Graduation Announcements for a Neighbor

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I was asked to create a graduation announcement for my neighbors daughter.
I got together with them and we came up with colors, card ideas, the style she wanted and how many she would need (20).

Laynas school colors are Orange and Black and she wanted something with circles.

This is what we came up with;

 I used the Mini Treat Bag Die to make the bag, using 1 3/8", 1" and the 1/2" Circle Punches.
The 2015 focal piece took three steps. First I stamped the "Class of"   portion of the stamp in Tangelo Twist, then punched it out with a 2" punch. I added a 1/2" strip of Tangelo Twist across the middle of the circle. Next, I stamped the "2015" in Basic Black and cut it out and attached it to the 2" circle. If the stamped image didn't come out as nicely as I wanted I used a blending pen to smooth the ink out. There is a separate piece of orange glimmer paper attached to the top of the bag for some bling. I found the ribbon and the glimmer paper at my local craft store.

Here is a look at the inside pull out piece;

The announcement info was printed on to a piece of vellum and stapled to a piece of Whisper White card stock. I attached the polka dot bow to the vellum piece with glue dots.  This kept me busy for several days sorry no Sketch Frenzy Friday post today. I have to get back in the garden!

CONGRATULATIONS LAYNA !

Chat soon,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday May 1st. 2015

Hello to all, I hope this post finds you well and happy!

I can't believe it is May 1st already can you! HAPPY MAY DAY! I have had a really bzy week how about you? Jeff went out of town on a business trip (He will be home tonight YIPPEE!!!) this week so I had to get all my little projects I assigned myself to get done while I had the chance. Know what I mean lolol.

I re-did my downstairs powder room, it turned out really cute at lease I think it
did. I painted the walls kind of Daffodil Delight color, hung new curtains and painted the cabinet a beautiful Chocolate Brown color.  So needless to say I am pooped out!

I did find time to make a card this week -it's my sketch so I had better make a card right lol!

Here is the sketch;

It is a very basic layout and it makes for a fast card. Give it a try.

Here is what I came up with;

 This is a super fast card to make. All of the elements are from the Butterfly Basics stamp set. I used the Butterfly Thinlets Die that coordinate with this set. I used Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride Inks.
That's all there was to it. The freedom of this set is that you can create different background scenes unique to each card. Here is a look at the inside.

Thanks for stopping by this week. I will try to post some photos of the bathroom later today. This sketch is so easy and creates really fast cards so give it a try. We would love to see what you create from it. http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

Chat soon,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday 4/24/15

Hello everyone, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Where does the time go? I am amazed that it is the end on April already! WOW! I just can't believe it. We have been working so hard in the garden trying to get it all done by mid May that it seems that is all I can think about these days. I hurt my knees digging a few weeks ago and that has slowed me down a bit. My brain doesn't think my body is near 60 and out of shape so I think I can do what I did when I was in my 30's. LOL Not anymore I'm pooped and sore by the time its ready for bed.

However, I did make time to get a card done for this weeks sketch!  Carol Reed
is our designer this week and she did a great job with it. I really liked working with this sketch. Thanks Carol! Here is her sketch;

and this is what I came up with from it.

My inspiration for this card came from a card that Amy K made with a different stamp from the stamp set called Moon Lake. She also used the background stamps from Work of Art in different colors. I used Pool Party and Pistachio Pudding inks. Thanks Amy for the inspiration! What a great idea to use the two colors and the focal image. Don't you think it makes for such a great look for a focal image?

I used Mossy Meadow ink and card stock. A strip of Burlap Ribbon and a scrap of Painted Blooms DSP. The double bow was made from the SAP Ribbon and Button set in Lost Lagoon.

Here is a look a the inside.

That's all there is to this card for this week. Thanks for stopping by and we would love to see what you come up with from this weeks sketch. Here is our link  http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/.
so you'll know where to load it so we can check it out!

I'm getting ready to take some photos of the yard this weekend, so you can see just how much of the yard we have dug up!The plan is to dig up most of the grass. Leaving just small area's that Jeff has to mow around. Well that's the plan anyhow lol.

Chat soon,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday 4/17/15

Hello everyone, hope you are all enjoying the wonderful Spring weather and all the gorgeous blooming trees. My neighborhood is full of color it is so nice to drive around town and see everything coming to life again.

My Little Patch of Dirt is getting there too. Almost everything in the garden we planted last year seems to have made it through the Winter. We decided to really expand our garden this year and we have been digging new beds for a couple weeks now. My back, knees and hands are really feeling the effects of our labor. But it is so going to be worth it!

So sorry I have been missing as of late! We only have a short growing season of 180 days on the Eastern Coast. Jeff and I are coming to find out you have to get busy when you can to get it all done and boy have we been busy!

I made a card the week before last and forgot to post it? Last week was a blur but I do have a card for this week and I have already given it away. I am so glad I have to take pictures or I would have forgotten what it looks like! Oh ya, I am the sketch designer this week. Here is this weeks sketch,

and this is what I came up with.

I used the Mixed Bunch stamp set and the coordinating Punch called Blossom to create my floral focal image. I chose Strawberry Slush, Whisper White and Basic Black as my main color pallet. The DSP background is from Back to Black. The sentiment is from a SAB stamp set called Simply Wonderful. I really like the clean lines of the DSP with the bold floral image I think it really makes that flower pop! You knew I couldn't let the center of the flower go without a littlt bit of bling lol.

Here is a look at the inside.

See how different the flower looks without the black background piece? It is amazing isn't it! The sentiment is also from the SAB stamp set Simply Wonderful.

Hope you all have a great week! Enjoy this beautiful time of the year with warmer temperatures and all the lovely spring colors. I love Spring and Fall the best don't you.I don't miss So CA this time of year at all!

Please join us this week and show us what you can create with this sketch. We would love to see it. http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/.

I am going to take pictures of the garden to show you all the work that we are doing.

 Take care and chat soon,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday 3/27/15

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Can you believe it another months come to a close and it's Spring YIPPEE!
A little cool yet but still no more snow!!!!! (I hope).

We have a really cool sketch for ya this week! Elizabeth Harris designed it and I loved it!!! Great job Elizabeth and thanks for the inspiration (Smile).

Here is a look at this great sketch

and this is what I came up with,

Here is a look at the inside,

Three colors only, you don't know how much restraint I had to use ! Well maybe you do by now lol.

Coastal Cabana, Basic Black and Whisper White Card Stock and Basic Black Ink was used on the sentiments. Then I added a couple different Wahsi Tapes for the focal image. I also used the Stars Impression Folder on the bottom half of the card for some added texture.
The front sentiment is from the Bravo stamp set and the inside sentiment is from the Really Good Greetings stamp set. I made the triple bow with 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon and a large silver brad from a Paper Pumpkin set I have.

This is a very simple sketch that will make for some terrific looking cards. One I will keep handy for those times when I need a great sketch for a fast card. 

We hope you will give this sketch a try because we would love to see what you create with it. Just show us here http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

I have been relaxing after this months Master Gardner events and projects with dead lines that I had to get completed. The rest was very much so needed!

Chat Soon,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday 3/20/15

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

      CONGRATULATIONS JEANNE'


Today is my Daughters last day of Cosmetology School. One year of really hard work, sincere dedication and a lot of sacrifices and now this part of your journey is completed! We are so very proud of you! You did it! Relax take it easy and enjoy your weekend! I will see you soon my cleaver and uber talented baby  girl! I knew you could, I knew you would! We love you very much!

We have another great sketch for you this week. Our very own Terri Tank designed this sketch and it was certainly a challenge for me to come up with a card from it. Great job Terri! How about you all give it a try???? Let's see where your imagination takes you!

This is what I came up with. The only thing different is that I turned it on its side.

Here is a look at the inside,

I love all the colors used in this card! I pulled them all from the DSP called Sweet Taffy. It is vibrant and very colorful. The sentiments are from the Bravo stamp set. It has lots of large, fun and bold sentiments in this set.


I hope you will join us this week and create a card from this sketch. Please show us what you made and add it to our blog here http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

Have a great week and I hope you get a chance to create something fun!

Chat soon,
Patrice

Home Garden Show

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I have been MIA here on My Little Patch of Dirt this last week or so! I had ten cards to make special for a friend, three Potted Flower Pot Door Prizes to make for Gardening 101 due this weekend and a large Silent Auction item for the Home Show that was due last Thursday. I got every thing done and totally forgot to post my SFF Card!!! Wow!! What was I thinking??? Forgive me everyone. That was like the 4th time I have not posted for SFF in four years...yikes I'm slipping!

I took a few pictures of the Silent Auction item (I wonder how much it went for??? It had a $50.00 value) to show you.

I got an e-mail from this years President stating that it was a hit so that was reassuring. I didn't put anything next to it to show the size of it? It is about 2' x 2' holds two one gallon size pots. I made the floral arrangement and added several of our SU Die Cut Butterflies all around. The lower basket has lots of fun garden related items in it along with greens, flowers and butterflies.

Here is a look at all three Door Prize Flower Pots for the Gardening 101 Seminar this weekend. I am the co-chair of this event and so excited to see how many people in our community show up. I have a Rain Gutter garden display up that will be side exhibit  for the event. So that should be fun.

I liked the Red Polka Dot Ribbon with the Packet of starter Strawberries.

This one has Navy Blue Gross-grain Ribbon with Echinecea Bulbs. All of the pots are ceramic/clay.

I liked how the floral cards came out I put a packet of seeds on each card.

Well I better get to sleep I told Jeff I would wake up and cook him breakfast early???? What was I thinking lol. I love that man so.

Chat soon,
Patrice

Butterfly Basics Easter

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I was surfing the web and found a site called Sue's Inky Fingers

I saw one of her cards that gave me the inspiration to make my card today.

We share the same color combination Kraft and Whisper White and that there is an Easter sentiment on the card but, then I veer off and get creative. I chose to White Emboss and she just used White ink. Here is a look at my card. Notice the Die Cut side embellishment.

I took another shot without the pretty side embellishment. I love the Paper Doily strip on the bottom of the card.

This is how it looks simi open.

Here is shot of the inside

It is a fun and interactive type of a card. But, I must say I love her color combination, don't you? Thanks Sue!

Have a great weekend. I hope you find some time to create something fun too!

Chat soon,
Patrice

Paper Craft Crew cCard Sketch #134

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I found another really cool sketch over at Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge #134 this week http://www.papercraftcrew.com/pcccs-134-card-sketch

Here is their sketch

This is what I came up with.

 I haven't worked with the Work of Art stamp set in a while, so I thought I would pull it out and make a boat.

I really like Pistachio Pudding card stock combined with the Confetti Celebration DSP. I saw the boat on line sometime in the summer and thought I would try to re-create it today. I can't believe the stamps in this set can make so many interesting images. I just used a Basic Grey Marker to add depth and dimension to the hull of the boat (I think that is what it is called). I just love playing with the In Color Sequins. The add just the right amount of bling to a project. The spray background was made with Pistachio Pudding ink and an image from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.

Here is a look at the inside

Simple just a few stars and a strip of matching DSP.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I plan on staying in my craft room all weekend as I have a few projects I need to get done.

Chat soon,
Patrice

Sketch Frenzy Friday 3/6/15

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Wow! What a snow storm we had Thursday! We got about 11 inches. A lot for our neck of the woods that's for sure. Jeff stayed home from work and I helped him shovel our property! We have a long driveway and a big parking area in the back and a very long sidewalk in front of the house. It took us almost three hours non stop to do it properly. Both he and I were sore .

One of our newest design team members Carol Read just became a Grandma this week! We are all very excited for her CONGRATULATIONS Carol! She was so excited and proud to tell us about the newest addition to her family! Wow, how amazing is that!  Welcome to the world Rylen you are so loved!

He is the inspiration for my card is week, beside this Fantastic Sketch Elizabeth K gave us! This was a really fun sketch to work with. It has a great flow to it

Here is Elizabeth's sketch;

this is the card I came up with.

I used, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding and So Saffron card stock and Coastal Cabana ink to create this card. I just love this little Baby Bumble Bee don't you? It is single stamp called "Baby Bumblebee" lol. It is one of my favorite Baby stamps this year.

Now for a look at the inside;

I used the "Crazy About You" stamp set to create the sentiment. The B is from last years alphabet Bigz Die.

Thanks for the inspiration ladies you did good!

My prayer for Rylen is that he grow up to be an amazing human being! May he have loving  family and friends close to him to help him through all the ups and downs. I hope he is often reminded not to forget to stop and smell the flowers. To laugh often, love deeply and play in the rain. May he have an amazing journey and stay constant when reaching for his dreams.

Create something wonderful this week everyone. If you choose to make a card from this great sketch please let us see it. You can upload it here http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Chat soon,
Patrice

Watercolor Bokeh Technique

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

So I gave it a try and I like it! This technique is not very hard to do and the results are very striking. Split Coast Stampers has a video on how create this  technique called Bokeh. I am sure you can find many others who have done great videos as well.

Today I am going to show you the results of my experiments and the cards I created from them.

This example I used Old Olive, Marina Mist and Wisteria Wonder re-inkers.

This is the card I created from this sample, showcasing elegant Pearls

here is a look at the inside.

On this sample  I used Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz and Rose Red re-inkers.

This is the card I created from it using lots of Shimmery Stars, Sequins and Rhinestones

and a look at the inside.

For the final card I used Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and touch of Tangerine Tango re-inkers. Actually, this was my first attempt and didn't get the watercolor paper wet enough to have the re-inkers run together like they are supposed to do.

Here is the final card from this group using Buttons and Bakers Twine

 

and a look at the inside.

Wow is right! I had fun experimenting with different color combinations and learning how to do this technique. You should give it a try too! It really does provide beautiful backgrounds and interesting looks using various ink combinations.

Stay tuned I have another technique I am going to try using DSP and a White Craft Pad???

Chat soon,
Patrice

Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch #133

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I had some time today to play along with the Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch- PCCCS #133. http://www.papercraftcrew.com/pcccs-133-card-sketch/
This was a very fun and playful sketch! So many elements and challenges to it.

This is the card I came up with.

I love the jazzie background paper. It actually came from one of the Christmas Kits.It is one of the card bases that I did not use.  The focal image sentiment is from the Bravo stamp set and I embossed it in Cherry Cobbler this gave the sentiment  more texture and shine. Looks like I followed the sketch almost to a tee but there are still a few little changes. Why mess with perfection I say on this one!

The main card stock colors are Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black and Whisper White. Rhinestones were added to the punched Bitty stars for sparkle and bling. I used the two smallest Star Thinlets to make the larger Bermuda Bay star.

Here is a look at the inside.

I wanted to show you the whole inside because I made a mistake and stamped my hand made stamp on the inside of the left side of the card. It should have been on the back of the card oops! So, I cut another Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black strip to cover it up. Only you and I will know I made an oopsi daisy there RIGHT!lol.

Have a great weekend my friends. I hope you find some time to create something fun. Try this sketch out, it makes a very fun card!

Chat soon,
Patrice

Oh and here is a sneak peek of one of the new techniques that has been going around the Internet that I just had to give a try. I received an e-mail from Split Coast Stampers SCS Weekly Inkling #454 Watercolor Bokeh that had the tutorial. I made three different color patterns and three cards. I'll try to show them to you tomorrow.

Sketch Frenzy Friday 2/27/15

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

It's another SFF Sketch Challenge day. Yah! I am always so amazed when a week flies by and here it is again Friday. Wow, how did that happen? Time flies when you are having fun I guess!

As of late my personal life has gotten so busy! It is a good thing because I am not just sitting at home idle any more! I have been out more this winter than the last two winters put together. I guess I'm acclimating to the weather conditions here? I get stir crazy sitting in the house all the time I need to get out even if it is cold.
 However, I'm going to have to start writing things down in a calender just to keep up with everything that is going on! I guess that is a good thing right!


Kim Innis created this weeks sketch and I loved working with it! Thanks Kim for the inspiration! Here is her sketch;

this is what I came up with.

I don't know why but, when I saw the circle part of the sketch, I thought the Woodsman from the Wood You Be Mine stamp set would look fun hanging out of his log cabin window wishing the receiver of this cards a Happy Hello! I just love this little guy don't you? I fussy cut him out and popped him up on dimensionals. I used Marina Mist for his shirt and various SU Markers for the rest of him. Happy Hello is from the Crazy about you Stamp Set. There are lots of fun word combinations you can make up using the single words found in this set. The sentiment is stamped on one of the Essentials Wooden Elements pieces in Mossy Meadow. All these elements coordinate so nicely with all the other woodland elements on this card. 

The Washi Tape was fun to use here too. Because the tape is almost transparent, I often adhere it to a scrap of white card stock first depending on the look I am trying to achieve. This is one of those cases where I wanted the tape to stand out so I used my white card stock trick to do so.

I punched the leaves in Wild Wasabi using the Bird Builder Punch and the Bitty Butterfly was punched out using Tangelo Twist card stock. It is such a great orange color!

Here is a look at the inside;

The inside sentiment is from the Hello Life stamp set! It was stamped in Mossy Meadow. I think it is such a great shade of green it has a very soft look to it!

Thats all there is for me today. I hope you give this weeks sketch a try we would love to see what you create from using it. Here is a link to our blog.  http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you too find some time to create something fun.

Chat soon,
Patrice

Couple more cards for ya.

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!


As promised, here are a few more of the cards I created last week for my friend.

I just love how this card turned out. Pink, Black and White are one of my favorite color combinations. The colors combined with the floral image from the stamp set Butterfly Basics really make this card pop!

and here's  a look at the inside.

I used some new, retired and non SU stamp sets on these projects.

I love the little foot steps on the bottom of this card. A friend game me the two stamp sets used on this card for Christmas. The sentiment reminds me of the poem " Footprints".

I had fun making these cards using old sets and "Contraband" sets are fun from time to time.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you too find some time to create something fun for yourself.

Chat soon,
Patrice