You were born to "FLY"

Edited to add"
I am entering this in the Papertrey  Ink"remix" challenge...
a card that needs a bit of "remixing" to make it a
just a bit better...I thought this was the perfect card,
as it just need "something"

Morning all....

I think we finally have a few days of "rest" from the storms....

I have a couple of things to share today...

First, is my card for the clean and simple challenge at CAS-olgy

 

 

this weeks word is "FREE"

 

I had tons of ideas for this, but came up with this one...

very simple, eh??

yes, but I had to emboss this bird cage 4 times before I felt it looked

somewhat good...lol....

I stamped my "Prima" stamp with "Versamark" ink and embossed

with black EB powder from Ranger.....

the birdie is a MS punch, which he is on foam tape.....

I stamped the inside with a sentiment from Technique Tuesday...

I am thinking this might make a cute grad card???

 

Also sharing more of my friend's "country wedding" in Michigan

look at these tables...all of them were in the barn (click for better view)...beautiful I tell you,
the table toppers were burlap....

this is what the seating arrangements and menu's were written on

old windows

 

 

 

 

 

and a few more...see ya...I am headed outside to weed my gardens!!

 

Cottage Charm ~ Country Pinwheels

Whew, we have had some storms this week...

causing me to have my computer unplugged most of the week

But I have to admit, I got a lot done in the house...

 

It also caused me to miss some of my favorite challenges...

I always try to do the challenges at "City Crafters"

and this week the challenge is "cottage charm"

using the beautiful photo below for inspiration

 

and you should see the "beauties" the DT came up with this week

GOR-GE-OUS!!!

 

 

For my card I pulled out an old quilt book I had.....

I at one time was going to donate this book, but decided to keep it for cards...

I am so glad I did.....I chose "country pinwheel" for my card.....

 

It took a little bit to "piece" together, but was well worth it!!!

I used a 7/8" square punch, then cut them in half diagonally...

after gluing each little piece down, I decided to "quilt" it

by using an embossing folder!

The stamps used (inside and out) are some of my newest from a "new to me" company

called "Deep Red"....

 

added a little bit of rick rack, a crochet flower, stick pin and that's it!!!
Also entering this in the Moxie Fab Worlds Mixy Matchy Style challenge !!

 

And remember the country wedding I went to on Saturday??

Here is a picture of the beautiful bride (2nd from left) and her girls 

Stampendous encrusted Jewel Technique

Stampendous Impressions has a challenge "encrusted jewel technique"

Well, this was a challenge for me, I watched the video twice,

but from the time I walked from the computer to my creative

room, I forgot half of what I learned...

you know it's kind of like when you go upstairs for something

and then when you get there, you can't remember what you went for....lol...

 

 

So, this is "my" creative project for the technique

I used my new "Frant~tage embossing powders Shabby Pink and Aged Silver

and a new Stampendous stamp "Jumbo Poppy".....

it was hard to get a good photo today, as it's so dark and stormy

keeping my posts short today, as I have had to shut down in a hurry

more then once due to the major amount of lightning

so on a last note...where are my "encrusted jewels" you might ask.....

well "refer" to the first paragraph above....I FORGOT them!!!!!

PTI Touch of Gold Blog Hop

This month the blog hop at Papertrey Ink is "A Touch of Gold".....

 

 

I had intended to use my Versamark pen and gold EB powder for my flower centers

but remembered I had just received some new Twinkling H2O's

Just a little reminder about using the H2O's...they come dry and you need to

spritz them to use them.... there is a good video HERE on you tube that shows

how to use them, if you need it :>)

 

 

I used Golden Nugget for the flower centers....

I stamped the flowers from the PTI Friendship Jar Spring Fillers

3 times across my card, colored them in with markers

and then did the centers with the Golden Nugget H2O's....

the ribbon I used is PTI Simply Chartreuse Luxe satin ribbon.....

Burlap Wedding

This week at Cheery Lynn Designs the challenge theme is "Wonderful Weddings"

Perfect timing for me, as I had a "country wedding" to attend this Saturday....

their wedding took place on a quarter horse farm her parents own....

part of the decorations and theme was "burlap".......

I had given her  a shower gift in a vintage type wire basket that had a burlap liner....

she loved it and used the basket for her wedding cards.....

 

 

So, I wanted to make a card within the theme and choose to add burlap behind

those gorgeous Cheery Lynn hearts....

I think it turned out kind of cute...a bit elegant and country wedding....
 

 

Supplies used:

Cheery Lynn dies Two of Hearts DL128..you get 2 sizes, I used the smaller one

and Flourish Leaf Strip B178....this is  a "must have" die, it cuts 5 sets of leaves

with one cut!

Red~White~Blue

It's been so dang hot lately, that I haven't done much of anything but

sit on my fannie in my creative room with a glass of Raspberry tea!!

I had the urge to get one of my newest Julie Nutting Prima doll stamps out....

 

She is all hand cut and paper pieced.....

I had intended on saving her for the week of the 4th...but I just had to share her now!

 

I used the Prima large tag for her base..a hint if using these tags, if you are covering the entire tag

like I did, then put the print part for the back, it's so pretty that way.....

I also got my TH snowflake die out and made a Patriotic rosette with that....

the swag at the bottom is a Cheery Lynn die...

check out her paper pieced glittered star dress, I added lace at the bottom...

the tiny USA bingo card, and the journaling card are from my stash from waaaaaaaaaaaaay back!

Now if you like these Prima doll stamps (you know you want them)...

Joanns Fabrics online has ALL their stamp for 50%...not sure for how long,

but they have (or did) all the first 5 Prima doll stamps for around $2.99 each

 

Well, that's it for today, we have a huge "country" wedding to go to....

and I think that this is the last thing we have to do this month...

what a busy month it has been for us .....

For Fun, I am Entering her in these challenges:

Cut It Up...red~white~blue (and must use a die cut)

Inspire Me Fridays Anything Goes

Aloha Friday Challenge red~white~blue

Simply Create Too use the colors in your country's flag

Clean and Neutral

Okay, last night I was looking thru my list of challenges to do....

I am sooooo addicted to the challenges, it's crazy!!

 

So, I came across one that is simply "fish"......

I laid in bed for it seems like hours trying to come up with a "fish" card....

I have about 6 different fish stamps...nothing clicked for me....

So, then I also came across a couple of challenges

one for "geometrics" and one for "hexagons"....

so after the hours of thinking of fish then I drove myself nuts

thinking of hexagons.....

sometimes being a card maker can send you to the crazy house!!!

 

So, instead I decided to do one of my all time favorite challenge blogs

"City Crafters"

this week it is "clean and neutral".....okay that I can deal with...lol

oh, and I want to "thank" City Crafters for once again putting me

in the "spotlight" for week 162 Pride and Prejudice, I appreciate it!!

 

 

This card came together very easy (thank goodness)....

as I used some of my "stash".....

I have these clear card bags that I have sorted some things into by color

I want to use up, bits and pieces of die cuts, stamped images and such...

that is where all of this card came from.....

the background is one I stamped with white embossing powder

and the birdie cut out is from a bag of Kaiser Craft ephemera I purchased eons ago!!

Getting "Krafty"

Today I am sharing  a card I made for the challenge at

the Cheery Lynn Design blog  "keep it krafty" using "kraft" paper.....

I used kraft cardstock as my base and also for the basket

 

 

pretty much all the papers are from my scrap bags...

I love making those "fringe" flowers, they are fast and easy...

the longest time it takes is letting the glue dry!!

 

Supplies used are :

Cheery Lynn Design dies Cutie Fringe 4 (B258), Spring Basket 2 (DL215)

and Flourish Leaf Strip (B178)

Colored Vellum Flowers

I did a wonderful fun challenge last night from the Capture The Moment blog

at Papertrey Inks "Make It Monday"

It was so fun and the video showing the "hows" made it so easy to do

you "gotta" take a look at some of the other fab entries, as they are GOR-G-EOUS

 

 

The stamp is stamped with versamark ink on vellum cardstock...

I can't believe I even had vellum cardstock....'but I did, it's one of those things I

"had to have" about a year ago and hadn't a clue what to do with it...lol

This was a fun project and certainly very different.....

and my cardstock I used was one I had already embossed, so it came out of my "stash".....

and can you believe the flowers were colored in with a Q-tip??

 

Supplies used:

Papertrey Ink stamp from "Friendship Jar Fillers"

SU inks and pens:  Apricot Appeal, Poppy Parade, Certainly Celery, Old Olive

SU Vellum cardstock

Versamark and white EB powder

Ribbon scrap

Thank You

We are back from our "short" but so fun anniversary trip!!

We went to where we were married 11 years ago "Mackinac Island".....

The weather was perfect for us, and we did a ton of walking.....

One of my favorite parts was sitting outside by the water having a few "brewskies"

and listening to live music.....

we "met" a few people, had some great conversations...

had my favorite meal of planked white fish at the "Village Inn"...

Life Is Good!!! 

 

For today (because I have a ton of laundry to do)

I did the "Fusion Challenge"

 

 

I "opted" once again to "fuse" both the sketch and photo together.....

 

 

As you can see, I got to use my favorite little die from Memory Box....

I just love this little dress die......

 

I hope you like my card...

and I think I just might have another one coming for this challenge....

don't forget, voting starts on Wednesday at the Fusion blog.......

Daisy Wreath

Morning All...

we are to get some "weather" here today in the midwest....

a bit of storms around noon...

and then it seems we are in for it between 3 and 4 this afternoon....

lovely...I can only hope for the best!!

 

I made this super cute and little daisy wreath card

 

 for the challenge this week

at Impression Obsession which is "bloom where you are planted"

I made my daisies using two layers of crepe paper..

so easy to create these with the daisy die...

however, lesson learned...be patient and let the pearl pen dry.....

I think I will need to "touch up" the centers......

 

Now can't you see all the other flowers that can be made from this die, Dahlias, cone flowers

well, you get the idea!!

 

Supplies Used:

Impression Obsession dies Spiral Daisy Flower and Twig Wreath

Paper is Prima Sun Kiss

Wedding Bells

June.....makes you think of weddings

of which I have 2 the same day...

I love making wedding cards....

I love using dies to do so!!

 

 

I created this card for the challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs

the challenge this week is "creative corners"......

I covered my white card stock with real lace.....

I die cut my bells, then coated them with micro fine glitter...

I sure wish you could see this card in person, as it is beautiful

the bow is layered, and the bells sparkle, none of which shows up well in the photo...

I find white on white cards so hard to photograph!

 

The dies used are B173 Lace Corner Deco H

DL-163 Bow and Bell

B-227 Love

like these dies??

want to save 10% on them??

then use my code DIANE-10 just as shown (all caps, no spaces) and receive a 10% discount

at Classy Cards and Such, I have provided the links for you :>)

Jane Austen Inspired Challenge

This week at City Crafters the challenge is to be inspired by Jane Austen....

I decided to use one of her quotes which is the "sentiment" on my card....

 

My card is entirely made from "old stock"....

Designer paper is SU as well as the "crumb cake" card stock....

the buttons are Maya Road that I received in a "blog candy"....

the lighter lace is a scrap and the other darker lace is a lace "tape"....

the music strip is from a package of paper "ephemera"...

and the flower is one I had made long ago from a TH die.....

 

I love her quote I used, as I am such a "stay at home" person...

I love my home, and perfectly content being here!!!

Fun Times

I know this is my second post for today...

but there are a few challenges I wanted to do before they close tonight....

 

One of my newest favorites is the "Fusion challenge"

using the sketch and the photo below

 

I choose to "fuse" them together to make my card.....

 

 

I have to say, this is not the card I started out at all to make.. 

but it kind of just went this way and this is what I came up with

I actually dug in my stash, and used some already "wavy crimped" paper....

the house was stamped  with Hampton Art Cling Bird Houses....

the sentiment is from Precious Remembrance Shop "friend stamp set"

the anchor is a MS punch the hubs bought me for Xmas a few years back

I had given him a list of MS punches I wanted and he bought me a couple

just on his own...this is one I probably wouldn't of bought myself

and I can't even tell you how many times I have used it...

guess he knows me better then I do.....

the flag stamp I have had "for'eva"...and the starfish punch, too

 

So, don't forget to "visit" my earlier post as well...

and I just might have to be back with a few more "things"

If I haven't visited you lately and left comments, I will..

it just has been one crazy, busy month so far!

Vintage Buttons~My News~And A Shout Out

This is going to be a bit longer post then usual.....

First , I want to share with you my card  for the challenge at "Shopping Our Stash"

I have to say, I LOVE this challenge, as the rules are to always use your stash

nothing new, and boy oh boy do I have the stash!!

This week the rule is NO patterned paper of any kind.....
 

I have a lot of SU colored card stock, but find myself using mostly whites, cream or kraft

for most of my cards, so am trying to make myself use colored cardstock.....

I used a Sizzix Vintage Embossing folder with SU Wild Wasabi CS

The little button card you see I made about a year ago and it has been patiently

waiting for me to use it.....

you might think it has patterned paper on it, but it doesn't.....

the gingham you see, is a gingham stamp from Papertrey Ink

as well is the button card.....

the paper buttons are Sizzix Buttons #5 and are stamped as well

there is a scrap of old lace, scrap of ribbon and a lavender safety pin I

received in a swap about 2 or more years ago....using stash...yeah!!

Give this challenge a try, it is so fun!!

Wanted to give a shout out of thanks to Shopping Our Stash for honoring me

last week in the Top 3

and also a shout of thanks to City Crafters for making me a "spotlight artist"

for week 161 burlap

And now for bit of news:

I will be a guest designer at the Classy Cards Blog for the months of August and Sept

I feel so honored to guest design once again and will put forth my best projects...

I hope to see you there in a few months...but...

in the meantime...from NOW until Sept 30th, I have something for you....

by using the code DIANE-10 at the Classy Cards and Such online store

you can get a 10% discount on your purchase.....

if you visit my blog on a regular basis you know I use a ton of the Cheery Lynn, Memory Box and Poppystamps dies.....these dies can be purchased at Classy Cards and Such with the

10% discount!!  But there are plenty of other wonderful products to be purchased as well...

Oh..and you know else??

She only charges ACTUAL shipping on your orders...

I love that, as sometimes "the budget" only allows a thing or two...

so there you have it...check out the online store...use the code and have fun!!

Material Girl

I spent a bit of last night and early this morning in my creative room...

 

 

I made this card for the challenge at "Crafty Secrets"

using a Crafty Secrets stamp set called "Material Girl".....

I stamped my sentiment on a "wood" banner ...

I won a packet of these a few months back from The Moxie Fab World....

This is short and sweet, but I have an appointment I have to get ready for...

be back later with "my news"...see ya!!!

Let's Get Trendy Sequins Challenge

I found a "new to me" blog called "Lets Get Trendy"

I now know it is a cool blog that just thanks it's readers
with 5 cool, free workshops a month..not a challenge blog....
now is that fun or what...I think so!!!

 

The workshop for the second day was/is "Sequins"

I have seen lots of sequins being used around blogland lately,

in fact my friend "Kristi" at "Kristi's Paper Creations" uses them quite often

take a peek at her blog as she does beautiful work!!

 

 

For this card I went with a bit of a vintage look and used some things from "my stash"

I knew I had sequins somewhere, and found a trim card of them....

I glued them to the wings of the Sizzix bird...

my bird looked so regal I just had to add a crown.....

I didn't add lots of layers, wanted my bird to be the focus!!

 

It is a cooler, on and off again rainy day (and I am glad)

glad, because I am exhausted from my busy week so far.....

dance recital on Sat, the graduation on Sunday, a first grade "bug" presentation on Tuesday,

a granddaughters ball game after the presentation and another ball game last night....

whew...I need a break...so today...I am in my creative room to work on a few challenges

and the UPS man came with two boxes of goodies for me to play with.....

and speaking of challenges...I have a bunch of them I enjoy listed on my blog if interested...

 

and a good piece of news, if you have Pinterest, have you noticed it now lets you

know if you have already pinned something...woowho!!!!

If you don't have Pinterest...take a peek at my boards (link above)

and one other thing...I will share my DT news with you all tomorrow...exciting for me

and there is "something" for you as well!!!

Red~White~Blue Mojo Monday Sketch 296

Yikes, I cannot see my followers on blogger, nor can I see some of yours....

this is super annoying, as I can't seem to fix it....

it happened once before, and at some point fixed itself...

so is anyone else having this issue???

Can "you" see my followers????

 

Anywho enough of my blogger nonsense...lol...

and onto my creation for today!!

 

I rarely do sketches, as I am terrible at them....I mean it,, really terrible!!

But I decided to give it try once again, and am actually kind of pleased with my "efforts"!

 

 

I like the Mojo Monday sketches...alot....

and decided to give it a whirl.....

 

 

and also this week Cheery Lynn Designs challenge blog is Red~White~Blue

so I combined the two challenges, something I rarely do is combine challenges....

my mind just doesn't connect with more then one thing at a time...and I "ain't" kidding!!

 

I used a couple of Cheery Lynn dies for this, the newer and sweet Italian Flourish Tiny

that's the white doily you see

and when you purchase the Polynesian Sails Oval die, in the center of the die is this little

doily...which I call a "bang for your buck", as you get two great dies for the price of one...

it's like a little extra bonus!!

 

Everything else I used is "stash"....the stripes I stamped with an old SU stamp

old star brads I bet I have had for 10 years, old RWB ribbon, a bit of rick rack

and punched my star with a SU punch.....

I did a bit of stitching around the card as well, a look I like to use once in awhile....

 

Well off to workk outside, it's cooler here, it's perfect for outside work...see ya!!

Sunshine With "Fusion 9"

After a busy weekend, I treated myself to some "me" time

this morning and made my entry for the "Fusion 9 challenge"

using the sketch AND the inspiration photo below

"fusing" the two together.....

 

 

This is a super, fun challenge blog, and really makes you "think"

why don't "YOU" give it a try??

And remember "voting" begins after the challenge closes at noon on Wed!!!!

 

 

To make my card I used my much neglected Circut Freshly Picked cartridge

for the watering can, cut at 1 1/2"

The flowers are a SU punch

The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday stamp set "Bring On The Sun"

Pearls are Kaiser Craft

and the background paper is a scrap piece.......

Roses~Roses~Roses

Today, as usual I am getting a card in sort of last minute to a challenge

at the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge blog....

the challenge this week is "ROSES"

Well, as you all know from my previous postings

I happen to love Cheery Lynn dies.....

 

 

for my card I chose the miniature rose die, meduim rose die and large rose die

and put them all together to make one rose....

I cut all my petals out of white card stock and inked then with Dew Drop inks

Persimmon and Dandelion colors

the rose leaf is also a CLD die from Build a flower #2

the white flourish is CLD fanicful flourish...

 

so,, hope you enjoyed my card.....

I am off to see my granddaughter graduate from high school today

and am sharing a lovely picture of her with her Mom (my daughter) and her sister

.

..geez where does the time go?????

Crepe Paper Poppy

I have a HUGE love for Poppies...

they stand out big and bold in my garden...

and this year they are stunning...

I have several colors, but orange being the most....

 

I also have some bright red ones, that friends and family oohh and aahh over...

that is how I decided to come up with this card.....

The challenge at Papercraft Star is "handmade flowers"

 

 

I purchased a roll of red crepe paper at the dollar store...

when I make another one, I will double up the crepe paper petal to make a bit more firmer...

just a tip if you make one too, as I think it would hold it's shape better.....

I am also entering this in the grad/anniversary card challenge at "Shopping Our Stash"

which is a challenge blog to use up some of your stash....

the older stash I am using is the word "Love" that had been cut, but never used...

The die I used is from the Susan Tierny Cockburn line.....she has great videos on "you tube"

for each of her dies, and also Sizzix has printable pdf's for them....

 

 

I didn't have all the supplies she used, but made do with what stash I had on hand.....

I can highly reccommend these dies...easy to use..and makes flowers to perfection!!!

Supplies used are at the end of the post

 

 

Today, I am sharing pictures I took of some of the poppies from my gardens...

but have to add, the pictures do not do it justice at all.... 

 

Supplies used:....

Sizzix Susan's Garden Poppy die

Design Objectives embossing folder

Flower soft...Black

Gelato...Black

Burlap In The Negative

It is gorgeous outside today....

perfect temps, nice breeze...

my flower gardens are beyond gorgeous (even with the weeds..lol)

 

I have been so slow in posting lately...

but have two for today and am working on a few for tomorrow...

I have to do separate posts as they are for challenges....

and each challenge requires a separate post...

So, to get right to it...I made this card for the challenge at City Crafters

to use burlap...
and also in the Challenge at Simon Says "anything goes"
this week they are using Bottle Cap Inc and Authentique products
my background paper is from Authentique :>)

I punched out a butterfly from DS paper and adhered my burlap to the negative side....

I love using the negatives...don't you??

 

 

Supplies used for the burlap card are below......

I did a second negative card, not for the challenge, but just because.....

 

Also sharing some of my hard work from my gardens....

my Peonies are just starting to open up....
last night I leaned down to smell their lovely scent and next thing I knew,

I had ants crawling all over me, and one even bit me on the chin....

that will teach me!!

 

 

And also wanted to share a few more Iris...including this pink one

 

 

and my little "bumble bee" Iris.....

 

 

check out my "poppy" post above...see ya!!

 

Supplies used :SU very vanilla CS, butterfly punch

Hero Arts...sentiment and pearls

Decollections...lace tape

DS paper...Authentique Essentials Collection

Ink...TPC Studios Clearly Better "Chocolate"