Pink and Grey

This week we celebrated one of our Cardologist's birthday. A while ago she mentioned that even as a young girl she loved pink and grey together so those were the colors I chose for her card. The flower die was a gift from Dora B. And, of course, I had to use more dew drops... (I really hope I will live long enough to be able to use them all up...)

And a different perspective so you can better see the glossy, glittery (self-adhesive) paper I used to cut out the flowers.

Stamp: Penny Black (sentiment)
Dies: die-namites (flowers), SSS (banner)
Other: self-adhesive paper (Recollection


Challenges:

Inkspirational #104 "Pink and Grey"







Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday "Something Floral"






I am so delighted to be able to welcome three new followers:

Greta from GG Creations
Karen Hashek from Karen's Kreative Kards
Loll Thompson from Stamping with Loll

Thank you, ladies, for becoming followers of my blog!
The are all seasoned stampers and bloggers and you will find lots of inspiration when you meander through their blogs. It will get your mojo going!

My welcoming quote for the three of you is something Susan Raihala wrote on her blog some time ago that I loved:

Life: It is what it is. 
Some parts are good, some parts are bad, and gratitude poured over it all makes it manageable.


Thanks so much for reading till the very end! I so appreciate every one of your visits and comments!

Asian Bird

Today's card is for The Male Room Challenge #28 "Oriental".
Don't use mulberry paper very often any more... Still like the look, though. Do you even know what mulberry paper is? Raise your hand if you still have some in your stash...

Stamps: Picture Show (bird frame), calligraphy unknown

ETA: This card won Honorable Mention at The Male Room!

And now I have the pleasure to welcome a new follower:

Hettie from Hettiecraft

If you don't know her already, go and visit her blog. Check out her Friday funnies - they always put a grin on my face!
My welcome quote for you, Hettie, is by Lao Tzu to match the asian them of today's card:

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.


A new feature on my blog!

I am so excited because I figured out how to add social media buttons. If you get this post via email or a reader you have to go directly on my blog to see them (on the right).
I have decided to put all my cards on my Pinterest account to make it easier to look for a specific card. Also I am planning to use my Instagram account to post cards. And Keep In Touch has a facebook page (also not very active so far). Check it out and follow me!

If you made it this far - thank you so much!

Wishing you a fun filled weekend,
Susanne

Pastel Birthday with die cut flowers

The second card I needed to make after my return is for a female friend who likes softer colors. Hope she will like what I made for her! I used a background that I have made (probably with this friend) a very long time ago using shaving cream and reinkers. That was so much fun! I love making backgrounds! Most of the results were very colorful and bright but this one was more subtle. I used NBUS flower dies and more dew drops! Cut the flowers from blue watercolor paper that I had in my stash.

Stamps: My Sentiments Exactly (sentiment)
Dies: MFT (flowers), swirl unknown


Challenges:

CAS(E) this Sketch #131






Time Out #35 "Nature" (no twist)



Before I show you some pictures from our trip please help me welcome two new followers:

Bonnie from "Stamping with Klass"
Bonnie makes beautiful CAS cards, is a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, and on several Design Teams

Mary from "Carolina Cards by MaryH"
Another well-known, friendly blogger and Design Team member that has been very active in blogland since 2012!

Go ahead and visit my new friends, get inspired by their gorgeous work and leave them some love!

My welcoming quote is from J.K. Rowling

We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already; we have the power to imagine better.


And now, as promised, some pictures. I'll start with the Lake Tahoe area that we visited first.

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

near Emerald Bay

The whole family hiking to smaller lakes in the area

Wildflowers at Squaw Valley Ski Area

Lake Tahoe in the background

That was a long post! More pictures in the next post!

Thanks for sticking with me till the end!

Hugs,

Susanne

Watercolor Congrats!

The famous Paulina from Pretty Pink Posh has a watercolor blog hop this weekend. If you have followed my blog for a while you know that I love watercolor techniques. So I am hopping along with this card I made for my German niece who recently finished her Masters in Mathematics. I am so proud of her!

And here is a close up so you can see how real the water droplets look!

Stamps: Designs by Ryn (water droplets), Hero Arts (you did it), Winnie & Walter (congrats)
Other: Inks (Distress Inks), Glossy Accents

I used one of my favorite techniques where you smoosh distress inks on your craft sheet, spritz them with water and then smoosh watercolor paper in it. Then I finally used those awesome water droplets from Design by Ryn . I just love them and think they look so realistic! Especially when you coat them with Glossy Accents! I saw them first on Cornelia's blog Stempelspass . She has made many fantastic cards with them! I thought they were a great symbol for all the hard work (and sweat) my niece did during her years of studying and writing her thesis.

Challenges:

Pretty Pink Posh "Watercolor Blog Hop"





Hop on over and check out all the gorgeous entries!


Designs by Ryn "June Customer Creation Gallery"


If you are still reading please help me welcome my new follower

Melissa from "Creating from the Heart"

Melissa is on the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Team!!! Need I say more! Her blog is full of amazing inspiration! What are you waiting for? Oh, yes, the quote to welcome her...

'Let us always meet each other with smile for the smile is the beginning of love.' - Mother Teresa

I so appreciate your visits and love reading your comments!

Hugs,
Susanne

Inkspirational #83 "Purple", SSS Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"

Hello all of you who still bother to stop by here...

My recovery is very slow but it is getting better. I can now use my fingers on the left hand a bit more which means I can type with two hands again, which is so much faster! I am also trying to stamp a little. Yesterday I wanted to play but didn't know where to start. So I began to clean my messy desk. That often helps with my mojo. I end up wanting to create instead of cleaning up! This is how this card came about.

I had embossed those butterflies with a silver Judikins stamp for another project but ended up not using them. So they sat patiently in the mess on my desk. I didn't want to put them in my odds and ends container for some other time (that never comes) and decided to do something with them. I tried all kinds of backgrounds but they really needed a dark one to stand out.

Stamps: Hero Arts (vine background), Judikins (swirl on butterflies)
Other: McGill (butterfly punches), Little B (washi tape)


Challenges:

Inkspirational #83 "Purple"





Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"






I am very delighted to discover that I have two new followers! Please help me welcome

Maria from Maria's Merry Makings

and

Gundi from papierelle

Both are very talented and have been blogging for quite some time so if you are in need for inspiration go and visit them!

And here is my welcoming quote for you by Robert Frost:

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about LIFE:
It goes on.


Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your well wishes and kind thoughts!

Hope to be back soon,
Susanne

City Crafter #255 / Retro Rubber #11

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter filled with good company, good food, and joy in your hearts!

Just wanted to show you a Mother's Day card I made last week! With Easter almost behind us Mother's Day will be here before we know it!

Stamps: Stampin' Up (flowers), Inkadinkado (sentiment)
Punch: Stampin' Up


Challenges:

City Crafter Challenge #255 "Polka Dots"






Retro Rubber Challenge #11 "Sketch"


















I am very pleased to be able to warmly welcome two new followers:

Sarah from "Sazzle Dazzle  Crafts". Her blog is full of wonderful and inspiring CAS cards!

Becca from "The Damsel of Distressed". She has a fun, artsy, multimedia style that I am only dreaming about!

I hope you take some time to visit their blogs! I know you will not regret it!

Here is my welcome quote for you (by Abraham Maslow):

In any given moment we have two options:
To step forward into growth
or to step back into safety.

All of you who follow by email please know that I also appreciate you very much. I just can't welcome you by name as I cannot see who you are!
Everyone of you who stops by (regularly or just once) makes my day!

Have a great start of the week,
Susanne

Inkspirational #76 / Simon Says Wednesday "Anything Goes"

Another card for the beautiful photo inspiration over at Inkspirational #76 to use more of my Asian images:

Stamps: woman unmounted, unknown; the flower background is wood mounted but only says "Scattered Cherry"


ETA: This card was a top pick at the Inkspirational Challenge!!!


Challenges:

Inkspirational #76




Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"






A warm welcome to my newest follower Kathy from Stamps at Play
So glad you found me and I hope you will continue to like what you see here!
My welcoming quote for you is by Soichiro Honda, Japan:

Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing. 


Have a great rest of the week,
Susanne

A valentine for colorQ #279

Of course, I couldn't throw away the insides of the die cut heart from this card and had to make another card!

Stamps: unknown, unmounted script background, sentiment computer generated
Die: SSS (heart)

I am sending this to the colorQ challenge #279





A warm welcome to new follower

Karin from Karootje

She has been blogging since 2012 so there is tons of wonderful inspiration to be found on her blog!

Karin, my welcoming quote for you is by Winston Churchill:

Success is not final,
failure is not fatal:
it is the courage to continue that counts.

Wishing you all a great rest of the week! (The weekend is coming closer...)

Hugs,
Susanne

Muse Challenge #101

I immediately loved the colors on Marion's card this week.

Blue and white looks so crisp and fresh. Instead of embossing I used dies but did emboss white on white on the heart.

Stamp: Hero Arts (background)
Dies: Memory Box (border), Sweet 'n' Sassy Stamps (heart)

This goes to the Muse Challenge #101.


A warm welcome to two new followers:

Sid from "Harpies Crafty Corner"
Hazel from "My Card Attic"

Lots of fantastic artwork and inspiration to be found on their blogs so take time for a visit!

My welcoming quote to thank you for following my little blog is from Anne Bradstreet:

If we had no winter
spring would not be so pleasant.

Now, isn't that true? And hopefully a little consolation for those of us who can't wait for winter to end.

Thanks for your visit and your kind comments! They brighten my day!

Hugs,
Susanne

SSS flickr challenge #10 "spots n dots"

I made a card for the SSS flickr challenge #10 "spots n dots"! It gave me a chance to use the new to me large dot stencil from SSS! Watch out - love is in the air!

Stamps: Avery Elle (sentiment), Stampin' Up (heart from Daisy Crazy, a retired set)
Die: Simon Says Stamp (curved line)
Stencil: Simon Says Stamp (large dots)
Other: Kelley Purkey (sequins), JudiKins (Galaxy embossing powder)


What is hard to see is that I used glittery embossing powder on the flowery heart and I forgot to take a close-up. In real life the purples go well with each other...

ETA: Just discovered that the theme over at Uniko is "Love and Friendship" and that all stamps are allowed. (Don't have any of their awesome products yet - will have to remedy that soon!)

I am very excited to welcome another follower

Judy of Judy's Card Corner

So glad you found me and hope you will like what you see here, Judy! Here is your welcoming quote by Martin Luther King Jr. (because it is MLK day):

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Wishing you all a great week with lots of time to create, of course!
Hugs, Susanne

Very CAS butterfly for SSS flickr challenge #9, NBUS #3, "Less Is More"

Hello friends!

I hope you all had enjoyable holidays and that 2015 is treating you well so far and continues to do so!

Please forgive my long absence and thank you for not removing me from your reader or email list! Today my guys went skiing and I had some fun in my stamp room so now I can even show you a card! I am starting the new year with a very CAS card that was even supposed to be a one layer card but then something happened with the Impression Plate and I had to cut it down and layer it. Because I don't throw away things easily! I used a new to me die from Simon Says Stamp that is so delicate and beautiful that I wanted to give it center stage and therefore kept it very CAS.

Stamp: Hero Arts 
Die: Simon Says Stamp (Leanna butterfly)
Impression Plate: PTI (linen)

The butterfly is cut out from sparkly paper.
The picture is not the best because when I was done daylight was already fading. Trust me it is prettier IRL.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

SSS flickr Challenge #9 (the die is NEW to me)
Darnell's NBUS Challenge #3 (the die is NBUS)
"Less is More" - Black, Metallic, and one color (if the ladies think the silver gem in the center is enough "Metallic", if not please remove)
ETA: Almost forgot that the card fits perfectly into Virginia's View Challenge #11 - Clean Slate


       


 

I am very honored and happy that 4 more people have decided to follow my little blog and I apologize that it took me so long to welcome them! Please help me give them a warm welcome by browsing through their blogs and leaving them some love!

Neha of Periwinkle Creations 
Ellie of My Creative Moments
Samantha of Samantha designs
Jennifer Spivey (couldn't find a blog, please let me know if you have one)

As is my tradition I have picked a quote to welcome you. This one is by Albert Camus:

In the depth of winter
I finally learned
that within me 
there lay and invincible summer.

It is my wish that we always carry our own summer and sunshine within us no matter the season or weather! And if that's not possible we can always stamp a sun, right?

Well, thanks for sticking with me until the end. Hope to get back to more regular blogging!

Hugs,
Susanne

CAS on Sunday "Sympathy"

Today I have a sympathy card to show you. It's always good to have some on hand. I prefer very simple cards for these somber occasions.

Sage card, a precut, slightly textured layer that I recently rediscovered in my stash, Memory Box (or is it Poppyseed) negative die cut, punch from Stampin' Up, sentiment from Morningstar Stamps, little pearls.

I am sending this to CAS on Sunday where the theme is sympathy cards. Click on the link to find out more information and lots of inspiration for CAS sympathy cards. This is my first time playing there.

I would like to welcome a new follower: Margaret Rorie (couldn't find a blog). I am glad you found me and I hope you like what you are seeing here. (ETA: Anita was kind enough to let me know Margaret's blog name so I linked it to her name. Thanks Anita!)

As is my tradition I have a quote for you from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

I think we stampers all have this happy talent!

So glad you came by for a visit!

You guessed it... more watercolor homework

Ok, remember that I had difficulties with the technique Jennifer Rzasa showed us in the very first video? Well, I looked around in the Forum and discovered that I was not the only one struggling with this. After several more attempts it worked and I made a card with it today. It's great to be able to ask questions and find tips and tricks on the Forum! Because my watercolor paper was very textured the paint made an interesting pattern where it pooled. I might try it again with a smoother paper now that I have some of the often mentioned Tim Holtz watercolor paper.

I CASEd the layout from Jennifer's card which was of course much better. I really liked how she took the ends of her thread and taped them on the back of the paper. The class is full of these cool little details.

Stencil: TCW

Stamp: Hero Arts

And then I made a card inspired by the first video on Day 4 by Yana Smakula. I love her card but didn't have any of her supplies. I was disappointed at first because it didn't work so well but then I made a card and really liked it... until I saw it on the screen. Does that ever happen to you? Anyways, here it is:

Stamps: Hero Arts (rays, small words), Mama Elephant (sunshine)

In real life the rays are lighter. 

I discovered that I have a new follower "windycindy" but I haven't found a blog (maybe because I am not on Google+ ???). Welcome windycindy and please let me know your blog address so I can come and visit you too! I picked this quote by Thomas S. Monson for you:

We cannot direct the wind

but we can adjust our sails. 

As always your visits and comments make my day! 

Thank you so much,

Susanne

Simon Says Wednesday (Anything goes)

Hello - is anyone still out there...?

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth...
Oh, you didn't even notice that I wasn't posting and commenting...
Oh, well, anyways we were in NYC last week and my time on the computer was very limited. We are very lucky to have my brother-in-law and family there who are very kind and gracious hosts. It was a lot of fun but now I am back and even have a card for you. I made a thank you card for them and finally used my Memory Box skyline dies that I've had for a while but were still NBUS (never before used stuff).

The sky is made with watercolor crayons and baby wipes, my go-to technique. The windows are different shades of yellow which is hard to see, made with the same technique. The moon is hand drawn with a silver pen. The saying is from an old Stampin' Up set. 

I am entering this one at the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes.

And now please help me welcome a new follower:

Manuela from elasdistrict

I "met" her over at Our Beautiful World. She takes gorgeous photos, posts quotes every Sunday, and makes fun cards. Click on the link and go for a visit! 

Manuela, thank you for joining me and I hope you will like what you see. Now, I usually welcome new followers with a quote and hope you don't already know this one by Basho:

Sitting quietly

Doing nothing

Spring comes

And the grass grows by itself.

Hope to see you all soon again,

Susanne

Another one for SSS Monday Challenge (Transparent)

I am back with another card for the Simon Says Monday Challenge - Transparent and this time it's really transparent! I just couldn't throw out the packaging some candles came in but cut it up and put it aside. Thanks to this challenge I used one piece of it.

The pink background is made with watercolor crayons and a baby wipe, the white background was my first attempt to use gesso and a stencil. The big "celebrate" is white embossed. It's from the awesome set "Shenanigans" by Cas-ual Friday Stamps that I recently won. I just love those bold and fun sayings!

Before I let you go please help me welcome a new follower: Tenia Nelson from "Jazzy Paper Designs"

Besides being an awesome card designer, Tenia is also a Jazz Pianist and music teacher. Check out her blog by clicking on the link above and see for yourself her cool, loose, and artsy style. 

I always welcome new followers with a quote and here is the one for Tenia:

Keep a green tree in your heart

and a singing bird will come.

(chinese)

Welcome Tenia and all you others who subscribe via email or just stop by for a visit and keep silently in the background. I appreciate you all!

So, have you recycled anything lately on your cards?

Enjoy your weekend,
Susanne

Stamps: Cas-ual Friday Stamps (word)
Other: Caran d'Ache (watercolor crayons), Heidi Swapp (stencil)

CFC #129 / retrosketches #106

Even though I normally gravitate towards bright rainbow colors I really love grey at the moment. That's why I absolutely had to play at the CAS-ual Friday Challenge #129 where they want to see at least two shades of grey. They have recently changed rules and the challenge runs for three weeks now which is perfect for slowpokes like me. And, oh miracle, I am not even entering at the last minute - you have until Friday to play in case you are inspired!

I used the current sketch from retrosketches after a card by the fabulous Laurie Willison.

I discovered this awesome paper in my stash with different shades of grey and some sparkle. Wrapped a black heat embossed strip of vellum around and mounted it with foam on a card that I textured with PTI's linen impression plate that is finally in my possession (NBUS). Easy-peasy and QACAS as Darnell would say.

Before I close I have the pleasure of welcoming a new follower who does not need any introduction as every stamper in the blogosphere seems to know and love her: Virginia of Yes, Virginia... She has recently launched a new challenge blog Virginia's View  where the first challenge has over 300 entries!
Just in case you have been living under a rock don't know her blog get comfortable and hop on over. It is full of wonderful card inspirations, breath taking travel pictures, photos of delicious food, recipes and lots of humor (featuring her husband, Dr. John and Ryan Gosling).

The quote I picked to welcome Virginia is from St. Augustine and I thought it fit since she loves to travel:

The world is a book
and those who do not travel read only one page.

I thank you all for stopping by, hope you will be back and wish you a great week,
Susanne

Stamps: Stampin' Up (word)
Other: PTI (Impression Plate), DCWV (patterned paper)

Butterfly Challenge

Hello dear visitors,

There is a new challenge that gives those of us in snow covered areas glimpses of spring and summer: The Butterfly Challenge created by Mrs. A. For the first challenge she would like to see butterflies with flowers. I hope a photograph of a flower will be accepted because that is what I have today. For all the rules and beautiful inspirations click on the link. You still have six days to play in case you are inspired...

I used a Martha Stewart punch (probably my favorite one) for the greeting. Do you see the pearl in the star? The blue butterflies are cut out from a piece that I colored with metallic gelatos (oh, that means I can send it over to Pixie's Snippet's Playground, too). 

And now I have the pleasure to welcome a new follower: 

Melissa from Oh smudge!

Not only does she create wonderful CAS cards and is the creator of the popular CAS-ology challenge but she is also a very talented photographer and regularly shares tips about how to take better photos over at the Sweet Stamp Shop! I feel very honored that she follows my little blog!

The welcoming quote for Melissa is by George Lois

Creativity can solve almost any problem. 

The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.

Make the best of your day and know that you made mine by coming over to look and maybe even leave a comment...

Susanne

Punches: Martha Stewart (Happy Birthday), All Night Media (butterfly corner), McGill (large butterly), Marvy (small butterfly)

Other: Faber Castell (Metallic Gel Sticks)

CAS(E) this sketch #61/Simply Create Too

This week's sketch at CAS(E) this sketch has a tree on it - look!

Yes, I know, the tree is just a guideline and we can use any shape. But since I love trees and really wanted to use my "new-to-me" Memory Box tree die I made this:

Since it's another Valentine's card I am also sending it over to the Simply Create Too Valentine challenge. If you need inspiration check it out! They have already over 200 entries of all styles!

If you know Darnell you know what NBUS means. For those of you who don't, Darnell coined this acronym and now I see it all over blogland. It stands for "Never Before Used Schtuff". I have plenty of those... So my NBUS today is the tree die!

And now, please help me welcome my new follower, Bev from Happy Dance. She is famous for her "pings" that are followed by beautiful and original entries to challenges followed by a happy dance. Please check out her blog and leave her some love! And this is my quote/advice to welcome her (unfortunately I don't know by whom it is):

Life may not be all we hoped for

but while we're here, 

we can dance.

Hope you all have many reasons to do a happy dance this week, my friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit and to comment!

Susanne

Stamps: Michael's (saying)

Die: Memory Box

Paper: Marco's (silver, matte for the tree)

Other: EK Success (stickers), Scott (washi tape)

The Card Concept - Buildings 3

Hi there,

Today I am playing with a new challenge The Card Concept. They have given us these yummy colors and gorgeous inspiration picture.

Did I ever mention that I love all kinds of buildings?? ;) So, you see, I really had to make a card... The cool thing about this challenge is that you can play no matter what your preferred style is. Hop on over to their blog if you ever wondered what, for example, CAS exactly means as they explain the different styles really well (thank you, guys!).

I used a stamp set that another stamping friend gave me (am I lucky, or what? Thanks again, M). I drew those thin lines with a Stabilo fineliner because I couldn't find a ribbon that worked among the gazillion that I own! Ever happened to you?

I think my card qualifies for the Clean and Simple style...

Even though the newsprint background is not that visible on the photo I think I could send this over to keep it simple where the want to see text. I have never played there but have followed them since they started and I can't believe that they are already at their 31st challenge!

Two more people have joined me on my blog adventure! Thank you so much for following and I hope you will like what you see here! (That goes also for all the others who come for a visit!)

GIBMISS has been blogging for many years and that means there is lots of inspiration to be found if you go for a visit! And check out the cool background of her photos - the sea! Makes you want to pack your suitcases, right?

And my friend Silvia from Switzerland is a new follower (sorry, no blog for you to visit)! Hello, Silvia, and thank you!

Here is your welcoming quote (by Groucho Marx):

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.

I can choose which it shall be.

That's it for today! Have a good one,

Susanne

Stamps: Inkadinkado (Life in the city), Hero Arts (greeting, newsprint background)