Year of the Dog

Hello, blogging Buddies!

I have a few special friends (including my fellow stamper and blogging pal, Cindy) for whom I make Chinese New Year cards. I love the challenge because each year features a different animal and because I have a fascination with the rich and colorful traditions of the culture. It is all good.

Laurel Burch

February 16th is the big day and this is the Year of the Dog! My card features a wonderful Laurel Burch image by Stampendous. I was a big fan of Laurel in the 1960's and 1970's. I wore her jewelry (still do!) and carried her beautiful bags. She is probably most well-known for her cat images. She died in 2007, but her unique art lives on! I love it that Stampendous has a new line of terrific products featuring her designs.

I watercolored the "Tail Run" dog with Gansai Tambi paints and assembled the card using the traditional red and gold colors. I used a Sizzix  embossing folder for the background, some gold-printed vellum and some gold foil paper that I die cut (Memory Box "Parker Numbers" & Die-Namics Border).

Do not remove this vinyl!

There is something worth noting about Stampedous cling stamps. Unlike most clings, they come with an additional "cling vinyl label" which you do not remove from the stamp; it is mounted directly onto your block or stamp positioner along with the rubber stamp. Here is a tip sheet to better explain this feature: https://www.stampendous.com/tips-techniques/stamps/cling-rubber-stamps/.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and lots of stamping! Thanks for the visit,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Day, Bloggin' Buddies!

Just a quick post this morning to show you the little Valentine's Day treats that I made for our Zumba class, family, neighbors and friends (I made 30 - I'm not a fan of mass production, so I kept them simple).

I often reach for my Die-Namics Lollipop Treat die when I need a cute wrap for a treat, in this case they are See's Candies lollipops.

The stamp is one from Rubber Stampede, Inc. that I got for $0.25 at a used stamp sale. It worked perfectly!

Hope your day is perfectly happy. We treasure every day we share and enjoy every minute of each other. Hope you have some love in your heart today!

Happy New Year!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yes, it is the Year of the Monkey! I have a couple of wonderful friends for whom I like to make Chinese New Year cards and this year is extra fun because it is the year of the monkey. I always try to incorporate red and gold in my cards, as those colors have special significance.

This card has a rich texture from a Sizzix embossing folder. The happy fella is "Funky Monkey" from Rubber Soul (I picked this up at a sued stamp sale a couple of years ago!) and I also used Die-namics ("Mini Pennant", "Zig Zag Stitched Oval"), Hero Arts "Alphabet with Label" stamps, and Simon Says Stamps "Hello You" stamps.

Inside

Wishing you a happy new year filled with posterity and good luck. No monkeying around!

Thanks for the visit and have a great week.

Ugly Sweater

Hello. Bloggin' Buddies!

I'm wrapping up the holiday cards - sometime I save the most fun for last.

First this was a simple A2 card featuring a favorite (but apparently retired - I can't find it on their website) Art Impressions holiday stamp that I colored with Copics. But the more I looked at it, it just had to be MORE. So I took it apart and made it into a 5" x 7" inch card, adding layers of "ugly sweater" printed paper (cut with SSS stitched rectangle dies), a playful bow (Die-namics) and lots of sparkle with Wink of Stella, Stickles and embelishments.

The sentiment I added inside is "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle". Fun?

The colors are actually much more vibrant - it has been so dark in the house that I had to use a flash.

I made this card for someone very special to us. She motivates us to move, inspires us to be healthy and is a total kick in the pants. She is also very kind, loving and thoughtful. Jeri is our aerobics instructor and we appreciate her so very much! I never dreamed that I would set my alarm for 6 am on Saturdays to exercise, but she makes it SO worth it. Thanks, Jeri!

Merry Christmas, dear readers - I also appreciate YOU!

Hey, Chickie!

Hi bloggin' Buddies!

Today's card is one I put together for a special friend using Paper Smooches stamps. I plan to submit it to the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge, "Anything Goes".

I am struggling with a new Mac. The computer is great, but many of my favorite old programs weren't compatible, so I am having some troubles - excuse me!

I did some watercoloring with my Gansai Tambi paints and cut the shape out with Die-Namics Zig Zag Stitched Ovals. Everything else is paper Smooches  - "Chubby Chums" and "He Said She Said".

Thanks for the visit!

Lovely Lady

Hello. Blogging Buddies!

It has been months since I inked up some of my all-time favorite stamps from Art Impressions. They just make me smile. I wanted to make a special birthday card for a special friend, so it was the time to get these out and color them up.

I made a center step card so my friend cam keep it on her desk. This lady is from one of the Hampton Art sets available at Michael's. The hilarious sentiment is from Girlfriends UM3577.

I also used Die-namics (Party Hat Border) and Spellbinders (Labels) dies. The candles are from an old favorite Hero Arts set, "Big Candles" CL287.

I added sparkle with Wink of Stella and Stickles.

This is going in the current Ai Challenge, "Lovely Ladies" in celebration of a new release of the "Girlfriends" series of funtastic stamps.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for the visit!

Stretch Your Dies - Day 6

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

We are coming down home stretch with the fantastic Online Card Class "Stretch Your Dies".

Today's technique, which is all about using border dies to create inlaid designs, is by the so very talented Debby Hughes. If you don't know Debby, you MUST check out her blog - I've been a follower for years. She never ceases to amaze. I love this easy technique!

For this card I used MFT Die-Namics dies, "Chevron Stripes"; Simon Says Stamp "Stitched Rectangle" dies; and, Paper Smooches "Wicked Nauticool" stamps and dies. I again used some of that terrific wood grain textured cardstock that I got at the Paper Garden Boutique while in Sacramento.

Hope you are having a great week. Thanks for visit.

Grand Dame

I am crazy for Art Impressions stamps and I try to play their challenges when I can. The current one is to use flowers - at least five of them - in a card. I just got this cute and sassy Zoo Crew Elephant Set (4191) and knew it would be perfect for a twisted easel card.

She's got flowers on her dress and on her hat and I embellished the card with flowers I made with some yummy felt I got from "My Favorite Things" and their Die-Damics Mini Rolled Roses Die.

Yep, another one that is slightly over the top, eh?


I sure hope your week is going well!

Thanks for the visit!

Stamps: Art Impressions Zoo Crew, "Elephant Set"; Hero Arts "Sending Love"

Dies: Spellbinders Circles, Die-Namics Mini Rolled Roses", Sizzix "Flowers and Leaves", Hero Arts "Small Tag Frame"

Paper: My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found - Blush" 6 x 6 pad

Felt: My Favorite Things

Re-tired

I sure hope you had a great weekend! We did, and it was not only fun-packed, but it was a long one.

A friend of mine recently retired and I made her this funky card. I wouldn't normally post it (it isn't one of my finest!), but it is perfect for the current challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog for "Transport".

The clear stamp set is one I picked up at a used stamp sale and it has no identification, so I can't give the proper credit.

Just a crazy little way to start the week! Hope yours is a good one!

Dies: Spellbinders Banner Basics Three, Die-Namics Fresh Cut Grass

Cheese!

Some of you know that I attended the Hero Arts Warehouse Sale last weekend in
Richmond, CA. It is about an hour away from where we live, and we were headed in that direction, so it was perfect.

There were lots of goodies and everything was super-organized. One of the (many) stamp sets that I bought is "Cheese" (CL681). How perfect foe the current Simon Says Stamp challenge, Take A Picture!

I also used Die-Namics Chevron Stripes dies, vintage sequins and some metallic paper from my stash. The light isn't good this morning, but this paper really shines.

Thanks for the sweet visit. And smile!

2 fer 2

I am usually not around on weekends, but I'm simultaneously taking two amazing online card classes - Lisa's Studio Calico "You've Got Mail" and Jennifer and Kristina's "Pattern Play". For these two cards I used lessons and techniques from BOTH classes.

I used Shari Carroll's lesson and inspiration (You've Got Mail) to incorporate banners and letter tiles in different layers and Jennifer's (Day 4, Pattern Play) tips on altering patterned paper for these two cards. I was having so much fun that I couldn't stop at only one. For more details, you'll need to take the classes - both are fantastic!

I tried to keep the softness of the colors in the papers (My Mind's Eye, The Sweetest Thing) by toning things (including the bright pink plastic letters) down with my Copic pens. The layered banner on the first card is Spellbinders Basics Banners Three.

 

For this birthday card for my elephant-loving niece I used some enamel dots that coordinate with the patterned paper - I am struggling with random placement of these things! "Random" is not consistent with my need to control!

I also used Hero Arts CL382, Die-Manics Mini-Pennant dies, October Afternoon (Mini-Market Cream & Red) letter stickers and a Viva Pearl Pen.

I hope you are having a glorious weekend! Now that I am almost caught up on my homework I may get to go out and play in the sunshine! I also have an "in person" card class this weekend - eeek!

Thanks for checking in!

Take the Cake!

On more card this week for the Studio Calico "You've Got Mail" online class taught by the amazing Lisa Spangler. This week is birthday cards - always good to have on hand. The lesson is full of great tips from several wonderful designers.

Here is a take on some of what we've learned. I used the stamp set and the printables from the class and, since I don't have an electronic cutter (& don't want one!), I improvised with some Spellbinders and Die-Namics dies.

I love the ribbon stamps - so versatile! I have learned that this great Studio Calico/Hero Arts set is an exclusive, available only to the class members - so sorry because it rocks!

Sequins are a new cardmaking trend; funny, I've been crafting with them for decades. These are probably over 25 years old!

Have a great weekend! We are headed to our wonderful Calistoga, in the Napa Valley.

Holiday Card Workshop - Day 7

I had to take a couple of days off from class to make my 25 Thanksgiving cards (which I will share later) and catch up a little with life.

I have just completed my Day 7 class project using reverse stamps. I used Hero Arts "Starry Nights" (CG224) for this background and CL357 for the snowflakes. The vellum ornament is from JustRite's "Deck the Halls" (CL-02150) and I die cut it with Die-Namics "Christmas Ornaments".

I always shy away from using vellum - it scares me, but I really like how this turned out. One must adhere it carefully so that the adhesive doesn't show.

Thanks for checking in on my class progress - you just might all be invited to my graduation ceremony! Ha!

Have a good day and I'm sending warm wishes to all those caught in the nasty Nor'easter.

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking.......

I am a huge fan of live musical theater. I recently won the chance for a "walk-on role" in the production of "Anything Goes" - I got a great costume and two lines! I had a total blast with it!

With Liz Brenna Strycker, my mentor

With Howard Stateman

While I am a real ham and love performing, I am not at all good at rote memory (I never did master my multiplication tables!), so I can't really be a serious performer.

But when I get a chance like this, I am in my glory! Here I am with a couple of the real actors, Howard and Liz, who were both so talented and sweet.

The producer and the entire cast were so amazingly supportive and kind that I wanted to make them some thank-you cards. Since the theme of the show is a cruise ship in the 1920's, I chose that same theme for my cards.


I used Hero Arts E2493, Cloche Hat, which is perfect for the 1920's and CL371 with Die-namics "Just the Ticket" in this collage-style card. Some kraft and travel-themed pattern papers and some hand-dyed seam binding tie it all together.

Because this design incorporates movement, I am submitting it to the Moxie Fab World movement challenge, based on some of the tips in the great Card Design Handbook.

Thanks again to the South Bay Musical Theater for giving me this chance and for being so gracious and fun! Love you guys.

Thanks for looking in and break a leg!