MFT Sketch Challenge

Happy New Year!  I can't believe I haven't posted since last April!  I definitely need to do a better job.  This year was full of adventure for me...rafting, camping, a thru-hike of the Washington portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (that ended with an injury 90 miles from the Canadian border😩), and a wonderful trip to Ireland with my daughter.  Anyway, I decided to participate in my very first Sketch Challenge at My Favorite Things.  I'm a huge MFT fan, and it's due time that I give it a go!!

Here's my take:

I used a large variety of MFT images from multiple stamp sets.  All images were colored with Copic markers and fussy cut to avoid the white borders (since space was limited on those little squares!).  I went with a winter, spring, summer, fall theme in a gradient of blue squares.  This card was fun to make, but I'm not gonna lie...it took hours to make!  I'm happy with the outcome though, but the fleeting sun made for a dark photo.  Thank you for stopping by!

Nancy

Happy Earth Day!

Today as I was running along the beautiful Columbia River, this card came to mind.  I was being pelted by rain but I was okay with that.  It then struck me that today is Earth Day (and John Muir's birthday)!  I created this card in my mind as I ran.  I also remembered that the current Lawn Fawnatics challenge is outstanding occasions.  Earth Day, in my opinion, certainly is an outstanding occasion.  Perfect!!!

I will enter my card into the Lawn Fawnatics challenge

I used quite a variety of Lawn Fawn products:  Stitched Mountain dies, Happy Happy Happy dies, Stitched tree border, Stitched Hillside dies, Finley's ABC's, Wish You Were Here stamp set, Love You S'more stamps/dies (squirrel and bird), Scalloped Box Card Pop -Up dies (banner), and Watercolor Wishes pattern paper.  Phew!!  I stamped the globe from Wish You Were Here 5 times, colored them with Copics, then cut the letters out.  I'm happy with how this card turned out. It reminds me of the California High Sierras, and of course of the John Muir Trail...in my opinion one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  I've been fortunate enough to have hiked this glorious trail 3 times (and ache to do it again!).  So...here's a toast to caring for our planet on Earth Day 2017, and to one of my heroes...John Muir!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Nancy

Lawn Fawnatics Challenge

I'm so excited that Lawn Fawn has created a challenge blog (I was so sad when Lawnscaping Challenges ended)!  

So...here is the card I created for the first challenge:

I love the creations of Melissa Bickford @justdandystudio.  Her cards are always so colorful and cheery.  She inspired me to create this card!  I used the following Lawn Fawn products:  Treat Yourself, Baked with Love, Sweet Smiles, Big Scripty Words, Heart Stackables,mand Perfectly Plaid Rainbow pattern paper.  Images were colored with Copics, and I added some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  Here is another card I created using this same style:

Thank you for stopping by!

Nancy

Happily Ever After

I love making cards, but even more so when the recipients are near and dear to my ❤️.

I created this card for my sister-in-law and her new husband.  It was definitely a labor of love!  The card is a "collaboration" of My Favorite Things (house and trees using Home Sweet Home dies), Simon Says Stamp (sentiment from May 2015 card kit), and Lawn Fawn (clouds, hearts, flowers, pattern paper).  I thought the silver-lined clouds were the perfect addition!  Thanks for taking a look...if there's anyone out there!!

Nancy

Ellen Hutson Mix-it Up Challenge with Paper Smooches

Two blog posts in a row!!! That's a first!  With no time to spare, here is my card for the current Mix-It Up Challenge over on the Ellen Hutson blog:

http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/2017/03/ellen-hutson-march-mix-it-up-challenge-paper-smooches.html

Just had to use the Chubby Chum dog by Paper Smooches, and paired it with some stamps/dies from Up the Happy and Bear Ware from Essentials by Ellen.  The sentiment is firm Paper Smooches Flun and Flirty set.  This card was a quickie, relatively speaking...a rarity for me!  Thank you for checking out my blog!

Nancy

Pop-Up Birthday Card

My husband asked me to make his cat-loving sister a birthday card, so of course I searched my stash for kitty stamps.  I had recently purchased the Meow You Doin'? set by Lawn Fawn.  Perfect!  I could color the cats to match her cats.  I knew I wanted the card to be a special one, so I decided to create my very first pop-up card.  I used Lawn Fawn's recently released pop-up die to make it happen.

It took me an obscene amount of time to make this card, but it was fun to create.  It took an equally obscene amount of time to capture a photo that was halfway presentable.  I definitely need to work on my photography skills!  Sets used (all by Lawn Fawn):

Scalloped Box Card Pop-Up, Meow Ya Doin'?, Year 4 Hippo Birdie, Party Animals, grassy border die, stitched clouds, Mermaid for You (fish).  I used paper from the Perfectly Plaid line.  The images were colored with Copics.

Here's another card I made recently using the new Wonderful Window die set by Lawn Fawn:

Again...need to work on getting a better set up for taking photos.

Thank you to any of you out there who checked out this post.  Much appreciated!!

Nancy

Ellen Hutson Mix It Up Challenge With 28 Lilac Lane

Another Mix It Up Challenge is about to end over on the Ellen Hutson blog.  Just in the nick of time, I created this card:

http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/2017/02/ellen-hutson-february-mix-it-up-challenge-28-lilac-lane.html

I knew I had to create a shaker card utilizing one of May's gorgeous 28 Lilac Lane sets.  I used the Tropical Twist set, which is filled with buttons, sequins, seed beads, pearls, and trim (twine and charms).  In fact this set actually includes a pineapple charm, but I couldn't figure out how to incorporate it onto this card.  I used the Stay Golden stamp and die set from Essentials by Ellen.  I clear embossed the smallest pineapple image onto Neenah Desert Storm cardstock.  The pattern paper is from a Doodlebug 6x 6 pad.  If anyone is reading this blog post...gracias!  I appreciate your visit!!

Nancy

Ellen Hutson Mix-It Up Challenge with Avery Elle

I created a card to enter into the Mix-It Up Challenge over on the Ellen Hutson blog.  This time around they are teaming up with Avery Elle.  After looking through my sets from those two companies, it was obvious that the adorable bear from All Inside would be the perfect companion to Ellie!

http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/mix-it-up-challenge/

I used the following sets:

Essentials by Ellen:  All Inside (the cutest bear image in my opinion!), Bear Ware, Warm Fuzzies

Avery Elle: Ellie (the cutest elephant image in my opinion!)

All images were colored with Copic markers.  Also I added a bit of Wink of Stella to make the balloon sparkle.  

I had fun making this card on this icy day in the Pacific Northwest.  We're on day 8 of snow and ice.  Can't wait for spring!!!

Thank you for visiting, I truly appreciate it!

Nancy

Love Letters

It's been a long while since I posted here!  I always say I'm going to do so more regularly but it doesn't seem to happen.  Working full time as a long-term substitute teacher didn't help!  So this card was a pleasure to make after a long holiday season (the crafting holiday season starts in September, right?).  I used Lawn Fawn's Love Letters set, as well as the Happy Mail dies.  How fun is that mailbox?  I had to add a brad to the little flag for a little interactiveness!  Because I don't own the coordinating dies I used the cute little bird from Let's Play.  His little heart shaped wings fit the scene. I also used the Leafy Tree Backdrop die and the grassy border.  And...here is my card:

Thank you for stopping by!

Nancy