the sweetest thing

Here is a card I created using Karen's sketch as my inspiration. 

Not much to explain- just a few paper layers and a background created from one stamp then the happy birthday sentiment was stamped over that. 

 

the neutrals challenge

Here is a layered card that I made for the neutrals challenge over at Moxie Fab.

I clear embossed the dots on the kraft cardstock then mounted it to the white layer which is embossed using a Taylored Expressions circles and dots impression plate. The round image was stamped and then run through the cuttlebug using  the nestabilities.

 

color chef challenge #70 winner

Romaine you are the winner of the punch from last weeks color challenge. Loved seeing your cards!  Send me an email at theratcliffs@charter.net and i will get it mailed off to you!!

Also, here is a badge for you to display if you'd like!

{ father time }

Here is a card that I made to add to my birthday card stash.

I stamped the sentiment right on the card, as well as an image of the grandfather clock. Then I stamped and mounted a second image of the clock. P.S. I ran the cardstock through the cuttlebug with using the impression plate and then I stamped. Worked just fine to do it this way.

The inside of the card is just a plain, cream layer of stock.

card recipe

stamps- dryer lg- american crafts, happy birthday- ctmh

ink- lagoon & cranberry- ctmh

paper- lagoon & cream- ctmh

other- scallops & circles impression plate- Taylored Expressions

twins

Here is a baby card I created for some friends who are new grandparents of twins! The card came together really easily, I pulled the nestabilities layers from my stash of made-aheads. Then I pulled out my new Taylored Expressions impression plate 

and inked the edges just a tiny bit with a sponge so that the cream wasn't so stark against the kraft. Did the same thing to the circle layer and then popped up the little onsies. Easy and fun to make.

Card recipe:

stamps- the stork has arrived- Fiskars

ink- pear and cotton candy- CTMH

other- nestabilities, scallops & circles impression plate- Taylored Expressions, cuttlebug

{ color chef challenge #70 - prize }

Color Chef Challenge #70

black

white

bright green

ocean

I figured that since this is the 70th color challenge I've hosted that I would pay it forward with a prize. I will be giving away an EK Success Apron Lace Border punch- it's one of my favorites and I hope the winner will enjoy winning! The winner will be randomly drawn 1/23 at 9pm CST.

Here's the card I made- totally loving the color combo and the coffee cup stamp!

 

So let's see what you can create using the color combo mentioned above!

Card Recipe:

stamps- a sip, happy birthday- CTMH

ink- pear, lagoon, black- CTMH

paper- black and white- CTMH

{ clean and simple 122 }

I am really liking this card sketch over at CAS (big shocker there!!) and decided to continue with my tone on tone and added white to the card. I love the textured cardstock that I used for the square layers. This card also fits in with the challenge over at Just Add Ink.

I didn't necessarily intend for this to be a feel better soon card but truthfully, the sentiment fit the area perfectly.  

Card Recipe:

stamps- large sentiments- American Crafts, A Year of Flowers: Violets- PTI

paper- grey flannel- CTMH, white texture stock- Archivers

ink- grey flannel- CTMH

other- Apron Lace punch- EK Success, adhesive pearl- CTMH

{ beyond borders #2 }

Here is another card that I used for my stamp club this week. I used Beyond Borders for my cards. This card has a layer of white squares with the corners of those squares rounded, along with the bottom of the card. They are attached to the cardfront and then I mounted a tag in coordinating stock. Clean & Simple!!

Card Recipe:

stamps- beyond borders- Mint Motif, Party Pennants- CTMH

ink- black

other- tag punch- EK Success, prisma colored pencils

{ color chef challenge #69 }

Thank you to my loyal followers whom have requested that I bring back the color chef challenge! I'm back with a pretty simple one today- tone on tone.

Color Chef Challenge #69

Monochromatic (tone on tone)

My card is a little smaller (3 1/2 x 5 ) and fits into a cute little white envelope (which I used the smaller flower stamp from this same set on the lower left corner of the envelope. I also have these great pearl adhesives from CTMH and the one used happens to be a grey tone as well.

So let's see what you can create with a monochromatic look (tone on tone). I'd love to see what you come up with!

{ colored pencils }

I am totally in love with the beyond borders stamp set from the uber-talented Kimberly Crawford. I created a series of cards that will be used for my stamp club on Monday night.

For this card, I created a background on a 5 x 7 piece of white stock by repeatedly stamping the image in black. Then I came back through with my colored pencils and alternated rows with the two colors. I stamped the sentiment on the label and mounted that to the card front.

 

It was kind of fun to utilize the white space for my cards. I actually pulled out my prisma colored pencils- those things glide like butter and I couldn't love them more. One of those supplies that I personally rarely use, but when I do I'm glad to have them. I finished the card by rounding the bottom corners on both layers.

card recipe:

stamps- beyond borders- mint motif, party pennants- ctmh

ink- black- ctmh

other- prisma colored pencils:poppy red and light aqua, foam mounting tape

{ love lucy's sketches }

Here is another card I made for Lucy's sketch challenge. I won some blog candy months ago from Tina @  Traveling Mama  and I've been in love with this large wooden stamp that was included in my box of goodies. The 4 hearts below were picked from the 16 hearts on the stamp- it's so fun and artsy. Anyhow, I trimmed 4 of them out and mounted them on the card below and then I added my sentiment which is from a pretty little American Crafts set of stamps that I just had to have because it was on sale. You understand.

Card Recipe:

stamps- inkadinkado, seeds- American Crafts

ink- wisteria and lime pastel fluid chalk ink- colorbox, black- CTMH

other- foam mounting tape

{ lucy's card sketch }

I could not adore Lucy's cards any more and she's had the most beautiful sketches this week. Here is my take on her sketch.

 For my card, I pulled out my new impression plate from Taylored Expressions. Love the look but am still working through how to get a nice deep impression. I also used one of my fave little birdie stamps from the dollar spot at Michaels.

Card Recipe:

stamps- series 52-  Studio G, gracious greetings- CTMH

ink- sunset, chocolate- CTMH

other- scallops & circles impression plate- Taylored Expressions, foam mounting tape

{ combined challenges }

For my card I used this sketch over at CPS and Stacy's color challenge. I ordered the spiro garden stamp set from Technique Tuesday- I've always admired it and figured now that it's being discontinued that I'd better scoop it up. 

The card is 4 x 4 and I will be using my MS score board to make a cute little envelope.

Card Recipe:

stamps- spiro garden- Technique Tuesday, For Every Occasion- CTMH

ink- sunset, chocolate, garden green, crystal blue- CTMH

{ keeping it real }

Hello January!!! I think I'm back to stamping! I took a teensy weensy hiatus due to some illness, then it was the holidays and then I just wasn't feeling much like stamping- I hate when that happens. I look at all my stuff and turn around and walk out the room. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.  

Might have something to do with this mess:

And that's only part of the mess.  I'll be back when my camera battery charges to post some cards I got around to making today.