Dare to Get Dirty Day 2 cont.

More fall colors.  :)  I tried a new technique using tissue paper and distress inks.  It was fun and the result is pretty neat.  I need to try it again with some brighter colors.  I think yellows would be pretty, maybe some blues?  If you want to try it, cut out some tissue, spread some distress inks on a craft mat, spritz with water, lay the tissue over it and let it absorb the colors, and then carefully pick up the tissue and lay it on a paper towel to try.  It works beautifully with Stampin' Up! inks, so I might give those a go!

Finally a simple card.  I think bees and hexagons make a cute card.  Plus yellow and black are a favorite color combination of mine.  I got a new little bug and insect set to make notes for Laila, so I borrowed the cute little bees for this one.  

And finally a little Christmas card.  I figured I should get at least one Christmas in July card made before we start a new month.  Not much stamping here.  I just added a little of the Stampin' Up! Dictionary background stamp on the birch trees.  It adds a little interest, but doesn't take over the card.  I'm hoping my cardboard deer doesn't look like he's been flame broiled at Burger King.  lol 

That's it for today. I didn't manage to get any of the challenges for today done, so now I'm five behind.  Oh well.  I like to try to do them all, but life gets in the way sometimes.  This is one of the rough weeks of the year for me with Eli's birthday coming up on Wednesday, so I try to distract myself by creating.  I hope you're not getting tired of all the posts.  

Have a nice week.

Rita

DTGD Day 2

A bonus second post today!  I've been working away as much as I can today.  I have three more finished and three more to go to be caught up.  I don't know if it will happen. lol I'm getting tired.  I wish it didn't take me so long to make them.  I get caught up and it gets out of hand.  I don't even know how long this one took.  Have you tried the cling wrap background?  I thought it was easy and came out really neat.  It was a perfect under the sea background.  I love trying new techniques, especially the ones that work. :)  I'm doing good on my plan to use my Cameo more.  The seaweed was done with that.  I need to buy less dies, so that should help.

This was one of those throw things at it and hope it comes out looking okay kind of cards.  I can't really do the collage look very well, but I love trying it.  The background is made with Brusho.  I love the Stampin' Up! Butterfly dies.  Laila has already asked me to make a Monarch with it after she saw this one.  :)

This one is super simple.  That image is so pretty that I wanted it to be the focus.  I love trying to color it.  It is a nice test of using neutrals and coloring apples.  Plus, HEDGEHOGS!  Who doesn't love those!

Now I have to take a break and run back to the store.  We decided to have quesadillas tonight, so we need a rotisserie chicken.  At least it's only one thing to go get and there's tons of choices of where to go. 

Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow for more cards! 

Dare to Get Dirty Day 1 Continued

I managed to get four cards and a background for the fifth completed yesterday.  I swear it's impossible to stamp without interruptions, so I'm proud that I was able to knock out that many.  Why do husbands need you to come look at stuff when you're busy crafting?  I swear it's ONLY when I'm stamping.  There's nothing that needs looked at any other time.  lol  Crazy! Anyway, I thought this card was kinda fun. The paper seemed to go well with the sentiment.  I kept it black and white to match that. I used the Geek is Chic set from My Favorite Things, as well as their Blueprints 18 that I scored in the retirement sale last week.  It's been on my wishlist for ages, so I had to get it while I could.  :)

This was my card I made after everyone was in bed last night.  It was way too messy to attempt with a kid and kitten constantly invading my room.  I don't usually like heat embossing because I make a mess and it always looks bad.  I think this one turned out okay.  The distress inks distract from any bad embossing. ;)  It's made with the Flora background and Sketch Ranunculus sets from Simon Says Stamp.

I'm off to watch some morning shows and try to do a bit of creating before laundry.  Enjoy your Sunday!

DTGD Day 1

Happy Saturday! I hope you are finding some time to get crafty today.  If you are a member over at Splitcoast, the Dare to Get Dirty challenges start today.  I've been working on a couple this morning and thought I'd share them.  This first one is for a fun challenge from Lydia.  She always has fun ones that push me to try something hard.  I think the result is fun, so yay!

The second challenge was from Dina and I enjoyed creating for it as well.  I feel like we need more rainbows and sunshine in our world right now, so I may make up a few of these to send out.  It was a pretty simple one, so that shouldn't be too hard.

That's it for now. I'm going to go grab lunch and then come back to work on the next challenges.  I found a good comedy to keep me company.  There's nothing better than creating and laughing!

PTI Make It Monday Color Blocking

Still enjoying Fall in my stamp room. :)  I saw the PTI Make It Monday challenge to do some color blocking and thought it might be fun to use this pretty mum set.  I probably should have used some different colors to make the middle layer of color stand out better, but I like how it turned out anyway.  I do want to try it again with one of the different techniques they shared.

August is my busiest birthday card month, so I need to get some made! My best friend from grad school is my next one, so I'm working on a cute science themed card for her right now. I hope it turns out okay.

Happy Friday!  Enjoy your weekend.
Rita

Papertrey Ink Mum's the Word
Inks: PTI Terracotta Tile, Canyon Clay, Cocoa Bean
Gansai Tambi Watercolors
Canson Watercolor Paper
Stampin' Up! Early Espresso cardstock

SSS Flowers on My Mind

Over the weekend I came in my room to stamp and felt stuck.  I decided to pull out a card kit from Simon Says Stamp and try to recreate one of the samples.  Shari Carroll made an amazing card on the reveal post so I decided to try it.  Mine isn't half as awesome as hers, but it was fun to work on it.  I appreciate her ability to layer and do a collage type design.  I learned that I need a medium gray ink pad though.  My SU Basic Gray crapped out and they don't make it anymore.  Hopefully I can find something similar as I love that color as use it a lot.

I'm not feeling creative today either as I have a headache, but I'm heading to my desk to try it. I might have to have another sample recreating. :)  There's actually a lot of learning involved in that, so I might need to do it more often.

I hope you are having a great week!

Hip for Summer Halloween

Halloween again. :)  I believe this is the last week of Sizzix's Hip for Summer promotion, so I wanted to get another entry in.  I thought the ostrich would be fun as a witch and I think she is.  I had fun using some different supplies and techniques to create it.  Also a lot of cutting. lol

Little Lady is doing great.  Well, if by great I mean keeping me awake at night I guess.  lol She gets a super playful spell right as it's time for bed.  Then at 3am she comes and lays with me.  That would be awesome, but it's right on my face!  We work through it and then I get snuggles until 6 or 7 when she's up and ready for another round of crazy.  Good thing she's cute.  :)

MFT Card Challenges 342

Laila is already talking about Halloween, so I thought I'd get ahead of the game and make her a card.  I hope to sneak it in her backpack or lunchbox. :) I used the new sketch at MFT Card Challenges and a cute MFT Pure Innocence girl.  I got brave and used my neglected Cameo for the web and bats.  The background is Distress Oxide inks in Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, and Wilted Violet.

For the past two weeks, Laila has been with a new counselor at her social skills group.  She has been awesome and so helpful with suggestions to try at home.  It seems to be working pretty good, so I'm happy for that.  It's still far from perfect, but we'll take any improvement.  They do a lot of practice like transitions, standing in line, sitting and going work at a table, sharing...all good things that will help her transition to school.  I can't believe it is only five weeks until she'll be a kindergartner. 

Freshly Made Coffee

Back today with Freshly Made Sketches and that technique I promised you.  :)  I did struggle with this week's sketch because tilted panels make me a bit nuts. lol I tried a Christmas card, but I did the "shape" first and it was most of the card front once I put it together.  Then I saw the backgrounds I'd made last week and thought I'd try one of those.  It is made using a technique called Shaving Cream Stenciling.   I know we used shaving cream back when I first started stamping, but this was a fun new take on it.  I forget what colors I used now, but I know Bermuda Bay and Lucky Limeade were two of them. I'm also adding it to Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday.  I love this coffee set by them.

I hope you'll take time to come play along with us!  And go try that technique! It's awesome!  I might have to do more today with my new plaid stencil I used on yesterday's card.  

Happy Wednesday! 

Stampin' Up! Fall Leaf

I think I got stuck in Fall mode. lol I won a prize in the Coffee Lovers Hop from The Heart Desires and I got this awesome plaid stencil and Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide ink.  I played around with a fun water stamping technique I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog and man is it fun!  I am so excited for cooler weather.  SO READY for it. I'm about to have to pull a lot of struggling plants from my garden because they hate this weather.  As do I.

Come back tomorrow for a new Freshly Made Sketches sketch AND another new to me technique that was also super awesome to do!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Truly Grateful, SU Wonderfall
Ink: Distress Oxides Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Ink, Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip
Stencil: Carta Bella Plaid #1

Hip for Summer

Every now and then I see a stamp set and it makes me laugh.  The Hipster set from Stamps Anonymous was one of those.  I used it here on a monochromatic card and I love how it turned out.  It's one of my most favorite cards I've made in a while.  Sizzix has a fun challenge going on all summer using it, so check that out on their blog if you have the set.

Now I'm off to finish up some chores so I can be ready for Game of Thrones! Anyone else excited about it?

Simon Says Stamp Distress It 2

I don't know about where you are, but Texas has been miserable this week.  So hot and humid that nobody wants to go outside.  Today we added the run of thunderstorms. I went to hide away in my stamp room a bit and play with a couple new Distress Oxide inks I got and my new leaves background from Hero Arts.  I love the background, but the card didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped.  I guess I'll have to get messy and make another background and try again. :) Entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  I guess I'm in a Distress It! mood.

I am ready for Fall! :)  I think I might switch over to making cards for Halloween and Thanksgiving for a while.  It's crazy that we don't really have any holidays before then.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Simon Says Distress It

The kitten woke me up at 3am.  I swear it's like having a newborn! lol I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to come stamp.  One of my best friends from high school is having a lot of health issues, so I wanted to make a new card for her. I've been trying to send encouragement to her as much as I can and I thought these sticker words from Tim Holtz would be perfect.  I used a bunch of techniques from the Creative Chemistry class.  If you love Tim's products, I'd totally recommend them.  I distressed the heck out of it and am entering it in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

We had a lot of rain earlier in the week, so Laila got to go do her most favorite thing in the world besides eat chocolate.  This girl LOVES jumping in puddles.  We even met a neighbor because she had the best puddle in the neighborhood. She was happy to share. :) Overall it's been a good week.  I got some great feedback from her social skills class and we are trying some new stuff to help us all. I'm not sure what today will hold, but I know it will include a lot of coffee for me!

Stampin' Up! Branch Out

Playing along with the weekly color challenge over at Splitcoast. It was olive, suede, and gold, but I had to substitute because I don't have gold.  I feel like a one person anti-gold club.  lol I love silver, but I've never purchased gold paper that I can remember.  I don't know if I even have gold embossing powder.  It's probably gross by now if I do.

This card was a bit of a blast from the past for me. It's more the original style I started out as. And it's only Stampin' Up! products too.  I've been trying to declutter my room and figure out what I want to keep and what to donate/sell, so I thought I'd play around with some stuff before I decided on them. I'd never get rid of Branch Out EVER, but some inks and paper might have to go.  I have so much.  I may hang on to it for a while and see if I need it when I volunteer with the PTO this fall. Or maybe not. lol SO MUCH STUFF.

We haven't had any pictures of Laila done in ages because she just won't cooperate. Last month we went home to Kentucky to visit with family and I had my cousin try to do some.  She didn't cooperate of course, but he did manage to get a few good shots. Not posed studio ones, but ones that reflect her I feel.

Now I'm off to bed. It's been a long week and I'm pooped. Laila has play therapy at 8am, so we'll be getting up early.  Yawn

Freshly Made Sketches 296

Back with a new card for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I don't usually make square cards, but I tried this time. I love yellow and black (or gray) together so much.  It's just so elegant and really makes a statement. I used two Simon Says Stamp sets from past card kits.

I hope you'll join us! Have a great rest of the week. 

MFT Card Challenges 340

Titling this one The Card That Took All Day.  I swear every time I sat down to work on it someone needed help with something.  Anyway... this is my entry for the MFT Card Challenges sketch this week.  I was a bit stumped at first, but I finally got an idea and went with it.  I don't have a lot of outdoorsy friends, so I added the dogs. I have lots of dog loving friends.  :)  I like that you can easily mix little elements of the Pure Innocence sets.

I think I got close enough.  I couldn't figure out how to make it work any other way since I didn't have that circle shape.  It looked awful when I tried to just cut off the bottom.  

Now I'm off to clean my desk back up.  It is a tad bit messy.  

Freshly Made Sketches 295

On a roll!  Scary, huh?  :)  I had some free time since Jason was off for the holiday, so I thought I'd try to play with my pals at Freshly Made Sketches.  I loved Narelle's sketch and it paired perfectly with Unity's Be Inspired challenge on Facebook which was hearts and polka dots.  I got this little stamp to use for Laila, so this will be for her.  She's already asked for it of course. :)

I hope all my American friends had a nice holiday.  We didn't do much, but sometimes that's nice.  Any day that includes a s'more is a good day in my book.  Now come on over and play along with us! 

MFT Card Challenges Sketch 339

What?  Square??  Yep.  I don't make a lot of square cards due to mailing cost, but I loved the sketch at MFT Card Challenges this week so I thought I'd play along.  I wanted to make a quilt card for my mom anyway, so perfect timing!  I love the Diagonal Quilt die from MFT.  So pretty! I cut out some papers I thought would look pretty and assembled. It was fairly easy and I have lots of leftovers for future cards! Win, win!

I was so ready to go play in my garden when we got back from our recent trip.  I didn't realize how much I love being out there.  It's so hot and humid now, but I do a little on and off each day.  We currently have a lot of black swallowtail caterpillars to raise and our first Gulf Fritillary ones as well. 

 This was our first Easter Black Swallowtail that we released.  He traveled to Kentucky with us as a chrysalis and was released there. 

My passion vine has taken off and we get flowers daily now.  It's the host (food) plant for the Gulf Fritillary caterpillars, so it needs to grow so we can raise them. :)  Look at how funky the caterpillars are.  We aren't sure about touching them.  lol 

Alrighty.  Happy Independence Day!  I'm off to get dressed to visit with a friend.  

SSS FLICKR Ice Cream

Trying to keep up a bit of stamping.  I've been feeling a bit down again lately, so I wanted to add some creative time in with my gardening.  If you see me not posting much, send me a kick in the butt email. :)   I saw the Simon Says Stamp flickr challenge was to use stencils, so I grabbed on and this was the end result.  Kinda fun for summer, huh?  I love this ice cream set. I also used a new for me Copic combo.  Fun!!

Laila loved her Pokemon birthday party.  She must be excited because she keeps telling EVERYONE that she's five.  lol  I just hope she's as excited about school since it starts in less than 2 months! Yikes!

Have a great week!
Rita