idea for dad

Back today to share an idea for a guy. If you skipped the "sick" part, it could even be for Father's Day.

Started with a panel of woodgrain paper. Adhered a strip of foil tape to scrap and dry embossed it. Heat embossed the tools. Printed the secondary sentiment onto yellow paper, added die cut letters and adhered adding two brads at the top. Wrapped a strip of PP (measuring tape) around the seam and adhered the panel to a cardbase.

PP: woodgrain Bringmann, tape WeRMemory Keepers, stamps Jane's Doodles, brads Basic Grey, font Hollywood Hills, embossing plate Cuttlebug, alpha die Memory Box.

This card appeared in the Cool Tools issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking.

Thanks for stopping by. Heads up - I'll be back at the weekend showcasing mixed media projects made with ARTplorations stencils from STAMPlorations!

idea for mom

Sharing a published card with you today. Maybe for Mother's Day. Maybe just to say thanks.

Relied on PP for this one. The stripes are from Plus One by Amy Tangerine 12x12 and the floral for the die cut from Studio Calico Print Shop. The thanks die is Savvy and the Mom stamp STAMPlorations. A stream of heart confetti finished it off.

This was to be published in the May 2015 issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking. Oh well.

melancholic

The mailman just came. And gave me a box. From Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking. *sigh*

This will be last box to come, returning some published cards and those that were in the queue for upcoming issues.  *sigh*

But peeking out from beneath the melancholy, just like the tiny bit of sun trying to poke through the never-ending cloud cover here, are warm feelings of thanks for the relationships formed, the inspiration provided and the good times had with the crew over at the mag. They didn't have to, but they sent a handwritten note with each box. Class act, eh?

Since it won't be gracing the April issue, that polka dot card made for a private call is heading over to the Dots challenge at Addicted to CAS.

Thanks for coming by. Have a wonderful day. And keep on creating!

how r u (ATSAM, CASOS)

Howdy. Here's a CAS one layer card I created basically using one just one STAMPlorations stamp - the chevron-y arrow in the middle!

Started with a cream cardbase. Stamped with light blue first. Then I partially inked (covered the rest of the stamp with the corner of a piece of scrap paper cuz it nestles so nicely into the design) and  stamped with Versamark and heat embossed. Then at the end of each I stamped one black triangle (partially inked the bottom stamp in the set pictured above). Also used the arrow stamp to make the red element in the corner. Isn't it cool how just one half of the stamp has a totally different look! Love that about chevrons. Added a Dymo sentiment trimmed to an arrow too.

Here's a closeup of the white embossing.

I'm so excited that this card was chosen for the August 2014 issue of Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking.

I'm joining the fun at these challenges too:
Addicted to Stamps & More - #104 CAS
CAS on Sunday - #37 One Layer Wonder

Have a good one.

Supplies for how r u:

Paper:  CS Bringmann

Stamps: STAMPlorations

Ink : Jenny Bowlin, Versamark, Versafine

Tools: Dymo

Other:

happy cassy news (MMCC)

I'm thrilled to be part of the new DT at the new challenge The Mixed Media Card Challenge (MMCC), hosted by Shery R., which will be starting with the first monthly challenge on July 1. Just keep watching ;)

In light of this, I'm sharing a card which was published in the July 2014 issue of Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking using structure paste. I really enjoyed this submission category and look forward to making more cards using "texture" "dimension" and "techniques" over at MMCC.

Texture? Yep. Structure paste through a dots stencil and through the "hello" negative die cut. Dimension? Yep. Wire and beads. Techniques? Yep. DIY stamps from craft foam and dies.

Thanks for looking! And watch for more "cassy" creations from me = CAS + messy fingers, BTW ;)

And while I've got your attention... there's a STAMPlorations July release/birthday blog hop coming up on June 26 with lotsa prizes ;)

Supplies golden hello:

Paper:  CS Bringmann

Stamps: 

Ink : Clearsnap

Tools: die PTI, stencil TCW

Other: structure paste, wire, beads, craft foam

hey there birdie (Paper Players, SSS)

Oopsy daisy.  (On a tangent... I actually say that.  As does Hugh Grant in Notting Hill (LOVE THAT MOVIE). And I think Nichole H. must follow my blog (HA!) and liked this card way back when enough to create a new stamp set based on it. Of course, right? (HA HA HA HA HA HA))

Anyhoo, I guess in the excitement of the blog hop for it I forgot to post a card from the Card Creations Volume 12 that came out back in March.  It truly is a great (and still paper, folks) issue. Martha will second me on that - she was lucky to win a copy on my blog back in the hop.

Well I want to share this card with you cuz of how I was inspired.  Got a circular in the mailbox and there was a set of sheets with lotsa white and a branch and leaves in citrusy colors.  So I pulled out a NBUS, Bird die from Lifestyle Crafts and set about to create this card.

Moral of the story... inspiration abounds.  Just gotta keep your eyes open, like this birdie here. Thanks for looking.

I'm joining the fun over at Paper Players where the colors are Coral, Saffron and Pear.  Close enough, I hope. And this week at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge it's all about Die Cuts.  Can do.

Supplies hey there:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann, PP Bringmann

Stamps: W Plus 9

Ink:  Versafine

Tools: rectangle die Lil Inker, bird die Lifestyle Crafts, branch die Sizzix, leaves die MFT

Other 

dreamy hello (SSS, Virginias View)

Have you seen the June 2014 issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking yet?  There was one category that I couldn't get enough of... Inspired by Song Lyrics.  You'll die when you see which song/idea came to my mind first... they shared my card over on the PC and S blog!

But I get to share another with you here.  This was for the Stamping on Different Mediums category. (And the complete opposite as far as style goes.)

Artsy fartsy. I stamped the floral arrangement and roughly colored it with gelatos which I then hit with a wet paint brush. Added some bright orange accents with a colored pencil.  Then I randomly stamped the airy Posies from Technique Tuesday on acetate with StazOn and stitched the acetate over the stamped panel. Love how it kinda floats over the image underneath. TIP: Use temporary adhesive to hold the acetate in place when stitching, then rub it off.

Playing at:
Virginia's View #3 cuz stitching is a great way to attach acetate to a card
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where it's about Spring Flowers

Have a great day!

ETA:  This card showed up over on the PCS blog today and it's so cool to see what it inspired Go-To-Gal Laura W. to make!

Supplies for hello:

Paper:  CS Bringmann, PP Kesi Art, recycled acetate

Stamps:  Hero Arts/BG, Technique Tuesday

Ink : Versafine, StazOn

Tools: sewing machine

Other: gelatos

polka dot snuggly elephants (Paper Smooches)

One of my favorite stamp sets out there is an oldie, but goodie from Paper Smooches, A Little Lovin' - don't ya just love the name alone? My favorite image is the snuggling elephants. And I reach for the "welcome baby" sentiment for nearly all baby cards I make, like here and here. Here's another one for ya.

Debossed the circle die into the card front as a frame.  Stamped and paper pieced the elephants. Thought the dangling sentiment reminded a bit of a mobile which hangs in the nursery, and the circle shapes mimic the polka dots. Even added a strip of PP to the inside (note to self: why don't I do that more often?)

Happy that this happy card was published in the March 2014 issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking in the Polka Dots for Baby feature. (And I'm sharin' a page with the one and only Jocelyn O. and one of her digi cuties.)

I'm playing at Paper Smooches Sparks where this week's theme is Anything Goes! Thanks for coming by.  Come back tomorrow - there's a blog hop with giveaway coming your way...

Supplies for welcome baby:

Paper:  cardbase The Paper Studio, PP Bo Bunny, Studio Calico, Penny Black

Stamps: Paper Smooches

Ink : Versafine 

Tools: circle die MFT

Other: twine, corner rounder

1,2,3... smile (STAMPlorations, ABNH)

So many roads lead to Rome... How do you like to achieve the oh-so-trendy watercolor look?  With good old-fashioned watercolors?  With stamps that look like brushstrokes? With patterned paper that looks watercolored? With mists? Dye inks used like watercolors?

I love the technique of applying Distress Ink to an acrylic block, misting it and then smooshing the block onto CS.  Like on my hello card in this post. There's always that one nice blob of water that leaves one nice blotch.  My artsy fartsy crafty heart just loves that.

So my heart, which also loves rainbows in any form, put down a few acrylic blocks of misted Distress Inks, stamped over them with a camera image from Amy Tangerine's Aspire stamp set and stitched on some teensy alpha stickers from KI Memories.

Stamping? check. Stitching? check. That's the theme of February's challenge at STAMPlorations:

Join us for the fun - you have all month.  While you're there, check out the bi-weekly sketch challenge too. Shery is so generous with her prizes.  Play along.

I'm playing at A Blog Named Hero too.  #38 is all about ROYGBIV.  Love that guy ;)

Keep your eyes peeled -  this card is in the Paper Crafts Stamp It! Techniques Vol. 2 ;)

Supplies for 123 smile:

Paper:  white CS Bringmann

Stamps: American Crafts

Ink : Distress inks

Tools: acrylic block, sewing machine

Other: alpha stickers KI Memories

WCMD 2013 winner birthday category (PTI)

Maybe you've seen the March 2014 issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking?  The cards which were chosen as World Card Making Day (WCMD) winners last October are included in this issue.  Which means I get to share with you the card of mine that was chosen.  Still can't believe it.  I'm sure they just needed a blue card to sit next to Vera's beauty!

So what's so special about this card? Heck if I know.  It's a striking stamp and a cool font on the sentiment - thanks to PTI. And the ombre turquoise colors are pretty - thanks to Inkadinkado.  And Tsukineko's Delicata gold ink, well it is pretty yummy.  The only thing interesting is perhaps that I raised the small strip on the left instead of the larger panel on the right. Seriously, I'm just saying all this to encourage YOU to submit cards if you're at all inclined, cuz you just never know!!!!

And get this.  I sent in three cards (cuz hey, Operation Write Home is a great organization to support, right?), seriously thinking if any card had a chance, it would be this one...

You're only getting a sneak peek cuz one day - when the challenge is right (tee hee) - I'll be hooking it up.  But, I'm certain you agree... this wouldn't have looked good next to Vera's ;)))

Anyhoo, watch for a blog hop among the WCMD 2013 winners coming soon.  We are all making cards using some of the goodies from the amazing prize package to show our appreciation... And there may be prizes too ;)))

Now ya'll know that Papertrey Ink is celebrating 7 years of business gone well.  As part of the celebration, there are daily challenges and today you are to make a bday card for Papertrey.  Well, I didn't really make this for that occasion, but thought there was no better time than the present to share it over at Papertrey!

Happy anniversary, PTI and many more.

Supplies for birthday wishes

Paper: CS  Bringmann, white Neenah, turquoise DCWV

Stamps:  PTI

Ink : Inkadinkado pigment and Delicata gold

Tools: 

Other: foam adhesive

cool. congrats. (SSS, CASology)

I would love to share a page from the February 2014 issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking with you... but I can't figure out how to do it.  (I was so excited to be sharing p. 52 with Asty P., a new pal from WCMD 2013).  So I'll just have to share my card.

I LOVE this card.  Why? It's all about the UNEXPECTED, folks.

Of course when I was creating the front panel I was working with straight lines.  Punched squares, halved them on the diagonal and then glued them down.  But when playing around with the finished piece of paper with the squares/triangles on it (it was larger than the card front) I skewed it a bit and fell in LOVE.  The UNEXPECTED, ya know?!?!? And because I had skewed it,  the design didn't cover the entire card but that was my next eureka moment!  I just trimmed along the CS triangles and love the bit of white card left to peek out.

I hadn't really known exactly where I was going with this card (I seldom do), but when the eurekas were over it became apparent (to me!) that it was an iceberg.  So... enter the sentiment. Which BTW is computer-generated for those of you who don't own a Dymo.  Here's the font.

I'm joining these challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
CASology - #77 Bubbly

Bubbly? you ask.  Here's the deal.  We drink carbonated mineral water in our house.  And refer to it as "bubble water".  Bubbly... bubble... water... iceberg... see?

Check out the mag if you haven't.  In case you're still looking for ideas using hexagons, there's lotsa inspiration.

Appreciate your visit.  Have a fantastic week.

Supplies cool. congrats.:

Paper: cardbase Bringmann, other DCWV+

Stamps:  none

Ink:  

Tools: square punch

Other: free font for sentiment

a party in a card (CARDS)

Sharing a sneak peek of a card of mine published in the January 2014 issue of CARDS magazine. It's on their blog today.  Check it out here.  They sure do stage wonderful photos, don't they?

Back to the cookies...

right time. right place. (ATCAS, LIM)

Got your earplugs in?   I'm tootin' my own horn here today.  I am so incredibly happy to have five cards published in the special edition of Paper Crafts Magazine, Card Creations for Him.  I had a blast making cards for the submission call. But as the deal goes, I can only share one with you here... you really should check out this issue (and it's still paper!!!)  It's tough to make cards for guys, but this issue was created in an interesting way.

"Smart & Geeky, Casual & Playful, Hip & Urban, Rough & Tumble, and Classic & Refined" - pick your kinda guy and create for him, keeping his style in mind!

They're sharing samples from each of the categories over at the PC blog this week.  Did you see the clever take on "Classic & Refined" from Amy W.?  I have an anniversary and a retirement card in that section of the mag, too.

But I want to share my fave creation with you.   It's actually a 20th anniversary card for DH. (Unfortunately he didn't get it cuz it went to Utah!!!)  Anyhoo, any geocachers out there?

I'm not gonna explain it... I think you "get" it...
May I just say it's a great idea if you really want to make a card personal - whether wedding, anniversary, baby...  Agree? BTW, DH doesn't geocache.  I just love the "idea" behind the coordinates.

Let me just point you to this site for coordinates.
And to this great site for nautical knots (mine is the square knot).

I'm playing at Addicted to CAS where the theme for their first anniversary is, drum roll please, "Anniversary".  And at Less is More where the challenge #146 is to use PP in a CAS way.  Yep.

ETA:  Had this post scheduled for Wednesday but moved it up to today cuz I just saw over on the PC blog that Susan O. is plugging this very card!  Oh my, how exciting.  But apparently it's in the "Hip & Urban" category... Fine by me ;)))

Thanks for looking.

supplies for right time. right place:

Paper:  white Bringmann, red Am Crafts, PP Snap from Simple Stories, old map

Stamps: PC generated using Arial font

Ink : 

Tools: heart die Amuse Studio

Other: crochet thread, cork stickers Studio Calico

just saying thanks for this crazy life!

How crazy is this thing we call life?

I've shared with you how I felt last Friday when I read Cath's post that Moxie Fab World as we know it is going away.

Now picture this... checking my email before going to bed Friday night, I notice two messages in my Spam folder.  Huh?  One from Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine.

Have a looksee. Oh. My. Goodness.

Thanks Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking! And thanks to you, my friends, who stop by here regularly.

This card is in the hot-off-the-press Stamp It! Card Challenges. One of over 200 clever ways to use your stamps.  I used the wonderful Folk Art stamp set from Waltzingmouse for this one-layer card.

Crazy, eh? Ellie agrees... What a CRAZY WONDERFUL life!

it's WCMD time! (PC)

It's WCMD time. Wanna see more?  Head over to  the Paper Craft Connection blog today.

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

parade of rejects finishes (Paper Smooches)

with a card that got published in the Holiday Cards Vol. 8 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine!  Seemed like Christmas had just passed and there I was making Christmas cards for the submission call. Told ya the world of magazine publishing runs on a wonky calendar.  And I personally am still savoring the beauty of vacay days on the shore of Lake Huron (yes, we are back in Germany after a 7 1/2 hour delay at the airport and a whopper stubbed pinky toe!) as opposed to thinking about Christmas cards, but hey, it is what it is.

Here's my take on the call for non-traditional colors and non-Christmas supplies:

I had this card (second one in post) in mind when I was creating.  To tell ya the truth, I probably wouldn't send this as my Christmas card.  I'm more of a red and green gal when it comes to the holidays ;)

I've got lots of laundry and blog visiting to do - have to see what everyone's been up to this summer.  And half-a-suitcase full of stamps that need to be categorized and USED.  Come and get me mojo...

p.s.  I'm hooking up at the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge where the theme is Sheer and Clear.  Don't you just love playing with vellum?!?!?

Supplies  good cheer:

Paper: CS Neenah, vellum

Stamps:  homemade craft foam star, sentiment Paper Smooches

Ink:  pigment Cat's Eye

Tools:sewing maching, star die Sizzix

Other:  thread

we interrupt the regular programming...

...for my first published card!!!

It's kinda crazy.  If you start to play the submission/publication game there are three things to get your head around:

1.   You have to be in the mood for Christmas in Spring, Valentine's Day in Summer, etc.
2.   You need to know your supplies.  Did I mention you need to know your supplies?
3.   There are lightyears between submitting and seeing your project in the magazine!

But the wait is over.  You can see it here or in the Birthday Creations  edition of Paper Crafts Magazine on page 55.  (Still pinching myself!)

As I mentioned in this post, I kept to a theme/technique for my cards when I submitted for the first time. Thought that if they kept seeing the die cut "hb2u" idea it might grow on 'em ;)  I doubt that that makes any difference to tell you the truth.

Funny thing about this card was that it came together as an afterthought!  Some of the die cut letters that were left over from the die cut negatives that I used on other cards for the submission were laying around in a little pile on my ironing board... and looking at them I got the idea for the "Scrambled Happy Birthday." 

I do like this card as I look at it again.  Guess it's a good one to have as a "first."  I was a little nervous, wondering if it would actually appear in the print issue or just the digital one.  DD was embarrassed at the book store when we were flipping through the issue and I saw it was actually in the print issue and I may have let out a little shriek!  There it is, paired with a great "29 forever" card from Wendy S.   Of course I wonder why this card and not another from the bunch I submitted, but hey, that's not my job. Oh, this was kinda nice too!

Thanks for sharing in my happy news today.  There is a great blog hop going on at Paper Crafts Connection. Check out some of the great cards from the issue as well as newly-designed ones based on some cool sketches.

Supplies Happy Birthday:

Paper: (solar white) Neenah, (gray graph paper, backside of Seen & Noted 4x6” phrase cards) Pebbles

Stamps: Hero Arts

Pigment ink: (Versafine Smokey Gray) Tsukineko, (Iris, Carrot, Curacao, Lemon from the Vitamin 10-pad collection) Aladine

Accent: (white iridescent sequins 5 mm) Eurocrafters, (yellow iridescent sequins  6mm) Rayher

Sticker: (Yellow Chevron washi tape) Bella Blvd 

Dies: (Circle Stax Set 1) Dienamics, (Parker Lower Case Alpha, Parker Numbers) Memory Box