Year of the Pig!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I'm just popping in to share a sample of what I made for a few special friends who celebrate the Lunar New Year. This is the year of the pig, or boar. I had fun with this, using the traditional deep red and gold.

The terrific die is a fairly new one from Spellbinders and the embossing folder is an old one from Elizabeth Crafts that I found at a garage sale. The sentiments are from Mama Elephant's "Lion Dance" stamp set and, finally, the adorable party pig (colored with Copics) is from Simon Says Stamp "Birthday Farm Animals".

I love learning about different cultures and traditions and it warms my heart to be able to say a special "Happy New Year" in this manner.

Hope your year is wonderful, no matter how you celebrate it!

With Sympathy

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Aren't sympathy cards the most difficult of all to make? Each time I need to make one I tell myself that I need to make several ahead of time so that I can avoid the creative process when my heart is so heavy. But it never seems to happen and I do like to make a card specifically for the intended recipient.

Today's card uses a creative "smooched" background using my all-time favorite product, Distress Oxide Inks. I love the depth and colors. I added a diecut in grey ("Earl Grey", Tailored Expressions) made with a cover plate die from Spellbinders (S4-254) and some peal embellishments. The sweet sentiments are from a Neat and Tangled stamp set called "No Words". The inside says "Because there are no words for this". I love it.

Thanks for the visit. I sure hope you are having a good week.

Still Distressing!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I just can't seem to keep my fingers clean! I have lost many hours playing with my Distress Oxide Inks - I simply can't keep my hands off of them.

This is a quick bookmark I put together for a lady at church who helped me out the other day. Since she sings in the choir, I thought this beautiful sentiment ("Lord is my Strength") from Spellbinders was appropriate - the font is so lovely! It is heat embossed on a tag that I created with Distress Oxide Inks and the "Bold Floral" stencil from Hero Arts. The butterfly is made from 2 Memory Box dies (Kaleidoscope Butterfly and Moonlight Butterfly).

Thanks for the visit and have a great week!

Clear and Sheer

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I just completed the "Online Card Class" called "Clear and Sheer". The class shares how to make cards using clear and sheer products, such as vellum (scary stuff!) and acetate. It is taught by some grand ladies of card making - Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, and Debby Hughes.

I was able to find a set of Hero Arts acetate cards (the last one!) at my LSS, the Stamp Art Shoppe. I've been wanting to give this technique a try, so since I was awake at 1:30 AM, I decided I may as well stop thinking about it and get up and give it a try. Crazy, eh?

For this card I used a Sizzix embossing folder on the card. I colored the raised stars with Copic pens. Then I die-cut four stars from white and silver cardstock (Lifestyle Craft die set). Two stars sandwich the acetate (using Score Tape) to create a solid panel on the front and the back.

The front sentiment is cut from glitter paper (DCWV) with a Spellbinders script die. I applied it to cardstock and ran it through the Xyron Machine and it adhered well. There were the typical little "glue buggers" that one gets with the Xyron, but I was able to remove them from the acetate with an alcohol swab (but carefully, as it will also remove the Copic coloring!).

My inside sentiment, "America the beautiful" is from an old Cornish Heritage Farms set by Kim Hughes (now of Paper Smooches fame). 

I lined the envelope with some coordinating paper using the Hero Arts Envelope Template and stamped some stamped on stars with an old PTI set.

This was a learning process and I will make some minor changes the next time. It is a fun technique with lots of possibilities. I urge you to consider the class - it is full of great ideas.

At least I'm ready for the Fourth of July! And I bet there is a nap in my future later today.

Thanks for the visit - hope you are having a star-studded week, 

Share Handmade Kindness

Hello, Blogging Buddies!

It is really feeling like fall here today and - yes! - we finally have some much-needed rain.

Have you heard about the great things going on at Jennifer McGuire's new blog? It is called "Share Handmade Kindness". She is encouraging us all to share what we love and what we make. That is what I love about paper crafting - it is so easy to mail or give something that shows you care. Folks always ask me if I sell my work, but my response is always that I'd rather share it with those who appreciate it. This week Jennifer wants us to share with friends and family - so easy!

I mass-produced (something I don't usually do) some special little favors for Thanksgiving. I made enough for our family gathering. I also made enough to share the ladies in my neighborhood. It was a joy. They are filled with some dark chocolate (for health!) and mints.

The dies are Sizzix and Spellbinders and I used a Paper Smooches stamp set. The ribbon is from Stamping Up.

I am also going to post this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, "Anything Goes". Check it out and play along!

Thanks for the visit and thanks to Jennifer for this sweet inspiration.

In the Background

Happy Monday, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I am sharing a card I made for my cousin's son. He is an amazing tuba player - he is a college professor and also works with the Phantom Regiment.

I got this perfect stamp from Tim Holtz and I used it not only for the centerpiece, but I used it to create a background paper. Masculine cards are a real challenge, but I used textures and colors that helped create the "manly feeling". The die is from Spellbinders and the sentiment is Hero Arts.


This week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is to use "no designer paper", so I plan to submit this there.

Have a great week, get ready to say so long to September. Did you see that amazing moon list night?

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 Two

Or, in this case, scream and cuss at your dies!

Yep, I'm back at the Online Card Class series. Those gals make it look so darn easy! I almost didn't post this, but I figured that classes are all about learning, and mistakes are sure a part of learning.

I have learned that it makes a HUGE difference which dies you select for this technique, which Kristina calls "Die Cuts Within A Larger Die".

My butterflies were just too delicate and the shapes too large. They just look strange cut off into a circle shape.

I wish I'd kept the butterflies at their full sizes, but that wasn't the technique, now was it? Ah, well. The technique is a good one, my execution just leaves much to be desired.

Thanks for the visit,

Products: Dies - Memory Box (Moonlight Butterfly, Kaleidoscope Butterfly), Spellbinders (Fanciful Flight), Paper Smooches (Hello Words); Paper - My Minds Eye (Follow Your Heart-Be Amazed)

Playing with Watercolor

Hello, dear Blogging Buddies:

I was so inspired by this lovely card by the amazing Laura Bassen (can you believe her?!). I love her blog - please check it out.

I did NOT make my own flower (what can't that gal do?) as she did, but used a Prima from my stash. I water-colored the background with Squeezed Lemonade and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks. This is not an easy technique for me.

To help soften up the lines and add a bit of shimmer, I sprayed it with Perfect Pearls mist. That is always a good thing to add to any design, as far as I'm concerned.

The stamp is an old one (2009) from Hero Arts ("Birthday Frames") that I almost sold at the annual used stamp sale in which I participate, but I thought it might just be perfect for the chalkboard technique, and I think it is. I did some heat embossing and added some Hero Arts Snow Chalk Ink and white colored pencil to achieve the look.

The leaves were cut from vellum with another oldie - Spellbinders Foliage dies.

I made this card for a wonderful gal in my card-making class who has been so friendly to me - she is super-fun and very talented. She has already thanked me, so I am safe posting it.

Have a great week and thanks for the visit,

Unplugging

Hello, my friends!

Every year I make lots of tags for friends and family. My fingers have been busy! This year I made four different styles plus some unique ones for certain special folks. I am sharing one design today - a modified origami style. After making twelve of these my fingers were crazy sore the next day.

The technique is a fun one that I learned recently in a wonderful class. The perfect sentiment is Hero Arts CL465 and the label is Spellbinders Labels 14. The background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder and the paper is one I had in my stash.

I am going to be unplugging and walking away from the computer for the Christmas season. I hope to spend more time with friends and family, do some traveling and relaxing, and take time to work on some other crafts.

I promise to sneak in once in awhile to check in on what you are all up to - wonderful stuff, I know!

Wishing you and yours a most joyful Christmas and great happiness for the New Year.

I hope you won't forget me! I'll see you next year. Thanks for the visit.

Giving Thanks

I was just delighted when I learned that some JustRite Stamps coordinate with Spellbinders dies. For this card I used the "Autumn Labels Twenty-two" stamp set. It goes with the Labels Twenty-two Spellbinders Dies. Cool?













I wish you could see the layering - the dies make it so easy. It was fun to color, too.  This will be going in the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge "Thanks/Thanksgiving". So, for all my pals who are well on their way with Christmas cards, it is going to be awhile for me........

Have a great weekend!

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

Summer Set

I have one more card set to share. I made this for my friend Carol who spends many hours at the pool. She is one great gal, a really good soul and lots of fun.

Yes, I still have this great Art Impressions stamp (Mrs. Ed) out and I know Carol will love her.

I made a matching bag for this set, using a stylized sun (with die-cut personalization) and sunglasses. I also added the sunglasses to the envelopes.

These cards are flat so Carol can mail them effortlessly.


     This is my final entry in Cath's   Moxie
Fab World card set challenge in celebration of the publication of "350 Cards & Gifts".

I am also going to join the throngs and enter this in the current Simon Says Stamp Challenge, Anything Goes.

Thanks for the peek and have a great week!

Stamps: Art Impressions "Mrs. Ed", Simon Says Stamp "Banner Sayings 3 x 4", Paper Salon (1913C)
Dies: Spellbinders 18, Simon Says Stamp Folded Banner, Hero Arts Alphabet Uppercase
Other: Candi Dots, Copic Pens,  Lawn Fawn Brightside Collection paper

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.

New All Over!

My dear crafty friend and teacher Bibiana just announced that she has a new card-making blog - please check it out. She is super-talented, a patient teacher and very dear lady.

I made a card to congratulate her on this new venture, using her blog as the color and design inspiration for my card. I added my own touch of whimsey so she'll know it is from me - ha!

I used some new corrugated kraft cardstock (from Michael's) and my new Newspaper Owl (D5562) Hero Arts stamp. I also used a couple of old favorite Hero stamps, CG434 and CL570 (doesn't it go perfectly with the owl?!) and Spellbinders Labels 17.

Bibiana loves Distress Inks, so I used my Distress Markers to color the flowers and then spritzed with Perfect Pearls and water. The sentiment is heat embossed and the owl is colored with Copic pens.

Bibiana encourages us to decorate the inside of cards (something I rarely do), but I did it for this one, just for her!

Since this card is all about new things, I am entering in the current Hero Arts contest, "Try Something New".

Congratulations, dear friend. You are going to love blogging and we are going to love that you do it! Thanks for looking,

Make and Take

Today I have made a Hero Arts "Make and Take" sponsored by Ellen Hutson LLC, who sells all kinds of great card-making goodies. The challenge is in celebration of the new 2013 Hero Arts stamps (some of which I have ordered - Yay!) and the requirement is to use a Hero Arts stamp. There are challenges for wood, cling and clear stamps - check it out, you have until January 1st to join in.

As you may remember, I recently bought the coolest vintage typewriter. It is all fixed up and working beautifully. I had forgotten how much finger force is required for typing! Anyway, Hero Arts has this great stamp called "Retro Typewriter" (F5498) that I used and colored up to match mine. Since a requirement is to photograph your card with the stamp, I decided to photograph it with my inspiration, too. 

I've included a pic with only the card, as the light on the first picture wasn't too good.
We are having lots of grey and rainy days here in California!

Can you see that I made my own patterned background paper by typing many different "thank you" phrases with my typewriter and photocopying it onto cardstock. I love it!

I also used Hero Arts LP114 for the sentiment, Nestibilities Lables Two and Back to Basics Tags, twine from my stash, Copic pens, and Lawn Fawn paper.

Hope you have a great day. I am off to the after-Christmas sales. I am NOT a shopper, but I get a kick out of this tradition of mine.

Thanks for looking in!