Smells like Christmas.....

Hello everyone: I love the smells of the Holidays and one of my personal favorites is the aroma of citrus and cloves. Here is a card I made with a Power Poppy set called Spice It Up, I will link this card to a few challenges at the end of this post.

I can almost smell the sweet aroma of this orange studded with cloves.

I stamped it with Versafine black ink and clear heat embossed it then colored it with my Sakura Koi water colors and some SU markers for shading. The "JOY" die cut word is from Penny Black Love and Joy decorative dies, I think the snow flake is from Mariane Designs, I'm sorry I can't remember.

The pattern papers are from my stash and the decorative edge is punched with an old Friskars punch.

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Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment and the small image on the corner are from the set, I punched the top with the same Friskars punch and put a small piece of gold wrapping paper in the back, from my stash.

I'm linking this card to the following challenges.

Power Poppy April Challenge

I used this sketch.

Addicted To Stamps Challenge #238 "Holiday"

Chirstmas at Sweet Stamping April Challenge "Anything Christmas"

The Sisterhood of Crafters "STAMP IT!" Challenge"

Inspiration Destination Challenge #126 "Anything Goes"

Thank you for stopping by, I always read every single comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate them more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher.....

Hello dear blogging friends: Spring officially arrived a while back but up here in the Mid West, we have had some cold and rainy days, although you know what they say, "April Showers bring May Flowers" so, in spite of the down right cold temps, the tulips and daffodils are showing up and showing off their magical colors. Here is a card to celebrate them.

This image is from an old Flourishes called "Tulips for Friends" but now, you can get the revamped digital image over at POWER POPPY.

I stamped my image with Stazon black ink onto a piece of Strathmore water color paper and used my new Sakura Koi water colors to color it, love the vibrancy of this paints.

The pattern paper is from Lili of the Valley (discontinued 😞), the little butterfly is from Stampin' Up! Papillon Potpourri, such beautiful butterfly images, which is retiring this year, along with both fabulous punches so, hope you can grab this items before they are gone for good 😞

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Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment and small tulip are from the same Flourishes set that was perfect for this card.

I'm entering this card onto the following challenges.

Stinkin' Inkers Challenge #1 "Shower of Flowers"

Ike's World Challenge #86 "Anything goes, optional twist "Easter/Spring Flowers"

High Hopes Stamps April Challenge"Think Spring"

Deep Ocean Challenge #153 "Spring"

Creates and Makes Challenge #10 "Anything Goes" optional theme "Springtime"

Simon Wednesday Challenge "Showers and or Flowers"

Thank you for stopping by, I always read every single comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate them more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

Everything's Even Rosier.....

Hello dear blogging friends: There is a new challenge over at SHOPPING OUR STASH for you to play with, this week we want you to make your cards with ROSE IMAGES. With Mother's Day just a few weeks away, this could be your chance to make some beautiful cards for all the Moms in your life.  Here's my card, and I hope it inspires you to join my teammates and I in our gallery.

This beautiful image is from a Power Poppy set called Everything's Even Rosier, another gorgeous set of images by the amazing illustrator Marcella Hawley, I adore the detail of this images that are a joy to color. I stamped the image onto a piece of Strathmore mixed media paper with Stazon black ink and colored it with SU markers and Antique Linen distress ink, added a bit of shadow with Prismacolor pencils. 

The pattern pattern papers are from my stash of discontinued Lili of the Valley and the ribbon from a stash of bits and pieces of left overs, this one was just the right size.

I added a few NUVO Jewel Drops that I made myself, I'm becoming addicted to this wonderful product, the colors are gorgeous and they dry translucent.

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Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment is from another Power Poppy set called Azalea, I think it compliments the sentiment in front very well. I stamped this other rose image with SU Crisp Cantaloupe.

So, go dig out your stamp sets or single stamps with roses on them and join us in the SHOPPING OUR STASH gallery, we can't wait to see what you make.

Be sure to visit my teammates blogs to see how they made their beautiful creations and leave them some comment love, we all love to read your thoughts.

Thank you for stopping by, I always read every single comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate them more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

Is Spring Finally Here?????

Hello everyone: I'm sure some of you have experienced a very rocky start for Spring, up here in the Mid West, we have had beautiful, warm, sunny days followed by cloudy, rainy and down right cold days so, it's a miracle the flowers are blooming and the trees are starting to show their brand new leaves so, to celebrate this beautiful season, I made this card which I will link to a few challenges at the end of this post.

This lovely bouquet of Spring flowers is from the Power Poppy set called Springtime Love. I stamped it onto a scalloped die cut piece of Strathmore water color paper with Stazon black ink and colored it with my brand new water color paints from Sakura Koi. The sentiment is from another Power Poppy set called Dynamic Duos: Foxglove and Ranunculus, the little bees are from one of the images, I snipped them off from the stamp to be able to use them like this, I keep them in a small zip lock back that is taped securely to the set. Pattern paper and ribbon from my stash.

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Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

Both the sentiment and the little flowers are from this same set.

I'm linking this cards to the following challenges.

Power Poppy April Challenge

This is the sketch I followed.

613 Avenue Create, Anything Goes with optional twist of "Anything Spring"

Great Impressions Theme Challenge "April Showers Bring May Flowers"

Penny Black And More April Challenge "Spring Flowers"

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #56 "Anything Goes"

Thank you for stopping by, I always read every single comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.