I am still here!

I realize it has been a long time since I posted anything new, so decided that it is about time.  So much has happened since I last posted, and it seems like I have lost an entire year.

But, I never quit making cards!  I even have all of my Christmas cards done and ready to go into the mail right after Thanksgiving.  I will not be showing them on my blog until after Christmas so that I don't spoil it for anyone.  This year I made them all the same.

Here are some of the other cards I have been making though:

This one was done for group swap.  The theme was "Music".  I had the background paper, and I decided to make a tent card.  I muted the background behind the Beatles by putting an overlay of vellum on it.  I fussy cut around the band and they are on an accordion folded base so they stand out from the background.  The tea bag medallion was made using the inside of an envelope that I stained with Distress Ink to colorize it. 

 

 

This card was made for a friend using a rubber stamp from Northwoods Rubber Stamps. It is colored using Twinkling H2O's.  I just love using them and the sparkle that they add.  I also enjoy this stamp.

 

 

The next 2 are cards I made to thank our Realtor for all of the hard work she has done for us the past 11 months.  I colored the background using Distress Inks, stamped the images in black and added some tea bag medallions.  I am quite pleased with the way they turned out and hope she likes them.

 

This card is my first attempt at Zentangle.  The rooster is a digital stamp.  After doodling him in, I fussy cut him out and then popped him up off the page with adhesive dots to give the card some depth.

 

Sorry to have been away for so long...I hope to find more time to post after the holidays.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Time flies

My, how the time has flown.  I didn't realize I haven't posted in such a long time.  I have been creating but not thinking about posting.

My year started out with a huge (almost disabling) event for me.  My older sister had been battling cancer for about 3 years, and the end of January she called me to tell me that her liver was shutting down.  2 short weeks later, she passed away and went to live with our Lord.  Even though we did not talk often, we frequently emailed.  She lives in NY and I am in WI, so we didn't see each other often (and now I realize not often enough).  This has truly shaken me to my core.  I have been trying to throw myself into my card making and Barb always told me how much she loved my cards.  Every year for her birthday, I would make her a packet of 12 cards or so that she could use to give to friends.  Barb always told me she had a hard time using them as she enjoyed just looking at them.

Here are some of the cards I have been making to help me deal with this huge hole in my heart:

You should know that Barb left us full of grace and dignity.  She was not afraid of dying because she knew she was going to be with her Lord.  She was a wonderful woman, sister, mother, and friend and I miss her more than I can express.

Hold your loved ones close and never...ever...take them for granted.





Crafter's Companion Blog Candy winner

Back in August, I won this wonderful stamp set from Crafter's Companion called Christmas with Barkley Let it Snow.

Here is the card that I made with it.



 

I heat embossed the entire image twice.  I colored both images using Distress Inks and then fussy cut Barkley from one copy.  The red background is a Spellbinder's Die.  I used a Spellbinder's oval die for the first image and mounted it on the red die cut.  The fussy cut Barkley was popped up on 3-D dots so that he stands away from the background.  I used Tulip Puffy paint to add the snow.  The snow flake background paper is from My Mind's Eye 6x6 Winter Wonderland Designer Cardstock Paper Pad.

It won't be long and this will have to go in the mail!

Distressing without the stress these days

I am back again.  I made this card for my Mom using distress inks to color in the image.  I also used Distress Ink on the paper flower that adorns the front.



The edges of the card were distressed using Peeled Paint (one of my favorite colors).

 

Here is the card with the flap opened.  I used a Spellbinder Die (Scalloped Ovals) to cut the openings.

 

And with the inner flap opened, you can see the inside of the card where I stamped my sentiment.

 

Now this card was inspired by Splitcoast Stampers, but I did not have the large dies that they use, so I used squares and rectangles and put it together that way.  I made a teabag medallion to put on the front.

Thanks for looking.  I hope you have a great day!



Of Die cuts and flowers

I wanted to share another card I have made.  This one used a different way to use Spellbinders die cuts.  For this card, I used Contemporary Hearts, and Parisian Accents and Foliage.  I also used a punch for the pine bough leaves and some paper flowers that I colored using Distress Inks.

The centers of the flowers and the 3 little gems on the top right of the card are actually "pearls" but don't show up so well in this photo.

 

When the card is open, it looks like this on the inside.

 

Here you can see the pearls better.  And you can see that inside there is another die cut that does not show when the card is closed.

 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:

 

http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/challenge-163-die-cuts-or-punches-692014.html



Origami Dresses

I found a video online for folding origami dresses.  Once I started, I just could not stop!  I kept finding more little bits of paper that I thought would make a cute dress.  In the end, I had 30+ dresses!  I am working on getting them onto cards now.

On this one, the largest dress is 1 1/4" tall.  Using a rubber stamp, I created the clothesline poles.  Then I masked them and using my Distress Inks, I made the background.

This one I made by masking the circle before I shaded with my distress inks.

 

And this one was made adding a digital sentiment that I had.

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest endeavors.  Be warned - these can be very addicting.  I just wish I could make ones that would fit me as easily.  They are so easy to make.











Flowers Box card

Good morning from another snowy day in northern Wisconsin!

I wanted to share a box card I recently made.  This is the card closed.

The background is made with white tissue paper on tan card stock.  I then stamped the flowers with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and colored them in with water color pencils and blended with water.  This card is held closed with a punched border strip that has small pieces of Velcro on the back.

 

When the card is opened, the box is revealed!

I used punched circles to create the birds and their wings are made with stamped flower parts cut out and attached to the back of the birds.  The fence is made using a Martha Stewart border punch and then scored on my Martha Stewart score board.  Using my Cuttlebug and a die, I punched the sentiment from a paint chip.  I finished it off by adding some flowers that I received from a new friend.

I am entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge APRIL SHOWERS AND/OR SPRING FLOWERS

 I wonder if SNOW showers would have qualified...?

 





Stamping and Watercolors

I made this card yesterday - along with 5 others like it.  Easy to do assembly line style and makes up a quick set of note cards.

The background is made using Distress Inks and the background stamp is done by stamping off first and then stamping the card.  After letting it dry thoroughly, the 3 flowers are stamped with Versa Mark and then embossed in white.  The flowers were then water colored.

Using the same technique, I made these too.

This is a fast, fun, easy technique.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenge The Robyn’s Fetish challenge # 152 – Must use Green





Time Flies

My how the summer flew by!  I knew I hadn't posted in awhile, but I had no idea it had been this long!

In honor of the season (even though it is 19 degrees here this morning) I am going to post a couple of fall cards I have made recently.  Hope you like them!

This one features teabag folding.  And the tile was made by a friend of mine.  Love that spooky spider!

The fold on this one is Dahlia Fold.  I used an EK Success Border Punch to create the trellis.

Distress inks blended here and rubber stamping the flowers.

And it wouldn't be fall without some pumpkins!  I did this one with colored pencils and created the wording using WordArt in my Word program.

 

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!

 



Feeling a little vintage and Pro Markers

I downloaded the graphic for this card from The Graphics Fairy.  The background is made by cutting 3 pages of card stock and then reassembling them to form a new paper.  I distressed the edges of them with Distress inks to add depth.  I also tore around the edges of the graphic and distressed it as well.  The clock is from Spellbinders Timeless Heritage set.  A rubber stamped sentiment, a bit of fiber ribbon and this is the completed card!

I got the greatest bargain on a set of Pro Markers!  I have never used alcohol based markers before, but I managed to complete a card with them.  I printed the digital stamp with my printer and discovered that if I let it set overnight to cure completely, the ink does not bleed when I start coloring it.  I discovered this when I was using my colored pencils too.  (Just a little tip if you didn't know)  I learned how to use the markers by watching some YouTube videos.  The background is shaded with chalks.

I hope you like my latest creations.  Stop back again...





A touch of Spring

We had a warmer March than April so far.  While the days have been nice, the nights have brought really cold temperatures.

In honor of spring's arrival, I made this easel card.  I have also entered it in a challenge!

The challenge is over at Lily Pad Cards.

Greetings, y’all! Are you ready to play? Kathy’s given us bright and happy colors – just perfect for Easter!!!

I love the spring colors and decided to try this one.  I used a digital image of lilies that I had and after coloring them with colored pencils, I cut the images with my Cuttlebug and my Spellbinders Labels 4.  The sentiment is computer generated.  After printing it, I used a smaller Labels 4 die and then colored it while still in the die using Distress ink.

The background paper is from a card stock pad I purchased years ago and is sparkly and glittered.  I added Stickles to the lilies to give them some shine too.

This photo shows the layers and the stickles a little better.

I have also entered this card in the easel card challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot.
You have to check out all the fun things going on over there too!

I hope you like my card.  Feel free to comment and/or become a follower!

I'm a Blog candy winner!

You cannot imagine how surprised I was to learn that I had won blog candy on Hetty's blog! All I had to do was leave a comment and WOW!  I am so pleased.

I received my blog candy and promptly sat down to play.  Here is my creation:

I made this easel card with it.  Sorry, not showing the inside just yet as it is going to someone very special and I do not want her to see the sentiment yet.

Hetty sent me some lovely flowers along with ribbons, and gems.  I also won the card that she had made here.  Hetty has some beautiful art.  You really need to check out her blog! This one has a great tutorial on how to attach these flowers to your cards.

I hope everyone is having a great day!  I am off to play with more goodies...





Getting ready for Mother's Day

I have started making some cards for Mother's day.  Some of my friends have requested some so I am making them.

Here is one of them:

I used my Martha Stewart punches to make the background layers.  My Cuttle bug with Curls and Swirls Alphabet dies made the letters.  And of course a tea bag medallion to top it off.  A little bling in the corners to set it off.

I made a few in the same style.  I have various colors made like this too, and if you are interested in purchasing one, contact me and let me know.



I have also been making other cards too.  Just have not time taken to show them.

I made this one for my granddaughter's baptism.  I used a digi stamp from Create with TLC.  She has the most beautiful sayings and quotations for cards.  You really need to sign up to be a Follower.  Paulette is very generous with her creations.  The fold is from a dear friend of mine - The Leo Fold. 

And this one also made with a digi from Create with TLC.  This saying is so appropriate.  I love it.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut it out and shaded it in with Distress Ink in Broken China.

I hope you are all having a great day.  We hit 76 here today - totally unheard of here in northern Wisconsin in March.  I am not complaining about it.  I have seen my first robins of the year and the sand hill cranes are back with their noisy calls.  Someone told me today that they saw a flock of bluebirds yesterday.  Could it be?  Is spring really here?

We have had issues with a bear for the past 3 weeks.  It likes our deck.  This photo was taken on March 5 - see we did have some snow:

This bear has burdock's stuck to the fur on her back and face.  It has no fear of us.  I took this photo through a closed back door as she was less than 8 feet from the door.  I say "her" but do not know for sure.  When it stood up on it's hind legs and looked at me, I didn't think to look at the down side to determine gender!  I did notice that there were no "nursing" marks on it, so it does not have cubs.  Whatever - but it came out of the den early and decided to stay up.  It has been paying us regular visits so we are very aware of our surroundings when we leave for work in the dark and any other time as well.  In this photo, it was 4:30 in the afternoon!



Happy February!

We have had such a nice weather pattern going lately.  Whoever heard of 50 degrees in January in northern Wisconsin?!  Last week we were in the 40's all week too.  I know it won't last, but it sure is a nice change.

I have made a few more cards since I was last here.  This one is iris folding.  I have not done this technique in quite a while, but I like how it turned out.  I used tissue paper for the vase and tore apart some silk flowers I had to put in the vase.

This is one I made for a valentine.  The clip art came from TLC Creations.  You really need to check out what she has available.  Lots of goodies for your card making and scrap booking pleasure.  And be sure to become a follower so you can get even more goodies!  I used my Martha Stewart heart border punch for the edges and an embossing folder from Darcie (hearts) for the background.  I made a medallion for the front, inked the edges with Distress Ink in Fired Brick, and tied on some eyelash ribbon.

This one is made with with Spellbinders Elegant Posts for accents.  Of course a medallion made from a tile I made.  The background is made using the bubble wrap technique - paint bubble wrap with acrylic paint, press your card stock onto it and let it dry.  When dry, I lightly inked it with Fired Brick Distress ink.  The original color of the card stock is what I call paper bag brown.

I hope you are having a great day!  Feel free to leave a comment if you have time.  I like feedback!