January Birthdays...

What a busy weekend I had.  I had to make 6 cards for our January birthday get-together we had today.   A few of the cards, were actually for birthdays in December that I didn't have a chance to make.  This card was for my nephew, whose birthday was in December.  I'm so glad my mojo is working again.   I really think taking a stamp class at my local stamp store truly helped.  This card we made in the class, but I came home and tweaked it just a bit.  She had us make a card that was 6" x 4.25.  I took the card apart and trimmed it down to 5.5 x 4.25.  We used Penny Black's stamp "Snowy Grove" and inked it up in black, then used Distress Inks in "Wild Honey" first to make the sunrise, and "Blueprint Sketch" for the sky.  I am so in love with Blueprint Sketch.  It's my new favorite Distress color!  After that, we took White Enamel Embossing Powder from Stampendous to mimic falling snow.  On a previous card I made with this same stamp (before I took this class) I used a white gel pen for the snow.  It took a bit more time, but gave the same effect.  I then used Simon Says Stamp "Stitched Slopes & Hills" dies to make my snow drifts.  The three die cut deer are from Memory Box called "Valley Deer Trio" that I glued on.  I stamped "Happy Birthday" from Penny Black's "Friendship" stamp set also in black ink.  Quick, easy card.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.

Altenew Watercoloring Classes...

Oh my goodness.  I can't believe my last post was back in late October.  I am so sorry.  The holidays,when working in a church, become even more hectic than usual, and then comes January, which means year-end statements for parishioners and year-end tax forms.  But they all went out the in mail this past Friday, so I have some breathing room again. 

I have been making cards all along, but did forget to take pictures of most of them.  I couldn't believe I forgot to take pictures of them before mailing them out.  I do have some, but today I thought I would post my cards I made from the first two classes at Altnew on water coloring.  I'm finding that I can't be my "has to be perfect" self when water coloring.  It's more free-flow and where the water lands is how it is.  You can't control it.  That frustrates me more than anything...lol!!!

The first card is the ombre look.  My ombre never went to white as it did on her video, even though I followed her steps by the book.  I used Distress Ink in "Dusty Concord".  The snowflake is from SU's "Festive Flurries" and coordinating dies and the sentiment is from Clearly Besotted's "Celebrating You" stamp set.  I finished off the card with some snowflakes and sequins.

The second card is the smooshing technique.  I think I used too light of ink colors.  I'll probably try that again and use more vibrant colors.  I used PTI's "Aqua Mist," "Spring Rain," and "Winter Wisteria" inks.  I used stamps from Altenew's "Vintage Roses" and "Vintages Flowers and "Sending Hugs" is from PTI's "Big Hugs" stamp set.  I finished the card off with silver washie tape and a silver wink of stella pen. 



 I'm hoping to watch the next two videos and try them out today, too.

I really hope you all didn't give up on me.  I will try my best to post at least once a week, even if it's just a card with a quick note. 


Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment if you wish.  I love it when you do.

PTI - October Blog Hop Challenge

 

I was so glad this blog hop was on a Sunday.  It seems to be the only time I get to stamp anymore.  I had a few more cards to do today, but finished my card for PTI before 11:30pm!  Here's the inspiration picture.  I decided just to use Red & Green as my inspiration and here's what I came up with.  I love the Holiday Plaid papers and used one of the plaids as the base of my card.  I then pulled out my new stamps from PTI this month and went to work.  I stamped the snowflakes (Quilted Winter) in both Pure Poppy and New Leaf inks and put together the base of my card, with a strip of SU's Real Red cs and a strip of Silver paper from Ranger.  I then stamped the ornaments (Wet Paint Holiday Tags) in both Pure Poppy and New Leaf inks and die cut them out.  I attached a silver bow and strung them together and pop dotted them to the card base.  IRL the way this card turned out.  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out PTI's October blog hop here

My first Christmas card...

 OMGosh!!!  I fell in love with My Favorite Things' Santa's Elves the minute I saw them and had to order them as soon as they became available on their website!  I am so happy I did.  My first inspiration for this card was for Stamp Nation's WCMD2015 for their Scotland challenge (using plaid).  My second inspiration was for Happy Little Stamper's October CAS Challenge Paper Piecing.  Isn't this elf so cute????  I paper piece the present, hat and his jacket from a piece of plaid paper from Stampin' Up's Trim the Tree 4x6 paper pack and colored him with Copics (C5, T7, W8, RV00 and 0) and Wink of Stella in Clear and White inks.  I finished him off with a couple of black gems for his buttons on his coat.  I popped him up on a piece of SU's Garden Green cs, which is mounted on a piece of Gina K's White Luxury cs.  I added a piece of plaid paper on the bottom of the card and added Christmas Joy from Tim Holtz's Sizzix's Holiday Words Script die cut set.  I'm entering this card into HLS October CAS Challenge, and Simon Wednesday Challenge.  I hope this card is clean and simple enough for both challenges.

A bit of Switzerland & Al's Birthday

I'm still working on challenges from Stamp Nation for their World Card Making Day from last weekend.  This card is for Switzerland.  Edelweiss is a flower native to Switzerland and the focus for the challenge.  While I couldn't really think of a flower stamp that would pass for Edelweiss, I thought these two snowflakes from Clearly Besotted's Ornamental Style stamp set would work.  I colored the center with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed Distress Maker after I stamped the snowflake with Hero Art's Unicorn White ink and then embossed with white embossing powder.  The wreath was stamped with two stamps from Judith (no names or numbers on the stick stamps) on a piece of Stampin' Up's Crumb Cake cs.  I finished the card off with WPlus9 Hello die cut.

This is the card I made for Al's birthday this past week.  He thought the bird looks like a crotchety old bird.  Well, to be honest...I wanted to stamp that said "Happy Bird-day to an old bird", but of course, I don't have one.  I thought about writing it, too, but, I don't think my handwriting is that good, so I decided to use Wish Big, from PTI's Stylish Sentiments Birthday Stamp Set (which is one of my favorite sets, ever!) in Tuxedo Black ink.  The bird is from Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy set that I think almost everyone has bought.  I water colored the bird with SU's inks in Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango for his beak.  I stamped the gingham from PTI's Background Basics: Super Gingham Stamp Set in SU's Real Red ink.  I added a few sequins to finish the card off.


Thanks so much for stopping by.  I love it when you do!

World Card Making Day (Weekend)

Hi everyone,
I didn't have a chance to stamp yesterday as I went up to see Mom and Dad for the day, so I did a few cards today in honor of World Card Making Day!

I decided to use a couple of stamp sets that I've had for awhile (one for over a year) that are NBUS.

I recently joined StampNation and decided to partake their World Card Making Day and participated, so far, in their first two challenges.

This card represents the USA.  I used PTI's Make It Market: County Fair stamp set and made a bandanna type pattern using Hero Art's Unicorn White ink, which I embossed with white embossing powder and I also used SU's Night of Navy ink, too, to complete the pattern and to stamp the Happy Birthday from SSS Big Scripty Greetings.  I added more to the pattern then I originally intended to, because I had a few oopies I had to cover up.  I also added dots with my white gel pen.  I sponged the white card stock with TH's Distress Ink Barn Door and attached to a piece of SU's Night of Navy card stock.  I really like the way it turned out.



This card represents Canada.  I made a plaid pattern from PTI's Plaid Builder stamp set in SU's Real Red, Night of Navy, Garden Green and Daffodil Delight inks.  I die cut out the Maple leaf in SU's Real Red card stock from SU's Leaflets Framelit dies and cut out sending (SSS) from SU's Night of Navy card stock and stamped the words birthday wishes from SU's Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set.  I popped up the maple leaf and attached the card front to a piece of green card stock, which I bought at a local scrapbook store.  I worked on this card for awhile.  I had the colors to work with and tried to work with stripes first and I just couldn't figure out the rest of the card.  My hubby came through with the idea of making a plaid out of the colors.  Yes, he does help me sometimes when I just can't get a card to work.  I'm always glad to be able to bounce ideas off him and friends from time to time.


Thanks so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.  I am adding the bandanna card to Simon Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes.

Floral Hello

This week's Simon Wednesday Challenge is right down my alley as I love to make my own patterned paper with stamps and inks.  I, also, got to play with my Stamp of Approval kit from Catherine Pooler, too!

I used a couple of pieces of watercolor paper to make my patterned paper this week.  I love that each one turned out differently, using the same technique and ink colors.  On the first card, I used Walter & Winne's In Bloom: Eve's Favorite Flowers with Versa Mark ink and embossed each with Ranger's clear embossing powder.  I then took the solid flower stamps from the same set and inked them up with Stampin' Up's Wisteria Wonder, Crushed Curry, Real Red and Tangerine Tango inks.  I then spritzed the flowers with water and let the ink and water do their magic.  I die cut out the word Friend, from Cas-ual Fridays.

The only difference with the second card is I used Hero Arts Unicorn White ink and WOW! Silver Pearl embossing powder.  I added the die cut Hello, from Simon Says Stamp. 

I finished both cards off with pearl embellishments and mounted the patterned paper to Gina K's Pure Luxury White card stock and pop dotted the words hello and friend on each card.

I'm entering this card in both Simon Monday and Simon Wednesday challenges. 

Thanks so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.

Create with PTI

Hi everyone,
This card is for PTI's Create with Us.  I fell in love with Amy Sheffer's nativity card.  I love the simplicity of it and the sentiment was perfect.  Here's my take on her card.  I changed it to a fall inspired card.  I used the house from PTI's Winter Hills and colored it with Copics (b41, c5, y02 and e43).  The trees are from PTI's City Scene, as are the leaves.  I used SU's Raspberry Ripple, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Crushed Curry inks.  I sponged SU's Crumb Cake after Masking half the card.  I die cut out happy from PTI's Wet Paint die cuts (stacked 4 times) and punched out the small oval and stamped the word fall from PTI's Wreath for all Seasons in Pumpkin Pie ink, which I popped up with a pop dot.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.

Having fun with SSS

Hi everyone,
It's been hard getting back into the swing of stamping after Nick's wedding, but it's getting there.

I love the month of September, not only because it's our wedding anniversary month, but also because it bring the best season of the year!  I love fall in Michigan.  The fall colors just make me so happy.  Every year they are just a bit different.  Last year, the yellows and oranges were so vivid.  We'll see what this year's colors bring.  Last, but not last, it also bring STAMPtember from Simon Says Stamp.  This year's collection has been amazing so far.  I haven't had a chance to play with all the stamps and dies I've bought so far, but here's a couple of cards I did make with Drifting Stitched Circles and Leaves background stamp.  I used Tim Holtz's watercolor paper and inked up the Leaves background stamp with TH distress inks in Mustard Seed, Cracked Pistachio, Abandoned Coral and Spiced Maralade, which I misted with water before putting down the watercolor paper.  I then used the Drifting Stitched Circles dies down the side and added a few circles of Stampin' Up's Summer Sun card stock.  I attached the leaves panel to a piece of SU's Bermuda Bay card stock and Summer Sun card stock.  The happy birthday is stamped in SU's Bermuda Bay and the stamp is from SSS's Circle Sayings that I cut.  I am entering this card in Simon Wednesday and Monday Challenges and also in Darnell's NBUS challenge #5.

This card also uses SSS's Drifting Stitched Circles die and some very pretty designer paper from Penny Black called Painted Blooms.  I love buying patterned paper because it's so pretty, but after I get it home it just sits there because I don't know what to do with it.  I know there are others in the same boat with me.  I was so happy that PaperTrey Ink had Betsy Veldman do a video during their Stampafaire on Mix and Matching Patterned Paper.  Betsy does an excellent job explaining how to use Patterned paper together on a card.  I was so geeked.  I pulled out all my patterned paper and started putting different patterns together.  I loved how this card just came together so easily.  I finished the card off using lots and lots of sequins and the SSS's Smile Circle die.  I just cut the word out from the circle.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love it when you do.

Another wedding weekend

Great friends of ours youngest daughter got married this weekend.  So off we went to southern Michigan and northern Ohio for the wedding and reception.  Of course I had to make a card for Maggie and Justin. PaperTrey Ink sent their Design Tips Newsletter email last Friday and it was a card made by Melissa Phillips.  I fell in love with the card and decided to try and CASE it.  I didn't have the die cut she used, so I used one by Memory Box called Fresh Foliage.  I also didn't have any cardboard, so I used the closest color of green I had to Kelly Green, her wedding color.  I cut out the leaves from SU's Glorious Green cardstock and a piece of vellum, which I embossed with Stampendous Aged Silver Embossing enamel, as I didn't have the green embossing enamel either.  The card itself is cut to Melissa's famous size (Gladstone).  I inked up Hero Arts Flower Symbol background stamp in SU's Glorious Green ink.  I placed a piece of vellum over that and made a border out of PaperTrey Ink's Background Basics: Super Gingham also with SU's Glorious Green ink.  I finished the card off with a double bow made out of seam binding and added two green paper flowers and one white paper flower and some green baker's twine.  I don't know where the flowers or the baker's twine came from, sorry!  The sentiment at the bottom is from Stampin' Up, but I couldn't find the stamp set it came from, either.

I was asked to make a wedding card for our church choir director.  Her colors were turquoise, pink and a touch of gold.  I used PTI's Make It Market Mini: Garden Gild set.  I decided to water color the backgound on a acrylic block.  After making the background, I noticed when I put the ink on the acrylic block, I did so, on the engraved side of the lined block, so you can see the squares on my background.  I almost threw it away, thinking I messed up.  But I let it dry and decided I really liked how it looked.  I inked up SU's French Script in Delicata Godlen Glitz ink and wiped off the ink in some spots before I stamped it on the water colored background panel.  I die cut out the coverplate with white cardstock, which I laid over the background. I used the heart die cut from PTI's Make It Market Kit: Shakers & Sprinkles, which I cut out a piece of water color paper that I water colored with Tempting Turquiose ink and another piece of watercolor paper, which was water colored in SU's Pretty in Pink ink.  I inked up wishing you Love for a life time from PTI's Garden Gild stamp set in Delicata Golden Glitz ink.  I finished the card off with some flowers and leaves die cut from PTI's Garden Gild dies from the scraps of the Tempting Turquoise water colored paper after cutting out the heart and a few gold dots from Hero Arts.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love it when you do!!