Special Lady

I made this card a few days ago but never got it posted. It was inspired from a sketch over at SCS.  I was planning on changing the image to have a red hat, but then decided to post it just as it is and make a red one sometimes this week.

The Digi stamp set is called Special Lady and can be found at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I had used the Happy Mother's Day from this set in my cards posted yesterday if you'd like to scroll down and see them also. 

The Designer papers are retired papers from Close to my Heart.
I added a bit of stickles glitter to the ribbon, butterflies and center of the flower.
The Hand stitching was donew with matching Embroidery Floss.

Sukklersot and Sweet 'n Sassy Sketch Challenge

I'm posting twice this morning for two different sketch challenges, both sponsored by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. If you missed the first post, please scroll down to next post.  Both cards are done without my usual stitching. You can't imagine how difficult this was for me. I'm just so addictied to hand stitching on my cards.

This sketch challenge is from the Sukkersot blog site in Norway. What a fantastic group of talented DT member there. You really need to hop on over and play along.

The Image used is the Birth Month January Carnation designed by the ever talented Leah Cornelius. I have a passion for creating with flowers, as you can probably tell by now.  The Happy Mother's Day is from the Digi Stamp set called "Special Lady".  The cardnation was colored in with Copic Markers.

The Designer papers and cardstock is from the "That's Amore" paper pack from Close to My Heart.

The swirly borders are from "Love Letter" Rub ons also from CTMH.

Flowers from Cocoa - Friday Sketcher's #95

This is my second post for today. I have two sketch challenges to participate in on the same day.

My card today was inspired by one of my favorite sketch blogs, Friday Sketcher's. This weeks sketch is being sponsored by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. They are giving away two Easter Digi's to one lucky winner so hop on over and play along.

My card uses a cute Digi Stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy called Flowers from Cocoa, and the Mother's Day Sentiment from "Special Lady".  My image was colored in with Copic Markers.

The designer papers and cardstock is from the "Bella" collection from Close to my Heart.

Bella & Baby - Sweet 'n Sassy SNR Digi Day

Today is Digi Day over at SNR with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. If you want to have some fun and get a free Digi, hop on over there now and play along. The theme today is "Baby". And the free Digi for playing along before Midnight tonight is a Baby Buggy!!!

Here is a fantastic Digi Image by the ever talented Leah Cornelius. This is called Bella & Baby. Isn't she just the cutest.  It was done with Paper Piecing and shading with Copic Markers.I also did some paper piercing around the outer frame.
The inspiration came from a sketch from Nutshell's Sketch Challenge #11.

The Designer paper, Ribbon, and Big Brads are all from Close to my Heart.
The Hand stitching was done with matching Embroidery floss.

Mother's Day Daffodils - FSS Challenge

I've been pondering over this card for a week now. I was inspired by a sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday but really wanted to join the challenge at Fred She Said. The sketch went fine, but FSS challenge was to use at least three Hearts. I probably should have used another image because by the time I was done planning, my card ended up being 6 X 6 in size. I like bigger cards anyway.

The image is from Fred She Said and comes pre colored. I normally love coloring my own images but these were so pretty I had to try them.  I usually still add some of my own coloring or shading to pre-colored images for added depth, but this time I left them alone.  I did however, do paper pricking around the frame. I really need to find out what the difference is between paper piercing and paper pricking.  I think it may be that paper pricking is tinier holes. You may have to click on the card and enlarge to see the detail.  Anyway, it gives a beautiful appearance, but very time consuming because my fingers kept going numb. The daffodil is 3D.


The Designer papers, Half Pearls, Ribbon and Happy Mother's Day is all from Close to My Heart.

The Hand stitching around the card was done with an off white embroidery floss. The pearls were colored an off white with my Copic Markers.

Other Challenges with this card:
Fab 'n Funky - Favorite Technique - Paper Pricking & Hand Stitching

Yellow Tulips - PPA34 Sketch Challenge

I just happened across this challenge blog. One thing I don't need is to find a new challenge blog, but I just can't help myself.  This is called Pal's Paper Arts. I rotated it so my image would fit better.

The image is from Fred, She Said.  It's officially Spring and not a minute too soon. We had a very cold and snowy winter and the last of the snow disappeared about a week ago. I thought sure I'd be hiding Easter eggs for the grandkids in the snow banks.  But the snow is gone and the Tulips and Daffodils should be blooming in a week or two.  I'm just pushing the time a little and making mine bloom today!

The designer paper is a retired pack from Close to my Heart.
The Hand Stitching around the card was done with matching embroidery floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Creative Inspirations - White, Yellow & Green
Bee Crafty - Spring
Crafty Cardmakers - Spring
Incy Wincy - Spring
Lexi's Creations - Easter
Frosted Designs - Think Spring (flower)

Blue Pansies in Tea Cup - FTTC58

We're having an absolutely Gorgeous Sunday her in PA. The pansies are blooming outside and here on my card.

The inspiration for this card came from a sketch over at Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 58. We had a chioce of two sketches and I chose the square card.

Other chalenges for this card:
Cuttlebug Challenge - Spring is in the Air

The Digi Image is from Fred She Said. It was colored in with Copic Markers and cut out and mounted with foam tape. Two pansies were printed, colored and cut out twice then layered with foam tape also for added dimension. I topped them off with a little stickles glitter for just a little sparkle.

Sometimes I wish I could just leave things alone, but I added three half pearls to three of the corners for a little extra charm.

Thanks A Bunch - SSS48

Well, I got some of my Mojo back after having one of the worst weeks of my life. It's amazing how just talking with some special friends can change your outlook on life and make it better.

Sorry for the bad coloring on the picture. I hate taking pictures at night. And at the last minute, I decided to add stickles to the flowers for a little sparkle. But, I took the picture before they dried and it makes them look like wet glue. I'll try for a better picture tomorrow.

My card for today was inspired by the sketch with a Twist over at The Sweet Spot Challenge Blog. The twist is to use something Fuzzy. Stop by the Sweet Stop and play along with the sketch challenge. You could win THREE digi's just for playing along.

I used the Digi Stamp called Timid Timothy. I was going to make this a Mother's Day Card, however, I couldn't make Happy Mother's Day fit in the center of the flower. But, I think it's just as cute this way.

I colored my image with Copic Markers then used the blending solution for the Fuzzy Wuzzy look. Does he look fuzzy to you??? The mouse is two layers and the flowers are three layers.

The papers and the ribbon is from Close to my Heart.
I used Pink Metallic Dew Drops in the corners.

I did the zig zag stitch around the card by hand with embroidery floss for a little more dimension.

Here are some other challenges with this card:
Creative Card Crew - Going Dotty
Crafty Creations - Spots and Dots
Little Red Wagon - Copics
One Stop Craft - Spots and Dots

Waltzing Mouse Blog Hop

HAPPY ST. PATRICK"S DAY!!!

I've been sitting in waiting rooms having test done for the past three days and am really behind with my card. I've been looking forward to this blog hop, but life has a way of messing up the best plans.
So, with only about an hour tho throw this card together, this is not one of my best creactions but it has to do.
I was in such a hurry to post that I forgot to add a Wee Bit of Stickles to me Shamrocks!

The image was a Freebie from Waltzing Mouse. So, I thought the perfect sketch to use would be this one from Midnight Madness.

The Designer paper is a combination of Close to my Heart and Basic Grey.
The stitching was done by hand with embroidery floss. I like the dimension of hand sewing and find it very relaxing.

To follow along, please jump into our very own Waltzingmouse House Forum and look for the threads in The Play Room for the March St. Pat's Day Blog HopI will try and fill in more important information on this post when I get back home. So, if you are looking for the sketch or links, please come back later.

Here are some other challenges that work with my card:
Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #50 - Shamrock cupcake
Fussy & Fancy - Green
Stamp Something - Cream & Green
Cup Cake Craft Challenge  82 - Going Green
Digital Tuesday - Lots of Green
Little Red Wagon #20 - Use Copics
Bee Crafty - Spring
Ooh-La-La- Creations Challenge 49 - Anything goes
Secret Crafter Challenge 74 - Anything goes
The Pixie Cottage - Green
Paper Play - Good Luck
Pixie Dust Challenge 14 - Power of 3

July Larkspur - SSS47

It's been a while since I posted a new card. So many things are going on in my life right now and I'm so behind in card making. The sad thing is, I have so many new images and so many new sketches and not enough hours in the day. Maybe I should stop Hand Stitching my cards and I could make more than one a day!!! I honestly don't know if I can do that.

Today is my Birthday and my family is taking me out to eat to Shady Maple. If you're from PA, I'm sure you're familiar with Shady Maple. Oh My Gosh!!! Why is it when ever you're trying to lose weight, people take you out to eat to celebrate. And to a Smorgasbord yet.
Well, anyway, my card was inspired by the sketch over at The Sweet Stop. If you love card making and sometimes get stuck for ideas, then pick up this weeks sketch and play along with us. You might be amazed at your creation.

I had a little trouble with the sketch because of the image I used. For some reason, my card ended up top heavy. So, I grounded it more with the butterflies at the bottom right.

The image used was July Larkspur from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This is from a series of Month Flowers drawn by the super talented Leah Cornelius. The Happy Birthday is from "Feminine Birthday", also from SSNS.

The Butterfly images are from Fred She Said.
The Designer papers are from Close to my Heart.
The Hand Stitching around the card was done with matching embroidery floss.

Tulips and Butterflies - MMSC43

My card for today is one of those cards that, no matter how much snow you have on the ground, it shouts SPRING!!! The weather here in NE Pennsylvania is a sunny 56 °. And even though we have huge snow piles still around, it's going away!!! YEAH!!

The inspiration for this card cam from a Sketch Challenge over at Midnight Madness. I literally followed it to a "T".
The Digi Stamp, "Fluttering By", from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, was used for this card.

I never thought I could get used to Digi Stamps, but WOW, how easy they make card creating. Well, I shouldn't say easy, because making this card, even though it looks very simple, took a lot of maneuvering with that one image of the tulips and butterfly. I cropped out the butterfly, then copied it and re sized it 9 times. Then colored each with Copic Markers and cut each one out. I added a little blue glitter to each Butterfly for a little extra glitz. The Stamen of each flower has yellow glitter.

Other Challenges with this card:
One Stop Craft Challenge - Sew Simple.
Digital Tuesday Challenge 48 - Scallops.

The Designer Papers are from The Caboodle Paper Pack from Close to my Heart.
The Hand Stitching was all done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Happy Easter - SSS46

This card was inspired by this weeks sketch over at The Sweet Stop. The Digi  image is called "Christ Arose", from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.
The image was printed then colored in with Copic Markers.
The papers and ribbon are from Close to my Heart.
The Hand stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Love Blossoms - Just My Sketches

I found this great sketch over at "Just My Sketches". The idea is to use their sketch and one of their song titles for inspiration. I had already started making the components of this card with some images I've had for a while now and thought it would make a great wedding or anniversary card. However, I printed things out slightly larger than I had intended and my sentiments did not work with it. I really should have made the card 6x6 instead of 5x7. It turned out totally different than I had imagined but sometimes this happens.

The images are from Fred She Said . I'm a flower addict and these are just so beautiful!

The background paper is from the Caboodle paper pack from Close to my Heart and I cuttle bugged it, then ran my embossing pad over it and applied clear EP to it. What a difference that one extra step makes.

The corners were punched with a corner punch and a tiny half pearl added to each corner and a bigger pearl in the center of the big flower.

The Hand stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Signs of Spring - SC270

My card today was inspired by the sketch challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers and the color challenge of Pink and Yellow at the Sweet 'n Sassy SNR group. I used the FREE Birdhouse Digi Stamp being given away if you play along with the challenge before 10:00 PM est. tonight. So, go make a pink and yellow card, using any stamp or image you have at home and play along.
The watering can is also a SNSS digi stamp. The butterfly used to be also but I'm not sure if it's still available.

The images were all printed out and colored with Copic Markers.
The birdhouse was stamped and colored twice and the birds three times. They were then cut out and layered with foam tape for more dimension.

The watering can and butterfly are also popped.

The papers are from Close to my Heart but the DP is retired.

The Hand stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

I sort of had an accident with this card. I have had a bad headache off and on for almost a week now and I thought the color challenge was pink & green. And, because I didn't want to go back into my computer to double check, I just made it. Then this morning, I discovered that it should be pink and yellow. Luckily, not all parts were put together yet, so I just incorporated the yellow into it. I honestly think adding the yellow made the card so much better. I guess accidents happen for a reason.
It looks much better in person.

A Little Everything - Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge

Well, I posted this card on my Close to my Heart Blog for the Blog Hop Yesterday and forgot to include the information about the sketch challenge. So, here it is again.

For the inspiration for this card, I used a sketch from Stamping 411 challenge 140.

The sentiment is from the March Stamp of the Month called A Little Everything. You can get this stampset at a discount price or even FREE. Details Here!
I also used one of the stamps from Enjoy Every Moment. I think this is my favorite set form the CTMH Spring Catalog.
The paper used is from the Veranda Collection.

The Hand Stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.