So Very Thankful

Ok! I have taken a long break from posting cards. It is time to get back into because this is my favorite season to make cards. I love fall! I have the best time making cards and watching football. Not to mention how much I love the fall holidays. So, when Impression Obsession posted a Challenge called So Very Thankful, I had to make something! Here are the materials I used:

• Early Sunsets stamp set (CL698) by IO Stamps
• Patchwork Turkey die cut (DIE490-U) by IO Stamps
• The Story of Fall paper pack by Echo Park Paper
• Square Frame die cut by My Favorite Things
• memento ink- rich cocoa
• colorbox ink- creamy brown
• twine

Turtle Thanks

This little turtle is hilarious! My mom needed a card for a friend that let them stay at her house on the beach. She's a big turtle fan so I think she will get a kick out of it! This card is also for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #329.

• Small Sea Turtle die cut by Impression Obsession
• Thank you Die cut by A Muse Studio
• Secrets of the Sea paper by Bella Blvd
• Lovely paper by Illustrated Faith (Bella Blvd)
• Stitched Circle die cuts by Lawn Fawn
• green washi tape

Out of This World

Here are the materials I used for this precious space card:

• Out of This World stamp set by Technique Tuesday
• Bubbles embossing folder by Taylored Expressions
• copics- N1, 2, 3, W00, 1, Y08, YR04, 07, 18, B01, 04, BG02, YG09
• memento ink- paris dusk and tuxedo black

Warm Heart

One of my resolutions for 2017 is to do a better job of actually sending the cards I make. I made this card to send to a friend that I really miss. We met in college because we were in the same cohort for the education program and geography has made it difficult to stay close. Like me, she is both young at heart and an old soul. (I swear it is possible to be both.) She will really appreciate the snail mail. Here are the materials I used: 

• mittens2stamp by The Stamps of Life
• cross stitch rectangle diecuts by My Favorite Things
• Frosty Friends by Doodlebug Designs 
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating ribbon

Spa Day!

My friend's mother-in-law requested quality time for Christmas this year. She decided to combine that and one of her favorite things, pedicures! I love the way this turned out! Here are the materials I used:

• Spa Day stamp set by My Favorite Things
• Elegant paper pack by Authentique 
• Alphabet Diecuts (DIE157-E) by Impression Obsession 
• copics- B00, B01, E00, E01, E35, E37
• versamagic ink- sea breeze
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• liquid appliqué

Happy Camper

It is just about the perfect weather for hiking and camping! The sketch for this card came from the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #283. Here is the sketch and the materials I used:

• Happy Trails stamp and diecut sets by Lawn Fawn
• Dad + Me stamp and diecut sets by Lawn Fawn
• Love You S'more stamp and diecut sets by Lawn Fawn
• Happy Camper stamp by Impression Obsession
• Happy Camper paper pack by Doodlebug Designs
• copics- Y02, Y38, YG17, BG15, N4, N7, W1
• memento ink- tuxedo black and rich cocoa
• staz-on white ink

Back to School

There is a story behind this card. Our school was redistricted this year and last spring we anticipated losing 5 homeroom positions. When school started back we lost 3 more homerooms and 2 special education teachers. It has been a stressful time at our school for the teachers that are "at the bottom of the totem pole," as they say. In short, our school got wrong end of the stick in the redistricting. Well one of the teachers that got moved to a different school AFTER school had already started was a personal favorite teacher of mine. I will be sending this card to her after she has time to get settled in at her new school. The sketch came from the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #284. Here is the sketch and the materials I used:

• Apple Stacklets diecuts by Taylored Expressions
• Apple Stems and Seeds diecuts by Taylored Expressions
• Back to School paper pack by Doodlebug Designs
• Double Dot green and red paper by Bo Bunny
• More Basic greetings stamp set by Impression Obsession
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating ribbon and rhinestones

Is it Winter Yet?

I can't believe that I didn't know there is a Taylored Expressions challenge blog! I am excited to start participating in the Share Joy Challenge blog, especially because they encourage to actually send your card to someone :) It is so fun to make the cards, but they often end up in a drawer until I need it. But why not send a "just because" card? This is the challenge inspiration (I chose to use just the sketch):

Here are the materials I used:

• Summer Grumplings stamp and die cut sets by Taylored Expressions
• Soak Up the Sun paper pack by Carta Bella
• glossy accents
• copics- C5, C7, W0, R81, YR16
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating twine

Life is Sweeter Outside

I love this card! This one was a little bit of trial and error to get it looking like my vision for it. My husband and I have been doing a lot of outdoor adventures lately and our anniversary is coming up so this makes the perfect card for him. Here are the materials I used:

• Stitched Mountain borders by Lawn Fawn
• Grassy Hillside borders by Lawn Fawn
• Simple Puffy Clouds by Lawn Fawn
• Happy Camper stamp set by Paper Smooches
• Life is Sweeter Outside stamp by Impression Obsession
• copics- R27, R46
• memento ink- tuxedo black

So Smooth!!

I love these little cards! I just learned how to use post-it stickies to cover part of an image so you can put multiple stamps together. It's the perfect technique to use to fill the cute blender with some fruits! Here are the materials I used:

• So Smooth stamp and die set by Lawn Fawn
• Small Stitched Circle dies by Lawn Fawn
• Soak Up the Sun paper pack by Carta Bella
• copics- Y15, Y17, G03, G07, R24, R27, R29, B000, B01, B04, B06, W0, W2, N5, N7, C2, C4, RV11, RV14, RV17
• memento ink- tuxedo black

Mermaid Life

I have spent the last couple weeks working on Christmas gifts with the new Taylored Expressions 2017 calendar cards. Christmas already?! Yes! They are a lot of work, but they got wonderful reviews from family and friends last year so when my mom brought them home for me, I got right to work. Today I took a break from that to make a card for the Try Stampin' On Tuesday Challenge #278. The sketch had an optional theme of blue and white. The new mermaid stamp went perfectly with that theme. Here are the materials I used:

• Splash stamp by Impression Obsession
• Life is Good stamp set by Lawn Fawn
• Stitched Square diecut by My Favorite Things
• paper: Seaside collection: Journey and Oceanic sheets by Authentique 
• copics- B00, B12, B14, E00, E01, E19, YR24, YR27, Y17, R02, R11, R14, R20
• memento ink- tuxedo black and paris dusk 

Father's Day- Henhouse

My dad's current pet project--ha!--is raising chickens in the backyard. He treats them like pets now and they sure are living the life. They've got over 100 square feet to roam around a garden and dig in the dirt. I have enjoyed the benefits of free eggs! So, this card doesn't scream Father's day for most people, but it sure does for my dad :) I also made one with a few changes to send to a friend. See it at the bottom. Here are the materials I used:

• Happy Hens stamps and dies by Taylored Expressions
• Chicken Wire embossing folder by Taylored Expressions
• grass border by Impression Obsession
• Homegrown paper pack by echo park
• Celebration Scripty Sayings by Lawn Fawn
• Stitched Rectangles, Mini Scalloped Stitched Rectangles, and Stitched Circles by My Favorite Things
• copics- R37, R46, C6, W00, E08, E35, Y23, Y35, YR27, YG17, B0000, 0-blender pen 
• memento ink- tuxedo black

You're Fabulous!

Ok, back dating again on this card, but this card was for my mom on Mother's Day. My mom is nothing short of fabulous! So, she deserves a card with some pizzaz. It was no easy to task to make that border pop up so that it could be a shaker card, but she's so worth it! Here are the materials I used:

• Blissful banners stamp set by Paper Smooches
• Streamers die cuts by Paper Smooches
• Beau Jardin paper pack by Penny Black
• memento ink- rose bud
• pink microbeads 

I've Got Your Back

HA! This stamp is hilarious! I laughed for a long time after I first saw it :) This card was made with the Impression Obsession Friends Forever challenge in mind. Here are the materials I used:

• My Friend (CL599) stamp set by Impression Obsession
• Rectangle 6-in-1 Frames (DIE242-YY) by Impression Obsession 
• memento ink- gray flannel
• color chaos- blueberry strandz paper sheet by Bella BLVD

K Cup Carrier

 Happy Monday! Lately I seem to need an extra cup of coffee on Mondays. The teacher in the room next to me is sweet enough to let me use her Keurig any time I need it. Click here for a link to the tutorial I used for the holder. Here are the materials I used:

• Koffee Time stamp and die combo set
• Sunday Paper 12x12 sheet by Pebbles
• gray scrap paper left over from a project of my mom's
• white gel pen
• memento ink- tuxedo black 

Back Side:

I've Got Sunshine and Stripes on a Rainy Day

So if the weather where you live is anything like where I live, it is nasty today!! We are barely in the winter season and I am already sick of the cold, the rain, and worst of all, indoor recess! So, for the Serendipity Stamps Stripes Challenge, I decided to go bright and cheery. Here are the materials I used:

• Tennis Shoes stamp set by Serendipity Stamps
• Springtime Trimmings paper by Doodlebug Designs
• copics- YR04, RV55, R81, YG25, B12, C1
• coordinating ribbon and enamel dots 

Sentence Enhancers

I got a last minute invite to a concert yesterday and I had the best time! This is just a little thank you card for the sweet friend that invited me. The design came from Freshly Made Sketches #204. 

Here are the materials I used:

• Coffee BFFs stamp by Art impressions
• Sentence Enhancers stamp by Riley and Company
• paper- painted blooms paper pack by Penny Black
• stitched rectangle dies by My Favorite Things
• copics- R22, R43, R85, G07, E00, E25, E31, E39, Y15, Y19, Y38, YR68, B23, B26, BG32
• pearlescent chalks
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating ribbons

 Inside:

Movie Night

I don't have enough movie nights with friends, but maybe this card will make me plan one! I am entering this card in the following contests:

Show Case Your Style- Film Inspiration challenge

Crafter's Cafe- Anything Goes

Paper Smooches Sparks- Anything Goes

• We Totally Click stamp set by Paper Smooches
• Reach for the Stars border die cut by Taylored Expressions
• copics- C1, C2, C3, Y13, R29
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• embossing ink
• embossing powder- bridal
• flower soft flocking- lemon

Inside:

hello!

Although this card looks simple, I struggled a little bit making the sentiment work out. This is the CAS(E) that Sketch! Challenge. Here is the provided sketch:

And here are the materials I used:

• party day paper pack by Crate Paper
• hello words die cuts by paper smooches
• stitched rectangle die cut by My Favorite Things

Inside: