Joyful Butterflies.....

Hello everyone: It's still a looooong time until we see any butterflies up here in the Northern States and that's why I made this card to at least see some in paper, I can't wait to see them fluttering around in my flower beds.

This images are from a retired Stampin' Up! set called "Papillon Potpourri", one of my favorite sets.

I stamped the butterflies on a strip of watercolor paper with Stazon black ink and colored with Sakura Koy watercolors. I added some gold gel pen to the spots on their wings then, I punched all of them with the coordinating punch.

The embossed background is done with a Birch Trees embossing folder, the sentiment is from a retired Flourishes set called "Orchids".

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This is a picture of the finish inside of my card, I've been doing this for over a year now and believe me, besides the card looking very nice, it saves me time when I mail them.

Both the sentiment and the butterfly are from the same sets I used in the front panel.

I'm playing along with the following challenges.

CAS(E) this Sketch

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #63 "CAS"

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.

Oh Snap!!!!!

Hello dear blogging friends: I know all of us, at one time or another, forget someone's birthday so, in addition to our regular birthday cards, we need to have a few BELATED ones in our stash.

Here is one that will make the recipient forget all about you forgetting to send it on time.

I will play along with a few challenges at the end of this post.

See what I mean? one look at this cutie pie is enough to forgive and forget your lateness.

The image is from non other than Purple Onion Designs and it's called Tucker, just as adorable as can be.  I stamped him on a panel of watercolor paper with Stazon black ink and colored with Prismacolor Pencils and a little bit of SU Markers for the gift, which is also from Purple Onion Designs and it's called Little Packages, I masked the other two and stamped the smaller one with Stazon Black ink then, with the help of my MISTI, I was able to place it exactly where I wanted. Colored it with Prismacolor pencils too.   

The sentiment on the top is from a Power Poppy set called Best Day Ever which saved me from the dilemma of not having ANY belated sentiment stamp.  The sentiment on the bottom was written and printed by me on my printer, thank goodness this thing is working properly now.

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As always the inside of my card was finished, the sentiment is from a retired SU set called "Perfectly Penned", the Balloon is also from Purple Onion Designs and it's part of THIS SET, so cute!!!

I'm playing along with the following challenges.

CASology Week #284 "LATE"

STAMPlorations No twist.

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.

There She Goes Birthday.....

Hello dear blogging friends: I'm always looking for a good bargain when it comes to my crafting supplies, I've had a self imposed monthly budget for a few years now that I seriously try to follow, although I must confess sometimes, I've gone a bit crazy and.....well.....you know, right?

Some of this great bargains come from other crafters who sell their stuff, mostly stamps sets that are discontinued or that they can't use anymore on their blogs because they are retired, this stamp set from "There She Goes" is one of them.

The SHOPPING OUR STASH challenge's theme for this week is BIRTHDAYS, you can use balloons, cake, gifts, etc. Here's a great chance to start on your stash of Birthday cards for 2018.

The images are so cute and so darling, this little girl, with her stack of gifts is just delightful and the best part is that all of this images can be used for Birthdays as well as Christmas.

I stamped this sweetie with Stazon black ink on a die cut piece of watercolor paper and colored it with Sakura Koi watercolors and a few Prismacolor pencils for shading, now that I'm looking at it on this photo, I think I went a bit overboard with the coloring, there are so many different ones on this small image, I just couldn't stop.

The balloon was die cut from pink Vellum and tied with embroidery thread, I still can't believe I was able to actually tie a knot on the tiny end of it.

The sentiment is from the set and the pattern paper from my stash.

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This is a picture of the inside of my card, I've been finishing the inside just to save time when I mail them.

All of the images here are also from the set.

So come along and play with my teammates and I in the SHOPPING OUR STASH gallery and start your birthday card stash for the year.

Stop by our blog and check out my teammates wonderful creations for more inspiration.

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.

House Mouse Guest Designer Spot.....

Hello blogging friends: I'm thrilled to share with you a bit of great news. Most people who know me well know that I'm in love with the House Mouse Siblings.  This little mice are just about the cutest and most endearing critters around, they're always doing something sweet, daring or mischievous and you can't help but love them.  I participate on the HOUSE MOUSE AND FRIENDS MONDAY CHALLENGE often, just because I always have loads of fun coloring the images and the last time I did, MY CARD was picked as a winner, WOOHOO!!
 The winner of this challenge was awarded a Gift Card to the House Mouse store and also, you are invited to be the Guest Designer to the challenge, something I happily accepted.
So today is my first day as a Guest Designer for the HOUSE MOUSE AND FRIENDS MONDAY CHALLENGE, the theme is "Anything Goes" with the option theme of "LOVE".
So, go look for your House Mouse stamps and come and play along, will you?
Here is my first card, I hope you like it.

 

This sweet image is from a stamp called "Sweet Kiss", I stamped it on watercolor paper with Stazon black ink and colored it with some Sakura Koi watercolors and Prismacolor pencils.
the hanging heart on the left is from Memory Box and it's called "Precious Hearts", the flowers are from a retired SU set called "Petite Petals" and they are punched with the coordinating punch, the leaves are punched with the "Bird Builder" punch, also retired.

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Finishing the inside of my cards is a great way to save time when mailing them.

The sentiment is from a Power Poppy set called Sassy Succulents and the little mouse is a House Mouse stamp called "Jumping for Joy".

So I hope you get inspired to come and play at the HOUSE MOUSE AND FRIENDS MONDAY CHALLENGE, go dig out your mousy stamps and join us in the gallery.

I'm playing along with the following challenges.

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #451 "Valentines"

Creative Knockouts Challenge #229 "Stitches"

Southern Girls Challenge "Stitch Me Up"

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.

Halloween in January!!!!!

Hello blogging friends: I know, we still have snow on the ground and Halloween is very far away in the calendar but, I need some cards for this stash that gets neglected throughout the year and then, I'm in a frantic race to make cards for family and friends who still enjoy a cute Trick or Treat card.

This one is definitely CUTE, but then again it's made with an image of Monica the  mousy from House Mouse Designs, all dressed up to go hunting for candy.  

What do you think, eh? Isn't she adorable?  I stamped the image on an A2 watercolor card base with Stazon black ink and colored it with Prismacolor pencils and paper stumps dipped in Gamsol. The sentiment is from a retired Stampin' Up! set called "Teeny Tiny Wishes".

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This is a picture of the finished inside of my card. The sentiment is from my stash of unknown images and the pumpkin from a retired Flourishes set called "Withching You a Happy Halloween"

I'm playing along wit the following challenges.

"Less is More"

Allsorts Challenge Week #451 "Butterflies"

Send a Smile 4 Kids "Anything Goes for Kids"

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #513 "Something Fun"

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #63 "CAS"

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.

Wetlands Twofer.....

Hello everyone: I have another TWOFER to share today, I'm really having fun with this challenge.  I decided to make a couple of masculine cards, I realized I only have like 3 in my stash and that is bad, I think I don't often make this type of cards because guy cards are hard for me to create and that is why I'm so happy to own the retired "Wetlands" stamp set by Stampin' Up!, which is just perfect for masculine cards, all the images and the sentiments are beautiful and not girly at all.

Simple and with few embellishments, I'm very happy with the way these two cards came out.

With a bit of sponging on the left card and some watercolors on the right card, I was able to create two different scenes using the same image of this cute Sandpipers.

I took the pictures of the cards together on top of my work desk, they don't fit in the little cube I use all the time to photograph them. Here are the individual shots.

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Here is the picture of the inside of both cards, finishing the inside saves me time when I mail them.

The sentiment on the left card is from a set by Power Poppy called Dynamic Duos: Foxglove and Ranunculus, which happens to be on sale today, 😉

The sentiment on the right card is from a retired Flourishes set called "Gerbera Daisies"

I'm playing along with the following challenges.

Twofer Card Challenge

Oddball Art Stamps Blog Challenge January "Feature a Creature"

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

DL.ART Challenge #220 "Winter" optional theme "Thank You"

Crafty Animals Challenge #10 "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.

Eat Your Veggies.....

Hello dear blog friends: Here is another card I made to play along with the Power Poppy January Challenge which is providing 10 fabulous sketches for us to play with, this is my third entry to this challenge, I'll also link this card to a few more challenges at the end of this post.

This image is from a Power Poppy set called FARMERS MARKET, I just love all the delicious, fresh and beautiful veggies in this set.

I stamped my gorgeous purple cauliflower on a die cut piece of watercolor paper with Stazon black in and colored it with my Sakura Koi watercolors. The little sentiment on the tag is from the set, the patter papers are from a discontinued line from Lili of the Valley, the fence was punched with a Martha Stewart punch.

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Finishing the inside of my cards saves time when I mail them and they give the recipient something pretty to look at when they open the card.

Both the sentiment and the apples are from the set.

I'm playing along with the following challenges.

Power Poppy January Challenge

This is the sketch I used from their Card Maps, this is the one I used.

Double D Challenge

Craft-Dee BowZ Anything goes with a handmade bow, mine is tiny but it's there.

One Crazy Stamper Anything goes with a twist, add purple or blue and a ribbon or button.

Paper Creator "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.