Hi

just a little note to say that I am over half way through the Hawaii adventure. I would post travel photos and some limited art if I could figure out how to do that with the iPad. I used to upload photos to Picasa then bring them into the blog, but Picasa is gone. 

Anyway, once home, to the MacMini, I will be able to drag and drop photos again. 
I've been watching and trying to comment. Keep up the good work! You bring me so much joy!!!!

Mediterranean Moments and Basic Grey scraps

I'm sure you have no idea why I had to buy a stamp set from Stampin' Up?  Well, most of you probably do!  I have a kitty that looks a lot like the one perched on this stool!

  

This is Mr. Bilbo Baggins (aka. Babycakes).  He is waiting for me to wash his face for him.  Seriously!  

Back to the card!  I used more scraps from the Basic Gray kit, and colored with my Inktense pencils.  The sentiment "From Meow To You" is from a kitty set I recently bought but can't remember the company name. I tried to whitewash the wall behind the kitty - but it really doesn't show up much (especially in the photo).  Perhaps next time I will use a light shadowing Copic to fill in around the edges of this image.  

Using the Reverse

Have you ever cut a die image and then looked at the leftover piece and said to yourself "I must make something with this, too!".  That's what happened here.  This green design paper is a brand new CTMH one - I got it in a workshop kit that has the most darling stamp set (small circular flowers and sentiments like "Always know . . . I'm here for you".  Wonderful set.  Anyway, that about the green paper.  

So I used a piece from the Charlotte papers (Jan 2016) and a zip-strip from that pack.  The little girl is paper pieced with scraps from the Charlotte papers also.  She is a Birdie Brown image I bought from My Favorite Stamps (MFT).  I really see her on a Christmas card, catching snowflakes, but that will come later.  

Two more seashells

These used another pack of scraps!  I'm feeling so GOOD about using some of these things I have hoarded for YEARS!  These were left-overs from a class a friend and I took at a now out-of-business scrapbook place in Payson, AZ.  The papers are Basic Grey - and they really look amazing with this Quick Card Sea Shell stamp from CTMH.  

Using up SCRAPS!

I found a bag with about 5 partial pieces of design paper from a former CTMH project special (Scrapbooking Month?).  I had been wanting to make an arch of butterflies, after seeing a cool one on Pinterest.  So, the arch of the partial circle gave me an idea!  I took a fairly small butterfly stamp (are you like me and have a ga-billion butterflies?) and after stamping it in different color inks (Crystal Blue, Lagoon, Indian Corn Blue, Sweet Leaf, Sky) I decided to outline it for a little more pop.  I like both cards and they didn't take much time to create!  Can you tell I'm in a frantic, get-it-done mode right now?

Quick cards with scraps of retired CTMH design papers

I pulled out everything that seemed "Hawaiian" to me - so of course I needed to use this retired CTMH Quick Card with the beautiful seashell! It really was quick!  I had some gorgeous scraps of paper that inspired the colors.  The bottom card doesn't show up well, the shell is actually colored pink.  Delicate and lovely!  

Favorite?

I'm not sure why, but this card is my favorite.  I think it's the sweet floral paper and the way the hearts just let the paper shine!  Anyway, the gingham is the reverse side of the flowers.  The pink was the same cardstock as the card base and the one dark pink heart was from a scrap cardstock piece of Hollyhock (maybe?).  Anyway, it makes me happy.  Hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day with those you love!