Thank You

No card for a challenge today. I used the same cling stamp from Hero Arts called Leaf and Floral Background that I used on this card. The only difference is that this time I used white embossing powder. On the first card I used clear embossing powder even though it looks like I used white. For the background I used patterned paper from BasicGrey. I really love this stamp and know that I will be using it over and over. The look is so different depending on what patterned paper you use behind it. Even coloring the background with distress ink like I did on the first card make it such a versatile stamp.

For the sentiment I used another Hero Arts stamp from the You're So Kind set. For the first time I used a Kraft Dye Ink that I bought from PaperTrey Ink. I've never used kraft ink before and it reminds me of how much it looks like you just stamped with versamark ink on kraft cardstock like I did with this card.

I added some bling from My Mind's Eye and inked around the edges with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink. Love how this card turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog: Challenge #107

Loved this challenge from CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog because it used three of my favorite colors! I used PaperTrey Ink colors since it wasn't required to use Stampin' Up products. 

For my image I used a stamp from the Hero Arts Delicate Leaf Clusters clear set and stamped it onto my cardstock with Versamark ink. For the sentiment I used another Hero Arts stamp set called You're So Kind. The bling is from BasicGrey called Candy Buttons. Pretty simple, quick and easy!

CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog

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Unscripted Sketches #249

I really LOVE this new stamp set I bought from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

For my background I used textured paper from DCWV. This pad of paper called The Old World Stack really has some beautiful patterns. Overall I think my card is fairly clean and simple even if it does use quite a few enamel dots! The flower is from Hero Arts that I've had for a few years. It's from a package called Art Flowers - Vintage Collage. I love the rusty, brown and yellow color! I stamped my sentiment on a piece of vintage cream cardstock from PTI  that I die cut using the Lacey Squares die from Spellbinders. Great sketch from Unscripted Sketches this week. Hope you play along with us!

Be sure to stop by out check out all the other Design Team Members Blogs:

Adriana

Billie

Claire

Debbie

Henva

Kimberly

Michelle

Patty - that's me!

Rebecca

SarahKaye

Shir

Susan

Tammy

Tracey

Hope you'll join us this week with your take on the sketch above. All the details are on the blog post over at Unscripted Sketches!

Products Used For This Card:

Base Cardstock - PTI in Vintage Cream

Patterned Paper - DCWV - The Old World Stack

Ink - Ranger - Archival - Jet Black

Gems: Hero Arts - Black Metal Decor, Mark Richards Nail Heads & BasicGrey Candy Buttons

Stamp - Sweet 'n Sassy - Bloom & Grow
Flower - Hero Arts - Art Flowers - Vintage Collage
Spellbinders Die - Lacey Squares

Unscripted Sketches #245 - You're Out Of Sight

This is my take on the Unscripted Sketch this week. This is such a cute stamp and die set from Taylored Expressions! I've always loved funky glasses and while I'd love to have a pair like these, I don't think they'd look very good on me. I don't think my face has the right shape. 

The checked patterned paper is from Graphic 45's French Country collection. I think it pairs nicely with the burlap. 

My plan today is to get some crafty time in and get some cards finished. I'm also hoping to started creating a new mini book using a Graphic 45 collection I've had for awhile. It's so ridiculously cold out that I don't even want to venture out to the grocery store much less anywhere else. This winter has been a long one and one that just doesn't seem to want to go away. 

Hope you'll join us this week with your take on the sketch above. All the details are on the blog post over at Unscripted Sketches!

Products Used For This Card:
Base Cardstock - PTI in Vintage Cream
Patterned Paper - Graphic 45 French Country & DCWV Burlap Stack
Ink - Ranger Archival - Jet Black
Die - Taylored Expressions - Spectacles, Spellbinders - Scalloped Square & Square
Gems: Candy Buttons - BasicGrey
Stamp - Taylored Expressions -Spectacular!

Be sure to stop by out check out all the other Design Team Members Blogs:

Adriana

Billie

Claire

Debbie

Henva

Kimberly

Michelle

Patty - that's me!

Rebecca

SarahKaye

Shir

Susan

Tammy

Tracey

Thanks for stopping by. I hope wherever you are you're staying warm!

FUSION {Hypothesis #1} Challenge

I just came across this new challenge blog called Fusion Card Challenge. I was going through my newsletter from Flicker looking at all the beautiful cards from my contacts and that's how I discovered it. Since I still have my chevron die out from a card I made yesterday I thought I'd give this challenge a shot.

For my card base I used PTI cardstock in Ripe Avocado. I used the chevron die from My Favorite Things Die-namics. The pearl gemstones are from Hero Arts as is the sentiment. The name of the stamp set is With Sympathy CL476. Patterned paper is from BasicGrey.

There are several ways that you can choose to play along in this challenge as you can see from the photo below. I chose to use the sketch on the left.

My card is linked to the challenge here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sympathy Cards

Today I'm sharing four sympathy cards I created for custom order. The one above is one of my favorites. I love working with burlap. Sympathy cards are also one of my favorite type of cards to make.

I love how this one turned out. I think the colors work well together. On this card and the one above I used dimensional stickers and sentiments from Hero Arts.

On this card I used some embossed paper that I've had for awhile. I believe it's from Creative Memories. The flower was created using punches and then I embossed them using an embossing folder. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

This card uses some patterned paper from BasicGrey and embossed paper from Creative Memories. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Awhile back I saw a tutorial using the clear texture spray called Goosebumps from Tsukineko. I can't remember where I saw the tutorial, but I think it was in an email I received from Hero Arts that Shari Carroll did. I don't have that email anymore, but here's a video you can check out that gives a good explanation of what this product is.

The card above isn't one that was included in the custom order, but rather a test card I made trying out the tutorial. I bought this product last summer, but just started playing around with it. I like how this card turned out, but I still need to work with this product some more.

This post is linked to these parties: Inspiring Creativity, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Make It Great Monday

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Hump Day!

BasicGrey Magnetic Precision Mat

I splurged and bought BasicGrey's Magnetic Precision Mat! I've wanted one for awhile and I think it's going to come in very handy. 

The mat itself is 15" x 15" and is a self-healing magnetic mat. It comes with eight ultra-strong magnetic tacks to hold projects in place and an 18" magnetic, stainless steel, beveled ruler. 

I knew I'd never be able to find this where I live, so I purchased mine from Amazon for $23.54. I ordered another item so my shipping was free. I always try get free shipping whenever possible. 

Here's a video that talks more about it and gives some tips and tricks. I can't wait to start using mine. I'm so glad I gave in and finally bought one!

Mod Podge Canvas

Today I thought I'd share a canvas I made for one of my daughter's for Christmas. I had a photo of her dog that she had asked me to do something with (quite awhile ago I might add!). I love photos of her dog Lou because he has the best expressions. I will say however, this is not one of my favorite photos of him! By the time I was finished it was starting to grow on me!

I gathered all my supplies together. I didn't use the piece of corrugated paper I originally cut (shown on the bottom left of the photo).

I painted gesso around the edges where I was planning to use acrylic paint and hung the canvas to dry.

After painting the front

and back, I hung it back up to dry.

Then I used Mod Podge to add the patterned paper, photo and the "pawsitively adorable" that I cut out from some of the paper. I forgot to take a photo of that part!

Here's a photo of her opening the gift on Christmas Eve.

Mr. Lou is quite the character!

Products used for this project: 5x7 stretched canvas, photo, embellishments, Mod Podge, Making Memories Acrylic Paint in Espresso, Patterned Paper from We R Memory Keepers: Friends Forever and BasicGrey: Max & Whiskers, Letters from EK Success.

This post is linked to these parties: All Things Fee, Craft-O-Maniac, Around Tuit, Inspire Me Monday, A Marvelous Mess, Made by you Monday


Thanks for stopping by!

21 Days Of Christmas Cards - Day 19 - Season's Greetings

I'm caught up! This is day 19 of my "21 Days of Christmas Cards". For this one I used a patterned paper from last season called "Jovial: Winter Garden" by BasicGrey. Because I like black, I love the different colored flowers in the background.

I buy alot of paper as most scrapbookers do. I think we're called "paper hoarders". Most of the paper is so beautiful and even though it may not be the latest and greatest, I'll be creating cards and projects with it for years. I don't want to waste it!

Products used for this card: PTI in Pure Poppy and Ripe Avocado, Patterned Paper from BasicGrey: Jovial: Winter Garden, Memento Ink in Lady Bug, Baker's Twine, Stampendous Dot Sparklers, Hero Arts Clear Stamps: Joy To All - CL460.

Thanks for stopping by!

New Mini Book

I am addicted to mini books! When I first started creating cards almost three years ago I couldn't get enough. I have quite the collection of them in my craft room and I still enjoy participating in card challenges. Just a little over a year ago I thought I'd try my hand at mini books and now I can't stop!

I used the Oxford Collection from BasicGrey for the pages.

Some of the patterns are so pretty that I didn't want to cover them up with alot of mats.

This mini is only 4-inches by 4-inches!

I embellished some of the pages using edge punches by EK Success and shapes from Nestabilities.

I used Liquid Pearls by Ranger to embellish this photo mat.

I used Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink on my ribbon and used a Trinket Pin from Tim Holtz on this page.

There are seven pockets that hold tags for photos.

On one side of each tag I used a journaling stamp from Unity Stamp Co.

Products used for this mini book: Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Unity Every Day Use Stamp - US-1012W, Nestabilities - Labels 8 & Classice Scalloped Circles, Ranger Liquid Pearls, EK Success Edge Punches, Tim Holtz Trinket Pins, Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Patterned Cardstock From The Oxford Collection by BasicGrey, Flower On Front Cover From Petaloo.

Thanks for stopping by!

This is linked to:
Made By You Monday {on Tuesday}
Turning the Table Thursday
Chic & Crafty Party

So Sorry For Your Loss......

Here's a very understated sympathy card I created today.

I like that it's very low-key and has a muted effect.

To create this card I stamped both the sentiment and the image with Ranger Perfect Medium. Then brushed Ranger Perfect Pearls in Green Patina over both. I brushed away the excess and love the shimmery image left on the cardstock.

I've had jars of Perfect Pearls sitting on my craft table for awhile, so I thought I should finally do something with them.

The stamped image is called Birch Branch Print (G1720) from Memory Box. The sentiment is from Hero Arts called Sympathy (CL476). Patterned paper is from BasicGrey called Sweet Threads.

Thanks for looking!

Tote With Four Cards

I'm so pleased with the way this tote bag and four cards turned out! I used a Hero Arts Stamp Set called Inspiring Messages for the sentiments. The patterned paper is all leftover scraps from Christmas cards. What a great way to use paper that might otherwise get tossed. The Kraft cardstock paired beautifully with the plaid.

I kept it simple by not adding any bling to the middle of the butterflies....but I was tempted!

Products Used This Set...
Hero Arts Rubber Stamps - Inspiring Messages - LL240
Kraft
Grand Nestabilities Scalloped Squares
Scraps of BasicGrey - Jovial - Merry Maker
Teresa Collins - Noel
Sizzix Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
May Arts Jute
Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
Brads
Ribbon

Merry Christmas Banner

This is my second to last Christmas card to share. I promise. Hopefully I can keep that promise, but this kind is my favorite to create.

I used plaid patterned paper from BasicGrey that I adore! 

For the sentiment, I combined two different stamp sets. The "Merry" is from The Classic Rubber Stamp Mini's Alphabet Set. The "Christmas" used Hero Arts Holiday Sayings Clear Stamps Set.

This is the card I sent to my sister and brother-in-law who live in the Twin Cities. I hope they liked it!

Products Used For This Card:
Bo Bunny - Harvest Dots - Patterned Paper
BasicGrey -Jovial - Merry Maker - Patterned Paper
"Merry" from The Little Classic Rubber Stamp Mini's Stamp Set
"Christmas" from Hero Art's - Holiday Sayings - CL343
Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black
Ric Rac
Gold Twine
Brads

Poinsettia Merry Christmas

I "scraplifted" this card design. One day while shopping at The Baker's Wife, I saw a card that made me "oooh and aahhh". It was created by employee Mary Ann Craig. The card base was black (my favorite!). I'm a sucker for anything plaid so I loved the red and black together.

I used an off-white, green and black for my card bases. This card would be extremely easy to mass produce. I made six of this one.

One thing new to my card making was the use of stickers for the sentiment. I always stamp my cards. I used gold Merry Christmas stickers from Best Creation. I bought both the gold and silver and I have plenty left to use next year.

Products Used For This Card:
Bazzill
Patterned Paper from BasicGrey - Jovial - Tartan Plaid - Winter Garden
EK Success Open Scallop Edger Punch
Hero Art Poinsettia's
Making Memories Brads
Best Creation Merry Christmas Stickers
Card Design Inspired by Mary Ann Craig

Have a great day!

Another Christmas Card!

Yes, I'm still not done posting them! I have three more to share after this one. December's not over yet, so it's still the Holiday Season.

For this card, I used Hero Art's "Holiday Sayings" stamp set. This is a great set because there are so many sentiments included with it. 

This would be a good one to mass produce. It was very easy and fast to assemble. You could actually dress it up more than I did if this was the only design you were using. Not me, I created around 22 different ones!

Products Used For This Card:
Bazzill
Bo Bunny Harvest Dots
BasicGrey Jovial Merry Maker
Hero Arts Clear Stamps - Holiday Sayings _ CL343
Ribbon
Hero Arts Gemstones
Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Silent Night

I was paging through an issue of PaperCrafts Holiday Cards & More Vol. 5 and saw a card I fell in love with. The card was called Poinsettia Music Card and it was created by Terri Milstead. It inspired me to create this card:

My papers and sentiment are different, but the concept is the same. This is also one of my favorites out of all the cards I've made for this Holiday Season.

Products Used For This Card:
Bazzill
BasicGrey Jovial Tartan Plaid
DoubleMates Cardstock
Noel Patterned Paper from Teresa Collins
Poinsettias - Not sure of manufacturer
Stamp - Not sure of manufacturer
Tim Holtz Distress Ink In Black Soot

Thanks for stopping by!

Joy Card

Once again I was able to make a card from scraps used for other projects. I love when that happens! This gate-fold card uses patterned paper from Moxxie and the laser-cut paper doilie from BasicGrey that I previously used on a layout.

I scored an A2 card at 2-1/8-inches on both sides and covered it with paper. I ran the ribbon behind the paper and out each side. I used Flower Soft to cover chipboard letters and used a sticker ornament from Moxie for the "O". On the inside I stamped a message with Hero Arts Clear Stamps.

Products used for this card: BasicGrey Laser-Cut Paper Doilies Jovial Doilies Poinsettia Bouquet, Bazzill Cardstock, Moxxie Through The Woods & Joys of the Season Patterned Paper & Cardstock Stickers, Flower Soft in Christmas Green, May Arts Ribbon, Dreamstreet Papers Chipboard Alphabet, Bazzill Cardinal Jewels, Hero Arts Stamps - Merriest Wishes - CL113.

This card is on display at The Baker's Wife.

Thanks for looking!

CPS Sketch 185 Challenge

I had some strips of patterned paper leftover from another project and I really love being able to use scraps. When I saw this sketch, I knew they would be perfect! This challenge is from CPS (Card Positioning Systems). They have fantastic sketch challenges and I try to participate as often as I can.

Here's the sketch my card is based on:

Supplies used for this card: Bazzill Cardstock, Doublemates Cardstock, BasicGrey Cappella Collection, May Arts Ribbon, We R Memory Keepers Large Round Snaps, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Tim Holtz "Good Thoughts" Stamps CMS085, Sizzix Embossing Folder "Dots", CPS Sketch

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

1st Christmas Layout

My cousin's daughter so graciously let me use a photo of her family for this layout. Crystal and her husband, Brian, had triplets in July 2009. Technically, they are my first cousins, three times removed, and that information came from here. Crystal's mother Bonnie and I are first cousins because our mothers were sisters. The "cousin relationships" are so confusing to me, that I'm just going to call them my third cousins even if it isn't correct and leave it at that. The triplets, Gabriel, Lyla and Isabella are almost 15 months old and are just adorable! I'm hoping to do more projects with photos of them. I haven't actually met them yet, since we don't live near each other. Hopefully one day.....

I created this layout using one of the laser-cut paper doilies from BasicGrey. This one is the Jovial Doilies Poinsettia Bouquet. I think that it's just gorgeous!

I did add stickles to the doily

and also to the poinsettia and leaves.

This layout will be on display at The Baker's Wife on Friday.

Products used for this layout: Moxxie Joys of the Season Elements Cardstock Sticker, BasicGrey Laser-Cut Paper Doilies - Jovial Poinsettia Bouquet, Dreamstreet Papers Alphabet, Bazzill Paper Poinsettia and Holly Leaves, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Stickles in Gold, Lime Green, Crystal, Xmas Red and Green, Amuse Creative Candy Black Twinkle Stickers, BasicGrey Painted Brads and May Arts Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!