We Go Together Like.....Milk and Cookies

Hello my crafty and creative friends!

Yesterday I shared a few "coffee and donuts" cards

created with the Darcie's Milk and Cookies stamp set that I picked up at my favorite

semi-local scrap shop...Scrap-a-Latte

Today...I am back to share the "milk and cookies" cards...

created with stamps from the same stamp set.

I used an assortment of prints...and solid metallic card stock for each card.

The sentiment banners were stamped....then hand cut and matted.

The scalloped square mat layers were die cut  with Spellbinders Scalloped Square Dies.

First....

Milk and cookies....

Correction!....CHOCOLATE milk and cookies.

I'm  not a chocolate lover...but I DO enjoy a glass of chocolate milk now and then...

so it was imperative that I created at least one card with chocolate milk!

(and....I HAD to use a milk chocolate colored dotted print for this card as well.)

I am more of a "dot person" than I am a "stripe person"

(I'm not really a fan of stripes)

But...

I do like the narrow stripe in this print.

I like the sharpness of the lines against the contest to the red mat and scallop layers

Now...Back to my beloved dots....

I like the white background on the image layer...

and the double matting of the image layer.

Using black for matting and the scalloped layer were the definitely THE way to go 

for this card.

This card shouts CAS (Clean And Simple)

and I love that!

This Darcie's stamp set has been lots of fun to create cards with.

The images are adorable..

unique...

fun to color...

mix and match..

and create cards with.

I'm definitely glad that I picked this stamp set up when I visited Scrap-a-Latte

and...

I'm glad that YOU visited ME today!

Have a wonderful day, my crafty and creative friends!

Michelle 

We Go Together Like.....Coffee and Donuts

During one of my visits to Scrap a Latte...

my favorite little scrap shop

I picked up Milk and Cookies...

an adorable Darcie's stamp set...

and some terrific donut print paper 

I stamped out and colored a number of the images

colored them...

and added them to my "little" stack of 145 colored images.

and now..

I finally had time to create a few cards with these adorable stamped images.,,

an colorful print paper.

I used MFT Mini Scalloped STAX dies to die cut the images...

and paired them up with metallic card stock for all of the matting...and the solid scalloped die cuts.

Background color on each card was created with Clarity Stencil brushes and ink pads.

It was fun using different colors when coloring the images used on each card

as well as blending assorted colors for the backgrounds

The donut print was perfect for this group of coffee and donut cards.

This little stamp set by Darcie's is TOO cute

and its very versatile.

Tomorrow I'll share the milk and cookies cards with you...

created with the same stamp set.

Thanks for visiting today...

Don't forget to check in tomorrow for some milk and cookies!

Have a wonderful Sunday my crafty and creative friends!

Michelle

Gentle Day ~ Mother's Day

I'm still working my way through my stack of 145 colored images..

It' been lots of fun choosing which images I "feel" like creating cards with...

Most of which I've had multiples of.

Somehow...this straggler...the bird image from Penny Black's Gentle Day stamp set

was forgotten when I used the others  few weeks ago...

So I thought that I'd make a fast Mother's Day card from the one remaining bird.

I colored the image with Copics...

and

Added background color with Clarity Stencil Brushes and ink pads.

I chose a print and some coordinating metallic card stock for the mat layers.

I chose a sentiment from Our Daily Bread's All Mothers stamp set..

and hand cut and matted a sentiment banner

I also added a few clear dew drops as embellishments..

And....

 this is what I wound up with...

I've used this image many times before and I've always enjoyed coloring it...

Sometimes with pencils...and sometimes...(like this time)...with Copic makers...

and...

 I've created  cards for lots of different occasions...

 I'm glad that this time....I chose a Mother's Day sentiment for this particular card.

Thanks for visiting today...

I hoe that you leave with a little bit of inspiration...

and have a wonderful and creative day.

Michelle.

It's Dance Recital Time!

It's THAT time of year!

Dance recital time...

and so...

I thought that it was time to create a few ballerina cards.

I decided to use Ballerina Beauty (Papertrey Ink) to create a few sweet little ballerina cards...

one of which will be sent to my favorite little ballerina....my great-niece.

NOTE: This stamp has a companion die...which I have...but didn't use for today's cards.

I created 3 cards....

2 purple...1 yellow...

In addition to the Ballerina Beauty stamp...

I used a Spellbinders Label #10 die for the matting beneaththe MFT cross stitched oval frame die.

I matted the dotted print with metallic card stock...

and finished each card with a few rhinestones.

Background color as added with my beloved Clarity Stencil brushes ad ink pads..

and the image was colored with Copics

I almost always mat with metallic card stock...

You can see the shimmery blue and white metallic card stock  here in this photo...

So now,  here I go again...

Repeating myself...and saying...

I had lots of fun creating today's cards...

and I'm sure that I'll be creating more cards with this sweet little image again in the future.

Actually...I'll probably do a pink version...soon.

Thanks for visiting, my crafty and creative friends.

have a fantastic day!

Michelle

SaveSave

Hedgehogs Can Read Too!....Who Knew!

I almost aways create cards with purpose...

I purchase stamp sets with particular ideas for creating cards

or...

for specific occasions.

Today...though...

I am sharing a card...created with a Stampavie ~Tina Wenke stamp (Hedgehog Reading). 

This stamp/image is just TOO cute!

I really didn't give any thought to the who..what...where...or when...

about creating or giving this card.
But...I picked it up...simply because I HAD to have it.

(I do give books as gifts...often.....especially to children...so now that I think about it....

This is the ideal card for that!)

I colored this cutie with Copics...

and added some background color with Clarity Stencil Brushes and ink pads.

I used a favorite die (MFT Mini Scallop Stax) to die cut the completed image.

I browsed through some print paper..

picked what I felt went well with the image...

Then chose a solid metallic card stock color that went well with the overall color palette.

And...this is what I wound up with! 

Because I wasn't  certain about "why" I might us this card...

I opted to not add a sentiment to the completed card.

(I can always add a sentiment on the inside of the card when it's used...

a sentiment that will be specific to the occasion and/or recipient.)

I'm happy to add this guy to my card "stash"

he's a cutie.. and was enjoyable to create a card with.

I did a little bit of research on line to see what other Tina Wenke stamps might be available.

They're all adorable...and  as cute as this little hedgehog...
Which means....
I'll be adding a few new Tina Wenke stamps to my collection....soon!

Thanks for visiting today my crafty and creative friends.

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle.

Summer of Love

Penny Black is one of my favorite stamp companies...

(I also love PB 6x6 paper pads!) 

Today...

I'm sharing a few cards...

They're similar...

but different...

each created with the same Penny Black stamp: Summer Love

I enjoyed choosing colors for the images...which I colored with Copics.

Background color was added with Clarity Stencil Brushes and ink pads.

Pairing colored images up with print paper and mat colors is something that I really enjoy.

The Mini Scalloped die is also a fave of mine...and it's by MFT (My Favorite Thing)

I added a few little dots of Nuvo Drops on each card...and twine on two of the cards.

I left the inside blank...

leaving the option opened for choosing sentiments in the future...

or not.

Look at these two buddies!

Aren't they adorable?

There's so much that I love about this stamped image...

The clothes..the untied shoelace...the pigtails..ice cream cones....

his baggy pants and pokey hair...and their arms around one another's shoulders.

(NOTE: It's only normal that an ice cream lover like myself would give special attention to the "flavors" of the ice cream...

so...here we have mint chocolate chip on the left...and double chocolate fudge on the right!)

I used the same print here...same twine...

But I used different colors for the image.

I liked the addition of blue in this mix of colors

(Ice cream flavors:  French vanilla on the right and mint chocolate chip on the left)

I'm not a fan of chevron prints

but this chevron just might lead me to change my mind.

(Ice cream flavors: Strawberry with sprinkles on the left..and Chocolate on the right)

Is it okay to admit that I have a favorite?

(This might be it!)

You know me....I love my little Swiss dot prints...

and I love the colors ...

(Ice cream flavors: It seems that our pigtailed friend on the left really loves mint chocolate chip...

and her buddy on the right loves chocolate...and is all about double chocolate fudge for him!)

I feel like I almost always say the same thing at the end of most of my blog posts...

and here I go...saying it again...

I had fun creating all of the cards that I've shared with you today!

The coloring...the paper...the matting...the embellishing...

and keeping it all very CAS (Clean And Simple)

all reflect my style of card making...

and always make my time creating cards a joy!

Thanks for visiting my crafty and creative friends...

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle

3 Birthday Cards...With 3 Favorites

Hello my crafty and creative friends!

Today I have a quickie blog post with 3 birthday cards.

each one created with a different favorite floral image

that I have used countless times before.

I colored each image with Copic markers.I used an assortment of 

matte..and metallic card stock

and an assortment of prints.

The Happy Birthday sentiment is by PTI.

I hand cut and matted each sentiment banner.

First up...

An image from Stampin Up's You've Got This stamp set

I did lots of layering and matting on this card.

The coral piece of card stock was crimped and has a corrugated look.

This beautiful image is Penny Black's FRESH 

The sketch for this card is the sane as the card above.

Lots of matting...and a little bit of twine.

The 3rd...and final card for today is also by Stampin Up...

and it's from the A Gift of Love stamp set.

I try to keep a nice number of Birthday cards on hand...

and am happy to add today's cards to my Birthday card stash.

I will always love these images...

and it's a given that in the future...I will create cards with each of these images again...

and again...

and again.

Thank for visiting today...

have a wonderful Sunday.

Michelle.

Violets....For Mother's Day

It's time to start making Mothers Day cards...

When I had stamped out the images for my infamous stack of 145 colored images in March....

I made sure to choose some images that would be useful for Mother's Day.

For my first little stack of Mother's Day cards

I chose the colored images that were stamped with
Our Daily Bread's Violet stamp.

Very apropos, because my Mom...who passed away 7 years ago... had a magical green thumb 

for every plant that she ever encountered...

but she especially had a green thumb when it came to violets.

She had the magic touch...

and would grow the most beautiful flowering violet plants...from a single leaf.

I created 5 Violet cards....all for Mother's Day.

I colored the images with Copic markers.

I added background color around the image, with Clarity Stencil brushes and ink pads...

Stamped the happy Mother's Day with a stamp form Our Daily Bread's All Mother's stamp set.

I used a die from the Spellbinders Labels 10 die set

to create the die cut window in the deep purple metallic card stock.

After the window was cut

I embossed the purple metallic card stock with Swiss Dots embossing folder 

(an oldie..but a goodie..and always a favorite of mine!)

I positioned the embossed purple window piece with foam dimensionals.

The banner is also a Spellbinders die.

I cut two banners...and used the purple one to mat the white sentiment banner.

To finish the card..I added a few Crystal Clear sequins.

Purple and green always seem to go together nicely when creating botanical/floral cards.

In this photo...you can see the banner matting...Swiss Dots embossing...

and the dimension created by positioning the purple card stock with foam dimensionals.

Myy first few Mother's day cards are complete!

I'll make a few more...and as soon as may arrives..I'll start working on Father's day cards.

Have a wonderful Friday my crafty and creative friends...

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle.

Flowers...Basket of Wishes Day 2

As promised...

Today I'm sharing a few more cards created with Stampin Up's Basket of Wishes stamp set...

The same stamp set used for yesterday's strawberry basket cards

Today...I'm sharing two flower basket cards...

Similar...but each created with a different color palette.

When creating both cards I used a square scalloped frame die...

added background color to the image layer with Clarity Stencil Brushes and ink pads.

I stamped the sentiments (Reverse Confetti stamps) 

and hand cut  and matted the double ended banners

I used metallic card stock for all of the matting. 

The matted image layers were poisoned with self adhesive fun foam.

First...

I created a card with a cantaloupe colored dotted print 

and soft green metallic card stock for matting.

I thin that I'll always love adding background color with Clarity Stencil Brushes. 

I used a blue dated print for the second card

I love how crisp and clean the blue looks with the white scalloped edge 

and light green metallic matting.

Ahhhhh....

CAS....

always makes me happpppy.

Very very happpppy!

Today's cards are truly my style...

Very me...

They feel "right"...and "good"...while I am creating them...

and in the end...they make me smile.

I hope that they've made you smile as well.

Thanks for visiting today, my crafty and creative friends...

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle

Strawberries....Basket of Wishes Day 1

Sometimes...images can be larger than life..

filling an entire card front..and being able to stand alone...

And...

sometimes...

a tiny image can make a big statement

and works beautifully with other elements  like print paper..embellishments..matting etc

Today I am sharing a small image...

a basket of strawberries 

from Stampin Up's BASKET of WISHES stamp set

(Tomorrow, I'll share the flower basket image...from the same stamp set)

As you probably already know..

I am a CAS (Clean and Simple) card maker...

So it goes without saying that the cards that I am sharing today

are right up my alley!

Clean...Crisp...and uncluttered.

For today's cards:

The English Tea Party Doily Die is by Cheery Lynn

Stitched Arch STAX die is by MFT
The square scalloped dies...and the Ribbon Banner dies are by Spellbinders

Background color (image and banner) were created what Clarity stencil brushes and ink pads.

Doily and matting layers are metallic card stock

Print is from a paper pad.

I used the GEMINI die cutting machine

I never have any Get Well cards on hand...

so I started out with a Get Well card.

For each of today's sentiment banners..I cut two...

and used the solid metallic card stock banner piece  as a mat...behind the stamped sentiment piece.

One pass through the GEMINI die cutting machine cut this doily die completely...

No poking out of the teeny little pieces...

The GEMINI is a dream!

Next up...

Just for You

I like the banner contour for this card...and the get Well card above.

It's perfect for nestling against an arched shape, I think.

For the 3rd card...I switch it up a bit...

And created a vertical card...

and used square die cut shapes...

and a different banner for the sentiment.

You can see the sentiment banner matting nicely here...

and the sheer velum layer beneath the red scalloped mat layer.

I matted the image layer with black metallic card stock for a nice finished look.

This small little image..
a simple basket of strawberries...
makes a wonderful focal image on a card front
when used with other elements that highlight it and some the spotlight on it.

I'm looking forward to sharing a few cards with you tomorrow...
A simple..small basket of flowers...
also created with this SU stamp set.

Until then...
Thanks for visiting, my friends...
and..
Have a wonderfully creative day!
Michelle.

A Favorite Bird.....in Two Colors

I have a favorite bird stamp...

The stamp is called A New Day....and it's by WPlus9.

I had 5 of this image colored and ready to go...

in my stack of what started out as 145 colored images. 

I had....4 in one color..

and 1 in another color.

The images were colored with Polychromos Pencils

and the coloring was blended with a Spectrum Noir blender pen(marker)

(I LOVE the look of pencil coloring blended with an alcohol marker)

I matched the colored images up with some pretty print paper...

Some embossing..

Some metallic matting...

and this is what I came up with!

4 of this version...

I wish that I had a hoard of this dark blue print...

I'll be sad when I use the last sheet.

The print and the deep red metallic card stock come together nicely, I think.

I love blending pencil coloring with an alcohol blender marker

I had one bird colored in yellow & orange tones...

(I don't know why I didn't color more in this color...because I like it...a lot)

The lighter colored mat layer is a marbleized look...

the darker mat layers are metallic card stock.

Instead of using print paper for this card...

I opted to emboss one of the metallic mat layers.

I think that this bird stamp will always be a favorite of mine.

Next time...I'll be sure to color more than one image in the yellow/orange tones!

I hope that your visit to my blog today has given you a little bit of inspiration.

Thanks for visiting !

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle.

Mr. & Mrs. x's 6!

A friend asked me create a few wedding  cards...

so that's what keep me busy this weekend!

I'm grateful that my friend needed wedding cards...

because I have been thinking (not creating...just thinking)...

that I SHOULD get busy making some wedding cards.

So when my friend asked...

it inspired me to make a few cards.

A few for her..and a few for my stash.

I created 5 x 7 cards...something that I don't do too often...
but A2 always seems too small, to me, for wedding cards...
so 5 x7 it was!

I was happy to use a larger sized Darice bride and groom die

that I've had for a while..but hadn't tried...yet.

I also decided to use some die favorites

Crafter's Companion Mr & Mrs...and their heart die set.

I also used Crafter's Companion Mirror card stock (gold)

Crafter's Companion foiled vellum...

and some other metallic card stock colors (not Crafter's Companion)

I created three versions of one card

and three of the other...

for 6 cards total.

Here they are:
First...the bride and groom silhouette cards

*NOTE: the foiled roses are silver...
some of the photos picked up the reflection of my Tshirt color...
and made the roses look like they have a teal color tint.

This version has some rhinestones...
and lots of shimmer and shine from the metallic card stock and foiled card stock

This version has some sheer ribbon and a side bow...
and the sketch is a bit different...with the print being a smaller piece
and the bride and groom layer being offset a bit to the right.
Because more of the largest black layer wold be showing...
I embossed it for some added texture
(This photo really picked up my Tshirt color in the roses at the bottom of the card.)

and this versions...
just a band of sheer ribbon behind the silhouette die cut.
You can see the shimmer on the black metallic card stock used for the bride and groom die cut.

And...
the gold Mr. & Mrs. cards...

I made 2 of this card...
I used the gold mirror card stock as the largest mat layer...
Then I matted the gold vine patterned velum on gold dust metallic card stock.
I used the gold dust metallic to die cut the heart...
and the gold mirror  card stock for the Mr. & Mr. die cut.
I added a few rhinestones to the Mr. & Mr.

I used the same sketch for this card...but switched up the vellum
and went with the gold damask velum this time.

I'm so glad that my friend asked for a few wedding cards...
It was exactly what I needed to get started with creating a few  wedding cards
for my stash.
Best of all..
my friend liked what I created...
and was happy to choose two cards...for the weddings that she will be going to soon.

Thanks for visiting my blog today,  my crafty and creative friends.
Have a wonderful day!
Michelle.

A Straggler Becomes a Card

I was tidying up the end of the studio work table...

and found a colored image...underneath a few embossing folders.

Apparently...the image was a straggler...from my February stack of colored images.

So I took a little bit of time to create a fast little card...

This little image is from an oldie CTMH stamp set called What a Great Day

I added a stayed Rubbernecker Stamps frame...

I added some background color with Clarity Stencil Brushes and ink pads.

I chose a bright cheerful print...

and 3 colors of metallic card stock that went well with the image and print..

White..orange and green

I matted the image layer and the print with the white and green...

and 

embossed a small piece of the orange metallic card stock 

to layer between the matted image layer...and the print.

I added  the first of a 2-stamp sentiment to the card front 

(*Stampin Up: Petite Pairs)

I stamped the coordinating/matching sentiment stamp 

on the inside of the card

This was a fast little impromptu card...

I'm glad that I tidied up the end of the studio work table

and found this colored image there.

Thanks for visiting today, my crafty and creative friends!

Wishing you a wonderful day that includes a little bit of creativity!

Michelle.

Bebunni + a Beautiful Sentiment = a Lovely Little Card

My stack of 145 colored images has lots of colored goodies in it

and I am SO enjoying creating cards with them.

The stack had a few Bebunni Bloom and Grow images

that were calling my name.

So I plucked them from the stack..and created a few CAS cards.

The image was colored with Copic markers.

The stamped frame around the image is a Rubbernecker stamp

I layered two different prints

and then positioned the Bunny using self adhesive fun foam

Here's a photo with better light...

I added a few Crystal sequins for a little sparkle.

I added a lovely sentiment to the inside of the card...

from the Papertrey Ink: Tucked In~Thinking of You Stamp Set

**I used the second sentiment..."I'm thinking of you..."

I LOVE the PTI little sentiment sets....

I have lots of them...and use them all of the time...

It's nice to have some "Thinking of You" cards in my card stash...

on standby...

for the times when I want to let someone know that they're being thought of.

I hope that this sweet little card inspired you...

and has wanting to create some cards your own today.

Thanks for visiting...

Have a wonderful day, my crafty and creative friends!

Michelle.

BAM...POW and BIG Birthday Wishes

Today I am sharing a card created with  CC Designs Super Hero Henry stamp.

I am always in need of cards for boys...

and Super Hero Henry is perfect for the job! 

I created a few of this card...all identical... 

to replenish my almost depleted stash of boy-birthday cards.

I colored each of the images with Copic Markers...

I used lots of metallic card stock for matting...

a red base layer...and two mats (blue & black) beneath the image.

The image layer was positioned with a large piece of self adhesive fun foam.

The BIG Birthday Wishes stamp is from Taylored Expressions Dino-Mite stamp set.

I punched out a few small black metallic stars for the card front

and highlighted the word "BIG" in the sentiment...BAM,  inside of POW, the ...small stars 

and the outline of the large burst image ...with clear Wink of Stella...for lots of sparkle

Much better lighting on this photo...

(I always get a better, brighter..more coord authentic photo when I lay the card down for the photo.)

I really love this image and card...

I plan on making a few more of this card ...

because I never seem to have enough boy-friendly cards on hand.

Thanks for visiting today, my crafty and creative friends.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Michelle.