Fall is coming!

I'm taking a break from Christmas (though I think I might have all the Christmas cards that have to go in the mail done) to bring you a fall inspired card.  I love fall.  It has always been my favorite season.  There is just so much beauty during that time of year!  So when I saw the inspiration at Just Us Girls I wanted to reach for the colors of fall and leave Christmas behind for a bit.

I used the leaves and the fall colors in my card.

I stamped the leaves and then cut the panel down to three strips.  I love the twine bow it's just rustic enough.

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Sentiment), Sugarloaf (Leaves)

Dies: PTI (tag)

Paper: PTI (Orange, Dark Chocolate), Stash (Burgundy) 

Other: Versamark Ink, Gold Embossing powder (Stampendous), Rustic Twine (PTI), Momento Ink

Santa Claus is coming to town...

Another day, another challenge, another Christmas card...I am determined to get all my Christmas cards done before I start Halloween.  The Christmas carol/song challenge at Winter Wonderland got me working and when combined with the "for the boys" challenge at Daring Cardmakers I decided to have a little more fun with Santa.

This is the kind of Christmas card DH, his brother, and a few other men I know would get excited about.

I used fake snow and fun flock to add a little texture to the card.  I also used Stardreams cardstock as the base to add a little shimmer to the night.

I hope I made you smile today!
Amanda

Supplies
Stamps: PTI (sentiment), Stash from the unmounted rubber days where I forgot to write things down (Santa and chimney)
Dies: PTI (Border)
Paper: Stardreams (blue), PTI (White, Kraft)
Other: Distress Ink, Vintage Duo Ink (PTI), Fake Snow, Fun flock, Copics, paintbrush, gold pen

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Today I am sharing a Christmas card inspired by the Christmas song as suggested by the challenge at Winter Wonderland.  Walking in a Winter Wonderland is a favorite song around here during the holiday season and the adorable log cabin from Papertrey is perfect to go along with it.

This photo is not the best...a side effect of squeezing in picture taking and living where it's always gray.  But the snow  is glittered up and the the trees have a touch of snow as well.  It makes me want to find a cabin and head to the woods for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by!

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (trees, cabin, deer, banner, sentiment)

Dies: PTI (banner, trees, star background, circles, deer, cabin)

Paper: PTI (Enchanted Evening, White), Vellum

Other: Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Distress Ink, Fake Snow

How Charming...

Today I'm sharing another Christmas card.  Gotta get 'em done!  This was is to play along at the How Charming challenge at Winter Wonderland.

I pulled out a snowman charm I've had forever and worked around him.  I also love this paper I found at a local store.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Let me know what you think.  

Amanda

Supplies

Dies: Sizzix (sentiment, Stocking)

Paper: PTI (Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate), Stash (Green, pattern paper)

Other: Glossy Accents, Charm, Twine (Twinery), PTI Vntage duo ink

CAS Christmas

I am finally getting back on track!  It's amazing how hard it is to get back in the groove after a vacation.  Two vacations later and I am finally managing to get a card done AND posted.  I am trying to get all things Christmas created early so the clean and simple challenge over at Christmas Stampin' All Year was a perfect place to get going again.  I came up with this sweet little card.

I pulled out an old fairy from Pink Cat Studios and added a sweet little sentiment from My Time Made Easy (another oldie) and simple line of candy from Papertrey Ink.  Easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by!  Let me know what you think.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studios (Fairy), Sentiment (MTME), Candy Border (PTI)

Paper: PTI (White, Pure Poppy. Candy Cane pattern)

Other: Momento Ink, Brilliance Ink, Copics, Fun Flock, Radiant Pearls

Miss you

The Just Us Girls Challenge Photo this week is all about the tulip.  The tulip is such a pretty flower!

I printed out my favorite photograph from a recent trip to Keukenhof in Holland to use for this challenge.  

I am also entering this in the Retro Rubber Challenge - Mega Mixed Messages came to live with me when it was first released, way back when.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Mega Mixed Messages)

Dies: PTI (Rectangle Shakers)

Paper: PTI (Winter Wisteria, Fine Linen, Spring Moss)

Other: Distress Ink, Photograph

Notes for a boy

Today I am sharing a set of note cards I made for one of the boys in my life.  Sometimes there are letters and notes that need to be written and, well, it's nice to have your own stuff ready to go.  When I saw the photo at The Card Concept this go round I was really drawn to all the different patterns. 

These are not subtle, hidden patterns.  They are basic and bold.  It seemed so fitting for a tween (does "tween" even apply to boys?)  boy.  The splash of red is perfect.  The pillow on the chair was what sealed the deal for the direction I took.  Here is the set of four cards.

I used bold patterns in Smokey Shadow so it's not quite black.  And I don't think these could be anything but Clean and Graphic.  I chose to use four different fonts for the monogram to add variety. 

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Polka Dots 1 and 2, Chevron, Faux Ribbon), Ma Vinci (Letters)

Dies: PTI (Limitless Layers Squares)

Paper: PTI (White, Smokey Shadow)

Others: Embossing Powder (Ranger), Versamark Ink, PTI Smokey Shadow Ink, Copics 

April Blog Hop at Papertrey

It's that time again.  Time for the Papertrey Ink monthly blog hop.  This month the challenge was a beautifully elegant photo with many lovely details.

I love the table covering with its subtle pattern and all the glass wear.  There were so many directions from which to choose.  I went with the idea behind the plates at the bottom of the photo.  And here is my card.

I used an old package and an embossing folder to create a "plate" and added just a couple of flowers to make it a little less flat.  It's a sweet little card to leave in the bedroom for guests.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Serendipity (sentiment)

Dies: Sizzix (Flowers)

Paper: PTI (Hibiscus Burst, Enchanted Evening)

Other: Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Embossing Powder (Susie Sparkle), Brads, Versamark

Elegance

Today I am sharing a card for the Fusion Card Challenge - Elegance.  The picture is so pretty; it's almost hard to do it justice.  

I was especially drawn to the plate and flowers.  I used these two elements and the sketch to come up with this card.

This was my first use of clear cardstock as a card base, but the plate called for it.  I love the flowers on this card.  I do not think I would have used this particular embossing powder on this color cardstock if not for this challenge, but I fully intend to use the combo again.  It's so pretty.

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Gina K. Designs (Year of Flowers, Flower Quotes)

Dies: PTI (Rectangle shakers)

Paper: PTI (Berry Sorbet, clear cardstock), Stash (Blue)

Other: Versamark Ink, Stampendous Embossing Powder (silver), Susie Sparkle Embossing Powder (Dark Night)

Bon Voyage

Good-byes are always hard.  It's nice to send friends off with a little something and here's a card for just that occasion.

I love the map background.  It's simply to the point.  This card was inspired by the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  As soon as I saw the sketch I saw a globe...sadly I don't actually have a globe stamp.  The map works beautifully too.

I''m sure my friends will like it, but I am very sad to see them go.

Thanks for looking.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Sentiments), Stash (maps)

Paper: PTI (Pure Poppy, White, Enchanted Evening)

Other: Versamark Ink, Distress Ink, Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Have a great day!

Today I'm sharing a card that was a lot fun to make because it was out of my comfort zone.  When I saw the photograph at The Card Concept's latest challenge I couldn't get the glass jar out of my head.

I kept thinking about the beautiful aqua glass jar in the middle.  I wanted to so much to be able use that in a design.  I also wrote down flowers with the list of colors.  And here is what I came up with.

I used an old package to cut the flowers and then inked them with an aqua colored ink.  I wanted something in the background that was patterned without being too perfect.  And here we are.  I think this is along the lines of a clean Shabby Chic.  

Thanks for taking a look.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Handwritten Sentiments), Tim Holtz (background)

Dies: Sizzix (Tattered Florals)

Paper: PTI (White, Berry Sorbet)

Other: Brilliance Ink, Distress Ink, Ranger Paint, PTI Ink, Paper Edger, Package

Love...

Today I have a simple little card to share based on the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  This sketch is so easy to work with, I think I might have another card to share tomorrow using it.  

I went a little old school with the world "love" for this card.  Or maybe it isn't old school, maybe it's one of those things that never really goes out.  

I kept it simple, because once I did embossed the letters adding anything else felt like it would be too much.  To add a hint of interest I roughed up the edges and inked them.  The inside uses a similar font to finish up the sentiment.

I really like the simplicity of this card.  And I hope you do too.

Thanks for stopping by.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Ma Vinci (Front font), PTI (inside font)

Paper: PTI (Enchanted Evening), Stash (Purple)

Other: Versamark Ink, Versacolor Ink, WOW Embossing Powder, Distress Ink, Edger 

Birthday Balloons

This week Fusion Card Challenge has a gorgeous photograph as inspiration with a delightful sketch that paired beautifully.  I couldn't stop thinking about all that yummy yellow!

It really makes me want to eat a cupcake.  Anyone got a really great vanilla cupcake recipe?  While the picture makes me want to eat cupcakes, I didn't reach for them in the creative process.  I went with balloons instead.  

Balloons and polka dots...fun birthday card!  But I still want a cupcake.

Thanks for stopping by my bitty piece of the internet.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Mixed Messages, Polka Dots, Bow)

Dies: PTI (Oval Shakers, Balloons, Tiny Tags)

Paper:PTI (Fine Linen, White, Harvest Gold Patterns)

Other: Divine Twine, Susie Sparkle Glitter, Marvy Matchable Ink, Brilliance Ink, Sticky Stuff Embossing Powder, Versamark Ink Pad, Stampendous Embossing Powder

Hello Spring!

Spring is finally arriving!  I hear birds when I get up in the morning so the warmer weather can't be far behind, right?  That's what I'm telling myself.  At least the sun is shining because gray is not my color.  And so in honor of spring and the spring challenge at Just Us Girls I pulled out an oldie, but oh so  goody to try my hand  at faux tiles.  The No Foolin' challenge at Shopping our Stash this week had me taking a look around the web to find something new to try.

The two came together quite nicely, so much so, I think I might try one for autumn also.

The picture doesn't really show  it, but the tiles are all coated with Glossy Accents and then placed on foam mounting tape to give it some lift.  

I hope you enjoy my take on spring tiles!

Amanda

Supples

Stamps: PSX

Paper: PTI (Winter Wisteria, White, Fine Linen)

Other: Sizzix Embossing Folder, Copics, Distress Ink, Momento Ink, Glossy Accents

Red, White, and Blue

We're jumping a bit forward on the calendar this morning with an  Independence Day Card.  As I had finally gotten around to purchasing est. 1776 it was on my mind and the sketch as CAS(E) this Sketch! made me think of those waving banners and stars.

It's a simple card, just enough to get my feet wet with this set which will likely get more use for promotions and retirements than for the Fourth of July.  

I hope you enjoy!

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (est. 1776, Military Stars)

Dies: PTI (Stars, Limitless Layers 1.75" circles)

Paper: PTI (Enchanted Evening, Rustic White)

Other: Distress Ink

Neon Rainbow

I was so excited to get to the Shopping Our Stash Challenge this week because it gave me a reason to play and experiment with my new neon embossing powders.  I received them recently as a gift and hadn't had the chance to play with all that much.  I pulled a lot of stamps out of the cabinet to play with, but settled on this birthday block from Purple Onion Designs.

It's so bright and happy.  I embossed the card front to add a little interested.

Thanks for sharing a moment of your day with me.
Amanda

Supplies
Stamps: Purple Onion Designs
Paper: PTI (Enchanted Evening, White), Stash (Neon Pink)
Dies: PTI (Numbers)
Other: Wow Embossing Powder, Versamark Ink, Sizzix Embossing Folder

Love You Forever

A simple, elegant card today.  Inspired by the photo at {Pin}spirational Callenge.

I love the pink flowers and the low aperture of this photograph.  I kept my card super simple, perhaps the simplest one I've ever made.

This photo is terrible (thank you icky weather!) and I'm sorry about that.  The card base is glossy cardstock and I just added a tag that says "Love You Forever" in pink.  The flowers are slightly blurry which was an accident, but I liked it better than the perfect ones since there was such a low aperture in the inspiration piece. 

Thanks for looking.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Bitty Bouquets, Sentiment)

Dies: PTI (Bitty Bouquets, Keep It Simple Frames)

Paper: PTI (White), Stash (pale pink, glossy white)

Other: Distress Ink

So simple...

A simple little card to show someone I am thinking of them.

I took the challenge to use embossing powder from Retro Rubber and the color challenge to use black, white and one other color from Just Us Girls came up with this.

Thanks for stopping by.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Sentiment), Stampin Up (Flower)

Paper: Stampin Up (black)

Other: Versamark Ink, Stampendous Embossing Powder, WOW embossing powder

Easter Wishes

One last Easter card for the year.  This one uses the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  And has added embossing powder for the Retro Rubber Challenge.  I pulled out some Easter Eggs for what seems like forever.  I don't even think the woman  who made them is in the business anymore.  

The top eggs are embossed and then watercolored and the bottom egg is stamped using Versamark.  

Thanks for spending a minute of your day with me.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (sentiment), Stash (Eggs)

Paper: PTI (Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy Patterns)

Other: Ranger Embossing Powder, Close To My Heart Ink, Versamark Ink, Watercolors, Corner Rounder

PTI March Blog Hop

Welcome spring!  We've had a few spring days here with the sun shining and barely needing a jacket, but today is not one of those days.  However, Papertrey Ink is having their monthly blog hop today and the photo inspiration is full of lots of cheery spring colors.  Today we're welcoming  spring in spirit if not in reality.

Look at all those warm, fun colors and the buds throughout are just screaming spring, even if Old Man Winter is not saying good-bye yet.  I used this piece of inspiration to create this little card.

I  loved the wood table grounding all those yummy colors and just kept thinking kitchen, so there you have it.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Bitty Bouquets, Candy Cane Christmas, Friendship Jar, Background Basics: Farm and Barn)

Dies: PTI (Candy Cane Christmas, Tiny Tags, Bitty Bouquets, Doilies)

Paper: PTI (Fine Linen, White, Aqua Mist Patterns)

Other: PTI Ink, Marvy Matchable Ink, Distress Ink, White Ink, Divine Twine

A Beautiful Thank You

Today I am sharing an accidental thank you card.  The challenge photo at Fusion Card Challenge this week is beautiful.  The colors are stunning.  I wanted to use those colors to make a Father's Day card.

I love all the blue and purple with just enough contrast.  However, once I was ready to add the sentiment I realized I have purged the few Father's Day sentiments I had.  I now have none, not a one.  So this card became a Thank You card and I am now in the market for some great Father's Day sentiments.

I'm don't think the photo does the background justice, but when you only have the length of a Dora cartoon to get it right these things happen.  As it turns out it is the perfect Thank You for a gift I just received.  It looks as though it was made just for the gift so in the end it's perfect.  

I hope you like it too.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Stampin Up (tree), PTI (Sentiment)

Paper: PTI (white), Stampin Up (Black)

Other: Momento Ink, Distress Ink, Versacolor Ink, Stampendous Embossing  Powder

Carrots for the bunny!

I recently discovered a new challenge blog called Shopping Our Stash.  I love this idea of having to use stuff from your stash.  I have a whole room of "stuff" that needs to be used.  Honestly I'm pretty good about using what  I have, but it's nice to have a little nudge every now and then.  This week's challenge was to make your own background.  With Easter right around the corner I needed to focus on getting my last couple of cards done.  Easter is not my holiday, it just isn't, but I try.  So I pulled out a couple of old stamps and my trusty distress inks and away I went.

I repeatedly stamped the carrots to make the background for the bunny.  Then I popped him up with foam  tape so he stood out a little better.  

Thanks for sharing minute of your day with me.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Stampin Up (Bunny), Stash (Carrots)

Paper: PTI (White)

Other: Copics, Distress ink, Momento Ink, Foam Tape

Birthday balloons

I have a sweet little birthday card to share today based on the Sketch at CAS(E) this sketch.  I pulled out a few oldies, but goodies when it came to images, but then that's why I have a hard time parting with stamps.

The balloons are from Stampendous  from years ago, but they are classic and the turtle is from C.C. Designs from not so many years ago.  The balloons are also bumped up with foam tape.  And while this kind of looks like a kid card, it's perfect for my hubby.  

Inspired by:

Thanks for looking.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: C.C. Designs (turtle), Stampendous (Balloons), PTI (sentiment)

Paper: PTI (Limeade Ice, White), Stash blue marble

Other: Copics, Momento Ink,  Brilliance Ink

You are the best!

I am sharing a card inspired by the photo at Cure for the Monday Blues challenge.  I am squeezing this one in at the last minute, but I'm sure there will be another great piece of inspiration tomorrow!  This week's photo was so calming.  Full of blacks and whites and gray with some bursts of yellow.

Personally, I was drawn to the zebra and sign on the table.  I used that bit and came up with my card.

Thanks for sharing a minute of your day with me.

Amanda

Supplies

Stanps: PTI (All About You, Ombre), Stamps by Judith (Zebra)

Paper: PTI (White, Harvest Gold, Soft Stone)

Other: Momento Ink

Dream...

Today I am posting a card inspired by the Oscar Red Carpet Challenge at Runway Inspired Challenges.  I used this photo:

This is not my type of dress, at all.  But for some reason it spoke to me.  I really liked the softness of the fabric and pattern with the slight harshness of the black writing.  I got to work to make this:

I used this sheer fabric stuff I picked up in Germany a few years back for the background over Fine Linen cardstock and then cut a border from pale pink for the words.  Normally when I use this sheer fabric stuff on a card I pull it really tight, but the picture caused me to reconsider that approach.  

I hope you like it.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: Serendipity (sentiments)

Dies: PTI (Medium Scallop Border)

Paper: PTI (Fine Linen), Stash (Pink)

Other: Momento Ink, Sheer Fabric

Easter for a boy

Easter is rapidly approaching and I have a few cards that need to be made.  Every year I have the same issue - Easter is such a girly holiday.  Now, I know it isn't really.  It's just that Easter things tend to have pastel colors and flowers and well, that just doesn't work too well for the boys I know.

Today I am sharing an Easter card for one of the boys in my life.  I used the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch and the them "masculine" from Just Us Girls.

I wanted to keep it simple and stick with a traditional Easter theme without crossing the line to "girly" as the boys would say.

Here's the sketch:

I think the boy will like it.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Northwoods Rubber Stamps (Basket)

Paper: PTI (Limeade Ice, White, New Leaf)

Other: Embossing Powder, Copics, Grass Trim, Colorbox Ink, Foam Mounting Tape

Easter in Plaid

Getting ready for spring here.  I am so ready for the sun to shine!  I was really excited to see cheeriness in the Fusion Challenge this week.  I loved the plaid bow tie so much.  I kept focusing on it.

Even sitting here now that is where my eye goes, straight for the plaid.  Given that I decided to finally try making my own plaid with alcohol inks.  It was so incredibly easy!  I made several in colors inspired by the colors in the photo, but I went with this soft one with lots of green and just a hint of blue and pink.  It felt the most Easter-y to me.  

I didn't want the plaid to get lost so a simple bunny seemed just about right.  And then I needed a little something more.  I remembered the challenge over at Winter Wonderland to tie a bow and thought it went perfectly with the plaid and the bow ties from the Fusion Photo.  Just girly enough.  

Thanks for looking.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Sentiment), AIP's V.I.P.s (Bunny)

Paper: PTI (White), Glossy Cardstock

Other: Alcohol Ink, Copics, Ribbon, Momento Ink

Lots of Daisies

Today I am sharing a card inspired by the photo challenge at Just Us Girls Challenge this week.  

I love the St. Patrick's Day feel of it without the shamrocks and other regular St. Paddy's Day stuff.  I really liked the bold word and the daisies.  So I broke out gold stencil paste and made a background for the bold word happy to "hang" on.  

Once that was dry I attached my banner and stamped the sentiment using Brilliance ink which dried beautifully.  I was a bit worried I was going to have to start over, but it all worked out.  

Thanks for spending a minute of you day with me.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (Botanical Silhouettes), Stampin' Up (Sentiment)

Dies: PTI (Happy Banner)

Paper: PTI (White,Harvest Gold)

Other: Daisy Punches, Gold Stencil Paste, Brilliance Ink, Distress Ink

Be happy...

...it's contagious.  I love this sentiment!  As soon as I saw the picture at Cure For the Monday Blues this week I thought of it.  

It's such a happy picture.  So many things to look at and so many bits and pieces to choose from.  I zoomed in on the polka dots, the color yellow, and the slight imperfections in the pieces to come up with this.

These are the days when I am glad I don't get rid of stamps.  I'm not sure how old that flower stamp is but I know where I lived and how many kids I didn't have when I bought it so I know it's been around for awhile.  The imperfect scallop is actually a stamp that was stamped with a Marvy Matchable ink pad and had cut.

Thanks for sharing part of your day with me.  I'd love to know what you think.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: Stampin' Up (Flower), PTI (Polka Dot Basics, Ombre), Stamping Bella (sentiment)

Paper: PTI (White)

Other: Marvy Matchable Ink, Copics, Momento Ink