JULY 2016 BLOG HOP

I was so busy last week cleaning and organizing my work space, I forgot to make my Blog Hop card!

I was feeling a bit creatively challenged today...

Here is what I came up with.

I tried using a Soft Stone Quatrefoil cover plate die cut but it was just too busy.

So I cut a mask and inked Soft stone on the card front.

I inked a small patch of chevron from a Modern stencil with Berry Sorbet.

A little smear of Berry Sorbet on the right side.

The flowers are Aqua Mist/Blueberry Sky and Berry Sorbet/Pale Peony.

The fur rug is an oldie but goodie...Limitless Layers Oval.

The sentiment from Dawns new AMAZING set, It's the Thought.

I kinda like the mix of stencils...

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Farewell

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

To everyone who helped make this day possible.

It truly is one of my favorite days of the year.

I LOVE it.

I am exhausted! But it is a good exhausted.

I have 8 cards and 2 tags. but more than that, I have a ton of new inspiration.

I am always struck by how much work the design team has to do for a release.

This is just one day.

They do this for 5 days!

So, no picture of me. I got up at 6:45...no hair done, no makeup, NO WAY!

But my little pile of beauties joined each other for a fond farewell!

I am beyond happy with my creations...

I am rejuvenated till Anniversary when we get another bonanza of inspiration.

Thank you Papertrey Ink

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Color Blocking

  Create a project featuring some kind of color blocking.  

I made it! All 8 challenges.

I really shouldn't post this last card.

Hardly my best work.

I was tired and put yellow and orange next to each other...messed up the inking...

I do not have any Copic's so I was afraid to do any coloring on my cans...

Lastly there is a glob of tape on the side of the card that i didn't notice until I edited the picture...

With all that said...#8

It still in the spirit of the challenge...right?

PLEASE tell me, yes Susan...it's in the spirit...

Ok, gonna close and see what the closing ceremony is.

Thanks for sticking with me, Pat!

And Thank You to anyone else who visited my tired little blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Watercolor Like a Master

 Create a project that features watercoloring. 

I usually try to not exactly copy a design teams card.

I copied Dawns card that I posted as my favorite...verbatim.

I copied this card too. Now I am not saying mine is as good as either of theirs, but why alter greatness!

Kay's cards is in my favorite color palate...
And it is GORGEOUS!!!

So...

I am beyond happy to get this card design.

I will be making this card and using this technique...a LOT!

Thank you so much, Kay!

It was a joy to get to meet you.

You have a darling accent and personality!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Pointillism Play

Create a project using some form of pointillism

This was fun and a lot easier that I thought it would be.

If you are going to participate, and own Honey Bees stamp set, there is a very helpful stamp of dots.

7 dots attached together...talk about saving time!

Anyway, Susan P used a leaf set to make her Impressionist floral.

It made me think it was time to bust out Leave it Be.

It is one of my all time favorites, so...

With the help of that stamp from Honey Bees I would totally do this again.

It took me longer to figure out my layout and sentiment than to stamp the dots, so no reason not to!

Thanks Heather. Your video was VERY helpful and totally explanatory.

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Mastering Drips & Splatters

Use drips and splatters to create your own background for a project.  

Kinda messy...I should have taken a picture of my fingers.

I trimmed a Monthly Moments Journal Card 2 to put the Thanks so it didn't get lost.

The yellow paint turned out translucent so the other colors show through...a total accident!

I like it, tho!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Masterpiece Inspirations

Use one of the inspiration pieces that the team selected above as a jumping point for your own piece of art.

I really liked the John LaFarge picture.

I am not an art connoisseur... umm, I'm a sports connoisseur.

But I love water and so this spoke to me.

The painting of the Royals winning the World Series...that would have really spoken to me, but I digress.

 I used the leaves from Floral Sketches and the flowers are from Bloomers. 

I think it sort of looks like Lilly pads which is what the greenery looked like to me.

Ok. 4 cards and 2 tags down...not sure how many to go...

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Impressionistic Florals

Use your paper crafting supplies to create an impressionistic look.

Oh boy! If its a Melissa technique you are in for a ride.

She can pack more layers into a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" space than anyone in the world!

Her card is so pretty.

It is so soft, so layered, so Melissa.

I don't have any of the jar stamps or dies so I faked mine...impressionist, right?

The scalloped border is from Noted Scalloped Square.

But I think the technique is amazing.

I love how the instructions are to not be precise and be messy!!!

Gotta love that.

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Gilded in Gold

 

 Create a project featuring an element that you have gilded with gold.

This was so much fun.

I LOVE the paint!

It does dry quickly...but I did get a tiny smudge in my haste.

Normally, you wouldn't be in a hurry to complete your project.

I can see doing these for Christmas tags.

I used Tag Sale: Quilted Die and gilded the edge.

A Sweet Blush square filled the center and a stack of Hibiscus Burst Big Basics Birthday Wishes die cuts. I use the little flourish from Betsy's Inspired Praise die.

It added a great little touch.

The small tag is Celebrate from Uncorked words die.

I am glad to have this gilding paint and to try it again.

Thanks Danielle!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Starry Night

Now it's your turn!  Create a starry night sky background for a project.  You can choose to re-create the exact project from Amy above or design your own using the same concepts. Your project must also incorporate at least one Papertrey product.

WHEW!!!

This was a challenging challenge.

I am a pretty quick worker...this took a lot of time.

I got a bit off the rails with the pink, but overall...I'm pretty happy.

Amy's is STUNNING!

Mine has a bit of the Big Muddy look...

Oh well. did my best!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Master Color Recipes

Create your own project utilizing one of the color schemes of your choice from above.  Your project must also incorporate at least one Papertrey product.

I didn't know I was a Vincent Van Gogh fan...

But I am a Kansas farm girl and one of my favorite sights in the world is a wheat field.

Green or ripening to a beautiful golden  wheat color. It.Is.GORGEOUS!!!

Ok, I don't have time for this...

I have never made a card anything like this...

I used my mini ink blender and the inks in the recipe.

I also added embossing paste to give it the texture I saw in the painting.

                                                      

Pretty out there for me!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

SAF 2016: Share Your Masterpiece!

I have a few cards my sister Pat *Hi Pat!* encouraged me to share.

The first one is my favorite from last week, showcasing Dawns stunning card...

LOVE this card. 

Pat liked this one...

It is so pretty...made with Floral Sketches.

So soft and feminine.

I also love this one from Dawn...

It is made with Forget Me Not

SOOOO pretty with both noted Scalloped A2 and Noted Scalloped Square dies.

I totally stole the design of Dawns card...LOVE!

I LOVE Stamp-A-Faire! One of my favorite days of the year!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

MAKE IT MONDAY #256: SPRITZED STAMPS

Create a project utilizing your take on the challenge. Your project must use at least one Papertrey product and spritzed stamps.

Another fun way to change the look of an old favorite stamp set!

I chose Life is Beautiful butterflies, because you can never have too many butterfly cards!

As I am wont to do...I chose Pale Peony, Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy inks.

I have a spray bottle with a bit of Perfect Pearls in it. I used it for my spritz, but I cannot see it...

It made no difference...:(

 Beautiful Butterflies Layers and some rhinestones dress-up the bodies.

The sentiment is from Friendly Flowers

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

CREATE ALONG WITH US: JULY 2016

Create a project utilizing inspiration you've seen during release week. Your project must use at least one Papertrey product.




I am a COPYCAT!!!

A total copycat!

I absolutely dropped my jaw over Dawns card this morning.

It is gorgeous!

It is my color palate... It is a fabulous design... Dawn made it...

What is not to like?

I used the smallest leaf from Happiness in Bloom.

I love the little point at the top.

You do have to cut "fifty million leaves" 

But, oh my goodness, it is worth every cut!!!

Ah Dawn...color and design perfection!!!

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan

MAKE IT MONDAY #255: STRING ART USING DIE-CUTS

Create a project utilizing your take on the challenge. Your project must use at least one Papertrey product and string art using die cuts.

I had this idea using a Life is Beautiful butterfly for my string art. 

Donna Gourley used that really fine metallic thread we all bought for Stamp-a-Faire last year.

I thought it was a genius idea... so I stole it.

Thank you Donna!!! 

It was suggested to me that I wrap more string then I originally planned...

That was a great idea!

This was my original version...not as string arty...

This paper is an oldie, but goody...Happy Spots!

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the new Big Basics word dies.

I gonna wear 'em out I tell 'ya...

Thank you for looking at my blog!

Susan