Nautical Father's Day

This nautical-themed Father's Day card was created for the following challenges:
Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge - Father's Day card
Card Patterns Sketch Challenge
Ways to Use It - Man Up
CCEE - Nautical theme
Free 4 All - Red, White, and Blue

I stamped off once with the ship and compass using images from SU's The Open Sea set.  The sentiment is from Flourishes' Father's Day set.  I created a sailor's knot from red lacing cord by Simplicity.  The embossed BG is the square lattice folder by SU.

Second Friday Post...

A quick card before heading out the door for errands...This is for the first September Viva la Verve sketch - a tall layout by the talented diva, Amber! I went with some retired DP (Autumn Splendor) by SU with a base of Rustic Cream CS by PTI. I die cut multiple maple leaves and stamped a quick sentiment flag (love that Lil' Inker Designs set!) and added a button with chocolate baker's twine. The edges were distressed and sponged with Antique Linen distress ink. This is also for the CCEE Stampers challenge to create a fall card using a die. TGIF and I happen to be off today as well!

STAMPS: Happy Fall (Verve), Sentiment Flags (Lil' Inker Designs).

Bicycle Birthday

(Scroll on down to see my For Your Inspiration post for today.)
My son loves to bike for transportation and loves the big city life, so he can use this...along with the metro and his feet...as his way to get around. I needed a birthday card for him (he's my oldest and turns 28 on Saturday), so Korin's layout for the SCS Sketch Challenge was perfect to create this little summer scene. The clouds are die cut from felt. This is also for Crazy 4 Challenges to make a masculine card and for the Color Throwdown Challenge to use daffodil, tangerine and kiwi colors and for the CCEE challenge to include a kite on a card.
What did I use:
STAMPS: In the Park (Taylored Expressions), Big Wish (Verve) - sentiment
PAPER: A Walk in the Park by Echo Park, White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Cloud & grass border Die-Namics by MFT, Maya Road kraft mini tag, Baker's twine, Copics, felt.

Going in Circles

Lots of bright colors for the CCEE stampers' challenge and the layout is using the Card Patterns sketch. This was a quick and easy card to throw together! I love the new tag dies by Verve with so many sweet little sentiments to fill the tag. Here's what else I used:
STAMPS: Friendly Phrases (Verve)
PAPER: Nana's Kids by DCWV (a bargain find at TJ Maxx)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Corner Chomper, Prima, Leaf embellies by Recollections, MS Doily Lace punch, Adhesive trim by BasicGrey.

Simply Fizz

Simply Chartreuse & Raspberry Fizz are the focal colors using the new Verve flower from the Hope Blooms set and the leaves with matching die from the Bloom & Grow set - 2 must have sets with so many options for design! I cut slits around each flower layer and roughed up the petals so they would be more dimensional...so fun! Shannon has a challenging sketch for the Viva la Verve challenge on the SCS forum. Fortunately, she has a visual tutorial which is very helpful to know how to achieve the starburst effect. It turned out to be an easier task than I expected! This card is also being entered into the CCEE Stampers challenge to use pleated ribbon or pleated paper. I've had this wide pleated ribbon and never used it, so this was a perfect opportunity!
PAPER: DeLovely Mini Deck by Cosmo Cricket, Raspberry Fizz and Simply Chartreuse (PTI), White

VLV & more challenges...

It's another "about face" weather day...so warm and sunny yesterday...so cool and rainy today! This card is for the following challenges:
Flourishes "Spring Has Sprung" - use blue, green, yellow.
Viva la Verve - sketch.
CCEE - add a doily and/or lace.
Forgotten Stamp Friday - ink up a stamp that hasn't been used in 6 months.
I used Copics to color the image and added yellow Stickles to the center of the waterlily. Here is the list of supplies I used:
STAMPS: Waterlily Set (Flourishes), Happy Hello (Verve) - sentiment.
PAPER: Text Tile Green Boutique DP (PTI), Spring Moss, Aqua Mist & Lemon Tart (PTI), X-Press It Blending Card.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: MS border punch, Lace trim, Lacey Circles Nesties, Adhesive pearls, Copics (Y13, Y15, Y18, Y19, YG00, YG03), Corner Chomper.

Spring Has Sprung

You'll need your sunglasses for this one, but with spring comes color...and it's so great to see flowers popping up and adding color to the outdoors once again! This card is for the following challenges:
Free 4 All - How does your garden grow?
Forgotten Stamp Friday
CCEE Stampers - Use a cutie patootie image wearing something green
Sew Many Cards - sketch
I colored this sweet SU image using Copics and added tiny rhinestones to the flower centers. It's layered over a Martha Stewart doily tag found at Michael's. Some metal dot stickers in the corners and this was an easy peasy card to complete. TGIF and I'm off work and able to enjoy this warm weather!
STAMPS: A Flower for all Seasons (SU)
PAPER: Salt Air Mini Deck (Cosmo Cricket), Blue Bayou, Neenah Solar White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Circle Nesties, MS doily tag, Rhinestones, Metal dot stickers

Viva la Verve

Maureen has a wonderful, easy sketch for the Viva la Verve challenge on the SCS forum! I am also entering this card into the CCEE Stampers challenge to create a monochromatic card in blues - to honor those blue skies of spring. I was beginning to think the skies would only be gray with all the rain we've been getting in the Shenandoah Valley, but it's clearing today and I think I see a hint of blue! I hope this paper won't get gonged, since it's a greenish blue, but I couldn't resist this new Once Upon a Springtime DP by Graphic 45 - stripes on one side and creamy butterflies on the other side. I distressed all the edges and added some new satin roses from SU along with SU's vanilla seam binding. Love this Verve Plain Jane verse (Psalm 46:1) - what a great promise!

5 in 1

After a hectic 5 days this past week...including working over the w/e...I'm calling this my 5 in 1 wind down creation! This is for the following challenges:
ODBD Shining Light Challenge - Choose 2 colors (yellow, pink, blue or ivory) & use as the focal color.
Raise the Bar - Use sentiment as focal point with no other stamped images.
Creative Cottage - Use a tag.
CCEE - Use swirls.
VLVMar2011 - sketch by Charmaine.
I used a swirl EF for the ivory base and layered a punched strip of Lemon Tart CS by PTI on top. This is such a soft, creamy lemon color and I just love it! I omitted the bow in the sketch because the floral trim was so fancy already. I added the green flourish (pulled from my scrap pile) as a last resort...it seemed too plain without a pop of some other color. I cut the sentiment layers to resemble a tag and added a brad. I'm not sure I'm happy with this but it will have to do for now. It's past my bedtime!
STAMPS: Easter Blessings (ODBD)
PAPER: Lemon Tart, Vintage Cream (PTI), Textured ivory (SU)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Flourish die by Sizzix, Lace trim, MS Floral Band border punch, Swirl EF, CB, Brad, Circle Nestie

It's a Gray Day

Kim wants us to forget about white, brown or black for a card base and go with gray for the Ways to Use It challenge on SCS. I love grays and don't think to use it many times, so this was a great incentive to dust off the gray CS! This is also for the CCEE tool challenge to use a distressing tool.
The card evolved when I found this lined, light gray with fuchsia swirls DP by Deja Views in my stash. I used the spiral border punch and sponged Basic Gray ink on the lined panel. The Going Gray base panel was embossed using SU's Elegant Bouquet textured impressions folder. I love to paper sculpt these flowers from SU's Delight in Life set. I curled the edges around a pencil, used Copic markers (R85 & V05) to color the centers, then added some Diamond Stickles. I finished it off with some daisy trim and some satin ribbon. The sentiment is a Plain Jane by Verve - Ecclesiastes 3:11...another of Julee's wonderful font combos. How ironic that it's truly a gray day today...no sun in sight!