Operation Smile Stamp Set Blog Hop

If you are coming from Wendy's Blog, you are headed in the right direction!  You can find a complete list of participants by clicking HERE.

We are highlighting the "Happy Everything" stamp set which is totally fun and an exclusive set offered for purchase where a portion of the proceeds benefit Operation Smile.  Operation Smile is a worthwhile organization we proceed that benefits young children.  Click on the link to read more about it.

This card did not take long to create.  I love the simplicity of it and was able to produce it quickly for a friend who needed a birthday card.  The design came from a sketch found at Freshly Made Sketches.

Gotta love the minimal amount of paper used to create this card.  I used two pieces of cardstock - Canary and Lagoon - from the Paper Fundamentals paper pack and the diagonal striped item is a piece of the Smoothie Striped Washi Tape.  I stamped the sentiment multiple times on White Daisy cardstock using Black, Canary, Smoothie and Lagoon inks.  The letters were cut out and layered on the image stamped in Black ink so I was able to get the different colors.  The balloon was also masked, using the Paper Fundamentals paper, and three Coral Reef Sequins made the card complete.  I hope you agree!

As always, I appreciate you taking the moment to stop by and hope you enjoy my artwork.  Comments are always appreciated.  Now head on over to Melinda's Blog and check out her fun artwork!  She is always sure to impress!

Happy hoppin'!

Embossing is Back - Technique Blog Hop

This month we are highlighting the ever-so-wonderful technique, heat Embossing!  The title is "Embossing is Back" because the embossing products left our Close To My Heart Idea Book for a short while but have no fear...it IS back and I am thrilled!  You can find this technique on page 128 of the Annual Inspirations Idea Book and the embossing tools (Craft Heater, Embossing Powder, Versamrk) are located on page 179.

I will be honest, I have not embossed in quite some time so had to make sure I could do it.  Yep...it is just like riding a bike.  You never forget the process.  (Sure...  I do not know if I would be as smooth in riding a bike as I used to be.  LOL)

If you are coming from Denise's Blog, you are on the right track!  Keep moving through the Blog Hop in the links provided or you will find a list of all participants at the bottom of this post.  Let's get started with my creation, shall we?

I think this is my favorite way to use the embossing technique!  I love using clear or white embossing and then sponging over and around it (and then using a tissue to wipe any ink off the embossed image).  For this card, I did use the White Daisy pigment-based ink pad (you can also use Versamark).  

I sponged over the embossed image, using Sponge Daubers (one of my favorite tools), in Cotton Candy, Lagoon and Gypsy inks.  Isn't the ranbow look fun and cheery?  I layered the sentiment on Black cardstock and then used 3-D Foam Tape to apply.

I cut dove-tailed banners out of Cotton Candy and Lagoon cardstock and Black Shimmer Trim.  I added Bitty Sparkles across them to resemble a "stitch" and for some added bling.

I used two of my favorite stamp sets (there are many more - LOL) on this card.

This one is "Happy Everything" and the Operation Smile stamp set for this time of the year.  (I used the balloon image and stamped it onto some Paper Fundamentals - where you will find the heart pattern.)  A little twine, and some Liquid Glass, and I have a fun balloon!

I also used the ADORABLE stamp set from the Blossom Workshop on the Go for the sentiment.  You can find it through Seasonal Expression 2 on page 10 (the page number located on the page)!

I used this Sketch Challenge from Heart 2 Heart to design my card.  How simple, easy and fun?!

Thanks for stopping by.  I know I can't wait to hop to see what the other girls created with this technique.  Please leave a comment before heading over to Sheila's Blog!

Happy hoppin'!





A list of participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE
2. Sheila Bennett
3. Wendy Kessler
4. Haley Dyer
5. Catherine Nowak
6. Darlys Recker
7. Di Crawford
8. Michelle Loncar
9. Judy Faye Garner
10. Belinda McLane
11. Denise Elliott

Spring has Sprung with the Stampers with an Attitude!

I just love this time of the year, don't you?  The birds are singing and the sun is shining bright!  (And rain tends to show its face from time to time too and I am okay with that.)

This month we are highlighting some fun artwork that makes you smile at the thought of spring.  If you are coming from Sheila's Blog, you are on the right track.  You can find a list of participants by visiting Melinda's Blog.

I used our exclusive Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge, page 10, to create this Sleeve Card.  Buttons pushed were Sleeve > 0 at 6" (the default size).

In doing so, cut out of Kraft Cardstock, the piece looked as it does above.  Scoring along the two sides and gluing them to form the pocket, this sleeve was created.  I used scraps from the Brushed paper pack to glue on the inside, allowing them to peek through the "windows" as seen here.

I cut a piece of Colonial White cardstock to slip inside, ready for the message, and cut two circles out of Canary cardstock to stamp the bee. I then glued the circles back-to-back, sandwiching the Colonial White cardstock, to create the tab.

The sentiments stamped on the front of the card are from this stamp set, "Happy Everything".  It is our newest stamp set that supports Operation Smile where $3 of the $17.95 purchase price will be donated to Operation Smile.  It is a CUTE stamp set that I cannot wait to incorporate into more of my artwork!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think of my creation before heading over to Belinda's Blog to check out her fun creation!

Happy hoppin'!