Simple, elegant...

... and did I mention I just cannot get enough of the embossing folders from CTMH? They got debuted in the catalog before Annual Inspirations. I bought a Cuttlebug as I knew my Cricut wouldn't emboss, but little did I know you can do all sorts of things with a Cuttlebug too!

This one was meant to be simple yet still make a statement, and boy did it ever do that. I'm just loving how well the ivory shows off the true colors of the stamped images. And that Baker's Twine - I have so much fun buying random embellishments, and having even more fun using them when occasion calls for it.

I brought the same lady which was stamped in Twilight to the inside of the card.

Other:
* Cream Cardstock

CTMH:
* Fashionista Stamp Set - retired
* Perfect Fit - Mom - retired
* Mother's Day
* Twilight Ink
* Smoothie Ink
* Floral embossing folder
* Baker's Twine

The leaves are changing color and fall is just around the corner - happy Fall!

Not enough boy stamps...

I know I complain about this every time I need to do a masculine card, but it's true. However, I had a bunch of lanterns and decided I'd do some more fiddling. I don't even remember what inspiration I was using anymore, but I wound up pretty far off the mark.

I used two different layers of foam tape and a whole lotta bling. I also saw Illuminate - an older SOTM and I thought that would be perfect. And finally I embossed the sentiment on the front.

I used second generation stamping on the bottom with one of the my favorite lanterns from the set plus brought in a little border off the top of one of the 12x12 patterns from Skylark.

Other:
* Cream Cardstock
* Embossing Ink

CTMH:
* Illuminate Stamp Set - retired SOTM
* Joyful Birthday Stamp Set
* You are my Happy Stamp Set - retired CC
* Skylark Level 2 Paper Pack
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Ponderosa Pine Ink
* Blue and Green  Adhesive Sparkles
* Black embossing powder - retired

We are slowly bidding farewell to the last bits of summer, hope you are enjoying it as much as I am before winter snows set in.

You know you're a bit too OCD when...

... you wind up redoing the front of the card not once, twice, but three times! I was trying to do a pretty hexagonal pattern and failed badly on the first try as my hexagons were too big; the second try I wanted to add outlines but my ruler skills were not up to par. But, third time was the charm!

Inspiration : https://www.flickr.com/photos/tulip1312/9315856351/lightbox/ by Joy Taylor @ SimpleByDesign

Instead of following a mostly white on white tone, I opted to pick three flirty fun colors to stamp the different hexagons in. I also utilized a swipe technique - first you ink the stamp, and then you swipe to get a pattern, which you can see on all the hexagons stamped in Gypsy.

And then, I got inspired by a link that teaches you how to make your own epoxy embellishments - and covered the butterfly cutout all over with Liquid Glass. I fiddled with the front of the card for so long that my Liquid Glass dried by the time I was done.

I brought the hexagons back inside the card and picked a cute little sentiment for it. I'm sure Mom's going to love this - and for the second time this year, the card is *actually* on time.

Other:
* Cream cardstock

CTMH:
* Honeycomb Stamp Set
* Joyful Birthday Stamp Set
* You Are My Happy Sentiment - retired CC
* Cocoa Ink
* Twilight Ink
* Ruby Ink
* Gypsy Ink
* Liquid Glass
* Opaque Pearl Adhesives - retired
* Red / Pink Adhesive Sparkles - retired
* Artiste Cricut Cartridge

Looks like the snow has retreated this week but the damage that it has caused is unreal!

Sometimes it's just plain fun to fiddle.

It's time consuming, don't get me wrong, but I really loved the end result. This year is my MIL's big 60th birthday, but alas I had to go back to Calgary for work and so could not join her. Hubby, however is able to make a tiny detour so I'm glad for that, and I'm sending some cards with him.

It was a big set of cards to do in four days but I did it! There was no particular inspiration for this one but three hours of fiddling later...

I really love the silver frame on the black. It's downright gorgeous - and just that little extra sparkle here and there plus some foam tape and fussy cuts makes it really pretty. And ok, kudos to you if you can spot the distressing of three colors on the front!

The inside was the same butterfly - because you know, I absolutely adore this set which pairs perfectly with La Belle Vie Level 2 Paper Pack. I cried the day they retired it...

Other:
* Cream Cardstock
* Butterfly punch
* Lace edge punch

CTMH:
* La Belle Vie Level 2 Paper Pack
* Jardin Stamp Set - retired
* You Are My Happy Sentiments - retired
* Smokey Plum Ink
* Gypsy Ink
* Cotton Candy Ink
* Silver embossing powder - retired
* Detail embossing powder - retired

In the last three days, Old Man Winter decided to visit with a vengance and we had broken trees, power outs, dicey roads... I hope that it hasn't affected you too much and that you are warm, safe, and dry!

Only half a year later...

But I finally got my other Father's Day card done!! Hubby had a chance to stop by Denmark to visit with the in-laws last month and so I'm scrambling to get all my ducks in a row for cards to give to the family. And now, of course, I'm playing post-catch-up.

Additionally some exciting news - it's National Stamping Month! Which means it's time to celebrate with another stamp set. With a minimum order of $30.00. you can get the below set free:

This exclusive C-Sized stamp is only available during the month of September (value of $15.25) ! Congratulations to Jeanette Lynton for bringing us 30 Years of CTMH!

And of course the stamp of the month is Family is Forever

 This beautiful set is yours for only $5.00 more with a qualifying purchase of $50.00. So if you happen to have $50.00 worth of an order, not only do you get this cute stamp set for $5.00 more but you also qualify for the free stamp set above!

This one I'm not sure where the inspiration came from. I might have started with this: Case Study Challenge 202 : Shari Carroll but then veered well away from it.

I wanted to do some more embossing with my Cuttlebug and the awesome CTMH folders that came out not too long ago. I thought the Quatrefoil Embossing folder was pretty masculine. As well I'm just starting to sink my teeth into distressing. I'm still balling up little things of paper towel to use as embossing tool (take note, anything is possible to transfer inks with) but hope to move to daubers later on. Distressing with various colors will have to make an appearance at the Christmas workshop!

I brought the pattern behind the tools on the front to the inside of the card and distressed around the card with Barn Red. What can I say, this card made itself - I just simply fiddled with things.

Other:
* Cream cardstock
* Brads
* Black Sharpie Pen

CTMH:
* You're The Best Set - retired
* Timberline Level 2 paper pack - retired
* Barn Red Ink
* Blue / Green Epoxy Adhesive Bubbles
* Quatrefoil Embossing Folder
* Ponderosa Pine Ink

It's a lot chillier these mornings!