Whirlpool of Imagination

Celebrate CAS

This month I challenged my ArtFire guild members to create a card using stars or stripes that were either red, white or blue.

I stretched the definition of stripe for today's card but since I run the guild, I'm saying this one works - LOL!

The swooshy stripe is from a set from Raisin Boat and I stamped it first and second generation for the variation in color (midnight muse - one of Stampin' Up's new In Colors). The sentiment is from paper and stamped with SU's red ink.

I thought this one would be fun for birthday's or other events as well as possibly 4th of July. I see maybe adding a small embellishment somewhere around the sentiment, maybe stars, maybe balloons, maybe even a grad hat on the letter C to personalize it for a specific card theme. But for now, I will keep it simple and leave it as is.

I do have a couple other ideas floating around that I will try to create before our challenge deadline of the 30th. And THAT all depends on crafting time now that the kids are out of school! Have a great day!

Thank You Lacrosse

As the spring sports season winds to an end, it's time for coach thank you cards. I went ultra simple this year because the month of June is so jam packed it's only a blur at the moment.

I pulled out the new gumball green card stock from Stampin' Up - love it - it's such a fun color. I can already tell that I'll be using it a LOT in the next two years before it retires!

The stamp is from Raisin Boat, one of the few companies that actually has any lacrosse stamps.

And considering each kid has four coaches, simple was the way to go!

Pink Cross

I'm really pulling out some old stuff that I haven't showed you.

When I was working on a First Communion card for Conor for my mom to give him, I made desgins in blue and green. Weeks later I decided I really should have one in pink too.

 The image and sentiment are from Raisin Boat.

I'll be back on Saturday with a bigger project that I recently finished. See you then!

Lacrosse Thanks

As the saying goes, all good things must end. Meghan has had the time of her life this year in lacrosse. Her coach is fantastic and the team played with heart, skill, effort and fun. These girls, from different schools throughout town, came together and personified what team play really is. They were a joy to watch and Meg really enjoyed going to each and every game and practice.

As parents, we wanted to express our thanks to our coach with a gift. And of course I couldn't give a card that didn't match the occasion, right?

There are not that many lacrosse stamps out there so I continually turn to my set from Raisin Boat. I added the sentiment from Papertrey, thinking the "grungy" look matched the sport idea. I went with black and white because the team was called Black Magic.

That's about all I got today. It's the last week of school here so the kids are busy, busy with all the fun stuff that the last week of school entails. And I'm getting ready for summer vacation to get started. Have a great day!

Swirly Crosses

We are getting ready here for Conor's First Communion so my focus has been on those holidays. I like the versatility of today's card design. It could go for First Communion as well as baptism or confirmation.

These stamps are from Raisin Boat ~ one of their newer releases. As soon as they released it, I bought one since I knew I'd have these events coming up. This version is done up in Marina Mist ink.

This one is done in wasabi, same layout.

Spent my day grocery shopping, cooking and shuttling kids around. Good thing I already has these made up for tomorrow since there was no stamping on my schedule today!

Hope you have a wonderful night!

Purple Trees

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while know of my love of the color purple. This admiration started in kindergarten and follows me still. I wanted to use these new stamps from Raisin Boat and decided to pull out my purples.

The trees, snow underneath and sentiment are all from Raisin Boat. They were all stamped with grape jelly ink. Below the trees, I added a line of "snow" using a Martha Stewart glitter pen. I went back and forth on the proportions but finally decided on the offset to the left with the sentiment off to the right.

I am slowing down the Christmas crafting train and am finally getting ready to move on to other holidays. I have to say that I am ready to put away all those Christmas stamps! Have a great day.

Hanging Ornaments

Sometimes all the crafty items I have accumulated come together and work so nicely as a pair. Two different stamp companies make up the images/words on this card and I love have they work together.

The tree and ornaments are from Raisin Boat and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink. I used rose red on the ornaments and hunter green on the tree and words. I used a bit of silver outliner stickers to "hang" the ornaments.

Since I'm been trying to decorate the inside of cards too, here's a quick look on the inside of this one.

Not feeling the greatest today but plugging along on my Christmas cards. I will eventually get them posted here. Have a great day!

Don't Forget Dad

I know I'm jumping ahead here for Father's Day but I pulled out one of my sets from Raisin Boat and felt the need to create with it. What's Raisin Boat you ask? Think Netflix but with stamps. You rent stamp sets, use them as often and as much as you like and then either buy them and keep them or mail them back in the postage paid envelope and then receive a new set. The stamps are clear polymer stamps and ink up VERY well. I am so hooked. I bought the first set I rented and am liking this one too so it may just stay here with me.

Everything but the word "Dad" is from Raisin Boat. The Dad is from Papertrey Ink. Everything is stamped with Memento cocoa bean ink. I debated on leaving the top area blank but it looked just a bit too blank so I picked up some chocolate twill ribbon from Taylored Expressions and knotted it. And then I stopped. And I'm happy with the outcome.

I've been working on Mother's Day as well so I can stock up in my store. I'll show you something for Mom tomorrow. Have a great night.