Hello Sunflowers and Sunshine

Good Sunday to you!  I hope your weekend has been great so far and if you're having a holiday tomorrow, I wish you lots of enjoyment.  Today's make and share features a Trio of Sunflowers.

I've made a Mini Slimline card measuring 8"x4" with Sunflowers from the Spellbinders Fun Stampers Journey Hello Sunflower Stamp Set.  I stamped the smallest of the sunflower images 3 times and colored with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  I die cut the images with a circle die and mounted them on foam pads.  The sentiment, from the same set, was heat embossed and mounted on foam pads.  I adhered all to a card base with mats from 12x12 single sheets of designer papers from Hobby Lobby.  Lastly, added twine and sequins for a finishing touch.

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers and it's sad the stalk only produces one bloom then it's done.  Sunflowers say Summer and Fall to me.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Just Us Girls

Outlaws Crash Your Stash

Paperbabe

Krafty Chicks

Lemon Shortbread

TTCRD

Lil Red Wagon

Penny's Challenges

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Word Art Wednesday

Aud Sentiments

Kind Thanks

Good Sunday to you!  It's a glorious, sunny day here in Central Florida and I hope it's the same where you are.  Today's make and share features a gorgeous bloom, ink layering, die cutting, embossing and a nice discovery.

I started the card with stamping a blossom from the new 8x11 Altenew Majestic Bouquet Stamp and Coordinating Die Set.   This is a beautiful set containing 41 images and 8 coordinating dies.  I stamp layered the flower using Gina K. Designs and Fun Stampers Journey Inks.  I embossed a white snippet of card with a basketweave embossing folder and die cut the bottom with a stitched, scalloped edge die from MFT.  I layered everything on a piece of patterned paper also from MFT and added sequins for shine.

Now here's the discovery:  When looking for a snippet of card to stamp the blossom and leaves on, I grabbed a scrap piece of matte photo paper, not realizing it wasn't 80 lb. Neenah Solar White.  After stamping, I layed the blossom and leaves aside to dry while preparing the remaining card elements.  As the flower and leaves dried, they took on a Velvet-like appearance and feel.  It is quite a wonderous discovery and I am so pleased with how they look in person....it's incredible.  This is a "mistake" that I will definitely use again.

P.S.  I would like to mention the Inspiration Station Challenge and invite you to hop over and enter your projects.  The challenge is based on your intrepretaion of the photo. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Dare 2 B Artsy

Stamping Sensations

Taylormade Cards 4 U

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Double Trouble

Stinkin' Inkers

Happy Little Stampers

Creatalicious

Papercraft Challenge

QKR Stampede

Dies R Us

 

Dandelion Day

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  Today's post is a short one featuring an adorable image from Sherry West Art.  I've colored the image using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers and the designer papers are from the new Carta Bella "Summer" 6x6 paper pad.

Isn't she adorable waving her Dandelion Wand?  I die cut the focal, tag and sentiment with dies from Kat Scrappiness, mounted on foam pads and added golden twine for detail.  The sentiment is from a very old Recollections set but I love the font and the set has so many wonderful sentiments.

Lastly, I used a Silver Wink of Stella pen to enhance the Stars on her headband and scattered enamel dots.

Have a great day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Passion for Markers

Lemon Shortbread

Ike's World

Always Fun

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Avenue 613

Corrosive Challenge

Dies R Us

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper

QKR Stampede

Color It, Create It, Show It Off

Classic Design Challenge

Creative Fingers

Slimline Stenciled Birthday

The weekend is here, Happy Saturday!  Today's make and share is a traditional sized Slimline Birthday card featuring stenciling, stamping, heat embossing and coloring.

I wanted to create a traditional sized slimline (4"x8") card for my newest crafty items, a Bo Bunny Wildflowers Stamp and Vintage Screen stencil from Fun Stampers Journey.  I started with a stenciled panel created using Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries and Squeezed Lemonade distress oxide inks and a light hand.  I stamped and heat embossed the image over top and colored in with Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers along with the sentiment, which is from a Kelly Creates set.  Lastly, added yellow sequins for that bit of sparkle that I must have!  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Gem of a Challenge

Inkspirational

Taylor Made Cards 4 U

TGIF

Cardz TV

Creative Fingers

Outlawz Festive Friday

Pattie's Creations

Uniko Studio

Hero Arts

Cardz 4 Galz

The Luck of the Irish with Colorburst Powders

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  Today is a short post featuring a St. Patrick's Day card created with Ken Oliver Crafts Colorburst Powders, Water and Die Cuts.

I created my background and side panel using the Colorburst Powders sprinkled on watercolor card and spritzed with water.  I added powders and water until I was happy with the result.  For the Panel, I did the same technique but sprinkled the powders and spritzed the water over a stencil to get the abstract Plaid look.  

I layered some leaf die cuts, stamped the sentiment from an older Hero Arts set, added sequins and Fun Stampers Journey Twine as a finishing touch.  A bright and cheery St. Patrick's Day card...it's March after all and we all could use a bit of the Ole Irish Luck!

I would also like to mention a new Craft Challenge that started on the 1st of March.  It's a Bi-Weekly Inspiration Challenge so please stop by, take a look, follow and enter your inspired project at Inspiration Station. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Sentiments

TTCRD

Cuttlebug Mania

Lemon Shortbread

Clever Dexter

Your Scrapbook Place

Always Fun

Crafting Happiness

Double Trouble

Use Your Stuff

You Are Beautiful

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  Todays make features a beautiful Sunflower and Ink Blending created with all those suffering with the unbearable cold, snow storms and loss of power this winter in mind.

Sunflowers are my favorite Summer and Fall flowers, I usually plant them twice a year.  I created this card with an ink blended background panel; using Fun Stampers Journey and Distress Oxide Inks in the colors Lemon Drop, Limeade Splash, Orange Rave and Mowed Lawn.  The stamps are from the Fun Stampers Journey "Hello Sunflower" Stamp Set.

To complete the card, I added two pieces of scrap designer series paper to the left side along with a strand of Journey Gift Twine (it has a gold thread running through it) and some mini pearls.  I also added the black dots around the flower, those are not part of the stamp.

Have a Great Day, Stay Warm and Safe.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Bokeh Technique - Warm Winter Wishes

 Hello and Happy Sunday!  On this last day of January, I am sharing cards I created using the Bokeh Technqiue.  It's been a very long time since I used this technique, I had forgotten how so I watched a few You Tube videos to refresh my memory.  

I used the Ornamental Snowflakes stamp set from Gina K. Designs, Distress Oxide Inks, Hero Arts Unicorn White Ink, Fun Stampers Journey Rock Candy Ink for the sentiment, heat embossing and a ornamental circle die.

The cards are similar except for the ink colors used for blending.  This was a fun make and a technique I will try again very soon.  It makes a beautiful background and I'm pleased with the finished product.

I want to remind everyone that a new monthly challenge starts on 03 February at The Paper Funday Challenges with an Anything Goes theme and Optional Twist.  There are 2 sponsors in February, so 2 winners, a Top 3 and a Random Invite to be a Guest Designer.  Please visit me on Wednesday for more details.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Dare 2 B Artsy

Outlawz PAM

Sweet Stampers Challenge