Wednesday, February 18, 2015

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!!!).
                
           GRAB OUR BADGE!






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!).
OUR BLOG BADGE
 
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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26 comments:

  1. I like how you've taken our photo to inspire you for a springtime card and your card is fresh, pretty and beautifully made.Thank you for joining us at Inkspirational Challenges. Come back next time! Marina

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  2. What a great layout on your 'thank you card' I love how beautifully the elements (button, paper, dots) go together and the blossom paper really reflects our photo. Your Christmas card is lovely too. Thank you for joining us at Inkspirational Challenges. Come back next time! Marina

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  3. Beautiful cards : simple and adorable! Hugs from Spain.
    Nancy

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  4. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous CAS card with us at 613 Avenue Create, good luck this week.
    Lorraine

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  5. Sorry to be so slow in my commenting and visiting you but between getting ready for 10 days with my grandbabies and actually being here with them I have been just a touch busy!!! But I hope you know how amazing I think you are even when I don't get the chance to come and tell you right away!!
    These cards are awesome and each one has amazing facets about it!! The first one is soft and so inspiring - makes me feel faith!! So very well done and just love the way you create - you make me want to go and make something right away!!

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  6. Wonderful cards! Thanks for playing along with us over at OLCCC. :-)

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  7. Great cards! Love the spring colors on the boots one!

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  8. Fab cards, Mandy. Love your card for the MFT challenge. Simple but eye catching.

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  9. Beautiful cards, Mandy! Love your water coloring on the first one...Thanks so much for playing along with us this week at ATSM!

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  10. Mandy wow! Your cards are fabulous! I love the stenciling on your MFT color challenge card! So happy you were able to play along with the MFT Color Challenge!!

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  11. Love the soft pink and grey and the almost vintage feel, but still beautifully CAS! So glad you joined us at CASology this week!

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  12. Gorgeous cards!!! Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!

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  13. Beautiful cards!
    I love the sentiment on your first card! Your watercolored scene is very tranquil!
    Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!

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  14. All are beautiful! Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!

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  15. Well done squeezing in some craft time!! I totally hear you in the 'not enough hours in the day' department. Have been like that myself lately and its always my hobby that suffers. I love all of your cards but especially your watercolouring with the gumboots. The colours are so pretty and love the way you blended them across the card. Its really stunning and I'm so glad you shared it with us at ATSM this week! I will keep my fingers crossed for you that you can fit in a few more card making hours this week coming!!

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  16. Absolutely love the Paper Smooches boots and flowers!! Love! Love! Love!

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  17. I love seeing you get creative, Mandy! These designs are all fantastic! Thank you so much for playing in the Inkspirational challenge with two of your cards! I love your interpretations!! Have a great weekend! Hugs, Darnell

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  18. Wow... a host of beautiful cards! I really like your use of color on the first card. The watercolor look is subtle and beautiful. The shading on the background stamp that you used on the second card is really eye-catching. Great work! Thanks for sharing with us at Inkspirational!
    - Shauna

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  19. Love your watercoloured gumboots! All your cards are stunning. Thanks so much for playing along at ATSM xx

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  20. Great designs! Love the watercolored boots and flowers on your first card. Thanks for joining us at Paper Smooches SPARKS!

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  21. What beautiful cards. Thank you so much for joining us this week at CASology

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  22. Great cards! I love your springtime inspiration... I'd never had thought of that although it's obvious when I think about it now. Man! :) Thanks for joining us at Inkspirational!

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  23. Great cards... I really love your take on the MFT color challenge. I really like the simplicity of it, yet it is so on trend!

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  24. Awesome cards - all of them! Thanks for joining in at OLCC!

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  25. Oh my goodnesssss! I'd say your doing better than dragging along, Mandy! I'd say you're on a ROLL. And I LOVE your MFT newbie card. It's SUPER delicious!

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  26. Love how you have taken the subtle soft colours from the photo and used them on your card.
    Thank you so much for playing with us at INK for our photo inspiration challenge. We would love for you to join us again :o)
    Pia xx

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