North American Woods - Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 2

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Lois

Vicky

Anne

Pat G.

Karen H.

Patty P.

Mary

Dawn M.

Marilynn

Chrissy

Karen K.

Pam

Debbie

Nancy

Bonnie

Harriet

Kathy

Brenda

Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

I have to say - I love the woods/mountains.  Of course, it does help living fairly close to Yosemite National Park and all of the beauty the park has to offer.  Today's featured set by Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company called North American Woods reminds me so much of Yosemite.  Of course, the bear stamp would definitely remind my son of Yosemite for sure since he and some church friends ran into a black bear while hiking on Tioga Pass on summer. 

My first card I have today was inspired by my son's bear encounter in Yosemite.  After stamping the image in memento tuxedo black on Mark's Finest Papers Corn Husk, I pulled out my under used prismacolor watercolor pencils and blender pen to color the image before stippling Stampin Up! close to cocoa ink around the edges.  To add to the rustic feel I was looking for, I pulled out my Tim Holtz bark distress embossing folder and then sanded it a bit before stippling the cocoa ink over the top a little for some color. 

My next card is stamped in memento tuxedo black on Mark's Finest Papers Corn Husk premium paper and colored using prismacolor watercolor pencils and a blender pen with Stampin Up! basic gray lightly stippled around the edges of the image and the card.  I then stamped the same wolf image using Stampin Up! going gray onto scrap card stock before stamping again without re-inking onto Mark's Finest Papers Marbled Smokey Haze.  The only embellishments I chose were some Making Memories baby brads and some black tear drops.  I was trying to get the tear drop grouping to look like the claws on a wolf's paw.

I'm really happy with how both of these turned out since my migraines kicked back into high gear this last weekend.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day and make sure to stop by the rest of the design team blogs for a chance to win today's featured set.

Stamps:  MFP North American Woods

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Close To Cocoa, Going Gray, Basic Gray

Card Stock: MFP Corn Husk, Aged Sunflower, Marbled Smokey Haze, French Vanilla Bean, Gray Storm

Accessories: Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Making Memories Brads, Vintage Brads, Tim Holtz Bark Distress Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Stipple Brush, Glue Dots, Black Tear Drops, Buttons

You Are Cherished - Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 4

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois

Vicky

Anne

Pat G.

Karen H.

Patty P.

Mary

Dawn M.

Marilynn

Chrissy

Karen K.

Pam

Debbie

Nancy

Bonnie (that's me)

Harriet

Kathy

Silvia

Brenda

Mark's Finest Papers

Hi there.  Thanks for hopping with us all this week.  I hope you have found some projects to inspire you with the new stamp sets from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company.  Today is the last day of our hop so make sure you've left comments along the way for a chance to win one of the daily stamp sets.

My project today touches on a subject we all have to address at some point, yet seem to have a hard time stamping - Sympathy cards.  I found out this week that a family friend lost both of her parents recently, and I thought the new You Are Cherished set would be perfect. 

After stamping my image onto Mark's Finest Papers Snow Storm Smooth premium paper and colored with prismacolor markers, I went looking on the Internet for the lyrics to Celine Dion's song from Titanic "My Heart Goes On" and printed those off in a MS Word document on regular white card stock.  Then I decided to stipple Tim Holtz Scattered Straw and Tattered Rose distress inks around the card and layered heart image before adding some satin ribbon, heart clip and angel charm from my stash with a circle clip.  My saying was created by taking the PEACE from the stamp set and carefully cutting it apart so I could stamp the letters individually and split the heart.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day and don't forget to stop by the rest of the Design Team's blogs for a chance to win today's stamp set.

Stamps: MFP You Are Cherished, Happy Pansies (for ladybugs)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Scattered Straw & Tattered Rose Distress Inks

Card Stock: MFP Snow Storm Smooth Premium Paper, Limeade, Barely Pink, Morning Sun

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Stipple Brushes, Charm, MFP Satin Ribbons, Heart Clip, Circle Clip, Pop Dots, Brads

Sending Happy Thoughts - Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 3

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois

Vicky

Anne

Pat G.

Karen H.

Patty P.

Mary

Dawn M.

Marilynn

Chrissy

Karen K.

Pam

Debbie

Nancy

Bonnie (that's me) 

Harriet

Kathy

Silvia

Brenda

Mark's Finest Papers

Growing up I had always wanted to collect butterflies and flowers.  However, living in an apartment back then, having a collection wasn't exactly an easy thing to do.  There wasn't all of the fun collectors shadow boxes, preservative stuff, etc that kids have now-a-days.  If I wanted to smash a flower between the pages of a heavy book, then that was possible even though afterwards there was no place to "store" or "show" them. 

Today's set, Sending Happy Thoughts by Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company allows me, and anyone else, to be a kid again.  Once I saw this set, I knew what I how I wanted to present it for today's blog hop.  After I stamped my images on Snow Storm Smooth premium paper in memento tuxedo black ink and colored them with prismacolor markers, I cut all of them out to be "pinned" or "glued" into a Martha Stewart shadow box I had bought a Michael's a year ago or so on clearance.  Once all of my cutting was done, I pulled out some Prima flowers and leaves, roses, and my Martha Stewart large butterfly punch with some scrap designer paper.  After arranging everything in my shadow box, it was time to glue/pin it all down then add some bling for the final embellishment.

Here's a close up of the shadow box without the cover on.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out considering I'm still dealing a migraine and my project was put together while still on meds for it.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget to stop by all of the designers blogs and leave a comment for a chance to win today's set.  Have a great day.

Stamps: MFP Sending Happy Thoughts

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Card Stock: MFP Snow Storm Smooth

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Martha Stewart Shadow Box, Prima Flowers, Prima Leaves, Bling, Glue Dots, Pop Up Glue Dots, Pins

Cowgirls Rule - Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 2

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois

Vicky

Anne

Pat G.

Karen H.

Patty P.

Mary

Dawn M.

Marilynn

Chrissy

Karen K.

Pam

Debbie

Nancy

Bonnie (that's me)

Harriet

Kathy

Silvia

Brenda

Mark's Finest Papers

When I first saw the new Cowgirls Rule stamp set by Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, I literally squealed with delight.  In all of my years of stamping (14+), I have not seen a more adorable cowgirl set.  I am in love with this little girl and her horse.  She is so easy to color even with a migraine. *wink*

I started out by stamping my images in memento tuxedo black ink onto Mark's Finest Papers Vanilla Bean premium paper before coloring with prismacolor markers and stippling Tim Holtz Tattered Rose distress ink around the layered image and Adirondack caramel ink lightly over it.

My final embellishments were some thread along the card and thread curled into a rope, mini pewter brads for "nails", and popping up my cowgirl's Stetson hat over the saddle.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget to stop by all of the Design Team blogs and leave some love for a chance to win today's set.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Cowgirls Rule
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Tattered Rose, Adirondack Caramel
Card Stock: MFP Vanilla Bean, Pink, Florida Peach, Michael's Designer Paper
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Pop Dots, Pewter Brads, Thread, Ranger Crystal Accents, Stipple Brushes

Thankful Pumpkin - Friends Of SpeedyTV Challenge #5

Hello everyone and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!  This week the Friends of SpeedyTV are challenging you to come up with Free for All Holiday Card.  I chose a Thanksgiving card and started out with a pumpkin shaped card, sponged some Stampin Up! pumpkin pie ink around the edges, and then added some Debbie Mumm designer paper I had in my stash. 

I then stamped my images using Mark's Finest Papers A Heinrich Company's Country Thanksgiving set stamped in memento tuxedo black ink onto corn husk card stock and then colored them with prismacolor markers before cutting out the sunflowers and one pumpkin/sunflower combination image to pop up later.  After punching out the main pumpkin and sunflower image, and matching artichoke mat layer, I added some white dots along the scalloped edge before adding the entire thing to the center of the card.  Once that was done, the sunflowers were layered across the top, popping them up using pop up glue dots and pulling the edges slightly up for added dimension.  The final sunflower image was then added to the main centerpiece also with a pop up glue dot before adding Making Memories page pebbles to all of the centers.  Here's a close up of the center panels.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Country Thanksgiving
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie
Card Stock: MFP Corn Husk, Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie, Only Orange, Debbie Mumm Designer Paper
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Marvy Mega & Giga Scallop Punches, Making Memories Page Pebbles, Pop Up Glue Dots, White Gel Pen, Sponge

Wild Thing!! - Friends Of SpeedyTV Challenge #2

Welcome to Monday again!  This week's Friends of SpeedyTV challenge is to make an anniversary card.  I chose to be a little "wild" with my card for this week by pulling out Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Big Cats. 

I started out by stamping the tiger from the set twice in memento tuxedo black ink onto Corn Husk card stock and coloring with prismacolor markers before cutting one of the images out for popping up later.  Once my coloring was done, I pulled out some retired basic gray designer paper, stippled some Stampin Up! tangerine tango ink around the edges of the card and paper before adding my layered tiger image.  Taking the "Wild Thing" sentiment from the set, I stamped that in memento tuxedo black also on Corn Husk scrap card stock, stippled tangerine tango around the saying before layering and adding some Making Memories baby brads to it.  Now, the rest of my sentiment I computer generated since it wasn't with the set, and after printing it off, also stippled, layered and added the baby brads to make sure it matched.

For the finishing touches, I added some layered silk flowers with a brad center and then popped up the second tiger image I had cut out earlier.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you this week participating in the challenge.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Big Cats
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Tangerine Tango
Card Stock: MFP Corn Husk, Stampin Up! Tangerine Tango, Black, Only Orange, Basic Gray Designer Paper
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Computer, Printer, Stipple Brush, Making Memories Black Baby Brads, Silk Flowers, Glue Dots, Pop Dots

I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Know I Can

Welcome to Monday!!!  Now before you start groaning and moaning, Monday's are going to be a whole lot more fun to see coming because Mark's Finest Papers now has a new Friends of Speedy TV challenge over on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. 

This week's challenge is to create a masculine card; you know, something for the guys.  With that in mind, I pulled out my All Aboard set and stamped one of the train engines three times in PTI dark chocolate ink on Mark's Finest Papers Corn Husk Premium paper card stock making sure to set two of the engines aside for cutting out later.  Then I took the little Speedy the Cat trademark image from the set and stamped that three times as well making sure to only ink the cat portion of the stamp.

Once all of my stamping was done, I took my main image layer and stippled Stampin Up! tangerine tango and Tim Holtz vintage photo and tea stain distress inks around the image to create a vintage flavor to the card before layering over an embossed layered chocolate chip scrap border on some autumn checkered designer paper I received in a swap recently.  Taking my stamped images, I cut each one out and then layered them using different sized pop dots for added dimension before popping the entire engine panel over my embossed border.  Here's a close up.

For the finishing touches, I die cut some paper buttons using a Sizzix button sizzlet I picked up at Michael's a couple of years ago on clearance, a Marvy punched train engine (again picked up on clearance), and then some Mark's Finest Papers red jute across the top.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you participating in the new Friends of Speedy TV challenges.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP All Aboard
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate, Stampin Up! Tangerine Tango, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, Tea Stain
Card Stock: MFP Corn Hust, Stampin Up! Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip Scrap, Designer Paper
Accessories: Stipple Brushes, Sizzix Sizzlet, Big Shot, Vintage Brads, Glue Dots, Pop Dots, Marvy Train Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, MFP Red Jute, Thread

Drumroll Please!!!!

Hello and welcome to your weekend.  Today Mark's Finest Papers has an important announcement over on the Speedy The Cat designer blog. 

DRUMROLL!!!!  Introducing the new Friends of SpeedyTV Design Team by Mark's Finest Papers.  The new team members are:

Debbie Moran - Cooridinator
Melisa Waldorf
Kittie Caracciolo
Fran Gumprecht
Bonnie Ratzloff - that's me
Karen Wallace
Brenda O'Rear
Darla J Rants (DJRants)
Toni Storie
Karen Bradley
Janine Brain

Stop by the forum over on Mark's Finest Papers SpeedyTV to say hello and check out the new challenges and swaps we'll be having.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Daffodil Greetings

Hello and happy hump day!!  I'm finally getting a chance to stamp and post after getting sidelined with another recurrence of those blasted migraines again.  I slowly did this card over a period of 4 days as my eyes, head, and the pain meds would allow.

I love this Daffodils & Anise set from Mark's Finest Papers.  There just seems to be so many different types of cards I can make with the set.  With that in mind, I chose it for this last week's Speedy The Cat things with wings challenge. 

After stamping my images twice in memento tuxedo black ink on white card stock and coloring them with prismacolor markers, I set one of the daffodil images aside to cut out later with both of the butterfly images.  Taking the floral screen Cuttlebug embossing folder, I ran the card itself through my Big Shot before stippling Stampin Up! pacific pointe and bashful blue inks around the daffodil image and layering.  Once my image was layered, I took a black marker and created a faux stitched line around the image, added some black Making Memories baby brads and added it to the card.

After adding some black stitched ribbon to the side with a Mark's Finest Papers hat pin before popping up my cut out daffodil image.  Once both of my butterfly images were cut out, they were added to the card.  I then pinched the wings up of one butterfly to give some extra dimension before adding some ice stickles for added sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you haven't participated in one of the Speedy The Cat challenges, you really should.  They're a lot of fun and there's a random prize awarded each week to a participant.


Stamps: MFP Daffodils & Anise
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Pacific Pointe, Bashful Blue
Card Stock: White, Stampin Up! Pacific Pointe, Summer Sun
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Stipple Brushes, Ribbon, MFP Hat Pin, Making Memories Baby Brads, Ice Stickles, Pop Dots, Cuttlebug Floral Screen Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Welcome Fall Swap

I just love fall.  The colors seem more beautiful for some reason, the air a bit more crisper, the temperature starts to get a bit more cooler (no more triple digits) and in Central California it's Harvest Time!!  So, in celebration, Mark's Finest Papers is holding a Speedy The Cat Fall Card Swap.  I was in the birthday swap and had such a blast, I joined the Summer swap and now the Fall swap. 

For my swap cards, I chose my favorite fall color combination: Stampin Up! Really Rust (why was it retired?), Old Olive, and More Mustard.  Instead of stamping my images on plain vanilla card stock, I used Mark's Finest Papers Corn Husk card stock.  I'm finding I like the texture and how Koh-I-Noor wood less pencils color and blend on this card stock.  Fantastic!!

Once I had decided on my card stock colors, I pulled out my All Aboard and Welcome Home stamp sets.  After stamping my All Aboard train station image four times, I pulled out the Koh-I-Noor pencils and got to work, using the prismacolor blending marker as I needed to.  When I finally got to coloring the trees, I had to pull out five (5) different pencils to obtain the shading I wanted for the leaves and then colored spritzed an old olive marker over the entire image.  After all of the layering was done for my main image, I then pulled out a cuttlebug Autumn embossing folder and ran the card portion through my Big Shot before sponging Stampin Up! really rust ink over the raised wording.  Finally pulling out the "There's no place like Home" saying from the Welcome Home set, I stamped my saying also onto Corn Husk card stock and layered it before color spritzing an old olive marker over it. 

For my final touches, I punched out some large and small leaves using a large Marvy punch and a small EK Success punch, then sponging ink, rolled up the edges of the large leaves with a quilling tool and adhering them with glue dots.  Here's a close up of the detailed section.

There's still plenty of time for you to come join us in the Speedy The Cat Fall Card Swap.  Just make sure you've joined Speedy TV to sign up for it.  If you haven't joined yet, what are you waiting for??  There's lots of inspiration, friends, and videos/tutorials at Speedy TV.  The swap is due September 30th and the sooner you get signed up in the forum, the sooner you can get your swaps done.  By the way, all participants of the Speedy The Cat Fall Swap receive a free mini stamp set courtesy of Faith.  Isn't she the greatest??

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.


Stamps:  MFP Welcome Home, All Aboard
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Really Rust, Old Olive, More Mustard
Card Stock: MFP Corn Husk, Stampin Up! Really Rust, Old Olive, More Mustard
Accessories: Koh-I-Noor Wood less Pencils, Prismacolor Blender Marker, SU Old Olive Brads, Glue Dots, Cuttlebug Autumn Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Color Spritzing Tool, Stampin Up! Old Olive Marker, Sponges, Marvy Leaf Punch, EK Success Leaf Punch, Quilling Tool

Clean And Simple Stamping By Understanding Blue

Second post today.  If you're looking for my Inspiration Challenge post, please scroll down one post.

I had another night of difficulty sleeping, so I decided to check into Splitcoast's Featured Stamper challenge.  This week's featured gallery is Lydia Fiedler also known as Understand Blue.  For my inspiration from her gallery, I chose her Drunk Moped from May's VSN using alcohol inks. 

I have found when I'm printing digital images, I have lots of strips of card stock left over that I could make smaller cards from.  So, I pulled out two of these strips, folded them in half, and stamped them both using Mark's Finest Papers retired Lady Serene and Speedy the Cat's Friends.  Once my images were stamped, I colored both using Lyra jumbo pencils and some Stampin Up! woodless pencils with a prismacolor blender marker.

Now isn't this cat saying the cutest??  Not to mention so appropriate for my household.  It seems the cats and the dog run this place.  All my family does is wait on them hand and foot. ;)

I decided to use a clean and simple technique on both cards, only allowing some small gold Stampendous Class-A-Peel stickers to highlight the teapot and teacup. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: MFP Lady Serene, Speedy The Cat's Friends

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Card Stock: White

Accessories: Lyra Jumbo Pencils, Stampin Up! Woodless Pencils, Prismacolor Blender Marker, Stampendous Class-A-Peel Stickers

Urbanrose Inspration Stamping - SCS IC299

It's been a while since I've done an Inspiration challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.com and this week's challenge just begged to be tried.  We were to create something inspired by either the attached Urbanrose Etsy Store or from one of the samples provided from the store.  I chose two of the provided samples since I was having a hard time sleeping Friday night/Saturday morning. 

For my first card, I chose to go with a simple design to try and highlight some of the colors in the K&Company designer paper.  After stamping my images from the Welcome Home set from Mark's Finest Papers in memento rich cocoa on Corn Husk card stock, I simply layered it onto Stampin Up! riding hood red, old olive and really rust card stock scraps.  Now since I wanted matching riding hood red brads, and didn't have any, I made my own by using a mini hole punch and adhering the punched pieces using a Martha Stewart 2-way glue pen.  Nifty and a great way to make sure one always has brads to match.  For the final touch, I wrapped some Autumn colored ribbon around the spine of the card.

My second card came together much easier for some reason. I pulled out some Basic Gray Kioshi designer paper and allowed that to determine the colors for my card stock and coloring.   I stamped the Mark's Finest Papers retired Believe In You crane in memento tuxedo black in on white card stock and then colored with Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils with a prismacolor blender marker.  Once my layering  was completed, I once again made my own brads using scrap Stampin Up! baja breeze card stock before adding some white fiber ribbon and some retired Stampin Up! felt fusion flowers to finish everything off.  I'm pretty happy with both cards since they were made with no sleep in a 24hr period.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Stamps: MFP Believe In You, Welcome Home

Card Stock: White, MFP Corn Husk, Stampin Up! Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Really Rust, Baja Breeze, Mauve Mist, MFT Bubblegum

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa, Stampin Up! Bashful Blue

Accessories: Prismacolor Blender Marker, Koh-I-Noor Pencils, Fiber Ribbon, Glue Dots, Mini Hole Punch, Stipple Brush, Stampin Up! Felt Fusion, Brads

Birthday Cupcake

Hello again.  Happy Hump Day!  The week is almost over. 

Today I am sharing a card I made for my "adopted son's" 19th birthday yesterday.  The card is made using Mark's Finest Papers new Birthday Mini stamp set I received with my Speedy the Cat birthday swap cards.  The Birthday Mini set was released on July 12th and is so stinkin fun to play with.

I started out by stamping a background using the "celebrate" saying from the set in Stampin Up! turquoise ink before stamping the cupcake twice in memento tuxedo black onto white card stock.  Once I had the two cupcakes colored, I stamped my saying above the main image in memento black before spritzing Stampin Up! real red marker over the image panel.  Once everything was layered, I added some retired bold bright brads and then the cut out cupcake image with pop dots.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Birthday Mini
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Tempting Turquoise
Card Stock: White, Stampin Up! Tempting Turquoise, Real Red Scrap
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Brads, Pop Dots, Real Red Marker, Color Spritzer Tool, Stipple Brush, Glue Dots

Speedy The Cat Friend's Challenge #63

Hello again.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for Speedy The Cat Friends Challenge using die cuts as a mat background.  Thank goodness I already had a doily die cut since I'm dealing with another migraine.

Once I had my images stamped onto white card stock in memento tuxedo black, I pulled out my prismacolor markers and got to coloring.  After everything was layered, I decided last minute (gotta love those last minute things) to add some "grass" and pulled out my long retired Stampin Up! watercolor mini's set and created the grass using the watercolor landscape technique Kittie had taught me over on SCS, just minus the watercolor part this time.  With that done, I added the brads and popped up the image over some Martha Stewart ribbon I had picked up on clearance last year.  For the final touches, I added some dew drops to the designer paper, some primas, gold clip, and highlighted the water/flowers with ice stickles.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Believe In You, Stampin Up! Watercolor Mini's
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Kiwi Kiss, Wild Wasabi
Card Stock: White, Stampin Up! Wild Wasabi, Pretty In Pink, Soft Sky, Basic Gray Kioshi DP
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Dew Drops, Pop Dots, Gold Clip, Primas, Gold Brad, Blue Mini Brads, Glue Dots, Ice Stickles, MFT Doily Die-Namic, Stipple Brushes

A Weekend Of Stamping - A Combination Of Challenges

Second post for me today.  If you're looking for my My Time Made Easy Pretty Pattern Sketch challenge, please scroll down one post.

I've been trying to  stamp whenever my migraines allow me lately and on Sunday afternoon and late Monday evening, I finally felt well enough to do some.  Fortunately, I had some pre-colored images just waiting to be made into cards I could use. 

First up, is the Stamp Something monthly digital challenge.  I pulled out a digital image I had colored with prismacolor markers from Sassy Cheryl's.  Once I had finished stippling Stampin Up! bashful blue ink around the edges of the image, and layered everything, I added it to a pixie pink card rolled with Stampin Up's hot to dot wheel in pixie pink with some pink ribbon I had sitting on my stamp desk.  The whole card took about 15 minutes to assemble.  For the final touch, I added some ice stickles to highlight the water in the inflatable pool.

I also finally got a chance to ink up my Taylored Expressions Sew Happy set and do a TE sketch challenge for  the first time in a few weeks.  Since I was using a petite stamp set, I decided to use up some of my scraps and pulled out a long piece of black card stock for the base before layering on a stamped white, then pink, pieces of scrap card stock using Stampin Up's retired aida cloth background.  I stamped my TE images onto white card stock scraps using memento tuxedo black ink and then colored with prismacolor markers before popping up the entire main image panel over some recycled ribbon and then one of the dress forms.  After cutting out the spools of thread, I added those just before the ribbon knot, then the saying, and some metal dot stickers for the final touches.

My final card made, is for Mark's Finest Papers Speedy The Cat's Friends patriotic challenge.  I pulled out a couple of Rubber Monger backgrounds that haven't seen ink in a year and combined them with some Costco designer paper I've had in my stash for a while.  Once everything was layered, I lightly stippled Stampin Up! caramel ink over the card to age it a bit, added some ribbon, brads, and prima flowers to the bottom.

All of the cards made this weekend were easy ones due to my migraine, but relaxing and fun just the same.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Sassy Cheryl's Digital, Taylored Expressions Sew Happy, Rubber Monger Declaration, Drummers

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Pixie Pink, PTI Enchanted Evening, Scarlett Jewell

Card Stock: White, Costco Designer Paper, Stampin Up! Black, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Bashful Blue, PTI Enchanted Evening, Scarlet Jewell

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Computer, Printer, Stipple Brushes, Brads, Ribbons, Pop Dots, Word Window Punch, Prima Flowers, Metal Dot Stickers, Ice Stickles

Speedy The Cat's Friends Challenge #61 - Make It Sparkle!

Hello everyone.  Sorry about the intermittent posting.  I am having issues with my migraines again.

I finally got a chance to participate in another Mark's Finest Papers Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge.  I had made these cards over the weekend and I'm just getting a chance to upload thanks to the migraines.  This week's Speedy the Cat challenge is to make a project sparkle - be it bling, glitter, ice stickles, etc.  You get the point.  I decided to use the card stock I still had on stamping table from another project just so I wouldn't have to clean it up; then pull out some more card stock. 

I pulled out two of my favorite Mark's Finest Papers sets to work with.  The first set is Speedy the Cat's Friends and is on sale right now since it's about to be retired at the end of this week.  When I first saw the set, I knew I had to buy it for the sayings alone. 

After stamping my cat and mouse twice in memento tuxedo black ink on white card stock, I colored them both with prismacolor markers before cutting one set of images out to pop up later.  Then I pulled the fern stamp out of Ferns & Chickadee and stamped it in PTI landscape and new leaf inks several times to add some dimension to the "floor" of the main image panel.  For my background, I rolled a retired Stampin Up! paw prints wheel across the card base in baja breeze, before adding my layered & popped up images along with some silk flowers with a bling center to finish the card off.

The second card I made features the Ferns and Chickadee set again with an embossed background.  I stamped the images in memento tuxedo black and memento bamboo leaves inks before coloring with prismacolor markers. Once my image was colored, I lightly stippled Stampin Up! bashful blue ink around it to fill in the sky area.  After adding some Making Memories white baby brads, I added a Michael's paper rose, retired Stampin Up! velour ribbon and then ice stickles on the ferns to make them look like they have dew on them from an early morning mist.

Thanks for stopping by today.   Have a great day.



Stamps: MFP Speedy the Cat's Friends, Ferns and Chickadee, Stampin Up! Paw Prints Wheel
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Landscape, New Leaf, Stampin Up! Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze
Card Stock: White, Stampin Up! Barely Banana, Baja Breeze, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Pop Dots, Silk Flowers, Bling, Lace Ice Stickles, Glue Dots, Stipple Brushes, Making Memories Baby Brads, Cuttlebug Floral Screen Embossing Folder, Big Shot

My Friend Sunflower

Hello and Happy Tuesday!!  Today I'm posting a card I made for the Speedy The Cat Birthday Swap over on Mark's Finest Papers.  I really love the sets I used ( Blackberries, Sunflowers & Bees and Daffodil and Anise), one because of the daffodils, and two the sunflowers since both grow really well around the Central Valley.

I started out by stamping the sunflower and bees on MFP Corn Husk card stock in memento tuxedo black ink before coloring it with prismacolor markers.  Once the coloring was done, I lightly stippled Stampin Up! bashful blue ink around to help fill in the blank spots before layering. 

Once the layering was done, I repeatedly stamped the anise flower on the card in Stampin Up! garden green to create a background.  Once that was done, I tied some vanilla ribbon around the card and popped up the main image and saying.  For the final touch, a dimensional bee sticker was added to the bottom of the sunflower.  The Happy Birthday is stamped on the inside with another bee in the bottom left corner.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Blackberries, Sunflowers & Bees, Daffodil & Anise
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Garden Green, Bashful Blue
Card Stock: MFP Corn Husk, Stampin Up! Garden Green, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun
Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Brads, Ribbon, Pop Dots, Bee Sticker, Stipple Brush

Speedy The Cat Monochromatic Challenge

Welcome! I decided to finally participate in one of the Speedy The Cat challenges over on the Mark's Finest Papers Blog.  I love using the monochromatic technique and this week's challenge was "right up my alley", especially since blue was the color chosen for the challenge.

I decided to use the Grandma's Boudoir stamp set and some different shades of blue ink (Memento Bahama Blue, Paris Dusk and Stampin Up! Night of Navy).  I started out by stamping my images onto Bang Up Blue in Memento Bahama Blue dye ink to create a background border on the card.  Then I stippled Stampin Up! Night of Navy around the edges and then lightly over the card center.  Once that was done, I took some K & Company vintage die cuts, edged them in SU Night of Navy using a marker, before adhering them to the card.

Taking the cameo stamp from Grandma's Boudoir, I stamped it twice onto Corn Husk paper before using a Marvy Jumbo oval punch on one of the images and then cut the second image out for popping up later.  I then took both my Marvy Mega & Giga Scalloped Oval punches and punched out two different shades of blue card stock for layering.  After stippling some Night of Navy ink onto the smallest layer, I popped up the cut out cameo before adding some Stampendous Class-A-Peel stickers on each of the scallop layers.

To finish the card off, I added some more of the K & Company die cuts on the inside before stamping my sentiment also from the Grandma's Boudoir set.  I just love the sentiments included in the set.  Some of them make awesome punch lines for birthday cards. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.


Stamps: MFP Grandma's Boudoir
Ink: Memento Bahama Blue, Paris Dusk, Stampin Up! Night of Navy
Card Stock: MFP Bang Up Blue, Corn Husk
Accessories: Ribbon, Pop Dots, Stampendous Class-A-Peels, K&Company Vintage Die Cuts, Ribbon, SU Night Of Navy Marker, Stipple Brush

Oriental Garden Teapot Challenge

Hello again.  I'm still dealing with these freaking migraines, but at least I finally felt well enough (somewhat) to stamp today.

For this week's teapot challenge, I pulled out a set from Mark's Finest Papers called Lady Serene.  I love oriental images since there is so much you can do with them.  I started out by pulling out some handmade designer paper from Michael's I've had for "ages" in my stash as my inspiration.  I then stamped all of my images on white card stock in memento tuxedo black ink and colored with prismacolor markers.  Once my coloring was done, I cut out one of the Lady Serene images, added some gold cord for the sash and popped her up on pop up glue dots.  The flowers on the dress are highlighted with gold ice stickles. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers Lady Serene
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Bashful Blue
Card stock: White, Stampin Up! Old Olive, Brilliant Blue, Rose Red, Handmade Designer Paper
Accessories: MFT Jumbo Scallop Die-Namic, Prismacolor Markers, Gold Pearl Stickers, Gold Ice Stickles, Pop Up Glue Dots, Prima Flowers, Mini Glue Dots, Gold Cord, Gold Brads

Curious Camping

Hello Tea potters!! Here is my take on this week's teapot challenge - a tribute to Markie's Mom!! Faith has a cat called Speedy, who sounds an awful like one of mine, Midnight, who gets into EVERYTHING!! So this week's challenge was to figure something out to keep Speedy busy while the tea potters invaded Faith's house for tea, and her hubby & son took off to get away from us!

So this is my story:

While our hostess with the mostess comments gets everything ready for tea, Speedy is being shipped off to California for a week-long trip with his California cousins he's never met. One of his cousins, Midnight, gets into as much trouble as he does, and her sister Mittens is right behind her. You know, kitty see, kitty do, kind of stuff.

So my son and hubby are just glutton for punishment because they are being shipped off for the camping trip with Speedy and his cousins to the mountains and beautiful Yosemite Valley where the cats can meow and create a scene as much as they want and the tea potters back in Florida won't be able to hear them at all.

Now, using Kittie747's watercolor landscape tutorial on SCS, I took several inks and stamp sets including one of hers from Rubbernecker stamps to create my camping scene, background, and inside of the card.

The watercolor landscape technique is not as hard as it looks as I've used it more than once on cards, as the results are just fantastic!! You should give it a try!

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers Speedy The Cats Friends, Stampin Up Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Loads of Fun, Rubbernecker Cause A Scene Master Set, Stampscapes Crooked Branches

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, London Fog, Java, PTI Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Landscape, Stampin Up! Kiwi Kiss, Certainly Celery, Garden Green

Cardstock: White, Stampin Up! Garden Green, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Pop Dots, Vintage Brads, Glue Dots, Craft Knife