I was inspired by Stamp Buddies Lisa and her beautiful hot air balloon cards so I pulled out an older Serendipity Stamps Hot Air Balloons reverse die.  I created a background with distress inks then on a plain white piece of cardstock I embossed the die using my Big Shot.  I then ran the sponged background through my Big Shot cutting out the die.  Very carefully I placed all of die cut pieces on the embossed white card and glued them in place and addded some red glitter paper behind the die cut version.  Serendipity Stamps in now owned by Impression Obsession according to the website.

So two cards — one for our son and the other for our son-in-law.

I seem to have a little extra time on my hands since my retirement the beginning of May and what better way to fill in that time but to create some cards.  I did receive some thoughtful gifts from work and friends so here are the cards that I came up with as Thanks.

The first group of cards I created uses the Dahlia Stem die from Simon Says Stamp.  I created different backgrounds with either my blending brush or direct to paper.

My next set of thank you card used the Pretty Pink Posh  “Beautiful Butterflies” stamp and coordinating die set.  I stamped the butterflies with versamark, embossed on vellum and popped up over the colored butterflies.

And my last group of thank you cards I went back to Pretty Pink Posh and the Spring Frame Die, vellum strip and embossing powder to complete this simple but elegant card.

Card stock was all Gina K Designs and inks were a combination of Distress Oxide Inks and GKD.  Thanks for looking.

So May seems to be a month of numbers for my husband and myself.  First it was his birthday and then our wedding anniversary.  So my cards have all included die cut numbers — very little stamping but lots of dies and layers.  Thanks for looking.

This is a Mother’s Day card for my daughter and will also be entered into the StampTV May 2019 Monthly Mix Challenge to include “Wings” and a gold option.  I used a butterfly from GKD’s Birthday Blessings stamp set and the Love sentiment is from Simple Hearts stamped with versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder.  Cardstock is also from GKD, stencil by Bonnie and patterned paper is from my favorite DCWV paper pack.

StampTV Challenge can be found here:

 

One of my favorite GKD stamp sets is Bold & Blooming  which is going out to someone special.  I also used GKD’s Dazzling Dahlia for the sentiment.  I think I could have used a larger sentiment  to fill in more of the white space area.  Card base is blue lagoon and layered with turquoise sea and white card stock.  I stamped this with my favorite go  VersaFine Onyx Black ink to which I added clear embossing powder and heat set ,added a few sequins and my Stampin up! colored pencils.

The April Monthly Mix Challenge over at Gina K Designs is ombre ink blending.   This is my third attempt but hopefully it fits the challenge.  I used GKD’s Elegant Florals and Stippled Flowers for the sentiment, cardstock used was dusty rose, slate and pure white pure luxury.

A selection of my Easter cards this year include a well used set from Pretty Pink Posh.  I love the frame die which cut beautifully and the egg designs…whew a lot of coloring for me but they were fun to create.  I also have a sweet little Easter Lucy from C.C. Designs and an old stand by from GKD’s Asela Hopkins Chocolate Bunnies. A peek-a-boo egg card for some little ones was also Pretty Pink Posh.