with sympathy (RIC)

ETA:  Ha!  Typical me.  Missed the deadline but here it is anyhoo.

Card to share for the Runway Inspired Challenge #44.  It's been too long since I played over there and this photo spoke to me with its wispy branches and natural makeup.

This translated to this card.

Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink with a hint of a moon in Shaded Lilac.  A portion of a Crafter's Workshop mask.  And the serenity of the scene spoke sympathy to me.  On vellum in a nod to the sheer layers of the gown.

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies with sympathy:

Paper: cardbase TPC, vellum

Stamps:  sentiment PTI

Ink: Distress, StazOn

Tools: mask TCW

Other: 

buzz, buzz...it's an alien (Moxie Fab)

Have you ever thought of googly eyes as flying saucers?  No, eh?  Well I did.

What do you think of my cute alien?  PC-generated image and sentiment on this one.  Since I don't know how to combine images in one "file" I just printed the sentiment and then printed and fussy cut the little guy and adhered him to the panel. Some circle punching and bokeh stamping (green cuz it's an alien, 'member?). And some googly eyes.

Which if you look at them from the side...

... flying saucers!

Hooking up to the General Craft Supplies challenge at Moxie Fab.

Appreciate your visit.  Have a good one.

Supplies i only have eyes:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann and Neenah

Stamps:  image from monstercoloringpages.org

Ink: green Hero Arts

Tools: circle punch

Other: googly eyes, foam adhesive, Glossy Accents

bunches of love (Moxie Fab, TAWS)

What do you get when you take packaging from camembert (ya know, really thin balsa wood), some Distress Ink and a die?  Well bunches of love, of course...

After applying DI to the strips of wood (I disassembled the top and bottom of the container and used the strips.  Saved the circles for another day.) I used my Heart Delight die from Memory Box and made lots of hearts.  Some twine and a tag and a sentiment and voila.

Joining the challenges at:

Moxie Fab World - Handmade Cards - Metal, Wood and Cork
TAWS - #38 Mix it Up

Appreciate your visit.

Supplies bunches of love:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann

Stamps:  sentiment TAWS

Ink: Distress, Aladine

Tools: hearts die Memory Box, tag die Sizzix

Other: recycled camembert packaging and twine

smell autumn in the air (CFC, Moxie Fab, Simply Create Too)

We have been having a week of lovely fall weather here in Germany. Sure hope it continues a while. Nothing I like more than putting on a jacket and heading outside in the sun. (I'm getting too old for the hot days of summer.)   Anyhoo, I've a card for you that nods to this wonderful season.

Notice those colors on the leaves.  How do you think I made them?  Distress inks?  Nope.

Tea bags. If you rip them open and spread them onto damp cardstock, let them dry naturally, and then scrape the clumps off you get this cool result.  The purple-ish tones are from a fruit tea.  Cool, eh?  Even have a slight scent of fruit tea to your card when you're done. Here's a tute - in German but with photos.

Added some dry embossing (reminds me of a cable-knit sweater).  And see the fiber?  The egg noodles I buy have that as a closure ;)

I'm joining the fun at:
CASual Fridays - #115 Fall Colors and a Leaf

Moxie Fab World - Handmade Cards - Color Media (tea)

Simply Create Too - #47 Fall/Autumn

Have a great weekend.

Supplies happy anniversary:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann

Stamps:  sentiment Technique Tuesday

Ink: Amuse

Tools: dies Spellbinders, embossing folder Cuttlebug

Other: tea bag, recycled twine

playing with crayons

Here to share one of my cards published in the latest special issue of Paper Crafts - Get Supply Savvy with Handmade Cards.  Have you checked out all the fun challenges over at Moxie Fab World associated with this issue?

I had lotsa fun making cards for this submission call, but my fave was playing with crayons.  I know it's not new, but I had never melted crayons before.  Like this.

I grabbed the kids' box of old crayons and set out to make something.  This is what evolved.

If you feel motivated to try this, a couple tips for ya.  TIP:  All crayons are not made equal.  Some melt quicker than others and are thus, soupier.  Just sayin'.  TIP::  Cover your workspace.  Well. ;) A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  This is the contraption I built to play with.  TIP:  If you paint your cardstock with white acrylic paint first it helps the wax to run even more.

And a nod to a couple cardmaking pals out there who also appear in this issue.  Did you see Kelly G.'s amazing bales of hay card?  Love that one.  And Miriam P. also played with soap bubbles mixed with ink (as I did in this post) and made a beaut.  So, only 230 other great projects waiting for you to check out in the issue :)

Supplies thanks:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann, scrap Neenah

Stamps:  

Ink:

Tools: heat gun, die Provo Craft

Other: old crayons

pti september bloghop (PTI, Moxie Fab)

It's time for another PTI blog hop. Well I'm "sharing openly" and will certainly "leave inspired" but as for "being creative" I took a couple short cuts.

First off, the wreath. I've used it before for a hop. But I love it. This stamp set was one of the first reasons I ever googled to see what the heck Papertrey was. (Can you believe that?) And the theme of this blog hop is  wreaths...

And the gold ink... well I'm hooked on it lately and it was just laying there on my messy workspace. Decided to pair it with neon pink this time around.  And add a slice of that yummy Pink Paislee metallic paper I fell in love with at Danielle F.'s blog last holiday season. And ink the edges of my die cut mat with gold ink a la Maile B.  See what I mean about cheating in the creativity department?!?! 

I inked a strip of white CS to add next to the gold metallic paper to add more of the pink. (I think that's a Jennifer McG. stroke of genius, BTW). As for the crochet thread bow... that was my idea and maybe not such a good one. Oh well. What would you have added instead of the bow?  I'd love to know.

Here's another shot of that Delicata gold pigment ink yumminess.

I'm hooking up to the Moxie Fab World "All that Glitters is Gold" Challenge too. Thanks for visiting. Hop along now.

Supplies my dear friend:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann, PP Pink Paislee

Stamps:  PTI Wreath for all Seasons and Irresistibly Ikat

Ink: pink Aladine, gold Delicata

Tools: die PTI

Other: crochet thread, foam adhesive

delicata glitters (Moxie Fab)

See that Delicata gold loveliness?

OK, someone stop me.  I'm overwearing my welcome over at the All that Glitters is Gold Challenge at Moxie Fab.  I can't help myself.  (And, no don't stop me cuz I ain't done yet!)

This may bring back memories of the beautiful ombre trigger a couple weeks back.  And it should. By the time I was ready to create, the trigger was long over.  But it works with gold.  Even better IMHO.

Was going to pop up the larger portion but then opted to pop only the smaller outer strip.  Kinda cool.  Catches the images so they don't fall off the side ;)

Thanks for coming by.  Appreciate it.

Supplies for birthday wishes

Paper: CS  Bringmann, white Neenah

Stamps:  PTI

Ink : Inkadinkado pigment and Delicata gold

Tools: 

Other: foam adhesive

in transition (Moxie Fab, SSS)

Warning:  Lousy photo coming at you and no, I'm not getting into the trend of "staging" my photos.  It's 11 p.m. here and I finally made the card I'd been thinking about for the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World.

Image Credit

May I say I love this image.  And it's from a German gallery!  Of course my stamping mind first went to the idea of layering striped stamps.  But take another look at that image - how the heck would you achieve that look?  Methinks it would require lots of creative inking and maybe even paints and combs for some texture. No time for 'xperiments.

So... Ardyth P.'s cool card for Bev's birthday was somewhere in my cranial crannies.  Then the title of the challenge hit me.  "In Transition."  Hmmm, die cuts and transition.  How about the transition from teenager to adult?  It's happening in our family next year.  So...

Some Roy G. Biv (great way to use up scraps).  Some Parker die cut numbers from Memory Box. And cuz you can get that great die and the Simon Says stamp I used around the edges (from Absolutely Delightful) at Simon Says Stamp I'm hooking up to the current challenge.  Some piggy-backed gold on black sequins to anchor the corners (cuz the stamping looked suboptimal where the patterns met ;) and voila!

Good night.  It is here anyway.  Thanks for looking.  Hope your week is a good one.

Supplies for new day

Paper: CS  Bringmann, scraps

Stamps:  border SSS, sentiment Hero Arts

Ink : Memento

Tools: die Memory Box

Other: gold and black sequins

daddy's little girl (Moxie Fab, CASOS, SSS, KIS)

Gold embossing and one specific stamp.  Having those two things in mind I whipped up this card. Well, it was "whipped up" after I spent 20 minutes deciding which PPs to use...  That's what ya get for having too much of the stuff.

Very simple, very sweet with all the emphasis on that sentiment.  Which is heat embossed in gold. As the card was laying on the dining room table waiting to be photographed, it dawned on me that it would make a great cover for a brag book for a Daddy.  Can't you picture him having one at his desk with some photos of his little girl? Can't you picture the ladies in the office going gaga over it? Hmmm, do we want the ladies at the office going gaga over the fathers of our little girls?!?!?

I'm playing at four challenges with this card:
Simon Says Stamp - Use SSS product (the Inkadinkado stamp set)
CAS on Sunday - Oh, Baby
ETA: Keep it Simple - #23 Flowers
Moxie Fab World - All that Glitters is Gold

I will forever be a fan of gold embossing powder, even if it's not trending.  I think it's that magical moment when the stuff does its thing and turns from powder into something most non-cardmakers never dreamed you could make at home ;)

As for Miss Ellie (yep, that's her name)... 12 weeks and definitely EVERYBODY'S little girl in our family.

Thanks for visiting today.

Supplies for daddy's little girl:

Paper: CS  Bringmann, PP October Afternoon

Stamps:  Inkadinkado

Ink : Versamark

Tools: scallop die Amuse

Other: gold embossing powder, crochet thread

happy dance (Moxie Fab)

Better late than never, right?  So there's a birthday girl out there, ya'll know Bev of Happy Dance fame, right?  Well today is her special day and here's a little something in her honor.

Fun and cool and happy dancing.  Had to be that stamp!  Hope your day is wonderful, Bev.  I wish you health and happy dances for the next 365-day-trip-around-the-sun.  Thank you for all the joy you bring to blogland.  And I still say you are the most amazing Grandma out there.

Joining the fun at Moxie Fab World's All That Glitters is Gold challenge.  Love gold.  Love it!

p.s. For those of you following the story, this is what occupies most of my time these days.

Supplies for dance, live, be:

Paper: CS  Bringmann

Stamps:  Vivre en Musique Lencre

Ink : Adirondack, Versaine

Tools: diamond die Lifestyle Crafts, square die Sizzix

Other: makeup sponges

write it on the board (SSS, Paper Crafts, Neat and Tangled)

Between rabbit h-e-double-toothpicks and puppy heaven it's been awhile since I've seen my craft room. Actually just came here to check out the deadline for that ombre beauty over at Moxie Fab (actually had an idea circling in my head) and again I've way missed the deadline.  Where did the last two weeks go?!?!?  But I've something to share that's  pretty hot right now.  Chalkboard, anyone?

The idea for this was born in the annual pumpkin carving parties we've had.  Started them before Halloween hit Germany in order for my kids to get a taste of it.  Well, loads of pics are taken and I thought a photo CD could be a nice gift for friends.  So how about a photo CD holder?

I know there are tutorials out there for CD holders, and string closures, and  pocket books.  Well this kinda combines 'em all.

I cut the top edge off of a CD envelope and stamped with polka dots.  Used envelope as a guide to cut “wrap” from black CS and scored. 

Punched holes in wrap where closures would go.  Punched two circles each of CS and PP for closure, glued together to strengthen and punched hole in middle.  Inked edges.   Cut 12” piece of crochet thread and laid it in a circle on tape around the hole in flap.  Inserted eyelets (catching crochet thread secured at top hole) and set. Tied knot in other end of crochet thread.

Lay wrap flat and stamped subway art design with white ink.  Stamped design again with Versamark and heat embossed white.  TIP:  When doing subway art,  lay all stamps out (various companies/thicknesses) to get design, then carefully place large acrylic block over them and pick up all stamps of same thickness on block and stamp at one time.  Stamped design first with white ink and then slightly offset when heat embossing to achieve smudgy effect. When cooled, smeared white ink using finger. 

Added doodles with white pencil.  Stamped and heat embossed “To/from” on reverse.  Die cut label and stamped/embossed sentiment; adhered with washi. For CD envelope:  I cut a strip of PP 2 1/2 x 5” and scored in the middle.  Sandwiched bottom edge of CD envelope in folded PP strip,  adhering front of envelope to back of PP and back of PP to inside of wrap.

Yeah, it's a wrap!  (pun intended).  Here's the chalkboard effect for a closer look. 

I'm goin' places with this one.

Simon Says Stamp - Emboss it
Paper Crafts September Gallery Challenge - Chalkboard
Neat and Tangled -  #20 Back to the Blackboard

Thanks for looking.

Supplies for photo CD holder:

Paper: black paper Bringmann, PP American Crafts, MME

Stamps: (dots BG) Kars, (Vintage Camera) Maya Road, (Haunted) Cosmo Cricket, (Midnight Feast ) WMS, (Scary Night) Inkadinkado

Ink :  Versamark, Adirondack pigment, white pencil

Tools: die Spellbinders

Other:  embossing powder, crochet thread, eyelets, washi

50 + 50 + a pup (Curtain Call)

Well we've not got a wee one (species:  Havanese) around the house.  DD is doing a fabulous job with her (that was DD and DP (dear pup) first hour of bonding yesterday) but when I have duty I get absolutely nothing done.  Sit on the floor playing with her or follow her around the house trying to decide if she's looking for a place to do her business or just doing normal sniffing. Then whisking her out to the yard.  I'm not very good at this.  DD had night duty last night but I'm on for school nights so wish me (us) luck!

I did take a few minutes yesterday to make a card for our friends who had a 50 + 50 = 100 party last night.  Here it is.

The sentiment reads "what a beautiful day".  Thought it appropriate since neither of their birthdays was actually yesterday!

These are smaller number stamps so I decided to "stretch" them for my design by stamping them on the black CS and PP and after splitting them, covering the split with the sentiment strip.  This required more spatial thinking than my brain can handle. Card's outta da house so I can't go have a look, but those zeros look pretty darn wonky in this photo?!?!?  I think it may be more proof that I need to get me a Stamp-a-ma-jig... 

I'm playing at Curtain Call this week, not that my card has anything to do with "Back to School" but check out this inspiration photo and I think you'll know why:

May be awhile before I create a card again.  DP's not allowed in the basement so that's gonna keep ME out of my laundry room.  At least for crafting purposes!  For those of you following the story of the rabbits I have good news.  With DP's arrival we had no choice but to move them out of the house and into the yard in their stall and they're doing fine.  Even saw them laying quietly TOGETHER in one of their little houses today! Yippie!

Supplies for was für ein schöner tag:

Paper: CS and PP Bringmann

Stamps:  numbers WeRMemory, sentiment Inkystamp

Ink : Versamark, Versaine

Tools: 

Other: embossing powder, bling