Bear Hugs

Hey there!

I'm ending the week with a sweet little clean-and-simple card, featuring Circle Friends by Simon Says Stamp. I kept the adornments to a minimum (sometimes hard to do!). I used a really pale ink from Anna Griffin for the striped circle, then layered on a die cut "window". The bear was stamped and colored on a scrap piece of cardstock, then trimmed and added to the circles, along with a scattering of gems and sequins.

White cards...you know how difficult they are to photograph, especially in an all-white setting! 

Stamps: Circle Friends - Simon Says Stamp Paper: white - Papertrey Ink Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; pale taupe ink - Anna Griffin Accessories & Tools: Stitched Circle die - Simon Says Stamp; Copic markers; Marshmallow sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; silver ball, rhinestone gem stickers - Recollections/ Queen & Co.; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

Giving Thanks with a bucket of apples

Any crafters out there remember this bucket of apples stamp? It's from the Stampin' Up! set called Give Thanks.

Though I do like new stamps (who wouldn't?), it gives me an even greater pleasure to use older stamps. They feel like "buried treasure" to me.

The already-stamped-and-colored image was in my box of Unfinished Objects (my friend Bonnie's term). I die-cut it with a Deckled Rectangle from Spellbinders, and gently inked the area around the bucket with pale linen ink. Due to photo-editing, that subtle ink just about disappeared. 

I used my sewing machine for a bit of stitching along the top edge of the card, added a tiny sentiment tag, two singular sequins, and a string of sequin 'ribbon' under the main panel.

This card is part of my Thanksgiving 2015 Collection. Maybe most folks think of cornucopias and turkeys when it comes to Thanksgiving, but a rustic metal bucket of apples is a different, unexpected take.  The bright red, subdued orange, and bright citron papers echo the apples' colors, and inject a modern feel to a very traditional holiday.   

Stamps: Give Thanks - Stampin' Up!; sentiment - Wonderfully Whimsical - Papertrey Ink Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; Ruby Red - Stampin' Up!; orange pattern - Mariposa Stack - DCWV; citron pattern - Whisper - Colorbok Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen - Ranger Fibers: gold sequin 'ribbon' - Stampin' Up!; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; Deckled Rectangle die - Spellbinders; Double Embossed Dotted Lace border punch - EK Success; sewing machine; thread; gold sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Pierced Traditional Tags die - My Favorite Things

Meow Meow Meow

I'm pretty sure "Meow meow meow" means "hi there".

At least, on this card it does!  I made this for my youngest when she went to sleep-away camp earlier this summer.  The cat looks like our Cristabel!  I placed the kitty in a summery scene, made with die cuts and a border punch that looks like grass, if you squint your eyes and let them go all out of focus. ;-)

I used a new-to-me Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 3 die, cut it in two pieces, and reassembled so that it appears longer than it really is.

The "meow" sentiment from Cat's Meow / PTI appears all over the white die cut, but also in a subtle way on the blue card base.

I used a white craft ink (Crystal, by Ranger) instead of Versamark, to heat-emboss Kitty.  Didn't work out as expected.  Should've used juicy Versamark, and gotten a better image. This version just makes Kitty look dirty.  White Opal Liquid Pearls stand in for the eyes.

Our daughter loved the card, and loved receiving happy mail at camp.  

Stamps: Cat's Meow - Papertrey Ink; (hi there) Just Sayin' - The Craft's Meow (tee hee!) Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive - Stampin' Up!; white, True Black - Papertrey Ink Ink: Riding Hood Red, Tempting Turquoise - SU; Crystal craft ink - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Clouds 1 & 2, Mat Stack 3, Cat's Meow dies - Papertrey Ink; White embossing powder - Stampin' Up!; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Postage Stamp border punch - EK Success

Wintry Wishes

Hello!

I bought Avery Elle's Noel Elle-ments snowflake dies this past summer, from an online "yard sale". I think they are so pretty!  The 'flakes are an easy way to dress up a card without doing too much work.  Paired with gray damask, they are downright elegant.

I added some rhinestones on each snowflake, and tied on a Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment with silver cording.  Well, it just looks as if I tied it on. I nestled the little tag up really close to the bow, and glued it in place near the knot.

Thanks for your visit today!

Stamps: Tiny Tags - Papertrey Ink Paper: Basic Gray - Stampin' Up!; white - PTI; gray damask - Recollections Fibers: silver cording Accessories & Tools: Tiny Tags die - Papertrey Ink; rhinestones - Queen & Co.; Noel (snowflakes) Elle-ments dies - Avery Elle

Autumn, framed

Hello everyone!

Had some fun with Distress Ink Sprays by Ranger not too long ago, and this is one of the resulting cards.  I LOVE how this turned out! I started with an ivory card base, and hit it with bursts of color. While it dried, I stamped a Fancy Frame from Glitz Design, and trimmed it out. The subtle patterned paper behind the frame was from some saved packaging. Those Tattered Leaves (Tim Holtz) are made of coffee filters, which also had been sprayed with Distress Inks. I made a bunch of leaves earlier this summer with coffee filters and have them on hand to use as needed. 

The Verve sentiment says it all, though I have taken to giving thanks every day of the year, not just on the Thanksgiving holiday. Life is much better with an attitude of gratitude! 

I added a small piece of gorgeous gold braided trim, snugged up underneath the sentiment panel. A scattering of sequins from Pretty Pink Posh dressed everything up.

Our computer is having fits again.  It's slow, sometimes it just shuts off while we're in the middle of using it - with no warning. Very frustrating.  We've got to make due with it for now, too many expenses hitting. 

Thanks for coming by!

Stamps: Fancy Frames - Glitz Design; sentiment - Happy Fall - Verve Paper: white, Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; coffee filters; pattern - packaging Ink: Early Espresso - Stampin' Up!; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: gold trim; cream twine - American Crafts Accessories & Tools: Distress Ink Sprays - Ranger; Bronze, gold, Espresso sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Tattered Leaves die - Tim Holtz / Sizzix

Jeremiah 29:11

Welcome back!  I made this card for a family member who is going through a rough patch.

I love using the Papertrey Ink A Cheerful Heart stamps.  The set includes very encouraging, uplifting verses that truly do make my heart happy. :-)

I used shades of black, ivory and white; one of the patterns is flocked!  I added golden touches with the ribbon, a gold-embossed bee from Stampotique, and gold sequins, too.

I think I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink for the sentiment, which has many bold areas on it.  Would've been a better choice to use Versafine Black, which is opaque and has a darker appearance. Noted for next time!

Stamps: A Cheerful Heart - Papertrey Ink; Big Bee with Medium Bee - Stampotique Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; patterns - La Creme matstack - DCWV Fibers: gold ribbon; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: gold sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; gold embossing powder, button - Stampin' Up!; Deckled Rectangles, circle dies - Spellbinders

You are chair-ished, Mom

My mom had a birthday recently, and she LOVES the color combo of black and white.  

I started with a fancy piece of glittered black and white patterned paper from My Mind's Eye Garden Vignettes, and cut it in the shape of a heart.  Then I placed a new-to-me Top Dog Doily Hearts die cut beneath it and topped them with red and clear sequins. 

Also new-to-me at the time I made this card:  Papertrey Ink's Chair-ished stamp set. I stamped the chair on red damask patterned paper, and trimmed it out. Honestly, I'm not crazy about the balance of proportions on this card.  But once I glued down the chair, it was a done deal.  

Either way, my mom knows she is, indeed, chair-ished.  :-)

Stamps: Chairished - Papertrey Ink Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; black and white glitter pattern - Garden Vignettes - My Mind's Eye; red pattern - Stampin' Up! Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Sparkling Clear sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; red sequins; Heart Stax die - My Favorite Things; Doily Hearts die - Top Dog; Copic markers (red)

Happy Day On The Farm

Hello!  I'm sharing two farm-related cards today, and the inspiration was an assortment of these cute little critter die cuts, sitting on my craft desk.  As I've mentioned before, when I purchase new dies, I always try them out right away, to make sure there are no defects.  Usually I'll use white cardstock for my practice run.

I've got very few agrarian stamping supplies, so I looked around for suitable elements: gingham patterned paper, patterned paper that looks like sun rays, grass die, picket fence punch, and more. 

I colored the animals with Copic markers, and created little framed scenes, using negative die cuts from previous projects. 

Way-to-stretch-your-supplies Tip:  when die-cutting a solid shape from cardstock - i.e., circle, oblong, rectangle, square, etc. - position the die with enough extra cardstock surrounding it.  Envision the negative piece as a frame for a future project, and now you've got two usable pieces!

The best sentiment I could find in my stash, which went well with these gentle creatures, is one from Power Poppy's Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips.  It's full of joy, and I think the color palette of these two cards speaks of joy. :-)

I'm really glad you could join me today.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips - Power Poppy Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; Gable Green, Summer Sun, sunray pattern - Stampin' Up!; gingham - Garden Party - DCWV Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; pink grosgrain ribbon Accessories & Tools: On The Farm, Tiny Tags dies - Papertrey Ink; Nesting Pinking Squares die - Lifestyle Crafts; Picket Fence punch - Martha Stewart; Copic markers; Sparkling Clear sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - Stampin' Up!; Grassy Fields die - My Favorite Things

You are my happy place

This is different for me, huh?  A friend had asked me to make a card for the guy in her life, and they love to travel, so she asked me to include a map.  Luckily, I had one stashed away for crafting!

I pulled out anything else that seemed like it could relate to travel: ticket stamps from Our Craft Lounge's Vintage Traveler, an arrow from Inspired by Stamping, a sentiment from Altenew.

I cut my map on a random panel, along the fold lines.  I wound up with Colorado.  Turns out, my friend's beau traveled to Colorado earlier this year, so unintentionally this card wound up having even more personal meaning!

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Stamps: Sentiments & Quotes - Altenew; Arrows - Inspired By Stamping; Vintage Traveler - Our Craft Lounge Paper: River Rock, Ruby Red - Stampin' Up!; map; white - Papertrey Ink Ink: Soot Black, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Ruby Red - Stampin' Up! Fibers: burlap Accessories & Tools: circle die - Spellbinders; cork sticker - Pink Paislee

Baby whale in a deep blue sea

I can't resist using this cute little whale from Papertrey Ink for a baby card!

I had a few whales stamped-and-die-cut, sitting on my desk, and they begged me to use them. :-)

The stitched rectangle die cut and clouds were also lying about, and a little scene was born.  I added an aquamarine gemstone for the whale's eye, and stamped water droplets above his head, with a bit of Glossy Accents over them.

The patterned paper has the perfect soothing aqua tones, and with this quatrefoil pattern, all I did to give more interest was fussy-cut along the top edge.  Quatrefoil waves!  

Thanks for coming by today!   

Stamps: Whale Wishes, Tiny Tags - Papertrey Ink Paper: Sahara Sand, patterns - Stampin' Up!; white - Papertrey Ink Ink: Fog - Avery Elle; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Pool Party - Stampin' Up! Accessories & Tools: aqua gemstone - Hero Arts; Stitched Rectangle die - L'il Inker Designs; Clouds 1 & 2 dies - Papertrey Ink; Glossy Accents - Ranger

Dogwood Sympathy

Hello!

This Hero Arts Dogwood stamp sits patiently on the shelf next to me in my crafting studio, watching me use other stamps time and again.  It was high time it was allowed out to play, to come off the shelf and roll around in some ink!  

I used Really Rust ink, and trimmed it out, then popped it up on foam dimensionals atop a mix of patterned papers.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Keep It Simple: Sympathy set.  It was a fairly easy card to do, just took a bit of time to cut the branch out. And, bonus:  I put a {small} dent in my patterned paper stash!

Thanks for coming by today. :-D

Stamps: Dogwood - Hero Arts; Keep It Simple: Sympathy - Papertrey Ink Paper: Vintage Cream, white - Papertrey Ink; patterns - ? Ink: Really Rust - Stampin' UP!; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: pearls - Queen & Co.

Starfish Wedding

Happy Monday!

I've been wanting to share this card since, oh, JUNE.  I made it for my niece's wedding back then.  It's just, you know, life.  You can have the best laid plans, but then all sorts of things come up, and your path is redirected.  Proverbs 3:6 comes to mind. :-)

Anyway, I'm SUPER pleased with how this turned out!  I used the bride's bridal shower invite (the starfish, trimmed out of it) and the couple's wedding invitation (the mint cardstock) to create this!  I love using personal, very meaningful touches like this on so-very-special occasions such as wedding cards.

I mounted the panel (complete with sequins and gems, and a stamped sentiment) onto an embossed white card base.  Voila, it was finished!

Stamps: Best Wishes - Hero Arts Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; mint green - bride's invitation! Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Sparkly Clear, Marshmallow sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; starfish - bride's bridal shower invitation!; Damask embossing folder - Sizzix/Tim Holtz; rhinestones - Queen & Co.

Sweet Peas

For all you Sweet Peas out there...

My oldest daughter has always been our Sweet Pea.  When Flourishes came out (years ago) with the Sweet Pea stamp set, I had to have it.  The main image in the set is pretty large, and therefore, takes time to color, so I don't always have time to play with it.  But for my girl's summer birthday, I made time to color up some pretty pink blossoms.

I trimmed a 4.25" x 5.5" inch card down a bit to accommodate the sweet pea panel, so that the panel is flush with the sides of the card base.  I added some pretty die cuts at the top and bottom using a Fancy Tags Three die from Spellbinders, then popped it all up on foam dimensionals.

The only other adornments:  a stamped sentiment from the set, and sparkly sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. 

This card was a hit with my kiddo, and she hung it on her bedroom wall, so I know it passed muster!

Stamps: Sweet Peas - Flourishes Paper: white - Papertrey Ink Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Sparkling Clear sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Copic markers; Fancy Tags Three die - Spellbinders; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

Masculine Workbench Scene

Welcome to someone's workbench!

My dad would have LOVED this Father's Day card! And I certainly enjoyed creating it. Scenes are FUN to put together. These Pegboard and Workshop Tools dies from Our Daily Bread Designs are really cute and easy to work with. For most of the tools, I die-cut them from both black and light tan cardstock, then trimmed and assembled.

The patterned paper couldn't be more perfect. It's from American Crafts' Do It Yourself (how appropriate!) 6 x 6 paper pad.

The tiny nail, nut, screw and some other doohickeys (can you tell I'm not all that familiar with home-repair?) are all die-cut from silver mirrored cardstock, and set upon the 'workbench'. 

It's one of my favorite creations ever. :-)
Thanks for taking a peek today!

Stamps: sentiment - Tiny Tags - Papertrey Ink Paper: Creamy Caramel, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Rustic White - Stampin' Up!; patterns - Do It Yourself - American Crafts; silver mirror - WorldWin; white cardstock - Papertrey Ink Fibers: hemp twine - Hemptique Accessories & Tools: ticket punch - Photo Labels punch - EK Success; Workshop Tools, Pegboard & Hooks dies - Our Daily Bread Designs; corner rounder punch - Fiskars