Floral Hello

This week's Simon Wednesday Challenge is right down my alley as I love to make my own patterned paper with stamps and inks.  I, also, got to play with my Stamp of Approval kit from Catherine Pooler, too!

I used a couple of pieces of watercolor paper to make my patterned paper this week.  I love that each one turned out differently, using the same technique and ink colors.  On the first card, I used Walter & Winne's In Bloom: Eve's Favorite Flowers with Versa Mark ink and embossed each with Ranger's clear embossing powder.  I then took the solid flower stamps from the same set and inked them up with Stampin' Up's Wisteria Wonder, Crushed Curry, Real Red and Tangerine Tango inks.  I then spritzed the flowers with water and let the ink and water do their magic.  I die cut out the word Friend, from Cas-ual Fridays.

The only difference with the second card is I used Hero Arts Unicorn White ink and WOW! Silver Pearl embossing powder.  I added the die cut Hello, from Simon Says Stamp. 

I finished both cards off with pearl embellishments and mounted the patterned paper to Gina K's Pure Luxury White card stock and pop dotted the words hello and friend on each card.

I'm entering this card in both Simon Monday and Simon Wednesday challenges. 

Thanks so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.

Create with PTI

Hi everyone,
This card is for PTI's Create with Us.  I fell in love with Amy Sheffer's nativity card.  I love the simplicity of it and the sentiment was perfect.  Here's my take on her card.  I changed it to a fall inspired card.  I used the house from PTI's Winter Hills and colored it with Copics (b41, c5, y02 and e43).  The trees are from PTI's City Scene, as are the leaves.  I used SU's Raspberry Ripple, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Crushed Curry inks.  I sponged SU's Crumb Cake after Masking half the card.  I die cut out happy from PTI's Wet Paint die cuts (stacked 4 times) and punched out the small oval and stamped the word fall from PTI's Wreath for all Seasons in Pumpkin Pie ink, which I popped up with a pop dot.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.

Having fun with SSS

Hi everyone,
It's been hard getting back into the swing of stamping after Nick's wedding, but it's getting there.

I love the month of September, not only because it's our wedding anniversary month, but also because it bring the best season of the year!  I love fall in Michigan.  The fall colors just make me so happy.  Every year they are just a bit different.  Last year, the yellows and oranges were so vivid.  We'll see what this year's colors bring.  Last, but not last, it also bring STAMPtember from Simon Says Stamp.  This year's collection has been amazing so far.  I haven't had a chance to play with all the stamps and dies I've bought so far, but here's a couple of cards I did make with Drifting Stitched Circles and Leaves background stamp.  I used Tim Holtz's watercolor paper and inked up the Leaves background stamp with TH distress inks in Mustard Seed, Cracked Pistachio, Abandoned Coral and Spiced Maralade, which I misted with water before putting down the watercolor paper.  I then used the Drifting Stitched Circles dies down the side and added a few circles of Stampin' Up's Summer Sun card stock.  I attached the leaves panel to a piece of SU's Bermuda Bay card stock and Summer Sun card stock.  The happy birthday is stamped in SU's Bermuda Bay and the stamp is from SSS's Circle Sayings that I cut.  I am entering this card in Simon Wednesday and Monday Challenges and also in Darnell's NBUS challenge #5.

This card also uses SSS's Drifting Stitched Circles die and some very pretty designer paper from Penny Black called Painted Blooms.  I love buying patterned paper because it's so pretty, but after I get it home it just sits there because I don't know what to do with it.  I know there are others in the same boat with me.  I was so happy that PaperTrey Ink had Betsy Veldman do a video during their Stampafaire on Mix and Matching Patterned Paper.  Betsy does an excellent job explaining how to use Patterned paper together on a card.  I was so geeked.  I pulled out all my patterned paper and started putting different patterns together.  I loved how this card just came together so easily.  I finished the card off using lots and lots of sequins and the SSS's Smile Circle die.  I just cut the word out from the circle.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.