More PS SPARKS and Freshly Made Sketch!

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by to share another card for the current  ""Anything Goes" at Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge blog and the sketch challenge this week at Freshly Made Sketches #178.

                        

This card is a loose interpretation of the circle in the sketch above -- I was thinking that the rocking horse itself has a circular shape.  I also used circles all over the design in other ways (i.e., the polka dot paper, the dry embossed circles).

Stamp Supplies Used:

Paper Smooches "Knick Knacks"

Paper Smooches "Sentiment Sampler"

Paper Smooches "Flag Tags" die

Be sure to check out the Paper Smooches website and the Paper Smooches "Anything Goes" (Week 3) Challenge for lots of inspiration.  In addition, there are some pretty cool cards up at the current Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #178 and a really cool sketch by design team member Narelle.  Check them out, too!

Thanks for visiting.

Judy

Paper Smooches SPARKS and a Freshly Made Sketch!

Hello fiends, and happy first day of Spring to all my friends here in the USA!  Guess what? It's SNOWING where I am!  What's it like in your neck of the woods?  Here is my view out back door...

Today I did something I rarely do...I gave myself permission to play with my craft supplies and I ignored the papers piled up on the kitchen counter, dishes in the dishwasher and sink, and dust bunnies in the corner.  Hey, I will get to them all, but I just needed to step away from all responsibilities for a few minutes to play.  There has to be a balance in life, right?  So today I played first.  (As a result, I have several cards to share, but I will post them separately because they are for a variety of challenges.)

OK, so here's a little back story.  A few months ago I joined a "Crafters Purge" group on Facebook and as a result I have scored some really cool stamps and dies at really great prices.  I was able to check off a bunch of items from my wish list at half the price!  That always makes me feel like I have accomplished something good.

Some of my recent purchases were several Paper Smooches stamps and dies, and I couldn't wait to find an excuse to play with them. (They can be found at the Paper Smooches website HERE).  SO, when I saw that it is ""Anything Goes" at Paper Smooches SPARKS and then I saw the sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches #178, I was off and running!  This card is being entered into both challenges.


                        

I am in desperate need of child birthday cards, so that was my theme today!  I love this fun clown so much...he is just asking for embellishments to juggle!  I left his hands un-adhered so that I could bend them forward as if he is busy juggling.  (That black-and-white polka dot banner?  I die cut it from a left-over piece of wrapping paper...I couldn't get rid of it!)

Stamp Supplies Used:

Paper Smooches "Enjoy the Show" stamps and dies;

Paper Smooches "Sentiment Sampler"
Paper Smooches "Flag Tags" die
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Enamel dots

Be sure to check out the Paper Smooches website and the Paper Smooches "Anything Goes" (Week 3) Challenge for lots of inspiration.  In addition, there are some pretty cool cards up at the current Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #178 and a really cool sketch by design team member Narelle.  Check them out, too!

I'll be back with more cards soon.  Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

CASology #138: BLOSSOM

Hello, friends!  Welcome back from our tropical week and welcome to a new cue card at CASology!  This week we are sponsored by Craft Classes Online...be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details.

When I think of "blossom," I think of cherry blossom trees that bloom in the spring and how beautiful they look against a clear blue sky.  Here is a good example:

This idea was the inspiration behind my card.

I also made a second variation of this card using the same image (a Studio G $1 stamp), a Simon Says Stamp die, some bold colors, and a spritz of Perfect Pearls mist to add shine.

Since I embossed both floral images in white, I am entering these cards into Virginia's Virginia's View Challenge #13 - All Things Embossed.  I'm just under the wire, too!

Finally, I am also entering these cards into the current The Paper Players #236 "Clean and Simple: Floral."

Be sure to link up your BLOSSOM card by noon on Monday (Central time). Be sure to check out the DT and Guest Designer blogs for more inspiration!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
(Gillian Ross -- taking a break this week)
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Deepti

Since today we celebrate St. Patrick's Day (and I am half Irish by decent), I will leave you with a little Irish blessing!

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

CASology #137: TROPICAL

Hello, friends!  Welcome back for another cue card at CASology.  As I sit here looking at the snow melting outside my window, I am thrilled to introduce the cue this week!

This week we are sponsored by STAMPlorations... be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details!

My family and I are looking forward to a tropical vacation later this summer to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and we all plan to pack our sandals!  Yes, when I think of tropical, I think of flip-flops!  (I also think of flowers and fruity drinks and floral patterns and beaches and umbrellas and sand and swimming...so many wonderful ways to take this cue!)

These cute images are both free digis by Neat & Tangled found HERE.  I printed the image and sentiment directly on my card as well as onto several different patterned papers and I fussy cut the flip flops to paper-piece them onto my card.  (I made several versions while I was at it!)  I'm entering these cards into the Little Tangles Challenge #54: Anything Goes since I used their images!


I purposely used a seafoam green card base...it reminds me of the cue, too.  I added Glossy Accents to the hearts for some fun!

Here is a second version, but with another layer and some dry embossing to resemble waves.

OK, then!  Let's get TROPICAL!  Be sure to link up your TROPICAL card by noon on Monday (Central time).  Our Design Team and Guest Designer have some very creative cards for the cue this week...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Anna

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

Paper Smooches SPARKS and a Little Snow

          
 
Hello, friends!  Home today -- another snow day off -- so what better excuse to make another card for the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge: Anything Goes!  I made yet another Easter card using the free digi Easter basket and "egg-stra" sentiment, and I added the computer-generated sentiments around them.

So, I mentioned that we have a snow day today.  My four kids and I are off, and we spent a lot of time shoveling (our driveway and our neighbor's).

No swinging on the bench swing today...

And my poor outdoor-sport-loving son is having a hard time being in the house...no soccer, basketball or hockey today, either!

My youngest son (age 10) is the only one of the kids who still loves to get out and play in the snow...how fast they grow up!  I was happy to see him have a snowball fight and play in the snow with some neighborhood friends.

Off to do some laundry...lots of wet snow clothes to dry!

Have a great day!

Judy

CASology #136: BASKET

Hello, friends!  After a week of MINI inspiration, we are back at CASology with a new cue card!

This week we are sponsored by Cindy B. Designs ... be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details!

I have seventeen nieces and nephews, and two were just born in the last two months! I do love our big extended family, and all the cousins get along so beautifully -- it is such a fun time when we all get together! As a result, I have a bunch of Easter cards I need to make for the little ones so I'm ready when the big day arrives.

Here is my first Easter card of the season, using a free digi image and "egg-stra" sentiment from Paper Smooches.  I also cut and added the sentiment (you're special) from the "Sentiment Sampler" set.

I added gray Copic highlights around the basket and the eggs for some depth and I put white enamel dot accents on the eggs for egg-stra fun.  :)
 

Since I used Paper Smooches images (free digis found HERE), I'm entering this card in the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge "Anything Goes."


          

I look forward to seeing where this cue takes you this week.  Maybe you're a "basket case?"  Maybe you have a "basketball player" in the house?  (My 10-year-old son just got home from playing in a basketball tournament!)  Be sure to link up your BASKET card by noon on Monday (Central time). You will also be inspired by the many ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Michelle

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop - Take 3!

Hello, friends!  As promised, I'm back with my third and final card for the Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop. Be sure to check out the the new blog Coffee Loving Cardmakers for all the details of the hop...including deadlines and lots of prizes!

I'm also adding this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes.

While I had out all my supplies, I made this fun card by coloring the little coffee mugs with Copic markers and layering some springy floral papers.  Simple, quick, and fun!

Stamping Supplies:

Precious Remembrance Shop "Coffee Love," "Fall Colors"

Crate Paper "Pretty Party" 6x6 pad

Lil' Inker Designs stitched rectangle dies 
Copic markers
Foam tape

Thanks for checking out my coffee cards!  Be sure to check out the fun entries on the blog hop HERE. Thanks so much for stopping by again!

Judy