1000 Flower Hugs

Happy Hump Day!

Can you believe it's the last day of August?  

Where did summer go?

Although, I have to admit I'm ready for some cooler weather.  It's been horribly hot and humid in North Carolina this summer, more than usual.  So I'm hoping we get a quick cool down! I need to watch what I wish for however, because there's been activity off the coast this week and Tropical Storm Hermine is eventually going to move up through the Carolinas so we are going to get some rain over the next few days and weekend.  Hoping everyone in Florida currently stays safe and dry as they are the first ones in Hermine's path.

I've been busy in my craft room again.  I had the one and only Bonnie Klass over to my craft room on Monday. We met online about a year ago through card challenges and discovered we both live in Cary.  I've been fortunate enough to attend some of her card classes and she's my StampinUp person, so lucky me!  

I got my craft room all finished redecorated and so I invited her for some crafty time and lunch.  We had a great time crafting, talking shop and catching up and a scrumptious lunch thanks to Brigs takeout and homemade bean salad (made by Bonnie)!

I say all of this because my card in this post is using an image from one of her stencils, her sunflower stencil.  I fell in love with it when I saw the cards she had made from it.  So, I borrowed it Monday.  I have many more you'll be seeing in the near future.

I used Brushos with the stencil, sprinkling them around and then spritzing with water. I love how it turned out.  I used yellow, orange, red Brushos. The white textured/speckled paper I've had for forever and I thought it complimented the stenciled flower nicely.

For Following Challenges:

Cool You

Happy Monday!

Can you smell the pencils and paper yet?

All those kiddos are back to school! 

School started today here in Wake County, NC. 

Makes me kind of miss packing lunches and backpacks and buying school supplies for my boys.  One of them is still in school, but he doesn't need me packing his lunch anymore. He is, working on his Master's and also teaching his first college course in Oklahoma.  

Now with that, you'd think I have a teacher or school card, but nope ---- it's a food card! LOL  I guess it could be given to a cool teacher or student.  It's a little girlie for my son so I may just send it to my daughter-in-law who is in her senior year at college as well.

Stamps: Sentiment - Cool (Technique Tuesday). Dies: Popsicle - Reverse Confetti; Stitched oval (MFT); Scallop rectangle die (WPlus9); Banner (Verve Stamps). Paper: Soak Up The Sun (Carta Bella).

For Following Challenges:

Cool Blessings!

Friendship Bunches

Happy Sunday!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

I've been trying for two days to get a decent photo of this card.  Don't know why it's been a challenge, unless all the different areas that need in focus.  Took about 30 in my light box and in the end opted for natural light.

My card uses the stamp set "Vegtastic" from Paper Smooches and the papers Splendid Sunshine by Echo Park. The sentiment die is also Paper Smooches.  I colored the carrots with Copics and Spectrum Noir markers.

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Friendship Blessings!

Monkey Birthday

A very clean and simple card

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Sock Monkey Blessings!

Hello Blend

Happy Weekend!

I've been kind of busy in my craft room the last few days.  I can't really believe it still myself!  LOL

I blended Blackberry Bliss, Melon Mambo, Soft Sky and Old Olive inks together on cardstock.  Then I used a lattice background stamp from the current SOA box, Lovely Notes from Catherine Pooler, inked it up in Versamark and stamped it on the background.  Then, I embossed it in silver powder.  The "hello" die is Lil' Inkers Designs and cut from the same blended sheet and adhered to vellum.

For Following Challenges:

Stamping Blessings!

Fabulous N' Pink

Good Morning, Thursday!

So, I've been playing in my craft room still.  It's taking me a bit to get back in the groove but I'm enjoying every minute!

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Fabulous Blessings!

Painted Hello

I can't believe I almost forgot to post this.  Made a few more cards today and getting this in just in time for CAS Mix Up.

Spray Inks - Water Spray - Stamping - Stencil- Die Cuts - Coloring

I started off using a background sprayed with Dylusions London Blue Spray Ink.  Then I used the Ghosting Technique with a stencil from Stamplorations spraying over the stencil with water.  I stamped the flower (Stamplorations) in Versamark on watercolor paper, embossed it in white powder, and colored it with Sunshine and Meadow Spectrum Aqua pens and placed three die cut leaves (WPlus9).  I cut a stitched rectangle to place around the background.  For finishing touches, I flicked some Shabby Shutters and Peacock Feathers onto the background before stamping the sentiment (Stamplorations) in Versafine Onyx Black. The whole center piece is popped up.

For Following Challenges:

Stamplorations August Challenge - Sketch & Theme: Stamps/Markers

Stamping Blessings!

Sand Dollar Prayers

Happy Hump Day!

I've finally managed to do a little crafting, even with one hand in a brace with tenosynovitis.  It's a good thing it's my left hand, since I'm right-handed, it's not too awkward or painful.

Where has the summer gone, not to mention the year? Mine has been crazy with family commitments and I'm now back home for a good long while, hopefully, and trying to get back in my craft room regularly.  I mean Christmas is just four months away almost to the day!   

So with that said, here is a card I did for CAS Mix Up Challenge. Finally getting another chance to play in it.  I have new summer stamps/dies I haven't had a chance to play with so I'm extending my summer and possibly a lot of my fall cards will have a summer flare to them as well! 

Stamping - Sprays - Die Cuts - Wet Embossing

I started by using a Spellbinders Impressabilities, Sea Scape plate as a stencil over watercolor paper.  I sprayed Heidi Swapp Color Shine Coral and Pink onto the stencil and soaked up the excess.  In doing so, I got flecks of a light green as well as the pink and coral colors.  I cut a sand dollar die (Reverse Confetti) from watercolor paper sprayed with the same colors then added a vellum cut sand dollar on top with a sequin on top of a piece of white cardstock cut with a Spellbinder decorative edge die. The sentiment is from Stamplorations and was stamped in Versa mark and embossed in gold powder to finish off the card.

For Following Challenges:

Stamping Blessings!

Ben & Jersey Mike's...

Ellie says:

 "My Human, Ben Salkeld, 

one of the new General Managers 

at the new Jersey Mike's Subs 

in Chapel Hill NC, 

makes the best subs!

GRAND OPENING - AUGUST 17, 2016!

Jersey Mike's Subs

6118-C Farrington Rd

Chapel Hill, NC  27517

Our Ben - General Manager

Had to post....Dave and I are super proud of Ben for working so hard part-time during his college education and over the past year since he graduated.  We are also very grateful that his bosses, Charlie & Clint, saw his potential, mentored him and have given him this opportunity to co-manage their new store in Chapel Hill, NC.  He has invested a lot of time, effort, elbow crease, dedication and love into helping get the store up and running and I know he will treat it like his own!  

Monday night was their Private Opening for family and friends.  It was exciting to see Ben "on the job" and to see so many people coming out to support all of the employees of the new store.  I know it's going to be a huge success!

Jersey Mike's Blessings!

Paper Sweeties August 2016 New Release Rewind!

Good Morning!

It's the last day of 

Paper Sweeties Release Week!

First, 
Congrats to 
for being my randomly selected commenting winner!
She will get to choose a stamp set of her choice 
from Paper Sweeties Shop!

Now, check out all of the new stamps/sweet cuts

in the Paper Sweeties Shop!

The Design Team has more inspiational projects
 using the new stamps/dies---
Check it out:

Beth Luetschwager
Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jeri Thomas

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lilian Forsyth  <--- WELCOME TO THE TEAM --->
Lisa Bzibziak
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michele Henderson
Michelle Bala

Nancy Salkeld (You are HERE)

I just got back from a mini-vacation at the beach and for about a month before our trip, the sand and surf were all I could think about.  So, I decided to create a sea scene outside the window die.  I used some spray inks and water to create the sky background and the waves.  I kept things clean and simple for the rest of the card.

Island Time Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Let′s go to the Beach Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Surf′s Up Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Island Time Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

Let′s go to the Beach Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

Window

Window Sweet Cuts

Window Elements

Window Elements Sweet Cuts

We are still celebrating Paper Sweeties 4th Birthday!  

Make sure and check it out!

Paper Sweeties Blessings!