Homespun Birdhouse

Hello again!  I always look forward to my weekend workouts, but the last three Saturdays it has snowed and I was unable to get to the gym.  I decided to use my time crafting away instead.  I got on the computer and looked around at the various challenge blogs.  I found a sketch at Cardabilites that would work great with my MFT Homespun Birdhouse die-namics.

Can you believe this is only the third time I have used these dies?  Why?  I have no idea!  I really need to start looking through my dies to see what I have neglected to use.  I was inspired by the distressed look with a little bit of script peaking out, in the sketch photo. I stamped the script from Pretty Poppies on grapesicle cardstock.  I then used some gesso to give it a white washed effect.  I was going for a little more of a distressed look, so I took my Tim Holtz sander and went back and forth over the dried cardstock.  I like how it took off a layer of gesso in some areas.

Even the little birdie got some script stamping on him.  I wish I had added a black pearl to his eye so it would stand out better.  He looks like an eyeless bird.  Ha!

SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

Here is the sketch at Cardabilities.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Sweetheart

Happy first Friday in 2014!! We want to extend our best wishes to each of you for the New Year! Since this is the Friday before Flourishes new release, you are probably wondering where our Pre-Release Challenge is? Well, we decided to let the Friends of Flourishes gals run this month's challenge! Be sure to tune in next Tuesday and play along with the Release Week Timeless Tuesday Challenge! We'll have three winners that week for the FULL release! Play along as many times as you want for multiple chances to win!

So, the bad thing about going back to work is...not having natural light to craft in.  By the time I get home and have dinner cooked, the daylight is gone.  I do have an Ott light, but obviously it didn't help me distinguish between the hot pink ink and melon colored patterned paper.  I really didn't notice the drastic difference until I turned on my light tent and went to take a photo.  I just decided to go with it.  Sigh....

   

SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

I am entering my card into the Cardabilities sketch challenge.  

Now for some fun today, the Flourishes Senior Design Team has a bit of beautiful variety to show off. Some of the team got to play with Becky Fleck’s new round of January Sketches at PageMaps and others on the team are going to surprise you with some of their own creativity. Join these lovely ladies for some fabulous inspiration to kick-off your New Year.

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Heather Jensen
• Julie Koerber
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Sending You Sunshine

Hi there!  I finally got some time in my craft room to create something just for fun.  Today is in service day for the teachers, so that means I have the day off work since I am an associate.  After over 2 1/2 months of 90's, the weather has cooled off nicely and didn't get above 65 today.  I took advantage and made some zucchini bread that I had been waiting to make for 2 weeks. 

 I saw Stacy's challenge over at the Curtain Call and they are asking you to use Sunflowers.  I had a hard time trying to find some fall papers to use.  I haven't been impressed with any of the holiday paper packs the last two years, so I decided to use something I already had on hand.  I used a PTI set called Simple Sunflower mini stamp set.

Curtain Call

I used the sketch over at Cardabilities for my design.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

With Love

I am back again today with a card that I made using one of the fabulous MFT stencils that Mona Pendleton has designed. This one is called Petal Patterns and will be linked below.    Lisa Henke and I had so much fun playing along in a challenge together the other day, we had to do it again.  This time she choose the sketch at Cardabilities.

 I had a lot of fun making this card.  First, I sponged on some distress inks in various colors, then, I laid down the the stencil and spackled some molding paste in random areas and let dry.  Last, I sprayed some water in my hand with a mini mister and slung it on the inked areas.  Since I used distress inks, the areas that I splattered water on, removed some of the ink and gave a really cool effect.

Do you see this pretty Hibiscus flower?  That is another one of Mona's pretty flower sets called Tropical Sensations.  I have a pretty hibiscus patio tree that has the reverse colors of this flower, the blooms are yellow with pink centers.  The blooms are open the majority of the day and then close in the evening, it has the most beautiful flowers.

SUPPLIES USED:

InLinkz.com

 This time Lisa choose the sketch at Cardabilities for us to use.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Birthday Wishes

Happy Monday everyone.  I made this card yesterday and decided I would save it for today.  I used Mona's color challenge  CR84FN and Cardabilites sketch. 

 I used Waltzing Mouse Vintage Labels 10 and Fancy Phrases.  The fancy phrases alone wasn't enough for the front of the card so I decided to ink up the very pretty Vintage Labels and put it behind the sentiment.  Can I tell you how much I love these beautiful labels stamps by WM?  Yes?  I LOVE THEM!  They speak to my shabby chic heart.  Especially when used with Mona's stunning color combo.
                                  
 We are going to get back into the 70's again in a couple days so it will feel like spring again. I tell ya this weather doesn't know what to do. We have had 50's for highs the last week. Perfect weather to just stand in the sun and not get hot.  That is one of my favorite things to do.

                           
 I used some old Basic Grey Sultry paper and PTI Rustic White cardstock along with Versa Magic Dew Drops in Tea Leaves and Pink Petunia.  A pretty Recollections flower and stitching around the edges finishes off my card.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Have a lovely week

Heather

Christmas Greetings/Cardabilities

Hello.  I finally got my Waltzingmouse stamps in the mail yesterday.  I couldn't wait to play.  I made 2 cards.  I am going to share one with you today.  I can't believe I am making Christmas cards already.  It is still in the 80's here.  It just feels wrong.  I love the frames that go so well with all the Spellbinders dies.  I am trying to get my hands on Labels 14.  They are back ordered everywhere.  Just a few no name places online have them.  I hate to order from a place I know nothing about.

 I made this one using the sketch at Cardabilities.  Great sketch this week.  They have a whole new DT over there.  The most I have ever seen on any blog challenge site.  You should go see what the girls have made over there.

Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI/Rustic Cream
DP: Basic Grey/Wassail
Stamps: WM/Vintage Labels 10 and Compliments of the Season
Ink: Versa Magic/Spanish Olive, Memento/Tuxedo Black
Seam Binding: Bluebird Lane Etsy
Felt Poinsettia: Hero Arts
Twine: PTI

Thanks so much for stopping by,
Heather

Miss Harriet/Cardabilities

Hello.  I am back to share a card I spent the afternoon making.  I would say it took about 2 1/2 hours to make.  Between sizing Miss Harriet and deciding what papers to use and what colors to color her with.  No test sample today.  Usually I test the whole image on a scrap piece of paper to make sure that is what I want.  This time I just jumped in feet first. 

Claire from Watlzingmouse put up this sweet image of Miss Harriet.  I wanted to make her outfit different from all the other cards already posted.  I knew red and purple were out.  I found this new Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather 6x6 pad at my Local ss.  I loved the teal and purple colors together. 

                                  

I am hooked on these Prima flower centers. They are amazing. I am also hooked on this PTI die for tags. It seems to fit most of my sentiments. I used the sketch from Cardablities again. It is a fabulous sketch and worked perfect for this image.

Can you tell I used Fun Flock on her pretty fuzzy cuffs?  Cotton Ball White is the color.  I have had this stuff for years and never use it.  I am not the best with my Copics.  I am still practicing with shading.  That seems to be my downfall.  What do you think?

These are a couple of pictures of my sweet little girl.  She loves to lay on my bed while I am crafting away.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Heather