Summertime Fun!

Hello and Happy Summer, Bloggin' Buddies!

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. Life happens! What can I say? But summer has hit, and hit hot where I am! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the season.

Here is a card I made awhile ago featuring the Hero Arts Layering Bird stamp and die set. Of all of these sets that I have used to date, this one is the easiest to line up! I tried a funky  summer color combo and I like it.

I lifted him with dimensional and embellished him with punched flowers, leaves, twine and some sparkly sequins. The cardstock is some cool woodgrain paper from one of my favorite stores, the paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento, CA.

I am submitting this to A Blog Named Hero's current challenge, Summertime Fun.

Thanks for the visit and have a safe and happy summer,

Aloha!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yes, Aloha is the word. I have just returned from a couple of weeks in my happy place, Kauai. We try to go there every year and it just seems to get better. Here is a photo of part of the beauty that I saw on my morning walks. Paradise!

Today's card is a reminder of our trip. I used Avery Elle's
"Stay Fresh" stamp and die set. I ink-blended a partial circle onto some wonderful woodgrain paper, using a mask. The pineapple is heat-embossed on vellum and colored from the back with Copics. Some gold card stock was used as a mat and for the greeting, which is from Lawn Fawn. Gold Gansai Tambi watercolor splatters, sequins and twine complete the embellishments. The woodgrain and gold papers are from my LSS, the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento.

Thanks for the visit and carry the aloha spirit in your hearts,

Pineapple Chin?!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

So, the other day one of my very favorite exercise instructors was leading us in an exercise and she said to imagine a pineapple under our chins! Well, I've just had that image in my head ever since! I decided to thank her for doing that to me - ha!

I made this card with the Hero Arts Layering Pineapple die which is a little tricky to use. I doesn't cut out the shape of the pineapple, but rather the textural elements. A bit of a challenge. In fact, if I had realized this when I purchased it (I love all things tropical) I probably would not have.

I die cut the image and colored it up, using a mask, with Distress Inks and some finger daubers. It went well.

The sentiment is from "Many Thanks" by Paper Smooches and the sequins are from Simon Says Stamp "Sunshine Mix". I splattered the background with my gold and black Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors. The cardstock is Essentials by Ellen's "Desert Storm".

The nifty Stickles edging on the left side is a little trick I learned from the amazing Julie Ebersole when I took a class from her at the Paper Garden Boutique. My hand isn't quite as steady as hers, but I love the look.

Thanks for the visit and think tropical,

Feeling Foxy

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Happy Memorial Day weekend. Let's not forget what it's all about and take a few moments to honor those who gave their lives and fought to keep this country free and great.

This critter card was a fun one - lots of layers and dimension! I don't use a great deal of Stampin Up products, but some of their designs are just so dang cute and it is great the way their papers and inks (and ribbon, pens, etc) are all color-coordinated.

This happy fellow is from the "Foxy Friends" set and matching punch which I bought from my friend Dottie. There are so many possibilities for different critters with this set - I will share more soon. I also used Stampin Up paper, designer paper, and Calypso Coral ink.

I get this amazing woodgrain paper from my LSS, the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento.

The speech bubble and matching die is from Lawn Fawn.

I made this card to thank the couple who put together our hiking group's getaway trip to Cannon Beach, OR. We just returned (we added some side trips) and it was simply amazing! We love Oregon.

Have a great day and thanks for the visit!

Foxy Fun!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I recently played with one of my old favorite Hero Arts stamps - "Fox".  I have been getting rid of many of my wood stamps, but I just couldn't think of eliminating this from my stash. I stamped him on the inside of the card, colored him  with Copics and added some shiny eyes with Irrestible Pico Embellisher.

Since the unofficial start of summer is right around the corner, I figured that I'd better get this card finished and in the mail pronto!

This uses some of the amazing woodgrain cardstock (from which I cut a diecut hole for peeking out) that I get from my LSS, the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento. Also Stamping' Up's "Petite Petals" stamps and punch, Simon Says Stamp "Abby's Spring Showers" and "Talk Bubbles" Wise Dies.

Hope all is well with you all and thanks for the visit!

More Inspirational Fun with Julie!

Happy Sunday, Bloggin' Buddies!

I am still on a creative high after spending a day learning great things (& being entertained) by the super-amazing Julie Ebersole. She is a designer for Essentials by Ellen and her blog is Paper Trufflez, just in case you've been living under a rock. I have been a fan for so many years!

Twice a year she comes to an adorable store called The Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento to teach classes. This is my second year - I KNEW there was a reason we moved here!

Yesterday's classes were beyond fantastic! In the morning we made 10 - count 'em, ten! - fun one-layer cards. That is what I need, as I get so tired of adding extra postage to all my thick creations.

In the afternoon we made 6 more cards. These had some more intricate techniques, some involving foil, the Fuse Tool, watercolor, etc.

I have provided photos of all but 2 of the cards. I had trouble finding some natural light this afternoon - it is a dark and rainy day here in California.

I love every single card! My hubby always laughs at me because as soon as I get home I have to head to my craft room and finish, correct mistakes, and add my own personal touches to all the cards I've made. It was a long day.

These three are my favorite ones, even though I don't consider myself a real "flower" person. Aren't they delicious and they are so "Julie". The one on the right includes a flower cut from black fun foam!

Anyway, I'm still flying high. What a spectacular day. I learned some things, met some nice ladies, had fun with my card-making friend Mary, had fun shopping in Steph's wonderful store (if you are in northern CA, visit!) and I feel so enriched by Julie's talents.

Thanks for the visit and have a great week!

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.