Pages

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Christmas Cards- Card number five!

Last is definitely my favorite this year! I really felt like I splurged with PTI Botanical Blocks III stamp set and the dies for the blocks. But after seeing Nicole Heady's example, I knew what I wanted to do...

Here's number 5...


This is definitely my favorite card of all! The red card base has the sentiment embossed in silver. The white larger die is embossed in silver along the edges and attached to the card with scor-tape to hold it in place. Then the block is fussy cut and backed with fun foam to add a bit of dimension to the design.

Copic markers were used to color and that was the largest amount of time involved with making this card. I embossed the inside greeting "May Joy and Peace be yours this holiday season."

And that is a wrap for this holiday season... and as usual I will promise myself not to wait until the last minute to finish cards next year, but I probably will! I hope I enjoy it next year as much as I did this year...

Christmas Cards- Card Number Four

So by this time, I still didn't have the card I wanted for the grand kids! I always like them to be different and interactive if I can find a way...

So PTI Secret Agent stamp set was the perfect solution! I spy is a favorite game with all of them...

Here's the card...



Tricky, right? Each window is showing a picture of something stamped on the card base in a light brown and then scrambled with red ink. You must look with the red lens to "unscramble" the code! Isn't that lens the cutest ever???


The wreath on the front was an added extra when I had an ink mistake and needed to cover it up! I do think it looks a lot better with it!


Here's what the inside card base looks like... I also included an answer sheet :) taped on the back of the card!


The response from the kids so far has been so fun! The pictures are Mary and Baby Jesus, Santa, and a Christmas tree...

Love this set! Will definitely use it for birthdays coming up...

Christmas Cards- Card Number Three

By now I have made about 30 cards, and I feel like I am on a roll! Now for the Wreath...

I ordered PTI Tropical Teal paper ages ago. I never really thought of it as a green for holiday cards until I saw it used on Papertrey Ink's website ...

Here's card three....


Using PTI Deck The Halls stamp and die set, this card worked up very quickly! Using Versamark ink, I stamped the wreath and the greeting and then gold embossed both. The die cut ribbon and hanger are from red glitter and really set off the colors. 

The added embellishments on the wreath are red and silver stickles and I put them in the place of the berries stamp. 

The sentiment inside is in silver, because i think it is a bit easier to read. I really fell in love with the silver embossing powder!

This was an easy card to mass produce, and being one layer was also easy to mail. I was very pleased with the final result on this one!

Christmas Cards- Number Two

After the PTI Winter Woods Stamp Set arrived, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the cardinals! They were out of the dies, so I had to fussy cut the birds, but I just love the result.

Here's card two...


First I stamped two large evergreen trees in avocado ink and spritz the stamp to look like watercolor on a Kraft base. With white ink, I stamped a few snowflakes and added a snow mound die cut from white glitter paper, glued with a tape runner. 

PTI Winter Woods cover plate cut out of watercolor paper, with the trees water colored with a soft grey and then stamped black for the birch bark. It is attached to the card with foam strips to give an added dimension to the card. The cardinal is attached with scor-tape. The final touch is the gold star sequin added with glossy accents.


Then I felt the male cardinal needed his mate, who is always close by when they visit our bird feeder. I love how she came out! Then I couldn't decide if I liked her in the higher or the lower branch...


What I fun card to make! On the inside the greeting says... "Peace and Joy to your family this Holiday Season!"

I know I will be using this set a lot! 



Christmas Cards!!! Card One...

This was the best year of making Christmas cards! Not quite sure why I enjoyed it so much, but I really did.  I signed up for the Holiday Online Card Class, but just had a difficult time getting into the swing of it for some reason. Time was creeping up and I thought I was going to have to buy cards!!! No problem with the class, it was really just me!

But after trying a card that Julie Ebersole did, it got my mojo started! Then receiving my  PTI order - things were really getting formulated in my mind!

Here's the first from Julie's card ...

It is a one layer card after masking the edges, stamped with PTI Evergreens Stamp Set in greens, and Santa in the sleigh in red, greeting in black- and then using embossing paste over the small dot stencil to make snowflakes. I tried four rows of trees on this soft grey cardstock...


then three rows on this white cardstock... with sponging a little green for the ground- especially this year!


 Here's the inside of the card...


Mine does sure imitate Julie's example, but I did not use the outline on the edges. Just can't make those lines straight!!! It was a good beginning... I do think it looks a lot like a card that I did last year.



Monday, December 14, 2015

December birthdays

It's hard to believe but "Sweet Baby Rae" will be one on Wednesday, December 16th! She is just such a delight that this year has just flown by! Here she is at Halloween- trick or treating as a cowgirl with her sisters...


My card for her got me started in the spirit for cardmaking! I've got to get going on those Christmas cards! Here's her card...


It's a shaker card ... Stephanie called today to tell me how much Lyla (her 4 year old sister)  enjoyed shaking the card- Just made my heart smile! The top layer is a partially die cut scallop with a corragated pattern paper bottom. It has a plastic sheet between with the fun foam layer also cut with a scallop die to fit the beads to shake. It all sits on a white base. The inside greeting says... "Enjoy your day!" mainly because I know Reagan enjoys every day!

We're not going to see her for her birthday :( but will see her this weekend hopefully to give her a huge birthday present and a kiss with it! Aren't grand childen a blessing??

Friday, November 20, 2015

November Birthdays...

Emma Rose is 10! Hard to believe ... double digits, our oldest granddaughter!






Seems like just yesterday that she arrived ... She definitely makes the world a better place! Happy birthday, sweet girl!

A cat lover, actually ... an animal lover for sure! My card reflects some of her favorite things... Here's my card for Emma Rose...



Using the presents die, I cut glitter paper for the frame, and paper pieced the packages. The large one in the back resembles the bulletin board we sent for her birthday from Amazon. Using PTI Superstition stamp and dies, I tried to color the cats to picture her cats, although she has five...

Her family is coming for Thanksgiving... can't wait to see them. We're going to have all three of our kids families here! Thankful and ... So excited!

Monday, November 9, 2015

Holiday Style Online Card Class: Day 1

Wow! So many ideas today...makes the class worth the investment already! I haven't bought anything new to take it, just using supplies that I already have...

Here's my first card after Laurie Willison's sample...


I did think of thirds... and using the PTI Deck the Halls wreath, it worked up quickly. Colors are Red Poppy and Ripe Avocado, and the die cuts used the same shades. I was a bit disappointed with the red color... looks more like dark pink!




My second card is pretty much copied from Julie's card. I used the PTI Evergreens and a Santa from an old set that I had with the greeting cut, so the inside says, and to all a goodnight!

I didn't emboss the snowflakes though, I used paste instead with a small circle stencil. Love how it came out.... except- next time I won't use the lines on the border like Julie did. Mine are awful! Hers are nice and straight and the same thickness all around :)

Didn't get to try Debby's card because I don't have a die like she does... I'll have to figure out a way to use what I have to make it work...



Sunday, November 8, 2015

Caring Hearts Card Drive

One of the things I love the best about this season, is the kindness and caring we share with those we know.  There are some people that don't have anyone to share with them for whatever reason. The idea of this card drive gets me every year!

I discovered it last year, so it was the first time that I contributed. My cards are not very masterful or creative, but they do include a heartfelt wish for the receiver. I can only hope that person feels the connection and caring that I am including. 



What a wonderful event! It helps me feel blessed and gives me a chance to help someone else feel that way too. Thanks so much to  Vera Yates and her crew for all they do!

Monday, November 2, 2015

So Grateful ... Many Thanks

Just loving the PTI Pumpkin Patch stamp set with matching dies! The panel pattern that I used last month for a couple of cards has been my quick go-to for thank you notes...


I made several with the same basic structure, one layer then onto a base card, easy to mail! The leaves are from Clearly Besotted Simply Scrumptious strawberry set, and it works perfectly! Sponging the edges gives the panel a clear definition. I also added thank you envelopes :)


Adding twine gave it another dimension, but I don't think it really needs it. We're sending one to our son, for the Mets World Series tickets that he shared with John... the only game the METS WON!! And for our daughter's husband that arranged the Uber car into Boston...

What a great experience- from John and Johnny going to the game- to the rest of us texting all the way through it all! It was a fun family experience for sure! Grateful... and blessed...





Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Halloween... Make it Monday to the rescue!

Finally I got inspiration for something for Halloween... And it came from MIM from Papertrey ink, the moon!

Although I don't own the Perfect Pearls powder, I do have the spray! SO I made the stencil and used Distress inks to sponge the colors using the stencil for the shape. Then I sprayed the Perfect Pearls directly on the moon shape. Using the heat tool, it dried pretty quickly. I didn't use a stamp for the craters on the moon rather the shades of the yellows and the way it dried.

I hope the picture does it justice! It is also on darker paper than what was used on the video, but I love the results!

The dies I used; PTI Mighty Oak, PTI Superstition, PTI Pumpkin Patch and I sponged in the white and added eyes. The last pumpkin is attached with orange fun foam after hole-punching the eyes. All of the other die cuts are just glued on with a runner. Look at that Moon! So amazing!

On the inside I added some of my favorite stamps..


SU Halloween Hoot and SU Booglie Eyes are still my most favorite Halloween stamps!  I'm promising myself a new set next year... maybe...

Here's the rest of the ones that I made..



I ran out of the darker paper, not even sure what color it is! So I had to use a lighter paper and I don't think it's as good at showing the moon colors.  I also noticed on the video that she "polished" the pearls... and I did that too, even with the spray. Wow! Did it bring out the shine...

Hope the grands enjoy my cards to them! With John off to a World Series game, (yes- our son got tickets for Citifield for them to go- what a treasure he is!), I am hopeful that I get to give candy to two of our families...

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Avery's 5!

Our granddaughter Avery will be 5 on November 4th this year. She is such a character... and just loved the ice cream man when we were at the Cape this summer. For her birthday we got one of those cardboard houses that you build and can color, except this is an ice cream truck! So I knew that had to be my theme card for her...

I went trolling on Pinterest for ice cream trucks and found a great pattern to download on a website. The basic shape is what I used... then I kind of made it my own!

Using two different dies I cut the window and partially cut the flap. The circle dies are from PTI Pedal Pushers with a button in the middle. I used thread to attach them so the wheels actually move, which I know will intrigue Avery!



Her favorite flavors were listed on a google search so I could print them, making each one $5! There is plastic behind the windows and the picture is actually attached to the back of the card.  She will also enjoy the picture because she has her Red Sox shirt on!




The candles and sentiment are from different PTI stamp sets, as is the greeting on the flap!


Yes, it took a long time... but so worth it! The kids are really used to looking to see just what I have up my sleeve for birthdays. Of course, it was too large for a standard-sized envelope... so I had to make one. Good practice as it has been awhile!


Happy, happy 5th birthday Avery! I sure hope this card travels well through the mail!

The 3 R's...REST... RELAX... RECOVER

My college friend had surgery today in CT on a torn retina. Her daughter posted on FB that all went well but I have been thinking about her all day...

So the PTI Keep It Simple: Surgery Set was a perfect way for me to channel that energy!



Matching it up with the Pumpkin Patch Set was exactly what I needed. Again I used the SU Pumpkin Pie and PTI Avocado green inks, but this time I used the greeting... Warm Autumn Wishes  from the set. I used Laura Bassen's "Rock n' Rolling" technique on the greeting with the two inks with the darker on the bottom.


The inside sentiment is "Rest.. relax... recover" from the stamp set as well as the "Healing Wishes" that I stamped on the envelope.

I miss not texting to see how she's doing! Healing thoughts, dear friend!

An October birthday

Finally I feel like I'm getting back to a place where I can be creative again, although I've certainly used all of the blogs to help me get going! I still haven't done my Halloween cards for the grandkids, but I'm getting birthday wishes and other card events started...

Our neighbor is having an 80th birthday this week... Hard to believe! And it has been some year for them... not the best health-wise. A car accident coming home from South Carolina has left him with many lingering health issues, so I'm hoping this will start a NEW year for them! Hence, the card...


Just love the new PTI Pumpkin Patch stamps and dies! I'm having such fun with them! I masked off the space on white card stock, stamped the images in SU pumpkin pie, PTI Avocado green with the Clearly Besotted Simply Scrumptious leaves, and  then added the Look who's 80! with sequins. I sponged some of the edges to make it pop a bit more. The sequins are actually hiding some stray ink spots :)

The white base is on SU Pumpkin Pie paper... Love how it turned out. The sentiment is...

"The more candles, the bigger the wish!"

And I sure hope that's true for him!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

OCC Watercolor: Day 3 Free Draw

My very favorite technique... hands down... Jennifer's flamingo! I have been waiting to order a flamingo set for a while now.  To see how to break the drawing down to geometric shapes... amazing...

Here's my take:


Normally I don't use watercolor pencils... and I even own some! But this was so fun! Definitely will use this technique again!  The PTI die cut swoosh adds to the SU Curly Cute stamp of happy. 

My watercolor pencil set is an old one that I have had for ages and I couldn't be happier with the way this turned out. I did do the splattering which is difficult to see in the picture, also added some shimmer spray over the whole piece. 

This is the first OCC that I have taken that I needed no new materials to fully participate. I'm not sure if it's because I am more experienced about using what I have, or just looking forward to painting- but it has really given me so many possibilities in my own stash!



OCC Watercolor: Day 2 Paints

Have I mentioned that I LOVE watercolor painting??? Since Jennifer Rzasa's hummingbird in the first class, I have been on a mission to get better at it! I find it so very interesting to learn how the water works with paint.

One of my favorite card techniques is no line watercoloring with Distress inks. So this time I wanted to try something new... so the gold embossing just appealed to me. Here's my take on Dawn's lesson...


It is a little difficult to see, but I used PTI Friends Til the End stamp set, and made the flower a sunflower, embossing first in gold. The paint is Windsor-Newton Cottman tubes, I have the starter set.  The sentiment is die cut in gold glitter paper.

The watercolor paper is attached to a classic kraft card base. I didn't think I'd like the gold embossing, but I do!

OCC Watercolor: Day 1b

Since I had the stencil all made...I wanted to try another idea! Loving the new set from PTI... The vines are actually from Clearly Besotted "Simply Scrumptious" strawberries set.

Because the vine on the other card was so dark, I tried using a second generation stamping for this one. I still used SU pens on the block with brushes, tied the gold and kraft twine... and the sentiment is using the rock n' roll again! This is on an avocado green card base.

OCC Watercolor : Day 1a

Today I started doing the homework for the OCC Watercolor Medium Class. It finishes tomorrow, so I am trying to complete at least one project for each day so I am able to post them.

We have been away babysitting and then a respite at the Cape, so I am a bit behind :) Without giving too many details I will present my projects.

Here's the first with watercolor pens...

First I made a stencil with my new PTI pumpkin dies...


Then with the stencil I traced three rows of "staggered" pumpkins and watercolored each using the techniques somewhat like Kristina described, each row a little darker color of orange. 


I also washed the background in a lighter orange all over. Finally I stamped the vine and leaves using a "rock n' roll" technique described by Laura  Bassen later in the class. The trick or treat die cut in black really added a nice sentiment. 

The watercolor paper is adhered with fun foam on a classic kraft card base. I did use SU water based pens, although I scribbled them onto a block and then painted with a brush, I found they worked for this project. 


Friday, September 18, 2015

September Birthdays

As September arrives, the weather usually reminds me of chilly nights and leaves starting to show some fall colors. This year we have been treated to some really warm temperatures, so it doesn't seem like apple picking yet.

For my sister's birthday, I went with an old favorite, watercoloring with Distress inks, also adding some stamped images with SU inks. I used Tim Holtz watercolor paper with different flower stamps, including my very favorite- SU Pretty Amazing, mixing and masking as I went along.


I masked the edges of the paper, making the border. The sentiment is die cut and adhered with glue. I added the sequins to give it a little extra shine. Used scor-tape to the kraft card base making it an easy to mail card. 


Our granddaughter Campbell, will be six on September 27th. I love how she enjoys getting the hand made cards! So on this one the wheels do turn, she is riding a two-wheeler with lots of skill! A big feat this year! We also went apple picking while she visited last weekend, so I think she'll enjoy the apples. 



The pattern is one I copied from PTI's Betsy Veldman on Pinterest, and I attached the bike with foam tape to make the wheels actually turn. The sponged background shows much better in real life...Here's another shot...



The fence behind the bike is difficult to see, but it is like the one at Cami's house. The "sponged" apple tree is actually a stencil I made from PTI's Mighty Oak with some different stamped leaves... and the apple from another set.  I die cut the "6" and stamped it inside.

If you look closely you see my blue mistake in front of the fence! The card base hit the stamp case- I refused to throw it away and start again! SO I added a few more apples...

Here's the envelope- Love how it looks like it's moving by second and third generation stamping the bike! This will be a fun card to mail and I hope she likes it!

I am beginning to organize my stamp sets to sell some on eBay. I just have so many that I really don't use any more. I just sent a big order to PTI for some Christmas stamps, and others that I have been waiting for. I'd also love to take that Watercolor class at the Art Center, so maybe by selling some stamps I can make it happen! Wish me luck...

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Thank Yous

It has been such a long time since I have added to this blog! And so much has happened in such a short time...

My 91 year-old mother who had been suffering from the effects of several strokes over the last four years, died on July 14, 2015. Although I was not with her in body, my sense of gratitude for her hard earned peace was overwhelming! It was the first day in over three years that I know with confidence that she is no longer suffering.

So many memories from family and friends .. lots of time just feeling family! We were all so blessed to have her in our lives for so long... she got to know grandchildren and great-grandchildren. What a spirit ... I was so grateful to have lots of thank you cards from my stash, many made during On Line Card Classes, to share with some very special people.

Here are a few of the new ones that I have made to replenish my cards on hand...

All three of these cards are one layer to make mailing easier. I masked off the border on the flowers, and stamped the blossom after masking the rectangle for the sentiment... masking again for the leaves. The stamp set is PTI Friends Til The End, and inspired by the blog... Cards by The Sea.



I left this one in outline form on the white... really like how it turned out. The colors are SU Tangerine Tango and the leaves are Wild Wasbi. The center is Early Espresso. Then I decided to try sponging the color to give a bit more color to the card. It looks better in reality than the picture, but I still prefer the former.


This was such an easy card to do, that I may try it again with some other sentiments, just to have on hand! The idea came from a Make it Monday video and I just love the all over pattern. 

This last design comes from one that Jennifer Mcguire showed in one of the classes. It has become my favorite go to for card making. I used the butterfly stencil and filled in the spaces with lots of smaller flower stamps, using three different colors of SU older inks. Love the result!


It feels good to be back in my craftroom working on something that gives me peace, and sends fun messages to friends. I am still enjoying the watercolor painting, although I am not brave enough yet to make them my cards! Maybe someday...

I know you are at peace Mom ... Keep sending me those good thoughts!



Sunday, July 12, 2015

Anniversaries

Our two children celebrating anniversaries this year, are receiving the same card that was made in an OCC. Here it is...


Using PTI Flippin' Out - this is a very simple design that sends a whole set of experiences to the couples :) We all love the beach and it has been a family favorite vacation spot for years, from Maine to Rhode Island and as of late, Cape Cod! John and his wife just purchased a dream beach house there!

Funny to see this on a black base, but the sentiment inside is white embossed "Enjoy Your Day!" We also sent them a message written in white and it looks awesome! For more details about the card check out my post on one stamp set three ways on Day 7 OCC in February.

Happy anniversary to the happy couples! With sadness our third child is not celebrating an anniversary this year. Today ironically would be the day ... this will be the first year NOT to celebrate... My thoughts are going out to both of them and all of our families hoping the sadness we are all feeling will soon transform with happiness in their new lives.

Sympathies....

To me the most difficult card to relay how you are feeling is the sympathy card. A college friend's mother passed this week and here is the card I sent her family...


One of those times you're glad you have a card that you like on hand! This is one I made in OCC-Mask-er-ade using PTI Botanical Blocks and masking the edge of the stamp off. Then I watercolored using Distress inks.

It is watercolor paper with a blue background wash. This is one of my all time favorite cards ever, because the roses look so real!  I need to make a few more to have ready.... but no two are the same :) There are more details on my original post on June 2nd...

Other notes that things are very bad for my mother right now and my sympathizes to Jo and her family are related to my own situation I am sure! It has been a very difficult three years especially for Mom, and I can only pray for her transition to a better place soon.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

June-July Birthdays

There are several late June early July birthdays that are jammed together! Will, on the 27th, Cathi the 29th, Lyla Kate the 30th, Vic July 2nd, and John on the 9th!

So I forget to take pictures of a couple of them.... I made Will's card in the Online Card Class, with the zipper die, which he'll enjoy as an eight-year-old really into telling jokes and riddles. Notice 7 frogs on the front....... and I put one on the inside!


I continue to love the zipper dies! It's such fun to stamp, planning the kid's reaction when they unzip...


I did hear that Will's reaction was fun! The answer is ... your age!

This beach card goes to a friend that could certainly use a beach day break for her birthday...


This was another card that I made during the Mask-er-ade card class. The details will be found on that posting.

I did make another card for our granddaughter. Lyla Kate who turned 4 on June 30th. I forgot to take a picture of the card before I sent it! It was a shaker card with a star front turned into a shaker. She asked for a Barbie Glam Glitter doll... I have to admit she had to show me online what that is... So I knew the sparkles would get her in the shaker. It also had LOTS of fours!

This card I sent to our friend in assisted living, although we still think of him as our next door neighbor. Vic turns 94 this year and is in remarkable good health. The details for this card also appeared in the Mask-er-ade class. 



Last but not least, is my birthday card for John. He won't be here for his birthday due to a golfing trip with our son . So...




... very appropriate. I can't think of anything John would rather be doing than golfing! The card is made from lots of die cutting. I saw a similar card on the Internet somewhere, although I think it was teeing off instead of putting.

I am really loving the stitched dies to give the card front a clean look. Although you can't tell in the picture, the lighter green die cut is attached with fun foam so it is a level above the blue, and the darker green sits inside of it. he flag pole actually moves giving some nice dimension on the front. The golf ball is embossed with the small dots folder, so it really looks like a golf ball!

Happy birthday John!