A break from summer into my crafty space...

Well, I've almost completely given up on crafting, but not quite all the way. With Father's Day this weekend, I couldn't put it off any longer! Or fall into my new pattern of sitting at my desk waiting for mojo to descend upon me and cleaning out stuff I'm not using much anymore. As a result, my room is a MESS. I've pulled things out and have "piles" everywhere. I've managed to sell a lot of items and clear some more excess out, but I want it all tidied up! Since I'm finding less and less time to craft these days, I'm trying to keep a smaller stash of supplies and only things I'm "in love with" right now and actually use regularly. I love all of it, but some of it just doesn't see the light of day much these days. :)

I'm sharing a Father's Day card I made for my Dad yesterday afternoon (and finished off today). I was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches.

I used my Seaside Greetings set from CTMH and Zig Clear Brush pens to create a watercolor effect on the scene. 

I used the Happy Trio die from MFT and sentiment from Avery Elle's Simply Said: Happy set. I finished it all off with Bronze Shimmer Trim from CTMH and patterned paper from My Mind's Eye. I am also playing along with 4 Crafty Chicks's Father's Day challenge and Crazy 4 Challenge's Masculine challenge. 

I've also been trying to catch up on cards I want to make for those at our church congregation for various reasons. Aack. I hope to get back into my routine of keeping up with this weekly! I've barely (if at all) sent cards out in the last few weeks! (I'm even out of envelopes and robbing them out of some of my boxed sets.)

I wanted to play along with the MFT Sketch Challenge this week (and all the other weeks I've missed. Booo!)

I used the alpha background stamp, After Midnight and Limelight cardstocks, and You're The Sweetest stamp set (all MFT). I also used the Stitched Circles dies and wavy banner from the Blueprints #25. 

The rounded rectangle stitched die is LID. I stamped the alpha background in Limelight ink on the matching card stock for the more monochromatic look (I love in background stamping). The cone is stamped in CTMH Cashmere ink, 2nd generation with the edges re-rolled on the in pad before stamping. I die-cut the ice cream scoops using DCWV patterned papers. 

I'm also playing along with Card' Concept's Butterfly Effect challenge, my card being the Clean & Layered style. 

My last two cards are both using Paper Smooches fun and my Sugar Rush stamp set. I used some new coloring mediums I have now, as getting bored with my same ole-same ole, I've decided coloring is fun and relaxing in this point of my crafty life. 

This little guy is colored with the Zig Clear Brush pens and hand trimmed before adhering over circles of CTMH patterned paper. (The two-tone circle has been out on my desk for a coon's age and I'm so glad to have a good use for it here!). The circles are cut using my MFT Stitched circle dies. I stamped the "sending" from a SSS set I have and the "warm thoughts" from PS Sentiment Sampler. I used an MFT raindrops stencil to show in the background (for the melting popsicle). 

I'm playing along with the current SPARKS photo inspiration: 

I'm also playing along with summery fun Curtain Call Challenge: 

And, lastly, the fun little Paper Smooches ice cream cone from Sugar Rush. This little cutie is colored with Prismacolor Pencils on Kraft cardstock, die-cut with the Jumbo Stitched Flagtail Banners from MFT. The sentiment is from Sentiment Sampler and banner die-cut from Blueprints #25 (MFT). 

This one is also for the SPARKS challenge photo: 

That was alot! Thank you for coming by to visit! Hope to be popping in again real soon to share others I have made but not yet made an appearance here. :) 

God Bless, 

Mandy

John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son and whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 

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