Miscellaneous

Hello again. I have received some questions about different products I've mentioned, so thought I'd take a picture of a couple of the items. (Exclude the stamp...it was in place to keep the stuff from rolling all over the mat while I took a picture!) The snow writer that I use on some cards is on the left. Michael's has this product, also available online.  Next the Eclipse tape. The Twins pack holds 2 rolls, in different widths. As you can see, this one is not opened. I use the larger size roll next to it when I mask images to airbrush, etc. I've seen the Twin pack on websites, but apparently the larger tube is out of stock at all the websites where I would place orders. The tube of Kiss-off is a very good stamp cleaning product for any stamp that is really very dirty, and you just can't get it cleaned with anything else you try. It's like a glue-tube consistency. You rub it over the stamp. Then I take a stiff toothbrush - actually I bought one of the denture cleaning brushes because it's stiffer than any toothbrush I could find, yet doesn't damage the rubber. I wet the brush, rub it over the kiss-off I've just smudged over the stamp. Works up a lather of sorts. Then I wipe with a non-alcohol baby wipe or with an old washcloth that has been dampened fairly well. I repeat this process until I get the stamp as clean as I can, being sure to dry it well in between. This product was recommended to me by some of the 'old-time' stampers that I know. I get it locally, but I'm sure lots of the online stamping sites would have it also. On another note: Prayers being sent up for all those who were in the path of Storm Sandy. The tv is showing such devastation to so many people in such a large area. If you can, enjoy your day, and as always, thanks for visiting today.

Halloween

Good Morning, Happy Halloween and Welcome to my newest follower. Truly, I promise THIS card is the last Halloween card - I HOPE - for 2012! This one belongs to DH, and the witches reminded me (and probably him as well) of the 2 of us when we take a trip. Had to laugh when I decided on the image for his card. Here's the specs:
 

Penny Black Backseat Witch Stamp

My Mind's Eye 12x12 Halloween pack

Sizzix Framelits Die
Memory Box Small Spider die on black glitter paper
Copics on focal image, Copic airbrushing background using B range colors.
Star background stamp used after airbrushing done. Inked with Versamark, Ranger embossing glitter applied, heat set* (Note to self: Gold emboss would have looked better I think)
Flowersoft Citrus on broom bristles after all above was done.
Sentiment: Inkadinkadoo, black ink, handcut.

 

 

 

Christmas

Good afternoon on a late Sunday. Our day started out in the middle 70's, but about 6pm, the temp has dropped about 15 degrees, and it definitely feels much colder. We also had a brief little rain shower mid-afternoon. Guess this is coming from Storm Sandy. Praying that if your area gets any weather from Sandy, you are prepared, and will be safe from harm & hopefully, damage as well. On to the card Specs:

Penny Black Hedgie Shuffle
Copic markers on Copic Xpress Paper
airbrush background, enhanced with Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky
Glossy Accents on skating area
Spellbinder Matting Basics A
Blue Recollection Matting, then Heidi Grace Frost Boulevard
Blue foil embossed with Darice Holly EF
Merry Christmas & tree outline stickers colored with copics
Elizabeth Craft silver sticker for framing.

Let me tell you how I found the blue foil. (Now maybe you've already had this idea! I thought it was a brainstorm when I had it!). I had gone into our local Dollar Store, looking for some wedge makeup sponges and the little foam applicators used for applying eye shadow. Didn't have 'em. But, as I walked in the door, there was a big display of Christmas bags, small ones 3 for $1. Larger ones 2 for $1. I looked at the bright colors and thought "Hmmm, the S/Binder foil packs are pretty expensive. Wonder how this would work". Well, only a dollar, so I grabbed up a couple of the sets. The only difficulty I had, was - the bags had creases, and it didn't emboss out. So in taping it down on the card, the crease was still visible on the right side. Hence the silver strip to disguise this crease...and it wasn't really 'that bad', but I could see it. The strip did a good job, but it did not go down well at the corners. After picking it up, replacing it, multiple times, still not getting a 'neat join', I said, "That's it. I'm going with it as it is!" On the whole, I like this little card...as I'm a PB Hedgie fan. Think I'll do this image again, try to do a more professional looking job with the strips. Also I wondered if ironing the bag on a cool setting might help with the creases. Or better yet, cut around them. It was an economy foil substitution, and I think with the bigger bags, I won't have the problem. This was one of the tiny bags, as my thought was: If I totally hose this up, I won't be wasting much!!!

Think I'll pop back over to Rudolph Day and Penny Black and More, as I think both challenges allow up to 3 entries. What fun. Check both these challenges out when you have time. Might be fun to enter if you've something that fits. Hugs.

Christmas

Good afternoon Blog Friends, and welcome to my world. I pray that any of you who might be in the path of Storm Sandy will be kept safe and will not be dealing with any storm damage. It's sunny here in SC right now, but not our usual sparkling blue sky & sun that we've enjoyed this past week. It's a sort of hazy sunshine, and it looks like we're getting a bit of breeze. No strong winds, just moving the treetops around. Don't think we'll see much effect here in the Upstate. On to the card, which I'm going to enter in Sarn's next to last Rudolph Day Challenge. I like this card, but it didn't photograph well. (My usual excuse!!!)

Here's the specs:

Penny Black Forest Friends Stamp

Copic coloring on Copic Xpress Paper (Airbrushed background, sponged with Distress Ink Tea Dye). Used the E markers for the deer, and YGs and R for the holly, which is also part of this stamp.

Background papers: Impression Obsession CAC Music CC029, Memento Peanut Brittle ink

Red Textured Bazzil card base, green Recollection matting

Spellbinders Grand Decorative Ovals One for image, S/B large oval for mat, S/B large square under Music background.

Will be using SU Hand Penned Holiday (Merry Christmas) stamped in SU Cherry Cobbler on the inside. Too large for the card front.

Hope you enjoy my card, and I have another image ready to put on a card, perhaps later this evening. See you soon, and please check out the Rudolph Day creativity. I promise you'll see lots to ooh & aah over.

Just popped over to Penny Black and More where the challenge theme is Animal Magic, think this might fit in. Another fun place to visit.

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

Good evening, and once again, welcome to 2 new followers. I don't have a card ready to share yet. Wanted to do a post regarding the Halloween card that DH made, with the intricate die cut. The die is a Cheery Lynn die, called Enchanted Flight, available here. Other online sites sell these dies as well.

A source for the Alene's Easy Flow Tacky Glue can be found here.   There's other places that carry it I'm sure. I got a large bottle at the stamp place where I buy supplies, along with some smaller $1.00 size empty bottles. I put about 2-4 oz. from the larger bottle into the small bottle. My large bottle is stored on it's side, as is the small bottle which I have been using. It has lasted a long time, because as you're gluing along a line, you don't have to run a steady bead of glue. You can put a little bit - skip over a spot, then lay down another bead of glue. I've never had a problem with anything coming undone, it dries clear,comes out in an 'easy flow' and has never warped whatever I've glued down. (I have trouble with some bottle glues.  I don't have arthritis in my hands, yet still can't get the liquid to flow easily). If I'm gluing on a tiny piece, and get some blobs where I don't want, I blot with paper towel. I learned about this glue in a class & the instructor gave us the tip about not using so much. Now, for what it's worth I have been told this Easy Flow glue is the same as Alene's Tacky glue, just more watered down. Dunno if this is fact. I will say this glue is the best one I've used to date; as long as I remember to lay the bottle on its side, I've never had to unclog it. I have to do that with my glossy accents - which is also a very good glue. I store the glossy accents in an 'upside down' position - still clogs. I've tried leaving it sideways...still clogs - then I have to stick a pin in the nozzle to unclog the tip. This is definitely not a paid endorsement, but I know that when another stamper tells me they've had good luck with a product, I'm more apt to try it. Same with online buying sites. I always appreciate good tips on products/websites, so will pass along things that work for me. May not work as well for someone else...So have a lovely evening. See you later, and thanks for stopping in for a visit.

Christmas

Welcome and happy to see you dropping in for a little visit. Today's shaped card was made with S/binders Labels 28. When I cut the c/stock, I forgot to leave the topmost edge outside the die, so had to hinge it together with adhesive. Works pretty well to adhere together with tape. Simply scored each piece, put on some tape, Voila, a hinged card. I used the insert to hide the join. I diecut the snowflake design paper with the same size die, adhered to cardfront. This paper is by Heidi Grace Designs-Frost Blvd. Diecut a smaller size mat with red glitter paper, cutting out the interior piece. The image is KK0023, Cardinals & Birch Trees (2 of my favorite things), by Prickly Pear. Got this at the recent stamp show where I did myself in, by walking more than I should have! (oh but it was such fun). I used the Snow Writer at the bottom, with some blobs on the tree branches, then added MS coarse glitter while the snow was wet. I like this little card. It's going to visit over at the Rudolph Day on the 25th. If you have any new Christmas cards, this is a fun challenge to join...lots of creative & talented, not to mention very friendly folks - to interact with. Come join us at Sarn's. She also writes about her adventurous chicks, Margot & Harriet, every Sunday. Sure to provide a chuckle or two. See you there.

Halloween

JHH's Card (WMSC120)

Good MORN-ing Bloggers! Welcome. What a gorgeous day it is outside. Sunny, cool, pretty blue sky. DH is feeling better today, so maybe some adventures out & about. (well, for one thing we need to visit the post office to mail some cards!!! LOL. Maybe some nice lunch somewhere -hmmm??? Take a ride in the country to see some fall color. Enough adventure for 2 old duffers like us!!!)OK, here's a card to share, made by my sometimes talented DH - as in, when he wants to be. Now I helped with the technical stuff, like cutting the paper to the proper size, doing the diecutting, fussy gluing...the HARD stuff, you know? But DH picked out the die he wanted to use for the design, the papers, told me how he wanted the card to look, etc. So for the arty stuff, he gets the credit.
The die is Enchanted Flight, by Cheery Lynn. Ran it through the Big Shot 4 passes - (front,back,front,back again). This is lightweight paper, and we had 2 sheets in the sandwich. It cut very well. Sometimes I have to do battle with the CL dies. Didn't realize the 2 sheets had stuck together until DH went to get the pokeys out (that was his assignment and he had no choice but to accept it). He said "Did you mean to cut 2 pieces of paper?" Well, no I didn't, but we were able to make 4 cards for him to send out to his specific addresses, when we had meant to just make 2. Of course he can come up with 2 more folks to send the extras. The orange paper was embossed with the dots C/Bug EF, and the yellow moon, punched with an SU circle punch - was out of some pearlized paper. He used a white gel pin for the Keep out sign. Inside, he punched a big black bat, glued to the insert, and stamped some appropriate Halloween sentiments. I thought it was a neat card, I'm proud of him for making it, and thought we'd share it with you. The liquid glue used for the fussy diecut was by Alene's and is called Tacky Easy Flow. I get this at Scrapbook Creations, and learned about it in a class held there. I would think your local stamping supplier would have or be able to get this, or possibly some of the online sites might sell it. This glue is stored laying down, not upright. You don't need a solid bead of it - just bits & dabs along where you need it. Dries clear and if stored as directed, I've never had to unclog it. I highly recommend it for this type of adhesion. Can you imagine trying to put tape on all these little bits? Not me!!! Have a Blessed day.

Edit: Just saw where Waltzing Mouse  is having a challenge and has opened it so that the entry doesn't HAVE to have Waltzing Mouse stamps used. So I think I'll enter this card...This is a great site, with lovely stamps. Check it out when you have time.

Fall

As promised, back again with another card share. This was a fun one to create & color. It is an Art Impression Tri-fold stamp (Harvest). Each element is separate, so I designed the scene the way I thought would be appealing, created some masks with Eclipse tape (a product I LOVE).* First stamped the barrel & fence, which is one stamp in the set, masked it off, stamped the wagon with the punkins, masked again, then stamped the barn & trees. Colored all the images with copic markers on Copic Xpress paper. On the tree foliage and grass, I used a series of YG colors, and tried to vary the green shades by the order I laid down each color. When I had the green coloration to my satisfaction, I went back over this in squiggly touches, with some YR markers, to get a little bit of the fall look. I was pleased with the way this image turned out (you won't hear me say that too often! I'm pretty critical of my work. I try to be honest about it). The image was diecut with S/B large square & the mat from the scalloped square that fit with the large square. The paper that I chose was really an old sheet from who knows when, no markings on the back. I just liked the colors with this image. This paper was embossed with a new EF folder, Crafts Too, Blossom Mums. I forgot to back the design paper with a lightweight piece of cardstock, and the folder embossed quite deeply, so it tore the paper. I was able to cover it with the focal point...but something to keep in mind next time. The image seemed to need 'something' to lift it up from the design paper, so I used a yellowish-gold Bazzill, diecut with a Persian motif, which I cut on the diagonal to get pieces to go under the scalloped mat, and bring out the yellows in the image and the pretty paper. I had a sticker sheet purchased from Stamp On It with some gold fall items, which I had colored with copics. A neat thing to do, to get colors you want. The hardest part of this card was getting all the little bits for the grape cluster unstuck from the craft sheet and into the outline after I put it on the card. I decided to leave the punkin just as an outline! Whew...that takes more patience than I have! I had remembered someone telling me that you can use a piece of tape to lift the entire image, and replace it on another surface. I've seen it done, didn't work for me! This card will be for the wonderful DH...probably will get a Happy Autumn on it. May even use it for his Halloween card, as he's seen all the ones I've done to-date.

On another note, let me give a big Shout Out to Susana's Custom Art and Card Design. I placed an order late Friday night, and this order arrived on my porch in yesterday's afternoon mail. Now, folks, that is FAST service. I've ordered from this site previously, had extremely fast shipping then as well. I hesitate to do online ordering unless someone has recommended a site to me. This order was totally correct, reasonable shipping charges, fast service, AND had a sweet little baggie of some complimentary goodies. Just thought you'd want to know! Not sure how the international shipping would be.

I believe I'll try to enter this in Outlawz Friday Copics Challenge, which is Fall Foliage and Colors. I may come back and edit in a couple of more challenges where I've seen something about Fall colors. Thanks for stopping by to visit this evening. See you soon. Hugs
*Edit: I had some questions as to what Eclipse tape is. Here's a link to see a picture if you're interested. If you do much masking in your art, this is a fine tool to have on hand.
http://www.stampstampstamp.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=et

Miscellaneous

Good afternoon and thanks for joining me for a little chat. I've just spent some time blog surfing and especially trying to visit those of you who visit me. While I'm thinking of it, I wanted to suggest that those of you who have word verification turned on at your blogs, might think about setting the default of that verification off. I tried to leave comments at several blogs, but after trying numerous times to type in the correct word that I saw, not having verifier accept it, I finally had to leave without commenting on some very pretty cards. If I could find an email to contact, I copied & pasted my comment in an email. I like to pay the courtesy of returning a visit to anyone who is kind enough to come spend time with me. However, like most of you -- I have a limited time to spend surfing, commenting, etc. (and being basically a lazy person anyway!). When I have to try several times to leave a comment, can't, then I hop on to the next blog. Anyway, just sayin', if you don't see me leaving a comment at your blog, that may be why! I have been trying to spend a little more - much needed time - cleaning up my stamping clutter. Have not made much of a dint in it sad to say. I've also been coloring some images that need to get put on cards. This morning Mr. DH asked if I had made up some Halloween cards to send to some of his buddies. Told him, Nope, I have images ready, but you must help decide what to do with them. This is because he saw my cards that are ready to be put in addressed & stamped envelopes spread out on the kitchen table. He was getting ready to lay claim to a couple of those, and I said "Oh No you don't! Those are all spoken for". So perhaps this afternoon....hmm? He's been a little on the puny side since Sunday..thinking maybe it's a cold coming on. No sniffles, just a headache, snuffy head feeling. I've kept my distance except for TLC with regard to eating, hot tea & such. Hope to post something later on today. Just thought I'd pop in with this fast pst, as I have spent most of the early afternoon trying to play catchup on visiting blogs. Wanted to leave my thoughts on the word verification. I didn't know about this being the default setting when I first started this blog, and a visitor kindly told me it can discourage comments. You can leave the moderate comments set to on, if you wish, and use that to filter out anything you don't want to post. I've found that all my visitors have been so supportive, encouraging and leave such kind comments, it's not been a problem at this site. Anyway...enjoy your afternoon. Hugs.

Halloween

Good evening, and thanks for coming by for a visit. I have another Halloween card (Sorry, I know I said I was finished. However, when I listed names for those I wanted to send cards, I was a couple short! LOL). I did have some images colored, but waiting for cards. So...on to the card specs: This is a cute Penny Black image called Catman, colored with copics. My colors were in the YR & W familes, with just a bit of E95(tea rose?) on his nose & ears. Used S/binders pinked circle to diecut, sponged with Distress Ink Scattered Straw, then went back over using a dauber with Memento Black. I inked the dauber, stamp off on scratch paper, then sponged lightly over the DI. The background papers are snippets, embossed with 3 different folders. Little ghosts are Memory Box (love 'em), and the sentiment was cut with the S/Binder ribbon tags. Sheer orange ribbon was from a spool in the stash. I think I'll go see if anybody is at Pixie's Playground. These ladies are such fun, and man oh man, do they ever help me in using up the snippets. If you're like the rest of us, with lots of leftover 'schtuff', give them a whirl. As I hopped over the pond, I saw Di's post about the Rudolph Day reminder, so I need to get cracking. Got an entry nearly ready, especially for that challenge.  There's lots of fun at this challenge, and Sarn opens it for linking on the 25th. If you have some time, a Christmas-y card to share, check it out. In the meantime, have a great evening and wonderful week. Hugs.

 Edit: Once again, a big thanks to Linda for reminding me this can be entered at the Penny Black & More challenge for October.



Class Cards

Class Project-Ritz Glitter

Hi, back again with another of the Friday evening Ritz Glitter projects...not a card, but still pretty I think. We used a glass ornament that I believe Anita (Scrapbook Creations) said she found at Michaels. Again, there were several Ritz techniques that could be done on this ornament, but in the interests of class time, the students picked which technique to try. So here's the specs:
Sookwang tape - punched with a large circle punch, backing removed so as to place sticky side down on ornament. Then burnished on the other side - which has a backing also - to adhere this circle to the ornament, carefully removing any air bubbles. This is a convex surface, so the circle shape has a tendency to crease. Remove the other backing once circle is down to your liking.
Place a used dryer sheet over the sticky surface, dipsticky part of ornament in Ritz Glitter of your color choice. Brush off excess, burnish well. Then dip again in a white Ritz as the dryer sheet has 'holes' which will collect more Ritz - to give a sort of halo effect. (You can see where the white shows on the red at the bottom of the decoration). Burnish again. The burnishing causes the glitter to adhere so well, that it won't come off later as other glitters will.
After removing the dryer sheet, place an Elizabeth Craft sticker on the glittered surface, smoothing to remove creases. Remove center part of the sticker, dip in gold glitter. Now you could remove the inner petals - first to glitter the leaves. Then remove to glitter the poinsettia petals. I chose to only glitter the center. I removed the inner petals, then colored with copics. There was another technique, sans the dryer sheet, which gave a more translucent look. I plan to get some of the glass ornaments, try that technique. Hope you enjoyed this share, and I HOPE I got all the technique steps described accurately & didn't cause confusion with how I described the process. There's lots of Youtubes available on this Ritz Glitter stuff, and it is much fun to do. No matter how much you think you 'mess up', it still turns out lovely. Each student had some sort of wailing about something that didn't look like our example, and truly, everyone's turned out beautiful! Thanks for dropping by to visit. Catch you later!

Class Cards

Ritz Glitter Class card

Hello, Welcome and Happy Sunday Afternoon.
Today's card share is a class sample made in the Ritz Glitter class I took with a stamp friend on Friday evening. Oh what fun did we have at
Scrapbook Creations  in Spartanburg, SC, with the very talented & very patient Anita as our teacher. As you may -or may not- remember, I've have this class before, but I always learn something new - or refresh something I've forgotten. Happens a lot. LOL. Anyway, this sample is the reason I took the first class some time ago. DH saw the sample in the store and said "This is beautiful...you need to take this class", so I did. In the other Ritz Glitter classes I've taken, we've made many different cards using different aspects of the Ritz techniques. Anita had us do this sample again as one of our several Friday night class projects. She said it is the most requested of the projects, and I understand why. It's my favorite of all the things I've done in these classes. Ok, here's the specs:

Sookwang tape on lightweight c/stock

Ritz Glitter - remove backing from Sookwang on the c/stock, dip piece in Ritz cool white highlight. Brush off excess glitter. Then burnish well, becomes like velvet, won't fall off.

Elizabeth Craft Outline Stickers - holly. Place carefully on the white glitter, tap down well.

Copics of your choice to color holly leaves. Touch copic nib lightly to the glittered surface to shade; use blender pen to pull  color towards holly leaf tip.

Elizabeth Craft Jewels for the holly (although I colored underneath my jewels with a red copic as well)

Brown copic for leaf branch.

Holly piece adhered to dark brown c/stock

Dark Green Bazzill textured card base

Gold Shimmerz sheet for bottom trim, after having been embossed with a Provo folder. We had several from which to choose, & I don't know the name of this one.

Gold trim adhered to c/base, holly piece adhered to card front.

 

There is also an Elizabeth Craft Merry Christmas sticker to be adhered onto the white glittered surface, but these are so popular, the store had sold out. These stickers can be colored with markers too.  I think I have some in my stash. We were reminded that alcohol markers were best to use with this technique, as waterbased markers tend to bleed or run.

There are lots of Youtubes available on this technique, so if it is of interest to you, search on Ritz Glitter. A very fun technique that gets awesome results. Hope you enjoyed this share, and as always, thanks so much for stopping to visit. Have a Blessed afternoon.

Thanksgiving

Oldies Card-HouseMouse

Hi again. Back with another card to share. This is a card I made several years ago, with the same image I just used in a post this morning. Found it while hunting for something else - which I didn't find (am I the only person who does this? Please tell me I'm not!!!) This card was done several years ago, before I 'got into' Copic coloring.  It was done with Prisma colored pencils, using the Gamsol technique. Showed it to DH, and asked if he thought I'd improved my cardmaking skills. He said he couldn't really tell any difference - that he did like the card done with copics better, but that he liked this one too! Now is that diplomacy or not???!!! Perhaps a left-handed compliment???Who knows! This one was done after looking at a company stampboard in one of our local shops that has since closed. Can't take any credit at all for the design...except perhaps that I didn't have all the supplies used on the stampboard sample, so I had to improvise a bit. Anyway, posted this one just for grunts & giggles. Again, have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to all of you, and thanks for visiting.

Thanksgiving

WELCOME to some new followers. I'm so happy to have you visiting here. Hope that you'll find something you enjoy viewing. And it's finally Friday. Love my Fridays. This evening a stamp buddy & I are driving up to Spartanburg to take another Ritz glitter class at Scrapbook Creations. What fun. Today's card is an oldie Stampability House Mouse image(Pumpkin Pie, HMIR1016), colored with copics. I don't list the colors I use, but if you should ever wish to know this info, please leave a comment & I'll get the marker number info to you. My method of coloring is to start with a general idea of which marker family I want, then experiment with different marker combos,and I don't usually write down which ones I use. I work on a scratch piece laying down colors, until I decide on one that fits my image.(This is NOT the way the Copic classes teach, BTW!!!  I do know the correct way to color, but my cards are not for a teaching classroom;  I do them for those I care about...so I do the cards to suit what I want! LOL) Basically with copic coloring, as with any medium, you want a blended look, so if my color choices achieve that on my scratch paper, I go with those colors.

Specs: Diecut with S/Binders Resplendent Rectangle - S5-147, and I used 2 of the dies in the set for the image & mat, the smallest for the sentiment.

Mat paper is from a 12x12 sheet of My Mind's Eye - Fall's Swirl; houndstooth is DCWV 12x12 pack called Natural Stack.

 Darice EF Fleur de Lis design on houndstooth, but it does not show up very well. Cardbase is orange Recollections - lightweight paper.

This will be entered in the Outlawz Friday Copic/Promarker Challenge

As always, thanks so much for spending some time with me, and have a wonderful weekend. Hugs

 

EDIT:  Miss Linda of Snail's Space was kind enough to let me know this image would fit into the Penny Black & More Challenge so I am going to also enter my little meeces into this challenge. Thanks so much for the heads up Linda! Appreciate it. You might want to check out this challenge...some awesome talent to be enjoyed.



Christmas

Hi, come right on in, pull up a chair, and let's talk Christmas. This card was inspired by one I saw at KittieKraft. I had seen this some time ago ( this is an August post), and I saw something on Pinterest as well. When I decided to make this card, I didn't look up my inspiration, so I was a bit concerned that I might "copy". Well, before I posted, I checked the link above, and mine is much different from Kittie's. This is another very talented artist, & I would encourage you to take some time, look at her creations, and she has some great tutorials too.

Card specs:

White c/s for base, embossed with the C/B dots folder, then scored top & bottom with the Scor-Buddy.

Fiskars Bow punch, red c/s, rhinestone trim

Martha Stewart leafy twig punch

Memory Box Stocking Die

Various 6x6 packs of Christmas paper (We Are Memory Keepers, Nordic)

When I saw Kittie's card, I decided to get the die, purchased from Oozak.

So that's my card share today, and I have scheduled 2 posts, because I really MUST get in my stamp area, and do some cleaning. So ya'll come back real soon.

Thanksgiving

Welcome blog hoppers to the 5th stop of the Oldies but Goodies blog hop. I want to share an Oldies But Goodies Stamp I purchased some years ago, when I first started into this hobby. I saw this stamp by The Artful Stamper, done in watercolor in one of our local stamp shops. When hunting for a stamp for the OBG blog hop, I thought of this stamp. OK, as usual, my image is colored with copics on Copic Xpress paper.The image was stamped with Versamark, then embossed with Ranger's Queen's Gold, prior to coloring.(use copics carefully on embossed images to avoid nib damage). I chose to use some blue-violet at the stalk of the punkin, because I thought it enhanced the oranges in the pumpkin.  Used Spellbinders Circle & scalloped circle to diecut the image and the mat. I chose the purple color for the scalloped mat, then sponged some Distress Ink Concord around the edges as I wanted to emphasize the violet shade in the image. The papers are snippets that I had used for other projects and were handy on the desk. I used an MS border punch on the center panel, again selecting one that might emphasize the curlicues on the pumpkin stem. Hope you enjoy this card, and as always, thanks for visiting. 

Here's the lineup for the Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop....

1. Mary Anne at http://sparkly-train.blogspot.com/

2. Cindy at http://www.stampwithmecindyg.com/

 3.  Maria at http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/

4.  Mary G at http://www.mystampinhide-away.blogspot.com/

   5. Mary H  You are Here (http://carolinacardsbymaryh.blogspot.com/)

 

Enjoy the hop and kindly leave a word of love and encouragement for all the bloggers!

Miscellaneous

Maple Tree

 Good afternoon, and welcome to Carolina Cards. We are having a gloriously beautiful Fall afternoon here in Upstate SC. Thought I'd share our little maple tree with you once again. As you hopefully can see by the pictures, and if you remember my previous posts of this little tree, it is turning redder each day. We had some rain yesterday morning, and I was afraid the rain might dislodge some of the leaves. The other 2 pictures are of trees I can see turning lovely colors if I step out on our front porch. For once my camera did justice to the marvelous blue sky we sometimes have in this area. There is not a single cloud about. This is called a Carolina Blue Sky by the folks who live in the area. I hope you will enjoy seeing just a little bit about the sometimes very scenic area where I live! How's the weather in your part of the world???Happy afternoon. Thanks for stopping for a visit. Hugs

Neighbor's tree

Trees across the street beginning to change color

Fall

Good morning and so happy to have you visit here. This is probably the fastest card I've made to date (and I had already colored the image some time ago or it would not have been fast!). I had posted another card with this image, but couldn't locate the stamp to give the maker...found it while rummaging for another stamp, and this one is a Lockhart stamp that I've had for a while. The image was colored with copics, using Copic Xpress paper, diecut with S/B oval, embossed & sponged while still in the die. Think I used DI Scattered Straw or Antique Linen for the sponging. When I mat images, many times I remove the center part which is hidden, using a S/B die that fits as I need it. This is a tip I learned at Candee's (http://cardcornerbycandee.blogspot.com/) and it saves weight on postage. Additionally, you have a snippet for later use. Worked great here with the green piece of paper, and I used a Cuttlebug dots folder, rounded the 2 bottom edges with a Fiskars Corner punch.  The red paper at the top is also a snippet, as is the bottom paper, which was from a 6x6 BoBunny pack. All I did was cut these 2 papers to size, adhere to the white cardbase. (The blue that you see was a paper I laid under the card to make it photograph a bit better). I would go over to the Playground since I've used so many snippets, but I'm scheduling this one to post, and not sure how that would work! So ya'll have a lovely day. Once again, thanks for coming.

Edit: This posted as scheduled this morning, so I'll nip over to Pixie's real fast and see what those playground ladies are up to. This is a really fun & friendly place to visit and I guarantee they will make all you snippet users (and you KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) welcome. Always something interesting going on in the new playhouse! See you there, maybe! Hugs & Blessings for today.





Winter

Thanks for visiting this Monday afternoon, and a BIG Southern welcome to 3 new followers. Glad to have you coming in to see Carolina Cards, and hope you'll enjoy what you see here. As promised here is another effort at sponging ala Heather Telford of bits & pieces. I did the sky sponging first, using Memento Summer Sky, Bahama Blue, and Angel Pink. The snow landscape was Summer Sky only. Using post-it notes at the bottom, I covered some of the snow, in order to stamp the new SU Evergreen pine tree which I just received. I used Memento Northern Pine to stamp the trees. I stamped the center tree, reinked the stamp and stamped off before stamping each of the other 2 trees. I cleaned the stamp, then stamped versamark, to try to get a 'snowy' effect on the 2 distant trees. I used some Zing white EP, and I'm not happy with this EP. It gives much too thick a coverage for my taste. I'm too accustomed to the Ranger, I guess. But keeping to my personal challenge, to show my progress at this technique, I posted the card. Used the silvery holograph paper to diecut the I.O. smallest snowflake. The image was matted on some green paper (snippet!) that was handy. Made the cardbase with some dark blue- a snippet also from where I'd cut an 12x12 c/s for something else. I decided to use an I.O. Cover A Card snowflake stamp on the cardbase, then added some Ranger Silver Pearl EP. I like the look IRL but doesn't show up too well here. So I think I'll check to see if anybody is at Pixie's Playground this afternoon...those girls are ALWAYS so much fun. See you later..and have a Blessed afternoon.

Winter

Good evening, and welcome to Carolina Cards. It's been a lovely afternoon...bit coolish, but the sun was warm. Perfect Fall weather. Now about the card: There is a wonderful blog called Bits & Pieces by Heather Telford http://cardz.wordpress.com/. She's a designer for Penny Black, and does the most gorgeous sponging techniques. If you haven't seen this blog, I encourage you to do so...you won't be disappointed. So..bearing in mind I've been seeing these marvelous sponged pieces, once again I tried to capture just a tiny bit of that look.

I've tried this technique before, and results were terrible! This one is my best effort to date, and I'm not real happy with it. This one is going to be my benchmark!. I used a die template from My Favorite Things to sponge Summer Blue Memento ink along the template(recently realized I've been mispelling that ink brand..sorry) . Heather has some excellent tutorials plus Youtube videos. She's a good teacher, I'm just not as good at following her directions! But I'll improve. Moved the die along at different places to get the snowdrift look. This was a snippet of white paper, by the way. LOL. Just sayin'. I sponged the sky with Summer Blue & Teal Memento using daubers. Diecut the Memory Box birch tree - used copic gray along the trees, to get a look of the white birch trees I see up in New England. Once the trees were placed along the snowdrifts, that didn't look just right, so I used another snippet of white, a little more sponging. Then tore this paper, used the glue pen along the torn edge, and put some Hero Arts Sparkly glitter on the glue. Adhered this to cover the base of the trees so that it looks as though they were deep in the snowdrift.  Used a S/B die for the sentiment, which is an older stamp, that came 3 to a set. Stamped with versamark, heatset with Judikens Aegean Silver EP. Decided it needed a bit more glitter at the top of the sentiment...not sure I liked that after I did it. The snowflake at the top is a MS snowflake punch in the holograph paper. This punch didn't like this thicker paper, so next time will use the I.O. snowflake die with this paper.  I adhered the card to a light blue moire paper, then onto a white cardbase.You will be seeing more (maybe!) of my sponging attempts because I think this is a really neat look & I want to improve with the technique.

So thanks to Heather for her great tutorials, and I hope one of these days, I'll be able to do them justice. Truly, if you have time, take a look at some of her cards on Bits & Pieces. They are simply wonderful. As always, thanks for visiting. Have a Blessed weekend. 

Miscellaneous

 Hello again, and a warm welcome to 2 new followers. I have listed all you lovely bloggers who so kindly come to visit here, in a spreadsheet, and I'm trying to put all YOUR blogs in a favorite's folder (uniquely named Blogfollowers...Ha!) so that it's easier to be sure I return the favor & visit your craft spaces. Some of the names I see - don't show a blog. So if you don't see me pay a visit at your blog, please leave me a comment with your link;,then I can add your blog title to my favorites blog specific folder, also to my Excel spreadsheet. I truly do appreciate each of you taking the time to visit, sign as a follower here, and take your time to leave constructive & kind comments. That is a joy to me, as I'm sure it is to all other bloggers. I have other blogs I visit, but I want to make my first priority be to those who spend their time with me! As we all know, there's only so much time in a day...I don't always spend MY time as constructively as I should. OK..remember the tree picture I posted of the little maple in our front yard earlier in the week? Well, I noticed the tree today, and more color is happening. Thought I'd take a snap & post it here. Love those fall colors. Aside: back when 'doing your colors' was the In-thing, I had mine done. Surprisingly, I am a FALL person! Then took my 16 yr old daughter to have hers done, and that was just as much fun for me as having my own done. She's a Spring. Has my eyes, her Dad's complexion {which is fair compared to my more olive coloration}, but she tans well, as I do. Dad tends to burn in the sun. Not so surprisingly, Dad & I both have sun damage spots. The 2nd picture is of a birdhouse that was made for us. It's on a former porch post/column, but we used it to mount the birdhouse. This morning, DH noticed a woodpecker hanging on the post, and realized...Woody has drilled him a hole, and made a home. I tried to get Mr. Woody in the snapshot, but he flew off. You can see his new home about 1/2 way down the post. The birdhouse is supposed to be for bluebirds, but we only ever see the bluebirds perch on the top & the little perches. None have ever moved in it. Ya'll have a nice evening. Come again. Hugs

Bon Voyage

Hello Fellow Bloggers. It's nearly the weekend, and I'm ALWAYS ready for the weekend. Here's a quick card share for our best friend of nearly 50 years, who is taking a trip to Italy next month. I was invited along, but with the Achilles surgery recovery, I thought I might not be the fun-est of traveling companion. This was a tuff decision to say No, because Rome has been on my Bucket List ever since I read about Michaelangelo taking 4 years of lying on a scaffold to paint the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. So would love to see that. I made the right decision, based on my walking stamina. OK...I'll list the card specs; perhaps that may make it easier to see how I made this card.

Impression Obsession Cover a Card (CC015) - Gradation - stamped in Fluid Colorbox Chalk Creamy Beige
I.O. CAC (CC088) - Passport - stamped in Fluid C/box Chalk Deep Lagoon
Paper House Cardstock Stickers - STCX-0061 - Rome
Bon Voyage stamp - Michael's $1 bin - Deep Lagoon ink

I used the Acrylic Mega Mount block by Impression Obsession to mount the CAC stamps. I learned in classes with I.O. that when doing the multiple stamping with these CAC stamps for a background, to start with the lightest color, then darker. There's a good video at the I. O. website. I'm not great with using stickers, but when I saw this set, I knew exactly on what card I could use them. I used a S/Binder rectangle die to cut out the center of the cardstock front after stamping with the CAC's, embossing around the space (which doesn't show well here). I adhered a teal c/s piece (ah, those handy snippets!) underneath, then stuck the Rome sticker to that. The other stickers are places I know will get visited on the trip. Be back later with a few pictures of 'around the yard' photos. Thanks for dropping in this afternoon. Hugs.


Miscellaneous

Hi again. Second post of the day. Reason: Just followed a link to this nifty blogger who is celebrating her 2nd blogaversary & reaching 200 followers. She's offering 2 different blog candies that will go two lucky followers. Just thought you'd want to know! Here's the link:
http://pickledmemories.blogspot.ca/2012/10/candy-time-200-followers-and-2-years.html
Now to see if I can get some pictures of the candies you might win:

 

So when you have time to blog surf, you might would enjoy checking out this blog, becoming a follower and winning some lovely candy. I just love to be an enabler!!!

Enjoyed my time visiting with my Thursday stamp group today. Did I accomplish anything? Well, no, but I saw some really awesome talent at work. It was great to get out with crafty folks once again. Til next time, thanks, as always for dropping in to visit.

Fall

Welcome, and here's a card share this morning. This is a Cornish Heritage Farms stamp called Fall Cleanup, that I've had for a while. (This company went out of business, but I think there is another company that bought the name). So if you like this stamp, it may still be available through this newer business. You could google the CHF as I know there is a website with digi images and I believe they sell rubber stamps as well. OK, on to the card. Used copics on a snippet of white Copic Xpress paper to stamp the image, also used a brown multiliner to do the tines of the rake. Diecut with S/B Label 7, sponged with Memento Desert Sand. The sentiment is from a Just Rite set, stamped on another snippet, punched out with an EK Success punch. The top green paper strip - another snippet - was embossed with a Sizzix small border EF, with leaves, (which I have covered up with the main focal point!), then I smudged Memento Pear Tart over the raised surface. Looked nice until I adhered the basket of leaves! Not good planning....The orange piece at the bottom was yet another snippet which just fit nicely in the space, embossed with a Sizzix border of punkins, also smudged with Memento Canteloupe. The reddish center paper was embossed with the old C/B dots folder, and I used either an EK Success (or maybe an SU?) border punch on each side. Oh yes, Another SNIPPET! Sometimes having a pile of mess on your desk can be helpful...IF you remember what is in the pile!!! Have a wonderful day. I'm off to my Thursday stamping group...at least for a good ole chin-wag, which is what we do best! Hugs, and Autumn Blessings to you. I love to have you visit.

Challenges: Outlawz October Challenge
Pixie's Playground

Thanksgiving

Welcome, and come right on in, have a chair, and let's have a little visit. Here's a card for today's share. I have searched for the stamp (oh yes, I DO have it...just can't lay my hands on it right at the moment! LOL). It's somewhere on my very messy desk. I did locate another stamp, that I'm fairly sure is by the same company (Artful Stamper), but it's a single pumpkin. May stamp that one out, since I found it (LOL) & I like the image. These stamps are very easy to color. Ahem...back to this card: It was stamped in Versamark, then dusted with Ranger Queen's Gold EP (my favorite gold EP). Colored with various colors of copics. (Aside: Copics don't like to color over EP, so this is a 'color carefully' one as it can mess up the marker nib).  Diecut with S/B Grand Decorative Ovals One, die #1 using the Out of the Box technique. I like this particular S/binder - I think it has quite a lacy look to it. The copper framing paper is metallic Paper Studio, diecut with one of the newer S/B Basic Matting dies on the inside part of the frame to save weight layers (also get a bonus snippet useful on another project!). The green is from We R Memory Keepers 6x6 pad, Anthologie, and diecut the inside part of that as well. Lace is from stash, sentiment was cut with S/Binder Grommet tags. The copper paper was embossed with a Darice dots EF, but you can't really see it..sort of a wasted effort to bother with it. I sponged the focal image & sentiment while still in the dies with The Paper Cuts Berrylicious (a pale blue) ink, then with Distress Ink Wild Honey. I think I like this card. The first time I saw this particular image stamped - when I was first buying stamps - it was done with the Range Queen's Gold embossed on black cardstock, colored with metallic watercolors. It was so fantastically gorgeous I had to get the stamp. I've never been able to quite replicate that look. Hope you enjoy it, and as always, thanks for stopping to visit. Hugs & Blessings.

Christmas

Penny Black Gift Stamp

Hello bloggers. We have another cool & gloomy day in Upstate SC. This is one of the stamps I received from leaving a comment at the Penny Black blog recently, when new stamps were being introduced. I loved this little girl with the bird in her hand. She was a joy to color up with copics, let me say. The diecut is the Grand Decorative Ovals One, die #2, and the background border is a mylar Shimmerz sheet, embossed with a Darice snowflake EF. The blue paper is a blue moire - probably from JoAnn's...I chose it because it's silky looking. I added the new Impression Obsession snowflake diecuts, using silvery holograph paper. I used some 'snow' under her boots. Along the falling snowflakes in the image, added some MS coarse glitter while the snow was wet. The sentiment was stamped with Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink, embossed with Ranger clear detail EP; diecut withS/B Label 14, die #3, sponged inside the die to match the main image. I traced around the inside of the die with a glue pen, added a bit of glitter to it. IRL this is a very sparkly card..unfortunately my photography skills are not up to showing just how much it glitters. I was quite pleased with this image, and absolutely love that it was a gift from the fabulous Penny Black folks. I will definitely be coloring this image again, and I think I'll go for an all-blue look next time. Since this is a rather largish image, the card had to be larger than I normally make. This one will be hand delivered to a very special Daughter!
Since this was a PB gift stamp, I'm going to enter it in the October Challenge at Penny Black & More.  I'm trying to figure out how to post it at the Penny Black blog, since my comment at that blog is how I got this sweet stamp.

Miscellaneous

Penny Black Stamp win

Hi there, and I'm back to share some pictures. The 2 stamps are sweet Penny Black stamps that I got from leaving a comment at the PB blog recently. I had commented that I'd love to see how the little girl with the bird in her hand would color with copics, and was a random select winner! YIPPEE. I was excited to be notified that I'd get the stamp. When the package arrived, to my surprise, there were TWO stamps of the little sweet girl. Now I don't usually go for 'cutesy' (I like them when others color & make cards, but I'm not drawn to try & color myself). But these little beauties are not cutesy to me...just sweet. And I hope that tonight, I can get the little girl with the bird in her hand, stamped and colored, and submitted at their blog and also the UK Penny Black & More blog. That's a new one that a fellow blogger was kind enough to give me a heads up on.
THEN...I decided to share what it is beginning to look like around our neighborhood here in the Upstate SC area. The maple tree is about 10 yrs old, planted when we built the house. It's not very large, is it? But as you can see, it is starting to develope a bit of color. In a few weeks it will be totally gorgeous. I think this was called a Sunset Maple when it was put in. We had 2, but the prettier shaped one only made it about 5 yrs, then a strong wind broke it off at the trunk. We replaced that one with an October Glory Maple, which really turns a flaming red color, but that one is still quite green. It is growing upward, but not getting a round shape. The other trees are what we see from our front porch, and as you can see, the tops are beginning to get a bit of red & brown. This area will be glorious to see in just a week or two...IF we don't get a lot of heavy rain. Then the trees shed their leaves, and we don't get the glorious Fall colors. That's one of the things I enjoy in this area, as for so many years in Fla, we never saw this blaze of glory. Thanks for stopping to visit, and a BIG Welcome to my newest follower. See you later, and hope you enjoy the tree pics.


Maple Tree in our front lawn

Neighborhood trees across the street

Birthday

Welcome. Let's have a cup of something and chat for a bit, why don't we? Well, since I'm at the keyboard, I'll chat, and you, my lovely visitor, can comment! How's that? Here's a PSX sunflower (at least I think it's a PSX...as it's an image I stamped up from a borrowed stamp during one of our local Thursday stamp gatherings some while ago). A lot of my buddies have PSX stamps, which closed their business long before I ever thought about getting into rubber stamping. These ladies are so generous to share their stamps - which I do appreciate. I decided this cheery sunflower would make an end-of-summer birthday card that I must get ready. Of course it's colored with copics onto Copic Xpress paper. Diecut with a S/Binder rectangle (and if you should want to know the name, leave a comment; I'll be glad to look it up and edit this post to give exact specifics). As you can see I sponged the outer edges. After I sponged on the outer scallops, I wasn't too sure I liked it...believe it might be more effective to keep all sponging inside. Oh well, when it's done, it's done! I have a few more of these stamped, so when I color another one, I will leave the outer part white. I put some Glossy Accents onto the highlite in the brown centers, used some sparkly Spicas around here & there. Also added some white Viva Decor Pearls in the corners, & on the little flower by the sentiment. Sentiment is from the SU Teeny Tiny Sentiments, used 2 SU punches for the sentiment. The mat is a snippet of green Bazzill left from another project (where I had cut out the inside to save on the layering weight...those pieces come in quite handy!) and the cardbase is craft. Thanks for popping in, and I enjoyed visiting with you. See you later, and have a lovely day. Think I'll wander over to the Playground and see if there's anyone playing...I hear it's wet & windy, but maybe they might enjoy a cup of Keurig's Chocolate Raspberry Truffle. Ummm yummy. These are some fun ladies, you might want to check out Pixie's Playground if you have time, look for the latest playground challenge. Some very talented cardmakers...and so generous with their help & support to a new blogger. Thanks for visiting. See ya later.

Florals

Howdy once again. Back with another of the floral image that I stamped up, used for some earlier posts. This one was done using the Tim Holtz Distress Ink markers, direct to rubber, then spritzing with a mist of water, stamping on water color paper. This is not a technique I do very well, but I was pleased with the result this time. (Doesn't show well here however!). The image was sponged with Memento ink - think it was Bamboo Leaves - while still in the S/Binder die. I matted on another S/Binder and then adhered to a green layer, which I embossed with an MBossibility folder. The card is layered onto cream cardstock, which doesn't show here. If you'd like more info on the specifics involved, I'll be glad to add the info.
Let me explain my problems with getting these cards to a pc file in order to post! Just installed a new modem, about 2 wks ago, still having internet access issues.  Our wireless router apparently is working intermittently, according to our internet provider's tech. He disconnected the router, so therefore my wireless printer that I used to scan, won't work. We have 2 other printers, but I can't access them with the pc I normally use. Bring up the other pc, so as to be able to get to one or the other printers which 'should' work. Well, one is a Lexmark All in One, so that I could scan and get the image to a flash drive. The other is a Canon, which I was using to try to print out my Hobby Lobby coupon. Haven't used either in a while, so the ink is all dried up! Since I haven't used the Lexmark for so long, I had to scurry around, try to get the settings to show this card and my earlier posted card, so that they didn't look 'wonky'. I was thinking some unpleasant thoughts about letting the tech disconnect my router;  I didn't think about the fact that the wireless printer is dead, with the router down. I attempted to reconnect it, but according to my pc guru, the IP address has been lost. Hopefully Monday, we'll have a new router in place. Having pc trouble is almost as bad - but not quite - as having car trouble!!! Anyway, hope you will enjoy the card. It does look much better IRL, and I will be trying these THoltz markers again. This is the first time I've felt that I really liked them. I've seen some nice things done using the markers, but my efforts have not been all that great. As with all things, I am sure it is practice, practice, practice. Hugs to you all. Thanks as always for visiting.

Miscellaneous

SPOILER WARNING:   Just a tiny bit of enabling for my USA followers. Acting upon a tip from Miss Candee of http://cardcornerbycandee.blogspot.com/ that Hobby Lobby had some neat small Christmas punches by Fiskars, I made a trip to H/L this afternoon. Along with the router going out (IF it really did...and is not just our Provider's usual caveat that it's OUR equipment not THEM!), my glue gun died too. So after checking Walmart last evening, not finding what I thought I wanted, I decided to check out H/L. Well, got the glue gun (a dual temp one...and not the one that uses batteries). Couldn't print out my 40% coupon because of the printer issue, so I asked one of the sales assistants if there might be a spare coupon lying about. (The gun that I wanted was nearly $20...so the 40% off helped). He sees me in there all the time, so being a nice fella, hunted up a coupon for me on the QT. Asked him about the punches as I was not finding them. Got pointed in the right direction, and OH BOY! There was also a 40% off on all Christmas Crafts items...so I found several Fiskar Christmas punches...along with 2 holiday border punches. So if you have a Hobby Lobby close to you, and you can find the time this afternoon, might want to give a check out on this one..if you need some more punches. (Oh YES you probably DO! Just as I did!:-) ). I expect this sale will end tonight when the store closes, so if you think you might want to get some cute punches, don't delay! Just thought you'd want to know!!! Doing my bit to help the economy....LOL. Having a beautiful day weatherwise, and got a box of New England apples sent to us by our best friend who lives near a lovely old orchard in Massachusetts. Yippee. Unfortunately, these are usually tart apples, which DH loves, but I prefer a sweeter taste. No fear, though, these won't go to waste!!! Later.

Fall

And it's a lovely Saturday. Hello blogging friends, and hope that your day has started off well. We received this little cutie from one of my Thursday stamp group buddies (and a Big Thanks, Steph). Isn't it just the cutest. Steph used the C/Bug Pumpkin EF and then has the image colored with copics. Just love this little mousey, but sorry, I don't know the specs on the stamp. Steph also decorated the inside, using a S/binder to cut lightweight cardstock and design paper. She cut the design paper to fit the insert, adhered to the cardbase, then she stamped the sentiment on the S/B diecut. Really awesomely done, and it's an idea I'll borrow. It's always such a sweet surprise to get a handmade card in the mail, because you know that someone was thinking of you, took the time to give you not only 'their' time, but their talent & skill as well. You can't buy that at Hallmark! Hope you will enjoy Friend Mouse as much as we did at our house! See ya later. Have a nice afternoon.

Thanksgiving

Hi ...Hope you are ready for a fantastic weekend. I'm back with another card in blues & pumpkin colors. This is the floral stamp I used for the sympathy card posted earlier. (leftover = snippet!) I mentioned I had a blob up at the top, maybe from EP that I didn't get brushed off well. Was trying to decide how to salvage it, and um...BUTTERFLY! I diecut this image with a S/binder Labels 21. This image was stamped in Memento Paris Dusk, embossed with Ranger Clear Detail EP, and sponged with Memento Inks, Dandelion, Summer Sky, Teal Zeal. Then I sponged the edges with Distress Ink Stormy Sky. The orange gauze ribbon is from stash, and the orange chevron paper is from a 6x6 Pack of My Mind's Eye, Stella Rose collection. The cardbase is leftover from the earlier Bluejay post. (ah, a SNIPPET! Must check the playground). I think this stamp is going to be a very versatile one, and I have another image of this same stamp colored with the Tim Holtz Distress Markers on watercolor paper. I'll post that one later. Thanks for joining me. Hugs & Blessings.

Thanksgiving

Hello and a Big Welcome to some new followers. Thanks so very much for joining me here Carolina land.
Here's a fallish card, that I am pretty sure will get a Thanksgiving sentiment. (May add some punkins?...dunno yet). Anyway, the stamp is a Stacey bird stamp, and I googled Blue Jays to get the coloration. I was pleased with how Mr. BJ turned out. I wanted the leaves to be sort of fall themed, hence the colors. The top fold card is lightweight blue smooth Bazzill, texturized with Silver Fern Embossing Folder (the brand says Universal Embossing Folder...probably an online purchase). I inked the folder with Momento Bamboo Leaves, prior to embossing. The paper trim was just a piece from the stash. Oh yes, Mr. Blue was diecut with the Spellbinders Classic Diamond. I traced the die onto green paper, handcut to get a scant mat. Pretty simple card. Hope you will enjoy it. My photography is not great.

I have another card that I'll schedule to post later this evening. I have several images ready that I just need to get onto a card. So have a great evening, and thanks for the visit. Catch you later!

Thanksgiving

Good afternoon, and Welcome. I am back on track with making some Thanksgiving cards, and here is one that uses kraft as the cardbase. I had colored a small cornucopia image several weeks ago. Can't just lay my hands on the stamp at the moment, so I don't remember the maker. If anybody should want this info, I'll hunt up the stamp for you. Anyhoo, it's colored with Copics, on a scrap of Copic Xpress paper. The highlights were done with a white gel pen. Image was diecut with S/binders Label 12, sponged with a bit of Wild Honey. I was looking for papers to use, and noticed a BoBunny 12x12 that I had picked up this weekend at The Stamping Place in West Columbia, SC. It's BoBunny Forever Fall Die Cuts, and thought this motif would work well with my image, with the added bonus of being fast to select! The sentiment was by Just Rite Happy Everything Tag Making Kit (JB-09820), stamped in Momento Teal, diecut with one of the dies from the Happy Everything Kit. The cardbase has 3 scored lines, top & bottom, although it's hard to see in the picture. I added some narrow orange ribbon at the top, and I may trim off the tails on the bow. Still thinking about that! Have a great afternoon. My recliner is calling my name after a nice hotdog lunch at our favorite Wally Dog. Met some folks, had a pleasant lunch, ran some errands, now ready for an afternoon nap. And YES, I DO have some things that ought to be done, but this is what retirement is about...doing what you want, when you want, If you can, AS LONG as you can!!!! Hugs. (PS...the prize Mboss mailing was one of the errands).