A sweet preview and WCW sketch

Are you ready for another stamp preview from The Greeting Farm? Besides the awesome Creepers, there's an Oliver and Amelia set called Journey and it's a sweet one!

I chose Amelia for my card and she looks so sweet and vintage-y so I colored her in sepia tones for a different look. I added a bit of lace and used some seam binding ribbon and added the sentiment that comes with the set.

It was a lot of fun coloring Amelia this way. And the best part was, I only used 4 Copics (E31, E50, E51, E53) to color the whole image! Looks like I'll be doing this again...

Today is also Wild Card Wednesday and here's the fun sketch by Jessica. Visit the other team members of Club Anya & Friends to see more Oliver and Amelia previews.

Remember that tomorrow, July 1st is release day at the Greeting Farm, and we're having a blog hop to celebrate the occasion. 

Hope you'll stop by to hop, then shop! See you then!

my happy news!

Guess who's the Guest Designer for Club Anya & Friends for the month of July? ME!I was so excited (and shocked!) when Jessica approached me. How could I refuse? I ♥ The Greeting Farm stamps and consider this such an honor! Thank you, Jessica!

Today I'm introducing Creeper Monday, one of the newest members of the Creepy Crew, coming to you on July 1st. This month, creepy cuteness will be not only in RUBBER, but also in digital form! Make sure you visit The Greeting Farm and Club Anya & Friends to meet Creeper Jack and see more rubber goodness!

After I colored Monday, she screamed goth so I added some pink to make her "gothic cute". I also added some buttons and the "Pretty cool" sentiment from the Roll Call kit.

And I inserted a piece of white paper inside so a message can still be written on the inside of a black card!


Please visit the other design team members' blogs to see their preview cards:

• Jessica Deidrich
• Amy Young
• Kelly Booth
• Kim Costello
• Pam Varnell
• Traci Porter

That's all from me for today, but come back tomorrow for another preview that's on the "sweet" side.....can't wait to show you!

kristina's digis

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend! I want to share some cards that I put together with some digis by Kristina Proffitt, aka one happy mama.

To thank her followers who participated/will participate in the Cards for Kids card drive, she created these adorable digis, together with Crystal Wilkerson, and offered them as freebies here.

They're already colored in so it's just a matter of resizing them to whatever size you like and printing them out. They're perfect for the Cards for Kids card drive or used to brighten up anyone's day.

I made six of these cards in under an hour with little or no stamping. I love this bird image and the yellow bird is a brad which fit perfectly on the card.

Stamps: Hero Arts Clouds background

Stamps: Hero Arts Woodgrain background

I used the Sakura Aqua Lip pen to add some gloss to the owl and caterpillar. Super quick and easy cards! Thanks, Kristina, for a great set of freebies and for all that you do for Cards for Kids.

Wild Card Wednesday & Cards for Kids

Wow--Friday sure crept up fast! It felt so good to veg out the week, visiting blogs and doing some online shopping. Did anyone else go bonkers at Papertrey Ink? My mail carrier brought me two boxes from PTI on two separate days--yikes!

I managed to make a card for Club Anya & Friends' Wild Card Wednesday with this sketch by Kim Costello.

Here's my take on the sketch. I used Anya--in a bikini!--from the new Sunshine kit by The Greeting Farm.

I stamped the cloud background by Hero Arts behind her, and also used the new check background stamp. I love how the colors look against kraft.

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Hero Arts
Ink: Hero Arts , Distress inks, Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts notecard, kraft
Patterned paper: Me and My Big Ideas
Other: Copics, Papertrey Ink flower die, Stampin Up scallop border die, buttons

The third round of the Cards for Kids card drive has just begun. There are now 13 kids and their families all of whom can use a bit of cheer. You can read all about them here and learn how you can be a part of this very rewarding card drive. And there are lots of great prizes from great companies, too.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

summer is here!

Today's weather forecast:

Sunny--High of 86, low of 72. Breezy, with east winds at 14mph; gusts up to 25mph. 

Happy official first day of summer! I love the longer days of summer--don't you?  More hours to stamp and color and take good sunny photos!

Here are two cards made with some fun images from Tiddly Inks. Christy created the little girl digi first and this month she added the little boy in her store.  They're too cute with their swim rings and arm bands.






It doesn't show up in the photos, but I added some gloss from the Aqua Lip pen on the goggles, arm bands and swim ring. And I used the big dot Cuttlebug folder for the first time. Love those dots!

Whatever you do this summer, have fun, be safe, and don't forget the sunscreen!

Stamps: Tiddly Inks
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up
Other: Copics, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Aqua Lip pen, Hero Arts paper flower, ribbon, buttons, pop dots

happy father's day!

A quick post to share a card made with a new digi from Tiddly Inks called "Daddy's Girl".

Isn't she perfect for Father's Day? The great thing about digis is you can buy them and download them right away. Print, color, and you have a quick card.

Wishing all dads, granddads, and anyone who's like a dad a very Happy Father's Day!

Stamps: Tiddly Inks digital stamp
Ink: Colorbox
Other: Copics, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug houndstooth folder, pop dots, button, ribbon

31 years!

Here's my One Layer Wednesday entry for last week's challenge which was "repetition". I finally got to use my Ali Edwards' sentiment stamp and the repetition was the little heart. I gave this card to my hubby yesterday--our 31st wedding anniversary!

He appreciated the simplicity.

And here's a share of the awesome flowers that he brought home.

Ahhhh, love! ♥ 

TESC #117

I thought the sketch for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #117 looked so interesting, especially with the sentiment set off to the side. So I decided to play along.

Here's my take on the sketch.

I used some yummy Webster's Pages paper for the background and stamped the hydrangea and sentiment on some ledger  paper.

I went a little overboard with the ink and paper distressing and used a bit of pretty lace that a dear friend shared with me.

I think this card was a "test run" and I'll work on another and decide between the two. I like distressing since it's very forgiving--even when you have inky fingers!

Stamps: Hero Arts hydrangea, Impress sentiment

Patterned paper: Webster's Pages, Making Memories, Basic Grey

Ink: Ranger distress inks, Memento Dark Brown

Other: EK Success paper edger, Nestabilities, lace trim, button, twine

One Layer Wednesday #8

Susan's One Layer Wednesday challenge #8 is "masking". Create a one layer card with a masked background. Sounds simple, right?  Well, it took me almost a week to come up with this, and two other ideas got a thumbs down from my hubby.

I chose a Nestabilities circle and die cut a piece of cardstock to use as my mask. Then I grabbed my favorite spongy Nerf ball and sponged the sun.

I love the bird and branch by Savvy Stamps. Originally, I stamped the branch coming in from the right side of the card, and it didn't look right with the bird facing inwards. Then I had an Aha! moment and turned the branch, not the bird. Duh!

Ever wonder where to put a sentiment on a card? Susan shared the "sweet spots" on a card face and what is most pleasing to the eye. On the drawing, the two sun symbols are the spots.

This is just a guideline, not a cardmaking law. Sometimes a sentiment looks great centered. Sometimes I like to leave it off altogether. But on my card, I think the sweet spot worked.


Thanks, always, for visiting. Hope you're all off to a great week!

Stamps: Savvy Stamps, Hero Arts
Cardstock: Gina K
Ink: Memento Cantaloupe, Versafine Onyx Black
Nestabilities circle die

a skinny peacock

Just a quick post to share a new digital image from Tiffany Doodles called "skinny peacock". Coloring the peacock was fast and I knew exactly which colors I wanted to use.

I also stamped around the edge with a paisley design from Hero Arts' Exotic Decor stamp set with some Pool shadow ink. I really like how this card turned out!

Here are the Copic colors that I used to color the peacock.

Remember there's still time to enter Tiffany Doodles' sketch challenge. Grab a few freebies and join the fun! The deadline is June 30th.

Stamps: Tiffany Doodles, Gina K, Hero Arts

cardstock: Papertey Ink, Stampin Up

Ink: Versafine, Hero Arts shadow ink

Other: Nestabilities, Copics, ribbon, gems, pearls, pop dots

you're a star

Meet Amelia, Oliver's buddy from The Greeting Farm. I have to admit, I was more interested in Oliver (because of the fishbowl) and didn't notice how cute Amelia was. Love her adorable, wonky hairdo and all the doodads she's wearing.

A strawberry hair bow, a cupcake, and those huge star earrings! She was a lot of fun to color and I added some gloss to the strawberry and stars with an Aqua Lip pen.

I stamped "you're a star" on the inside of the card and I'll be sending this to a little girl who just became the big sister of the family.

Stamps: The Greeting Farm
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts notecard
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cantaloupe
Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, Swiss Dots embossing folder
Aqua Lip by Sakura, Sharpie poster paint pen, ribbon, star button

Wild Card Wednesday--Kelly's sketch

Considering I was not a big fan of sketches, I can honestly say that I like doing them now--provided they're simple and user friendly.

Kelly drew this sketch for the latest Wild Card Wednesday at Club Anya and Friends and I wanted to give it a shot.  I also wanted to use the newest Oliver image from The Greeting Farm.

Isn't he too cute with his little fishbowl and friend? I love the boy images that the Greeting Farm came out with recently. I've got a bunch of cards that need to be mailed to Jennifer's Cards for Kids drive and this card with Oliver is perfect.

And I couldn't end this post without sharing a photo of Swimmy--the classroom pet of room G105.

Swimmy came home for the summer since school is out and he's huge--about the size of a closed fist. And always hungry. Must go and feed him now....

Stamps: The Greeting Farm

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Martha Stewart kraft

Patterned paper: Basic Grey, K&Company

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities Labels Eight,

Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers, star button

Two card swap and yummy Hero candy

Cyn from Munchkins (a rubber stamp store here in Hawaii) hosted a two card swap and I thought it might be fun to join. Send in two identical cards and receive two cards back. 

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Hero Arts Graph and Raindrop background

Rub ons from Pebbles

I had an Ebony image already colored so it was just a matter of coloring another one to match. It also gave me a chance to try rub on sentiments for the very first time, and I love it! Pretty easy to apply and foolproof, too. I've just become a fan of rub ons!

* * *

If you ♥ Hero Arts--and who doesn't?--you'll want to pay special attention to this:

Blogging friend Kathy is celebrating her one year blogaversary with a generous giveaway of stamps from Hero Arts' new Summer catalog.

Simply visit her blog, The Daily Marker, for all the details. And while you're there, check out her amazing cards, and you'll know why I call her my "Dot Queen"!

Today's a state holiday in Hawaii--Kamehameha Day--and the start of a long weekend. Hope you all have a great one!

All Star Ethan

Happy Wednesday! We celebrated four birthdays in seven days and have a few more to go before the month is over. Probably Definitely gained a few pounds with all the cake and ice cream we've been having! (burp!)

I was feeling sketchy and decided to enter the Saturday Sketch over at Club Anya & Friends because it looked a little friendly.  Here's the sketch.

And here's my card. I used new Sprout Ethan and papers from Cosmo Cricket. I stamped him in brown ink and used LA Lakers' colors for his jersey. Go Lakers!

The newest Sprouts are so adorable and there's a nice mix of boy and girl images and some great sentiments, too.

Thanks for visiting! Hope you continue to have a great week!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Hero Arts stripe background

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Martha Stewart kraft

Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket, Making Memories

Ink: Memento, Pumice Stone distress ink

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities oval die, Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers, star buttons, pop dots, sewing machine

Tiffany Doodles 01 Challenge

Welcome to Tiffany Doodles first blog challenge! Every 7th of the month, a new challenge will be posted. You have the rest of the month to create and submit your entry, using a Tiffany Doodles digital stamp. Grab some freebies from the Tiffany Doodles sidebar to get you started!

This month's challenge is a sketch challenge. Here's the sketch created by Jenyfur from Caardvarks.

Here's my take on the sketch. I must admit, I panicked when I found out the first challenge was a sketch, but I grabbed the Sunny Face freebie and a pack of Cosmo Cricket papers, and everything fell into place.

I used my new cloud die from My Favorite Things and the sun digi was printed on some Bo Bunny dot paper. I'm really pleased with how this card turned out and may use this sketch again.

And here are the prizes for Tiffany Doodles first challenge:

• 7 digis of your choice for first place
• 5 digis of your choice for second place
• 3 digis of your choice for third place, and
• 3 digis of their choice to a random winner!

The deadline is June 30th at midnight EST so you'll have lots of time to create.

Enter your submissions by using the Inlinkz feature on the Tiffany Doodles challenge post. Visit the rest of the design team (list on my sidebar) for more inspiration and we hope you'll join the challenge!

Stamps: Tiffany Doodles Sunny Face digital stamp (a freebie!)

Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket, Bo Bunny

Other: Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers, My Favorite Things cloud die,

Stampin Up scallop border punch, corner rounder, pop dots

Make a wish

June is such a busy month. Six family birthdays, an anniversary, and a sprinkling of friends' birthdays, too!

Here's a birthday card for a dear friend using another new digi from Tiddly Inks called Everyday Princess. I started coloring her goth, but once I colored her flouncy skirt pink, she turned "girly goth".

I used the new graph background stamp from Hero Arts again--love it!--and the Heartily Yours Additions sentiment.

* * *

Please stop by tomorrow for Tiffany Doodles' first challenge and a fun sketch for you to try.

Hope to see you then!

Stamps: Tiddly Inks digital image, Gina K (Heartily Yours Additions by Nina Brackett, Hero Arts new! Graph background

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts notecard

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Spun Sugar distress ink

Other:  Nestabilities Labels 8, ovals; Copics; pearls; gems; ribbon; pop dots;
Sharpie poster paint pen

Meet Miss Poppy

Tiddly Inks has introduced some new digis in their store, in the Gothic Cute section. I must admit I was a big fan of Christy's Buggs when I first discovered Tiddly Inks, but I'm gradually switching over to the "dark side"!




This digi is called Poppy.  She's a goth gal, but I chose bright colors because of the poppies in her hands and hair. And I used the Heartily Yours Additions for the sentiment tag.  Love those mixed fonts!

I also used the new Hero Arts graph background stamp which is now my second favorite next to the Cling Dots stamp. I love that graph pattern!

Thanks, always for visiting my blog. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stamps: Tiddly Inks digital image, Hero Arts background, 
Gina K (Heartily Yours Additions by Nina Brackett)

Inks: Hero Hues, Versafine

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts notecards

Other:  Copics, Nestabilities, ribbon, pearls, twine, pop dots

And the winner of the digi is....

Thanks to all who hopped along with us at Tiffany Doodles first blog hop! Hope you had fun and lots of inspiration from the other team members...I sure did!

According to random.org, the winner of the Pocket Mouse digi is new follower JOANNE JAY!

Congrats, Joanne! I will confirm your email, and Tiffany will be sending you the file for you to enjoy. Hope you have fun with the digi and maybe try some paper piecing, too!

Tiffany Doodles will be having challenges on the 7th of each month.  Each challenge will last till the end of the month so you'll have lots of time to enter and win some digis, too. The first challenge will be a sketch challenge and I hope you'll play along!

Please be sure to visit Tiffany Doodles today to see if you won the grand prize from the hop! Ten digis of your choice plus some awesome candy!

And a special welcome to Vanessa Menhorn who is joining the Tiffany Doodles design team! Visit her blog and see her amazing work.  Great to have you on board, Vanessa!

Tiffany Doodles Blog Hop!

Welcome to Tiffany Doodles blog hop--so happy that you joined us! If you came here from Deirdre's blog, then you're on the right track. If not, start at Tiffany Doodles and follow the list.  Leave a comment at each member's blog to be entered in a fabulous drawing to win the top prize of 10 free digis and some yummy candy, too!

• Official Site    Tiffany Doodles
• Tiffany Richards    Tiffany's Garden
• Cammy Wall    Pink Room Therapy
• Cindy Lee    My Lil Crafty Corner
• Deirdre Horgan    Colour and Ink
• Donna Mikasa    3 Umbrellas -- you are here!
• Julie Masse    Stampin' with Julie
• Kathy Racoosin    The Daily Marker
• Kim Schofield    Paperie Petals
• Lindsay Amrhein    Note to Self
• Peet Roeven    Scrap Album
• Ruby McGuire    Ruby 2 Shoes Design
• Shannon Neparko    Desert Design Studios
• Sunghee Chon    Creativity in Progress
• Virginia Lu    Yes, Virgina

Here's a card made with the Pocket Mouse digital image.  I wanted to paper piece the pocket so I printed out the digi on patterned papers.  I colored the mouse's head with Copics and it was done! Paper piecing makes for a quick and easy card.

Want to win this adorable digi? Tiffany has graciously agreed to have digi giveaways on each team member's blog. I'll be choosing a random winner from the comments, so you'll have another chance to win Tiffany Doodles digis!

Now head over to Julie's blog and enjoy the rest of the hop!