Cutness Quotient

Happy Friday, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yep, I've been playing with my Fuse Tool again!

I was inspired by the February Paper Smooches Challenge, "Fun & Cute". And cute is the perfect word for so many of the paper Smooches stamps - I love 'em!

Today I colored up (Copic pens) a double dose using the "Party Pals" set. It is an older set, but a favorite and perfect to pair with my balloon die and some colorful sequins for a real party in a card.

The stars in the background are from some unmarked stamps I got at a used stamp sale. I tried adding some white dots like I have seen so many doing on various blogs - I still struggle with those darn gell pens, but I like the look. A dash of Wink of Stella adds some glimmer.

It is a beautiful sunny day (which is why I got the reflection on my acetate balloon) and I plan to get out an enjoy it!

Thanks for the visit!

Bowl of Cherries

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I have a card I made with the cutest ever stamp set from Stampin' Up called "Giggle Greetings" I got this from my friend and SU Demonstrator, Dottie Macken. There are four different images in the set and they are just ripe for watercoloring - I used my Zig Clean Color Markers and an aqua brush.

To add to the "homespun" look I used a stitched die from Simon Says Stamp, some vintage patterned papers, a doily and some twine (all from my stash).


For quite awhile I resisted getting these markers because I had several different watercoloring mediums, but I must say that I totally love them. The brushes are good quality and the colors are so vibrant. I also like that they are so portable. You can purchase them individually to see if they are something you like.

Hope you are having a great week - thanks for the visit!

Party in a Card!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have been so excited about the new designs by Julie Ebersole in the latest Essentials by Ellen release. I received my order and have been itching to play, so earlier this week I decided to play along with Ellen's Mix It Up Challenge featuring Penny Black products.

I broke out my We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool for this totally fun shaker card. I am trying to remember to think about the color wheel when deciding on colors and I think it really helped with this card.

I love the results! The sentiments (outside and inside of the card) are from Penny Black's "Kind Words" set. My Essentials by Ellen products are the sweet envelopes, "Bitty Envelope" die set (so many possibilities!!!), and the tiny hearts on the envelopes, "Home and Hearth" dies."

I used Distress Inks (Cracked Pistachio and Squeezed Lemonade) on my back panel and drizzled it with some Perfect Pearls solution. I heat embossed the sentiment, loaded the shaker up with the heart-studded envelopes, sequins and tiny beads from my stash and there was plenty of shakin' goin' on!

It isn't easy to still photograph shaker cards!

Thanks for the visit and keep shakin' it!!!!

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.

Aloha!

Happy Day, Bloggin' Buddies!

I am so excited - we are headed to beautiful Kauai, the Garden Island. I feel sorry for all my family and friends who are grappling with freezing weather and snow; I wish I could take you all with us.

Before I go I wanted to share this tropical card that I made to help me get into the "Aloha Spirit".


This is an adorable tropical shirt stamp from the amazing Karen Lockhart. I took several classes from her and learned some great coloring techniques using Prisma Color pencils. She even signed this stamp for me! Karen is now retired and her company was taken over by Peggy Jo Ackley and is Pink Ink Stamp Company.

I left a space to add a sentiment, whatever I need in the future, at the bottom. Some tropical patterned and textured paper and twine set off this stamped image.

Thanks for the visit! I'm off to pack my grass skit and sunscreen.

Aloha,

What's Shakin'?

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies and Happy New Year!

Today I have a fun shaker card that I made with my new Fuse tool. I've been having such fun with it.

The balloon shape was cut with Hero Arts "Stamp and Cut Balloons" - an older Archiver's Exclusive. The birdie is from Essentials by Ellen's "Wish Big" by the amazing Julie Ebersole. The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted's "Happy Birthday".

I used Prisma Colors for the birdie and some unmarked tiny star stamps that I picked up at a used stamp sale years ago.

So, I guess one could say that this is a hybrid card! Lots of companies and lots of fun. The sequins are a mix from my stash (vintage and new).

I love how the balloon cut out goes through the card front so that there is no backing on the acetate balloon "pocket".

I am always hesitant to buy new tools or to jump on any current "trends", but I am really glad to have this tool. It doesn't require much storage space and it is easy to use - kind of like the old wood-burning tool I had as a kid. Super-fun!

Have a great day and thanks for the visit. Stay happy,

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!

"Tis the Season!

Hello, Blogging Buddies!

Yes, it has been awhile since I've posted - Life Happens! We have been busy taking part in the joy of the season. I didn't post any of my Christmas cards this year. I made and prepared them for mailing so early that it just didn't happen.

Today I want to share with you a couple of special cards that I have received from some talented pals.

The one on the left is from my local card-making friend, Mary. I believe the stamp is from Pink Ink and that she used colored pencils. The coloring on that bow is beyond amazing - what glorious dimension.

The card on the right is from a wonderful and creative friend in Canada. Cindy does it all - works, takes care of her family, maintains a fun blog, is on a design team and turns out so many beautiful cards. Look at the wonderful ombre effect on these trees! The entire card has remarkable sparkle and textures.

I am blessed to have these inspirational friends who share my love of card-making.

Thanks for the visit and happy holidays!

Little Thank Yous

Hello, blogging Buddies!

Every year I make several small sets of thank you cards for my friends and family. I am not sure of the correct name of the size of these cards, but they are called RSVP cards and are smaller than A2.

This year I have used a Stampin' Up set called "Pretty Thankful" that I purchased from my friend and demonstrator Dottie Macken.

For the first card I used patterned paper and some twine with several ink colors. The second also features patterned paper and a tiny bow from a die by Paper Smooches. The third uses a background stamp by Hero Arts, watercolor, doily piece and gold thread. I like that they are all different, yet they clearly are a set. I used my envelope punch to make a container for each set.

I am so glad to have these done early, as Christmas is just around the corner.

Thanks for the visit - hope all is well.