90th Birthday

Hello! Today's card was made for a friend who asked that I make a card for a neighbor lady who was turning 90 years old in August. I was inspired by a card I came across created by Debbie Stevens, whose cards are amazing! 

I began with creating my focal panel. On a 5x5 inch panel of white card stock I cut out my leafy image by using a Cheery Lynn Ivy Corner Flourish die to create a negative space. The cut-out was put aside to be adhered later.  I added a piece of GKD Ocean Mist card stock behind the negative space. Next, I used a rectangle die to create an opening on my panel and then created a frame for the opening using 2 rectangular dies, one larger and the other smaller. This frame was positioned and attached over the opening. At this point the actual cut-out of the ivy corner was adhered to the card on the right side.

Next, I prepared another white panel about an 1/8 inch larger than my focal panel and determined where I needed to stamp my sentiment in order that it could be viewed through the frame on the focal panel. Once it was stamped, I layered the focal panel over the larger panel and adhered it with dimensional tape.  This was then matted with GKD Ocean Mist card stock and adhered to a white card base.

The flowers were cut and embossed using Marianne Floral Fantasy dies and then colored around the centers and outside edges of the petals with Copic markers. I added some microbeads and some glitter to the centers. I needed to put these aside for them to dry. When dry they were adhered to my focal panel. As a final step,  I added the "90" numerals to the card. This completed my project.  

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, happy crafting!

Tissue Technique Rose

Hi there, crafting friends! Have you ever worked with tissue paper in any of your card projects?  Facial tissue, wrapping tissue, even bathroom tissue?  I never have......until today. That was this week's challenge at Stamp TV.

I chose to use white wrapping tissue paper in my project. Never having done this before, I found a few videos demonstrating how it's done. Here's a link to one of the tissue technique videos.

 I selected a rose image from GKD Pressed Flowers and stamped it on the  tissue paper with GKD Peach Belini ink. Next, I used an outline image of the rose from GKD A Year of Flowers and stamped it over the image on the tissue paper using Memento Potter's Clay ink. I added a stem and leaves from the same sets using the same method,  stamping with Memento Bamboo Leaves and GKD Grass Green inks. My sentiment is from GKD Flowers Bloom and was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Having completed the stamping, in the next step I crumpled the tissue and then opened it up and gently adhered it to a white panel without smoothing it out. Any excess on the edges was cut off. This created that wonderful looking texture.  To make the rose flower really stand out, I repeated the technique on another piece of tissue paper, cut out the image and then adhered it with dimensionals over the rose on my panel. 

To complete my project, the focal panel was adhered to a layer of GKD Tomato Soup card stock which had been embossed with a textured linen embossing folder and then adhered to my base card which I prepared in white. I just love how this turned out. The texture the tissue paper created looks like an embossed background. I will have to use this technique more often.

Thanks for coming by! Don't be afraid to try this technique. It is not difficult and really a great way to add a little something extra to your card.  

Til next time, make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s) 

StampTV  -  STV15MON29 - Get Out the Tissue
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #133 - AG
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #69 - AG 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #95 - AG

Sister Act  -  Challenge #115 - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge Jul 21   -  AG

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #192 - AG

Favorite of the Bunch

Hello everyone!  I know, I know, it's too early to be thinking of autumn. And we all know what comes after autumn. Here in the states summer just began about 3 weeks ago. But this card was made for a challenge at Stamp TV where this week's theme was to "put your mask on".  So I chose the pumpkins and wheelbarrow images for my masking project. 

In the first step I die cut and embossed a piece of white card stock that I would be using for my focal panel.  The dies used were Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangles and Sue Wilson's Kefalonia die.  Before removing the dies, I sponged around the edges of the center die with Memento Cantaloupe ink. I put this aside to work on my images.

I used 3 different images for my focal point. The wheelbarrow image is from GKD Beyond Baskets stamp set, the pumpkin trio from GKD Heartfelt set and the single pumpkin is from GKD Autumn Splendor STV Kit.  I began with first stamping the single pumpkin on white card stock and stamped it again on another piece of card stock and then cut this one out to use as my "mask". The purpose of "masking" is to cover a stamped image in order that other images can be stamped around it. I used the mask to cover my pumpkin image and adhered it with repositional adhesive. I then stamped the wheelbarrow over the mask so that it would appear that the pumpkin is sitting in front the wheelbarrow. Next, I stamped the wheelbarrow image once more onto a piece of card stock and cut it out. I used this cut-out as a mask to cover the  wheelbarrow on my focal panel. I then positioned and stamped the pumpkin trio over the mask. This made it appear as if the pumpkins were sitting inside the wheelbarrow. After all the masking, I colored my completed image with Copic markers, cut it out and put it aside. The hard part was done.

For my card base, I used PTI Dark Chocolate card stock. My focal panel was then adhered to the base. At this point, I positioned and adhered the cut out wheelbarrow image to the focal panel using dimensionals. I stamped my greeting (from GKD You're My Favorite stamp set) using Memento Rich Cocoa ink and this completed my card. 

If you haven't tried the masking technique, have a go at it. I know you'll be pleased with the results. There are several video tutorials for those of us who, like myself, like to see techniques visually in lieu of reading "how to" tutorials.

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time, make it a great day! 

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Stamp TV  -  STV15MON28 - Put Your Mask On
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #68 -  AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #78 - AG 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #94 - AG
Papertake Weekly  -  July 14 Challenge - Don't be a Square
Sister Act  -  Challenge #115 - AG 
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #192 - AG

Cloudy Skies

Hello! I hope every one has had a fantastic week and is looking forward to the weekend. BBQs, visits to the ocean or pools, outdoor band concerts, carnivals and festivals and all sorts of activities are happening. Hope you'll be taking part in some of these fun things.

The sky is just beautiful this time of year (summer here in the states), bright blue even when there are clouds. And that was one of the themes for this week's challenge at the Mod Squad.  We had a pick of either water or sky. I chose sky for my project.

I began with die cutting my focal panel in white card stock using a die from Sue Wilson's Ornate Pierced Squares. Masking the edges of this panel, I created the clouds using a cloud template and Memento Summer Sky ink. In the next step I stamped the floral image, from SU Serene Silhouettes stamp set,  in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and added the fern image (from GKD Triple Play Frame set). The butterfly image is from GKD Sending Sunshine, the mountain from GKD Mountain Wilderness, and the birds and geese are from Stampscapes stamp sets.

My focal panel was matted in GKD Black Onyx card stock which had been cut and embossed with a die from Spellbinders 6x6 Matting Basics A.This was then adhered to a panel of SU Spring Rain card stock which had been embossed with a Sue Wilson Tartan Trellis embossing folder. Adhering this to a white card base completed my project.

Hope you'll find time to create this weekend amid the cookouts and swimming or any other fun thing you plan to enjoy. Whatever you do, make sure you make it a great day!


This card was entered in the following challenge(s):
Mod Squad  -  July 15 Challenge  -  Water or Sky

Let's Party!

Hello everyone! Today I'd like to share a card I made for my sister-in-law's birthday. For some odd reason, the last several cards I've made have been huge ones. I ended up having to make my own envelopes and adding additional postage to make sure they were not returned to sender....that's me!

Anyway, today's card  is one with a "party" theme. I created the dress and then added some various drinks to give it the "party" look. It was a fun card to make. I used a die from Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Borders to create the dress. Vellum was used to create the various colored drinks. The sentiment was computer generated along with the balloon graphic within the sentiment.

Below is a complete list of the products used:

Card Stock/Paper:  GKD ivory, GKD Wisteria Lane paper pack, GKD Garden Tour paper pack, vellum

Embossing Folder:  Creative Expressions Textured Linen

Dies:  Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Borders, Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, IO Mixed Drinks

Other:  ribbon, adhesive, dimensionals

Thank you for stopping by! Until next time, make it a great day!


(PS: I was honored to find out that this card was a Design Team Favorite at Crafting from the Heart Challenge)

This card was entered into the following challenge(s): 

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #132 - AG
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #68 - AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #72 - AG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #93 - AG
Inspiration Destination  -  Challenge #41  - AG
Papertake Weekly  -  July Challenge - AG
Sister Act  - Challenge #114 - AG
The Sisterhood of Crafters  -  July 8 Challenge - Happy Birthday
TTCRD  -  Jul 7-13 Challenge -  AG
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #191 - AG
V's Sweet Ideas  -  July Challenge - Celebrate

 

Pergamano Project

Hello, crafting friends!  I'd like to share with you all my very first Pergamano attempt. I happened to run across some absolutely beautiful Pergamano craft card project ideas on line and decided to try it out. I purchased a starter kit which came with instructions, patterns, parchment paper, perforating mat and a few basic tools

Before I did anything else, I watched video tutorials on how to do this parchment craft. My favorite tutorial is by Craft Academy which has a 5 part series. Here is a link to Part I - An Introduction to Parchment Craft.  Even though the kit came with instructions, I am a visual person and like to "see" how techniques are done. I learned what tools to use for various Pergamano techniques. And there are many, many tools out there each having a different purpose or result. As I master this craft, I will probably purchase more tools.

I began by selecting a pattern from the kit that I felt would be an easy one. I placed my pattern on the perforating mat followed by the parchment paper over the pattern. Next, I traced the pattern with the white gel pen provided in the kit. In the next step I embossed the areas marked on the pattern with the embossing tool. Then the flower petals and the butterfly were embossed using the "feather" technique (which is similar to feathering with Copic markers). The final step was to perforate around the entire image using a 2-needle perforating tool. This is where it became a challenge for me. I could not do a neat perforation around my image. This will entail lots of practice. I ended up cutting the image out, also a challenge for me around curves. Straight lines I can do just fine.....curves give me problems.  LOL

Anyway, although it's not the best job, I hope that with practice, I will get the hang of it. I gave myself a grade of B-. What do you think? Was I fair? 

There are some beautiful patterns out there, some you can download free on line. If you haven't tried this beautiful parchment craft, I encourage you to do so. I promise, you will fall in love with it just as I have.

 Let me know what you think of my first attempt. I would love your feed back. See you again soon with another card project. Have a wonderful day!

For You

Hello!  Happy Sunny Saturday! Hope your day is as beautiful where you are as it is here in my neighborhood....sunshine, warmth and a gentle breeze. Perfect weather!

Today's card that I'm sharing was made for Mod Squad's  "fast and easy" challenge. The products used in the challenge are as follows:

Card Stock  -  GKD pure luxury white, SU Blackberry Bliss
Stamps  -  GKD Stately Flowers 7, Signs of Spring
Ink -  Versamark
Dies  -  Spellbinders 6x6 Mattuig Basics A, Triple Floral
Other  -  white EP, Copic Markers, bleach, adhesive, dimensionals

For the floral image, I stamped it in Versamark and then embossed it with white EP. Next, I used the bleach technique to lighten the image. However, I don't feel it lightened it enough to give the result I wanted. I could have left the image as a white outlined form but I wanted to add color. .Because the image wasn't lightened enough, the colors I used didn't take all that well. Maybe it looks more like a water color image??? After a while it must have started to grow on me because I liked it....... a little bit more. 

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time..........make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Mod Squad  -  Fast & Easy Challenge
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #252 - No Patterned Paper
Sister Act  -   Challenge #114 - AG
Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #191 - AG
Inky Impressions  - Challenge #217 - 2 or More Die Cuts
Papertake Weekly  -  July Challenge - AG 
TTCRD   -  July 7-13 Challenge  - AG

Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #93 - AG

Today and Always

Hello, everyone! I'd like to share with you that I was invited to be a guest designer on the Craft-Dee Bowz blog this month. I was honored to be asked and this is the card I created to capture the theme, which was "wedding". 

To me, there is something about weddings that calls for elegance. Maybe it’s the gorgeous attire of the bride and her bridal party or the beautifully decorated wedding reception halls. Traditional colors of ivory or white, accents of gold, and pearls and bows immediately come to mind. So, here is the card I created for June’s wedding theme. I do hope you like it.

I started with GKD (Gina K Designs) Pure Luxury Ivory card stock for my base. I cut a layer in ivory using a Sue Wilson’s Spanish Collection – Granada die and outlined the edges with a Sakura Gelly Roll gold pen. This was adhered to my base card. Next, I cut another layer in wedding designer paper using a die from Sue Wilson’s Spanish Collection – Seville set and layered it over the ivory layer.

A Poppy Stamp Claudette Oval Frame die was used to create my frame which was then stamped with a sentiment from GKD Elegant Florals stamp set using Versamark ink. The sentiment was then embossed with gold EP and adhered to my prepared base card using dimensionals.

In my final steps I attached a pearl spray to my card, created my bow in ivory satin, attached a lace butterfly and added a pearl to its center. This completed my project.

I hope you enjoyed this post and have been inspired to create a wedding card. You just never know when an invitation may arrive requesting your presence at another beautiful wedding!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #129 - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge Jun 23-29  -  AG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #91 - AG
IIC  -  Challenge #215  -  Embellish It!
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #189  - AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #71 - AG / Big Announcement
Papertake Weekly  -  Tri-Tastic Challenge
The Sisterhood of Crafters  -  Wedding Month Challenge
Sister Act  -  Challenge #112 - AG

Birthday in Blue

Hello everyone! With this rainy season we're having I hope all are safe. We've had several days of rain and some areas have been flooded. More rain is on the way for a few more days. I do hope that the drought conditions in portions of the U.S. have been alleviated and, at the same time, that dry weather in Texas has aided with flood recovery. 

Today I'd like to share a birthday card that I made for a dear friend. It turned out to be such a soft and lovely card. 

My card base was  created from GKD white card stock. I added a layer of SU Mossy Meadow. Next I die cut another layer in PTI Spring Rain using a die from Spellbinders 6x6 Matting Basics B. My final layer was from GKD Floral Essentials paper pack and cut with another die from the Spellbinders 6x6 Matting Basics B die set.    

For my focal panel, I created a frame in PTI Spring Rain and cut it using a Poppy Stamps Claudette Frame die. Next, I used  a  die from Spellbinders Triple Floral die set and dry embossed the inside edges of the frame. I stamped my sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink using a stamp from GKD Always Autumn stamp set. The focal panel was then adhered to my prepared base with dimensionals.

The flower was stamped on vellum,, embossed with white EP and then cut using Heartfelt Creations Sun Kissed Fleur die. After assembling the flower it was attached to the focal panel. I added some Stickles to the center. The foliage was cut using Poppy Stamps Pine Sprigs and attached to the flower. My project was complete.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

613 Avenue Create    Challenge # 128 - AG
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #64 - AG
Great Impressions  -  June Challenge  - AG
Papertake Weekly  -   Challenge June 16 - Ohhh So Pretty
Sister Act  -  Challenge #110 - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge June 16-22  -  AG
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #188 - AG

Sharing in Your Sorrow

Hello crafting friends! It's always a sad day when you find yourself creating a sympathy card. This one was made for a co-worker from my working days who passed away last week. He was much too young to be taken away from us but he is in a better place now. My heart goes out to his spouse, children and family.

The supplies used for this card were as follows:

Card Stock  -  GKD pure luxury white, SU Mossy Meadow
Inks  -  Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves, New Sprout
Stamps  -  GKD Stamp Sets Country Road, Farm Life, Sending Sunshine; SU Thoughts and Prayers
Dies  -  L'il Inker Stitched Rectangles                        

Thank you for stopping by!  Hope you can make it a great day!

 And remember to cherish the ones you love for they can be taken away at a moment's notice.

Birthday Suspenders

Hello everyone! It's been a little while since my last post. Like most of us, I've been busy with outdoor projects now that the good weather is finally here.

Today I have a cute masculine card to share with you. I made this for last week's Mod Squad Challenge where the theme was "masculine". And this challenge came just at the right time since I needed to make a masculine birthday card for my daughter's special guy. My daughter says his pants slide down somewhat when he bends over or stoops. You get the picture.  LOL   So I thought this would make a great card for him. I cut one of the pant's pockets open so I could insert the Happy Birthday pennant which slides in and out.

Here's a photo of the inside (the 2 suspender images were computer generated to create the effect of the inside panel being help up by them).

Card Inside

Products I used to create this card:

Card Stock  -  GKD Ivory, In the Navy, Soft Sand, other
Ink  -  Versamark, GKD white
Stamp  -  Sassafras Lass Stitched Borders
Dies  -  Spellbinders Pennants, Paper Smooches Dots & Dashes, IO Buttons
Embossing Folder  -  Marianne Designs Bricks
Wording & Sentiment  -  personally composed and then computer generated
Other  -  ribbon, white EP, silver EP, soda can tops, adhesives



I hope you enjoyed this card. I really love how it turned out...so stinkin' cute! This could double for a Father's Day card, simply change the greeting, sentiment and inside wording. Here's a basic link to create the T-shirt. Just add your own touches.

Have a great day creating or doing what you love! 

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Mod Squad  - May 27 Challenge - Masculine
Aud Sentiments  -  Challenge #132  -  Cute Plus a Sentiment
The Crafter's Cafe  -   Challenge #118  - One for the Boys
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -   Challenge #87 - AG
Sister Act  -  Challenge #108 - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge May 26 -Jun 1 - AG
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge#246 - AG
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #185 - AG

Birthday Shoot

Good sleepy Sunday morning! I'd like to share a card I made for my brother's milestone birthday. His favorite hobby is photography and he takes some awesome photos of nature and landscapes. With this in mind I created a card with a camera theme.

I chose a wood panel digital paper pattern for my background and composed and computer generated my sentiment. This was then matted with black card stock. Using Die-Namics camera dies, 3 different camera styles were cut out. To make them a bit more realistic looking, rain dots were added for the lens. Then the cameras were adhered randomly on this panel. Having completed the focal panel, it was popped on a white base c0ard with dimensionals.

For the inside of my card, i used the same wood panel digital paper and computer generated my saying. I added a photo of my brother as a little guy, used a transparent piece to cover the photo in order that it imitated glass and then framed it in black and adhered it to the inside panel. This panel was matted in black and adhered to the inside of the card.  My project was complete.

Card inside

             I really, really love how this card turned out. I think my brother will get a big kick out of it.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope your day is filled with sunshine and happy thoughts and lots of creativity! Make it a great day!

Floral Feather Grass Birthday

Good morning crafting friends!  Do you have trouble not being able to sleep and just get up and start crafting? Well, last night was that kind of night. Insomnia ruled the entire night. So I got up and created this card for a friend's upcoming birthday.

I began by creating my focal panel in white card stock using a Spellbinders Triple Floral die. Next, I covered the cut out design on all four edges with Post-It notes. I wanted to use the emboss resist 

technique in this project so I stamped the feathery image on both sides of my panel in Versamark ink and then embossed it with white EP. Finally I sponged over the stamped images and around the panel with Memento Sweet Plum ink to create the emboss resist effect. The sentiment is from GKD Stately Flowers 8 and was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

The flowers were made by stamping images from HC Striped Sun Kissed Fleur  on vellum, embossed and then cut with HC Sun Kissed Fleur dies. Before attaching them to the focal panel, I prepared my base card in white card stock and layered it with coordinating plum colored paper. The focal panel was adhered to the base and as a final step the flowers were popped on.
 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and check out  this project. Hope it inspires you to create!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Mod Squad  -  Challenge 4/29/15 - Emboss Resist Technique

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #181 - AG

Allsorts Challenge  -  Week 309 - April Showers Bring May Flowers

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #122 - AG
Brown Sugar  -  Challenge #144 - AG
Papertake Weekly  -   Take Your Pick Challenge  - Technique
Sister Act  -  Challenge #104 - AG
TTCRD - Challenge 4/28 - 5/4  - AG

Retirement Watch

Hello everyone! Happy Friday!

A friend and former co-worker retired a few days ago and this is the card I made to send him. 

I began by creating my focal panel in a wood panel digital paper pattern. Next, I made the watch band using a strip of brown card stock and then adding a stitch pattern along the edges using a die from Paper Smooches Dots & Dashes. I found a clock face on line that I thought would match my color scheme and cut it with a Spellbinders Standard Circles die and matted it with ivory card stock. Then I cut several gears from a Cheery Lynn Gears die set, adhered the clock face to the largest gear and then to the watch band which was popped on to the focal panel with dimensionals. The other gears from the gear die set were adhered randomly on the panel. The focal panel was then matted in ivory card stock and adhered to a brown card base.

My sentiment was composed and printed on ivory card stock and then all four edges were trimmed with craft scissors. On the inside I added my message/verse on an ivory panel that also had all four edges cut with craft scissors. Some gears were randomly adhered there as  well.

This completed my project. Thank you for visiting and leaving any comments. I sincerely appreciate them. Until next time, make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #121 - AG
Brown Sugar - Challenge #144 - AG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge 83 - AG
Inspiration Destination  -  Challenge #31 - AG
Sister Act  -  Challenge #104 - AG
ABC Challenge  -  Challenge 5/1/15 - I is for Inspire
TTCRD  -  Challenge 4/28 - 5/4
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #181 - AG

Bargello Birthday Card

Hello crafting friends! I enjoyed this week's challenge at Stamp TV so much that I decided to make another card using the "bargello" technique.

This time I chose some brown and turquoise digital patterned papers and created my strips. The inspiration came from a unique card I saw on line using this technique. I used the step layout to present the bargello pattern. My sentiment was computer generalted and then cut with a die from Spellbinders A2 Tranquil Moments. I added some little flower petals that were cut from some Leane Creatief dies and added a pearl in the centers. The butterfly was cut with a Memory Box Kensington Branch die using one of the digital papers that the strips were created with. When my focal panel was done it was matted with turquoise card stock and then adhered to a brown card base.

This was such a fun card to make. What makes it fun is that there are so many variations to this technique. I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't already. You will be pleased with the results.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you'll come back often! Make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Stamp TV - STV15MON16 - Hello Bargello
Sister Act  -  Challenge #103 - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge 4/21-4/27  - AG
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #180 - AG