Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

It's definitely coffee time, as we close November and head to December. I just got back from the grocery store, where you would have thought it was the end of the world. No eggs. No SALAD or LETTUCE. Never saw that before. The forecast is 4-9 inches on top of freezing rain through Sunday. So it's time for COFFEE and lots of it!

Today I am sharing an image from Picket Fence Studios called Need More Caffeine. LOTS of coffee to get through this first December weekend!

I stamped the image on Kraft with VersaMark ink. Isn't it fun? I added some coppery-blue sparkly thread around the middle and then adhered it to my base of Ivory. The copper colored die is from Reverse Confetti, and the little corner sentiment is from Picket Fence Studios' Coffee Understands.

I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Sepia. I love the CAS look! Stay warm and cozy!

White Christmas with Whimsy Stamps

Hello Everyone!
Today I have a pretty CAS (Clean and Simple) card to show you using a sentiment and die from Whimsy Stamps!

I started with white and red mirror cardstock (the hardest to photograph!), along with some basic die cut shapes, and one of the trees from the Evergreen Trees Die Set. I stamped my sentiment from Bundled Up in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.

I stamped one of the snowflakes from Bundled Up in VersaMark, and then embossed with Clear powder. 

I then assembled the card, popping up the circle with 3D Foam Circles, and adding a few Snow White pearls for bling.

Super elegant and super easy! Plus - it's flat enough to mail without extra postage, and that's always a plus!
Hope your November was full of blessings!

Poor Ginger!

One of the fun, humorous new November releases from Whimsy Stamps is GingerSnaps! There are several sentiments and gingerbread cookies that have just had enough. :)
Take a look:

I made a little shaker card with a fun candy background for poor little Ginger! I know several friends that would get a kick out of this!

Off to bake some cookies!

Monoprint Background with Trinity Stamps

I love this new silhouette stamp set from Trinity Stamps! I like to make monoprint backgrounds with acrylic paints, and this was a perfect opportunity to use Seasons Greetings.

I started with one of my monoprints, made with a Gel Press plate for my background, and figured out where I wanted the "snow" and where I wanted the "trees". I moved my stamps around the print for awhile, before I decided which direction to make "up." Up is actually turned 90 degrees to the right from this photo.

I stamped my images using my MISTI and VersaFine Onyx Black ink. The MISTI helps the ink adhere to the painted background. I then cut a frame for my little scene, using a Sizzix circle die, and stamped my sentiment below. I added texture to the frame with an embossing folder after the sentiment was dry. I added some sequins and snowflakes from the new Blizzard Shaker Embellishment Mix for some added bling.

Kind of a fun look!

Challenges: 
Path of Positivity - ANYTHING POSITIVE WITH Optional Theme: SHADES OF GREEN
Dragonfly Dreams - (November) Anything Goes

It's Picket Fence Studios Release Day!

You are going to love, love, love this release from Picket Fence Studios! There is so much goodness to see that it will take more than one day from the whole team! So be sure to check back here, and on all my teamies' blogs, as well as the PFS blog for all of the fun!

My card for Release Day was fun to make -- and incredibly easy! That's the best, right? I used two stamps from the release: Rough Around the Edges and Oh So Many Birthday Wishes. 
Rough Around the Edges is FUN! It's a large 6x6 background stamp that can have MANY looks. I decided to make my background a fun pink and green plaid.

I chose Worn Lipstick and Twisted Citron (my favorites) for my plaid colors, and used my MISTI and Life Changing Blender Brushes to apply and blend the ink on the stamp. Stamped on my cardstock. I turned it 90 degrees, stamped again, and voila! Plaid!

I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Onyx Black, again using my MISTI, to get good coverage over the Oxide ink. I thought I might add sequins, but ended up with a funky paper flower (Prima) I've had in my stash for my only embellishment on this one layer card.

I love the bold and big look! What do you think?

Check out the entire new release at Picket Fence Studios!

Challenges:

Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes  

Crafting from the Heart - #228 ANYTHING GOES

Tiny Elegance from Whimsy Stamps

Today I have a tiny little Christmas card to show you - that will probably turn into a Christmas tag for a special gift. 

I am using the new Cozy Blanket Background Stamp, along with October's Evergreen Tree Dies from Whimsy Stamps.

I stamped my background with a ColorBox three-color pigment ink pad, and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. It has a silver, light blue, and dark blue ink. My tree and background panel are cut out of silver cardstock. I added pearls, some flowers from my stash, and there it is! Perfect to tie on a bottle of sparkling wine, or on a sweet, special gift!

Challenges:
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Christmas 
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
Double Trouble Challenges - Christmas Holiday
Make My Monday - Winter Foliage

Artsy Isabella

One of the things that I love about all of the Beautiful Girls images at Picket Fence Studios is that many (if not all) are named after family members, family pets, and friends. I think that is so cool! I am using the Beautiful Girls - Isabella image today on my card. She is named after Nicole's niece. And she reminds me of my daughter.
She just looks so carefree and thoughtful, with her own fashion sense.

So I gave her an artsy background made with Distress Oxides, and used one of the new October releases, Happiness Belongs to You (three sentiment set).

I stamped both images with VersaFine Onyx Black ink, using my MISTI. I love the large size of these sentiments, and the versatility of how/when they can be used!

Challenges:

• Lemon Shortbread - Always Anything Goes
• Papercraft Challenges - Friendship
• Creative Fingers - ALWAYS ANYTHING GOES
  

Make Your Mark Challenge!

Hello everyone! Today I am sharing a card for the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #317: Make Your Mark! Use your pencils, markers, inks, paints, watercolours, etc., and make "a mark" on your card!

For this challenge I am using Trinity Stamps' Hopeful Flowers, a little mini 3x4 set that packs a punch. I had decided to do a black and white card, and then when I was ready to stamp the sentiment (from Caffeinated Sentiments), I knew a pop of color would make all the difference!

I stamped my flower spray with VersaFine Onyx Black, and my sentiment with Stephanie Barnard's Strawberry Red. I thought that might be the only red, but then kept going with one of the floral sprays in Copic Lipstick Red.

Finally, I tied a bow of red taffeta, and mounted everything on a black cardstock base. One of my favorite color combinations!

Come play along with the Make Your Mark Challenge!

Other Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes Christmas 
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Christmas and Seasonal Holidays 
Sisterhood of Crafters - Humour
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

November Release at Whimsy Stamps!

There are so many beautiful new releases at Whimsy Stamps! Something for everyone - digital, red rubber, cling, stencils, dies! This is the new Snow Dangle Stencil - along with a sentiment from You're My Jolly.

I used my blender brushes to color my stencil openings (both designs on the same stencil!) using Distress Oxide inks - Worn Lipstick and Twisted Citron. The brushes really help to get into small spaces, like the dots! I stamped my sentiments after the inks had dried, and then added a few sequins to represent snow and add some sparkle.

I love the non-traditional colors for Christmas greetings. What do you think?

Challenges:  
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes 
Send a Smile for Kids -  Happy Holidays 4 Kids or Anything Goes 4 Kids
Polkadoodles - ANYTHING GOES 
Creative Knockouts - Clean & Simple 
Crimbo Crackers - Must Be Christmas Related #170 Anything Goes 
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'  - Anything Goes Christmas

New Releases at Trinity Stamps!

It's an exciting day for Trinity Stamps with so many amazing new stamp sets, matching dies, and tons of beautiful and sparkly embellishments! Be sure to check out the Trinity Stamps blog for all the details on the prizes and how to order, and to start at the beginning of the hop! We're hoppin' with the Trinity Tribe Creative Team today and Monday, so if you have come from Jo's blog, you are in the right place!

My card today is a monochromatic greeting using the new Winter Botanicals stamp set with its matching dies. It measures 4x6 inches and has 28 individual images. This beautiful set contains branches, blooms, and accents to build a number of botanical centerpieces, borders, bouquets, and more. 

I started by making a circle stencil using some blending brushes and Distress ink, and then built my wreath by layers of shades of blue, using VersaMagic Chalk ink.

I added some die cut layers and pearls to dress it up. I love the versatility of this set! I know my team members have some gorgeous creations with it too!

For my second project, I did a simple page in my Bible using the same set. Colossians 3:2 says "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Many times we all feel tossed by the wind, trying to juggle all of the earthly things we deem important. I thought the different botanical elements randomly stamped (somewhat "wildly") represented all of the things I fill my day with - most very unimportant. So I made the word "focus" as center to be a reminder that focusing on the most important (God) can change how the scattered thoughts and activities take over my day. 

Be sure to visit each blog on the hop, and come back Monday for more awesome Trinity Stamps inspiration! Now on to Karen's blog, where she has some AMAZING things to show you!

Here is the complete Friday Hop!

Katie Brooks

Angelica Conrad

Ashlea Cornell

JoAnn Danchik

Christine Kirch

Donna Lewis

Jo Herbert

Judy Rozema

Karen Reategui

Kimberly Wiener

Sindhu Jay

AND - last but not least, I am always inspired by rainbows and bold color makes me happy, so I am linking up with the DT Call for the Rainbow Card Challenge! I love working with different color combinations, and with shades of one color!
(Mynn, I am not sure I have one style, but I love being electic!)