Butterfly Kisses

This card was made using GinaK's Bold Flowers from the Floral Frenzy Kit. I used some new large sponge daubers, I purchased from GinaK, to apply ink on the card to create clouds. I love these larger sponge daubers because you get a nice even coverage for larger areas. The top of the card was run through the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder and the border is from Martha Stewart. The ribbon is also from Martha Stewart. I used a marker to color the flowers then cut them out and cut between each petal. I like using a marker to color solid stamps because I seem to get a darker inking. A button was added then a piece of knotted floss was glued to the center. The lady bugs were punched with a Martha Stewart tri butterfly punch. I added small pearls to the center of each butterfly. The lady bug is a button I had in my "stash".

White Daisies

I made this card for the Sketch Challenge on StampTV. The challenge was to use black and white plus one other color. I decided to use white daisies from Asela's "Flowers For Daisy" from GinaK Designs. I stamped the daisies with Memento Black ink. I cut them out then pressed them into the VersaMark pad and clear embossed. They were added to the card with dimensionals. I added small micro beads to the center of each flower to stay with the color theme. The Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder was used for the background. The red border was made using a Martha Stewart punch. I used my Oval Nestabilities for the frame for the flowers. Red gems were added. The black/white polka dot ribbon is from Michael's.

Thank You Butterfly

I love this butterfly from GinaK. The name of the stamp set is "Take Flight". I used a piece of GinaK digital paper for the background. The butterfly was colored with Koh-i-noor pencils and OMS. I love how you can blend with this technique. The ovals are So Saffron and River Rock. I sponged the So Saffron oval with Cameo Coral to pick up the same color in the background paper. I used Nestabilities Petite Ovals for the frames. The frames and butterfly are on dimensionals. The flowers, brads, and ribbon are from Michael's.

Spring Song

It is still kind of cold out but the birds have arrived. Here is a card made with a SU set "Spring Song". The verse is also from SU. The image was colored with Koh-i-noor colored pencils and OMS. I used the Nestabilities Label 4 for the white and Close to Cocoa frames. The Celery Green background was embossed with the Cuttlebug Leafy Branch folder. The flowers, brads and ribbon are from Michael's. A Martha Stewart punch was used for the Barely Banana border.

Birthday Poppies

This morning's card is made with a stamp from Rubber Stampede. This is a stamp I have had for many years. I stamped the poppies and wanted to use these nestabilities to cut the frame. It all fit except the bottom leaf. I ended up stamping the flower twice and then cut out only the bottom leaf and attached it, which hangs out over the frame. Since I did that, I cut out the large flower in the center and mounted it on dimensionals. I used Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder for the top portion of the card and a Martha Stewart border punch. Each layer of the frame is on dimensionals. I used my Scor-Pal for the lines on the bottom of the card and the Birthday stamp is from SU. I forgot to say that I colored the flowers with Koh-i-noor colored pencils and OMS from GinaK. The back frame is Gable Green.

Lavender Sweet Peas

 I used Flourishes Sweet Peas that I purchased from Stamper's Dream. The flowers are colored with Koh-i-noor Pencils and OMS. I used nestabilities for the circles. The background paper is from Paper Pizazz and the ribbon is from Michael's.

Lavender Roses

Today's card is made with Melanie's "A Year of Flowers". Can you tell this is one of my favorite sets! I colored the roses with Koh-i-noor Pencils and OMS. The background was stamped with VersaMark and White embossed. The stamp used is SU "Garden Silhouettes". The color of the background cardstock is Garden Green. The ferns were punched out of Garden Green CS with a Martha Stewart punch and inserted around the roses. I used a Petite Nestabilities to cut out the SU verse and used a piercing tool to create the holes around the scallops. There is a Martha Stewart border along the side. The ribbon is from Michael's. One pearl was placed in the upper left corner.

A Special Thanks

As I stated before, I am a member of StampTV and I have made such wonderful friends. I have been wanting to start a Blog but had no idea how to do it. Two people have helped me accomplish this and I want to thank them. Geri helped me get my blog started and I was so excited to be able to start posting my cards. There are a lot of things you can add to your blog page and today Tina Gilliland helped me with that. She set up the "Subscribe" section so you can receive daily updates. She also set up my signature. On StampTV there is information on the forum how to do these things but I did not understand how to accomplish them. I really appreciate your help Geri and Tina.

The above card was made with a 2001 retired SU stamp. I used colored pencils and chalk to color. The "Thanks" is from a Cuttlebug die and the border across the middle is a Martha Stewart punch. The ribbon is also from Martha.

Thanks again Geri and Tina.

Thankszzz!

Our weather is still trying to decide if it wants to be Spring or Winter. I'm thinking Spring, so today I decided to use the SU set "Just Buzzin' By". I thought the bee hive would look good around some flowers so used the Cuttlebug Everyday Greetings embossing folder for the background. The flowers and the hive needed to be grounded, so made some grass out of a strip of Certainly Celery cardstock. I just used scissors to cut across the edge . The cardstock I used today is Basic Black and Barely Banana. I colored my images with watercolor crayons and added dazzeling diamonds glitter to the wings of the bees. The bees are on dimensionals. The verses with this set did not fit on the front of the card so I used a stamp from SU's Cute As A Bug. Hope you have a warm sunny day!

Skateboarding Turtle

This card is made with one of the stamps from "Whatever Floats Your Boat" by Rupa Shevde from GinaK. Isn't this turtle cute! The background is Gable Green cardstock run through the cuttlebug Mosaic Texture embossing folder. The oval and scallops are oval nesties and the tag is also from Spellbinders. The turtle was colored with Copic markers. The the oval and the tag were sponged with So Saffron ink. The ribbon and brads are from SU. Both the oval and the skating turtle are on dimensionals.

Glad we are friends

I have been gone most of the day but my goal is to post at least one card a day. This is a quick and simple card made with the SU "A Flower For All Seasons" set. I colored the image with Copics. I used the petite oval Nestabilities for the design frames. The scallops were pierced. The designer paper is SU and the white panel was embossed with the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder. The colors on this card are Certainly Celery and Lavender Lace. I added some lavendar gems. A Martha Stewart punch was used for the butterflies.

Pink Daisies

Gina has two great tutorials over on StampTV about using baby wipes for backgrounds and stamped images. She made two beautiful cards and gives great step by step directions on how to do these techniques. Wednesdays are technique challenges so I made this card to participate. I used Sage Shadow, Creamy Carmel, and Pretty in Pink for my baby wipe background. I used Asela's , Flowers for Daisy and the Cuttlebug Leafy Branch embossing folder to create my design. I have never seen this embossing folder used as stems for flowers so thought I would try it. I like the way it turned out. I used Nestabilities for the frames. To make the leaves stand out, I used sponge daubers and Sage Shadow ink. I stamped the verse then cut it out with Nestabilities Petite Ovals. Before removing it, I sponged over the verse with Sage Shadow ink. The ribbon is from Michael's. I used dimensionals under the frame, flowers, and verse. I used a piercing tool around the scalloped frames.

Happy Birthday Kitty

Today, by accident, I ran across a blog called Penny Black Saturday Challenge. It is a sketch challenge using at least one Penny Black stamp. Here is the link: http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/. I am kind of new at doing challenges. I started after I signed up as a member of StampTV. It has been lots of fun participating. I love Penny Black stamps and have started collecting them from Stamper's Dream. When I saw this blog, thought I would participate. I used this kitty from Critter Party. I colored the design with Koh-i-noor pencils and OMS. The background papers are all from SU. The layers are So Saffron, Basic Black and Real Red. The verse is from the Critter Party. I stamped it then cut it out with small oval nestabilities. Before taking out of the die, I sponged it with So Saffron ink. The flowers, design, and verse are all up on dimensionals. The piece of black was run through the Swiss Dots cuttlebug embosssing folder.

Monkey under tree

Wanted to create a scene with this little money from Melanie's "Just so Hippy". I created the tree trunk by cutting 3 narrow strips of Creamy Carmel cardstock and spraying them with water to soften them. I then used a clip to hold all three pieces together and started braiding. To create the top of the tree, I used a leaf stamp from SU Daisy set. I stamped seven and alternated layers. The monkey had to sit on sand, so I tore a piece of River Rock cardstock and stamped some sand hills using one of Kittie's scene sets. I then tore a piece of sky blue to add for water and mounted on a piece of Bordering Blue for the sky. I used Sky Blue, and a new large sponge dauber I ordered from GinaK, to create the clouds and waves. The monkey is colored with chalks and colored pencils. I did not use OMS because I wanted it to look like hair on the monkey. I cut three very thin strips of green cardstock for stems then attached the little flowers from that set. The Miss You is also from the Just So Hippy set and cut out with an oval nestability. I used the piercing tool to punch holes around the oval. Two black gems were added on the upper corners.

Hello Friend

This was a really a fun card to make. I just received a new set I ordered from GinaK today called "Whatever Floats Your Boat!" by Rupa Shevde. The background was made with a piece of designer paper from Me & My Big Ideas and a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock run through the Cuttlebug Distressed Strips embossing folder. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the border band. The two frames were cut using Nestabilities long rectangles. The cardstock is River Rock sponged with same ink before taking out of die. I used Koh-i-noor pencils and OMS to color the giraffe. To make the window look like glass, I lightly colored it with gray chalk then added VersaMark and clear embossed. I scored down the window using my Scor Pal and lifted it slightly. I have had the leaves in my "stash" for many years and decided they would look good on this card. I added some rust colored gems under the gariffe and on ends of band.

Blue Butterfly

I'm only adding one card today. I had some eye surgery last week and had a stitch taken out today and my eye is not feeling very well. It will be fine tomorrow and will add more. I made this card for Jessica's Sketch Challenge on StampTV. If you haven't checked out these challenges you should. When you participate, you have a chance to win a stamp set of your choice worth up to $24.95. It is a random drawing so everyone has a chance. If you use stamps from GinaK, your name goes in twice for the drawing. Back to my card. I placed the circle in the wrong place -- it should be on the upper right side. This photo did not photograph the background paper very well. It is by K & Company and is beautiful. The reason I put the butterfly on the bottom is because I wanted the postage stamp to show. The butterfly is from GinaK's Take Flight. There are two beautiful butterflies in this set. I used Copic markers to color. I ran the blue panel through the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder and the Vanilla background through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder. I used my circle nestablities to make the circle and scallop. There are three charcol gray pearls in the upper left corner.

Pink Rose

This is another card I made using Melanie's "A Year of Flowers". I clear embossed the rose on white cardstock then used sponge daubers with Cameo Coral and Pretty In Pink ink to color. I colored the leaves with colored pencils and OMS. I used my Scor Pal to make the grid on the oval created with my oval Nesties. I used Antique Linen Distress Ink to antique the oval and the Cameo Coral scalloped oval. The background paper is by K & Company. I ran half of it through the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder for texture. I used Kraft CS to punch out the Martha Stewart fern leaves and the border in the middle of the card. The pearls I used are cream colored and are made by Kaiser Scrapbook. I like to buy these from Stamper's Dream.

Branch Out scene

I recently purchased "Branch Out" from SU and this is the first card I have made using it. I wanted to make a complete scene but I am just learning how to do that. I first stamped the tree using Chocolate Chip ink, then stamped the leaves with Mellow Moss and Pale Plum. I wanted it to look like a pink flowering tree. I added the birds and bird house. To create the scene, I used a grass stamp by Posh Impressions then added additional grass using a stamp from Kittie Kits by Kitty Caracciolo, "Cause A Scene". She makes the most beautiful scenery cards. I also used the small fence from this set. To make the flowers, I used a retired grass stamp from SU then punched out small flowers and glued them to the tops of the grass blades. I used a black marker to make the center in the flowers. I also used a retired flying bird stamp from SU in the sky. I used chalks to color the sky and fill in around the grass areas. I mounted the scene on Bordering Blue CS then to a white card. I still need lots of practice creating scenes, but thought it turned out well enough to post.

Pink Roses

One of my favorite sites is StampTV and have made so many stamping friends there. I recently had the thrill of my life. One of my stamping idols honored me on her blog by featuring the above card. Melanie Muenchinger is a designer and on GinaK's Design Team. She is so talented and has designed many beautiful stamp sets. As many of you know, I love to make flower cards. I have purchased such beautiful flower sets from GinaK Designs, and one of my favorites is "A Year of Flowers" that Melanie designed. This is a card made with the rose from that set. Here is the link to Melanie's blog, where my card was featured, http://melaniemuenchinger.blogspot.com/2009/04/floral-guest-designer-selma-stevenson.html Be sure and check out all the beautiful cards she designed on her blog.

Spring Lilacs

I made this card for a stamping friend I met through SCS. Her name is Diana. I don't think she knows I have a blog yet, so I am posting this before she receives it. She always makes such nice comments about my cards. I noticed she was from my home town in Colorado so I emailed her. It was so much fun to catch up on hometown news. The lilac is a stamp from PSX. I have had it for many years. I colored it with colored pencils and OMS. I cut it out and added purple stickles in the center of many of the little flowers. The background is made with two cuttlebug embossing folders; distressed strips and Swiss dots. The latice border is also a cuttlebug die. The salutation is from SU and cut with an oval nestie. A small lavender bow was added to the stems of the flower.

Rust Iris

I used something unusal on this card. Can you tell what it is? The panel behind the iris is a piece of a Kleenex box. I thought it was pretty so wanted to create a card around it. I mounted it on a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The iris stamp is from a GinaK set called Elegant Flowers. I colored with colored pencils and OMS. The large background is Really Rust CS and I used a Fiskars border punch around the edges then attached it to a Very Vanilla card. I used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder in the middle. The fence was created with a Martha Stewart border punch.

Manhattan Flower

This is a quick and easy card. I used the new Manhattan Flower textured Impressions Die from SU. This is a folder like the Cuttlebug embossing folders. I used a piece of Soft Sky cardstock then cut the top portion off along the embossed flowers. There is a piece of white cardstock that is embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder adhered behind the embossed flowers. The verse was stamped and cut out with the oval nestabilities. Flat back pearls were added for additional texture.

Basket of Flowers

This is a card I made for Theresa's Color Challenge on StampTV. The colors were yellow, orange and red was optional. I used the Divine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder and Vanilla cardstock for the top half of card and a piece of SU designer paper for the bottom. I used a Cuttlebug embossing border for the band in the middle. The basket is from a retired SU set. I gold embossed the basket then lightly sponged Barely Banana on it. The flowers are from Melanine's "A Year of Flowers" (GinaK). I used sponge daubers and SU Real Red, Summer Sun, Only Orange pads to color the flowers. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the fern leaves and butterflies, and tiny mico black beads for the centers of the flowers. The bird is from A Touch of Nature (SU). I used a petite scallop Nestabilities for the verse and sponged with Summer Sun ink. Three red pearls were added in the lower corner.

Center Stage Card

I had the honor of being selected for StampTV's Center Stage. This is the card they selected to showcase. This card is made with a set by Melanie Muenchinger, called "Just So Hippy". This set has the cutest animals. I started off by creating a frame with Nestabilities. I used the Cuttlebug Distressed Strips embossing folder to give texture on the Old Olive background. Gina has a tutorial on how to do the brayered rubberband background technique, on StampTV, and that is how I decorated the top layer on this card. I used Old Olive, More Mustard, and Chocolate Chip inks. I used a piece of Almost Artichoke cardstock to create the grass. I used a SU die cut for the leaves. To color the gariffe, I used colored pencils and OMS. The leaves are attached between the frame layers.To finish it off, I used 3 gold gems in the corner.

Single Rose

This is another card made with Melanie's "A Year of Flowers". The colors on this card are Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Camero Coral. I colored the rose with colored pencils and OMS. I cut out the design and mounted on an oval made with nestabilities. I sponged So Saffron on oval behind rose. I used a piece of designer paper from SU and a piece of textured cardstock that I ran through a cuttlebug embossing folder. I centered a long rectangle of So Saffron cardstock, made with Nestibilities, in the center then mounted the rose.

Pink Tulips

I recently purchased a new stamp set from GinaK. It is "A Year of Flowers" by Melanie Muenchinger. I love this set because it has lots of beautiful flowers. The background on this card was done with an emboss resist technique. I stamped the SU Filigree background with VersaMark ink then clear embossed it. I used Mellow Moss ink and sponge daubers for the color. I then did an emboss resist for the tulips. I stamped the flowers and leaves with VersaMark and Clear embossed. I used sponge daubers and Pretty in Pink and Mellow Moss to color. I used a long rectangle nestie to cut out the left border and ran it through the Cuttlebug with the Dotted Swiss embossing folder. I arranged the flowers on the border and tied a ribbon (from SU) to tie together. Many of the tulips are on dimensionals. The verse is from the A Year of Flowers set and I used a nestie to cut it out. I then sponged the Mellow Moss on before removing it from the nestie. It is attached with dimensionals. I added a few pearls to give it a finished look.