CAS Sympathy

Good morning friends.  It's Friday and you know what that means.........  I'm well into my 50's, but I still love the feelings that the word Friday can evoke - all the possibilities!    Not that my life is THAT exciting, but I still LOVE the feelings of Fridays! :0)

Just a quick post today, but wanted to share a card that I was inspired by on Pinterest.  It is so clean and simple, but I think striking in it's simplicity.  Take a look:

Not a lot of light to work with, so the card is a little darker than it is in real life.  It's SO simple, but I think it turned out so pretty!  It's just 2 squares of cardstock (Wisteria Wonder & Almost Amethyst) and then a Cheery Lynne die cut.  I did sponge the edges of the squares, but it's hard to see in this photo.  The sentiment is from PTI's  "Heart to Heart #10.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend! :0)

Make it Monday #150 - Window Screen Cards

Good morning friends.  Today I am playing along with Papertrey Inks - Make it Monday challenge, and it is a great one by the very talented Melissa Phillips.  You can check out her video right here.  Melissa has challenged us to make a window card, and then to also use a cover plate design behind your window cutout.  If you follow Melissa at all, you know her cards are all about all the little details.  She makes it look so effortless, but I learn so much each time I watch one of her videos and even just visiting her blog! (Melissa's blog)    So anyway, I feel like I've finally created a Melissa like card - take a look:

And while I completely CASE'd  Melissa's card (it was just too perfect not to copy her layout!!), I had so much fun making it my own with different stamps and colors.  I also did not have any coverplates that I thought would work well with the heart cutout, so I improvised and used three die cuts from "Wonderful Words: Love".  The polka dot paper is a Melissa Francis, and the floral paper behind the heart is by The Paper Studio, and they are what I based my color scheme on.  I used PTI's "Birds and Blooms" stamp set for my flowers and Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Calypso Coral, & Real Red inks.  (I double stamped the Calypso Coral & Real Red inks on top of each other to create a color more like the one in the design paper)  My heart cutouts are from PTI's "Limitless Layers - 2 1/4" hearts".  The sentiment is from PTI's "Heart Squared" set, and I finished with a seam binding bow (The Craft Spot) and flower (SU!).  I even made my card size like Melissa's (7 1/2" x 5 1/4" and scored at 3 3/4"), which is a little smaller than an A-2 sized card, and I have to admit, I really like the little bit smaller feel to the card! (I know it sounds crazy, but it almost feels more vintage with the smaller size!)  I forgot to take a picture, but I even made a matching envelope and lined the inside with some of the design paper.  I'm not sure who I will send this card to yet, but I know someone will appreciate the time and love that went into it! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Thursday.  We're supposed to get more snow today...how exciting! NOT!!!!!  Be back tomorrow with some more inspiration.  :0)

Merry Monday #93 - Ornaments

Good morning friends.  Don't you just love finding something in your stamping stash that you'd completely forgotten you had?  It's like getting a gift!! :0)  Usually it's a stamp that I'd forgotten I had, but today it's design paper I'd forgotten about, and I think I've had it for years!  I admit I'm a bit (ok, a LOT) of a hoarder, and when I see things I like I have a hard time saying no.  There's a sign in my local stamp store that says "inside this shop lies a disease for which there is no cure", and I think it totally applies to me! :0)  But anyway, this week at Merry Mondays, the challenge is to use an ornament on your card, and that's where this design paper by Debbie Mumm came in.  Take a look:

I absolutely love the richness of this design paper...it's warm, bright, and whimsical!  My first thought was to add a punched or stamped ornament to the card, and I actually did try that, but just didn't like anything I came up with.  So I started thinking about ornaments, and how they go on trees, and that's where the inspiration for this card evolved.  I stamped the lone pine tree image from SU!'s "Lovely as a Tree" set in Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz on kraft cardstock and then cut out with a Spellbinders die.  I added a bit of Bashful Blue with a sponge to the background and Dazzling Diamonds glitter for the snow, and then die cut from PTI's In the Meadow the 2 birds and the bunny (which I sponged a bit with Soft Suede ink).  Here's a closer up view:

I also added a seam binding ribbon that I dyed with Certainly Celery re-inker, and a little tag from PTI's Tiny Tags die and stamp set.  I'm really happy with the way this card turned out and hope you like it too! :0)

I also have a picture to share with you today of what winter looks like at my house this year.  I know I've made several complaints lately about enough is enough, and thought maybe a picture would show what I'm talking about.  Take a look:

.

I cannot see the street from my front window because the snowbanks are SO high!  Yes, enough is enough!  Unfortunately, the 8 day forecast is showing more snow...grrrrrr!!  I looooooong for Spring...sigh!

Thanks for stopping by today, and make sure you check out all the other great card entries at Merry Monday here.  Have a wonderful Wednesday and stay safe and warm if you're in my neck of the woods!

Valentine Love

Good morning friends.  Feeling grateful to be here today!  Had to take our youngest back to school yesterday, and let's just say the weather was not the most cooperative!  Did a LOT of praying, and thankfully we made it there and back safely.  I will be most happy when this winter is done!!!!  And on to a lighter note, I have 2 cards to share with you today! :0)  I've still been playing around with my new PTI dies and making Valentines cards, and here's what I came up with using the Framed Love die:

For the first card I made, I stuck with just a simple red & white theme.  Started with a white card base, and then stamped the largest flourish from SU!'s "Flowering Flourishes" (have I mentioned before how much I LOVE this set?!!) off to the left in Real Red ink.  I then die cut the Love die (PTI) from white cs and matted it with Real Red.  If you click to enlarge the photo, you'll be better able to see the detail.  Before mounting it with foam dots, I added a sheer white ribbon and heart tag (Tiny Tags - PTI).  I also added a few diamond dots to the flourish and heart tag to bling it up a bit.  Then I did the exact same layout for my next card, but used design paper behind the Framed Love die:

I started with a white card base again, and then used Smokey Slate ink to stamp the flourish.  I die cut the Framed Love from a shimmery black cardstock and then backed it with a piece of design paper (Lovely Roses - The Paper Studio).  I used a white and silver ribbon on this one and some silver nailheads (Gina K) on the flourish to finish up the card.  Which one do you like best?  I'm leaning more toward the 2nd one, but I do like the simplicity of the red & white one too. :0)

That's all for today friends.  Have a wonderful Tuesday and stay warm if you're in my neck of the woods.  And if you live somewhere warm...send some of it our way - PLEASE! :0)

"Whale You Be Mine?"

Good morning friends.  Anyone tired of snow yet?  I am definitely going to have to take a picture (if I can make myself go outside that is!) for you so you can see just how much snow we've gotten this winter.  It just keeps piling up and up and UP!!!  Oh well, it did make for a good stamping weekend, so I have lots to share with you over the next week or so (provided I get it all photographed!). :0)

The card I'd like to share with you today was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest a while back, and here's my version of it:

In the past, I never would have thought of putting these 2 colors together (Pool Party & Real Red), but after several Christmas card challenges last year using these 2 colors, I am hooked!  And I think they work perfect for Valentines Day too, don't you?  I'm trying to be more conscious of using stamp sets that I already have this year, and SU!'s "Oh, Whale", is one of those sets that I had to have and then only used it once for a baby card.  After noticing the "Whale you be mine?" sentiment in the set, I decided it would make a great Valentines card! :0)  I used a Darice ef for the Pool Party background, and a scrap of dp (The Paper Studio) for the inset background.  The stitched heart is from PTI's newest die set - Limitless Layers: Stitched Hearts.  A pearl, heart-shaped button, and some red & white twine (The Twinery) finished off my card.  And here's another shot to show you I'm doing well with my new years resolution to finish off the insides of my cards too:

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll be back with more Valentine inspiration tomorrow.  Have a wonderful Monday and stay warm if you're in my "neck of the woods"!!

January 2014 Blog Hop

Good morning friends.  Basically snowed in again, so I guess that means it's card making time...yeah!  The card I'm going to share with you today is for an order I'm working on for my cousin, and she wanted a "pink" and girlie Valentine's card for her daughter.  And guess what?  Papertrey Ink's blog hop challenge this month is to use pink, pink, and more pink!  I don't know if my card will totally qualify, because you're only supposed to use pink and neutrals (like white, black, gray, etc.), and I have 2 other colors on my card.  I decorated my heart with PTI's "Embroidered Blooms" stamp set, and I just couldn't bring myself to stamp the leaves any color other than green.  I also stamped the centers of the flowers in a stamped off Pool Party ink, so very subtle, but definitely NOT pink!  Oh well, the card is still 95% pink, so I'm going to enter it anyway!  Take a look:

   
I started with a pink card base, and then used SU!'s French Script background with Pretty in Pink ink.  We actually had mega sunshine the other day and I was so excited thinking my photos were going to turn out great, but you still can't see much of the background stamping....grrrr!  But trust me, it is there, and actually you can see it a little bit better in the 2nd photograph.  Next I stamped a panel with SU!'s "Pattern" background stamp and Pretty in Pink ink, and then outlined it with a straight 1/4" strip of silver glitter paper, and another strip that I punched out with a Martha Stewart tiny heart scalloped punch.  Next up I added the heart (PTI's Limitless Layers Hearts) that I stamped with the "Embroidered Blooms" (PTI) set.  I added a sheer ribbon to the top of the heart and a few iridescent sequins to bling it up.  I finished with the sentiment from PTI's "Heart Squared" stamp set and embossed it in silver.  I know it's not total pink, but I still think it turned out pretty!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and make sure you stop by Nichole's blog here to check out all the rest of the "pink" and pretty cards...you'll be amazed!  Have a great weekend and I'll be back with more inspiration next week! :0)  

Make it Monday #149 - Glitter Embellishments

Good morning friends.  Playing along with Papertrey Inks Make it Monday challenge today, which is to use glitter embellishments on your card.  Heather Nichols made a couple of really cute valentines in her video (here) using glitter and her Xyron sticker machine.  Some day I think I'm going to have to invest in one of those sticker machines...there's a LOT more you can do with those than meets the eye....like using multiple color glitters on your die cuts and having them look really cool!  However, because I don't have one of the sticker machines, my glitter embellishment is just a very simple heart, but I love the way it looks on my Valentine card.  Take a look:

I used PTI's "Heart Squared Mini" stamp set and die to make my frame and the LOVE die is also a PTI die.  The heart that was cut out when die cutting the word LOVE is what I used to glue and glitter and then set back in the heart space.  The "you" is from PTI's "Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley".  The little hedgehog is a retired SU stamp from back in 2002...an oldie but a goodie! :0)  I embossed him with black ep and then colored him with my Copics.  A very CAS and cute card, and I really do like the silver glittered heart...just enough to add some sparkle! :0)

Off to bible study and knitting group this morning, and am hoping someone there is going to be able to help me with the baby bootie project, as I'm not having much success on my own!  Good thing I have a while before this grandbaby arrives! :0)  Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Thursday!

Festive Fridays is Back! (FFC #230)

Good morning friends.  Festive Fridays challenge is back and I am one happy Grandma to be!! (THANK YOU for all the kind comments yesterday on my wonderful news!)  I stumbled upon Festive Fridays through Melissa Phillips blog last year and happily played along the whole year and had a wonderful stash of Christmas cards ready to go (except for the insides (grrrr!), but I'm rectifying that problem this year!) at Christmas time.  This year Festive Fridays has changed how they're playing a little bit, by simply providing an inspiration photo (see below) and then asking you to interpret it into a Christmas card.  I'm really liking this idea and the first photo for this year is absolutely beautiful (ALMOST makes me think I like winter!).  I made a small card (4 1/4 x 4 1/4), but I think I packed a lot of punch into just a small space.  Take a look:

Definitely click on this picture to enlarge it, so you can see more of the detail.  For my background layer I used SU!'s "Weathered" background stamp with Crumb Cake ink, and then embossed it with a striped SU! ef...did this to mimic the barn in the inspiration photo.  Used my Rustic Wreath (PTI) die again (LOVE this die!!) with kraft cs and also layered a Christmas tree (PTI - "In the Meadow") under the wreath using design paper with the words from Silent Night on it.  I added a couple red birds (PTI - "In the Meadow") to the wreath and then finished with a seam binding bow that I dyed with Real Red ink, some twine, and a couple gold jingle bells that I frosted with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Oh, and some gold sequins to decorate the Christmas tree! :0)  Here is the photo that inspired this card:

Isn't that such a beautiful picture, and wouldn't you love to live there?!  I love seeing old barns and school houses renovated into homes. 

I am also going to enter this card into Merry Mondays challenge this week, which is to use red, vanilla, kraft, & chocolate with a ribbon...thought my card fit this challenge perfectly too.  (the poor lighting in my photo makes my Early Espresso cs layer look like black though, instead of the chocolate color it should look like!)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope I've inspired you to play along and get a head start on your Christmas cards this year. You can play along with Festive Fridays here and Merry Mondays here.   Have a wonderful Tuesday and I'll be back with some more Valentine inspiration later this week. :0)

Love, Love, Love, Love

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a great weekend!  I thought ours was going to be a nice quiet one, but our oldest and her husband stopped over to tell us that we're going to be grandparents...woooooohooooooo!  I'm going to be a GRANDMA!!!!!  :0)  As Darnell would say, think of ALL the possibilities! New life...isn't it just the best gift God can give us?!  And think of all the new stamping and knitting projects this will bring into my life...life is good! :0)

And now onto today's card.  Told you awhile back that I had been into making Valentine cards, but think I've only shown you one of them, so it's time to break out a few of them as we are getting closer to that date!  Take a look at this very simple one using the new love die from Papertrey Ink:

I simply cut out the word "love" 4 times starting with a light pink and graduating to a dark red on the bottom.  I added a little diamond bling to the center of each heart, and then tied some red & white twine (The Twinery) just above the die cuts.  I mounted this layer with foam dots onto the white card base.  CAS and quite striking IMHO! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and hope you all have a terrific Monday! :0)

Merry Monday #91 - Snowman or Snowpeople

Good morning friends.  Another snowy day here in West Michigan, so I think my card for today is VERY appropriate!  The latest Merry Monday challenge is to use a snowman (or snowpeople) on your card, and that was certainly no problem for me as a snowman lover! :0)  Last week when I was searching for a certain stamp (which I never did find!!) and found "Riley", I also found the stamp that I'm using on todays card.  It was one of the first stamps I ever bought and hasn't seen ink in ages and ages!  It's by Inky Antics and I'd forgotten how cute it is!  Take a look:

One of my favorite color combinations is red, white, & blue, and although I will definitely be using this card for Christmas, it doesn't scream Christmas with this color combo and would work great for a winter birthday or hello card.  I used SU!'s "Northern Flurry" ef for my background and added a few diamond dots to the centers of the snowflakes.  The stamp itself I inked using Night of Navy and then used a Copic (R29) to color in a little on the 2 scarves and hat.  I also added a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the snowflakes above the top & bottom snowmen (if you click to enlarge the picture you can see it better!).  I used Real Red cs to layer with both the background and the stamped image.  I finished with a piece of ribbon that says "Let it Snow".  This would be a quick and easy card to mass produce if needed, and is also pretty flat, so easy to mail! :0)  And yes, my inside of the card is finished also! :0)

Well, 2 cards done for Christmas now, so my "stash" is officially started!  Good feeling!! :0)  And if you love snowmen like I do, make sure you check out all the other entries over at the Merry Monday site here ... LOTS of great inspiration and cute, cute cards!!  Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do! :0)

MIM#148 - Generation Stamping w/ Line Images & Multiple Colors

Good morning friends.  Playing along with PTI's Make it Monday challenge today, and I have to tell you that the technique that Dawn McVey showed on her video was a winner!  I will definitely be using this technique again and again! :0)  I used PTI's "Beautiful Blooms" stamp set for my card and here's what I came up with:

Make sure you click on the picture so you can see all the detail you get with this technique.  I used Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango for the daisy-like flower, Melon Mambo for the smaller flower, and Certainly Celery and Old Olive for the leaves.  I used black for the flower centers and then added a strip of embossed black cardstock and black twine to balance off the left side.  The sentiment is the die cut from PTI's "Boutique Borders: Sympathy" and the stamp from "Boutique Borders: Birthday".  (A lot of the die frames and sentiments from the Boutique Border sets are inter-changeable and it's fun to mix them up a bit and get even more mileage from them!)  I added a few black and iridescent sequins to finish off my card. 

I had so much fun with this technique and still needed a couple more birthday cards for this next week, that I decided to make another with this style...take another look:

      
 
I changed this one up a bit and didn't use multiple colors and also used the solid leaf image instead of the lined one.  I also used Soft Suede for the flower centers and sentiment for a softer look than the black on the first card.  I think this technique works great also just using the one color (Melon Mambo) and really like how this card turned out too.  LOTS of great examples of this technique over at Nichole's site here.  Have some fun and play along...you'll be glad you tried this one out! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Thursday.  I'll be back tomorrow with a snowman card for Merry Monday's latest challenge. :0)

I've Been Thinking About You

Good morning friends.  A quick post today but wanted to share a card I made this past weekend for a friend of mine who has been having some health issues. 

I have always loved SU!'s "Flowering Flourishes" stamp set and was inspired by a card Dawn Olchefske made here.  I made mine a tad bit different using the whole largest image, which I stamped 3 times in Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, & Elegant Eggplant, and then cut each image 3 times.  (I was actually able to make 3 separate cards because of this).  Take a look:

 

If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can see the detail better and also that I added some silver nailheads for a little extra bling.  I used a Wisteria Wonder panel to adhere my 3 stamped panels to, and then added a sheer white ribbon before adhering to a white card base.  My sentiment at the bottom is from PTI's "Blooming Button Bits" stamp set.  A very quick and easy way to make 3 very pretty cards! :0)

 

Got to get motating here and get my errands done before the snow arrives this morning (this winter feels like it's been here for 11 months already...grrrrrr!!)  Have a wonderful Tuesday friends, and remember that this is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and REJOICE in it! (even if it is going to snow AGAIN!!)  :0)



Riley in Hot Pink

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a great weekend.  I feel like I spent most of mine doing laundry and getting our youngest ready to head back to college yesterday!  I did get to spend some time in my craft room though, and also finally got to see the 2nd Hunger Games movie. (loved it as much as the first one and now I'm going to be very impatient until the third one comes out!!)

Last Friday I shared "Riley" in her Pool Party outfit with you, and today I'd like to show you how "Riley" looks in hot pink.  Take a look:



 

 

Same "Riley", but a different outfit and different card!  Colors certainly can change the look of a card, can't they?!! :0)  I just used scraps of design paper for her outfit and the scalloped circle (Spellbinders).  The "Hello" is a PTI die, and I used a piece of Melon Mambo card stock in the inside so that when the card is closed, the "Hello" shows through.  I also used a piece of Melon Mambo ribbon (SU!) on the card.  So what do you think?  Do you like "Riley" better in hot pink, or Pool Party?

 

 

Sometimes I think I'm a little partial to the Pool Party "Riley", but then again...........    Let me know what you think and leave a comment on my blog (not FB please), and I just might have a surprise for the random winner! :0) 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Monday friends! :0)

A Happy Hello

Good morning friends.  Just a quick post today.  Our youngest heads back to college this weekend and wanted to make a few cards to have ready so she has something in her mailbox every once in a while. :0)  While looking for a certain stamp, I came across a Whipper Snapper stamp I haven't used in ages and thought it would work great for a couple Happy Hello's.  I used the same stamp for two different cards....I'll show you one today and the other next week and then you can let me know which color combination you like best.  Todays card uses Pool Party - take a look:

 
I paper pieced "Riley's" shorts (Pool Party) and top and flower (LOTV - PROMISES 8 x 8 pad).  Her top is actually a part of a flower and I love how it almost looks tie-dyed. :0)  The rest of Riley I colored with my Copics.  The sentiment is from PTI's "Wonderful Words: Hello" stamp set and die (I used the die for Hello on the inside).

Next week I'll show you the pink version that turned out really cute too!  Until then, have a great weekend and thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do! :0)

Merry Monday #90 - Ribbon or Twine

Good morning friends.  I know next Christmas is a really looooooong time away, but I have to say that I really enjoyed playing along with a couple of the weekly challenges this last year and having a stash of cards ready when Christmas time came.  I will be doing one thing different this year though, and that is making it a point to finish the insides of my cards right away.  I was so thrilled to have all my cards done and just ready to mail out this past year, when I realized they really weren't ready at all as I had to take time to finish all the insides too!  I don't make the insides as fancy as the outsides, but I do like to have more than just a hastily (and sometimes crooked when I'm rushed!!) stamped sentiment on the inside!  So I guess I can add that to my list of New Year resolutions! :0)

So with that said, my first Christmas card of 2014 is for the newest Merry Monday Challenge, which is to use ribbon or twine on your card.  I had bought some red & green plaid ribbon last Fall that I was going to use on tags, and then never did, so I thought I would base my card on this ribbon and a new die that I got for Christmas.  Take a look:

I so wish the light had been better so you could see the detail of the wreath better, but it is winter in Michigan.........  If you click to enlarge the photos it is a little bit better, but not the same as IRL!  The die I used is PTI's Rustic Wreath, and I cut one out of kraft cs, and the other out of Always Artichoke cs.  I had wanted to sponge the edges of the leaves, but the wreath is too delicate, so I ended up and placed the wreath directly onto my ink pads and pushed very lightly.  This ended up giving the leaves the neatest look that I wish would have photographed better...IRL they seem to have so much more depth!  I used SU!'s "French Script" background stamp and Crumb Cake ink on a white panel for my background to offset the wreath.  The sentiment is from PTI's "Peaceful Pinecones" set.  I also added a few red pearls for my berries, and also a small piece of twine to my ribbon to incorporate both elements on this card.  And yes, the inside of the card is complete! :0)

 

Merry Mondays has a brand new blog all it's own this year, and you can check it out and all the other amazing entries right here.  That's all from me today friends.  Have a wonderful Thursday and thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do!! :0) 

 

 



I Heart You

Good morning friends.  Hope you've all been surviving this bitter cold...must admit that I haven't stepped foot outside the house since Saturday and have a bit of cabin fever!  Hopefully this afternoon I will get out for a bit and get a few errands accomplished! :0)  Anyway, today I'm thinking a bit ahead to Valentine's Day and want to share a card I made using some of my new PTI stamps and dies my cousin gave me for Christmas.  Take a look:

This is a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" card with white and Real Red cs.  I cut out my square window die first (PTI), and then stamped using the "Heart Squared" stamp set (PTI) over the white die cut square window.  I started with Cherry Cobbler ink, then Real Red, Pixie Pink (retired), and ended with Pretty in Pink, to create the shaded look on the frame.  I layered the window with Real Red cs and then mounted with foam dots on the white layer.  I used the "I heart YOU" sentiment from the stamp set in the center of the frame, and then stamped an open heart in Real Red from last years "Heart-2-Heart #11" stamp set (PTI).  I added a sheer red ribbon to finish. 

I love to make Valentines cards, but rarely send them out...think I'm going to have to change that this year! :0)  Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Wednesday! :0)

Caught A Bug?

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a great weekend.  We're digging out - again!  Well, actually my husband has been digging us out while I've been playing in my craft room and taking care of our youngest who's been dealing with a nasty case of the flu since last Thursday!  As much as I hate seeing any of my babies being sick, it did provide inspiration for the card I'm going to show you today.  Take a look:

I saw a card on Pinterest last week similar to this, and thought it might bring a smile to my daughter's face...it did!  I used a jar stamp by Judith and the bug is from a retired SU! set called "Cute As A Bug".  If you click to enlarge the photo, you can see the detail of the bug a little better...since I was giving the card to my daughter I HAD to use glitter on the bug! :0)  Some iridescent sequins also helped to "bling" it up!  And here's a look at the inside:

I computer generated my sentiment and stamped another of the bugs from the stamp set.  I used black, Smokey Slate, and Melon Mambo inks and cardstock for this card. 

That's all for today friends.  Thanks so much for stopping by and hope you all stay warm if you live where this brutal cold has settled in!

Meadow Greens Frame

Good morning friends.  Just a quick post today, but wanted to share a gift I made for a girlfriend of mine with a $1 frame from Michael's and Papertrey Ink's stamp set "Meadow Greens".  Take a look:

I used VersaMark and clear embossing powder to stamp and heat emboss the fern image on the frame, and then stained the frame using some leftover stain from a kitchen project.  The image didn't pop out as much as I'd hoped at that point, so I inked up the fern image again with Soft Suede ink and stamped off just a little bit from where I had embossed to make the ink look like a shadow of the embossed image.  (used a Kleenex at this point to wipe off the excess ink from the embossed part)  Doing these steps almost gives the fern image a wood burned look and I really liked how it turned out.  For the picture inside the frame, I computer generated my sentiment on cream colored cs, and then stamped the fern image twice with the stamping off technique and Always Artichoke ink.  This ended up being a really quick and easy project and my girlfriend Mary absolutely loved it!  I had bought a bunch of these frames at one point (for something that I can't even remember now!!!), but I definitely know what I'm doing with them now...the possibilities are endless! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a wonderful Friday and weekend! :0)

Make it Monday #146 - Angled Backgrounds

Good morning friends.  Happy New Year and welcome to my first post of 2014!  A new year and new beginnings.  Do any of you make resolutions and actually stick to them?  I'm terrible at it (usually try for the weight loss one and fail miserably every year!), but this year I'm trying something different.  Be more kind and loving to everyone and less negativity.  Sounds simple, but being positive in this day and age can be a real challenge!  But since there is so much negativity in this world, I've decided that I'm not going to add to it, and that maybe my kindness and positive words will help others to be more positive too. :0)  And on that thought, I am going to show you a bright and cheery card.  Take a look:

 
Ashley Cannon Newell over at Papertrey Ink has a great video and card on making "Angled Backgrounds" for this weeks Make it Monday Challenge.  Her card was SO bright and cheery, it inspired me to do the same!  I know it will be a loooooong time before I see these colors outside my windows again, but I can think positive thoughts about what is to come!!  For my background I chose to use scraps of green and blue (mimicking the grass & sky) with a pop of yellow sunshine at the top.  After trimming the edges, I got to thinking that I could even use those scraps to paper piece the little scene from PTI's "Summer Hills" stamp set so that it would coordinate with my background.  Took a little bit of time to do this, but I like fussy cutting and thought the result was well worth the time spent.  I also really liked Ashley's idea of the white tree against the colored background and used PTI's Polka Dot Parade #6 die to add a tree to my little scene.  I also added glitter to the leaves to make them seem like they were sparkling in the sunshine.  I finished with a seam binding bow and button and a little banner made from vellum at the top.  Here's a closer up view of the paper piecing:

Lots of other great takes on this challenge over at Nichole's blog here  That's all for me today, but make sure to stop back tomorrow as I have a non card idea to share with you using a $1 wooden frame from Michael's.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Thursday! :0)