STB - september 16 2024

It's September of 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

And I experienced the northern lights for the first time ever. Oh my goodness. How do you stop THAT blur? It actually ain't even a blur! It made me an addict.

It was so cool. We were having a beach fire and keeping our eyes on the north. At one point we thought something looked different. DS headed down the beach toward the point where we can see more north. Mine was the only cell phone with us so his girlfriend took it and followed behind him. I could see her stopping every few steps to take photos, so thinking she was seeing something, of course I had to get up and follow them. It is amazing how viewing the sky through your phone makes aurora so much more visible.

The show probably lasted a half hour. Amazingly enough under a full moon! That's why the photo looks like it was taken in daylight! There we were (DH was unfortunately home in the shower!) jaws gaping, jumping around, screaming as aurora appeared, arced, stretched, changed from green to purple... Incredible. If you've never seen it, I hope you get the chance one day.

Had to include a full size photo of the kids with aurora (and even a lit freighter) in the background. Used it to hide a couple more photos and stories - like real life stuff going on that week too. But I chose to dedicate the full week spread to aurora. Well, and the Detroit Lions ;)

Cheers to aurora and stopping the blur. 

more milestone cards

Seems like some of the only cards I actually sit down and create lately are for lovely ladies turning 70, 80 and 90.

 STAMPlorations Gift Builder 1 die

STAMPlorations Celebrate die

STAMPlorations Peony number 2 stencil

MFT numbers die

Papertrey hello die

Thanks for stopping by today.

forgotten but not gone (2)

I've got a few cards to share this month that seem to have been forgotten in my photo file. Oops.

Let's continue with pink, shall we? "Hello"I think I made this for a publication call way back when. I like the use of the repetitive negative die cut on the right. And can you say "brad"?!!!

Mama Elephant Hello stamp

Papertrey Ink Hello die

cloth brad, sequins

And hey. I can't rememeber what this one was for either :) Test driving some new product I think. Along with using up some scraps. Love the preppy pink and green combo. Takes me right back to my college days ;)

circle and triangle dies

The Stamp Market Hey die

floral stamp

glitter gold washi

Happy weekend!  

using scraps for mixed media cards

Continuing with my summer programming.

So I was on a roll using up scraps for mixed media cards after discovering Laura's fabulous feed over on IG. After watercoloring various swatches, these cards happened. (I actually used some swatches in these cards a while back too.)

watercolor paper, watercolors

Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here die

Simon Says Stamp Clustered Leaves die

Heidi Swapp sentiment stickers

Happy weekend!

and more milestone birthday cards

Summer programming ...

First up some milestone birthday cards. 

For the younger crowd...

Papertrey Headline alpha die

Memory Box Parker number die

STAMPlorations tag and phrase dies 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

valentines with scrap strips

I seem to find myself a theme when I make Valentines each year. I'm on a scrap strip adventure right now (avoiding the hard work of moving my craft room as I explained here) so that became my theme for this year.

Scrap strips, scrap cardstock and a glue stick. Made myself some "patterned paper" and then played with it.

Essentials by Ellen Nice of you stamp

Essentials by Ellen Folk Hearts die

Die cut a square of my "PP" with the love die and made cards with the negative and positive pieces. I'm entering the pink one into SSS Monday - Love is in the Air challenge.

Dienamics Love Centerpieces die

Then I rediscovered a flop card die (NBUS) so gave it a run in a card for DD. Used some 6x6 PP from my stash (which could last me 120 years). I'm hooking this Clean and Layered one up over at The Card Concept #168.

Dienamics Flop Card Heart die

Reverse Confetti Lovely Words die

SSS you die

Charlie and Paulchen Hohlsaumrahmen die

And while I had that heart die in my hand from the flop card heart die, I cut two of them and made this, personalized with the couple's initials. It's actually going to Americans who live in Germany so I'm joining in at Pinspirational February Challenge.

Dienamics Flop Card Heart die

Papertrey Bookprint Alpha die

 

simon says stamp - united we craft 2

Have you checked out the United We Craft Party over at Simon Says Stamp. Lots of inspiration with some of the older products you might have in your stash as you get creative in your #stayathome and #flattenthecurve time.

In yesterday's post I did some die cutting with the Faberge Egg. Then I looked through my background stamps thinking it was due time for some therapeutic coloring. These two cards happened.

 SSS Kaleidoscope stamp

SSS Hello die
Papertrey Hello die
Action Deutschland banner die

Copics

Hope you are all doing OK with the home isolation. We're hanging in there. I believe that united we got this! Happy Sunday.

hero arts layering waves for the retiree

Yesterday's card reminded me that I had made a couple retirement cards which I had not yet shared.

First up - how about hanging out at the beach? Out comes the fabulous Hero Arts Layering Waves and Layering Sea and Sky. 

I used Altenew inks for the stamping (just flipped the last layer of sea over and used it to stamp some "sandy beach". Trimmed the sea panel down and adhered it to a cardbase. Created the setiment (hello retirement) with a stamp from the set and some die cut letters. The Adirondack chair die is Impression Obsession.

If you know Germany, you'll understand this next one...

Our road signs alerting you you've left one town and are entering another look like this. My card indicates that you've left "work" and are entering "retirement". Used the Papertrey Block Alphabet die.

I'm joining the Anything Goes fun at SSS Wednesday Challenge one more time and A Blog Named Hero AG.

happy camper in the alps

Another one of my commissioned cards for a gal who truly enjoys giving handmade cards. And she claims the recipients enjoy receiving them too! Yaaaaay.

Today's card - a birthday card for her boyfriend who owns and operates campgrounds. So glad I picked up the little Papertrey Happy Camper set years ago! It pairs so well with Essentials by Ellen Alpine Windows die. Added a crisp, clean sentiment from Hero Arts Birthday Hugs and Kisses and voila!

The die does all the work for you to create this great scene with depth. All you need to do is stamp and a little fussy cutting.

I'm taking it over to The Card Concept, where the winter color scheme inspired me to go with kraft on this design and heat emboss snow onto the mountains.

alles gute - twice

Been busy with card production for some special requests (love that this gal enjoys giving handmade cards!) I was asked to make cards for various occasions and asked for little tips from her to make my creation process easier. Do you do this too?

First up - a card for Dad. Should have to do with books or printing. This happened.

I went with printing. Mainz is our next big city and Johann Gutenberg (of moveable type fame) is its favorite son. I had to go with the scrambled letters BG (Hero Arts Alphabet Soup) and then the die cut letters in red cuz that's the color of the city emblem. See how my brain works? Or scatters may be a better word!

Put a piece of torn vellum over the BG to help the shiny red letters shine better. Then added Altenew German Label Love secondary sentiment.

Remembering Jennifer M.'s prompt to always make multiples, I created this version too in case the red and gold are too much.

Wonder if she'll choose the red or blue version. Do you have a favorite?

I'm playing at:

A Blog named Hero - Anything Goes

light and airy confirmation card

Stopping by today with a card I made for a confirmation. I was inspired by this card. Check out Silke's grid on IG if you're feeling in the mood for light and airy collage design... She does it like no one else.

I do not have as light a hand as Silke, but I used up a little more PP  ;)

 Rayher Konfirmation die

Papertrey Bookprint Alpha die

Charlie and Paulchen Sommer Trio die

Alexandra Renke Angel Wings die

Winnie and Walter Audrey die

Alexandra Renke Kreuz im Kreis die

Heidi Swapp gold ink spray

nymogarn

Studio Calico PP

Basically, I just pulled out a PP pad and some dies which I thought fit the confirmation theme. Die cut some pieces and then spent way too much time arranging and rearranging them until I got something I was happy with ;)

Thanks for looking. Have a great week.

I'm joining:
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies March

25 days of christmas tags 2018 - part 5

So while you're all enjoying leftovers, I'm back with the last of the sets of tags I'm making as neighbor gifts this year (14 of 'em)... thanks to Tracey's 25 days of Christmas tags.

Meet my last two sets. Who knows? Maybe there'll be more but for now I have to stop and clean up my craft room table cuz it needs to come up to the living room for our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday!

If this tag looks familiar to you, you're right. I decided to make a second set with the same design, just dressed it up with a chiffon bow and made some smaller tags to go with them.

I was inspired by Kim's tag for Day 11 with Winnie and Walter, but used one of my all-time fave Christmas sets from Technique Tuesday who was up on Day 13.

Reverse Confetti Gift Card Holder Tag die

Technique Tuesday Jingle all the Way stamp
Altenew inks

For my last set (actually made two sets of these cuz I was having fun coloring the cute images) I was totally inspired by Tracey's tag for Day 11 with Winnie and Walter.  Such a simple way to create a cute little scene, perfect for families with kiddos.

Love that extra irridescent sparkle the snow sequins add to the heat embossed falling snow.

Papertrey Tag Sale #2 die

Winnie and Walter So Tweet stamp and die

Winnie and Walter Scenery Big Bang Confetti stamp

Winnie and Walter Sentimental Winter stamp

Klartext Frohe Weihnachten stamp

Create a Smile Schone Bescherung stamp

Copic markers

sequins

So I'm off. Have a date with a bird and all its trimmings...

I'm also joining in at:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Baby it's Cold Outside (#2)

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies November (#2)

STAMPlorations inspiration #195

Back for a Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where the team members feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers.

We're showcasing Dee's Artsy Impressions stamps. Dee's stamps are 10% off automatically from now through Nov 26 (with an extra 20% off when you use my discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA).

This month, I 'm creating cards inspired by favorite cards of others that I've pinned. Check out my inspiration from Channin P for today's card. Here's my card.

STAMPlorations Tweet Love stamp and die
Papertrey Ink Super Stripes stamp

Altenew inks
enamel dots

Keeping my inspiration piece in mind I pulled out a stripe stamp and stamped them in pastel rainbow. If you don't have stripe stamps, you can cut a piece of fun foam, adhere it to an acrylic block or MISTI and go from there. If using fun foam, I've found pigment inks work better for stamping. Unless you use a MISTI, then you can reink and restamp to your heart's desire! I stamped the images, die cut them and adhered them a bit askew.

I've used these tweeties here and here too. 

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on the November inspiration posts. Check out today's post for more inspiration here. Appreciate that you stopped by :)

I'm joining the fun at:
Penny Black and More - Make Someone Smile
AAA Card Challenges - On the Move

25 days of christmas tags 2018 - part 2

So I'm making sets of tags as neighbor gifts this year... thanks to Tracey's 25 days of Christmas tags.

Without further ado, here are my next three.

For Day 1 with Simon Says Stamp I was inspired by Ankita's simple tags layering a piece of die cut vellum over die cut PP. So happy I got to use up some more PP ;)

 Papertrey Tag Sale #1 die

Simon Says Stamp Holy Stars die
Simon Says Stamp Winter Scene stamp
white embossing powder

For Day 3 with Concord and 9th I was inspired by Jessica's inked beauties (and I also happen to have just the stamp she used). To save some time since I'm making sets, I swiped mini ink pads across my CS before die cutting the tags. Then I heat embossed onto them using my MISTI. Dressed a few up with sequins.

MFT Fish Tail Banner Stax die

Concord and 9th O Christmas Tree stamp

white embossing powder

Altenew inks

For Day 10 with Studio Katia, I loved the watercolored poinsettias by Tracy. When I thought about making multiples I decided to do some stamping and then soften the ink by spritzing with water/moving the ink with a waterbrush rather than watercoloring all those stamped images.

 Papertrey Tag Sale #3 die

STAMPlorations Layered Poinsettias stamp

Klartext Frohe Weihnachten stamp

Distress inks

gold embossing powder

Pretty artsy fartsy. But I've a friend who will certainly appreciate them. And you gotta love the shimmer from a spritz of perfect pearl mixture!

I'll be back with more. So happy Tracey's challenge spurred me to create my neighbor gifts for Christmas in November! Thanks Tracey!

I'm also joining in at:

Addicted to Stamps - AG with option ribbon (#3)

Stamping Sensations - Get Ready for Christmas (#3)

Crafty Hazelnut PP Challenge - November (#1)
Happy Little Stampers - Watercolor November (#3)