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Happy {late} Anniversary

2012-02-18T16:09:00.001-06:00

I'm working my way through the different sketches that were posted for the PTI anniversary celebration this month. I couldn't play along with the original post, but they are all so cute I wanted to at least try them out.

And besides my parents anniversary is tomorrow ... yeah I know, Sunday. The card will not get there in time, but I get bonus points because its hand -made :)

I loved this sweet sketch and decided to go with a pink floral theme. Nothing screams "Happy Belated Anniversary from your Overworked Youngest Child" like pink floral . I used the littlest flower image from Simply Jane and stamped it repeatedly in Raspberry Fizz. The sentiment is from Round & Round - one of the most versatile anniversary sets I've ever gotten from PTI.

I used my Limitless Layers - oval and Turn a New Leaf dies along with some spring moss vintage buttons to finish it out.

Thanks for stopping!

Happy 18th Birthday

2012-02-17T21:38:00.001-06:00

When my sister told the family she was pregnant with her first child she told me she "really wanted a girl". I sent her a dozen pink roses with a card that said Think Pink. The roses worked and her first was a beautiful baby girl. Said baby is going to be 18 in a few weeks. I'm sending Cait a dozen pink roses too - and this card

I loved what Heather Nichols did in this month's PTI countdown with the butterfly dies so I copied that here. I stamped the BB:Text Style in versamark stamped the "happy" letters just to have a placement guide and added "birthday" in True Black. I die cut a CB butterfly die I have and used repositional glue to adhere it to my card base. I sponged Crumb Cake ink over the die, making sure I got in all the little details.

For the "happy" I stamped on white card stock and scribbled with Copic markers. I cut out the letters and adhered them to my card base.

Thanks for stopping!

A Little Thank You

2012-02-14T20:50:00.001-06:00

I have a couple of hobbies. I don't do a lot of things because as my sister has told me when I'm in, I'm all in, so I go all out on whatever hobbies I undertake. One of my new ones is cooking. I've never really liked to cook but decided maybe I just didn't know what I was doing, so last November I started taking some basic cooking classes at a local community college. Now I'm hooked.

I'm on my 3rd series of classes and am loving it so much that about all I post on Facebook anymore is pictures of food I've made :)

One of the reasons class is so fun is Erica ... she comes every week and cleans up after us. I gained a greater appreciation for all she does when I made a birthday dinner for some friends. I spent as much time washing dishes as I did cooking (but the duck and couscous were fabulous).

This week is the last class for the series I am in and I decided its about time I made Erica a thank you card.

I used my new limitless layers - oval dies as well as the small rose from Rosie Posie. The rose and leaves are from the Rosie Posie set. The sentiment is from Round and Round, and the background was made from Background Basics: Gingham

Colors are Melon Mambo, Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip (sentiment) and Pear Pizzazz.

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch and a Surprise

2012-02-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

If you've already visited the OWH Stars and Stamps site then you know the surprise already ... the samples that you see on their post are mine .... wiggling with excitement here in Iowa. I was super thrilled when Julie sent out an email to ask if I wanted to be a part of the sample crew. Its a big role to fill since the samples are always so amazing but I'll do my best to live up to the standards already set.

So now on to the cards ....

The first card I made is a Miss You card .... using the very first a la modes set I ever bought, I love coffee sets they just symbolize friendship and good times to me. I used my crimper to corrugate the base layer to look like the sleeve that goes on a to-go cup. My a la mode girl didn't quite fit in the size allotted for the sketch so I stamped her twice, colored and cut out the cups and layered them on foam tape to get a little dimension,

I colored her in denim and red, because that's what I would wear every day if I could.

My second card (yes there are 2 today) is just a spring time fresh, no sentiment general purpose card. Same basic color scheme as the one above (Island Indigo and Pool Party), but added some touches of greeens and yellows to brighten it up.

Thanks for stopping!

Supplies:
Miss You A Latte Card
Stamps: Like it A Latte [MFT]
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black [Tsukineko]; Island Indigo [SU!]
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla
Tools: crimper

Dandelion Fluff Card
Stamps: Botanical Silhouettes [PTI]
Ink: Island Indigo, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party
Paper: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White

MIM: Doubled sided stamped die cuts

2012-02-06T20:27:00.002-06:00

I really liked Erin Lincoln's tutorial on the Make It Monday video. I have the Leaf Print stamps and dies, but wanted to try some of the other ones I had to see how well they worked with the technique (plus I was copying a lot of Erin's sample card so I thought I ought to do a little something original :).

I found the Happy Trails butterfly was perfectly symmetrical ....

I used a slightly shortened white card base to start with and stamped the BB:Gingham in Lcky Limeade. I die cut the Limitless Layers Ovals using Lucky Limeade and White. For the butterfly I die cut it from white then stamped in Wisteria Wonder. on both sides of the cut out.

I used Take Three: Winter for the sentiment.

Here is a picture of the underside of the butterfly

Thanks for stopping!

SFYTT

2012-02-05T07:59:00.002-06:00

Second post today ... I got up early and had A LOT of time in the craft room before getting ready for church ...

Here is the second installment of the 2012 Sketch For You To Try ... a monthly sketch challenge hosted by Jen Del Muro

I flipped the sketch on its side and used my new SU! goodies that I got this week (Framelits dies and Apothecary Art set and the SAB Everyday Enchantments patterned paper.

Colors are Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, and Early Espresso

The buttons are New Leaf vintage buttons from PTI.

OWH Sunday Sketch

2012-02-05T07:45:00.001-06:00

I went a little crazy with the last PTI release. I think I bought more than I have in a year. Then of course, work got busy so I haven't even gotten to ink up all that goodness. I had time to play this morning so I made this card using the OWH Sunday Sketch

and just so you don't have to read the whole post, yes, Tara, this will be a stamp camp card :)

I wanted a bright cheery card since its rather dreary here in Iowa, so I used my old standby Raspberry Fizz and Black color combination.

I used my new Think Big Favorites #12 and Background Basics: Circles to make a cheery birthday card.

Thanks for stopping!!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2012-01-28T08:10:00.001-06:00

This weeks Sunday Sketch is a really nice one. I wish I would have had time to play earlier in the week but I did have a stampy data with my stamping buddy Tara last night so I got to make this little birthday card using the sketch

I used the new PTI sets Lace Bouquet (which was a total impulse buy on release night - but I do love it) and Celebrations.

I love this sentiment from Celebrations. I usually write this exact phrase inside most cards I send ... now I can stamp it on the outside instead (although i think that means I need to come up with a new signature line for the insides :)

Thanks for stopping!

A little vintage

2012-01-22T08:50:00.003-06:00

When PTI did their new release this month they had a set called Simply Jane ... inspired by the era and writings of Jane Austen, Now I'm not a huge Jane Austen fan, but I love this set and its companion patterned paper titled Dearest Jane.

This weeks CPS sketch just screamed (figuratively not literally ... that would just be weird) "use the Simply Jane set on me!" So I did ....

I used my ticket corner punch [SU!] on just the outer panels to create a more unified backdrop for my silhouette. The paper is from Chapter 1 of the Dearest Jane collection ... its vintage handwriting script of some of Jane Austen's works. This one happens to be from Pride and Prejudice which is the only Austen work I've seen as a movie (and I haven't read any books although I am now reading Pride And Prejudice because I did sort of like the movie). I also aged the paper a little using the Chai Tea from Tea Dye Duo

The frame die cuts the scroll part as well as the cuts the oval out of the center (brilliant). The card stock is dark chocolate but the ink is Early Espresso to give an added contrast.

I also die cut the silhouette , but opted not to stamp the matching stamp on it. Instead I added the necklace and flower, again in early espresso. (by the way I actually die cut the silhouette from the oval center piece so no wasted scraps on this project either). The ribbon is Dark Chocolate satin.

For the sentiment I selectively inked just the Happy Birthday part of one of the sentiments in the set and created the banner .

Thanks for stopping!!

CPS 251 and Make It Monday: Ghost Mask

2012-01-17T07:31:00.000-06:00

I had an idea for the CPS this week. An awesome idea, then I saw the MIM video while I was waiting for my daughter at the dentist (LOVE my smart phone) and my awesome idea got awesomer ... combine the 2 challenges this week into 1 utterly amazing pile of paper awesome-ness.

That didn't work out. I tried 5 times to make it a reality. My biggest problem was that the dies I have with matching sets cut the dies bigger than the stamp and so the masking overflowed the stamped frame and that just sort of blew the effect in my mind.

Then this morning - bright and early - I realized I didn't have to use a die ... I just drew lines in and cut the vellum mask to fit it ... a dream of argyle later and voila ....

I must confess it took me a couple of attempts to get the argyle right ... I ended up printing a picture off and using that as a guide. It seemed beyond me this morning without the help.

I used a harlequin impression plate for the card base to carry the pattern over subtly to the rest of the card.

Stamps are all PTI: A Little Argyle and Flower Fusion 6 (sentiment).
Colors are Smokey Shadow, True Black and Raspberry Fizz (also PTI)
Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2012-01-15T17:37:00.001-06:00

For this weeks OWH Sunday Sketch I decided to go with bright happy colors to offset the cold and snow we got over the last few days here in Iowa. Up til now winter has been FABULOUS - sunny and temps in the 50s. Not "Midwest winter" at all. Now winter has arrived, but I am fighting back with some bright flowers...

I used my Book Print Impression plate that I actually had forgotten about. I love the randomness to the letter placement. I also used my Take Three die. It perfectly cut those squares (I was very happy when I measured them and they were exactly what the sketch called for. And lastly I used my Background Basics: Newsprint. The column stamp fit perfectly within the cut squares. Easy peasy!

The flowers, leaves and sentiment are from Flower Fusion 6 & 7. I did a little selective inking to turn the single line sentiment that was too long into a 2 line sentiment that fit perfectly.

Colors are [SU!] Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade - both from the In Colors 2012
I also used Basic Gray and Black ink on the text.

Thanks for stopping!

SFYTT - 2012 kickoff

2012-01-10T21:00:00.004-06:00

The first Saturday of the month has come and gone. That means I'm late on teh Sketch For You To Try ... not really I have all month, but I usually crank it out the first day. Not so this month, feels like I've been in a bit of a slump. But here is my entry for this months sketch

I used my bloom builders die and created the flower from Lemon Tart card stock. The rest is just layers.
I tried to add a little interest by embossing with the Leafy Branch folder. I like how it ties the patterned paper and the flower focal piece together.

Colors are Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Spring Moss, and Lemon Tart

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch #103

2012-01-09T16:49:00.001-06:00

This week's OWH Sunday Sketch had lots of embellishments on it. I started with a floral cascade in my head, but when I was assembling sup[plies I saw my manly wood grain and flannel plaid DSP from the SU! Holiday mini I changed my mind and decided to make a masculine card. But what to do in place of those flowers. Buttons would be good but I didn't have any that were the right size/color for my project. ... so I made my own

I used pieces of the patterned paper for the bulk of the card, only stamping the sentiment (from TCP). I also punch 10-12 circles in each size (1.25", .75", and .5"). I slathered adhesive over all but one and stacked them up to build the thickness I wanted. I then used my crop-a-dile to punch the holes and tied them with twine from my garage.

Pretty cool huh!?!. I've also embossed them with clear EP before but didn't this time around.

Colors are Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso (SU!)

Thanks for stopping!!

MIM: A La Carte

2012-01-05T19:02:00.001-06:00

This week's Make It Monday is a recap of 2011 - pick your poison so to speak .... Choose a MIM from 2011 that you did't get to try or maybe your fave from the year.

I opted for #12 - Making your own frames. I default to my Framed set far too often. I know its not difficult doing the frame but it always seemed to take too long - until Nichole Heady showed a few simple tricks to making frames quick and easy

I started by doing all the stamping. I could have drawn the frame around the medallions as well but I like the depth it gives have the line be over the medallions, but cut off by the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping!!

Hello Card Supplies:
Ink: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Cherry Cobbler [SU!]; True Black [PTI]
Paper: White [PTI]
Stamps: Mehndi Medallion , Think Big Favorites 3 [PTI]
Other: Black art marker

Its Your Day

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

A simple card today in Cherry Cobbler and White

I die cut Mat Stack 5 and the Fillable Frames #8 - they are just about the same shape. I stamped the frame and sentiment using Fresh Snow ink.

Inside I stamped another sentiment from Birthday Basics and added a strip of the patterned paper which was from the SU! Holiday mini.

Thanks for stopping

Winding down on the birthday blitz ...

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

... of course another birthday card for my dad ... only 1 more left :)

I decided to make a clear card this time, just to be different. Harder to photograph but pretty awesome just the same

I cut out 4 Mat Stack 4 Layerz (larger layer) 2 in black and 2 in white. The white ones are on the inside of the card. The black ones are on the outside of the card ot mask the tape and such of the inside layers.

I also cut the regular Mat Stack 4 die and stamped using the Lock and Key set (keys are sentiment)

Inside I stamped a happy birthday sentiment form Birthday Basics and another key, to carry on the theme .

Thanks for stopping!

Birthday Blitz countdown - only 2 more to go

2012-01-01T13:25:00.000-06:00

So I have just 2 more cards to go after this one for my dad's 80th birthday.

I used the CPS sketch this week (#249) for the basic layout.

I don't know why but I felt like making a tufted pillow card today. I don't know if that's really what its called, but I saw something like this a month or so ago on the 'net (I think Moxie Fab World, but I can't remember right off the top of my head)

To increase the elegance I did all white. I scored the background layer on my Scor-Pal (see Tara I do use it :) at 1" intervals going in both directions. At each intersection I placed a half pearl from SU!

I added a plain white strip and the sentiment from Birthday Basics [PTI] to complete this weeks CPS sketch.

OWH Sunday Sketch - something besides a birthday card

2012-01-01T13:13:00.002-06:00

So I know I've been on a birthday card kick (and I still have one more for my dad :), but I thought I'd give you a break from the birthdays to do an unconventional valentines card.

Unconventional you ask ... and how is that. Well for starters its blue ... Pool Party and Island Indigo to be exact. These are 2 of the 2012 In Colors form SU! that didn't inspire me when they were introduces, and now all of a sudden - LOVE

I also used the Sale-a-bration set Sprinkled Expressions for the heart and sentiment. I used the heart border punch on the focal layer

To make the banner edges I used a trick I learned for doing the same cut on ribbon, I wasn't sure it would work (thought it might crease the paper too much) but I think it looks just fine. I folded the 2 edges together and just snipped to the corner. Pretty simple and also pretty even (my usually problem is uneven cuts so the banner end looks "off")

Oh and for any of my worker peeps looking ... this is one of the camp cards we'll make next week.

Thanks for stopping!!

Another b-day card

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

One of the reason I bought the Tremendous Treats: Valentines set was for the puppy. It was adorable in the Tiny Treat version, and the super-sized one is just as cute.

I colored the pup using Copics T1, T4, T6 and a colorless blender.

I used the scripty Background Basics: Text Style and Birthday Bash Sentiments

Colors are Concorde Crush, Pear Pizazz and Smokey Shadow.

Rosie Posie Birthday Blitz

2011-12-28T21:37:00.003-06:00

My dad will be 80 in January and I am blitzing him with birthday cards over the next few weeks, 1 for each decade ...

Here is one that I made using my new Rosie Posie set (the flowers are big and bold but the hexagon background strips are incredible)

I used the medium and small hexagon strips and stamped them in True Black then stamped Background Basics: Text Style in Real Red. For the sentiment I used Happy Day

Thanks for stopping.

Inspired by ...

2011-12-25T20:06:00.004-06:00

... this purse

I was at a friend's house tonight and some other friends dropped by as well. This was the purse that my friend's daughter had ... SO adorable

Here is the card I made:

No stamping, almost all punches or die cuts. I used the Banner Builder dies for the feathers on the chest, a 2" circle punch cut in half for the eyebrows, 3 circle punches in graduated sizes for the eyes and then fussy cut the beak to closely match the picture.

Everything was mounted on a Crumb Cake base. Main colors are Pumpkin Pie and Ocean Tides. The patterned paper is the Jolly By Golly mini deck from Cosmo Cricket.

ETA: I couldn't help it, they were so stinkin' cute I made a whole herd of them (or whatever it is you call a group of owls :)

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch #100

2011-12-24T19:06:00.002-06:00

OWH Sunday Sketch posted its 100th sketch last week. I finally had a chance to work on it about mid-week and am just being able to post

This birthday card is for a dear friend of mine's gramma who will be 94 in January. I was originally going with a quilt type of theme but changed to the mixed patterns after I opened my PTI order. I used the Bitty Background Blocks for the gingham layer and the rest is Rosie Posie. The sentiment is from Happy Day

Colors are Baja Breeze, River Rock, Blushing Bride and Concord Crush from this weeks Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger.

Thanks for stopping!

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger

2011-12-24T18:45:00.000-06:00

I rarely have a chance to participate in the Moxie Fab world challenges although I love all of them. This week, the colors and stripes just inspired me. I almost made a bargello but that seemed too obvious to me and I wanted to do something different.

I played off the stripes and colors and made a new, modern take on the stripes using my new Rosie Posie set with its awesome-tastic hexagon background building strips

I decided the closest colors I had were Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze, River Rock and Concorde Crush (all SU!). I stamped the open and solid hexagons in stripes alternating the colors like the trigger picture.

The sentiment and focal layer are from Happy Day

Thanks for stopping!

Another Birthday Blitz - CPS 248

2011-12-21T09:35:00.000-06:00

I had a birthday blitz back in November to celebrate my aunts 90th. I figure my dad's 80th should be equally blitzed (1 card for each decade).

Here is the first one using the CPS 248 sketch:

I used Tiny Tags 2 along with the Tiny Tags die for the stars. I pulled out my pour neglected Fancy Flourishes for the swirls. And see that Celebrate stamp ...

Thats from my SU! Sale-a-bration preorder ... coming in January. Its called Outlined Occasions and can be selected free with any $50 purchase. I colored the outline in using Copic Sketch markers R24, R29 and R59.

Inside I did a little more with the Flourishes.

MIM: Tags from Dies

2011-12-19T10:57:00.003-06:00

I love when technique tutorials show you new ways to use things. I went to a stamping conference once upon a time and one of the classes was 20 things you can do with markers. The presenter said you should be able to come up with 10-20 things that you can do with something to make sure that you aren't just impulse buying. I found that to be sage advice. One day I will follow it :D

So at least now I have another thing I can do with my dies ... make tags !!

I actually made a couple of different ones because they were so stinkin' simple:

First up is a snowflake tag for my nephew. I decided to go grungy for his birthday card and present tag this year. I first cut the snowflake with the fold, then a full one. On the full one I spritzed with Silver Foil, Blue, and Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz. I then over-stamped with the Grunge Me set using True Black

See the sparkles ... so shiny, but also "boy" since its graffiti :)

The second tag is super simple, I used Tag Sale 5, Background Basics: Circles and In the Meadow. I offset the full tag a little to show the white underneath.

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch #99

2011-12-11T18:24:00.001-06:00

This week I'm using the Sunday Sketch to prep for a stamp camp I'm holding at work this week

I had originally planned to make a more detailed card, but I am running out of steam to prep anything too intricate and my nights are booked from now til Friday when I start my vacation. So this simple little layour combined with a high contrasting color combo seemed a better alternative.

Colors are Poppy Parade and Basic Black with a little Crumb Cake thrown in for the card base. Stamps are Think Big Favorites and Harvest Berries.

Oh and if you stuck with reading for the whole post you get to learn the surprise. I'm not bringing any of these stamps to stamp camp. It will be a sample card for the layout, and they will be able to use the 12 other sets I'm bringing (for on of the attendees to make a calendar that everyone else has made already). This will be a good test of their design skillz ... muwahahahahahahah ....

Thanks for stopping!

Another OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-12-10T07:20:00.001-06:00

I really like this weeks Sunday Sketch apparently, I keep having ideas to make with it. This one is a shower card for one of the gals at church who is getting married next month. The shower is today (nothing like keeping it last minute :)

Her colors are indigo and grey/silver. I couldn't find those colors in wrapping paper when I looked (at 1 store ... last night ... last minute remember) but I found some great striped paper that had a bright blue, turquoise, a lighter blue and white. I really like the bright color combo so got that and knew immediately that I could make a card to match (horrible when you look at wrapping paper and think "Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point")

I used my Hounds tooth embossing folder [SU!] and Background Basics stamps [PTI] for the patterns. The bunny and gift stack is from TCP. The sentiment is from Rustic Branches [PTI]

I spritzed the gift stack with vanilla Smooch Spritz [SU!] to give it a little celebratory sparkle.

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch: Merry & Bright

2011-12-07T20:23:00.001-06:00

Most of my Christmas cards were made the week of Thanksgiving and mailed shortly thereafter. I made one last one tonight to send with my niece's Christmas present using this weeks OWH Sunday Sketch (#98)

I used Rustic Snowflakes patterned paper for the squares ... it was released a year or 2 ago and has this great multi-patterned sheet. I punched using my square punch right in a line so the pattern from the page is carried over in the squares.. The sentiment is from Fillable Frames #9

I added some texture to the base layer with Polka Dot Basics impression plate and some sparkle to my snowflake using Smooch Spritz (both vanilla and gold)

Main colors are River Rock and Poppy Parade.

Thanks for stopping!

Last SFYTT of the Year

2011-12-03T00:00:00.000-06:00

Its the first Saturday of December and that means Sketch For You To Try time! This is the last sketch of the year. I've been happy to be able to participate in all the sketches this year.

Here's a look at the past entries I've had for 2011:
Jan, Feb, Mar, April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, and Nov.

It was really fun looking back over the whole year of sketch challenges :)

Here's December's offering:

When I saw the sneaky peek on Facebook I just thought "snowflakes, its perfect for snowflakes". So snowflakes it is ... Not a lot of stamping on this card just the cloud from Up Up and Away and the sentiment and tree from In The Meadow. The rest is patterned paper and die cuts (rolling hills, large and small snowflakes).

I added glitter and rhinestones to make it sparkle!

Thanks for stopping

OWH Sunday Sketch #97: Birthday Girl

2011-12-02T19:16:00.001-06:00

My baby girl will be 19 next week - my how time flies! She LOVES The Nightmare Before Christmas, as does my stamping buddy Tara. Tara got these awesome NBC stamps from Simply Betty and I combined it with this week's Sunday Sketch for a birthday card of epic proportions

I made the plaid panels using the striped image from Background Basics: Retro [PTI] stamped in True Black and Smokey Shadow. The sentiment is from Birthday Bash Sentiments.

For Sally and Jack I colored with copics: T1,T4, T6 and V99 for the grays and black, E19, E8, R89, R59, R29, Y15 for everything else

Thanks for stopping!

CPS #246 and a Color Bleed

2011-11-30T05:20:00.001-06:00

I wanted to try the OWH Tuesday Tutorial this week - a Copic color bleed technique that produced some awesome samples.

I started out creating the background layer by coloring with BG02, 05, and 07. Then I dropped colorless blender solution on it, let it dry and dropped some more. I wanted the primary drops on the darker squares to represent the circles in the sketch

When I saw how the background layer turned out, I knew I had to get out my a la modes Groovy Girl stamps .... it was just too hippie not to.

I actually stamped the girlie twice and did the color bleed technique on her dress as well, although I colored in a spiral pattern hoping for a nice tie-dye effect. I paper pieced the dress in, then did some light coloring on the rest of the image.

Thanks for stopping!

Vacation Project #7 - Nice Day for a {Winter} White Wedding

2011-11-26T09:12:00.001-06:00

We have 4 pastors at my church. Two of them have been serving together for 20+ years. I think its somehow right and proper that 2 of their children are getting married.

Congratulations Jon and Jessica!

Since its a January wedding I went with a winter theme. I used all white card stock, die cut some damask snowflakes [PTI]. Using my Xyron, I covered the fronts with adhesive and glittered them up so they sparkle ... A LOT :). I used my Tiny Tags [PTI] die to make the tag (I chose one with a heart since its a wedding) and used the Mr&Mrs stamp from Tiny Tags II

You may also have noticed the embossed rectangle behind the snowflakes. I used my rectangle nesties and embossed with it. I know I learned this technique on Nichole Heady's blog, but I couldn't find it there. Here is a Splitcoast Stampers tutorial on how to do embossing with a die.

Thanks for stopping!

Vacation Project #6 - One Last Christmas Card

2011-11-25T19:20:00.001-06:00

While vacation isn't officially over until Sunday night, I need to get back on a little bit of a routine tomorrow so I won't be able to spend hours upon hours in my little hideaway. I made this one last Christmas card using his weeks MIM technique

I started with a 4.25"square Garden Green card base. I die cut the Mat Stack 3 and Mat Stack 3 Layerz dies using Naturals White and Cherry Cobbler respectively.

I stamped the sentiment in graded shades of Cherry Cobbler. The deer silhouette was stamped in True Black and the pine tree was in Garden Green (both full strength)

I also added a little glitter to the tree image, to go with the sentiment (tree tops glistening)

All stamps are from In The Meadow.

Thanks for stopping!

Vacation Project #5 - Another Birthday Card

2011-11-25T11:02:00.001-06:00

Actually another birthday card pretty similar to the other one I made this week. I loved the layout and so made a bright happy one for my sister.

I used my new TCP stamp set (love the bunnies!) along with the happy block letters from Birthday Bash Sentiments

I stamped the bunny and present stack image twice, once on my layer and once on a scrap. I did some light coloring on the bunny layer then went a little nuts on the present stack :) Who wouldn't love a happy stack of gifts like that, I ask you!

I cut out the stack of presents and then adhered it to the bunny with foam tape to really make it look like he was peeking out from the behind all those gifts.

For the plaid layer I used the striped image from Background Basics: Retro and tempting turquoise, melon mambo, and delightful daffodil inks.

Thanks for stopping by!

Vacation Project #4 - Hambo Hoedown #43

2011-11-23T12:20:00.001-06:00

This week's Hambo Hoedown was to use something soft on your project. I made it (barely) by using some wide twill striped ribbon. See it - yeah over there on the far left side, next the notebook paper punch ... yep that's ribbon. Its soft and it counts. I wanted to put a bow or a knot there too, but due multiple attempts at this card, I didn't have enough left to do that.

Here is the whole card. I really struggled with this one today and I'm not sure why. I did learn something new though. If you accidentally die cut paper that has adhesive all over the back, you can clean your steel dies with rubbing alcohol. It will eventually get the adhesive residue off *cough don't ask cough*

I used the new Computer digi for the main image and shrunk down my balloon penguin to fit in the computer screen. I printed the sentiment using Courier font and die cut with the Half and Half die from PTI.

Thanks for stopping!

Vacation Project #3 - A Christmas Card

2011-11-22T20:56:00.001-06:00

I finally got to a Christmas card (new design) today. I mass produced a few already but I've posted those already so didn't re-post. This is the first new design I've made so far this week. I used the MIM Layered Background using Sentiment Stamps technique and paired it with this weeks CPS sketch

For the stamps I used In The Meadow and Background Basics: Music, both from PTI. I stamped off once with the sentiment then stamped multiple times on the card stock. I stamped the horse and sleigh in True Black. I distressed the edges with Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distressing Ink.

I also added a little bit of glitter to the rolling hills background layer.

Thanks for stopping!

Vacation Project #2 - Birthday Cards

2011-11-22T15:24:00.001-06:00

OK so its not just Christmas cards I need to get done this week. I have a few birthdays coming up that I need to make cards for as well. I used this week's OWH Sunday Sketch (#96) as the starting point and paired it up with my new TCP A Beary Good Year stamp set ... I've loved this bear from the first time I saw him on Jen Del Muro's blog and I finally just bit the bullet and bought the set (and a couple others ... those bunnies are adorable too!)

I stamped Mr. Bear on Soft suede card stock to minimize the coloring, then just added darker coloring for his hide. The little cake is from the same set. The Happy blocks are from Birthday Bash Sentiments [PTI]

Colors are Cherry Cobbler, Delightful Daffodil, Pumpkin Pie, Navy and Kraft

Thanks for stopping!

Vacation Project #1 - Penguin Tags

2011-11-22T09:41:00.001-06:00

I decided that I was taking Thanksgiving week off of work many months ago. Last week I decided what I would do with my time off (besides hang with the girls). The winners - bake pumpkin bread and make Christmas cards. The card making also includes gift tags and since there was a lot of die cutting I started with those first

I used Tag Sale #5 and Winter Penguin (PTI), Lacey Circles and Regular Circles (Spellbinders) dies for these. I stamped the new Background Basics: Circles background in fresh snow ink then used Simple Alpha and the Winter Penguin stamp set to finish off the medallion

Not sure what it is but I love penguins ... this year any way. Just so adorable.

Now it's time to head back to the basement and work on the Christmas cards :)

I Love vacations!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Hambo Holiday

2011-11-19T07:53:00.001-06:00

The Hambo Hoedown this week is to use a tag in your project. The Wee Henry Turkey digi was the participation prize for last week's hoedown and I used it to make a simple Thanksgiving card for my parents

I wanted to have a rough linen look, but my linen texture plate was too subtle so I went with the square lattice embossing folder from SU!. I actually sewed the black embossed layer on with a zig zag stick. You can tell in person, and it gives a nice subtle texture over the top of the lattice pattern.

I cut the tag with the button card die from PTI, embossed with the square lattice, then distressed the edge with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distressing Ink

Wee Henry and his buddy were colored with Copic Sketch markers.

Thanks for stopping!

My Big Brother's Birthday

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

I've been focusing a lot on my aunt's 90th birthday which is coming up in a couple of days, but there are some other noteworthy birthday's in the month of November in my family as well. Today is my big brother's (1 of 3 big brothers) birthday. He's old - 48 this year. Hard to believe in another 2 years the same little boy I had Lysol fights with in the basement will hit the big 5-0 (yes you read that correctly ... Lysol fights. We fought dirty but ended up completely disinfected :)

I'm really liking the "vintage photo" kick I've been on and I found a cute one of my brother and me. I was probably 3 or 4 in this picture, so he was 5ish.

I added a black background and photo corners to the printed picture. Kind of reminds me of the photo albums my mom and gramma used to keep.

No actual stamping on this (I printed the sentiment using CarbonType font). I aged up the photo and the card base using Tim Holtz Vintage Linen distress ink.

Thanks for stopping!!

Last of the Birthday Barrage (and a Hoedown card)

2011-11-09T19:19:00.001-06:00

This week's Hambo Hoedown is to use a frame on your card and the new digi set Camera Guy from Hambo Stamps

I just remember always taking a picture of someone taking a picture of me. Its like a rite of passage in my family. So since this card is for my aunt who will be celebrating her 90th birthday soon, I thought a little homage to the family tradition was in order

Its a simple little number but super cute. I printed the Camera Guy on white card stock and colored with Copics. Then I punched a hole in some black card stock with my largest square punch and used my spiral notebook punch to make it look like a film strip. If I was thinking I would have done it in shades of brown so it looked like a negative. Maybe next time ... but see that little sparkle of light on the camera's lens?

I did have the mental fortitude to add Crystal Effects to the lens so it looks like glass :)

Thanks for stopping!

Birthday Card #5

2011-11-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Here is birthday card 5 of 9 for my Aunt's 90th birthday

Its pretty simple but kinda fun especially since this weeks MIM technique was making your own background papers. I used Simple Circles [SU! retired] and Birthday Bash Sentiments [PTI]. Colors are Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides and Dark Chocolate. To get the chocolate twine I took my chocolate striped bakers twine and colored it with an E59 Copic Sketch marker. It filled in the white nicely but if you look close you can still see a bit of a stripe.

Thanks for stopping!

Another Birthday Barrage Card

2011-11-07T20:09:00.002-06:00

I think its 6 of 9 ... kinda losing count I just know I have to send one every day so my aunt gets them all by her birthday :)

I was asked to do a tutorial for Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog for the "embossed kissing" technique on this card. I love this organization and all they do for deployed soldiers so I said yes. This was one of the samples I made for the tutorial and I am using it for the birthday blitz

It's pretty simple really. In the background you can see the scrap of card stock I embossed with my hounds tooth embossing folder. Then I stamped the flower in Cherry Cobbler. Next I stamped the flower on plain card stock (without re-inking) to get that amazing hounds tooth pattern on the flower petals.

I just layered and tied some ribbon after that, so the flower gets to be center stage.

I'm not sure when the tutorial will get posted on the OWH site, but I'll add a link to it when it does.

Thanks for stopping!

A completely unintended side effect

2011-11-06T15:20:00.002-06:00

11/13/2011 editted: A tutorial for this "embossed kiss" technique as I've dubbed it will appear on the Operation Wrote Home Stars & Stamps blog on Nov. 22

I was playing along with the OWH Sunday Sketch, and I decided to make a love card with hearts, even though I know the hearts in the sketch are the embellie of choice. I'm using the hearts because I'm prepping cards for a women's retreat my church is having this weekend and for free time I am going to have stamping stations that attendees can make OWH valentine's cards for our heroes. And since ODBD is sponsoring OWH with a love theme, it seemed like a win-win

The card was looking rather plain so I decided to use the square lattice embossing folder for my Big Shot. Then I decided maybe stamping after I embossed may be cool. THEN I realized I had a perfect kiss technique card

The little heart was stamped on scrap card stock after stamping on the embossed layer. Same for the big heart

Here's the whole card. I {big puffy heart} how this turned out. I almost never get a clean second image when I try a standard stamp to stamp kiss technique, but stamping first on the embossing work beautifully!

So there will be a box with about 20 of these heading to my shipper sometime next week.

Thanks for topping!

Supplies:
Paper: Poppy Parade Whisper white [SU!]
Ink: Poppy Parade [SU!]
Stamps: Heart Prints [PTI]
Other: Heart punches [PTI], rhinestone [SU!]

Card Patterns Sketch 140

2011-11-06T05:56:00.002-06:00

I follow several "challenge" blogs so when I have time I can stretch my creative wings. One of those is the Card Patterns sketch challenge. They do an amazing job every week creating fun and interesting sketches and I'm happy to get to play along this week.

Here is my card for this week's challenge

I love how this card turned out! Not to crow too much but I think this might be one of the best cards I've done in a long time (maybe ever) And it was pretty simple really : 1 main stamp set (Harvest Berries), a sentiment (Birthday Basics) and some ribbon buttons and pearls.

Colors are Black, White, and Cherry Cobbler

I stamped the solid leaf image from Harvest Berries onto the card base using Cherry Cobbler ink. I used the lined leaf image for the main focal layer, stamping in True Black. I masked the circle layer using my nestability and sponged Cherry Cobbler ink over it so the white wasn't quite such a stark contrast

Thanks for stopping!

MIM and SFYTT November

2011-11-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today I got to play with the Make It Monday video (making your own backgrounds with multiple stamps) and the November Sketch For You To Try (early even, thanks to a sneak peek post on FB).

I again made a birthday card for my aunt's 90th birthday card barrage (I just like saying that out loud .... birthday card barrage ... see how that just rolls off your tongue!)

I used the digi stamp I selected as my prize for being Queen of the Hoedown this week from Hambo stamps. I fell in love with the little penguin the first time I saw him!

I also created a custom dotted background using Polka Dot Basics for both the large white strip and the darker enchanted evening background layer. I stitched the sentiment layer on with a little zig zg stitch.

I colored the Balloon Penguin using T6 and G99 to simulate black. The balloon is R24, 29, 59 and the feet and beak are a combo of YR18, 15 12.

The sky was B41 and the "iceberg" was C1, T1 and T4 along with some colorless blending

Thanks for stopping!

My Aunt's Birthday Card Barrage - Day 1

2011-11-04T19:22:00.001-05:00

My aunt Marg will be 90 this month. She was a big part of my life growing up, being my mom's only sister, and I love her to bits. Her kids send out reminders so we can shower her with cards ... this year it will be a barrage :)

I am planning on sending 9 cards - 1 for each decade. This one is the first

This is a picture of me about 40 years ago, in front of the twig of a tree in my aunt's back yard. I know we took a picture of me many {many MANY} years later when my aunt and uncle moved out of this house (the only one they had ever lived in to that point) and moved into a condo. My memories of Christmas Day growing up is always at this house and I loved getting pix in front of this tree over the years.

I scanned then printed the photo on white card stock then aged it with Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink. I used the Photo Finisher dies to cut the label. The sentiment is from Take Three: Summer and stamped in the distress ink.

Thanks for stopping!

More Fun With Digis: Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge

2011-11-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

This is my first Paper SMooches SPARKS challenge.

I've seen them posted on the blog feed but haven't had the opportunity to play along before now. Truth be told I've been a little afraid of digital stamps thinking they were too ... limiting? Well, I have been having a blast with them over the last few weeks and when I saw the SPARKS challenge today I just had to play along.

So here's my card:

I got a letter from my cousin in the mail today and my aunt is going to be 90 this month. I thought a blingy birthday present card was just the ticket. I was inspired by the challenge photo's colors as well as the repeated graphic image.

I colored the focal image using YR18, YR15, YR12, E53, E55, E57, and B18. I also used T4 to darken up the gift bag a little and C1 to give that overall outline.

Added just that tiny bit o' bling to make it sparkly.

Thanks for stopping!

Colors: White and Pacific Point.
Digi: Nov freebie Gift

Another Two-fer ... I is on a roll

2011-11-02T20:29:00.001-05:00

Since I get to play in the Hambo Hoedown early this week, I thought I'd combine with the CPS 242 sketch challenge as well ... nothing like it ... I feel so LEAN (my worker peeps will get it :)

So here is my take this week:

The Hoedown this week was to use the Snail Rake and a SCS technique. My technique was the delft tile technique. I love the grout look and was hoping when I printed Mr. Snail Rake on the scored paper it would look like it was stamped on tile. The printer went a little too far into the grout lines, but I still like the end result.

I sponged Pacific Point ink around the card stock to highlight the lines a little bit. Printed the sentiment and added a little swatch of gingham paper and a glitter H button to finish out the sketch.

Thanks for stopping!

Sunday Sketch #93

2011-10-31T18:46:00.001-05:00

Operation Write Home Sunday sketch is a great weekly inspiration for me. I needed to make an anniversary card for a friend at work (she was married 10-10-10 and so I am giving her this on 11-11-11, her 1 year, 1 month, and 1 day anniversary)

She had a peacock wedding that I made invites for so I am giving her a gold feather for her anniversary ...

The peacock feather stamp is from Stampendous. I never noticed that the centers of the feathers are like little hearts ... awwwww. The sentiment is from Fillable Frames #4

Colors are Black, gold and Bermuda bay (retired).

Thanks for stopping!

Fun with Digis: Weekend Two-fer

2011-10-29T08:03:00.000-05:00

ETA: I am Queen Of The Hoedown this week: WooHOo

I get to play with stamps today! La la la la la - LA

Its a rarity these days so I used my time wisely and got a two-fer (Hambo Hoedown AND CPS #241) I love when multiple challenges come together :)

Meet the Newscaster ....

I used SU! Newsprint designer series paper for the background and digitally fiddled with the stamp set save Mr Newscaster as a GIF so I could overlay on the repeated sentiment from the same set. Photoshop is Awesome I tell ya! No other changes

I colored with Copics and used a silver paint pen to give some extra pizazz to the blazer buttons

Thanks for stopping!!

Stamp Camp Cards

2011-10-28T21:17:00.004-05:00

Couple of simple holiday cards for my upcoming stamp camp

First is a multi-layered card using Christmas Poinsettias stamps and dies, and the Photo Finish Strip die. Colors are Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke

Second up is a super simple single layer card using Stocking Prints. Colors are Real Red and True Black.

The college girl is home for a visit so the blog gets short changed tonight

Thanks for stopping!

Fun With digis - Day 2: Paper Smooches

2011-10-24T16:16:00.000-05:00

I've been collecting Paper Smooches digi stamps for a while now. I forget about them all too often because my computer is upstairs and my stamp room is down stairs. Oh for the day that the office/computer room/craft room will be combined (when I move to my condo after the kids are all off living their own lives :)

But I wanted to play around with them and when this cupcake was first introduced, some one (on the design team I think) made it into an ice cream cone. I remember that and have wanted to try it.

Here is my attempt:

Made the ice cream kinda sherbetty colors, but it just sounded good and looked kinda summery now that fall has a firm grasp on my town.

In case you aren't a follower of PS (which you should be because Kim Hughes makes the most adorable hand drawn images) the cone part is just an extra layer of the cupcake paper. I drew horizontal lines on it to waffle it up a bit.

I don't have any Stickles (gasp!) and I lost my 2 way glue pen (the horror) so I used a liquid glue and some glitter to sparkle it up. I'm gonna have to get me some Stickles :)

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-10-23T18:35:00.002-05:00

I haven't felt much like crafting in the last month - super tired but I feel like I'm on a roll this weekend so I'm keepin' the mojo going with the OWH Sunday Sketch.

I also was asked (and gladly accepted) to prep cards for the "free time" at my church's fall women's retreat. There will be several hours for just talking and relaxing, and I've had people asking when I'm going to do a "cards for soldiers" party again ... seemed like a perfect opportunity :) By the time the retreat rolls around the Christmas card deadline will be passed, so we are going to make Valentine's / Love You cards and get a jump start on the next season

Its actually pretty simple (at least I hope so since we've got some novice stampers too) The row of hearts is from Around and About sentiments (PTI). The sentiment is from Well Scripted (SU!). Te ribbon is SU! (retired by now I suspect).

Thanks for stopping!

Fun with digis - Day 1: Hambo Hoedown

2011-10-22T16:05:00.002-05:00

I decided to use some of the digis I've been collecting and make some more "no reason" cards. Well not exactly no reason this time. A good friend plays along with the Hambo Hoedown and I decided to join in the fun.

Everybody meet Cool Cat ... Cool Cat this is everybody

Cool Cat really spoke to me and I wanted this to have a postcard feel - you know "the weather is beautiful, wish you were here" kinda thing.

I started out cutting the wavy pieces for the background layer. I thought it gave it a beachy/water theme. Then I colored in everything trying to recreate the peace, calm, serenity and relaxation of my recent Florida vacation. I tried a sky shading technique I saw many months (maybe years) ago on Debbie Olson's blog - coloring next to the image, feathering it out and then using a colorless blender to smush it around.

Notice the little bit of pink on Cool Cat's arm, cheeks and belly. That's reminiscent of the Florida vacation too. I think I'm finally finished peeling :)

The color scheme is Marina Mist, Spring Rain, Night of Navy, and too many Copics to mention :)

Thanks for stopping!

Thank You

2011-10-22T07:35:00.003-05:00

This has been a stressful week. Big deadlines at work and most everyone pitched in extra to get things done. No one does more than our engineering assistants. They get the products of our work at the very end, make it presentable and get it out the door to meet the deadline. The later they get it the more they have to push to meet the deadline, because that date isn't moving. I so appreciate them.

This is one of the thank you cards I made to give them next week along with snicker doodles of appreciation.

I did very little stamping on this card, but I love all the texture on it. I used the Bloom Builders 3 die (cut out 4 times to make all the layers), the Picket Fence die (cut out 3 to make it all the way across the card) and Giga Guidelines for the sentiment, stamped in dark chocolate.

Color scheme is Tangerine and Turquoise. Quite fall-ish I think.

Thanks for stopping!

Cards for no reason

2011-10-16T18:50:00.000-05:00

Well not really no reason, I have someone to thank and some birthdays to celebrate, but no contest, no online anything. Just cards. Cuz I felt like it :)

First up is a birthday card for my sister-in-law. I'm late on my brother's birthday card so I'll just mail them together most likely, but I thought I'd do an elegant one this year instead of the normal fall themed card.

Besides, I haven't used my vase set in months ... I think it felt lonely :)

Next is my brother's card ... I did at least leave him a Facebook message so I didn't completely forget it, just didn't get the card in the mail when I should have. I always do a fall themed one for him ... thought the acorns would be good this year. He's kind of a nut :)

And finally a thank you for someone at work. This one was just in my head and I needed to get it made before I forgot it.

I love the Autumn Abundance set ... its so color-able! This was also the first time I inked up my Simple Sunflowers (for the background). Its a sad thing when I had a set for like 2 months and it hasn't seen ink yet. Means I'm too busy! Hope the Christmas sets I just ordered don't suffer the same fate!

Thanks for stopping!

October SFYYT

2011-10-08T09:50:00.003-05:00

Not a lot of time today so no preamble

Here's the card:

Most everything is Papertrey Ink

Paper: Fresh Snow,Spring Rain, Kraft, White, Early Espresso (SU!)

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Real Red (SU)

Stamps: Up Up and Away

Other: Picket Fence die

Thanks for stopping!

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop

2011-09-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Its been a little while since I've been able to participate in a PTI blog hop. I LOVED the colors and striped pattern in the inspiration photo this month. I had it in mind to recreate the stripes and mitre the corners of the stripes and oh so much that would have been A LOT of work. Instead I ended up going more simple, inspired by the colors and with an homage to the stripes

I did a little rock-n-roll using Summer Sunrise and Melon Berry for the leaves and a rock-n-roll shading technique using aqua mist on the acorns (rock-n-roll shading is doing the rock-n-roll technique with just 1 color and stamping off once to get the lighter version of the ink). I got a lot of compliments on my scribbled aqua mist acorns a while back so I made aqua acorns again. I'm nothing if not a creature of habit :)

I put in a couple of red stripes to carry the striped theme over and added the large poppy button for balance.

Thanks for stopping by!

You know you have too much stuff when ...

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

... you almost reorder a stamp set you already have because you can't find it in all the clutter. I was SO certain I'd ordered the hounds tooth background set, but I couldn't find it. I "forgot" to order it this month luckily because as I was clearing off my work bench, guess what I found ...

Yep, my hounds tooth background set

Sigh ... looks like its time to create a stamp inventory again

Colors are True Black and Raspberry Fizz. Stamps are Fillable Frames #8 and Background Basics: Houndstooth

Fall is Coming

2011-09-20T18:59:00.001-05:00

It is in the air here in Iowa, that's for sure. I decided to make some cards for my daughter and her friends. They are all away for their first year of college and of course mail is always welcomed :)

I also discovered I had stamps that had never seen ink .... gasp! I inked up the Harvest Berries set right away. I also used the Bloom Builders 3 die successfully for the first time, thanks to a tip from a commenter. Thanks Mary Beth. I really appreciate it!

The tip was to add a sheet of card stock on top of the stack up for my Big Shot to cut the blooms. It was just enough to really press the die into the card stock and cut all the way through,

And look at that beauty! I love this die now that I can use it easily! It makes such dimensional flowers. This one is 2 of each bloom for a total of 10 layers ... lots of depth on this one!

Color used was Orange Zest (ink, button, and paper)

Thanks for stopping!

MIM: Frosted Images

2011-09-19T19:50:00.000-05:00

I got my latest PTI order in the mail today! Now to get in the holiday spirit. I was going to make this card using versamark and chalks but when saw the MIM video I thought I'd give it a shot.

I used Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Enchanted Evening and Pure Poppy. All I needed was a nice kelly green and this would have been on any Christmas tree of my childhood. We had the "burn down your house if you aren't careful" lights on the tree for years! Lent a certain air of adventure to Christmas :)

I over stamped a few of the bulbs after doing the frosted image technique to give a little more presence to the light bulb. Since the light is supposed to be bright I thought it was a good addition.

Thanks for stopping

MIM and September SFYTT

2011-09-12T19:28:00.001-05:00

Its been a while. First I was busy with a new job, then for the last week I've been without Internet. Everything is back to normal and I felt inspired by the latest Make It Monday video as well as the September Sketch For You To Try

The sketch this month was once again mah-velous. MIM was using acrylic paint to stamp. It just so happened that I still had some Lumiere (silver acrylic paint) and so I grabbed my A Little Argyle stamps and set to work.

The floral center is Bloom Builders 3 die. I am having some trouble getting the blooms out and had to use a craft knife to get the pieces out from between the petals. Some of them come out easy and some are more difficult. If anyone has a trick to using it I'd love to hear

Colors are Concorde Crush, Whisper White and Basic Black

Thanks for stopping!

MIM: Color Outside The Lines

2011-08-23T16:24:00.002-05:00

I loved this weeks Make It Monday video ... permission, nay encouragement, to just scribble. Gotta love it, especially when it turns out so darn cute!

I decided to take to scribbling on my new acorn stamps, because they just seem so suited to it

As it turned out, while there were a lot of acorn tops in the set, there was just a solid acorn bottom so I had to improvise a little. I just rolled the edge of the stamp on the ink pad ... I got that little bit of linen look on the opposite corners, which was a surprisingly awesome thing to see when I stamped!

Then I scribbled with the Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist copic trios (who wouldn't love an aqua acorn, I ask you!?!)

While I was at it I decided to color some chocolate bakers twine too. Just wedged the twine under the chisel point end of my Sketch marker and pulled it through. Wasn't looking for full coverage since after all this is about scribbling this week :)

Thanks for stopping!

CPS 232

2011-08-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

Today's CPS sketch inspired me to make a card for my eldest daughter who moved to college last week. She is a freshman but its not her first time being away from home. She's checked in most days and is having a blast. I figure I'll send her a card every week or so - just to keep her on her toes and remember to check her mail box :)

On the card base, I used the Linen background stamp (retired) but only inked up the edges and stamped it on the card base Then I stamped the clouds from Up, Up and Away in Fresh Snow ink.

On the focal layer I stamped the outlined kite, sentiment and some clouds. Then I stamped the kite fill in Real Red on scrap paper, cut it out and layered it on some foam tape over the outlined kite.

I highlighted "sky" with a copic sketch marker, a little trick I learned form Michelle Wooderson. And finally I finished it off with some ribbon scraps on the edge of the focal layer.

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-08-21T15:47:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the Operation Write Home Blog Skip. I was honored to be asked to participate and want to thank everyone who took a moment to leave a comment. I really appreciate your kind words.

Today I wanted to work on the Sunday Sketch and as I pondered it, an idea for a non traditional wedding card come into being :

My friend's daughter is getting married in just over a month and her color is cobalt blue. I used Pacific Point which was as close as I could get to cobalt, made tiny little 1/8" layers so it just peeks out. The flower was made using PTI Beautiful Blooms #3 die and cutting 2 of each size, then layering them slightly askew. I pierced the center to pull the petals forward a little then just fluffed them till they looked like I wanted. Finally I sponged some Fresh Snow ink over the petals after the flower was assembled to highlight them a little. I finished the flower with a half pearl and a celebrate tag.

Oh and the patterned is the SU! Houndstooth embossing folder. I tried a leopard print and still may go with that for the final card, but I loved the houndstooth look too so that's what got taped down :)

Thanks for stopping!!

OWH Blog Skip

2011-08-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today, Operation Write Home Stars &Stamps blog is hosting a blog skip (a tiny hop :) and I am honored to participate.

If you are following the links, you got here from Barb's blog

The theme of the day is CAS - Clean And Simple - and what could be more clean and simple than white on white

I have seen a lot out in the blogosphere lately using die cuts or punches in the same color as the card base to create texture on the card. I love this look. It's so easy but packs such a visual wallop!

For this card, I used the Leafy Vine border die from PTI and paired it with the flower trio punch from SU!. The pop of color on the sentiment and label border was used to imply flowers (and I thought the white on white theme would lose something if I stamped in white too :)

Your next stop on the skip is the fabulous Brenda.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of your skipping!

CPS 231

2011-08-15T21:17:00.003-05:00

So I need wedding shower cards, and I loved this week's CPS. I had in my original vision, a light flowery shower card. But then I bought the gift and its dark colors and a mosaic pattern and matched so well with the sketch this week so I ended up with this:

I couldn't get a really good picture of the whole card, I think because of the shine off the embossed layer (or maybe because I kinda suck at photography), but I really love how this turned out.

The large mosaic focal layer was inspired by the shower gift I bought ... a set of dishes that have this mosaic pattern on it in about the same colors (a terracotta/reddish color and black)

Here is a screen shot of the plate:

and here is my focal layer

Thanks for stopping!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-08-14T18:22:00.001-05:00

I have a friend having a wedding shower this week and a friends daughter having a wedding shower this week. I need shower cards!!! Both weddings are out of town (in sunny warm tropical locales) so I thought bright happy colors would be good.

I used the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog Sunday sketch for the layout and decided to try a little floral die cut layering (extremely inspired by PTI bloom builder mum die being released tonight). While this flower isn't as fluffy and mum-like as the one in Nichole Heady's tutorial, I still like its dimension.

I used 2 of each size Beautiful Blooms #3 die, lined them up, secured them with a rhinestone brad from SU! them fluffed the petals up a little but to give it some dimension.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Framed, Fillable Frames #8, Polka Dot Basics [PTI]
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Tangerine Tango [SU!]
Paper: White, Tangerine Tango, Good Neighbor patterned [SU!]
Other: dies [PTI], rhinestone [SU!]

CPS 230

2011-08-07T15:04:00.003-05:00

I'm really liking the CAS design - clean and simple. It can be hard to keep it simple sometimes, but with this week's CPS sketch from Tami Mayberry it was a piece of cake.

I used Modern Basics and played a bit on scrap paper until I got the outlined look I wanted and to make sure the sentiment would show underneath the butterfly.

Color scheme is Old Olive, Early Espresso, and Melon Mambo. The row of pearls on the butterfly body is from SU! I like how the SU! pearls and rhinestones come with the graduated sizes, but also with the connected line. Makes things like this super easy!

Thanks for stopping by!

MIM#26 and the August SFYTT

2011-08-06T09:49:00.002-05:00

I'm finally able to breathe a little and so of course I spent my quiet Saturday morning in my craft room, catching up on all the crafty things I've wanted to do all week.

Make It Monday this week was creating layers with cutouts ... sort of drilling down through layers instead of diecutting and layering up.

Since its the first weekend of the month, I also played with the Sketch For You To Try for August ...

I like how it turned out. The jar is actually cut out of the Wisteria Wonder layer, then white was adhered to the back of that. I stamped the pint jar in Wisteria Wonder and bug flight trail in Smokey Shadow. THEN I die cut the label through the jar, added a second layer of Wisteria Wonder and stamped the label outline and sentiment

The little bee is also from the Friendship Jar Summer Fillers set. I stamped him in Momento Tuxedo Black and colored with a Y35 Copic Sketch. I colored the stripe in with a black sharpie and added the top stripe

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps: Friendship Jar Summer Fillers, Fillable Frames #8, Friendship Jar, Polka Dot Basics
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Shadow
Paper: Temping Turquoise, Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: Pint Jar die, Jar Label die

A simple hello

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

I was playing around with some new stamps this week and made this simple little hello card ...

I used my Well Worn Words stamp and die set from MFT that I chose as my prize for winning CPS a month or so ago and paired it with A Little Argyle, Peaceful Garden and a Half and Half die (all from PTI).

The color scheme is Pear Pizazz, Garden Green, and River Rock (for the bamboo).

Thanks for stopping by!

CPS 229

2011-07-31T13:21:00.000-05:00

Another fabulous sketch today from Tami Mayberry. Since I don't know what my week will be like I wanted to jump on this right away.

I used a card base of Lucky Limeade (new SU! In Color) Very reminiscent of Kiwi Kiss which I adored. I have a feeling I will be using this color A LOT. The back layers are Early Espresso.

I stamped the bamboo image from Peaceful Garden (PTI) in Old Olive and also in Lucky Limeade (2nd generation). I did a little selective inking on the sentiment, which is actually one long line. It was too perfect though so I turned it into 3 lines to fit the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by!

Its been so long ...

2011-07-29T21:09:00.003-05:00

...but I'm back. I had meant to make this card last week for OWH Sunday Sketch but I got sick and just started feeling better midweek. And today my PTI order came so I quick texted my stamping buddy Tara and she came over for a play date.

I used an old pack of patterned paper from SU! for the ice cream scoops with my new Sweet As Can Be die. The main colors are crumb cake, chocolate chip and raspberry fizz.

The sentiment and waffle pattern for the cones is from the Sweet As Can Be set

Thanks for stopping!

CPS 227

2011-07-17T15:49:00.001-05:00

Not a lot of time today to expound on the design. I used CPS227 and went with a masculine theme

I used the Wood Grain impression plate from PTI, Frame It (SU!), Oh So Sweet (SU!) and Fillable Frames #3 (PTI) stamp sets

Thanks for stopping!

Make It Monday: Pockets and Edgers

2011-07-11T20:10:00.001-05:00

Today's MIM video was a great tutorial on making pockets with decorative edges. So often I leave it as a straight edge or just round the corners, but I have these edger dies and I ought to use them right!

I went with a clean and simple design on this card, but I love the pops of color from the stamps

Since its a white on white its a little hard to see everything in the big picture, but the detail shot has ...um, well detail :)

I used the Doily edger to create the top edge of the pocket. I left the lower edge straight and rounded the corners and matched that to the insert (as an homage to what I usually do and becasue the doily edge was blocking my sentiment).

I added some texture to the card base using the Polka Dot impression plate.

Ink colors: Raspberry Fizz (PTI) and Lucky Limeade (SU!) and I tied it all up with Pure Poppy bakers twine.

Thanks for stopping!

CPS 226 - Friend To Friend

2011-07-10T17:37:00.001-05:00

I was sitting in church today missing my friend, Anita. She and her husband moved to the East Coast a few weeks ago. Now we've texted back and forth a few times, but still, we'd usually chat on Sunday mornings, and today I just missed that, and her.

When I saw the CPS sketch this morning, I thought a keep in touch sort of card felt in order.

I used my new Established Elegance (SU! 2011-20112 IBC). I loved the vintage typewriter image from when I first saw it.

I used Newsprint DSP for the background layer and stamped the typewriter repeatedly to make a piece of my own patterned paper.

I sponged everything with Basic Gray ink to age it a little and tied it all up with cherry cobbler twine.

Inside I continued the theme with a narrow strip of the Newsprint DSP and Basic Black card stock.

Thanks for stopping by!

Well Its Official ...

2011-07-09T19:01:00.000-05:00

... I'm a Great Aunt. I've always been a great aunt, but now I'm a Great Aunt. See the difference ... .capital letters :) My niece (the first grandchild of the clan) had her first baby last night. All went well and the first great grandchild is also a beautiful little girl, just like her momma.
Here is the pink giraffe card I've been dying to make for a very long time :

I CASEd the design from Debbie Carriere's July SFYTT guest designer card. Got some practice helping my good friend Tara make this cutie. The stamps are from Sweet Baby from PTI. The papers are from Bella Rose from SU!. I used the Mat Stack 3 die for the giraffe layer.

I opted for a sentiment on the inside so I again used some of the stamps from Sweet Baby.

Ink colors are Pretty In Pink and Chocolate Chip from SU!

Thanks for stopping by

A Study In Blue

2011-07-08T07:51:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone

This card is one that I submitted for publication. It wasn't selected (sniff) but I love it anyway

I used Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze and Marina Mist on baby wipes to create the background layer on watercolor paper. I stamped the vases from Gracious Vases and sentiment from Botanical Silhouettes in Night of Navy and let it dry for a bit. Then I applied Crysta Effects to the vases to get the glassy look.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pinwheel Card

2011-07-05T13:24:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend there was an OWH tutorial on making pinwheels. I didn't get a chance to play then, but they had a re-do today so I decided I better take the opportunity while I had it.

I used 1.5" and 2" squares instead of the tutorials 3'. Otherwise I followed the instructions.

I used a crumb cake base, and created the sky and ground with Spring Rain and Spring Moss card stock. I sponged some Fresh Snow ink to make clouds.

For the pinwheels I used Welcome Neighbor from SU! [retired] and Raspberry Fizz buttons

Thanks for stopping by!

Make It Monday

2011-07-04T18:03:00.001-05:00

Today's MIM video tutorial is multi-color stamping using re-inkers. Essentially you make your own custom ink pad for your stamp using craft foam and re-inkers. Its much faster than using markers and has pretty much the same effect.

I know its crooked ... I didn't notice that until I took the pictures ... its avant garde ... yeah that's it :)

I've been trying to make more single layer cards for OWH, but I still want them to be interesting. I thought this technique, combined with a little masking, was both.

I used Framed and Life from PTI for the stamps and Always Artichoke, Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango and Early Espresso for the inks.

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Challenge Hop / Sunday Sketch/Any Hero Card

2011-07-03T07:55:00.004-05:00

I feel like I hit the Trifecta!!!

I have been trying all weekend to design a card for a class I am teaching in a couple of weeks. We are going to make Any Hero cards and I wanted something quick and easy so the attendees can also have time to write the Any Hero letter (yes I am making them do this, but they all know my involvement with OWH so they are being gracious :)

So today - great OWH Sunday Sketch, Easy as 1-2-3 challenge and first thing in the morning creativity all combined to make a card I finally like

Even though its butterflies, I don't think its too girly. I dug through my stash of PTI patterned papers and found the Chocolate Remix I bought ages ago ... kinda forgot about it. But it pairs greatly with the alphabet pattern on the butterfly stamp from SU!

Thanks OWH Stars and Stamps for another great Sunday Sketch. Thanks Patricia for just the challenge I needed.

Thanks to you, the reader, for stopping by!

OWH Challenge Hop (Challenge 6) - Harvest Moon

2011-07-02T17:44:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd be able to work on all of these, then I thought OK, maybe the odd numbers, but I'm hitting an even number now so that thought goes out the window. I'm just working on the ones that I can. I love the other challenges too, and those would be more of a stretch so I should do them, but I'll save them for later.

Challenge 6 is howl at the moon. Here's my Harvest Moon card

I used Through The Trees [PTI] and Simple Circles [SU!]. I stamped off the Peach Parfait for the moon 3 or 4 times to get it fairly light. The I also stamped in versa mark and embossed with clear EP. All this was done on my ever dwindling supply of SU! watercolor paper.

To make the sky I dragged a baby wipe in Night of Navy ink and just played around with it

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Challenge Hop (Challenge 3)

2011-07-02T14:42:00.001-05:00

Challenge 3 was a no-brainer for me ... sorry Tara. I HAD to use the vases again :)

The challenge was a color challenge: Peach Parfait, Delightful Daffodil, Early Espresso and White, so that's what I used. The stamps are Gracious Vases (one of my new favorites) and Friends til the End, both from PTI.

Thanks for stopping by {again or for the first time :)}

OWH Challenge Hop (Challenge 1)

2011-07-02T12:54:00.002-05:00

Operation Write Home is sponsoring a crafty day of challenges to day for the holiday weekend ... I plan on participating in all that I can. The laundry can wait until tomorrow, right ; )

The first challenge is to use camouflage. I made a batch of cards like this several years for a friend. She sent them to a friend of hers who was serving overseas (kind of our own mini OWH :) I was honored to meet him at her son and future daughter in laws wedding shower. I thought of this immediately when I saw the challenge

The camo pattern is called USA 6 Desert (I hope its accurate). I printed it off of this site.

The dog tags I made from the chipboard backing that comes in patterned paper packs from SU!. The measurements are 1.5" x 2.5". I used the faux metal technique on them. The only difference is in between each layer of embossing powder, I let it cool and added more Versamark. I've learned I'm just not fast enough to add more EP while the layer is still hot enough to grab hold of it.

The chain is silver cord from SU!. I knotted it about every inch to make it look more like a chain.

This card will go in my OWH box that I'm sending in a few weeks. I am having my card class make some cards for OWH as well as Any Hero cards. All this weekends challenge cards will go in that shipment

Thanks for stopping by!!

Sweet New Baby

2011-07-02T11:44:00.003-05:00

My niece is due in a week (read any day now). The baby's room is going to be all green and yellow, so I made a card to match using this month's Sketch For You To Try

I was going for a "Good Night Moon" with a giraffe theme ... how'd I do ? :) I made the moon using a 1" circle punch and the stars with a folk star punch (SU! retired). The giraffe and sentiment stamps are form Sweet Baby [PTI]. Colors are Certainly Celery and So Saffron. A little bit of Chocolate Chip for accent.

Its a little lighter/paler that I usually make so I can't tell if I like it or it was it was just a fun experiment. I'd welcome any feedback you have.

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-06-26T07:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I saw this card during the PTI blog hop and loved the watercolor wash look to the striped pattern. When I saw today's OWH Sunday Sketch I thought that design would work perfectly.

I used SU! watercolor paper for the main layer and created the stripes using reinkers on a baby wipe (Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, and Cherry Cobbler). Its important (especially using watercolor paper which absorbs a lot more) to let the paper dry ... you can see a little bit of blooming on the words and flight trail. It actually looks pretty neat, but if it bloomed much more I would have had to remake the card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Shading

2011-06-25T07:48:00.001-05:00

I love all the shading techniques that I see on cards ... especially the way some designers can use Copics. Its amazing. Some days I can attain nearly that level of greatness, but usually I don't have the time or inclination to do it. But I love shading. It gives such depth to a card. So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered a new technique that shades simply using basic techniques combined together (you may already know about this, but to me it was quite a revelation!)

See doesn't that look awesome (OK I'm biased :) and so simple. For this card I used Gracious Vases and when I stamped the solid centers, I inked it up, stamped off on scratch paper, then did a rock-n-roll using the same color on the edge I wanted darker then stamped on my card base. Perfect shading, in like a minute flat.

Usually when I use the rock-n-roll technique its with different colors, don't know why I never thought to use the same color, 1 generation removed before. Still it made my day start bright and cheery and now I am sharing it with you.

Here's the whole card:

For anyone in my stamp class at work - you will be making this in July :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop

2011-06-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Inspired By ... That's the theme for the next few months on the PTI blog hop. Nichole posted a photo to be inspired by and we can make anything imaginable based on our inspiration.

(photo credit)

I saw the paint stripes right away in the picture ... how they blend and smear together. I wanted to recreate that effect. Plus I've been dying to use my Gracious Vases set and I thought this might just be the right time for that too

I first stamped the center vase, them masked it and stamped the 2 side vases (outline) and the flowers. Then I stamped the solid centers using versamark and embossed with Clear EP. I also used a versamarker on the flowers and embossed those as well. To make sure I stamped the vases in a straight line I added a pencil line where I wanted them, then decided to go over it with a black marker and let it be a part of the card.

After all the masking and embossing I used re-inkers on baby wipes (Sweet Blush, Melon Berry and Berry Sorbet) I didn't do regular stripeslike the standard Baby Wipe technique tutorials I've seen, just swiped it over areas until I got the look I was going for.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the rest of the hop.

CPS223: Thank You Very Much

2011-06-23T18:40:00.001-05:00

My daughter got some great news today ... another scholarship. This was a privately endowed scholarship through the university she will be attending in the fall. The only caveat is that she write a thank you note to the couple who gave the money.

I thought sending a handmade thank you card in addition to her thank you would be an added bonus, and show my appreciation as well.

I used this week's CPS sketch and made it a garden themed card (since the college is Agriculture and Life Sciences)

Thanks for stopping by!

MIM: Reverse Masking

2011-06-21T19:32:00.002-05:00

Its another Make It Monday technique ... this week is reverse masking. Regular masking is where you cover your stamped image so it looks like other images are behind the central one. Its a great way to create depth in your card.

Reverse Masking is when you actually cover everything except the inside of the stamped image and them add pattern or colors to the inside. Watch the video tutorial to get the whole scoop.

I did both kinds of masking on this card and kept it pretty simple in the process

I started out with the paper airplane image from Happy Trails (avionics engineer ... paper airplane .... a natural match :). I masked the outside of the airplane and all the rest of the card to prevent any smudges and then stamped Background Basics: Newsprint inside the plane image, kinda like the airplane is bringing all the news to whoever gets this card.

Then I masked over the top of the airplane and stamped the postage stamp image from Road Trip in Pure Poppy. I added the trail and sentiment (from Happy Trails) and voila ...

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-06-19T13:27:00.003-05:00

Trying to get caught up on everything after being gone this week at college orientation. My oldest leaves in August to start her collegiate career ... sigh .... they grow up so fast.

Here's my take on this week's Operation Write Home Sunday Sketch

I misjudged the length of the sentiment so the circle actually had to be put off the edge of the card and trimmed but it still fits the bill.

I colored the flower with R83, R85, R89 and YG97. I also got some new self adhesive half back pearls form SU! so I added an itty bitty one to the flower center.

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Sunday Sketch

2011-06-14T00:00:00.003-05:00

I had more free time than I thought I would this weekend and got to play along with the OWH Sunday Sketch as well

I used a color combo of Pacific Point and Cherry Cobbler ... I wanted a bright blue bowl of cherries for some reason and used that mental image as a springboard for the colors.

See that punched border ... new border punch from SU! coming in July in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog ... LOVE ... :)

CPS 222 and more new stuff

2011-06-12T15:22:00.012-05:00

I got to play some more with my new SU! stamps (coming in July in the 2011-2012 catalog) and paired them with some stamps from PTI as well. I used CPS 222 as my layout

I used some of the images from Garden Variety, released in May, to create my own garden themed background paper. I ran a zig zag stitch around the layers to add some interest (and because I haven't sewn on a card in a while)

For the center layer I used my picket fence die. I did a little direct-to-paper with Crumb Cake ink to give it a weathered texture and did some selective stamping using a sentiment from Take Three: Summer on the last fence post.

The chair image is from Cherish Friendship, a new set that is great for coloring. I used a bazillion Copics to color the chair and flower basket.

Thanks for stopping by!!

New Stuff Alert

2011-06-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

One of the things I love most about being a SU! demonstrator is getting to order stuff early ... I hate to wait, I really do

I got my new catalog pre-order this week and since its OK to share sneak peaks of projects I thought I'd show one I made to whet your appetites for the new catalog season coming in July ...

I started with an Early Espresso card base and distressed it with Early Espresso and Vintage Cream inks. I stamped the pear image and sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black onto watercolor paper and colored with Copics (New Leaf Trio, Spring Moss trio, E59 and C1). I rolled the edges of the crumb cake layer to make it look a little more scrolly and tied it up with Early Espresso bakers twine.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Friends ...

2011-06-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

One of my very dear friends, Anita, is moving out east soon, due to her husband's job. I know we'll still keep in touch, what with technology the way it is, but I wanted to sent her off with some cards, so she can keep in touch with people the old fashioned way too.

I had some materials left over from a few stamp camps so I made up those cards and changed out the sentiments to be more "thinking of you" or "hello" types of cards. I did want to make one original card though. I decided to go with a botanical silhouette style stamp and try Heather Nichols white ink resist technique

I started out with a piece of Crumb Cake card stock and stamped the grass silhouette image in Fresh Snow ink. Then I brayered over it with Ripe Avocado.

I love the variations in the ink intensity from how much the brayer roller was inked and how much I rolled it over the card stock. And as individual and unique as hand-made cards are, these are even more unique because the brayering will be different just about every time ...

Here's the whole set ... see the variations in the background layer ... awesome-tastic!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Because [SU!]
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Fresh Snow, Pure Poppy [PTI]
Paper: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, White [SU!]
Other: chocolate twill ribbon [SU!]

My First Any Hero Card

2011-06-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

When I received my OWH stamp that I ordered to stamp the back of my soldier cards, I was pleasantly surprised to also receive a free status of liberty stamp from the Stampers Best company. Its amazing and I deiced to use it to make my first Any Hero card for OWH. Any Hero cards get sent out to various units and given to random soldiers. They are meant to encourage. I've seen examples on OWH from school kids just writing about their every day life. I'm told news form home is treasured. I just want to sen my thanks. So this will be going in my next soldier box which should get mailed out this week.

See the detail on the statue of liberty ... I told ya ... amazing. I couldn't believe it was included for free. It was their way of saying thanks ... and this is mine.

Since this card will be going out soon, I did a more patriotic color scheme. Oh, and the stamps I ordered for the back of the cards ... they reiterate the sentiment. So all of the cards I send in now will be saying "thank you" from me :)

Thanks for stopping by!

June SFYTT

2011-06-05T15:29:00.011-05:00

Yesterday was the first Saturday of June and that means a new Sketch For You To Try. These always fall right when I need to make cards so I was ready to use this sketch for some more graduation thank yous

I went with a nautical theme so all the thank you cards weren't floral and girly. I tore paper to make the waves on the background layer and then just started layering clouds and sails and things.

Color scheme is Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue. The pop of red is Pure Poppy dotted patterned paper

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Camp Card - Flip Flop

2011-06-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

I was taking requests for my June card class and got a request for a flip flop card. Here in Iowa, its "supposed" to be summer, but today its rainy and in the high 50s ... not summerish if you ask me :)

I found the template a template at this website for the shoe part. The rest was just playing around.

Even if the weather isn't very summery, the colors in the card are. That'll have to do for now I guess

Thanks for stopping by!!

Birthday Wishes

2011-06-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

One of my dearest friends, Dee, is turning 50 this month. She's having a blow-out of a party to celebrate too! I made a pretty card, but I may have to make something celebrating the number too :) {evil grin}

Here is the nice card I'm bringing to the bash ...

I used the layout from this 'bot birthday card and changed up the colors and stamps to come up with a lovely birthday card for my friend.

Thanks for stopping by!