of the water were made with a white gel pen. I cut around the oval, which is actually a part of the image.

A strip of patterned paper from Hot Off The Press was placed onto kraft. A small sun-like image was cut with a Cuttlebug die and adhered with a gold brad.

The sentiment is from My Favorite Things and was stamped using Versafine Onyx Black.

Thanks so much for visiting. I have a post scheduled for tomorrow, and some other cards in the making. Just know I must put my first graders first. Things are bound to settle soon. ;-)

To the Beach (and Back)

Last week, my husband and I returned to our honeymoon destination for our first anniversary...Ocean Isle Beach, NC. It was an awesome "Part 2", and this week, I find myself missing the beach so much. I tell you, I would live there if I could figure out a way. But for now, beach images will have to do.

The image used on this card is a digital image from The Stamping Boutique. It is called "Beach Baby With a Hat".

I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. Highlights on the water were made with a white gel pen.

I framed the image with black cardstock and placed on an off-white card base.

Very CAS...I thought the image truly speaks for itself.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. Hope the image was a little "escape" for you too.

Whee! Humidity!

I made this card a few days ago, but I'm just now able to share it due to a photography issue. It is so hot and HUMID here, that whenever I take my camera outside (which is where I take photographs of my cards), the lens immediately fogs up with moisture. It has been so frustrating. I was thankful for a storm yesterday evening, that cooled things off, albeit briefly, so that I could take these pictures. (Santa, if you are reading, I think I need a light box).

The digital image is called "Swinging Cynthia". She is from The Stamping Boutique. I printed her onto X-Press It cardstock and colored her with Copic markers. I added Stickles to the image for a little sparkle. Patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs and My Big Ideas form the layers to this card. I printed the image again to cut out two clouds to place outside the image panel. Small butterfly brads were used, along with some Baker's Twine.

The sentiment was stamped on a scrap piece of paper (sorry, unknown source) with Versafine Black Onyx, and is from a $1 Studio G stamp from Michaels.

There are more cards to share on the horizon, and I will do so whenever Mother Nature allows me to do so. Until then, stay cool!

Eh?

Some members of The Stamping Boutique's Design Team are getting together to show a little Canadian and American patriotism. If you came from the amazingly talented Collette's blog, you are in the right place. If not, you'll want to start from the beginning of the hop...The Stamping Boutique's Challenge Blog.

We had our choice of two images, a Canadian moose or an American eagle. Though I am American, I had to go with the Canada Day Moose. He was just too cute to pass up. So, I made a Canada Day card.

I printed the image from The Stamping Boutique onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I then placed the image panel onto a piece of red cardstock, with the intention of somewhat mimicking the Canadian flag. I then used my Olivia Cuttlebug alphabet dies to cut the sentiment. Pretty cute, but simple, eh?

I wish all of my blog visitors a safe, happy weekend, from wherever you may hail.

Now, go visit the very talented Stacie, to see what she has to share.

Sparkling Happiness

I truly can't get enough of these Fairy Cynthia images from The Stamping Boutique. This particular digital image is called "Cynthia Pushing the Mushroom Cart".

In real life, this card sparkles. It is my first try with Curious Metallics Cryogen White cardstock, and I must say the Copics take to it very well. There is such a subtle sparkle to the paper...very nice, though I think X-Press It cardstock and Neenah seem "whiter" if that makes any sense. It is a plus that my printer accepted the Cryogen with no problem.

So, I printed the image onto the Cryogen cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I added some Stickles to the wings for some more sparkle. The sentiment is from Studio G, one of those $1 stamps from Michaels. I stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black.

Patterned paper from My Mind's Eye provide the layers for this particular card. One panel was run through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder. I paper pierced around the larger panel. The image panels has dimension due to Pop-Dots. Buttons with twine were added to the card for the finishing touches.

So glad you dropped by my blog today. I wish you a pleasant weekend.

Hello, Sunflowers

I wanted to share with you today a new digital image from The Stamping Boutique. It is appropriately called "Sunflower".

I printed the image twice onto X-Press It cardstock and colored both with Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, and a Lemon atyouSpica marker. I then set out to make this scene dimensional by cutting around parts of the image and using Pop-Dots to raise portions of the scene. My Cutter-bee scissors get the credit for the intricate cutting.

Then, I placed the finished image onto patterned paper from The Paper Studio and Creative Imaginations. These panels are framed with a brown cardstock. The loop decoration was cut from a Memory Box die.

The sentiment and butterfly were stamped with Marvy Dark Brown ink and are from a My Favorite Things set called "Bundles of Bouquets", both stamped on the Creative Imaginations paper.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I hope you visit again soon.

Alone

I was in the mood to color today. I decided that Tracey's digital image "Alone" from The Stamping Boutique would be a fun one to tackle. I was right. Also, I think three straight dreams about being at the beach might indicate I need some type of vacation, and could have influenced my choice. For now, beach images are all I've got, LOL.

I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. Some light marks with a Sakura glitter pen highlight the mermaid's fins. I cut around the image, and then printed it a second time onto some tan cardstock. I adhered the first image to the second image, allowing me to hold onto to the details of dots, stars, etc. of the entire image. From there, I stamped a shell border from PSX with Brilliance Pearlescent Beige Pigment ink and colored with various colored pencils. I didn't want to detract from the main image, but thought there needed to be a little ground clutter. Then, with Marvy black dye ink I stamped the bird from My Favorite Things 'By the Seashore" set onto the image once, and off the image twice. The sentiment is also from PSX, and was stamped onto a torn sheet of white cardstock. Some light sponging around the sentiment panel with SeaShells Sandal dye ink was done. A black cardstock panel, and then a white cardstock panel frame the tan panel.

This was a fun card to make, though I know an actual beach would be a lot more fun. Oh well, here's hoping.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I hope it was a little escape for you too.

Summer Laundry Line

As promised, here's the card I made for this past weekend's One Stop Blog Hop for The Stamping Boutique.

I absolutely adore this image from The Stamping Boutique. It is called "Summer Laundry Line." I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I added the ocean to the image by drawing it into the image. Faint whitecaps were made with a white gel pen. I sponged the clouds with SeaShells Cloudy Blue dye ink. I framed the image with black cardstock. The large panel behind the image is patterned paper from The Paper Studio. Bakers twine was tied around the card, and the sentiment is from Fiskars. It was stamped with Marvy black dye ink.

Summer??? Are we there yet??? Oh yes we are!!! So glad to be off now for a couple months. Woot!

Check back again soon. Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

One Stop Blog Hop

I made a card to share with you today, but it is a part of The Stamping Boutique's One Stop Blog Hop this weekend.

So, hop on over there and guess which card is mine. Then, vote for your favorite card for a chance to win an image from The Stamping Boutique. You will totally fall in love with the summer laundry line image. It is perfect for summertime cards.

And, be sure to check back on Monday for a full post on the card that is mine.

Enjoy the weekend. I'm off to enjoy summer, or laundry. Decisions. Decisions.

Wish

The school year is winding down, so there is a lot more stamping time on the horizon. Wishes really do come true!

This image, called "Birthday Fairy" is available from The Stamping Boutique. I printed it onto X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers. So much fun! I added Stickles to highlight the wings, and put some sparkles into the cupcake. I paper pierced around the image panel.

The other panels were made using patterned paper from Lasting Impressions, The Paper Studio and black cardstock. I paper pierced along the Lasting Impressions panel. I added some ribbon, and used a Nestabilities die to cut the shape for the sentiment, which is from Stampendous and was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

This card was actually inspired by the current Inspiration Challenge #286 on Splitcoast, specifically this napkin. I immediately thought of Tracey's image. I did deviate from the little girl pink colors, using other colors to try and make this a more general purpose birthday card, rather than a card for a little girl.

Wishes really do come true...go to The Stamping Boutique to grab some images at 35% off through Memorial Day. They truly are so much fun to color.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.

Proud Paisley Peacock

This weekend Splitcoast is hosting Virtual Stamp Night Challenges. They are so much fun. However, it almost seems criminal to stay inside and stamp today, since it is finally a beautiful sunny day here. What has it been? About two months since we've seen the sun?

I did sneak some time to participate in the "Polly Wanna Cracker" Challenge, which is to make a brightly colored square card using a bird image.

I've been wanting to color "Paisley Peacock" from The Stamping Boutique for a few weeks now, so this challenge finally satisfied the urge. I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I added many touches of Stickles, so in real life, the card truly glistens. Patterned paper from Bo Bunny and black cardstock make up the layers of this card. A sheer ribbon and a small tag cut with a Cuttlebug die puts the finishing touches on this card. The sentiment of "So Proud" is computer-generated.

I'm so proud of myself for balancing my day between sunshine and stamping, though I fear now that the sun has gone down, I may pull an all-nighter in my stamp room.

Stacked Presents

Whew! It has been a busy May, with no signs of it letting up anytime soon. The end of the school year is just crazy, like always. But, I did sneak in some coloring time today, so I thought I would share the results.

The image is a recently released image from The Stamping Boutique. It is called "Stacked Presents". I printed it onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. Patterned paper from Bo Bunny and bright blue cardstock form the layers to this card. A curly ribbon and orange rhinestones help embellish the card, along with little highlights of Stickles. The sentiment is a $1 stamp from Michaels, stamped with Marvy Dye black ink.

I made this card for my stash of cards, though I was inspired by the following challenges...Make a Tall Card at Paper Playtime and Spots or Stripes at Lexi's Creations.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. I will be coloring for sanity during the next couple weeks, so check back soon. I should have something to share. Have a great week.

Brighter Days Ahead

No, nothing is wrong. No worries here. I guess all of the rain we've been having here has made it into my stamp room. Funny thing is, when I started this card, my vision was to make a bright, bold card. And this is the gloomy result? LOL! I actually have no idea how my final product will ever look, until it is done.

I printed the digital image "Rainy Cynthia" from The Stamping Boutique onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers. The patterned paper panels are scraps from my blue paper bin. I am sorry I don't know the source of these papers, but I can almost guarantee I purchased them at JoAnns and/or Hobbylobby and I've seen them there time and time again. Black cardstock frame these panels, and the layout is from Sketch Challenge #327 on Splitcoast. Three crystal beads were affixed to the card. The sentiment is computer-generated and the cloud around the sentiment is hand drawn by me.

Make your day a bright one, regardless of the weather! Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

PEEPS!

I was so delighted when Tracey Malnofski drew this image for The Stamping Boutique. It is called "Easter Cupcake", and though that cupcake looks divine, those that know me know that the Peeps are what call my name this time of year. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Peeps, to the point I'll probably go into some form of mourning after Easter when they are no longer available.

I printed the digital image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Some sparkling highlights were added to the Peep bunnies using an atyouSpica pen and a Sakura glitter pen. I cut a frame around the image using a Nestabilities die. The image was then adhered to a Lasting Impressions patterned paper panel. A sheer white ribbon was added, along with what seems to be a perfect sentiment from Whimsie Doodles.

I created this card for the current challenge at Hanna and Friends Challenge Blog. The challenge is to simply make an Easter card. Very appropriate indeed. Hop on over, as The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring this challenge.

Wishing you all a very Peep-filled weekend!

"Seas The Day!'

I have been off the entire week for spring break. Though an ocean getaway sounds delightful and certainly would have been my first choice, it has been relaxing just to be at home. I've tinkered a lot in my stamp room, worked on a bit of organizing and cleaning around the house, had some routine doctors' appointments and spent a fun day yesterday in Cincinnati with my husband, seizing a rare common day off.

I want to share my latest creation using the image "Uncommon Friendship" from The Stamping Boutique. I printed it onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. The layout is a simple one, using patterned paper from Colorbok and The Paper Studio. The sentiment of "Seas the Day!" is computer-generated. Small crystal beads and a sheer off-white ribbon put the finishing touches on this card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've got a couple cards to share with you tomorrow, so I hope you'll return.

Until then, seas the day!

A Birthday Hop

Blog Hop time for The Stamping Boutique!

Today we are showing you some of Tracy's images that are just perfect for birthdays. We all need birthday images, right?

I printed the image called "Cynthia On Birthday Cake" onto some X-Press It cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers. The wings have Crystal Stickles on them to give the image lots of sparkle. The image panel was cut using a Nestabilities circle die and sponged with Distress Ink Spun Sugar. The layout was created with patterned paper from Lasting Impressions, a scrap piece of pink velvet-like paper, and brown cardstock.

I created some button balloons with twine string and added the sentiment from Stampendous. Four brown brads were also added details to this card.

Hop on over to the amazingly talented Marie's blog, to see another birthday treat.

Sew Grateful

Sew Grateful...that's what I'm going to be when this week comes to a conclusion. Quite the busy week at work, with zero time for stamping.

I do have one card to share with you that I made in response to this week's Digital Tuesday Challenge, of which The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring this week. Challenge #103 is to use buttons. I reached immediately for "Patch", an adorable image from The Stamping Boutique.

I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I then used a Nestabilities circle die to cut and emboss the image panel. The rest of the card uses Heidi Grace patterned paper, and a scalloped edge of a scrap of pink Bazzill cardstock. I added a little stitching along the side with pink floss from Sew Easy. The sentiment is computer-generated, and some buttons were added to complete the card.

Sew ready for the upcoming weekend. ;-)

Tulips for Mom

The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring a Mother's Day card challenge at the Crafty Creations challenge blog today. I thought it would be fun to play along.

I fell in love with this new image called "Tulip Fairy" from The Stamping Boutique. I printed it onto X-Press It cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers. A little sparkle was added on the fairy's wings using a Sakura glitter pen. Lavender cardstock and patterned paper from Hot Off The Press make up the layout for this card. The image panel and the lavender have corners that were rounded by a corner punch. A soft sheer lavender ribbon adds some dimension to the card, and the sentiment is from Hampton Arts.

I hope my Mom doesn't read my blog, LOL!

Pop!

As promised, here is the card I made for this past Saturday's circus-themed blog hop for The Stamping Boutique.

I chose to work with the image called "Popcorn". I printed it onto X-Press It cardstock. I colored it with Copic markers. I added some Tulip Puffy Paint to add texture to the popcorn to make the image "pop". I cut around the image and put onto a circle cut with a Nestabilities die from Lasting Impressions patterned paper. White cardstock and black cardstock were also used, also cut from Nestabilities die cuts. I added some white gel pen dots and a ribbon to put the finishing touches on the card. The sentiment was computer-generated.

I wish everyone a great week. It is going to be a busy one. I am currently working on a project for ....... Shh! Secret! I'll share as soon as I can.

A One Stop Blog Hop!

Sometimes, blog hops can be exhausting. Going to blog, after blog, after blog, after blog. Well, on this rainy, lazy weekend...The Stamping Boutique has made it easy for you!

Simply go to The Stamping Boutique's Challenge Blog and you will see some beautiful creations from the Design Team, all together...a "One Stop Hop".

There is a fun twist though. There are no names, just pictures. You are invited to vote on your favorite creation. There will be a Design Team winner and a commenter winner. How fun is that? You have until 11:59 pm EST March 6 to vote.

Just curious...Can you guess which one is mine?

I will do a blog post on Monday showing my creation, so check back to confirm your guess.

Have fun at the circus (the theme of this hop, using Tracey's wonderful circus images).

And above all else, enjoy the weekend.