Just Us Girls #802

When I saw Carol's Mood Board for Just Us Girls, I had so many ideas pop into my head! Then I remembered a card I had seen on Pinterest. I'm sorry I don't know who created it, but this is my take on it!

Do you remember the PTI Love Lives Here: Holiday set? It's an oldie but a goodie! I thought the hearts and stars elements in the set were a good match for Carol's photo. I stamped the greenery twice to created the garland. Next came the ornaments. I decorated the garland with hearts and teeny tiny stars. It all went together very quickly. My trusty ME mat set was the perfect way to frame it!

I can't wait to see our gallery this week, it's sure to be a dandy one! How will Carol's Mood Board inspire you? Better get busy!

Just Us Girls #792 ~ Count Your Many Blessings

 

Carol has a fun Word Week challenge for us at Just Us Girls... CONTAINER! I had lots of ideas and finally settled on this pretty little tea pot die from Paper Sweeties. It's an oldie, but a goodie as is the cute patterned paper I used. Take a look...

I remember making a card with this same paper a few years back. I must have loved it so much that I cut two, because this one was ready to go! The sentiment was tucked in the die pouch as well. I broke out an old DeNami Design stamp for the steam (I think I used that on the other one too!) and popped on a few rhinestones. A simple and cute container!

Okay, you know the drill. I'm sure you have some container stamps or dies in your crafty stash. Pick something and come play along. We would love to have you join us!

Joy to the World

We've had such a busy year and I haven't had a lot of crafting time. I squeeze it in just for fun and challenge entries when I can; as is the case for today! 

I am happy to say my dad has completed his 12 weeks of cardio rehab, started driving again and is doing far better than he was in January! What was to have been an overnight stay in the hospital turned into 3 months of hospital stays and a skilled nursing facility. He finally got the new heart valve in March, in home therapy followed, then 12 weeks of cardio rehab. My mom has macular degeneration and no longer drives. Thankfully we live about three minutes apart. Being here to help them has been a blessing all around. They're pretty special!

I did have some extra time and am in dire need of Christmas cards. My stash is so pathetic! This one went together pretty quickly and works for The Flower Challenge. They're looking for flower cards with embellishments!

An embossed panel was the perfect spot for this big ornament (Lasting Impressions). The center of the poinsettia is embellished with seed beads and the top of the ornament is embellished with a glittery bow (ME) and a rhinestone. A simple tab sentiment by Memory Box was all it needed. Off she goes to the gallery!

I'll see you tomorrow with a new card for Just Us Girls. It's Mood Board week and I'm hosting!

Just Us Girls #779

 

Hey there! Are you ready for a new challenge at Just Us Girls? Carol is our hostess and she's looking for numbers. I was in need of a birthday card for our great nephew, so this was perfect timing!

I pulled out some paper from an old My Minds Eye 6x6 pad and I let them do the work! Since all of the papers came from the same pad, the colors and patterns flow together perfectly. A die cut banner die by PPP was turned into a shaker with the numbers added on top.

This little fella has been through the ringer. He went in for surgery and ended up with several complications that resulted in an 85 day stay in the hospital. He's home now, thanks be to God, and celebrating double digits!

What does Carol's word challenge 'number' mean to you? I look forward to seeing your masterpiece in our gallery!

Just Us Girls #778 ~ Love You Forever

 

Hi there! It's time for another month of new challenges from Just Us Girls. We're excited to have Joanne James joining us as our guest designer! Welcome Joanne! Ina is our hostess for Die Week and she's looking for layers. I put together this little number for my mom's birthday.

I used an oldie but a goodie set from PTI ~ Pretty Peonies as my focal. I stamped and die cut the peony bloom then popped it up on the stamped and die cut leaf layer with foam tape. The butterfly from the set was double stamped with the same ink then die cut. These were added to the rustic cream panel layered with the embossed panel. Another butterfly and sentiment finished my design. I added a final die cut layer in the form of a scalloped panel and a sprinkling of pearls. 

What dies will you choose to layer up? Pick some out and come play along with us this week!

Thanks to sweet Michele for reminding me... I'll be sending this over to The Flower Challenge!

Just Us Girls #773 ~ Hello

 

Bobby has challenged us to use a flower die at Just Us Girls for this week's die challenge. I've got that covered and I'll bet you do too! We also have a new guest designer for the month of May. It just so happens to be a long time blogging friend of mine... Rosemary Dennis! Be sure to pop over to her blog, you won't be disappointed!

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to let my Honey Bee Magnolia take center stage! Pale Peony and Spring Moss inks (PTI) were used for a little smooshing. After cutting all of the layers and leaves, I glued just the center of the magnolia parts and popped everything onto the Mama Elephant Circle Lattice panel. After playing around with card base colors, I finally settled on kraft. It picked up the flower center perfectly! A sweet hello sentiment from Poppystamps was all it needed. 

I have a feeling our gallery will look like a beautiful paper garden by the time the week has finished. I hope you'll plant your card there too!

Just Us Girls #772 ~ It's Birthday Time!

Hi there! It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Ina is hosting stencil week for us. I made a playful card for a first birthday. Take a look...

 

The DeNami polka dot elephant was stamped using PTI's Berry Sorbet Ink. I cut it using a die from TMS and popped it up with foam circles. My stenciling was done using Citrine ink. That's a hard one to photograph. It shows up more yellow than green! Some sweet PTI printed Berry Sorbet paper was added along with a fun banner (Poppystamps) for the sentiment.

Now I'm on the hunt for a cutie little elephant toy of some kind to go with the card. I like to match the card to the gift! I look forward to seeing your stenciled works of art in our gallery this week. You know you have a stencil or two to choose from!

Just Us Girls #752 ~ Joy

 

Hey there, ready for a new challenge at Just Us Girls? Carol has given us this fun combination for color week. Here's my take on them. You'll noticed I went with a lighter shade of blue. 

 

 

My sweet friend Michele was kind enough to send me a few of her cutie little PB carolers to play with. I colored this one up in our challenge colors then added her to a row of birch trees (ME) sprinkled with snowflakes and joy.

While I was at it, I colored another and surrounded her with snowflakes (WF)! They both have Stickles added to their hats and the pom poms on the jackets. 

We can't wait to find out how you'll use Carol's fun color combination. You will be in our gallery this week, won't you? I sure hope so!

Just Us Girls #743 ~ Hello

Hello there! Ready for a new Just Us Girls challenge? Bobby is our hostess this week and she's given us a terrific color combo to work with. We also have a new guest designer joining us for September. Please pop over and say hello to Nancy Salkeld! Welcome, Nancy we're so happy to have you creating with us this month!

My jumping off point was this pretty wreath by Pinkfresh. I stamped it using PTI's Canyon Clay ink. The embossed panel (GinaK) was layered onto a shimmery gold panel. They were both cut with a ME die. After popping on the wreath, I set out to decorate it. The PPP bow and leaves were layered together then I added tiny punched blue and gold dots to the wreath. The finishing touch was a PTI tiny tag holding my sentiment.  

How will Bobby's colors inspire you? I can't wait to find out!

Just Us Girls #742 ~ Life is Beautiful

 

 

This is a fun week for us at Just Us Girls. The team is free to design anything we like and your challenge is to CASE one of us. That's easy enough! 

I haven' used my PTI Meadow Greens set in a long time. It's always a good fit for a late summer card. I just love the delicate Queen Anne's Lace and pretty leaves it includes. The flowers (they're too pretty to be called a weed!) were stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed in white. Next came the leaves and then I cut the panel with my favorite Mama Elephant cover die. The sentiment, also from the set, was cut with an old Spellbinders label die. A trio of sweet Nordic Butterflies by Poppystamps were cut from vellum and bedazzled with a tiny gem. 

Okay, sweet peeps, now it's your turn. Head over tho the Just Us Girls blog and pick out a card to CASE!

Cute Critters for STB#289 & FMS #648

Good Friday evening all. After a morning of shoveling stone into our landscaping, we took the rest of the day off! Well, I did make dinner (salmon and fresh corn on the cob) and we went for a walk. But I did have a bit of relaxing crafty time. I put together this little number for both the Seize the Birthday and Freshly Made Sketches challenges.

These cutie little bears by Mama Elephant always make me smile. I think they fit the cute critters bill that JoAnn has challenged us to at STB. They were stamped then cut with an old Spellbinders postage die. The tiny tag and bow are by PPP and my large postage borders were cut from a PTI frame. I love red and aqua together, how about you?

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

I hope you have a blessed weekend!

Just Us Girls #721 ~ Sprinkling Some Happy!

Hello sweet peeps! Are you ready for another Just Us Girls challenge? Ina has picked some happy spring colors for you to create with. We have our April guest designer joining us today. Welcome Colleen Begley, we're so happy to have you with us this month!

While looking for my colors, I came across this small scrap of mustard polka dot paper. It was the jumping off point that took me in this cutesy direction. The fairy chickie is by DeNami Design. She's popped up on a PPP circle tag topped with a ME bow. Her little wings are glittered! Those festive banners are an oldie from Reverse Confetti. I added a few rhinestones in coordinating colors to top everything off.

I look forward to seeing how Ina's colors inspire you. Our gallery is going to be a bright and happy one this week!

Happy Spring

Hello lovelies! I had a little playtime this afternoon and put together this little number for The Paper Players. LeAnne has given us a cute sketch to work with and this is what I came up with.

I already had one of those cute little PPP tags stamped and die cut, so I stamped a cut three more. All of the images are little rubber stamps by Impression Obsession and my sentiment, topped with the ME bow, is Paper Inspiration. More of that sparkly paper from my Sweet P is making an appearance in the form of a PTI tag. I popped it all onto an embossed card base. Layered but still simple!

I hope you've enjoyed your weekend. Ours was a quiet one and that's okay by me!
 

Just Us Girls #717 ~ Thanks A Bunch

 

Hey there sweet peeps! It time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Tracey McNeely will be joining us for the month of March as our guest designer! Tracey and I have been blogging friends since we both started our blogs back in 2011! I'm so happy to have you joining us, Tracey!

I don't know, you might need your sunglasses for this one! My lime green is Juicy Pear by Bazzill accented with Gumball Green by SU. I picked peach as my third color. A vellum layer was added to some of my flower die cuts (MB) to give them a two toned look. I also added some vellum sprigs (TSM). I'll never grow tired of this sweet flower wrap from Simply Graphic and I had to throw in that Mama Elephant cover plate because it's just so darn pretty! Yep, it's bright but it sure looks like spring!

We would love to have you join us this week. 

Pop over to the JUGs blog for more inspiration from the team!

 

 

Somebody Loves You ~ Just Us Girls #715

 

Hello sweet peeps! Our new challenge is up at Just Us Girls. It's time to break out those stencils and have some fun! 

Before we get to my card, I want to give a shout out to our wonderful February guest designer, Denise Morgans. It's been a pleasure having you with us this past month!

I used a heart stencil, then die cut the panel with a PTI postage die. I just love this cutie little bear with his bouquet of flowers! A whimsical floral paper from my stash was the inspiration for my colors. Simple and sweet!

What stencil will you choose to share with us? 

I can't wait to find out!

You Are In My Thoughts

The snow and cold showed up again for our weekend so I snuggled in and made a card or two. This one is for the Color Hues challenge. Stef picked the lovely combination of Lilac and Mint. I never met a lilac I didn't like so I was in!

Now someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this look like lilacs? I used the Ready to Bloom cover die from The Stamp Market. It was smooshed into some ink then the single blooms were layered onto the panel of those that are connected on the die cut. Mint Julep cardstock from PTI was used for the leaves (TSM) and scalloped panel (ME). The lovely debossed panel is by SSS and my sentiment from Pinkfresh. 

All of those companies played so well together!

I hope you're warm and cozy this weekend. 

A pot of homemade soup is on my agenda for tomorrow!

Sending you all the hearts ~ Just Us Girls #712

 

Wow, is it just me or did January fly by? Anyhoo... happy February! We have our first challenge of the month up at Just Us Girls ~ Color Week. A new month also brings a new guest designer. Please join us in welcoming the fabulous, Denise Morgans!

My newest Mama Elephant (Beary Good Day) set came out to play for this one. This cutie little bear will deliver all of the hearts to my Sweet P! I popped him onto a Poppystamps Vintage Scalloped Heart cut from a pink and red paper then onto a sweet embossed heart panel gifted to me by sweet Michele!

Sorry things have been a little quiet around here. The hubby's camera had a recall for repair. I made oodles of cards for my DT work before we sent it in. Hopefully it will be back soon and I can play along in some challenges again! 

As luck would have it, this one fits in over at Color Hues!

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We can't wait to see how pink and red inspire you. 

Neutrals are welcome too so have fun!

Blessed

I'm still taking advantage of the "stay in because it's freezin' season" mindset, how about you? It was a good time to use a couple of new products from those holiday sales! This card will be heading to the gallery over at The Paper Players. 

Take a look...

Anne Marie is hosting and has asked for cards with black, white plus a pop of bold color. Red popped into my mind! I picked up a 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper at JoAnn last summer. It was covered in pretty little houses with leaves and flowers tucked behind them. I used it here with my new cover plate from Mama Elephant. Oh my goodness, I'll probably use it until you are all sick of seeing it! It's topped with a pretty MB Poppy die. I just realized I added the front petal upside down. I'll fix it before mailing! The leaves are from the Altenew Weekend Doodles set. Hope you like it!

Thanks so much for taking a peek. Have a blessed day.

Hugs

Hello and Happy New Year!

It's been a minute or two since I last posted! I had planned a break for the holidays, but then illness found it's way into the Elton household. Great timing, huh. Has anybody seen my mojo?

I'm here today with the first Just Us Girls challenge of 2024! We have a few changes this year. First up, new graphics! Thanks so much to DT member Elizabeth for creating our new look. Challenges will now begin on Thursday (12am) and close on Tuesday (9pm). You can find all of the new challenge details on the blog. 

We also bid farewell to team members, Nancy and Lisa K. I wish them all the very best, they will be greatly missed. Stepping in as a new team member is Stephanie Lanzalotto! Welcome to the team, Stephanie, I'm so happy to have you joining us!

A new month also brings a new guest designer. Helping us start off the new year is the fabulous Stef Perry!

Okay, now for my card!

I mixed several companies on this one and went with a lighter shade of teal. I suppose, now that I look at it, it reads more aqua! Leafy sprigs from The Stamp Market fill the card front along with a big bow. I punched navy dots then glued them to the bow trimming off the overhang. If you look closely at the corners of the cover plate, you'll see I added green behind the tiny openings. 

Not my best, not my worst, I'm rusty! The holidays were quiet for us and there was no card making going on. The hubby and I both came down with Covid! Unscathed all this time and then bamb! He thinks he picked it up dealing with about 20 apprentices at work. Thankfully we are both vaccinated and have had the boosters. No picnic though, we felt pretty rough, still recovering too. I can't imagine what it could have been and think back to the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. My heart still breaks for what so many went through. We're praying for a healthy new year. On the bright side of it all... drum roll... my guy is officially retired!!! It's a few years early, but boy oh boy was he ready!!! Here's to new beginnings!!!

Merry & Birght

My entry for Color Hues has been in pieces on my desk for a few days. I kept getting interrupted with one thing or another, you know just general life stuff! I haven't had a good long crafty session in a while and those Christmas cards aren't going to make themselves! So here we go, light blue and purple.

I had a cute snippet of blue snowflake paper just perfect for my MB ornament. I attached the ornament to the pretty Snowflake Loop from Poppystamps using white thread and hid the knot with a ME bow. It looked a little lonely, so I topped it with a big snowflake! Simple white embossed trees (SSS) provided my background.

I had just enough of that snowflake paper for another ornament, so I made another card! This one has SSS embossed snowflakes dancing around in the background. 

 

Do you have a favorite? My in house critic said he likes the trees the best. Off it goes to the gallery!