Friendship Rose.

 Hello everyone: As always, I hope you and your families are doing well, keeping each other healthy and safe.

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The RETRO RUBBER CHALLENGE has this awesome and fun sketch for you to play with, so we hope you come and play along with us in our gallery.

Please don't forget to use stamps that are at least one year old, ok?

This is my card.

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This is the inside.

And this is what I used.

Power Poppy's "Everything's Even Rosier" (2016)

Power Poppy "Best Day Ever" (2015)

Prismacolor pencils.

Gina Marie Enamel Dots.

Pattern paper from my stash.

Thank you for visiting me today and for your comments, they always make my day.

Stay healthy and safe.

Maria.

Red Poppies.......

 Hello everyone: I'm always hoping and praying you and your families are doing well, keeping each other healthy and safe.

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THE FLOWER CHALLENGE has arrived at the halfway point and here's where my teammates and I give you a bit more inspiration so hopefully, you will play along with us in our gallery.

This is the card I created for our reminder post, this time I picked RED as my monochromatic color using black and gray card stock.

This is the inside.

And this is what I used:

Power Poppy "Poppies" (2015)

Power Poppy "Always Here" (2018)

Prismacolor pencils.

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I hope you come and play along with us over at THE FLOWER CHALLENGE, we can't wait to see what you create.

Thank you for visiting me today.

Please, stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

A Little Reminder with Poppies.

Hello everyone: As always, is my hope you and your families are doing well, taking care of each other and staying healthy and safe.

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It's time for a little reminder for THE FLOWER CHALLENGE, and I chose this beautiful Power Poppy image from a set called "Poppies".

This is the inside.

And this is what I used.

Power Poppy "Poppies" (retired)

Power Poppy "Best Day Ever" and "Everything is

Even Rosier" for the sentiment.

WOW Pearlescent embossing powder.

Gansai Tombi watercolors.

DSP from my stash.

I hope this reminder inspires you to come and play along with us at THE FLOWER CHALLENGE.

I hope to see you in our gallery.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

 

Pink and Gold for Christmas.

Hello everyone: I'm always hoping and praying you and your families are doing well, taking care of each other and still wearing your masks.

My hubby and I are getting our second vaccine shot on April 14th. I hope we only have a sore arm like with the first one, I've heard that the second shot might give you some other side effects but that's ok, no worries.

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So, today I'm sharing a Christmas card that happily will land on my still growing  stash, I love having enough cards for family and friends when the Holidays arrive.

This is the INSIDE.

And this is what I used.

Power Poppy "Simple Joys"

Power Poppy "Poinsettia"

Flourishes "Warm Winter Wishes", for the little mitten, (discontinued)

Prismacolor pink pencil.

I want to play with these challenges.

Less is More

Winter Wonderland Challenge

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

Thank you for visiting me today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

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Colorful Christmas Wishes.

 Hello everyone: As always, I pray you and your families are doing well in these very difficult times. Stay healthy and safe and please, wear your masks.

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It's been a long time since I used Kraft card stock to create a card, I keep forgetting the lovely vintage look it gives to Christmas cards.  So here is the card I made to inspire you to come and play along with us over at SHOPPING OUR STASH.  Our TIC TAC TOE board is full of fun choices so come and join my teammates and me in our gallery.

I used Kraft card stock, bright colors and brads.

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This is the inside.

This is what I used.

Power Poppy "Simple Joys".

Power Poppy "Poinsettia"

Power Poppy "Merry Littles"

Prismacolor pencils.

I want to play with these challenges.

Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Little Red Wagon

Challenge #574 "Color Me Happy"

I hope you come and play with this fun Tic Tac Toe challenge over at SHOPPING OUR STASH, we can't wait to see what you create.

Stay healthy and safe.

Hugs,

Maria.

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Retro Rubber Challenge # 147.

 Hello everyone: I hope all of you and your families are doing ok, taking care of yourselves and each other.  

Today is Election Day so, I hope that, if you haven't voted yet, you'll do it today, please don't forget to wear your masks.

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The new challenge over at RETRO RUBBER is one of the most popular ones so, I created something that I think you'll like.

These boxes were inspired by two projects by the very talented Julie DiMatteo, her blog "The Paper Pixie" has a video gallery where she shares some of the most adorable and useful boxes for all kinds of celebrations.

This is the first box I created. The wreath and sentiment are from a Power Poppy stamp set called "Wreaths Plain and Fancy (2015), stamped on white card stock with Memento black ink and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I added some gold gel pen to the ribbon and bow.

And here is the LINK TO HER BLOG, this is a super easy box to create and it's a great size to fill with all kinds of goodies.

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This is the second box. The pattern paper is from Lili of the Valley (discontinued), the little present and sentiment are from a Power Poppy set called "Merry Littles", (2014), I colored the gift box with Prismacolor Pencils.

And this is how it looks when it's open, there's room in there for 3 "Merci" chocolates, some of my favorite.

Here's the  LINK TO THIS BOX, it is super easy to make.

So, I hope you come and play along with us at RETRO RUBBER, please remember to use stamps that are older than one year and, if possible, we would love to know how old they are.

Thank you for visiting today.

Please, stay healthy and safe and don't forget to wear your masks.

Hugs.

Maria.

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Gifts and Cake.

Hello everyone: As always, I hope and pray you and your families are doing well, these are scary and worrisome times but we can get through them like we've done before.  When things are not working they must get fixed, CHANGES need to be made no matter how hard they might seem right now. 

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Isn't this a gorgeous bouquet of colorful flowers?

Well, my teammates and I over at the SHOPPING OUR STASH challenge blog want you to use these beautiful colors on your cards and come and play along with us in our gallery. 

These festive and delightful images are just perfect for kids and adults alike. 

My card is a CASE of THIS gorgeous card created by my dear friend Leslie Miller, her blog Running With Scissors is jam-packed with beautiful cards, I hope you go and check it out.

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This is the INSIDE.

And this is what I used to create this card.

Front of the card.

"Party Time" from Power Poppy

The sentiment is from Power Poppy "Simply Camellias"

The inside.

The sentiment is from Power Poppy "Best Day Ever" (sold out😢)

Die cut from Spellbinders "Oval Regalia"

Little gift box from There She Goes "Wrapped in Joy"

So I hope you come and check out the SHOPPING OUR STASH challenge blog and join us in our gallery.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO

Maria.

A Purse For Any Occasion.

Hello everyone: I hope you and your families are doing ok dealing with all the pain and confusion of what's going on lately.  This is not new, every time it happens we feel outraged, claim something must be done to stop it but, other than the protests, nothing really changes.  But CHANGE is what we need, I hope it comes like lightning, and be decisive and just.

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I don't have a card to share today, what I have is an adorable little purse I created following the directions of Julie DiMatteo on THIS POST in here fabulous blog called "The Paper Pixie", as soon as I watched it, I just fell in love with it.

I promise you, this little purse is as beautiful as it is easy to create.

I changed it up a bit by adding a matt for the DSP, some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and, since I didn't have the Velcro Dots Julie used, (which I already ordered, 😉) I used little magnets. I also added a stamped little tag, which can be customized for any occasion.

The flower is from a Power Poppy stamp set called "Simply Camellias", which happens to be on sale now. I stamped it on white card stock with Spun Sugar DI from Tim Holtz and added shadows with a pink Prismacolor pencil.

The DSP is from a sadly retired line from Lili of the Valley.

I hope you go and check out Julie's blog and give this little purse a try, you'll love how easy and fun it is to create.

I'm playing along with these challenges.

Power Poppy Creative Confetti Challenge

Watercooler Wednesday

"All About Occasions"

Through the Craft Room Door

Thank you for stopping by.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO

Maria.

Christmas Stocking....

Hello everyone: I'm hoping and praying you and your families are doing well in these difficult times.
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I have a card made entirely out of scraps of paper and a leftover tag from last year's Holiday season.

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This is the INSIDE of this card.

This is what I used:

Power Poppy "Poinsettia" 

Power Poppy "Cozy Cupfuls"

Power Poppy "Merry Littles"

Prismacolor Pencils.

Tim Holtz "Kraft-Core" card stock.

Gina Marie Enamel Dots.

Ribbon and pattern paper from my stash.

Challenges I'm playing with.

Inkspirational

 

I'm using this 2015 sketch from Freshly Made sketches.

Krafty Chicks Challenge

#514 "Stamp Act"

Fezzwigs Festive Frolics

Anything Festive.

The House That Stamps Built.

Christmas in July.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO

Maria.

Vibrant Thanks

Hello everyone: I'm always praying that you and your families are doing well during these sad and troublesome times, please stay healthy and safe.

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My card today is done with a beautiful Summer flower.  Zinnias come in all the colors of the rainbow, mine is yellow.

I'd like to think that this flower is enjoying a gorgeous sunset, and those busy little bees are having one last nectar drink before going home.

The image and the sentiment are from a Power Poppy set called "Vibrant Thanks", unfortunately, is sold out.

The corner die cut is done with a Tim Holtz Alterations Mixed Media Dies.

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This is the INSIDE of the card.

I sponged the top with a honeycomb stencil, the sentiment is from a Power Poppy set called Pure Prairie Spirit.

I want to play with the following challenges.

Color My Heart Color Dare

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenge

"In the Summer Garden"

Thank you for visiting today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

A Twofer From My Pile.

Hello everyone: In spite of what some people say, this Pandemic is still here, and it will be here for a while, IT can't be wished away, you can't predict IT will go away either, so it's better to listen to the people who actually know what they are talking about and do the "social distancing" thing, wear the uncomfortable mask if we must go out and be patient. I know this is hard for kids and young adults, heck!! it's hard for an older woman like me so it's even harder for these poor kids who look forward to Summer Vacation all school year long. 

So let's take care of ourselves and each other.

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So, I've been working diligently to reduce my pile of unused and partially colored images from the "changed my mind" box. I've shown a couple of pictures of these images HERE and HERE and now, here are a couple of more cards from these piles.

First card.

The image is from a retired Flourishes set called "Tulips for Friends", stamped with Stazon black ink on Strathmore Bristol watercolor paper and colored with Windson/Newton watercolor markers. The pattern paper is from my coveted stash from Lili of the Valley.

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This is the INSIDE of this card.

The sentiment is from the Tulips for Friends set, the little tulips on the corner are from another Flourishes set called "From the Garden" colored with Prismacolor pencils.

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Second card.

I love this sweet Cardinal couple, from the Power Poppy set called Cozy Cupfuls, which happens to be on sale now!!

The die cut is from Tim Holts "Alterations" die set. I added some Rhine Stones for a little bling.

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This is the INSIDE of this card.

Both the sentiment and the little mug are from the same stamp set.

WOOHOO!!! I'm making progress, I'm just scratching the surface of this pile of great images that, for whatever reason, I never used.

I want to play along with the following challenges.

Shopping Our Stash

I'm a DT member.

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

Thank you for stopping by today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO

Maria.

A Couple of Frames.......

Hello everyone: I'm so grateful for this hobby, I'm sure you are too. I've been creating cards with forgotten panels and halfway colored images, little sentiments, bows, and other stuff that for some weird reason, were put in this box with the thought "I'll get to it later". 

Anyway, I was looking for some yarn in my closet and found a bag with what looks like a press, plus several bags of different metal color frames.

Has any of you seen this apparatus? It even came with those little stencils on the upper right corner. Good Grief!! why oh why I haven't used this stuff to create a card??  I found also two images that have been framed, which I used to make today's card but I don't remember if I ever posted anything with them. 

Anywho, here's my card.

The images and sentiment are from three Power Poppy sets, Orchids Rock, Countryside Bouquet Delux and Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips.

The pattern paper is from Lili of the Valley.

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This is the INSIDE of my card.

The sentiment is from a Power Poppy set called Everything's Even Rosier, the little flowers on the corner from Tea in the Garden.

I'm playing along with the following challenges.

"Just Us Girls"


Color My Heart Color Challenge


Thank you for visiting me today.
XO
Maria.

Golden Poppies.......

Hello everyone: Again, I'm hoping you and your families are doing well, it's difficult but absolutely necessary to be patient and observant of the guidelines that might seem very restrictive but they are so very important, wearing a mask might be uncomfortable and not very cool but, having to wear a respirator is much, much worse, I keep telling my grandkids this over and over.

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THE FLOWER CHALLENGE for the month of June is a color challenge. The colors are NAVY plus a color of your choice, just two colors, ok?
This is the card I made to inspire you to come and play along.

I heat embossed in gold this image from a Power Poppy set called "Poppies", which happens to be on sale now, just saying. The sentiment is also from this set. I apologize for not remembering where the butterfly die set came from.

I also added a couple of gold glitter card stock to the edges of the corner panels.

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This is the INSIDE of my card.

 

The sentiment is from another Power Poppy set called Everything's Even Rosier.

The Poppies on the corner are from the Poppies set.

I hope you stop by THE FLOWER CHALLENGE to get more inspiration from my fabulous teammates, we can't wait to see your creations in the gallery.

Please read our rules, they are simple but important.

Thank you for stopping by.

Stay safe and healthy.

Sending lots of virtual hugs.

Maria.