Summery Yellows for Seize The Birthday!

Hello again!  We have a fun, summery color for our Toppings option at Seize The Birthday for this 2 week challenge!

Our Toppings option is Monochromatic Yellow.   Of course, you can play along whether you use the topping, or not.  Just make sure it's a birthday card!

This card turned out just as I had imagined.  Yes, every once in a while that happens!

This was so easy and a lot of fun to create.  I just adhered strips of yellow card stock (in various widths) to some copy paper, then die cut it.  To give it a little more strength, I then backed it with a scrap piece of card stock.  The birthday sentiment was stamped on the card base, then I stamped  "happy" onto the panel before popping it onto my white linen card base with foam tape.
Quick and easy, but so fun and summery!
I hope you'll play along with us...just click HERE to check out what the rest of the Design Team has created for your inspiration!
Thanks so much for taking a look!

>>>>>Supplies<<<<<

Card stock: white linen essentials (Ellen Hutson), barely banana, so saffron, daffodil delight, crushed curry, more mustard (SU)
Stamps: wet paint (PTI)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine)
Die: stitched mats rectangles (Lil' Inker Designs)

Watercolor Trees

Hi there!  Well, I created just one card this weekend.  Which seems to be my norm this summer.  This summer seems to be particularly busy for us.  And, since I made changes to my lifestyle...eating healthy and lots of physical activity...I don't have as much time for crafting.  I'm loving it all though!

I spent some time this afternoon walking/hiking the trails at a local park.  The weather was beautiful and the company was great.  Thanks Trudy!

If you're interested, take a look at the end of this post for a few photos from my hike this afternoon.

Anyway, I created this card yesterday.  Just because.  No challenges involved. I just felt like using some watercolors.  So I did!

I painted the sky and ground first.  After those had dried I stamped the trees.  Before stamping the images onto the watercolor panel, I misted the stamp with water then stamped onto scrap paper first.  I love the soft look it gave me.  I'm loving using my watercolor set (just a cheap one from Michael's).   It's just plain FUN!
Thanks for stopping by!
Susie

Here are my photos from our afternoon hike.

These appear to be mini pincones, but they actually came from the tree pictured just below and in the very last photo.

Feathers.  I think this was a lunch spot for some kind of animal!

The source of the mini "pine cones".

Balloons for Seize The Birthday!

Are you ready for an new challenge at the Seize The Birthday Challenge Blog?  Yes, it's that time already.  Our challenges last for 2 weeks, but the time goes so quickly, doesn't it?

We have a Toppings option of using String and/or Twine.  Of course the Topping is an option, as long as it's a birthday card we would love for you to play along!

Since I love a good challenge, I chose to use the toppings.  This is what I created.

I stamped, then cut out the 3 balloons.  I used embroidery floss to create the bows and strings for my birthday balloons, taping the floss into place under the sentiment banner.  The little red heart is coated with glossy accents, as is the highlight on each balloon.  Using a white gel pen, I created some faux stitching to create a border on the card base.

Okay, now I want to see what you'll create.  Click HERE to  head over to Seize The Birthday and see what my team mates have created to inspire you!

Thanks for stopping by!

>>>Supply List<<<<

Card Stock: sahara sand (SU), white (PTI)

Stamps: party kit (Mama Elephant), handwritten sentiments (SSS)

Ink: raspberry ripple, calypso coral, island indigo (SU), onyx black (Versafine)

Other: white embroidery floss (DMC), white gel pen (Signo), small heart punch (SU), glossy accents (Ranger)

Beautiful things, like you!

Hi!  I found just a bit of time this afternoon, to play along with Seize The Sketch #24.  Check out this versatile sketch.  I could have done so many cards with this one (if I'd had the time, that is!).

This is the direction I went...

Just click on a photo to see a larger view.

I die cut a frame (2 layers of white card stock) then inlaid the other 2 die cut pieces.  Then, layered a pink sentiment panel onto the frame and layered everything onto 2 pieces of colored card stock.  I tried adding a few sequins, but I just couldn't get them to look "right".  So...no sequins.

It was fun to finally get a chance to play along with the girls at STS!

Thanks for stopping by!

By the way, if you're reading this post from an email...you can click HERE to go directly to my blog.

Seize The Birthday - Stars and Stripes!

Yes, it's already time for a new challenge at Seize The Birthday!  This time we have a Toppings option of Stars and/or Stripes.

The Topping, as always, is optional.  Just as long as it's a birthday card!

My first thought was to use red, white and blue for the 4th of July holiday, but I decided to go in a completely different direction.  I wanted a feminine card with clean lines/stripes.

My stripes are very subtle.  I used a Stripes Cover Plate die, but instead of using the frame portion of the die cut, I used the strips that were cut out of the cover plate.  Then I added some die cut leaves and a few ribbon rosettes.  I'm really pleased with the results.  It was exactly what I had in mind when I started.

YES...once in a while that actually happens!

Anyway, I hope you'll click on over to the Seize The Birthday challenge blog and see what my ever-so-talented team mates have created.  Then...join in.  We love to see what you create!

Supply list ~
Card stock: confetti white, wild wasabi, certainly celery (SU)
Ink: onyx black versafine
Stamps: boutique borders-birthday (PTI)
Dies: cover plate stripes, turning a new leaf (PTI)
Other: vanilla rosettes (SU)

You bring sunshine!

I'm playing along with a brand new challenge today.  Since I love using dies, I had to find a little time to play along with The Cutting Edge Challenge #1 !

Here's the inspiration, provided by Jackie Rockwell.

I was inspired by those large circle in the background, first of all.  Yes...I did some stenciling, again.
Just had to, since I had so much fun with yesterday's card.  Click HERE to take a look.

I knew that I wanted to use summery colors.  So, after sponging on those green circles I looked for a soft blue to sponge a bit sky to go behind that photo frame.  I added 2 die cut clouds and then tucked in a tiny sun to compliment my sunshine sentiment.  That little sun is swirled with some clear Wink of Stella, just to add a little sparkle.
This was one of those cards that just flowed.  Don't you love when that happens?!?  So fun. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supply list ~
Card stock: white (PTI), daffodil delight (SU)
Ink: pistachio pudding, soft sky (SU), smokey gray (Versafine)
Stamps: hello sunshine (PTI)
Dies: fabulous frames (PTI), cloud duo (Amuse), small pinking circles (Spellbinders)
Other: mini ink blending tool (Ranger), clear wink of stella (Zig)

Happy! Seize The Birthday with some cluster stamping!

Yes, it's time for a new challenge at Seize The Birthday!  Guess what?  There is no Toppings option for this challenge.  That means ANYTHING goes.  Well, as long as it's a birthday card, of course!

I used a technique called Cluster Stamped Sentiment.  HERE is the link to the video, if you'd like to try it.

The sentiment was heat embossed first, then lots of stamping.  Finally, wipe the ink residue from the embossing...and your sentiment pops!  It was a fun technique, even though it took me several tries to get it right. :)

Okay...follow the link HERE to see what my team mates have created to inspire you!  I hope you'll play along with us!

Supply list ~
Card stock: white (PTI), wisteria wonder (SU)
Stamps: wet paint, button boutique (PTI)
Other: clear embossing powder (SU), heat tool