Joining "Happy Little Stampers January 2016 Challenge" and "Share the Joy Challenge #16"

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope that 2016 brings you all happiness and joy!

I have been creating on and off all week. I am officially on a spending freeze for craft items. I need nothing. It is already killing me because My Favorite Things has been showing peeks of their new release and I WANT so many things. However, I don't use half of what I own and I really need to concentrate on using it up.

In that spirit, I have two cards for you today. Both are sympathy cards. People are always asking if I have any on hand so I decided to make some for my stash.

The first one I created for "Share the Joy Challenge #16. " The challenge was to use the sketch they posted and make a clean and simple card. Here is the card I made:

Here is the sketch:

I chose purples and grays for the color scheme. To emboss the background, I used Taylored Expressions "Snowfall" embossing folder. I used it upside down so that it just looks like random polka dots.

The triangle is a corner of a piece of watercolor paper that I "smooshed" inks on. The flowers are from the "Fall Florals" set from My Favorite Things. It was kind of fun to do stems and leaves in gray rather then green. I love how easy this card came together.

My second card is for "Happy Little Stampers January 2016" challenge.

This was perfect timing for me because I was having fun making backgrounds with this technique last night. If you don't know what "smooshing" is, click on their link above. They have posted some links to tutorials. It is a fabulous way to stretch your supplies.

Again, I created a sympathy card and chose to use purples like I did for the first card.

After "smooshing" my background, I stamped the sentiment and two stems from My Favorite Things "Fall Florals" set. I then placed a stamped die cut over them with foam adhesive. It is hard to see from the photo but the purple stem on the die cut is over a light gray base. My last step was to glue some iridescent sequins on. They really pick up the purple from the background.

I have a few more cards to post this week. I am hoping to start "scheduling" my card making and my blogging in during my week. I think this will help me get more done if I treat it like I do my work out.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a great night!!

Supplies:
"Share the Joy Challenge #16"

InLinkz.com

"Happy Little Stampers January 2016 Challenge"

InLinkz.com

Freshly Made Sketches: Sketch #200

Happy Saturday!! I hope you are all enjoying your day off.

Today I am sharing two cards with you. First is a card I created was inspired by the sketch #200 from the Freshly Made Sketches blog. It is the blogs 200th celebration!!!

When I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to crack open the "Rolling Cloud Dies" from Taylored Expressions that I just received, as well as the rainbow die I had in my stash from My Favorite Things. I used white card stock for the clouds and scraps for the rainbow.

I adhered the die cuts over a white card base that I had blended Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on to make a "sky." I then stamped a sentiment by Paper Trey Ink in blue.

My last step was to give the card a little sparkle by adhering clear sequins randomly around the card.

I really like how this came out and have enough pieces of rainbow left over to make another rainbow card. I will have to mix up the colors but I think that would be okay.

Here is the sketch that I used for the card:

In other news, I wanted to share a few photos from the fun wedding I went to last weekend. A lot of my photos did not come out that well because of bad lighting so forgive me.

This is me and my husband Chris. I cannot believe I am actually posting this because as a rule, I hate photos of myself. I am really trying to be better about it, though.

This one is my brother, Chuck, and his wife, Marlene. They don't live near us so it was really nice to see them!!

My sister Jen, Chuck and I. I have another sister that did not attend the wedding. Who looks the oldest here?

I thank you for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend!!

Supplies:

Card Stock-Paper Trey Ink (white, red), Bazzill (orange, yellow and green), Basic Grey (Blue)

Ink-Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass), Ranger (Blue Ribbon Dye Ink)

Dies-My Favorite Things (Rainbow) Taylored Expressions (Rolling Clouds)

Other-Ranger Ink Blending Tool, Sizzix Big Shot, Scotch Adhesive, Sequins, Ranger Multi Matte Medium, Paper Trey Ink stamp ((Beautiful Butterflies)