BUTTERFLY BIRTHDAY GATE FOLD

This 6x6 pad of SU dsp was somehow hidden in my stash, and I rediscovered it the other day.  Using all three patterns from that one pad, I easily assembled this card.

Uh-oh, I'm starting to like "the dreaded pink!"

SIMPLE SATURDAY #49

CASE of a Silver Stamper Card

This Happy Mail is for a Silver Stamper friend who sent me a GORGEOUS Spring card that I CASEd.

Her card featured a beautiful Spring wreath stamped on a die cut with 5 large scallops.  She colored it beautifully, which was quite an inspiration.  So I got out my peg stamps and went for it!

The design works very nicely.  Her wreath featured a bird's nest with four blue eggs.  Mine has a bumble bee in the same spot, which is part of the SU! dragonfly die set. 

The envelope features the same flower as the ones on the wreath, stamped over the lines from an envelope stamp set at Simon Says Stamp.  The name of the set is "Sending Flowers."  Very appropriate name, don't you think?

FANCY FOLD CARD

I found this pre-folded green card base in my stash the other day, and I had no idea what it was planned for; so I used it for this card.

Starting with a scalloped circle die, I cut the dsp, added the dragonfly and the sentiment, and punch out 2 flowers from the back of the same dsp scraps.

The flower on the right acts as a lock to hold the card closed.  I wrote a note on a piece of white paper for the inside.  For a final touch, I added Wink-of-Stella (clear) on the dragonfly wings.

LAST CLASS

Today is the last class of this semester at Bible Study where we have been making some encouragement cards.  This involved a lot of die cutting, which I did here so I wouldn't have to bring my Big Shot.

The silver under the butterfly wings is from a pre-pasted sheet which apparently was too thin to be separated after die cutting it.  Here's a TIP on how to overcome that problem:

Cut a piece of the glitter paper, peel off the backing and apply it to a piece of scrap cardstock.  Then run it through the Big Shot with the die, add the wings on top and attach to the card with a dimensional.  Problem solved.

Another problem solved was how to use dryer sheets with the butterfly die so the little pieces would not have to be poked out. (Takes forever--ask me how I know!)  Simply die cut as usual, but then run the die, with the pieces still in it, through the machine face down over 4-6 layers of dryer sheets.  When you peel off the wings, the little pieces remain embedded in the dryer sheets.  No more mess!

BIRTHDAY CARD FOR MY SISTER

This gate card wouldn't stay shut, so I added a brad into a piece that would swivel (don't know what it's called or where I got it.)  The blue oval is attached on the left side, so when that "thing" is moved off, the card will open.

The bird is from a SU! die set, and I love this bird in particular.  Very easy--just cut and attach with a dimensional.

After adding the flower and gem, and some Wink-of-Stella, the card was done.

SIMPLE SATURDAY #48

This is definitely under 10 minutes to make,

but I forgot to start my timer!

PAPER PLAYERS #341--Sketch Challenge

I took a little artistic license on the sketch (HERE) since I re-discovered the label die in my stash!

Using my peg stamps, I created a "swoosh" of flowers and leaves, then added the bow.  The leafy panel is from a SU! pad of vellum designs.

The same peg stamps were used for the bottom corner of the envelope.

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!

MY PAPER PUMPKIN ARRIVED TODAY!

--filled with lots of goodies for making this first card and others.  The surprise gift from Sara was  really nice, too!  It was used here, but I won't spoil the surprise.

The black cardstock and envelopes give the cards a modern look.  The stamp set included has mix and match words to use for a nice saying like this one.  The envies have a white area for the name and address, and the inside is lined, too.

VELLUM COLORING

My usual way of coloring on vellum is to emboss the front and color on the back.  This time, after watching a video by Jennifer McGuire on blending inks and Wink of Stella on the front, I decided to give it a try.

This card came out ok, but it would have worked better to have chosen a flower with petals that were merely an outline so that the coloring showed up more.  You may be able to see the shimmer on this one if you click to enlarge it.

Stop in again later for another try at this technique with a better image.

THREE OF A KIND--Psalm 145:18

I finally got a chance to use a new die which I purchased from Papertrey Ink.

These are pastor cards which I will deliver today.  I did them assembly line style in no time!

THREE OF A KIND--Global Design Project #080

 I made these three cards for a CASE challenge, but couldn't decide

which one to use; so I decided to display all three in one photo.

I think I like the one on the right best (even though it has a lot of pink

in it!)  The bottom butterfly was cut from a piece of black cs

and coated with gold Wink-of-Stella. 

The brown card features leftovers from a previous card.

The blue card will make a nice all-purpose card

for future use.  The larger butterfly was punched from a scrap

of the light blue cs and sponged with a darker blue so it would stand out.

If you'd like to join in the challenge, just click HERE.

INTERLOCKING GATE CARD

The main thing to remember about any gate card is to put your adhesive on one side only.  With an interlocking one, you need to add adhesive on the opposite side of each piece.

The chocolate bon-bon here is used to keep the card closed.  I made it with the fox punch and trimmed the bottom--otherwise, it looks like a hat.  If you don't have brown glitter paper, it also looks chocolate-y with gold Wink-of-Stella on brown cs.

Of course, you have to be careful not to leave chocolate finger prints on this card while you're putting it together!

MARCH PAPER PUMPKIN

After reading about this month's Paper Pumpkin on YouTube, I was not expecting much.  There were numerous complaints about the colors and patterns of the paper.  However, once I came up with some of my own ideas for using this kit, it turned out to be delightful.  Here's what I did:

First, I followed the instructions for the bunny bags, except that I also stamped the whiskers on the back to highlight the bunny tail.  The bags (empty for now) are adorable!  I decided to use them as place cards at the dinner table.

That gave me an idea for the adults at the table.  Instead of making a tiny card, I cut off the dsp side of the card to die cut as flowers at a later date.  After wrapping the bakers twine around the square, I attached the square to the envelope front with Fast Fuse.  I added the bunny tail on the back of the envelope which will be used to hold a Ghiradelli chocolate square.  As you can see here, I plan to write each adult name on the front and place them on the appropriate dinner plate.

I'm looking forward to using these for a festive Easter dinner table!

DISTRESS OXIDE INKS--first try

Yesterday, my order of Distress Oxide inks arrived--finally!  I purchased these over a month ago, but had to wait until they became available for shipping.  Today, I felt well enough to play with them.

First I used the smooshing technique on watercolor paper for the butterflies using the 3 colors shown.  For the front of the card, I inked up a background stamp with Broken China (blue) and spritzed it with water for a vivid effect on the kraft panel.  I then mounted the panel on a Very Vanilla card base.

Since I had one more butterfly left, I used it for an Easter card shown here:

Thanks for all your well wishes.  I'm starting to feel better today, so I guess the antibiotic is working.  Just two days ago I thought the cat was meowing next to me, but it turned out to be me wheezing--ugh!  The wheezing is gone, and I'm beginning to have more energy.  So glad to be back in the Tower, even if only for 2 cards!

Thank you for your comments.  I truly cherish every one of them.

BIRTHDAY OWL

Yesterday I found this card in my camera from some time ago.  Since I've been very sick (with bronchitis) and haven't had the energy to stamp for almost a week, I decided to post this for now.

This was for my grandson who turned 8 last month.  He wore an owl costume in his last school play, so it seems appropriate.

I managed to make some cards yesterday using leftovers from last year's April Paper Pumpkin.  It was nice to get a bunch done with little effort.  They're all addressed and ready to go for the April birthdays on my list.

One positive thing from being this sick:  Rick made dinner for us last night!  (Marie Callendars Chili Pot Pie--yummy comfort food.)

FLORAL DIE CUT

I've seen many cards with a die cut that was stacked and reinserted into the cut space and finally got a chance to try one myself.

Here's a TIP for gluing delicate pieces:

Squirt some TomBow Mono glue onto a silicone craft mat.  Place the die cut image or word upside down on the mat and dab with a craft sponge to apply the glue.  Adhere to card-- no more oozing!

BIRTHDAY BLOOM

Since I had the gold foil dsp out already, I made this quick card.

Sometimes I use my dies so much, I forget that I also have handy punches.  Since I have all three sizes of flowers, I used them to make this coordinated blossom, held together by a gold brad in the center.  After adding the gold and melon twines, I mounted the dsp panel to a scalloped panel and foam taped it to a colored cs base.  The greeting was stamped in green Versafine ink and attached just above the twines.

Quick and easy!

GREEN CHALLENGE

As soon as I saw this challenge my first thought was to use the Vertical Greetings set.with its topiaries.  It also gave me the chance to use a piece of printed vellum that's been sitting on my table for weeks.

Starting with the top fold card base, I used Versamark to stamp around the edges with a background stamp.  Next, I added the vellum.

For the topiary and greeting I used various green inks.  The tree pot was stamped on green cs, fussy cut and mounted to the panel with foam tape.

The embroidery floss and sequins fit the color scheme perfectly. For the final touch, I spattered some green ink with a brush and mounted the panel with foam tape.

This was a fun Curtain Call Inspiration challenge!

A CAT TAKE-OVER...

...AND JUST HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS BED???