Thanks Card

Hi Friends!

On my Instagram I showed a pack of cards and corresponding papers that I have had Forever.  And I am finally going to bust this stash! That's my goal anyway.

It's part of another goal-so I will tell you quickly.  In years past I have observed Lent-I'm Christian and more specifically Episcopalian. We have Ash Wednesday services and Holy Week services.  This year I couldn't figure out what to "give up" for Lent.  Or add as some people add something like kindness or collect one item a day to give away to charity.  My dear sweet father-in-law passed away also.  And then the corona virus which is a daily saga all in itself-my mind has been all over the place.

Then I think oh yeah it's Lent-and Easter is coming soon.  And the 40 days still hung onto my heart and would appear in my mind.  What to do?

So I work in one of the best places on Earth.  Although it is a small workplace-it is quite mighty.  And everyone there sent cards, and food, and surrounded me and my family with love.  So as a cardmaker I must send them thank you cards.  In addition of course to our  family members and friends who were very loving and mindful during this time in our life.

So I am going to be making lots of thank you cards and other cards because that's what we do. :)  So to fulfill my Lent "obligation" I am going to make 40 cards before Easter.  And a portion of those cards will be made from this set I bought a long time ago. 

Here is the first card.  I used a card base from the Amy Butler pack, vellum, rinestones, cardstock, and a pink paper from the corresponding mat stack.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp-and it's seriously one of my favorite dies.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes

Crafty Creations: #407 Anything Goes

Daisy Chain: #39 Use Dies (Thanks is from Simon Says Stamp)

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time stay healthy my friends :)

Vintage Elephant Birthday Card

Hello Everybody!

I'm so excited to show you this fun card.  I had to wait a little before I posted it-I didn't want her to see it too soon.  

I used a stencil and paste for the background.  Then I used distress inks and added water to make a watercolor out of them.  

I added some lace that I was gifted.  The lace is cool because it has gold scallops.  The Wish is a Tim Holtz ticket and so are the stars.  I purple dots are Nuvo Drops.

The elephant is from a Steampunk show I went to.  The vendor had old jewelry blanks and pieces because they bought a warehouse of stuff from a company that went out of business but had been around for many years.  I love this elephant but it was time for him to go :)  The metal flower is from an earring I bought at the show too.  There were many metal flowers on the earrings so I still have a little stash of those. ;)

I am submitting this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Wendesday Challenge-Anything Goes

Watercolor Wednesday: WWC 223 Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday Anything Goes  #166 with an option-I didn't do the option

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...stay colorful! :)

Cross Fit Baby Card

Hello Everybody!

One of my good friends does cross fit.  And someone in her class was going to have a baby.  So my friend asks if I can make a cross fit baby card.

I am not going to lie and say I didn't go on Pinterest for ideas-because I totally did.  And there aren't any.  LOL!  So somewhere in my head I had this vision to put a baby on a set of bar bells.

My next obstacle was that the silhouette store didn't have any baby svg files that I liked.  Weird, huh?  So I dusted off the ol' cricut-and ta da!  This card was born ;)

This is a great baby die cut form Cricut.  But don't give it a month-it makes it not cute anymore.  At least when I tried to give it a mouth LOL!  :)

I am entering this card into:

the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp-Wednesday Challenge.

And the Anything Goes Challenge at Watercolor Wednesday

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends....keep working out! :)

Geometric Happy Birthday

Hello Everybody!

I was inspired by the challenge at "Just Us Girls" to make this card.  Their challenge is Geometric.

I used some Stampin Up stuff that a friend of mind kindly gifted me a while back.  The papers are SU chocolate chip and regal rose and so are the stamp colors.  The white is from Michaels (when they are $2 a pack-you know the ones) ;)

The sentiment is also SU and the circles are from Inkadinkado.  I used their square placing system also to start the pattern of circles and then I filled in the rest.  I also added a brown ribbon.  I don't know about you but I feel successful when I can incorporate ribbon onto a project. :)

The flowers are Tim Holtzs tattered florals and the circle is from spellbinders.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

"Just Us Girls" Geometric

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: For a Special Lady/Girl

Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...be happy! :)

Glittery Peacock Card

Hello Everybody!

Wow!  November has gone by so fast.  So fast that I almost missed this post!  😲  And now there are emojis in blogger!  Have I been gone that long?  (LOL  just kidding I posted on November 1st.)

So since it's November 15, it time for a mid-month reminder of our very cool challenge happening at Creative with Stamps.  You have to use a bird stamp.  So be sure to check out what my awesome teammates created along with the rules here.

For my card I used a peacock stamp from Great Impressions.  I embossed it with Sienna Star embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  The sentiment is from an old Fiskars thank you set.

The glitter around the edges is also from Sparkle N Sprinkle called Golden Silver.  It is absolutely beautiful.  Gold sometimes is dark and that is ok in some applications.  But I love happy bright gold and this glitter is all of that.  I used red line tape around the edges.  The black pearls are from Rangers Enamel Accents.  For me I needed to balance out the sentiment.  :)

 

I couldn't figure out which photo I liked better.  So I thought why not include them both.  

And we have 2 great sponsors this month-so there are prizes!

Sponsors:

3 Digital Stamps from Eureka Stamps

(for CWS Challenge Winner)

Shop: http://www.eurekastamps.com/

Blog: http://www.eurekastamps.blogspot.com/

&

3 Digital Stamps from STAMPLORATIONS

(for RANDOM Winner)

Shop: http://stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/

Blog: http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/

I would like to link this card to the following challenges:

Sparkle N Sprinkle-anything goes with loose glitter and embossing powder  eom

Perfectly Created Chaos-Heat Embossing  11.15

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Thanks/Thanksgiving  11.15

So please join us with your bird stamps!  Until next time my friends...stay tweet! :)

Spooky Lady

Hello Everybody!

Halloween is on it's way-and I am getting started on making Halloween cards and other things.  There are lots of cute images at Silhouette-and they are full of inspiration.  Silhouette does pay me to say wonderful things about them (but I'm open for an arrangement!) ;)  One of their cool cuts is this Halloween Witch and her owl.

The cardstock and the card base is from Michael's.  The base of the background is a page from a book.  Except for the witch (which is Silhouette) the rest is Tim Holtz!  Even those cool decorative pumpkins.

I used paints for the background: crushed olive, endless preserves, and black soot.  I did use a stencil from the crafters workshop.  The spooky is from a thin Tim Holtz die cut set.  (There were other words too and a bat embossing folder.)

I would like to link this up to the following challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:  Halloween

Sunny Day Crafting: Anything Goes  #18

Crafty Boots Challenge: Halloween

Inspiration Destination: #106 Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...stay spooktacular! :)

Halloween Gatefold Card

Hello Everybody!

It is time for a new challenge at House of Cards!  For October we would like to see Gate Cards or you can use the challenge colors.  Or if you are feeling courageous-then both! :)

I went for the Gate Card.  And I totally embraced the Halloween spirit.

I have to warn you though, my card did not want to close nicely.  And I know they used to sell these little magnets-and now I know why.  LOL-but I don't have any of those.  :)

So here is my card closed up.  There are rhinestones on the outside.  The card, spider web and inside shapes were all cut by my silhouette.

So when you open the card it looks like this (the very first picture).  And you see the plain orange shape.  

Then when you lift up that flap--ta da!  The sentiment (a Stampin Up stamp).

This seemed really cool in my head.  Until I realized that anything that went behind the spider web would be to busy with the web.  So that is why the plain shape is there.  

The spider is from Jolee's Boutique.  And this is the front side.  He is made out of felt and he has little beady red eye and little wire legs.  So cute for a fake spider! :)

But on the card he kept flipping over.  And his back side was a white dimension sticker which I peeled off.  But it was still white and he didn't hang right.  So I used Rangers Black Enamel Accents and covered this back.  I lined up the floss so he would hang straighter also.

This is his backside.

Thank you for stopping by today!  We hope you join in to our challenge.  Here is the inspirational photo colors.  Also, you can make a gate card instead.  So the question is...what will you make!

I would like to link this card up to the following challenges:

Brown Sugar #218 Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet  #147 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge  Anything Goes

Sunny Day Crafting #16 Anything Goes

Until next time my friends...Happy October! :)

Chemistry Card

Hello Everybody!

I made a card for a sketch at Stick It Down.  And I love how it turned out.  This stamp set is called Positive Chemistry and it's from Close to My Heart.  And I just love it!

The inks are from Stampin Up-Green Galore and Summer Sun.  On the green galore base I used clear embossing powder so it would be easier to see those molecules.  (I guess molecules-it's been awhile since I was in a chemistry class.)

I would like to submit this card into the following challenges:

Stick It Down: Card Sketch

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Clean And Simple

Inspiration Destination:  Anything Goes #103

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...stay positive! :)

Geometric Fun!

Hello Everybody!

It's a new month at Creative with Stamps.  Last month was splatters-and it was super fun.  This month we want to see geometric shapes.

Here is what I created for this challenge:

I used different colors and different circles-all from Stampin Up- to make this card.  It was very cool to stamp using the different colors.  I am so used to stamping in brown and black and a friend of mine totally gifted me with all of these different colored stamps and ink pads.  I feel like she brought color to my sepia world. :)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Inspiration Destination #96:  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes

So please come join us.  Don't forget to put the graphic on your post! :)

I almost forgot to mention the prize!  Stamplorations is generously giving the prize this month.  Check out the rest of the Design Team's cards.  They are all super talented ladies.  

Until next time my friends....don't be square ;)  

a $15 Gift Certificate from STAMPLORATIONS

or 

Choice of any 2 ARTplorations Stencils

(for Challenge Winner)

Shop: http://stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/

Blog: http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/

House of Cards August Challenge

Hello Everybody!

New month-new challenge at the House of Cards!  This month you can use this lovely color palette or use twine or do both.  I chose twine.  :)

Use Twine and/or Colors

Some friends of ours were married a few weeks ago.  Etiquette says I have 6 months to get them a present.  Whew!  So here is their card:

I am super happy with how this turned out.  The heart stamp is from Great Impressions and the sentiment is from Stampin Up.  I used platinum embossing powder from Ranger on the hearts and Pixie Pink ink from Stampin Up for the sentiment.  My sentiment was a little off so I placed the key to kind of making it look more centered. ;)  Shhhh don't tell!

And then there is the pink twine.  To make this white cardstock panel work, I used pop dots.  

I hope you will join our fun challenge.  :)

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes   8.2.16

Sparkle N Sprinkle: Anything Goes with Embossing Powder    eom

Inspiration Destination #96: Anything Goes    8.2.16

Until next time my friends...have a great twine (lol) ;)

A Colorful Hello Card

Hello Everybody!

The challenge at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge inspired this card.  The challenge is to use stars.  (And Seth Apter is a guest there this month--sssqqqeeeaaallll!  I've seen his work in the Cloth, Scissors, Paper magazine.  It's awesome!) :)

So I started off with a gelli plate card background.  I used an almanac book page and golden paints and craft paints (dreamcoat, craftsmart, etc).  To read more about my gelli plate backgrounds go here.

Then I stamped stars around the edges.  The stamp is a Stampin Up stamp from the year 2000.  Wow!  LOL :)  Then I added Diarylide Yellow Golden fluid acrylic paint so the "hi" wouldn't get lost in the background.  The "hi" and the star are red modge melts.  I used a the modge podge mold for the star and wrote out hi with the glue gun.  I used Beacon 3 in 1 to adhere the "hi" to the card once the paint was dry.  Then I added the yellow star paper clip.  (Many moons ago Staples had a paper clip and binder bar.  You could fill up a cup with what you wanted.  That's where that star came from.) :)

Here is a closeup of the sentiment:

Here are the challenges that I would like to submit this too:

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge: Stars

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes

Great Impressions: Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination: #96 Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by today!  Until next time my friends...keep reaching for the stars! :)

Classy Birthday Card

Hello Everybody!

Tonight I'm sharing a card I made for my husband.  It's for 3 ladies at one of the offices that have birthdays close together.

For the background paper I used K & Company.  There is a stamp on the left that is from Tim Holtz and so are the roses.  I painted those with spun sugar.  I also used spun sugar with a stencil in the background (also Tim's).  The spiral clip is from Stampin' Up.  There is a flower rub-on on the right corner.  The image is from the Silhouette store.  I have been waiting to use this cut file-so I was very excited when this project came along.

I would like to submit this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes  5.31

Silhouette Challenges #37 Anything Goes  5.31

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...stay classy! :)

A Card for Mom

Hello Everybody!

I just put the finishing touches on a card from my mom for Mother's Day.  If I had just started a couple of days earlier I would be totally awesome.  But since I'm not-and I have to mail my card-I just decided I would embrace by tardiness.  It's possible my mom knows I'm going to be late anyway-LOL.  :)

So here's my card:

The background is from when I was making gelli prints.  If you want to check out that post go here.  Then I used a stencil (I don't know from who) and Wendy Vecchi's crackled texture paste.  

Once that dried I used glossy accents to glue on the flower (prima) and the center which is from Jolee's boutique (it's old lol).  The I stamped a few swirls-the small ones on both side are Heidi Grace and the one in the corner is way old from Stephanie Barnard.  The I glued some Tim Holtz hearts and mom stickers from Making Memories.

I'm really excited about it.  So time to get it ready for the mail.  But before I do, I need to submit this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Stencil It

Brown Sugar: #197 Mother's Day

{Pin}spirational :photo

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time Happy Mother's Day! :)

February Tim Holtz Tag

Hello Everybody!

I am so excited that I finished my Tim Holtz tag for February!  It's always a treat to be able to make what Tim makes (or come really close to making it).

I used a different stencil-mine was doilley but I like the one he used better (I have to add it to my list).  I used a couple of his roses and painted them with spun sugar distress paint.  I love these little roses!

I love the heart too.  It is 2 pieces of ephemera glued to a heart base.  For me I hadn't thought of using the printed pieces like this so this makes me really happy.  I used his same technique on the raised words except that I had to spell out the words using a stencil because I didn't have the one Tim used.  

I am entering this February tag into the following challenges:

Tim's tag and link up (because there is still time) is here.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...i heart you! :)

Got Trend?

Hello Everybody!

I was playing around and made this Halloween card.  I was playing with trends.  The background is a little mixed media-spray, used a stencil, did some paint splatters.  Then I incorporated some feathers.  They're still in style right?  And gold!  I am obsessed with gold.  I used to like it.  Now I am full blown obsessed.  So I used Ranger's sticky embossing powder along with this fabulous gold glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle to outline the ghost.

What do you think?  It's a little different.  Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone.  That is what I did. :)

And since Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-I am going to submit this crazy card!  

Thank you for stopping by.  Until next time my friends....gold use lots of gold ;)  (just kidding!)

Brrrrrr

Hello Everybody!

It's only cold in the AC here!  But I have a little friend who is turning 3 and her favorite movie is Frozen.  So I wanted to make her a special birthday card-and I wasn't sure how I was going to make it without Elsa.

But with the help of the Silhouette online store and my machine, I figured it out!

I got this castle and when you take out the inside cuttings it's just the background so I cut in a light blue the castle with all of the trimmings.  Then I took those out and cut just the solid background.  For the card background I used different blue distress inks.  I also cut the snowflakes from the silhouette machine.  I popped out the castle and added stickles to the outside of it.

I would like to link this up to 2 challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Silhouette Challenges:  Anything Goes W/a Silhouette

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends....the cold never bothered me anyway (Elsa).  Just kidding-I like warmer weather! ;)

City Tag

Hello Everybody!

I am so excited that school is almost out.  I am ready to sleep in and swim in the pool! :)

Over at Dragons Dream Tag It On, they are having a challenge based on using yellow and texture in your tag.  After seeing the DT's great artwork I wanted to play! :)

The city is a stencil from Crafters Workshop.  It has the shadow of the city which I used Ranger's Chrome Yellow and the outline I used Viva Ferro graphite-which is like modeling paste but looks like graphite.  It gives the city a raised edge (and texture).

I used Tim Holtz's sunshine stencil also with the chrome yellow.  I tried to use marigold orange for the roundness of the sun but it turn a bit more brown.  I guess mixing with the blue distress ink (tumbled glass and salty ocean).  So I didn't fight it anymore.  LOL  Don't look directly into the sun!  Before I did the sky I matched the stencil back over the sun and applied Wendi Vecchi's clear embossing paste to protect the yellow.  Once dry, I applied the blue distress inks.

This is a Tim Holtz saying.  I stamped it with Ranger's Manganese Blue.  The yellow is still chrome.  And I roughed up the edges and applied a little walnut ink distress.  I wanted to make sure I had texture! ;)

I am also submitting this to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Stencil It.  

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Until next time--keep on dreaming! :)

Winged Birthday

Hello Everybody!

It's my turn to share a card at the Great Impressions Blog.

I love how this turned out.  I used H257 Someone Like You and E492 Twirly Background from the Great Impressions Online Store.  For the Someone Like You I used black embossing powder and then applied walnut stain and spun sugar distress ink over it.

Here is a picture of the background.  The paper is from Simple Stories.  I used spun sugar and the Twirly Background.  There were a few spaces where only 2 twirls would fit so then I just stamped the 2 to fill in.  Then I used light modeling paste with Tim Holtz's dot fade stencil.

The crown and wings are from the Tim Holtz die Heart Wings.  For the crown I put gold embossing powder on it and rhinestones.  For the wings I used dictionary paper and shaded lilac distress ink.  I used glossy accents to glue down the Someone Like You and wings because there is modeling paste underneath, and I wanted to be sure it stuck.

I added a little walnut stain distress ink to the edges.

I am submitting this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Make It Sparkle--the gold crown with jewels

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge--Use paste/gesso and a stencil

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...make everyday special! :)

Father's Day Card

Hello Everybody!

I finished a Father's Day Card using my Tim Holtz pocket watch die, grungeboard, and foil cardstock.  It is using the techniques he used in his January Tag, except I used alcohol inks instead of paint in the middle.

The paper is a scrap that got distressed with black loot distress ink.  I gold embossed the sentiment.  And I used chit chat words for the middle.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Father's Day/Masculine

Frilly and Funkie: For All Our Fathers

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...have a good night! :)

Mixed Media Bunny

Hello Everybody!

I am working on my Easter cards-and I am loving the prompts that the challenges are offering.  These prompts are helping my mojo! :)

So here is my mixed media bunny card.  Here are the challenges that I am submitting it to:

Digi Haven: Easter Challenge with a Twist-Use the Color Brown.  I used kraft paper for the background and walnut distress ink around the bunny square.

Moxie Fab World: Styling with Stencils Challenge in the Moxie Fab World:  I used a Heidi Swapp stencil and mustard seed distress paint for the yellow chevrons on the right side of the bunny.

Make My Monday:  Easter

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Happy Easter

Catch the Bug Challenge Blog: Anything Goes


Here are some details on my card:
I used a Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous for the pink design.  I used Stampendous pink embossing powder.
The bunny is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I used copics to color him and distressed the square.  I also used walnut ink distress ink around the edges.  The flower strip is from Wasau Paper and a Martha Stewart punch.  The chevrons are from mustard seed distress paint and a Heidi Swapp chevrons stencil.  Then some random sequins.  Oh-also, I used a cream white cat eye around the edges of the kraft paper to soften them.

Here is a little big of a close-up.

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends..have a good night! :)