Happy Friday, A Sympathy Card and Major Shopping

Hi everyone!! It is finally Friday and I am SO HAPPY for the weekend!! My daughter and my husband are at robotics for the whole day tomorrow and I am so HAPPY for some time to myself!!

Last month was a very dry month for me card wise. However, it did not stop me from buying stuff, much to my husband's chagrin. Every time I bought a Christmas present for someone it seems like I bought one for me!

I also got a full set of Tombow Dual Brush Markers from my husband for Christmas. My list wasn't that long (as you can see I bought stuff for myself!) and the markers were expensive so I would never have bought them for myself. Now to figure out how I will use them to their best potential!

I am waiting for two more orders this week and am OFFICIALLY on a buying freeze. I am going to aim for June but not sure if I can wait that long. 

My goal is to use all the products I have never used before, as well as purge a ton of stuff before I start buying again. The purging part is hard for me as I do not like to get rid of my craft stuff. I do eventually come around to using it and when I have given stuff away, I usually regret it. Am I the only one like this?

And now a card!! I created this for my friend who lost her mother last week. I used two Hero Arts stamp sets on this card. For the flowers I used "Color Layering for You Flower's Bundle" and for the sentiment I used "Prayers Stamp and Cut" set.

I have decided that since I have gotten the MISTI stamp tool, I love multi-step stamped images. I could go in and color the flowers to give them more depth but you don't need to.

I used two different Heidi Swapp Colorshine Mists on this-"Tinsel" and "Amethyst," as well as Tim Holtz Distress Stain in "Shaded Lilac" to get a kind of messy look. Death is messy so I think it was a perfect addition to this card.

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Start Afresh" and A Blog Named Hero's "New to Me" challenge as the prayers stamp set was a set that I had never inked up before.

That is all for me today. Tune in tomorrow for some inspiration for CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by. Your taking the time to read my blog means so much to me!!

First Post of the New Year and Some Cards

Happy New Year everyone!! I know I am four days too late but I think that is still okay to say, right?

You can hear echoes on my blog over the past month. The holidays kicked my butt and if that didn't take up my time, Charlotte wound up being sick right before Christmas and stayed out of school for a couple days.

Our Christmas was wonderful and we spent time with some of my family. Is it weird that I want to share this with you? I should have posted last week and it might be more relevant!!

Char in front of our tree before we unwrapped our presents. I didn't even gussy up my daughter and my husbands present as I usually do. I only did it for friends as I just didn't have the energy. I think I am going to wrap as I go along next year. Anyone do this?

Me and Charlotte at my sister's house. Trying to just be and not bother if the "perfect" photo is taken of me or not. One of my good friend's lost their mother last week and it just hit home having the photos is more important then looking perfect!

My nephews and niece with Charlotte.

I bought the game "Shut Your Mouth" and we had so much fun playing it with the family on Christmas day. Nothing but laughs!! I even have my Dad on video and it is something I will cherish!!

Charlotte and my niece. Cannot believe how grown up they are!!

Now for some cards!! To be honest, I have NOT been creating in a prolific way as of late. Me and my mojo had not been meeting up at the same time. When I wanted to create something, I didn't have the time. When I had the time, my mojo was no where to be found. I did do A LOT of shopping but THAT is a whole different post!

Anyway, on Monday I created a couple cards for some sketch challenges but as I always do, I never photographed them in time to submit. I decided to post them anyway.

I created this card using Freshly Made Sketches #268 as my inspiration.

I know, I know, it is a Christmas card BUT in my defense, I only created about five holiday cards this Christmas and decided I was not going to wait to the last minute to make Christmas cards in 2017. I used up ALL of the photo cards I ordered that I send out to close family/friends this year and resorted to having to send out some pre-made cards to a few people and was horrified! I also wanted to use this stamp set from Hero Arts called "Kelly's Noel." I bought it in November 2015 and NEVER INKED IT UP!!

Another thing I decided to start doing is to use patterned paper more on my cards. I have a ton but for some unknown reason in my head, I hoard it!! This paper is "Merry Little Christmas" from My Mind's Eye that I "think" I bought last year? I only have about ten 6" by 6" pads full of Christmas paper so who knows!!

I love the pink and green together. I think this kind of Christmas card is good because it is simple enough to be able to do in assembly line style and rather flat so it mails well.

For my next card, I used a sketch #157 from "Match the Sketch" Challenge Blog.

I used the Simon Says Stamp "Time for Wine" stamp set and dies that has been sitting on my desk for months.

I decided to experiment with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers for these fun images. I then covered many of them with Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Marker and Glossy Accents. The Glossy Accents made the color run a bit but I think it looks kind of cool.

I used some Heidi Swapp patterned paper that I have been saving for the background. I like the black with the purple. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches "Free Spirits" stamp set. I needed something small enough to fit on the end of the flag and this was perfect.

I adhered one wine glass and the leaf with foam adhesive and the rest of the stamped images with Ranger Multi-Matte. The sequins were my last touch. I actually was only going to use three BUT I got a black smudge on the white banner where the big sequin is to the right. The addition of yet another sequin covered the boo boo right up!!

I love how this card came out and will share another card I created with this same set tomorrow.

Well, that is all from me tonight. I thank you for taking the time to stop by my blog. As always, your visits are appreciated.

Have a FABULOUS night!!

Card #1:
Stamps-"Kelly's Noel" by Hero Arts
Inks-"Soft Green," "Green Hills," "Bubble Gum" and "Red Royal" by Hero Arts
Dies-My Favorite Things "Pierced Square Stax" and "Blueprints #13"
Paper-Paper Trey Ink "Sweet Blush" card stock, Neenah Solar White card stock, My Mind's Eye "Merry Little Christmas" 6" by 6" paper pad
Other-Big Shot, Glossy Accents, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen, sequins

Card #2:
Stamps-"Time for Wine" by Simon Says Stamps, "Free Spirits" by Paper Smooches
Dies-"Time for Wine" by Simon Says Stamps, "Fishtail Flags" by My Favorite Things
Paper-Neenah Solar White card stock, "Favorite Things" 6" by 6" paper from Heidi Swapp
Ink-Ranger Archival Black, Paper Trey Ink Smokey Shadow
Other-Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Ranger Multi-Matte, Big Shot, sequins, Crystal Spectrum Noir

A quick hello and a few Christmas Cards

Hello everyone!! It sure is echoing in here. I have just been too busy as of late to craft. I am looking forward to winter break to get back into the craft room and get some stuff done!!

Char turned sixteen this month as well as got her permit four days after her birthday. I cannot believe my baby is learning to drive. Yikes!!

Of course we had two family celebrations as all could not attend the same day so her birthday went on for a couple weeks. Isn't that how it should always be?

This is the second cake with her cousins. These kids were babies just yesterday!!

I wanted to post some Christmas cards that I did make last weekend. I send out home made Christmas cards only to people who made me some. Others get photo cards.

I used my Hero Arts "Layered Christmas Tree" stamps and Christmas paper to create these.

Since I had a ton to do, I used the same basic design. I stamped all the trees using Altenew inks that were in the sets. I then heat embossed over it with Tonic "Shimmering Pearl" embossing powder.

I used Washi tape on the bottom of each tree panel, as well as added some bows with shiny embroidery floss.

I stamped the sentiments on red strips in archival black ink and popped them up with foam adhesive.

I put the card together and then used Stickles in red, gold and green on the tree.

I rarely make cards in an assembly line fashion but this was a lot of fun. On this card, I even used a bold patterned paper. I am not a fan of larger designs but I think it works with this card.

Well, that is all. I thank you for taking the time to stop by.

Sunday Stamps #134, Simon Says Stamps Work it Wednesday August 2016 and NBUS Challenge #7

Happy Hump Day!! Just a quick post for a few challenges.

I am officially back to work as of yesterday. Today was the first official day of school for the high school where I work and it went pretty well. If my schedule remains the same, this year will be good.

Today I sharing a card that I created using Hero Arts "Marianne's Flowers" set that I had gotten this past spring but did not ink it up at all. It has the prettiest flowers on it!! I used the Sunday Stamps Sketch #134 as my inspiration.

Here is the sketch:

I began by stamping the lilies on a piece of A2 sized Copic Marker paper with Memento "Tuxedo Black" ink. I then colored the flowers in with Copic markers.

I mounted the panel on an A2 sized, white, top folding card. I then added a piece of green/white twine across the top.

Using the My Favorite Things "Stitched Banner Alphabet," I die cut the sentiment out of green and yellow card stock. I took the green letters out of the green banners and adhered them into the yellow banner pieces.

I then used foam adhesive to pop the alphabet over the twine on the card.

I completed the card by creating two bows out of the twine and using Ranger Multi-Matte Adhesive to adhere them to the card.

I have to admit that this card is extremely simple but I LOVE how it came out. The coloring of the lilies was an experiment. I had looked up a photo and tried to get the colors from there. The greens are really dark but I like it.

I am entering this into Darnell's "NBUS" challenge and Simon Says Stamps August 2016 "Work it Wednesday" theme-stamping.

I thank you for stopping by!!

CAS(E) this Sketch #159

Happy Monday everyone!! I am going to admit something now-today is my birthday and I have turned 47. Age is only a number but I have been noticing things that I do not like.

For example, reading glasses. (Please excuse the selfie. I don't normally take them and so am not great at it.) I now cannot see a foot in front of my face. I have always had better then 20/20 vision and it KILLS me to have to have a pair of these in every room. I also cannot find them in smaller frames then these.

I also hate that I have to dye my hair every six weeks or you can see the gray coming in at my roots. I can deal with the wrinkles but gray hair? I am too young for that!!

Well, on that note, I am joining in with CAS(E) this Sketch #159 Challenge. I LOVE this sketch so much and am hoping to find time to do some more cards with it. I have a few ideas up my sleeve!! However, I made a really quick card last night using never before used stuff or NBUS.

This card was SO EASY to make!! I just inked and stamped the Hero Arts "Waves Background" stamp onto white card stock. I then die cut it and adhered it to foam and then to a white card base.

I stamped and embossed a sentiment and then adhered it on top of two banners I had created using patterned paper scraps from my drawer.

The last step was to adhere some Pretty Pink Posh sequins. Easy peasy and I LOVE how it came out!!

Below is the sketch I used:

Isn't it fantastic? Be sure to go over to the blog and see what the design team came up with. Their projects are jaw dropping!!

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great day!!

Supplies:

InLinkz.com