Sympathy

 

Thanks for stopping for a Sunday afternoon visit. There's a sympathy card to share today, and I wasn't certain the lighter colors would be appropriately respectful, as I usually do sympathy cards in a more somber tone. I did this same stamp in blue tones, liked it better for the occasion. Then I noticed a blob on the sponging, maybe where I didn't get all the emboss powder cleaned away. I'm trying to decide how to salvage it. After I got the card made up, I thought I'd go with the yellow, as more of a 'life celebration' which I hope the recipients will like. Card specs: Great Impression H184 stamp, sentiment: Just Rite With Sympathy CR-03570. Versamark to stamp, Ranger Clear Detail Embossing, and Queen's Gold on the sentiment. Momento Dandelion, Canteloup, Rhubarb to sponge over embossed resist. Cardbase is smooth Bazzill cream. Yellow ribbon, lace from stash, Reflections pearls.

 

On another note: I see that I have 50 followers now! YIPPEE and thank you all so much. I will be making a list of your names, and attempting to use Random Generator to pick a lucky number. I have a little surprise - which I hope will be enjoyed - for one of my followers. When I started this blog, I didn't expect anybody except a couple friends who know me, to ever join as a follower. I can't tell you how surprised & pleased I have been - to find folks who visit, take the time to join & leave comments: - such kind & sweet comments that I enjoy reading - and all the support & help I've had from so many of you. (And you will know who you are).I have had the added pleasure of emailing with some of you, getting 'to know you', and learn about the parts of the world where you live. Such fun. So I hope to be back later today, and if not, tomorrow...with another post. See ya then. Happy Afternoon.

Edit: Blogger is showing 50 followers so I put in the above comment. When I started listing names, I'm coming up with 49...anybody know why this is? Anyway, I'm still excited to see 49 followers, so I'm going to list everyone's name in a spreadsheet (who knows...maybe one day I'll get to the BIG 100 followers..and I don't want to have to relist the current followers!). So once I get the list into Excel, I'll try the Random Generator thing-y and get back here. Just thought maybe somebody could explain why this discrepancy in what Blogger shows & what I can physically count!! LOL

 

Fall



Candee P.'s Fall Card



Happy Friday evening. Hope that you have a wonderful weekend planned, or a relaxing one...whichever works for you. Our day was quiet, very pleasant. I got an afternoon nap, always a plus in my book.

 

Yesterday we received this oh-so-beautiful fall card, made by blogging buddy Candee P. of http://cardcornerbycandee.blogspot.com/search/label/Fall. This scanned picture does not do the card justice. It is just so simple and elegant. I also notice I need to clean the scanner bed, cause there is no smudge on the left upper side of the card :-). Candee has the supply list for making this card at the above link. She does some awesome work, in between remodeling, getting ready for a craft show and out-of-state visitors. I was so pleased to receive this card knowing how busy she is right now...that she took the time to think about us here in the lower Carolina! Give her blog a look - I know you'll find something to please the eye. Thanks for visiting this evening. See ya later. Hugs & Blessings.

Thanksgiving

Hi, and thanks for stopping in to visit. Here's another Thanksgiving card to share, done with a lovely Northwoods stamp, purchased from eBay. Stamped out so crisp & clear...love those Northwoods stamps. Used Copic Xpress paper (my paper of choice along with Neenah and Cryogen), colored with various copics and Spica pens. Die cut with a S/Binder square, and the mat was also cut out with a S/B so there is not so much paper thickness. Orange textured Bazzill forms the topfold cardbase, and the sentiment was stamped with Rhubarb Momento, using a clear set of Inkadinkadoo stamps. The card was placed on the cardbase evenly, but for some reason my scanner seems to skew the image when it goes into the file. Looks straight when I preview it. Then when I straighten it using iPiccy, it cuts off some of the image. I'm using an Epson 514 All-In-One printer, anybody got any suggestions? I've looked around the Help section, didn't see anything that really Helped! My Nikon camera didn't do a terrific job with this one either (I'm sure it is Operator Error), so I went with the scanner image. Ya'll have a grand day, and come back soon.

Outlawz Copic Challenge

Hello, and this is a very late-finished card I am going to try to link to the Outlawz Friday Copic Challenge, the theme of which is Singing and/or Dancing. I remembered I had this very cute little Penny Black Hedgie with Guitar, and at the last moment, decided I'd color him up, and submit this card. The diecuts are S/Binder 28. The cardbase is kraft, and the other papers are from a kingsize 12x12 Paper Studio pack. The musical note is an older Cuttlebug die, cut from a snippet leftover from another project, using the same Paper Studio pack.  Now, let me just say "Welcome" to my newest follower, and I hope you'll enjoy what you see here. Folks, I'm needing some advice about the Random.org widget. I found out how to add the HTML, but I still don't know how to make it work!! Help, Help, Help....heeelllppp....
Edit: I see there are still openings in the Playground, so I'll take Hedgie & his guitar and see if the snippets folks will let us play!

 

 

Miscellaneous

Hi again, and I have a question that I hope some of you experienced bloggers can assist with some info. I would like to add a little bit of a surprise when I get 50 followers. I don't know how to add the Random Generator widget...as I'd like everyone to be eligible for any surprises, not just the 50th follower.  I'm not disciplined enough to go through names to try & be fair about picking a name out of a hat...so Help, Help, Help!!! And thanks in advance.

We've had a perfectly gorgeous day in Upstate SC. It's been so refreshing to be able to open up the house and get some 'clean- unstuffy' air inside. Today was my last Physical Therapy, unless when I see the orthopedic guy next month, he feels that I should get some additional therapy. I know the exercises to do, so I can maintain these at home. Just don't have the oh-so-feel-good ice/compression machine to use at home. This is such a neat contraption....it's a sort of flexible fitted brace that goes over the foot & ankle. It blows air over ice, so it's icing the area as well as a gentle compression. I'm still having much more swelling than the therapists think I should have. I am elevating my foot a lot, going much higher than I had been (as in 4 fat pillows!) and that does help a bit. I can get the swelling down some, but about 15-20 minutes of being upright again, the swelling is back. It doesn't hurt and I have good range of motion. So the plan is now, wait til I see the surgeon, and go with his recommendation. My best guess is he will say "do your exercises at home and ice". At least my days won't be tied to a therapy schedule. I had some really good folks working with me the past month, and I'm so grateful to have had this facility available for my recovery.

Now I'd best get up and start some dinner preparation! Ya'll have a good evening. Hope everyone is checking all the fun Christmas entries over at Sarn's Rudolph Challenge. There's some fantastic entries to enjoy.

Christmas

Welcome to my part of blogland, pour another cup of coffee(or tea), and let's have a little virtual chat! I'm on a roll with these Christmas cards. This is a lovely Northwoods stamp that was hunted up while I was disabled, and colored with copics. I love the sparkling red of cardinals. We see them at our birdfeeder. After coloring, some Snow Writer by DecoArt was used on the tree limbs. Added some coarse MS glitter while the snow was still wet. This is very pretty IRL. However, when I diecut & embossed the image, my snow flattened out. Lesson Learned: Save the snow effect until the last step! (well, I told you up front that I was learning!!! LOL). Used a S/Binder deckled rectangle to diecut the image, then the next size of the same die to do the red mat. The green paper is from a 6x6 BoBunny Mistletoe Collection. The green paper was embossed with the C/Bug Scalloped Edge folder, which cut a bit too deeply, although I liked the look. Next time I use this EF with paper, I'll back it with lightweight c/stock so it doesn't cut into the paper. Used some nice textured Bazzill for the cardbase. All it needs to finish is an appropriate sentiment and an insert. Could be for Christmas, but I could also use this image for a Winter card, don't you think? I believe I'll hop across the pond and see if the Rudolph Challenge is still open. This is a fun challenge with a most lovely group of ladies. Check this one out! Have a great day.
Edit: A very sweet blogger gave me the heads up that this card could qualify for the Penny Black and More Challenge, so I'll see if I can do the linking. Thanks Linda, for the info on the PB challenge. I do LOVE my PB stamps. 

Christmas

Welcome to a new follower, Good Morning and Hello! Nice to see you here. I just had a lovely cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee along with a Dunkin' Donuts Punkin Muffin. Am I sounding like I'm ready for Fall yet??? Our morning has started off sunny & just cool enough to be comfy. I still have some more Fall/Thanksgiving cards to get ready, but did I hear you say "That card doesn't look like Fall?". You're right...it definitely does NOT! This is a cute little Penny Black Snowman (Snowy) that I had ordered while I was stuck in the recliner a few weeks back. My leg might have been non-workable, but I had the laptop and my fingers worked just great! Got this little guy from an online JoAnn's sale and colored him while I was reclining. Isn't he the cutest? He's very easy to color as well. I used copics (R's for  his hat & nose, BG's for his scarf; used the BG0000 around his body for an icy look).Used a clear Spica Pen on the white fur at the base of his hat and it's got some sparkle IRL. Just happened to find 2 colors of the same patterned paper in a stash Christmas pack; I thought these papers looked neat with the colors chosen for Snowy. This was not planned...just happenstance. Used Sizzix circles to diecut & mat (the solid turquoise matting was from the same pack of design paper, a last year's sale item - from Michael's or AC Moore). After trimming the papers to size, I cut on an angle to fit the cardbase, adhered, then used the C/Bug Snowflake Emboss folder. The sparkly snowflakes were cut with a new Impression Obsession die, using  holographic paper. The cut was very smooth after doing a forward & backward pass in the Big Shot...just had to quickly poke out the bits that didn't release from inside the snowflake. The sentiment was stamped with a clear I.O. Christmas set, diecut with the S/B Labels 25. I sponged some Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink, aquamarine, while still in the die. I think he looks very winter-y and cheery. He made me smile, so I hope he will do the same for you. I think I'll try to enter Snowy in the Penny Black and More challenge.

Christmas

Hi and welcome. Here's a card using a stamp sent to me by the very lovely & generous Bernie T. What a treat to have such a vintage image sent from a lady who has become a friend, and we've never met face-to-face. Such is the wonder of the internet. The paper used to stamp was some Cryogen, which I won on a recent Outlawz Friday Copic Challenge. (I checked the winners to see if I saw any of my friends' name...and to my great surprise, saw MINE!) WOW! The Cryogen is lovely paper, good for copic coloring, and has sparkles in the paper. I was totally flabbergasted to have this happen. So THANKS OUTLAWZ!

On to the card: Santa is colored with Copics, swirls emphasized with a Lipstick Red Spica Pen.  Image was diecut with the Memory Box Debutante Frame, sponged with DI Antique Linen and Pumice Stone. I was trying for an 'aged card' look. After adhering to the red Bazzill cardbase, I used an MS holly punch to put a bit of embellishment on the corners. May decide to use some TH Christmas red stickles for the berries later. Hope you like the card, and a Big THANKS to Miss B. for taking the time to send it to me. This is going to be my second entry into the fun Rudolph Day challenge.

Christmas

Hi and once again, welcome to some new followers. So lovely to see you visiting here. Pull up a chair, have a cup of something, and I'll hope you enjoy the posts. Here's a little goofy reindeer card. This is a stamp from last year by Hero Arts, and he's called Winking Reindeer. I think "Goofy Reindeer" would have been a better name, but ....Image was colored in Copics, antlers traced over with a Clear Star jellyroll pen. Really sparkly IRL. His rednose is a tiny rhinestone. Used one of the new Sizzix oval dies, (what you see is what you cut, but you can't emboss a frame around the diecut as with S/Binders.) I traced the very edge of the oval with the same jelly roll pen for a little sparkle at the edge. Cardbase is red Bazzil, papers are from Authentique Festive Collection. The border punch was a Martha Stewart, and the sentiment is a tiny stamp - no name on it. Punched with a Fiskars small oval, and although you can't really see it here, there is a mat of the same border punch paper behind the oval. It does show somewhat better IRL. This card is going in the Rudolph Day Challenge for my first time in the Christmas fun.
Edit: I have just learned the Winking Reindeer can be entered into the Penny Black and More challenge.


Class Cards

Impression Obsession Class Card Sample

Good evening. Our area has had the most perfectly beautiful day. Our sky has been the intense blue that locals refer to as Carolina Blue...it's almost a cobalt color, and with the still green trees silhouetted against that blue, oh MY, takes my breath away. The air was cool, even though I'm told it got into the low 80's mid afternoon. I was able to sit on the back porch this morning to have coffee and enjoy being outside. Good way to start off the day. Here's another of the pre-convention class cards from the Impression Obsession-Paper Cuts Class I took. This was probably our fastest & simplest of cards to make. The CAC stamps were done on a light blue cardstock, using a blue fluid chalk. I believe we only used one CAC to do this bkgrnd, whereas the other cards I've shown, background was made using 2 different CAC stamps.  The leaf was stamped on green paper, then diecut with the matching die, really easy-peasy to do. I truly can't remember if we made the green background paper, or if it was patterned paper that we used. Anyway, it turned out pretty. The blue paper was adhered to a larger white piece, which we stamped with the sentiment. Tied a white organza ribbon around the base, and adhered to a darker blue cardbase. Popped up the leaf, used a glue dot to adhere the bow, and DONE. I have to say these I.O. dies are comparing favorably to my much loved Memory Box dies. At least the I.O. dies I've used thus far.

Birthday

Good morning. I hope the start of this last week in September finds you planning for some fun. Here's a card to share from an Inky Antics stamp I found at the Scrapart Stamp show held in my area on the Sept. 15 weekend. Our daughter (DD) loves dogs (she has 3 greyhounds, but greyhound stamps are difficult to find). So when I saw the Scottie, I thought "Birthday card". Scottie is colored with copics (Gray C's for his fur) and some spica on his collar. Diecut and embossed with a S/B oval. I decided not to mat the image and used the Impression Obsession CAC Thick & Thin stamp to create a background, using Colorbox Fluid Chalk Inks. (Colors were Ocean and Warm Red on a blue patterned paper). I used the same paper to stamp the lace (again in Ocean ink), handcut the lace to trim the bottom. I debated on just using a border punch, but I liked this look better. The greenery is a Cheery Lynn flourish die, and the sentiment was done with the SU Word Window punch. I don't think DDaughter will see this before she gets it, so I posted it here. Will be in the mail this week, so I think I'm safe! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping to see what was happenin'!

Thanksgiving

CMC Challenge Fall12

Good afternoon, and welcome. Here's an image I've had sitting on the desk for a bit, finally got it made into a card. The stamp was a Northwoods stamp purchased on eBay, no name on the stamp other than Northwoods. Of course it was colored with copics and a bit of Spica to add some sparkles. The image was diecut with a Memory Box Debutante frame. Made the mat by tracing outside the die, handcutting it. I liked the blue and orange combo. I think the blue brings out his overalls and blue scarf. The cardbase was Bazzill, embossed with a Dots folder, and due to the size of the image, had to be a top fold card. Hope you like my scarecrow. I think I'll try to enter it in the CMC Challenge #52, Fall12. Thanks for coming to visit. 

Birthday

Happy Saturday and welcome. For a change of pace here is one of my cards, rather than a class sample. This very simple card was made with an Inkadinkadoo stamp. Used Momento Rich Cocoa to stamp, so it didn't need much coloring. I did a bit of shading on the antlers, die cut with a S/Binder oval, matted with the scalloped oval. I think I used the regular oval to cut the image, but perhaps got the petite scallop oval for the mat. I think it looks ok anyway. For the cardbase, used some kraft cardstock, embossed with the SU Holiday Frame EF. Smudged the raised design with DI Antique Linen and Tea Dye. The sentiment was stamped and then diecut with a new Impression Obsession die, #DIE011-J. There are 4 little differently shaped dies on this set. Then I embossed it with the Twiggs EF, sponged the edges. The pearls were colored with various shades of E copic browns to get the color I wanted here. They started out as plain white pearls. Hope you will enjoy this one. I expect you'll see me using this SU EF again, as I really like it. Thanks for visiting. See you again soon.

Class Cards

Impression Obsession Class Sample

Happy Friday! Even though I've been retired for a while \ Friday is still a day I seem to await with anticipation. Our week has been busy...so I'm ready for the weekend, even though nothing much is planned. Today I had PTherapy, then spent most of the remainder of the day, checking Visa receipts against the statement, balancing the checkbook, filing, etc. (Bookwork is my definition of these chores and I procrastinate until the last minute). Anyway all I have left on this particular agenda is to fill out some prescription forms for the mailorder company, then the bookwork will be done for a bit. So, here's another Class Sample card from the Impression Obsession-Paper Cuts Class. The basecard was white, with the rectangular cutout. The overlay was dark navy blue, also with the cutout. We used a very good white ink with a swirl CAC, and I think there was only one CAC used on this one. (I can't remember...and when I look at the card, I only see the swirls on it). Then we stamped the sentiment, very easy to do on the insert behind the rectangles. The beautiful snowflakes are a new Impression Obsession die, cut with the mirror holograph paper, which is a bit thickish. I wondered if these would cut well, but they DID. All the little bits didn't drop out, but it was quite easy to poke them out, as they had 'cut' well, just still 'stuck'. It's when you have to use an exacto knife to finish the cut, that I get a bit frustrated with some of the dies. It's tedious, and when I've done it, the finished effect always looks ragged to me. These dies did cut smoothly, and we did shim. I liked them well enough that I bought this one, and a few more on class night. At the convention next day, I managed to snarf a few more. (It's rather hard to see, but there is a blue organza ribbon with bow, at the top of the card. The lighter blue is the scanner bed. The white edge is the finished card). So thanks for the visit this afternoon, and have a great evening. See ya later.

Class Cards

I.O. Class Card Sample

Good evening, and I hope you had a lovely day. Ours was busy...more medical appts. We joke that our social life lately consists of dr. stuff. I'm hoping after this month, that will sort of taper off!!! Anyway, here's another of the class cards made on Sept. 14 at the Impression Obsession Class. (I didn't make any cards this week unfortunately. So I was very happy I at least had something to post for you to see). This card was made with 2 Cover A Card (CAC) stamps. I think the first was random dots...and we inked it with various colors, in spots & corners, then stamped on white cardstock. It made a pretty image just that way. But THEN we used a brown (sorry, not remembering the colors here) to ink up the pretty seashell CAC, then overstamped the first image. REALLY pretty I thought. The card base was khaki, with a cut-out as you can see. As was the top image. We used another image to stamp on the 'insert'  that is visible here, used some chalks to color some of the shells. A scallop shape was stamped with the sentiment. We stamped the shell stamp on a scrap to get the starfish to cut out & pop up for trim. The brown ribbon was adhered to the top before the top layer was adhered to the khaki cardbase. Thanks for stopping to visit.

Class Cards

Impression Obsession Cover A Card Class Sample

Good evening Bloggers, and I'm glad this day is nearly over. I had prep yesterday for a colonoscopy early this morning. If you've ever had this procedure, you'll know just how much FUN it is! I also had the deal where the tube goes down your throat (think it is called EDG- esophagus-Dudodenum-Gastric), but now I'm done for the next 5 yrs - hopefully. Colon cancer is in my family, so I'm extremely careful to be checked on a regular basis. (This is one of my 'Soapbox' issues. PLEASE be careful to do all you can to protect yourselves, because this is one of the easiest of cancers to detect and treat successfully, IF found in time.) Ok, enough of that. We ate a nice breakfast on the way home. Got home, changed clothes, got back under the covers, took a long afternoon sleep. (I don't DO early!). Anyway, here's another class card. The blue in the picture is my scanner bed, with a piece of blue paper laid over top of the card. The card was a precut purple scallop shaped card, black circle overlay. The we stamped the white circle shape (at the bottom only - with the sentiment); masked the stamped bit with post-it notes. Used 2 of the CAC stamps, one in wisteria, one in gray whale using colorbox fluid chalk inks. These inks are lovely for doing this overstamping technique as they stay wet longer, so that it sort of blends together. Creates a lovely effect.  Removed the masks, adhered the ribbon just above the sentiment. The birds were stamped on a different piece of white. I needed to trim my scrap towards the bottom, so saved this part until I got home to finish it off. Then I used a S/B circle die that fit the size I needed, cut out the birds. Most everyone else handcut their bird piece in class. I just noticed this one hangs over a bit on the right side...well, it's a prototype anyway! I thought it was a neat card idea. Thanks for looking in. Hope you had a lovely Tuesday.

Class Cards

Impression Obsession-Paper Cuts Class Sample

Hello & thanks for stopping in to visit this afternoon. Here is another card made in the pre-convention class I took Friday, Sept. 14. It was a fairly easy & quick card using the pre-cut card kits we were given by the Paper Cuts. The yellow backgrounds were created using Impression Obession Cover A Card stamps stamping layers in various shades of yellow. The top layer was created in the same manner, then overstamping with small & medium large flowers in darker tones of yellow ink. The thistle-down looking flowers & the sentiment were stamped in black, and the yellow layers adhered to black cardstock. I'm sorry, but I don't remember the specific names of the Cover A card stamps. This is a fantastic technique to create your own design paper, and it's amazing how different each effort looks if you use different colors of ink. It also makes a difference which ink is laid down first...If you have a chance, try this technique. I think you'll be pleased with your results. Have a great evening.

Class Cards

Impression Obsession - The Paper Cut Class Sample

Good afternoon and welcome. It's been a lazy day at my house. Attended the annual ScrapArt Stamp Convention yesterday, and stayed much too long. It was a lot of fun, but ...I did too much walking. I'm paying for it today! So, since I've been so lazy, didn't finish up some cards I have in progress, here's a sample from the class I attended Friday night (also a LOT OF FUN!).(I KNOW I said No More Halloween Cards...but had to share this one!)  The class was sponsored together with a local stamp store (The Mercantile), Impression Obsession Rubber Stamps, and The Paper Cuts. The class was taught by the fantastically talented Sarah, of The Paper Cuts. We made 7 cards from kits Sarah had prepared for us, and had a delicious pizza & salad buffet also. This card is made with an I.O. Cover a Card (CAC) stamp, Spiderwebs...on a Bibb card. The die is from I.O., named Halloween Hill, using glossy black paper. I was concerned this die might not cut well on the glossy, as this paper was a bit thicker. Am pleased to say, it cut beautifully. The window bits had to get poked out, but was very easy...they cut well, just didn't drop off. The die cuts longer than this size card, and when I placed it to trim the ends, I wanted the tree over the moon. Was not thinking that when the card is opened, the tree is a bit in the way! So next time, I will plan better.  Now, those little bitty bats...well, one had to be extremely careful not to lose them as they are SO tiny. It was a very simple & fast card to make. Students did the background stamping of the spiderweb, adhering the purple to the black bibb card, then diecutting the moon from holograph paper (or is it hologram?). Anyway, sparkly paper! Then stamping & fast handcutting of the sentiment. All the papers/cardstock was precut in the interest of class time. A nifty card for very little time, once diecutting was finished. Would be easy to mass produce, I think.
Edit: the gray that you see to the left, is the scanner bed, not part of the card! Sorry about that...

Miscellaneous

Our beautiful evening sunset on 9/13/12

Good afternoon & once again, welcome to a new follower, as well as to my visitors. I don't have a card to share today, but I do have something beautiful to post.  Last evening we had the most lovely sunset...I snapped a few pictures. My camera & my photo skills are just not up to replicating what I see out our back door. I thought I'd post this photo to share, as I thought this was a good reminder of Who is really in control of our lives. I'm getting ready for an Impression Obsession Cover A Card class being sponsored by The Mercantile of Pendleton. They sponsored this class last year, and it was so fantastically fun. I'll try to share some of the class sample cards here. Tomorrow is our annual Stamp Convention over in Greenville, SC, so I'm hoping to get over to share the fun. In the meantime, have a Blessed day, and I hope you will enjoy this sunset.

Thanksgiving

Good Morning, and come on in & have a cup of coffee while we have a little chat! Our area has been having some so pleasant weather the last few days. It is still getting quite warm mid day, but our mornings & evenings are most pleasant. We've even been able to go sit in our porch swing several evenings. (That's what some Southerners do...sit on the porch, watch your neighbors go by, and wave - whether you know them or not! It's the friendly thing to do!!!) Also watch a few lingering lightnin' bugs (otherwise known as fireflies). Ok..I expect you would like to know about the card. This one was not terribly difficult in the coloring, but the making of the image into a card...well, I had a struggle with it. The image is fairly large, so I used a S/binder Grand Label eleven to diecut. Decided it would look pretty as a shaped card. Wrong! The top part of it is white, just as the bottom. Looked 'funny' with all the white at the top. There was a reddish textured scrap that was close at hand, tried to put a scalloped border at the top of the card. Again, this looked stupid. The image had already been adhered to a shaped card front. I couldn't pull it loose, and I had spent too much time in the coloring, to remember "It's just Paper!". Decided to cut the top part straight as this would cut the cardbase into 2 pieces, releasing the image...however it's still a double layer. Handcut a wider mat using the same die that cut it out, using a sort of orange tone textured paper.  I chose the matting & cardbase to try to emphasize the beautiful fall colors in this image. I tried some greens & browns, but just didn't do anything for the image.  IRL this paper is not so orange-y as it looks here - has a lot of brown tones. Then used a red speciality paper to make the cardbase, with a top fold. This red paper has specks of color in it, and is also embossed with the Dots folder. The image is a Northwoods stamp I bought from eBay, and the sentiment, stamped in Rich Cocoa, is a clear stamp from a set that I've had for a while. I was just struggling to find one that would fit the space, because I didn't want to cover up the image. I know that when diecutting, you don't have to have the full image cut out (on these large stamps). Yet I thought this image was pretty, and I simply couldn't think of what to cut out of the picture! Also, since it is such a detailed large image, I thought less was best on any embellishment. In retrospect, I think a plain square diecut might look better. Another lesson learned!! Any suggestions from my readers as to how you have dealt with the above card woes, will be appreciated! I see so many cards on blogs & Pinterest, that look so stunning. Then I do one like this, and think "Why do I make it so difficult?". But I do enjoy coloring these detailed images...it's the kind of stamp I gravitate to when I'm buying stamps. Not sure why...

Anyhoo, thanks for coming by, and hope to see you soon. Have a great day.

Edit: This is a Northwoods Stamp, Fall Apples & Pumpkin Harvest Tree Baskets, purchased on eBay,. I bought several from the same seller. They were not 'great buys', but the stamps were in very good condition, didn't have to clean the rubber, etc. So I was pleased with the price for the quality I received. But again, no big bargain. I can provide the seller - if anyone wants to know - AND if I am allowed to do that here! Got some queries as to stamp brand, name, etc. and I'm always happy to provide the info if someone is interested. As to the complexity of coloring: My method is to pick a color to start, use it wherever needed, then go to my next color choice. I take a stamp such as this one, in 'bites'. I also color slowly, so it takes me a while. (usually an evening of tv watching!). That is why I struggled so hard to salvage the card, once I realized what I had done, wasn't appealing in the way I had done it to make the card. This is a challenge area for me, picking papers, doing layouts! I always appreciate any suggestions/feedback anyone can provide to h help me improve!!! Thanks for looking and also asking about the stamp & how I did it. :-)

Thanksgiving

Big Welcome to New Followers...so happy to see you visiting here, and hope you will find something that you enjoy seeing. I expect all of you who have visited recently are glad to see something besides the Halloween images I've been posting lately...think I've gotten enough of my required Halloween cards ready for inserts. Now I need to get started on some Fall/Thanksgiving cards. This is a Penny Black image, believe it's titled Bountiful Harvest, an older cling image. I thought it was a pretty image when I first saw it, still do. It was relatively easy to color also. Of course, I used copics, some spica pens, a white gel pen for some highlights. (And I looked at the coloration on the stamp for highlight placement, by the way! I'm shadow & highlight challenged at times!). Used a Spellbinder die to cut the image, sponged with Antique Linen while still in the die. The background is Paper Studio textured, embossed with a Life Style Whimsy folder. The turquoise is from the snippet folder, edged with an MS border punch. The sentiment was also culled from the snippet folder, {much nicer way to say - some scraps handy on my desk! :-)} stamped, sponged with a combination of Antique Linen, and Scattered Straw. Since I've got my cute pink hardhat on, ready for duty, I think I'll check over at Pixie's Playground to see if anyone is at home.  Miss Pixie is off traveling in the gorgeous Southwest. Gosh, I hope she's having lots of fun. From the looks of the pictures she's shared, she certainly IS!
Edit: the name of the PB stamp is Autumnal Gifts.

Halloween

Good evening...yes, I know, I know...more Halloween stuff. This is the same Stampability House Mouse I had used for an earlier card, different coloration and card background. I airbrushed the background on this one, trying for a sort of sunset look. I used some of the BV colors in the darker tones, some of the reds - and some blues. All in darker tones than I would normally use for a background. Did the same on the bottom part, with Yellow Greens in colors I don't normally airbrush. Figured if I made a total mess of it, well, as a friend says "It's only Paper!" (thanks Mary Alice for the quote!) I'll digress here a bit: When I first met this very talented lady, she was doing some watercolor images at our LSS. I didn't know her at all, but I was just walking around, looking over shoulders to see what each person was doing. Nobody told me "Get your nose out of my space", so when I got to Mary Alice, at the back of the tables, she was doing some watercolor images. I watched for a bit, she'd be unhappy with what she had done, look at it, comment "I don't like that one", pitch it in the garbage! I thought each thing she tossed was great; if I had known her the least little bit at the time, you'd better believe I would have grabbed each one out of the garbage can. When I finally did get to know her, I told her this story, and we laugh about it. She's always reminding me that "it's only paper". True. OK. back to the card...background paper is from My Mind's Eye pack, Halloween Scary Sparkle. Image was diecut with S/B Labels 2, #5 die. The crow is a new MS All-Over-the-Page punch, with a silver piece behind it, to get it to show up better. Not sure I like this part, but ...it's adhered.

Halloween

Happy Halloween Folks. I think I'm about to finish up with the Halloween cards. Got one more done - ready to schedule a post. I'll try to finish up with this theme today, and go on to something else! BUT I needed to do these cards, AND I needed to have something to share, so ....Once again a PBlack stamp, The Horror Team, diecut with S/Binders Label 14, #5 die. Sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink, while in the die. I used the out-of-the box technique on this one, so I didn't have to resort to the next larger die. If you are interested in how to do that, leave a comment, and I'll post the link that I found showing an easy way to do this. There's lots of Youtube videos showing how...some better than others. Anyway, the image was colored with copics and Spica pens. The purple mat is a S/Binder Floral Motif medallion, that I cut apart. I also used a circle S/B in the center, saves weight in the layers, and I have the circle for another project. (IF I remember I have it, and IF I can find it when I need it. :-). The background was made using Impression Cover a Card stamps (CAC) 013 - Fizz -  using Colorbox Fluid chalk ink Yellow Cadmium, then over top of that one, CAC 067- Crackle - in Pumpkin Spice. The added pumpkin on the left is a new stamp from Memory Box, has 3 little circle pumpkins. There is a companion stamp that has 3 different little faces. It's pretty easy to separate out a face if one doesn't want all 3, and in this instance I did not. I have a sentiment stamped & ready to go, but it just didn't look right on the front, so I think I'll add it to the inside. I did the same kind of background on a white scrap, stamped the sentiment, cut it out, rounded the corners. See you later today, and as always, thanks for visiting.

 

Halloween

Hello again...Um...more Halloween. Welcome once more to my newest followers. Thank you for joining. I see on some of the  followers' pictures, that there is no blog listed. If you DO have a blog, and I'm not signed on as a follower, AND you would like me to be, please let me know how to find you! I love checking out what all of you are doing. I find it most inspirational (sometimes intimidating too!)However, I learn something - pretty much - from every blog I visit. At the very least, sometimes a visit will brighten my day, in a way that the poster could never imagine. So thanks to all of you! On to the specs: Stamp is a P.Black, Frightful Flight, colored with copics and Spica pens for a bit of sparkle. Diecut with S/Binders Romantique Rectangle, Die #3, sponged with Distress Inks Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, while still in the die. The added punkin was cut from an EK Success triple layer punch, and has solid black behind the face. I had a little black mark on the white edging...dunno how I did that, but I needed to cover it. I used scraps & bits of design papers that were on the desk from othr projects, cut strips wide enough to cover the card as a background. The MS punch at the top is Drippy Glue or somesuch name..one of the oldies. I needed to hide (he he he) a bit of white basecard that was showing...Also on the left edge is some Washi Tape in orange, used for the same reason. I was being so careful to 'cover all the white', but darn it, I always manage to get the adhesive stuck before I'm really ready to put it down firmly. Hope you enjoy this one. I like it.

Halloween

Welcome to my newest followers. So happy to have you join me here, and I'll hope that you like what you see & read. Here's another (yawn!) Halloween card...nearly got 'em all made for the folks on our list. So on to the card: The stamp is a Penny Black stamp recently purchased from eBay (no bargains did I get either! but I did nab some nice stamps). This one is Feathered Witch, colored with copics. The background is a textured purple, one side dark, the textured side is a bit lighter & somewhat metalic looking. I embossed with a Darice spiderweb folder, after first inking with Gray Flannel Momento ink. Used a S/binder oval to cut out the chick, airbrushed the background with B & BG 0000's, while still in the die. The bottom strip was from some MS adhesive paper (ah, a snippet!) as was the sentiment, which was a last moment decision. Stamped with Momento Tangelo, used Black Diva Pearl to make the trim. The orange ribbon is also a snippet left from another project. I didn't get the purple background quite as far as it should have gone. Alas the adhesive was stuck fast, so I had to scrounge up something to hide the bit of white peeping through on the left side of the card. I have a sis-in-law who likes chickens, has some really cute home dec things that bespeak 'chickens', so guess who will get THIS card! Only fair, as their anniversary card was more geared to my brother, so now it's HER turn! Hope you like this one.  I think I'll dash over to the Playground, and see if they saved me a pink hardhat....

Miscellaneous



Bernie's Friendship Card

Happy Sunday Afternoon, and thanks so much for stopping to visit. I have some cards that I've received in the past few weeks that I want to share. First is this lovely card that I received this week from fellow blogger Bernie. This is without a doubt, the sweetest & most beautiful card I've received in a long time, and what she wrote inside, really touched my heart. This was such an unexpected and most delightful gift to receive in the mail last week. I'll let you check out how it was created by surfing along here. When I first looked at the card, I thought the friendship book might have been a 'bought' embellishment, but the shape looked familiar (I own a bunch of Spellbinders so that's why it looked familiar!). Bernie posted the card on her blog, and describes the creativity process. She did a fantastic and ingenious process to create the book...something I would never have thought of doing. Bernie, thank you so much for the lovely card, and even more, for the gift of your time! Priceless. No words to say enough of a Thank you!

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Another very unexpected card creation arrived a bit earlier, and I have just been so slow in posting it here, was from fellow blogger Candee, who has been busily creating items for an upcoming craft fair. She is in the process of remodeling a house, making nifty cards, treat bags -  and still kindly took the time to think of me, make a card and get it mailed. Thank you Candee...it meant a great deal to me, and was such a sweet surprise. This color combo is so cool & surfside, it brought back Florida memories!



Candee's Summer Card

Halloween

Hello, and yet another Halloween card. I have a ton of Halloween stamps, (and I like the cute ones, not the gruesome ones!). So here goes: The stamp is a Stampability House Mouse, Interview with the Vampire. Colored - of course - with copics, airbrushed background, some Spica pens. I used a Signe white pen on the fangs to emphasize the teeth. Diecut with S/B Label 8, Die #4. Traced the same die onto purple paper, to get a mat, which I handcut. The B&W circle paper is from a new Mind's Eye paper pack on sale at A C Moore recently. The other papers were from the stash. The sentiment is from an MS Adhesive pack from last year. I added some dots at each side of the sentiment, using Black Viva Decor pearls. Thanks for visiting, and I promise to try to do something besides Halloween, but I have several I needed to get ready. AND I wanted to use these cute stamps. Now I need to get some Thanksgiving and Christmas cards ready!

Halloween

Good afternoon, welcome; come right on in! Here's a cute little Stampability House Mouse entitled Witch Way to the Candy. I love these little mice, but I have difficulty at times, getting their fur colored just the shade that I envision. I keep experimenting and one of these days...Used copics to color the image. Diecut with S/B Label 23, die #5, then masked the image with Eclips tape. Keeping the image in the die, airbrushed the background in some BV colors. Airbrushing seems to give me a smoother background. I used my favorite Copic Xpress paper to stamp the image. The design papers were from the Authentique 6x6 Enchanted pack. The sentiment was from an MStewart Adhesive pack I bought last year. The swirls in the corners were from a die cut used in an earlier project. I used a paper punch to get the black dots, put some Glossy Accents on the dots. Last year we used a lot of embellishments that were raised, and the post office didn't like that. (also cost more to mail!). I had seen a tip on a blog about using the Glossy Accents on paper. This makes the dots look more like pearls (one of mine looks a little smushed)..and when it's in the envelope, won't cause a raised surface for the postal folks to feel.

Birthday

Hello and welcome. Hope that you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Also welcome to my newest follower. Here's a shaped card for today's share. I used a beautiful Northwoods stamp that I bought recently off eBay,(no name on the stamp, but was advertised as Basket of Flowers). It's diecut with a Spellbinders Grand Label One, #2 die. Colored of course with Copics and Spica pens, sponged edges with Distress Ink, Antique Linen. I thought about doing another image so that I could pop up some flowers, but I need to get this card in the mail. Therefore, didn't take the time to add in some more detail. The happy birthday sentiment is a Rubber Stamp Tapestry 2000 vintage. Hope you like this card, I think I do! I'm going to try to post on the OUTLAWZ Anything Goes September challenge. Have a great day, and thanks for stopping to visit. I have another Halloween card ready to share later today.

Halloween

Welcome to Halloween Land! I'm on a Halloween roll. I have some Cheery Lynn dies, which I love (when they work well. I have issues with some of them). This is one that is very intricate, but cut better than I expected. It's called Enchanted Flight, cut out withblack lightweight Recollections paper. I've found that these CL dies do not cut well using Bazzill or any of the 'good quality' papers. I use a Big Shot, or a C/Bug, have watched the 'how-to' videos so many times I can nearly recite the fella's dialog; keep trying shims, use the recommended sandwich along with the metal cutting plate. It's a gamble as to how well my results turn out. This one worked ok, just using the normal sandwich in the Big Shot, but I did have to pick out some of the pieces. The orange-y background was from the Authentique 6x6 Enchanted Collection. (it was handy, I didn't have to hunt for it!) I cut 2 sheets, 5 1/2x 4 1/4 to fit the card base. Then using the Genesis cutter, sliced each of the 2 sheets on an angle, glued down on the card base. I think I'll try another card using this die, with a very bright golden yellow background...might show up better. It did not scan well, but looks fairly ok IRL. Oh well, I told you, I'm learnin'! Thanks for stopping to visit. Edit: I must include here, that Cheery Lynn was very good about replacing one of the doily dies that gave me problems. Had my stamping buddies try it to make sure it was not Operator Error. The die did not appear to be as 'deep' on the cutting surface as some of the other dies. I emailed the Customer Service, and they very promptly replaced the die for me. That needed to be said. These are really very beautiful dies.



Halloween

Happy Saturday, and welcome to my little corner of blogland. What a beautiful day we have for this 1st day of Sept. This year has gone by so fast...(or is it just ME?). Here's another Halloween card to share. I'll get to the specs: Stampability House Mouse - Apple Delight (from a few years ago). Colored with Copics. Diecut with S/binders Labels 18, #5 die. Airbrushed background - used B0000,BG000, tried to use BV01 to get a bit more shadow shading right around the image. I am not that adept at controlling the airbrush for that just yet...! Didn't like the result, but I decided to take the marker and just continue to shadow an outline.