You Are Such a Joy to Me

I'm back to play along with the current CR84FN #59 color challenge  and I'm fashionably late. The story of my life these days. :( Anyway, I did not want to pass up the chance to play with this  awesome trio of colors-coral, brown and tan. It's such a rich palette that I opted for simplicity on this card. I let the beautiful dp {with a Sonnet by William Shakespeare} do most of the work but I did stamp a floral scroll image to highlight part of the text. Keeping things truly simple I accented with a wood die cut butterfly that I inked with coral rose chalk ink. A coral dp backs my sonnet page and there's coral in the glittered butterfly on the page in the lower left corner. I created my own dp by using a roller script stamp inked with Rich Cocoa and randomly stamping over a tan piece of cardstock. You see brown again in the crochet trim and trio of pearls on opposite corners.

Because the dp was so pretty and there was text all over it I did not want to stamp my sentiment on the front but chose to do so on the inside. I backed it with a lacey oval die cut out of the same coral dp on the front and fussy cut a butterfly from a coordinating dp from the same paper pack. I'm not going to sign the card but instead I plan to include a handwritten note sharing why this special person is such a joy to me. Also, I did something a little different here-I stamped the sentiment first in a light coral ink then came back and stamped over it in a darker shade giving it a slight shadow effect. It doesn't always work but I'm okay with how it turned out this time. You do have to be careful and it works better with clear stamps because you can see where you are inking. No offense to rubber or wood stamps. ;)

I'm also playing along with Just Us Girls-Inspiration Challenge #147 and linking up with the weekly linky party at Make It Monday #100 w Scrapbook Sisters where they are celebrating their 100th challenge. Yay! A big thank you to the design teams at each of the challenges for providing weekly inspiration and making it fun to papercraft. :) Here's a look at the beautiful CR84FN color challenge inspiration photo.

and the inspiration photo from Just Us Girls.

Hope I did not ramble too much, my brain is on true overload right now. Thanks for dropping by my crafty spot!
Hugs,
Lisa

Stamp: Vintage Dreamer (TE)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Rose Coral & Blush Rose chalk ink (Color Box petal point)
Paper: the Maripost stack by DCWV, cs
Accessories: butterfly wood die cut (Studio Calico); chocolate & champagne pearls (Kaisercraft); brown crochet trim & ivory trim (Hobby Lobby); Spellbinders Cl. Ovals Lg. & Lacey Ovals

Happy 4th of July USA

Hello and welcome! In the U. S. Independence Day is just around the corner and several challenges are honoring it through our country's colors, our flag {stars & stripes} or the holiday itself. So naturally I played along with Tip Top Tuesday's #79 and Just Us Girls #141 challenges to express my patriotism. My sketch inspiration comes from the one and only, Jen Shults, and her sketches are always a challenge {that's why I love them!}. You can see the current Deconstructed Sketch #56 plus visit the archives for past sketch inspiration. I believe most of them are open to link throughout the year so it's not too late. The Crafty Catz #137 Embossing was great to play with because it gave me another opportunity to use my Stars Impression Plate by Taylored Expressions to emboss my vertical navy panel.

The colors of red, white and blue were established by the JUGS challenge and Independence Day or Stars & Stripes were challenge requirements of Tip Top Tuesday. I incorporated both on the TTT challenge and my stripes are represented by the red/white twine. The patriotic banner in the 4th of July Wreath set make my Picket Fence Border Die look festive. I punched three .5" circles using an EK Success punch and stamped the letters USA from You're My Type-Upper. Blue stars were strung onto red burlap string and red liquid pearls add another pop of color and visual interest. White brads anchor the four chomped corners and finish it off nicely.

Here's a Top Tip for you, to center your sentiments it is helpful to use a grid acrylic block and place all of the stamps & embellishments on it so you know everything will be centered properly. Also, It is much easier to stamp after punching but before when using a die. It just makes life easier! Another thing I did was to stamp my banners in blue ink so it would blend better. Seasoned stampers know this already but maybe it will help a newbie out there. :)

I'd like to welcome my newest blog followers and thank everyone for their encouraging comments. BTW, most of my recent posts have been CAS due to Father's Day and recent masculine birthdays but I'm happy to report that some "girl stuff" is on the way. :) Have a swell hump day {a.k.a. Wednesday}!

Note: I "Caught Their Eye" at Top Tip Tuesday with this Stars & Stripes card. WooHoo!
~Lisa

Supplies:
Ink: Memento Paris Dusk, ColorBox Chalk Ink Lipstick Red
Paper: Choice Snow White (TE), red, blue & white cs (Bazzill Basics)
Accessories: Take Note Frame 3 (TE); We R Memory Keepers 1.5" corner chomper, brads (PS); buttons (Hobby Lobby); red/white twine (Doodlebug); red burlap string (Maya Road); Copics B28 & R29; Ruby Red Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

Sweet Serendipity

Hi there, I'm dropping in to post this card I made this afternoon while taking a break from the heat. I love the colors of the CR84FN55 Color Challenge so much that I wanted to make another card using the fabulous challenge colors. While searching for a sketch I happened upon a challenge {serendipity part} that I couldn't pass up. One of my goals this year was to try new techniques and thanks to the current Just Us Girls Challenge (JUGS) I can check the Acrylic Distress Technique off my list. In their challenge post they've included a link to Beate's tutorial at SCS and I hope you'll check it out. With the colors and the technique down I searched for a sketch and the current Retro Sketches #15 was perfect. I rotated the sketch and I added an inset panel to my base so my ribbon would tuck neatly underneath, otherwise I remained true to the sketch by the uber talented Laurie. 

On a quick note I stamped my image onto vellum, let it dry and die cut it. I die cut two more pieces of white cs, one to back the image and another for my embossed panel. You can see how I did the technique if you visit the JUGS link and I inked the edges of the inset panel with celery just to make it stand out. A polka dot ribbon brings lavender into play in a fun way and my brads finish it off.

I'll admit that I wanted another chance to work with the CR84FN colors because last month we traveled to beautiful Colonial Historic Williamsburg and I fell in love with the gardens there. One in particular, the Governor's Palace Gardens, was absolutely breathtaking. I could not resist coming back for a second look the next day and this time I brought along my macro lens. Here's a photo, or two, from that garden. Can you see the bee in the first one?

There was beauty everywhere that I'd love to share but this post is already photo heavy. Thanks for taking a look and hope the rest of your weekend is awesome! BTW, the color challenge ends today so hurry if you want to play along. Edited for correction: I missed my second entry in the color challenge because the collection closed last night but it still inspired me to make this card and I love it. The other two challenges have plenty of time so good luck. :)
~Lisa

Supplies:
Stamps: Discover Your Wings (TE)
Ink: Hyacinth, Heliotrope & Split Pea (Versa Color/Tsukineko Co.), Peeled Paint Distress Ink (T!m Holtz/Ranger)
Paper: Avalanche White cs (Bazzill Basics), vellum
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Eight & Twenty Dies; Victoria Embossed Folder (C'bug); lavender polka dot ribbon (TE); brads (American Crafts); Silver Metallic Acrylic Paint Dabber (Ranger); 3D Foam Dots (Therm O Web); sandpaper