Many Thanks & A Communion

Hello everyone!  Mind if I share 5 projects with you today?  Seems I'm churning out cards faster than I can blog about them, one at a time, so let me just inundate you in one post.  ;-)

Yesterday was my niece's First Holy Communion.  I have never made a card for that occasion before, so I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.  I pinned several to my Card Inspiration Board, and chose to CASE one in particular.  Actually, all but one of these cards were directly inspired by cards on Pinterest, and I gave credit in the captions.  (By the way, though I love making white cards, I'm finding it a challenge to photograph/edit them!  Pardon my funky lighting.)

Photo Inspiration, courtesy of Pinterest

What's in it?  Stamps: Notes of Prayer - Verve; Paper: white cardstock - PTI; Ink: Going Gray - SU; Dies & Punches: Labels Four, Labels Eight dies - Spellbinders; corner rounder punch - EK Success; Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug  Accessories: amethyst gem brad - SU; Fleur de Lis embossing folder - Cuttlebug  

Photo Inspiration, courtesy of Lynn Mangan

What's in it? Stamps: Trendy Circle Sentiments - Inspired By Stamping; Paper: white cardstock - PTI; Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss cardstock - SU; Paper Girl patterned papers - Girls' Paperie; Ink: Versafine Onyx Black ink - Tsukineko; Dies & Punches: Honeyblossom Sprig die - Memory Box; Large Bird Punch - SU Accessories: Lemon Yellow, Pink Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Photo Inspiration, courtesy of Debby Hughes

What's in it?  Stamps:  Celebration of Thanks - Verve; Fork & Spoon - Hero Arts; Paper:  white cardstock - PTI; Lost & Found Madison Ave patterned paper - My Mind's Eye; Ink: Going Gray - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Dies & Punches: Romantic Rectangles die - Spellbinders; Fibers:  twine - SU Accessories:  silver sequins

Photo Inspiration, courtesy of Lucy Abrams

What's in it?  Stamps: Timely Bird - Hero Arts; Celebration of Thanks - Verve Paper: white cardstock - PTI; patterns - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers:  white seam binding - Hug Snug; sheer tan - American Crafts; white twine - SU Accessories:  button

What's in it? Stamps: Clearly For You, Kindness Matters, Four Frames - SU; Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, patterned - SU; Anna Griffin green pattern; Ink: Crumb Cake - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Fibers: green ribbon; Accessories: scalloped punch - EK Success; pearls; doily die cut - Martha Stewart; tan doily die cut - Colorbok

I am going to the gym today.  With working every day this past week -- hooray for a paycheck! -- I haven't had time to go, and my body is all cranky and stiff.

Thanks for dropping in!

Spring Posies

Hello my friends!  I've been a busy teacher bee this week, subbing all over the place in my town.  I am so happy to get some work!  In between gigs, I was able to make a few clean-and-simple spring cards to share with you today.

What made these particularly easy is that the floral/leaf die cuts were already in my Scrap Boxes, just waiting to be paired together.  

All I needed was a fabulous sentiment to create this set of cards, and I used one from Flowers Bloom by Inspired By Stamping.

There are 6 oh-so-lovely sentiments (as well as the flower images) in this set, and I rely heavily upon it.  :-)

Each flower got a touch of iridescent glitter glue.  Just a smidgen.

I'm glad I had several of these chrysanthemum die cuts on hand, and they came in different colors: deep plum, periwinkle, and lilac.

Challenges:

• Ribbon Carousel - Showers & Flowers
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes, uplifting
• Simon Says Stamp - Happy Mail (any non-occasion card, 'just because')

Thanks for letting me share my stuff with you today!  I hope you are doing well in your little corner of the world.  :-)  I hope to do some blog visiting soon.



Stamps: Flowers Bloom - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; Lovely Lilac, Old Olive - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug
Other: flower & stem die cuts, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder- SU; iridescent glitter glue; oval die cut; corner rounder punch - EK Success; Rose Leaf punch - Martha Stewart
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Feel Better Soon

Life sure has gotten hectic for me lately, and it's all good, but it's a lot.  When I can, I squeeze in crafty time in my new play space and lose myself for a little while.  I want to share a recent creation with you:

I just love beautiful floral stickers, the 3-dimensional kind (like K & Co.'s).  This bouquet and the little bee came from the same pack, and really help "make" the card.  The embossed background is made with a Spellbinders Impressabilities plate, then lightly washed with white craft ink to help bring out the contrast of raised areas.

This is short and sweet, so I can go check some more things off my To-Do list now.  Thanks so much for coming by!



Stamps: Heartfelt Phrases - Verve
Paper: Going Gray, Mellow Moss - SU; pale gray speckled
Ink: Pumice Stone - Ranger; Whisper White - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug; green lace - Webster's Pages
Other: stickers - K & Co.; corner rounder punch - EK Success; Amira Flourish die - Memory Box; pearls; Flourish Impressabilities embossing plate - Spellbinders
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Balloon

Hello everyone!  It's a busy week, but I carved out a little time to play in the current City Crafter challenge.  You need to use clouds, and a particular color scheme (see below).  It took me a day to think it out, and another to put this together.  At first, I had a rough go with this, but am pretty pleased with the result:

The inspiration photo / colors from City Crafter

I used a pretty balloon from The Sky's The Limit and some fun dotty clouds from Springtime Beauty II, both from Inspired By Stamping.

Love this dainty script on the sentiment, which is from Flowers Bloom.  It can be suited to many different occasions....I am using this for a birthday card.

I wanted you to see the shine I put on this balloon, which is paper-pieced.  Got worried for a little bit, because the paper had buckled and warped when I applied the glossy accents adhesive.  It all settled back down once it dried.

Thanks to those of you who took a virtual tour of  my craft studio.  I am happy as a clam with it, that little space to call my own.  :-)

Have a wonderful day!



Stamps: Flowers Bloom, Springtime Beauty II, The Sky's The Limit - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white, sage cardstock; light pink patterned paper
Ink: black, baja blue, light tan
Other: circle, scalloped circle, banner dies; curlicue embossing folder; glossy accents; gems
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Whoo Hoo Wednesday - Hugs & Kisses

For Easter this year, I planned to bring a box of Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses to my relatives’ house as a little gift.  I thought it would be best to dress it up to suit the occasion, and thus a Whoo Hoo Wednesday tutorial was born!

I started by gathering some punched blossoms and several die cut shapes:

Using some foam dimensional stickers, I layered the die cuts like this, and subtly inked the edges of each one:

Using white craft glue, I applied the punched blossoms in a random fashion:

To add more dimension (and beauty), I glued a Pink Flower and two little Leaves to the center.

I stamped a tag and sentiment using Creative Tags, added white twine and hung it from the flower so it can be detached easily.

I used just a small amount of clear double-sided tape to attach it to the box:

Here is the finished box topper.  When the candy is gone and the box is empty, this could be displayed on a small easel, or with magnets attached on the back so it can decorate your refrigerator or office cubicle. 

Thanks for checking out my tutorial today!

Come Tour My Crafting Studio!

You are cordially invited to tour my new craft studio in the attic.

Just click HERE to visit!

Simple Sympathy

Just popping in with a quick sympathy card, made weeks ago, to help fill up my stash.  Of course, we never relish needing one of these, but it is a necessity sometimes.

The damask panel was stamped using a Recollections set with no name.  (that bugs me.  how can a company not name their set??)  Just matted it with black, added a black ribbon and a sentiment from Inspired By Stamping.

I've got my girl home from school for lunch, so have to dash and feed her!

Thanks for coming by today.  :-)



Stamps: damask - Recollections; Big Notes III - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: ivory - CTMH; Crumb Cake, Basic Black - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: black grosgrain ribbon
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

On A CAS Roll...

I enjoyed the quick process of yesterday's hydrangea card so much, I decided to do several more versions.  Humor me, won't you?  ;-)

A congrats card using two Inspired By Stamping stamps - Vintage Backgrounds and Big Notes III, and a butterfly sticker:

Some Mother's Day cards using K & Co. die cut stickers, that same IBS Vintage Background, and a Stampin' Up! sentiment:

I'm off to clean my kitchen floor with a new mop.  Not many people can get excited about new cleaning tools and supplies, but I do!



Stamps: Vintage Background, Big Notes III - Inspired By Stamping; mother's day sentiment - SU
Paper: white - PTI; Bordering Blue - SU
Ink: London Fog Memento, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other: pearls; flower stickers - K & Co.; butterfly sticker - DCWV
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Hydrangea

It's been much too long since I played at CAS-ual Fridays.  Their challenge this week looks fun -- it's a Birthday Bash, because owner Michele is having a birthday soon.  Enjoy your special day, Michele!  This one's dedicated to you.

I used a gorgeous Vintage Background stamp from Inspired By Stamping as a mat for my hydrangea sticker, and the sentiment is from Big Wishes II.  Love, love, love this big sentiment set.  I made a special request to owner Joanna Munster for more big sentiments, and she listened!  Thank you, Joanna, for being attentive to customers' wishes.  :-)

Hope you enjoy your weekend, everyone.  Thanks so much for visiting today!



Stamps: Vintage Background, Big Wishes II - Inspired By Stamping

Chair-ish Today

I'm bringing you another 'just because' card that I made weeks ago.  I LOVE this Damask Chair set by Stampendous, which is new to me (at a discount from Michael's; even better!).

Adding some Glossy Accents to the fabric portions of the chair made them really pop.  It reminds me of vinyl coverings on upholstered seating.  I've never been a fan of that practice, but to each his own!

Today I edited the photos of my craft studio.  There are quite a few!  When I get my post ready, be warned that it's going to be a long one.  I want to give you a proper tour!  :-)

Have a wonderful day,



Stamps: Damask Chair - Stampendous; ruler - Paper Girl - Girls' Paperie; sentiment - Strawberries - Flourishes
Paper: white - PTI; Early Espresso - SU; Lost & Found Union Square - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: crochet trim - Hero Arts
Other: Glossy Accents - Ranger; pearls
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Hugs

Hope you all don't mind if I share another project that I made weeks and weeks ago.  This is something I made 'just because', with no particular person in mind.  

What better gift to give on a birthday than a hug?  (...maybe something a little crafty might be nice, too....)  This is an Inspired By Stamping sentiment.

Sigh.  Isn't this flower so pretty?  It's from Webster's Pages.  Last summer I bought their $25 clearance kit and this was in it.  It comes with the pearl, so you KNOW I love that!

I'll pop back in soon with another old-but-never-posted creation!



Dimensions: 4.5" x 6"
Stamps: Old Letter - Hero Arts; Little Phrases II - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Garden Party - DCWV; Vintage Cream, White - PTI
Ink: Crumb Cake - SU
Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug
Other: Amira Flourish, Estate Fence dies - Memory Box; flower - Webster's Pages; white doily die cut, tag punch - Martha Stewart; Labels Ten die - Spellbinders