love your guts (CSS spread the love, SSS, LIM, SCS, Hero Arts)

Have you heard about this?  Clear and Simple Stamps is campaigning.  It's all about crushes.  Spread the love, baby.    Go check it out, you know you want to , I'll wait ...(to quote Amber K.G.!).

So here's the thing.  I was an expert at crushes. They were ever-present in my life as a teen/tween.  OK, they controlled my life.  Kinda scary when I think back on it, but made for some intense emotional adventures too.  And ain't that a big part of growing up?  Nuff said.

Now that I'm "all grown up", I'm crushing again.  On blogs.  May I introduce you to my #1 blog crush, Mandilicious of Vintage Revivals.  Check her out.  But not right yet.  I'm pretty sure you won't be coming back here anytime soon - she kinda grabs ya in a big bear hug and doesn't let go - so take a gander at the card I made for her before you go.

For you cardmakers out there... Drew the trendy triangles by hand.  Made a triangle stamp from fun foam.  Stamped, first and second generation with Hero Arts Shadow Inks.  Used gold acrylic paint for one set of triangles and a punched circle.  Printed my computer-generated sentiment on vellum.  Die cut a circle from CS, paper pierced a heart shape and made a faux-string-art heart.  Added a brad.  So. much. fun.

So, back to crushing...  Seriously folks.  I love her guts (That's Mandi's sign-off BTW.  Wish I'd thought of that!)  She can do anything.  Make mercury glass.   A rug.  A blow-me-away lamp.  She's the queen of thrifting.  And since I discovered Mandi's blog, Vicki has had two makeovers.  I've got smaller projects still waiting to be tackled the first time!  My first run-in with Mandi, which ended with me LOL, was the seizure wall.  If you check out the comments on that post - "Anonymous January 22" - that's me in my pre-blogger days  ;)   And she has an incredible personal story too.

OK, now you're dismissed.  Go hang at her place.  See if you can tell where I got my inspiration for the card.  And tell her I sent you ;)

Joining the fun at:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Less is More Week 108- Paper Piercing
SCS Love Fest 2013A - L.O.V.E
Hero Arts - Feb2013B Sketch Challenge

"Love your guts" - don't ya just love that?  Happy weekend.

Supplies for love your guts:

Paper: CS American Crafts, CS Neenah, vellum The Paper Company

Stamps: homemade triangle from fun foam, sentiment font Wisdom Script

Ink : Hero Arts, Versacolor, 

Tools:ruler and Sharpie, scissors, circle die MFT

Other: cotton crochet thread, hole piercer, brad, gold acrylic paint

give it up for love fest 2013 (SCS, SSS, Paper Playtime)

Eleven challenges and this is my number 10.  Love Fest 2013J is sponsored by Verve Stamps and they want to see their colors (aqua and brown) with either yellow or pink.  Not my go-to colors, but I gave it a try...

Inspired by their banner I was... Faux letterpressed the flourish using Broken China Distress ink on aqua CS.  Stitched around the edges with yellow.  Mis-used my Tim Holtz Bird on a Branch (again) to get a gnarly branch for my butterfly (see it in the banner?).  She was die cut, stamped, painted with pearlescent watercolors and inked around the edges before being mounted on the card over some saved-from-the-bin threads.  I misted a CS scrap before stamping the sentiment in brown.

Also hooking up to:
Paper Playtime #4 - Use a Sentiment Stamp (the sentiment on my card plays a huge role)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Appreciate your fluttering by.

Supplies for Life:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS DCWV, PP Ursus

Stamps: butterfly Hero Arts, sentiment Skipping Stones Design

Ink : Distress Ink, Versacolor, Glimmer Mist

Tools: branch die Sizzix, butterfly die Hero Arts, sewing machine, embossing plate Sizzix

Other: pearlescent watercolors Yasutomo, water brush, thread

folds and flaps (SCS)

I dnd't really intend to do all the challenges in the Splitcoast Love Fest 2013, but here I am trying to get the last three done!

Love Fest 2013D sponsored by Scor-pal is looking for flaps or folds.  OK.  How 'bout both?

Start with your Aunt's birthday approaching quickly.  Pick a card from your stash and grab the set of rainbow cards you just made (but haven't posted all of yet).  Cuz of course, to get one rainbow you had to die cut 7 different colors.  And of course you can't throw all the rest away.  So you made rainbow cards.  I digress.

See how many cards you can get into a padded mailer for the lowest postage.  And that will fit through the mailbox slot so that you don't have to go to the post office which is a sure way to ruin your day.

Take set of cards and a piece of PP to your scoring board.

Use the envelope making guide that comes with the board (see that triangle thing?) for the very first time.  Duh.

Use score tape to glue the envie sides together and leave the flap unglued so Auntie can use it to store your purty cards.

Dress it up with  a scrap of ribbon and little tag (still totally mailable, mind you) and be proud of yourself.  You've got some flaps, some folds and somethin' sweet for Auntie.  Bye.  I'm off to the mailbox.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies for envelope:

Paper: PP and tag K& Co.

Stamps:  PTI

Ink :Memento

Tools: scoring board and bone folder

Other: score tape, ribbon

behind the clouds (SCS, CASE)

Creating again with Teri A.'s card over at CASE Study # 129 in mind.  I love me a rainbow and I happen to own the rainbow die from MFT so I used it for the SCS Love Fest 2013G Challenge sponsored by MFT.  It's called Make My Day and the challenge is to create a card of encouragement.

I love the sentiment on Teri's card and it reminded me of a banner I made back in high school.  We're talking  3' by 6' to hang on the cafeteria wall!  Used blue burlap, cut white clouds out of felt and wrote the sentiment - the one I've computer-generated on my card - with glued-on orange yarn.  The sun was actually "Son" on my banner.  I've always been inspired by rainbows and by that saying.

My neighbor/Zumba instructor is having thyroid surgery today and the doctors are not sure what they will find.  Figured this card covers all bases...   Hoping for the best of course.

Thanks for visiting, folks.

Supplies for Behind the clouds:

Paper: CS Bringmann, white The Paper Company, vellum Ursus

Stamps:  PTI

Ink : Cat's Eye

Tools:rainbow die MFT, cloud die PTI

Other: computer generated sentiment, glue dots

retro freestyle (SCS, Retro Sketches)

Quickie.  Had the kraft paper out.  Opted to use a sketch I loved over at Retro Sketches #45 on a mini scale for the SCS Love Fest 2013I Challenge from Taylored Expressions to make a set of 3" cards.  Also hooking up at Retro Sketches #52, where in honor of their 1st bday you can use any previous sketch you'd like.  Must say I really love their sketches.

Again, I'm thinkin' these could adorn a bottle of wine given as a gift, like these.  A lined BG stamped horizontally and vertically with white pigment (definitely need a new white ink pad).  Two strips of washi, a heat embossed sentiment and a rolled flower (made from old clothes) topped things off.  In case you've not yet rolled your own flowers, here's a tute.  Good to go.

Have a great week.

Supplies for tags:

Paper: kraft ?

Stamps: BG Prima, sentiment Klartext

Ink : Adirondack white pigment, Versamark

Tools: 

Other: embossing powder, washi, rolled flowers, cotton twine

bloggiversary thanks (SCS)

Time flies when you're having fun!

Took a while for me to take the plunge and start a blog, but it's been a great year.  To those of you who  have visited my cards and made me smile with your comments, "Vielen Dank".  What a wonderful world of cardmaking-loving-blogging-creative-souls there are out there in blogland!

I appreciate your visits - followers and others.  It's nice to know that you like my work now and again, and that I may in some way inspire you to make a card that will make someone happy.  That makes me happy!
This is for all of you.  (And for the Love Fest 2013K Challenge to use a die at SCS which is sponsored by The Greeting Farm. C'mon - you didn't really expect a card without a challenge, did ya?)

And I've put together a little something for you if you're interested. Some metallic peel offs, a Penny Black cling stamp, some Claudine Hellmuth foam stamps and a Shell pigment ink pad from Amuse.

I recently had to pick my favorite card of mine.  It wasn't an easy task.   I'd love to see your favorite card of yours.  Maybe you know immediately or you might have to give it a day's thought, but please leave a link to it in my comments section.  I'll pick my favorite (yeah, totally subjective here folks) and announce a winner on March 20th.  So raise your glass with me... Here's to another good year of happy cardmaking.  Prost! :)

Supplies thanks:

Paper: kraft, white CS American Crafts

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink :Distress Ink, pigment inks Aladine

Tools: die Memory Box, sewing machine

Other: 

happy springy anniversary (SCS, CASE, Charisma)

Here's an anniversary card (what's your favorite stamp set for anniversary cards?) that I made with the Splitcoaststampers Love Fest 2013H in mind.  It's sponsored by Unity Stamp.

Which I don't own so I went with Paper Smooches.  Dry embossed a die frame into the CS then masked and stamped around it with orange and turquoise.  Love the bright colors comin' back at us (even tho' we have snow flurries here again in the Germany Tuscany today!)

Also hooking up to:
 CASE Study #129 - went with the orange and blue and flowers from Teri A.'s card
Charisma Cardz #7 - One layer cuz it is!

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies Happy Anniversary:

Paper:  CS Neenah

Stamps: Paper Smooches, sentiment Technique Tuesday

Ink :Versacolor, Versafine

Tools: die Spellbinders, corner punch EKS

Other: embossing powder

mod squad (RIC, SCS)

Remember a show called "Mod Squad" back in the (I'm guessin' 70s)?  Not sure why, but this card made me think of it...

A die cut tag.  Some stamping.  Some masking.  A border punch.  Some twine.  A Happy Birthday sentiment on the inside.

My inspiration came from Runway Inspired Challenge #30.

That dress on the right.  Yello and black.  Graphic.  Some splashes of color.  A few flowers.  I put that into effect but chose a chartreuse cardbase instead.  Just felt funkier.  Thought the tag was a nod to fashion, though I'm sure those outfits don't have price tags!

Also playing at SCS Love Fest 2013F where The Cat's Pajama has an inspiration board, also with yellow and black graphic elements.

Thanks for stopping.

Supplies:

Paper: cardbase DCWV, CS Neenah, striped scrap

Stamps: SEI, BG WMS

Ink :Versafine

Tools: die PTI, punch Fiskars

Other: twine

saved by sequins (1) (muse, SCS)

 I played at Muse for the first time.  Marion Vagg is the muse for Challenge #5.  This is her card:

This is my card.  I went with the colors, the washi, die cutting and the message.  The card was actually to use up the die cut flower which was laying on my ironing board.   I actually created the next card first.

I am entering the SCS Lovefest2013B (sponsored by Sweet n Sassy Stamps) with this although I kinda turned the sketch on its side.

I think the dark blue panel is a bit much.  Those three delicate little sequins are doing their best to compensate :)  And I definitely need to keep practicing my die placement to get a striking negative...
I gave it another try and that was this card.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies :

Paper: cardbase Craft UK, PP Basic Grey, CS DCWV

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink :Hero Arts

Tools: label die PTI, sm. label die and flower die Memory Box

Other: washi Rayher and Bella Blvd., sequins, letter stickers October Afternoon

saved by sequins (2) (muse, CASE, SCS)

Finally took the time (I'm actually procrastinating on another project) to play at Jackie R.'s new Muse, where we're to be mused by the Monday muse.  This is Marion V.'s card for inspiration:

There was (as there often is) a creative journey behind my card.  I'll share it with you tomorrow.  There were actually two other cards born before this one.  But let me say that I was mused by Marion's colors, washi, use of dies and Debby H.

Do you get a Debby H. vibe on this?  Suffice it to say I had an idea, but it didn't work like I'd planned.  The birch bark paper came to mind (maybe that's what makes my card limedoodley?!?!?) so I tried a better placement of my die and am happy with the result.  Tomorrow you'll see what I mean...

Also joining the fun at:

CASE Study - #128

SCS - LOVEFEST2013E Die Crazy sponsored by Simon Says Stamp

p.s.  I know birch bark grows the other way.  Creative liberty, ya know ;)

Go get (a)mused.

Supplies for just saying hello:

Paper: cardbase Craft UK, PP Basic Grey

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink :Hero Arts

Tools: label die PTI, flower die Memory Box

Other: washi Rayher and Bella Blvd., sequin

better than 50... (CTS, SCS)

What do you get when you cross this CAS(E) This Sketch

and this inspiration photo from PTI's anniversary challenge (yeah, I was late for the party but oh-so-taken with that gallon of magenta)?

Here's the "mutt".   BTW, the inside reads "Better than 50!".  This, BTW,  is the predicament I will also find myself in this year...

A gallon magenta (was my fave color in the Crayola box), a quart lime green and a pint each red, yellow and blue.  Gold is of course a neutral ;)  In retrospect, I could have made the blooms happen like in the inspiration photo by using a different PP on the tag, but I was lazy and using up scraps that were laying around from my other card inspired by the photo.  That was more of a challenge and that will come at ya tomorrow...

There are fun challenges happening at Splitcoast with some of their tried and true manufacturers.  Since I finally used my win from HYCCT and placed my order with Stamping Bella (and oh, woe is me, Jane Girl appears to be sold out) I am putting this card in the gallery for the Bling Challenge.

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies for you are 49!:

Paper: CS American Crafts, magenta DCWV, gold and blue scrap, PP K&Co

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink :Versamark

Tools: tag die Amuse, number die Memory Box

Other: red embossing powder Ranger, embroidery floss, needle, paper piercer, bling

just five little words (SCS, Lessology, ABNH)

Five little words that pack a really big punch, that is.  This card is for HYCCT#1203 - to make a card with five separate words on it.

Used recycled acetate and alcohol inks to create the die cut panel.  Stamped the sentiment with StazOn.  Added a couple die cut (the die cut hearts and the what-would-have-been-garbage-from-the-die-cut) border strips for interest.

Hooking up to:
Lessology - #20 Barely There
A Blog Named Hero #15 - Use punched or die cut elements

Thanks for looking.  And since Tim Holtz wasn't running, here's hoping the best man won...

Supplies for happy true love:

Paper: CS American Crafts,  PP Pink Petticoat, recycled acetate

Stamps: Kelly Panacci

Ink : alcohol inks, StazOn

Tools: border die PTI, Spellbinders

Other: 

let's lick this thing (SCS, PDCC)

That, friends, is a shot of my Master Tracking List for the Splitcoast Hope You Can Cling To month of challenges.  Whew.  I made it.  The last card of my HYCCT marathon was for #1225A - Let's lick this thing.  As in cancer.  And as in postage stamps.

Well two years ago in an oh-so-cool gallery of shops next to the Hard Rock Cafe in Paris, I found a shop selling old postcards and stamps.  Don't know if they were lost in the mail or cleaned out of someone's attic, but I love that there is so much personality/history to them, even if I don't know the story behind it.  I like that I can make the story live on, in a way, by using the piece.

I merely added some Glimmer Mist spritzing, a hodge podge of embellies, washi and a brad before adhering the postcard to my cardbase.

Playing with The Play Date Cafe's #156 spicy color challenge:

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Supplies for Journee:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  vintage postcard, PP Cosmo Cricket, vellum

Stamps: Viva

Ink : Versamark

Tools: flowerand label die PTI

Other: washi Freckled Fawn, brad Eyelet Outlet, chipboard Cosmo Cricket

ruff homage to kasia (SCS, Retro)

Have you seen Kasia C.'s card over at Retro Sketches #36?  One of my faves.  Ever.  Maybe  when you find a card that you go gaga over, it helps you define the kind of cardmaker you want to be.  (I know Wida has been giving this subject a lot of thought lately...)

So I analyzed why I love Kasia's card so much.  First, white space.  I am a total sucker for white space.  Next, the amazing bright and cheery colors.  Get me every time.  Then the element of unexpected - the piece of kraft up top and the washi and twine combo.  And finish it off with a killer sentiment - meaningful and a good font.

So why aren't all my cards like this?  Hmmm....  Maybe that's a subject for another sitting.   I have figured out that less is more - a small touch of PP can be better than covering an entire card in it.  IMO.  However, that doesn't put much of a dent in my stash.  Yikes.  It's a never-ending battle...

My card:

Not going to bore you with the details.  Except one... See the black strip at the top?  DD and friends had mutilated some pieces of PP while decorating school notebooks - punched circles and flowers pretty much all over the PP piece.  I was going to cut it apart to get my strip for the top when I thought, "Why cut it away?"  Use it.  Was it the "go for the unexpected" or my thriftiness at work?!?!?  Unfortunately I ended up covering up the cool spot where a flower had been punched with the vertical strip when I decided to put the "day" of the sentiment on the right edge.

Entering these challenges:
Papertrey MIM #90 - Sentiment Focal Point with dies and stamps
A Blog Named Hero #15 - Use a punched or die cut element
Retro Sketches - #36

This was my last creation for HYCCT.  (#1226 - Who let the dogs out).  Now to pack up 30-some cards and ship them off to TX.  Have a great day.

Supplies for ruff day:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP KI memories

Stamps: Inkadinkado

Ink : Versacolor, Versafine

Tools: alpha die PTI, Spellbinders

Other: washi

vellum {heart} stitching (SCS+)

Two more cards for HYCCT - I can see the finish line now...

The first is a shaped card for HYCCT#1210.  What shape would I pick?  A heart of course.  Which reminded me of the Valentine candies.  Which reminded me of the word "hugs".  Which led to this.

Die cut the card shape, letting the very top of the heart die hang over the edge of the folded CS to preserve the fold.  Die cut the vellum heart and letters in one pass.  Masked and inked the colored stripes.  What better way to attach the vellum than with stitching.  And I opted to do two passes - one with purple twine, one with green for a bit of variety.  A touch of bling and voila.  A "clearly" handmade card.

Also linking this up to:
Simon Says Stamp - Get in Shape
Moxie Fab World - Stitching and Sewing
The Creative Paper Trade - Week 4

Second card is for HYCCT#1208, cleverly called "HYCCT".  Use something that starts with an "H", "Y", etc.  Stumped me for awhile.

Took the Skipping Stones Design sketch and went from there.

H = heat embossing, Hero Arts flower stamp
Y = yellow (original, eh?)
C = cardboard
C = cyan blue for the flower
T = tag, TCM sentiment

Whew.  Three more HYCCT cards to go if my tally is right.  "Five Words" , "Ruff" and "Lick this Thing."  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies for #1:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  vellum

Stamps: none - wow

Ink : Adirondack

Tools: heart die Sizzix, alpha die PTI, needle

Other: baker's twine, bling

Supplies for #2:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP K&Co

Stamps: flower Hero Arts, sentiment TCM

Ink : Versamark, Versacolor, Adirondack for swipe

Tools: die MFT, circle punch, sewing machine

Other: lace scrap

look who's here (WMS, SCS)

Cute baby card coming at you.  I love making them, especially with this cool stamp from Rubbernecker.  Add some watercoloring with Distress Inks and I'm good to go.

I combined  Kittie C.'s HYCCT#1227 (a window + pink) with Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #122.

Took some liberties with the sketch, but I thought of the window and curtains when I saw it.  I actually stamped the French lace border from WMS in the middle of the cardbase before adding the PP to mimic the vertical lines in the sketch.  Then I stretched the bow into curtains!

Nice of you to stop by.  Have a good week.

Supplies for Look who's here:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP My Mind's Eye

Stamps: Rubbernecker, WMS, sentiment Stampendous

Ink : Memento + Distress Inks as watercolors, Amuse Studio, Versafine

Tools: die Cottage Cutz, decorative edge scissors, sewing machine, heart punch The Paper Studio

Other: crepe paper, twine

about a boy (CFC, SCS, Moxie Fab)

Saw a popper card that Julie E. made over at Ellen Hutson's Classroom and wanted to give it a try.  I concocted my own and what fun it was!

HYCCT#1201B challenges you to make a card for a kid - often we forget about the kids of cancer patients.    
And CASual Fridays #77 is all about making a card for a boy.  So I created a card which I can imagine a  mom giving to her son.  "U R my rock star".

I knew I wanted to do the "U" "R" thing on the front.  I have these cool brown glitter letters - cool, but like when can you use them?!?!?  I pulled out some Making Memories "Just Chillin" PP with a teenage boy theme and brown in the patterns and went from there.  Crafted the popper mechanism and the star and sentiment to go on it.  TIP:  Don't make them too big or you may have difficulties getting the card to open/close properly.  Ask me how I know...  Used a Kim Hughes set from CHF to stamp stars on the front panel and inside as well as the sentiment and guitar on the star.  Added some eyelets and triangles to the front cuz it seemed appropriate.  Distress inked the edges.

Also hooking up to the Moxie Fab World where there is a challenge to use alphabet stickers.  Got lots.  Two less now!

Appreciate your visit.

Supplies for U R my rock star:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP making memories

Stamps: CHF

Ink : Distress Ink,

Tools: star die Sizzix, circle die MFT

Other: embossing powder Zing, eyelets, letter stickers making memories

it's your CAS day (SCS)

Had a not-yet-used beauty from Heartfelt Creations rubber stamps.  Inked it up with markers, spritzed with water and stamped.  Spritzed and stamped again and this was the result.

Added the lovely PTI sentiment cuz HYCCT#1228 is a CAS challenge with focus on the sentiment.  I think this works.

Happy day.

Supplies It's your day:

Paper: CS Papertrey 

Stamps: Heartfelt Creations, sentiment PTI

Ink : markers, Versafine

Tools: corner rounder EKS

Other: bling

them there hills (WMS, SCS)

You know... "the best laid plans of mice and men...".
This is the sketch at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challege:

I knew I wanted to combine this sketch with HYCCT#1212 "Start Spreading the News."  Can you guess what the challenge is?  Make a card based on a show tune.  Can you guess what movie tune I had in mind?

Do I hear Julie Andrews singing somewhere?  Somewhere in the "hills"?

Yep, them there hills are alive with the sound of music.  One minor detail... no sheet music worked in here as originally planned.  This one just flowed.  Tried a new-for-me-approach.  Pulled out my WMS stamp sets (although you can now enter their challenges even if you don't use WMS stamps!) and had my die cut hills and just went from there.  Fun!

Die cut and stamped the hills.  Masked off the spot for the sun.  Stamped the sky.  Stamped the sun with pigment ink and embossed with clear.  Stamped the label, embossed with white and fussy cut.  Die cut and stamped the little house.  Stamped the sentiment on the cardbase and part of the "Y" on the hill piece for interest.  And then it was dark and I had to take a photo inside :(

Can you find ""Nordic Winter", "Large Doily", "Pic-Nic patterns", "Around Christmastime", "Heirloom Patterns" and "French Country"?  They're all there.  I used all six sets!  This was super fun to make - if I hadn't been interrupted five times in the process!

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies for You:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Coredinations, PP recycled

Stamps: WMS

Ink : Distress Ink, Cat's Eye to emboss, Versafine

Tools:die Memory Box, PTI

Other: vellum, embossing powder (clear and white)