VSN Mini Trio

The Spring VSN Mini opened this last weekend and I seen that on Saturday afternoon. 

And the first challenge I read ( I did these out of order) was Kim's to use "compost" items, the theme this virtual stamp night is how does your garden grow? and so, on this card is a used recycled coffee filter and a new sentiment from Riley and Co that came in mail recently. ( so, it was on the table front and center) the sentiment actually has to tiny coffee beans under where those brads are ( eyelet outlet?) and I had water colored them but, when I tied on the Hero Arts string ( also laying on the table from one of their previous kits of the month) they really faded into the background so, I knew I had these brads and for the first time they were not "too big " scale wise for the card. that text print is from a Graphic 45 pad and this one is 6" square in real life.

 The next one I did was Lee's add a bug to it challenge and when I typed in bug in evernote this particular old Stampendous pail topper was the first one that said ooh play with me, and so I did. I heat embossed this twice on white and the curry and cut the white one apart to paper piece it. the bloom was colored with some white gel pen. the bug bodies are covered with clear wink of stella glitter pen.
The sending love is from Hero Arts and its on a Nelle Snellen tags 3 die. the tag dies (round) are from Memory Box.

 Now Misti's challenge was to have blooms in a container. and I knew without looking I would need to color something to play in that one so, I saved it for last. and just let it sit in the back of my mind. and then I woke up Sunday and seen the newest Featured Stampers gallery ( Carol card seen here) and I just laughed and laughed because, although it is not exactly what Misti asked for it "technically"
 works right? Isn't Carol's card gorgeous, I probably should have masked in some of the leaves from the Power Poppy Dahlia XL set but, I had started darkening the background of the vintage dictionary page to let the "container" definition pop and I got it too dark and then I had to keep adding more color to the bloom. so, by that point it was too late for leaves.
So, Changes from Carols card are I used a Die cut sentiment ( Lawn Fawn scripty Hello) and Stamped the bloom. and tore the edges of that paper.

A closer look at this, it was stamped with some Versafine Imperial Purple ink and I tried to keep it very no line coloring but, when I got the background so dark I finally grabbed some polychromos pencils and started putting the lines back in a lot darker so..
So, this has made it something to look forward to with the rest of the Challenges that get released later. Thanks for stopping by.

Inspired by {Antique Farmhouse}

 This dog stamp (Gourmet Rubber Stamps)  Was something I picked up poking around at amazon a long time ago. I have a tiny collection of Emerson images from American Art Stamps so, I was surprised to find them on cling from these people. I was actually hunting for a different stamp that I used to have on a watch page on ebay and found this instead and loved the sentiment. It finally got inked up and colored in January during the last 30 day marker coloring challenge and set aside. So, it was sitting on the table when I came across this window inside the inspiration site.  The thing that caught my attention first was that weathered green textured window frame. I loved that. but, when I started to make my card I grabbed the first green scrap I seen that was (also laying on the table) because, when I ordered these embossing folders from SU I did not you know read the sizes on anything just thought oh, that will make cool seaweed order it and was a little surprised it was a wide border folder. ( the good part is its 6" long so, it works on square cards for me) I liked how all the words were stacked too so, just looking at the image and the way the sentiment is I thought you know what, close enough. the brown card base was part of a pack of premade ones ( and I am trying to use these up so) since it came out of the drawer I do not know who made it, ( its thin, I lined it with more Neenah)

A look at the window. ( they are actually selling that hand garden sign) but, the green in this frame is just so gorgeous to me. I did actually do some shopping in this store and that surprised me even more than the fact that I wanted one of everything. ( not really, I am totally over dusting things) but I picked up one of these and one of these and I think they will mostly be used as booth props. (they have not shipped yet, or the co. does not tell you it was shipped.... not sure yet, placed the order on 2/14 so we shall see. and that is a rare (very rare) thing for me to just order something like this from a co. I have never heard of before. Thanks for stopping by, I will do an loot shot when these piece show up.

WOYWW #455 {Loot}

Good Morning, & Happy Desk Peeking day! if you'd like to play along or see more spaces you can find the link up here at Miss Julia's Blog.

 So, I had to get my teeth cleaned Tuesday am and they have a new girl working the counter in their office and she was burning stinky candles so, I had a headache all day. and I had received these packages from Ellen Hutson & Simon Says Stamp from their big sales they had last week and I really didn't have the oomph to open them so I shot this and walked away. ( popped pills, closed my eyes went for a walk) I had fully intended to just do a post with that shot and maybe stick a card at the end you know? but then,

 I Came back inside feeling better and decided to open them up this was in the envelope. no clue why the snarky sentiments tickle me so much and yes, I probably have "enough" but... they were on sale and... lol The die is a solid one from MFT that I seen Ardyth use not to long ago and it looks supper as an embedded one because, all the letters are already straight like that ha ha. :)

and this was in the box. I really need to hunt down the names of the which color on the new Versafine Clair pads is supposed to be black? ( I could not tell just looking at the images online so decided to try a red.) Have not opened the ink yet. the die on the bottom was on clearance and it makes a box that pops up and holds a gift card on the inside. ( I did stamp the girls with the pets and some of those cute sheep to color later) but, that was about it before I ran out of steam. Thanks for stopping by :)

Thankful Stems

This week the featured stamper is Susy and I found this gorgeous card in her gallery ( I actually found a lot of cards I just loved and so, it was a hard decision to finally make one) :) I changed the layers of textures and colors. ( diecut, sentiment) the banner became a tied on tag, the gem became nuvo drops on the die cut. This one is A2 in real life. The background was done on some Yupo paper with alcohol inks last fall when there was that Alcohol Inks baubles tutorial during the fallidays fest.  I still have a small pile of these that I made laying on the table and most of the time I think they are just too pretty to cover up so, this open die really made me happy layering these like this. That sentiment is from the Papertrey Ink Autumn Hills set.

Inspired by {Schreiner's Iris Gardens}

This weekend we are headed out to the Schreiner's Iris Gardens in Oregon.

This is a virtual tour of some of the Varieties of Iris tubers and Day lilies that are available to purchase as it is a few months shy of blooming season here yet. 

 This is one of those fourth time's a charm cards... I am hosting the Inspiration Challenge this week trekking everyone out to see an Iris Farm so they can wish it were closer to spring (mentally).  :)
This is the first Iris stamp I ever bought, its a huge one from Magenta. ( there is no name on the woodblock sorry) Iris were the first flower tubers that were ever gifted to me when I first expressed an interest in growing things. so, over the years between the horse trades and purchases. I have a very big selection of them.  I am sure my neighbors hide when they see me pushing a wheel barrow full of ones that are being weeded out of the beds. lol. The background was done on watercolor paper with the original greens and blues Oxide inks. cut with the largest waffle flower A7 lacy layers die.

 This one was stamped with some Versafine and colored with Polychromos and prisma pencils. the sentiment is from the Altenew Birthday greetings set.The color pattern inspiration for this bloom came from this Banish Misfortune tuber.

 Now this, this was the first one I tried. and yes, its pretty but, it wasnt a WOW card in my head. ( and I am not really partial to purple so.. I set it aside. the bloom is called Single Iris from Penny Blacks brushstroke line ( its also a really old stamp) I do not know if PB retires stamps or not.
the sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp Best ever set. the wired ribbon is from May Arts. the base is black berry bliss and the print ( I have forgotten its older though from the scrap bin)

 A closer look, I did add some pencil colors over the markers. this was stamped direct to rubber with markers and misted with water. the inspiration piece for these colors looks like this. and since the Iris stamp had more of an Siberian look to the petals instead of a double ruffle I skipped the peachy shades at the top and focused on the pink/purple shades.

 So, then I decided to focus on the mostly pale blue shaded one that looked like this (seen below) the ribbon on this one is a shimmer one from SU in pool party, the embossing folder is a cuttlebug one and the hand made mulberry paper has bits and pieces of dried flower petals in it. This one is A7 in real life.

The reality is the pale blue I have that looks pretty much like this, it fades to white about a day and a half after it opens. so, my thought is this one is probably a photo shopped shot. ( I know we all do it.)
Very pretty though.

 The colors on this one I did not add any pencil shading to it and this one only had 1 spritz of water on the inked rubber. the one below was misted twice so the colors blended a little better and were softer.

This one that sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp set called You got this. this is the smallest card at A2. I actually liked the way the softness of the inks look best on this one. and because, I forget things it's a good idea for me to actually photograph and record those thoughts. because next time If I happen to see this ( I have been plugging my card shots into my evernote file with the stamps) when I am doing stuff in evernote it gives me that Oh, yeah spray it twice first thought. We are supposed to get snow tomorrow so, it will be fun to see all the flowers in the garden this weekend in the gallery. you can find the thread to play along with us here.  Thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW #454 { Folded Papers}

Happy Desk Peeking Day, you can find out how to play along

 and or see more here at our hostess Miss Julia's Blog.

 So, these are tuesday after work shots. there was a color challenge this week that was a bright berry pinkish color, turquoise and peach. which looks really pretty together but, it way way out of my comfort zone. and when I came home I still had this pile of newish SU stuffs and I thought ok just play with some of these. There was exactly one stamp in both sets that I wanted so, since that seems to be the norm anymore I hardly order anymore.

 This is left out from Monday when there was a use cardboard as your paint brush challenge. all those shades of green cheap acrylic paint are very very similar to each other.

 the chucks are "drying" and the birthday cards were the first 3 attempts at that color challenge idea and the embossed gatefold kinda looked like seaweed to me. ( its not a full sized folder is a wide border one) which was a little bit of a surprise. and so, while I was thinking that I started messing around with that mermaid tail thinking just maybe I will combine these things.

this is that sentiment. It made me laugh. the bumps are a skinny cuttlebug border embossing folder. because, it is a little snarky I thought it would be funnier as a one layer card. so this is actually the first one I made before I kept trying the color challenge. We had two more baby boy lambs born yesterday. but, no mug shots. ( I am in my robe typing this) Hope you all do something fun for Valentines day & thanks for stopping by.