Happy Birthday Kitty

This card is for today's Splitcoaststampers FS264 featured stamper challenge. The featured stamper this week is Janice Melton. Her gallery is called catcrazy, so I thought it only fitting to use this cute little kitty digi stamp by "motivet". Isn't he just the cutest little guy???!!! Just hope he doesn't pull up my daffodils like he did that pretty little pink flower!! hehe
I cased Janice's card found here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1664405?&cat=500&ppuser=116312&sorttime=all&sortby=mf&way=desc. Used the kitty digi instead of flowers, different border punch, buttons in place of the larger pearls and birthday sentiment instead of Mother's Day.
Used Copics to color my little pearls, since I didn't have any pink ones. tfl

Birthday in the Tall Trees

This card is for today's Inspiration Challenge - IC325 - at Splitcoaststampers.

The inspiration piece I chose - shown above - can be found here: http://calgarycraftedgifts.com/metal.htm . I love this beautiful metalwork, and the scene immediately made me think of my tall trees embossing folder. tfl
Also entering this here:
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - It's a Man Thing;
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes.

Baby Bugaboo

This card is for the Free 4 All Challenge - F4A105 - Cards with Character. My "character" is today's digital stamp freebie from Bugaboo Stamps, and the sketch is also from them - Stella Says Sketch Challenge - SSS104 - at http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/stella-says-sketch-104-challenge.html . Inside is "welcome baby...so glad you're here" from SU petite pairs.
tfl

Smile

This card is for today's Splitcoaststampers Ways to Use It Challenge - WT363 - Buttons. The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS23. I used my "Swirly" stamp from Inkadinkadoo that I've had for a long time, and is still one of my favorites. Colored it with Copics and added stickles to the centers. Edge punched the ivory panel. Used a piece leftover from my card for Monday's Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers Challenge - TLC365 - which was acrylic distressing and some baker's twine, and of course my little buttons sewn together.

Also entering:
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ - distressing


tfl

I'm Here for You

This card is for today's Splitcoastampers Sketch Challenge - SC373. I have to say, this one was a challenge, but as soon as I turned it sideways, it screamed "vase with flowers" to me. So...I thought about the color scheme, and remembered that one of my favorite vases that I used to have was black and I just loved the way yellow flowers like daffodils looked in that vase...and this card design was on its' way. I love the way it came out...hope you like it too. tfl

Feel Better Soon

This card is for today's Color Challenge - CC363 - Basic Gray, Pretty In Pink, and Pink Pirouette at Splitcoaststampers.
I saw this beautiful card in Birgit's (Biggan) Splitcoast gallery the other day, and chose to case it. I used different punches, different colors and a different sentiment. This card may look clean and simple, but when you get into it, it's a lot of work, but I do love the result! Thanks for the inspiration, Birgit, and tfl.
Also entering this into a challenge to use lots of layers at http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/2012/02/dysu-59-layers.html.

Birthday Dogwood

This card is for today's Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers Challenge - TLC365 - acrylic distressing. I dry embossed the two side panels with my cuttlebug folder, painted it with ivory acrylic paint, let dry, and sanded. Then covered it with tea dye distress ink and wiped it off, leaving the unsanded areas ivory. I like this technique...think I'll try it again soon.
The sketch is Freshly Made Sketches #22 - FMS22.
The dogwood stamp is from the pinkpaislee Nantucket set. I stamped it with the tea stain ink and colored it with Copics.
tfl

Crazy, Cheery Bugaboo Birthday

This is a fun birthday card I made inspired by 2 different challenges:
1. Catch the Bug Sketch Challenge; and
2. Crazy4Challenges - C4C124 - stripes and polka dots.
The cute little lady with all the packages is a digital stamp from Bugaboo Stamps. The Happy Birthday sentiment is a digital I had in my files. tfl

Caring Thoughts

This card is for 2 challenges:
1. Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper Challenge - FS263 - to use a card from Becky Carafa's gallery (BECCABATGIRL). I found inspiration from her beautiful cards found here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1024831?&cat=500&ppuser=26764&sorttime=all&sortby=mf&way=desc; I changed the orientation from portrait to landscape, used a different stamp and sentiment and different colors.

2. http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/ - Challenge #90 - focus on the sentiment.

I used watercolor markers on my flower stamp from Hero Arts. The sentiment is from the same set, and is stamped in hunter green.

I love the clean simplicity of this design. Thanks for the great inspiration, Becky!

tfl

Far Away Thoughts

This card is for today's Inspiration Challenge - IC324 - at Splitcoaststampers. Below is the inspiration I chose from Creative Wallcovering.

The inspiration piece I chose is here: http://www.creativewallcovering.com/pc/1adv504/90/Surf+City+Window+Wall+Murals+Accent.html.

My beach scene - Friendship II from http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ was stamped on watercolor and colored with watercolor pencils. I just love this scene...it is so serene...one of my favorite things is to just look out at the ocean. The "thinking of you" sentiment is from Hero Arts CL140. Love the script and it just seems to fit this card, in my opinion, at least...hehe. tfl
Entering this card in:
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ - layers

http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ - the letter "B"
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/ - use punches or dies

Hoo's Your Valentine?

I made this Valentine card because I have a couple of friends who buy their cards for me, and I thought I'd better have a couple of extra Valentine Day cards handy, just in case. Also, I wanted to use this new set from Inkadinkadoo...these owls and hearts are soooo cute! Inside it says "Owl Be Yours!" Isn't that sweet???!!
The sketch is CPS #231 at Card Positioning Systems.
For the background for the owl I used the Wrinkle-free Distress Technique - which was yesterday's TLC364 at Splitcoaststampers. tfl

Birthday Blackbird

This card really was a challenge for me...distressing is kinda against my nature...but today's challenge at Splitcoaststampers - TLC364 - was Wrinkle-free Distress, so...I just had to try it. I really do like the results though. I used that technique to do my background, using bordering blue and mellow moss dye inks and the only distress ink I own, which is tea dye. I then tore the edges of all the layers to continue on with the "distressed" look. tfl

Also entering:

http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ - Challenge #157 - the letter "B"

Tree of Love

This card is for today's Featured Stamper Challenge - FS262 - Kathy Bradley's (101AIRBORNE) gallery at Splitcoaststampers. What a great gallery she has! Wonderful inspiration! Her card found here - http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1832780?&cat=500&ppuser=213393 was my inspiration for this card.
I used lavender/purple scripted dp for my background instead of black and white, mounted on dk purple cs instead of black, made ticketed corners, dyed white pearls with lavender copics for the corners. Added lavender ribbon from my wedding 5 years ago instead of black. tfl

Also entering this here:

http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - clean and simple

Dandelion Thanks

The beautiful dandelion pic above from BetterPhoto.com was my inspiration for this card. The challenge today at Splitcoaststampers - IC323 - was to find a photo on this site for inspiration, which was a very pleasant experience indeed...lots of beautiful photos!

I stamped my dandelion on a piece of white cardstock that I had previously sprayed with turquoise shimmer mist, and then chalked over to make it a little darker. The shimmer stills shows through, although you can't tell in the pic. I then heat embossed the dandelion and colored the stem and center with a Copic marker.

Used Spellbinder scalloped rectangle to cut out my window, stamped Thanks in black and heat embossed, then mounted the image behind the window, and covered the back with the rest of the shimmery cs, which had flowers and butterflies silhouettes in white from masking, also previously done with the shimmer mist.

Also entering this card here: http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ - Challenge 3-photo-color inspiration

tfl

Birthday Rainbows

This card is for today's Free 4 All Challenge - F4A103 - Rainbows!
I knew I'd get to use this dp someday, but first time it's seemed to work. I sliced on each side of the orange in the middle of the dp to thread my ribbon through. Computer generated the Happy Birthday sentiment panel, as I didn't have a stamp that would go the long way, and, there you go! tfl

By the way, in the background on the left...those are daffodils in bloom on our "Li'l Daffodil Hill"!!! Can you believe it????!!! In the middle of February???!!! Wow! I'm blown away! I grew up in Maine, and if you know anything about Maine, you'd understand! hehe

Bugaboo Love and Marriage

This card was fun to make! This is one of my favorite images and sentiment from Bugaboo Stamps, and the sketch is also from them - Stella Says "Sketch" - SSS103.

Today's Ways to Use It Challenge - WT361 - at Splitcoaststampers, is to make a Valentine With a Twist (No RED or PINK)...Yikes!

The DYSU#58 Challenge at http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ is "LOVE".

I used a pre-embossed square card for my base, and added the Core'dinations teal panel with some teal lace on top of it.

The heart is stamped on some My Mind's Eye striped paper.

The main image panel is done in gradient teal on my computer. Wanted to keep it monochromatic, so colored Stella's dress and Gus's shorts and their slippers and glasses with light gray.

Some Dew Drops, and fini! tfl

Love Bouquet for Spring

This card is for 4 challenges:

1. Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge - SC371;

2. Just Rite Stampers - JRC_065 - "For the Love Of...";

3. The Paper Players - Challenge #81 - Nance's Theme Challenge - Flowers; and

4. The Crafty Pad - Challenge #156 - Fresh Spring Colors.

The stamp is from the Just Rite "Sending You Sunshine Set". I stamped it and heat embossed it and colored it with Copics. Added some pretty ribbon and little pearls, which I also colored with my yellow Copic marker. A little red heart, some dry embossing on the yellow background, and Voila...it's done. Hope you like it. tfl

Mother's Day Love

This card is for 4 challenges:
1. Splitcoaststampers CC361 - color combo or soft suede, poppy parade & daffodil delight;
2. Mojo Monday Sketch - MOJO227;
3. Sentimental Sundays - Challenge #88 - Feel the Love; and
4. Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - "The One I Love".
The stamp is from the Just Rite "Sending You Sunshine Set", stamped, heat embossed and colored with Copics.

Birthday Cupcakes & Kisses

This card is for 5 challenges:
1. Splitcoaststampers TLC363 - make your own striped paper;
2. Splitcoaststampers CAS156 - hearts;
3. Crafty Card Makers - CCM61 - Monochromatic Magic;
4. The Shabby Tea Room - TSTR100 - "Candy Hearts" - food theme & hearts, inspired by a cute photo on their site; and
5. The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge - SSS144 - sketch.
I made my homemade stripe panel with packaging from a stamp set.
My card base is a pre-embossed square card.
It doesn't show up well, but the main image panel is vellum with little heart flowers on the same striped packaging that my homemade panel was made of.
The cupcake, which is from Inkadinkadoo Birthday Cupcake set, was stamped in chocolate chip and colored with Copics, cut out and popped up on the vellum panel. The sentiment is from Hampton Art Happy Birthday set.
Inside is stamped Happy Birthday, from the Hampton Art se,t and little hearts, from the Inkadinkadoo set, randomly stamped very faintly.
I love the way this came out. I think it will perfect for my sister's upcoming birthday. tfl

Birthday Present

This card is for today's Featured Stamper Challenge - FS261 - at Splitcoaststampers. The featured stamper this week is Darsie1. She has a beautiful gallery, and the card I chose to case is found here. I changed the colors and the embossing folder and made it a birthday card. Never can have too many of those!!! tfl

Also entering this card into:

1. doyoustackup blog - anything goes;

2. partytimetuesdays - anything goes; and

3. http://birthdaysundaes.blogspot.com/ - birthday card w/sentiment.

tfl

Birthday Chickadees

This card is was inspired by today's Inspiration Challenge - IC322 - at Splitcoaststampers. My inspiration is the beautiful mailbox at Charleston Gardens found here: https://www.charlestongardens.com/index2007.cfm?categoryID=504&productID=4295&action=display.product&cname=Home Accessories,Mailboxes&pname=Chickadee Wall Mount Mailbox .

The sketch is challenge DS37 at http://deconstructingjen.com/.

I didn't have a chickadee stamp, so I found a cute little chickadee image and printed and cut him out. The metallic background was run through my cuttlebug. Stamped and heat embossed "Happy birthday" from Hero Arts on my pretty heather green cardbase and added some of my favorite green ribbon to the bottom of the metallic panel. Popped the little birdies up on pop dots and there you go. I just love the way this came out. Hope you like it too. tfl

I'm also entering this in an "Anything Goes" challenge - DYSU#57 - at doyoustackup.

Dreaming of Spring

This card was inspired by the beautiful picture above that I saw at creaturecomfortsblog.com.

Today's Splitcoaststampers Ways to Use It Challenge - WT360 - was Repetition - so I stamped my cherry blossom branch from Inkadinkadoo repeatedly to make a pretty cherry tree. Dry embossed the blue background, added some SU butterflies with chocolate pearl trim, and white ribbon bow.

The sentiment is Stampin' Up's Because I Care.

The butterflies are to meet a challenge - FBW188 - at flutterbywednesdays, to use butterfly, fairy or angel.

tfl