That's A Wrap...on cards

Here's my last card for 2014 challenges...

 I still plan to update my blog with a Misc. Project re-cap for everything that was not blogged about previously...But that will wait for another day.  :)

I'm especially grateful for a sunny day. It makes for much nicer photos. 

I colored this mostly with my brand-new Faber-Castell pencils. They are fab-u-lous...even if my skills are not...LOL.
(The nose I colored with my copic markers)




I decided to go for a post-Christmas card to use this month's fun "Stamp of the Month" at FTHS: Christmas Spirit Birdbrain

...Once again, I found inspiration in this week's sketch challenge .

You can't tell from the photo, but the scalloped circle of design paper has stitching on it.


The sentiment comes from another of Faith's fun digi-stamps, "Gift Stack Birdbrain". I thought it fit perfectly with this image as well.

May you all have a wonderous and joyful New Year in 2015!!


Entry for the following challenges:
From the Heart December SOTM challenge
FTH I heart sketches #91 challenge
 

Double the Joy

One of these months I will get a card made and blog post finished in the very first week.
This  is not the month.  I've been working on several very special projects (including a quilt for my darling new niece), so it's been a bit of a juggling act.

As I mulled over my options with this month's beautiful "Stamp of the Month" at FTHS: Faithful Friends Angel Joy

...I found great inspiration in this week's sketch challenge.

It let me do one of my favorite things...combine elements to create "a scene".

Without further ado, here are my 2 takes on trimming the tree joyfully:

Entry for the following challenges:
From the Heart November SOTM challenge
FTH I heart sketches #88 challenge

Autumn wishes

Autumn Wishes

Autumn brings so many lovely things...This month's From the Heart SOTM digi happens to be one of them.  :)

I mean can't you just smell the apple crisp baking as these cute critters wait patiently for a treat?!

The October SOTM image from FromTheHeartStamps is called "Apple Market".  You can BUY it here.








Here is the card I created for this month's challenge. Please forgive the photo's quality...with autumn days in the Northwest, comes rain and darker skies...

I turned it into an easel card...I love that it is fun and still keeps the CAS design.

The wonderful wordart is by Paulette at CreateWithTLC.

The fun sketch challenge this week at FTHS  (#84) came with the "twist" of using the inspiration picture/colors.



If you know me, you know I love CAS cards...so I was really excited to see this sketch.









What beautiful Autumn hues the twist gave me to work with!




 I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
If it's gloomy or chilly outside, it's just another reason to snuggle up and enjoy the indoors.  :)






Entry for the following challenges:
From the Heart October SOTM challenge
FTH I heart sketches #84 challenge

Party time at The Outlawz challenges.

There's a party at The Outlawz challenges this week!!
WooHoo!
I can't wait to see what fun is in store.

Join the Fun at The Outlawz this week, click here

Don't you want to join in too??

A Tale of Two...Birthday Cards

This is the story of 2 cards...made using similar elements...but with drastically different results.
Both cards used the same sketch, digi-stamp and design paper pack...and that is where the similarities end.

Apparently, I need deadlines to help me get things done, even with creative projects. I just hadn't carved out the time to create something with this month's cute-patootie SOTM image from FromTheHeartStamps: Flappy Birthday.  You can BUY it here.

That is, until this weekend rolled around and the deadline for this month's challenge was merely days away.

Looking back:
It is Friday and about 1/2 an hour until my DD needs to be at a birthday party for 2 great friends. She is busy "wrapping" the present in a gift bag...when I hear, "Mom, we need a card and we need to leave in 10 minutes."  I holler for my older DD to come help me out. "Please color this while I cut out everything else."
"With what?"
"Just grab the colored pencils and go!  Pleeease...Thank you!"

Here is our group effort in horrible lighting. (And yes, I did make us a few minutes late just to grab a photo....LOL).








I decided that I wanted to try again in a less rushed manner. I think I like it.  It's a little "busy" but a fun(ny) card to keep on hand. Maybe it will save me the stress of last-minute creations before the next birthday party.   :)

The wonderful sketch challenge this week at FTHS  (#80) came with the "twist" of making your own embellishments. I popped up some cupcakes that I cut from the coordinating design papers.


So, I hope I did justice to Faith's fun birdbrain image.  They just make me smile!!

Have a wonderful week.




**Details:
Colored with Colored pencils and Copic markers.
"Birthday Extravaganza" paper pack by thePaperStudio (I bought it at HL)

Entry for the following challenges:
From the Heart September SOTM challenge
FTH I heart sketches #80 challenge

Fall Fun...at the end of summer

While I've been doing a lot of projects and activities this summer, I have not made very many cards.

This card is an entry for the August FTHS "Free Stamp of the Month" Challenge.
It's been in the works (in my head) for a long time. hehehe

It's a grey, rainy Saturday, so my photo isn't the best.
Sorry for that.

Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).

If you missed participating in the July's challenge,  head over to Faith's "From the Heart Stamps" Shop and purchase this fine little pig.

The featured digi stamp for August is Pumpkin PigWit .

Don't you just love this stamp...It's so cute!


You'll notice that there are other components of my card's "stamp" image...That's because I merged 3 of Faith's wonderful digis to make a festive fall scene.


Along with PigWit, I used Apple Harvest and Autumn Harvest (both "retired" DesignedtoDelight digis by Faith).  I've had these images for years now and love how well they coordinate with Faith's current designs.

Faith has similar stamps in her current store that you could use to make a scene/collage. Just check under the Thanksgiving/Fall category.

Using the Print-n-cut feature in my Silhouette Cameo's software, I traced and offset the images and then the Cameo did all the cutting work. :)
The sentiment is from the Silhouette store.


I colored the image with Copic markers (base layers) and then added shading/details with colored pencils.


While I knew from the first week in August, that I wanted to combine the digi stamps...It took me a while before I found the card sketch I wanted to use. I decided that this week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch077 challenge was a perfect fit!

In a way, I did use both the sketch and the "twist"  for this week. The Twist was "Flower Power".


I added the digi with the Sunflowers, but I did not use the "flower elements" of the sketch. I just felt it would be a little too busy.








Hmmmm, the other details:
I printed and cut the DP and elements with my Silhouette Cameo. They all came from the Silhouette Store.
I colored the brads with my Copic markers to mirror the flags at the bottom.





Challenges Entered:
From the Heart August SOTM challenge
FTH I heart sketches #77 challenge

Heaven-sent friends

Yay for rainy days in July!!
Hehehe...I bet you'd never imagine that being said.
However, what a perfect excuse to stay cozy inside and color up a new image/card.

Here is the card I created as my entry for the July FTHS Challenge:
A thank you for a special friend...







Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).

This featured digi stamp for July is Winter Friends .



If you missed participating in the June challenge,  head over to Faith's "From the Heart Stamps" Shop and purchase this adorable snowman for yourself.


You even have a few days left to enter the July SOTM challenge.
(Shocker, I know...I'm posting this a few days before the deadline).  :)



Don't you just love this stamp...It's perfect for so many types of cards: Christmas, Thinking of you, friendship, Thanks, etc.

Using the Print-n-cut feature in my Silhouette Cameo's software, I traced and offset the image and then the Cameo did all the cutting work. :)
The sentiment is also by Faith, but I can't recall which digi it came with originally...as I've put them all into one big "From the Heart sentiments" file on my computer.

 Besides the stamps, I got inspiration from this week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch074 challenge.
Have I mentioned how much I enjoy using sketches?!


I used both the sketch and the great "twist" this week. The Twist was to use PAINT...yikes...

Seriously, this did scare me a little.



 And my first attempt with my kiddo's watercolors was just an ugly mess.  But I do like this version. Both the sentiment tag and the snowman were colored with a plain brush and kid's watercolor set.

The bottom "snow" field was "finger-painted" with MS multi-surface glitter paint from Michaels. It was sitting on my desk, leftover from another project, so I decide to use it. I tried brushing it on first, but I didn't like the results. So I started over and just swirled it on the paper with my fingers. After it dried, I embossed it to give it some texture (Sizzix Polka Daisies plate).

You'll notice that I rotated and flipped the sketch...It just worked better for me that way.  :)

The top part of the card is embossed card stock using a folder by the Paper Studios (Hobby Lobby).

Now, I just need to stick this card in the mail. Have a great week!

Challenges Entered:
From the Heart July SOTM challenge
FTH I heart sketches #74 challenge

Super Dad

**Procrastination doesn't pay...
I had this ready to go with minutes to spare to enter the FTHS sketch challenge...but the Link-up didn't work  (arrrggg- Technology) and when I tried to refresh at the last second and re-enter my link...the collection closed.


So here is my entry for the June FTHS Challenge:
A Super Birthday card!

Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).





I missed the May challenge deadline due to all the "end-of-school-year" activities that our family was committed to attend and participate in (Projects due, field trips to chaperone, band concerts, etc).

So I didn't "earn" the June stamp...NO Problem.
I headed to Faith's "From the Heart Stamps" Shop and bought June's featured SOTM challenge stamp...
Super Birdbrain (from the always clever "Birdbrains" line.  :)

Don't you just love this stamp...I'm sure you know some superheroes that would love a card made using it.  :)


Using the Print-n-cut feature in my Silhouette Cameo's software, I  printed the sentiment onto the base of the easel card.

I colored the stamp with Copic markers.

Besides the stamps, I got inspiration from this week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch072 challenge.



I used both the sketch and the great "twist" this week. I LOVE their weekly sketch challenges. They're fun and inspire my card-making...

You'll notice that I flipped the sketch...That way SuperBirdbrain left the rings in his wake.  :)



Again, All the papers were from my "scrap bins"...I loved using up pieces.  :)

Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month June 2014  

A quick hello

This is a bit of a "good news, bad news" post.

Bad news:
Unfortunately, I missed the deadlines for submitting this card to the perpetual "Stamp of the month" challenge over at From the Heart Stamps.

This cute spring image "Whimsy Garden Fence" was the image for From the Heart's May challenge.

I finished the card in time, but was too tired to blog about it. Some days are just like that.  I was happy to have some creativity going at all after surviving a week of Spring colds/allergies combined.  :)

It's so adorable and versatile for so many purposes. I actually plan to cut out the card several more times and switch up the sentiment.  It's always nice to have a few cards at the ready ...when you need to send one out.
 
IF you ever miss the deadline for Faith's "Stamp of the Month" challenge, you can simply buy the month's image from the shop and create something to enter...Voila! You're back in the game.
That will be my plans for June....as soon as June's image hits the shop.   :)

Good News:
Each week, The From the Heart community also has a Sketch challenge (This week is sketch068).
I have 1/2 hour left to make that deadline...so here goes nothing!

I love this sketch...I plan on rotating it to make a few variations on the theme...later this week.
This is the first completed card.

The "twist" was to use a sentiment.

This one comes from Paulette at Create With TLC... sweet and simple.

My other (planned) variations will utilize the sentiments included with FTH digi stamp...as those are great too.

I colored the image with my copics and some pencils.
I followed the color scheme from ColorThrowdown's Challenge #294.  I didn't have a good paper match for the "coastal cabana" so I had to use more of a blue... It still makes for a cute, spunky card. :)

All the papers were from my "scrap bins"...I love using up pieces.  :)

Entry for the following Challenges:

From the Heart Sketch Challenge #68
ColorThrowdown Challenge #294

A little note of THANKS!

Teacher Appreciation

Hi! Happy May.

Why is it that life continually interrupts my project plans...LOL?

The first week of May is always "Teacher Appreciation Week".  For months, I have had all these wonderful, cute ideas inside my head...but that just didn't pan out this year.  I managed to pull together a cute metal vase with the teachers' names in vinyl, and filled those with chocolates, new "grown-up" scissors (tag attached: "you're a cut above the rest") and "flower" pens. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the actual gifts.

And of course, those little tokens don't say near enough "thanks" for the wonderful things my kids' teachers do each and every day.

But, I did want to send a heart-felt "THANK YOU" and I managed to photograph the cute (IMHO) thank you cards that accompanied the small tokens of appreciation...albeit seconds before they went out the door.

Can I just say how much I LOVE my Cameo??

It makes me look much more talented than my abilities really are.

This adorable cutting file can be found on the Silhouette Online store here.

I just used the offset feature to add a simple blue insert for the inside of the card.



And of course, the DARLING images are some of Sassy Cheryl's Colored illustration digis.

Sassy Cheryl to the rescue AGAIN.
Her wonderful art has saved me from boring cards once more.

When I want to relax and create, I love coloring Sassy Cheryl's digi stamps myself with copic markers or pencils.

At other times, when I am harried and hurried, The colored illustration versions are just the time-saving help I need.

I just use the "print and cut" feature in the Silhouette Design studio... and Voila... Instant cards....CLEAN and SIMPLE!


Since my 5th grader is a boy, I used the Noah- Freedom image for his teacher.

I used the Sally- Ladybug Tales image for my 3rd grade daughter's card.

Both of the images I used capture my kids' personalities.
Another one of the many reasons that I adore Sassy Cheryl digi stamps!!

 
Like most of my projects, these were finished over a week ago but I am posting them (barely) in time for Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #208- "Clean & Simple with/ a Sassy Cheryl image".  :)





I think the cards were a perfect fit for both this challenge and my personal style.

Well, now that posting these cards is checked off my list, I guess I'll go tackle the next "to do" item.

Have a fun, creative, thankful week!!

Challenges entered with these cards:
Sassy Cheryl Challenge #208- Clean and Simple
Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday Challenge-SMT #144

Spring is Here

Well, it's another end-of-the month post...LOL.
Spring is definitely here and this week we are even enjoying a taste of summer for a few warm (hot for PNW) days.
Soooo nice!
Of course, I could have done without the phone call from the school nurse yesterday when my ds got sick from dehydration.
Rest, water, and he's completely fine today. HURRAY.

Back to Projects:
I have been working on several projects around the house lately, but nothing that I have photographed. Except today's entry...

My card for the April "stamp of the month" challenge at From the Heart Stamps.








Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).


The darling "Spring Medley" stamp was April's freebie for those who participated in the past month's challenge. It is also available in the shop.



 I cropped just the  sentiment part of the image, but it comes with some adorable tulips and another crocus.


This digi stamp was such wonderful food for thought earlier this month as rain cascaded almost daily.


The digi stamp was printed on kraft paper and colored with Prisma Pencils.


I was inspired to try coloring on the kraft paper by a FTH sketch challenge early in the month. I like the result and will certainly do it again.  

Besides the stamps, I got inspiration from this week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch064 challenge.


 I used just the sketch this time...but they also had a fun "twist" this week. I LOVE their weekly sketch challenges. They're fun and inspire my card-making...




All the papers were from my "scrap bins"...I loved using up pieces.  :)

Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month April 2014  *Just in the nick of time.
From the Heart Sketch Challenge #64

Spring Cheer

Hello!

I grabbed a few moments to put together a card this weekend. We've been busy working on many other "creations" around the house lately (like kids' school projects, garage organization, etc.), so card-making took a back seat for a while.

Front (closed) view of my swing card

The digi stamp was colored with both
Copics and prisma Pencils.  

*Note to self: Turn on some lights before you start trying to color...Then you'll get these lovely results on the first try instead of the 2nd...LOL.  :)

   It's time to post my card for the  March Stamp of the Month challenge at From the Heart Stamps.

Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).
The darling "Hamlet PigWit Think Spring" stamp is was March's freebie for those who participated in the past month's challenge. It is also available in the shop. This digi stamp set comes with 2 versions of Hamlet plus a few sentiments.


 


Besides the stamps, I got inspiration from this last week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch059 challenge.


 I used both the sketch and the "twist", which was "Interactive Cards".

inside view of swing card

 I cut this swing card with my Cameo.
Super easy and such a fun card design.
Unfortunately, I was a little bit slow this week, so it wasn't finished in time for the sketch challenge.
That doesn't matter...It was the perfect inspiration anyways.  :)


The wonderful sentiment was in my files from Paulette at Create with TLC.  Nine times out of ten, my sentiments come from the amazing Paulette. I love her talent of combining just the right phrases into an interesting graphic.

This sentiment and card is perfect for a loved one of mine that could use a "we're thinking of you" and "take care" kind of lift/reminder right now.  :)


The papers were from my latest trip to Hobby Lobby. Since I was there anyways (buying supplies for ds' science fair project), I stopped by the 50% paper sale and picked up the cute "Eat Cake" and "Birthday Extravaganza" paper packs by the Paper Studio. I'm loving the little 4.5x 6.5 inch packs...Just the right size to add variety to my cards without having  HUGE paper stash guilt.  LOL.


This card is now ready for the mail...on it's way to spread some Spring Cheer and brighten a worrisome day.  :)


Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month March 2014  *Just in the nick of time.


Sassy Cheryl's "Show Me" Thursday Challenge  **Because this is the only project I actually have photos of.  :)

Happy Bird-day

It's time to post my card for the February Stamp of the Month challenge at From the Heart Stamps.

    Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).
The funny "Birthday Candle Birdbrain" stamp is this month's freebie for those who participated in last month's challenge. It is also available in the shop.


Besides the stamps and sentiment (included with the digi stamp), I got inspiration this week from the FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch055 challenge.



I think it was serendipitous that the BoBunny Back-to-Basic papers ("Pincushion" collection) I had just purchased also contained a scallop element. I just needed to do some fussy cutting.
 I had bought the papers after a brief "inspiration" trip to my local, small craft store.  I was trying to make something for a green/grey challenge, but nothing worked out in time...
So they stayed in my stash waiting to make this card.
*note: The Grey/white polka dot paper is by My Mind's Eye... "Chalk Talk" paper.

It's so fun when things pull together.
I had originally tried coloring the bird in varying shades of green (all w-r-o-n-g), but love the finished birdy now...all sweet and persimmon-y. :)
It was colored with both Copics and prisma Pencils.

This card is now ready for the mail...and it's even on time.

Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month February 2014
FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch055 challenge.

SMT #139- Nifty 50 birthday

Here is my SMT post...Just for you, Cheryl.
Thanks again for helping me out with your FABULOUS talents!!! 

 "...And Now...The Rest of the Story"  (Do you know that reference??)
________________________________________________
I have two very cool big brothers.  My oldest brother celebrated a milestone birthday a few weeks ago... 50 years of his awesome-ness on the earth.  :)

I started the process of making this card a month before the actual date. However, life interrupted and now this card is a month belated.  YIKES!!

Here are the details for it's l-o-n-g creation process. (Please ignore the poor grammar, sentence fragments, etc. This is more of a "list" than a well-crafted piece of writing).

1.  The genesis of this creation: My brother owns a comic book store.  This just about solidifies his status as "coolest uncle ever" in the eyes of his nephews...and also his nieces.  :)

*I wanted to create a personalized card for this momentous birthday that reflected him.




2. Emailed dear friend and awesome artist (Sassy Cheryl) pleading/asking/begging her to create a custom digital stamp for me.  WooHOO...she created this FABULOUS image that totally reminded me of DB as a kid...He always had a ton of hair.  :)
Note: I did not give her any other details other than "a kid reading a bunch of comic books".
**You can purchase a similar digital stamp from Cheryl's store here (boy version) or here (girl version).

*** I've realized that I did not set a realistic deadline for this card...I take a long time to match the actual "creation" with the "vision/plan" in my head.   So I didn't give myself enough time to work her awesome stamp into a cohesive card design before his birthday. 



3. Found a Sketch I liked (Mojo Monday sketch #330).

Hem and haw over the paper choices....Finally settled on a bunch of  jillibean Soup  papers that have been in my stash for over a year now (Minestrone:Thin Zucchini, Homemade 6 bean:Red Beans, and Winter Tortellini:Fresh Basil collections).

I missed the challenge deadline for this sketch. Oh well.


4. While looking for the perfect word-art...I discovered one in my files from Paulette at Create With TLC that sparked a few new ideas.  I got distracted with ideas for another birthday project. (see below). 

I think this word-art is both clever and hilarious since our family is very competitive with board games!!






Waited 2-3 weeks before actually creating the printed transfer and adding it to a shirt.




 5.  Finally decided to create my own word-art that reflects both the event and the digital image. (Another 3-5 days of "brainstorming"). I designed the word-art in my Silhouette Design Studio software. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

---PAUSE a week because I volunteered for a  few school projects.   AND...I had library books from the "hold shelf" that were begging to be read. :) They all turned out fantastically.

6. Printed several copies of the digital stamp to try and color.   
*Good way to pass time in a doctor's office waiting room (nope, I was not the patient, just the patient's driver). I ended up with about 5 "rejected" versions...LOL.  Loving the final results.
(I colored the stamp with Copic markers as base colors and added pencils for detailed/shading parts) 

---PAUSE a few more days while I was sick with the nastiest virus I can remember in many years...Quality time with ginger ale and soda crackers...FUN- FUN- FUN

7. Put the card together...noticed it is crooked...Gently tore it apart, reglued, and repositioned.

8. Took a bazillion photos...lighting is yucky because it's winter in the Pacific NW...even with ott-lites, etc.  Used the photo anyways because it really needs to get in the mail.

****Now seriously, wasn't that the most ridiculously long, tangented route to a finished birthday card.

I hope my Bro likes the card and shirt. He's a wonderful person and I'm so glad to have him in our family!!! Love Ya T_______!

Every day Valentine

Hi!

So I didn't get this done in time for "Valentine's Day", but I figure that my DH is my "valentine" every day of the year...so It's All Good, right?!

It is finished (barely) in time for Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #202- "All about HEARTS".  :)


I used this cute digi stamp from Sassy Cheryl's shop titled "A Little Heart Balloon".  I quickly combined it in my Silhouette Design studio software with this clever wordart (valentine love eye chart) and  Lori Whitlock card base. Then it's ready for my Cameo to print & cut out...quick  and easy.

I colored it mostly with pencils, but used my copics for the skin tone areas.

I was inspired to use a mostly Black and White design scheme by the Outlawz CAS challenge (CAS021614 Black & White ONLY)...but technically, those touches of blue don't work for their challenge this week.  :)

Well, I'm off to clean up my messy desk...I am still several projects behind...and I hope to finish them/post later this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day!!

LR's Sassy Card- Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #201

HI there!

Occasionally, my youngest daughter, aged 8,  gets the bug to create cards for challenges. (which she always calls contests...LOL).

This is her creation for the current Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #201 "Anything but a Square"

The image is Sassy Cheryl's "A Good Read- Maddie".

She grabbed the elements from her stash of crafting supplies and got to work creating. She hand cut the card base into an oval based on the lacey oval frame. Of course, she added some bling.

*I asked if she wanted to type her description or name her creation...but she declined. LOL.   Obviously "blog posting" is not the fun part of card-making for challenges. :)

Strange friends...laugh often

I have a friend who could definitely use a few laughs right now.  
Sometimes life just doesn't provide enough humor on its own to balance the frowny, hard times.

I'm hoping this card will brighten her day...a little.  

My friend and I are a little like this cat and dog... At first glance, we seem very different, but we always enjoy each other's company.*   

*Which is why I picked this particular (fun, quirky) sentiment from Paulette at CreateWithTLC.
I've had this wordart for quite a while...It just needed the right situation/card to go with it.  :) 

The two absolutely adorable images are both From the Heart digital stamps by Faith Skrdla.  Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).
The cute "Kitten and Heart" is this month's freebie. It is also a part of the set, "Caught Your Heart".
The scruffy pup is from the new set, "Ali's Paper Hearts".
I love them both and they will probably make frequent appearances on my cards/projects!

Besides the stamps and sentiment, I got inspiration this week from a Sketch challenge and a Color challenge.  I know some people just love the challenge/thrill of stacking challenges...I just need the valuable nudge of inspiration that each challenge contributes.  :)

The beautiful CAS (clean and simple) sketch is from clean&simple stamping.

I love this blog because I am thoroughly a CAS gal (plus it's an inspiration-only blog)!!
For the third piece/element of the sketch, I added a house from a Silhouette cutting file (using the "print & cut" feature of my Cameo). I needed just the right bridge for these 2 friends and the house was perfect!

The color inspiration came from this week's Color Challenge (CC0128) over at The Outlawz challenges blogs.

I chose Rooster, Aqua and Slate as my Colors (the challenge was to pick & use 3 out of the 5 colors). The metal flower is my "twist" element (piece of metal) on the card.
I couldn't see what I wanted in my stash or at the craft store...but I found the perfect embellishment in the costume jewelry section of a dept. store.  I bought a pair of dangling earrings (on clearance, YAY) and cut them apart with pliers once I got home. Tada! New card embellishments.  :) 



Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month January 2014
Clean&Simple Stamping- Sketch Challenge #277
The Outlawz- Color Challenge (CC0128)