Watercolor Wonder Cards - Round 2

I finished another "set" of Watercolor Wonder cards. 

My favorite is this "Love" card.  This idea started over at Rita Wright's blog.  She made a couple really clever cards using this stamp from Countless Sayings I.

 I still love this Hello, Doily stamp.  I must ink it up more often.  I used the sentiment from Regarding Dahlias, the leaves from the Bird Punch and a retired brad with a tissue paper flower.

A simple get well card using Thoughts and Prayers.  I purposely tried to keep these cards very simple, so they would be easy to replicate.  I used markers and the "thumping" technique to color the leaves.

This is Kenna's favorite.  She loves alligators.  Truth be told.  I had to cover a boo-boo, so I went with the alligator from Wild About You.  The speech bubble is from Valentine Defined, both retired, but I was making lemonade out of lemons KWIM?  Anyway, the sentiment is from the coming Sale-A-Bration set, See Ya Later.

Finally, my least favorite.  I struggled with this patterned card both times I used it.  It's very pretty...it doesn't need much help.  Maybe that's my problem, I tried to do too much with it....it's OK.  The sentiment is from Sassy Salutations.  I love this sentiment set!  I had a friend order it during a sale and I thought to myself, "That's kinda neat, maybe I'll get it, too."  I'm sure glad I did...thanks Crys!

So, I may try one more round of these cards.  Maybe inspiration will strike.

BTW - Kenna got her car!  The one we were negotiating the other day.  It's been to the shop, to get a few things tweaked and it's ready to drive next week!  Oh boy!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Stay warm as we prepare for Polar Vortex...round two!

So Very Grateful [Love this Set!] Valentine

I didn't think I would be stamping on Monday.  We had plans to go buy Kenna her first car.  Well, negotiations came to a stand still pretty quickly and we left with no car, no need to get plates, no calls to the insurance company...nothing.

After catching the season-ending episode of Sleepy Hollow I headed to the craft room!

I used this sketch by Mary Jo for the Lunchtime Sketch Challenge over at Techno Stamper.

I stayed to the sketch....almost completely.  The rectangle up top was my only sticking point.  I played with this element for hours...literally...I'm sorry to say!  I'm so glad it turned out in the end!

 

There are three types of thread on this card!  I tried at least three different ribbons, too.  None of them made the cut...ha! ha!

My favorite element?  And where I started?  The Crumb Cake heart embossed and water-colored using my newest favorite set, So Very Grateful!  

This lead to another challenge over at Splitcoaststampers, "Using White on Kraft with Watercoloring."

Now, I have the rest of the day to get some things done!

Countless Sayings ...One Layer Card

I found some time to play today during the football games.  It's not what you're thinking...I was watching the games and stamping.  Mostly doodling, trying to get some ideas out of my head and generally "playing around."  When the second game ended I was ready to put my plans to paper!

I really wanted to play with The Paper Players again.  Love them so much! They have such good graphics for their challenge pictures, too.  I save them on my computer and sometimes print them off, 4 challenges per page.  A good graphic helps remind me of the requirements of each challenge.

Today's requirement?  A one-layer card.

Lots and lots of masking on this card, but I think it was worth it.

The spray I used is the retired Blushing Bride Smooch.  The set, a new photopolymer set called, Countless Sayings I.  I improvised with the arrow fletchings (that's the feather parts...I had to look it up) and used the "X" in the set.  All the stamps came from this one set.  I had to add a little more and settled for a few rhinestones.

Thanks for stopping today!

Love You Much

I woke up this morning needing one more Valentine card ... to send out TODAY!  One for my grandma who is 90.  I scanned the current challenges and knew instantly I would use the Color Throwdown as my inspiration.  Look at this color scheme.  Those are my kinda colors!

As luck would have it, I had this bit of scrap on my craft table.

 This rarely happens to me...I had an idea instantly.  I drew out a sketch on my graph paper.

And this is what I came up with:

Am I allowed to say I'm a little disappointed?  Two things bugging me.  One, I wish I had stamped the leaves first and added the petals on top.  Second, my petal placement was so much better on my sample!  I should have used my stamp-a-ma-jig, but I thought I could do without.  I should know myself much better.  I'm waaaaay to nit-picky!  OK, not that nit-picky because I could have chose to do it over, but I suppressed that urge!

Not sure what the rest of the day will hold....maybe more cards?

Candy Conversations

I have a free weekend!  I spent the better part of Saturday going through my mail and catching up.  Right before I'm suppose to start dinner, I get the overwhelming urge to make a card.  So, I check out a few of the newly posted challenges.  Luckily an idea came right to me!

This sketch over at Clean and Simple Stamping was the perfect fit.

And at Just Add Ink, it couldn't be easier, it's....Just Add Hearts!

These challenges were just posted on Friday, so give them a try!

Hearts A Flutter - Treat Totes

I was finally able to spend a decent amount of time in my craft room last night.  It felt good to go in there and play, with nothing else on my mind.  I have been racking my brain, trying to come up with a treat holder for Valentine's Day.  It took a few hits and misses, but I did get a design I'm pleased with....and here they are!

I'm always conscience about my paper consumption, so these are really efficient, too.  The Designer Series Papers are 4" x 8" pieces.  You can get four from a single 12" x 12" sheet, unless it's a directional like the mini hearts (second from left.)  Otherwise you end up with sideways hearts!  The tray I made to sit inside is also from Designer Series Paper and uses a 3" x 6" piece. 

Inside is a fun size bag of M&M's and a self-inflating mini balloon (who knew?) from the Dollar Tree.  Sorry no inside pic...if anyone is really interested...

This is not the layout I wanted for this post, but I am giving up.  Blogger just doesn't like me, so if you have any questions about these projects, don't hesitate to ask!

I'm off to bed because tomorrow I am doing my taxes....fun!

Think Pink....and Lots of it!

I was such a bad blogger last year.  I have a backlog of cards I could post.  Since I'm trying to do some actual work today, I thought I'd share some of those cards I made.  I sent out a lot of Valentine's last year and evidently I was enamored with pink, too.  Here's just a few for now....

 

I believe this one was inspired by a photo in the Stampin' Success magazine from Stampin up!  The background is En Francais.  The sentiments from Fancy Flexible Phrases.

Same with this one.  I gave it to my friend, Pam.  She had shared this ribbon with me.  It uses Valentine Defined, plus Love You Much.

I love this one with the tiny yo-yo's.  They are about 3/4" and I made them with the Clover (Extra Small) Yo-Yo Maker.  The stamps are Fine Flourish along with Wonderful Words.

 

Love using the puffy paint on this little sheep from Pun Fun.

I had fun making this 3-D flower.  Hello Doily and Lots of Thoughts are the stamps.

Now onto some more work....see ya soon, though!

My First Chalkboard Card

What another long absence!  I will admit I've grown a little weary of posting on the ol' blog.  I'm hoping this will change and the only way to get out of my funk is to do it!

My stamping skills are very rusty.  I have been wanting to try all the new techniques I've been seeing.  Today I started with the chalkboard technique.  It fit in perfectly with the challenge over at Dynamic Duos.  It also fit in perfectly with my need to get started on my Valentine's Day cards!

I used the new Sale-A-Bration set Vintage Verses, along with an old Sale-A-Bration set, Polka Dot Punches.

I think this card will go to hubby!

Love You Much - Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger

Shhhh....maybe I shouldn't mention it, but it's been two weeks since my last post.  I had no idea it had been that long.  I did get a chance to play today and I made a birthday card for my father-in-law.  Since his birthday is a few weeks off, I'll take this time to show another card.

This one is for the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger.  I was inspired by the house, of course.

I contemplated using the bright happy colors in the inspiration photo, but I have a lot of pinks I wanted to use up.  It's a blessing and a curse to be so obsessed with using up my scraps!

Saturday I'm off to the University of Iowa where my son (17) is competing in the First Tech challenge.  It's a national robotics competition.  So, no stamping for me!  Sunday I'm free and I hope to do some more creating!  Have a great weekend!

Daughter's Valentines - Conversation Hearts

So, I wanted to squeeze this in, between cards.  Just in case somebody is in need of a quick and easy Valentine idea.  This isn't a new one.  My friend Jeannie sent me this idea, probably two years ago!  Well, I finally made them.  So cute and easy, I don't know what took me so long.

Aren't they the cutest?  And oh, so easy!  The idea originally came from Family Fun magazine.

I guess the only "glitch" is that now there's the Ipod touch.  Do they even make them like this anymore?
Just wonderin', have you seen this craft before?

Fine Flourish - Love Birds

Me again!  I have so many cards to share (all Valentines) I fear I won't get them all posted before next week.  I really need to step it up!  I made this one on Monday night and it immediately became one of my favorites so far this year.

I even managed to complete not one...but TWO challenges!  Yippee!

Pals Paper Arts - Red, Red, Red Challenge

Cute Card Thursday - Buttons & Bows Challenge

Tuesday will be a busy day, but I still hope to see you with another post!

L-O-V-E Spells Love Banner

This is a first for me.  I am posting on both my blogs.  Here and on Made or Found.

I have been wanting to make a banner for a few years now.  I made it my mission to get one done this weekend....and that's what it took, the better part of a weekend.  I will say I am happy with the results, though.

I contemplated every detail, over and over.  I pulled out all the tricks in my bag.  I used my Cricut, vintage trims and lots of Stampin' Up! paper.  I tried a few new things along the way.

The red tulle on the "L" that came out of an auction box lot.  

Using lots of pearls and scrunchy tissue flowers on the "O." 

The glitter heart on the "V" that I topped with Crystal Effects so that no glitter flakes off.

The vintage seam binding on the "E" that I crinkled and made my bow.

Here's my mantel with my favorite vintage valentine's.

I'm in love.

Loads of Love - Color Throwdown #100

You will not believe what kept me from stamping last night..........a bug!  I'm not saying I was sick.  I mean an actual bug!  This has to be a first!  About 6:00 pm I realize my air conditioning isn't cooling.  It's getting uncomfortable in the house.  I discover the outside compressor isn't coming on.  Well, hubby is out of town, so I call my dad.  He gives me several (time consuming) suggestions to try and remedy my situation.  None of it works.  So, tired and disgusted, I decide to call it a night.  This morning dad comes over to try his hand with no luck.   I run off the my son's baseball games while dear dad stays behind waiting for the serviceman.  Turns out a bug, more precisely an earwig, had crawled between the electrodes in the compressor.  I wouldn't have believed it but dad saw it with his own eyes.  The serviceman was gone in about 15 minutes.  I was out $72 bucks!  I'm just thankful that's all it was!  A new unit might have cost me some stamping supplies!

In the end it turned out that the extra time gave me the opportunity to think about card ideas for the Color Throwdown.  It's their 100th challenge and they are celebrating!  The girls are giving away over $1600 dollars worth of goodies!  Check it out HERE and get all the details.

The final piece of this card came after I had time to think.  I made my own clouds to place my sentiment.  It was fun to do and I think they turned out pretty good!

Love, Always & Mojo

Can you believe I almost for got to post today? I've been around the house, doing odd and ends, completely oblivious! I was talking on the phone to my friend, Pam and we started got on the topic of my blog and cards when it dawned on me!

So, the card I'm sharing today is for Mojo Monday. I played around with the sketch, just a bit. Really it was a mistake on my part! I'm going with it. I used the sets Always along with Lots of Thoughts. I like all the texture going on this card. The red really pops on the Pretty In Pink and Whisper White. I like that, too.I really enjoy making these Valentine's Day cards. I have no idea how many I've made to this point. I do plan to send more than my usual amount, so I'm going to keep making them! Hope you like seeing them!

All U Need Is Love

Is it just me or is there crazy weather all across the country? Yesterday we had rain, freezing rain and snow...all in one day! Of course the kids had no school and I should have found time to stamp, but I did not! This morning I wake-up to find they have a two hour delay. Normally I take the opportunity to sleep in, but instead I got up and stamped!

I went right to Stacey's challenge over at Stacey's Stamping Stage. She posts them on Sunday, here it is Thursday, it's a color combo I love! Where has the week gone?
Anyway, I have been trying desperately to simplify my cards! Just a little! So, this is what I came up with:
I used the rub-ons Love & Happiness from Sale-A-Bration a few years ago. I still have TONS left! The sentiment is a dollar bin stamp. Then, I added my latest fetish, stitching on cards! You know I was a quilter LONG before I took up card making, so this really is a favorite of mine.

So, I hope I'm back on track for more posting. After that 10 day streak I needed a few days off, but I THINK I'm ready to go again!

Have a great day!

"Whimsical" Little Gift

Hello again, my stamping friends! Are you making it through the week? Just one more day 'til the weekend. I hope my little project today puts a smile on your face. I am pretty excited about this project!I used a Stampin' Up! Medium Square Envelope and the new Glassine Bags to create a treat bag for those yummy Valentine's Day candies. As you can see, it's the back side of the envelope that I embellished. So, you could write your "to" and "from" on the front side and even do more stamping, if you like. I started but cutting the back flap down to 1 3/4". As it was, the flap was just too big. Then, I cut the red Sending Love specialty paper to fit the entire flap, both width and length.

Both pieces on the bottom portion are cut 2 1/2" x 5 1/4" to allow for a little reveal on the sides and bottom. I punched through all three layers (front & back of envie and the DSP) at once. I used Chocolate Chip ink and the sentiment from Whimical Words next to my punched heart. The closure is a Real Red Corduroy Button along the red ribbon. The punched flower is from Boho Blossoms Punch. If I had the pink buttons I might have skipped this step. I tried using a velcro enclosure to seal my pouch with only fair results. In the end I used glue dots. The velcro would be been nice for resealing purposes, so I may still want to go that route.

I filled my treat bag with M&M's©. I did not cut off the excess bag, I simply folded it shut to fit inside the envelope.

One other idea to consider. A CD or DVD will fit in the Glassine Bag (it just fits.) Why not make your friends or sweetie and "love" mix. If you go this route be careful of your heart placement. It needs to be more near the corner, otherwise the spindle hole shows in the window.

So, I hope you liked what I had to share today! I don't make a lot of 3-D items, so this was kinda a big deal for me! I'd love to hear what you have to say, please consider leaving a comment!

See you again soon!

Sneaky Little Love Bandit

As promised, new goodies to share today. My UPS man came about 10:00 a.m! Thankfully it wasn't a day he came late. Once in a while he doesn't come 'til the afternoon.

I went right to the challenges for the week and decided to start with:

Mojo Monday:

Stacey's Stamping Stage:
I really tried to come up with an original idea. I've seen quite a few cards out there with these stamps and paper. From what I have looked at, no one has stamped the sneaky little raccoon from Love Bandit in this way.Except for the solid cardstocks, the DSP are from the new Sending Love Specialty paper. The base of my flower is the one retired item, it's from Flower Fusion. I didn't have anything remotely close to Rose Red wool or wool felt. The Very Vanilla portion of the flower was cut with the Big Shot die Blossom Party and some wool I had on hand.

I am super happy with the new cling cushion mount stamps. I guess I'm a convert. It didn't take but using them once! I hate to give up my wood, but it looks like that's where I'm heading!

So, check back tomorrow. My project is done except for filling it! Hint, hint!

Red, Red, Red Valentine

I love red! So, Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to use LOTS of it! Today's card is red on steroids! OK, I did sneak in a little pink, but very little!

The challenges I tackled with this card are:

Our Creative Corner sketch.

Plus, Splitcoast Stampers Limited Supplies Challenge. Keyword: LSC254

I used the large heart from Always and embossed it in red. I don't have Real Red Kraft Ink or red embossing powder. So, I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, stamped in Real Red Classic Ink and without moving my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig stamped with Versamark Ink. Then, added Stampin' Emboss Clear Embossing Powder. It really pops! (Click on the image to get a better look.) The sentiment is a dollar stamp I just picked up this week.You may be wondering how I have a scalloped heart to mat the Always heart perfectly. If you'd like to know, e-mail me and I'll share my secret! It involves an image editing program and a certain cutting program.

So, I have an invitation to go scrapbooking down at the neighbors. I need to get my stuff together and go. Have a great day!