Jingle All The Way

Well the JustRite Inspiration challenge #33 has really got me going. I decided to make a few more holiday wall hangings using the sketch and this is the next one I came up with.

I used JustRite's A Merry Little Christmas Set for this wall hanging. The DP is some I bought at the end of the season last year and I no longer have the info on who it's from (I wish I did since I'd buy more).

I had some metallic paper that has been sitting in my stash for over a year, but the ribbon and bells are new from Michael's.

Sewing is not one of my fortes but it had to be done for this hanger since my original idea of threading the ribbon through the bells wouldn't work. So out came my dusty sewing box and needle and fibers attached the bells. After attaching them to the left side I thought can it have too many jingle bells???? No so I used them for my embellishment on the left side.

My medallions down the center were a hoot to do. The red metallic paper that I stamped and embossed the snowflakes on was a sheet 8" by 5.5" and these two circles are all that was left after hours of trying to emboss these images. Shiney paper is slippery. The center jingle bell was a lot easier to do, I first inked up the jingle bells and then added the border and inked that up separately. I colored it up with Copics and Jelly Roll pens. I added some glaze and stickles to the bow. I used plain circle and scalloped circle Nestabilities to cut the images and mats out . A little bit of Score Tape and I was all done.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping done.

Christmas Decorating

When I was browsing the various web sites the other day I stopped off at JustRite Inspirations and looked at the Friday challenge #33 and it is a sketch. Well by now we all know how much I LOVE (read dislike intensely) sketch challenges, but this one really got to me. I especially loved the wall hanging inspiration sample.

I went right over and started pulling out papers and stamps and ribbons and embellishments and started to play. I ended up with three bases and then had to decide how to finish them.

This one is the first. In keeping with my quest to use existing supplies I started with some Gina K Pure Luxury 120lb white card stock. I wanted something strong enough to handle usage but light enough to swing when a door moved. I then added some kraft card stock that I had run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder and then promptly covered most of it up with the striped DP (something from my stack of DP that I've had for over a year).

I knew that I wanted to use the Christmas Treasures and Borders set (just not the borders), so I stamped the images with Memento Rich Cocoa on Beckett Expression Aster card stock. I colored with Copics, keeping the colors somewhat muted. Then I cut them out with a circle Nestie, ran my Krylon gold leafing pen around the edge and mounted them onto some of the Banana Leaf paper I have left that was cut out with an octagon Nestie. Since I couldn't find card stock to co-ordinate with the base for my vertical element I made my own. I took some of the same card stock and trimmed it to 3/4" by 5 1/2 " then since it was double sided I took the reverse side and trimmed a piece 1/4" by 5 1/2" to lay over top. Then I took a ruler and measured that in half and took a blue gel pen and just ran a squiggle line down the center.

To finish it off I doubled the ribbon in half and made the handle and then added the brad to the left side where the ribbon goes through. This brad was from a kit that I bought at a local store that was closing a couple of years ago. I punched a circle of the same DP and added it to the center.

From this description it sounds like a lot of work but it really wasn't, it was fun to do and now I just have to decide do I keep it or do I give it away. Hmmmm.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by. Now I'll go finish the other wall hangers I started, need one for the new great-nephew coming next month.

An Enchanted Patchwork

When I had finished making the last three cards I had a lot of scraps left over and I just hated to waste them. It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to do with them but I new that the first thing was to use scoring and patchwork together. Being mathematically challenged I first struggled with the layout. Scoring is made simple with a score board and in this case I used the Martha Stewart board since it has 1/8 inch scores all across the board. Then I had to keep trimming the scraps to get the design I wanted. All of these scraps are from Memory Box's Enchanted. So, so beautiful. Well I finally got all the papers down and then I had to figure out how to finish it. I pulled out my stash of flowers and rhinestones and after juggling them all around this is the final product.

What do you think? Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty Creations Challenge

This is the last of the challenge cards I made using Sweet Stamp's Bird on a Flowering Branch. This Crafty Creations challenge was difficult for me, it is another 3, 2, 1 challenge. Three papers, two ribbons or trims and one charm. Papers no problem, ribbon or trim no problem, one charm--ack. I have no charm. Well I can be charming but there are no charms in my stash. I ended up making one out of a metal flower and a brad and some fibers I picked up in the sale bin. The DP is all Basic Grey Kioshi and I think it is so colorful and fun. Instead of ribbon I used two strips of paper and dangled my home made charm from it.

I cut my image and mat out with Nestabilities Labels 10.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Challenge Card Two

Once I get going I guess I get a little compulsive. Since challenge cards were on my mind I decided to keep going with it. Using the the Bird on a Flowering Branch from Sweet Stamps again I made this one for the Fab 'n' Funky challenge.

Fab 'n' Funky needs 3 papers, 2 embellishments and one image. Then I put it together using the sketch from Diva Coffeebreak Designs sketch. (I always have trouble with sketches, somehow my mind has trouble wrapping around the design). I need to do sketch challenges more.

I colored the image with Copics and sponged Memento Summer Sky around the edge. The DP is all Memory Box Frond (I'm really loving these papers)

It's a little hard to see but in addition to the rhinestones I added flat back pearls to the flowers.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Another challenge card tomorrow.

A Challenge Card

This is another of the cards I made using Sweet Stamp's Bird on a Flowering Branch. I picked this up at the Novi Show and as soon as I saw it I had to have it. I think this image is so lovely (I was going to say sweet but I thought better of that). I colored it with Copics and cut it out and embossed it with Nestabilities Label 4. I sponged some Memento Summer Sky ( I ran out of compressed air for my air brush system) around the edge.

The DP is from Memory Box Enchanted. I think it is too pretty to cover it up so I decided to keep this one simple.

I found out that it would fit the ABC challenge which is B is for Blue, 80% of the card must be blue and I think this one qualifies. Then I realized that since I had added some butterflies, using my Martha Stewart punch and adding a little stickles, it would also work for the Flutterby Wednseday challenge.

All in all I like how it turned out, what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by.

Hey Sandy

Had time to play yesterday and today. Yesterday I pulled out this stamp Bird on a Flowering Branch from Sweet Stamps and had some fun. I stamped it out four times and colored each one slightly differently, all with Copics of course. Then I went through my stash of papers and pulled out four different sets of co-ordinating papers. By this time it's late so I went to bed leaving everything out on the table. (This meant we went out to breakfast this morning, sneaky me--lol.)

Today after I got through running some errands I made cards. This is the first one I made and as I was putting it together I kept thinking that my friend Sandy would like this one since it has several layers and embellishments. The DP is all from Memory Box Enchanted and the flat back pearls are from my stash. There's even a little bit of ribbon on here, can you see it?

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

An Anniversary Swing

My friend Sandy has a wonderful swing card on her blog and it prompted me to make one also. I need and anniversary card for Steve and Michelle so I thought this would be the card to make.

Well I made it and I probably won't ever make another one. You can see Sandy's card here and she also has the link to the SplitcoastStampers tutorial on how to make them just click on Swing Card. They make it look so easy and I'm so crafting challenged when it comes to things like this that I struggle. This first photo is of the front almost closed, the second shows the opposite side of the focal image with the card full open and the last photo shows the card in mid swing.

All of the DP is from Memory Box Frond, the stamps are all Papertrey Wishing You and Background Basics Text Style. I used Memento Tear Drops for the stamping. Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

A Christmas Tag

Well I wanted to play today and this is what I accomplished. This is also a cautionary tale of when not to try stamping. Don't try making anything when you are hungry or tired. This is the fourth attempt at making this tag.

Now to the real info. I very much wanted to join the Caardvarks challenge since the sponsor is JustRite Stampers and the challenge is to make a Christmas tag or mini card. Well since I have to get into the Christmas mood, even though it's hot and muggy, this was perfect for me.

I also had a new set to play with (yes, another Novi show buy, don't nag me). The set is A Merry Little Christmas set and it has 10 borders and centers. I used it with my 2" round stamper and in the outer slot I used letters from the Times New Roman Font Lowercase set for my to and from. This is such a neat set up. I usually just use cheap tags for my gifts but that is going to change this year. Anyway, I stamped it on Beckett Radiance with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics. I added white fun flock to the ball at the top of the Santa hat (using existing supplies so I keep up with my quest to winnow down my stash of STUFF). I colored a white snowflake brad and pop dotted the image onto the Gina K Navy card stock that I had cut out with a Nestabilities 13, then edged it using a Krylon silver leafing pen. I just love the navy and silver combo. I found this red and white polka dotted ribbon in my stash and threaded it through the top and bottom.

A Brown Banana

No this is not about rotten bananas, this is some more of the Banana Leaf paper in brown I picked up at the Novi show. This one is called Rugged and I just love the texture of this paper.

I used the same image from The Artful Stamper as on my previous card but the coloring gives it a very different feeling. I think I could use this one as a sympathy card, just stamp it in that space on the 'frame'. I really have to play with this stamp some more. The sample that was up at the show had the image inside the frame done separately and the frame popped up. It was really effective.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

A Lockhart Lighthouse

There is just something about lighthouses that make the prettiest stamps. This is a Lockhart stamp that I picked up at the Novi show (did I say that I spent way too much $$$$ there).

I colored with Copics and used Deckled rectangle Nesties for the image and the mat. The sentiment is from Memory Box (another buy at Novi) and stamped with Papertrey Fresh Snow. I tore the edges and brushed it with a Memento tear drop pad and added the two brads.

Everything but the stamps is part of my existing supplies so I'm still following my quest.

I do think I'll be shipping a box of stuff to my cousins daughter to use in her art classes. Makes me feel less guilty about buying new stuff.

I did measure my stack of DP and it's only 2.25"'s high instead of the 4''s I thought it was. But I haven't measured the various paper pads so that's another whole issue. Lord help me.

Well I hope you like this card and thanks for stopping by.

Soaring Circles

This is another of the cards I made with my stash of circles. I used Papertrey's Button Basics for this one. The Hot Air Balloons are such a fun image. I also used Papertrey's Cloud Die to reinforce the soaring idea.

The DP is some I've had for a year or more (I have a stack of various decorative paper on my desk that is 4 or 5 inches high).

I just stamped the different size balloon baskets on the DP and added circles. Then I stamped the sentiment and popped a small circle on it and it was done.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

A Trio of Chairs

Do you know what serendipity is? It just happened to me. I picked up two of these three chairs at the Novi stamp show, the Adirondack and the Beach chairs and the sentiment. They are Lockhart stamps and I just love their chair stamps (I just ordered a wicker chair stamp) and their flower and fruit couture stamps and the flower cupcakes and etc., etc.

Anyway these were on my desk and I pulled out the Vintage Garden chair also. I thought the three chairs together would make a cute card with no particular person in mind. I colored them up with Copics and sponged on some Memento Sky around the edges, then after rounding the edges I cut out mats and rounded them also. After stamping the sentiment onto a piece of scrap card stock I added a brad from my stash and put all the items onto the card. When I started to blog about this card I noticed that the DP from the Daisy Paper Co. is called Classroom Stripe and that led to the serendipity part of this blog.

I missed my sisters anniversary and when I called her I just told her that one day she'd get a card for no reason. This is the card. She just retired as a school teacher so now she can just 'sit back and relax' while everyone else is headed back to the classroom.

Hope she likes it and that you do also. Thanks for stopping by.

Blue Banana

Well of course this isn't a card of bananas but the DP is Banana Leaf Capri from Creative Imaginations. I found this at the stamp show in Novi a week ago. Isn't it gorgeous?

The stamp is from The Artful Stamper, also found at the same show. This company has some really terrific stamps and I'll be visiting their web site for more.

I colored with Copics and mounted it onto some dark navy card stock. I think this makes a nice masculine card.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

A Gina K Cupcake

Well I'm back on track to use existing supplies. I pulled out my Gina K Sweetest Blessings set to make this card. I had this card base sitting on my desk, the DP is from DCWV Nana's Kitchen.

When I looked at I thought okay Sweetest Blessings has the perfect cupcake and sentiment to use on this one.

I colored with Copics and then cut it and the mat with Nestabilities Octagons. The sentiment is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and cut out with Nestabilites Labels Ten. I had some cute soft brown flat back pearls to add to each side.

I ran a soft blue Copic around the edge of the focal image and added red stickles to the cherry on top.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

P.S. Gina K has this set posted on her blog with a freebie offer check it out here.

A Tree of Circles

Several weeks (or is it months) ago I had all my circle punches and DP scraps out and just started punching circles of all sizes out. I know that I have posted cards using them before but I still had a baggie full of them. In my pursuit of using up what I have I pulled them out and got busy.

I had some card bases sitting on my desk and so I pulled them out also and started combining the two.

This is one of the five cards I made with the circles. I wanted to make a tree with the circles but didn't have a stamp so I made my own tree. We've probably all done this in kindergarten just draw two line and colored them in, easy peasy. Then I started layering on the circles. I had this strip of paper that I had used the Martha Stewart fringe scissors on and it wasn't quite long enough so I cut it in half and layered circles over the split. Kind of like leaves falling from the tree. There are so many colors on the DP that it really didn't matter what color the circles were, I just had to make sure they looked okay together. I'll be posting the other cards I made over the next week or so, but I am so done with circles for now. It is a great way to use up scraps though.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Sympathy for Bob

I know that I have blogged about making sympathy cards a lot, but this one is another sad one. A friend of ours passed away suddenly and he was way to young at only 64. He was an avid golfer and lover of old cars. We had just seen him a couple of weeks ago at a party and he talked about how much he was enjoying his golf this summer. So this one is for him.

This wonderful golf scene is from Northwoods Rubber Stamp and I stamped it with Tim Holtz Distressed Inks Brushed Corduroy and Frayed Burlap. The sentiment is from Rubber Soul. I mounted it to some kraft paper and then onto the DP from Basic Grey Kioshi. The card base is a shiny kraft.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sympathy in Vellum

This is another card using the vellum I was given at the stamp show this past weekend.

I thought it would be elegant to use the PaperTrey With Sympathy set on this paper and I think it turned out really well.

I stamped the image and sentiment from this set with PaperTrey's Fresh Snow. I love that ink it shows up so well on dark card stock.

I layered it onto white and then onto a black card base. A very simple card to make. When I had it all done I noticed a little smear of the ink near the sentiment so I added a little flower with a black pearl to hide it. Embellishments to the rescue.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Black Vellum Bird Call

This past weekend was the Heirloom Stamp show in Novi, and it was an expensive trip for me. My friend Renee and I went to the show on Sunday. Thinking of course that it wouldn't be as crowded, well it may not have been as crowded as Saturday but there were still a lot of people there. I managed to go over my budget and still leave wanting more.

Again so much for my pledge to use existing before buying new.

This card, however uses nothing new that I bought. A technicality, but still the truth. The only new thing on this card is the black vellum that was a freebie from Stamp On It (a store I go to whenever I'm in Grand Rapids) that I embossed with the CuttleBug Bird Call folder. I lied, the white matting was part of a pack of layering papers that I got at The Papercut booth, but that was one of the two things I intended to buy since I had run out of my layering papers. The white layer has a sheen to it that is really pretty. I took my opaque white pen and added an eye to the bird then highlighted some of the reeds. The ribbon was from my stash and it's done.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

A Flower Sympathy

Last week when I was finishing up cards I needed for my projects I started to use some of this DP from Basic Grey's Kioshi paper pad. (This is one of the prettiest paper pads I've ever seen.) I ended up not using the paper (it was the right side of this sheet which was only stripes). I set this left over aside and it landed on top of the yellow Bazzil Basic Swiss Dots that I ended up using as the card base.

So it was sitting there and it just looked like it needed to be assembled into a card.

I grabbed it and the card base and started looking at what else I could use for this card. I had already decided that I needed to make some more sympathy cards and I wanted to keep it somewhat toned down, but I also don't think sympathy cards have to be somber. I used a scrap of Kiwi Metallic cover from ANW Crestwood for my first layer and then a piece of chocolate brown for the next layer. I dug around in my stash and found this variegated green ribbon and then stamped the sentiment from PaperTrey's Through the Trees in Memento Rich Cocoa on another scrap of green from the Kioshi pad.

I like how it turned out what do you think?

A Distressed Birthday

This is the second card I made using the swipe technique. I used the same colors as the card from yesterday but with a little more pressure.

This time I decided to make a masculine birthday card, again using the sentiment from Through the Trees but images from Masculine Motifs. I still like the technique and I may have to get different colors in the Distress Ink line.

I used all the same processes as yesterdays card but came up with a different feel all together.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by. Home from Buffalo later today so see you tomorrow.

A Distressed Sympathy Card

Last Monday Gina K made and interesting card on Stamp TV. Her card was a Christmas card and it is an elegant easy to make card. The technique is using Ranger Distress Ink Pads and swiping them across the card base darker over lighter. My swiping was less than smooth but I still like the effect. Gina's card was a Christmas card (Christmas in July-Project 3), but since I only have brown shades in the Distress Ink pads I decided to go with a different theme.

For this card I used Antique Linen and Tea Dye. I used a Stamp Positioner to place my sentiment, from PaperTrey's Through the Trees, where I wanted it. Then I swiped my colors. I used the trees from PaperTrey's Masculine Motifs. So there you have it a simple card to make but an elegant one. Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

P.S. I'm actually in Buffalo, N.Y. for my nieces baby shower so I'm scheduling a few posts ahead of time.