Valentine Wildflowers

This is one of  the Valentines I sent out this year.  After taking the internet class on stenciling last month, I made the heart stencil using a punch and a piece of cardstock.  Then I sponged red ink over it onto the white panel and stamped the flowers and verse over it.

Before adding color to the flowers with colored pencils, I trimmed the panel to size, rounded the corners and mounted it to the blue cs with TomBow Mono glue.  The smaller flower was added from my collection to give it a little sparkle, and  yellow Stickles was used for the centers of the other two blossoms.   While waiting for the Stickles to dry, I ran the card base and embossing folder through my Cuttlebug and stamped the sentiment on the inside.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Secret Message Thank You

Here we are in the midst of yet another huge snow storm--a good time to stamp!

This secret message card is for someone who sent me a lovely Valentine card.  The base card is kraft, but the front panels are a light green.  The flowers are colored to look more like poppies than daisies.

 When the card is first opened, you see the back of the front square, which is why I used red  for the flowers.  The white boxes are for the letter I'm writing.  Although it's hard to see here, there are snow flakes stamped in white on the kraft rectangles.

Once opened up to reveal the secret message, there are flowers stamped with peg stamps on the kraft pieces.  The white rectangles are used for the words of encouragement hand written in green.

For instruction on how to open the card (or make it) just go to Utube or Google and type in secret message card.  Lots of them will come up!

Opening the card is so simple once you know the trick.  Enjoy!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Special Card for a Special Friend

If I ever get out of my driveway to go to the Post Office, I'll be mailing this card to someone special who sent me a batch of these falling heart panels.  Somehow, I opened the card when it came (I can't even remember when) and set it aside.  I guess I got distracted after that and the envelope got mixed in with other papers until today.  What a happy discovery!

Thank you, Kim.  I hope you like the card and know that I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Spinner Valentine Card

Interactive cards are always such fun!  To "set" the spinner before mailing, just blow on one side of the circle, then stop it with your finger and put it in the envelope.  When the recipient opens the card, the circle will spin automatically.

Meanwhile, you can play with it for awhile before sending it... *wink*  Watch out--it's addictive!


(See previous post for a birthday version of the same design.)

Fabulous Floret ala Brandy Cox

 If you haven't discovered Brandy Cox's videos on Utube, you are really missing out!  This card is patterned after her gorgeous butterfly card, with some variations of my own.  First of all, mine is a side fold; hers is a top fold.  One advantage of the side fold is that you don't have to remember to place the inside image upside down so that it's right side up when you open the card.  I wish I could say I brilliantly thought that up on purpose, but it was because I forgot to make it a top fold.  However, from the front they both look similar in design.

Next, in order to have some contrast between the floral circle and the white cs on the inside, I added the green circle that was die cut from the front so that it would be directly behind the flower opening.  Once I did that, the flower just popped!

For instructions and video, just go to Utube, type in Brandy Cox and look for a yellow butterfly card..  Then sit back and enjoy!

CASEing the iPad #10

With all the snow and ice we've been getting lately, is it any wonder I keep choosing green for my cards???

This one was inspired by Splendiferous Creations HERE.  Lisa Somerville does beautiful work!

Using a stencil buried deep in my stash no longer, I sponged two shades of green and one yellow of Distress Inks, blending the colors as I worked my way down the card.  The message is white embossed on a scrap of tinted vellum (green, of course!)  The square at the top of the tag is silver metallic, although it looks gray here.  After decorating the tag, I mounted it to the stenciled piece with a craft glue dot at the top and then mounted the panel to the card with dimensionals.

I'm looking forward to seeing some green grass again SOON!

CASEing the iPad #9

I haven't CASEd (CopyAfterSomeoneElse) in quite awhile, but since I'm stuck in my house during the latest round of winter storms...

This is one of those cards that looks better IRL than here.  (My card isn't quite so yellow.)  Although mine turned out quite a bit different than the one I copied, I still like it.  If you'd like to give it a try yourself, check out the Cardography blog HERE.

Thanks Therese for the inspiration!

HEARTS AND FLOWERS

Love those scraps!  They all happened to match beautifully (the hearts panel isn't as red as it looks here.)  I ran the punched white heart through a floral Cuttlebug embossing folder and added another white flower on top.  The gem under the "you" is a heart shaped one, and the pink heart in the "O" is also popped up with a dimensional.

Next stop:  Super Bowl (on TV!)

FOR OPENING DAY AT MOTHERS CLASS

We usually wait until the first week in February to resume our Mothers Class stamping, but we're all suffering from stamping withdrawal.  Besides, January has 5 Wednesdays this year, so that's our excuse for not waiting until February--YAY!

This is the first card we'll make in class.  I just learned this chevron technique, so it should be fun.  

CARDINAL CARD

With the weather we've been having, I'm stamping up a storm...literally!

This is an oldie but goodie from SU which I stamped in Versafine black and watercolored.  Although it was a bit time consuming, it was an easy one to do.  All I added was a scrap of black cs for the border and a tiny black gem for the eye.

Enjoy!

BIRD ADVICE

This little birdie surely has it right!  He's not worried about a thing...

ENVELOPE CARD

In keeping with my own challenge to use only what I already have in the tower to the end of this year, I rediscovered this stamp and used it today.

After stamping it in black ink on dsp, I made slits where the opening would be to insert the tag as shown.  Then I mounted it on a scrap of  textured vanilla cs and cut around it to make the border.

The background is stamped in Versamark Frost with both large and small swirl stamps.  While it dried, I placed foam mounting tape on the back of the envelope and added three tiny black gems at the intersection of the lines.  Once the Versamark dried, I mounted the envelope with its message inserted.

So far, this challenge has been easy.  I've been finding lots of stamps I'd forgotten about and plan to use them soon.  The real challenge will be in the Fall when I start running out of adhesives and cardstock!

I WON! I WON!

Hero Arts Online Classes on Stenciling drew winners from comments left on their blogs, and I was one of them--YAY!  Classes started today, so I wasted no time in putting the new information to good use on this card.

Since I don't have any stencils, I made one of my own from a Martha Stewart stars punch and a scrap piece of cardstock.  After sponging the stars onto the white panel, I added the "Birthday" die cut, the "wishes" and some extra stars from a small punch.  The embossed zig-zag line on the bottom is from a Sizzix border ef.  Now that it's mounted on a card front, I'm entering it in the Sweet and Sassy challenge HERE!

I'm on a roll!

HUMOROUS CARD CHALLENGE #2

Inside reads:  "...and it was DELICIOUS!"

Since I'm not buying new stamps this year (we'll see how that goes...) I typed up my own.  First I glued the verse to a scrap of cs and die cut it.  Then I mounted it on the card with dimensionals.  I did the same thing with the "punch line" inside.

For other humorous cards, you can visit the Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog HERE.

STAMPING UP A STORM...literally!

As you can see from my last few posts, I've been at it full time since the storm dumped all the snow on the East Coast!  We just got plowed out at 3 pm today, and the sun is shining brightly through the tower windows on the west side of the house.  Nice and toasty in here!

Be sure to scroll down for the latest posts...

HUMOROUS CARD CHALLENGE

For this stamp set, I chose to make a tri-fold card.  I cut a 12 x 12" sheet of cs at 5 1/2" and scored it at 4" and 8" so that it would fit in a standard size envelope.

The birdie image was stamped on watercolor paper with Versafine Smokey Gray and painted with Distress Inks and my Niji brush.  I stamped another bird, colored it, cut it out, and attached it with glue dots over the first one to make it pop.  After mounting the image to the black square with foam tape, I glued it to the card front and added the saying below.

For the inside flap, I stamped the cat on a scrap of cs and used colored pencils for the image.  Then I simply glued it to the flap.

This card will be entered HERE in the Simon Says Stamp challenge on
 their blog where I hope to win the $50 gift certificate!

PS:  After posting the card, I realized I didn't need to make it a tri-fold; so I cut it apart and remounted two of the panels on Very Vanilla cs.  That leaves me with the extra panel for the front of another card later on.

CASCADE VALENTINE

The "dreaded pink" rises again!  This time, at technique class last week where we learned how to make the cascade card...not that I would remember ;)

Basically, it's two angled pieces joined in the middle with slits in the folds so that one piece slides down over the other.  Got that?

For a simpler version, however, you can look up "Concertina Card" on Splitcoast Stampers under tutorials.  Beate's video is very easy to follow!

CORRIE TEN BOOM QUOTE

I really like how this one turned out!  The glitter in the dsp gives it some sparkle, while the black keeps it masculine.

The verse is another one from a Sweet and Sassy set; and Corrie Ten Boom said it well!

TWO MORE PASTOR CARDS

 In keeping with the snowy scene outside my tower window, I've used my tree die and torn paper "snow" for these cards.


First, I made a tri-fold  4 1/4" x 3 5/8" (from a 4 1/4" x 11" piece) and used the two-part verse so that the first half would be on the outside.

 The second half is stamped on the inside flap, with another plain piece for the personal note on the inside center panel.


The second card (scroll down) is a top fold with Stickles painted on the tree with a brush.  I added a narrow strip to ground the tree and verse which are mounted on a piece of embossed white cs that looks like bark.

Thank you Sweet and Sassy for such wonderful verses!

BYE-BYE JANUARY THAW!

It's snowing here again, and the night temps are going to be single digits the rest of the week.  We were enjoying the milder temps for awhile, but it's back to winter now.

Good stamping weather, though!

ARGYLE DESIGN

Re-discovering a paper pad I bought ages ago, I came up with this card.  It was very hard to photograph--it kept popping open.  So here's a TIP:  to keep a card shut while photographing, hold it shut with some temporary tape you can remove later.

The dsp along the bottom is actually on the inside of this top fold card. I just cut a quarter inch off  to let it show.  The dsp has glitter along the white criss-cross lines, and the white and silver bakers twine adds extra shine along with the three silver pearls on the left. Unfortunately, the gray cs  looks a bit dull in the photo; but in real life, it's just right.

The verse is from a set of scripturally-sound sayings from Sweet and Sassy.  Since we're expecting snow again this week, I'll be posting more cards using this set later...

HOW'S THIS FOR A CHALLENGE???

...and now for something entirely different...

I'm challenging myself to NOT BUYING anything new, stampingwise that is, for the rest of this year.  The only exceptions would be using the SU gift certificate I got for Christmas and keeping the commitment I signed up for at Technique Tuesday (for the Greenhouse Society stamp of the month.)  Surely I have enough in this room to last until next Christmas, even enough to supply my Mothers Class projects!  It should be interesting to see how long it all really lasts, although I could ask for something I might need in Sept. for my birthday.  I'm calling it the "stamping diet" ;)

I'll be keeping you posted (literally.)

SIMPLE SATURDAY #33--Untimed

One more pastor card before heading off to my daughter's house to celebrate my son's birthday there.  Although I forgot to set the timer, this card didn't take long!

I hope you will take the opportunity to reflect on the verses I post for these pastor cards.  They make great "thoughts for the day."

BRRR...

I've used this Greenhouse Society stamp set for several cards, and every one of them has turned out great!  It looks so realistic, and even has lines for where to place the Stickles or glitter for the snow.

The image is stamped with Versafine Smokey Gray ink on Very Vanilla and then torn along the bottom.  Before coloring it in, I glued it to a piece of gray textured cs; then glued both to the card front.  Usually I would mount it with dimensionals, but this time I must confess that I had to cover up my first attempt at stamping it directly on the card.  Then I added the jute on the left.

The berries were colored with an orange glitter pen and the "snow" added,  working from left to right so as not to smear the ink or Stickles with my right hand. 

The Bible verse was stamped in the same Versafine ink directly on the card, and I was sooo happy that it stamped straight!


(The stamp set is from Technique Tuesday and the Bible verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs.)

ANOTHER PASTOR CARD

Thanks to the extreme cold this week, I've been on a roll for making pastor cards!

This one took all of 5 or 6 minutes to layer.  First I stamped the verse on a scrap of vanilla cs and set it aside.  Next, I cut the two layers of dsp, the woodgrain being the reverse side of the other.  Then I attached some coiled jute to the paper with plain ol' Scotch tape which is covered by the verse mounted with SU dimensionals.

After adding some pearls, the card was done!

MY FAVORITE STAMP

This is my favorite stamp for 2 reasons:  one because it's just a natural backdrop for so many themes and two because my dad gave it to me many years ago.  So here it is for another pastor card this week!

First, I stamped the tree on a white panel and then stamped twice more without re-inking.  I used Versafine Olympia Green ink and a brown marker on top.  I stamped the top again on a scrap and used Chestnut Roan for the verse over it.  I had a tree brad in my stash that I added.

After punching a hole in the top left corner, I added some gold twine and mounted the layers as shown.  Since the tree panel is mounted with dimensionals, the verse is attached with dimensionals on the right side only so they would both be the same height.

This is one of those cards that just "evolves" as you go along, and I love how it turned out!

BTW, did you notice that the last few pastor cards had a woodsy theme?  I didn't realize it until this post, so I guess that trees must symbolize strength to my way of thinking...

SECOND DAISY CARD

 The first card I made with this stamp was a lot more vibrant, but I like the softness of this one also.  I started out with clear embossing over Versamark ink, then watercoloring.  After cutting down the watercolor paper to the size I wanted, I sprayed the panel with Shimmer Spritz Sparkle for an equally subtle effect.

Next, I added the greeting and embellishments,  mounted the panel to a golden cs and attached it to the deep purple card base.

Done!


(Click to enlarge for a closer look.) 

SIMPLE SATURDAY #32

IS IT SPRING YET????

Here's the first card I made with the other new stamp set shown in the previous post.

Enjoy!

New Stamps!

Yesterday I stopped in at Hobby Lobby to pick out a numbering set, and here's what I came out with.  Not only does it have numbers in a variety of styles and sizes, but it also has some bar codes for the back of my cards!  The narrow bar code says "expensive"--very appropriate for all of us who create cards, dontcha think???

The card I made started out with a white side-fold base with the top piece cut shorter than the inside.  Since I wanted to use blue and yellow (avoiding red and green after Christmas) I found this yellow floral dsp in my scrap box and worked with it.  After mounting it on the card base with dimensionals, I glued on the "happy" die cut and stamped the numbers individually onto a piece of white scrap.  Stamping them one at a time allowed me to fit them closer together.  Next, I added the gems and rounded the top right corners.  To make the cardfront stand out better, I glued a strip of the same dsp on the inside to serve as a border.

This should make a nice notecard during the month of January. 

TIP:  When gluing down delicate thin pieces like this word die cut, I use TomBow Mono glue.  First, I put tiny dots on the back at the widest spots.  After mounting it on the card and letting it dry, I place a dot of glue on a piece of scrap and gently slide it underneath any loose spots.  This applies the smallest amount of glue so that it doesn't ooze out all over the front.

WINTER TREE

What better symbol of winter is a barren tree (except, perhaps for a snowman!)  Imagine if you had never seen a tree with leaves how impossible it would be to imagine what this tree would look like in the summertime.  Then try to imagine the things referred to in this Bible verse.

Even more impossible is to imagine the eternal future of God's people!

SUB-ZERO WEATHER...

...EXCELLENT STAMPING OPPORTUNITIES!

I saw this designer paper on the rack at Hobby Lobby months ago, and today is the day I decided to use it.  What better use than for one of the cards I've made for our pastor.

After cutting a piece to size for the card, I matched it up with a larger piece of kraft paper from my stash.  When I cut it, I made sure to center the main design for a simple card with an emphasis on the Bible verse presented on the front.

The Martha Stewart punch seemed to fit the pattern perfectly, allowing a little more of the kraft paper to show through.  The dots matched the colors in the design, as did the jute.

This was an easy card to layer and finish.

WINTER BIRTHDAY CARD

When I came across this card already embossed, I thought it would make the perfect card for my friend who will be celebrating her birthday on January 10.  Although it's hard to see here, I painted the flower petals with Star Dust Stickles and added crystal gems in the centers.  The twine is white with a silver thread, and the greeting is silver embossed.  It's very sparkly IRL!

CLEMATIS IN JANUARY

I joined the Greenhouse Society at Technique Tuesday and believe me, that's the only way I like to get my hands dirty around plants!  Whether stamping or gardening, I have a black thumb--except that with stamping, it's a lot safer for the plants...

I used watercolor pencils for the image, Olympia Green ink for the greeting and inside message, and yellow Stickles for the flower centers.

If you like to use botanical images on your cards, check out Technique Tuesday's monthly stamp, discount and automatic delivery HERE.

ONE LAYER SIMPLICITY CHALLENGE

Being restricted to only one layer really is a challenge for me!  I do like how this one turned out, however--in spite of the fact that I could have used the matching die cut ;)

To start, I masked the card with a 4x5" piece with the oval cut out and sponged a background with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  Next I stamped the image and colored the bird and branches with chalks.  I then stamped "thanks" (a little too far to the left than I intended) and finished by coloring the berries with a Jelly Roll pen.

To bring out the white of the bird, I used the Picket Fence Distress marker which covers the blue ink from the background nicely.

This stamp is a favorite of mine since we have so many Black Capped Chickadees at our bird feeder.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

...AND HAPPY STAMPING IN 2014!

A CLOSER LOOK

 Here's my desk blotter and most-used items surrounding it.  I recently came up with a way to maximize the stamping area with a very simple product by Crayola.  It's a sheet of thick frosted plastic I got at Hobby Lobby and cut to fit the blotter.  (Sorry, I forget what it's called.)  Underneath, I placed a sheet of SU grid paper which I use to line up my stamping or to center something on a card front.  What a help that is!  As you can see, I keep my Cuttlebug handy on the right since I use it often.

One of my most annoying problems was having to waste time looking for things that got buried under scraps, etc.  Clear acrylic handles were the items "lost" most often.  I used to store all my embossing folders and dies in the top drawer underneath the Cuttlebug; but I moved them elsewhere.  In the front of the drawer, a plastic container holds all my adhesives so that I can put them back as I use them--no more hunting for them on the table!  I just keep that drawer open whenever I'm working.  On the right side of the drawer is a container for my acrylic handles, which you can hardly see--proof of just how easy it is for one of them to "hide" on the table.  Behind those containers is a shallow one to hold incoming cards that need to be answered.

 Having a small space forces me to be more efficient and to purge my supplies often, so bigger is not always better!

DE TOWER DECLUTTERED!

 Compared to previous post, notice the absence of clutter on desk and table tops.  No more piles on the floor, either.  Plus I got all the work done in time to meet Jackie for lunch at Wegman's...

Hope this inspires YOU to start off the New Year with a more orderly creative space!

DECLUTTER DE TOWER!

 Was I busy this Christmas or what????

It's time to put the tower back together, but first I thought I'd give you a tour of the "before."  The first photo was taken from my desk chair toward the closet and Jenny's (my cat) chair.  In the foreground is the edge of my table with a pile of papers on the end.  Next is my desk with the monitor and keyboard.  The waste basket is pulled out from underneath the desk.  In front of it is a stack of 2 plastic containers filled with Christmas stamps, with even more on top.  Behind the waste basket is a box on the floor with a duplicate order that came in on Christmas Eve that I have to return -- like I needed the extra work!  To the right of that on the floor is a pack of printer paper, which belongs in the white cabinet currently blocked by two tote bags.  Behind the chair is the closet, which remained fairly neat, probably because everything I needed is pulled out!  This part of the room shouldn't take long to get back together.  The real challenge is my stamping table area.

The second photo shows my Cuttlebug still open from the last use.  Paper piles in several spots have to be sorted and put away, as well as some punches, stamps and inks.

But first, I need to go downstairs and have my coffee.  See you back here later for the "after" photos!

MODERN CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

I saw a video on YOUtube for making these Christmas Crackers with the Envelope Punch Board, and they couldn't have been easier!  Since our house is a contemporary, I decided to keep the ends pushed in instead of tying ribbons around the narrow parts as is usually done.   They each hold two Lindt truffles and will also serve as place cards for the table setting.  I thought I'd try the less traditional look for a change.

There were lots of versions of these on YOUtube, some large enough to use as small gift boxes.  (Just do a search for Envelope Punch Board.)

BIRTHDAY DEER

Click on the photo to see the glitter on the snow.  I used Star Dust Stickles, and it really glistens the way snow is supposed to!

The birch trees are from a new set I just got in the mail last week from Sweet 'n Sassy.  First I cut down the stamp so that I could use them separately or all together for whatever effect I'm after.  This one is the left 2/3 of the whole stamp.  The deer are from a Memory Box die, which also has another deer with antlers; but I thought these two were a better balance.  In fact, they show up a lot in the headlights around here ;)

The birthday greeting is from a Simon Says Stamp set, and I used Versafine Smokey Grey ink to keep it softer than it would be in black or dark brown.  The twine also came last week, and I love the silver thread running through it.  It's also a bit heavier than bakers twine.

Although it could be a nice Christmas card, this card will go to my son for his birthday on Jan. 8th.

WARMTH AND WONDER

I just love this Hostess Set from SU because it has everything you need for a card, including the inside and outside greetings.  I've already made several cards in different variations and colors, some with emphasis on the tree, some with the deer, and even a background panel with white snow flakes on kraft.

This card started out with sponging the background in Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress inks.  Next I inked up the tree in Versafine Olympia Green and stamped off before stamping the main tree on the card.  Then without reinking, I stamped the tree a second and third time (very faint here.)  The snowflake was inked with Broken China and stamped off before adding to the card.  The tree ornaments were stamped with Encore Champagne Metallic ink.

The reindeer was stamped in dark brown twice:  once on the card base and once on a scrap of white.  After adding the light green overlay, I cut the deer out (minus the antlers) and mounted it over the first one with a piece of  foam tape.  After applying Tombow Mono glue to the greeting , I was able to slide it in place underneath the deer legs to finish the card.

The inside greeting from the same set is stamped in the dark brown.  This set made it soooo easy!

TIP:  Since this is a wood mounted set, I came up with a way to center the ornaments perfectly on the tree.  I turned the ornament stamp upside down on the tree and marked on the side of the wood mount with a pencil line exactly where the tree trunk is.  Now I can line up the dots every time!