Flowered Cake

It's a beautiful here in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The sky is blue, the sun is shining and the snow is on the mountain tops.  Actually, there is more snow to come this weekend but at this time of year it will most likely stay on those mountain tops.  I have to say that does not bother me one bit.

Today's card was a bit of an experiment.  I tried to do some blending to show the different levels that are in the sketch below.  I did change to order of color from light to dark versus the dark to light in the sketch.  I think it worked.  The transition between colors is subtle but there.  I took a piece of Rococo Rose and ran it through the crimper after I had cut it out using the Rounded Rectangle Dies from Altenew.  Then, I sponged the edges with some Mulled Wine ink from Taylored Expressions.  The cake die cut was one in my stash.  I had stamped and colored several, cut them all out and had them ready to go when I needed them.  It's the Happy Birthday To You stamp set and the Birthday Dies from Stampin' Up!  For the finishing touch, I added a few clear gems that I had left over from a Paper Pumpkin Kit.

As of yet, I've not added a sentiment because I don't know if it will be a birthday, thinking of you or just a note card to send to someone.  And, you never know, I just might not add a sentiment.

Stamp Set(s):  Happy Birthday To You (Stampin' Up!)

Ink(s):  Strawberry Shake, Guava, Mulled Wine, Oreo (Taylored Expressions)

Stampin' Write Markers:  Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss, 

Curshed Curry, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Flirty Flamingo, Rococo Rose, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Patterned Paper:  Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!)

Die(s):  Rounded Rectangle Dies (Altenew); Birthday Dies (Stampin' Up!)

Other:  Clear Gems

The photo above shows the different levels of color a bit better.  These color blended together so well that, as I said, the transition between them is subtle.

The sketch I used is from the Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

The theme I used is from The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Thinking of You

It's just a clean and simple stand of trees.  It's been snowing on and off here today so I spent the day in my craft room, watching it snow while I made a few more cards.  The sketch is from The Paper Players Challenge and the theme of 'trees' is from The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge.   I really like how this all came together.  Simple, easy and a card I can send to one of my grandsons.

Stamp(s):  Colorful Seasons (Stampin' Up!)
Ink(s):  Shaded Spruce (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock:  Shaded Spruce, Whisper White, Gray Granite (Stampin' Up!)
Patterned Paper:  Feels Like Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!)
Dies:  Evergreens Die (Taylored Expressions)
Other:  Subtles Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up!); Icy Sparkle Crystals (Studio Katia)

Here's another view of the card.  I did run the trees through the Subtles Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up!  It gave the trees just a wee bit of texture and made them look less flat.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

The Paper Players Challenge

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Forest Deer

My days seem to be filled with playing along with challenges when I'm not designing for the two design teams I'm on.  Today finds me playing along with The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge.  I was going to do a cutesy type of card but came across this wonder die of three deer that a dear friend gifted me.

See the deer on the left?  It actually had antlers that I cut off so I could have a family of deer.  Dad, Mom and Baby.  I like this die as it is one die but cuts each deer separately.

Stamp(s):  Mini Strips Holiday (Taylored Expressions)
Ink(s):  Jet Black (Altenew; Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock:  Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Patterned Paper:  Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!)
Dies:  Mini Strips Die (Taylored Expressions); Deer Die (?)
Other:  Foam Tape

The forest friends theme is from The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Cute Spooks

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Terri is our host and she has chosen "Cute Spooks" as the challenge theme.

This one was a true challenge for me as I don't have any cute spook type of stamps.  So, I used some Graphic 45 patterned paper and found two small stamps that were in a box a friend gave me and stamped a dangling spider and the legs of witch for my spook feature.  I hope it works.

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, October 21st at 7:00 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 - Fall is in the Air

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week I am your host and the theme is Fall is in the Air.  So, show us what you think of when you think of Fall.

With Autumn (Fall) officially here, the weather has turned cooler and some of the leaves are starting to change.  My card was made from an older Paper Pumpkin kit.  Fall is my favorite time of the year and what could be better than a shaker card made with some pretty Fall colors.  I laid the card down in the second photo so you could see the different colors and shapes of the sequins I used.

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, October 7th at 7:00 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 - Cozy Plaids

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Diane is our host and she has challenged us to design a card using some cozy plaids.  It's a perfect theme for me as the weather has turned cooler and you know that Autumn is nearly here.

Autumn (Fall) is my favorite time of the year.  I love how the various Fall colors work so well with the plaid.  What doesn't show up well it the shimmer I added to the flowers, leaves and the word celebrate.  The second photo gives you an idea of what the sparkle is like.

Stamp Set:  Build-A-Flower:  Cattleya (Altenew)

Inks:  Candy Corn, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato Pie, Lemon Meringue (Taylored Expressions); Buttercream, Jet Black (Altenew)

Brusho Crystal Colors:  Brilliant Red, Prussian blue, Yellow, Moss Green, Gamboge

Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!); Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Watercolor Paper (Strathmore)

Patterned Paper:  Plaid (Unknown)

Dies:  Build-A-Flower:  Cattleya Die (Altenew); Celebrate Die, Stitched Oval Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Crystal Clear Sparkle Brush (Spectrum Noir)

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, September 23rd at 7:00 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 - Bloomin' Flowers

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Gwendolyn is our host and she has challenged us to design a card using bloomin' flowers.  This is one of the card bases I came across in my sorting through some already made up but not used things.  The blues of the lily really look nice against that Dijon cardstock.

Stamp Set:  Build-A-Flower:  Peruvian Lily (Altenew)

Inks:  Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, Sweet Leaf, Just Green, Jet Black (Altenew); Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)

Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube, Oreo (Taylored Expressions); Delightful Dijon (Stampin' Up!)

Dies:  Build-A-Flower:  Peruvian Lily Die

Other:  Boho Chic Embossing Folder, Pearl Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!); White Embossing Powder (Ranger); Clear Wink of Stella Brush

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, September 9th at 7:00 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 - Printed Page Background

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Vickie is our host and she has challenged us to use a printed page background in our card design.  I wasn't sure I even had any on hand but came across some scraps from one of my favorites.

Stamp Sets:  Rustic Linen (Altenew); Corner Adorner:  February (Papertrey Ink)

Inks:  Caribbean Sky, Frosty Pink, Frayed Leaf (Altenew); Daffodil Delight (Stampin' Up!)

Distress Ink:  Antique Linen (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Gray Granite (Stampin' Up!); Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper:  Antique Script (Bazzill Basics)

Dies:  Thinking of You Die (Altenew)

Other:  Pearl Basic Jewels

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, August19th at 7:00 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 - Summer Vacation

Hello and Happy Wednesday to everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Debbie is our host and she has challenged us to design a card about summer vacations.  So, what's your vacation all about?

Mine is spending it on the beach.  I love the sun and the sand and relaxing by the water.  It's been many years since I've been to the beach.  Hmm?  Maybe it times for another adventure!

Stamp Sets:  Colorful Seasons, Waterfront (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Mint Macron (Stampin' Up!)

Patterned Paper:  Serene Scenery (Stampin' Up!); Rainbow Brights Paper Pack (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies (Stampin' Up!)

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, August 5th at 7:00 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 - Use Your Favorite Color

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Darlene is our host and she has challenged us to design a card using our favorite color.

Now that wasn't hard for me at all because blue is my favorite color.  I created this pretty blue rose using the Bold Blossom stamp set from Altenew.  It has turned out to be one of my favorite stamp sets. 

Stamp Set:  Bold Blossom (Altenew)

Inks:  Lime Zest (Taylored Expressions); Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Night of Navy, Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!); Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper:  Rainbow Brights Paper Pack (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Bold Blossom Die (Altenew); Thanks Die (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Brick Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Blue Sequins, Clear Wink of Stella Brush

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, July 22nd at 7:00 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 - Something You Might See/Find in the Sky

Hello and Happy Wednesday to everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Darlene is our host and she has challenged us  to design a card with something you might see/find in the sky.  Examples would be the sun, stars, airplanes, birds, butterflies, balloons, just to name a few.

With flowers blooming and bees buzzing, my new stamp set, Buggy Love, from Maymay Made It was perfect for the challenge theme.  The set is full of cute little bugs and I know will be so much fun to use.

Stamp Sets:  Buggy Love (Maymay Made It); In the Meadow (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  Blue Corn, Peapod, Oreo Hybrid (Taylored Expressions); Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up!)

Distress Inks:  Black Soot, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz)

Distress Oxide Ink:  Wild Honey (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Oreo, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Perfect Pearls Perfect Pearl (Ranger)

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, July 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

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Animal Crackers

Hi everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week your host is Terri.  She has challenged us to create a design using animals as the focus.  I've not used my Party Pandas stamp set is a while so I decided to do a very simple card.  I stamped the panda, added some confetti and a flag and that was all there was to it.  Very simple but what a cute little panda.  I hope you stop by and share your animal creation with us.

Stamp Set:  Party Pandas

Inks:  Oreo Hybrid (Taylored Expressions); Real Red (Stampin' Up!); VersaMark (Tsukineko)

Cardstock:  Oreo, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Double-ended Flag Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  White Embossing Powder (Ranger)

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, June 24th at 7:00 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 - Poppies for Memorial Day

Hi everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week I'm excited to be your host. With Memorial Day just a few days away, the challenge is to create a project using poppies.  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day set aside to remember and honor those men and women who died while serving their country in the military.  The poppy was inspired by the World War I poem, "In Flanders Fields" written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.

Stamp Sets:  Painted Poppy (Altenew), Pick A Pennant (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  Poppy Seed, Guava, Lime Zest, Peapod (Taylored Expressions)

Distress Ink:  Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Poppy Parade (Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube, Oreo (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Painted Poppy Dies (Altenew), Raged-edged Dies (Unknown)

Other:  White Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up!)

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, June 10th at 7:00 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 - Magical Fairy Garden

Hi everyone!  It's the second Wednesday in May and that means it's time for a new challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Diane is our host and she has challenged us to design a Magical Fairy Garden.  You can use a fairy, or anything magical like a unicorn, rainbow or gnome.  I pulled out my Garden Fairies stamp set by Flourishes, dusted it off and got to work with watercolors.  It was a fun project to create and, yes, I still do believe in the fairy tale. 

Stamp Set:  Garden Fairies (Flourishes)

Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Crushed Olive, Mustard Seed, Victorian Velvet (Tim Holtz)

Distress Oxide Ink:  Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions), Watercolor Paper (Strathmore)

Patterned Paper:  Floral Shoppe Collection (Graphic 45

Dies:  Cross-stitched Rectangle Dies (Unknown)

Other:  Scalloped Oval Punch (Stampin' Up!), Clear Wink of Stella Brush

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, May 20th at 7:00 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 - Leaves

Hi everyone!  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Gwendolyn is our host and she has challenged us to design a project showcasing leaves. With Spring finally here and everything is slowly turning green, I went with green leaves.  So, just breathe and enjoy that fresh Spring air.

Stamp Set:  Colorful Seasons (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  Old Olive (Stampin' Up!), Oreo (Taylored Expressions)

Brusho Crystals:  Moss Green

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions), Watercolor Paper (Strathmore)

Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove Paper Pad (KaiserCraft)

Dies:  Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies (Stampin' Up!)

Other:  Mossy Meadow Regals Candy Dots (Stampin' Up!)

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, May 6th at 7:00 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 - Bunny rabbit

Hi everyone!  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Vickie is our host and she has challenged us to design a project showcasing bunny rabbits.  With the cold, snowy weather we've been having, not many bunnies are straying far from their nests.  I thought it would be fun to create a scene where the bunnies were out enjoying some warm sunshine.

Stamp Sets:  Stitched Scenes 2 - sentiment (Taylored Expressions), Kinda Eclectic (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  Lemon Meringue, Poppy Seed (Taylored Expressions)

Cardstock:  Wild Wasabi, Always Artichoke, Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Garden Green (Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions

Dies:  Build a Scene -Calendar Dies - grass, Evergreens Dies, Hippity Hop Dies (Taylored Expressions), Hills Dies (Your Next Stamp)

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 22nd at 7:00 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

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birds

Hi everyone!  Wednesday has rolled around and it's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week is Darlene and she has challenge us to design a project featuring birds.  Funny thing is, I don't have a stamp set that has a bird in it.  Now how sad is that, I ask you?  So, I dug out one of my favorite patterned papers from Graphic 45 and let it do the bird watching for me.  I love the bird images in this paper.  And, yes, if you are wondering, I am on the lookout for some bird stamp sets.

Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla (both Stampin' Up!); Patterned Paper:  Botanical Tea 8x8 Paper Pad (Graphic 45); Other:  3/8" Lost Lagoon Silky Taffeta Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Friend Die (Taylored Expressions), Sequins

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, March 25th at 7:00 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 - (CAS) Clean and Simple

Hi everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week, our host,  Nancy has challenged us to design a CAS (Clean And Simple ) card.  I sometimes struggle with clean and simple given the fact that I like to add too many layers and a few embellishments.  I now have a mantra I keep in mind as I'm making a clean and simple card and that is, as much white space as possible.  It seems to be working.  The Design Team has some wonderful projects to share.

Stamp Sets:  Colorful Seasons - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Lots of Lavender (Stampin' Up!); Distress Inks:  Black Soot, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Cardstock:  Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Stitched Oval Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Sugar Cube Enamel Dots (Taylored Expressions)

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, March 11th at 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge

Hi everyone!  It's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Terri is your host.  She has challenged us to use a banner or a pennant or a flag in our designs.  It should be so much fun to see how everyone interprets that challenge.  Be sure to check out all of the Design Team projects for some inspiration.

Stamp Set:  Oh So Succulent - sentiment (Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Poppy Seed (Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Calypso Coral, Old Olive (both Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Patterned Paper:  Succulent Garden Designer Series Paper - retired (Stampin' Up!); Dies:  Delightful Daisy Dies (Heartfelt Creations), Sunburst Thinlits Dies (Stampin' Up!)

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, February 25th at 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha