Soft Sky

Today I am sharing the prettiest Post It Note holder I have seen, together with a very pretty birthday card~~both made by my friend, Kathy Z.  The color, the embossing, the butterfly~~everything about it is so pretty.  And inside are crisp white post it notes! The card is so pretty and the little paper clip and bow is such a cute embellishment.  This year was the first birthday without my mom.  I missed her call and her card.  So while I had my moments during the day, it was the cards and texts and phone calls from my family and friends that made my day a very happy one.  Thank you all! 

I celebrated my birthday over the weekend and I received cards, flowers, many good wishes and more.  Today I wanted to share the card that my friend, Cherie, made for me.  The pretty little box was wrapped in a pretty pink ribbon.  I untied the ribbon, took off the top and the box opened up to show the little cake inside!!!  Inside the cake is a little tea light.  I turned it on and look at how darn cute this is!  You know that you were a successful "card teacher" when your "students" make cards such as this~~something I have never made!!  Thank you Cherie.  And thank you to all who sent birthday wishes and more.  I have said it before and I will say it again, "I am truly blessed to have such a good family and good friends."  Have a great day!

Cottage Greetings Birthday

One of the items in the new catalog that I had to have was the Cottage Greetings stamp set on page 94.  Then I decided I might as well get the Cottage Greetings Card set, too.  I have not made any of the cards from the card kit, but I have used the stamp set.  As a matter of fact, I used it on today's card.  The greetings and fonts in this set are just adorable.  I also like having a sentiment to stamp inside the card. The greeting on today's card is from Cottage Greetings as are the little flowers.  Plus, the little flowers match the flowers on the pattern in the DSP stacks that I used here. I stamped the candle (Build A Birthday) but then opted to cut a candle using the same DSP.  The flame is from Build A Birthday.  As I look at the card here, I need to add a little yellow to the centers of the little stamped flowers.  Have  a great weekend!

You've Got Happy Mail!

Today's card is another I made for Sydney while she is a camp.  Isn't it cute?  The stamped images are all from the WPlus 9 stamp set, Happy Mail. The little birds and the envelope were die cut using coordinating dies.  The clouds were die cut from a WPlus9 die set, Sunshine Layers. 
The sentiment can be used for so many reasons but how perfect for mail call at camp!  I am sure Sydney will be delighted when she opens it as she is a fan of cuteness when it comes to stamps.  Have a happy day!

By The Tide w/Diecuts

I have been aware of a person who makes dies that coordinate with some Stampin' Up! stamp sets but never really looked into what he offers.  A couple of weeks ago, I went to this page:  www.pinterest.com/daveg0559/craft-stuff/
and decided to order the By The Tide set of dies.  I received the die set over the weekend and had to test the dies.  They were perfect and very much like all the other dies/framelits/thinlets I have from Stampin' Up! and other companies.  As of right now he is a small operation and he has been swamped with orders.  Any orders he receives will be replied to after July 6th as he is reorganizing and restructuring between now and then.   If you would like more information, just let me know.  But the card is a perfect masculine card and I like the color combination of Tip Top Taupe, Black and White. 

Father's Day Cards

I am posting two cards today, both using a combination of products.   The lighthouse card was created using SU! products.   I used the "arch" from Over the Rainbow for the background behind the lighthouse.  All the inks were stamped off first.  I started using Crumb Cake for the sand, then Pool Party for the water and finally, Soft Sky for the sky.  I stamped the lighthouse using black ink directly on the card, but the colors from the background showed thru.  So, I just stamped the lighthouse again, fussy cut it and adhered over the stamped one.  The little seabirds are from a Lawn Fawn stamp set; sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The "Yappy" Father's Day card was created using the Avery Elle Furry Friends stamp set and the SU! Little Letter Thinlets.  I would love to take the credit for designing this card, but I saw something similar on the Avery Elle Flicker website and created this version.  As you might have guessed, this card was for my son from his two best friends.  Have a  great day!

Jasper

This is one of the fun cards I had made for Sydney to open while she was at camp.  Sadly, we had to take it out of her mail envelope as we received sad news when we went to visit Jasper on Friday.  The owner of the shop, Drew, noticed lumps in Jasper's crop/throat and took him to the vet.  The baby bird has tumors so Syd and Jen cannot have him.  Drew was very honest and as sad as the situation is for Sydney, if she grew more attached it would be more difficult to say goodbye.  Jen & Syd are in line for the next male Eclectus from different parents.  Hopefully in a few weeks I will be able to share happy news and a photo of a new baby Eclectus. The stamp set and coordinating dies are Avery Elle's Tweet Tweet sets.  The "hello" is a Stampin' Up!  framelit. 

Pink & Orange

A number of websites and my favorite enabler introduced me to new watercolor markers, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens. After stamping the flower (You've Got This) in Versamark, I heat embossed using black embossing powder.  It has been a while since I used black embossing powder and you can see specks of black that should not be there.  Next time I will remember to be more careful when heat embossing with black!  It isn't that noticeable on the actual card but will be once you enlarge this picture of the card.   But back to the pens~~they were fun to use and I would like to have you try them at the next card class.  So this is a card we will be making.  Also, I really like the Melon Mambo ribbon that is new in the annual catalog.  It comes in a variety of colors so I am sure my ribbon collection will be increasing!  Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Thanks A Bunch

Yesterday I went downstairs to stamp and ended up playing with a stamp set I purchased for my daughter!!  Jen, here is a card I created using your Critters In The Jungle stamp set and dies by Lawn Fawn!!  Everything was colored using Copic markers and I think it is darn cute. That being said, I used foam tape to adhere the front layer to the card base.  Well, in real life, you can see the ridges of the foam tape showing through the top layer.  That doesn't make me very happy, so I am trying to figure out how I can save the stamped, colored and die cut pieces for a new card.   Maybe Un-do will do the trick.  Regardless, I do like the card and the stamp set is adorable, too. 

Blended Bloom

I have made some very cute cards recently, but since they are for Father's Day and Sydney while she is at camp, I can't post them just yet. Today's card I made a couple of weeks ago, wanting to play with my Copic markers.  The Blended Bloom image is perfect for coloring.  I hand cut the image and before placing it on the card front, stamped the leaves from another set.  The butterflies are from Papillon Potpourri.  I enjoy my framelits very much, but sometimes it is so nice to just grab a punch as is what I did for the butterflies on today's card.  Stampin' Up has some pretty butterfly sets, but Papillon Potpourri is still one of my favorite butterfly sets.  Have a great day!

You Are So Kind Butterfly

Today's card was copied straight out of the annual catalog.  The colors changed, but other than that, the card is pretty much the same.  I used Daffodil Delight and Calypso Coral inks, sometimes stamping off first.  I think this will be a good card to make at the next class.  You will get to use the new Watercolor Wings stamp set (and three step stamp) and use the coordinating butterfly framelits.    The sentiment is from the same stamp set and I do like the font.  I think I could spend an afternoon just making different color butterflies!  Have a great day!

Watercolored Anemones

 

I have a few really cute stamp sets by WPlus 9, including the cute little elephant you see every once in the while.  Today's card is WPlus9's newly released Watercolored Anemones.  I started out using the Die-namics Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX dies by My Favorite Things to frame the stamped image. I stamped the base layer of the image on white cardstock, using a darker green for the second layer of the leaves.  And then came the fun part of two-step stamping of the flowers.  I used Melon Mambo for one and Tangerine Tango for the other.  Each flower had three sections. I stamped off to create the base layer of the flower and then stamped the other two sections of each flower stamping directly.  I will say that the layers were a little intricate so it took me a little while to place the sections in the correct spot on the base flower.  When I was done, I used the coordinating dies to cut out the flowers, adhered them and added the sentiment from SU's Watercolor Wings. The card was so pretty and when I put the layers together I thought I was done until I somehow got a splotch of ink on the white cardstock.  Out came my embosslit butterflies and they covered up the little oops just fine.  Have a great day!

Pretty Little Birds!

Today's post is about birds, starting with Jasper.  We went to play with him on Wednesday and were amazed at how much he had grown in one week.  He is still a little baby who loves to snuggle.  He was very content to just snuggle up next to Sydney.  When it was time to go, Syd was teaching him kiss-kiss and he was ok with it.  Now today's card has a cute bird on it and was made using WPlus 9's A New Day.  I inked the stamp in Versa Fine ink and then used clear embossing powder.  Copic markers were the method of coloring and I say, it took a few attempts to get the right color combinations.  I then spritzed the background using alcohol and Bermuda Bay reinker.   And when I stamped  the sentiment~~I messed it up!  Oh well, now the sentiment is on a little banner and adhered with dimensionals.  This little bird is cute and I see him in a variety of colors.  Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Watercolor Wings

I received the Watercolor Wings stamp set and Bold Butterfly thinlets yesterday and had to play right away.  After stamping the butterflies onto the card, I then die cut three butterflies and layered them on the stamped images.  The leaves stamped on the card are from the Perpetual Calendar stamp set and the "Just for you" is also from Watercolor Wings.  I look forward to not only creating pretty cards using this set but also to seeing how others use this beautiful set.  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time!

A Bright Celebration

On today's card, I used things from the Brights Color Collection~~ink, sequins, cardstock and  Designer Series Paper.  Using my Many Marvelous Markers, I inked each letter of the "celebrate" (Fabulous Four) before stamping the image onto the card front.  I used a little squiggle from a non-SU stamp set and used the Brights sequins to fill in around the image.  And finally I used DSP paper and the new Trio punch to create the banners on the left.  When I know what the card will be used for, I will put that sentiment inside the card.  For now I am leaving my options open--birthday or graduation or new job~~many options for this card!  Have a great day!

So Much Pink!

I had quite a bit of fun creating this birthday card for my friend, Regina.  It had to include at least one flamingo and a saying from the My Favorite Things Tickled Pink stamp set.  I also wanted it to be a shaker card and be made using the pocket fuse tool for making the little shakers.  Well three hours later, this is the card that was sent to my dear friend!  It definitely was not perfect, but it was cute.  And now I need to brag a little about my beautiful granddaughter and her recital performances.  I made her this card, pink being her favorite color.  I used the Pictogram Punches set for her card and a star framelit to make the shaker.  A little sponging and glimmer paper made this the perfect card for Sydney.  She was breath-taking in her ballet, cute in her super hero jazz routine and her tap dance to the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was so fun.   I will say, when she did her ballet, I cried she was so beautiful and elegant.  When she did the Boogie Woogie Bugle boy I had tears in my eyes as my painfully shy little granddaughter had grown into this smiling young lady who was dancing her little heart out and enjoying every minute of it.  I know I say it often, but again, I am truly blessed.  I have the best family and the best friends ever.  Have a great day!

From Land To Sea

Today's card was created using a new set in the annual catalog, From Land To Sea.  Sometimes I purchase stamp sets for sentimental reasons.  Well, this stamp set is one of those purchases.  Even though I know I will use the set, when I saw the sailfish image I thought of my Dad.  Many years ago, like probably 40 plus, my Dad was in Florida and he caught a seven foot sailfish.  He was so proud of this fish that he did have it stuffed and sent home.  The sailfish had a place of honor on our dining room wall for many years.  When my parents moved from one house to another, my Dad would wrap that fish in blankets and carefully move it to the next dining room wall.  It was always good humor when we were having a family dinner and this big fish was staring at you.  His grandchildren were the only ones who rated above the sailfish.  Many fond memories were replayed as I colored in this fish using my Prisma colored pencils.  I added the birthday sentiment from And Many More, but this would be a great Father's Day card, too.  Have a great day!

Espresso Thanks

Today's card started because I wanted to use a little more of the new Neutrals DSP paper.  After deciding on an Early Espresso monochromatic color scheme out came three stamp sets:  Fabulous Four, By the Tide and You've Got This.  I inked up the background stamp (You've Got This) using Early Espresso, first stamping off on scrap paper and then onto the card front.  The sentiment stamp is really bold in the Early Espresso ink and stands out just as I had hoped.  The shells were stamped using Early Espresso (full strength) and hand cut, adhering one shell using dimensionals. A little linen thread and a few sequins finish off the card.  When I get my Brights DSP stack and sequins, I plan on remaking this card.  It is much prettier in person than it is showing up in the photos I took.  Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Our New Grandbird!

Yesterday John and I joined in the joyous occasion of meeting Sydney, Mark and Jen's new bird, Jasper.  Jasper is an Eclectus Parrot and right now is about a month old.  He will remain at A J's Feathered Friends for a couple more months while he is nurtured and then weaned.  In the meantime, we will be visiting him often so that he gets used to the family and bonds with Sydney, Mark and Jenny.  I guarantee you will get periodic updates and photos as he grows!  He is just so cute! 

You've Got This Watercolored

I was playing with watercolors yesterday, trying to make a sky as was demonstrated on a WPlus9 video.  Well, after numerous attempts, I said forget it--lol!  And I moved on to embossing the flower from the You've Got This stamp set and watercoloring it.  So out came the Versamark ink, black embossing powder and ink, watercolor brushes and water.  After the flower dried, I cut it out (Where is a matching framelit for the flower?) and adhered it to a white card base which I had already embellished using a strip of the black polkadot DSP from the Neutrals Stack.  The sentiment is from A Dozen Thoughts and I think the card is rather striking!  I mentioned the Neutrals DSP Stack and I wanted to let you know that for the time being, that both the Neutrals and Regals stacks are unorderable until further notice.  It seems that it was cut 1/8" too short so it truly isn't 12 x 12.  It is good that SU! noticed it.  I have the paper and didn't notice the shorter side~~but I sure would have when I went to cut three 4" strips and the last strip was not 4".  Have a great day!

Tip Top Taupe & Navy

I must admit that Tip Top Taupe is probably going to end up being the new In Colors I use the most of the five over the next couple of years.  It isn't Crumb Cake and it isn't brown and it isn't gray, but a perfect neutral.  Today I paired it with Night of Navy. After stamping the "hello star" image on the Tip Top Taupe I cut out the star shape using the framelit from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits set leaving the Night of Navy show thru. Once again using the Mini Treat Bag thinlets, I die cut the little stars and randomly adhered them to the card front.  The Night of Navy seam binding is a nice finishing touch.  By the way, the star stamp is from the You're So Sweet stamp set, a great set for creating little favors/treat bags.  Have a great day! 

Mint Macaron Butterflies

I think that Mint Macaron is a pretty new In Color and it looks very pretty here with the white.  I really like the striped envelope paper available in the new catalog. It is a thin weight paper perfect for making envelopes, but look how pretty it looks when used as designer paper! In addition, it is less expensive than DSP.  You get 20 sheets for $6.00 plus tax and shipping and so it costs about 35 cents per sheet.  It is available in two assortments, the new In Colors and then a Neutrals assortment which includes White, Vanilla and Kraft.  Back to the card, the stamped butterflies are from the Butterfly Basics stamp set and then cut with the coordinating framelits for the muli-layer butterfly.  The little butterfly was punched with the Bitty Butterfly punch.  Plus, I have left enough space to add a sentiment down the road.  One more day and the catalog goes live!  I have my list ready to go.  Have a great day!