Green and more Green

GREEN is the color we associate with March and the two cards I want to share with you in this post have alot of green on them - green shamrocks and green trees. 

You might have noticed, but Kim Hughes has started her own stamp company, Paper Smooches,  with her adorable way of creating stamp designs.  She is also offering a few  free digital images and so I wanted to play with these really cute shamrock and sentiment images, very fitting for March.  I printed out several of the little shamrock images and then created a little banner with them.   

Can you see my little "plaid" design in each shamrock?  Each image was colored with Copic markers.  I colored each one with a solid color and used a little darker shade of each color in the little loopy part of the shamrocks.  Next I drew lines in each colored shamrock in a plaid style with the Copic blender pen.  This was a little tricky because the blender pen worked almost instantly in some of the colors and some took a little more work with repeated lines drawn. 

The little sentiment is one of the free digital designs she is offering, I just punched mine in a circle shape.  That was finished with some rhinestones in rainbow colors.  Notice the embossed, white cardstock too.  I always think that this particular embossing folder has a look that goes with the celtic look. 

Now for the trees part of the post, The Stamps of Life stamp company is the sponsor at Card Positioning Systems sketch blog for this week.  I love this little "Trees2Build" set. 

The tree trunk and branches are one stamp and then the set comes with a couple designs of leaves, so I added some dotted leaves to my tree. 

And for a couple more photos...

Part of visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo is taking the time to play in the kid's play area.  They have formed a hill with artificial turf on it and let me tell you, it is a POPULAR place at the zoo. The kids love it. 

This little guy is still figuring out how it all works but the use of the "tongue" in the whole process cracks me up!

Once he figured out going down on his tummy, it was pretty hard to say we needed to go!  Is that JOY on his face or what?

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

LUCKY TO HAVE YOU card

Materials list:
Core'dinations Cardstock
Patterned paper – BoBunny
Digital stamps – Paper Smooches
String – Karen Foster
Copic markers
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Rhinestones – Me & My Big Ideas
Corner rounder punch – Fiskars
3D Foam squares – Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Sanding block - Core'dinations


SKETCH 208 – IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY card

Materials:
Stamp set courtesy of The Stamps of Life – Trees2Build
Cardstock – Vintage/Core’dinations
Copic x-press
Patterned paper- Fine and Dandy/My Mind’s Eye
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear Detail embossing powder – Stampendous
Broken China – Distress Ink/Ranger
Cottage Ivy Memento - Tsukneko
Copic markers – YG93, G40, 0
Flower – Prima
Self adhesive pearl – Queen & Co.
Foam tape – 3M
Corner rounder punch – Fiskars
Sanding block – Core’dinations

Butterflies, Trees, Flowers and Cupcakes

Yep, my post today covers all of that!

First of all, my  Unscripted sketch card for this week.  That is where the Butterfly comes in plus this great purple patterned paper.

The light blue background of tickets is a Tim Holtz stamp. The butterfly is a stamp by Inkadinkado.  It is a set that has butterflies in a variety of designs. For this one, I stamped it with black Versafine ink and then embossed that with Clear Detail embossing powder.  Next, I just ran various Copic markers over the stamped image. 

Next, the trees are part of my Card Positioning Systems sketch card for this week.  I pulled out these brand new papers by Nikki Sivils, Scrapboooker.  The collection is We Are Family.  I so love the colors.

Seriously, are these just the cutest little trees you have ever seen? They are die cuts from this collection. 

Now for a few photos...

We have been gone for a couple weeks and when we arrived back home yesterday, this is what I found in my backyard.  I planted these bulbs last fall and have been waiting patiently.

This is the first year I have planted these. I planted several kinds of bulbs though so I am still waiting on the rest.

And, I found a new cupcake store and they had a few special treats for Valentines Day.  If you are ever in Newberg or Tigard, Oregon, be sure to look up this store, Sweetest Thing Cupcakes. The store in Newberg is in the cutest, old house. 

Yes, they were as good as they look!
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 93 – HEARTFELT THANKS card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned Papers – BoBunny
Ticket stamp – Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz
Butterfly stamp – Inkadinkado
Blue stamp pad – Distress stamp pad
Black Versafine pad
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Copic markers
Buttons – PaperTrey, Inc.
Circle punch - PaperShapers
Self adhesive Pearls – Queen & Co.
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper


SKETCH 205 – THINKING OF YOU card

Materials:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper, die cuts and stickers – We Are Family collection/Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker
Brown Distress stamp pad
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

Summer/Winter

I like to create for all of the seasons so todays post is going to cover Summer and Winter. 

My first card goes along with the Card Positioning Systems sketch for this week. It is a fun sketch, as usual and what made it even more fun for me was using these amazing papers by Bo Bunny.  When I first saw this collection in my LSS, I wanted every single piece and that isn't always the case with a new collection for me.   Those little squares that are on the side are actually cut from one of the patterned papers.

Notice the little sparkle along the wave edges in the patterned paper? I added some Glitter 3-D Fashion Paint by Tulip.  This is the kind of paint that you get in the t-shirt decorating section. It works wonderfully on paper projects and I just love this glitter because it gives some sparkle and still lets the underneath pattern and color show through. The Splash Zone piece is cut from another piece of the patterned paper in this collection.

This little card fits with the Caarvarks blog challenge.  It is hosted by JustRite stamps.  My card is a mini card created to hold a little gift card inside.  Something that is always needed at Christmas. 

I love stamping with JustRite stamps. I love that you can change the borders and words to kind of make them your own.  I stamped this in green and then added accents with Copic Markers and some rhinestones.  Notice the cardstock too. That is Core'dinations Core Impressions. The embossed design is already in it.

Here is my little inside pocket.  A gift card just slips right inside. 

And a couple photos...

A couple more from one of our park visits.  Our grandson was on a walking adventure and it is so cute to watch him looking out for "BIG animals"!!!

Here he is trying to master some play equipment that is a bit too big for him.  It helps to have mom's help.

This one was more his size. Gotta love that cute face!

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 181 – SPLASH ZONE card

Materials:
Cardstock - Core Expressions Core’dinations
Patterned paper – SunKissed Afternoon, Party and Chillin’/BoBunny
Self Adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.
Glitter 3-D Fashion paint - Tulip
Sandpaper
Foam Tape – 3M

JOY – GIFT CARD HOLDER card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Jenni Bowlin Core Impressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Eskimo Kisses/BasicGrey
JustRite stamps
Green stamp pad – Memento
Clear embossing powder
Oval punch – McGill
Scallop oval punch – Marvy
Fiskars Apron Lace border punch
Ribbon
Self Adhesive Rhinestones – Mark Richards, Inc.
3D Foam squares – Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Sandpaper

Unscripted and CPS sketches

My post today is about sketches - nothing new for me!!!

This first card is using the Unscripted sketch #63 and the bonus to this sketch is to use the color scheme that is posted on the blog. I thought right away of the photos I took at Christmas time of some poinsettias in our town. The colors were exactly what was needed.

What was even better is that this collection of patterned papers by BoBunny fit the color scheme exactly too, plus my card is in keeping with the other theme of Christmas in July.

My next two cards go with the Card Positioning Systems sketch for this next week and to go along with those cards are Lizzie Anne stamps. They are the sponsors for this week. I picked a set of four fancy sentiments.

Notice the dot, embossed cardstock on the card. That is Core'dinations Core Impressions, it comes with those dots in it already.

I wanted to show off the paper I used for the card base. It is a two sided paper and I loved the way the inside is all decorated.

This one also shows a sentiment stamp from Lizzie Anne.

Notice the card base, it is Core'dinations Core Impressions. It has that flower embossed design in it. All it takes is a little sanding to expose the design.
***

And, more photos!!!

As we were driving down the coast, we crossed over the Golden Gate bridge. It is just so amazing to see as you are driving up to it. This time we stopped on the one side where there is a lookout, the perfect spot for photo taking. We got there as the sun was just going to set.

From this lookout spot, you can see San Francisco off in the distance.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Sketch 63 – PHOTO-MERRY CHRISTMAS
Materials:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – BoBunny
My Own Photo
Rub-on sentiment – BoBunny
Felt snowflake – Creative Impressions
Glitter brad – Doodlebug
Circle punches

SKETCH 175a – ENJOY card
Materials:
Stamps courtesy of Lizzie Anne
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Cardstock - Core Impressions Core’dinations

Patterned paper – So Sophie: Anything For You and In Love/My Mind’s Eye (both of sides)Copic Markers

Corner rounder punch – PaperShaper

Self adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.

Sandpaper

SKETCH 174b – GROWING OLD card
Materials:
Stamps courtesy of Lizzie Anne
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Cardstock - Core Impressions Core’dinations

Patterned paper – Fly a Kite: Picnic Table/October Afternoon (both sides)

Corner rounder punch – PaperShaper

Big brad

Sandpaper

CPS, PC and CK

Isn't it weird the way so many things has become known by initials? And what is even more interesting is how many of these that we know exactly what is meant by them! I am going to share my Card Positioning Systems (CPS) card for this last week and a challenge at Paper Crafts Magazine (PC), Moxie Fab and Creating Keepsakes (CK) magazine.

At CPS, the team got to play along with some Gina K stamps. I picked a label set that I have been in love with.

I stamped the label with black ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. LOVE the black/white with these great bright green papers by Bo Bunny.

Paper Crafts Magazine and the Moxie Fab blog have had a challenge recently and that is to find inspiration from a layout and to create a card from it. The layout is pictured on their blog. This is one of my favorite kinds of challenges so I had to play.

The layout had circles on it and I wanted to find a little bit of a different way to interpret the spaces that are the circles. I decided to create flowers for those places. My flowers are really three different size punched circles and then I took my scissors and clipped into the circles. I then bent those cut edges up and in. The papers here are by Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker and the middles of the flowers are Nikki Sivils corduroy brads.

Now for the layout, Creating Keepsakes magazine and the Club CK blog did a similar challenge in that they showed a few cards and asked that you take inspiration from one of the cards to create a layout. The card I chose to use was pretty "girly" and so I took the main elements and made a "boyish" layout. I placed the photo at a slight angle to try to show the motion of swinging along with the arrows that are on the patterned paper by My Mind's Eye.

***

And, gotta share some more pics.

As we were walking through the Redwoods area, the floor of the forest was a carpet of these shamrock looking plants and ferns. I loved the challenge of trying to get a good photo of these.

Along our way down the coast, we stopped in a little, victorian-themed town by the name of Ferndale. It is a small town, a little off the main highway but a gem to find with victorian style homes and businesses everywhere. I took so many photos!

At one stop off place, here is a view of the coast line. SOOOO amazing!

Along the road at one point, we found these wild Sweet Peas growing. My mom always had some of these in her yard so they were a great find for a little nostalgia.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 174 – HELLO THERE card
Designer: Linda Beeson
805 659-1282
lbpost@roadrunner.com
Materials:
Stamps courtesy of Gina K – Lovely Labels
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – BoBunny
Black Versamark stamp pad
Clear embossing powder
Rub-on sentiment - BasicGrey
Sandpaper


HUGS - XOXO card
Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper and Corduroy brads – Will He Be the 1/Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker
Circle punches – Papershapers
Machine sewing
Circle sticker and rub-on words – BasicGrey
Pink sticker letters – Cosmo Cricket
Foam tapeSandpaper


FLYING HIGH - SWING layout
Materials:
Cardstock – Core Impressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye
Chipboard bird – Maya Road
Sticker label shape – BasicGrey
Sticker letters – Making Memories
Corrugated letters – Jillibean Soup
Sandpaper

Oh, A-CardMaking I will go

On a search to find sketches to work with, I came up with several and so, I have several cards to share with you. I am only go to share a few today and more later.

This first card is my Card Positioning Systems card for this week and some of my favorite patterned papers from We R Memorys Keepers. What a fun sketch!

These tiny little cupcakes pieces are from Pretty Little Studio Etsy store.

This card was created for the Little Red Wagon challenge to "Put a Window in It". I love the peek-a-boo look that this creates and these products from Nikki Sivils just seemed like the perfect choice for my little round window. The clouds and the tiny bee came on this piece of patterned paper and I cut out the larger bee and added it with foam tape.

The little honeycomb piece and the other bee are cut from die cuts in this Willow Bee collection. You can barely see it but I added some Glitter 3-D Fashion paint by Tulip on the edges of my clouds for a little sparkle.

Because of my little inside piece, I wanted to finish the inside too so I added this great patterned paper to the inside. You can barely see the Glitter 3-D Fashion Paint by Tulip that I added to the bees wings.

(CARD REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION)

And, this card uses a sketch that is posted at Caardvarks for their May challenge. It just seemed like a good time to pull out some Christmas papers.
The trees are part of one of the pieces of patterned papers in this collection by BoBunny, I just cut them out.
***
And, we went to the zoo this last weekend, gotta share a few photos with you.

This guy is actually pretty small but doesn't he just look menacing anyway, floating like this?
Take note, these giraffe's have an OCEAN view!!! Can you believe that?

Can you make out the flamingos in the background of my photo? I love to take pics of the flamingos but I thought this was a fun perspective with the flower in front in focus.

And, this big, cracked open egg shell is in the kids play area. Our youngest grandson was having so much fun climbing in and out.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 168 – PARTY card
Materials:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – We R Memory Keepers
Letter stickers – David Walker
Cupcake shapes – Pretty Little Studio Etsy store
Fiskars corner rounder punch
Sandpaper

BEE MINE card
Materials list:
Cardstock – Black Magic collection/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Day Dreamer, Willow’s Bee Hive and Bee’s Cutie Cut-Ups/Willow Bee/Nikki Sivils
Stamps – Willow Bee stamps/Nikki Sivils
Self adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.
Glitter 3-D Fashion paint - Tulip
Sandpaper
3D Foam squares – Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Aleene's Paper Glaze



‘TIS THE SEASON/TREES card
Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – ‘Tis the Season collection/BoBunny
Rub-on sentiments - BoBunny
Glitter brad - Doodlebug
Apron lace border punch - Fiskars
Circle punches – Papershapers