Memorial Day Flowers

I hope this weekend is a long and enjoyable one for you. Today we are gathering with friends for a cookout. Fun times, for sure. I will also try my best to find some time to get inky. Will you?

Speaking of getting inky, I also made a quick/easy card yesterday to share on my blog today. I do love to color flowers. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday Meadow Flowers stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Cougar 110# White and SU Green Galore CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Mod Rectangle and MFT Stitched Rectangle

Embellishment: Ribbon from an unknown vendor

You Color My World with Die Cuts

It seems I haven't had time to participate in many of the SCS challenges lately, which I regret. They are always such fun. I am glad to say I've made today's card for this week's Free for All One or More Die Cuts (#F4A588) Challenge.

I can do die cuts.

It's difficult to see it in the photo, but I used IrRESISTable Pico Embellisher for the paints, to give them a shine... and I also added a splash of it onto the globe to show how the cutie is coloring the world.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: MFT You Color My World stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Cougar 110# White and SU Dapper Denim and Garden Green CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies/Punch: MFT Stitched Rectangle Dies, Simon Says Sentiment Labels Die, Sizzix Mini Globe Die, Spellbinders Circle Die, and SU Flag Punch

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Enamel Heart, Gina Marie Enamel Dots, and IrRESISTable Pico Embellisher

Sending Prayers

One of my favorite challenge groups is the Challenge Your Stash group on SCS, under the capable and organized leadership of my friend Barb. The idea is we can't shop for anything when making our monthly challenge card (which we post on the 28th of each month). This month I'm a day late, as I had a guest designer post on my blog yesterday.

We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Barb's turn and she has challenged us to make a slimline or mini slimline card with one additional requirement. The card must have a sentiment on it.

This challenge theme made me nervous. I love the slimline cards others make and have attempted a few of my own, too... but I've never liked any of the ones I've made. I sure didn't want to fail the group, and especially not my friend Barb, so I gave it my best effort and I can honestly say it's the best mini slimline card I've ever made. 

Now my next challenge is getting a descent picture, since I also have a difficult time photographing slimline cards.

Here's the inside:

I hope Barb and the other Challenge Your Stash gals like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Sets: Avery Elle Simple Sentiments and Flourishes Magnolias stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Cougar 110# White, Recollections Black, and SU Powder Pink CS

Embossing Folder/Ink: Stampin' UP! Coastal Weave EF blended with Lawn Fawn Celery Stick Ink

Dies: Taylored Expressions Petite Scallop Mini Slim and Taylored Expressions Stitched Mini Slim

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones

Blue Knight Guest Designer 5.28.2021

I have thoroughly enjoyed my month as a guest designer for Blue Knight Rubber Stamps. I can't thank Lynn (the owner) enough for inviting me to be a guest designer and for gifting me with some amazing stamps and a stencil to use for my cards this month. Lynn, I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and I wish you the very VERY best in business and life.

For this last post as a guest designer, I was given the Spring Blessings stamp to use. It is an absolutely gorgeous stamp - featuring beautiful trees and two deer nestled in the forest.

For my first card, I colored the trees with Copic Markers, using lighter colors. The most challenging part was trying to leave the trees mostly white when coloring the sky, but I enjoyed the relaxation of slowly coloring. If one wanted to speed the process up a bit, instead of making the trees white (birch trees), one could color them brown. I really was happy with the look, though, and am glad I made my trees white.

I wanted to go with an entirely different look on my second card, so instead of coloring, I used blending brushes and added ink to the stamped piece. I covered the entire thing, but gave the outer part a bit more color than the center.

After I'd added ink to my satisfaction, I used the My Favorite Things Stitched Mod Rectangle die to cut it out. I then put a light coat of Tombo Mono Liquid Glue randomly around the edge and used my fingers to add Gold Leafing. I liked the way this framed the image.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the cards I've made this month as a guest designer for Blue Knight Rubber Stamps. It has truly been a joy to make them.

* * * * * 

You can find each of today's featured stamps HERE, at the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web store.

And... don't forget to join us at the Fan Group and YouTube Channel:

Fans of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps (Facebook group) is HERE

and the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps YouTube Channel is HERE

Jeanette Cloyd, Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The Christ Child

I discovered the Dirty Dozen Christmas (Sketch) Challenges on SCS this year and have enjoyed making a card each month. Yes, I know (now) that these challenges have been going on for ten years, but I had no clue. Sometimes I think I have my head in the sand. But I digress. This being May, it's my fifth time to participate.

I love the stamp set I used and the sketch. That being said, I'm not too happy with my card. It just seems so plain. Odd for me to say that because I mostly make very simple cards with not much embellishment, but this one needs more. I'm not sure what it needs more of, but something.

Maybe I need to make this one of those cards that you start with a simple design and then make it better. I'll think on it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Blessed Baby stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Cougar 110# White and SU Cinnamon Cider CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangle and Spellbinders Ovals

Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestone and Ribbon from an unknown vendor

Flowers and Lots of Layering

I've been a member of the Technique Tuesday Greenhouse Society for a long time now... receiving the club flower stamp set each month. I hoarded them for a while, then started a series on my blog, committing to using them. 

I thoroughly enjoy this series because flowers are my favorite thing to color. 

This month's Greenhouse Society stamp set is Pansy Flower.

Here is the inside:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday Pansy Flower stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Cougar 110# White, Recollections Black, and SU Pear Pizzazz CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies/Punches: MFT Stitched Rectangle Dies and SU Circle Punches

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads

2021 Travel the World - Week 21

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world, so I continued the series in 2020 and here I am in 2021, the third year of traveling the world. 

This week's country is...

Guinea - Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa, off the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes numerous offshore islands of varying sizes.

Off the coast of Guinea-Bissau is the Bijagos Archipelago, a group of about 88 islands and islets located in the Atlantic Ocean. Only some 20 islands are populated year-round. 

Its nearest countries are Senegal to the north and Guinea to the east and south east.

Bissau was added to the country’s name to prevent confusion with Guinea, which means officially, the country is now called Guinea-Bissau.

Since Guinea-Bissau won its independence from Portugal in 1974, it has experienced almost non-stop political instability. Presidential leaders are frequently ousted – or even assassinated and a new leader steps in. Because of this instability, the country is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The average salary of a working person in Guinea-Bissau does not reach the equivalent of fifty US dollars per month.

Portuguese is the country's official language.  However, only 11 to 15% of the country can speak the language.

Other languages used in Guinea-Bissau are Creole, Balanta, Fula and Manjaca.

Residents are called Bissau-Guineans, not Guinea-Bissauans.

The capital city of Guinea-Bissau is Bissau. Built on a low-lying estuary where the Gêba River flows into the Atlantic, apart from the hectic traffic, Bissau is a low-key, unassuming capital.

The Guinea-Bissau Carnival is a cultural extravaganza that explodes onto the streets of the capital Bissau during February when the weather is also at its most pleasant. The carnival takes place over the four days before Lent, is like no other.

Guinea-Bissau has 217 miles of coastline. It is dominated by a few scattered beaches and swamps of mangroves.

Those taking a guided trip into the Guinea-Bissau’s eerie mangroves  may get a glimpse of the country’s national animal – the charming Red River Hog. It has earned its name because of its reddish-brown fur and distinctive white mane.

The network of protected areas in Guinea-Bissau covers about 16% of the national territory. It is made up of 6 national parks, plus nature reserves, hunting reserves and other types of protected areas.

The most famous tourist attraction and national park in Guinea-Bissau is the Orango Islands National Park.

The Lagoas de Cufada Natural Park (established in December 2000) is a Ramsar Wetland site meaning it has an ecosystem worth protecting and as such, animals like chimpanzees, hippopotamus, waterbuck, Roan antelope, African buffalo, leopard, hyena and African dwarf crocodile. These  all co-exist in the 345 square mile park. 

Laws in Guinea-Bissau do not prohibit the eating of human beings, but laws do exist to prohibit the use of crocodile meat.

The country's terrain is mostly flat and low lying with glorious sandy beaches, with the Savannah to the east.

The Saltinho Waterfall is one of the most alluring waterfalls in Guinea-Bissau. Located under the bridge, along the main road from Southern Guinea-Bissau, it also has a famous hotel called the “Pousada do Saltinho” which overlooks the falls.

Many people here are farmers, living and working on small family farms. The main crops include cashew nuts and fruit.

The country is the sixth largest producer of Cashews in the world.

The natural resources are fish, timber, bauxite, clay, granite, phosphates and even unexploited deposits of petroleum. The major trading partners are Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Senegal, Portugal, Brazil and Cuba.

Guinea-Bissau exports shrimp and fish, as well as lumber.

Gumbe is the most popular form of music in Guinea-Bissau. It is a unique style of music comprising polyrhythmic motifs between vocals and percussions. Gumbe drums, kulute (a traditional flute made from the gourd), kola (calabash) are the primary instruments.

Rice is a staple food for people in the coastal regions while millet is the staple food for those in the deep interior. While rice grown in the country, they cannot keep up with the demand so rice is also imported.

Throughout Guinea-Bissau there are villages full of delightful, traditional homes made from dried mud to create circular huts which are then thatched.

There are no cinemas in Guinea-Bissau.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about Guinea-Bissau... A Biosphere Reserve in the Guinea-Bissau Archipelago serves as a natural habitat for thousands of bats that reside in the abandoned ruins there.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Sugar Pea Designs Fangtastic stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and Lawn Fawn Lemonade Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Cougar 110# White and SU Pineapple Punch CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangle

Embellishments: Ribbon from an unknown vendor

Double Duty - Unity Stamp Company

Sometimes flexibility is needed... that has been the case this month. Normally the Classy Card Ladies duel is on the 15th, but we had to change it due to some lost packages in the mail. We rescheduled it for the 22nd.

Normally the Double Duty is on the 22nd... you know where this is going, right? Yep, we had to reschedule it so as not to interfere with the Classy Card Ladies duel. Therefore, today is my Double Duty post.

And... we've added another member to the Double Duty group. Welcome Carol!!!

Each month Barb gives us a pre-determined stamp company to work with and we create not one, but two cards using one set from that company. Oh, and at least one thing has to be seen on both cards.

I'm super excited! This month's stamp company is Unity, one of my most favorite stamp companies. I chose to use their Spring Coffee stamp set.

Card #1

Card #2

Be sure to check out Barb's blog, Carol's blog, and Kelly's blog to see their Double Duty posts, too.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Spring Coffee stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Cougar 110# White and SU Sahara Sand CS and all other papers from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangle

Embellishments: Recollections Enamel Dots

Fantasy Worlds Mini VSN

The SCS Fantasy Worlds Mini VSN took place on Friday night with three challenges. It was fun, challenging, and so much more.

If you've never participated in a VSN, I'd highly recommend giving it a try. There will be more challenges for the main Fantasy Worlds VSN on June 18 and 19th... and of course you can still create cards for the Mini, too.

Kim's Fantasy Island Challenge - think tropical paradise when making this card (flowers, luaus, beaches, birds, rain forests... anything tropical).

Stamp: Paper Nest Dolls Hula Girl Avery

Time Spent Making This Card: 40 minutes

Misti's Your Friendship Is Magical Challenge - create a friendship card of any kind.

Image: Stamping Bella Best Friends Forevah

Sentiment: W Plus 9 Doodle Buds

Time Spent Making This Card: 45 minutes

Lee's Fairy Sparkle Challenge - include a fairy on your card. Don't have a fairy stamp (like me)? No problem. There are a lot of free digital images to be found online.

Sentiment: Penny Black Sweet Wishes 

Time Spent Making This Card: 25 minutes

Now it's your turn... I'll be watching to see what you create for the VSN Challenges.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

We're Gonna Get Married

Today is a special day - it's the day for the Classy Card Ladies DUEL. If you've been around my blog much, you know we usually post on the 15th, but this month we've made a date change - just for this month - due to some postal issues regarding the kits. We'll be back on track posting on the 15th again next month.

The Classy Card Ladies hosts this month are Carol (of the Diamonds) and Shelly (of the Pearls). They put their heads together in order to come up with a theme and then they sent kits to their respective group members. 

Apparently Carol and Shelly were feeling a bit musical. In Shelly's words - We felt like doing some singing, and we settled on the following tune:

Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married
Gee, I really love you and we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love

Spring is here, the sky is blue, whoa oh oh
Birds all sing as if they knew
Today's the day we'll say, "I do"
And we'll never be lonely anymore because we're

Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married
Gee, I really love you and we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love

Bells will ring, the sun will shine, whoa oh oh
I'll be his and he'll be mine
We'll love until the end of time
And we'll never be lonely anymore

Challenge Theme:

Make a Wedding Card

(and make it a Slimline card)

I'm a Pearl, so I received a fun kit from Shelly. It included the following items...

Stamps: Great Impressions; Sentiments - Printworks, Heart and Soul Blessings (all stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink)

Papers: Cardstock and Designer Papers from Bazzill and other companies

Diecuts: CC Designs Scalloped Slimline and Joy! Crafts Embossed Frame

Envelope: Simon Says

Embellishments: Amazon Colored Pearls, JoAnn/Park Lane Pearls, Maya Road Roses Trim, Offray Ribbon, Paper Studio Small White Flowers, Recollections Bling Strip, Recollections Small White Flowers, and Charms and Twine from unknown vendors

Thank you, Shelly!

Be sure to check out the other Classy Card Ladies cards, too...

Diamonds

Barb

Carol

Kelly

LJ

Suzy - in the SCS Gallery

Pearls

Darlene

Deb - in the SCS Gallery

Shelly 

Tracie

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only thing I used in making my card other than what was in Shelly's kit was some SU Peek-a-Boo Peach CS and the following dies: Sizzix Square,  SU Stitched Shapes (Square), and Taylored Expressions Stitched Mini Slimline