Christmas Blessings

Hello everyone!  I want to thank those of you who recently joined me on the sidebar.  :)  So good to have you here!

My friend Lesley runs a Christmas challenge called Merry Mondays.  I don't get the chance to play as often as I'd like, but had some time to work on this week's sketch:

She usually keeps her sketches pretty simple, which is good news for me.  I like simple.

I broke out a pack of My Mind's Eye Be Merry papers, bought on clearance at the end of the season at my craft store.  The two patterns you see here came from this pack. 

The large snowflake accent came just as you see it, except for the Liquid Pearls I added.  It's from Girls' Paperie Tinsel and Twig collection. 

See the Postage Stamp punch?  That's new to me, bought on clearance recently when my mom was visiting.  It was $4.00!  I fitted it with some pearls, of course.

The gingham ribbon is a steal at 40 cents a yard from Creative Impressions.  In case you're in the market for gingham.  ;-)

The sentiments come from two different Verve sets.  I needed something extra to fill the empty space, so filled it in with bits of snowflakes, too.

Thanks so much for joining me today!  See you tomorrow with a new Play Date Cafe card.  Hint: bright colors comin' your way!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Christmas Blessings, Glad Tidings - Verve
Paper: white - PTI; Real Red, Buckaroo Blue - SU; Be Merry - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Chestnut Roan - Clearsnap; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: khaki/white gingham - Creative Impressions
Other: snowflake accent - Girls' Paperie; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; pearls; Postage Stamp, Scallop Diamond border punches - EK Success
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Shimmery Butterfly

Hello!  I am so excited to be part of the Creative Inspirations Paint design team, and today is my first "official" post.

At Michael's craft store, I found some chipboard shapes in the Dollar Bins and bought several packs.  This pretty, embossed butterfly was in there.  I thought it was the perfect specimen to receive some shimmery paints.  :-)

First, I wiped Whisper White craft ink lightly over the butterfly, so it hit the raised areas.  Next, I used a bunch of paints on here (all listed at the bottom of this post), and love the pearly look.  The Fleur de Lis rectangle die seemed perfect for a frame.

The bottom of the card was punched with a new-to-me EK Success Scroll Pattern punch.  Love it!

Paints used:

Thank you so much for joining me on my very first CIP post!  Hope I've inspired you to get out your paints and try this, too.



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Ink: Whisper White craft - SU
Paper: white - PTI
Other: Big Shot; Fleur de Lis Rectangle die - Spellbinders; Scroll Pattern punch - EK Success; pearls, bling - Queen & Co.; Onyx, Evergreen, Green Olive, Winter Frost, Pink Highlights, Citrus, Tutu Pink, Tickled Pink paints - Creative Inspirations Paints
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Happy Anniversary

I've got one last card to show you from the pack of creations I'll be giving my step-mom as a birthday gift, to give away to others.

(I took this photo before getting more acquainted with my new camera, so the coloring on this is a bit off, even with photo-editing.  That sentiment panel is a creamy vanilla color, but it has a greenish cast in the pic.)

The Floral Background stamp from Stampin' Up! is still one of my faves, and I used Garden Green ink to stamp it over a Wild Wasabi base.

And yes, I've mixed cream and white cardstock on the same card.  I love to mix whites.  This always reminds me of the old-fashioned rules about fashion, about not mixing silver/gold, cream/white, or wearing white after Labor Day.  I say, mix those beautiful shades of white together, or the metals!

I have a new post up today at my photo blog, bleu hydrangea, if you'd like to pop over.

Thanks for coming by and Happy Easter!



Dimensions:
Stamps: Floral Background, Four Frames - SU; Happily Ever After - Verve
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake - SU; white - PTI
Ink: Garden Green, Crumb Cake - SU; Walnut Stain Distress - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: khaki/white gingham ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Other: Decorative Label punch - SU; Doily Lace, Scallop Dot punches - Martha Stewart; Big Shot; Scalloped Oval die - Spellbinders; pearls
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Age is a Number

I think I'm usually terrible at making masculine cards, but I've got one to show today that makes me proud!

It began with a cereal box.  I die cut a panel and brushed Crackle Paint on it.  Then, in alternating brown inks (listed in the details at the end of post), I stamped a FAB border by Lost Coast Designs:

I inked the edges with Antique Linen and Early Espresso to age it.

The panel behind the cereal box is embossed with a herringbone pattern (new to me), its edges also inked.

A sentiment seemed necessary on this card, so I printed my own.  I went to THIS website to get my quote, then created it in Microsoft Word.  Isn't it just perfect for this number stamp??  I printed it out in different size fonts and landed one that fit into a Grommet Tags die.

Challenges entered:

• Moxie Fab World - "Don't Throw It Away challenge" (I've got a cereal box on here)
• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - "birthday"

Thank you sooo much for joining me today!



Dimensions: 4.25" x5.5"
Stamps: Bingo Border - Lost Coast Designs
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White - SU
Ink: Basic Brown, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa - SU; Chestnut Roan - Clearsnap; Antique Linen Distress - Ranger
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; brown grosgrain ribbon - craft supply
Other: Big Shot; Labels Eighteen, Grommet Tags dies - Spellbinders; copper brads - SU; Picket Fence Crackle Paint - Ranger; Herringbone embossing folder - Cuttlebug; cereal box; printer/Microsoft Word

Play Date Cafe 126 - Framed Flowers

Avocado, Blue Mist, Grey Wool...the new colors this week at The Play Date Cafe.  They seem so fresh and clean and of-the-moment, don't they?

As soon as I saw this color story, my mind went to the floral spray stamp from Artistic Etchings (SU).  Strangely enough, while I was on Pinterest (and really, when am I NOT on Pinterest), I saw a card in almost these exact colors, using this same stamp.  Someone beat me to it!  LOL  So I redesigned my card to make sure it doesn't look like I'm copying that person. ;)

The card base is Kiwi Kiss, embossed with the Tulip Frame folder.  I used a stiff sponge that had been part of packaging of some sort (I just couldn't bear to throw it away!  I knew it had life left in it) to apply Kiwi Kiss ink on the raised portions.  This is my first time trying the technique.

I spy a Cristabel hair!  Can you see it too?

I colored those flowers with Stampin' Up! markers, who had been feeling neglected because of my Copic love.  They came through with flying, er, colors.  Bad pun, I know.  ;)  I did use some cool gray tones of Copic markers to highlight the area around each flower and branch, though.

Want to join our color challenge this week?  Head over to The Play Date Cafe for all the details, and check out the gorgeous creations by my teammates.  Don't forget there is always a prize for one lucky winner, too!
This week's sponsor is:

Thanks a bunch for coming by.  I love when you visit!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Elements of Style - SU
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray - SU; white - PTI
Ink: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: green satin ribbon from scraps
Other: pearls; Big Shot; Tulip Frame embossing folder - SU; Classic Frame, Scalloped Rectangle dies - Spellbinders; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Stampin' Up! markers; Copic markers
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Easter Bunny

There are so many Easter challenges out there right now, with the holiday being just days away.  I wanted to 'hop' on that (I know, I'm a very corny person) with my clean-and-simple bunny card:

I felt badly for not making more than one Easter card, so whipped up a small handful of these today.  The white base is stamped with the Gingham background from Market Street Stamps, in Crumb Cake.

The bunny, from Stampin' Up!'s Tender Toile, is set in a die cut, with softly sponged edges, then mounted on a black scalloped oval.  A simple dotted bow provides some softness, with a small button glued on.  I tried to make these cards as mail-friendly as possible, but the bulk of the bow and pearls made that impossible.  ;)  They're still 65 cents to mail, but I think worth it.

Challenges entered:

• CARDS: create blog - Easter
• CASual Fridays - Name That Tune - mine:  "Here Comes Peter Cottontail"

• Ribbon Carousel - 'Spring is in the Air'
• Really Reasonable Ribbon - 'Buttons and Bows'

That's it for me!  Thanks for dropping by.  I always appreciate your visit!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Gingham background - Market Street Stamps; (bunny) Tender Toile - SU
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU
Ink: Crumb Cake - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress - Ranger
Fibers: dotted sheer white ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
Other: pearls; button; Big Shot; Scalloped Oval, Oval dies - Spellbinders
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Easter Wishes

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down one more post 

for a masculine birthday card, plus a bonus feminine version.  

Hi everyone, hope you've had a good start to your week.  Today is my DH's birthday, and we went out to lunch, just the two of us.  It was so nice.  =)

I didn't make Easter cards this year, just the one you see below.  I'm really hit-or-miss with my holiday cards.  Some years I send, others not.  It all depends on what's going on with me at that particular time.  Know what I mean?

Here's a sketch from Cardabilities...

...combined with challenges from:

• CARDS: create - Easter card challenge
• Aud Sentiments - use "Happy Easter" on your card (can I use "Easter Wishes"?)

This is pretty simple, really.  I took all my patterned papers from a Lost & Found Madison Avenue stack, and used a couple of Stampin' Up! stamps together for the label.

I tried my hand at Liquid Pearls on two of these die cuts; I need more practice making them look just like pearls.  Some are a little too 'oval-ish'.  ;)

Sorry to pound you with two posts today.  Because I am playing in challenges, I need to upload in time for the deadlines.  Thanks for understanding!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Something to Celebrate, Four Frames - SU
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla - SU; patterned papers Lost & Found Madison Avenue - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Basic Brown (remember that old one?) - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: lace - Offray
Other: pearls; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Fleur de Lis Motifs, Floral Doily Motifs, scalloped circle dies - Spellbinders; Big Shot; Decorative Label punch - SU
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King of My Heart

Today is my hubby's birthday.  I am two weeks older than he is, and he never lets me forget that he is the younger one.  ;)  I'm baking a Boston Cream Pie cake for him.  He baked a Jewish Apple cake for mine!  (that's my fave)

My point of inspiration was actually a birthday card for me, made by my friend Carol.  She included some neat chipboard pieces on the card that had a distressed, crackled, weathered look.  I asked how she did it.  She used this:

Within 24 hours, I got my own (plus Rock Candy, and Black Soot).  =)  I used a die cut with a cereal box, which was headed for the recycling container, then painted it.  When it was dry, I used Frayed Burlap Distress ink to color in the cracks.  Love it!!  YES, there are pearls here on a masculine card, but DH doesn't mind.  He knows I'll do what I feel like.  ;)

The crown is from Pink Paislee's Queen Bee set.  LOVE!  The sentiment is Verve, and those strips are all retired Stampin' Up! papers.

This card is entered here:

•  Moxie Fab World's "Don't Throw It Away!" challenge (my cereal box)
• Frosted Designs Upcycle/Recycle challenge (cereal box) (thanks to Yvonne Yam for pointing me in this direction!)

I made a feminine version of this card the same day:

I used scrap strips (gosh, I have so many!) for the background.  No cereal box used on this one, but the same die was used with vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the background with a lovely stamp my friend Andrea gave me, from Red Lead.  The sentiment is from Pink Paislee's Queen Bee set.  I smooshed it a little too hard, and it has a very defined look that I don't like.

Thanks for all your wonderful comments!  You all really make my day.  =)



Masculine Card:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Queen Bee - Pink Paislee; Small Phrases - Verve
Paper: assorted patterned papers, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla - SU
Ink: Early Espresso - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap Distress - Ranger
Fibers: ribbon scraps
Other: pearls; Labels Eighteen die - Spellbinders; Big Shot; cereal box; Picket Fence Crackle Paint - Ranger
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Feminine Card:

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Queen Bee - Pink Paislee; Musical Background - Red Lead
Paper: assorted patterned papers, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla - SU; white - PTI
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap Distress - Ranger
Fibers: ribbon scrap, lace
Other: pearls; Labels Eighteen die - Spellbinders; Big Shot

Rainbow Card

Hello everyone!

I want to share a card of mine that is in the current issue of Paper Crafts magazine, March/April 2012 issue.  It's on page 37.

It's super simple and easy to make.  =)  For instructions and supply information, check out Paper Crafts mag before it leaves the magazine shelves!

Before I go, just wanted to do a happy dance that THIS peacock card won top honors over at For Your Inspiration!  Yay!

I've got a new post over at bleu hydrangea, my photo blog, if you are interested.  =)

Thanks for joining me today.  I love when you visit!



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Seashells, Two Ways

Hello!  I've got two cards to show you today, featuring a Blockheads Paper Arts set called "Seashells with Rectangle Frame."  

I like to use stamps in different, unexpected ways, so on the first card, I made a circle of shells:

I embossed a white card base, and also added a border-punched piece to one edge.  The focal point began with a circle die cut.  Using my Stampamajig tool for placement, I lined up the seashells with the tips all pointing to the center.  I matted it with a black scalloped circle, then added a small punched black circle, a white punched flower, and a huge green gem brad (I have no idea where I got this; it was in my stash, and I have no memory of receiving it. (yikes :-/  senility has begun)

The second card uses the same stamp set, this time highlighting another shell and the sanded rectangle frame.

The kraft base is embossed with a brick image, then various inks were sponged on (see recipe list at the end of this post).  I stamped the rectangle, trimmed it out and mounted it on a black die cut.  I stamped the shell on a scrap of white cardstock, trimmed it out and mounted it on the frame.  Pearls and twine were the only  accents to add.

Although these shells would be fun to color with Distress Inks, or Copic markers, or watercolors, I wanted to show that you can use the stamps without adding any color at all.  The effect is still lovely.

Thanks for joining me today!



Circle Shell Card --
Dimensions: 5" x 5.25"
Stamps: Seashells with Rectangle Frame - Blockheads Paper Arts
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other: green gem brad; Big Shot; Circle, Scalloped Circle dies - Spellbinders; Kassie's Brocade embossing folder - Cuttlebug; flower, String Lace punches - Martha Stewart; circle punch - SU

Single Shell Card --
Dimensions: 4" x 4.5"
Stamps:  Seashells with Rectangle Frame - Blockheads Paper Arts
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Crumb Cake, Whisper White craft - SU; Walnut Stain Distress - Ranger
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other: pearls; Labels Eighteen die - Spellbinders; Big Shot; Bricked embossing folder - Sizzix