Just Us Girls #790 ~ Happiness

Hello there! It's Stencil Week at Just Us Girls and Carol is our hostess. I saved my big Gina K sunflower stencil for this week. It seemed appropriate as the summer is coming to an end. I sure hate for it to go, though I do love the month of September. The weather is always just right and the skies the prettiest blue. It brings me happiness!

This stencil is quite large, bigger than an A2 card base. I stenciled the sunflower twice. Once was just a portion of it, then I added a couple of leaves. This beautiful sentiment is by Impression Obsession, sadly no longer in business. I trimmed the panel down to fit a mini slimline base then popped on a few aqua rhinestones. I just love this card!

Thanks again to Julie Beech for guesting with us this past month. It's been a pleasure having you! 

Just Us Girls #789 ~ love you

Hey there! I'm hosting this week's challenge at Just Us Girls. School started this week in our neck of the woods, so I picked that as my Mood Board theme for you. But you can make anything you like, whatever inspires you from the photo! 

Our Sweet P is moving up to the Intermediate school; 5th grade. Holy smokes, how can that be??!! I made this card with our sweet girl in mind.

I used an arch die and woodgrain paper to mimic the chair. An apple (PTI) and a few Copic colored sprigs were tucked in. I embossed my background paper with an alphabet EF and backed it with the same red used for the apple. A simple tiny tag was tied to the apple to send a little love.

Alrighty, it's your turn now. 

I sure hope you'll join us this week! 

Just Us Girls #788 ~ Birthday Wishes

Hello lovelies, hope life is treating you well. We have a new challenge for you today at Just Us Girls. It's Word Week and Elizabeth has chosen {BIRTHDAY} as our theme. Here's what I came up with...

This sweet little bunny is from Lasting Impressions. After fussy cutting him, I popped him onto a card base with ink blended grass and stenciled clouds. He's tucked into a strip of die cut grass (IO). Doesn't he look comfy? A pretty little birthday sentiment from Poppystamps and a trio of Martha Stewart punched butterflies complete the scene. 

We all need a supply of birthday cards in our stash, right?

Come play along with us so you don't run out!

Just Us Girls #787 ~ Thank You

We've had such a busy summer and it's flown by. I can't believe it's August already! That does bring with it a new round of challenges at Just Us Girls. Elizabeth is kicking things off with Die Cut week. She's made it easy... FLORALS! A new month also means a new guest designer. We're tickled pink to have Julie Beech joining us!

After seeing so many of my blogging friends use this pretty Amazing Things set from Pinkfresh Studios, I had to go shopping. Stamps, stencils and dies cuts... oh my! I framed (PTI) this little beauty with shimmery plum and lavender gingham papers. Doing it this way let me create a second card using the opposites of the frame die cuts. 

I don't use purple very often, but this sweet gingham paper nudged me in that direction!

Time for you to pick a posey or two and join us this week!

Just Us Girls #786 ~ Memo

Hello and welcome! Ina is hosting our final challenge of the month at Just Us Girls. This is a fun one ~ CASE a DT member! Pick any of our cards and CASE it, easy peasy! Here's what I have to share this week.
 

Everything I've used, with the exception of the paper, is from The Stamp Market. The cute 'memo plate' was hot foiled using rose gold foil. My big bold butterfly was Copic colored with orange Stickles added to her body. I played around with lots of different paper and patterns for the big leaves she's perched on. In the end the sweet polka dots won! 

We look forward to seeing your CASE cards in our gallery this week. Remember that if you're chosen as the Winner of the Week in any of our challenges, you have a chance to guest design with us for a month!

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. I love it when you do!

Just Us Girls #785 ~ Happy Day

Hello, friends! We have a new challenge up on the Just Us Girls blog today. It's STENCIL WEEK and I had such a good time creating my card. Take a look... 

I started with a PPP bokeh stencil set. After my stenciling was complete, I die cut it with a PTI postage die. The outer frame portion was cut twice again so the inner panel could sink in. I adore this Anita Jeram bunny from Colorado Craft. Isn't he just the sweetest little fella! There's just a touch of gray shading added to him along with a little blush pink in his ear and on his nose. 

It's your turn now, what stencil will you pick? Come on, you know you have a few to choose from and I can't wait to see what you create for our gallery!

Just Us Girls #784 ~ Enjoy Your Special Day

 

Hi there! It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Carol has picked out a delightful mood board with lots of summer sweetness on it. There are so many possibilities here that you could enter more than once! 

I picked a few posies from my Poppystamps dies and plunked them onto a sweet PPP tag. A few little ferns (PTI) and dots (SBJ) were added first. When I was trimming the orange stem from the bottom of the tag, I cut into the tag. Drat! So I covered it up with a little scalloped shelf! 

Okay, you know the drill. Pick what inspires you from the mood board, get crafty and then add it to our gallery!

Just Us Girls #783 ~ Thank You for Being There

 

Hello and welcome! It's time for our Word Week challenge at Just Us Girls. Vicki wants to see what you create with the word WATER in mind. Here's what I came up with.

My sweet friend Michele was my enabler forcing me to purchase this MFT set! I always enjoy the darling cards she creates with it, so it had to come to live with me too! I cut waves using an old PTI scalloped border die, cardstock and vellum. The beach was freehanded from kraft cardstock then dots added with Copics to make it a bit more sandy-like. My sweet bunny is napping in his boat and just floating about among the waves. A cluster of PPP clouds were added to the soft inked sky along with a sentiment from the set. Looking at it now, I wish I had colored the boat in a different color... or the bunny! Oh well, next time!

Okay, you know the drill, it's your turn now! 

What does WATER say to you?

Just Us Girls #782 ~ Happy Summer

 

Ready for a new Just Us Girls challenge? It's 'DIE' week and Carol is looking for summer things. A new month of challenges also brings with it a new guest designer. We're so happy to have Donna Mikasa joining us this month! Welcome, Donna!

I opted to use dies to put my summer things on. Some cutie little stick stamps from Stamps by Judith provided me with those summer things. Look at that little skeeter... isn't he fun! They went onto some layered scalloped squares, then I popped them onto a PTI scalloped panel. The paper I used on that panel is an oldie from my stash. Lasting Impressions, I think. 

And now it's your turn!

What summer goodies do you have in your stash? 

Just Us Girls #781~ Hi

Hey there! It's stencil week at Just Us Girls ~ a popular challenge for us! You'll be playing along with us, right? Sure hope so. Here's my inspiration card for you!

I picked a sweet stencil by Waffle Flower and inked it up using PTI's Aqua Mist Ink then cut it with an old Wonky Frame (MFT). It's topped with a fun sentiment die cut (TSM) made from PP. A cute little daisy by Poppystamps was all it needed. Isn't the black card base fun? It really makes that patterned paper pop! Say that three times fast!

Your turn now. Any stencil you choose will work for us!

While you're at it, why not add it to the Inkspirational

 challenge too, I am... its stencils!

Just Us Girls #780 ~ Sending Hugs

 

It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls! Isn't this Mood Board that Vicki picked out for us pretty. I sure would love to take a stroll on this beach! Now, I must admit while working ahead, I remembered the poppies being red when I created my card... oops, they're orange!

I started with a light blue card base then layered on some "clouds" made using a PPP border die. Next came those pretty poppies. This is a MB die cut from red cardstock with the stamens cut from glossy black. My sentiment (TSM) was stamped in black and Versa Mark inks then heat embossed with clear powder. The hubs thought this one was really pretty... I think I agree!

Your turn now. How will this mood board inspire you?

Just Us Girls #779

 

Hey there! Are you ready for a new challenge at Just Us Girls? Carol is our hostess and she's looking for numbers. I was in need of a birthday card for our great nephew, so this was perfect timing!

I pulled out some paper from an old My Minds Eye 6x6 pad and I let them do the work! Since all of the papers came from the same pad, the colors and patterns flow together perfectly. A die cut banner die by PPP was turned into a shaker with the numbers added on top.

This little fella has been through the ringer. He went in for surgery and ended up with several complications that resulted in an 85 day stay in the hospital. He's home now, thanks be to God, and celebrating double digits!

What does Carol's word challenge 'number' mean to you? I look forward to seeing your masterpiece in our gallery!

Just Us Girls #778 ~ Love You Forever

 

Hi there! It's time for another month of new challenges from Just Us Girls. We're excited to have Joanne James joining us as our guest designer! Welcome Joanne! Ina is our hostess for Die Week and she's looking for layers. I put together this little number for my mom's birthday.

I used an oldie but a goodie set from PTI ~ Pretty Peonies as my focal. I stamped and die cut the peony bloom then popped it up on the stamped and die cut leaf layer with foam tape. The butterfly from the set was double stamped with the same ink then die cut. These were added to the rustic cream panel layered with the embossed panel. Another butterfly and sentiment finished my design. I added a final die cut layer in the form of a scalloped panel and a sprinkling of pearls. 

What dies will you choose to layer up? Pick some out and come play along with us this week!

Thanks to sweet Michele for reminding me... I'll be sending this over to The Flower Challenge!

Just Us Girls #777 ~ Sending Hugs

Hey there! It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Here's what I put together for 'CASE a Design Team Member' week!

This little cutie is a left over from a long ago 12 Kits of Occasions kit. Our rainy spring seemed a good time to finally get it colored and used. I lightly stenciled some gray rain clouds onto a white panel (they do show up better IRL!), stamped some tall grass (Impression Obsession) along the bottom, cut it out with a Pink & Main Cloudy Frame then embossed it with some Taylored Expressions raindrops. My card base is Poppystamps Deep Turquoise paper and the sentiment from The Stamp Market. Lots of companies used to create this one!

Pop on over to the JUGs blog to check out what the team has to share. Pick out a card to CASE and join us, we love it when you do!

Just Us Girls #776 ~ May your memories be a blessing

Hello, friends! I'm hosting our stencil week challenge at Just Us Girls and I hope you have time to play along with us. You can use any stencil in your arsenal! I went with this little number from Pinkfresh Studio.

I bought this set for the sentiments, but the flowers are lovely too. I just have a heck of a time getting the colors to suit me. There's actually another version under this bouquet... shhh, don't tell! Not so sure I did a great job here either... better luck next time! Anyway, I added it to a pretty embossed background that I cut with a PTI postage die. A sentiment from the set and a couple of tiny Poppystamps butterflies finished it off. 

The team and our guest, Rosemary have some incredible inspiration for you. Let's go check it out, shall we?

Just Us Girls #775 ~ Thanks

 

Isn't this a bright and happy Mood Board that Carol has given us to use at Just Us Girls this week? If you know me at all, you know I spotted polka dots in those paints! Here we go... 

I stenciled a rainbow of polka dots then framed it with an embossed panel to mimic the look of those pencils all lined up. I topped the heart off with a pinked heart frame. 

That stubby little pencil (Stamps by Judith) reminds me of our son when he was about 8 years old.  I saw him doing his homework one day with this itty bitty nub of a pencil. I said "Joey, I think we need to buy you some new pencils!"  He said "Nooooo I like using this one! It's my favorite!" Yes, just in case you're wondering... I still have that pencil!!!

How will Carol's photo inspire you? 

I look forward to finding out!

Just Us Girls #774 ~ Best Wishes

 

Hey there sweet peeps! It's time for our Word Week challenge at Just Us Girls. Vicki is our hostess and she's looking for fruit. I used some paper I've been hoarding far too long! Take a look...

This paper came from Archivers many moons ago, so it's old! I just love the raspberries though and those pretty little heart shaped leaves. I topped it with a pretty PTI border cut from the reverse side of the paper. A sweet Poppystamps heart made of vellum and a couple of Poppystamps Nordic Butterflies added to the summery feel. 

I know our gallery is going to be one big beautiful fruit salad of cards this week. You'll be adding yours to the mix, right?

Just Us Girls #773 ~ Hello

 

Bobby has challenged us to use a flower die at Just Us Girls for this week's die challenge. I've got that covered and I'll bet you do too! We also have a new guest designer for the month of May. It just so happens to be a long time blogging friend of mine... Rosemary Dennis! Be sure to pop over to her blog, you won't be disappointed!

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to let my Honey Bee Magnolia take center stage! Pale Peony and Spring Moss inks (PTI) were used for a little smooshing. After cutting all of the layers and leaves, I glued just the center of the magnolia parts and popped everything onto the Mama Elephant Circle Lattice panel. After playing around with card base colors, I finally settled on kraft. It picked up the flower center perfectly! A sweet hello sentiment from Poppystamps was all it needed. 

I have a feeling our gallery will look like a beautiful paper garden by the time the week has finished. I hope you'll plant your card there too!

Just Us Girls #772 ~ It's Birthday Time!

Hi there! It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Ina is hosting stencil week for us. I made a playful card for a first birthday. Take a look...

 

The DeNami polka dot elephant was stamped using PTI's Berry Sorbet Ink. I cut it using a die from TMS and popped it up with foam circles. My stenciling was done using Citrine ink. That's a hard one to photograph. It shows up more yellow than green! Some sweet PTI printed Berry Sorbet paper was added along with a fun banner (Poppystamps) for the sentiment.

Now I'm on the hunt for a cutie little elephant toy of some kind to go with the card. I like to match the card to the gift! I look forward to seeing your stenciled works of art in our gallery this week. You know you have a stencil or two to choose from!

Just Us Girls #771 ~ Happy Easter

Hello there! Check out the cheerful mood board Elizabeth has chosen for this week's Just Us Girls challenge! Isn't it fun? So many possibilities with this one. I picked a few things that inspired me and combined them on my card. Lets take a look!

Those pink stripes reminded me that I had just the perfect paper to use. I die cut it, and a smaller tag, using some favorite PPP tag dies. The smaller of the two was stamped with a pretty little Easter egg by Impression Obsession. I popped these onto a square card base that was embossed (TSM) along with a little strip of pretty PP. Pretty little layers that are in the mail!

Your turn now! 

How will Elizabeth's mood board inspire you? 

I can't wait to find out!

I'll be adding this to the Inkspirational challenge. 

Thanks for the heads up, Carol ;)