Spring-y Cards for a Spring-y Day!

Hello!

Yay!!! We have spring like temps (FINALLY) in Middle TN. Celebrate. Of course, I still had to make my kids get off their electronic devices and go outside but they are out there now being children, so I'm going to pretend like it was their idea. (When it's a little warmer, I probably won't have to force them out. I'm going to pretend that, too, for now.)

I got up early this morning and got several "chores" taken care of early so I had no qualms about taking a crafty break and making a couple of cards. It was spectacular. Ha. 8-) One I needed for a friend who's not well and the other was just for fun. (Which most of mine are. I'm bad about making them and then not sending them. I never have the ones I need (Sympathy or get well, etc) and I'm looking at the stacks and stacks of cards I have asking myself, "What AM I making???". LOL.

Here's my first one -- playing around with Paper Smooches again. :)

 

 

I based my design off the sketch from the SPARKS challenge blog:

 

 

I also used inspiration from Addicted to CAS challenge - Distress and scissor distressed and sponge inked the accent panel after embossing the Blossoming Buds in white over the CTMH patterned paper. I added banners using MME Be Happy 6x6 pad and MFT's Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner dies (LOVE!!!). The sentiment is from the PS Spiritual Sampler stamp set.

 

I'm also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes and CASual Friday's Springtime Melody challenge.

 

 

 

 



My next card is super springy -- great spring colors. It make-uh me SO happy! I used patterned papers from CTMH's Brushed paper pack and MFT dies and stamps.

 

 

My design is inspired by the current MFT Sketch challenge:

 

 

 

I die cut the little paper strips using the small strip die found in Blueprints 22 and then die cut the banner using the Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banners. I cut a yellow panel using Blueprints 13 (also from Brushed paper pack) and layered a white panel over that trimmed to fit within the stitched border. It is actually embossed with my MFT Diagonal Stripes Stencil (Have I mentioned how much I love this???) and it's my first attempt embossing with a stencil. You can BARELY see the impression in person but it does look pretty cool being so subtle. Sadly, it's so subtle Mr. IPhone Camera said, "No ma'am." I hope to try it again and get better results -- I monkeyed around with my sandwich several times but still didn't get optimal results. I'll have to try again. (In my free time.) The sentiment is stamped from the Donuts & Sprinkles stamp set.

 

 

I am also playing along with this card and CASual Friday's Springtime Melody challenge (inspired me to pick this paper pack! I bought it soley because of the happy spring colors.), Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes, and Heart 2 Heart Challenge, LOVE the CTMH way. (my fave CTMH products are the paper packs. I tend to buy them and hoard them, too "scared" to cut up the beautiful paper. Yikes!)

 

 

 

That's it for today! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Hope you are feeling the positive spring vibes I am sending your way. :)

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

Hebrews 12:1                     New International Version (NIV)

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

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Playing around and a few challenges

Hello!

My stars and three little chickens....we had another "snow day" today. I was a little surprised that we did,  but other parts of our county had bad road conditions (we just couldn't tell it from where we are). My surprise didn't stop me from sleeping in this morning. (Insert shameful face here.) No sirree -- I slept right through that get-up-and-have-coffee-before-the-kids-get-up alarm! I hate when I do that!

Despite having The Piglets around today, I did manage to find time to make a card and I'm popping in to share it. I had to make this one. It was an idea that popped in my head the other night at sleepy time and was haunting me until I tried it out.

 

 

I was playing with my Paper Smooches goodies again. So fun! I based this off the sketch this week over at the SPARKS blog.

 

 

I used my Tiny Hearts dies and cardstock scraps in the rainbow colors. I die cut each heart from each color cardstock and lined them up on the cardstock strip. The sentiment is white embossed on a black cardstock circle, die cut with my Stitched Circle STAX from MFT. I then white embossed it again on black cardstock and trimmed it by hand before attaching with foam tape. I white embossed it three more times on red, green, and blue cardstock and trimmed just the overlap for the heart in each color and glued those miniscule pieces down (very carefully). The sentiment circle is layered over a larger die cut vellum circle using the same die set. At the very end, I added dots with my White Wink of Stella glitter pen on each heart and on the sentiment.

 

I played along with a few other challenges today:

 

Addicted To Stamps: Embossing Dry or Heat, CASology's "Mini" cue card, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes and House Of Cards, Love theme.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

Romans 8:28       King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 



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Floral Thinking Of You - for Colour Q & Case This Sketch

Hello!

I'm popping in tonight to slide my Colour Q card in before it's too late! I got a start on it late last night, but barely found time to finish it today. My timing didn't go exactly as planned, but it's finished, so I should totally share. :)

I used the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! and colors at Colour Q for inspiration:

I used WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals stamp and die set, SSS Banners die, MFT's Blueprints 22 die and Diagonal striped stencil. I used CTMH colors of Vineyard Berry, Gypsy, and Smokey Plum. I just die cut, stamped, and layered. Nothing fancy.


Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

God Bless,
Mandy

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It's Your Day and a few challenges

Hello!

I'm popping in this afternoon to share a card I made last week or over the weekend. Honestly, the days have been running together since mid-January and it's hard to say. But, nonetheless, I have a fun little card to share. :)

 

 

I played around with some Hero Arts Neon Spray Inks I've had for a little while but not used and my new Diagonal Stripes MFT stencil (that I LURVE). I've used it several times already and only had it a couple of weeks! After I sprayed over the stencil, I die cut the panel using MFT's Blueprints 22. and circle punched a couple of scrap pieces of cardstock and vellum. The stamped sentiment  is from CTMH's It's Your Day stamp set -- (it has 4 super cute sentiments in it). I stitched my circles down and then added a few blue enamel dots before adhering it all to a white card base.

 

I'm playing along with a few challenges that gave me inspiration. :)

 

Runway Inspired Challenge (the stripes and pink & blue) and Fusion Card Challenge (sketch):

 

 

 

Heart to Heart Challenges, Think Pink and Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge, Let It Sparkle.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

 

Mandy

 

 

1 Timothy 6:6  New International Version (NIV)

 

         ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain

 

 



 

 

 

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Come on Spring!!!

Hello!
I've decided all of my posts and crafting from now until April shall hereby deemed "Come on Spring!". Ick. We were skating by (no pun intended) here in Middle TN unscathed until just this last week. And then wow. We got it. And we got it. And we got it. Below freezing temps all week and tons of ice. What a mess. What started out at the beginning of the week as "Yay, we're going to actually get snow!" quickly turned into "OMG. No one can go anywhere." We were ICED in, not SNOWED in. The Hubs was leaving for work around 4am every morning, city governments were closing their offices, the local news reported constantly with updates on road conditions, wrecks, and closures. One day of it was kind of "exciting", if I'm being perfectly honest. By Friday, I wanted to lay down in the floor and moan and groan. Even the cats (who were stuck inside with us and driving me MAD) were at each other's throats! Ha! Soooo....here we are! The following Sunday night, one week after it all got started and the kids still aren't going to school tomorrow. At this point, one more day won't kill us and I already dreaded trying to spend a frantic Sunday night trying to get it in gear, after a weekend of houseguests and a sleepy, sleepy Sunday afternoon.

Enough about that! On to share some cards...I had a few crafty sessions last week, but as you can imagine crafty time and bloggy time were harder to come by than usual. I'm so looking forward to getting some semblance of a routine back this week. ? Dare I hope???

 

 

For this card, I used MFT's Donuts & Sprinkles stamp and die set and patterned papers from my CTMH Skylark paper pack. Super fun to play with. I admit this one took me a lot longer than I anticipated because I started with my original idea (sprinkles only in the shaker) and it just didn't look right. It was way too plain -- something was missing. I kinda tore it apart, able to save my top layer and foam backing and put a donut into my shaker circle and added the twine and sprinkles. Much better and I was so much happier. I can hardly stand to leave one unhappy. It bothers me even later. Ha! 8-)

 

I used the MFT Card Challenge - Sketch # 216 and Curtain Call's Donut Delight challenges for my inspiration.

I am also playing along with 613 Avenue Create, Anything Goes Challenge this week.


My next card is truly "Spring Hopeful" and I enjoyed making it for that reason!

 

I used WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals stamp set, a Technique Tuesday sentiment stamp, and MFT's Stitched Jumbo Fishtail Flags die. It came together quickly. I used the Runway Inspired Challenge for inspiration, as well as the sketch over at Freshly Made.

 



I am also playing along with Just Us Girls Color Challenge this week.



Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! I hope everyone is surviving the winter and staying sane until spring! :)

God Bless,
Mandy


1 Corinthians 10:13    New International Version (NIV)
¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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A few cards -- I'm trying to get back to it!

Hello!

I'm dragging along (crafty time wise) but still here! With the kids out of school for snow/ice all week and me trying to catch up on cleaning house, etc, after being out of commission for several weeks, I'm struggling to squeeze in crafty time and bloggy time. But, I'm trying and it will get better. I'm almost there! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.     I think.   :)

I made a few cards yesterday (or was it the day before? --   Oh brother) and I'm finally popping in to share them. The house is blissfully quiet and I'm the only one in this room for the moment - and, boy, do I need that! Ha! I have to have quiet and alone time to recharge my batteries and that's been a little harder to come by as of late.

First card I want to share with you is one I've had muddling around in the ole noggin' for quite some time. I tweaked it and did a couple of different things with it, but really like how it turned out. :) Using a few more Paper Smooches sets again. So fun to combine the sets and just play.

 

I used my Green Thumb stamp set and Blossoming Buds stamp set stamped in Soft Stone ink onto water color cardstock. I colored my images in with Distress Inks (rubbed on craft mat then spritzed with water). I used other dye inks for my sky (blue and yellow) -- I totally prefer Distress Inks for this method and plan to get more and more colors over time b/c I like doing this so much. I love the look. I stamped my sentiment from the Spiritual Sampler stamp set. After finishing it all up, I diecut the main panel using my MFT Blueprints 22 die set and layered it over a Kraft cardstock base.  

 

I'm playing along with Paper Smooches SPARKS, Anything Goes challenge this week, as well as CASual Friday's Must Love Watercolor challenge, and Addicted To Stamps Challenge, Make Your Mark, and Inkspirational's Photo Inspiration (my interpretation: SPRING TIME!!!).

                
          






For my next card, I played with some new MFT goodies (I'm a MFT newb and it's quite fun) and am playing along with my first MFT Color Challenge. Woot-woot.






I used the Diagonal Striped stencil (LOVE. IT. Already used it 2 or 3 times, which is good for me.), and the Grand Holiday Greetings stamp set.

 

I used CTMH Outdoor Denim and Sky inks, SSS Schoolhouse Red ink, and Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I used masking to stamp my sentiment in the challenge colors and give it some variety - since it was the main focus of the card. It's all layered on a piece of Outdoor Denim cardstock for the base and CTMH Hemp twine "twined" it up. The sequins are Hazel & Ruby and the dot from MME.

 

I'm also playing along with One Layer Christmas Cards Challenge, Anything Goes.

 

Last card! I promise!

 

I used some Teresa Collins paper from a 6x6 pad I've had stashed for quite some time. Mandy got addicted to ScrapbookSteals.com quite some time ago and ordered 6x6 pads like they were going out of style! They were so reasonably priced and I LOVE patterned paper (Even though I'm bad to not use it now that I'm RARELY scrapbooking) and I just kept ordering. I finally cut myself off until I used some of those up. Ha! I still have a ton. (for my taste anyway - I'm stressing if I have an overabundance of supplies. I'm on a mission to stock mostly just the basics: cardstock, ink, stamps & dies.) I'll get there.  My children may be in college before I do, but I'll get there!

 

 

I was inspired by CASology's  Monochrome Cue Card and purposely chose the papers all in matching colors. I'm drawn to the soft pink and light grays of that paper pad, so it was easy to pull a few scraps out that matched. I die cut the circles using MFT's Blueprints 13 dies and stamped the sentiment from Avery Elle's Winter Wreath. I added a gray CTMH button and pink dots from MME.

 

I'm also playing along with 613 Avenue Create's Anything Goes Challenge this week and again with Inkspirational's Photo Challenge (the pinks!).

 

Well, that's a wrap for me! I feel like it took me all night to get this post together, but I'm confident I'm close to bouncing back to normal. :)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

I Peter 1: 15,16  "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. For it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."'

 

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Giveaway Results and a couple of cards

Well hello!

I'm still here, I promise. Just not getting to blog as much as I like. Ugh. Still battling some type of virus but think it's almost out of here! Miss Priss went back to school Friday (after missing 8 days) and I had a day of quiet. I mostly stayed in and still had to rest because of fatigue. Good grief! I've had a little bit of that today, but not as much. Fingers crossed I can return to my "normal" life next week! :)

First order of business -- results of my Blog-A-Versary Giveaway ------- Taunya Butler!!! :) Congrats Taunya! Please email me at mmaj98 (at) att (dot) net with your addy and I will get your blog candy on it's way to you! :)

Now, I have a couple of cards to share that I made last night and today. What little energy I had yesterday was spent working on a Valentine's project for The Piglets. They loved it. After I finished it up last night, I made them each a card using my new MFT Donuts & Sprinkles stamp and die set. It was a good excuse to play with it and they are both so into donuts, I couldn't resist. (Their love of donuts was, after all, what spurred me on to try that cute set.) I'm not quite sure they appreciated the effort of the cards, but the bouquet was a big hit. :)     ....those are Dum Dum's.

First card, I played with the new set and made a fun card just to play around based on the sketch at CAS(e) This Sketch.

 

 

 

I used a patterned paper from Pink Paislee's Hey Kid 6x6 pad and the large die cut shape from MFT's Blueprints 22. I am also playing along with Seize the Birthday, Anything Goes.

 

 

Next, I wanted to play with some watercolors, a new die, new stencil, and a stamp set I had yet to ink. The challenges for Little Tangles and CASual Friday's are Watercolors. I don't use that technique very much, but like it. I just let it slip my mind. I really love how these colors came out together. (I don't have too many Distress Inks and I like how they do the best. I've done it some with my other dye inks and it works, but I it doesn't blow my skirt up or anything.)

 



 

 

 





I was so proud of how this turned out! I loved the colors together.

 

So, I used lightweight spackle (Poor girl's embossing paste -- well in this case, Impatient Girl's...but I won't bore you with that.) over a striped diagonal MFT stencil. I rubbed Distress Inks onto my craft mat and spritzed with water before brushing onto watercolor cardstock and then diecutting with MFT's Stitched Jumbo Fishtail  Banner. I used the colors Broken China, Mowed Lawn, and Picked Raspberry. I stamped the sentiment in VersaFine Black Onyx ink, then clear embossed over it. I popped the banner up with foam tape and added a few matching enamel dots and that's all!

 

I am also linking up with Lil Inker Design's Monthly Meet Up Challenge for February.

 

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Some Much Needed Craft Time and Inspirational Challenges

Hello!

We are still struggling here at Chez LaCroix and Mama is getting a little cranky! Phew. Took Miss Priss to the doctor this morning and I went Monday evening. No one can find anything wrong to explain continued fevers. Sigh. I am TIRED.  :)

I got some very therapeutic time in my crafty space yesterday afternoon and it did wonders for my "mood"! :) I needed it! I played along with some challenges I didn't want to miss and didn't get the time and energy to get them all posted last night as I wanted. So I am playing catch up this morning. Along with a million other little things I have to do! Argh! (Can you say class valentines? Yikes. I tried to get The Piglets to go along with premade cards this time but they are not having it.)

Before I share my cards, please check out my BlogAVersary Giveaway post here. Followers (both current and new ones) can comment for a chance to win some blog candy!

For my first card I wanted to play along with the current Merry Monday Challenge, Candy Canes. I bought the SSS Candy Cane Christmas Limited Edition card kit in November and still love it!

 

 

I used a piece of PTI Pure Poppy cardstock for my base, Lawn Fawn's Snow Day patterned paper for the accent panel, MFT's Grand Holiday Greetings, and the SSS Candy Cane Christmas stamp set. I stamped the two candy canes, fussy cut and glued together on the accent panel that was die cut and embossed using LID's Stitched Rounded Rectangles.

 

Next up, is Paper Smooches Valentine's Day card for the challenge on their blog. I used the Bee Mine stamp set.

 

 

I stamped all the images and colored them with Spectrum Noir Markers on the main panel. I sponged Distress Inks "Mowed Lawn" to ground the image and then layered it over the base with a few patterned pieces (Echo Park's Head Over Heels 6x6 pad) on the edge.

 

And last to share this morning, is for one of the anniversary celebration challenges over at Papertrey Ink. They are celebrating 8 years! I LOVE their products and watching the new releases come out each month. For sure not BUYING them each month, but I'm there in spirit. :)

 

This challenge was to use a stamp set that has yet to see ink or has seen very little. I proudly report that I didn't have any that had never seen ink, but I did some digging and found a couple that hadn't been used very much. Super Stripes and Signature Greetings.

 

 

I'm not wild about it, but it will do. I used Soft Stone cardstock for the base, Vintage Cream for the main accent panel, Hibuscuss Burst and Soft Stone ink, and Rasberry Fizz cardstock die cut with a MFT Stitched Circle die. I white embossed the sentiment and added some twine through the top.

 

 

That's it for me this morning! Wow. I have a bunch of "work" to get to today! (Especially if I want to have play time later. My fingers are crossed - I'm sure I will need it before day's end!)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."



 

 

 

 

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