Heart Series – Black & White Stripes

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

HeartsInStripesI have done a series of cards using heart shapes that I thought would be interesting for you to see.   Not necessarily Valentine cards but definitely cards meant to express love for any of the many occasions when it is appropriate and heartfelt.

This first in the series is done using the Tim Holtz Hearts die which I have barely covered with white embossing powder and then outlined in a heavy coat of gold embossing powder.  Each heart is raised up with dimensionals at different heights.  (I apologize for not getting side shots so that you could see the dimension better!)

My paper is from a small mat stack from DCWV called ‘the Tradewinds’…  I find myself going back to that stack again and again for its rich colors and use of gilding.  (In fact, the 12 x 12 stack was recently more than 50% off at Joann’s and I triumphantly added to my cart!!  Been waiting for that one for a couple of years…) In addition, I used plain white card stock to cut with my Spellbinder’s Lattice die for more depth in layering. I did distress each layer with the Tim Holtz Distress Tool but did not ink the edges, preferring a little more white on the card.

I love the wide, black and white striped cotton ribbon from May Arts and was really pleased with it on this card.  My little gold ribbon was from the Dollar Bin at Michael’s.  The antique metal stud flourish was from my stash but I believe it was from Michael’s Recollections collection.

All in all, I was pleased with the unconventional look and color of this card and, I think, the person who purchased it was pleased as well!

Your comments mean so much to me and I love getting them, so stop a minute and let me know what you think!  Blessings and Hugs….

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Pat’s Red Flower Birthday

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

PatsRedFlowers.

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My dear friend, Pat, had a birthday early in April and I had been looking at this fabulous paper filled with these exotic flowers for some time. It just begged to be fussy cut and layered so, naturally, I had a go at it.

I was very pleased with the way this turned out. In the accompanying photo, you can get a bit of appreciation of the dimensional layers on the flowers. It is definitely bold and bright!

I know Pat enjoyed receiving this and I hope you have enjoyed viewing it here.  Let me hear from you!  I always appreciate visitors and comments!

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Seek and You Will Find – MOJO#287

Posted on April 8, 2013 by

SeekMOJOShabby

This past week’s Mojo Monday’s Challenge (www.mojomonday.blogspot.com) was delightfully loaded with layers… just my cup of tea!  For color inspiration, I went to the Shabby Tea Room but I did not enter my card in their challenge.  Somehow, I can’t seem to make that deadline if I leave it for Sunday evening rather than earlier in the week!

 

Papers were from Recollections and BoBunny; Momento ink; Recollections flowers; Spellbinders dies; Ranger Glossy Accents.

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Snow Can Come Any Time!!

Posted on February 24, 2013 by

In my slowness about getting cards up on my website, I still have a wintery card I wanted to share.  Except for the word “Noel”, this card could be appropriate for any time during the winter season.  I made a slew of cards for my DH’s boss whose last name is “Noel” and he wanted that word on each and every card.  So, here we are… NoelSnowflake -

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I loved the delicate border die cut from Memory Box but purchased it so late in the season I only got to use it on this card.  It will get a lot more use in future winter season cards!

I believe my “Noel” stamp was from Michael’s Recollections and I heat embossed it with white embossing powder and added a touch or two of Stickles both here and in various other spots on the card.  The two snowflakes were from a Sizzix die cut that I double-layered for a bit of dimension.

Here’s hoping it isn’t too cold wherever you are and that Snowflake Season is mostly over for you.  Sometimes here in the Atlanta area, the only snow we see is some freakish storm that comes our way around March or April!!  Let me hear from you and stay warm!!  Blessings & Hugs, ya’ll….

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You’ve Got Mail! – MOJO 278 – TSTR 151

Posted on February 3, 2013 by

I love the challenges from Mojo Monday (mojomonday.blogspot.com) and The Shabby Tea Room this week (theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com)!!  Big surprise…  I always love them!!

I keep a lot of solid color, single sheets of craft paper in my favorite soft pastels because those in the larger variety packs are often too bright for certain projects.  I can never be sure what brand they are but I used the pale green, pale blue and red from that stash for this card.  The dotted paper is from K&Company’s Brenda Walton collection, pearls and dotted ribbon are from Paper Studio, buttons and string from Michael’s, birdie stickers from doodlebug design, Worn Lipstick and Barn Door Distress Inks and Stickles from Tim Holtz, die cuts from Spellbinders.

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Some people are totally on to me!  They have put it together that I make so many cards for my little granddaughter, Jade, because this is my way of keeping in touch with her, keeping me in her heart and showing her that she is always in my heart.  Our great communication era has much to recommend it but there is nothing like having something tangible to remind us of a love shared.

A special “hello” to my pals I met up with at the  Lawrenceville Paper and Scrapbook Show  yesterday!!  What fun to have a chance to chat again with familiar faces and to meet people you’d only known through email!  Crafting is such a fun world….   Blessings to all.

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Doggie for Jade

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

DogforJade copy

My granddaughter, Jade, doesn’t get to see my Chihuahua, Sara Lee, very often and she loves that little dogggie!  She had a puppy for a while but it turned out that her mother was very allergic to the dog and they found it another home.  Jade’s puppy and my Sara Lee were litter mates and we had gotten them at the same time.  The love she had lavished on her puppy was now focused on Sara Lee.  Jade misses my dog so I told her I would send her a photo of Sara Lee and decided to do it as a card.

I had just purchased some really lovely Prima flowers that I thought would work well with a doggie card and framed the photo with a couple of layers of one of my Spellbinders’ die cuts.  I made the card so it would stand up like a photo frame and Jade was thrilled!!

This is not what I consider a beautiful card but it satisfies the heart of a precious little girl, which is far more important in my book…  I hope you enjoy it as well.

Blessings to all…

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A Ladies’ Diary Gift Box

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

Ladiesbox2

Ladiesbox

Graphic 45, as I have mentioned, makes some of the most beautiful papers in the industry and I am totally hooked on them.  Not only that, I seem to have the good luck to win papers and embellishments from them on a fairly regular basis!  It drives my sister crazy…

One of their collections is A Ladies Diary and I have been waiting for some time to find something I felt deserved these beauties.  Then I saw a tutorial for an Origami box made from one sheet of 12 x 12 inch paper.  There are several tutorials for this on YouTube but I was introduced to it by The Gentleman Crafter.  This gentleman’s work is fabulous and unique.  I incorporated his ideas of the close-fitting, double layered lid and the wheel & bead handle in my project.  I have also made the bottom of my box more sturdy so that it can be used rather than just being decorative.

Again, the papers used are all from that one collection.  The embellishments were fussy cut from the papers, as well, and then the mirror, wooden disk and beads were added.  I used shiny copper and black patent paper for a couple of die cut embellishments and used copper embossing powder around the edge of the top of the box.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get photos of the inside of the box which was also embellished with fussy cut bits from the collection.

This was a Christmas gift for a relative and I am so glad I kept photos to share my first attempt with you.  I have two others in the making at the moment and can’t wait to show them to you!

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Banner For My Little Beauty

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

JADEcard

This is a card I made for my little granddaughter, Jade, some time ago.  Even though I couldn’t get things on my blog, I could still make cards!  This was an experiment in using paper from one paper pack rather than a number of different paper sources to simplify my process.  After all, the designers make all the papers in one pack to coordinate with one another so why strain my brain if I don’t have to?

Banners are very popular right now and I loved the shiny, wonky letters spelling out Jade’s name.  I’m sure she loved it, too!  In fact, I think she has taken a greater interest in learning to read so that she can read the cards I send to her.  What a cool bonus!

I always appreciate your comments and love to receive them.  Blessings to all…

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Send Me A Letter – MOJO Monday #275

Posted on January 14, 2013 by

Communication 002 copy

 

Seems like the only way for me to get something difficult to stick in my brain is to repeat, repeat, repeat!  So, I made yet another card and got the doggone thing onto my blog with very little help from DH.  Of course, he has been within earshot for that occasional question; let’s  see how well I do when he can’t hear me groaning in frustration and  jumping to the rescue!  Monday may be a whole different situation…

I’ve always loved doing the challenges at MOJO Monday (www.mojomonday.blogspot.com) so, with my effort to get back into the swing of things, I looked them up and this is the result.  I made the card instead of eating dinner so I have plenty of time to get this entered before the end of the challenge at 12 p.m. EST tonight.  Here is their sketch:

I am very much into Graphic 45 papers these days and this paper is from an older collection called Communique.  I used Distress Inks in Black Soot and Rusty Hinge, as well their Embossing Ink;  Ranger’s Glossy Accents and Perfect Pearls Silver spray; Recollections Black Embossing Powder, flower and pearl. 

Wish me luck!  There are prizes being given for this challenge and I do love getting goodies!   Almost as much as I love hearing from YOU!!

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Sugar Plum Fairies – The Shabby Tea Room #148 ‘Elegance’

Posted on January 13, 2013 by

After dealing with all the changes in my new computer, I’ve had to deal with the fact that my old camera is not compatible with the new computer.  And, guess what… WordPress has had a few changes of their own while I’ve been working out all of these other bugs!Actually, I haven’t worked them out myself.  My DH has had to figure it all out and then teach me the new steps to this dance!  I’m sure he will have to be around for continuing education with each new post for awhile.

Make special note of the cameo pin stuck into the snowflake!!

Sugar Plum Fairies - The Shabby Tea Room #148 001 copy

This is my entry for The Shabby Tea Room (www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com) ‘Elegance” challenge this week.  I have used paper from Graphic 45′s Nutcracker Suite and My Minds Eye, A Tim Holtz Shabby Snow Flake die cut along with a Spellbinders die cut,  Snug Hug rayon seam binding, Stickles and a Recollections flower.  The stick pin was made with bits and beads from my stash and the bit of bling was a piece left over from another project that made its way to my stash, as well.  Here is our inspiration photo which accompanied a request to include a ribbon and a flower.

I surely hope to hear from you all…  it makes my day!!  Hugs and Blessings!!

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