Another Terrific Tuesday Trigger

Whew! I got back home from a week of road trip fun just in time to post my entry in Cath's wonderful Tuesday Trigger. I love this picture so much - it gave me so many ideas for great cards.

Even though I have been resisting the hexagon trend, I used a new Spellbinders M-Bossibilities embossing folder that has hexagons on one side and a chevron pattern on the other side. Too trendy, eh?

Also used some great Basic Grey paper (Infuse), Memory Box Meridian Boarder die, Hero Arts CL148 and Frame Cuts label die.

After I tackle a truckload of laundry and deal with lots of mail and phone calls I will attempt to catch up on all of your lovely blogs & projects - I've missed you all!

Thanks, Cath - you did it again!

Vintage Vogue

The current Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World is this "Vintage Vogue" photo (to the left). Dreamy, eh?

I have lots of great vintage embellishments and some were put to use with this card. I also pulled out a couple of my Tim Holtz Sizzix dies. Can you see the tulle on the skirt? Very vintage.

The stamps are Hero Arts - S1832, Italian Poetry Background (stamped in gold on the dress form) and the sentiment is A3327.

Another Tuesday Trigger

                   Cath over at Moxie Fab World has graced us with yet another amazing Tuesday Trigger. This one is called Three Little Birds. I love this graphic! It really reminds me of the "mod" images of my favorite decade - the 1960's. Fun colors, too. Incredible!

I had such fun with masking these little guys from the Hero Arts set CL415, Sweet Owls. And I used one of the sketches from the current Hero Arts Contest.

The background stamps are Hero Arts CG298 and S5208; the sentiment is CL342.

I sure hope you have a great week! Thanks for stopping by.

Keeping It Simple & Elegant

I am really trying - to keep it simple, that is. For this card I "kissed" the Hero Arts Classic Fabric Design background stamp (CG245) with the Hero Arts Friends Definition stamp (CG125). I have had difficulty with this technique in the past, but I have learned that sometimes you just need to try different inks and stamps. For those of you unfamiliar with this, here is a great video (except for the music).

This great tulip is from Hero Arts Antique Engravings set (CL427) and the perfect sentiment (love that font!) is from Stampendous - Paisley Spring (SSC1042). As for challenges, this is a "4 fer" ! There is a Simon Says Stamp "Kissing Technique" challenge at Lily Pad Cards for which this is perfect. Then, there is the CAS-ual Fridays challenge to make a card using a pattern, an image and a sentiment. My original inspiration was the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger, "Casual Elegance". And, finally, this month's contest at the Hero Arts Blog is "Fabulous Flowers"! Check, check, check, check! All good! Come and play along.                     

Apricot Trigger

Time for another Tuesday Trigger from Cath over at Moxie Fab World. Check out this delicious trigger:

 

I have such wonderful memories of summer weekends picking apricots with my parents - biting into a warm one and letting it drip down my chin! Somehow they just don't taste the same anymore. Ah, the golden memories of my youth.......

Here is the CAS (clean and simple) card - inspired by the CAS beauties made by one of my dear blogger buddies, Cheiron -  I made based on this wonderful trigger.

This is going to my Aunt in New York who is celebrating her 92nd birthday. Thanks for looking and have a great weekend. We are headed to southern California to visit my Dad. Lots of car time, but we make it fun. See you next week!

Home Sweet Home

As Many of you know, Cath over at Moxie Fab World hosts a fun challenge called the "Tuesday Trigger". I wasn't going to play along this time, but the other day I was re-organizing my craft supplies (sometimes I think I spend more time doing that than using them!) and I found this adorable chipboard house (Thickers by American Crafts). So, I put a halt to my organizing and started crafting.

The trigger this time is this "Home Sweet Home" photo of a quilted knob-hanger.Too darn cute, eh?

I made my own little knob-hanger. Many of my cabinet knobs, lamp switches and other handy appendages have something cute & homemade hanging from them.....gives the place a special look, don't ya think? Drives my husband crazy, as they come flying off at the most inopportune times. Never a dull moment around here!

Back to my project. I started with a Sizzix heart die cut (yep, another cereal box!) which I filled in with quilt-like paper pieces (K&Company). I stamped it with Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain (S5208) and used Distress Inks. I added vintage lace, rick-rack and a piece of tape measure from my garage sales stash, a little heart button and some pearls (to represent the dots on the Trigger). I completed the look with a small banner (Mini Market Cream and Red Letters, October Afternoon).

You have until Sunday to join in, so please check it out! Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for dropping by my sweet home.

Tripple T - Tuesday Trigger Time!

I don't usually post on Saturdays, but I am finally feeling like I can take on a challenge and this one struck a real chord with me. Dear Cath over at Moxie Fab World set up this Tuesday Trigger called Autumn Woods. You have until Sunday night, if you'd like to play along.

This colorful wood reminds me of my Dad, who just happens to have a November birthday. In his younger and healthier days (he is 86 years old) he could make, build, fix, and/or remodel anything. He bought old, crumby houses in good neighborhoods and we would move in and fix them up, turn them into showpieces and then sell them and move to the next one. Simply amazing for a guy who was a mortician by day.

I am convinced that all the years working on projects alongside my Dad when I was a kid inspired me to go into the field of architecture.

For this card I used the Hero Arts "Designer Woodgrain" stamp (S5208) for my background strips. I embossed them with white and colored them with Distress Inks. Don't they look like pieces of wood? I completed the card with some rusty washers (I raided my toolbox!), big silver-toned brads and cork letters (Making Memories, Chloe's Closet) and the sentiment is Hero Arts CL139.

Thanks for looking and thanks, Dad, for all you have been to me - Happy Birthday!

Crepe Bouquet - Another Tuesday Trigger!

I haven't done a Tuesday Trigger in several weeks. Cath, over at Moxie Fab World, puts together the most amazing photos as inspiration for our paper crafting and calls it the Tuesday Trigger. This week she used this pretty photo from Martha Stewart (those of you who know me know that I am not a big fan of hers) called Crepe Bouquet. doesn't it just scream SPRING? These are not colors that I normally use, so this was a real challenge for me.

Have you ever seen dried hydrangeas? They look very much like crepe paper. So, I broke out my brand new Hero Arts Hydrangea stamp (I bought this with my recent Hero Arts blog comment winnings - thanks, Hero Arts!) and went to town. As you may see, I stamped the flower twice and cut out portions from one and added them, with dimensionals, to give the flower some extra pop.

For this card I used the following Hero Arts supplies: Hero Hues note card and envelope, PS611 envelope liner template, Cling Dots CG139, Hydrangea K5376 and Good Things Message C2826. Also used my Copics, Color Box Ink in Stucco, Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Dotted Swiss embossing folder and Spellbinders Labels in my Cuttlebug, and the ribbon and the pin are from my stash.

Thanks to Cath and to Hero Arts! Have a wonderful weekend and a lovely Easter!
 

Moxie Fab World - Winter White

Cath's Tuesday Trigger this week is this amazingly beautiful 3-tiered white-on-white wedding cake. Not only Moxie Fab, but scrump-delish, Don't ya think? Come and play along!

So, first I made a 100% white card and just wasn't happy with it. It needed a little something - like a dash of soft color. I sure hope this isn't breaking the rules!

I don't think I have ever used so many elements or products on one little card. I used my Cuttlebug for the embossed background and for cutting the little heart out of chipboard. The heart was painted with a Snow Cap Ranger Acrylic Dabber, covered with glue and doused in Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter. The little doily was misted with Perfect Pearls and water for some perfect glimmer. The lace, silk ribbon, vintage button and vintage flowers all came from my extensive stash (yes, honey...I really am de-stashing!). The pearl is from Hero Arts and the papers are from BasicGrey's "basics white" paper pad. It is all distressed with Ranger's Antique Linen Distress Ink.

I'll tell you what, this has waaay more of a "shabby-chic" look than I am comfortable with. Just not my style. But without the Distress ink, the white just didn't pop. And, love can be kind of Distressing, can't it? [Note: Not for me - it rocks!]

I am such a crazy girl that I am even going to show you the all-white card that I don't think quite makes it. What do you think? I plan to re-work it someday.

But, now I'm off to have a lovely White Russian........thanks for looking!

Twinkle in Pastels

For those who know me - really know me - I am not a pastel kind of gal. Give them to me bright, sparkly and vibrant. So, Cath over at Moxie Fab World has done it again. A real challenge. She came up with this Vintage Pastel Christmas for the Tuesday Trigger.

So I decided to have a little tag fun. I got out one of my vintage classroom photos and selected an appropriately sweet subject. I gave her lots of pastel cuteness with a hat, some wings and lots of twinkle. Some torn paper and ribbon finish her off and now she is ready to eat fancy cupcakes with the best of them.

No stamping today, this is all me! Thanks, Cath for the inspiration and the challenge!

It's Snowing Gingerbread!

Today I have made a card for Cath's Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger, which this gingerbread snowflake from Martha Stewart.

I used a wooden snowflake which I painted with Ranger's Crackle Paint and Stickles. I added a vintage button, some hand-spun yarn and a pearl stick pin. The stamps are Hero Arts Magical Background CG211 and LP177 (I love to decorate these little guys!). I printed the ingredients on my computer. Lots of Distress Inks and we are ready to munch!

Seasonal Necklace and Another Tuesday Trigger

It is that time again, the Tuesday Trigger. And I thought that I had put away all my fall crafty supplies. NOT! Cath set us up with this pic from Martha Stewart.

Well, I AM a paper-crafter. But I also make jewelery. This project combines both of these skill sets. This is what I call my seasonal necklace. I added this cool locket (Stampin' Up) to a chain - it snaps open to allow a little tiny image to be added. For this November image I used a stamp from Papertrey Ink and another tiny one from an old set I had; colored with Copics. I embellished it with sequins and snapped it into the locket (I added my signature mermaid on the back of the locket). It is a little difficult to photograph because the glass is beautifully beveled.

Then I made some dangle thingies with crystals and some leaf beads. I attached them to the chain with lobster clasps so that they can be changed, with the season, along with the locket image. Too cool? I will be sharing with you the other seasons as the year progresses.

I just love the inter-activity of this personalized necklace!

Cozy Girlfriend

I made this card for the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger. This sweater is the trigger. Now I don't really like sweaters. They make me itch and they seem to highlight every bulge (and there are plenty!). But, I decided to play along. I love a good challenge!

For this card I used a square format; something I hardly ever do. It just seemed to work. The kraft background piece is stamped in Hero Arts White Chalk ink with Hero's Dot Background (CG139) stamp and I used lots of Ranger Distress Ink. The focus is one of my Hero Arts favs, "Girlfriend" (G5416). The doily and buttons were thrift shop finds and the pin and yarn are from my stash.

Now, tell me. What is more warm and fuzzy on a cold day than a chat with a girlfriend? Better than a lousey old sweater any day.

Another Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger!

Cath is at it again! The latest Tuesday Trigger is Momento Mori - I don't want to be there after dark! My take on this is my card, which I call "Bells in your Bat Tree!". Too much fun! Okay, I did get a little carried away with the MS bat punch (thanks, Anne!) - but I love those little guys!

I used three Hero Arts stamps: CG119, CL468, & D397. The tombstones are a Michael's stamp on dictionary pages with 3 layers of UTE on top to make them curl and deeply shine in the moonlight (the lighting makes it difficult to photgraph the depth of the glow). Silver embossing powder, Stickles, some cool velvet ribbon from the Clearance bin and lots of Distress Ink complete the nightmare.

Go Granny, Go!

Okay, I lied. Or was seriously mistaken. You decide! You're getting an Autumn-themed card a couple of days before October because I need to upload Cath's latest Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger before I unplug for the weekend. So, here's the Trigger - all warm and cozy, old-fashioned and very fall-colored, just whispering a Thanksgiving card (and a warm hug).

The 3-D flower on my card reflects the textures and shape of the granny "squares" and is made by punching out heart shapes and folding them in half, length-wise. I applied them onto a circle. The card is embellished with some lace and a vintage button from Granny's sewing basket. I love this perfect homespun paper by K & Company and the cute stamp (colored with Copic pens) is from the Hero Arts "Days to Celebrate" set, LL775.

I smell the pumpkin pie in Granny's oven as we speak....yum! Thanks again, Cath! Have a cozy weekend everyone.

Moxie Fab World Tueday Trigger

It's that time again! As well as the regular challenges by my pals at Hero Arts, I have also been trying to complete the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger. That Cath knows how to pull my creativity from within. This week the inspiration is this delightful "Lipsylicious" - a glorious collection of lipsticks.

My card was inspired by the circles of rosy colors and the promise of sweet kisses! I clear-embossed my card front with the Hero Arts dotted background CG139. Other stamps are one by Heidi Grace and an old one from Michaels $1 bin. The cute Pebbles candy buttons are another score from my buddy Patti at Paper Maniac (where customer service is tops, btw!) and the ribbon, twine and charm are from my stash.

I cut and dry-embossed the image with Nesties in my Cuttlebug and used pink chalk (can you see it in the photo?) to highlight it. Colored with Copics. The guy had to have a blue shirt - hubby wears nothing else - I gave this card to him yesterday for our 13th wedding anniversary!

Ain't love grand?

Moxie Fab World Tueday Trigger

Okay, pals, I am doing it again. The Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger is this photo of this most amazing house. I may be taking these triggers too literally, but here goes. I decided to use an embossed wood grain to reflect that this is an architectural shot and to represent the white textures. Then, am I the only one who thinks of flamingos when I see those angular raspberry-colored chairs? I do admit to being partial to flamingos...... (after all, this house IS in Miami!). Other than the soft bouquet of flowers on the table, this photo is all angles and so is my card. Lots of white in the background, some subtle aqua bling to reflect the sunshine on the water and in the room. While this isn't one of my best card designs, it was fun to be challenged with colors and ideas I would have never attempted. Thanks again, Cath!

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger

Okay, here is the deal. I have been lurking around Moxie Fab World for over a year (do check it out!). Loved it, but I stayed in the shadows. What fun is that? So now that I have a blog I decided to jump in! What a perfect time, too. When I saw this Tuesday Trigger it screamed to me! All I could think about was my favorite CuttleBug embossing folder and the packets of amazing handmade that my dear Aunt had just given me for my birthday!

This is the card that I made for my Aunt based the jewel box inspiration. To create the raised design (like on the jewel box) I used my embossing folder on a piece of aluminum foil and antiqued it with Ranger Alcohol Inks. The rich designs of the handmade paper I used reflect those on the box, the tiny corner brads reflect the knobs on the box and the rhinestone brads are representative of the jewelry. Sentiment is Hero Arts CL148.

Thanks, Cath. – this exotic design is way out of my comfort zone, but who says you can’t teach an old mermaid new tricks?