Saturday, May 11, 2013

Hello! Welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by. I design and create handcrafted greeting cards. I like to call this passion of mine "visual poetry" ....imagery on paper. Please feel free to browse the photos of my cards and leave a comment.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Thinking of You in Teal



Hello, everyone! In yesterday's post I promised to share  another card today which I made for a challenge at Joan's Touch. I just love the peach and teal colors together. They are so soft and remind of spring which, hopefully, will arrive here soon.

My base card is white, layered with peach and then teal. For the focal point layer I cut a white panel, scored it on all 4 sides and adhered it to my base card. Next, I cut an intricate circular shape in white card stock using Marianne Craftables Tiny's Hearts die. My sentiment is from GKD Dogwood & Butterfly stamp set and was stamped in this circle in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I matted that with a teal circle created with Spellbinders Standard Circles die. This finished circle was then adhered to my base and put aside while I worked on the actual focal point.

In creating my flower, I stamped HFC Sun Kissed Fleur stamp on white card stock and colored each flower with Copic markers. This stamp is one very large stamp and includes different size flower petals and leaves. Next, I cut the flowers with HFC Sun Fleur die,  a large die which cuts all the flowers petals at once. After cutting I shaped the flower petals and layered them to create the completed flower. I added a peach pearl to the center.

The butterfly is layered: the bottom layer is a peach digital butterfly stamp which I cut out. The top intricate layer was created with Memory Box Vivienne Butterfly die in black card stock. The two layers were then attached to each other.

Finally, I put the card together. I cut two leafy swirls in green card stock using Marianne Creatables Anja's Vintage Swirls die and adhered them, one on either side of the circle. The flower was positioned in the upper part of the circle and popped on to the circle with dimensionals. The butterfly was positioned in the lower portion of the circle and also popped on with dimensionals.

This completed my card. I hope you like it and stop by often to see what I've shared on my blog.  Thanks for visiting and have a creative day!


This card was entered into the following challenges:
Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #4
613 Avenue Create  -   Challenge #63 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  - Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody  -   Challenge #39 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge  -  Challenge #102 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #123 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #9 - Anything Goes
The Outlawz  -  Twisted Thursday - T031314
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #13 - Anything Goes
Love to Create - Challenge #106 - Anything Goes
My Craft Creations  - Challenge Mar 3 - 16


Saturday, March 15, 2014

Follow Your Dreams



Hello!  Here is a card I made for this week's challenge at Joan's Touch. The criteria for this challenge were:  colors of peach and teal, a circle, and layered  butterflies. 

I began with stamping a clear vase, from GKD Buds and Vases stamp set, on white card stock  in Memento Espresso Truffle ink and coloring it with Copics. I cut and embossed this focal panel with Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles

In my next step, using a stamp  from GKD Dogwood and Butterfly stamp set, I stamped the floral image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, positioning the image to appear coming out of the vase. I stamped the floral image a second time on white card stock, colored it with Copics and cut out just the flowers, not the stem. I then popped the colored image over the stamped image.

The butterfly in the upper left is a colored digital stamp that I found on Etsy.  I cut it out twice and layered one on top of the other, although the photo doesn't show the layers. The other butterfly was created with Spellbinders Les Papillions Two. The bottom layer of this butterfly is in teal and was cut and embossed with the solid die from this die set. The top layer was cut in black with the intricate die from this set. 

The sentiment was computer generated. I Used Martha Stewart's Rose Window punch to cut out the circular shape. Before attaching it to the focal panel, I sponged the edges with PTI Hawaiian Shores ink.

I used white card stock for my base which I layered with peach. The focal panel was matted with teal and then adhered to the base. That completed my project.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with another card for the challenge at Joan's Touch.


This card was entered into the following challenge(s);
Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #4
TTCRD  -  Mar 11 Challenge  -  Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
The Outlawz  -  Twisted Thursday - TT030614 -Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #123 - Anything G
Challenges 4 Everybody  -  Challenge #39 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls - Challenge #14 - Anything Goes
Craftitude   -  Challenge #60 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #9 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge  -  Challenge #102 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #26 - Anything Goes


Thursday, March 13, 2014

Hippie Birthday




This card is a "retro" card (I think) made for a challenge at The Outlawz. I have had this stamp set for quite a while but had never used it. I was saving it for a birthday card to make for a male friend at some point. 

The mini bus and flowers are stamps from GKD So Groovy stamp set. The sentiment is my own, generated by computer. 

The base card was made using GKD Grass Green card stock. I cut a layer in white, scored it on all four sides and adhered it to my base. The pattered paper is one that I found on Etsy. I matted it with the green card stock and adhered that to the white layer of my base card.

I stamped the flowers on the mini bus and then colored them with Copics. Next, I colored the bus, also with Copics, and cut it out. I created the wheels by cutting small circles in black card stock using Spellbinders Standard Circles die. For the wheel centers I used silver mirror paper cut with a regular paper punch.After assembling the wheels on the mini bus, I popped it on my card with dimensionals.

The computer generated sentiment was cut out with Spellbinders Double Ended Tags die. To give it some color, I stamped two flowers on white card stock, colored them, cut them out and then adhered them to either end of the sentiment tag which was then popped on with dimensionals.

Thanks for visiting!  Stop by again!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
The Outlawz  -  CAS030914 -  Retro

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Coffee Clutch



Hello! Here is a card I made for The Outlawz Greeting Card challenge where the theme was "coffee and friends."

I used red card stock as my base card and added a layer of white. On top of that I layered some patterned paper I had in my stash. 

Both images are digital images and were computer generated on white card stock. The "coffee girl" is from Etsy (Art and Scrap Shop) and the coffee pot is from Sweet Clip Art. Both were colored with Copic markers.

After coloring the coffee girl image, I used Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges die to cut out the panel, sponged it with Memento Summer Sky ink and adhered it to the patterned layer. The coffee pot image was cut out with scissors and then popped onto the focal point panel.

I don't think my mojo was on the right track today because I wasn't completely  happy with the result of this project. Other than the coloring of the images, I had a hard time putting it all together. I think I need more sleep (yawn).

Thanks for paying a visit to my blog. Have a creative day!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
The Outlawz  -   GCC0310 - Coffee and Friends

Friday, March 7, 2014

Great Day


This is another card I made for this weeks challenge at Joan's Touch.

I began with a base card in green (GKD's Christmas Pine) card stock and layered it with white. Next, using Marianne Creatables Anja's Squares die, I cut a frame in green and adhered it to my card.

I cut a panel of white card stock slightly larger then the green frame and I randomly stamped leaf branches from GKD's Signs of Spring stamp set in GKD's Green Grass ink. Next, I cut this panel using another die from the same Marianne Creatables die set. Finally, I embossed it with a Sizzix Square Lattice embossing folder and adhered it to the green frame.

The sentiment is from GKD's Stately Flowers 7. I stamped in on white card stock with black ink and then die cut and embossed it with a Marianne Craftable Passe-Partout Oval die. Without removing it from the die, I sponged it with GKD's Grass Green ink, removed it from the die and then popped it on my card as the final step.

Thanks for stopping by and please visit often!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #3
Word Art Wednesday  - Challenge #122 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create Challenge #61 - Anything Goes
Mod Squad  -  Spring Palette Challenge
Challenges 4 Everyone  -  Challenge #39 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #13
Loves Rubber Stamps  - Challenge #93 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #47 - Anything Goes
The Outlawz  -  Twisted Thursday - Anything Goes


Aster Greens


Hello to all you crafters! Today's card was made for a challenge at Joan's Touch. It called for using the colors of green and white, an embossing folder (inking inside optional), and an oval. The photo above was taken in a different setting than I usually do so the white panels/layers look cream colored but they are actually white card stock.

I used Christmas pine card stock (we still have snow here, albeit slowly melting) from GKD for my base card and added a white layer.

I cut and embossed a frame in green using a Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles die. Next, I inked the raised side of the inside of a Darice Interlocking Circles embossing folder with GKD Grass Green ink and then embossed a white panel in the folder. This was then adhered to the green frame and popped on to the base with dimensionals.

The green oval was cut and embossed with Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles dies. The sentiment, from GKD Elegant Florals, was stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed with white EP. I popped it onto the framed panel with dimensionals.

The flower, cut from HFC Delicate Asters dies, and the leafy sprigs, from Poppy Stamps die,  were added to complete the project. As a final touch, I added a white pearl to the center of the aster.

Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for visiting!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #3 
The Outlawz  -  Twisted Thursday - Mar 5-11  -   Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #122  -  Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #61 - Anything Goes
Mod Squad  -  Spring Palette Challenge
Challenges 4 Everybody  -  Challenge #39 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Challenge - Challenge #13  -  Anything Goes
Loves Rubber Stamps  -  Challenge #93 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #47 - Anything Goes


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

In Honor of Ukraine


I made this card in support and honor of Ukraine. The colors of Ukraine are blue and yellow....the blue representing the heavens and yellow (gold) representing Ukraine's abundant wheat.

I began by using blue card stock for my base. I cut a panel in cream card stock to layer over the blue and punched each corner with an EK Success Victorian Lace corner punch. I matted it with gold card stock in order that the gold show through the punched corners. This was then adhered to the blue card base.

For my focal point, I stamped the wheat bundle image, using PTI First Fruits stamp set, in Versamark and then embossed it with gold EP. Putting that aside I cut and embossed the blue frame using a Spellbinder's Captivating Squares die. Next, I cut out the middle of that frame using a Spellbinders Petite  Ovals die. I adhered my focal image to the back of the frame and then popped it on to my card with dimensionals. The sentiment, which is in Ukrainian, was computer generated and translates as Glory to Ukraine. 

Thanks for stopping by and please come again. My door is always open!

Hello Yellow Crocus



Hello, fellow crafters! This card was made for The Outlawz color challenge where the theme colors were yellow, blue and cream. I also decided to make this card in support and honor of Ukraine, my fatherland, whose colors are blue for the sky and yellow for Ukraine's wheat. 

I decided to make the card a square one, 5x5 inches. I started out using cream for my base. I added a blue layer which was embossed with a lattice embossing folder (unknown brand) and then adhered to the base. 

For my focal point, I stamped the crocus flowers image (from GKD Signs of Spring stamp set) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on a cream card stock panel and then colored it with Copic markers. Next, I cut and embossed the panel with the largest die from Spellbinders Gold Ivy dies. This was popped onto my card with dimensionals. 

The sentiment is from GKD's Wild Flowers stamp set and was stamped in black ink and then cut and embossed with Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges die. While still in the die, it was sponged with GKD Powder Blue ink and then popped on to my focal panel.

This completed my project. Hope you liked it and looking forward to adding another post shortly.  Thanks for stopping by today. Come back again!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
The Outlawz  -  Tuesday Color Challenge  -  CC0304
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #61 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  March 4 Challenge  - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #122 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
Mod Squad  - Spring Palette Challenge
IBS -  Monthly Challenge  - Flowers
Crafty Girls - Challenge #12 - Anything Goes

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Don't Lose Hope



Hello!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday offered a challenge to create a card with a stamped image but......with NO COLORING. In the card that I made for this challenge my image and sentiment are blue but that was done by embossing with blue embossing powder. For a finishing touch I added some score lines across the bottom and right edges.

The products I used in this CAS card were as follows:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury white
Stamps:  HFC Sun Kissed Fleur Swirls, GKD Don't Lose Hope
Ink:   Versamark
Other:  Blue Embossing Powder

This was a very simple and easy card to create. I like to think, as the expression goes, that "less is more."  Hope you liked it and thanks for taking the time to stop and visit.



This card was entered in the following challenge(s):
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday  -  Challenge #260 - Less is More
TTCRD  -  Feb 25-Mar 3  -  Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #184 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  - Challenge #45 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #120 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #12  - Anything Goes
Sunshine  Mail  -  Feb 15-28 - Anything Goes
IBS Blog Hop  -  Feb 20 Challenge - Flowers


Monday, February 24, 2014

Smiling Thoughts




Melanie Muenchinger, Illustrator for Gina K. Designs StampTV, did a video using the emboss resist technique, the result of which, was just stunning. This inspired me to make a card for a friend using this same technique.

I prepared my base card in white card stock, sizing it to 5"x5". I cut a layer 1/4 inch smaller in black card stock and adhered it to my base. I put this aside while I worked on my focal point.

For the focal point I cut a panel slightly smaller than the black layer. I stamped my flower border, from HFC Sun Kissed Fleur Border and Corner stamp set, in Versamark ink. It was then embossed with clear EP.

Next, I sponged GKD Honey Mustard ink over my focal point panel, going from dark over the flower border to light at the opposite edge on the right. The sentiment, from GKD Elegant Florals was stamped in GKD Black ink. This panel was then adhered to my card.

Here is a photo of the inside:


 I was very pleased with the way this card turned out. I hope you liked it as well.
Thanks for stopping by and please come again! 


This card was entered into the following challenge(s)
The Outlawz  -  GCC0224 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Feb 18-24 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #120 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #45 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #60 - Anything Goes
MFP Speedy TV  -  Challenge #85 - Simple Salutations  
Sunshine Mail  -   Feb 16-28 - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge  -  F is for Flowers 
Crafty Girls Challenges  -  Challenge #12 - Anything Goes 
IBS Blog Hop  -  Feb 20 Challenge - Flowers
 

Friday, February 21, 2014

Happy Anniversary in Gold


I love gold on black, be it in cards or jewelry on clothing. Here was my chance to use this color scheme. Mod Squad's challenge was to "Go for the Gold" and create a card incorporating either gold, silver or bronze in our creations. I chose   gold.

I made my base card using white card stock and layered it with black. Using the rose image from GKD's Stately Flowers 6, I created my background on a white panel by stamping the rose flower randomly using Versamark ink and then embossing it with gold EP. This background panel was adhered to the black layer. All other images were also stamped with Versamark and embossed in gold.

The hearts were cut using dies from Heartfelt Creations Timeless Amour. I stamped my sentiment (GKS/s Elegant Post) on the larger heart and added leaf branches (GKD's The Vine). For the smaller hearts, on one I stamped the leaf branch and then added love birds from PTI Love Birds stamp set. On the other I used a small rose image from a wood stamp that I had on hand. These were all attached to my background panel and the project was complete.

I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoyed this post. I'll be back soon with more.


This card was entered into the following challenge(s)
Mod Squad  -  Go for the Gold
Sister Act  -  Challenge #45 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #120 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Feb 18-24  -  Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #59 - Anything Goes
The Outlawz  -  Twisted Thursday - Anything Goes

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Classy and Fabulous



Joan's Touch offered a challenge which was to include the colors of pink and black, a bow and a lady. This is what I came up with.

I started with a pink card base and added a black layer. For my focal point I needed to have an image of a lady but didn't have any that would work with the idea I had in mind. So I went searching and found this digital image at Just Inklined. I colored the image with copics, giving her a black dress with a pink waistband and hemline ruffles. I thought she looked pretty good (chuckle).

Now I had to come up with a sentiment. I had a stamp from GKD's Border Bling stamp set that I thought was perfect to use with the lady image. However, the stamp was too big and would not fit in the space I had open for a sentiment. So I computer generated it and it worked out very well. I then cut and embossed that panel with Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles and adhered it to the black layer.

I cut out the lady image and popped it onto the card. I added my bow to the upper left corner and it was done.

Thanks for stopping by!


This card was submitted into the following challenge(s)
TTCRD  -  Feb 18-24 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #119 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #44 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #59  - Anything Goes
The Outlawz  -  TT021314  - Anything Goes
Sunshine Mail   - Anything Goes - (Feb)
Loves Rubber Stamps -  Challenge #91 - Funny Sentiment
CMC Copic Challenge Group  - Challenge #87 - Anything Goes


Monday, February 17, 2014

Heal "Beary" Soon


Hi, fellow crafters! Hope all are safe and warm in the US Northeast. We're getting some clippers here in Ohio but nothing to worry about. We've had to struggle with several -0 temps and snow a couple of weeks ago but this week we're heading towards temps near 50 and rain.  YAY!

My brother and sister-in-law were touring Spain last month when my sister-in-law had a mishap and injured her right arm. After returning to the US she had to have her arm put in a cast for 6 weeks.

I thought the little teddy bear with its right arm in a sling was a perfect image for the card I wanted to make for her.So I started out with a light pink card base. I layered it with chocolate brown card stock. I added another layer of darker pink which was cut and embossed with Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges die. For my focal point layer I used white card stock on which I had computer generated my sentiment and then cut and embossed it with a smaller die from the same die set. While still in the die, I sponged Memento Angel Pink ink over it.

The teddy bear image, from GKD's Under the Weather stamp set, was stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink, colored with Copics and then cut out. The floral image is from GKD's Grateful Heart STV Kit. I stamped this image in Memento Rose Bud ink. For the shadow effect, I inked the image in Memento Rich Cocoa ink, stamped it once on scratch paper, and then on my focal point layer. This layer was then adhered to my card and the teddy bear attached with dimensionals.

Here is a photo of the inside of the card:


Hope you enjoyed this post. I love to receive your comments so please feel free to add one. Until next time, Happy Almost Spring!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
The Outlawz  - GCC0217

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Quilled Hearts Birthday


I have a good friend whose birthday happens to fall on Valentine's Day. (How lucky can you get?) So I decided to incorporate hearts into her birthday card. I have yet to master quilling but I came across a card on line with quilled hearts and thought that would be a perfect idea for my card.

My color scheme consisted of white, pink and black. I started out with white card stock for my base card. I added a layer of black and then a layer of soft pink. For my focal point I die cut a white panel using Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles and matted it with black. I stamped a tree branch from PTI's Out On a Limb Revised stamp set. The birthday greeting is from PTI's Birthday Bash Sentiments stamp set. I then adhered this panel to my card using dimensionals.

I made the quilled hearts in different sizes (took me a while) and drew lines of different lengths from the tree branch using Memento markers. Then the hearts were adhered to the ends of the lines.

I don't do much quilling at all although I love the effects. With more practice (and patience) I hope to master this art.

Hope you're having a wonderful day flowing with creative ideas. Thanks for stopping by!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s)
613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #57 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Feb 4 Challenge  - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #118 - Anything Goes

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Trendy Birthday


A warm hello during this freeze that's hit so much of the US. Hope everyone is safe and keeping warm. I haven't stepped outside for several days except to peek out once a day to check mailbox. But a small heat wave is on the way....upper 20s and 30s.  LOL

I have a friend whose birthday is coming up and I made this card for her. I started out with cherry red card stock for the base. For the white layer I used Spellbinder's 5x7 Detailed Scallops die. Instead of leaving that layer plain in the center, I added a panel which was embossed with a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. 

Using the Memory Box Happy Birthday Extravaganza die, I cut the birthday greeting in cherry red card stock and adhered it to the embossed dotted swiss layer. The pump was cut from a Memory Box Platform Pumps die and popped on with dimensionals.

For the inside of the card..............

I stamped the 3 dress form stands using GKD's Friendship Like Ours stamp set in dark red ink. The inside message was computer generated. And the shoe is the other half of the Memory Box Platform Pumps die which I popped on with dimensionals.


Hope you enjoyed this post and my card. Thanks for stopping by and please stop by often to see my cards. Have a great day!


This card was entered in the following challenge(s);
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #117 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #56  -  Anything Goes
TTCRD  - Jan 27-Feb 4, 2014  - Anything Goes
The Outlawz - GCC0127 - Anything Goes 
Sister Act  -  Challenge #41 - Anything Goes 
MFP Speedy TV - Simple Salutations #82