More Easter Cards

Hi! I promised to return and show you the detailed Easter cards I made for my friend - these were super fun. You can make this wreath for EVERY season throughout the year and the dies, again like the Bunny Hop dies shown yesterday, offer lots of variety and flexibility. It's not often I enjoy mass producing, BUT when you can change up small details - like the colors of the greenery or mushrooms - it makes it fun. 

I stamped all the wreaths at the same time, changing up colors as I mentioned - and same thing, I die cut them all at the same time. In my head, I wanted a really soft yellow background - don't ask me what happened, but I used watercolor and it turned out SUPER bright. LOL WHY I did not ink blend on the yellow, I will never know. I splattered on some color and then thought about it for a few days and decided to add vellum to tone it down a bit. I sewed the vellum to the water color paper; heat embossed the sentiment and adhered the wreath with fun foam. As you can see, I cut the card layer with 3 different dies; only two shown here - but it added a nice variety to the cards. 

Thanks for stopping by; let's see if I can pop in more than once a month - that's my goal! With the loss of my father, moving my mother - twice in less than 90 days - changing jobs, and regular life, things have been a bit crazy!

See you again soon!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: The Greetery Bountiful Wreath and Empty Grave

Inks: All from Taylored Expressions, Versamark, distress inks (mustard seek, fossilized amber)

Papers: Various TE card stock for bases, Ranger water color card stock, vellum, Neenah 110 lb. white

Accessories: The Greetery Bountiful Wreath Dies, various A2 die cuts, Janome Sew Mini, black embossing powder

CHALLENGES: 

All the dimension birthday card

Hi friends - I have taken a long break; I've been creating here and there but nothing to really show! BUT I have a dear friend celebrating a birthday this week so that means I wanted to make a super girly, 3D, throw everything on the creation birthday card! :D

I have some new papers from Prima, Amelia Rose - goodness gracious, the colors are soooo pretty! They were my jumping off point along with a pretty pink flower! I distressed all the paper, added some pearlescent texture to the rose, some Bo Bunny Tutu glitter paste and finally some gesso.

To the very bottom (black/floral layer), I painted on some gesso with my fingers (which is pretty much covered up - ha) and on the very top layer, I painted on some tattered rose distress crackle paint, again with my fingers - such fun! I cut some banners, stitched those on, added some washi tape (outside and inside), and lots of various stickers; some from Heidi Swapp (Word Jumbles Pink and Gold and Clear and Gold, Momenta Friendship Vellum Stickers and ...others from my stash!

I die cut several leaves from MFT's layered leaves and some from Altenew Wings of Hope and layered those behind the flowers and of course, carried the theme, colors and washi tape to the inside of the card too.

Thanks for stopping by; I hope you have a GREAT week!

HUGS!


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: NONE

Inks: NONE

Papers: Prima Amelia Rose, PTI True Black
Accessories: washi tape, Heidi Swapp Clear and Gold, Pink and Gold Stickers, Momenta Friendship Vellum stickers, gesso, MFT Layered Leaves dies, Altenew Wings of Hope dies, Bo Bunny Tutu Glitter Paste, Janome Sew Mini, Tattered Rose Crackle Paint, pearlescent paste, Nuvo drops

Challenges:
  Time Out Challenge #110

Verve's April Release - Day 2

Welcome back to Day 2 of Verve's April Release Spotlight Hops!  The Verve Divas and special guest are back for another day of spotlighting our new release! Everything previewed this week will be available to order in the Verve online shop on Tuesday, April 10.

Today we're sharing our first projects featuring the Hope Lifts stamp set and coordinating Lifted Hope Die Set.

Hands down; this is my favorite set - again, those fonts!!! And that balloon and butterfly; oh goodness, I have a lot of cards coming at you with this set...but only two for today! :D Once again, a clean and simple card up first.

I created a sunrise and the balloon taking off; I used distress oxide inks to paint the background. I stamped the balloon full strength in MFT Extreme Black Ink and colored with Copics; then the flowers below were stamped with MFT Steel Grey - all second generation. Those gorgeous flowers are from Verve's Because of You (I didn't see this in the shop; it may be retired - but no worries, Julee has LOTS of other sets that would work just as well!). The main panel is mounted with fun foam onto gray card stock, then the base card.

The next card - well yeah, I ventured into the mixed media world again this time using another Verve stamp set, Great Friend. I stamped the butterflies and flowers on designer paper; used the Lifted Hope die set for the butterflies and cut the flowers by hand. I did add the new Lacey Scallop borders; one on each side (sneak peek - EEEKKKKK!!!).  Layered up some designer paper, some neutral card stock that I ran through my paper crimper and painted with some white paint.

For the flower, I actually mixed some Picked Raspberry distress ink with Snowflake paste. Once the card was completely assembled - yep, that's the truth - I wanted to add a sentiment! :D I stamped the sentiment on vellum in VersaFine black, added clear embossing powder and melted, then wedged it between the flowers. I finished it off with some zig zag stitching and left the ends loose.

And don't forget, we have...

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for the full hop list, a little more about our new products and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 5. Laurie 2. Michele (Guest) 6. Marisa 3. Betty 7. Maureen 4. Charmaine 8. Teresa

Thanks for hopping along with us; hope you love all the new goodies as much as we do! See you tomorrow!

HUGS!



CARD 1:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Hope Lifts and Because of You

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Distress Oxide: Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick

Papers: Ranger water color, MFT Steel Grey and Tickled Pink
Accessories: Copics, MFT Blueprints, washi tape

CARD 2:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Hope Lifts and Great Friend
Inks: VersaFine, MFT Extreme Black

Papers: MFT Steel Grey, DP by Altenew
Accessories: white paint, Lifted Hope Die, Doodlebug enamel dots, paper crimper, Janome Sew Mini, PTI A2 Scalloped Vertical Die, Heidi Swapp distressor, misc. stickers, MFT Blueprints

Challenges:

Love You

Today is our anniversary, so I thought it was another great day to share more love! Yes, it's a Valentine's Day card but like I said, love should be shared every single day!

This one was SUPER fun to make! It's another smooshed water color panel using the PTI Mix and Mat Heart die - the easy part! Then I die cut 6 hearts from 3 different pieces of designer paper and adhered them mix and match style. I then sewed all 3 to the card and left the strings to hang loose; you can also peek behind the hearts and see a different piece of designer paper - FUN!

I die cut the 'you' several times from black card stock and 1 time from black glitter card stock; adhered them together and added to the hearts. I then stamped the LOVE from Verve's Love Notes, colored in the heart and mounted everything on to fun foam before mounting to the base A2 Scalloped Die from PTI.

I decorated the inside and another one in the books!

TFL; hope you have a great day!

HUGS!


WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Verve Love Notes, SSS You Matter, Elle's Studio XOXO

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Distress Oxide Candied Apple and Worn Lipstick

Papers: Reverse Confetti True Love, PTI True Black, Black Glitter Papaer
Accessories: washi tape, Janome Sew Mini, PTI Mix and Mat Heart dies, PTI A2 Scalloped dies

Challenges:

Love You

More Valentine's cards! I'm telling you, we have LOTS to get through. But love should be enjoyed every single day, so I hope you don't mind!

I bought these Happy Heart Day quick cards from Reverse Confetti probably a few years ago; I 'uncovered' them while making Valentine's cards and knew they would be so quick and easy to whip up for a card...guess that's why they call them 'quick cards' *snort*! Here's a card I made a few years ago with one of the other quick cards. 

This was another super simple one to pull together using the stamps from Elle's Studio XOXO set. I stamped the sentiment in MFT Extreme Black and the 'all my love' symbol stamp in oxide candied apple.

The heart at the top is actually pink, but I stamped over it with Hero Arts Unicorn ink using another image from the MFT Distressed Hearts set. Yeah...I kinda like that set.

I once again used some extra hearts just hanging out on my desk from THIS die. There is actually a faux stitch line across the top of the quick card, so I used my sewing machine to stitch across and leave the ends loose - I kinda love that look and forget to use it! More designer paper on the inside and washi tape to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT weekend!

HUGS!


WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: MFT Distressed Hearts, Elle's Studio XOXO 

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Hero Arts Unicorn, Distress Oxide Candied Apple

Papers: Reverse Confetti True Love, PTI Hibiscus Burst and Pure Poppy
Accessories: Clear wink of stella, Janome Sew Mini, PTI Mix and Mat Hearts, MFT Blueprints

Challenges:

Love You So Much!

Hi friends - it's FRI-YAY; who else is as excited about Friday as me? Look, Friday has its very own fan club:


And not only is it Friday but I have a card to share with you! I stamped this flower from April's Hero Arts Monthly Card kit on Strathmore water color paper and embossed with white then I tried my hand at REAL water coloring; you know where you lay some color down, let it dry, add more, etc. Meh...but I will admit it grew on me. I did the entire flower and blue wash and put it aside for about a week while I thought about it. HA - true story!

I decided last night to finish it off; I NEEDED to create; that's my me time and I was desperately needing it! I did use my Zig Clean Color brushes to add some additional touches then kept the rest very simple. The 'love' is cut from vellum and sewn to the front of the card; I didn't have a small stitched flag so I used square pierced dies from MFT and cut the size panel I needed - so easy and worked perfectly; I trimmed the ends to create the flag and stamped the sentiment in Hero Arts black ink.

That's it - pretty easy and straightforward. And can I just say...I am the absolute WORST at gluing things on straight...the water color panel over the purple panel isn't straight and it drives me bonkers but I used creative tape which is SO STICKY and couldn't make a change once it was adhered. I'm told you can use waxed dental floss to 'unstick' your layers but I have yet to get that to work - anyone have any insight to share?

Anywho, thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT weekend!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts April 2016 Card Kit (flower), Hero Arts LOVE stamp and cut
Papers: Strathmore water color paper, PTI Plum Pudding, Neenah 110 lb. white
Ink: VersaMark, Hero Arts Black

Accessories: PPP sequins, Zig Clean Color Brushes, Hero Arts white embossing powder, PTI vellum, Janome Sew Mini, MFT Blueprints

Challenges:
The Card Concept #54 (Spring Flowers)

More Watercolor Stamping + Hand Doodling

Remember THIS card and THIS video? Yes, Dawn really has me inspired - just wish I could be as 'loose' and free as she is with her watercoloring.

I decided to use the flowers from SSS's Birthday Flowers stamping all 3 solid images in distress ink and then hand doodling with distress markers and a sharpie. The zigzag lines are from WPlus9 Doodle Buds, stamped 2nd generation in Hero Arts Black and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. I added more of the zigzags in the same distress inks as the flowers, full-strength, then stamped the large HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Mama Elephant Birthday Wishes and sprayed the entire panel with Shimmer Mist sparkle spray, mounted on Smokey Shadow cardstock and added a few stickers from the SSS April card kit.

Once I stitched the designer paper to another layer of Smokey Shadow, I did some distressing with my fingernails - yep, #truth! It worked! HA HA Everything was mounted on a white card base.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT weekend!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: SSS Birthday Flowers, Mama Elephant Birthday Wishes, WPlus9 Doodle Buds
Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, DP by SSS, Strathmore Waercolor Paper, PTI Smokey Shadow
Ink: Distress Inks: Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Cracked Pistachio, Hero Arts Black

Accessories: sparkle shimmer mist, stickers from SSS April card kit, Janome Sew Mini, MFT Blueprints

Challenges:

With Love - 2015

Hi friends - how's the week treating you? Looking forward to Friday? I AM!!

I have 2 Valentine's cards I made a year ago - YES, A YEAR AGO and never got around to sharing them.

What can I say... HA, but I'm here to share some love with you now...early, we're not even to February yet!

They are both straightforward and simple (I'll share the other one soon) - stamping, coloring, embossing and some sewing. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Verve Visual No Matter What
Papers: DP by MME, MFT Whip Cream, SU Real Red
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Ladybug Red

Accessories: glossy accents, Tim Holt tag, PTI twine, Janome Sew Mini, heart embossing folder

Hi...remember me?

WOW - 2015 has gone out with a bang and 2016 is here!! Here's a brief rundown of life since Friday the 13th (11/13/15)...

After many months of tests and procedures, my mom was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoma, she started chemo 12/15/15, it's been anything but good since then. BUT we do believe she will beat this.

I had outpatient surgery 12/21/15.

My computer decided to crash and burn 12/23/15. Whee, I did not have a new computer on my Christmas wish list, but I like my new computer!!


So I'm finally back to posting - goodness sakes, it's been awhile! I have tons of things made, just need some time to share. I made this vintage Santa card several months ago; obviously planned to share it before Christmas, but sometimes life just does not work out as planned.

Meanwhile, anyone thinking about their 'one little word' for 2016? I have a couple rolling around in my head, need to find the one that STICKS! If you have yours chosen, share with me, I love hearing from YOU!

Thanks for stopping by; hope to see you again soon!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Inkadinkado Santa
Papers: Copic XPress It, DP by MME, MFT Neutral
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Old Paper Distress Ink

Accessories: Janome Sew Mini, Copics, clear wink of stella