December 31, 2015 New Years Mice

I decided to send out some New Years cards (for those I didn't get mailed soon enough for Christmas).  This was a cute digi image from Gerda Steiner, and if you haven't figured it out I really enjoy working with her images.  They are "my style" as far as whimsy and I seem to know what I am going to make as soon as I see the image.  I colored the mice with copics in cool gray and warm gray then paper pieced the numbers to match my DP.  And look up in the left you will see the "must have" paper clip dies from AMuse.  I cut these out of silver cs and then stamped my small greeting.  This was mailed a week ago so hope it gets to its destination on New Years Eve.  Challenges:
     Crafty Creations - anything goes
     Crafty Gals - anything goes
     Gerda Steiner - share your design challenge
   

December 29, 2016 Happy New Year Mice 2016

This is a digi from Gerda Steiner - I have another post ready to post on New Years Eve as well.  I so enjoy working with her images whether it be digi, clear rubber or red rubber.  They all work well and are so much fun to color.  I made 4 cards to send to my chemo/senior buddies and this was one of them.  I also followed the sketch on Sketch Saturday for which I am entering the challenge.  Love the bright glitter tone to the cardstock I used.  I had some new embellishments from AMuse Studio and I used the star from the assorted package.  Sending Happy New Years wishes to all of my blog followers and friends.  Challenges:
     Sketch Saturday - follow sketch
     Crafting from the Heart - anything goes
     Inkspirational  - anything but Christmas

December 25, 2015 Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of my blogging friends - and may your day be filled with blessings.  I cased this card from a swap I did last year done by Susan Drees.  Well I LOVED the stamp, the design (although I didn't have the Spellbinders die she used), and the coloring.  Despite not having everything I designed it with what I had (the joy of stamping).  This card looks so peaceful, serene and reminds me a lot of our backyard.  Despite the fact that we don't have snow this year the deer still love to hang out in our 5 acres of beautiful woods.  May you remember the reason for this day and keep Jesus in your heart as you open presents, enjoy family and friends and build memories.

December 21, 2015 Jingle Bell Rock Santa

Can you tell by now how much I adore Gerda Steiner stamps, well she has stamps and she also has digis and this was a "freebie" from her last week.  Again when I saw him I knew what I wanted to do with him.  I had some Jingle Bell Rock sheet music (I played piano years ago), so I decreased it to fit the layout, colored the Santa with Copics, some sparkle fur on his outfit and some notes from a music note punch I had.  Hmm...needed something else - so I went through my dies and found my jingle bell die and this made the card - don't you just want to sing along???

December 18, 2015 Gingerbread Tag

Cute Cute - this is a shaker tag I made one day when my stamping buddy Patti J. was over the a couple of hours to play.  This is another Gerda Steiner stamp set - and it comes with this darling gingerbread man and 3 different faces.  Used my SU tag punch to make the tag - filled the shaker with some holiday sequins and a bow and this tag is going on a Christmas package.

December 15, 2015 Christmas Peace

Love Gerda Steiner monthly digi challenges and this Santa is no exception.  When I saw him I had my idea but just needed to find the time to sit down and color him (copic) and design the card.  The world stamp is a retired stamp from AMuse studio and it works perfect for this image.  Wouldn't the world be a better place if indeed we did have peace on earth.

December 12, 2015 Holiday Bows

Another Holiday Bows using the set from The Ton which I am loving.  They have a very nice selection of floral 2-step stamps which I may get after the holidays.  This card I did a full card with bows again going with the blue, lime and purple color theme.  Added some sequins for a bit of bling.  The sentiment is off stamped using the two shades of blue I used on my ribbon.  I think this set will stay out on my desk for a while.

December 10, 2015 Winter Birds

Another new set - from Lawn Fawn - this was featured in Card Maker Magazine winter edition and I fell in love with the simplicity of the image.  This one was fun to color with my copics, add a bit of glitter and then sponge in the sky and put some snowflakes in the scene.  Again I used my purple/blue paper pad from Doodle Bug and the die from Tim Holtz winter collection of word dies.  Again this can be sent out all winter or at least I think I will use it even beyond the holidays.

December 8, 2015 Christmas Ornament

Isn't this little snow buddy just the cutest - this is from a set Gerda Steiner Snowman Friends and he fits just perfectly in this ornament.  One fall day my BFF Donna and I were able to find a day to stamp together.  She had received one of these ornaments last Christmas  and we decided then that we would make a few this season.  Ornaments are available at Hobby Lobby or Michaels - they are the 1/2 plastic ornaments. Stamped cut with circle die then colored up with copics.  A few sequins and then some glittery fun snow, fun fur on his hat.  Cut a scallop circle die, put it all together then used glossy accents to hold it together.  Here is another little snowman

 I also made a few bigger ornaments so check back in a day or two to see those.  PS these were a real stinker to photograph, the glare just wouldn't go away!!!  Challenges:

     Crafting for all Seasons - anything but a card
     Double click - use a snowman

December 6, 2015 Christening

Going today for sweet baby Carter's christening.  When I decided to make this card I had a totally different vision in my head with a little lambie which I had already colored up and then decided to switch course in midstream.  This card is so "out of the ordinary" for me - NO STAMPING - my brain kept going through my stamps and I said NO.  I used Spellbinders cross dies and cut/embossed the large one out of a light baby blue and the top one out of some white shimmer paper.  Cut his name out with my AMuse Studio alphabet carefully glued it on the card added some pretty little pastel blue cards and done.  the lamb came from our Christian book store The Oasis - you press his tummy and the lamb says Now I lay me down to sleep prayer.  And here is Carter with great grandma.

December 3, 2015 Winter Wishes

Isn't this darling bird a beauty - it came free with a magazine I get - Papercrafts from the UK and there are always stamps, stencils, embossing folders papers so it is a wonder magazine to subscribe to.  This month it included the bird, sentiments, embossing folders and papers.  I colored him up with copic markers, cut him out the circle stitched die, then scallop dye and mounted him on some of my NBUS papers I had in my Christmas stash.  Winter Wishes I die cut from a very nice package of like 20 dies from Tim Holtz with lots and lots of winter/Christmas die words.  this one is out the door this am.   

December 1, 2015 Christmas Bows

I received a beautiful card a couple of weeks ago from a dear stamping friend Diane  using this awesome stamp set Holiday Bows from The Ton.  The stamps are two step stamps in clear polymer and after watching a video and calling my friend Diane I figured out how to make the bows look "perfect",  I think these bows could be used year around for Birthdays too.  I also got the die set to go with but have not used them.  There seems to be fewer hours in my days the last couple of weeks.  I have a pad of christmas papers from Doodlebug in purples, greens and blues so that is the color theme I went with for this card.  Inks are from AMuse and I found the pigment inks worked best for me vs,. the dye inks.  I made up 3 x 2 samples to keep with the stamp set so I knew what colors went well together,  Some I tried just didn't do the stamps justice.  Challenge:
     Sketch Saturday - follow sketch
     Craft your passion - anything goes

November 26, 2015 Happy Anniversary

It is not often that I have made a 60th wedding anniversary card - well ok never have I made a 60th anniversary card, but what a honor and pleasure it was to make this one for a dear friend, "adopted mom" and a great couple.  I knew 60th was Diamond and I just didn't know how I wanted to go with the design or image.  I used a SU image embossed in silver, then punched out tiny hearts, added bling to each heart.  Then I cut out 60 and the butterfly in some beautiful glitter paper that I had in my stash (saving it for that oh so special occasion.).  Cut out with a Spellbinder die and popped up on some beautiful silver shimmer paper.  Happy Anniversary to two very special people.

November 23, 2015 Monster Party

YES - it is another Gerda Steiner image, this one is a digi - in which I paperpieced the three little cute monsters with my favorite polka dot papers,  I coloerd their eyes and teeth with a white gel pink but as you can see especially the purple it took on some of the purple hue of the papers.  But it turned out fine.  Since this one is for Smiles for Kids I made it into a Happy Birthday card with some party hats and Party Time sentiments from AMuse studio.  I know this will hopefully bring a smile.

November 20, 2015 Flowers Whisper

I ALWAYS need pretty and simply cards that I can use for not only a thinking of you, sympathy, friendship, etc.  This rose set is retired from AMuse Studio but I find myself frequently going back to my pile of retired images and using this set.  It works up beautifully is so many colors such as:

this one in purples.  You can change it up or dress it down depending on what you need it for.  This one I used some bakers twine and a single pearl.  Both of these cards are already out the door this past week.

November 18, 2015 Aged to Perfection

I had two cards made up for my hubby for his birthday last month and decided to give him the Crazy Bird card but like the way this one turned out too.  Totally digi from Doodle Pantry, colored and complete with DP so talk about easy.  I am a few ahead on my man cards for now.  Usually send more female cards but just depends.

November 16, 2015 Starbucks Gift Card

This cute little bear is from Gerda Steirner  Designs and I made this gift card holder for one of my christmas gifties to my dear daughter.  I love digis as you can size them to any size you need to fit your project.  I colored this little guy with colored pencils and OMS - die cut is from AMuse Studio and can you guess what gift card is inside?

Yes it is a Starbucks gift card.  I know she will use this gift.

November 15, 2015 Give Thanks

Getting a couple more Thanksgiving cards ready to go out midweek - this one I made using a "retired" AMuse Studio stamp, love the shocks of wheat and the sentiments are so nice for the inside,
I wanted to follow the sketch for Sketch Saturday and I am not sure if I'm really liking it.  I used some dotted paper, pattern paper then some pretty burlap cs that a friend gave me.  No bling on this one.  Challenges:
     Sketch Saturday - follow sketch  

November 13, 2015 Crazy Birds Yippee

OK - I took a little break from my "new" "favorite" "fun" set from Tim Holtz crazy birds, I am so loving these little goofy birds.  I now have the die cuts and accessories stamps and die cuts so all I need are the sentiments that are designed to go with this set.  I love to watercolor them, next I am going to try my copics on them.  I fussy cut the bird and hat (before I got the die cuts) and then I did a water color wash of green and yellow to die cut the "yippee" out.  Mounted on an embossed piece of card stock and lightly sanded to bring out some of the circles.  I need to start thinking of some Santa birds real soon.

November 10, 2015 Little Bear

Is this Little Bear from Gerda Steiner  not the cutest???  I lover her designs as they appeal to my whimsical side and this one is no exception.  This was offered as a "free" digi for playing in her monthly challenge, play once and from then on the digis are "free".  I love to paper piece and I love dots so I combined the two in this card.  I distressed the edges of the bear with Distress ink, added some pink to his cheeks, some black puff to his nose and then I cut out a cnady strip open circle for him to be mounted on.  The sentiments are from AMuse Studio and I think they go perfect with him.  The mug and card are going to go to one of my chemo "buddies real soon.

November 8, 2015 Road Trip

I was running a bit low on "masculine" cards and sure as I run low I need some so I made this one up with a newish Tim Holtz set that I got for 50% off at Michaels - has a locomotive, ship, and car and some cute accessories.  I embossed the focal point in gold then took a copy of a Missouri road map to mount it on - as Route 66 goes through Missouri.  Thought it turned out pretty cute.  Challenges:
     Sketch Saturday - follow sketch

November 6, 2015 Have a great Day

I was a sub angel for a senior gentleman while his regular angel was traveling outside the country.  I was notified that she had returned so my "goodbye" card to him was this too cute car from Crackerbox.  I enbossed it in antique gold, added some sponged clouds and a road and this card was ready to go.  I love the vintage feel it has.  I sent him a bandanna hankie in his envie knowing a man can never have enough hankies.

November 1, 2015 Crazy Birds thinking of you

OK - early Christmas, or late Birthday or a just because gift from me to me.  I have had my eye on these Crazy Birds from Tim Holtz for quite a while and just didn't know if I would use them enough to justify buying them.  Well....after thinking about it for about 2 minutes the other day while on a shopping trip with a bestie I decided I would use them.  Oh my they are so much fun to play with, I watercolored this little guy with distress markers, punched the thought bubble and embossed thinking of you in gold.  Mounted it on an embossed cloud layer.  I think I am going to get a lot of mileage out of this set.  Only problem is now I want the accessories that go with these funny characters.

October 30, 2015 Crazy Birds you are fabulous

I have a feeling I will be posting several cards made with this goofy little set of stamps Crazy Birds from Tim Holtz.  They are so much fun to play with and now I want the accessories to go along with the birds.  I colored this birdie with my distress water color markers and then cut a mask of the same bird out (which I saved) and used my SU Grunge set because it just looked right with this bird.  This card is already off in the mail giving some encouragement to a chemo buddy that has had a rough go the past couple of weeks.

October 28, 2015 Happy Birthday

Today is my hubby's birthday - and this is what I came up with for his card.  I got these Crazy Birds a couple of weeks ago and I am having an absolute blast playing with the images.  I then ordered the accessories on line and they were in my mailbox yesterday so I added the balloon to complete his card.  I colored with Inktense water color pencils, cut out with a stitched die, mounted it on my embossed Happy Birthday panel sanded slightly.  I thought it needed some manly bling so I added a couple of sequins. He ordered his own birthday present and it should be here today - a crossbow for deer hunting.  He is anxiously awaiting the UPS truck.  

Halloween 26, 2015 Halloween Treats

I have two chemo patients and 2 senior buddies that I send weekly gifties/and or cards to so for Halloween I made up these fun mini cans filled with wrapped candies.  This was so popular several years ago, you cut the bottom of the can with a Pampered (or similar) can opener - fill the can then glue the bottom back on.  I made some cute little Halloween tags to put on top of each can.  These went in the mail late last week so they will get them by Halloween.  Now I will have to buy more small cans of fruit so I will have some extra cans to fill for Christmas.  

October 21, 2015 Mum's the Word

I LOVE the way this card turned out.  I won this set from MHK Designs called Mums the Word, it has 1 image and 3 sentiments.  I always need saying like this for my chemo buddies.  This was truly an experiment in coloring.  I had watched a video on coloring with Dewert watercolor pencils and OMS - never would have thought of that and I really like the way this turned out.  I love using the watercolor pencils with water but now I see that they are also multi purpose, what fun.  I used a paper pack from a dear friend Diana (one of my crafting buddies).  The paper is from Kaiser Craft and has a beautiful selection of purples, plus some punch outs (scallop border below the focal image.  I had to add just a bit of bling and some purple twine and this card is ready to go in the mail.  
      Challenges:
              Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

October 18, 2015 Boo Eek

Another card using the Woodland Texture embossing folder from SU - this time I used a purple with white core cs.  I was shopping at WM the other day and ran across these too cute adhesive eyes 18 sets/pk and I immediately thought of Halloween - eyes peeking between the trees and the effect was what I was hoping for.  I thought it needed a touch of a little more Halloween so I die cut boo and eek with AMuse dies and I think the card turned out CUTE!!!  Oh no stamping except on the inside.
      Challenges:
          DigiDesign - Halloween

October 15, Glitter Fall Leaves

Love my "new" embossing folder from SU Woodland Texture.  It is birch trees and I used white core cs and sanded a bit to bring out some white highlights.  I "reorganized" some cs last week and found a stack of glitter cs in a variety of colors and decided to use this to die cut my leaves and hi from.  Tied the stems with a bit of orange twine and I think the card turned out really cool.  There are tons of ideas on Pinetrest for using this embossing folder and I am glad I got it last week.

October 13, 2015 Strength

There is just 2 days left to post in the blog hop for domestic violence.  I love the simplicity of this stamp set from SU and it worked up so nicely in purple for domestic violence.  I choose the message of "Strength" in hopes that those that are in a domestic violence relationship has the strength and hope to fight back and say No More.  No woman, child or man deserves to be abused in any relationship.Challenge:
     Damsel of Distressed - purple

October 12, 2015 Prickly Friend

Every month I look forward to a "free" digi from Gloria Steiner and this month it was this cutey prickly hedgehog.  I colored him up with copic markers, cut out a circle so it would fit on my doily added a few sprinkles of tiny sequins to give it a fall feel and he is off in the mail this week to a chemo buddy.  I love Gerda Steiners designs - ok I have several of her clear stamps and a couple of her rubber stamps and well ok a few of her digis too. She is my style which is usually whimsy and this one is no exception.  

October 9, 2015 Fall Gold

One more card using this versatile stamp from Memory Box - I think you could make fall leaves, spring leaves or summer leaves.  I have had this saying for a "long" time - it was one of the $1.00 stamps at the checkout and I simply thought I needed it!!!  This card is on its way to Germany to a sister angel that has been having some challenges in her life.  Challenges:
     The Crafty Addicts - fall

October 7, 2015 Domestic Violence Card

When one of my besties told me about the challenge for domestic violence cards I knew what image I wanted to use.  The feather reminds me how fragile life is and no one deserves to be emotionally, verbally or physically abused by anyone.  I think the feathers  in purple worked up very nicely - needed a little splatter on the white space so used a watercolor brush and flicked some purple color on the card.  Challenges:
     Damsel of Distress - purple - domestic violence card

October 3, 2015 Yipee

Can you guess this is another Gerda Steiner squirrel???  She came out with this fall set about 6 weeks ago and I ordered it almost as soon as it came on the website.  This time he is throwing leaves (fussy cut) up in the air as he is standing on a tree stump which again was stamped and fussy cut.  Squirrel colored with copic markers as well as leaves and accorns.  A little Autumn ribbon and this card is already in the mail.  Challenge:
     Gerda Steiner Share your work - use Gerda Steiner image

October 1, 2015 Thankful for You Leaf

Similar but not the same - this is another leaf card where I used the negative to color in my leaf then I stamped the leaf image over it in dk. brown ink.  Embossed the sentiment and added a thin gold embossed strip to the right side.  I very very seldom do one layer cards but I love the way this one turned out. Plus I don't often do leave white space either I always want to add more but this one looks finished to me.  Challenges:
     Live,LoveCards - white space
     Chouxchous Paper Art - Fall or Halloween

September 29, 2015 FALL

Saw this sketch on Sketch Saturday and I knew which fall image I was going to use.  This image is from Memory Box - Maple Branch - it just needed a bit of color on the leaves with copic, and I had  some "burlap braid" in my stash..  A little thick but after using some pop dots it works fine.  I still needed something at the top so I cut out Fall from different colored card stock and I think that completed the card.  Challenges:
     Sketch Saturday - follow sketch
     Craft your passion - anything goes
     Come and Get it - clear it out - burlap braid

September 28, 2015 Happy Fall Squirrels

Are these two little guys not just the cutest?  You must know by now that I love Gerda Steiner stamps.  She has rubber, clear and digi images and I have not seen a set or an image of hers that I have not loved.  I love the whimsy type images just because they are fun and cheery.  I do a LOT of Chemo Angel cards weekly and I feel these type cheer the person up and brings a smile.  I am simply not "really good" at shaker cards but I have made two this afternoon.  The first one I did with transparency and small colored sequins, the second I used vellum and cake sprinkles that are leaf shaped.  Also on the second card you will note that it is called a "latch" card which was one of the projects last week at my BFF Donna's home.   For my  assigned chemo buddies I found some really cute tea towels with woodland animals including a squirell so I have to make one more and I can get their goodie envie in the mail.    

September 27, 2015 Hope Leaf

I recently received a new Chemo Buddy from Chemo Angels and liked the way this card came out so this was my intro card with letter to her.  This was so much fun to make - and will be doing more of this technique for sure.  I die cut out my leaf then used the negative image to color in the leaf with the red,orange and green.  I had enough left to cut out "hope" and to punch 3 small leaves to balance out the card.  I took my embossing pen and randomly did some brush strokes over that and sprinkled with holographic embossing powder.  We had a fun day at one of my BFFs Donna and she used this technique in one of her cards that we made.  Thanks bunches.

September 25, 2015 Happy Autumn

I have finally gotten in the "fall" mood and have been making some fall/Halloween cards.  This one was cased from Pinetrest using AMuse Stamps and cardstock.  I tinted the leaves with Gelatoes and then tied together with some thin twine.  I have 2 chemo buddies that I send to every week and 1 senior lady so I can never have too many seasonal cards.

September 22, 2015 Doggie Get Well

Our dear friends dog recently had some pretty major surgery (spleen removal and eye removal) and I made a "doggie get well" card for him from our three dogs.  The black one is Buddy, Red one is CoCo and the blond is Bella -.  I used a dog from a company that is now out of business.  But love the dogs and it was perfect for this occasion.  I did some masking and should have moved my dogs a bit to the right but...  The heart covers a small ink boo-boo - thank heaven for bling.  Mailing this tomorrow and hope Max feels better in a few days.

September 21, 2015 Only God

One more of the selection I sent to my daughter to send out to her church family - this is a Gina K. Design stamp and it surely stands alone, not much else is needed.  I used a punch that I have not used for AGES - and wound some gold thread around the corners and then splattered some gold splash on the black card base.  I think she will really like this one.

September 18, 2015 Ocean Grass

This is another card that I recently made up to send to my daughter so she could send them out to some of her church family.  I had taken a picture of all 6 I made and she said she could not decide which ones she wanted so I sent them all to her.  I love the way this one turned out although I wish I had placed the sun up just a bit.  

September 14, 2015 Sailboat

My daughter is very active in their church and she asked me if I would make her up a couple of cards - well once I got started the ideas just kept flowing - I love this monochromatic card using AMuse inks, and cs - when you use the same company ink/cs you know there is going to be a match.  I sent her pictures of the cards I had made (6 in total) and asked her which ones she wanted she couldn't decided because she liked all of them so I have an envelope headed out in the mail tomorrow with all 6 cards.        Challenges:
     613 Avenue - anything goes
     Crafting with Friends - anything goes
     Simply Papercrafts - anything goes
     Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

September 12, 2015 Gerda Steiner Halloween Mouse

Is this little "critter" too cute - it is Halloween Mouse from Gerda Steiner Digi.  She also has a line of rubber as well as clear stamps, and I want them all.I colored this mouse with copic markers, cute out with spellbinders mat.  I stamped the star bg using a SU stencil and distress inks, what fun - and I had a c  ute saying I bought recently from Lawn Fawn that I thought worked perfectly.  Played with purple, oranges, yellow and then orange/black dp.  Some purple bakers twine and a cute little orange clothespin from Michaels.  Still needed a bit of bling so scattered some black mini sequins.
     Gerda Steiner Challenge - use digi

September 9, 2015 Paris

This is a set from AMuse Studio that I really wanted badly and this is the first time I have used it.  Now a friend has borrowed it and used it but not me - and I have had it well over a year.  When I saw the challenge at Sketch Saturday and NBUS (never before used stuff) I and knew which set I was going to use for both of these challenges.  Kept it very simple with black/white/off white - stamped on off white, washi tape used on the side (again never before used a couple of those rolls either) and then a cute bling on the washi tape.  Challenges:
     NBUS - anything goes
     Sketch Saturday - follow sketch