Dreamy Cards

"Dreamy" is what Penny Black calls this slapstick/cling stamp. I know I didn't look at the name when I purchased it. The simplicity of the flower caught my eye, and the image on the packaging – alone in shades of blue, green, and purple made me buy it. (Kudos to the marketing team.) The first time I made a card with this stamp I used those same colors.  

It's such a cool flower. I could whip up simple cards all day long by changing the color of the petals, but I like the challenge of mixing up how I use an image. For this set of cards I did not change the color scheme for two reasons. First, it saves time simply because the decision is already made, and second, the same colors require me to be more creative, because how I use the stamp is what makes the difference, not so much the color, paper, or embellishments.  

Dreamy (flower) by Penny Black; Joy stamp by Inkadinkado; Peach Ombré ink by Hero Arts;
Babmboo Leaves Ink by Memento; nesting frames dies by Lifestyle Crafts

Border made with Dreamy (flower) by Penny Black using peach ombré ink by Hero Arts;
sentiment by Stampendous using basic grey ink by Stampin' Up.

Fussy cut Dreamy (flower) by Penny Black with peach ombré ink and mount with leaves, Happy Birthday stamps by Simon Says Stamp! using the three ombré ink colors by Hero Arts and bamboo leaves ink by Memento. 

I usually don't think of flowers as dreamy, but this stamp makes me daydream about creating cards. 

Card Joy

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which gives value to survival." C.S. Lewis The Four Loves

"These relationships are gifts worth seeking. Developing flourishing friendships takes time and intentionality, but these become the people who ground us and keep us going. They become peepholes through which we glimpse the kingdom of God, inspiration to become the best possible versions of ourselves even in the most difficult circumstances." Margaret Feinberg Fight Back with Joy.

"Of all the means to insure happiness through out the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends." Epicurus (341-270 BC) A Guide to Happiness 

 "It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words, but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?" A.A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh

Stamp Credits: girl by American Art Stamp ©Karen Stolper; grass by Rubber Stampede and Stampin' Up; sentiment by Creative Vision Stamps; die cut butterflies by Stampin' Up.

A Prom Card?

"Mom, can you make a card...?" Of course the answer is yes even before I know the occasion. To add to my glee, she says, "You can use the dresses you colored for the 30 Day Coloring Challenge." What? She remembered? Good thing I did a few of those. 

"It's a thank you card for the parents who organized the party bus for prom. It needs to be big enough for all of us to sign it. Nothing fancy.", she says. I stare at her, incredulous, that she would even add that last remark. But, oh my gosh, I love my hobby! Try finding a prom thank you card at a Hallmark store!

Party dress by Inkadinkado; line of dresses by Stampin' Up;
thanks die cut by Simon Says Stamp

My daughter is in the red dress. These girls went to the 8th grade dance together, too. 

This is most of the group and the reason
they rented a party bus to take them to dinner and the dance. 

That she asked me to make the card and knew I had parts for it already completed makes up for the fact that she never reads my blog. :-)

Way to Go, Go, Go, Card

Whew! I'm glad it's March. Along with coloring daily in February, I was working toward the Jazzercise 30 Classes in 35 Days Challenge. It ended on March 6 and I made the goal with a day to spare. Yay! I earned the cute tank top!

I was back in class today and had the chance to work out with the newest instructor at Roswell Jazzercise. While we were pliéing and lunging at the top of the aerobic curve, I was creating a card in my head (it takes my mind off the heavy breathing), because new instructors deserve a big fat "You Go, Girl!" for making it through training. 

I used a brayer and the Berry Blaze Kaleidacolor rainbow ink pad for the background color,
then used white embossing powder over white pigment ink for the sentiments. 

Whether it is a long walk solo or dancing with a group of women, nothing makes more room for creative ideas in my head, than my body leaving the craft room. 

Coloring Cards

Coloring is not easy for me, nor is it the stress relieving antidote all those coloring book publishers would have me believe. If it's not a tree or a flower, I have to think a lot about what colors I want to put where. And the shadows! The shadows are tricky little details that I really want in the correct spot. So... for the past 30 days I have been coloring and participating in the 30 Day Coloring Challenge put on by Kathy Racoosin at The Daily Marker. 

Every day in February I would check out the #thedailymarker30day on Instagram and see what I could learn from all the talented colorists and card makers out there. I have watched YouTube tutorials and read blog posts. I practiced shading; I blended chalks; I mixed up dye inks and watercolor paints; and I layered on color with colored pencils. (I have no skill with markers!)

Poppies by Unity Stamp Co. and sentiment by Hero Arts. 

Stars by Stampin' Up and sentiment by Stampabilities. 

Butterfly and sentiment by Rubbernecker Stamps and poppy by Unity Stamp Co. 

Dresses and buttons by Stampin' Up.

The challenge was only to color every day, but during the last week I made sure to complete a card each day. I am very proud of what I've done and learned. It wasn't easy, but the time spent coloring was worth it. Now, I can relax...until the next challenge.