Thanks, Hope, and Thinking

Hello there.  I have three cards to post today.  First up is a card with lots of fussy cutting.  When I first started making cards, I never cut anything--it seemed like way too much work.  Now, fussy cutting is one of my favorite things to do--I find it strangely relaxing.

I pulled out a couple of old stamp sets for this card--the flowers are from Friendship Jar Fillers and they seemed the perfect image to water color with Distress Inks and then fussy cut out, just like Ashley showed us in this week's Make it Monday #212:  Fussy Cutting Tips.  I have had this set for ages, and I don't think I have ever used these flowers (shame on me).  I also fussy cut the sentiment, from Script Sentiments, after stamping and heat embossing in white on Basic Grey paper.  I cut a slit into the jar lid and threaded my flower stems through it, to make the scene look a little more realistic. It's hard to see in this picture, but the flowers are liberally coated with WOS and lots of Stickles.  I adhered everything to a card front that I impressed with PTI Book Print Impression plate, another oldie but goodie.

I am also entering this card at Paper Players #245 (CAS Girly Thanks), Simon Says Monday XYZ (yellow flowers), The Challenge #35 and Retro Rubber #14 May Flowers.

I used the bright colors from ColourQ #292 and a couple of Paper Smooches stamp sets to create the little scene on this card, which I am entering at Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes.  All my coloring was done with Copics, and I also colored the white scallop frame with the same Copic I used on the card so it would match.  Both frame dies are from the PTI Shakers and Sprinkles kit, which I had completely forgotten about.  Expect to see more with the dies from that set in the future.

My last card uses the sketch at Stamplorations Sketch Challenge #34.  I was determined to use my Bees Knees houses for this challenge, so changed the orientation and used some faintly stamped houses for some of the smaller butterfly elements.  

I used the color scheme from Sunday Stamps 101, coloring the main house as well as the die cut Ribbon Candy Border with various Copic markers.  I am also linking this up to the Stamplorations Anything Goes challenge, as it does feature Stamplorations products front and center.

Thanks for Visiting