We Love You, Dawn! Official Blog Hop

I put everything else on hold today (well, yesterday too) and got my fingers inky for a VERY special reason...Dawn McVey.

Dawn is a sparkling light in the crafting community.  She designs for Papertrey Ink, which led me to her blog and eventually Instagram.  I have been admiring her gorgeous handiwork for years while also following and praying for her health struggles.  No matter what direction her struggle has taken, Dawn has been perpetually positive and has let nothing dull her amazing, sparkling smile.  She is an inspiration to everyone who has crossed her path, myself included.  It would be Dawn's fault completely that I am trying my hand at growing succulents, lol. She just makes it look so EASY!  ;)

Well, Dawn just received a new small intestine in one of the riskiest transplant surgeries available...and so far, thank the Lord, her body is accepting it!  It is an absolute miracle for her and her family, and the crafty community that loves her is coming together to brighten her room and keep her spirits high with as many cards as we can in the official We Love You, Dawn Blog Hop!  Here's mine!

I immediately knew which sentiment I was going to use on her card...because Dawn IS sparkle!  I wanted to use her Raspberry Suite Floral Sketches which are designed to add your own color...

I was able to successfully watercolor the flowers, and also added some more blooms from a separate sheet.  After it was all attached, I used my white gel pen and shimmer pen to add some flair.

I hope these watercolor blooms brighten her day as much as her constant positivity has brightened mine!  Here's the link to the rest of the hop!

Products I used...

-Papertrey Ink: Raspberry Suite Floral Sketches, Shakers and Sprinkles Make It Market Kit, Sparkle and Shine Stamps

-Lawn Fawn:  How You Been? Stamp set and coordinating Die

-Close to My Heart:  Sparkles, Silver Shimmer Trim, Charcoal and Black Exclusive Dye Ink, Watercolors, Watercolor Brushes

-Copic Toner Grey 0

Summertime Fun Challenges!

Time for another challenge!  Ummmm...make that two!  ;)

Both Lawn Fawnatics and the Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog have issued Summertime Challenges this week! How could a crafty girl resist???

I'm SO excited to share this super fun box card I made for one of my BFFs...it includes THE most fantastic of summer themes: ocean beachy water fun!

Lawn Fawn sure hit the nail on the head with this box card die.  It makes the box card process practically painless!  Easy button?  OK!  This is what it looks like before you add all the pretties...

I did add the waves and sand from other LF border dies, but you get the gist.  ;)

Then you get to start creating a scene!  I used the mermazing LF Mermaid for You stamps and dies...

With a box card, you can decorate the inside, outside, anything you like! I used the banner dies included in the box card set to make some fancy party decor.  It is especially fun to use some clear packaging or leftover carrier sheets from embellishments to make "floating" details.  I used Glue Dots to make sure they stay put...

Be sure to add a blank panel in the back of the card for you to write a note to your card recipient...

The coolest part of this box card is that it folds flat to fit inside a standard size envelope!!!

Just like magic!

Thanks for coming to take a peek!

Here is a list of the other crafty toys I used to make this one...

Sizzix Big Shot

Lawn Fawn--various inks and plaid papers (I cannot get enough of these plaid patterns!)

Close to My Heart--Sea Glass Ink, Birthday Sparkles My Acrylix, 2x2 My Acrylix Block, ShinHan Touch Twin Alcohol Ink Markers, Champagne CS, White Glitter Paper

Copic Sketch Markers

Freshly Made Jawsome!

Whew!  Just when I was on a roll yesterday, my internet decided to conk out...but it's back in business this morning, so lets get this thing posted!

I simply CANNOT get enough of this little guy right now...he's just THAT jawsome.  I combined the current challenges from Lawn Fawnatics and Freshly Made Sketches to give myself a good excuse to play with him again!  ;)

I also found a GREAT place to take some shots of my creations!  I don't have a dedicated space yet for this purpose, but this is the best I have found yet!

As you can see, I flipped the FMS sketch on its side so I could incorporate that fabulous Word Bubble Border die.  This was the springboard for my entire card!  :)

I haven't used my watercolors as much as I would like, so I was just trying to get a nice and subtle ombre of color in the ocean water.  I also tried a little water splatter on the finished watercolor background.  I'll have to play a bit more to get the results I wanted...I think it was too dry already.

See the layer of lined vellum that mats the watercolor?  Love that subtle addition...

So, this inside sentiment goes against every one of my "mom" instincts, (and I can't count the number of times I have told the girls to not use that word) but I just could not resist!!!

Isn't it PERFECT!?!?!  Duh!  Too fun.

Thanks for popping in to take a peek!  :)

Here is a list of my supplies for this one:

Close to My Heart products with links to my website
Value Pack White Card Bases with Envelopes
Uptown Fundamentals (striped vellum sheet)
Prickly Pear Sequins
Archival Ink
Watercolor Paints
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Brushes
Waterbrush Small

Other Products:
MFT Stitched Rectangle Dies
Lawn Fawn Duh-Nuh Stamps and Dies
Lawn Fawn Word Bubble Border Die
Lawn Fawn Ocean Waves Accents
Lawn Fawn Let's Polka Sequins
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
Copics Sketch T0, T3, O
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black

A Jawsome Mojo Monday!

I loved the new Mojo sketch this week as soon as I caught a glimpse of it.  Since I didn't have a square envelope handy, though, I stretched it out to a more easy-button friendly size A2.  I do so like my easy buttons!  ;)

I immediately grabbed my new Lawn Fawn Duh-Nuh stamps and dies and paired them with my current fave papers from Close to My Heart--No Worries.  Quite the ironic combo, don't you think?

SO many great patterns in this paper pack to use on my card layers, but my favorite is definitely that weathered woodgrain!  The net, waves, and striped panel each add to the overall beachy feel of this great sharky sentiment.  I used a burlap ribbon for even more texture. 

I finally remembered to try the little dotting method in my Copic coloring!  LOVE how it looks on the shark!

I turned this particular card into a graduation card for my BFF's son...just added another sentiment on the inside that is a bit more specific from THIS versatile stamp set.  I just forgot to take a pic!  (Updated to add that pic!) Ooops!

I can't wait to use this sketch again!

UPDATE:  Please check out my new post that shows how I tweaked my card to better suit my occasion HERE!

Lawnscaping Challenges: Off Kilter

Oh my word it has been absolutely FOREVER since I have been able to play along with Lawnscaping Challenges!  I could not resist finally jumping back in on this one!

I ADORE the new slider dies from Lawn Fawn!!!  Thanks to Kelly's amazing video, I felt completely ready to tackle a slider card for the challenge!

I used my new wave dies to create an off-kilter background for this little guy to slide down!

Alright, I kind of bought out the new releases last month, I guess...but these Make Me Smile faces and sun and cloud frame dies were absolutely necessary, right???

I really HAD to have this little guy to go along with the sliders, but apparently, I already had the otter(Year Five) set!  Now I have an accidental back-up, lol!  Guess that will come in handy if I need to mass produce otters, lol!  ;)  It was super easy to color him in with my ShinHan Alcohol Ink Markers.

Isn't the sentiment that comes with the little otter the CUTEST!?

Here are the other supplies I used for this adorable slider...

CTMH Lagoon Exclusive Ink
CTMH Glacier, Lagoon, Black, White Daisy and Honey CS
CTMH Gold Glitter Paper
MCT Stitched Rectangle Dies

Thanks for the great challenge!  :)

Mojo Monday Means Coffee!

YES!!!  Summer means I have time to play along with Mojo Monday!!!

I grabbed some of my new Verve products and got to work PLAY!  :)

I just LOVE pulling different branded products together when creating...and I have quite the horde collection to choose from!  This cluster easily fell into place with CTMH Florence Paper, Vellum and Gold Bling Gem, Lawn Fawn wooden heart embellie, Studio Calico sequins, leftover die cuts(Cricut and Verve) from prior projects, and misc. ribbon from packaging! 

Oh. My. Word.  I really wanted to use my Verve Coffee die as the sentiment...but what do you add to that...ummmm...nothing!  Coffee?  YES, of course!!!  I actually cut the word twice on my Big Shot and used the little swirly part to create a question mark. That adorable coffee stain behind it is found on the Verve Better With You stamp set.

These sequins are a mix of my faves from Studio Calico, Close to My Heart, and Teresa Collins!

Here are some of the other products I used:

CTMH Colonial White Value Pack Cards
CTMH Cashmere CS
CTMH Chocolate and Whisper Exclusive Ink

Thanks for taking a peek this week!  :)

Only in June!

Flash sales every weekend in JUNE!!!

Hello, Tag (You're It!) Tuesday!

I just have a super-quick tag to show you today that I whipped up for a baby gift...that I still have to deliver!  Oooops!

I recently picked up this awesome cork sheet stack from DCWV, so I wanted to use it for a nice, large tag.  I used the MCT stitched tag die and mounted it on the Into the Woods LF paper...it was super-easy to trim it out.

I love this scripty "hello" die from Lawn Fawn, and I paired it up with a wonderful new globe image found on the Close to My Heart My Acrylix, Here We Go that debuted in August.  I cut a 1.75 inch circle with my new Cricut Explore and stamped it in CTMH Sweet Leaf Exclusive Ink. 

Together, I think these make a fitting sentiment to welcome a new baby to the world!  :)

If you enjoy tag-making like I do, be sure to check out this GREAT new Stamp of the Month for October on my website!

The Chevron Ribbon has completely run out with the October Ribbon Revelry special!  Don't worry, though, you will still receive a FREE ribbon or trim with a qualifying purchase.  In fact, hat Slate Diagonal Ribbon I used to attach my tag just might be your freebie!  I love a good mystery!  Just be sure to add the freebie to your cart when prompted!  :)