Serenity

I followed the January Challenge Sketch by Artful Delight. The background paper is from Meadowlark by My Mind's Eye. The tree is a digital stamp from McMahon Five Design. The sentiment is by Raindrop Echo Designs for Whimsy Stamps.

For "Splash of Color," I used a bit of green twine, cardstock, and Old Paper Distress Ink.

CHALLENGES:

January Challenge Sketch by Artful Delight

Black and White with a Splash of Color by Simon Says Stamp

recipe album *Scrap That! Summer In My Garden July Kit*

Last month, I needed a gift for my childhood BFF and my ScrapThat! kit totally saved the day. This month, I needed a gift for my cousin who recently got hitched

 and, once again, ScrapThat! totally saved the day!

This kit "Summer In My Garden" features Organic by FabScraps. Ding Ding Ding! Recipe album!

"Organic", the pearls, and white rose are from the kit. I also handmade some flowers from the papers in the kit. The teeny purple roses and neutral colored flowers are from my stash. The bird is by K and Company. The letter stickers are from Mellow by Basic Grey. The large eyelet is by WRMK. The brown ribbon is American Crafts.

This butterfly is by K and Company.

I used the Ingvild Bolme chalk ink from the kit to give this chipboard some color. 

Accented with Wheatfields Glimmer Mist.

The closure.

The back. The tape is by Tim Holtz.

First glance at the inside. I thought she'd like to see a picture from her wedding in this album.

All of the recipe cards can be removed. The card on the right is in the kit.

The white lace is from the kit. I trimmed it for a different shape. The birds are by K and Company. The cloud punch shape is Fiskars.

Cut from a Cuttlebug die. Love all the pearls in the kit! They are by Melissa Frances. 

The decorative edge is Fiskars.

I found the recipe cards at Sweetly Scrapped.

"Apple of My Eye" is Stampin' Up. My cousin will be able to move the anchor and write her own notes about the recipes (like changes she makes). These extra little cards for her own notes are available with each recipe card in the album.

A stamped, romantic couple serving as the corner holder on this page.

Thanks for stopping by!

I Love You

This card is going to be for my very own mommy! She loves pink, blue, green, flowers, and 

stuff that sparkles. Think I covered all that?

I've fallen in love with using 6x6 papers on my cards over the last month or so, thus a buying addiction. However, I always sighed and rolled my eyes when I flipped through this MME Miss Caroline paper pad and saw that background paper, with the dark wood and flowers. I just didn't like it. Then, I saw this card by Claudia. So THAT'S how it's done! As usual, she is brilliant with layering. I always love how she mixes colors for matting. It certainly takes the fuss out of matching everything. Well, let me just admit it: most of this card is fashioned after hers. At least, it's for someone really special!

I know I just posted my farewell to Whimsy Stamps but I'll never be tired of their digis. This one is by Crissy Armstrong. I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS. I used Distress Ink on the edges, blue and green.

The flowers are a blend of Prima and Recollections. The little metal piece I found on eBay. I used my Cricut to cut a perfect paper oval and filled it with a sentiment from Hot Off the Press, 

topped with Glossy Accents.

Have you made something for your mom? Leave a direct link in the comments and I will check it out!

Christmas *Whimsy Stamps*

Followed a sketch by Mojo Monday. The stamp is by Raindrop Echo Designs for Whimsy Stamps. Papers are from Christmas Emporium by Graphic 45.

Added a wee bit of color to this image with Loew-Cornell pencils. 

Inked the edges and topped with Stickles.

Who else is working on Christmas cards in April?

Hi *Whimsy Stamps*

GREETINGS!

Your new challenge at Whimsy Stamps this week is to use punches or die cuts. 

Play along for your chance to win free stamps!

Followed Sketch 198 by Mojo Monday. Papers are from Fly a Kite by My Mind's Eye. I used previously cut hexagon as a stencil for the one on this card. The cloud is a leftover from a previous project using 29th Street Market by MME.

Digital stamp by Moon Cookie Gallery for Whimsy Stamps. Colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended using burnishing technique.

CHALLENGES

My Mind's Eye- Hexagons

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog- April Showers/Spring Flowers

Born To Rock

HELLO!

I have a masculine guitar theme to share today.

Started with some inspiration from Sarah-Louise's gallery at KennyK Downloads. 

Decided to keep it simple and I think this will do well for a teenage boy. Papers are from 

Vintage Findings by Making Memories.

This digital stamp is from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils 

and blended with OMS. I used distress inks to color the "wall." Love me some distress inks! When I trimmed the image, I trimmed a white border. I didn't want to distress ink the border so I masked with Scotch tape. I used the TH handle and two foam pad applicators. I started with the Old Paper ink and finished with the Vintage Photo ink.

Some decorative tape by Tim Holtz, accented with a photo anchor.

CHALLENGES

Simon Says Stamp and Show- Lord Tim Technique

Spring *Whimsy Stamps New Release Blog Hop*

Welcome to my post for the Whimsy Stamps Blog Hop!

Lost? Start HERE.

Leave comments along the way for your chance to win free digital stamps from Whimsy Stamps!

The hop will run for 1 week and end on Sunday 8th April at 12 Noon EST.

The lighter background papers are digital papers from Michele R Designs. The darker pink/purple piece is from Bayberry Cottage by Pink Paislee.

This adorable bunny is by StampArt Design for Whimsy Stamps. 

I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS.

Thanks so much for visiting!

BLOG HOP

Alissa Wells-- you are here

Kim Bell

Sarah McLaughlin 

Juelmarie Morgan

Evi De Herdt

Charlene Brown

CHALLENGES:

Simons Says Stamp Challenge- Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday- Easter

Just Keep On Creating- Anything Goes

hello *whimsy stamps*

I followed The Deconstructed Sketch No. 42. Papers are from Alissa by BoBunny.

This image is by Natalie (Moon Cookie Gallery) for Whimsy Stamps. I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and blended with the colorless blender marker.

I added this banner for the BoBunny's Card Challenge Tuesday. I cut the banner pieces using a diamond shape from Plantin Schoolbook. The letters are Scrap Metal.

Thanks for stopping by!

CHALLENGES:
BoBunny's Card Challenge Tuesday
Love to Create- Anything Goes

SUNSHINE

Followed a sketch from The Craft's Meow. I used some of my very oldest papers- 

Wild Saffron by K and Company.

This is a digital image from Digital 2 for Tuesday. I colored it with Loew-Cornell pencils, 

accented with chalk and Stickles. The border punch is Fiskars.

"Sunshine" is from Close to My Heart, stamped with Archival sepia ink. The three chipboard buttons are also from Wild Saffron.

The inside. I accidentally cut the wrong size from the pp so I compensated by adding a little decorative border, punch by EK Success.

Thanks for stopping by! I always appreciate visitors.

Easter Bunny *Whimsy Stamps*

Your challenge at Whimsy Stamps this week is to forgo a sentiment!

I know, right?!! I just got into putting a sentiment on the front of all my cards.

Play along with us for your chance to win free digital stamps!

I followed Claudia's design to make this card. I love how she uses flowers. It takes all my energy to put flowers on my projects! I used papers by Anna Griffin.

This adorable image is a digi by Kathy (StampArt Designs) for Whimsy Stamps. I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS. I fussy the image and foam dotted to a series a mats, cut from Storybook/Cricut Expression.

I wish I made these. I'm just not into making flowers yet. So, I let my friends and my sister do all the work for me. The large, yellow carnation was made by my sister Vivian 

and the smaller roses were made by Stephanie. The pink trim is American Crafts.

A fun view. Oh, and check out the Stickles on the mat edge. 

I love to use Distress Ink first and then add Stickles!

And one more time.

I really appreciate this card because I did it on a MONDAY night. I work full time and crafting on a weeknight is extremely rare. I did get lazy and didn't add any green filler to my flowers, 

but I'm okay with that.

Thanks for looking!

CHALLENGES:
Clearly I Stamp- Anything Goes
Hotshot Craft- Ribbon

happy thoughts your way *Whimsy Stamps New Release*

Join the New Release Blog Hop for a chance to win free stamps!

I'm getting bored with my current go-to techniques.

It's time for me to step up my game and try some new things. 

My idea of studying is to... well... lift someone else's fabulous work :)

I've been wanting to use more flowers and add more shabby chicness to my cards.

I spend a lot of time staring at Claudia Rosa's blog and this card was the subject of my studies today.

Papers are from an 8x8 paper pad called Romantique by Prima. I bought this pack from Blue Moon Scrapbooking. Awesome store and great customer service! So, I'm already doing something new here. I usually go for 12x12 and ignore everything else.

This digital stamp is by Lia for Whimsy Stamps, a new release for March 1st. I had to color her twice. I ruined her the first time with two much blue in the background. I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits. Claudia loves to add stitching to all of her stamped images. I considered and then decided to go for inking in pink distress ink and top with clear stickles. 

I love this look! I did stitch everything else with a nice cream colored thread.

I used Dana's tips for coloring the hair and skin.

This digital sentiment is also from Whimsy Stamps. I treated it with the same pink ink and stickles. 

I also brought over the little bow idea. I beat everything into submission with Glossy Accents.

I love flowers but they make me crazy- trying to figure out how to place them just right. This is definitely one of the reasons why I love watching Claudia's work. I started with roses from a vine made by Stephanie and accented with Martha Stewart pine branch punched pieces and little Prima flowers. I also have the bamboo twine (jewelry section at Michael's), bows, and the random button going on here. 

Love me some buttons.

Here is where I got especially excited. I loved Claudia's decorative border. I opened up my Paper Lace cartridge that I got for Christmas and picked a fun piece. 

It cut very nicely! 

I love it when I get motivated to use something new! Also, the clamshell was very easy to cut! 

Thank Goodness!

Exclamation!

A fun, dimensional view of the card.

THANKS TO CLAUDIA

-i gave my fairy some green ground (never dunnit before)

-used something other than 12x12 papers

-used my Cricut and a new cartridge

-easily added flowers

-got unglued with the stickles

-took the time to add stitching (i have been doing this more lately)

-oh, i almost forgot, i used various colors of solid cardstock to mat my papers (pink, blue, and green). 

i think i really enjoyed this more than anything!

Ain't gonna lie. I spent more than five hours on this card. It's 4 pm while I'm typing this up and I haven't run, showered, or brushed my teeth yet LOL