Redbuds

The first sign of spring here in southern Indiana is blooming of redbud trees. They are so beautiful in clusters lining the highways. It is not happening soon as we are predicted to get 3-5 more inches of snow tonight. But, redbuds were the first thing I thought of when I saw the challenge at The Paper Players

and I am combining with a CAS thinking of you card for The Card Concept

The tree bases are one from Rubber Stampede. Then I stamped it again on scrap paper and cut out to make a mask off all but  limbs. Then I used a stamp from SU's Gorgeous Grunge to stamp Melon Mambo over and over to fill the trees with redbud blossoms. The the sentiment and the grass area are from the new SU Sheltering Tree set. The base is Melon Mambo cardstock.

Baby Boy

I needed a baby boy card for a shower this weekend. Using Tuesday Throwdown theme of "circles" and this sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

I got 1 card and 2 challenges done today.

The circles are punched out of scraps. The image is from SU colored with pencils. Green bamboo cord tied to the top. The impressions are from a Fiskar plate run through Big Shot. There is just nothing sweeter than baby feet. Here is the inside with computer sayings and a baby feet stamp from Precious Rememberances

Coffee with Friends

If you can't be with friends to share coffee, how about a coffee theme card? I found a new challenge at Coffee Loving Cardmakers

In keeping with their spring theme, I used lavender and pink. The papers are from my scrap bin. The stamps are an old set that no longer have a label. I punched out the scalloped circle and popped up the fussy cut coffee cup with dimensionals. I used colored pencils to color the cup and to shadow around it. The sentiment circle mimics the polka dots. And that cute little coffee bean adds a great accent.

Pick Up

The Kraft Journal challenge of "one layer" was just that--a challenge. I sat and studies all my stamps for awhile to decide what would look good on a Kraft cardbase. A lot of my kraft cards tend to be masculine so that was my final destination here. 

I used a Cuttlebug impression folder for the ridges on the bottom. It is a single line so ran it through Big Shot twice. Then to give the road or tire skid effect, I rubbed it with some black ink. The truck and sentiment are from SU. I normally do some silver embossing or star gel pen for the chrome and window parts but this is for Operation Write Home (no glitter allowed). Instead I just used grey, black, and white colored pencils. The tire tread mark at the top is from the Gorgeous Grunge set by SU.

This is my week to work with one layer cards. See another one here

Daydreaming

I am sure daydreaming of warmer weather and spring flowers. It's only been 6 days here and I am getting serious case of cabin fever,.  How are you all in New England managing with all the snow, ice, and cold? Sure glad I don't live there.
So today, I am identifying with Newton laying in a field of flowers dreaming of sunshine.

Newton's Nook is having a challenge to make 1 layer cards. And A Blog Named Hero has a challenge of masking. So I have combined them.
I stamped Newton and the speech bubble from Newton's Day Dream on a scrap piece of paper and cut them out to mask the card where I did not want ink.Then I used a green Ink Dot and swiped over the bottom portion and a sponge with blue to do the sky. Sponging a  little yellow in the upper corner gave the sky some sunshine. Then I went back and stamped Newton. I chose not to stamp the speech bubble outline so it would look like a cloud. I colored Newton and flowers with colored pencils.
So I am right there with you Newton wishing everyone a day filled with sunshine!!!!

Ahoy!

At 1 degree and -15 windchill, I can tell you I am not stepping outside that door today!! So what else to do but hibernate in the craft room. I'm adding this one to by Operation Write Home collection. It has a bit of Navy flair.

I layered the papers all from SU. If you squint and look really close, you can see the lighter grey has white anchors on it.So I went with the nautical theme and stamped on the compass from Tim Holtz and an anchor from the $1.00 bin at Michael's. The Ahoy has lost its label so I can't credit it. Now I see the turquoise piece is on crooked. Darn my astigmatism. I tried fixing it but it is taped down to stay. I guess that is the nature of hand crafted things--not always perfect.
Now you are not going to believe this but I made the card just  before I checked out the new sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch

Great minds huh?

Painted Petals

Another good day here to stay inside and play. But I am so done with cold and snow and am ready for spring. So for Tuesday Morning Sketches I have spring flowers and summer butterflies to show you.

I really wish I had purchased more of this SU's water color paper last year.It is so soft and pretty. The flowers are from the Painted Petals set stamped with Certainly Celery and Rose Petal (stamped off once to soften it) Butterflies are SU stamps and punches. Sentiment is an old Studio G stamp but I still use it a lot because I really like the pretty font.
Here is the sketch

Mojo Monday

Today, in southern Indiana, we have piles and piles of snow with more coming. So what a good day to hibernate in the craft room and play all day. It has been a while since I played along with the sketch challenge from Mojo Monday. Frankly, all those layers intimidate this CAS girl but hey that's what makes it a challenge. Right? So here goes

I had the pink cardstock laying on the desk so went hunting in my scrap file for something to go with it. I found DSP from SU that reminds me of the Bokah technique. I think it was called water color paper but may be discontinued. Then it was a matter of pulling out coordinating solids. The sentiment is from Painted Petals by SU stamped on velllum and punched out with scallop punch. It is centered on a pink punched circle.. The leaf is a Spellbinder die. I punched out 3 little flowers and sponged some blush pink ink on them. They are attached with glue dots and have rhinestone centers for a little bling. That little blue bird is from an old stamp that I didn't like. I cut the bird off and discarded the rest. It is colored with blue pencils and fussy cut. It also is attached with glue dots.
Here is the Mojo sketch

I am also linking up at The Paper Players since their challenge is "feathered friends"

Guy's Birthday

Both my son and son-in-law have birthdays this spring. So I am taking the opportunity to make a guy's birthday card for challenges from The Kraft Journal

and Freshly Made Sketches

I chose Red, Tag, and Twine for my card,

I used the Fiskar crimper on that side strip of Kraft Cardstock.  That piece of wood DSP is really a burgandy red--shows more as pink here. The tag with twine is from the Kraft Outlet. Sentiment is from SU. I colored in the word Birthday with a red Prisma pencil. Two little gold button brads anchor the papers together.

Sheltering Tree

I just received a new stamp set from SU called Sheltering Tree. Colors used: Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade, and Certainly Celery. Punched and sponged flowers with Candy Dot centers. Punched butterfly. This may become a favorite stamp set.  I think it conveys a serene and calming tone.

A very loose interpretation of the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches rotated 90 degrees.