PAPER PLAYERS #387--Musical

Somehow I can't read the words to this hymn

without the melody coming to mind

for the rest of the day!  Can you?

Check out the other challenge entries HERE.

WINTER DOLDRUMS TO BLAME FOR PURCHASES

With so much snow and so little sun,

I just HAD to order some new stamps and dies.

This sentiment makes for a great encouragement card.

It's part of a stamp and die set from Hero Arts

which has 11 birds, 15 sentiments and

6 tiny stamps, including one with music notes.

These are part of a kit which also includes 3 ink spots,

two twig nests, 22 dies, and several sheets of cardstock,

2 with woodgrain embossing (I used the brown one here.)

I don't remember what the kit sold for, but it

was very reasonable.

For more ideas on how this set can be used,

check it out on Pinterest or YouTube.

 

 

THANK YOU NOTE

This morning at Bible Study we all walked in

to a surprise breakfast banquet provided

by the lady who had refreshments

this week.  As a tribute to her gratitude

for all that the Lord is doing in her life (and ours)

she brought sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, bagels and

a fruit platter.  She ordered everything

from a local deli/caterer and brought steaming hot

foil containers of all the food.  It was delicious!

This card is a thank you note I will be mailing to this woman

on behalf of all the ladies who were in attendance today.  Her

generosity spoke volumes of the Lord's giving 

blessing after blessing for all of us.

Amen.

 

PAPER PLAYERS #386--Sketch Challenge

Today is the first day I got to play with some new 

stamping materials.  This card features dsp from a new

6x6 pad of floral designs, and the blossom is an anemone from

an Altenew stamp set I just purchased.

Since the anemone I wanted to make is white,

it gave me a chance to use my chalks again to add some

blush in the center.  I haven't used them in a long time, so it was fun!

Check out the other Paper Player entries HERE.

EASTER BLESSINGS

Here's another version of the previous Easter card.

Same daffodil, different color.

The easel card keeps the message

up for viewing awhile longer.

TWO MORE CAT CARDS

Using the same dsp pad as the previous post,

I made two additional cat cards.

(See previous post.)

It's been fun revisiting old supplies!

BTW, we are still without power from the snow storm last weekend.

Rick keeps us warm and safe with the generator going.

He runs it an hour or two during the day and

four hours around dinner time.  He set up my PC for me to

do the bills (electronically) and post a few cards on my blog--

a luxury these days!  It's snowing again right now,

with more on the way in a few days.  Meanwhile, we wait...

patiently...

CAT CARDS--Three of a Kind

After rediscovering an old 6x6 pad of cat dsp's, 

I decided to make some cards with them.

It also gave me another opportunity to use my SU cat punch.

UPDATE ON THE LATEST

I haven't posted lately because I've been distracted with a lot of issues.  Rick developed a viral lung infection (not the flu) and is still being treated for it.  He had a terrible cough for weeks,  plus shortness of breath; and I was scared for awhile.  He's doing much better now, thankfully.  He had to stay away from people to avoid getting something else, so until this week he rarely went out.  I also had to avoid people or places where I could have brought something home.  Not much fun.

Meanwhile, our two cats had problems.  Jenny, our tuxedo cat, became diabetic at age 13.  I had to learn to give her 2 shots a day and wean her off the dry cat food she was used to.  Her brother/littermate developed a blockage in his urethra that was incurable, so we had to put him down.

Finally, after a long spell of unseasonably warm weather, it has turned more wintery.  The last storm hit on Friday with 8" of heavy snow, high winds, gusts over 45 mph and a power outage that they say will not be restored until Thursday night.  There are trees down everywhere, except on our property--truly an answer to prayer!  Lots of roads blocked, which is one reason why it's taking so long to get the power lines back up.  We run our generator every couple of hours to keep the heat up, refrigerator going and electronic devices charged.  One of my friends has invited me over to take a shower and wash my hair when her power returns tomorrow.  (so she's been told.)

I do have much to be thankful for:  Rick's health improving, milder weather again, lots of very good friends, and stamping, of course!   I just finished making 25 Easter cards and numerous kits for my card classes.  I hope to post some of them when the power returns.  Until then,  I'll be in my sunny Tower in the afternoons!

CARD FROM SCRAPS

Except for the gray gingham, this card was made

entirely from scraps.  The vertical greeting is from the SU! set,

Vertical Greetings, appropriately.  The scraps are from cards I've been making

using designer papers from Carta Bella..

LONE PINE

I'm sure we haven't seen the last of snow and ice yet, so this

card will go out soon.  I stamped it, wrapped some cording

around the white panel and mounted it with dimensionals.

For a final touch, I attached the greeting on the side

of the panel and added some glitter to the branches.  Easy card!

GET WELL CARD

Sometimes, all you need for a card is an interesting background.  

This one is from the Carta Bella pad I just got which is full of

beautiful designs.

All this card needed was a bold greeting (for a very speedy

recovery) and a few green leaves.  The silver and white baker's

twine help tie it all together (no pun intended!)  I didn't time it, but

I'm sure it was under 10 minutes to complete the card.

PAPER PLAYERS--Sew Much Fun!

I'm not a quilter, but I always enjoy looking at them.  Last Fall I went to a local

quilt show with a quilter friend who pointed out the techniques

and workmanship of the many on display--a big help in voting for the 3 best quilts.
    I'm not sure it was really fair to put the results in the hands of people like me

 who know very little about quilting, but I did my best to evaluate them 
on more than how pretty (or card-like) they were.

It's the same way with cards.  Would non-stamper judges appreciate all that goes into

a CAS card, thinking it was too plain?  Would they be attracted to the card that

has many embellishments, but really didn't require much skill?  Would they know

anything about the rule of thirds or the color wheel or a technique used?

Hmm...something to ponder...

One thing I do know is that when we send someone a card with

carefully chosen words of encouragement, it's no longer "just a card,"

it's a ministry.

CASEd from BRANDY'S CARDS

This card too almost no time at all, thanks to Brandy Cox's video.

In fact, she has tons of Stampin' Up tutorials that are 

easy and fun, so be sure to check her out on YouTube.

MODERN BUTTERFLIES

 The colors in these Brutus Monroe abstract patterns make the best butterflies!

The butterfly stamps are from my stash and are

years old.  The larger one (below) is one of my faves.

 

The dsp is from a 6x6 pad of  various marbled colors.  Both

greetings are from a floral set, Botanical Blocks, by PTI.

 The antennae were made from colored wires

and attached on the back of the butterfly with a

dimensional.  I shape the wires with my thumb.

The gingham dsp is from another 6x6 pad

(Doodblebug Design) that arrived with the rest

of my Simon Says Stamp order this week.

It's been fun playing around with such different designer

papers and CASEing some ideas from various YouTube videos.

One of them is called Cards and Coffee Time.  Check it out for some

fresh ideas using SSS kits, 10 cards at a time!

 

RAINY DAY FUN!

It's been raining on and off all day,

but not in the Stamping Tower!  I just

finished making a stack of new cards using

some new Carta Bella dsp 6x6 pads

from Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks to the beautiful floral print featured here,

I think I'm beginning to like pink.  This will be another Easter

card to send out.  The silver twine wrapped itself

around the top and bottom of the banner and blossoms

for a final touch.

The blossoms were done with colored pencils

and a blender pencil.

(This is one of those cards that looks better IRL.)

GATE FOLD NOTE

This card will be going out today with a note inside.

The stamp is from a set of Bible verses by

Our Daily Bread Designs. 

DRAGONFLY BIRTHDAY

This card features the large dragonfly from a SU! set that I found in my stash already cut and ready to go.  Starting with a white card base, I added a wide dsp banner, a green circle and the dragonfly.  

After adding the birthday greeting (also from SU!) I assembled the card as shown.  For embellishment, I used black gems and a corner punch (SU!)  I then used clear WOS on the dragonfly body to finish the card.

BIRTHDAY Z-FOLD

This clean and simple z-fold card was a  quick one.  After folding back the front, I ran the flap through my Sizzix in an embossing folder.  The greeting is a large one (Altenew) which makes the message stand out.  The flower at the bottom is attached with double dimensionals to serve as a way to keep the front from popping open.

Now that I'm posting it, I see that it could have used a little extra embellishment in the upper left corner.

PAPER PLAYERS--Red, White and Kraft

Love this color combo! 
I highlighted the cherry with clear WOS.

For the inside, I wrote:

"...after chocolate, that is!"

Other Paper Player entries are HERE. 


 

GETTING AHEAD

Now that I'm done with February birthdays and Valentines, I'm on to March and Easter!  I'll be posting the cards I've made soon.  Meanwhile, this birthday card was inspired by a paper pad I've had in my collection literally for years.  (Sorry for the faded look on the bottom.)

Are you as anxious for Spring as I am???


 

CASEing THE IPAD

This card was inspired by one that I saw on

Yana Smakula's blog HERE.

Using the MISTI, I stamped each of the larger images one at a time.  Then 

I removed the panel and stamped the smaller images in

between.  After coloring in the three large images, I added

some clear Wink of Stella for some shine on the scissor and

craft knife blades and gold WOS on the pen.

The larger stamps are from the SU set, "Crafting Forever" and

the smaller ones are from my peg stamp drawer.  The

inside has a Valentine greeting.

Thanks, Yana, for a fun card design!

MARCH BIRTHDAY

Now that I've finished all the cards I need for February, it's time to start on March.  It's nice to see some flowers, even if only on paper.  This violet stamp has been in my stash for quite a few years, and I always love using it, although I usually use it for Easter cards.  It's from Our Daily Bread Designs, and the set includes some beautiful Easter sayings.

The card is pretty self explanatory, so enjoy!


 

PAPER PLAYERS #378--Sketch

This was an easy sketch to follow, 

and I will be able to use this card as a Valentine.

The inside reads "Love one another." John 13:34

Except for the floral panel, the rest of the card was made with scraps!

Love that scrap drawer...

BLUE BLOOD MOON ECLIPSE

By the time the eclipse started, the moon

had set too close to the horizon for us to see with all

the trees in the way. 

At least we got a shot of the blue moon

(second full moon in the month)

which was extremely bright due to its closeness

to the earth.  As it was setting in the west, 

the sun was rising in the east and would have washed

out the contrast of moon to dark sky anyway.

At least I got to participate by getting up early and using my new camera!

PAPER PLAYERS #377

In designing this card, I wanted something that feels like Spring.  Are you as tired of winter as those of us up here in the Northeast?

This card was simple to do, as you can probably tell.  The only "tricky" part was coloring the wooden heart with Purple Distress Ink without getting ink all over the card from my fingers.  The heart, appropriately, is the only embellishment since I didn't want to distract from the airy flowers in the dsp.

One good thing about Winters is that it gives us a lot of free time to stamp!

THREE OF A KIND--Love

All three cards were done using the Love Stamp Set from Papertrey Ink, and the corresponding die.

For the first card, I inked up the stamp in Versafine Warm Gray and stamped off to make the image as light as possible.  Then I colored the flowers with yellow and accented them with a gold WOS brush.  The image is popped up on a yellow oval with pearls for embellishment.

The second card was started with Brusho powder and lots of water on a stitched rectangle.  After allowing the cs to dry overnight, I stamped the image and colored with a marker that best matched the dsp.  Then I coated it with clear WOS, stamped the greeting with dark gray in the space provided and popped it up with dimensionals.

For embellishment, I added a few sequins and assembled the card as shown.  It's still a little warped from all the water I had to use, and I'm hoping it will flatten out more in the mail.

The third card, which I like best because of the unusual color combo, started with choosing some coordinating dsp and gluing it to the card front.  I separated the two dsp designs by adding a sliver of the same blue cs used for the word "love."

Next, I gold embossed the image and die cut it.  After gluing the word to the image, I added some tiny gems and a wooden heart to finish the card front.



All three cards use an appropriate Bible verse from the stamp set for the inside.  These cards will go to three of my close friends.

BACK IN TIME (Part 1 of 2)

While searching for my StampinUp catalog the other day, I came across a bunch of older ones and started browsing through them.  It was quite interesting as I noticed that some of the supplies we've become accustomed to were not invented yet...(talk about feeling old...)

Cards were made with tearing, fussy cutting, Rollagraphs and markers.  Remember brass stencils and light boxes?  How about Coluzzles for circle and oval cutting before dies came along? and punches with stiff knobs that had to be pressed down with both hands on a table?  My, how we have persevered all those hardships!

(More to come in my next post!)

BACK IN STAMPIN' UP TIME (Part 2 of 2)

The 2008-2009 catalog featured a beautiful cover with a scalloped edge.  By then, punches featured a handle that made punching so much easier.  Rollagraph wheels were still available, both large and small.  Die cuts were available only in precut sheets, and rub-ons were offered for embellishments.  Sample cards featured less tearing and more punched shapes and scalloped edges.

A whole new world opened up in the 2009-10 catalog with the introduction of the Sizzix Big Shot and all the wonderful dies!  The card samples were even more amazing than ever, but we had no idea of what would be coming in the next catalog.  One big improvement was the streamlining of punches into a folded, stackable design which takes up a lot less room.  Page after page of beautiful cards used the new dies and embossing folders.


Oh, but the 2012/13 catalog brought us the choice of wood or clear stamps which saves even more space in our stamping areas.  The stamp cases went from an inch and a half thick to just .6" inches--that's 20 sets per foot!  And with clear stamps, you could line up images for 2-step stampin' on more creative cards, as reflected in the card sample pages.

Here's my own example of 2-step stamping where the flowers are separate from the leaves and stems.  This enabled us to use two different colors for the same image.  For these flowers, I added some gold Wink of Stella to give the blossoms a bit more depth.  Newer 2- and 3-step stamping would provide another stamp to use for the darker shade of yellow.

Just when you think they couldn't come up with anything new, they do!  I wonder what Stampin'Up will introduce next...

DE-CLUTTERING TIME AGAIN!

Now that we're cooped up in the house again because of the cold and nasty weather, it's another opportunity to declutter.  Here are some guidelines that may be a help:

JUST START!  ANYWHERE!    I've discovered over the years that one reason I procrastinate getting started is that I look at some rooms as overwhelming.  Instead, I now make my goals smaller with a list of small tasks such as one drawer or cabinet in one room.

Clearing off surfaces is a good starting challenge.  Make your rooms look bigger one countertop or tabletop at a time.  A cleared off coffee table, if you have one, can set the stage with one decorative item, a magazine or photo album, and some coasters.  End tables can hold a lamp, cell phone and a note pad and pen.  I limit myself to 3 items per surface for a balanced look, easy to remove when it's time to dust the top.  The more clean surfaces, the bigger the room looks.

STAY FOCUSED!  Don't get sidetracked.  Concentrate on one room until you're happy with the improvement, even if it takes a few days or more, a little at a time.  Vacuum and dust or wash AFTER you've decluttered, then take the time to enjoy the new look.  Move outdated papers or magazines to the trash.  Items to be donated can be stored in the trunk of your car until you drop them off at a Salvation Army bin or a second hand shop nearby. 

REWARD YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!  Take pictures of your finished areas, have a glass of champagne or treat yourself to something special.  Then decide which area to tackle next!
 
 

MASCULINE BIRTHDAY CARD

The image on this card has some subtle coloring with a marker:

 light green in the grass,  pale grayish blue on the bird,

and a touch of tan on the beak.  The torn paper

gives it some texture and the simple twine embellishment

keeps it from looking feminine.

Masculine cards are always a challenge for me.

How 'bout you?

GREENHOUSE SOCIETY STAMP

I still love to go back to some of these little stamp sets
 from the Greenhouse Society collection I have up here in the Tower.
  Their Technique Tuesday monthly sets each feature a botanical

image made available to those who've signed up 

for automatic delivery each month.  I stayed in for 14 months and

loved every set they issued.   This one is labeled 

"Berries" and was issued in 2013.

DETAIL GATE CARD

When I saw this thinlit in the SU catalog, I

knew it would make a nice non-Halloween gate card.  

In fact, this first card is already in the mail!

Inside reads "May your day bloom with

wonderful surprises" and features flowers from my

peg stamp collection for a Springtime look.  

Spring won't be coming to New Jersey for a couple

of months yet.  Meanwhile, it's sunny and warm in my

stamping tower as we await the warmer weather.  Even our
two cats have cabin fever but shrink back from the
cold when we open the door.

SHADOW BOX CARD

I haven't made a shadow box card in quite awhile, so

 I decided to use this one for one of the classes in my card

making elective at Bible study this Spring.  (Great way to 

use up some of the pink papers in my stash...lol)

Although there are a lot of steps to this card,

it's fun to make, and their

recipients will love it! 

 

SIMPLE SATURDAY

BACK IN THE TOWER AGAIN!

I hope you all had as wonderful a Christmas

as our family did!  We went to our daughter's house 

for the day and thoroughly enjoyed being with our kids

and four grandkids.  My husband got his wish

for a white Christmas, even though it was just a dusting--perfect!

I'm now concentrating on putting kits together for the card-making class

I'll be doing for our ladies Bible Study.  To help with the cost of the class, my good

friend, Evelyn, gave me a big container of precut and folded textured cards with 

envelopes.  This is one of them which they will use for sympathy cards.

Unfortunately, we all need them ready to go every now and then.  To give them

a nice finished look I cut the bottom (or right side, depending on the orientation)

with a Stitched Snow Drift die from MFT so that the cream-colored inside would show.

Since these ladies are beginners, they will make two variations of

the same card each week, using the kits I'm making

with everything pre-cut and stamped.  A lot

of work for me, but well worth the effort for those who've been 

asking for the class.  Themes will be a mix of birthday, Easter and all-purpose

designs, starting after our Winterim ends in mid-February.
Class size will be limited to eight, which helps keep it easier.

NINE GIFT CARDS!

Gift Card giving is here to stay!

Not only is it easier to give and receive,

but it's also a creative opportunity to personalize the gift

with holders that fit the person you're giving to.

These were fun to make, and I also

have some small gifts to go with them in my next favorite

gift giving help--the gift bag!

  No more endless wrapping of awkward gift boxes.

Oh, and the car (or sleigh)

is easier to pack, too!

 

SHIMMERY SNOWFLAKE

I made a few New Year's cards for those Christmas cards that come in from people I didn't send one to.  This one is shinier in real life, and the pattern behind the snowflake doesn't show through as much.




The inside was done with silver embossing for the sparkler and Gold Tinsel ep for the greeting.  The stamp set I used was "It's a Celebration."


The photos were taken with my new camera!

MAKE IT MONDAY #305--Love of Layers

...or should I say "Layering Gone Wild???"

This card features seven layers (not counting the pearl or gem.)

Can one have too many layers?  I don't think so,

as long as you layer responsibly!

This was a fun card to make for this challenge.

The Papertrey Ink set is one of several "Splits" available

in their $5 Mini Stamp set series. 

 The coordinating die is also a $5 item, used here

for the stamped image and behind it (upside down.)

I have a variety of these mini sets and dies

in my stash which I enjoy using.

For more on this challenge, click HERE.

 

CAT SITTIN' PRETTY

Great opportunity to use up some of the Autumn dsp's!

...and Thank-you notes may come in handy after Christmas... 

THREE OF A KIND--Wreaths

My new wreath die arrived the other day, and I finally got a chance to use it this afternoon!  I've seen so many beautiful cards made with this die, including non-holiday ones.  I hope to get a lot of use out of it!

(Please click on the image for a closer view.)


 

PAPER PLAYERS #372--Sketch

Sketches always seem to be more of a challenge for me, but this one seemed to come together more easily.

I like to keep a few New Year cards for those who might send an unexpected  Christmas card too late for me to respond in kind.  So I have some fun cards made with lots of sparkles and glitter for the New Year.  Then I add their name to next year's Christmas card list.  These gold and silver snowflakes from Stampin' Up are just right for the occasion.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!




 

PAPER PLAYERS #371--Warm and Cozy

My CAS card features a warm and cozy quilt.  This card will be going out tomorrow for a friend whose husband is recovering from a nasty spider bite.  He was in the hospital several times for treatment, and the swelling (in his arm) is finally subsiding after 3 weeks.   

PAPER PLAYERS #370--White on White

 I've asked Santa for a new camera for Christmas, and since I've been good (at least I think so) my photos should improve soon.  Meanwhile, I'll have to just describe what I used for this card.

First, I ran some white cs through the Big Shot for a  layer of white embossed snowflakes.  Then I ran it through the scalloped rectangle die and attached it with dimensionals to a white card base.

Next, I used the snowflake die twice.  On the bottom one, I added the glitter and then used the second one to make it thicker and also have the glitter contained between the lines.  Before attaching the snowflake, I added  white glitter washi tape to the bottom for a little more sparkle.  For the finishing touch, I added a pearl in the center.

Click on the photo for a larger image and a closer look at the details!


The Paper Players website can be found HERE:

THREE OF A KIND--Christmas Cardinal

These three were done with the AlteNew stamp and die sets.  For the first one, I made a gate card with a 3-step stamped bird.  Thankfully, I remembered to attach the green panel with adhesive only on the left side!

The second card was done with the cardinal dies which I used to cut the bird out of some red plaid dsp.

Lastly, I chose another dsp to use with the cardinal die, centering the large white flower on the bird and adding a gem in the center.  The background dsp is gold metallic.


As of today, I'm all done with my 100+ Christmas cards--Yay!

PAPER PLAYERS #369

In order to brighten up the front of this card, I added some gold twine on the left and a strip of green and gold dsp on the inside right.  I trimmed 1/2" off the right side of the front and cut the dsp to 3/4" so that it would show in the space created.  You can't see it here, but the card base has some sparkle to it also.

For more examples for this challenge, click HERE.

PAPER PLAYERS #368

This week's card challenge for the Paper Players was a Tic-Tac-Toe one--my favorite!  I chose the top line which is Tree/Birthday/Fall.  Enjoy!

To view other entries, click HERE.