IndigoBlu

I made this card with an IndigoBlue stamp.

It was embossed and then colored with Copics and Distress Inks.  I added Prills to the flower center; glossy accents to the bird and glitter and Nuvo Mousse to the flourish.  The background was stamped in ink with a Glitz stamp and stenciled with Nuvo Mousse.  The flowers were plain white ones I've had in my stash forever.  The top one I painted with Prima gold acrylic paint.  The second layer was foiled with gold flakes.   The leaves were cut with my Cricut and  Nuvo Mousse to accent them.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the green layer. The ribbon is seam binding that I put into an Alcohol ink and water mix.  The water activates the ink so I didn't have to worry about it running afterwards.

There were lots of firsts on this card for me.

#NuvoMousse, #Explore, #Prima

Love

Yesterday, I went back to Splitcoaststampers.  I had not been there for quite some time.  It was fun to visit there again!  Today, they have a sketch challenge, which occurs each Wednesday.  I checked my gallery to see when I last posted there... 2013!!!  So, I checked out the sketch and decided to play. 

Anyhoo, I was doing some work in my craft room and found these old SU! stamp.  I have a lot of them that I took off of the blocks years ago.  Yeah, I got caught up in that rage!  It works a lot better for storage space, but I should have kept the pieces together in their original stamp sets.  Oh well, lesson learned!

Here is a link to the challenge.  SC628

It's a bit basic, but that happens sometimes!

Thanks for stopping by!

Deer Valentine

This stamp and the one on the inside of the card are from Santa's Magical Sleigh from Your Next Stamp.  I didn't get a chance to use it for Christmas so I am using it now. It is a Christmas stamp to be sure, but I love these little deer, so I changed the wreaths to make them look like collars.  I like to use what I have and use them in more than one way.    And with those little hearts on their hinys, who would know it wasn't meat to be a Valentine's Deer?

I have a fellow crafter who said that she's, "Done the cutsie thing and is so over it!"  I wanted to show her that cute can be turned into elegant, which is what I believe I have done with this card.

All of the papers and the two large flowers are from Prima.  I love that company.  Not only do they make great products, but the staff are amazing too!  Now, having said that, there is a package of ephemera, which I have not liked at all, but kept it in hopes I would eventually use some of it.  I used a piece of it here - the green border.  I toned it down a bit as it is a bit bright for me.  It worked well with this piece.   I still have to say, this package is not my favorite, but they can always be modified, or hidden just enough to make them work well!  Gesso is a friend with stuff like this! lol! If anyone wants what is left, pictured below, let me know and I'll ship it out to you! The package originally had 24 pieces, and as you can see there are still 22 left! 

The tags, leaves and the white "flowers" were made with my Cricut Explore. I added highlights to everything with my new absolute Favorite consumable product that I just found:  Nuvo Mousse!  Love, love, love it!

Tales from the Error Crypt: At the very end of the coloring of the inside deer, my Copic marker decided to leak all over the back legs.  😢  She was meat to be below the heart, but she is now above, errror hidden under the paper layer it looking like she might just jump off the page!  Tada!  problem resolved!
 
I will use this for my entry to Your Next Stamp's #55 Sketch Challenge found here: YNS Challenge #55. 

Your Next Stamp Haul and Cards

I recently made my first purchase from Your Next Stamp.  They have stamps and coordinating dies.  I'm so glad companies are doing this as I don't always like to fussy cut itty bitty items!


Here are the first cards that I made with my new items! 

 Looking outside the window to see these little cuties flying around!

 These birds are stinking cute!  I can see I will definitely use them a lot.

To create this curvy mat, I cut out a rectangle and then used my new Bracket Borders One Dies to make the edge.

 I didn't have any mountains or hills so I created my own by just cutting paper.  The tree is from a package I got from the local $1 store.

 

I used Mini Monsters Cricut Cartridge to make the street lamps for the birds to hang from.

So much fun!

YNS:  Tweet News, Word Critters - Winter Birds, Perfect Chemistry, Sprinkles - Spreading the News
I also used my new Spellbinders for the mats and also the Light bulb tag.

Halloween Tags

Some fun and cute tags.  I cute the tags with my Cricut Explore.  I used Cuttlebug folders to emboss on Black Magic card stock.  I stamped images and colored them with Copics.  The words are from a sheet of paper from K& Co Spooktacular.

What?

I just got the new Tim Holtz Crazy Dogs and just could not resist to get to work on them!  Yes, I have the birds and cats too!  I have a bunch of them colored and will be hopefully putting some of them on my blog soon. 

I used my Cricut to cut out the scalloped circle, circle and the "What?".   They could easily be cut out of Spellbinders, or whatever other dies or machine you have. The dog is both a stamp and die.  I used my Sizzix to cut it out.  I still love my Sizzix and dies too!  I think I just love all things paper!  I colored the dog with Copics and then took the colorless blender to add polka dots to him.   (How could I resist?)   There is glossy accents on the eyes, nose and tongue.  He looks like he is trying to hear something and not doing such a good job!

 The "What" font is one I downloaded and I believe it's called, "Great day".  By keeping the title simple, I can use almost any sentiment I want on the inside of the card. 

I used a We R Memory Keepers embossing folder for the scalloped circle as it looked to flat and boring without any embossing.  I love their 6x6 embossing folders!  The ribbon has been in my stash forever and it's from Making Memories.  I have several multi packs of this with other nice ribbons in it.  I have no idea where I got the little flowers or the bobbles from. 

Unfortunately, this past year has been very difficult for me as I had a head injury.  It made it very difficult to even think about crafts, let alone do any!  I am hoping I will be able to not only craft, but add my makings to my blog.  That was one of the hardest things for me to do... work with the computer or watch T.V.  I'm glad to be heading back to the more normal me.  I'd love to say I'm "normal" but I don't think I've ever been that!  Lol!

Penny Black Birthday Card

I have begun my mission to ensure everyone has a Birthday card this year!  I make cards for everyone in the office and try to get them out to others as well. 

I used my Silhouette to cut out the scalloped circles.   You can also use your Cricut or Spell binders.  I just happened to be playing with the silhouette.  I then layered the circles and cut off the edge.  I then added the punched pieces from the corner piece (E K Success) onto the edge of the circles.  The edges of the paper were distressed.  I tend to use the CTMH one that I bought some time ago.  It still works great, so I keep using it!  The little girl was colored with copics and her dress was cut out of the background paper and layered for more dimension.  The flowers are from K&Co and the leaves are cut with my Cricut.  I always mass produce these beauties.  I love them!  Some prima flowers, and bling.  The twine was colored using a marker as I didn't have anything in the color I wanted.  Thank God for markers and ink pads!  I used Tim Holtz tiny attacher to add a more rustic look.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a blessed day!

Have a Grape Birthday!

I made this card using a free digital stamp from Sliekje.  I colored her with Copics and added Glossy Accents to the grapes.  I added flowers I made with the Cricut cart Flower Shoppe.  It's such a great cart!  I usually tend to make more flowers than I need so that I can have extras waiting to be used on projects in quick notice.  The leaves were from some flower I tore apart.  The papers are from Glitz and Stampin Up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

A quick Birthday Card

The outside of the card is made using a Doodle Dragons digi stamp and colored with copics.

The inside of the card was made using a Sliekje digi stamp and colored with copics also.

I love the discovery of digi stamps!

Rainbow Happy Birthday

I made this card for a colleague.  I got this digi stamp online, I believe from Saturated Canary.  She may be a Sljenke one.  I'm not positive.   I printed her and cut her out, along with her mat using my Silhouette.  I decided it would be fun to add painted color to the mat layer.  She is colored with copics.  I had a bit of an "oops" with her, but it is not so drastic that I thought I should throw her away.  I also added some Glossy Accents to the eyes, orange and shoes.

It's fun to be crafting again!

I will also be entering her into the Crafty Boots Challenge: RAINBOW

This little digi is not free, but I like her anyway.  She is from the Saturated Canary.  I am loving the ditial stamps! 

Why am I making so many birthday cards? you may ask.   We are having a monthly birthday party for all of the girls at work, and then as close to their birthday, I am giving them each a unique card in their color(s) of choice. 

As my friend's birthday is on the 13th of Feb, so I ended up using this little girl with hearts and colored her with copics.  The colors are askew here, I see.  I can tell as the boots look red, but are really a rusty-brown.  I added glossy accents to all of the hearts.  I cut out the frames from Elegant Edges on my Expression and then ran the outer part through my Big Shot with a CuttleBug folder.  The texture really changed the look of the whole thing!  The red portion is SU! card stock and the inner portion with the flowers is a Glitz paper.  I went digging in my goodies and found those red skittles?  I added some gold cord around the frame where the two pieces meet.  That was the hardest part of the whole card!  I then added some flowers as it felt a little naked.

I used rub-ons for the Happy Birthday (now only about 2 million rub-ons to go!  lol!) and then cut out two layers with SU! punches.  The background paper is "funkadelic" and I wish I knew who's it was.  I liked it so much I picked up two pieces of it one at two different times from my stash to use while making this card!  lol!  I used a white marker on the brown for stitching and brown dots on the kraft card stock. 

The inside has been cone as well.  I am happy with the overall look of this card!

How is it possible to keep using your stash and never seem to make a dent?  That is why I joined the "using my stash" thread.  I hope it will really encourage me to keep digging in!

If you stop by and have a challenge blog or know of a fun one, please let me know.  I find it a wonderful opportunity to force myself to keep going!  The challenges are a lot of fun and I'd love to come play along with you!

Another new free digi from Sliekje

This card was made for another friend.  I have asked them to tell me their favorite colors and then I go from there.  I had so much fun with this little girl!  Her snickering made me think of how we like to tease each other.  So, who could resist saying, "You're how old?"  Hehehe.  She loved the card, despite my teasing her. 

 The mats were made from Spellbinders using SU! papers.  I'm not sure about the background paper.  It's double-sided and lovely, but it's old and there was no tab along the bottom with the company name on it! 
The little girl is another digi stampfrom Sliekje.  I think she is just fabulous!  I colored her with copics. 
The butterflies are from SU! and are a Sizzix die/folder.  I love these little follows and enjoy adding them for little extras on cards. 
 The little flowers are old Cuttlebug dies.  I typed out the sentiment on the computer and cut them out. I just curled the eldges and added some Judikins Diamond Glaze.  It's a lot like Glossy Accents or Crystal Effects except you can get it in a ginormous bottle and it's not expensive!  One lesson for all of you new to it, like me.  The opening is huge compared to the others so it flows very quickly and may make a mess if you're not careful!

The chipboard hearts, the present (Making Memories) and pearl swirls have been sitting in a jar on my table since hmmm, well, I can't remember it's been so long! 
The ribbon is SU! and the rose ribbon is Maya Road, I think.
I added wee little pears on the little girl and butterflies.  They are only a couple months old.  I use them like crazy!  They are awesome for the teenie weenie little touches you need!  They are from CTMH and are the best little pearls I have ever found. 

I added the extra piece of designer paper to the inside and cut out another mat to write on.  More paper is being used and it's not quite so boring on the inside!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have an awesome day!

For the Muse challenged, I used the yellow and mats.  For Craft Us Crazy, I used my Sizzix Big Shot for the machine.   I chose some Spellbinders and Cuttlebug dies that I'm sure would qualify for antiques!  I just dusted off those dies and ran them through the Big Shot.  I forgot how easy they are to use.  Normally, I would use my Cricut, but I'm trying to dig out things I haven't used in awhile, and my Spellbinders and Cuttlebug dies definitely qualify!

Challenges I am entering:
Muse #3
Craft Us Crazy - Use Your Cutting Machines
Simon Says Stamp: Have a Heart
Papertake: Anything Goes

My New Digi Stamps Begin!

Hello everyone!

I have been busy wandering around the net looking for new "free" things.  To my amazement there are tons and tons of free digi stamps out there!  Can we all say, "Woot, Woot"?!

The one that totally blew me away was this one:  Sliekje's.  She is a wonderful woman who loves to do art and shares her beautiful digital images ALL FOR FREE!!!  Is she amazing or what?!!!

The card today, and my next one will be made from her fabulous stamps.   I didn't see names attached to the images, so just go take a look for yourself!

 I colored this little cutie with copics.  I fussy cut her out.  I now plan on getting a Cameo so that it will eventually do it for me!  I put her in the colors that my friend (for whom this card is for) had picked:  Purple and Blue.    Everything was from my stash.   Except for her, she will be there for many years to come!  I also used some washi tape that I bought awhile ago, but didn't use yet.    I also dug up some of my old Spellbinders dies!  Ah, shopping in your own goodies can be a lot of fun.  When you go rooting around it's amazing what you can find!

I added some white Slick  dots.  (I think it's a Michael's product that comes in a bottle like Stickles) I machine sewed around the card.  I added Prima flowers, a pine branch (cut from my Cricut) washi tape, ribbon, cord, buttons, flowers and some bling (Can you say old dollar store?!).   I think I went crazy when I was first able to get bling at the dollar store.  I don't think that supply will ever run out! 

 I then took some of the left over papers and put them on the inside.  It dresses up the card and also uses some of the stash!   My friend was thrilled with the card.  She especially loved the little girl's hair.

Thank you Angelique for your wonderful images.  You are truly an angel!


Challenges I'm entering:

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes                 
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/
Allsorts Challenge: Cute Images
Tuesday Alchemy: Anything Goes

Bunny Love

Hello there!

Today I made a little Valentine's card for my grand daughter.  It was made with my new Penny Black stamp set.  I stamped the image twice.  Once on the plain paper and then again on the polka dot paper.  (Love polka dots!!!)  I cut the ears and her dress out of the polka dot paper and layered it on.  I colored the rest of the image with Copics and then cut it out.  A little flock for her tail.  The large heart I added glossy accent.  Hard to tell if she is supposed to be a Valentine's or Easter image... So I'll likely use her for both!

The heart behind her was cut out from my Cricut using Sweethearts cartridge.  I chose to save the heart for another time and use the negative.  I cut strips from paper that had already been used for a project or two and layered it behind the heart.  It's a fun way to use leftover pieces of paper in a pretty way!  I added some brads, some twine and another heart from the stamp set.    I added some white dots along the bottom.  They really changed the look of the project!

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenge:  Simon Says Stamp: Paper Piecing
                   Through the Craftroom Door: Anything Goes
                   The Sisterhood of Crafters: Hearts
                   The Fox and the Squirrel: Something New

Hope You Feel Better

I made this for a girl at work who just had to undergo knee surgery.

I picked out these fun, funky papers and saw the different shapes on them.   Basic shapes!  So, I went back to my basic cart... the one I got with my Expression... Accent Essentials!  I made the circle and all of the hexagons from it.

It started out even more simply, but I couldn't help myself!  Once I got going with the hexagons, I kept going!  I like the layered hexagons.  I haven't decided if it looks like a cog or a flower, or maybe a cog flower!  lol!

The stamped image is from Pink Cat Studio and colored with copics.  Not my best coloring, but it is still good enough!  The color in the photo is not as bright as IRL.  It always seems to look good on my iPad, but then when I put it online, it doesn't seem to look as good!

The tiny tags were some that I made awhile ago.  I made a whole sheet  full of different tiny tags from a bunch of carts and cut them all out at once so I'd have a stock pile of them ready to use at my leisure.  I also gave a bunch away.  They were well received!

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh, and anyone who stopped by to see the video of all of the cards I made (over 30+!) there was a problem with my video recorder and after I spent all of the time recording it, it didn't keep!  Ugh!

Thinking of You

I recently lost a client.  It was quite sad.  I made this card for his wife.  It is following a sketch on the Cricut Circle - Canadian Members Swarm.  Anyone in the Circle can participate.  I like their rules, they are quite relaxed! 

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

It went together quite quickly.  Sketches make work quite easy!   I used Heritage cartridge for the charm.  I enjoy looking for hidden treasures on carts.  I try to use different carts as often as possible.  I love the butterfly image.  It looks like a Martha Stewart type butterfly, but since it's out of its package, I'm not sure if it is.  I was trying to make more space in my craft room and took almost all of my stamps out of their packages and put them in  binders.  It works great for space, not so good for knowing who makes the stamps!  lol!

I wish I had better photos.  The butterfly has glitter that make the wings very elegant and airy looking - but you can't see it.  The brad in the center of the charm in a gorgeous Teresa Collins brad - but you can't see its details either!  Oh well, you get the general idea anyway!

Thanks for stopping by!

OCS = BINGO Challenge

I made this card for the One Crazy Stamper Blog Challenge called "Bingo".  I have never done a challenge with them.  In fact, I haven't really been doing any challenges with anyone.  I decided it was time! 

You can find the challenge here:  OCS August Challenge-Bingo

You have to make a "BINGO" somewhere on the card.  For me this one was a no-brainer.  I love the black and pink combo, lace and of course Polka Dots! 

I used the Ornamental Iron Cricut cartridge for the iron frame.  The image fits in it perfectly! Making Memories and Bazzill papers.  The images are from Pink Cat Studio - Sick Lily.  I love her bunny slippers!  I colored her with Copics.  I think I should have used my glasses!  I thought about embellishing it more with flowers, etc.  but I wanted to focus to stay where it was.  There is a lot going on visually in this card.    This was a very fast and fun card to make!

It's great combining different techniques like stamping and die/machine cuts.  The possibilities are endless! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Love is in the Air Valentine's Blog Hop

WARNING:  IF YOU ARE ONE OF MY VALENTINE'S SWAP PARTNERS YOU MAY NOT WANT TO VIEW THE FOLLOWING AS THEY ARE FOR YOU!!!

I couldn't figure out how to get that pretty picture on my blog that everyone else has, sorry!

There, now with that formality done, let's get started.  I hope you are having fun along the way of the Valentine's Blog hop!  Here are the cards that I made.

I used Elegant Edges for the mat and the inside border.  The hearts were old vellum/metal tags that I altered with sharpies, rub-ons papers - and used George to cut, glitter and bling.  The little girl is from The Greeting Farm and colored with Copics.  The flowers are Prima and Petaloo.  The little star was cut from George.  The stickers were in my stash that I altered/layered.

This second card I just absolutely love!  It's for my second partner in the Valentine's Swap: Crazy Cricut Lady and she likes fairies also.  Fairies are fantasy and fantasy is escapism.  I love to escape the troubles of this world!  And don't we all wish we had cleaning fairies???!!!

This fairy is from Kraftin Kimmie stamps and is colored with Copics.  She is matted on an Elegant Edges mat.  (Isn't that the best cart for mats/layers!!!)  I used my Imagine to create the paper that the mat was made from.  Oh, dear!  I can't remember which one right now!  There are a lot of flowers on here from Prima and flowers that I bought and tore apart.  It's fun to create your own flowers with pieces from different flowers!  There is skeleton leaves and another beautiful leaf that I took off of a beautiful flower arrangement I had bought.  The banner is a stamp from Stampology and a Valentine rub-on added to the center.  I added charms, bling, brads and sequins to give it a more magical feel.  I envisioned a fairy in a flower gardens and so that is what I designed.  The inside of the card is a Tim Holtz stamp  (She likes TH too!!!)  Great partner!  The border is from Paper Trimmings. 

How about some goodies to fill up your basket???  Here is my blog candy:

It is an Anna Griffin set of stamps.  Her stamps are very elegant.  Note:  the box top is wonky.  It came that way when I ordered it.  Some brads, clips and an elegant batch of ribbon, perfect for Valentine's Day from Making Memories.  Leave a comment so I will add your name to the bucket for a chance to win!  If you become a follower, say so in your comment and I will put your name in twice!

Now you need to continue on your way!   Enjoy your hopping!

Here is the blog list:

Paulette from http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/ - host Dana from http://danascraftycorner.blogspot.com/ Beth from http://thunderbirdlindybydesign.blogspot.com/ Sis from http://papercraftscissors.wordpress.com/ Doreen from http://polkadotpaperprincess.blogspot.com/ - you are here! Cindy from http://www.inlovewithpaper.blogspot.com - next stop/ Deb from http://www.queenmommy.com/ Michele from http://www.michelegreen.com/ Carolyn from http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com/ Colleen from http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/ Elizabeth from http://www.217creations.com/ Sukie from http://www.scrappindhilly.blogspot.com/ Sharon from http://designsbysharon.blogspot.com/ Renee from http://icameisawicreated.blogspot.com/ Tammy from http://www.scrapcavecreations.com/ Brenda from http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com/ Amy from http://scrap-pix.blogspot.com/ Jami from http://thepaperfarm.blogspot.com/ Terri from http://scrappinwiththebug.blogspot.com/ Meg from http://peacockpaperie.blogspot.com/ Those who put a comment in the prior post will also be entered as this did not go up until 0845.

Matching Game

I recently had my grand kids over.  My daughter and grand daughter were playing a game together.  The little guy got frustrated as he wanted to play too.  My husband started to play a game with him, but he wanted to play a game with me.  So, I quickly zipped this game off for him.  It needed to be something simple as he is only 3 years old.  It only took 10- 15 minutes to make.   I love how easy it is to come up with something with the Cricut!

I picked out the images.  I used the Cricut markers to draw everything first.  I then went back and cut out the cards.  Using the Gypsy I had one page with the cards and images and the second only with the cards.  I didn't want the cards to be dimensional as they were to be his own special cards!

I then colored them very simply with Copic Markers.  Any markers or crayons would work.

I then cut out the card backs out of design paper.  He's not old enough to remember which designs go with which picture!  If you make them for older children, this is a thing to remember.  You would also want more cards than I made.

His big sister thought it looked like fun and quit playing the other game to come and play.  Then my daughter wanted to play, but it was too simple.  So, I took the cards and hid them all over the room.  They had to look at a card, leave it where it was and then go and find its match.  Only then could they have the pair.  They really enjoyed that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Imagine who lives here now!

Lookie lookie who came to live with me!  :]  I am thrilled and possibly in love!!!

I love it so far, but wow, what a learning curve!

Here is my first project using my new toy.   It is a "smash journal".  I finally found a book that I think would work well.  It is a small sketch book.  I got to use a piece of the twine that I just got.   I only used the Imagine More cart that came with the machine.  I used glossy accents on the camera lens and some glitter on the butterfly wings.  I highlighted a bit with a blue copic, but that is it! 

I can only IMAGINE the possibilities with this machine!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!