Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2017

I found some time amidst procrastinating and needing a creative break from my Masters and schoolwork to get a card done for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! I decided to make a watercolour card by colouring my stamps instead of inking and then using a waterbrush afterwards. I found some sequins that I thought almost looked like coffee beans and decided to incorporate them into my design :)! I used the layout from Freshly Made Sketches and am also linking up with the "patterned paper" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Paper - Rainbow Plaid (Lawn Fawn); Distressed Watercolour paper (Tim Holtz); Desert Sand cardstock (CTMH);

Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Markers - 969, 992 (Tombow); Stamps - Better With You, Words of Wisdom (Verve);

Embellishments - Gold sequins, No Worries sequins (CTMH).

Plastic Free July is Coming!

Have you heard about Plastic Free July? 

Two years ago when I first heard about it from my friend, Nadine, I will admit my first thought was wow that sounds crazy. How can you go without plastic?! Deep down I secretly admired what she was doing but thought that was WAY too much work. Last summer, however, I decided to give it a try. You can read about my experience here.

The challenge originated in Australia but has grown to be worldwide! This year I have signed up to avoid single-use plastic packaging and to target take-away items (the top 4: bags, bottles, straws, and coffee cups). My goals for July include cooking and canning more frequently and planned, attending the Farmer's Market around our local area and fruit stands in Creston, cooking with what is in season, being mindful of what my drinks and food are served in and taken away in when dining out, and trying my best not to buy anything wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. Can't wait to get started!

Here Comes The Sun

I jumped on the chance to get this awesome digi set from Verve when it came out this spring. One of the great sentiments was a favourite Beatles song and when I went to make a retirement card for a very special lady I knew just what to do. I love putting a sunburst card together and am very satisfied with the effect! I put the sentiment through my Minc to tie in with some of the gold foil paper as well. I am linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge to use patterned paper.

Paper - Happy Times, Lucy, Dotty For You patterned paper; Desert Sand, White Daisy cardstock (CTMH);

Digi Stamps - Rise and Shine (Verve); Dies - Stitched Circles (SSS).

Farewell Mojo

I am sad to see the farewell over at Mojo Monday - I will miss playing along with it! Thanks for a fun challenge, Julee! Here is my card using some of my favourite Verve sets (although there are SO many I love). I am also linking up with the "masculine" challenge over at both the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Paper - No Worries paper collection; Sapphire, White Daisy cardstock (CTMH);

Stamps - Better Together, Strong Anchor (Verve);

Ink - Whisper, Desert Sand (CTMH);

Embellishments - Jute ribbon, white burlap ribbon (CTMH); Clear gumdrops (YNS).

With this post I thought I would also look back at both my first time ever playing along with Mojo Monday and my favourite card that I have made for the challenge:

One of my favourite Mojo Monday sketches - October 2015
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My First Mojo Monday card - August 2013
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All the Fixings

I've had this stamp and die set from Taylored Expressions for awhile and wanted to take it out tonight to make a few cards. I am also going to take the set to my classroom and let my students use it for their Father's Day cards since they will be building their projects this year :). I am linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge of "anything goes".

Paper - No Worries paper collection; White Daisy, Sapphire, Glacier, Slate, Kraft cardstock (CTMH);

Stamps - All the Fixings (Taylored Expressions); 

Dies - Little Bits Tools; Pegboard (Taylored Expressions); Basic Ovals (CTMH);

Ink - Cashmere, Slate (CTMH).

Coming Up Roses

Today I set out to make a few Anniversary cards that I will need in the next little bit. I decided to use the lovely layout over at Freshly Made Sketches. I specifically chose the beautiful Live Beautifully, only available until the end of the month, and am linking up with the Color My Heart Color Dare and the "coming up roses" challenge over at Heart2Heart.

Paper - Live Beautifully (CTMH); Distressed Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz);

Stamps - Big Hug (CTMH); Embossing Powder - Princess Gold (CTMH);

Dies - Stitched Rectangles (MFT);

Embellishments - Burlap Flowers (Recollections); No Worries sequins assortment (CTMH).

Blossoms

It's that beautiful time of year when the blossoms are out and things are starting to fill in. I was inspired to get out my Art Impressions watercolour tree set while sitting out in the sunshine this weekend. I decided to colour right onto my stamp with my Tombow and Marvy markers and then use a brush pen to blend it out a bit. I am linking up with the Art Impressions "stripes and dots" challenge and used the sketch over at Mojo Monday. I am also linking up with the ribbon challenge over at Heart2Heart. I loved the inspiration photo for this week over at Inspired By All The Little Things which just screams spring to me, and although these flowers aren't tulips, I just love the pink colours :).

Paper - Live Beautifully; Uptown Fundamentals (CTMH); Distressed watercolour paper (Tim Holtz);

Stamp - WC Tree set (Ai); Dies - Stitched Rectangles (MFT); Ribbon - Burlap, White burlap (CTMH);

Markers - 761, 126 (Tombow); No. 18 dark brown (Marvy).

Here is a close-up of one of the other trees I created: