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2/28/2018

Caroling Cardinals for Rudolph Day February 2018

Good evening, and welcome. I'm skating just under the wire to play in February's Rudolph Day....so best get to it! You ask what is Rudolph Day (or as I usually call it "Rudy Day")? Well, it's an Anything goes as long as it's Christmas themed challenge, hosted by Sweet Maureen (Scrappymoi)...opens on the 25th of each month and closes whatever the last day of the month is. Easy peasy, so do join in. Helps to build a good stash come December.


Artful Stamper image (wood block, VOS), colored with copics, enhanced with gel pens, black nuvo drops (on the eyes) and some glitter and snow for them to dance upon. That center guy is doing some moves, isn't he?

- Spellbinders dies, Authentique 6x6 dp, and red top fold card base (Recollections)

- SU punched out sentiment...which was cut from a snippet of the Authentique pack.

Let's be off to that linky tool at Rudolph Day. Ya'll come back when you can, and big hugs going your way.

2/24/2018

Art Impression Lucky Leprechaun

Hi and thanks for stopping by. We got back  from sunny Florida mid-week; our traveling pal wanted to head back north. He left sunshine in Florida, warm weather in South Carolina, arriving to snow in Massachusetts! What a change of weather in just 2 days....

While away, I worked on some St. Pat's images, and plan to hunt out some Easter stamps, so I don't have a boring repeat of what I did for Valentine's Day. I'll try to intersperse some Easter and St. Pat's (won't have that many St Paddy's I think), and perhaps some other motifs.... But here's a card I finished - finally.


This is my favorite of all the St Pat's (as well as Art Impressions stamps) of any I own. This little guy is such fun to color. His cross eyes always make me grin each time I color him, and his expression is just precious. Used a Penny Black Antique Frame rectangle, distressed the edges with DI. Worked again on my cloud skills for the background.

Some old DP from the stash, Impression Obsession Shamrock dies (2 layers, colored white snippets with green copic, then Luna Metallic Green, then WoS Christmas green).

Sentiment is VOS - stamped years ago when I was going to a stamp group. Borrowed a stamp and did a bunch on some card stock. Hand cut it, gave the shamrock some more green (this was in the pre-Misti days so not a great inking)...edged the outer bit with the same green as the little leprechaun, and hey, that's it. I have a niece-in-law who is 100% Irish, and I think she will enjoy this little guy.

Added some new Valentine cards to the Cards by Friends page, which I hope you'll take time to enjoy. These arrived the evening just before our trip, and are so lovely.

We have had some gorgeous sunshine & warm weather the past couple of days. Even got in a little porch time. I'm sure we'll get another frosty blast before Spring officially arrives, but in the meantime, we're enjoying the balmy days.

Come again when you have time. God Bless and many hugs.

2/17/2018

Christmas Card Club Challenge #4 - Reindeer

Welcome once more to our Challenge for our Christmas Card Club.  Zoe selected this week's theme - Reindeer - for Challenge #4 for 2018.

 
 



Today's card was a UFO, which came in most handy. We've got a visitor, and we're traveling to Florida. Had some unexpected family things that needed attention, so I was very pleased to find a topper done earlier as craft time was at a minimum. I believe this was a Desiree die and some American Crafts glitter paper (6x6 pack, which I buy any time I spot a sale. These papers have a thinner backing than some of the glitter papers that are so hard to die cut).

Put the created topper on a side fold card base, added a Starform sentiment sticker, and was able to get this Reindeer card ready the day prior to leaving for Florida. Very simple card but I do like the sky blue and pale gold together.

Please take time to visit my fellow team members to see their Reindeer cards; blog links are on the right side bar.

Edit:  As I publish this CCC post, we are in sunny South Florida, where it is about 82F, low humidity, so very pleasant outside. Got email from my relatives at home, that it's 48F and drizzling cold rain. Our Yankee friend is expecting snow! (FYI: Our house is occupied while we are away, and neighbors are good to keep an eye on things too.) I will try to keep up with commenting/visiting, but if I am slow, please understand. Doubtful if I do a new post until we return home however. Just chillin', enjoying our DD & her DH and granddogs.

Ya'll have a wonderful day, and come back when you can. Blessings and Hugs.

2/15/2018

February Twofer Challenge



Good afternoon and welcome. It's time for the second Twofer Challenge. This is a new challenge started by Our Darnell . The challenge is to make TWO cards, but use the same item(die, stamp, etc) on each card, BUT it must be for a different occasion.  So jump on over to see what the fantastic Design Team has created to inspire you, and check out the entries that have already been submitted - join in! When you do the linking, show both your cards together on the link.

 
Here's my Twofer cards side by side, which is the picture I'll link at February's Twofer Challenge.
The cards side-by-side:
 
 
 
Now here's the individual cards:
 
 
 
 
I was in the throes of making Valentine cards, and this little Hedgie was a UFO that was still on the desk crapalanche. Had the Valentine dies out, and found this Memory Box heart swirl, decided I could use it and perhaps take the center of the heart to create a green shamrock for the cards I will be needing for the next up holiday. Die cut this swirl 4 times to get that center piece, so have some extra dies now.Hedgie was die cut with a Gina Marie square die, matted with a S/B square die, and then the little heart trims were from the next Twofer card.  The heart swirl and the little heart motifs started out white, colored with copics. 

 
 
Recently received a package from some sweet bloggers containing speciality coated cardstock that some of their group have been using with brushos and other mediums. (thanks to you sweet ladies). Out came the brushos (in shades of green), Paper Artsy Infusions in Olive Green and a Gold mica spray. Did not pre wet the new c/s, but sprinkled the  brushos and Infusion powders over the surface, then spray starch. Let that sit just a bit to watch the colors fuse and bloom. Then decided to sprinkle some lemon yellow brusho and spray a bit of gold mica spray. Scrunched cling film, placed over the wet surface and left alone for a few hours.
 
One of the swirl heart dies was colored in copic greens...used the center heart waste to form the shamrock petals, glued over the heart shape. Added a gold sequin to hide the center join. An Impression Obsession shamrock die was cut and colored. The little red hearts that cascade down the Hedgie card above were from this shamrock, the piece that separated the 2 heart shapes of this corner shamrock. Added a smaller gold sequin to this shamrock. The gold horseshoe is a Your Next Stamp* die and the sentiment was a $1 cheapie clear stamp tucked in the St. Pat's supply box. Heat embossed with a gold EP (but not my fav Queen's Gold).
 
*a word about some good customer service from YNS: Ordered a stamp set from YNS that is geared to St. Patrick's day. A die set was sent instead, and so I emailed - received a very  prompt response, apologizing for the mistake, and assuring me that the stamp set would be mailed ASAP. Received the stamp set very quickly, and was told to keep the die set. This was my 2nd order placed with the company. Now that is MY idea of terrific customer service. Just sayin'!
 
  
Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Ya'll come again when you have time! God Bless and many hugs.
 

 


2/11/2018

Balloons and Ellie Valentine

Hiya....and another Valentine card. This image was in the UFO box, so just added some dp to a cardbase, die borders, and stamped the inside....oh yes, die cut and made a faux mat. A get 'er done.


No glossy accents added to the balloons on this card. The highlights are all created by Moi. No glare in the photo either. The tiny corner hearts are the cutouts from the border - this was an easy- peasy card to finish. I did add some Nuvo drops to the eyes, by placing a drop of the Nuvo on a scrap, then getting a bit on a straight pin and touching the eyeball. It added some spark to the eyes IRL. I always smile at this little Ellie. Hope you like it, and it makes you smile too.

Hugs & God Bless. As ever, thanks for your time to visit and leave a comment.

2/10/2018

A Mouse for Valentine Day

Happy weekend. After a gloriously beautiful and warm Friday, we have dreary damp drizzles for Sat and more of the same expected for Sunday. Still on the Valentine kick, and this one was mailed to the DD. She kept a white mouse while she was away at college. (not at home, I might add, although we did have hamsters, turtles, parakeets and a gerbil at one time or another. I drew the line at mice).


- the photo looks washed out, and background looks pale blue - it was gray. The glossy accents on the valentine balloon created a glare. Other than that, was pleased with this one. The actual card looked nice. Think this was a Whippersnapper or Stamping Bella image. It was easy to color.  There was some green tucked inside, so I hope it will bring a smile.

Ya'll have a good evening, and c'mon back when you have time. Always love to see each friendly name pop up in the mail to say I've had a visitor. God Bless and for any who are under the weather, prayers that you soon feel much better. Hugs

Hedgie in Heart Shorts

Welcome. Penny Black Hedgies have always been my favorite; still think PB has the cutest of any of the hedgehog images that I've seen. Hedgie was the first decently colored image I felt I did, when I was learning to use copic markers. It may even have been this little cutie in his undershorts. They are SO easy to color, have precious little faces and just make me happy to color. Have collected quite a few of these Hedgie stamps, and have to restrain myself when I see new ones.

 
Some of my Valentine supplies are stored in a square clear box- embellies, papers, etc & the design papers were from a 6x6 pack bought a while back. For holidays like St. Pat's, Valentine's, Fall and 4th of July, I find stuff easier to find if I keep together in these boxes. Don't use them as often as say, Christmas motifs.  This paper pack is double sided. Liked the scribbles paper with just the one red swirl in the corner, and the border is the reverse side.  The red circle mat was cut from the snippet box, as was the snippety red mirror c/s sentiment. Actually the black circle mat could truly be called a snippet, but it was not a small one. The black paper had been used for another project and was handy (in the crapalanche pile!). Maybe better to say it was just 'left over'?
 
I was going to schedule this for a Monday post, but it's been SO long since I visited the Snippets Playground, and (hanging my head in shame) several of my visitors have encouraged me to c'mon over. Hope this might get me in the gates if Parsnip still remembers me.
 
(When the snippets word is italicized in a post, I hope that reminds all of you who visit the Playground to join in with Challenge 319, and for those who don't know about the Snippets Playground -- that you will follow the link to find out about it! Lovely & talented people go there, so I'll be in a great group of friendly folks).
 
Thanks for your visit...Blessings and Hugs. 



2/09/2018

CAS Mix up Valentine

Good morning, and I expect you are so tired of seeing Valentine cards. Sorry, but that is what I had to get made this week! If I were on top of things, I'd make these all year long, and share one or two along instead of a bunch at once. Oh well...I'm so glad you came by for a little visit. Just a few more, and I'll get on to some other subject.


Over at February CAS Mix Up the challenge is to use Felt, Cork or Canvas, plus stamping. I've never worked with either Cork, Canvas or Felt, but after seeing some really pretty entries, hunted up a 6x6 pack of DCWV cork and went to work:


 
 
Heart die cut the cork very easily, then cut the same heart with a smaller die using a very lightweight balsa wood that has been here for ages. Again, this is quite thin material, used for making model airplanes I think. (DH bought this wood for us to try die cutting, worked very well, but probably wouldn't be so great with an intricate die).  The 3rd heart was cut from corrugated paper - a cover from a Starbucks latte. Not sure what these things are called, but it's the little holder put around the cup to avoid burning your palm with a hot cup. Used the blank side, cut a heart. Colored with several layers of copic reds, then using my finger, rubbed some gold Novu mousse over it. Not bad for recycling.  Lastly, added a trim with thin copic wire. Folks, this was another experimental play session.
 
Needed a way to add the sentiment, but didn't want to stack any more on the heart layers. Found an arrow die. Cut 2 layers from a business card(more recycle!), used a gold pen to color each layer. [Remember to color the white edges that can be seen when stacking dies]. Heat embossed the sentiment  in gold onto a snippet of cream textured c/stock, punched holes in this with a tiny hand punch. Twisted some more of the copper wire to hang it from the arrow. (the wire inspiration came from this card)
 
Embossed a heart EF, stacked all of it on a white card base, Voila. So I'm off to link up with February's CAS Mix up. Why not join in?

Hope you'll take time to check out the Cards by Friends page...there's a gorgeous new card added.

Thanks for joining me today. Hugs and have a grand weekend. Come again when you can.


2/08/2018

Quilt Valentine

Hello there. Let's cut to the chase, here's the card!



Gina Marie Quilt die, with the pieces left from cutting another quilt card. If using double sided paper, this only needs one pass of the die, as you can reverse the paper design to create the pattern. If single side paper, you need to use 2 different pieces, which results in 2 quilts. Used a Martha Stewart punch and white snippet to cut the small hearts. Colored with red copics, added some glossy accents. The border is an old MS punch, cut from a white snippet. A red mirror snippet cut the scripty sentiment. SU E/F for the white background.
 
Just a few more to finish up, photo, make inserts and get in the mail. Might take some St. Pat's day motifs with me to Florida if I can get some stamped. Still hunting for Mr. MoJo, but at least the UFO box is coming in handy!
 
Ya'll have a great afternoon. Hope it's nice where you are. Hugs.
  

2/07/2018

Technique Valentine

Hi. Another valentine...as that's what I've been working on. This one was fun - used some Lindy's Magicals mica powder, spray and Pink Himalayan salt (thanks to Bonnie's generosity). Created the background on a play day, and then wondered how to use it.

 
 
- wet heavy weight c/s and sprayed a mixture of Pink Dylusions which had been mixed with white & water. While it was very wet, sprinkled a pinky shade of Lindy's Magical mica powder over it. Used the spritzer tool to move it around the paper. Then sprinkled a coarse grind of Pink Himalayan salt over the surface and left it alone. The salt wicks up the liquid & creates some interesting texture on the surface of the c/s. Not sure it's visible in the photo, but it's there.
 
Sponged some Pearl Cosmic Shimmer over the surface (this is a new product to me, and wanted to see what it does.) The jar has a sponge in the top of it...and I learned you need to do this very lightly. Didn't mean to get as heavy a result as I did, but since the background was rather dark, this looked ok...just sayin' use a lighter hand than I did.
 
S/B heart die cut out the shape & emboss the design. Stitched heart is from a Gina Marie heart die set, and Fiskars punched silver heart  heat embossed with Altenew Antique Silver EP.  Lace doily from VOS. Heart EF embossed textured gray c/stock, sponged lightly with Memento inks in the purple family, added some Cosmic Shimmer around the surface too.  MBox die sentiment heat embossed with Altenew Silver EP. Added the pearls and called this one done.
 
Take care, thanks for visiting, and hugs. 

2/06/2018

Watercolor Valentine

Hi, thanks for surfing in. Another UFO Valentine - from an effort at trying some Gansai water colors and spattering. This background was just brushed on a piece of cardstock handy at the time I felt in the mood to play. I had also been using a pink Dylusions spray mixed with water and white Dylusions spray. Haven't played with those sprays for a bit. Tried again with the spatter stuff. This _should not_ be that difficult a technique, but I tend to get blobs rather than spatters.

 
 
- Brushed red Gansai water color trying to get the ombre look that is so popular. This was not watercolor weight c/s..it didn't pill, but warped a little. Started to toss it, but I've learned to wait, look and think a bit before trashing - usually. The pink spatters got put on later when I was playing with Dylusions spray with another effort and just shook the spray tube around over the surface of this piece. Still thinking "this is just trash anyway". At least I didn't get big blobs this time.
 
Had the white cutout section laying around so started to play with placing that along with the black THoltz twig heart and hmmm....could this become anything? My creative process is not very complicated as you can see! Went through the lace box (which I have tons of lace from when I used to sew)...and just started placing the bits around. We have a large extended family, so I need a few Valentine cards. Figure since I'm their aunt, they will be forgiving if it's not the greatest card in the world. (and people always appreciate your time and your thoughts for them, even if you're not the greatest artist in the world!) That said, I don't deliberately try to do a rubbish card. I've discovered that often when I don't like my results, a kind relative will say they liked it.
 
Added the gold braid since I meant to use the mirror gold for the sentiment (once this got going) and a black glitter heart, snippet from another card. Again, a "get-er done card". (Thanks Lynn...that is a very useful phrase!) Creating something, even if MoJo has wandered off.
 
Thanks for your visit, God Bless and hugs. Hope any who are feeling poorly, are on the mend. 


Edit: a sweet blogger friend just gave me a heads up that this card will fit in with the February Watercolour Challenge ..so off to link up! (thanks Miz B)

2/05/2018

Red and Black Quilt Valentine

Hello, welcome, and here we are at the beginning of another week. Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and I'm trying to finish a few. Been going through the UFO's, finding some 'schtuff', and trying to think of ways to use it. We are hoping to be in Florida for Valentine's Day, so need to get ahead of the game with a few for the near & dear; therefore will be doing a few scheduled posts.

 
 
The quilt front was made some time ago using a Gina Marie Quilt die. Thought the red & black might work for a Valentine card, if I added some embellies on it...
 
SU E/F for the card front, and this looks a bit warped in the photo. The eyes thought it looked ok, but the camera didn't. Guess a couple books will go atop this prior to inserting in an envelope. :-)
 
The bold sentiment has dimension added by a dark sticky-back fun foam. Finally was able to find the sticky back foam in the local Hobby Lobby. Glued that to a black glitter snippet...cut the quilt binding, the MBox heart border from the same black snippet. As my friend Lynn says "this is a get'er done card".
 
Thanks for stopping by and ya'll come back when you have time. Hugs & Blessings.
 


2/03/2018

Christmas Card Club Challenge #3 - Angels

Welcome to #3 Christmas Card Club Challenge for 2018. This week's challenge theme is Angels or Fairies, chosen by Granmargaret.  I found a cute NBUS Inky Antic clear set that seemed to fit the bill. Did the first card, and was not real happy with how it turned out. I used a S/B die that I tried to shorten to fit the size of card that I generally make, and then wasn't thrilled with the color that the heat embossing powder turned out to be.

First however, please help me welcome a new follower: Sheryl, of I Am. I found Sheryl's blog when she was introduced by Maxine (Kiwime's Kreations) and popped over to say hello. Met Sheryl and now I, too,  have a new friend. If you have time, do please go over to say Hi to Sheryl, and enjoy what she is sharing. Isn't fun how we can meet new friends like this????

http://kiwimeskreations.blogspot.com/

#1




- S/B Flourished Frame cut the rounded center motif and the rectangle that fits around it. Edged the image with Wow embossing ink, then heat embossed with Ranger Queen's Gold. Used a White Pearl EP on the outer rectangle. To get a sheen on the angels' wings, I used a tiny brush coated with White Opal Liquid Pearls mixed with Stickles Star Dust, and that turned out with a nice sparkle. 

- Next mat layer is S/B Cascading Grace, which was much too large for the card base. Split the center portion out, joined with 1/8" double side adhesive. It doesn't meet just perfectly & that disappointed me.  Heat embossed with NBUS Altenew Peach EP, since I wanted to use the starry background DP. I'm not sure what made me think this peach color would look more like rose gold that would work with the dp. It's ok, but doesn't really float my boat. Used a gold braid ribbon, not thinking this would be too thick under the image and sentiment. Additionally it has a tendency to fray. Had tried another gold ribbon to hide the split in the mat, but it looked wimpy. Thought about this overnight, decided to have another try.

#2


Die cut the image - liked the coloring better in this card - with another die shape ( can't remember now which one it was!) Used a red Copic Spica pen to color the candles, orange for the flame.  Edged this die shape with embossing ink, then Altenew Platinum EP. Really liking this EP. Gold mat under this layer is S/B Gold Label #4. Covered cardstock with a sheet of double stick adhesive, then die cut. Embossed using the rubber pad; peeled off the top layer of the adhesive; sprinkled well with Ritz Glitter in a gold color. Burnished, but think some of the embossed areas around the outer edge might show in the photo.

Another S/B die for the bottom mat, did the same double stick adhesive gig, and sprinkled Cool White Glitter Ritz. This card looks much better IRL, than my photos show. Asked DH which he liked best, but he wouldn't commit. I like #2 better.

4 layers of white snippets cut with a MBox word die, layered , then heat embossed with Queen's Gold. The photo shows some white in the layers, so think a gold pen will fix this. The bottom edges of the word have Darice dimension strips tucked underneath, since the top part is resting on the die layers. So which do you like best?

Please take time to go visit my team members' interpretation of the Angels or Fairies Challenge. Their blog links are listed on the right side bar.

Have a great Sunday, God Bless, and I hope anyone who is dealing with the flu or any other sickness, will be feeling tiptop again real soon. Come again when you have time.