Blake's Back!!

Good morning friends.  Today I'd like to share a card that I made last year using the "Blake" stamp from Rubbernecker Stamp Co.  This card is totally a CASE from the VERY talented Kittie Caracciolo.  If you've never visited her site (http://kittiekraft.typepad.com/), then grab a snack and drink and be prepared to be amazed for an hour or two (or more)!  I've been following her site for years now, and she just never ceases to amaze me!  The card that I CASE'd is a stair-stepper card, and while it is a little involved, I think you'll like it.  Take a look:

Again, this card was very involved, so I only made a few, but I think it was totally worth the time and effort.  There's a great tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers that can show you exactly how to do the stair step card if you're interested.  Once you have the card base made, it's simply a matter of adding all your additions.  My first step was to sponge "snow" onto the card base with SU's Cool Caribbean (retired) ink.  I then cut out 3 trees with PTI's Christmas Tree die using SU's Always Artichoke cs (also spongeing the edges) and then running them through the crimper tool.  I then stamped "Blake" with Momento's Tuxedo Black ink and colored him with Copics.  After cutting him out, I played with positioning Blake and the tree's before glueing them down.  My last step was cutting out the fence (PTI) and pine branches (MS punch) and attaching to the front of the card base and then adding little red bows (Michael's) and LOTS of glitter.  Oh, and a star cut from silver glitter paper (American Crafts POW Glitter Paper) for one of the tree's and a q-tip dipped in white ink to make the "snow" on the tree's.

That's all for today, but I'll be back next week with more to share and hopefully inspire.  I'd like to leave you with a quote from the devotional I read (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) that has just really spoken to me these last few days.  "Bring me the sacrifice of gratitude, and watch to see how much I bless you."  In ALL things, (NOT just a few things, but ALL things) give thanks.  He wants us to know that everything comes from Him and we need to thank Him daily and then watch Him bless your socks off! :0)  Have a great "thankfull" day friends!       

Blooming With Kindness

Good morning friends.  I'd like to share a birthday card today that I made for my good friend Sue who celebrated another birthday this past week (Happy Birthday again Sue!!).  I used a stamp on her card that I had never noticed in the SU catalog until just recently, and then because other people started using it, it was one of those "why haven't I seen this before?!!" and "I NEED that stamp!!!"  The day I decided that I "NEEDED" that stamp, my SU demonstrator announced that this stamp was on sale and could be purchased as a single stamp (versus the whole set), so it was like a sign, right?!!  (Thanks Steph!!)  Anyway, here is the card:

I just love how dramatic this flower looks and can't believe I passed it over in the catalog SO many times!  I started by inking up the stamp in SU's Pumpkin Pie, then took a tissue and rubbed off the ink around the edges and the stem.  I then lightly added SU's Melon Mambo around the edges and a quick dab in the center, and then a little SU's Old Olive to the stem.  I lightly misted the stamp with water before stamping the image directly onto SU's First Edition dp.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but after stamping, I sprayed some Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold on the image to give it a little shine.  I cut the image down the center both horizontally and vertically, so that I ended up with 4 2" squares, and then mounted those to a piece of black cs, and then layered it again with a piece of SU's Melon Mambo cs.  I attached these layers to a layer of SU's Very Vanilla cs that I had run through my Cuttlebug with a Happy Birthday embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts). and then added all the layers to a Melon Mambo card base.  I added a simple sheer ribbon (Michael's) around the bottom, and it was done.  I have had so much fun playing with this image, and will share more cards with it down the road.

Thanks for stopping by today and I'll be back tomorrow with some more Christmas inspiration.  Have a great Thursday friends!

Make it Monday Challenge #93

Good morning friends.  Today I'm sharing another challenge I tried from Paper Trey Ink.  I have to tell you I'm kind of getting into these challenges, as they force me to look at different ways of stamping and not getting into the same ol same ol!  This new challenge definitely forced me to think out of the box!  My first thought was, "what a goofy idea...I think I'll pass on this challenge!"  But after mulling (one of my mother in laws favorite words!) it over for a while, the juices started flowing, and this is what I came up with:

The challenge was to use any die and divide (cut) it in half, to make the die more versatile.  The die that Ashley Cannon Newell (PTI designer) used in her video was a die that you normally would use to stamp a sentiment on, and since most of the dies I own are of "things", I was a little stumped on what I could use.  But like I said earlier, the more I thought about it, I thought why not use my Christmas Tree die (PTI) and cut it vertically (as opposed to horizontally like Ashley did) and use my vertical stamp (Verses Rubber Stamp Co.) between the 2 halves?  I stamped first on a layer of SU's Whisper White cs with SU's Real Red ink the sentiment, and then covered that sentiment with a piece of paper while I stamped the pine tree (SU's "Lovely As A Tree" set) in SU's Always Artichoke ink.  I mounted this layer to a card base of SU's Always Artichoke cs (LOVE this color!!).  I then simply added the 2 halves of the die cut tree, a die cut of the sledder (PTI's "In the Meadow Silhouettes Die Collection), and finished with a white ribbon at the top (Michael's)

Hope you enjoyed my version of the challenge and thanks again for stopping by to share part of your day with me...I love it when you do! :0)

Whooooo?

Good morning friends.  I'm back with something a little different today.  My mom has collected owls ever since I can remember, and my brother and I (and his 2 daughters now) are always on the lookout for something different and unique each year in the owl family to give her at Christmas.  Because my budget has been has been very limited this year, I decided to try and make a couple owl ornaments for her tree.  Take a look:

 

 

I found a pattern online by Jessica Levit (www.juicy-bits.typepad.com), and as you can see, I didn't stop at just a couple!  Are these cute or what?!!!  I got rather hooked and I think I have 15 of them made so far.  They are only about 4" tall, so very small to sew on, but I absolutely love making them.  I decided they are going to be package tie-on's for a lot of my gifts this year, since I don't think my mom wants 15 (or more?) of them.  I made a really cute box out of some owl dp card stock to nestle the 2 in that I give my mom, and I think it will make a great (and inexpensive!) gift.

Well that's all for today friends, but I'll be back again tomorrow....I still have lots more inspiration to share with you! :0)  Have a terrific Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!

Holly Jolly

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends.  I'm back with a total CASE'd and CAS card for you today.  One of PTI's designer's (Christina of "My Paper Secret") did this card about a month ago and I fell in love with it!  She did hers vertically, and mine is horizontal, and mine uses a different sentiment and die,but otherwise it's pretty much a copy...but it was just too much of a CAS (clean and simple) card to be able to change much.  Here's my version:

I used PTI's "Think Big Favorites #20" stamp set to stamp the saying first, and used SU's Real Red ink.  Next I cut out a couple holly leaves (PTI's "Holly Jolly" die) with a dark green dotted swiss cs from my local scrapbooking store, and placed them above the sentiment.  I added a red glittered ball shape (Recollections at Michael's) for the berries, and then tied a piece of red & white baker's twine (The Twinery) around the top.  It doesn't get much more simple than this, and yet the beauty is in the simplicity of this card. :0)

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your Monday with me and I'll be back with some more inspiration tomorrow. 
 

Blake

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I had a great time with my family, eating and visiting, and can't wait for my turkey sandwhich later today (one of the best perks of having the turkey at your house...you get the leftovers!!)

We're supposed to get some snow today, so I thought I'd share a card I made for my cousin Kathy.  Take a look:

The snowman is a stamp from Rubbernecker Stamp Co. and they named him "Blake", which also happens to be my cousin's son's name...how appropriate, huh?! :0)  I love snowmen, and this little guy is no exception!  He is just so whimsical looking you can't help but love him!  And I love that his sign comes blank, so you can stamp (or write) whatever message you want in this space.  I stamped him on SU's Whisper White cs with Momento's Tuxedo Black ink, and colored him with Copics (B000, YG63, R29, YR68, & R81).  My card base is SU's Bashful Blue, and then I tore a couple strips of Whisper White to make the snow hills that the tree (SU's Always Artichoke cut out with a PTI die) and Blake are sitting on.  After adding the red glitter star (Spellbinders die and American Crafts POW Glitter Paper), I used my two way glue pen to add some dots to the blue and then added glitter to make it look like it was snowing out. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all enjoy your nice long weekend...unless you're in retail that is, and then I'll say a prayer for you!  I'll be back next Monday with some more inspiration for you. :0)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good morning friends and a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all of you!  Just a quick post so I can get my bird in the oven (don't ya just love how a turkey roasting makes your house smell so wonderful?!!!  Remember, you can find JOY even in something as simple as a smell!)  But anyway, just a small group at my table today, and decided to make a little table favor.  Take a look:

 
My 1st picture doesn't show the detail too well, but had to include a picture of Frank (the turkey).  Made him years and years and years ago, and still get excited to bring him out each year!  The table favors have a Reese's peanut butter cup inside, and that's always been one of my girls favorites, so that was the deciding factor in making these favors this year.  I've originally seen these made with the miniature peanut butter cups, but got to thinking, "why not the bigger ones?"  I used the 2nd to the largest scalloped circle die (Spellbinders) and cut out 2 in SU's Pumpkin Pie for each treat.  I then ran them through my Cuttlebug to emboss them with the pumpkin folder (Provo Craft).  I sponged them lightly to give them a little more definition and then made score lines accross the bottom (about 6 scallops on each) of each circle.  After folding on the score lines, I placed a strip of sticky tape on the folded part of one, and then placed the other folded circle facing towards the other one...it sort of makes a nest for the treat to sit in.  I then simply added a strip a brown grossgrain ribbon (Michael's) to the top insides of both scalloped circles, and then attached the leaves (Stampin Up Sizzlet die) cut from a dotted swiss green card stock from my local scrapbooking store.  Quick, easy, and cute! :0)

Again, I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving, and hope you make treasured memories that make you smile.  Today of all days, remember the JOY!  

Lovely As A Tree

Good morning friends.  I'm back as promised with a fall card (although I hope you're not sick of Christmas cards yet, as I still have LOTS to share with you !).  Ever since finding the little flower stamp from the retired SU set "Mini Watercolor Garden", I have been having a blast using it on every tree and wreath set I own.  This latest card I used the stamp on is one of my all time favorite sets - "Lovely As A Tree".  Take a look:

The colors in this card are so rich, that I kept the card very clean and simple.  I used SU's Very Vanilla cs and stamped the tree image in brown Stazon ink.  I used Tim Holtz's Distress Inks in Peeled Paint (green), Fired Brick, & Spiced Marmelade with the little flower stamp for all the leaves on the tree's, and on the ground using the stamping off technique.  I mounted the image with a piece of SU's Pumpkin Pie cs and then mounted to a Very Vanilla card base.  I think the hardest part of this card was measuring where to punch with the half circle punch!  I finished with just adding a couple small orange brads.  Again, a very clean and simple card, but one I was very pleased with.

Thanks again for sharing a part of your day with me, and I'll be back tomorrow with a Thanksgiving table favor I made for my dinner table tomorrow.  Don't stress out too much today getting ready for tomorrow, and remember to take time to find the JOY in today...it IS there! :0)

Make it Monday Challenge #92

Hello again friends!  Back with a quick post for a card I just made for PTI's Make it Monday challenge #92 using vellum layers.  Take a look:

The light wasn't too great this afternoon to really show the true colors of this card, but I still think it turned out pretty! (the layout for this card was CASE'd and inspired by Debbie Olson's card today on her site "Thinking Inking")  I used Echo Park "Happy Holidays" dp for the background and the tree (PTI's Merry & Bright die) and sponged both with SU's Soft Sky ink (retired).  The Top Note die (SU) and the star on the tree are a really deep pink (like SU's Melon Mambo...the photo makes it look more red - grrrr!) dotted swiss cs from my local scrapbook store.  I used a Spellbinders circle die that I sponged with the Soft Sky ink, and then glittered, and then added the die cut vellum snowflake, after which I finally added the tree with pop dots to make it stand out a bit.  I finished by adding a bow (Michael's) and a tag from PTI's Tiny Tags die and stamp set for the "very merry".

Thanks for stopping in again and I'll be back in the morning with my promised "fall" card. :0)

Stamp Camp - Day 2

Good morning friends.  Just a quick post today, but I'd like to share a few more cards from the stamp camp I attended this past weekend.  It's hard to pick and choose which ones to share when they were all so great, but here's another 3 for you:

 

 

 

 

I encourage you to click on all of them to view them closer up...especially the first one, so you can see the saying.  Too funny!! :0)  It's kind of hard to see in the picture, but the wreath on the bears bottom was stamped 2 extra times and then cut out and mounted with pop dots to make it really stand out....it is just the cutest card IRL.  I love the 2nd card too...no stamping, but just cutting and punching.  (my cousin Sue did this card - the other 2 are Judy's) The 3rd card is so pretty!  It's hard to tell from the picture, but the tree's and church behind the window are all glittered up and it just makes this whole card sparkle.

That's all for today friends.  Hope you enjoyed looking at all the talent there is down in the southern part of the state, and I'll be back tomorrow with a fall card (since it's technically not winter yet!!!!!!!!)  "Be still, and know that I am God" has been hanging around in my head the last few days, and I think He's reminding me to slow down and 1) remember ALL that I am thankful for, and 2) to slow down and remember what the upcoming season is truly all about.  So take time to "Be still........  

Christmas Stamp Camp

Good morning friends.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend...I know I did! :0)  My girlfriend Sue and I went down to Jackson to stamp with my cousin Sue and her stamping friend extraordinaire -  Judy!  We had a wonderful time, and let me tell you, Judy knows how to do a stamp camp!  I was SO impressed!  We made 15 cards (all different) and when you walked in, you picked up a decorated bag filled with all the makings for each card.  Each card was in a numbered plastic sleeve, and then you just went to the coordinating numbered table where all the inks, punches, etc. were.  There were about 29 of us stamping and we all had a great time stamping our hearts out!  I'd like to show you 3 of the cards today that we made:

 

 

 

 

Are these not just the prettiest cards?!!!  Judy has amazing talent, and I can't wait to show you some of the other cards we made too.  I'll show you another 3 tomorrow, and then I have another fall card for you and a little Thanksgiving table favor to show on Thanksgiving day (IF I get all my food prep done the day before!) 

 

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

For The Birds Two

Happy Friday friends!  I am so happy it's almost the weekend...I get to go "play" with new stamping friends tomorrow for a Christmas stamp camp. :0)  And you know what that means right?  LOTS more inspiration to share with you!! :0)  For today though, I want to share a different version of yesterdays card.  Yesterdays card was very muted, and I got to wondering what it would look like if it were more vibrant?  Here's what I came up with:

I started this time with SU's Whisper White card stark and used SU's Midnight Muse ink with the Hero Arts stamp.  What a difference the new stamp pads make...I LOVE them!  They remind me of pigment ink pads but dry quickly like water based dye inks!  You have to use a "lighter" hand with these new pads, but the results are stunning!  The color is so much deeper that you can definitely tell the difference between this version and yesterdays card.  I used a Copic marker (R29) for the cardinal and love how bold he came out too.  I matted this layer with a piece of SU's Real Red card stock and then the card base is SU's Whisper White.  I folded the card base the long way and then trimmed away right next to the red layer, so that I could stamp the vertical sentiment (Verses Rubber Stamp Co.) on the inside layer and still have it visible when the card is closed.

So let me know what you think about these two different versions.  I still really like the more muted version, but think I'm in love with the bolder version...it just really "pops" to me! :0)  My cousin in Colorado placed an order for some Christmas cards and this is one of them I plan on sending her...hope she likes it too! :0)

Have a wonderful weekend friends and I'll be back next week.  Thanks for stopping by and sharing part of your day with me!

For The Birds

Good morning friends.  It is sooo cold here in Michigan that the frost is thick enough to almost look like a layer of snow on everything!  I'm not a big fan of snow, but I can appreciate the beauty of it (another one of those JOY moments!).  I love watching birds in the winter and how they stand out against the snow...especially cardinals! Take a look at this card:

This was a quick and easy card using a stamp set from Hero Arts (another one of my favorite companies!) called "Merriest Christmas Wishes".  I used a speckled off white card stock (Stamp Therapy) and stamped the image with SU's Night of Navy.  For the cardinal, I used the edge of a sponge dauber and red decorating chalks.  It didn't come out as vibrant as using a Copic marker, but I kind of liked the soft look the chalk gave, since the blue and white are so stark.  I layered the image with SU's Night of Navy card stock and then a base of the speckled off white card stock.  No ribbon, no bling...just very simple!

Find JOY in the little things today friends, and have a great Thursday!  Thanks for stopping by...I love it when you do. :0)

Musical Christmas

Good morning friends.  I'm sharing another Lily of the Valley card with you today, because they just don't come any cuter than this and especially the Christmas images!  (they're probably also my favorites because I never quite outgrew coloring...always my favorite subject in school!!)  So take a look:

Aren't those the sweetest little faces or what?!!  This card came together very quickly after coloring with Copic markers, and then simply adding the layers...SU's Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White and the design paper is "eskimo kisses" by basicgrey.  Oh and I used a gel pen for the stars and the tinsel around the girls heads and a little glitter on their wings.  Simple, quick, and oh so cute! :0)

That's all for today friends and don't forget to be taking time to find the JOY in your day...it IS there!  Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back soon. :0)

JOY

Good morning friends.  Well we did get a "trace" bit of snow yesterday, but nothing that qualifies for that "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" look or feeling!  So rather than another Christmas card, today I'd like to share something else you can do with stamping. 

I have been making these picture frame plaques for quite a few years now as gifts (usually house warming gifts) and I computer generate the saying and then stamp the rest.  I can't remember where I first heard this saying (sermon? book?), but I LOVE it and have it in several areas of my home to remind me daily that joy isn't happiness, and that it IS all around me.  Sometimes we just have to look a little harder! :0) 

I used several stamps to make this plaque.  Next to the saying, I used an Endless Creations stamp and colored right on the rubber with SU markers (Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Summer Sun, & Cherry Cobbler).  The paper I used is a really textured watercolor paper, and once I stamped the image, it made it almost look like it was cross stitched! :0)  (if you click on the image to make it larger, you'll be able to see what I'm talking about with the cross stitching)  For the background, I used a piece of kraft cs and stamped with SU's Soft Seude, using SU's "Watercolor Trio" stamp set.  I cut the main image out with a Spellbinders oval die, sponged the edges with SU's Soft Seude, and then mounted it on the kraft cs and framed it.  Very simple and a very nice gift to give (and receive!).

I hope you will all remember to look around you today (and everyday!) and find the JOY that is waiting to be found.  God puts it all around us...we just need to take the time to look. When you purposely search for the joy, you will be amazed at the peace you feel...even on a hectic or not so great day!  Have a great Tuesday friends! :0) 

I Love Snowmen!

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a great weekend.  Mine was busy, busy, but had lots of fun and even got things accomplished!  Stamped alot too as I'm selling Christmas cards this year to make a little extra $...let me know if you need any cards! :0)

I'm showing you a snowman card today because they are predicting our first snowfall of the season later today. (It was upper 60's yesterday and cold enough to snow today...that's Michigan for ya!!)

This card was done a few years ago, so forgive me for not having a lot of detail for you on this one.  The image is a C.C. Design digital image and after printing it on the computer, I cut it with a Spellbinders oval die and then colored with SU's water color crayons. (this was pre-copic time...I feel like my watercolor crayons have been sadly neglected since I discovered Copic markers!) I added a scalloped oval (Spellbinders) in SU's Bashful Blue, and then layered with a strip of SU's Whisper White that was embossed with a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder, a wider strip of dp in green and white polka dots, and then a larger layer of dp.  It's been so long ago, I can't tell you the company names for the dp...sorry!  I added a pink ribbon (Michael's), tag (cut with SU circle punches), snowflakes (punched with a Martha Stewart snowflake punch), and a little bit of "bling" to make it sparkle.  Sometimes these 5 x 5 cards look more difficult, but don't be scared away...just using a bigger field so there's more room to play! :0)

Another busy day for me, but I'll be back again tomorrow with some more inspiration.  Thanks again for stopping by...you know I love it when you do! :0)


 

Telling Santa

Good morning friends.  I have a card today that brings back memories of taking our girls to see Santa when they were younger.  I don't know about your pictures of these times, but most of ours are pictures of the girls looking either scared to death or crying!  They couldn't wait to go see him each year, but once we got there....  Too funny when I think about it now! :0) 

This card has quite a few layers, but it actually went together quite quickly!  I started with a card base of SU's Real Red card stock and then layered it with Very Vanilla which had been stamped with a SU background stamp called "Script" stamped in Real Red ink.  I used another SU background stamp called "Victorian Lace" that I stamped with the Real Red ink on Real Red card stock, and then tore to fit the left corner of the card (gives it a more vintage feeling).  I then stamped the image ("Telling Santa" by Paper Inspirations stamp company) with black Stazon ink on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  I layered the image with another piece of Real Red cs, and then layered again with a piece of SU's Garden Green cs.  After attaching this layer to the card base, I added a piece of green grossgrain ribbon (Michael's) and 3 black brads on the left side. 

Well, that's all for today friends.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back with you again next week with some more Christmas inspiration!  And remember to slow down enough to find the joy in each day...especially durring this upcoming holiday season! :0)

Another Birthday???

Good morning friends.  Yes, another birthday in my family, and today it's my cousin Sue, who also is one of my very best friends!  She stopped counting birthdays a while ago (so did I!!), but it's a good reason to get a hand stamped card in the mail and not another bill!  Take a look:

I had bought SU's "Perfectly Preserved" stamp set awhile ago, and have been thinking about what I could put in the jar besides the fruit and vegetables that come with the set...something different and "outside the box".  It didn't take me long to come up with the idea of fall leaves, as leaves are one of my favorite things (you'd know if you saw the inside of my house...I definitely have a leaf motif going on!!).  I stamped the jar in SU's Soft Seude ink and then stamped the leaves in SU's Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and More Mustard.  The leaf stamp in the More Mustard is the same one I used yesterday from the grab jar, and the leaves in Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive are from SU's "Fall Whimsy" stamp set.  I stamped the jar and leaves on kraft cs and then the lid to the jar is a die cut using the back side of the red/cream checked designer paper (Rain Check by Pebbles Inc.).  I tied a piece of bakers twine (The Twinery) around the lid and then used pop dots to mount it on the jar.  I layered with a piece of SU's Cherry Cobbler, and then layered again with the red/cream checked dp onto a kraft cs card base.  I embellished with a piece of red grossgrain ribbon (Michael's), a tiny tag from PTI's "Tiny Tags" die and stamp set, and then finished off with a large die cut leaf in SU's Cherry Cobbler from Provo Craft.  I also distressed the edges of the leaf, tag, and card stock edges with SU's Soft Seude ink and added a couple red half backed pearls to finish it up.

Well that's it for today, and tomorrow maybe we'll get back into the Christmas mode....I have oodles and oodles to share with you! :0)  Have a great Thursday friends, and a wonderful birthday Sue!!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Good morning friends.  I'm back with another "fall" feeling card today.  It was inspired by a card from a post last week on Dawn Griffiths site (Dawn's Stampin Thoughts). So yes, this is a CASE'd card, but with my spin on it.  Take a look:

Dawn used a few more colors in her card, where I kept mine a little more muted.  This was such a fun technique to do and SO easy! (Thanks Dawn!!)  You use 3 layers (well, technically 6) of a light colored card stock (I used SU's Very Vanilla) and put a small dab of adhesive on the backs of the top 2 layers to hold all 3 layers in position while you stamp on it.  I used an older leaf stamp from Inkadinkado and randomly stamped with SU's Raspberry Ripple.  I then inked up the same leaf stamp with SU's Melon Mambo and stamped off so I would have a more muted shade before I stamped onto the card stock.  Once you finish stamping, you simply pull the 3 layers apart and then re-layer them with a darker shade (SU's Raspberry Ripple) card stock, making sure to line up the leaves before you put the card together. (Hope that makes sense, but if not, go to Dawn's site where she has a fabulous video on how to do this!)  I finished my card by adding a ribbon (Michael's) and the "happy, happy, joy, joy" sentiment from PTI's "Blooming Button Bits" stamp set.  I also used a small leaf on the oval with SU's Melon Mambo stamped off again and also a small diamond dot for some bling! :0)  (The small leaf is a SU stamp that I received when I first started stamping and my demonstrator then used to pass around this big jar filled with small stamps for anyone who had placed an order to pick from...I have quite a collection of these "small" stamps, so you can see that my addiction started quite a long time ago!!)

I'll be back with another birthday card tomorrow (November is a BIG birthday month in my family!), so until then "Rejoice! This is the day the Lord has made!"   

Birthday Wishes

Good morning friends! Sorry about missing yesterday...life just gets in the way sometimes! I had always told myself that if I ever started a blog, I would not be an "everyday" post-er, but rather 2 or 3 days a week. BUT, when I first started over a month ago, I was SO excited about finally doing something I had dreamed about for so long, that I couldn't help but post everyday! :0)   I think the reality of "life" has sunk in though, so you may not see a new post everyday... but, if I have lots of things to share, who knows?! :0)

Anyway, getting on to todays cards (yes, 2 cards today!). Yesterday was my niece Jen's birthday, and today is my friend Stephanie's birthday, (Happy Birthday ladies!!) so here are their birthday cards:

 

Both cards are basically the same, I just used a different ribbon treatment on each one.  I used almost all Stampin Up product (for you, Steph!) for both these cards.  The card base is Whisper White, then a layer of Old Olive, and then a layer of First Edition Speciality paper (LOVE this stuff!).  I then stamped the stem and leaves (Field Flowers stamp set) in Old Olive ink right onto the First Edition paper.  For the flowers, I stamped them on scraps of Whisper White cs with Marigold Morning (retired) for the first card and Summer Sun (retired) for the 2nd card.  I cut them out and attached with pop dots and then stamped the "Birthday Wishes" in Old Olive (from the Watercolor Trio stamp set) and punched out with the oval punch and layered in Old Olive with the scalloped oval punch.  The brown grossgrain ribbon, jute, and maple leaf brad are all from Michael's.  Simple, but very "fall" feeling cards.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back soon!    

A Challenge!

A Saturday post...woo hoooooo!!  Actually I'm trying to be brave in my old age and do a "Make it Monday" challenge from Paper Trey Ink for the first time, and it needs to be posted no later than this Monday at 7:00AM.  So anyways, here's my take on the Make it Monday #89 "Creating Windows for Floating Images" challenge:

If you look at the example on Nichole's site (Capture the Moment), her image definitely "floats" a lot more than my pinecones, but I didn't want to cover up the "Winter Wishes" (PTI - Winter Hills set) sentiment.  I used the Pillow Box die from PTI with kraft cs and then cut out an oval using Spellbinders oval set.  I then stamped the pine boughs from PTI's "Peaceful Pinecones" set with SU's Always Artichoke ink.  On some scrap pieces of kraft cs, I stamped the pinecones with Brilliance Cosmic Copper pigment ink (kind of hard to see in the photo, but this ink shimmers a little and makes the pinecones "pop" a bit more) and then used a pop dot to adhere them to the pillow box.  Before I assembled the box, I stamped the "Winter Wishes" on the inside in SU's Early Expresso ink and then attached a small piece of acetate to the backside of the oval to create the window. I added a small piece of grossgrain ribbon and the box is done.

Wellllllllll...not quite done!  About a week ago, one of PTI's designers, Dawn McVey (My Favorite Things) showed how to make a "Gift Tags Gift Set", and I fell in love with the idea!  So I made a few gift tags using the same stamps as the Pillow Box to make my own gift set.  Have a look:

Now who wouldn't love to receive a little gift like this?  Perfect for friends, hostesses, school or Sunday school teachers....really anyone on your list! :0)  I don't have any of the tag dies, so I simply cut my tags at 2" x 3" and they fit perfectly into the Pillow Box die.  I stamped them the same as the box (stamped the pinecone right onto the tag rather than cutting out first and attaching like I did with the outside of the Pillow Box) and just added a piece of bakers twine (The Twinery) to each corner.  Quick and easy and a very nice gift.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend! (I'm actually seeing a few snowflakes right now in "my neck of the woods" ...yikes! I guess winter is coming!!)

Heart 2 Heart

Good morning friends.  Today I'd like to share a simple Fall card that is similar to some of the kraft card stock cards I showed you the beginning of October:

I had made a bunch of these cards more geared to "guys", but had to do a "girlie" one too cause I just love flowers!  This card was made using Paper Trey Ink's (PTI) "Heart-2-Heart #7" stamp set, and I had to get this set because 1- it was cheap ($5), 2- I LOVED the leaves, and 3- it is so easy to use and just plain cute! :0)  I started this card with kraft card stock and embossed it with the "Blessings" embossing folder (Provo Craft).  I lightly sponged over all the words with SU's Soft Seude ink to give a little more definition to the words.  For the actual stamped area, I used SU's Soft Seude ink (can you tell I LOVE this color?!!!) for the stem and leaves, and then SU's Really Rust and Summer Sun (both retired colors) for the flowers.  The center (heart shape) of the flower on the left was stamped with Really Rust that had been stamped off once to create a lighter shade than the other flower.  I added a small rusty red colored dot to the center of the flower on the right to add a little bling.  I tore the bottom edge of the card stock on an angle and then layered it with a piece of SU's Soft Seude, which I also tore at an angle at the bottom.  After tieing a piece of grossgrain ribbon (Michael's) near the bottom of this part, I attached it to the base card.  Simple and easy!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend...I'm thinking I need to get some turkey decorations put out or it will be time to put up the Christmas tree before I know it!  Seriously, someone in my town already has their tree up and lit in their front window!  I can't wait to put mine up too, but in October?  Really?  Oh well, each to their own!  Thanks again for stopping by and I'll be back next Monday. :0)

Goin' Huntin"

Good morning friends and happy November!  It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is only 3 weeks away and Christmas a month after that!  Are you a "planner" and have everything under control, or do you wait till the last minute to get holiday things done?  I have always been a planner, with most things bought, and some things even wrapped by now (old habit to keep Caitlin from peeking!!).  Last night though, it hit me I haven't done much of anything but make cards...oh well, at least I've been happy! (a true stamper would totally understand this! :0)

Anyway, on to today's card.  I totally wish I could take credit for this card, as I just love it and can't even bear to send it to someone, but the credit goes to my SU demonstrator Stephanie.  It really is one of the most beautiful fall and "male" cards I have ever made:

It's been over a year (maybe 2??) since we made this, so I'm guessing at the colors here, but I think the base of the card is SU's Really Rust, then a Very Vanilla layer, and then Early Expresso before the actual stamped image.  The set we used is SU's "Autumn Days" (which hadn't even been on my "wish list" to buy, but totally had to buy that night after making this card...thanks Steph!!).  We placed a circle near the upper right hand corner and then started spongeing from light to dark (I think...a year's a LONG time ago!).  I'm guessing again here, but I think we used SU's So Saffron, More Mustard, & either Really Rust (which is retired) or Cajun Craze. The pheasant and sentiment were stamped with Early expresso and the wheat with either Soft Seude, or Early Expresso stamped off once before stamping on the actual card.  The berries were done with Cherry Cobbler.  A little hole punching in the 2 corners and a Antique Brad, and the card was done.  Isn't it Beautiful?!!!  I just LOVE the colors!

Thanks for stopping by, and I'll be back with a few more fall looking cards before we start in on more Christmas again.