THE PAPER PLAYERS 400th THEME CHALLENGE

Wow, that's a lot of challenges The Paper Players have challenged all of us devoted crafters to make.

Thought I'd join in the festivities with my latest birthday card taking inspiration literally from the theme picture showing balloons which I stenciled as my focal point.  I added a sprinkling of tiny stars in silver ink for a bit of glam.  Printed a sentiment on a strip of CS and done!  A very CAS almost one layer card, cept for the sentiment.

That's it for today, thanks for taking the time to visit.
Hugs,
Nancy

THE PAPER PLAYERS - CLEAN & SIMPLE CHALLENGE # 398

Thought I'd enter my "bird" card for Jaydee's challenge at The Paper Players blog, so here it is.  I just happened to be making this card for my son-in-law's birthday and thought it fit the challenge nicely.

I borrowed this stamp set from my good friend Diane Oliver over at Rubber and Rafters.  She must have at least a thousand stamp sets, dies, etc.,  and when I'm here for the summer she allows me to go pick and  choose to my hearts content.
The stamp set is from Papertrey Ink called Feather Finery, I love the detail in the gorgeous feather.  I used Stampin' Up's new Blueberry Bushel ink, which is a gorgeous blue along with some gold embossing powder for the dots amongst the feather as well as the sentiment and a strip of gold foil paper along the side.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink called Just Desserts. The little blue bird is also from the Feather Finery stamp set, I think he/she's adorable!
Thanks for looking and hope you have time to leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

Nancy

PS
Here's a peak at the inside of the card, also embossed with gold powder and another smaller bird.

TEXTURED ROSES

Just a line or two to show you one of my new cards.  The stamp set is from Papertrey Ink's May release.  It is a two-step stamp unlike some of their others, this one is a little more subtle I think.
Anyhow here it is...

For the background I used just the first stamping with Soft Stone ink in an all-over pattern.  The focal image was stamped first in Amethyst Allure ink and the second stamping with Royal Velvet ink.  I used a frame of Amethyst Allure cardstock before adhering to the base, stamped the sentiment and that was it.

It's definitely a different (for me) card image, but it's growing on me.
Thanks for looking and hope to hear from you.
Hugs
Nancy

New color combo for me!

I'm making an effort to use up some of my paper that I seldom use.  This time it is Stampin' Up's Pacific Point  card stock.

Since we always seem to need many birthday cards I decided to make a few using this color and some of my floral dies.

Here is the result...

 

If you know SU colors this blue doesn't look like Pacific Point, it must be the outdoor light that makes it appear different.  Anyhow my flowers are a two-step stamp, the first stamp I did in Pool Party and then stamped over it using the 2nd stamp in Pacific Point.

I added a few sprigs of leaves using first Lucky Limeade followed up with the 2nd stamp using Gumball Green.  I think the leaves and flowers have a lot of  line detail that really adds to the stamps.

Speaking of stamps the floral stamp I used is an older one from Papertrey In (PTI) called "The Sweet Life" .  The sentiment is also from PTI, it is called "Birthday Cheer".  I used two stitched die frames the blue just a little larger than the white one and adhered them together, I then splattered a little of the pool party color on both cards for a little added interest.

Here's a close-up of the flowers you can see the pool party color peeking through, in real-life the flowers are quite lovely and in the close-up the Pacific Point color looks more like it's true color.

 

Thanks for visiting, hope to see you soon,
Hugs,
Nancy

SYMPATHY CARDS

Unfortunately I have need of a few sympathy cards and came up with this design, simple but appropriate I thought.

Of course I like the card, but I love the photo of it in my front flower bed among the purple Salvia that is blooming, isn't it precious.
Anyhow on to the card,  I used an "oldie" but "goodie" embossing folder from Darice which I have had for several years, can't remember what it is called, but I know I still see it in Michaels EF section.
The sympathy sentiment is from Stampin' Up (SU) called "Heartfelt Sympathy" and is perfect as it is a good size and covers a lot of the front of the card just under the embossed tree limbs.  I thought the card was looking a little plain so I added a strip of SU gold paper along the side. (which coordinates with the interior), here's a look...

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink (PTI)  called "With Sympathy".  It has five very nice and appropriate sentiments for this sad time as well as a beautiful scroll that I hope to use soon.

Since the saying talks about stars  I decided to add a crescent of stars above the saying.  Of course I had to stamp them in gold ink to match the strip on the outside of the card.  The stars are from PTI'S new "Simple Impressions, Celebrations" stamp set and added a bit of  elegance.

I also made another card using PTI's "Linen" CS in a cream color, but you know the saying "Less is more",  Leave it Alone"?  Well I didn't listen to myself and thought a few cute little birds in the tree would look nice.  NOT SO, now I have to try and figure out some way to cover the little gold birds I had to add.  Always listen to yourself!

Thanks for looking Di, see ya soon!
Hugs,
Nancy

GASP, A new post....

Here is a very simple card using the "Lovely Laurels" stamp set from Papertrey Ink (PTI).
It is a set I've had for quite a long time, but never used.  The set also came with a ribbon garland of the wreath, lots of glittery sequins and some pink twine.  Don't know why I haven't used it, but decided to now although I did not use all the extras as you can see.

I neeeded a thank you card and wanted something CAS with space inside for writing a personal note.
Love the little bird that I covered entirely with "wink of stella" for some shimmer!
Here's the card..

Here is another card from PTI's "Transformation Tuesday" project by Michelle Leone.  This card was one she made a while back and decided to redo it.  I did like her redo, but liked her original version better which is what I copied.  One of her tips is to use straws for the candles, which I thought was a great idea, but I used white cs that I had stamped using Stampin' Up's "Diagonal Stripe" stamp set.
Next time I will try using cut-down straws.  Don't know if you can tell or not but the "flames" are die cute from white glittery paper.

This next card is for a woman's birthday, I really like the scalloped edge and the beautiful flowers.  The flowers are a multi-step stamp from PTI's  "Gran's Garden" designed by Dawn McVey.

The large "Just for You" die is also from PTI.

That's it for today, thanks for looking Diane!
Hugs,
Nancy

NO EXCUSES!

Way too long since I last posted, so here are a few cards I remembered to photograph before mailing.
Young teen birthdays, adult birthdays, thank you's, etc.

This card was for my one brother's 85th birthday.  The motor cycle was colored purple because that's the color of his "trike" he still rides at 85 years young!  Woo hoo!!

A glimpse of the flap on the envelope.

Here are a couple more birthday cards.

more...

and that's it for now...