Inky Antics Cage Die and Playing Catch Up...Again!

Hello! I have found little time to create and even less time to post but today I am going to get caught up!

I went to the Heirloom Stamp show last weekend- oh my- what fun! Shopping with Kathie and Kelly is a blast and we all managed to come home with full bags of goodies!

My card for the Our Daily Bread Designs monthly challenge at OWH was made with a new-to-me square cage die by Inky Antics. I loved the sample cards at the show so I had to buy it!  I stamped and cut out my pig and the clouds, adhered them to the panel with the hay bales, then used the die. I think next time I will stamp on 1 layer- I think the thickness was a challenge for the die! But I love it! Pulling on the string reveals another image and the sentiment! I plan to play more with this die!

And how perfect- the MWTD is to make a card with a kite...I purchased a Sweet and Sassy stamp set and coordinating dies with a kite! The silver dots are Candies- I have seen them used on cards by ladies from the UK and I was intrigued. I purchased 2 packages at the show...they seem like thicker paper- not quite chipboard- I really like them!

http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-go-fly-a-kite/

And onto the 2 sketches for the past 2 Sundays:

                                  

 I used a stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs....love the bird buddies!  And of course- colored with Copics.

My final card is based on this sketch: 

                                        

I used Stampin Up stamps and rotated the sketch- love the owls!

I have more stamp show goodies to play with so I hope to make some time to create this week!  Have a great weekend and I hope you craft on!

Diane

Happy Sunday!

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great weekend- I am- but boy- the weekends pass so quickly!

Marlene has another great sketch for us this week:


          

I used Mama Elephant stamps and Studio Calico papers for my card this week.

I am trying to finish up some Mother's Day cards to send out to Sandy this week. I have some room in the box so I am doing my best to fill it! I used distress inks on glossy paper ( I rarely use them!) with some water droplets and made some panels to stamp images in black ink.

Have a wonderful week and go make some cards!
Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

Another Rainy Day in :London!

It is Saturday- do you know what that means?
Another Drunken Stampers challenge! Yeah baby- our place this week is LONDON! Or we can use red,white and blue- so I did both! 

When I think of London I think of rain, the Olympics, Big Ben, rain, the royal family, rain, castles, double-decker buses, history, cool telephone booths, rain... so I pulled out some older stamps! The London postage stamp is by Hero Arts and my umbrella gal is from The Greeting Farm; she was colored with Copics. I paper pieced her clothing and the umbrella. The brad buttons were white and I used a red Copic to make them match her skirt. I made the postage stamp frame longer by the way I placed my cutting pads on my Big Kick.
You have to go to Drunken Stampers and see what the rest of the Tropical Hooters team came up with for this challenge- be ready to laugh out loud! Go-what are you waiting for???

Have a wonderful weekend and craft on,
Diane

Hero Cards!

Our challenge this week is to make Hero cards. Let's make sure each and every one of our servicemen and women know that we are thinking of them and appreciate everything they do for our country! I have several hero cards in my box for OWH...I need to stamp and tuck my cards and send them off to Kris. I think I will wait one more week and see if I can really fill my box this time! I am not the best at sending a lot of hero cards so I am really trying this time to improve my numbers.

I used MFT stamps for today's card. I really like the A La Modes line; they are so sweet and color up quickly. Paper piecing is easy on these gals. I used DCWV for her pants and the star- love that their shimmer paper is sealed- no stray glitter! The patterned papers are by Bazzill Freedom Sweetwater- I love how thick and substantial the paper is- really nice quality- or since I am a Bostonian- the paper is wicked awesome!The punch for the sentiment is from Stampin' Up. I punched it 3 times and cut  2 of them in half so I could have 3 layers; it needed to stand out against the patterned paper and one layer did not do it for me.

I did not have time to check out all the great cards at OWH for the Sunday sketch- I am hoping to grab some time tonight. I get so inspired by the talent of the OWH ladies!

Have a wonderful week and craft on!

Diane

Thoughts of Christmas to Cool us Down?

Hope if you are getting steamy weather that you are doing well....it is hot here but my office is so cold I have to wear sweaters at work!

This week Jan challenged us to make Christmas cards in July for our troops to send home later this year.
http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-christmas-in-july/
The time will pass quickly until we get into full holiday mode so I am attempting to make some of my wintery cards earlier this year. I am also very close to convincing myself that it is brisk and chilly outside! Then reality hits!

The stamp is an older Stampin Up cutie- I love the little images! The sentiment is by Mama Elephant. I used paper from WRMK Winter Frost 6x6 pad-- great papers in this- lots of the papers are wintery but there are several that can be used for any occassion. And I used the following copic colors:
B00, B01; E43, E74, G21 and G82. I used the Sakura Stardust pen and sealed it in with the Sakura clear glaze to give some shimmer to the snow and on the trees. the little carrot noses are colored in using a glaze pen in orange.

Stay cool and hydrated!
While you are enjoying the summer try to find some time to craft on!
Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

Two cards today!

I had some catching up to do...I totally missed Wednesday's Throwdown! I feel like lately I have been running behind, but I do catch up eventually! It is softball season and I try to go to as many of Tessa's games as possible...she is one dedicated and talented kid! And boy does she love the game! I played softball for 9 years in my youth- and loved it too but she has an incredible passion for the game! (Are you getting the impression that I am stinkin proud of my family???)

Last week's challenge was to made 'cards 4 kids'. I pulled out some of my beloved MFT Pure Innocence kids and decided on this skater boy image. The papers are from DCWV Boyhood stack. I used the Sakura clear glaze pen on his helmet and the skateboard. Love this pen... I do need to put a few coats on to make a nice shine- but it dries very quickly and smooth....so no added bulk or stickiness to the card!

Today's sketch at Operation Write Home is right up my alley-  layers and matting- great way to showcase pretty papers!

                      

Since I was looking thru my stash of MFT stamps, I decided to use this peek-a-boo gal. Bazzill papers, a cute image and a great sketch and I am all caught up with OWH challenges...I think!  I may have missed a recent tutorial or two....

Have a wonderful week and craft on!

Diane