Birthday Bear

 I have a card to share with you using one of the cute die cuts I won off of Darlene and Diane's Challenge blog, now I think they are up to seven challenge Blogs out there, so I am not really sure which one it was but Diane sent me this adorable Bear with sign and I love him.  This one went to my great nephew but I see using him for adult cards too.

I used my sponge daubers to apply the ink to my kraft card stock that I cut him out with.

Pattern paper for the sky and grass.

• Cottage Cutz - Bear & Sign die, sponged ink with dauber
• Frantic Stamper - Oregon Fir die, colored with inks
• PoppyStamps - Stitched Landscape die

Thanks so much for taking the time out to stop by today,

Connie

Winter Trees

 My husband loved this first card I am sharing, he said you know that would be even good for a Valentines card for someone, that is how much he liked it, and no he won't be getting this for Valentines day, LOL! But the reason he probably liked it was when we were on vacation a few years ago he picked this die out and said he really liked it.  I cut it from white cardstock and added some Diamond dust for the snow.

The background was done by blending inks onto the white cardstock, I cut a circle and a torn strip from a scrap piece of paper and used removable tape so that it would hold down during the inking process for the moon and the snow covered ground.  I was going to add some white gel pen in the background but hubby said it didn't need it.

• Impression Obsession - Tree Row die
• Distress inks for background - Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans and Black soot
• Flora Craft - Diamond Dust (snow)

I would like to share this card in the following challenges:

Peace on Earth Challenge #8 bottom left corner for inspiration

Sisterhood of Crafters Color Blue challenge

Double D Challenge Blue and white

I have one more card to share this one was a lot quicker but since I was on a tree theme I went with it.

• 49 and Market - Vintage Artistry Peace and Joy 12x12 papers and image
• StarForm - Merry Christmas sticker
• Sparkle confetti - 6mm

We went for a drive recently an hour north of us in the woods and got some lovely winter pictures of the snowy trees. Maybe I will share some soon.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Retro Rubber Challenge # 174

 I was asked by Retro Rubber Challenge Blog to be a guest designer on their blog this month.  It was a color challenge, all pastels.  If you know me that was a bit of a challenge as I do love earthy colors.  

I don't normally use bright colors for a sympathy card but I was in need of one and was going to use flowers on it so I went with using it for this challenge.  My stamp is from 2009 and I colored with my Spectrum Noir markers.  Hard to see but the lightest flowers are a light blue, and the others are yellows, I had to add a bit darker green so that I could tell the leaves from my flowers.

• Northwoods Rubber stamps - Mini Tulip in Clay Pot, 2009
• PPD - Stitched Mini Scallop Border die
• Taylored Expressions - Care & Comfort II stamp sentiment
• Liquid Pearls - Mint Green
• Paper from stash

It is fun to get out our old stamps and play with them, I hope you do and join in the challenge this month!

Thanks for stopping by,

Connie

Hoppy Birthday

 As you know most of my cards are Birthday cards, so when I saw Poppystamps Challenge to make a birthday card I had to do it.  The net person on my list was my great nephew and he is always full of energy so I thought the frogs would be a great choice for him, and you have to have them jumping out of something, so these are the greenery at the edge of the pond :)

I cut the frogs from a green background I had made by adding inks to my craft mat, spritzing with water and then smooshing my paper into it and drying between each dip of the paper. I cut the bottom leaf border twice once from solid green cardstock and then layered a pattern paper piece on top.

• Poppystamps - Pond Frogs and Freida Curve dies
• Ms. Sparkle & co. - Wood pad paper
• K&co. Card Quotables - Birthday & Celebrate vellum stickers

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

3D Shed

 I have a few of these Decoupage sheets, and I thought it was time to break one out.  They are mostly English scenes, but I thought this one is good for a masculine card. I liked the mini picture that I added with the sentiment tag but it was quite small so I cut out a circle die with some silver foiled paper I had to mat it on.

• DoCrafts - Anita Foiled Decoupage
• DCWV - Once upon a time paper
• Gemini - Torn Edge circles die
• Silver foil card stock

You can see the dimension better in this picture.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie