Winter Wishes

I'm joining in on the fun over at Viva La Verve!  I used November's Week 2 design, as well as the rustic inspiration for the Inspiration Challenge.

To go along with the sentiment I chose for this card, I thought that using white embossing paste would add a winter-y element, as the texture reminds me of packed snow. I also added clear sequins to mimic falling snowflakes.  The stamped image and sentiment were heat embossed using snow white embossing powder, and then I added some Stickles to the Christmas tree. I chose blue vellum for the banner to allow the background to show through.

For the rustic element, I distressed the edges, and used some hemp ribbon and twine.

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve 'Holiday Greetings'
Paper: Recollections shimmered and matte blue cardstock; CTMH Patterned, Vanilla
Other: Cuttlebug; Spellbinders scalloped circle die; Rangers Texture Paste, Stickles; Color Box Chevron Stencil; CTMH Buttons, ribbon, twine, Chocolate Distressing Ink; Verve Shine Bright Sequins

Christmas Memories

Made my first Christmas card of the season! Yay! I used the 1st sketch of November from the Viva La Verve challenge:  

Here's my card:

I absolutely love the look (and feel) of the rich, velvet background paper.

This stamp set is an oldie but a goodie-one of my all-time favourite Christmas sets.  After stamping the image, I used watercolour pencils and my water brush to colour the scene.  I then added some 'snow' on the trees and buildings for a cool and fun effect using my Snow Marker (after I applied it and let it dry, I used a heat gun to 'puff it up'). The banner was cut out and then embossed and watercoloured:

The sentiment on the inside is from Verve's Bright Spirits- my newest Christmas stamp set that I plan to use for more cards this season :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve Bright Spirits; CTMH Snow Days
Paper: CTMH Colonial White, Olive, Cocoa; Recollections brown; Sei Wine Velvet Paper
Ink: CTMH Chocolate
Other: CTMH Watercolour pencils, water brush, sequins; Cuttlebug; The Paper Studio woodgrain embossing folder; ribbon unknown; Uchido Snow Marker

Thanks a Latte

I can't believe I finished this card in time for the Viva La Verve Challenge, which closes tomorrow!  I always enjoy playing along with their challenges, as the sketches are always fantastic, and there's so much inspiration!  There's even going to be a lucky winner of $100 gift voucher to Verve!!!

Here's the sketch I worked with:

And here's my card:

I used a watercolour technique for the first time (as you can see, I need practice) by stamping Ranger Distress Ink in Broken China on watercolour paper and then spritzing it with water.  Easy and simple.

I also added some Ranger Glossy Accents on the coffee cup lids, and quilled some coffee beans for fun :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve 'Holiday Treats'

Ink: Ranger Distress Ink in Broken China; CTMH Black, Cocoa

Paper: Watercolour paper; CTMH Cocoa, Colonial White

Other: Cuttlebug; Goose Bumpz Zig Zag e.f.; Quilling strips; Ranger Glossy Accents; CTMH striped ribbon; Michael's Baker's Twine; Copics 

80th Birthday Card

I wanted to share I card I made for my dad's 80th Birthday. One of his most memorable gifts was a photo taken of him on his bicycle in front of his home where he lived back in Italy when he was a child. (I used a sketch from Mojo Monday, but was too late to enter it):

Here are some photos of the barn wedding I attended that I promised to share.  After raining all morning, it turned out to be a beautiful, perfect day for a perfect barn wedding and a beautiful couple :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Supplies:
All Close to My Heart

Barn-Themed Wedding Card

It's been a looooong time since I've made a card, let alone play along with Heart 2 Heart (colouring challenge this week) and Mojo Monday.  It felt great to play with my stamps again - and for this card, I used a CTMH set for the 1st time, which makes it also qualify for the NBUS challenge!

I created this wedding card for a family member, whose wedding is a couple of weeks away.  I'm pretty excited, as I've never been to a barn wedding before, and I've also been asked to make some barn-themed cookies (I'll try to post some pics-stay tuned)!

I loved colouring the cute birds included in this set (and how appropriate for a barn theme)!  I added a rustic feel by using kraft cardstock embossed with woodgrain, some faux stitching, and combined that with the elegant feel of the shimmered grey cs, shimmered vellum, and sequins.

Supplies:
Paper: All Recollections
Ink: CTMH Grey Wool
Stamps: CTMH I Do Occasions. Simple Stitches
Other: Verve Sequins; Martha Stewart glitter; Copics; Cuttlebug; The Paper Studio embossing folder; Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles

There's No Place Like Home

I recently quilled a border around and heat embossed this 'There's No Place Like Home' sentiment and framed it with a store-bought picture frame.  It was a gift for someone special, so I first chose a frame that matched their home and then worked with complementary quilling strips.

I used CTMH's 'Welcome Home' stamp set for the embossed sentiment, 

and also added some pearls and gems:

 In this photo, you can see the shimmer in the blue background paper:

Thanks for stopping by!

Playing In the Sand!

We vacationed in Florida last week during the March Break and had a wonderful time!  Here are some photos of a sand sculpture that we had fun building at beautiful 

Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs:

Alligator On the Beach

 She didn't have a chance or choice!

Pretty Pastel Quilled Flowers

I decided to make some cards with pastel-coloured quilled flowers - thinking about Spring during this never-ending winter & hoping that it will arrive sooner than later!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Tic-Tac-Toe

I'm playing Tic-Tac-Toe along with Heart 2 Heart Challenges :)

I've used the middle row across for my card 

(stamping, ribbon, distressing):

After stamping the heart, I used the CTMH Blending Pen to blend the colour (as I wasn't completely satisfied with the Martha Stewart stamp that I used).  The 'XOXO' and the black arrow from the new CTMH January SOTM were both heat embossed.  I ended up cutting the arrow in half in order to extend it behind the heart. The doily and the small piece of matching trim are both from the Simple Memories stamp set. For finishing touches, I added pink and white liquid pearls and a few sequins.

Have a great day :)

Supplies Used:

Paper: CTMH White Daisy, Kraft; Martha Stewart patterned

Ink: CTMH Blush

Stamps: CTMH Simple Memories,This Moment; Martha Stewart valentine set

Other: CTMH Blending Pen; Cuttlebug; Goose Bumpz embossing folder; Versamark; Stampendous Black embossing powder; White Opal and Petal Pink Liquid Pearls; Verve sequins; ribbon from stash

Something Old Something New

I finally got a chance to create my first card of 2015.  

I'm playing along with H2H Challenges for the first time :o)  The challenge's theme is "old is new", so I've used my brand new CTMH January SOTM and searched deep within my stash and found an old button as well as a small piece of waxy flax!  

I'm also playing along with Freshly Made Sketches 

Here's my card:

I fringed and glittered the feather on the arrow for added interest:

The inside:

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Paper: CTMH White Daisy, Black; Martha Stewart pink

Stamps: CTMH This Moment

Inks: CTMH Black

Other: CTMH Four Seasons button, Waxy Flax; Cuttlebug; Goose Bumpz embossing folder; Martha Stewart Glitter; Stickles