Marigolds and Morpho Mother's Day Card

I just had to make a card last night with the newly released Marigolds and Morpho set from Fred She Said.
The image I used for this card is pre-colored but it also comes in a digi set for you to color yourself.
I fussy cut three of the butterflies out and layered for lots of dimension. 

If you're wondering why I made it for Mother's Day, well, it's because I thought the image was perfect for that. But also because I'm always so far behind in stocking my Etsy shop that I thought I would get a head start.

The crystal flourishes, Color Ready seam binding and retired papers are all from Close to my Heart.

The hand stitching was done with my own unique design in matching Embroidery Floss.

The design for this card started with a sketch from My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns Sketch Challenge.

Other Challenge Blogs for this card:

Forever Friends - Butterflies

Fss - Purple Crocus

We are having such an early spring here in PA. The crocuses and daffodils are already blooming profusely. We actually never had a real winter, which is fine by me. Snow is pretty to look at, but, except for not having any snow pictures this year, I didn’t miss it.

My card today uses the pre-colored crocuses from the Spring Flowers digi set from Fred She Said. I actually printed them out twice and fussy cut the three flowers and mounted them with foam tape for added dimension.

The design inspiration came from Verve Sketch # 1 for March. I LOVE their sketch challenges and really need to play along more often.

The papers are some long retired papers from Close to my Heart. I love the color purple but I don’t have much purple DP my stash. I guess purple isn’t the “in” color.

The Hand stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs for this card:
Creative Card Crew - Vintage
Digital Tuesday - Think Spring
Scrap Creations - Ribbon and Pearls
Lady Bug's Craft Ink - Anything Goes
Prairie Fairy - Distress it.
Totally Stamalicious - Flowers
Paper Creations - Spring is in the Air
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday

House Mouse - Midnight Madness Challenge

I wanted to play along with the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge from last week with a House Mouse Stamp that I have had for at least 10 years and have never used it. So, here it is.
I'm also submitting this for the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge. I'd LOVE to win some new HM Stamps.

I normally do fancy hand stitching around the card, but I'm getting this card in at the very lasy minute so I did a small amount of hand stitching on it with brown embroidery floss.

FSS - Emma the Cat - Halloween Card

It's really hard for me to believe that Halloween is right around the corner already.

The inspiration for my card started with this week's sketch challenge from Eat, Sleep, & Stamp Blog.

I then chose this fun decoupage image from Fred She Said called Emma the Cat. This really was so fun to make because it is an entire decoupage sheet. The Purple background sheet and the orange plaid stripe were also included.  Then there is the pre-colored images of Emma and layered pieces printed several times for fussy cutting and layering.  You really can't see all the layers in the photo, so here is a close up of the many layers.

I love Hand stitching on my cards but this one was a little too busy for that so I just hand stitched around the edge of the card with a simple back-stitch.

The leaves were cut using a sizzix die then shadded with some copic markers for a little dimension. The flower was cut using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge exclusively through Close to my Heaert. I added some purple faux flower soft to the center of the flower.

The Trick or Treat sign is held up with a Foundry Pin Clip also from Close to my Heart. I added a small bow with purple bakery twine.

Other Challenges for this card:

Secret Crafter - Halloween

Wee Memories - Favorite Technique - Hand Stitching,Shading within Nestie Die, Decoupage

Frosted Designs - Fussy Cutting

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Halloween

Srampin for the Weekend - What a Cutie

If the shoe fits...Scrap it! - Inspiration Photo

Stampin' Bee's - Halloween

Stamp Insanity - Photo inspiration

Come and Get It - Halloween

Corrosive Challenge - Purple Passion

My Grafico - Halloween

One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi

Paper Sundaes - Lots of Layers

Pile it On! - Do it for Fun

Sentimentsl Sunday - Stitching + a sentiment

Paper Creation Ink - Black and/or Orange

Stamp with Fun - Halloween

The Pink Elephant - Trick or Treat

Victorine Stamps - Halloween

Anything Goes - Die Cuts or Punches

Clear It Out - Halloween

Fred-She-Said Fabulous Fall Blog Hop

Welcome to the Fred-She-Said Fabulous Fall Blog Hop. Hop along with us and not only will you see some amazing artwork from the Design Team but you could win some fabulous prizes.

Here's how to play along: Start here at the FSS Blog . From there you will visit the next blog as designated there, leave a sweet comment for each of us and pick up the secret word. Then continue to the next person and do the same throughout until you reach the challenge blog where you will be given final directions for your secret sentence.

Here's what you could win:
$15 Gift Voucher to Bearly Mine Designs.
$10 Prize Package of yummy goodies chosen by Judy from PizzazzAPlenty
$30 Gift Certificate to Fred She Said Store.
Entries close on Friday September 30th at Midnight EDT and winners will be announced Saturday October 1st.
So, now lets get on with the hop. If you've come here from Debbie's Blog, you're on the right path.

My card today was inspired by a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

The Gorgeous Sunflower pre-colored images are from Fred She Said. The set is called Sunflowers and Thankfulness. This is such a beautiful set. I wish I could have made cards with every image and sentiment in it. However, I was having some printer issues so I had to stamp the Thinking of you.

The papers are from the Dreamin Paper pack from Close to my Heart. I'm having a bit of trouble getting away from this paper. I just love it but I think I've been making too many cards with it lately. But, it is perfect for Fall Cards.
The Hand Stitching was done with Matching Blue Embroidery Floss.

My word for you is "Autumn". Now hop on over to Robin's blog for her fabulous artwork and her secret word.

Purple Hollyhocks

Happy Labor Day Weekend. I can hardly believe the summer is over already. I wouldn't mind all of the seasons flying by so quickly if I wasn't getting older along with it! *Ü*

Here is the 3rd of 5 cards I made during my power outage. The sketch is from Verve August sketch challenges. This card is purple and green. I used the purple pre-colored holly hocks from Fred She Said and the Ornate Butterfly Digi which I colored with Copic Markers to martch. I added light green sparkles to the butterflies' bodies. White half pearls adorn the rest of the card along with Matching Embroidery Floss for the Hand Stitching in the corners of the card.

All papers, pearls and sparkles are from Close to my Heart.

Red Wheelbarrow Birthday Card

Well, another weekend bit the dust. Where do these days go! At least it's getting closer to Spring. And, I'm making it happen sooner with this wheelbarrow full of flowers. I chose to go with brighter colors rather then the Spring pastels. Mainly because I wanted to use this Red pre-colored Wheelbarrow from Fred She Said. They come in 8 different colors and since Red is one of my favorite colors, I just had to use it.

I don't know where my head is this weekend. I LOVE to play along with challenges and especially Sketch challenges. So, I started printing my images and planning my cards so I can sit and hand stitch them while I watch TV in the evening.  Well, yesterday waqs my Granddaughter's 4th Birthday Party so that day was shot. AS I was making this card today, I just realized that I have three cards planned out and all three are from sketch challenges from Tuesday. So, that means that I have to finish and post all three cards in two days. Oh My!!!

This card was inspired by a sketch challenge from Anita Be Stampin.
The papers are from the Sweetheart Paper Pack from Close to my Heart. The color black was added to make the image POP.

I did the Hand Stitching with White Embroidery Floss to frame the whole card nicely.

The Happy Birthday is a Clear Stamp from the Birthday Card Chatter Set also from CTMH.

Other Challenge Blogs for this card:
Card Makin Mamas - Birthday
Fun at Fairy Knoll - Birthday or Thank You
If the Shoe Fits - Happy  Birthday
Stamp Bazar - Spots and Stripes
Wags n' Whiskers - Punches
Charisma Cardz - Spring Has Sprung
Stamp & Doodle - Ribbon, Embossing, & Bling
Dital Tuesday - Use a Die Cut
The Crafty Pad - Red, Pink & Black
I Did It! - Anything Goes

Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Blog Hop

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET 'N SASSY Stamps!

Thanks for hopping along with the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Blog Hop today!

If you cam here from Chupa's blog, you're on the right track.

If you didn't start at the beginning, you'll want to hop back to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog and continue from there.  We have over 30 amazingly talented ladies participating in today's hop plus a prize at every stop so you really don't want to miss a single blog!"  BUT, you must leave a sweet comment in each of our blogs for a chance to win your prize. And what is this prize here, you ask.  Well, it's none other then the Poinsettia Digi Stamp that I used for my card.

The inspiration for this card came from a sketch over at The Sweet Stop Challenge Blog. Come on over and play with us! You have until Friday night!

The papers, bling and ribbon are all from Close to my Heart.
The Hand stitching isa done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Now, enjoy the rest of the Hop and the gorgeous Eye Candy along the way!

Now Hop on over to Claudia's Blog and see what fabulous artwork she has for you.

FSS - Holly Wreath

Well, here it is, Monday already. Where did the weekend go.

My card today was inspired by a sketch from The Pixie Cottage Challenge Blog. The additional element needed for this challenge was to use recycled items. Well, I had lots of little punched out elements sitting in a baggie for ages. This challenge forced me to figure out how to use them in the sketch. It actually worked perfectly. They are the little green swirleys and the center strip. I also had a sheet of these little flowers printed and never use. The Flowers are from the Red Christmas Flower with Swirly Border from Fred She Said. I originally intended to use this entire set for this card, BUT, When the new Holly Wreath was released, I had to switch plans.

The Fred She Said Christmas Wreath comes in Digi format or pre-colored, all in the same set for the same price. How's that for value. Oh, I almost forgot about the three sentiments that are also included. Can you say, "Holy Cow"!

The papers, ribbon and pearls are from Close to my Heart.
The Hand Stitching is done with Matching Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Christmas Card Challenge - Christmas + Inspiration Picture

Sunflower Fence and Mr. Straw

Good Morning!

I’m so delighted to be able to share this card with you today. I was the top pick for my FSS card using Pumpkins and sunflowers at the Delightful Challenges last Wednesday. That win entitled me to be the Guest Designer this week at Digital Designs by Louby Loo. What an honor.

My card was inspired by a sketch at Card Positioning Systems and two Digi Images from Digital Delights. The first image is called Sunflower Background and the other is Mr. Straw. I printed the sunflower background twice, then resized smaller and printed that twice, then Mr. Straw once. Colored them all with Copic Markers, cut out and layered with foam tape. I used white liquid appliqué on the clouds and heated to puff them.

The word Hello is a clear stamp from Close to my Heart. It was stamped with New England Ivy ink then heat embossed with Clear Detail EP. The papers are from a newly released paper pack called Olivia, from CTMH.

The Hand Stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Other challenge Blogs this card was made for:
A crafty Little Place - Brown, Green & Orange
Creative Card Crew - Fall
Everybody Art - Autumn
Paper Playtime - Autumn
Creative Craft World - Fall

Blue Asters - Sketch Saturday

I am so into making Christmas cards already and trying to get myself back into flower mode. I couldn’t resist this image with the paper piercing frame. I’ve had this Digi image from Fred She Said since early Spring and finally got around to using it. It’s called Fall Flowers Digi Set with bonus Paper Pricking Frames. It’s a set of four different flowers and several ways of doing the frames.

My inspiration for this card came from Sketch Saturday. I thought this image worked almost perfectly.

This is one of the first cards in a while that I didn't add hand stitching to. But, this card was very time consuming with cutting out all the flowers and I figured the stitching might take away from the paper piercing.

I printed the frame with the asters inside, then printed two more sets of flowers. Colored them all with Copic Markers and cut out two sets. After the whole card was assembled, I spread them lout and attached with foam tape. I then added Liquid Glass to the centers and added yellow glitter. Papers are from Close to my Heart and are Sky and Sunflower. I used sunflower Grosgrain ribbon for the bow and white half pearls around the frame, also from CTMH.

Other Challenge Blogs for this card:
Fab 'n Funky - What 'eva