Oh, I wish you could see these cards in person! They really lose something online! I pulled out an Earth Tone Mat Stack that I picked up at JoAnn's awhile back and paired a few pieces up with Artichoke Ink and Naturals Ivory Cardstock, a couple of brads and a piece of ribbon. The "in person" card is so earthy and restful. Perfect for the man in your life, or even a card for the holidays. I sponged the Ivory cardstock with a little Artichoke and a little Olive to brighten it a little and added a few speckles with the speckle stamp. The card below has glitter on the trees (that doesn't show up in the scan... uggh!) - It's so pretty! It looks like a frosty morning. Two birthday cards done!! I have to do some girl cards tomorrow!!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Tempting Trees
Oh, I wish you could see these cards in person! They really lose something online! I pulled out an Earth Tone Mat Stack that I picked up at JoAnn's awhile back and paired a few pieces up with Artichoke Ink and Naturals Ivory Cardstock, a couple of brads and a piece of ribbon. The "in person" card is so earthy and restful. Perfect for the man in your life, or even a card for the holidays. I sponged the Ivory cardstock with a little Artichoke and a little Olive to brighten it a little and added a few speckles with the speckle stamp. The card below has glitter on the trees (that doesn't show up in the scan... uggh!) - It's so pretty! It looks like a frosty morning. Two birthday cards done!! I have to do some girl cards tomorrow!!
Count Your Blessings
Good morning, friends!
I think I've decided that before I start many more birthday cards, I need to clean my stamp room. My whole house, perhaps!! It's a disaster in here! www.flylady.net , here I come, (again!). Seriously - if you need help with organization, that is the place to go!
Anyway - here is a softer colored birthday card, perfect for an older lady in your life. The colors are Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red. I stamped a circle shadow stamp in banana, then the flowerpot from Nice & Easy Notes. My greetings from Nice and Easy are mounted on the ends of the blocks, rather than with the picture itself, so it's easy to mix & match the words and greetings. I used my markers - Pink, Banana, Rose and Moss - to color the flowers and leaves, speckled with the speckle stamp and added just a bit of Rose sponging to the edge of the white cardstock. My background is stamped with the retired Leafy Glade background and the words are from Friend to Friend. It seemed to need a little glitz - so I added the gold cord as a finishing touch.
I can't wait to get a few of the sets from the new mini catalog that I saw yesterday! I'll be preordering here in a week or so, so I'll try to give you some sneak peaks! :) I really, really like some of them!
Have a good day!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
WildLife
I had so much fun yesterday in Green Bay!! :) I visited Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, the teacher store, and hit the jackpot at Michaels!! :) They had wonderful little Mary Engelbreit things in their $1 spot - great for last minute gifts - and I was able to find a set of those very cute nesting boxes (Mary E, of course) for $2 on clearance. Plus I got some very cute stitched ribbon - and I got to get a hot donut from Krispie Kreme... Mmmmmmm....
Anyway! My card for today is made from an older set called Yukon. I used three colors for this card - Navy, Moss & Caramel, with a wide piece of navy organdy and a little gold cord to finish it off. Such a simple, reproducible guy card! I need to make oodles of birthday cards this week, so you'll probably be seeing a number of them!! :)
Have a blessed day!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Changing Seasons
Well, I'm off to Green Bay today... Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, Michaels.... Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!! :)
Bye!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Thanksgiving Treats
Monday, October 23, 2006
Pretty Pansies
Sunday, October 22, 2006
A Blue Birthday
Have a good day!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Sparkling Snow
Today's "Blog Bling" is a snowy trading card done in different shades of blue. On my piece of glossy cardstock I stamped a number of snowflakes with versamark ink. Then I inked up my brayer (Brocade Blue, I think!) and brayered over the versamark snowflakes - a number of times, until I really noticed the white snowflakes "pop out". Wipe this layer off with a tissue or paper towel to shine up your snowflakes. I then stamped two more snowflakes in versamark and embossed them with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. As a final touch, I stamped tiny snowflakes in Ballet Blue ink. I layered my focal piece on Brocade Blue and Ballet Blue and added the little corner piece stamped with "joy". (I actually added the little corner piece to cover up some Ballet Blue snowflakes that turned green since I'd forgotten to clean my stamp first.... but we won't go there!) After tying a little silver cord all around, my little package was ready for presentation. :)
A couple of the gals at my show last night wondered if they could give me a challenge. They would give me a stamp that they just couldn't seem to figure out anything to do with, and tell me what paper colors they had. I would then make a card or two for inspiration. It sounds like fun! Want to join them? Email me and we'll work out the details. I may have to have you send me the actual stamp, or set, if I don't own it already. Then I'll send back both the set and the cards I make. I'll probably post them first, though!
Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Heartfelt Joy
I'm off to school now, then to prepare for my show this evening. :) Hope your day is one of heartfelt joy!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Hedgie Love Notes
Have you seen the new Love Notes & Envelopes from Stampin' Up!? They are adorable! 3" x 3" when folded. Of course, you can't mail them, but think of the possibilities for gift cards, valentines, and "just because"! :)
For my "love note" I simply cut a 3" x 6" piece of Vanilla Naturals and folded it in half. I love that I can buy the Envelopes seperately!! :) I stamped my Hedgie (from a retired set, Halloween Hedgehogs) and colored it using watercolor crayons and pencils, then centered it in my tag punch. It's matted on moss & cocoa cardstock and accented with a spiral clip, more gingham ribbon & a little linen thread. My Little Hellos set worked again for the "friends". Next to the Ruby Red strip I did a little paper piercing to balance out my accessories.
Have to run now! Have a wonderful day!! :)
Friday, October 13, 2006
Peaceful Elegance
Regal Thanks
How did you do with the challenge from yesterday?? I can't wait to hear from you!
I decided to share my regals card next, because it was my girls' favorite. I stamped a folded piece of Burgundy cardstock with the Houndstooth Background stamp. (I would really like to get the Canvas and Linen Backgrounds, as well. They seem to add texture without being overbearing.) I cut and distressed a piece of Artichoke cardstock for my center strip & used a little more of my Moss gingham grosgrain to tie it off. My image - the wheelbarrow from Love Ya Bunches - was stamped with black ink on a piece of Ivory Naturals cardstock. After using my inkpads and a paintbrush to watercolor, I used a little yellow pastel to highlight the edges, mounted this on the new Elegant Eggplant, added a couple of eyelets, and Viola! my card was finished! :) My favorite eyelet tip - punch the holes for double eyelets with the double hole punch. They are always evenly spaced that way!
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow!