Father's Day Fish

Yep, you read that right.  I skipped ahead to Father's Day.  I feel like the holidays are just flying by this year, and I'm barely keeping up, so as soon as I received the Spellbinder's Fishing Trip Etched Dies (S3-300), I knew I wanted to get a little ahead of the game and create a Father's Day card.  Really, it was my grandpas who were the big fishermen, but I know my dad fished with my Grandpa, so I figure it works.  I loved thinking of my grandpas while I made this card.  I used to get little fish hooks caught on my clothes (or skin!) all of the time when I rode in my grandpa's car.  And I chuckled when I added the string embellishment on the card.  I know that is something cardmaker's do, but I was thinking of tangled fishing line the whole time.  I can remember helping my grandpa untangle little knots in the line.  

This card was also a fun excuse to try out Distress Oxide Inks.  I got some on a crazy good sale around Christmas and had never tried them.  I blended most of the colors I had, splattered them with water, and then die cut lots of fish using the Spellbinder's Fishing Trip Etched Dies.  I liked them so much I didn't want to cover them up, so I used I tiny sentiment and called it good.  The Fishing Trip Dies actually come as a set of four, so they're definitely worth checking out for the fishermen in your life. :) Hope that you are headed into a wonderful weekend.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!   

Where Creativity Meets C9 Sneak Peek

Hi!  I'm over at the Where Creativity Meets C9 blog this morning with some extra inspiration for our current Sketch Challenge.  Hope to see you there!

Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #19

Good morning!  Are you ready for a new Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge?  This month's challenge is something we've never done before.

It's a sketch!  I have to admit I tried a few different ideas before I stuck with this one and in the process forgot that the sketch had the sentiment centered...oops.  Oh, well.  You'll see that some of us were a little looser with our interpretation of the sketch, and that's totally okay!

I've used Concord & 9th's Magnolia Wreath stamp set a few times, but would you believe I've never inked up the actual wreath?  I thought it was high time to remedy that.  And the design with the two tabs is so brilliant and makes everything so easy to line up.  I stamped and die cut the wreath as well as several flowers and berries that can all be found in the Magnolia Wreath Bundle.  I just love that this set sort of magically morphs into any season depending on the colors you use.

I embossed a Happy Birthday sentiment from Concord & 9th's Many Mandalas set onto a tag from the Love Notes Envelope Dies.  It didn't stand out quite as much as I'd hoped, so I stamped the sentiment a second time just a tad bit offset to look like a shadow.  Oh, and I almost forgot my wood stripes.  They come from the Petals and Pallets set.

Pop over to the Where Creativity Meets C9 Blog to read all the details on how to join us for Challenge #19.  You're bound to find lots of inspiration, and you might be the lucky winner of a Concord and 9th $25 Gift Certificate or have a chance to guest design with us for an upcoming challenge.  Happy crafting! PS Concord & 9th is releasing another fabulous set of products today.  You can check it out HERE.

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

Stamps:Concord & 9th Magnolia Wreath, Many Mandalas, Petals and Pallets 

Dies: Concord & 9th Love Notes Envelope Dies, Magnolia Wreath Dies

Paper: Neenah Solar White, PTI Lemon Tart

Ink: Altenew Coral Berry, Limestone, Mountain Mist, Volcano Lake; VersaMark

Other: Neat & Tangled Crystal Clear Sequins, Simon Says Stamp White Embossing Powder, twine

Hugs! (PTI Transformation Tuesday)

Hello, friends!  I have a quick card to share today.  Papertrey has a new feature called Transformation Tuesday.  I love the idea of transforming a card and was eager to join the fun.  I made this birthday card a long time ago and found it a couple weeks ago.  I still have it because I was never satisfied with it and couldn't bare to send it.  So, I took the parts I liked--stacked sentiments + sentiment on a flag--and simplified the whole thing.  

Better, right?  I can't tell you how nice it feels to finally be content with this card.  Hope you are having a wonderful week!

(All supplies PTI unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Wet Paint III
Dies: Big Hugs, Sketched Shapes
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal

12 Kits of Occasions - Faith & Family

Good morning!  I always love when it is time to share our 12 Kits of Occasions projects, but this month I'm especially excited because it was my turn to put the kit together.  My kit is named "Faith & Family" (thanks, Michele, for naming it!), and the colors and flowers were inspired by one of my daughter's dresses.  This kit is different from any of the other kits I've put together because this time I built it around the sentiments...they are all the things I want to say to  some of my family who are going through a difficult time right now.  It was definitely created with love.  This is going to be a really picture heavy post (I made a lot of cards!), so I'll try to keep my commentary brief.  I'll include the main supplies, but you can find all the details and my full supply list for everything in the kit on the 12 Kits Blog HERE.

 Supplies: PTI Faith stamps & dies; Concord & 9th Polka Dot Turnabout

Supplies:Concord & 9th Friend Like You Die 

By the way, I love this die and it is on Last Chance status at Concord & 9th.  It's definitely worth picking up before it's gone. 

 Supplies: Papertrey KIS: Encouragement; Concord & 9th Lily; Clearly Besotted Scallop dies

 Supplies: Concord & 9th Hooray Bundle & Just Because Dies; We R Memory Keeps embossing folder

 Supplies: Right at Home: His Love; Concord & 9th Polka Dot Turnabout, Tree Ring Background; Spellbinders: Poppies Etched dies

I shared a card I made using this poppy die a couple weeks ago that I colored with colored pencil.  That was definitely a labor intensive way to use this die.  This time, I just sponged ink on with an ink blender and it was so fast.  It gives a totally different result and the softness seemed fitting for this card, which is one of my favorites.

 Supplies: Right at Home: His Love; Spellbinders: Poppy Pocket Die; Lil' Inker: Pinking Edge Sentiment Flag Die

Speaking of poppy dies, here is a better view of the Spellbinders Poppy Pocket die that I promised to share with you.  This die is etched as well, and I used the embossing as guides for the rhinestone placement.  I've cut this out in lots of colors, and it really is such a beautiful die. 

 Supplies: Clearly Besotted: Simply Succulents & Simply Succulents Too stamps & dies; Concord & 9th: Stuck on You

Aren't these succulents adorable?  I love them and all the fun ways to mix and match and decorate the pots.

 Supplies: Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In; The Stamp Market: Fun Florals, Watercolor Bouquet ; MFT: Zig Zag Stitched Circles

This card reminds me so much of my daughter's dress that was the initial inspiration for the kit.  The dress is gray with flowers on it...just like this card.  

Supplies: Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In; The Ton: Summer Blooms

Concord & 9th's Blooms Fill-In  is one of my favorite stamps I used in this kit.  I love that I you created beautiful, colorful background patterns with lots of colors filled in, or simply stamped once like I did here.

  Supplies: Right at Home: His Love; Concord & 9th: Just Because Dies

Concord & 9th: Detailed Booms and Hope Label Dies; Lil' Inker: Stitched Mats: Rectangles; PTI: Center Stage Cover Plate Die

 Supplies: Concord & 9th: Above Average, Blooms Fill-in Dies; WPlus9: Petunia Builder

Supplies: Concord & 9th: Just Because Dies, Stuck on You; WPlus9: Rose Builder

The rest of the sentiment is on the inside and reads "You deserve the very best", but I forgot to take a picture of that part.

 Supplies:  Concord & 9th:  Above Average, Stuck on You Dies; The Stamp Market: Fun Florals; PTI: Noted: Scalloped A2 Dies

This little pot is dimensional, and I love how the bouquet just pops off the card.  And I'm super excited about this scalloped card die from PTI.  I've wanted it for a loooong time and just bought it.  It's so fun, especially because lately I've been a little bored with just standard card sizes.  It may not look like it in the photos, but the cards I made with this kit are a bunch of different sizes.    

Supplies: Concord & 9th: Petals & Pallets Bundle,  Plaid Background; WPlus9: Modern Petunia, Petunia Builder

These last two cards are my mom and sister's favorites.  I think they're my favorites, too. :) I've never turned Concord & 9th's Pallet vertically, and I love how it makes it look like a fence this way.  Our fence out back is pretty greyed like this and my climbing plants are constantly growing and peeking through the slats, so I decided to recreate the look on my card.

Supplies: Concord & 9th: Just Because Dies; PTI: Friendship Jar: Summer Fillers; Pretty Pink Posh: Storybook 1 Die, Thoughtful Greetings; WPlus9: Modern Petunia, Petunia Builder, Rose Builder

This card was one of the very last I made.  I basically just filled the jar with a bunch of leftover pieces from the kit, but I love how it turned out.  And speaking of leftovers, I have hardly anything left from my kit.  I made 16 cards!  That's a record for me.  I've sent every card I've made this year, and hope to get these in the mail over the coming weeks.  My goal this year is to focus on being a card sender more than a card maker.  

I am SO excited to see what my teammates have made with my kit!  I'm sure you'll want to check them out to, so make sure you visit The 12 Kits of Occasions Blog next.  Thanks so much for sticking with me through this super long post.  Have a blessed week!