Happy New Year, 2015 Goals and Retro Sketch #146

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday. I took a bit of time off to enjoy my family and friends. I have so much to be thankful for in my life and have enjoyed this week more then I thought possible.

I made a list of a few "goals" I wanted to work toward in 2015. I really hate the word "resolution" because I really don't keep these. Goals are something I work toward on a daily basis. None of the goals I have for 2015 are earth shattering but I wanted to put them in writing here so that I had a record. So here is what I am striving for this year:

2015 Goals:

1. To make some how to videos to post on my blog (very scary because a) I do not like my voice and b) I have never edited a video before. Any advice as to what software you use etc... would be welcome!!)
2. To blog at least 3 times a week, with some "regular" features. I have many ideas just need to PLAN my time to implement the idea!!
3. When I sit down to make a card, to make more then one using the same design. This doesn't sound hard but I have a difficult time making the same card twice. I get bored!!
4. To continue my goal toward good health. I have the work out down now I need to get the eating healthy part started.
5. To schedule more social time in with my friends. Being connected and having a support system is so important. I need to nurture my friendships more and let my friends know how much they mean to me.
6. Last but NOT least-to actually send out my cards instead of having them sit in a box. I love to make cards but am the WORST at sending them to the people that I have made them for. 

Enough about the goals and now to the good stuff. I had a chance to play the other day and was inspired by the "Retro Sketch" blog to create not one but two cards using sketch #146.  It kind of gas 

The first card I created I used a purple color scheme. 

I used Altenew Stamps for the flowers and the sentiment. The frame is stamp by Paper Trey Ink.

Here is the sketch that was the inspiration:

Instead of making a square card, I chose to make a rectangle card, using the square as the centerpiece. 

Here is how I created the card:

1. For the bottom square, I die cut a piece of lavender Bazzill card stock and adhered it to a top closing card base. 

2. Next I adhered a die cut banner on an angle over the card stock. 

3. I die cut the frame out of white card stock and stamped it using Paper Trey Ink's "Slide Frame" stamp set with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in the "dusty concord" color. I then mounted the frame over the purple card stock at an angle.

4. I then stamped the flowers using Altenew's "Painted Flowers" in "dusty concord" and "shaded lilac" Distress Ink. The leaves were stamped in My Favorite Thing's "sour apple" ink. I then spritzed over the stamped square in Heidi Swapp "Amethyst" spray mist. After it dried, I mounted the square over the purple frame with foam adhesive. 

5. My next step was to stamp, cut and adhere the Altenew sentiment on the front of the flower square.

6. The last step was to adhere some purple gems and two sequins to the front. 

In spirit of my 2015 goals, I created a second card as well but used a different color scheme.

Instead of using card stock as the first square, I die cut a piece of pink patterned paper. I also double stamped the frame. First I stamped it in pink and then in red. Before I stamped the red, I misted water over the ink that was on the stamp.

Another difference between the two cards was that on this card I only used the banner on the left side of the card. 

I really am happy with the way both of these cards came out. This sketch was so fun to use as inspiration.

I thank you for taking the time to look today. Happy New Year!!

Supplies: 

Stamps-Altenew-"Label of Love" and "Painted Flowers," Paper Trey Ink-"Slide Frame"

Ink-My Favorite Things-"Sour Apple" and "Red Hot," Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Dusty Concord" and "Shaded Lilac," Memento "Tuxedo Black" and Simon Says Stamp "Doll Pink."

Paper-Paper Trey Ink-White, Bazzill Lilac and Ella and Viv "Tribal Tie Die #10," Fancy Pants "Sweetness"

Dies: My Favorite Things "Pierced Square Stax," Paper Trey Ink "Slide Frame" and "Banner" dies

Other: Sequins, rhinestones

Pajama Sunday and a Birthday Card

Happy Sunday!! I cannot believe that it is only four days before Christmas. It still does not seem like it to me. I have almost everything wrapped and just a few last minute things to buy. If they don't get done, they don't get done, no worries.

I spent the day in my pajamas today. I have been fighting a cold and the pace I have been going at just was not conducive to getting better. I slept late and spent the day putzing. I did a little cleaning and organizing today in my craft room. I am hoping that it will all be neat and tidy by the end of Christmas vacation. However, that means I have to make myself purge instead of just organize it move it to a different place. I also made a batch of salted caramel sauce for the first time. It came out really good, which was a big surprise. There are a few changes I would make for next time but I did not burn the house down so it was a big success.

Today I am sharing a few Birthday cards I created. The first one I used Altenew's "Persian Motifs" stamps and Silks Acrylic Glaze.

I had never worked with Silk's before but had seen them in the Simon Says Stamp store and wanted to try them out. I bought three different six piece sets off Amazon, hoping they would work like my old Radiant Pearl paints that I cannot find anymore. The jars in the set are smaller then you would get if you bought them separately but since I was not sure if I was going to like this paint, I did not want to invest in larger jars. I was very happy with the results.

To make this card:

1. Stamp with Versamark Ink and heat emboss with Ranger Fine White embossing powder. (I used watercolor paper but I think a different kind of paper might work better. It sucked up the acrylic ink a bit.)
2. Then using a small brush, paint different shades of reds/oranges in the flowers. Then take a baby wipe and blot the flowers. I blotted around the whole piece of paper to get the mottled background effect.
3. Do the same as step two but with two colors of green paint.
4. Paint a bit of gold onto the leaves. 
5. Set aside and create a mask for the stamped images. 
6. Mask the stamped images. Using Prima "Gold Foil" mist spray, mist the background.
7. You can either set the card aside here OR you can give it a quick pass with a heat embossing gun. Set aside to work on the card base.
8. Next, cut about a 1 1/2" by 5 1/2" piece of foil card stock and adhere it to a card base.
9. Mount the dried background with foam adhesive over the front of the card.

I love the way this paint sparkles. With the added gold mist on the background, this card is really beautiful.

I think this image you can see the shimmer from the paint a bit better. I will play around a little bet more with these before I buy more but I think these were a good purchase. 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by during this busy time. Have a great Holiday!!

Missing in Action and More Christmas Tags

Hello friends! Is everybody ready for the holidays? I have been absent here as I have been busy writing Christmas letters and wrapping presents.

I have also been proofing my daughter's freshman term paper and my whole family was tested for whooping cough in the last two days. My lovely daughter has been coughing her brains out, not able to catch a breath. Both my husband and her are now on antibiotics. I am not as I have had a Tdap shot in the last two years. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Today I am going to share some more tags that I created for Christmas. I made them a couple weeks ago when I actually still had time. I haven't sat down at my craft desk since then.

The first tag I created using a "Sweet Treats" stamps and tags by Spellbinders. I stamped the background in red. It was not the juiciest ink pad and have since re-inked it. I then layered a die cut circle in black and green over the tag and topped it with a stamped penguin from Paper Trey Ink's "Tremendous Treats" Christmas stamp set that was colored with Copic Markers.

The next tag I used the same die cut and stamped tag set as the first. However, I used a fern green ink. I am not sure I like it but I cannot find a true green ink that I love. I then topped it with a stamped gingerbread man from Paper Trey Ink's "Holiday Button Bits" set. Very, very simple. I could make a ton of these very easily, which is key in making tags in bulk. I wish I figured that out when I started!!

My last tag I used Mama Elephant's "Arctic Penguins" stamp and die set to create my tag.

I colored the ice and and bits in with Copic markers. I really love these little guys!!

I used Christmas Red Stickles on the pom pom at the top of the hat and made teeny red dots with it on top of the present. The snowflakes on the tag are from Lawn Fawn's "Snow Day" stamp set.

I thank you for stopping by during this busy time. Have a great night!!

Tagging it Up with Spellbinder's, Paper Trey ink and My Favorite Things

Hello everyone!! It has been a brutally cold Monday here. I really don't mind it during the day but at night, it somehow feels worse.

Went to a scrapbook tag sale this weekend at Little Yellow Bicycle. Bought a box full of STUFF for $25. Dragged Char along for the ride. She was kind of stunned at the place, as well as disgusted by some of the people. Some very rude people out there.

Today I want to share a few tags I have created using my Spellbinder's "Sweet Treats" tags and stamps, paired with My Favorite Things "Christmas Cuteness" and Paper Trey Ink's "Tremendous Treats" stamps.

Isn't he cute? I stamped the tag in red, die cut some banners out of scraps and adhered them over the tag. The little reindeer I stamped, die cut and colored in using Copics. His shiny nose is red Stickles.

The next tag is similar but I used a reindeer from Paper Trey Ink.

I utilized the same design as the first. The deer was colored in with Copic's as well as embellished with Stickles. Love the bread tags. Kind of different then a regular Christmas tag!!

Packages are arriving at my house now almost on a daily basis. One for me, one for someone else, one for me, one for someone else...Shhh-don't tell my husband!! Actually, I know he knows by the state of my craft room right now. It is getting so bad that I don't want to work in it. It is time for a day of purging and reorganization. I think that is going to have to wait until Christmas vacation though.

I thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful night!!

Supplies: 

Stamps and Dies-Papery Trey Ink "Tremendous Treats", My Favorite Things "Christmas Cuteness," Spellbinders "Sweet Treats"

Inks-Stampin Up!, My Favorite Things (red hot), Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper-Paper Trey Ink (white), Elle's Studio (Good Cheer and O Christmas Tree), Doodlebug

Other- Red, Silver, Green and Gold Stickles, Copic Markers, Big Shot, Adhesive Foam

Stampin Up! Holiday Home Tags

Happy Friday! So glad that this day is finally here! I get the night off because Char is spending some time with her cousin and my step mother. They are going to a gingerbread exhibit and out to dinner. I will be doing some birthday shopping for Charlotte. Not sure what I am going to get her yet but I think it will be some clothes.

Today I am just sharing a quick post showing a few Christmas tags I made with Stampin Up!'s "Holiday Home" set.

The first thing I did was to stamp the houses on kraft card stock using pigment ink and emboss each in white.

I then die cut each using the matching die set.

Next I folded some scrap pieces of kraft and die cut the houses again. I adhered the stamped images over these to make folded tags.

My last steps were to punch tiny holes on the top and thread some twine through the holes to tie on my gifts. I am in LOVE with the way these came out!!

I thank you for looking!! Have a great day!!