Hey, everyone!  I've been working any spare moment I can get this week to get some cards done for MFT's third and final round of Summer School.  These challenges have been so fun…they make ya think, without being too restrictive.  I'm barely getting them in on time, though…band season has begun…with lots of sewing…and we have a new puppy eating up my spare time…and my arms…and my legs…Good golly his teeth are sharp!!!  But anyway…on to the cards…

The first couple were originally for the 'repetition' challenge.  But now that they're done, I think they fit a couple other challenges, too...

So my first thought was obviously repeating the hearts for a linear design, but varying them with papers, embellishments, etc.  The three hearts gave the linear look I was going for, and breaking them up with the sentiment added a little interest. I enjoyed the DT's samples of contrasting designs for the various challenges and thought that would be fun, so in creating my own contrasting designs, they ended up fitting in well with the 'soft vs. hard' challenge. I've used softer elements on the original design, giving a more feminine look..

I varied the embellishments to balance the hard and soft…hard, clean buttons vs. a soft layered airy flower, and the open doilies, trim and stitching being softer elements that balance out the strong, straight, vertical lines of the design.  This card also uses the element of less saturated colors that add to the softness, while the next one…

…does not!  Purer colors, cleaner lines, less open and scalloped doilies…and less embellishments turn this same design into a more masculine look!  The contrast of the colors used makes this set of cards an example of the variance of 'color saturation', and this second one also fits into the 'symmetry/asymmetry' challenge.

The next pair of cards were made with the 'color temperature' challenge in mind…

Again for the fun of seeing the contrast, I've made two…one for cool colors...

…a somewhat soft and subtle 'hello'…(and maybe a bit blurry - sorry!) and one for warm color temperatures…

…a bolder, happier 'hello'!

And that's all I was able to accomplish!  But I have to say…summer school's never been so fun!!!

And I must also say thanks for all the extra inspiration by the MFT team!

I'll let you go, but I thank you for your visit!

Hello!  Having a little more time to craft recently, I had one more crafty goal for the week…I wanted to participate in WPlus9's (Joni's) sketch challenge…

This challenge deadline is about up and there are so many lovely projects that people have come up with…I was a little overwhelmed and wondering what I could do with the sketch and the stamps that I had that hadn't already been done.  I'm not sure what made me think of my tiny millinery flowers I've always loved so much, but I decided to try to put them with the sweet little leaves from Fresh Cut Florals to create a delicate little spray…and I loved the results!… 

I thought they were a perfect little match…with some soft small-scale stripes, a tiny linen thread bow, delicate sentiment (from the same set), and just a touch of sparkle from some sequins and glittered card stock (cut with a Paper Smooches border).  Loved making this card, and was so glad I got to participate in Joni's challenge this time around!

Thanks so much for stopping in!

Oh, goodness!!!  What a busy and productive summer!!!  So little time for crafting or blogging, though, so it's extra nice to be here today!  I hated to miss out on MFT's first round of Summer School…loved all those lessons!  But I've enjoyed this last round on color...

First up for me is the Primary Color challenge, and one thing I was made aware of in trying to complete several challenges is that I need more MFT images. Since I seem to be in short supply of those,  you'll see lots of MFT die use today.  Considering that primary colors are not a color scheme I work with much, and I'm short on images, for this challenge, I drew inspiration from some pretty classic-looking patterned paper to match up with a little blossom building...

(The floral paper at the bottom with blue flowers/yellow centers is what first caught my eye to incorporate into this challenge, but I struggled and struggled and fiddle-farted around until most of it was covered!!!:(

This one uses cuts from Stitched Rounded Rectangles, Blueprints 22, Happy Hellos, Peek-a-boo Circles, Mini Delicate Doilies (appears that the flower has been discontinued)

Next up was the Complimentary Color Challenge…colors opposite each other on the color wheel.  I chose a favorite combo…violet and yellow and softened them here...

Cuts on this card are from  Layered Leaves, Plentiful Petals, Blueprints 22

I think the next card fits a couple categories…but I'm entering it in the Gallon/Quart/Pint Challenge with a gallon of pretty pink, a quart of green and just a pint of Kraft...

Die cuts on this one have all been mentioned above.

Finally, for the Monochromatic Challenge...

I pinned a card awhile back, found HERE (along with a tutorial) using chevrons that had been cut up and shifted around for a cool and colorful inlaid look.  My MFT chevron die was one of the first purchases I made from them, so I thought it would be fun to try it with this technique and one of my favorite colors…aqua…in lots of different shades, of course, for a watery monochromatic look. To create my panel, I watercolored a large panel in a variety of blue-y greens and cut chevron strips from that, and also from a deeper turquoise glitter paper and a lighter iridescent paper.  I like the contrast those specialty papers added.  The white 'hello' kept the light airy and summery look I was going for.

And that's it! Thanks for hangin' in there with me…it was SO nice to have time to craft again.  And thanks to MFT for this fun summer inspiration!  I was fortunate enough have won a $100 gift voucher from a recent product launch hop…SO thankful to have those fun products to work with!

Thanks again for dropping in!!!

Happy Hump Day, everyone!  Crazy…me posting 2 days in a row, I know…but I won't bother you again this week, I promise.  I started coloring this little golden oldie from MFT this past weekend and used colors from their challenge (HERE) in case I got it done in time.  Looks like I barely did...

My daughter really likes her…and teacher appreciation week will be here before you know it!!!

The next one was just for fun, and with a neighbor in mind...

I've had the Big Hugs stamp set for quite some time and have been waiting patiently to get the coordinating dies.  Couldn't wait to play once they came!

Hope you have a great ending to your week!

I appreciate, as always, that you stopped by today!

Hello strangers!  Wow!  Life just grabbed me by the tail there for a bit and it seemed there was NO time for crafting.  I was in serious need of some crafty therapy today, though.  Started today's card yesterday with MFT's current, but all-but-over sketch…

I was determined to finish the darn thing today, although the crafting God's did not seem to be with me.  Nothing was going right...all the way down to my blog loading up for me to get it posted in time!!!  And ya know what???  After all this trouble…I'm not even sure if I like the darned thing!!!  But determined I am…they don't all have to speak to me, I guess.  You'll have to tell me what you think…(but kindly, please)…

Looking at it here…I think it's the colors…I usually pick a cheerier palette, even though I love that paper!

Thought it might come in handy at graduation time.  I used MFT's Peek-a-boo Circle Window die and the Stitched Rounded Rectangle die…both of which have come in very handy.  My die collection was in need of some stitchiness, (I know…not a word!) so I've been enjoying those!  The sentiment elements, including the die cut, were from Simon Says…the stars…from Papertrey.  

OK…gotta move on and I know you need to do the same!!!

Thanks so much for dropping in!

Hey, everyone!  I've had a little fun celebrating with Papertrey and wanted to get these posted before the challenge deadlines are up!!!  Gotta be fast...headin' to dinner soon!

This first card was inspired by two of the challenges...Heavy Metals...and the Inspired by Maile challenge...

I love metallics, but it's not easy using only neutrals...this did work for hubby's Valentine, though!

You know Maile...always crisp clean lines...usually a raised panel...

Here's the card of hers I used for inspiration...

I've really grown to love her clean creations!!!

The next creation is for the 'Bagged and Tagged' challenge.  I incorporated this one into my Valentine treats, which were similar to last year's...but going to a new group of people...and I didn't have time to re-invent the wheel!  I used my new arrows to update them a little...

Finally my 'Spring Into Action' project with the challenge being to use a set that hasn't yet seen ink.

Well, I don't have too many that haven't seen at least a little ink, but I did have this little foxy number and really enjoyed inking and coloring it up...

And there they be!!!  Wanted to do more but it's just been such a busy week!

What a fun celebration...so happy to be a part of it this year!!!

Thanks for stopping!

(Sorry I didn't have time to name products in there...let me know if you have questions!)

Last year I wrote lot's of {Inspire Me Friday} posts for Precious Remembrance...and even more "Festive Friday" posts for the Festive Friday blog, but today is just a ~happy Friday~ post…a post full of projects for family in Hawaii…using all kinds of fun and inspiring products!  (And it's been guilt free crafting because…it's been for family!!!;)  But we'd better jump right to it, because there's lots to share!!!  This first one is for my DIL's birthday next week…it was something I had in my mind and wanted to try.  Not sure I'm crazy with the balance of it all but, it's kind of fun and I think she'll like it…

Those are Papertrey candles and sentiments.   And the banner is from my new Tilted Banner set from Simon Says.  So happy to finally have a set of dimensional banners…I really like em!  I'm linking this up to their Wednesday challenge…"All Things Bright and Beautiful" (Sweet name for a challenge!) and the Monday challenge, "H is for…"  the HEAT from those candles!;)

I'll be shipping off 3 Valentines with that birthday card…the first will be for the youngest granddaughter…

I really like the way this turned out using Papertrey florals and my new 'Sending' die from Simon Says. Oh, I love that one…I know I'll be using it again and again!  This card follows a sketch and color recipe challenge from Papertrey's birthday celebration…

Here's the inside…

The next Valentine is for the bubbly and adorable teenage granddaughter…

The arrow is from a die set from Hobby Lobby (5 cute little arrows for only about 6 bucks after using my 40% coupon!!!)  That 'hello'???…another Christmas gift to myself from Wplus9.  And the tiny doily…I talked about how much I love those sweet things from MFT in my last post!

OK…almost done…the last card is for Mom and Dad…our son and his wife (the birthday girl)…they've only been married a couple years...

I was really pleased with how this one turned out, too. I've always loved that little Love Bird set from Papertrey and was hoping the wood birds would work.  (I think they did!)  And...I know…the DOILIES...AGAIN!?!  But don't they look cute behind the cage???  I've used a few Tiny Hearts from Simon Says here and on the one above…I've been reaching for those again and again lately!

Whew!!!  We made it!!!  Hope I didn't keep you too long…I've just had such a good time crafting this week!!!  So thanks for stopping in…hope you're having a ~happy Friday~!!!

Hey, everyone!  So glad you could stop in today!  I've been itchin' to find some crafty time, itchin' to use some new crafty goodies, and itchin' to get back to this ole neglected blog!  Hope you hadn't forgotten me, but I wouldn't blame you if you did!!!;)  Look at the pretty little doily I've used here...

I know a lot of it's hidden away, but I just love it!  There are 3 more in the set from MFT...Mini Delicate Doilies...and yep, it's one of those things I've been itchin' to try out!  I used the current sketch from MFT for today's card...

This sketch called for more layers than I've been using the last several months, but it felt good to go back to my roots!!! (LOL)...

These are cleaner layers than the ones I used to serve up...way back when!  The big gold embossed 'LOVE U' is from MFT also, and I really like it, but I couldn't locate it...I think I've had it for a couple years now...maybe it's a thing of the past!:(  I used Paper Smooches' cute notebook die...another thing that's been on my wish list forEVER!!!  And you can see I used a doily as a stencil to add just a little more color and interest to that little die cut page.  I put it all together with some sweet Crate Paper!  Don't know how long it's been since I've linked up to a challenge!  Thanks MFT for getting my creative juices flowing!

I did need a 'thank you' after the holidays and immediately pulled out another 

Christmas treat for myself that I'd been admiring on everyone else's creations for quite some time…WPlus9's Pretty Peonies...

I used water and a brush and TH distress markers for my blossoms and paired them up with a pretty sentiment from PTI.

Now they're certainly not perfect,...but pretty enough, I thought.  The options are endless for the looks you can get from these, and I can't wait to play with them again!!!

OK…I must let you go, but again…am so happy you dropped in!

It's great to be blogging again!!!