Happy Birthday America!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

To all my American friends, Happy 4th of July! This is one we won't seen forget. It is good that we have a history of being a strong country.

I want to share with you one of the July 4th cards that I made this year. For this one I used Distress Oxide Inks with a favorite design from the Tim Holtz "Blueprint" series. With my background in architecture these have always had a special place in my heart.

This is simple but I think it carries a big impact.

Wishing you nothing but the best! Stay safe and thanks for the visit,

All About the Alcohol!

Happy New Year, Bloggin' Buddies!

I've finally been able to store all of my holiday stamping and crafting supplies and play with my alcohol inks. It has been far too long. I really like them, but it always seems to take so much set-up to get ready to use them. I don't like messes!

This alcohol doesn't come on the rocks, but on Yuppo Papper! Great stuff.

I was able to add some foil to this and I thought it still needed a little more, so I added a die-cut stitched star and a shadow script greeting from Sizzix and Tim Holtz.

Such a bright way to start off the year!

Thanks for the visit,

A Pinterest Inspired Tag

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies:

I continue to be challenged by Ellen Hutson and her "12 Days of Christmas Tags with a Feminine Touch". I have to say that so far this is my very favorite of the group. It is inspired by Day 2 (I'm not going in order!) and the amazing card by Carrsia Wiley (she makes wonderful videos and is such a happy crafter!). Her work was inspired by a post on Pinterest:

All I could think about were some of my all-time favorite products designed for Ellen by one of my favorite gals in the card-making world, Julie Ebersole. Not only is she super-talented, she is a fantastic instructor and has the most contagious giggle ("ask me how I know"!). I have learned so much from her over the years and simply adore her.

Anyway, the products I used are her "Cozy Christmas" set, "Home and Hearth" set and "Laurel Wreath" die (I used this same die here on a "12 Tags" event in 2014! It has an entirely different look and feel.).

I cut three layers of the wreath for dimension, cut the heart from a beautiful gold cardstock, used kraft and black cardstock, heat-embossed the sentiment, added washi tape (something that Julie has helped me to feel more comfortable using) and I added a bow made with Tim Holtz's linen ribbon.

Thanks again, Ellen, and thanks to you for the kind visit,

Sweet little tags

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Every year I look forward to the "Twenty-five Days of Christmas" hosted by Tracey McNeely. I make quite a few Christmas tags every year because I give packages of them as little gifts (to folks who still give gifts!) and we use them when we wrap gifts that we provide to needy families (to make it extra special). And I love to do it - each one is a tiny little creation filled with joy!

These tags, which use Lawn Fawn's "Say What?" stamps and dies, was inspired by Day 21 and the cute tags by Karin Åkesdotter  using this same image. I have used this set for numerous tags this year and I know I'll reach for it in years to come. The critters are so darn cute! I embellished the ages with some greens from Tim Holtz's Sizzix holiday greenery dies and some Stickles for sparkle.

Thanks for the visit and happy Thanksgiving,

Paper Bird

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

As I have mentioned, I have been working with pigment powders to prepare for a demonstration that I will be doing. So much fun! I decided to try this terrific die by Tim Holtz called "Paper Bird" together with one of the backgrounds I crated.

I added some flowers from Tim's "Funky Flowers" dies and a cool diecut greeting by Tim for Sizzix. I love how it all came together.

I was inspired to use this cover plate die by one of my most talented mentors, Cheiron Brandon. Be sure to check out her blog at http://www.cheironbrandon.typepad.com. I absolutely love her style and I have learned so much from her over the years. I'd sure love to take a class from her someday, but she is in the New York area - darn!

Isn't it cool that we can have a community of carmakers without borders? I have card making pals all over the country and the world! Thanks for the visit and have a great week,

Longing for You!

Howdy, Bloggin' Buddies!

It's that time of year - love is in the air! I am a huge fan of hearts (but only one fella has mine!), so I use them throughout the year. Needless to say, I have a hefty stash.

One of my best pals is nuts about giraffes, so when I saw this adorable Impression Obsession stamp set, I knew it had to be mine. I've used this company's products for decades and I've always thought that their artists are terrific!

I colored this guy (aren't the eyes wonderful?) with Copic markers and added a small heart that I die-cut from some fun foam and some sequins from my stash. The sentiment is cut from a Tim Holtz/ Sizzix label die.

I'll be submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog, "It must be love". Check it out and play along!

Thanks for the visit and wishing you lots of love,

Still Crazy

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I've been traveling a bit, but I'm happy to be home and crafting again.

Here is a card made with one of my favorite sets - Tim Holtz's Crazy Birds. Those guys simply make me smile. A simple design colored with Distress Inks and Markers. The Paper Smooches sentiment is mounted into a bottle cap embellishment from somewhere in my stash.

Sure hope you are all healthy - stay that way!

Thanks for the visit and have a great weekend,

What's Goin' On?

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

So, we used to say "what's goin' on?"; in fact, there was a great song in the early 1970's by Marvin Gaye that used those very words. I have learned from our young nieces that it is now said very differently.

Hence, this fun and colorful (aren't you tired of holiday colors?) card featuring one of my favorites - the Hipsters by Tim Holtz. Even though they've been around for awhile, they still make me smile! Although (as I have shared with you previously) the romance was a long time coming - at first they sort of creeped me out. Love grows. This guy kind of reminds me of my 8th grade English teacher.

I haven't played with my Distress Oxide Inks in far too long, so I had great fun with this blended background for which I also used a stencil and lots of splatters. It was so rewarding to get inky fingers once again.

Here's hoping you have a super-great Sunday and a terrific week. So sad about the terrible cold many of you are dealing with - it must be impossible! Stay safe! Every winter I rejoice that my parents moved me to California from Erie, PA when I was very young.

Thanks so much for the visit,

Oh, dear! It's here!

Hi, my Bloggin' Buddies!

Well, it is December. How did that happen?! And I never got my Thanksgiving cards posted. The dilemma is that I don't like to post cards until I know they have reached their recipients and then sometimes I just plain forget to get back here to post them. Out of sight....

Ah, well.  Here is a recent project and most of them have reached their new homes. I like to support local businesses and I met a gal who makes goat-milk soaps. I wanted to spiffy some up for little gifts for some lady friends and I went with this home-spun look with lots of trims from my stash.













I used some corrugated kraft paper (it goes with the texture of the soaps), some vintage lace, twine, a Tim Holtz tag die, and a Hero Arts snowflake die to create this special packaging. I found some cute clothespins and added some simple heat-embossed tags.

It's time to think Christmas!

Thanks for the visit and have a great day,

Scaredy Cat

Hello, Bloggin' buddies!

The haunting hour is getting closer! Toady I have another card with a terrifying Distress Oxide Ink background. These were so much messy fun to make! Lots of colors, lots of layers and ink all over!

I have paired it up with an image from a  wonderful older die - one of my favorites - from Tim Holtz (Sizziz Bigz Die  - Raven & Scardy Cat). What's not to love?!

The embellishments are from my extensive Halloween stash and the leaves are a Memory Box die.

We are having an unusually warm week here for this time of year. While I am enjoying it, we are all worried about the fire danger.

Hoping you are safe and sound - and not too scared! Thanks for the visit,

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I have another Halloween card. My friend (and President of our Paper Arts Group) Shirley shared this adorable "Bobble Head Sweet Pea" die by Frantic Stamper Inc. She even showed us how to make our own "wobblers" (you can see videos on You-Tube) for his head using wire and some round stickers. So creative (and thrifty!).

The Tim Holtz "Crazy Things" stamps and dies are the perfect size for this adorable pouch, so the possibilities are endless!

Thanks so much, Shirley!

I combined this cutie with some patterned paper from my stash, some die-cut bats and a sticker sentiment.

Have a wonderful day - it sure feels like fall! - and thanks for the visit,

Quote the Raven.....

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I've been out of town and need to catch up with cards! Seems Christmas has exploded and I'm just now ready to post for Halloween.

While I'm not crazy for the "holiday", I've always adored all the wonderful Halloween images, so I always make a few cards.

I'm still crazy for the Distress Oxide Inks so I made a dark background with several layers and splashes for a haunted look. I matched it up with an older die (Sizzix Bigz Die - Raven & Scaredy Cat) from Tim Holtz, leaves from Memory Box and various embellishments from my stash.

Stay safe and have a wonderful week! Thanks for the visit,

Another Old Goat!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Are you feelin' it? Summer is well on its way out and doesn't make me a happy gal. I go kicking and screaming into fall. Ah, well, for everything there is a season!

I'm back today with my Tim Holtz Hipsters. I've used Diestress Oxide Inks on this old goat. I just can't get enough of these inks - I'm neglecting my other mediums! With this cool background and funky image I have used a stamp from Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) "Wildflowers" set and a perfect sentiment from  My Craft Spot's "Down on the Farm".

I even stamped the inside and the envelope! Too fun!

I need to get into the holiday mode. Based on what I'm seeing on other blogs I am way behind already.

I am adding this to the current Simon Says Stamp "Work it Wednesday"blog. See you there!

Thanks for visiting this old goat. Take care and have a wooly week!

Brushing Up on Brushos

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yesterday my card-making friend Shirley (who is also the amazing President of our "Paper Arts" group) invited a few of us over to learn some techniques/play with Brushos.

I was introduced to these a few years ago but I never really got into them because I am such a control freak and there is NO CONTROL with this product! But, I am trying to loosen up and enjoy them because they really are spectacular and lots of fun. Thanks, Shirley!

This is the first background I made using the pre-wet background technique. I spritzed it with a little Perfect Pearls after it was dry to give it a shimmer.

My sense was that this needed to be a fall-themed card. I used the Memory Box "Boddington Tree Border" die and added an embossed  Paper Smooches ("Salutations") sentiment mounted on a tag from the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Alterations "Thinlits" tag dies.

I love the results and am just delighted to have had this friendly inspiration.

Thanks for the visit and have a great week,

Eclipster!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Have you joined the eclipse craze? We have a dear friend, a cat-lover, who is in Charleston with his family to view the event. I thought I'd make him a card with a custom-made Tim Holtz Hipster ready to view the eclipse - yes, I call him the Eclipster! I used Distress Oxide Inks to make a galaxy background and to watercolor this crazy guy.

I get nervous when I need to get the old Xacto Knife out and do some fancy carving, in this case for the special glasses. I didn't quite get the lenses even, but that just kind of adds to his character, right? I heat embossed the glasses with several coats of shiny color. Fun!

Enjoy the event, be safe and (of course) stay hip! Thanks for the visit,

Don't go, summertime!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Although this summer has been incredibly hot, I sure don't like seeing it getting ready to say "good-bye".  The days are already getting shorter and my happy summertime mode is being threatened. My hubby loves fall, but I always dread it, so there you go!

For some reason my card making summer has been influenced heavily by the amazing Tim Holtz. I've always appreciated Tim's products and designs, but for whatever reason, I've been immersed this summer. It seems I'm always reaching for his "Crazy Birds", his hilarious "Hipsters", the amazing new Distress Oxide Inks, and I even have a new interest in his alcohol inks. My Pinterest boards are full of Tim-related products and ideas!

Today I have a card featuring a Crazy Bird. I have a friend who is into altered art and volunteers with a local charter school, teaching art. She is amazing! I wanted to show my support and wish her a good school year, so I made this "Z-fold" card using Distress Inks, some matching flowers from my stash and a cute speech bubble stamp from Lawn Fawn's "Chit Chat" set. I used some Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Collection cardstock to coordinate with the ink colors.

I had actually never made a Z-fold card until I took a class from my friend Sandy earlier this summer. It adds a little interest, especially for an artsy card and an ever more artsy recipient.

Thanks for the visit, and continue to enjoy your summer while you may.......

You Old Goat

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yes, it is very hot here, so I am allowing myself to spend more time in the studio. Such a shame.....

As I have said before, when I first saw the Tim Holtz Hipster (Stampers Anonymous and Sizzix) series, I was taken aback and honestly slightly disgusted. But, they seriously grew on me and now they are my special pals. Their personalities are so unique and silly! And, depending on how they are used, they can be so versatile -- and so terribly HIP!

One of my favorites is this goat (although my first love was the Ostrich, here). Originally I had made a wonderful background for him with layers of Distress Oxide Inks, but when he was complete he looked so much more outstanding against this rich solid color. I embossed the background with LifeStyle Crafts' "Retro Squares" embossing folder and added a couple of strips of the Distress Oxide background to the front of the card.

Mr. Goat is stamped with Versafine Sepia ink and is watercolored with Distress Ink markers. HIs glasses and tie were done with Versafine Black and Glossy Accents were added to his glasses.

I made a little boutonnière with Memory Box "Adorable Posies" dies using Distress Cardstock. The sentiment is from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous "Crazy Talk" set.

For the inside I used a perfect phrase from Simon Says Stamp's "Happy Birthday Farm Animals" set.

Hot fun in the Summertime! Thanks for the visit and stay cool and hip,

Distress Oxydes

Hi, Blogging' Buddies!

I have a Paris-inspired card made with yet another Distress Oxide Ink background (hence the title of this post - I believe that would be how it is said in French - ha!). Layers and layers of color were added to watercolor paper and each was dried to create wonderful depth of colors. Love!

I have a wonderful new exercise class instructor who, besides being full of knowledge and positive attitudes, opens our classes with a little gem of wisdom and inspiration. Last week one of her opening snippets was about the Eiffel Tower, so I decided that I would make her an appropriate card to let her know how very much I already appreciate her.

I used my large Sizzix Bigz Eiffel Tower Die (an oldie!) and I embossed the entire die cut with some Hero Arts Platinum Embossing Powder. The background was stamped with a Tim Holtz/Stamper's Anonymous set called "French Market".

The stamp and die set I used for the sentiment is "Amazing" by My Favorite Things - such a fun and versatile set!

I added some crochet yarn and a charm from my stash and it is ready to go. Since I am such a Francophile, I have lots of products that I have saved over the years that, although they are rarely used, I can't seem to let go of.

Thanks for the visit - Au Revoir, mes copains!

"Holtzing" Around

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

The heat has hit and I'm spending more time indoors. I had dinner with a charming young girl, the daughter of a dear friend, the other night. She told me a funny story about seeing an ostrich at a safari park.

It was time to crack open my new Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz "Hipster" stamp set! It took me awhile to warm up to these crazy and kind of weird deigns, but with the help of my inspirational and super-talented blog pal, Cheiron Brandon (she does amazing things - check her out!), I am now a fan.

I don't have the matching dies (yet!), but the components were easy to cut. This is a simple and bright card. I paper pieced the Copic-colored various components, and added patterned paper and Glossy Accents to the glasses. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches "Blissful Banners" set (an oldie, but goodie).

Thanks for the visit and happy summer!

Mermaid

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I am back after a short vacation where I got to spend time at the ocean. Today's card is reflective of that great time.

I love this little mermaid set from Newton's Nook, "Mermaid Crossing". I did some Distress Ink "smooching" with some Perfect Pearls for the background, added some texture with a Tim Holtz stencil, colored the adorable gal with Copic pens and added some coral (Stampendouss Cling Coral Tree).

I am adding this to the current challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog.

Thanks for the visit - hope your week is going swimmingly!