Challenges and some exciting news!

Kianel gave us a delightful sketch this week over at Ismaki, which I used to create this card. Theme Thursday's current theme is famous faces. Over at One Powerful Hour, the theme is black backgrounds. I LOVE black! I'm sure everyone knows this famous face...right? It's one of the fabulous photo stamps from Stampsmith, stamped on glossy cardstock with Ancient Page Coal Black Ink. The sentiment stamp is from Quietfire Design. The silvery strip on the left is tinfoil, glued to cardstock, Cuttlebug embossed with the Textured Textiles embossing folder, painted with black gesso, then sanded lightly to distress. The rose at the bottom right is paper pieced and pop dotted for added dimension, then lightly glittered. Now here's something you might be interested in: Stampsmith is starting a design team! My uber talented stamping friend Kim Prince is working with Estelle of the Stampsmith on a wonderful new blog. If you enjoy photo stamps, you can get all the details of the design team call right here, and you can see the beautiful stamps Estelle has to offer right here.

This is a second version, using a lavender rose instead of a pink rose, to meet Ismaki's optional challenge requirement. I think I like the pink rose version better. It's softer, like the lady herself.

Thanks so much for visiting today, and as always, for your thoughtful comments.

Dream...

This beautiful image from Femmy is the basis for the Artarazzi challenge this week, while the Saturday Surprise theme is dreams. I've done a digital hybrid, using the spring overlay from Doris Castle and the shabby picture frame by Laura Deacetis. After printing it, I stamped the Quietfire Design "dream" at the bottom, with StazOn ink. I'll actually be sending this to a newly pregnant young friend; just loved the serenity of this image, and the "eggs-in-the-nest" theme. Thanks for visiting today!

Recovering...

A friend of many, many years is struggling to recover from a catastrophic illness. I wanted to create a special card for her, which I'll do on a regular basis, just to cheer her on and to let her know she's in my thoughts, even though we live far from one another. I used this beautiful sentiment stamp from Quietfire Design, butterflies on acetate from Crafty Individuals, and corner flourishes from the Siberian Iris set from Flourishes Stamps for her card. The border punch is Stampin' Up. At Created by Hand, the challenge theme is to use sand and blue. The Crazy Amigos challenge this week is to use proverbs or sayings. At Timeless Tuesday, the challenge is to use acetate. Thanks for stopping by today.

Challenges

This card is based on Isa's current Ismaki sketch, and the One Powerful Hour theme, which is to use circles. I used stamps from Crafty Individuals (birds postcard and white embossed butterfly on vellum from this beautiful multi-butterfly stamp), Stamp It Australia (branch) and Amuse (sentiment), and paper scraps from K & Company. I'll send this card to keep in touch with up a long-time friend who's struggling with some health issues.

Thanks for visiting today!

Gothic Arch

It feels like it's been SO LONG since I participated in any challenges! I was away visiting family for several weeks, and now have my precious five year old grandson Avery visiting with us for a month. Needless to say, he keeps me occupied from morning till dusk, and I just love every minute of his company! I posted a pic at the bottom...he's such a wee gem!

So, today I made time for a challenge! This week's Gothic Arch theme is "Home is where the heart is..." what a PERFECT sentiment stamp I have from Quietfire Design for this one! ;) The oh-so-dainty flourish stamp is from Crafty Individuals. I used a Thomas Kinkaid image from a old calendar.

Thanks for stopping to visit. I love it when you do!

And here he is...heart of my heart...

Created by Hand Challenge

This week's challenge is FRUIT...so here are some cherries on my cupcake(lol). Flowers on vellum stamps from Darkroom Door, available in North America at your local stamp store Canada through Artytart Inc. Cupcake and sentiment stamps available through Quietfire Design.

Stamping again!!

The Friday Focus over at Flourishes is paper piecing, for the "Swing into Spring" challenge, and this week at Created by Hand, the challenge is also spring. I've been away from home (and my stamping supplies!) for several weeks now, so it was GREAT to come home to all kinds of new stamps delivered while I was away! This spectacular iris stamp from Flourishes was one of them. I have several iris stamps, and grow dozens of varieties in my spring gardens, so I was particularly thrilled to use this beauty. This beautiful embossed paper is available through Quietfire Design. I seem to be using it alot this week, it's one of my very favourite textured papers.

Flourishes has a new release party starting on April 10th, so make sure you stop over to their blog to share in the fun!