The Inky Daisy

PTI 5th Anniversary Day 4

2012-02-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

Had a few minutes to play with today's challenge over at the PTI 5th Anniversary festivities. Today we were to select one of the design teams' favorite color combinations and make a card. Melissa Phillips color combo appealed to me and I was able to make another Valentine. Besides white for the card base, I used PTI colors Autumn Rose, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz and Simply Chartruese. I used PTI Heart Prints for both the heart images (stamped in Versamark) and the sentiment. Twine is from Doodlebug.

Punched out the hearts with a Marvy punch.
Thanks for peeking!

Happy Anniversary PTI!

2012-02-05T16:45:00.001-05:00

Today begins the 5th anniversary festivities over at Papertrey Ink. Five years of fabulous stamps and a supporting cast of wonderful product. Five years of the most incredible, jaw dropping inspiration from Nichole Heady and her Design Team members. And, five years of fabulous February anniversary festivities.
In honor of Day 1 festivities, Nichole had her entire design team list each of their top five PTI items along with a favorite card or project and a special memory. Then, she wowwed us all by announcing a grand prize package of ALL those top five picks to a random poster if we made a card that was inspired by one of the design team members favorite cards/projects.
I am always amazed by the clean graphic style of Maile Belles, and I used PTI Background Basics Text Style and a PTI sentiment from A Big Thank You to create my card.

A few punched flowers from my scraps and a few rhinestones colored with my copics finish it off.
Congratulations on a fabulous 5 years, PTI. May you have 5 times many more!
Thanks for peeking!

FTL 175: Clean & Simple Sketch

2012-02-01T08:31:00.000-05:00

Boy, it's been a long time since I did a Clean & Simple sketch in the actual week that it appeared. This is their 175th sketch and I love it!

I've been working on valentines and this seemed perfect for the reverse punch technique I wanted to try:

Used a Marvy heart punch, a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the swiss dots, My Sentiments Exactly sentiment, Hero Arts heart gem and ribbon from my stash. Cardstock is SU.

Thanks for peeking!

Less Is More 52: Sketch

2012-01-29T19:11:00.001-05:00

Here's the current challenge over at the Less is More blog:

We were to follow this sketch closely...landscape orientation, 'band' on the left, sentiment on the lower right.

I love this sketch! It lends itself so easily to all themes, from fun birthday to elegant wedding. I chose to do a birthday card.

Image is by Hero Arts and sentiment by Penny Black. Stamped the image with Tuxedo Black Memento on SU Pink Pirouette and colored with copics. Border punch by SU.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 76: Color in Winter

2012-01-27T09:46:00.001-05:00

This Wednesday's challenge over at Simplicity's blog was to create a single layer, grey and white card with a pop of color. Some weeks when I read the new challenge I know exactly what I want to do (now whether it actually happens is another thing!), and some weeks I am lost in the weeds. This was one of those weeks. But, yesterday as I was rummaging around my flower drawers (stamp drawers!) I saw this awesome Penny Black image and immediately thought of masking out a portion of it to nestle in a sentiment. Sentiment by Saavy. Made the oval mask with a SU oval punch. Had the card done in 15 minutes. Taking a picture has taken much longer. It is cloudy and dreary here today and 4 Ott lights just aren't doin' it for me! Sorry for the poor quality image.

Thanks for peeking!

Less Is More 50: One Layer - Birds

2012-01-19T15:56:00.001-05:00

Feathers MacGee here.
My most favorite bird stamp.
From Eat Cake Graphics.

When this week's challenge to do a one layer card using birds at Less is More popped up, I knew just what to do. I have made this card many times as a get well card. I love making it because it just cracks me up...makes me smile. I hope it makes you smile too.

Sentiment by Inky Antics.
Thanks for peeking!

OLW 74: Red & Pink

2012-01-16T15:27:00.005-05:00

I am soooo happy the OLW challenges are back! Yippee!
These one layer challenges always pull me outside my comfort zone and when I am pleased with my results I get so hand clappingly (yes, it's a new word...my word) giddy that I dig through my stamp drawers looking for more stamps to use. And, I usually end up using stamps that haven't seen the likes of ink since I bought them. So, it's all good.
The challenge over at Simplicity's blog this past Wednesday was to use the colors red and pink only on a one layer card, keeping embellishments to a bare minimum.

The first card has a background by Hero Arts, image by Inkadinkadoo and sentiment by Hampton Art.

The second card incorporates a second Hero Arts background, and both image and sentiment are from Impress Rubber Stamps.

On the third card I used the Hero Arts Background I used in the first card, Lockhart image and Technique Tuesday sentiment.

Thanks, Susan....I had fun with this challenge!

And, thanks for peeking!

Rainbow Thanks

2012-01-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

There are lots of wonderful sentiments in my new Paper Smooches Chit Chat stamp set, but, this 'thanks' is my favorite. I knew right away that I wanted to color it a rainbow. And, then! Less is More challenge # 47 asks us to use just a SINGLE WORD on our card, and, Skipping Stones Design has a new sketch challenge #109 which is PERFECT for a rainbow color scheme! How could I not make this card????

Cardstock is from my scrap pile, ribbon and gems from my stash.

Thanks so much for peeking!

Boston

2012-01-02T21:07:00.001-05:00

This card is going to some friends of ours in Kentucky. Their furry four legged baby recently crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Boston (or, Bossy, as many of the neighbors called him) was such a sweetheart who roamed the neighborhood and knew all the neighbors. My favorite and most vivid memory of him was the day he and Chynna, another neighbor's dog sat for photos with my golden retriever/chow mix Sammy on her "sweet" sixteenth birthday. My dear neighbor set her kitchen table with a pretty tablecloth, good china and silver for 3 place settings. In the center of the table was a very large, many wicked, candle sitting on a cake plate resembling a birthday cake. In 3 chairs placed around the table were Sammy, Boston and Chynna, all wearing party hats. It was the funniest sight I and my neighbors have ever seen. We laughed ourselves silly while all three dogs sat quite contentedly around the table.

On to the card:

Paper from my stash, sentiment from Club Scrap.

I'm also submitting this for the current Skipping Stones Designs challenge #108.

Thanks for peeking!

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

2011-12-28T19:50:00.002-05:00

I've recently fallen in love with some really cute stamps. And I'm not one to jump on the cutesy bandwagon that has been so popular this last year or so. But these stamps aren't 'cutesy'....they are just darn cute and adorable!

I have some of Kim Hughes stamps from prior years as a designer for other companies, so it was fun to find out she now has her own company, Paper Smooches. (papersmoochesstamps.com) She also has a blog where she runs fun challenges. The current challenge (yes, I am down to the wire!) is based on this photo from Pinterest:

I am in the middle of making Christmas thank you cards and decided to make one using this challenge. I used the adorable dog from Birthday Buddies and a sentiment from Sentiment Sampler.

Designer paper is from Basic Grey, cardstock from PTI. Colored with Copics. Santa Hat is from a Studio G stamp. Twine is from May Arts.

Thanks for peeking!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T20:14:00.000-05:00

So sorry for the lack of posts. Life's been busy. But, Christmas is winding down, so life should get a bit simpler.
Here's this year's Christmas card. Found this stamp by Impression Obsession last February at a rubber stamp show in Clearwater. HAD to HAVE it. L.O.V.E. it! Had so much fun coloring it with my copics. Kept it simple. Remember this post? This stamp inspired that.

I hope you all had a wonderful and enjoyable Christmas. I did!
Thanks for peeking!

Stamped Tile Card

2011-11-14T08:17:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I was reminded by someone, who shall remain nameless, but she knows who she is, that I haven't posted in a while. Yes, I'm guilty of that. The history of my blog shows that. It all has to do with the mojo. If it isn't flowing, it isn't happening. I have plenty of cards that can be posted, but again, it's the mojo thing, whether it is creating cards or posting them. It's all lumped together for me. And, lots of time, I'm busy, or I just simply forget.

So, to break the current rut, here's a card I made a couple months ago for one of my brothers-in-law. He is a hunter and loves dogs....I think this was the perfect card for him. I sat down and made it right after I got my issue of the Autumn 2011 Take Ten magazine. In it there were Stamped Tile Cards by Amber Demien on pages 52 & 53. Absolutely loved the concept and I'll certainly make other cards like this. Susan over at Simplicity was also enthralled with these cards and recently did a similar post here.

Cardstock by SU, corrugated & twine from my stash. Inchie stamps by Inkadinkadoo, sentiment by A Muse.

Inside:

Sentiment here from Rosie's Roadshow, punch from EKSuccess. Dog bone punch by Marvy.

Thanks for peeking!

LIM 39: Lucky Dip - Stars

2011-11-01T19:08:00.003-04:00

I really wanted to play along with the Less Is More crew last week when the theme was polka dots. Love me some polka dots....my hands down most favorite pattern....any color, any size dots! Time was not in my favor last week, but it is this week, so I combined this weeks theme of stars with last weeks polka dots. I also LOVED the sketch layout over at the Clean and Simple blog last week (FTL 163), so I combined all three to make the three cards posted below.

First and second up are 2 super simple creations. I used the retired SU! small star punch and sentiment from Morningstar. The patterned paper are tiny scraps from my scrap drawer....have no clue who the manufacturer is, and popped up the stars with dimensionals.

This card doesn't apply to the LIM theme this week as it doesn't have any stars, but it does have polka dots and uses the same sketch. The flowers are made from a SU! flower punch and EKSuccess circle punch, and the sentiment is from a Hero Arts clear set.

Ahhhhh..... Feels good to get back to some challenges!
Thanks for peeking!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:28:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to share the halloween cards I made this year. I am down to the wire getting them posted....so sorry for being a baaaaaaad blogger.

Enjoy! If you need any image/sentiment details, just let me know via the comments or email!
Thanks for peeking!

Skipping Stones Sketch 96

2011-10-07T20:04:00.000-04:00

I follow the new sketches over at Skipping Stones every Tuesday, but I don't often get the chance to play along. But, this week I did! I needed a birthday card and this sketch fit the bill!

Cardstock is SU!, patterned paper is Bohemia by My Mind's Eye. The stamped balloon patterns are from Hero Arts, Memory Box and Red Lead, balloon punch is by Martha Stewart. Used Mat Stack 1 from PTI to mount the balloons. The birthday sentiment is unknown...got the stamp for $2.00 at a garage sale and there are no manufacturer markings at all on the wood. Fiskars border punch and DMC pearl cotton colored with Copics.

Thanks for peeking!

LIM 35: The Colour of Your Eyes

2011-10-05T14:53:00.001-04:00

The great thing about all the card challenge blogs out there is that they give you a jumping off place to begin especially when you need one in a hurry.
The Less Is More week 35 challenge helped me greatly this week when I needed to make a 'thinking of you' card. Their challenge this week is to make a clean and simple card where the primary color used is the color of your eyes. Can you guess the color of my eyes???

This card came together quite quickly...SU cardstock, Fiskars patterned paper, Sizzix die cut, Impression Obsession sentiment, and some seam binding dyed with my Copics. IRL, the seam binding ribbon looks a lot less bright and more muted like the card. Perhaps it is my monitor playing games with the color.
Thanks for peeking!

OLW 66: Get Inspired by Janelle

2011-10-03T11:28:00.000-04:00

This week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge over at Simplicity's blog is all about getting inspiration from a sweet, talented blogger named Janelle, who is going through a rough patch in her life right now. Funny how, a few days before Susan issued the challenge, I happened to think about Janelle and was trying to remember her blog. I always visited her blog from the OLW challenge thumbnails and since OLW was on hiatus during the summer, I had lost track of her blog. I am so sorry to hear of Janelle's sudden medical condition but glad to see she is posting almost daily to her blog and appears to be in good spirits. I also have added her blog to my blog list so that I can keep up with what is going on with her. I think about you daily, Janelle, praying you pull through this.

On to the card:

Janelle has this thing for cupcakes (and, so do I!). And, so, cupcakes were my inspiration. Two cute stamps by Karen Lockhart, a little copic coloring, and voila! a stack of little yellow cakes with pink buttercream icing! YUM!

Thanks for peeking!

Clean & Simple FTL 160

2011-10-01T10:46:00.001-04:00

I needed a quick card yesterday, and after looking at a few blogs, knew I could make it using the new sketch over at the Clean and Simple blog.

Sentiment is from Verve. Used Marvy, Punch Bunch, Fiskars, SU! and EKSuccess punches, some patterned paper from my stash and was done in a flash. Used a bit of Sakura clear glitter pen on the tips of the flowers....boy! did that make for a tough picture to take. Took longer to get a decent picture than make the card! Click on the picture to get a closer look at the shimmer.

Hope you all are celebrating World Card Making Day today and make some cards. Well, at least one card. Head on over to the CAS blog for some quick and simple ideas.

Thanks for peeking!

Yes, another male birthday

2011-09-28T22:11:00.000-04:00

I mentioned in a previous post this month that September is full of male birthdays for me....so.....another male birthday card!

Background stamp by Hero Arts, sentiments by Tim Holtz. Watch die cut from Spellbinders Shapeabilities. Cardstock from SU.

Thanks for peeking!

LIM Week 34 Sketch

2011-09-27T21:16:00.001-04:00

I had fun doing the Less is More challenge last week so, I thought I would try it again this week. This week's challenge is all about complying with their sketch. Well, next week, I must read ALL the rules first. I think I've complied with all the rules except for the one layer. Ooops! Oh well, better luck next week!

Image is by Impression Obsession and the sentiment is by Make an Impression.

Colored with copics and popped up the largest flower for dimension. Another card for my stash. Yeah!
Thanks for peeking!

OLW 65 Sentiment A Mania

2011-09-25T19:17:00.001-04:00

The OLW challenge this past Wednesday over at Jennifer's blog is to use a sentiment either as the focal point or shares the focal point of the card. And, it must be only one layer with minimal embellishments. After some thought and a few cards that ended up in the trash, I ended up with four...I was on a roll today!

First up uses an image by Stampabilities and sentiment by Verses Rubber Stamps.

The second card uses an image by Hero Arts and sentiment by Verses Rubber Stamps.

Card #3 uses both image and sentiment by Hero Arts.

And, lastly, card #4 uses a background stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms and sentiment by Verses Rubber Stamps.

Fun challenge this week Jennifer!

Thanks for peeking!

LIM 33: 1000 Challenge Anything CAS Goes

2011-09-22T14:02:00.002-04:00

The gals over at Less is More are trying for 1,000 card posts to their challenge blog this week. I thought perhaps I could help them along. I have a few simple Thank You cards that I believe fit CAS.

They were all quite quick and easy to make...heat embossed images and sentiments in white on kraft...a classic look, with a little ribbon from my stash. Easy peasy!

The swirl is from Heartfelt Creations and the agapanthus cluster is from Stampendous! The 1st sentiment is a $1 Studio G from Michael's, the 2nd is Penny Black and the 3rd is a $1 Snag 'em from Imaginesce. Kraft cardstock is SU!, white cardstock is Georgia Pacific.

Good luck Chrissie and Mandi on your challenge this week...I hope you make it!

Thanks for peeking

OLW 64: Color It & Penny Black Saturday Challenge 169

2011-09-17T16:56:00.011-04:00

I am just so, so happy the OLW challenges are back! They make me step out of my comfort zone, they make me practice, and they give me cards I needed to make anyways.

So, this week's challenge was:
COLOR IT! Stamp an outline image and color it using any coloring medium you want: colored pencils, watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, paint, Copics, Bics, Sharpies, markers of any kind, or your kid's box of Crayola crayons. Doesn't matter...just COLOR IT! Remember keep it to one layer.

I am also submitting this for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 169.

And, here's my result:

I used a lovely Penny Black image and a Memory Box sentiment. Colored it with my Copics.
Here's the same image/sentiment matted and a little vintage-y ribbon.

In my first attempt on the challenge, the sentiment was angled, but, with some careful trimming, I was able to salvage the card front (it was Gina K cardstock, after all...not worthy of the trashcan) and the card back will be used on something else. I added a small border strip (hidden by the ribbon) and voila! Another birthday card! Cardstock by PTI, border punch by SU, ribbon is Hug Snug seam binding dyed and crinkled by me.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 63: We're Back Baby!

2011-09-10T19:55:00.001-04:00

I was SOOOOOO excited to see the OLW back in action this week. I've really missed it. In case you need a refresher, head on over to Jennifer's blog and check out the OLW 63 this week which is all about making a one layer card and making it baby themed.

And, yes, mine is another MALE card! I'm on a roll!

Without further ado,

Isn't it sweet? I love it! And, I was so happy the theme this week was for baby. Because it just so happens that our longtime sailing partners are expecting a grandson next month. This will be perfect for them.

Water image is from Meers stamps, sailboat is a snag 'em from Imaginisce, and the sentiment is from A Muse. Inks on the sailboat are versamagic and the water is memento.

Thanks for peeking!

Another Male Birthday

2011-09-09T20:28:00.001-04:00

Here's a quickie post with another male birthday...one of my brothers in law shares my birthday. This was quick and easy using that wonderful embossing folder from SU.....LOVE that texture! Cardstock all SU, sentiment is Studio G from Mike's or Jo's and the calendar is a Snag 'em stamp from Imaginisce. Border punch is Fiskars.

Thanks for peeking!

A month of male birthdays

2011-09-08T10:41:00.000-04:00

September has lots of male birthdays for me. Don't know why I let it fluster me so....you know...just substitute the bright pretty colors and flowers and ribbons for dull colors, anything but flowers, and twine. Simple enough, but, I guess I just prefer the feminine versions.

Here are two cards I've sent out for male birthdays that have already come and gone. The idea had been floating around in my head for close to a month. Saw something similar in a magazine I recently flipped through. Since I've been trying to organize my craft room, I've been looking through old idea magazines, so I can't say if I saw what inspired me in a new magazine or an old one. Sorry I can't give proper credit for the inspiration.

Both of these were made with SU Kraft and Night of Navy paper, Night of Navy ink, & Star punches. I embossed the large navy stars on the second card with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The text is the Happy Birthday definition by Hero Arts and the sentiment is by Impress Rubber stamps. Twine is from May Arts.

Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday, Pauline!

2011-08-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Yes, I know today is not your birthday, but, if I wait to post it on your actual birthday, you won't see it for over a week. I know you've received the card by now....I mailed it a week ago. Sooooo................
A HAPPY BIG ___ BIRTHDAY TO YOU! I'll never reveal your age! But, I do know it is a big one!

Paper is by SU! and Cosmo Cricket. Sentiment by Make an Impression and Viva Las Vegas Stamps. The peonies are from Memory Box and that gorgeous wreath is a die cut....the brand new grapevine wreath by Memory Box. Ribbon from my stash and image colored with Copics.

Pauline, I hope you have a wonderful, fun and relaxing birthday trip!

Thanks for peeking!

Good Luck!

2011-08-07T11:10:00.000-04:00

My plan was to post this yesterday. Then John and I got started on THE closet. The one that had all sorts of things piled in it and we flipped coins to see who would dare go in there to find anything. We pulled everything out and sorted it, took down old shelves, patched, sanded, painted and put in new shelves. It's gorgeous! And, we're really glad it's done.

So, that's why the card is a day late. I sent it off earlier this week as motivation for Colleen who was attacking a similar home project....a garage sale that occurred Friday evening and yesterday. Yes, we moan and groan our way through these tasks, but we always feel so good when they are done.

On to the card:

I used Stampin' Up!'s Right at Home set, and typed up the sentiment on my computer. Paper is from an old DCWV Fun in the Sun Summer Matstack from 2009 and SU! Night of Navy. Stripes, dots and bright colors are timeless! Used nesties dies to frame the image and Martha Stewart's small tag punch. Ribbon and twine from my stash. Colored with copics.

Thanks for peeking!

Boy oh Boy!

2011-07-31T11:16:00.000-04:00

Colleen and Randy's kids have been busy!

Yes, another grandchild arrived a couple weeks ago, this time a grandson.
.
And, after my horrible delay at getting a card to them on the arrival of their granddaughter, I wasn't going to miss a beat on this grandchild. Even though I was on vacation at the time, I knew ahead of time it was going to be a boy, so I had the card made, the envelope addressed and stamped. The moment I knew of the baby's arrival, the card went in the mail!

Without further ado, here it is:

Aren't those shoes cute??

It's a very old stamp from Stampabilities. I used to stamp these on white paper that had a leather-ish look to it. But, I can't find it anymore, so I bought some 'pleather' (vinyl fake leather) from JoAnn's and stamped the image with StazOn, cut out and popped them up on a Nesties diecut. I like the pleather better than the cardstock because it provides a soft texture to the card. Can't remember where the sentiment is from (sorry!), but the scallop border is a Fiskars punch and the button is made from a PTI button die. The tag is a punch from Martha Stewart. Patterned paper from my stash, cardstock from PTI also.

Congrats Colleen and Randy on grandchild #8!

Thanks for peeking!

My very own pelican!

2011-07-27T19:57:00.000-04:00

Since moving to Florida earlier this year, I have really enjoyed seeing all the different types of birds that are here. Especially the pelicans! Everytime I see one, I say to whomever is with me, or to myself, "ooooohh, look at the pelican!" Love to watch them dive into the water for fish.

When we moved here, I mentioned to John that I really wanted our home to reflect a seashore-y, nautical feel. I thought it would be neat to have a fun mailbox made of dock pilings. We had an opportunity to pick up some pilings this past weekend and this is what we came up with.

And, here's a closeup of my pelican! Isn't he just adorable???

Ok, so this is what I've been doing instead of making cards.
Gotta get back to the cards. Will share some soon. Promise.
Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday, Colleen!

2011-07-07T01:00:00.001-04:00

Today is Colleen's birthday!
I hope you have a wonderful day, girlfriend!

The stems/leaves are from PTI's Everyday Button Bits and the sentiment is from Morningstar. Both are stamped in Memento Bamboo (love that color!) A few punched flowers (eksuccess), gems, ribbon and paper from the stash along with my new favorite MS border punch finishes it off.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 60: Quick Layers of Ink

2011-07-04T13:16:00.000-04:00

Yeah! I made the Simplicity challenge this past Wednesday! And, it was a fun one!

This week's OLW challenge is to make quick and easy cards with nothing but layers of ink by overlapping the stamped images and/or sentiment. The idea here is to practice whipping up a quick card or even an easy card set at the last minute with just ink and cardstock!

I really needed a few quick thank you cards and this challenge fit the bill. I dug through my stamp drawers and pulled out a mess of stamps and memento ink colors and went to town.

First up:

Love, love, love this polka dotted scallop stamp from Memory Box. This is the first time it's seen ink...so glad to finally use it! Flowers and sentiment are from Savvy Stamps.

Second:

Another GREAT round script stamp from Memory Box. Flower stamp by Just For Fun and sentiment by Printworks.

Next:

Same Memory Box script, Hero Arts leaves and AMuse sentiment.

Fourth:

Memory Box script again, Judikins cattails, Hero Arts sentiment.

Fifth:

Hero Arts script and blocks, Lockhart sentiment.

And, last but not least:

Bline Designs polka dot stamp (use this one ALL the time!), Just For Fun flowers and AMuse sentiment.

Thanks, Susan, for pushing me to get these done! It feels good!

Thanks for peeking!

Welcome Baby Harper!

2011-06-29T19:34:00.004-04:00

WHERE in the world has the month of June, 2011 gone????????
It has flown by for me...how about you?
Sorry about the lack of posting after I said earlier in the month I'd be better. Hmmmmmm.

On to the card.
I made this card for dear friends, Colleen and Randy, on the birth of their granddaughter to their son and daughter in law. They just received the card this week.   Harper was born several months ago, February or March, perhaps? And, I've just gotten around to it. Actually it's been on my radar forever. Just needed to get the rest of my supplies down to Florida to do the job. Then, had to get them unpacked. Tried to make the card in my head that had been in my head forever with the supplies and couldn't get it to come together. Back to the drawing board. Freehanded the pattern for this card. In case anyone is wondering, it is a baby girl dress.   Just clarifying this, because after I finished it all up and patted myself on the back, I showed it to my husband, who promptly declared, "Oh, what a pretty grandma dress!" Ego deflated.

But, I knew deep down in my heart that Colleen would know what it was...and she did....AFTER declaring, "Oh, but our daughter is having a boy!"(due any day now).   After reading the comments inside the card, she did.

Yes, this card has given me a few chuckles, and, I am the only one to blame, but at least I got the dang card to them before Harper started college! Sorry, Colleen and Randy, for the delay!

As stated above, I made the pattern, used patterned paper from my stash (Making Memories, I think), ric rac and flower trim from JoAnns, and the lacy edge around the neckline is cut from a Martha Stewart doily.

Thanks for peeking!

Well, it's better & An Anniversary Card

2011-06-14T19:39:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's been awhile.
Three weeks, or so, I've been told. According to Pauline.
I've been busy these last 3 weeks. Got the room fairly organized. Have made A LOT of cards...which I shall reveal over the next few ~~days~~ weeks. I've really been missing out on all the challenges and am looking forward to getting back in the swing of them.

So, first. The pics you've all been waiting for.

As you can see, I now have some "moving about" room. Yes, the room is quite small, but I am quite happy with how it is currently configured. I don't have far to go to find anything and I've put all items that I use on most cards right at my fingertips. Eventually, I will have cabinets and countertops to house all my stuff and this setup has actually been a trial run on how and where I want certain items. Out of the 3 rooms I've had over the course of 3 houses, I think I am going to like this one the best. Because it is small, believe it or not! I am hoping with the cabinet/countertop configuration I will be able to have play room for a friend, whereas now, I have no room for anyone else but me.

On to the card....

This past friday, my hubby and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we bought ourselves matching lanai (patio) furniture....how romantic! And, I gave him this card:

No, this wasn't an original idea...I kind of cased it from here: http://soapboxcreations.blogspot.com/2011/06/love-you.html As you can see, it is similar, but not exact. When it came time to make my card, I couldn't remember where I saw the original, so I had to rely on my fuzzy memory. And, I'm happy with my result.

Until next time, thanks for peeking!

I need motivation.....

2011-05-22T10:17:00.001-04:00

.....to get this MESS organized!
I stumbled upon someone's blog (can't remember who) who posted about what was on her desk at that moment. So nice and neat and organized...ready for that next burst of creativity. Well, as embarrassing as this is, I decided to give it a try to embarrass myself into motivation.

John and I did a cross country (yes, another!) move late March/early April. We focused on getting the rest of the house orderly. There is still lots of work to be done, but at least we no longer have little paths among stacks of boxes. I left my stamp room til last. And, here it is.

This is my desk.

And, this is behind my desk.

I have about a dozen cards that need to be made really, really soon. But, before I can do that, I need to get organized!
I'm going in.
Wish me luck!

Less is More Week 11: Acetate

2011-04-21T22:29:00.000-04:00

I love acetate cards!
I just think there is something really slick (not really any pun intended) about them. They're cool. Different. Unique. I've made a few in the past, but only a few. Because I drive myself crazy with all the fingerprints I get all over the acetate. I know. OCD. But, I digress. I made this card a while ago, and just recently pulled it out because the daughter of a close friend is graduating from college in a few weeks and I thought she would like this card. And then! Wouldn't you know it! The Less is More week 11 challenge is all about using acetate in a card. Well, this card is all about the acetate. Perfectly trimmed cardstock is used both on the inside front and the back of the card in order to hide all the adhesive used on the outside front panel and inside back panel. That was tougher than it sounds. But it all worked out well and I am pleased.

And a peek on the inside:

The sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo and was black embossed onto gold glossy cardstock. The gold, cream and black glossy cardstock and gold floss are all from my stash and the graduation cap is from Jolee's.
Thanks for peeking!

OLW 49: Green, Pink & Never Seen Ink

2011-04-19T22:50:00.000-04:00

Down to the wire....OLW 50 will be posted in a very few short hours. But, OLW 49 has been on my mind all week....had to do it.

Jennifer over at Styles Ink was the challenge host for OLW 49. The rules wanted us to use a stamp from our stash that has yet to see ink, make that ink pink and green, and put it on a single layer card, no less! She's a taskmaster, I tell ya!

Here's the first:

The lily is from Stampendous, the sentiment is from A Muse (before they became A Muse Studio). Colored with copics.

Here's the second:

Image is from Savvy Stamps and the sentiment is from Make An Impression.

Thanks for peeking!

Make it Monday 10: Masking with Dies

2011-04-14T15:59:00.003-04:00

Edited to add: I just found out I won the free stamp set from PTI for this Make It Monday challenge! Yeah, me!

A quick post to show what I did for this week's Make it Monday 10: Masking with Dies challenge over at Nichole Heady's PTI Blog. I used PTI's XL Rickrack border die as a mask to sponge color along the bottom of my card. I also used PTI's Star Prints stamp set, punching out the star shapes with the SU! large star punch. The sentiment is from Hampton Arts.

I thought this made a nice young, masculine birthday card which will go to my teenage great nephew next month.

Thanks for peeking!

Less is More Week 10 One Layer Challenge - Sentiment Focus

2011-04-13T14:35:00.001-04:00

Ok.
The guilts got to me. One of my cards in the post for the OLW challenge last week just so happened to work for the Less is More Challenge from last Saturday. So, I edited that post to add the LIM challenge.   But, is that really fair? Me thinks not.   But, HUGE thanks to all the kind folks from Less is More who visited my blog and commented. I am greatly appreciative.

So, to get the guilts to go away, I made another card. Just for the Less is More challenge. And, then what happens?   What I ended up doing also worked for this week's Make it Monday challenge. Nope, not gonna do it. Ended up making 2 cards that I needed to make anyway...one for Less is More, one for Make it Mondays. Will post that one later.

The Less is More Challenge asked us to make a one layer card using a sentiment as the focus.   I made a mask from a Nesties heart, sponged Memento Rose Bud ink, and stamped the sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly! on shimmery (sorry you can't see that) Curious Cryogen White cardstock.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 48: A Sympathetic Challenge

2011-04-09T11:03:00.003-04:00

Edited to add: The second card in this post is very appropriate for the Week 10 Less is More Challenge: Sentiment Focus. A BIG THANKS to Bonnie for sending me over there!

Welcome!
It's been a loooooong time since my last post. I've been busy. Really busy. Like a cross country move busy. This morning I decided to take a break from unpacking the boxes that seem to multiply like rabbits every night. I've gone to bed each night this week thinking, "job well done today, kiddo!", only to wake the next morning wondering if the never ending boxes will ever go away. Well, they will. One box, one day at a time.

So, what did I do on my break this morning?? The OLW challenge this week over at Simplicity's blog, of course! The rules this week are:

This week's One-Layer Wednesday Challenge is to make a sympathy card that does NOT include flowers or trees.
1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of cardstock folded in half. No other layers allowed.

2. Make a sympathy card that uses an image other than trees or flowers. Remember to keep embellishments to a minimum.

I've made many olw sympathy cards in the past, but they all used flowers or trees. The pet sympathy cards I've made in the past always seem to have lots of layers, so I decided to see if I could come up with a pet sympathy card that was one layer. Came up with 2.

The first card uses stamps from Viva Las Vegas, Printworks and Fiskars.

The stamps on the second card are by Cornish Heritage Farms and Wordsworth.

Which one is your favorite? I started out excitedly with the paw prints/fluffy beds one, but ended up liking the deepest sympathy one best.

Thanks for peeking!

FTL 132 Birthday Wishes

2011-03-22T22:27:00.001-04:00

I really liked this sketch from last Friday's Fall-to-Layout sketch over at the Clean and Simple Stamping Blog. And, my original idea fell by the wayside when I stumbled upon this stamp from SU's Inspired by Nature. The lightbulb went off and the rest is history!

I used my Marvy markers to color the image and then spritzed the colored rubber with a fine mist of water before stamping. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts Clear Acrylic set called Birthday Messages. The paper is Bo Bunny Dots and the ribbon is from my stash.

Thanks for peeking!

FTL 130 Birthday Wishes

2011-03-10T21:38:00.002-05:00

I have had this sketch from the Clean and Simple blog, ftl 130, on my desk since it was posted last Friday. It has been in various stages of assembly for the last few days and I FINALLY finished it today.

Great sketch! I can see myself using this often. Really easy to do. (so why couldn't I get it completed sooner?????)

I used some patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl mini deck, cardstock from my stash, the fairly new button die from PTI (in love!), scallop die from QK, an EKSuccess punch, Hero Arts sentiment, and some white string dyed with my copics to finish off the buttons.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 43: Shimmer, Not Glitter or Bling

2011-03-02T23:15:00.001-05:00

Go me!
Another OLW challenge, and I've got the card(s) done and posted the same day! Yeah!

Susan, on her Simplicity blog, is hosting the One Layer Wednesday challenge this week and the rules this time around are:

1. One layer is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half. No other layers of cardstock are permitted.

2. Use shimmer on your card in some way. Do not use glitter or rhinestones.

Susan also adds:
There are lots of ways to add shimmer: Sakura Stardust pens, Twinkling H2Os, pigment powders, Brilliance iridescent inks, eye shadow, shimmery cardstock, shimmery ribbon, and others I can't think of.

Well, I used two types of shimmer, my cardstock, Poison Ivory Curious cardstock (yummm!) and Brilliance pigment inks in Pearlescent Thyme and Pearlescent Chocolate (double yum!). I started out using the swirling vine and one of the corresponding sentiments from PTI's With Sympathy set. I liked how it turned out so much that I made 6 cards, using the swirling vine and each of the 6 sentiments from the set.

I adjusted the swirly vine placement depending on the size of the sentiment. I really like how these turned out.

And, if I may, I'd like to add one more for last week's OLW 42: I've Got the Music in Me. Just didn't get a chance to get it posted to last week's Inlinks (?), but wanted to share it, because it ended up being my favorite of all the ones I did for last weeks' challenge.

A HUGE thanks to my dear friend, Colleen, who helped me salvage my 'floor' that the dog is sitting on. She is truly a Copic master! Without her help, the card would be sitting in the trash. That wonderful stamp is from Magenta and the sentiment is from a Hero Arts cling set.

Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday, Carol!

2011-02-24T22:36:00.001-05:00

No, not Happy Birthday to me.....to Carol! Of Carol's Ink Spot! She had a milestone birthday this week and is celebrating all week long by asking her blog readers to make happy, springy birthday cards. Since I can always use birthday cards, I decided to play along.

I just had to make another ribbon flower with my homemade 'gluber'. I saw the sketch for this card in the latest issue of CardMaker magazine by Tami Mayberry, and I just loved its simplicity. I happened to have this dotted paper scrap sitting on my desk and decided to go for it! Sorry, don't remember the manufacturer, but I do know the sentiment is from PTI. Ribbon, cardstock and gems from my stash.

And, Carol, I do hope you had a wonderful birthday! Thanks for having the challenge...I enjoyed playing along!

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 42: I've Got the Music in Me

2011-02-23T23:30:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it!
I am actually posting the One Layer Wednesday challenge the same day as it was revealed!
Woo-hoo!

Jennifer Styles is hosting the challenge this week, which can be seen over at her blog, Styles Ink. The rules for this week are as follows:

This week’s challenge is to make a one-layer musical themed card. Anything to do with music. Sheet music, musical instruments, an image of someone singing; anything that in some way relates to music.

The first three all use a music stamp from Stampendous. The first two use a sentiment also from Stampendous. The first two are basically the same except that one is horizontal, one is vertical. I couldn't decide which to do so i did both. The third uses a sentiment from a G Studio $1 set.

The next two incorporate the musical Scrapblock by Cornish Heritage Farms. LOVE this stamp. Used the same sentiments as above.

I've got another really fun stamp I need to use for this challenge. Will try to do it over the weekend.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 41: It's Christmas...

2011-02-19T21:04:00.000-05:00

Yes, folks! Christmas in February!
That's this weeks' challenge over at the Simplicity blog for One Layer Wednesday. And, here's what we have to do this week if we want to play along:

OLW41 Rules
1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of cardstock folded in half. No other layers allowed.
2. Make a Christmas (or Season's Greetings, if you prefer) card, but you must use green and red on white or cream. Feel free to be creative with the shades of green and red...you don't have to stay traditional. You can also use natural-style cardstock, watercolor paper, or textured paper as long as it's white or cream. Keep embellishments to a minimum. Extra points if you do like I did and use an image that isn't specifically holiday!

Well, I didn't have much to work with, since I don't have access to all my stamps...all I could come up with stamp-wise with a Christmas theme were my G Studio $1 stamps. Let's just say that not all $1 stamps are created equal, are certainly not in any way, shape or form as good as clear photopolymers made here in the good ol' USA, and truly do affect the end result. Truly an exercise in frustration, and after an entire afternoon of attempts and a full garbage can, came up with this:

Sorry, folks. This is my best effort for this week's challenge. It was either this or nothing. It was time to move on to something more rewarding.

Thanks, as always, for peeking!

Skipping Stones Design Sketch #64

2011-02-18T22:46:00.003-05:00

Ever since Tami Mayberry was a guest designer for Skipping Stones, I have been hooked on their design sketches. They are just my style...not overly clean and simple, but, not overly frou-frou. Just right.
I needed a birthday card and sketch #64 fit the bill.

Pretty simple and straightforward. Patterned paper from MME, cardstock from my stash. Used distress ink in tea rose and memento potter's clay. PTI sentiment and EK Success border punch. Colored the gemstones from my stash with copics. And that flower? Well, Cosmo Cricket's new Glubers that were announced at CHA have me hook, line and sinker. No, I didn't use a Gluber(a super-sized glue dot!)....but, I kind of made one myself with a punched cardstock circle and some red line tape. Took some ribbon and just started ruffling it from the outer edge of the circle spiraling in towards the center. I used a mini glue dot to finish off the center loop and hide the cut edge. I think it turned out pretty cute for a first try! It was so easy and simple to do....I think I'll make lots more!

As always, thanks for peeking!

My Valentines

2011-02-16T22:56:00.002-05:00

Yeah , I know. Valentine's Day has come and gone. I meant to post these on Monday, but forgot. So, better late than never. Right?

The first was for my honey. Right up his alley. Now, I didn't come up with the "Wood..." on my own...I had some help from Better Homes & Gardens http://www.scrapbooksetc.com/theme/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/?page=4

But, the card I drew inspiration from and the card I made are pretty different. That's what inspiration is all about...that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Used the woodgrain texture plate from PTI (one of my all time favs!), a heart border punch from EKSuccess, heart punch from Fiskars, and made my letters from the 12 inch sizzlet in the SU catalog. Those letters are the perfect size for cards. Love it!

My second card is made with SU's Sweetheart set and the SU sizzix heart embosslit. Simple and cute.

I think that is just a stinkin' adorable set. Especially with the heart embosslit that FITS INSIDE the heart shapes! Woo-hoo! I think that's the fact that took me over the edge and made me buy this set. Haven't bought too many SU stamp sets in the last year...they're just not doin' it for me. But, this one did!

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 40: Two for the Show

2011-02-14T18:56:00.001-05:00

Another One Layer Wednesday Challenge! Hosted this week and every other week by the talented Jennifer Styles at her blog, Styles Ink. Hard to believe this is the 40th week of this challenge. It is my favorite challenge and one I play along with the most.

This week's challenge involved making a one layer card using ONLY 2 images. Embellishments kept to a minimum. I dusted off my SU! Bloomin' Beautiful and colored the images with copics.

I think I am getting a bit better with my coloring and blending of colors, but the light source shading could definitely use some work. I can't wait for the new copic book to come out next month that addresses this subject. I need all the help I can get!

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 39: An Image, A Border, Some Bling

2011-02-05T23:05:00.001-05:00

It's time for another Simplicity challenge!

This week's challenge is all about using a single image, a border and a little bling on a single layer card. Tougher than it sounds. Since I need a few more Valentine cards, I decided to follow this theme. The end result is a kraft card base with my image and border stamped in Memento Lady Bug Red. The heart border is from Impress Rubber Stamps and the birdcage is by Craft Smart....$1.00 stamps from Mike's.

I added a little bit of red Spica glitter pen to some of the red hearts and my clear Sakura glitter pen to the open heart of the birdcage and bird wings.

I really think this needs a sentiment. I think I am going to go back and add one. Something like Happy Valentine's Day. Perhaps above the heart border on the right side. What do you think??

Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday, Kris!

2011-01-31T20:57:00.002-05:00

Hopefully, my niece has received this birthday card by now. Her birthday is tomorrow (Feb 1), but I also wanted to post it for the Skipping Stones Design Challenge #61.

I followed the design exactly, using new Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 papers along with cardstock, ribbon and lace from my stash. Sentiment by Verve. Used my plain and scallop circle nesties for the sentiment and added a little Antique Linen distress ink on the sentiment circle to make it blend better with the Circa 1934 colors. Such yummy paper!

Kris, I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Thanks for peeking!

FTL 124

2011-01-27T18:06:00.000-05:00

Another day, another challenge! This time it is the Clean & Simple blog's fall to layout #124. I have had a lot of birthday cards to make lately, and I am finding the challenges helpful to me in getting them all made.

This is a pretty simple card (that is the whole idea, right?!?) using some pretty lime and white designer paper by Collage Press, white silk ribbon, a sentiment from SU, and a couple of nestibilities and sizzix leaf die.

Thanks for peeking!

January 2011 Papertrey Blog Hop!

2011-01-25T22:53:00.002-05:00

I was just browsing the blogs a short while ago and stumbled upon the PTI monthly blog hop. The theme this month was to use an un-inked or 'dusty' PTI stamp set of your choice. Since I am in the valentine making mood, I chose Heartprints.

Pretty simple! Picked my favorite hearts from the set, stamped them in Memento pink and red, punched them out and added the set sentiment.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 37 Sentiments

2011-01-24T22:09:00.000-05:00

Yeah! I've made Simplicity's latest challenge with a day to spare! The challenge is to create a one layer card using at least 2 and only sentiments. No stamped images allowed this week! Embellishments are to be kept to a minimum.

I thought I came up with an original idea, but just now scanning through the thumbnails on Susan's blog I find that several had this same original idea! Oh well. Great minds think alike. I make it a point to not look at the thumbnails on any challenge I participate in so that I am not influenced in any way while coming up with my idea. After my card(s) is finished, I then like to go back and look at everyone else's "point of view". I love seeing everyone's interpretation of the challenge.

I actually came up with two cards, both very similar in design and both for Valentine's Day. The first uses a Stampin' Up (be mine) paired with a portion of an old Studio G sentiment.

The second card uses a PTI sentiment paired with the same Studio G partial sentiment. I made a mask out of a sheet of computer paper and a nestibility heart die, and then repeatedly stamped the PTI sentiment over the cut-out heart.

A BIG thank you to Susan and Jennifer for coming up with these wonderful weekly challenges!

Thanks for peeking!

Birthday Buck

2011-01-18T22:41:00.001-05:00

Here's a really quick card I made for my nephew's birthday last month. He is a hunter extraordinaire, always has been, most likely always will. Found this buck in a pack of dimensional stickers from K & Company and knew it would help me make the perfect card for him.

Used a nestie for the 'mount' and sentiment, and some really OLD wood patterned paper for the background. Added a little twine to make the sentiment more interesting. And that's it! Easy, peasy!

Thanks for peeking!

Christmas

2011-01-13T14:00:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to stop by my blog! I really do appreciate it.

The last month has been pretty hectic, as you can tell from the lack of blog posts. But, as things are calming down, I hope to post a bit more. I have many cards from the last few months photographed and waiting, which is good, because the ol' mojo has been on hiatus lately.   Maybe posting will give the boost the mojo needs.

The first card today is the one and only Christmas card I sent this year. Shame on me.   My mom was the recipient. See how sparkly the focal image is? Please take my word for it....it is VERY sparkly! Well, Colleen and I learned this technique from Polly of Polly's Pals at Stampaway last August and did it together shortly after so we wouldn't forget.   I just checked Polly's website to see if she has the technique posted, but I couldn't find it. Darn! We'll just have to rely on my lack of memory. I used adhesive sheets by Therm-o-web (can get them at Mike's) and the Christmas Tree stencil by Dreamweaver. Here are the steps if you are interested.

1. Cut a piece of cardstock and adhesive sheet the same size as the stencil. Remove one side of the adhesive sheet and apply it to the cardstock.
2. Remove the second side of the adhesive sheet and apply glitter.   Sorry, I don't remember the type or brand at the moment.
3. Cover the glittered sheet with a second sheet of cardstock, and, using a brayer,  firmly roll over the second sheet of cardstock to make sure the glitter sticks well to the original adhesive/cardstock.  Remove 2nd sheet of cardstock.
4. Place the tree stencil on top of the glittered cardstock and hold it in place with removable scotch tape.
5. Using pigment ink and a stencil brush, apply the ink to the stencil as desired.
6. Remove stencil and cut image to desired size.

The really neat thing about this, is the glitter totally sticks to the adhesive and doesn't come off! Not on your hands, or your stencil brushes. Totally clean! My kind of glitter.

The second card is a thank you I mass produced for Christmas gifts John and I received this year. Pretty simple...used up some of my most favorite holly paper from Basic Grey, the stamp is from Stampendous and used my Nesties circle and dahlia dies. Colored with copics, including the spicas for a little shine that you can't see very well in the picture.

That's all for today! Thanks for peeking!

OLW 33 Home Decor

2010-12-15T10:48:00.002-05:00

I should be working, working, working. Instead, I am playing, playing, playing. Hmmmmmmmmm.....

A quick one here: New challenge today over at Simplicity's blog. One layer card using home decor as our inspiration. Have had these Unity stamps for a while now and figured today is as good a day as any to put them to use. Colored with Copics....nothing fancy...just quickly colored and added a simple black line to ground the floating lamps.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 32: Ages and Ages

2010-12-11T14:49:00.005-05:00

Two weeks in a row. I'm back at it. I think. Maybe. We'll see.

During my hiatus of doing the one-layer Wednesday challenges change occurred. Life became a bit hectic for Susan over at her Simplicity blog to continue posting the challenges on a weekly basis. Then Jennifer Styles of Styles Ink came along to save the day.....she and Susan now alternate Wednesdays in hosting the OLW challenges.

It's Jennifer's Wednesday this week and she came up with the theme of Ages and Ages. We need to make a one layer "age" card. Perfect! I was lacking an idea for my last birthday card of the month which was for my brother in law. After rumaging around, I came up with this:

I really liked the dry embossing around last weeks image in the OLW 31 challenge, so I decided to do it again! I like how this turned out. Image is from Inkadinkadoo and the sentiment is from Impress Rubber Stamps. Love that sentiment....I usually use it on the insides of birthday cards, but it worked really well for this particular challenge.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 31: Back to the Beginning

2010-12-07T11:55:00.000-05:00

Yeah!   I FINALLY got to do another challenge! And a really, really simple one at that!
The One Layer Wednesday challenges over at Simplicity's blog finds this past week's mission to go back to our roots. How did we start stamping/card making????   Inquiring minds want to know.

Years before I started scrapbooking which eventually worked its way into addictive, smaller, quicker gratifications known as cards, one of my sister's-in-law showed me how she made quick and simple cards by heat embossing every stamped image in gold embossing powder.   I was mildly interested and quickly dismissed it. I worked long hours and barely had enough time to make meals, do laundry, spend time with my husband and once in awhile clean the house.   But, when I finally had the time to venture into card making, I remembered the gold embossing technique and that's what I started with. Ooooooh! The magic!

Here's my very simple, gold embossed card, along with a modern twist....an added dry embossed frame around the sentiment made with my long rectangle nesties.

Simple, eh?
The sentiment is from Penny Black and that sparkly gold embossing powder is by Judikins...twinkle gold, I believe. LOVE that stuff. So glittery, without the need to use glitter! I also used 110 lb. Classic Crest natural white cardstock....its heavy weight and thickness gives such a nice and distinct embossing from the nesties without cutting through the cardstock. Yum!

Thanks for peeking!

Ok, Colleen.....

2010-12-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

....here ya go!
The card you've been requesting I post on my blog.
The card that was inspired by YOUR card. Thanks for the inspiration! :-)

What a quick and simple card! Cardstock is PTI Simply Chartreuse with a Cosmo Cricket overlay of dots from Garden Variety (LOVE those dots....must get more!). Created the big scallops with a border punch from EK Success. Balloons are from scraps using the Martha Stewart balloon punch with some crochet thread from my stash. Just popped up and added "strings" to the bottom three for dimension. Sentiment is from Hampton Art that I just recently found at Michael's.

Thanks for peeking!

Until One Has Loved.....

2010-11-18T10:14:00.001-05:00

I have had this old Club Scrap stamp for years and years.....just had to have it when I first saw it.....love, love, LOVE the saying.....BUT! it has never seen ink....you all know how that is, dontcha????!!???

Well, one of my sisters-in-law just adopted a shelter dog - not a puppy - and is in love. And, I thought this saying was perfect! While I had it out, I decided to make two. One of these will find its way to her and her new "Danny"!

The sentiment says, "Until one has loved an animal, a part of ones soul remains unawakened." Beautiful!

For those of you who so faithfully follow my blog, I apologize for being MIA. Life's been a bit busy lately, and will continue to be so until after the first of the year. I have been making the occasional card and have many I want to share on the blog. I'll try to get a few posts made in the next few weeks. A HUGE thank you to those of you who visit. I really do appreciate it!

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 22: Gratitude

2010-10-05T21:19:00.002-04:00

What a busy week it's been!
But, Simplicity's challenge has been at the back of my mind all week...whipped one up today and decided it's better late than never to post. This also covers the Color Throwdown challenge of using old olive, riding hood red and pumpkin pie colors. I also threw in the kraft and memento dandelion color to round things out.

Pretty simple card...that is the challenge, huh!???...a different size to fit the stamps...3-3/8" x 6-1/4". The pretty maple leaf is from Inkadinkadoo and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Thanks for peeking!

A banner birthday

2010-09-30T08:42:00.001-04:00

Good morning, everyone!
This card was inspired by a Christmas card I saw in one of the card magazines I've been reading lately. I *think* it may have been in either the Papercrafts Card Sketches or Papercrafts Card Style magazines. I just finished flipping through those, but couldn't find it. But, those are the two I've been flipping through the most lately for inspiration. Wish I could locate it so I could give the person who inspired me due credit. If I find it later, I'll edit this post.

I have to laugh......I typically "read" all my card idea books and magazines in bed right before I drift off to sleep. Of course, I NEVER remember what I "read". So, I ALWAYS get to go back through EVERY book/magazine later and it is brand spankin' new inspiration!

Anyways....on to the card.
I found this BoBunny paper months ago somewhere and kept it out in plain sight so I wouldn't file it away and forget about it. When I bought it, I knew I wanted to make a birthday card with it for one of my sisters-in-law. Success! I just love the softness of the color and the pattern.

I am batty for banners lately. After looking at stamps that are banners and realizing I'd have to cut them all out (I am really cutting challenged), I finally remembered that I have an old diamond punch AND an old QuicKutz diamond diecut. I used the slightly smaller diamond punch, scored them across the middle and folded them over the twine, using glue dots to secure them. I used small clear letter stamps (Autumn Leaves Stampology wordplay) to stamp the 'happy', and masked everything but the 'birthday' from an Inkadinkadoo stamp. Buttons, twine, pearls, ribbon and lace from my stash.

I really, really like this card!

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 21: Inspired by Nature

2010-09-23T19:43:00.002-04:00

YES!
I did the challenge and got it posted only ONE day after Susan posted her Simplicity challenge for this week! Yeah!

So what's the challenge you ask? It's a one layer card with extremely minimal embellishment, reflecting something from nature that is inspiring. Well, given that I have 3 Iris cart drawers of stamps that are leaves, trees and grasses, surely I could find something!

And I did!

It is this GREAT new stamp I bought from Impression Obsession at Stampaway last month. It truly spoke to me. I loooooovvve candy corn...wait all year for fall to arrive so that I can buy some (it and carmel apples are about the ONLY reasons I tolerate fall), and I really wouldn't mind if I could find a tree in real life on which candy corn grew. I'd be sure to have it in my yard. But, sigh, since it doesn't, this stamp is the next best thing.

The sentiment is also by Impression Obsession. This card is going to be a Halloween card for someone (can't say!) along with a pair of black socks with a candy corn motif.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 20 Three Plus One

2010-09-20T10:42:00.000-04:00

Another Wednesday, another Simplicity challenge.
This past Wednesday, the challenge was all about making a one layer card with no embellishments, if possible, using three images (different or the same) and one sentiment. Since I was out of town at the time the challenge was posted, my friend Colleen described it over the phone. This dog stamp by Magenta was the first thing that popped into my mind and it never left. So, I had to go with it. Sentiment is by Penny Black.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 19 Black & White w/ a spot of color

2010-09-09T20:56:00.001-04:00

Simplicity's challenge yesterday was a hard one! The challenge is to make a one layer card in black and white, adding just a hint of color to make it pop. I really wish I had more time this week to dig into my stamps a bit to see what I could come up with, but the rest of this week and most of next is completely booked. So, I chose my animal and dog stamp drawers and came up with these two cards.

First up is a really fun cat stamp by Rubber Soul. The complementary sentiment is from Inky Antics.

This second card uses a lab stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms and the sentiment is by Cloud 9. I stamped this image in sepia on cream cardstock the first time I used it a while back and colored the hat a denim-y color...turned out really nice....I think I like that one better than this one. But, this one's not bad.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 18: Trees

2010-09-07T19:31:00.002-04:00

I am really late this week posting for last Wednesday's challenge over at Simplicity's blog. Been busy working on a project. But, after looking at all the thumbnails of those who have participated, (68!!), I noticed one type of trees obviously missing....Palm Trees! Yes, I know it's September and many are thinking fall type trees, or beginning to think about Christmas trees/winter trees, but I want to extend summer as looooooooonnnnnnnnnnggggggggg as I possibly can. And palm trees come to mind! Someplace nice and sunny and warm, to remind me of summer. So, here's my entry for the challenge of a one layer card showcasing a tree or trees.

Sand is by Sarasota stamps, and the palm tree/hammock and sentiment are by A Muse. Lightly drew in a water line with one of my copics. Enjoy!

Thanks for peeking!

Feel Better Soon

2010-08-30T16:47:00.000-04:00

Although I have been posting more lately, I still haven't been posting a lot. Maybe once or twice a week. Last few months have only seen 6 posts each month. So, I was determined to break that mold and get more in for August. At least one more.

The card below is a sweet Elzybell image with an A Muse sentiment. Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder. Made for a friend earlier in the year. Pretty simple and self-explanatory.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 17 Border Stamps

2010-08-27T21:09:00.005-04:00

I am really enjoying the weekly Wednesday challenges Susan is posting over at her blog, Simplicity. Each Wednesday I look at her new challenge and then promptly think, 'hmmmm, wonder if I can come up with anything to qualify for the challenge this week.' Well, this week it was a bonanza! Lots of ideas after rummaging around the stamp drawers.

First up is the water border by Meer Image (don't think they are around anymore...it's a pretty old stamp). Used my stamp-a-ma-jig to repeatedly stamp the water in the yummy Bahama Breeze memento ink. Sailboat and sentiment are from A Muse and the sun is from Inkadinkadoo.

For the second card, I used another old, old swirly image by Stampin Up! The swirls were highlighted with a flower from an Inkadinkadoo clear set and a little bling. The sentiment is by Make an Impression.

Third, I used the fabulous dot border stamp from Impress Rubber Stamps. It is truly one of my well loved stamps. The sentiment is from Stampabilities.

Fourth, is a really neat text stamp that states "good-bye" in many different ways. It is by Hampton Art and the sentiment is from Paper Salon.

Fifth, is a really pretty border stamp of seashells by Impression Obsession. I wasn't sure which color ink to use or how to color them. So, I opted to stamp it twice....the first is in Memento Desert Sand and the second is in Memento Rich Cocoa. Both are colored in with a clear sakura glitter pen. I think I like the subtleness of the desert sand card. Sentiment also by I-O.

Sixth, is a variation of a card I make fairly often when I need a sympathy card, but I typically mat it. No matting this time, and it is not too shabby. Pardon the messy sentiment. I didn't get a very good impression, so I tried to doctor it up....too lazy to re-do the entire card.....had other cards to make! The ground is by Impress Rubber Stamps, the tree by SU, and the sentiment from PTI.

Lastly, I used my "ribbon" stamp by Impression Obsession on watercolor paper and used watercolor pencils and water to try to create a sheer type of ribbon. It's just ok. I consider it practice. And practice eventually leads to perfect. I hope. Sentiment is by Printworks.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 16 Make a Scene

2010-08-19T18:03:00.004-04:00

After several attempts to nail this challenge, I've ended up with this:

The image is by Inkadinkadoo and the sentiment by River City Rubber. I stamped both in London Fog Memento ink. Black was too harsh and dark. This is a grey, foggy scene. I did try to add some color, but my trash can says otherwise. So, I went simple.

This second card is really one I did weeks ago for the OLW Repetition challenge, but never got it all together to get it posted to Mr. Linky for that week. It is one of my favorite cards I've made of all these challenges, and since virtually no one (except for Colleen and Pauline) got to see this one, I wouldn't showcase it for the current challenge, but include it as a sideline. It is a scene after all! Tree is from Rubber Soul and the sentiment is from Amuse.

And, finally, THIS is the scene I wanted to do for the challenge, but, I CANNOT find this stamp anywhere in my stamp room after much searching and tearing of room apart. If anyone has a clue about where I might have hidden it (so I could find it easily next time I needed it!), please let me know. I did make this card last fall for my nephew, so I KNOW I have this stamp, and it just wasn't a figment of my imagination (sometimes this does happen, along the same lines as lovin' an image soooo much I buy it a second time...but I digress...).

And, shame on me, I just noticed the image import is sideways....hmmmm.....I am not doing this post over again. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 15 Unexpected Colors

2010-08-15T16:59:00.004-04:00

The one layer Wednesday challenge last Wednesday at Simplicity's blog was to make a one layer card using images with out of the ordinary colors. Although we've all read and heard references to blue hearts & sadness, we almost always see hearts as red or pink.

Used PTI's Heart Prints set, and typed the sentiment from my computer using the font, papyrus. I LOVE the sentiments from Rosie's Roadshow, partly because of the font, and this font comes really close (if not exact!).

Thanks for peeking!

Card Architecture, Blue Print #2

2010-08-12T20:21:00.003-04:00

Yes, I've been a bit obsessed by challenges lately. There was another one over on Ellen Hutson's The Classroom blog, and I just had to do it. There were several options for this challenge and I chose the sketch option, although a few of the colors apply to the color option.

The yummy patterned paper is from October Afternoon Thrift Shop and Fly A Kite lines. I have no idea who the sentiment is by. It has been a long time staple in my birthday drawer but it has no markings of who made it. Tag is from a Cuttlebug die.

Thanks for peeking!

The Classroom Flower Parade

2010-08-07T16:50:00.004-04:00

Over at The Classroom, there is a Flower Parade going on. Since I love flowers, and I needed a birthday card, and I needed to get this new Karen Lockhart stamp inky, I decided to join in.

LOVE this stamp! I think orchids are just soooooo beautiful! I colored it with my copics and to add a bit of dimension, colored a second imprint of just the pot and leaves, cut them out and popped them up. I rounded the pot a bit from side to side and layered rolled up glue dots vertically under the center of the pot. The sentiment is from Make An Impression. Patterned paper is from Memory Box; cardstock is Gina K, Classic Crest and SU. Scallops are from a Fiskars border punch.

Take a look at all the other pretty cards in the Flower Parade through the link above to The Classroom and leave a little love.

Thanks for peeking!

FTL 100

2010-08-03T07:32:00.006-04:00

I do read blogs other than the Simplicity blog. Seems like that's all I do lately, given all the challenges I've found myself doing and posting here. That's a good thing. I needed something to
get the ol' mojo going and reason to post on the blog. The Simplicity challenges worked!

There's another blog I visit regularly...Clean and Simple. A group of 4 cardmakers who post a sketch every Friday and invite those interested in the blogoshere to play along. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their sketches. Up until almost 2 weeks ago, I was a lurker. Then, when they posted their 100th sketch and opened up the challenge for 2 weeks, I decided to play along.

Here's the sketch:

Sweet, huh?

I needed a birthday card for later this month, so, I took it upon myself to see what I could do with it. And this is what I came up with:

Not bad for a first try. Cardstock by SU, that GORGEOUS fern image from Hero Arts, sentiment by Morningstar. A Fiskars border punch and some twine finish it off.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 14 Square Outlines

2010-07-31T17:43:00.005-04:00

As soon as I saw this week's challenge over at Simplicity's blog, I knew exactly which stamp I would use. It is my current favorite which I have used on several cards. The challenge was to make a square one layer card using an outline stamp.

This image is a fairly new one from Hero Arts...it is the wood mount one you can get at Michael's, which is slightly smaller than the clear set. I find the wood mount one is scaled porportionally better for A2 cards. Used my copics to color, and the image is from Amuse.

In a recent post, Susan at Simplicity talked about envelopes and how she uses common rectangular envelopes for her square cards...using the smaller dimension (minus 1/4") of the envelope rectangle as the square dimension of her card. What a "DUH" moment for me! That is brilliant! I like the look of square cards, but I don't like the additional postage stamp price of mailing them. So, this card is 4-1/4" square and I will mail it in an A2 (4-1/2" x 5-3/4") envelope. Problem solved! Thanks, Susan!

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 13: Christmas in July

2010-07-27T11:56:00.007-04:00

Yeah! I made it before the next challenge! Just barely!

Christmas in July. That's the One Layer Wednesday Challenge from last week over at Simplicity's blog. It came at the perfect time because while on vacation, I was mulling over what to do for Christmas cards this year. I quite like this one and it was quick to do. Quicker if I remember to use my static remover thingy before trying to heat emboss.

The sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo...I stamped it in Encore! gold pigment and used twinkle gold embossing powder from Judikins. That embossing powder is fabulous! You can't tell in the photo, but in real life....OMG!!! it sparkles like crazy! It is on my list for Stampaway. Need gallons of this stuff! The teeny little holly is from A Muse, and I used my Marvy markers to color the image on the rubber, then 'huffed' on the rubber and stamped away. This doesn't seem to give as deep and crisp an impression as I would like, especially since the sentiment is so crisp. I'll have to work on that one.

Anyway, I enjoyed playing and may slightly alter this card (after all, I just recently bought gobs of real red and old olive from SU before their price increase), by matting the image and use it for my Christmas card.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 12: Watercolor

2010-07-26T07:23:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know I'm late on getting this one posted. But, like I said, I am addicted to these challenges, I did get it done 2 days after the challenge was posted, but then I left for Florida, where I had no internet access to post. Darn.

This card is for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday 12: Watercolor challenge. I used Marvy watercolor markers on the image from Penny Black, then spritzed it with a light dusting of water before applying the stamp to watercolor paper. I'm not real crazy about the watercolor paper I used...from Canson's "Biggy Jr" pack. Maybe I used the wrong side of the paper....I just don't like all the horizontal lines. I had limited time to make this one and couldn't make a second card, so this is it. I also used a Marvy Marker for the sentiment from Cornish Heritage Farms.

Off to get the current challenge done and hopefully posted before the new one is listed!
Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday, Colleen!

2010-07-13T10:14:00.003-04:00

A birthday card for my dear friend, Colleen, on her birthday last week. Flowers are each made with 2 punched scallops from the SU scallop punch; the border is a Fiskars border punch. The ribbon is my first try at making Wrinkle ribbon. This batch just happened to match SU Blush Blossom, and I really like how it turned out. Will definitely be making some more. And, that grid background???? Made it myself!!!

OLW 11 Be Funny!

2010-07-11T20:54:00.006-04:00

Another Wednesday, another challenge over at Simplicity's blog. I am finding these challenges addicting....5 cards this week! Instead of making the cards I need to make...the thank you's, the sympathy, the get well, the birthdays.....I am making challenge cards. Because they are more fun to do. They feel like play rather than "have-to's". I really do need to try and combine the play with the have-to!

Anyway, my first card up is made using an image and sentiment from Eat Cake Graphics. They have some of the most humorous stamps. I've had these stamps for a few years now and this is the first they've seen ink.

Card #2 uses an image from soon to be defunct, Cornish Heritage Farms. :(. Sure am gonna miss them. The sentiment is from Inky Antics.

Third, is an image from Sparkle N Sprinkle....known as Digger. I like to think (for this card anyway) that he is hiding his head in embarrasment (of what, I haven't a clue). The sentiment is from Custer's Last Stamp.

Card #4 uses an image from Stampin' Up, and sentiment from A Muse.

Lastly, this was the very first card I thought of and my least favorite of the bunch, but I've always liked the sentiment from American Art Stamps. It cracks me up! It's just too big for the front of the card...it is more like an inside-the-card sentiment. And that teeny tiny cute cupcake image is from A Muse.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW 10 Patriotic

2010-07-06T20:54:00.003-04:00

It's been a busy week...took a long weekend away to celebrate my birthday and the fourth, but still found some time to make FOUR cards for this past week's Simplicity challenge for one layer patriotic cards.

The first, and my favorite, uses an image from The Cat's Pajamas and sentiment from Savvy Stamps.

The second card (which really tied for first place in my mind) uses an American Art Stamps/Karen Stolper stick chick and that ever versatile Savvy sentiment.

The third card showcases my newest purchase (half off at Hobby Lobby last week!)...the image is by Stampabilities and the sentiment is from Hampton Art. And the card really is white, not the baby blue it appears.

Lastly, this card uses both image and sentiment from Technique Tuesday.

Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday to you...

2010-06-30T12:50:00.002-04:00

My dear, sweet Skyler had her 7th birthday yesterday. And, like most moms, I just HAD to commemorate the occasion with some picture taking. And, I just HAD to include the added difficulty of making Skyler and Rosie wear homemade party hats. Many pictures later, we ended up with this:

You can tell Sky wasn't too happy with any of this. Rosie, on the other hand, was pretty cooperative...as long as we did it on her terms, and that meant she wasn't moving from her bed.

So, in fairness to Sky, here is a better picture of her (still not that great) and a just ok pic of Rosie.

In honor of Sky's birthday, they both got to split a little treat of canned, soft dog food which they only get on birthdays. And, Sky got a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday sung to her.

Funny how they both now know the birthday song. When it gets sung to me or John on our respective birthdays, Sky and Rosie get all excited because they think they are getting a special treat! We can't even whistle the tune anymore. They really get pretty excited about it!

Thanks for peeking!

Happy Birthday purse & card

2010-06-28T09:52:00.004-04:00

I just ran across this photo of the birthday card I gave to my dear friend, Colleen, LAST year on her birthday and realized I never posted it on the ol' blog.

The paper is all from SU, the sentiment is from Morningstar, and the flowers, leaves, ribbon, brads, etc., are from my stash. The "purse envelope" is a pattern I copied from Martha Stewarts' website. The flap stays closed by using a thin Basic Grey magnetic closure on the flap.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW-9 Flourishes

2010-06-21T20:38:00.003-04:00

I can't believe I've done Simplicity's challenge 4 weeks in a row and actually gotten the cards posted on the blog! Yippee!
This was a fun challenge....again, a one layer card, free of extraneous embellishing...but, this week, using flourishes.
So here's my take....it evolved over the last several days, and what I ended up with in my mind actually worked out on paper! Yeah!
Used a script background stamp from SU!, flourish from Stampabilities, and sentiment from Impress Rubber Stamps.
Thanks for peeking!

A Little Birdie....

2010-06-17T12:04:00.002-04:00

A quick post to keep the ol' blog going.....

A simple birthday card for my brother in law and a friend, using Inkadinkadoo stamps, Memories ink, and SU! kraft and black cardstock. Liked the masculine feel...I always struggle with masculine cards.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW-8 Masking a Background

2010-06-09T12:57:00.003-04:00

Well, if I get 2 posts up in a month, I consider myself quite lucky.

So, is today the end of the world? After all, it is my 2nd post of THE DAY!!! Hmmm.... Will wonders never cease? Scroll down for the first post, OLW-7.

Today is One Layer Wednesday, Week 8, Masking a Background over at Simplicity's blog. I needed a sympathy card, so I worked with it. And here it is.

The flower image is from a Gina K set, Comfort & Peace, and the sentiment is from Amuse. My masked background is the result of using a Spellbinder's die, Labels 4. I used chalk again for the subtle background, because I couldn't find a complementary, pale ink in my stash that wouldn't overwhelm the delicate flower and sentiment.

Thanks for peeking!

OLW-7 Repetition

2010-06-09T12:42:00.006-04:00

I really like this card. It's the third rendition of what was playing around in my head when I read about Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday, Repetition, LAST Wednesday. Well, I never quite got it loaded up on the blog before today's new challenge, but then, better late than never.

The gorgeous palm tree is by Rubber Soul, and the sentiment is from Amuse. I used my Marvy markers to ink the tree(s) prior to stamping. Love using those when I need to ink small spots with different colors. They stay pretty wet so I don't need to huff on them to rewet the ink before stamping. The sand/water horizon was created with chalk....remember that? When I need a light hand in doing some kind of background like this, chalk is definitely my friend. If I had tried sponging with ink or airbrushing, I am sure I would be on my 43rd rendition and I still wouldn't have it up on my blog. So, chalk it is.

Thanks for peeking!

Fluttering by...

2010-05-31T19:36:00.003-04:00

In order to get the ol' mojo going, my friend Colleen and I talked awhile back about doing some of the card challenges out there in blog world. Well, we talked, but never produced. This past Wednesday, Simplicity, aka Susan Raihala's blog, posted her 6th in a series of one-layer card challenges. This particular challenge requires the use of a single card, no matting or layering, no embellies if at all possible, and the technique of stamping an image or sentiment partially over another stamped image or sentiment. (Whew! all that make sense???) Her past challenges have been intriguing me, but, there was always some excuse not to participate. But! This week was different. I decided to overcome my fear of one-layered cards and just do it. And, the result is not too shabby. I can live with it. In fact, I've already sent it on to my sister in law. And in the midst of all this decision making, who should call out of the blue, but my dear friend Colleen, to challenge me to do the Simplicity challenge. Ha! I said! I already had mine done, photographed and mailed out! I really put the pressure on her. And wouldn't you know it, she beat me to the posting!

Well, enough of the chit chat and on to the card. Old image and sentiment.....image of the butterfly is from Inkadinkadoo and the sentiment is My Sentiments Exactly! Cardstock and ink are from SU!

Thanks for peeking!

Will you be mine?

2010-02-14T18:01:00.017-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
I wanted to share some valentine's I made this year. First up is the one I made for my honey. This is a rather simple card...I didn't want to make it too frou-frou-y. So, I used real red and kraft cardstock from SU! The embossed dots on the kraft are courtesy of a Quickutz embossing folder. The heart is an EK Success punch. Used a scrap of burlap...even the bow is made from a fiber pulled from the burlap. The background to the heart/burlap is a piece of corrogated box, cut into a square with red DMC floss wrapped in the valleys. I thought it was a neat effect. The stamp is a $ one from Mike's.

Next up is another very simple card utilizing the hearts embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I used a $ stamp from JoAnn's...isn't it just adorable? I LOVE it! The sentiment is by My Sentiments Exactly!. Cardstock is from SU! Used a Nestie rectangle around the heart image.

Another card I made this year (yes, they were all quite simple) again uses SU! cardstock. Those polka dots (aren't they fun?!?!?!) are from Impress Rubber Stamps and the Tart of Hearts is from Karen Lockhart. Colored the image with my Copics. The "you're sweet" sentiment is from a clear acrylic set from Rubber Soul and the "happy valentine's day" sentiment is again from My Sentiments Exactly!. I used a circle nestie to cut out my image and 2 sizes of scalloped nesties to double mat the image. Used my smaller oval punch from SU! for the "you're sweet" sentiment and popped it up with dimensionals.

This valentine uses another JoAnn's $ stamp. Those Studio G stamps are so darn stinkin' cute this year! Again used the My Sentiments Exactly! sentiment. Used a rectangle nestie to frame the image and used SU! cardstock.

Thanks for peeking!

A Daisy Birthday

2010-02-02T10:00:00.003-05:00

Another birthday card made with a fun, bright paper I just love. Unfortunately, I made it awhile back and I can't remember the manufacturer! I do know the yellow polka dots on the bottom are from Bo Bunny (LOVE their dot papers!). The image stamp is from Make an Impression and the sentiment is from Rubber Soul. Can't remember what media I used to color with, but I did use Diamond Glaze to give the appearance of water in the vase. Used my nesties to cut out the image and sentiment, and used Fiskars Apron Strings border punch for the scallops below the ribbon. Found ribbon, a button and some dmc in my stash to round things out.

Thanks for peeking!

Manly Thank You

2010-01-26T10:34:00.004-05:00

If I am to keep up with my New Year's resolution, I better get posting here!

This card is one I have made a couple times when needing a masculine thank you, and I think it fits the bill...I also made it for my stamp club's thank you card swap a few months back. I use my card swaps to try something new or different...to stretch myself and hopefully learn something. I think I've been sucessful so far.

Anyway, back to the card. This is one of those Hero Arts collage-y type stamps that came out a couple years back. I really loved them all, but didn't buy them all, because I didn't know how I would use them. This one I loved the most and had to buy. I decided to keep the colors simple (safe) and cut out sections of the stamp (stamped a second time), mat and pop them up. I was quite pleased with the result.

Thanks for peeking!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T08:02:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year to all! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season. My wish for you is a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

Let's start the new year with a simple little number that uses Flower Soft. Really loved the stuff when it first came out. Of course, LOVED what everyone else was doing with it. BUT! then I had to use it myself...different story! I have found that less is more, and allowing a bit of your stamped image show through helps. C/S is SU!, image is from Impression Obsession and the sentiment is Savvy Stamps. The image is matted and popped up off the card base.

Thanks for peeking!

Happily Ever After

2009-11-20T21:02:00.001-05:00

How about a wedding card? I have always adored this sentiment in a Stampin' Up! stamp set, but, it is the only stamp I like and can use in the entire set. And, it is a pretty pricey set, so liking only one stamp makes that a pretty expensive stamp! Anyway, I decided to type up the sentiment in Word and cut it out using label 4 nestie from Spellbinders and popped it up over some white satin ribbon from Mike's. Used the new Victorian Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background, matted with SU! brilliant blue (Wildcat Blue, for all you UK fans!). The white cardstock is the shimmery cryogen white from the Arjo Wiggins Curious line of papers. Love that stuff. Just wish the shimmer showed up in the photo.

Thanks for peeking!

Happy Halloween......a little late!

2009-11-03T20:02:00.007-05:00

Had some camera/computer communication issues the past few days, otherwise these would have been posted in a much more timely manner. The issues are resolved and without further ado, here are two that I remembered to take pictures of. Both use the Basic Grey Eerie paper and SU! cardstock. The kitty in the witch hat is an old, old (2002) Penny Black stamp that I have always loved and finally broke down and bought this year. The witchy poo is a $1.00 G stamp from Mike's or JoAnn's (can't remember where I got it). I think she is adorable! Couldn't resist her. Both are colored with my Prisma's, used my nesties and ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for peeking!

Cupcake Birthday

2009-10-25T17:14:00.007-04:00

A bright birthday card!

Hero Arts clear cupcake stamp set and old wood mount sentiment. Nesties label one and tag, Imaginese Paper. SU! paper for the card base, image/sentiment, matting, cupcake frosting and heart. Don't know who the ribbon is by, but used my 'bow easy' for the triple bow.

Thanks for peeking!

I've been a baaaaaad blogger...

2009-10-18T20:56:00.003-04:00

Yes, I've been bad. No more excuses. Been makin' lots of cards...takin' pictures, too. Just plain too lazy to post to my blog. Well, no more! Here's a quick and simple one I made earlier in the summer. Main stamp is a Hero Arts background stamp...used Marvy markers to color the stamp and spritz a little with water. Added the 'thanks...' and the butterfly, ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for peeking!

Birthday Rooster

2009-08-04T21:33:00.003-04:00

I found a set of 8 notecards WITH envelopes at Mike's for $1.00. (now, what cardmaker can compete with that?????) Anyway, I really liked the rooster image. So, I cut apart the card front and made my own card. Chicken wire stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms. Sentiment is from Hero Arts. Cardstock and oval punches are from SU!

Thanks for peeking!

Love Birds

2009-07-28T07:47:00.004-04:00

Earlier this year, I found this one sheet of Chatterbox paper at Michael's that I loved. I then found out we were moving, and before the craziness started, I used up every bit of that paper making this anniversary card many times over, so I would have a card to send to friends and family on their anniversaries. So, even though the first anniversary was Feb 1st, I couldn't post until the last anniversary was over, 2 weeks ago.

The stamp is a $1 number from Mike's, colored with Marvy markers and huffed upon before stamping. The green ribbon is from my fav ribbon store in Niwot, the red is from Mike's and cardstock from SU!. The sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly!. And, I used the Nesties Label 1 to cut out, mat and pop up the main image, and the Nesties long scallop rectangle to make the scalloped edging.

Thanks for peeking!

A quick design

2009-06-25T10:23:00.004-04:00

Came across this card on Paperlicious' blog several weeks ago, and besides prompting me to order the paper from SU! (yes, it really is gorgeous!), I really liked the simplicity of it. I had several cards I needed to make, so, using different patterned papers, cardstock and stamps (and, of course, ribbon), I came up with a few cards that I was really pleased with quite quickly. I am definitely adding this design to my stash!

Patterned paper is from Basic Grey and Amuse (can't remember who makes the red/black dp). Cardstock is SU! and Bazzill. Thank you stamps are from Hero Arts, sympathy stamp is from My Favorite Things. Cream and black ribbon is Basic Basic from Michael's; green silk ribbon is from May Arts and sheer green ribbon is from Midori. Used the SU! large oval and new scalloped oval punches. Also used 2 of the new EK Success border punches, which I love using, but find them to be a bit persnickity. They prefer paper the weight of SU cardstock or Basic Grey patterned paper. Anything lighter or heavier become problematic.

Thanks for peeking!

Oh Mason!

2009-06-12T11:24:00.004-04:00

This is a birthday card I sent to my nephew's son (I guess that makes him my great nephew??) in May. I absolutely loved this paper which had a shaped distressed edge which I used along the side and bottom (the card really isn't mis-shapen...again, my poor photography skills at work). I can't remember who makes the paper...my friend (who shall remain nameless) and I SPLIT this one sheet of paper! Because we both loved it so. And, yes, the store had more than one sheet where we each could buy one full sheet. But, that's what we do. We split and share. Anyway, the manufacturers' name was not on my half. I added a few punched out navy stars(SU!) that I popped up on the existing paper's stars, dug around in my stash and found some corrugated navy that matched. Used a couple of SU! punches for the sentiment and an EK Success paper shaper for the small folk stars. I believe the sentiment is Amuse and I used a bit of scattered straw distress ink to age the sentiment oval and the punched star...the color matched the distressed yellow in the paper perfectly! I struggle with any masculine cards, but I was quite pleased with this one.
Thanks for peeking!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-11T09:44:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! Yes, I know it is a day late...just couldn't get around to getting it on the blog yesterday. This is the card I sent my mom...and, unfortunately, it is late getting to her. I can't believe a card I mailed from KY to IL last Wednesday did not make it in time to her. I've mailed dozens of items from CO to IL on a Wednesday and it usually gets there in 2 days, definitely in 3! So, what's up? Is Pony Express still alive and well here in good 'ol KY???

Ok, enough of that. The card is SU! 6 x 6 paper, some May Arts silk ribbon and sentiment by Northwoods. Used my Fiskars scallop border punch and nesties circles/scallops.

Thanks for peeking!