Colorful Freaks!

I have been participating in the Control Freaks Blog Tour since 2009 (NOT kidding!) and I can’t remember the last time we did an old fashioned color challenge … so here we go! Cindy Elam NAILED it with a GORGEOUS floral creation!! If you haven’t seen it, make sure to check it out!

Aren’t these colors just yummy together??? They are just SCREAMING spring to me!!

I am RIDICULOUSLY enamored with the Ready Rhino Stamp Set/Dies … AND the Basic 3D Embossing Folders … BOTH of which are Online Exclusives right now! I have always had a “thing” for all things hippo and rhino. What’s NOT to love, right??

CuteCuteCUTE, right??!!??

Stamps: Ready Rhino

Paper: Balmy Blue, Granny Apple Greem, Highland Heather, Whisper White, Early Espresso

Ink: Black Memento, Versamark; Stampin’ Blends - Balmy Blue

Accessories: Rhinon Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Metallic Pearls, Basic 3D Embossing Folder, White Embossing Powder

If we didn’t actually need 2-3 more winters with the INSANE amount of rain/snow that we have had this year I would be kinda whiny about the forecast facing us here in Utah this week … rain, rain and MORE rain! First day of spring is almost here, and we seem to be on winter overdrive! I hope our house doesn’t end up underwater once all the snow in the mountains starts melting its way down!

Next up? Bree Renwick! She created a LOVELY “Ode” to spring AND Easter!

 

Monday Montage #232

 

I'm still holding out hope that spring is going to start showing its pretty little head. Mother Nature seems to have other ideas, as snow storm after snow storm keep feeling one another into the Salt Lake Valley. DEFINTELY what we need for our current state of drought .... but I am really starting to craaaaave me some flowers and sunshine!

The Detailed Desert Dies bring to mind to me the many lovely handmade Southwest rugs we have acquired through our business for our customers. These Native-American creations often contain dark reds, deep blues and blacks, accented with tans and creams.  So, I couldn't help myself as a made a more masculine and a more feminine card in this color scheme.

Up close on the masculine card you can see the crosshatch pattern from the Basic 3D Embossing Folder on the Tahitian Tide and Vanilla Layers ... I sponged the Vanilla layer with a little bit of Cajun Craze ink. 

Stamps: Delicate Desert

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Tahitian Tide Cajun Craze

Ink: Cajun Craze

Accessories:  Desert Details Dies, Basic 3D Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Natural Finish 7/8" Ribbon, Blue Rhinestones, Brushed Metallic Adhesive Backed Dots

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange 

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Enjoy your week!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Emily Kimmey - fantastically fabulous from them both!

MonM

TGIF #409 - Layered Shapes

SNOWMAGEDDON! OhMyGosh!! We have had soooo much snow this week! And it is snowing AGAIN right now!! Good thing I have been forced to rest from a little procedure I had done at the foot doc on Tuesday. Brrrrr! This week's TGIF Challenge is all about shapes … and how we layer them!

I think “Deckled” edged scissors were one of my very first paper craft-y tool purchases (about a zillion years ago!)! I’ve always loved that look. I was super stoked when Stampin’ Up came out within these Deckled Rectangle Dies last year … LoveLoveLove! And polka dot embossing??? YES PLEASE!!! I felt like this needed a little bit of “frillinous” … hence the peek of Sea Foam Green and the Eden Dies (which I am also OBSESSED with!)!!!

C’mon Spring! I know you are out there (despite what that dang groundhog said!)! These colors are getting me in the mood for sunshine and flowers!

Stamps: Classic Letters

Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, Soft Sea Foam

Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green

Accessories:  Alphabet A La Mode Dies, Deckled Rectangle Dies, Eden Dies, Loose Frosted Dots, White Baker’s Twine, Basic 3D Embossing Folder

Hope y’all have a wonderful weekend (if only it had more days in it, right?)!!

Monday Montage #231

 

Since this is my second blog post in the last few hours, I will keep it short and sweet!

I long ago decided that green was my favorite color. And Granny Apple Green ranks right at the top of my most favorite shades of green! How bright and cheerful it makes everything! I fussy cut and paper pieced the “rolling hills” in the main image I used from “Better Days”. I love how well it pairs with Pacific Point! A little accent of Mango Melody for the sun makes me smile!

This came together more quickly than I expected it to. Sometimes I actually can do something without too much fuss!

Stamps: Better Days

Paper: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Basic Black, Garden Green, Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Mango Melody, Dandy Designs DSP

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark

Accessories:  Deckled Rectangles Dies, Into the Clouds Embossing Folder, Black & White Gingham Ribbon, Pastel Adhesive Backed Sequins

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange 

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Thanks for stopping by!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Julie Warnick - feel free to be as AMAZED by them as I always am!

MonM

Control Freaks Spread Love

This month the Control Freaks are spreading the love with their creations! Connie Babbert made a DARLING "love"ly card with the "Lighting the Way" bundle ... so cute!

I have finally given in to DSP. I have always loved it, but have often been reluctant to rely on it as my primary focus. Not any more! With all the die/DSP combos that Stampin’ Up has been coming out with the last several years I am HOOKED! These flowers??? HOLY COW! They are beautiful!! I made this card for someone I love (a dear cousin), so it counts, right???

See what I mean??? Beautiful and oh-so easy!

Stamps: Framed Florets
Paper: Pacific Point, Balmy Blue, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Pacific Point, Versamark

Accessories: Framed Florets Dies, Split Card Dies, Sweet Sorbet 1/8” Metallic Ribbon, Glossy Dots Assortment, White Embossing Powder

I completed an 8-mile training run on Saturday and felt SO great afterwards … so happy to have finally healed up from my Achilles surgery AND a nasty bout of tendinitis. It’s AMAZING how our bodies (with the help from some well-trained medical professionals) can get you back to a ngood place!

Next up? Deb Henderson! Her card is the lovely AND lucky!

 

Monday Montage #230

 

This is going to be short and sweet! I am visiting family in The Middle of Nowhere, Nevada … the internet is VERY sketchy, and I’m trying to post from my iPad (my computer is DEAD and I left my charger at home!)! Laborious, for sure, so let’s get to it!

Let’s just sit and bask in the loveliness that is Dainty Flowers DSP, shall we???? It is soooooooo veeeeerrrrry glllloooooorrrrious!!!! With a little bit of fussy cutting and some help from the Split Card Texture Die (which is also almost too good to be true!), it is pretty easy to make something that looks like you spent FOREVER on!!

Some ribbon, a little baker’s twine and a few sequins and we are done!!! C’mon Spring!!!

Stamps: Framed Florets

Paper: Whisper White, Dainty Flowers DSP

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Split Card Textured Dies, Framed Florets Dies, 1/4” Gold Shimmer Ribbon, Pastel Sequins, White Baker's Twine

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange 

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

I’m now going to disconnect from tech and play some more with my sweet little two-year-old grand nephew and visit with my niece … families are forever!!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Julie Warnick - just wonderful, as usual!!

MonM

TGIF #405 - What Would You Do Without Stamps?

Snow, cold, rain, snow, cold ... this seems to be where we are going to be for a while! We have really been enjoying the gas log inserts we had put in our two fireplaces the first week of December ... I'm cold from about September to May, so they are my FAVE things!  This week's TGIF Challenge is one of my favorites - making a card withOUT stamps! Let's get star

I love being able to get two cards for the price of one, don't you??? By using the Alphabet A La Modes Dies to make a card, I had the letters leftover from cutting them for the card on the left, so I just glued them to the card on the right! I did the run little Stampin' Blends "tip flick" lid trick to add some speckle to the front of the white card so that it would match more the DSP on the Old Olive card! I also used my Stampin' Blends to color the ribbons on both cards ... the White Ribbon was dyed Old Olive (using a Stampin' Blend), and the White Baker's Twine was dyed Rich Razzleberry by dragging it across the RR ink pads LOVE how they both turned out! I trimmed the Old Olive dyed ribbon prior to tying it and adding it to the card front; and frayed the White Ribbon once I had tied the dyed Rich Razzleeberry Baker's Twine 

Aren't these looooooveely??? They were quick and easy to pull together ,,,, and they both turned out really fun!

Stamps: NONE

Paper: Whisper White, Dandy Flowers DSP

Ink: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Alphabet A La Mode Dies, White 3/4" Frayed Ribbon, Solid Faceted Gems, 2021-2023 In Color Gems (retired), Pastel Pearls

 

I need to learn not to prep my actual blog posts AFTER I take my ambien for the night! I ramble and don't make sense and have to type and retype everything with fog for brains!! A I'm done!

Monday Montage #229

 

Aaaaaand the temps are coming WAAAYYY down! We aren't supposed to get above 30 degrees until next weekend ... Brrrr! Monday Montage is marching on (some of us through more snow than others!)! I'm starting to try to "will" Spring to come by making flower-y cards (even though I know we are at LEAST 8 weeks off!)!

I am really enjoying using my Stampin' Blends! Coloring has always been very relaxing for me ... seems some habits stick with us from childhood, don't they??

I felt the need to add a BUNCH of baker's twine on this one ... couldn't help myself! 

Stamps: Full of Love

Paper: Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape, Hues of Happiness DSP

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark; Stampin' Blends - Highland Heather, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo

Accessories:  Deckled Rectangles Dies, Tailored Tags Dies, Glossy Dots Assortment, White Embossing Powder, White Baker's Twine

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange 

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

We played some online Nintendo Switch games with our kids over the weekend (we got a Switch for Christmas). It was soooo much fun! The kids killed us in some of the games, but I was able to redeem myself with bowling (which I can't do in person!)! I may have found a new favorite game!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Julie Warnick - very nice!!

MonM

TGIF #404 - Birthday Cards Theme Challenge

Sooooo ... most of the cards I create end up with a birthday sentiment or a generic sentiment that can be used as a birthday sentiment. I do this on purpose since I send birthday cards throughout the year to more than 100 family members (I have a BIG extended family!)!  This week's TGIF Challenge is perfect for me since it's all about birthday cards!! 

I set out to make some cards that could be used for ANYone ... and I ended up struggling with color combos ... so I just used a bunch!! There's also a LOT of layering going on with these ... if less is more, then MORE is MORE, right??!??

MANY dies were employed to get to the final product on these ... that's not a BAD thing, is it??

Stamps: Celebrate with Tags, Hand Drawn Dots

Paper: Whisper White, Fresh Freesia, Balmy Blue, Mango Melody, Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green, Dandy Designs DSP

Ink: Versamark, Fresh Freesia, Balmy Blue, Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green 

Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, Beautiful Shapes Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Alphabet A La Mode Dies, 2022-24 In Color Bakers Twine Pack, Whisper White Satin Edged Ribbon (retired), Pastel Adhesive-Backed Sequins, Pastel Pearls

 

I've made more cards in the last two weeks than I have in the past SEVERAL months (other than my Christmas cards ... which I STILL need to share here!)! Cleaning one's craft space does WONDERS for one's creativity!

Freaky Fun and Fancy Folds

We are Freakin' Foldin', my friends! Digging into our years of stamping knowledge, the Freaks are sharing their "Fun & Fancy Folds" this month! Bree Renwick's bright and cheerful card is not only beautiful, but "funly-folded"! I used to make unique folded cards all the time ... it has been FOREVER since I have made one, so this was a terrific challenge for me!

I am very super happy about the release of these super darling Conversation Bubbles!! It seems like they have so many possibilities ... MUCH potential going on here!

The base is made from a piece of cardstock cut to 5.5" by 10". You will then need to make score lines at 3.75" and 8".

I created the curved edge on the front flap by using one of the Basic Borders Dies, and then made an additional layer on top of the base layer of Pacific point by cutting a piece of cardstock from Balmy Blue and making it about 1/2" narrower than the front flap.

The little red "tab" was made by cutting a piece of Real Red cardstock to 6" x 1" and securing it across the base piece from the first score mark around to the front of the card, scoring the flap as you bring it to the front.

I placed the Whisper White circle on the Real Red tab using a Dimensional. I then securing a piece of Baker's Twine between the white circle and the Dimensional.  To close the card, wrap the Baker's Twine from left to right around the back of the card and then wrap the twine once more. Upon coming to the little circle the second time, wrap the remaining twine around the Dimensional to secure the card closed.

 

 

Here is what it looks like with the Twine attached but unwrapped ...

And here is the card all opened up! Pretty Fun and Fancy, right???

Stamps: Conversation Bubbles
Paper: Pacific Point, Balmy Blue, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Pacific Point, Versamark

Accessories: Conversation Bubbles Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Stripes & Splatters 3D Embossing Folders, 2022-24 In Colors Baker's Twine Pack, Glossy Dots Assortment, White Embossing Powder

 

I'm back to half marathon training. Had an AWESOME 3-mile run outside today!! It was 31 degrees F ... my fave temp to run in ... once you get going it really is great not to get too hot!

Next up? Deb Henderson! Her "Adorable Owls" are so much fun!