WWC301 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

Well, I finally have all of my Christmas cards made but I am a wee bit late getting them in the mail.  But, I do have all my shopping done.  It will be my last Christmas in Reno as I'm moving back to Iowa in the new year.

I did a white on white card with a splash of color.  The products I used are all from Taylored Expressions.  They are the Brick Embossing Folder, Seasonal Sprig Cutting Plate and the Mini Slim Seasonal Sprig Layering Stencil.  The inks used are Cherry Pop and Cilantro.

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, December 14th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC300 - Tristan's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist

We have a feminine challenge this week at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Tristan is our host for this week.  I've made another Christmas card.  I so far  behind in making them.  I usually have them done by this time and in the mail.  Not this year.  It's been an off year for me as I'm sure for many others. 

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking HERE.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, December 7th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC299 - Heidi's Challenge: All About Occasions

The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, hosted this week by Heidi, is All About Occasions.  As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I should share at least one card I made, for this occasion, with you. A little stamping, a wee bit of stenciling and what do you have... a very pretty background for my Thanksgiving card.

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking HERE.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, November 30th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC294 - Marsha's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Masculine Twist

This week I'm hosting the Anything Goes With a Masculine Twist over at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I needed a birthday card for my grandson who has just turned 14.  I thought fireworks was a good way to start the celebration.

This is the Fireworks Background Stamp & Stencil set from Taylored Expressions.  You stamp the stars, then add the fireworks using the two stencils in the set.  It is so easy to do and you can get so many different color combinations.

 For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, October 26th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC293 - Tristan's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Well, it's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Tristan is hosting our All About Occasions challenge.  I had another background made using Taylored Expressions Scribbled Rose Cling & Clear Stamp set.  It does make for a nice background, don't you think?

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday,  October 19th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Happy Mail Just For You

You know, life is good even when you can't be out and about as you would like.  In the last month, I've been out of the house only twice.  But, I have a most wonderful family who shops for me and sees that I have all that I need.  I am truly blessed.

Today's card was made for the Taylored Expressions #TEMakerChallenge over on Facebook.  The objective is to use at least one of the themes for your card and at least one Taylored Expressions product.  This month's was embossing, stripes and orange.  I decided to try to use all three on my card and I think it turned out rather well.

For the embossing, I opted to dry emboss using a Tim Holtz embossing folder that has rarely been used.  I like the way it looks in the background.  It's also stripes so with one, I got two.  Love when that happens.

The card base is Candy Corn cardstock and the embossed layer is Pumpkin cardstock both from Taylored Expressions.  I have a friend who's favorite color is orange but it's one color she cannot wear as she has red hair.  So, whenever I make a card to send to her, I always include orange somewhere on the card. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Products Used

From Taylored Expressions

Simple Strips - Friendship stamp set

Candy Corn, Pumpkin, Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Milkshake, Cookie Monster, 

Jelly Donut and Sweet Basil cardstock

Simple Strips Die

Petal Pop-Ups 2 Die (retired)

Pitcher Vase Die

Leafy Branch Die (retired)

Silhouette Stems 4 Die (retired)

Drip Drops

From Altenew

Jet Black ink

From Tim Holtz

Candy Stripes Embossing Folder

From Stampin' Up!

Whisper White cardstock

From Copic

B00 Marker

Birthday Balloons

Another day has come and gone here in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  It was a beautiful one.  My craft desk sits right under the window and I love looking out on those mountains as I create.

Clean and simple was the order of the day for the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.  I combined their sketch with the colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  I think they played well together.

I stamped the balloons from the Wish Big Stamp & Die Combo from Taylored Expressions.  Then, I fussy cut those balloons as the only dies in the set are for the words.  I hand drew the strings to the balloons.  Free hand is not my forte.  The word happy was stamped in Poppy Seed and cut with the die in the set.  For the finishing touch, I added to Drip Drops (yes, that is what they are called) to the happy.

The Drip Drops are iridescent but in this photo they look like they are clear.  They add just the right amount to sparkle.  I think I'm going to be using them often.

I played along with the following challenges.  For all the challenge details, click the image(s) below.

CAS(E) this Sketch

Color Throwdown

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Products Used

Wish Big Stamp & Die Combo by Taylored Expressions

Candy Corn, Pink Champagne, Poppy Seed and Sprinkles ink from Taylored Expressions

Whisper White and Whisper White Thick from Stampin' Up!

Drip Drops from Taylored Expressions

Happy Birthday

Okay, it's getting late and I have to be up early in the morning as I'm having breakfast out with my youngest son which means I'm going to keep this post a short one.  It's been a long day and I'm ready to shut everything down and enjoy some quiet time.

Using the sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, I created this masculine birthday card.  I always have need for plenty of cards for guys.  I love how this one came together.  I stayed with the light and dark layers in the sketch and this is the result.  I embossed both of the layers but you can't see it on the patterned paper. 

Here's another view of the card, which shows off the embossing done with the Hammered Metal Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up!  The patterned paper was embossed using the Subtles Embossing Folder also from Stampin' Up!

The sketch I used is from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Products Used

Taylored Expressions

Poppy Seed ink

Earl Grey, Poppy Seed, Cherry Pop cardstock

Cherry Pop Enamel Dots

Oreo Enamel Dots

Stampin' Up!

Party with Cake stamp set

Subtles Embossing Folder

Hammered Metal Embossing Folder

Friends Like You

With a headache plaguing my whole day long, I wasn't sure I would make it to the craft desk today.  But late this afternoon, it went away and I was able to get this pretty pair of flowers done for a couple of my favorite challenges.  Given it's getting late and I'm so ready to call it a night due to headaches take a lot out of me but I'm so thankful it didn't get to be migraine strong.

Taking a wee bit of artistic license, I made my poppies purple instead of the more traditional red.   I heat embossed the flowers using Gold Embossing Powder by Ranger, then watercolored them using my Liquid Watercolors from Taylored Expressions.  To a card base of Whisper White I added a layer of Gold Glitter Paper, then a layer of Gorgeous Grape and then the layer with the flowers.  The sentiment was in my stash so I added it to a layer of Gorgeous Grape cardstock.  For the finishing touch, I added some Icy Sparkle Crystals by Studio Katia.  

Here is an angled view of the card which shows some of the shimmer I added to the flowers.  It really doesn't show up very well in the photo but does look nice on the card itself.

I have linked my card up to the following challenges:

The Paper Players

Sunday Stamps

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Product Used

Build-A-Flower:  Poppy Stamp Set by Altenew

Simple Strips-Friendship Stamp Set by Taylored Expressions

Jelly Donut, Lemon Meringue, Peapod Liquid Watercolor by Taylored Expressions

Gorgeous Grape, Gold Glitter Paper, Whisper White Cardstock by Stampin' Up!

Mixed Media Vellum Surface Paper by Strathmore

Simple Strips Die by Taylored Expressions

Icy Sparkle Crystals by Studio Katia

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

As it so happens, I found a new challenge today, Perfectly CAS (using one third or less) and decided I just had to play along.  It really is a new challenge as this is only the third challenge they have had.  It's a Christmas theme this time and the challenge for me was keeping the design to only using one third of the card.  It's not as easy as it may seem but I must say I love this challenge and plan to participate on a regular basis.

The stamp set I used is a new one from Taylored Expressions, Holly Jolly Background.  What I love about this set is that the background part of the stamp is a 4.5" x 5.75" rubber stamp but the holly and the berries are a photopolymer stamp which allows you to easily line up the stamp and fill in the outline image.  What an ingenious idea!

Stamp(s):  Jolly Holly Background, Simple Strips Christmas (Taylored Expressions)
Ink(s):  Old Olive, Real Red (Stampin' Up!); Jet Black (Altenew)
Cardstock:  Old Olive, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Dies:  Simple Strips Die (Taylored Expressions)

And, here is what it looks like standing up.  I rather like it this way and think I just may have to make a few more like it.

Be sure to go check out the new challenge Perfectly CAS (using one third or less).  I'm going to enjoy challenging myself to staying without the one third or less.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Just A Note Calendar

It's that time of year when I start to think of new calendars to make for gifts for my friends and family.  It has become somewhat of a tradition that a new calendar is given.  This year I'm using the Display Easel Die from Taylored Expressions as well as their mini calendars.

There will be twelve different flower panels, one for each month of the year, that can be displayed on the shelf.  The stamp set I used is the Flowers for a Year from Taylored Expressions.  I colored the image using Prismacolor Colored Pencils and Gamsol then cut it out using the Flowers for a Year Dies.  For the finishing touch, I added a few Iridescent Gems.

I've entered my calendar in the Just Us Girls "anything but a card" challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Cheerful Thank You

With Christmas just over a month away, I know I'm going to need lots of thank you cards.  Here is one I made using one of the panels from the Boxed In Basics set from Taylored Expressions.  I used Copic Markers to color it, then added the panel to a card base of Pacific Point cardstock from Stampin' Up!  For the finishing touch, I added some Cherry Pop Enamel Dots, also from Taylored Expressions.

It's Word Week at Just Us Girls.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

A Cheerful Happy Birthday

Here's a card I made using a printed panel from the Boxed In Basics set and the Bubble Greetings stamp set, both from Taylored Expressions.  I stamped the sentiment in the center of the panel and then colored it with Copic Markers.  I attached it to a Cookie Monster card base.  There is a set of four stamps in the set and I love those big sentiments.

I'm entering my card in The Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC198 - Gail's "All About Holidays" Challenge

Guess what?  Today is Wednesday is it's time for a new Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Gail is hosting our "All About Holidays" challenge.  Most of the time I opt to make a Christmas card as I do send out quite a few and I love to get them all made before I really need them.  I love those poinsettias!

Stamp Sets:  Make It Merry, Merry Mail

Inks:  Cherry Pop, Oreo

Cardstock:  Cherry Pop, Sugar Cube

Dies:  Double-Ended Flag Stacklets, Merry Script, Merry Script Backer

Other:  Caramel Drizzle Designer Felt

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, December 5th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

WWC197 - Kath's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Well, Wednesday has rolled around again and it's time for a new Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Kath is hosting our Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge.  For my card, I used one of those I made at the Stamp Joy 2018 event I attended in October.  This is one of the cute make n' takes we made.  The stamp set is the one we received in our goodie bag.  It has some cute images on it and I know I'll be using more of them in the future.

Stamp:  Look Who's Talking

Ink:  Oreo

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube, Toffee

Patterned Paper:  Playful Patterns - Harvest 6x6 Paper Pack

Dies:  Frame in Frame Cutting Plate

Other:  Cherry Pop Enamel Shapes, Copic Markers

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, November 26th at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Floral Thanks

Just a quick post for you tonight as it's late and I'm fading fast.  It's been a long day but a productive one.  Now it's time to share the card I made for the Color Throwdown Challenge and then get myself to bed.  I had a lot of fun playing with some new stamps and dies.  I love the bright colors and cheerful flowers.

Stamp Sets:  Floral Elements, Rustic Linen (Altenew)

Inks:  Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Coastal Cabana (Stampin' Up!); Poppy Seed, Cookie Monster (Taylored Expressions)

Cardstock:  Oreo, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Floral Elements Die (Altenew); Thanks Die (Taylored Expressions)

The colors I used for today's card are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Just A Note

Hello and welcome to another rainy, storm filled day in Iowa.  Severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings means it is Spring.  I love the rain but the stormy stuff I can so do without.

Today I wanted to share another lesson project I made during a recent class I took at Altenew Academy.  I had the the privilege to win a free class and it was For the Love of Color.  It shared various ways to add color to your cards and it was such fun.  This card was done using sticky tape and glitter.  I had never thought of using the two together.  Once the glitter was applied to the sticky tape, we used markers to lay down the color.  In my case, they were the Stampin' Write Markers from Stampin' Up!  You can use alcohol markers but the glitter can do a real number on the brushes.  The markers I used held up well and I didn't have any frayed brushes when done.  I love how this one turned out and will likely use this technique again.

The sketch at Freshly Made Sketches worked perfectly for this card.  The only thing I changed was placing my sentiment at the top rather than at the bottom. 

Stamp Set:  Stitched Stems Stamp & Die Combo (Taylored Expressions)

Ink:  Oreo Hybrid (Taylored Expressions)

Stampin' Write Markers:  Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Sweet Sugar plum, Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, Peekaboo Peach, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron (Stampin' Up!)

Dies:  Stitched Oval Stacklets Dies, Double-ended Flag Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Brick Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Scor-Tape (Scor-Pal), Glitter

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #262

Hello and welcome to another sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I'm sad to say that this is my last post as a member of the Design Team.  For various reasons, I need to step down and, as you can see, my card reflects my mood today.  I'm going to miss being a part of the team.

Stamp Sets:  Delightful Daisies (Heartfelt Creations), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  VersaMark Watermark Ink

Brusho Crystals:  Gamboge, Prussian Blue

Copic Marker:  Y17 Golden Yellow

Cardstock:  Oreo, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions), Tip Top Taupe (Stampin' Up!)

Dies:  Delightful Daisy Dies (Heartfelt Creations), Standard Circles Dies (Spellbinders), Double-ended Flag Stacklets (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Weathered Embossing Folder, Sheet Music Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Silver Embossing Powder, Pearl Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, May 7th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Spring Flowers

Hi everyone!  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Debbie is our host and she has challenged us to design a project showcasing Spring Flowers. Considering we just had a couple of inches of snow over the weekend, I'm more than ready for some warm weather and pretty flowers.

The I'm sharing with you is one I made in a recent class I took at the Taylored Expressions Studio.  I learned how to blend using my Prismacolor colored pencils and Gamsol.  I can tell you that I love this technique.. I'm sure you will be seeing it often in future projects.  I found it to be a very easy technique and it is so easy to blend colors. 

For all the challenge details and to share your project at The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge, just click the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Sunday, April 8th at 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Flowers for Spring

Yesterday found me in my craft studio until the wee hours of this morning making these two cards for the current Twofer Card Challenge and The Flower Challenge.  The Twofer Card Challenge is the one where you have to make two different designs for two different occasions using the same stamps and/or dies.  The Flower Challenge is an anything goes for the month of March.  Of course, having new stamps and dies to play with could have been the incentive to simply sit and create.

Here are the two cards I made using the same stamp set and dies.  It's fun to create two totally different card designs using the same stamp set.  The blossoms theme for the challenge was perfect for making some bright, cheerful flowers.

 
My first card features the Gran's Garden stamp set from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the different flowers and leaf stems onto Crumb Cake cardstock and cut them out using the Gran's Garden Dies from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped a sentiment from the Secret Garden Collage stamp set by TPC Studio onto some Sugar Cube cardstock,  Then, cut it out using the Double-Ended Flag Stacklets Dies from Taylored Expressions.  I popped up the banner with foam tape.  An easy and simple card to make.  It's a thinking of you card I'm sending to a dear friend.

Stamp Sets:  Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink), Secret Garden Collage - sentiment (TPC Studio);  Inks:  Blue Corn, Lemon Meringue, Pea Pod, Plum Punch, Sugar Cube (all Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Double-ended Flag Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions)

My second card is one of encouragement and uses the same Gran's Garden stamp set and dies.  For this one I stamped the flowers in various colors along with the leaf stems and cut them all out.  They flowers are popped up with foam tape to add a bit of dimension.  The frame is cut using the Frame in Frame 2 Cutting Plate by Taylored Expressions.

Stamp Sets:  Colorful Seasons - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink); Inks:  Cookie Monster, Lemon Meringue, Plum Punch, Poppy Seed, Strawberry Milkshake (all Taylored Expressions), Crushed Curry (Stampin' Up!), Wild Honey Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Dies:  Frame in Frame 2 Cutting Plate (Taylored Expressions), Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink); Other:  Sequins

The theme of blossoms is from the Twofer Card Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

I'm also entering my second card in The Flower Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha