I'm so excited!

And I just can't hide it!  Haha- do you have the song stuck in your head now?  Hopefully not :)

Hello to one and all!

I have just been itching to get a post up!  It seems like it has taken me forever to be able to do so.  I have an announcement.  Ahem.  Drum roll.  I made a DT!!  Yay!!!  My next post, set to launch on March 5, will be my very first post with an inspirational card for an awesome challenge coming up at Creative Card Crew.  I likely won't have any other posts before then as I *really* need to get some spring cleaning done (I say spring after we just had a big snowstorm lol).  So I'll be taking a few days off of cards... maybe, ha! 

I have been working away on two cards these past few days.  The first one, sadly, is the one I can't post until the challenge goes live.  But I am so thrilled with this second card that I made for my daughter's SECOND (wow!) birthday coming up.  Time sure flies.  

So enough of my excited ramblings.  I just have to show you this card!

Here is a full view:



Isn't she just the sweetest thing?  The stamp is Spring Swing from The Paper Shelter.  The background frame was sponged in Broken China distress ink.  It was a bit too small to fit the width of my card, so I cut and pieced two frames together.  The "tree branch" that the swing is hanging off of is actually a rose stem from Cheery Lynn Embellishments #2.  I just added a few Spellbinders leaves to make it look like a tree.  The little red flowers are also from the Embellishments #2 pack.

Now, here's the awesome part!

It's a twisted easel card!  Holy cow, I've made one!  This is my very first easel card; so now you know why I'm so excited :)

Close ups:

This one is of the fence that I intertwined a flourish studded with little flowers.  The fence was lightly sponged in Tea Dye distress ink, then covered with clear Crackle Distress paint in hopes of giving it a worn, weathered look.  The flourish, grass (which was made from a Cheery Lynn Cutie Fringe 4 die) and leaves on the tree branch were sponged in Peeled Paint distress ink, and the flowers in Barn Door distress ink.

And here is a closeup of her.

I have colored her with Copics, and the background panel was embossed with the Swiss Dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

And lastly, here is one of the bottom:

I think that's about all the special details.  Product info at the bottom for anyone who's interested :)  Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for stopping by and sharing my excitement.  I hope you have a fabulous day!!

Challenges:

Cheery Lynn - Die cut flowers
Lady Anne's - Nana Vic's challenge, anything goes  3/5/13
Lady Anne's - Stamp challenge, anything goes + stamp  4/3/13

Ruby's Rainbow - In the garden  3/5/13
Delicious Doodles - Flowers for spring 
Pattie's Creation - Fancy folds  3/7/13
Paper Creator's Crafts - Flowery delight  3/7/13
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes, optional pile it on
One Stitch At A Time - Use a digi
Card Makin Mamas - Happy birthday  3/1/13
QKR Stampede - Birthday with a number (number on bottom of easel)
SweetPea Stampers - Use a stamp/digi  3/7/13
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything goes
Daisy Doodles - Anything goes
Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13
Sentimental Sundays - Flowers, flowers and more flowers  3/3/13
The Pink Elephant - Anything goes 3/3/13
Simon Says Stamp - Stamp you love but don't use (brand new stamp) 3/4/13
Jellypark Challenges - Use shapes (3/7/13) 

Products/details:
Size:  6 x 6

Papers:  Basic cardstock, Nana's Nursery from DCWV

Stamp:  Spring Swing from The Paper Shelter

Ink:  Tea Dye, Broken China, Barn Door and Peeled Paint distress inks

Copics: 0, E000/00/11/29/35/39, Y15/17/26/28, R20/22/27/29/85, B000/00/02, YG06

Embellishments:  ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Misc. Dies:  Spellbinders Foliage 2 and Classic Scalloped Circles, Memory Box Small Pinwheel Posie
Cheery Lynn Dies:  Arabian Night Rectangle Frame, Cutie Fringe 4, Victorian Picket Fence, Embellishments #2, Mini Fanciful Flourish

Night Song

Hello to one and all!

It's been a sleepless night with a non-sleeping baby.  Whatever the reason, after almost a month of sleeping through the night, she decided last night was playtime!  I guess that is my inspiration for this card that I made mostly one handed while holding the little stinker in the other.


I had only one intention with this card- to distress it.  Then along the course of the way, I decided I wanted to put the image on a night-themed background.  While sponging the distress ink, the paper crinkled so I crumpled it up to pitch it, then thought to myself "well, this is supposed to be distressed after all", flattened it back out and finished sponging.  Afterward, I thought the creases looked like trees so I outlined some particularly tree- looking shapes and some straggly branches with a Copic, then sponged a combo of Tea Dye and Vintage Photo distress ink for the trunks and Peeled Paint distress ink for the leaves.  Added some silver Stickles for stars... or tiny fairies?  Go ahead and use your imagination :)  Die cut a small oval and sponged some more Tea Dye on it, stamped "dream" in Vintage Photo.  Added three red roses with icicle Stickles brushed on for a pop of color to the torn corner with musical notes peeking out from behind.  Katarina was colored with Copics, cut out and popped up on foam.  And, lastly, I added a silver moon that was cut out of the foil sealing of the non-sleeping baby's formula can.  It has such pretty texture, I've been wanting to use it for something for a while.

Anyway, a bit of a long blabber to all this so I will quiet down and do what I'm supposed to do- card showing.

Close up

 My apologies as I just can't seem to get a good picture of the coloring.  The trim of the dress and cloak are gold while the dress and cloak are more yellow.

Thanks so very much for looking!  Hope you have a wonderfully inspired day!

Challenges:

Stampin' for the Weekend - Distress it 2/21/13
Simon Says Stamp - Metal-ology (silver moon) 2/24/13

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes 3/1/13
Daisy Doodles - Anything goes
Simply Create Too - For a female  2/28/13
Lia Stampz - Anything goes  2/28/13
SweetPea Stampers - Use a stamp/digi  3/5/13
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything goes 
Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13
DL Art - Anything goes 

And of course a drop in to Make it Monday =]

Products/details:

Size:  6 x 6

Papers:  Basic cardstock, The Paper Studio
Cheery Lynn Dies:  Oval Stackers XM

Stamp:  Katarina from Delicious Doodles

Ink:  Tea Die, Vintage Photo, Broken China and Peeled Paint distress inks, silver and icicle Stickles

Copics:  Y15, Y17, Y21, Y26, Y28, R20, R22, R27, E000, E00, E11, B02.

Embellishments:  Paper roses from Hobby Lobby

A Perfect Reminder

Hello and hello and hello!

I've been working away happily in my craft room these past few days, aimlessly but happily.  I was browsing around the sale at MelJen's Designs and just absolutely fell in love with the Divas and I picked one out to practice my shading.  Every time I walked into my craft room and saw her sitting on the table, she brought a smile to my face so I decided I wanted to keep her and planned to make myself a card.  That card turned into a wall hanging LOL.  But oh my, does she look ever so pretty hanging above my craft table.

I used a section of an old cardboard display board as the base.  The paper used for the flowers and butterflies is linen paper that I sponged on Barn Door and Victorian Velvet distress inks and water splattered it before running the dies through.  For the red flowers I used two of each size of the Cherry Blossom die from Cheery Lynn and shaped them to my liking.  I just love these Cheery Lynn flower dies- they are so versatile.  I already have my eye on some more of those!

The two sentiment panels were fussy cut from the My Mind's Eye papers I used.  I added the words "You are" in turquoise Stickles... sometimes you just need a reminder that you are perfect the way you are :)  The beaded heart I made with Swarovski crystals and 22 gauge wire I had sitting around from my jewelry making days (7 years ago, ha!).  Likewise with the hat pins.  I framed the image panel with red lace ribbon and added some blue ribbon that I rescued from a Christmas present to frame the whole thing.  The white ribbon used to hang it was also rescued from a Christmas present.

How about some close ups?

Here is one of the Diva herself

Some of the flowers

The hat pins
 

The crystal heart

And here she is hanging on my wall :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting with me!  Hope you have a glorious weekend!!

Challenges:

Meljen's Designs - Love is in the air
Forever Friends - Anything goes
Dream Valley - Ribbon and bling 3/8/13
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Handmade embellishments (crystal heart, hat pins)
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes 3/1/13
Jenn's Digi Stamps - Ribbons and lace

Glitter and Sparkle - Anything but a card
QKR Stampede - Anything goes
Party Time Tuesdays - 3 and 3 (3 butterflies)
Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13
DL Art - Anything goes

Products/details:

Size:  8 x 8

Papers:  My Mind's Eye- Lost and Found (and I think Lost and Found Two)
Cheery Lynn Dies:  Cherry Blossom, Cutie Fringe 4, Oval Stackers XM, Mini Dimensional Butterflies  Spellbinder's Dies:  Foliage 2
Stamp:  Diva from Meljen's Designs
Ink:  Barn Door and Victorian Velvet distress inks, turquoise Stickles

Embellishments:  Swarovski Crystals from artbeads.com, red lace ribbon from The Paper Studio, blue and white ribbon from stash

Valentine's Day card for a little girl

Hello everyone out there in blogger-land.  Hope everyone is surviving the week thus far.  Halfway through to the weekend!

I'm sharing a Valentine's Day card that I have made for my 9 year old daughter.  Like most 9 year old girls, it's all about sparklies and fun, girlie stuff.

I based the layout on the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

For the background paper, I sponged some Victorian Velvet distress ink around the edges as well as on the image panel to mute the bright pink of the cardstock.  I also sponged Barn Door distress ink onto some cream cardstock for a nice light red and used it for the doily die.

Ava, from Bugaboo, was colored with Copics and I added Icicle Stickles to her wings as well as to the three paper roses in the bottom corner.  I hand stitched around all the panels except Ava's, which I only did the corners.  The triple loop bow was made by following Holly's excellent tutorial (which can be found at her blog here).  The BE MINE stamp was done in Victorian Velvet distress ink.  A red velvet heart button stitched to the center of the bow and three shiny-metallic red brads, and I think I'm happy with it.  I think she will be too :)

Full view

And a bit of a close up

 

Challenges:

Ladybug Crafts - Valentine's Day 2/28/13 

My Mum's Craft Shop - Love 2/28/13

Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything goes

Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13

DL. Art - Anything goes 

And I dropped a link to Make It Monday as well :)

Product details below.  Thanks so much for looking and have a wonderful day!

Size:  6 x 6
Papers:  basic card stock, My Mind's Eye
Dies:  Cheery Lynn Nautical Wheeler and Spellbinder's Foliage 2 

Stamps:  Love Messages from Stampendous, Ava from Bugaboo

Ink:  Tea Dye and Vintage Photo distress inks

Embellishments:  Velvet heart button and paper roses from Hobby Lobby, ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, brads from stash

Valentine's for teen boy

Hello everyone and a very happy Tuesday to all!

I am back to share a card I have made for my 16 year old son.  We shall see if he likes it! 

I based this card on this week's Stella Says Sketch challenge.

The sentiment panel was sponged with Tea Dye distress ink and stamped in Vintage Photo distress ink to tone down the overwhelming 'red' of the card.  I used Liquid Pearls in ruby red on two corners and to cover the hearts from the stamp (trying to make it a bit less 'girly').  The burlap ribbon was grunge cut instead of tucked neatly behind, and I tacked it down with two silver brads.  The heart button was tied with brown hemp cord to match the Vintage Photo distress ink.  The image of Deacon was fussy cut and colored with my still very limited number of Copics.  I hope I did him justice despite the pink shirt (a pink shirt for V-day is appropriate, even if he is a boy- right?  LOL).  I then popped him up on his own foam pedestal.  Many thanks for taking the time to come visit- hope you all have a wonderful day!

Close up

 

Challenges:

Stella Says Sketch #130 - sketch

Catch the Bug - Affairs of the heart

Stampendous - Love is in the air 2/28/13

Craft Your Passion - My Valentine 

Tuesday Alchemy - My heart's all a flutter 

Dream Valley - Valentine's

Paper Crafting Journey - Love 

Stamp Your Life - Anything Love 

Ladybug Crafts - Valentine's Day 2/28/13

One Crazy Stamper - Love 2/28/13

Wags 'n Whiskers - Love 

My Mum's Craft Shop - Love 2/28/13

Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13

DL.Art - Anything goes

Size:  6 x 6
Papers:  basic card stock, The Paper Studio, me & my BIG ideas
Dies:  Labels 1 and Classic Scalloped Edge border from Spellbinders 

Stamps:  Love Messages from Stampendous, Deacon from Bugaboo

Ink:  Tea Dye and Vintage Photo distress inks

Embellishments:  Button from Hobby Lobby, hemp cord from Really Reasonable Ribbon, burlap ribbon from The Paper Studio, Liquid Pearls in ruby red

My favorite paper (so far)

A big happy Saturday to everyone!  I always love the weekends- it's great to have my big kids home from school.  A huge welcome and thank you to my newest follower Qie.  Lucky number 7!

Last night I finally finished up the last card that needed to be mailed out this week.  I made this thank you card for my mom, who came out to stay for two weeks to help out when I had the baby.  It's late, considering the baby is now two months old, but is also the last thank you card I needed from the 'newborn baby period'.  Moms always understand the tardiness thing, right?

I have such an attraction to this toile paper.  I have used it in a few cards and keep picking up more whenever I'm at the store when it's on sale.  I was able to find coordinating floral paper a few visits ago and yesterday I found coordinating checkered paper (not sure of the name of that design?).  I checked out a few sketch challenges and found one I liked at Mojo Monday, so this is what I came up with.

Sketch

Front view
 

Close up

And I'm including one of the inside because I like the way it turned out also.  While cleaning up my scraps I found the little tree cut perfectly from the toile paper (unintentional) and on a whim added it to the inside.   

It's different :)

It's really a simple card.  I used Tea Dye distress ink to sponge on a background then stamped the thank you in Vintage Photo distress ink before using the Floral Ovals to cut it out.  Otherwise it was a simple matting and layering project.  Product details below.  Hope you enjoyed my card!

Challenges:

Mojo Monday - sketch
Brown Sugar - anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Tuesday Alchemy - anything goes
Sweet Stampin' - pearls and swirls
Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13

Size:  5 x 7
Papers:  basic card stock, The Paper Studio
Dies:  Floral Ovals and Labels 1 from Spellbinders 

Stamps:  Birthday Wishes from Inkadinkado

Ink:  Tea Dye and Vintage Photo distress inks

Embellishments:  Button from stash, twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon, burlap ribbon from The Paper Studio, pearl spray from Say it in Crystals

Another Valentine's day card

Hello everyone and happy hump-day!  Almost to the weekend again, yay!

I am feeling very good today.  So many huge, appreciative thanks to all who have left comments on my last two cards.  Wow.  I really do appreciate them all and they truly brighten my days.  An even bigger thank you to my newest three followers- Marjorie, Beckie and Lisa.

Since my last post I have been working on a Valentine's card for my parents.  I wasn't happy with the first version which had two roses, each with it's own ribbon leaf.  It ended up looking like a pair of xRay vision goggles and once I saw that image, I couldn't unsee it.  So I took apart the roses section and changed it around with scrap paper added underneath to form a makeshift bandage to hide the boo-boos from taking off the previous inhabitants.  I read in a forum somewhere that there is never a mistake, only opportunities for more embellishments.  I had to hang onto that thought tight to keep myself from banishing the card to the garbage bin.  Without further ado, here is what I finally put together.

I've seen so many gorgeous cards with tulle embellishments and I wanted to try that.  I also used my Liquid Pearls for the first time to outline the tag.  That stuff is pretty cool!  Just glob it on and it forms a dome pearl shape all on it's own.  Who'd have thought.  The green ribbon was once again colored with a Copic. 

Here is a front view

A side view

Challenges:

Cuttin and Stampin - Valentine's Day Won :)
My Time To Craft -  Love is in the air
Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude - Love
Delicious Doodles - Red, red and more red
Brown Sugar - Go red/hearts
Visible Image - Love
Lia Stamps - Valentine's Day
Ladybug Crafts - Valentine's Day
By the Cute and Girly - Roses are red
Broken Box Stock - Valentine's Day
Simon Says Stamp - Have a heart
One Crazy Stamper - Love
Pin and Tack - Anything goes 03/1/13

As always, many thanks for stopping by!

Size:  6 x 6
Papers:  basic card stock, My Mind's Eye, tag from The Paper Studio
Dies:  Blossoms One, Foliage Two and Classic Scallops Border from Spellbinders 

Stamps:  Stampendous Love Messages

Ink:  Victorian Velvet and Barn Door distress ink, Copic YG06
Embellishments:  all ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, rhinestones from Say it in Crystals, foil heart from Hobby Lobby, Liquid Pearls in ruby red

Black and white

Hi all,

Happy Sunday, and hope everyone has had a great weekend!

I have finished another card from my "must complete to mail this week" list.  Only two more left- yay!  This is a thank you card for my mother-in-law (so Mama L, if you are reading this, please don't look any further!).  She is such a wonderful lady and does so much for our family.

Anyway... I had the urge to do a black and white card so I could use some really cool ribbon I had.  While making it I decided I wanted just a splash of color, so I ran with it.  The layout is based on the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches, and I finished it and posted it just in the nick of time; I didn't think I was going to make it when the baby woke up at the last minute.  Talk about crunch time!

I colored the pearl spray with a Copic marker.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  They are such a wonderful company- I really can't say enough about them (and a big Thank You to Holly for getting me addicted to yet another thing LOL!).  They sent two samples with my order, and yet another "sample" that was tied around my package which I used for this card.  How awesome is that!  I embossed the strip along the bottom for some added texture.  And I think lastly, the stamp was heat embossed.  Product details below.

Challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches - sketch
Pin and Tack - Spark your creativity now, anything goes
One Stop Craft Challenge - anything goes
The Crafting Cafe - anything goes
The ABC Challenge - G is for going dotty
Joyful Stamper, Inspire Me Fridays Challenge - anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes  2nd place :)

Close up

Size:  5 x 7
Papers:  basic card stock, The Paper Studio
Dies:  Floral Ovals and M-bossibilities Enchanted folder from Spellbinders

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Serene Silhouettes

Ink:  Versamark and heat embossed with Zing! powder, Copic (B02)
Embellishments:  White satin with black dots ribbon, pearl spray from Say it in Crystals

Love is in the air

Hi all and happy Saturday to everyone!

I am sharing a Valentine's card I made for someone who is near and dear, and very special to me.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it. I had a lot of fun with this card, and was able to play with a few new items (which of course is always fun!).

The background paper is from my stash and was sponged in Victorian Velvet distress ink then water-splattered for a subtle marble look.  I also distressed the edges using my Imaginisce D-stressing tool that I received for my birthday last year.  I really need to remember to pull it out more often.

The ribbon I used is from January's ribbon club pack at Really Reasonable Ribbon and I *absolutely* love it!  It started off white, but I colored it with a green Copic (YG06) and it came out such a beautiful green.  I will definitely be getting some more of that ribbon.  I picked up a set of leaf dies, so my flower now has leaves.  Oh, happy day! 

Challenges:

MilkCoffee - Valentine's

Forever Friends - Use ribbon or lace
Tuesday Alchemy - Anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything goes
Paper Playtime - Use some brown (card base)
Sweet Stampin' - Love is all around
Catch the Bug - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Perfect Sentiments - Anything goes plus die cut
Penny's Paper-Crafty - One for the girls
Creative Card Crew - Girly
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything goes 
Twisted Tuesday - Anything goes
Stamp and Create - Love
Lady Anne's - Anything goes with stamp
Jen's Digi Stamps - It's all about love
Stamp Your Life - Anything Love
One Crazy Stamper - Love
My Mum's Craft Shop - Love
Pin and Tack - Anything goes  03/1/13

I have also shared this on Make it Monday.  What a neat site!  I love going around to everyone's blog to see their creations.

Side view

Close up

Thanks so much for looking and have a great Sunday!

Size:  6 x 6
Papers:  basic card stock, My Mind's Eye, The Paper Studio
Dies:  Romantic Rectangles, Floral Blossoms One, Foliage Two from Spellbinders 

Stamps:  Stampendous Love Messages

Ink:  Victorian Velvet and Barn Door distress ink, Copic YG06
Embellishments:  Satin with Iridescent edges, rhinestones from stash, foil heart from Hobby Lobby