Merry & Bright

Hello again!

Hope you're enjoying your day. We have a bit of a respite from the coming chilly weather with a bit of a warm spell this week. I'll take it for as long as it lasts, 'cause we all know what's coming after! Brrrr ...

I have been producing cards like crazy for my upcoming sales. I wish I were like Santa in that I could have hundreds of helpful Elves on the Production Line in my Craft Room! But I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel (phew!).

Just sharing a card I made with a new die set that I just HAD to have (ummmm ... yeah ... like every other die I have LOL).

The only sad part of this post is the fact that it's hard to see the background on this card, which was stamped in Versamark Frost Dazzle Ink, which gives it a hint of sparkle and detail :-(

I'll get down to the details/supplies so you can be on your way, but not before saying "thank you" for dropping in to have a peek.

Supplies:
Stamps: My Favorite Things Hand Lettered Holiday; Stampin' Up White Christmas; Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Background
Accessories: Poppystamps Stick Pine Tree Dies, Poppystamps Stitched Pine Trees dies, Diamond Stickles; Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Border dies
Ink: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze, Versamark Frost Dazzle
Paper: Michael's (Recollections) Gold Glitter 12X12; Stampin' Up Baja Breeze & Early Espresso; Michael's light blue cardstock
Etc: Gold Embossing Powder, Recollections Glitter Cardstock (Michael's)

Christmas Presents!

Hello!

Back again with yet another Christmas card design, a very CAS one that took no time at all to put together. In fact, the most time consuming aspect of this was finding the perfect flourish stamp in my stash. I would have preferred something more "explosive" ... like a spray of lines & flourishes, but, what's a gal to do when she doesn't own EVERYTHING??? LOL

There is a lot of gold embossing going on with this card! The gorgeous red metallic DP was a previous purchase at Michael's, so it felt good using something that I had been hoarding for some time. The "ribbon" surrounding the gift box was embossed with a Small Star Embossing Folder to give it some texture, topped off with a lovely gold bow diecut.

The sentiment comes from my current favourite Holiday sentiment set - I just can't stop using this lovely set!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: My Favorite Things Hand Lettered Holiday Sentiments; Artemio Flourish stamps
Accessories: My Favorite Things Winter Wreath Die-namics (bow); Gold Embossing Powder; Lifestyle Star Embossing Folder set

Bringing Home The Christmas Tree/CASology Week #171

Happy Sunday -

We interrupt this regularly programmed schedule to bring you ... yes ... ANOTHER Holiday card!

I have enjoyed so many beautiful and inspiring cards made with this new Stampin' Up holiday release stamp set that I just had to have it. I finally got around to using it yesterday and put this CAS card together.

This card definitely involved a lot of fussy cutting (especially when you're making multiples of the same card), but IMO, it was well worth it as I love how it turned out. And why is it that, only when you take that final photo of your card to put on your blog for everybody in blogland to see, all the flaws in your time-consuming use of scissors shows up?? LOL

I stamped the vehicle image in Versafine Black ink on white cardstock, then coloured it with my Real Red, Basic Black, and Summer Sun (headlight) markers. I then used a drop of Viva Pearl Pen in Silver for each of the hubcaps. The tree image was stamped in Forest Moss Distress Ink on Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow cardstock (my current fave green).

The background starry sky was created using the Hero Arts Star Background. I applied Versamark, then iridescent embossing powder, applied heat, and got this lovely multi-coloured image. A little bit of sponging with Stampin' Up Marina Mist and it was ready to assemble.

The vehicle and tree images were glued down with adhesive pop dots along the bottom edge of the starry background, which allowed space for the sentiment, also stamped in Versafine Black ink.

Is there any other image that is so quintessentially "Christmas" as seeing trees go by on vehicles, being brought home to be decorated for the holidays?

Over at CASology: Week 171, the challenge is to incorporate a "vehicle" in your creation, so I'm entering this card.

Well, back at it for me. Hope you're enjoying your day and thanks for stopping by for a peek!


Supplies:
Stamps - Stampin' Up White Christmas; PTI's Think Big Favorites #20; Hero Arts Star Background
Ink - Versafine Black Ink; Stampin' Up Real Red, Basic Black, Marina Mist, Summer Sun; Forest Moss Distress Ink
Etc - Iridescent Embossing Powder; Silver Viva Pearl Pen

Santa's Naughty or Nice Christmas List Card

I'm back again today to post another Christmas card. 'Tis the Season, as it'll be here before we know it.

Here we're getting the remnants of Hurricane Patricia, and it's bringing a day of rain - lots of it (record breaking). These kind of days make me want to just curl up with a good book and nap. Errr ... I mean ... craft, yes, that's it! Makes me want to craft too :-)

I bought this lovely Cottage Cutz die and let it sit for a while until I found sentiments that would tie in with the image. In my stash I found the "Naughty or Nice" sentiment in a Whimsy Stamps set I've had for some time, and when I saw a new release on the Simon Says Stamp blog for Riley and Company Funny Bones stamps, I knew I had a match made in, well, the North Pole, of course! LOL

I let the diecut take center stage, but as it lacked "oomph", I decided to stamp ole St. Nick with a "Twas the Night Before Christmas" story stamp I've had for some time (forgive me, but I don't recall where it's from). I used Pumice Stone Distress ink, first stamped off, then pressed lightly on my diecut Santa. I sponged the edges lightly with the same colour Distress Ink too to soften the edges. Once I was happy with the outcome, I adhered him to the white panel with pop dots, framed the panel with black cardstock, and used some Christmas DP from my stash (likely Bo Bunny), also framed in black before adhering it to my white card base.

And the inside sentiment? Well, it's Check List from the Funny Bones series over at Riley and Company

I thought it fit the bill perfectly. I ain't telling which check box I'd choose, though ...

Have a lovely day, no matter what type of weather you're having and thanks for popping in.

Supplies:
Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red Cardstock, Black Cardstock, White Cardstock
Cottage Cutz Elites Die - Santa's List
Whimsy Stamps Christmas Moments
Riley and Company Funny Bones Check List stamp
Twas The Night Before Christmas sentiment stamp
Distress Ink - Pumice Stone
Versafine Black Ink Pad

Peace on Earth Holiday Card

Happy Monday!

Or is that an oxymoron? :-)

I'm sure there are some people out there who enjoy Mondays. I'd like to say that I'm one of them; but no, not this gal! Talk to me on Friday :-)

I AM excited to show you my card today. I thought that, with my (lack of) photography skills, there would be no way that the glittery snowfall on this card would show through.

But I was wrong. I love how this photo turned out, although it doesn't show its full glittery effect.

I'm also happy that I finally got to use my new Tim Holtz Tree Line stamp set. What an amazing collection of images to create that perfect pine forest look. I stamped the trees in the back using Stampin' Up's Mellow Moss ink, then used Always Artichoke on the "closest" trees to give a sense of depth.

I used Early Espresso cardstock for the deer dies and adhered them with foam pop dots, while Cream cardstock was used for the base and snowy hills. The card is framed also in Early Espresso cardstock before adhering it onto a Cream card base.

I thought that the sentiment was very appropriate for this peaceful scene, stamped also in Early Espresso ink. I then tapped my Versa Mark pen around the page to drop medium onto the cream panel surrounding the trees, then heat set iridescent embossing powder on it.

Voila! Another Christmas card for my holiday stash.

No matter what day it is when you happen to visit my blog, enjoy and thanks for dropping in.

Supplies:
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous 2015 Tree Line
PTI Think Big Favorites #21
Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders
Impression Obsession Small Deer Dies
Iridescent Embossing Powder/Versa Mark

Freshly Made Sketches #209 - Pine Cone Christmas Card

Happy Sunday -

As I usually do when making cards, I tend to reach for a mixed bag of supplies from various craft companies.

This little number is no exception. It was a very quick card to put together, and I couldn't wait to use my new Frantic Stamper Pine Cone die. I hope you're able to see the lovely cuts in this die that give it so much "real life" detail:

I've been busy working on holiday cards for a few upcoming Craft Sales, so blogging about them has taken a back seat. I've also recently come out of a "book reading coma". This is when I can't seem to get enough of reading, and every spare/stolen moment is spent with book in hand (as opposed to dies, stamps and cardstock LOL). I truly love a book that can grasp my attention to the point that I feel like I'm watching a movie inside my head, heart racing with all the excitement. I've been obsessed with Michael Robotham's writing , a truly talented writer of psychological thrillers. I'm now reading "Gargoyle" by Andrew Davidson.

Back to my card ...
Heat embossed the pine needle image in gold, diecut 2 Pine Cones using Stampin' Up's Early Espresso cardstock, then raised a few of the partial cuts to give them detail. One Pine Cone was glued directly onto my cream panel, while the other was popped up with adhesive foam dots. The sentiment was added to the bottom using Early Espresso ink, then the edges were distressed with Vintage Photo Distress ink/sponge.

In the end, I decided to add Gold Stickles along some of the Pine Cone cuts to bling it up!

Thanks for popping by to take a look - I'm going to enter my card for Challenge #209 over at Freshly Made Sketches. Enjoy your day!

Update 10/27 - SO excited to announce that my card was chosen by Cindy Lovell over on the Freshly Made Sketches blog - I made Princess!!! Thank you so much for this wonderful honour.

Supplies:
Stampin' Up Ornamental Pine
Frantic Stamper Pinecone Die
Waltzingmouse Stamps Complements of the Season
Gold Embossing Powder
Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Fun Birthday Card

Happy Tuesday morning, and thank you for joining me!

Have you ever been asked to make a card for an age bracket that makes you rack your brain going through all your stamping supplies to see if you have anything to suit, but come up blank?

That happened to me recently when I was told the young man was turning 19 or 20 - so it was a double challenge in that I also had to make the card masculine. Give me girlie events to celebrate with a card and I'm all over it - bling, ribbon, flowers, flourishes, etc. You name it, I've got it! But young men??? Hmmm ....

This is the card I came up with, after I came across this stamp set in my stash. It's a fun little set that has matching quotes that make me LOL whenever I see them on other cards.

I think they suit the younger "crowd". What do you think?

I used a PTI set for my balloons to add detail and fill in the top section (did I mention I have a hard time with CAS??? LOL), then tied them together with Denim Baker's Twine.

Guess I'll have to wait until I get the feedback from the recipient :-)

Have a lovely day!

Supplies: Lil'Inker I'm All You're All Stamp Set; Lil'Inker Speech Bubbles Die Set; Papertrey Ink Balloon Bash Stamp Set; Papertrey Ink Balloon Bash Die set; Baker's Twine

Stampin' Up Oldie but Goodie

How is your summer going so far?

I'm somewhat in shock that it's almost September! However, Fall is my favourite time of year, and although I'll be sad to see summer go, I can't wait for the sunny, crisp fall days to come.

Just wanted to pop onto my much neglected blog to post some cards I made recently, so let's get to the first one using Pocket Silhouettes from Stampin' Up.

Of course there are so many similar cards from which I drew inspiration, but it was actually a POT die I borrowed from a friend that got me going in this direction.

I added a bit of "extra" on each flower to add detail: Wink of Stella clear glitter, Purple Stickle Glue and Glossy Accents.

That's it for now! Thanks for dropping in and enjoy your day.

Gold Birthday Candles

Hi -

Another quick post today.

I'm amazing myself lately with the frequency of my posts (and card creating!). It's the fact we've been experiencing a lot of rain lately here in the Greater Toronto area, so although my garden is loving the moisture (and me the free water!), it's not a great time to be outdoors weeding or planting. It is, however, a great time to make cards :-)

Another easy card - I used Penny Black's Bright Wishes, which was heat embossed in gold on the main panel. Gold Rhinestones were adhered for the flames, and the sentiment panel was gold embossed on black cardstock, which matches the black matting. To soften the card somewhat, I rubbed the edge of the white cardstock with my Krylon 18K Gold Leafing Pen.

I actually did this card in several different colours - using silver embossing powder as well, then using a rainbow of different colours of rhinestones for the "flames", then matted in a coordinating cardstock colour. The sentiment panel was heat embossed on vellum instead. This one - the black & gold - has a decidedly "masculine" feel to it, which is fine by me.

Thanks for stopping in.

Hero Arts Spring Gem Card Pair

Happy Monday!

OK, so for some folks, Mondays are nothing to be happy about! But I say it's a new day, so enjoy & make the most of it! :-)

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards made with the Hero Arts Spring Gems image, which I picked up some time back but never got around to using. In fact, my group of stamping friends broke this baby in long ago, and STILL I didn't hop on the bandwagon - until now!

I embossed it (gold and silver) and added various rhinestones from my bling stash. I especially wanted to do a red/black/white colour scheme as I SO wanted to use these black & silver cat's eye Rhinestones I picked up (aren't they awesome?).

The gold version - Congratulations card:

and the silver version - Birthday card:

So easy to put together!

Thanks for dropping by.

A Million & One Thanks

Welcome!

Today I'm sharing a card I made a while back that mixes up some Stampin' Up (One in a Million Stamp Set) and Papertrey Ink (Bigger Blooms stamp set and matching dies).

I inked up the Bigger Blooms in colours that matched the lovely My Mind's Eye DP from which the frame was cut, using Spellbinder's Big Scalloped Rectangle dies. The leaf diecut behind the flowers is from Papertrey Ink's Turning a New Leaf (stamps & dies used here).

A bit of bling using Wink of Stella (Clear), Stickles and a flatback Ivory Pearl were added to the middle of the flowers, then I added pop dots to secure them to the bottom corner of the frame.

I'm trying to become more "comfortable" with CAS cards (i.e. not break out in a cold sweat). It was SO hard not to add something to that VAST area of WHITE SPACE (LOL).

But I prevailed :-)

Thanks for popping by & enjoy your day!

Feeling Sentimental Vintage Birthday Wishes

Thanks for popping in to join me today! I hope you had a great weekend.

A while back I saw a card where someone didn't fussy cut the stamped image, they tore the paper around it. I so loved this look that I had to give it a try, using the same stamp set and image, but with a different lay-out. This look definitely suits this vintage style stamp set - Stampin' Up's Feeling Sentimental. The bike image was stamped in Early Espresso ink, with some light sponging using Distress Ink in Vintage Photo (a heavier hand was used in the centre of the spokes).

I used up some of my old DP stash (always feels good to use pretty paper that has sat around for a while!). Stampin' Up's Sanded Background stamp was lightly inked with Crumb Cake and stamped on Vintage Cream cardstock, the edges distressed with Vintage Photo ink, then layered on Crumb Cake cardstock and wrapped with Chocolate Brown twine. Altenew's Label Love provided the sentiment, stamped in Early Espresso ink, which was cut & popped up.

Have an amazing day/week!

Papertrey Ink Sympathy Card Duo

Wow ...

Where did May go?

For that matter, where did the other 4 months at the beginning of the year go???

Time doesn't fly by - it ZOOMS by in a Mustang Shelby GT350 ;-) Vrooooommmm!!!! (OK, I'll admit that sound affect was rather corny LOL).

Today I'm posting a couple of Sympathy cards made with Papertrey oldies but goodies, which were inspired by cards I've spotted on Pinterest.

My first card uses PTI's Meadow Greens stamp & die set, along with a couple of "paint splotches" from My Favorite Things' Abstract Art stamp set:

I gold embossed the background images, black embossed the sentiment from PTI's Think Big Favorites #3 on PTI's Tag Sale #9 tag diecut in vellum, and added a bit of gold metallic string to finish the card off.

The second card uses PTI's Lovely Layer's stamps/dies, stamped in Stampin' Up's Baja Breeze and Memento Black. I used a Spellbinders Circle Nestie die to cut the embossed panel to place my "flower" inside the negative space, and matched my sentiment flag using PTI's Keep It Simple: Sympathy.

Simple and soothing, don't you think?

Thanks for dropping in. Until the next time ... take care!

King of the Barbecue

Hiya -

Just posting a quick card that I made during a cardmaking get-together with some gal pals. One of them brought along this adorable BBQ die (from Memory Box) that just begged to be used in a Father's Day card.

The funny thing is, and I don't know if it's the same at your house as it is at mine, but guys get all the credit for a great meal cooked on the BBQ. The truth of the matter is, it's the "lady of the house" who cuts, marinates, and preps everything to go on the grill.

The man just throws everything onto the flames, cooks it (and in my case sometimes, BURNS IT), and takes all the credit.

Am I right, or am I right? :-)

Hmmm, allow me to get to my card before I end up creating a bit of marital discourse ... LOL

The die was used to cut 3 diecuts from Real Red, Basic Black, and Tangerine Tango cardstock (all from Stampin' Up). I know, I know ... sorry. That's just the way I roll. I then cut away the various sections then adhered the colour I wanted to the Black base.

The sky blue DP was in my stash, originally purchased from Michael's (Recollections), and suited the card perfectly for my "scene". The Grass die is from My Favorite Things, the clouds are from Papertrey Ink, and the sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes from Stampin' Up. The clouds were lightly distressed along the edges using Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The inside of the card simply says "You're The Best". Gotta keep the "cook" happy !!!

Hope your day is perfect & thanks for popping in.

Paint Splat Creatures

I'm sharing a fun & easy card today, using paint splotches images from My Favorite Things Abstract Art's stamp set.

Add 2 googly eyes and the splotches instantly become ... what? Creatures? Germs? Friendly Critters? LOL

I'd like to think those on my card are Friendly Critters :-)

The sentiment is from CAS-ual Fridays Exclamations (such a cool set!), and the panel was cut with one of the dies from My Favorite Things Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX Die-namics. A strip of embossed red cardstock, black ribbon, and this card is done!

Have a crafty day!

Topiary Hello card

We just enjoyed a fabulous May long weekend here in my neck of the woods (our Victoria Day long weekend, sometimes called the "May 2-4 Weekend", which is odd considering that day is this coming Sunday, and in fact will be celebrated by our American cousins as Memorial Day weekend).

To be honest, I think the "May 2-4" moniker has more to do with beer than it does with calendar dates :-)

Regardless, it is a time of flower and garden planting, and in my case, some backyard minor landscaping. My upper back & shoulders are reminding me today of how much heavy lifting I did moving bricks and bags of limestone screening, but hey! my backyard is starting to shape up.

Today's card is all about lovely plants - in this case, a 3-tier Topiary using PTI's Topiary Trio stamp & die set.

I ran the kraft cardstock through my Cuttlebug with PTI's Linen & Canvas Impression plate (hard to tell in this photo), then added a border die along the top to add a bit more detail. I diecut the 3-tier Topiary base in cream cardstock, then stamped the pot base with Early Espresso ink (Stampin' Up). The Topiary overlays were diecut in light green cardstock (Certainly Celery - again SU!), and adhered to the card base with pop dots.

To make this card multi-purpose, I kept the sentiment general by diecutting WPlus9's Hand Lettered "Hello" die in Early Espresso cardstock.

Another quick & easy card!

Hope you enjoy a lovely week and thanks for dropping by.

Easy Masculine Birthday Card

Hello, blog friends, and welcome -

The May long weekend is fast approaching for us here in Canada - yay!

Or rather, 'yay' for the extra time off work, but not so 'yay' for the Friday commute, which will be clogged up with cottagers and campers heading to their lake-side vacation spots. This sometimes turns my normally 45 minute drive to or from work into 1.5 hours or more.

Still, I'm thankful for the extra time off - to garden, to sit & enjoy the sunshine, to read wonderful books, to walk with my dogs a bit more, and (gasp!) to maybe spend time in my craft room. Ummmm, maybe I need more than an extra day off to accomplish all that :-)

Without further adieu, here's the next card in my "Masculine" stash - a really easy card that merely combined some old 6" X 6" DP from pads I've had around for a long time, begging to be used. I used to have quite the addiction to lovely DP and hoarded so many of them. It felt good to put one of them to use!

I first stamped Stampin' Up's HARDWOOD Background in Basic Gray on light gray cardstock, which was then trimmed and glued to a Basic Grey panel. Each of the individual flags were hand cut to suit the various heights. The sentiment panel was diecut from one of the dies in Lil'Inker's Stitched Mats: Long & Skinny Rectangles in the light gray cardstock, and stamped with one of PTI's Keep It Simple: Birthday images.

And that's a wrap! Thanks for stopping in, and to my Canadian friends, Happy Victoria Day Long Weekend! Enjoy & be safe.

All Aboard Masculine Cards

Hello ...
long time no blog! LOL

I really have to kick myself at my lack of posting on my blog. It truly wasn't my intent when I had the blog design created.
I think my main "issue" (one of many) is that I lack photography skills to take good shots of the cards I've created. And, don't get me wrong, I'm still CREATING - merely not going the extra distance to photograph them, edit the photos to fine tune them, then take the time to blog about them, complete with all the details.

A few weeks back my stamping group and I enjoyed our semi-annual card-making weekend at the cottage, so I immersed myself in their amazing creativity, as well as the breath-taking scenery of the locale. The large diningroom table that we create at looks out a large window that faces the lake, and this is the view I have as I sit in my seat -

I missed the Fall 2014 event due to my DH's heart attack, so it felt good to go back this Spring. It was a fabulous weekend, with 5 FA-BU-LOUS gals - can't wait for the next one.

So, onto some of the cards I've managed to create and actually take pics of :-)

First up, a couple of Masculine Birthday cards I made with the "All Aboard" stamp set from Technique Tuesday.

I used one of the dies from Avery Elle's Dotted Elle-ments Dies for the 2 flag tags I placed on the side of the stamped image, offset, cut from black cardstock and an old 6"X6" DP pad I have. The sentiment is from PTI's Birthday Basics set. To add a bit more detail, I placed 3 flatback Black pearls in the corner, and diecut a small button from black cardstock & wrapped it around the lowest flag with natural twine. All of this was placed on a diamond embossed panel, and distressing was done with Vintage Photo ink.

I've actually made several masculine card designs lately that I'll share with you soon. I have a tough time with these types of cards, as well as CAS cards, but I'm trying to stretch my creative wings and make more of them.

Thanks for popping in - hope you had an amazing Mother's Day weekend. It sure is nice seeing and feeling that warm sunshine.

Until the next time, take care!

Thank You Ticket Tag Card

Wow, it has been a while, hasn't it?

There has been much going on "behind the scenes" at my house, so I apologize (yet again) for my lack of posts. I crammed every available time on my schedule making cards prior to the holidays, that I felt I needed a bit of a break! The holidays & New Year flew by, then my family and I travelled to Riviera Maya, Mexico for some WARMTH. It has been brutally cold lately, hasn't it?

Back on our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (mid-October), my husband suffered a massive heart attack. Out of the blue! No history, no warning signs, nadda! I mean, really, people our age don't suffer heart attacks!!! That's for much older folks, isn't it?
Well ... NO! Such thinking makes us complacent to the point where we neglect, or even take for granted, our health as we get older. A BIG learning experience, and we're (both) the better for it. So I must admit that I've been spending a lot of my time with my hunny-bunny, rather than in my craft room. He will be returning to work soon, so that means extra free time by myself - TO MAKE CARDS! Yay!

I'm not going to promise (I hate breaking promises), but I truly hope that this little ole blog will be seeing more of me - and my cards, natch!

When Simon Says Stamp released their Cold Hands Warm Heart exclusive products, I was smitten with this Thank You Ticket die, especially after seeing some lovely cards made with it. So I thought I'd give it a try too, and paired it with Lil'Inker Designs Anytime Tags 2, which has fabulous stitched edges for that little bit extra. Believe it or not, this is my first card (that I've posted) for which I've added sequins! I always seem to be intimidated disappointed with my placement so end up scrapping a project.

But I'm happy with this one! :-)

Thanks for stopping in to take a peek - have a lovely day & keep warm!