Diamonds & Butterflies

I used a stencil and Lindy's magicals in rainbow colors.  The butterflies didn't come out quite as nicely as I'd have liked.  So I used Rose Gold foil paper and die cut 1 inch frames, and used them to cover up accent the left side.

CAS MIx Up Challenge - The challenge is to use Inchies - I'm not sure this qualifies, but it certainly was my inspiration for the 1-inch frames.  The techniques I used were a stencil, watercolor powders, and die cutting. 

Time Out Challenge  - Rainbows.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Happy Retirement

A very good friend recently retired.  We met at the school bus stop, when our oldest kids were beginning kindergarten, and we've been friends ever since.  (PS our kids are now 36 years old!!) . She moved to North Carolina about 10 years ago.  We recently went to visit.  We have the kind of friendship, that even though we don't see each other nearly enough, it is so easy to be together!

Challenges:
1) Addicted to Stamps and More - photo inspiration:
Oops -- I missed the deadline -- so I'll put this into Addicted to Stamps and More! - Anything Goes

2) CASE this Sketch - 

Card Details:

I used Distress Oxide inks to sponge the background, and sprayed it with Perfect Pearls spray. 

The chair is from a stamp set by Stampendous - which I embossed and fussy-cut and popped up on the card.  The sentiment is from a set by Taylored Expressions. 

I embossed a piece of paper with a set of embossing powders, also by Stampendous.  I used this as the "beach".  I mounted the panel on yellow card stock to give the impression of sunshine.  

We live on Long Island (NY).  So I decorated the card with real shells I collected from Fire Island.  I am hopeful it will remind her of "home".  

On a side note, I recently (June) retired from teaching.  I was really conflicted about retiring, as I loved my job (teaching science to 6th graders).  But if I were going back, then I would have been at school today setting up my classroom.  Instead I cleaned out my kitchen -- every cabinet and drawer was emptied, cleaned, and many items thrown away or set aside for a garage sale.  

I am feeling very happy!!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek. 

Welcome Babies 2019

I made these cards for 2 different families.  The pink (girl colors) is for my friend's new (and first) grand baby.  The second one is for my daughter-in-laws sister.  She and her hubby are waiting to find out if it's a boy or girl . . .

The elephant image is from an old Inkadoo set.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp, embossed with color powder.  The pattern papers are from DCWV.   

I colored the elephant with copics, and paper-pieced some pattern paper onto the patches of the elephant. 

I based my design on this sketch from CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge . I used a circle instead of the rectangle.  

I am also putting the first card into Color Throwdown 556 .

I didn't use the kraft. 

Here is the inside of one card:

The sentiment I think is from Gina K and the little elephant and bubble heart is from W Plus Nine.

As always, thanks so very much for taking time to give a look.

Sunflower Corner

I needed several Thank You cards, and I wanted to do so quickly.  So this idea came to me.

I used a stencil by The Crafter's Workshop (You are my Sunshine).

• I colored it with distress inks and blender brushes
• then went over it with Gel Gloss embossing paste to give it a raised surface
• added a black border with a thin sharpie
• embossed the sentiment (I'm not sure what company)

I was able to make several within minutes - not including the time needed for the embossing paste to dry.

I'm putting this into the following challenges:

1.   AAA CAS Game #146 - Made in Minutes . It was definitely made in minutes and has a summery image.

2.  The Flower Challenge - Use your favorite flower.  check 

3.  And Elliebelle's Corner - where This Month's Theme is Sunshine, Sunflowers or Add Something Yellow

4. And the Mod Squad Challenge  Layer Me Not – "The challenge this week is to use no layers on your card front!  This is pretty much self explanatory. Your card front must have no layers, but only the card base. You MUST have NO layers.

Since this is a one-layer card, it qualifies for this too.  

That's all for now.  Thanks for visiting!  I hope you are having a good week.  

First Communion

This is for my niece's first communion.  (duh!)

The cross is a die cut from a set I got at ACMoore - by "love Nicole".  I die cut it 4 times and glued them together.   

The white paper is from a winter stack by DCWV.  Can you see the holographic type white color?   I cut out the oval, popped up the white paper, and glued in the cross.  

The sentiment is from Stampin Up (which I see on their retiring list)

I'm putting this into the following challenges:

1. AAA Cards - sketch

2. Just Us Girls - Mood Board - I focused on the purple and white 

3. Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

As always, thanks for taking a peek.  Back to work tomorrow, so my crafting streak is over  . . . for a while  . .  . more to come in July. 

Over the Rainbow

Hi Friends, 

I know it's been a while.  I've made some cards, but not for any particular challenges; plus work and family has been so busy that I've not had time to photograph and post. 

But I had a week off for Spring Break and got to make some cards.  YAY!

This is for a co-worker who was the advisor for our middle school play - The Wizard of Oz.  

This will go into AAA Cards - CAS Sketch 139

Clean and Simple on Sundays    The challenge is "butterflies". 

Penny Black  The challenge is 'Spring" 

I made the background using Tonic Shimmer Powders.  The stamp is from Penny Black - I'm not sure of the stamp set.  I embossed the butterfly in black and used watercolors to give it a a rainbow pattern.  

Thanks for taking a peek.

~Carol 

Birthday on the Beach

Hello,
It's been quite a while since I posted anything.  Life gets in the way.  My mom has Alzheimer's and her living situation in the fall was not working.  Then she got very ill, and was hospitalized for over a week.  So we hunted for a place for her.  So much family drama.  Finally by the end of January we found a place for her.  She is very happy, and so much stress has been relieved within the family.

Someone I work with asked me to create a special card for his wife's 40th birthday.  They love the beach, water, etc.  Seastar's and sand dollars are also special to them.

finished size = 5x7

 I love this card by Samantha Mann.  And I "borrowed" her color scheme.

I used distress inks to color the balloon die (from Simon Says Stamp).  I sprayed that with perfect pearls spray for some real nice shine. 

I stamped and embossed the palm trees, island, and birds from Newton's Nook.  The card stock and Happy Birthday die and stamps are from Paper Trey Ink.  The 2 shells are real.  The little starfish is a small stamp from a $1 set.  

Here is the inside of the card - with the requested sand dollar.

I am putting this into the following challenges:

1) Seize the Birthday - Beach theme

2) AAA Cards The 4th Big Birthday Bash

3) Addicted to CAS - the Sea

As always, thanks for looking.  I really loved making this card.