More Doggy Grins

Hi, bloggin' Buddies!

The other day I shared a card that I made with this same Art Impressions stamp set, "Doggy Kisses" and I have need for another similar card. This time I used my all-time favorite image from the set. This just really does make me laugh.

Once again I used my Copics and some bright rainbow paper. Because this qualifies I am going to submit this to the current Ai challenge, "Make Me Laugh".

Hope all is well with you. Thanks for the visit. Keep laughing!!

The Queen

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

My husband has an appointment with our dentist today and I go tomorrow. I always try to make them a card - they get a kick out of it. I thought that this Art Impressions "Crown" set #4370 couldn't be more perfect. It kind of says it all, don't ya think?

I paper-pieced her and colored her with Copics. The sentiment is framed with a Spellbinders "Fancy Labels Two" die cute. Very regal in gold paper. I added Glossy Accents, Stickles, sequins and rhinestones.

As long as I have her ready, I'll add it to the current Art Impressions challenge,  "Make Me Laugh".

I'm off to my appointment - wish me luck! Thanks for the visit,

WAY Outside the (cake) Box

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

For whatever reason, I am currently very into bears and this Impression Obsession one has to be one of my all-time favorite stamps. I've used it many times, but certainly never in this way! I had an idea for this card and put it all together and then I decided that this guy simply didn't look festive enough. I thought perhaps he needed a party hat and I had nothing that seemed to "fit". The "Birthday Wish" set was on my table and I got an idea.........a bit crazy? Well YES! I played around with one of the cakes in the set and created a festive party hat.

On top of everything else (dare I say that?!), in my 50 years of card making I don't believe I've ever added anything I've handwritten, but hey.........it worked.

I used Distress Oxide Ink for blending around the bear and placed everything on an ombre blended background. The hat is embellished with Wink of Stella and Stickles.

Impression Obsession Products Used:

Instant Photo Frame Die, Die 175-W
Big Bear Stamp, D15152
Unbearably Awesome Stamp, B15158
Birthday Wishes Stamp Set, CL826

This crazy card is headed for the current challenge at Impression Obsession, "Birthday Wishes".

Thanks for the visit. have a great week,

What's Funnier than Undies?!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

As you know, Art Impressions has been making me laugh for a long time. But, of all the dozens that I've owned, I've probably gotten the most use out of this set from 2010 ( "Lingerie Shoppe - UM3539"; no longer available, but if you hunt you can find it) because it is so poignantly hilarious. And the images are so cute and easy to color and/or paper piece. Love it.

Now, just try to tell me you aren't smiling.........

It was fun to use lots of layers of girlie goodness and embellishments.

You can ALWAYS find lots of sets at Ai that keep your heart happy.

This, of course, is headed for the current challenge "Make Me Laugh" over at the Art Impression blog.

Thanks for the visit and sharing a chuckle,

Doggy Hilarity

Hi, bloggin' Buddies!
I am finally taking a break from making my July 4th cards. I ended up using 3 different designs and making way too many cards. I just feel like we need to celebrate something about our country right now. I will share them soon.

Now that hospitals are starting to allow surgeries that had been postponed I have several friends (mostly men) who have just had, or who are now scheduled for, surgery. So I reached for a stamp set that is perfect - Art Impressions "Doggy Kisses" clear set AiCS38.

I put this card together with a cutie from this set - isn't this image adorable? - along with the coordinating sentiment, my Copic markers, and some patterned paper.

Since the current challenge over at the AI blog is "Make Me Laugh" I thought I'd submit it. This may not make you LAUGH, but (come on!) it's gotta make you at least chuckle.

You have until July 1st to play along so come and join me!

Thanks for the visit, have a great weekend and stay well!

My Amazing Uncle

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Well, yesterday was Father's Day so I can post the card I made for my wonderful Uncle. Although not really related by blood, this man has known me, understood me, teased me and helped me ever since I was five years old. He truly has my heart and I can't wait until the virus settles down so we can go an visit him.

Since he is good with tools I knew he would enjoy a card made with the Lawn Fawn Magic Iris Die. I have had such fun with this inter-active design and it isn't as difficult as it looks once you get the hang of it.

Here is the card with the Iris closed and open:

Iris closed 

Iris open

I used the Lawn Fawn "Super Star" stamp and die sets with a Distress oxide Ink galaxy sky. I added some silver star and moon die-cuts. This card was fun to make and it was a big hit.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and thanks for the visit!

Old And New with Hero Arts

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
As many of you know I have been with Hero Arts since they started. I was already a cardmaker and was so excited when a local (SF Bay Area) small business came along with terrific designs that I have loved for so long.

I was blog-surfing this morning and stumbled upon this challenge over at At Blog Named Hero called "Combine Old and New".  Believe me, with an entire cabinet in my craft room filled with Hero Arts goodies I knew I had to play even though the clock is ticking.

For this card I combined one of my older and favorite background stamps. I remember that when it was released it was such a big hit that it immediately sold out and I had to wait for it. I've combined it with my most recent Hero Arts purchase, this lovely floral stamp. I don't usually do florals because I am not good at coloring them, but I was introduced to this stamp at a recent Zoom class I took and found it really easy and fun to color with Copics.

Hero Arts Products Used:
Envelope Liner Background CG461
Hero Florals Rose Stem CM260
Hero Florals Rose Stem Frame Cuts DI505

This has been a fun challenge! I wish I could say come and play along, but it closes at 5pm EST today!

Hope you are having a glorious weekend and thanks for the visit,

The Birthday Bird

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies:

I've saved my all-time favorite Ai Zoo Crew stamp (Buzzard Set #4194) for my final entry in the "Art Impressions Funny Farm and Nature Challenge #284". What a character! I have used it so many times for masculine birthday cards. In fact, I think every male I know has received a card with this great image, but this is one that I will never let go. So fun.

For this card I've colored the bird with Copic pens and added some woodgrain paper, Paint splatters, torn vellum some twine, and a couple of tiny staples for a "natural" look. As if this guy could really ever look natural!

And this sentiment, which I have put on the inside, couldn't be more appropriate or funnier! Love, love, love!!!!

Even though some of the Ai Stamps I have used for this challenge are retired, it hopefully gives you an idea of the classic terrific images this company has provided over the years - and they still do. Check out their current releases and keep your eyes open at used stamp sales for some of the fun stamps I have used.



Thanks for the visit and stay crafty,

I't's Only Natural

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies:

Least you believe that the only Art Impression stamps I own are their amazing critters......no, no, no! I love their crazy folks, too.

One might say that I am stretching it by entering this fun card into the current "Art Impressions Animal and Nature Challenge #284" but what is more "natural" than watering your garden? The way I garden, Mother Nature usually takes over, with dry and windy weather, plant-eating critters and lots of weeds! So I'd say that this qualifies as "Nature".

This fun clear stamp set called "His & Hers Gardeners" is still available. I pared this gal up with some patterned paper, some garden twine, a die-cut flower and some little buttons. I can just hear the tone in her voice, can't you?

I sure thank you for the visit!

Drinks to Go.......

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
Today's Art Impression card is made with one of my oldest sets (Giraffe Set #4190) from their Zoo Crew line. The Zoo Crew was a bunch of playful designs of critters that offered a unique and hilarious sense of humor. Over the years I think I owned them all and I still have most of them.

This card I made for the "Animals and Nature Challenge #284" seems perfect for this new life of staying home, ordering all kinds of take-out......here in California we can even order hard liquor drinks with our dinners to go!

One of my dearest friends absolutely loves giraffes, so when this stamp set was released I had to immediately buy it. It has seen lots of use.

OMG! His eyes, right?!111

Thanks for the visit and have a great day.

Yes, I Am Jealous!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today's card for the "Art Impression Animals & Nature Challenge #284" is made from one of my newer Ai fun animal stamps. My review of the Ai on-line store doesn't include this gem so it may be retired. Glad I have it. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Don't you just want to party with this gal?!

Art Impressions Products Used:
UMT2790
Elephant Set #4191

Hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for the visit,

Another Ai Fun Critter

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
I am making some cards for the current challenge at Art Impressions called "Animals and Nature Challenge #284".  I have loved Ai's critters for years and yesterday I highlighted a new one, the party Llama Twist, that I was lucky enough to win from them at a recent Expo.

Today's gem is older.....let's say older than a Spring Chicken! I've combined two different stamps here to represent how I'm feeling many days now. Although I'm an "early bird", but since I really have no obligations I have been slow to get it going in the morning.

I used a chicken wire background to set this gal off. I stamped, colored and fussy cut her before adding her, with dimension, to a simple white card base. This just makes me smile.

Art Impressions Products Used:

"Spring Chicken" AiCS40 clear set

UMH1843 sentiment stamp

We have a cute new little coffee spot in our historic and charing downtown that is called the "Rebel Hen" and this card is perfect for them. As a brand new (they opened only 3 weeks before the SIP orders) small business they are struggling. Their food and coffees are amazing so we are doing what we can to support them. Good folks!

I don't know if you've noticed, I'm trying a couple of cards in the 4-bar (rather than A2) size for a change......it works well with some images.

Have a great weekend and thanks for the visit!

It's All About the Animals!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I am playing with the current challenge at Art Impression, "Animals or Nature Challenge #284". I have been a huge fan of Ai animals for years so it was difficult for me to select which set I was going to lead off with. But then I got some happy mail! I was a winner of an Ai prize from the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo @Home and one of the things that was included was the Llama Twist Set, the matching dies and the Twist Frame Die set. How exciting! Yay, me! Thank you again to Ai for being such a generous sponsor.

Of course I was "die-ing" - get it? - to try this new concept of card design.

Without further ado, here is my party llama!

How could this delightful creature NOT bring a smile, especially when she hubba-hubbas on the front of this colorful card???? I know, right??

I colored her up with Copic markers, added some fringe banner pieces from my party stash which I used the coordinating Twist Die to embellish with gold stars, and I added some Wink of Stella to provide some glittery shine.

Sure hope you had a great weekend. You still have time to play along with this challenge - I plan to play until it closes on June 17th at 5 PM.

Paper Smooches Flowers

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
I am normally not a big floral design person, but this current Paper Smooches flowers Challenge has peeked my interest. This is my second entry.

My favorite floral stamps are those that don't require coloring, so for years I have loved the Blood Blooms set.

Since challenges encourage new ideas I have done that here by making a wreath! I also added some flowers from the Kudos Two set. This card is full of bright colors and isn't like any wreath I've ever seen.

I die cut the "hello" 5 times and stacked them for dimension and added some Wink of Stella for shine.

Paper Smooches Products used:

Bold Blooms

Kudos Two

Hello Words Die

Thanks for the sweet visit, 

A Rose By Any Other Name.......

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Even though I've been using only my older beloved Hero Arts stamps for the "Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge #9" so far, for my last entry I wanted to use my very newest stamp. It arrived in the mail from Hero this week (they had a slow down in processing orders before they could re-staff their warehouse). I am normally not big on floral stamps (I am intimidated when it comes to coloring them), but I had used this stamp in a Zoom class I took in April and decided I had to have it. With all the shading, it isn't that difficult to color and I like the size of it.

Rather than using patterned paper I used some of my many Hero Arts background stamps. The panels I created are little too bold (I love color!) so I used a white panel behind the flower. The background stamps and the sentiment are all from my older HA stash.

I remained quite true to the sketch (see my June 12th post) this time and I used Copic pens and added some shiny sequins. I know I will use this great stamp very often!

Hero Arts Products Used:
Hero Florals Rose Stem (2018)
Garden Background
Graphic Leaves Background
Essential Messages (2010)
White Embossing Powder

I guess one could say this particular challenge really did challenge me and it inspired me to make lots of cards. Thanks again, Hero Arts.

I appreciate your visit. Stay well,

Friendly Fox

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

With the Shelter in Place and the summer heat I continue to play with the Stay Crafty With Hero Challenge #9. It is a sketch challenge (included in my June 10th post) and I am using some of my older Hero Arts stamps to demonstrate my decades of loyalty to this amazing small business.

For this card I have used one of my favorite critters (#E5465). This is a wood-mounted stamp, something I have pretty much stopped buying because of storage issues. But when I saw this guy in 2011.....well, he had my heart.

I admit, the more I continue with this challenge, the farther away I get from the actual sketch. But once I get going, there is simply no stopping me and I can't play by the strict rules! I added a die-cut vellum piece to this card rather than using patterned paper. And, yes, the fox was fussy cut.

I used some wood-grain cardstock and I added a couple of tiny staples in the corner for some interest and to give it more of a masculine look.

I don't have the name of the sentiment set, but it is also an oldie.

Thanks for the visit, you foxy creature, you! Have a great day,

A Good Day for a Cone!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I continue to play with the Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge #9. I don't know that I have ever done a sketch challenge, but the more I do, the more fun I have. And, honestly, the more I alter the challenge sketch. But that is what it is all about, right? Getting us out of our comfort zones.

I included the sketch in my June 10th post, so I will not include it here. I am still reaching for some of my older favorites to demonstrate my decades of loyalty to Hero Arts. This set ("Life of the Party Birthday") is from 2011 and I still use it. Those smiles have my heart!

There were no matching dies (or I couldn't afford them if there were!), so it is fussy cut. Not a problem.

In keeping with my vintage theme I added some vintage rick-rack and crepe paper that I have fringe-cut. That used to be a party decoration staple years ago!

Have a great day and thanks for the visit!

More Hero Arts

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I've made another card for the Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge #9. As I said in my previous post, because I have been with Hero Arts since they started and I know that their small business has struggled during this time,  I am using some of my older HA stamps to demonstrate my loyalty. Today's sentiment is from 2010 and it's still going strong.

My previous post shows the sketch that is the subject of the challenge. I have modified it a bit to accommodate the style of the stamp I have chosen. I have always loved these vintage gals on the sewing pattern envelope. I am a child of the 1950's and still love all things from that era.

The image was first stamped with a fading ink, highlighted with some simple Copic coloring and re-stamped with a brown ink pad. I distressed the edges of the patterned paper and added a vintage button.

Although I no longer sew and I don't know many who do (other than CV masks!), I will treasure these sewing-themed HA stamps forever!


Hero Arts Stamps Used:
Sew Artsy
Make Your Own

Thanks for the visit and stay well,

Hero Arts Crafty Challenge

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

As I have mentioned here before, Hero Arts was the first real stamping company that happened during my early card-making days. We grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area together! I was with them at the start and I'll be with them as long as I am able to make cards.

Because small businesses like this have been struggling, I've decided to use some of my time-proven old favorite hero Arts stamps for this Crafty Challenge #9 to show them my loyalty. The challenge is a sketch challenge using this sample:

I have taken some liberties with the sketch, which is totally appropriate.....it is intended to get us thinking outside our box.

My card uses an old favorite from 2009 called "Silhouette Flower". I stamped it with Distress Oxide Inks, brushed the flowers with a Versafine pen and added some clear embossing powder. Then I cut the stamped down in size with a stitched die.

I added some distressing and a sentiment from a classic 2011 set.

This sure is nothing like my normal style. In fact, I almost never use patterned paper anymore, but this is a lovely piece by Blue Fern Studios. It looks like many of the Distress oxide backgrounds I routinely make. And using it sure is lots less messy!

Hero Arts Products Used:
Silhouette Flower
Everyday Sayings
Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks for the visit! Stay crafty,

Paper Smooches Flower Challenge

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
For today's card I used products by Paper Smooches. I have been a loyal customer since they started and I was a fan of Kim, the owner/designer, when she was previously with Cornish Heritage Farms. I love her unique and quirky style. My PS supplies fill an entire cabinet in my craft room! Kim is retiring after providing so many years of smiles, so I wish her the best.

I always try to think outside the box with challenges and this is no different. I made a stencil (a first for me!) out of three different leaf die sets and used it with Distress Oxide Inks on Bristol paper to create a soft background. I used a stitched and a plain border die for the bottom edge. Then I added some ink splatters and a spray of Perfect Pearls.

I next stamped a flower from the "Bold Blooms" set onto watercolor paper. I have always loved this set of solid shapes - the flowers remind me of my "Flower Power" days in the 1960's!

The flower center and the sentiment were heat-embossed with rose gold (this really shines in person!) and added with dimension. The leaf die-cut was the final touch.

I actually love the way this turned out and it is certainly not my normal "style". I appreciate the inspiration of the Paper Smooches Flowers Challenge - come and join in the fun!

Paper Smooches Products used:
Stitched dies
Borders  dies
Borders stamps
Loopy Leaf, Large Leaves, and Leaves 1 dies
Sentiment Sampler
Bold Blooms stamps

Thanks for the visit! Stay well,

Getting Back To It

Happy Monday, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have been doing some re-organizing of my supplies and some mass-production of cards the past few days. Okay.....I have also been enjoying the wonderful weather, walking and playing bocce with the hubby! The cards are not really "blog-worthy", so I will not post them. Now I am ready to get bak into my creative card-making mode!

This is a card that I recently made for a card-making pal. I used a panel that I made several months ago with Alcohol Inks and the old rectangular felt blending pads. I love the colors and the mix.

I dry-embossed (Lifestyle Crafts, retired) the background and heat-embossed the sentiment (Laural Burch) in gold on a raised panel. A few gems add to the sparkle.

Simple, but interesting enough.

Thanks for the visit! Stay well, happy and keep crafting.