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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

More Birthdays a Comin'

So because we leave for Florida and none of my card making supplies are there, I needed to get all the cards I send completed before we left. So here are the March/April cards...

Using the same basic idea.. Tim Holtz watercolor paper cut to A2 size, die cut the lighthouse and then paint the background with Distress inks. I used the rough side and LOVE the dimension... Then mark where the building should be stamped in the card base.


Because it is more than one stamp, I needed to actually trace the cut. And it is not perfect! The red roof is some what off center, but really do you notice that? I just love this card...


Attaching the whole piece with foam tape gives an amazing dimension- look at the letters from the PTI Swoosh die just kind of floating! The word "HAPPY" is stamped on the paper. 

Using the same premise for this card, I am partial to that added look!


This is definitely my favorite go to stamp and die set so far... Now I need to make some cards with other sentiments to have on hand. Also while in Florida, I am planning to try my hand at painting some of my own freehand cards... we'll see how that goes! Birds.. fruit... the ocean, maybe?



Happy birthday Chris and Steve!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

More March Birthdays: Friends

Two of my friends have birthdays in early March, so this year I made cards with PTI WInter Woods. Usually at this time we still in winter and snow, although spring is just around the corner!

Here's the cards...

As you can see, it is a partial die cut stitched circle with PTI Peaceful Pinecones die cut on the edge and then stamped in- so it is all one piece. Then I added the bird, cardinal or chickadee to fit. 


The birches are added inside the card to show through the window. I didn't add plastic on the window, rather left it open.



The greeting on the front is embossed in silver, and then I felt it needed just a little more, so I added snowflakes, either embossed or diecut from glitter paper.



My favorite is the chickadee, seems more appropriate to the scene. When I found some white birch patterned paper, I tried it as a backer for the window.  I think I like the window open better.

The birthday swoosh from PTI is glued on with scor-tape, and "Happy" is stamped in black. The pattern for the card worked up pretty fast after the initial die cut. That was the hardest part!


Happy birthday, Jo and Judy!

March Birthdays: Jessica

Our firstborn is turning 41 this year! She has had an incredible year of ups and downs but through it all she maintains a positive outlook with a smile on her face! I just love that about her! She has been and always will be so special in my life... I am so proud of her!

Here's my card for Jessica:


Using the new PTI Guiding Lights I got this idea from one that I saw on Pinterest. Jessica has always loved the Cape Henry Lighthouse from her days of living in Virginia. SO I made the die and stamp set match what it looks like. 

The die is cut on Tim Holtz Watercolor paper after it is painted with Distress inks to give the background color. Then I marked the card base where the die matched and stamped the image to line up. The watercolor paper is attached to the base with foam tape to give the added dimension. 


The PTI birthday swoosh die was cut in black and glued to the watercolor paper... "HAPPY" was stamped in black. Loved how it came out so much that I made several others with different lighthouses to have on hand!



Happy birthday Jessica!

March Birthdays: Erica

Our daughter-in-law Erica, is the first March birthday. I almost consider her to be a February date because February is such a short month and they have 3 other birthdays at their house!

Erica loves sunflowers... so the new PTI Sunflower Cover plate was just perfect for her card!


This didn't come out as well as I wanted, but it was a good start. The die cut was on watercolor paper, which made it very difficult to cut cleanly. I ran it through the Big Shot several times to get a good cut. 

The I painted the die with Distress Inks and set it aside to dry. Using the same inks, I watercolored the card base, which would have worked better with watercolor paper. As it was it, did some warping, requiring me to use weights to flatten it. 

The card sentiment says, "Here's to celebrating you... Happy Birthday!"



Valentine's Day

This year for Valentine's Day we'll be in Florida, without my cardmaking supplies... so I'll be sending all of the cards to the grandkids from there. I made the matchbox valentines that were described on MIM by Laurie Willison.

Here are my cards-



The design worked up pretty quickly, although I wish they were a bit more "pretty!" Before I send them I may need to add washi tape or something to give it more of a holiday feel if I find some before Monday. The stamp set is from Newton's Nook, a new purchase for me. They did not have a matching die set- too bad because I feel like it would make it more versatile.

Happy Valentine's Day!