With Sympathy

Happy Tuesday!! I hope 2015 is bringing you some joy.

I am back at work after a fabulous 10 days off. I am so refreshed and thank God for the vacation that I get at Christmas time. It is a blessing.

Now I am getting ready to host a baby shower on Friday for someone at work. I am NOT much of an entertainer, so this is a big thing for me. I am not a decorator either, (though you would think I would be because I like to craft) so having people at my house to "show it off" is very intimidating. I am all for conquering my fears (of judgement) so I decided to volunteer to have it here. That and I LOVE my co-worker who is having the baby and totally happy to celebrate with her. Hopefully I will be able to get some good photos of the party that I can post this weekend.

Today I am sharing with you two sympathy cards I created. As I was cleaning my desk up last week, I decided to do a "make a card from the supplies on my desk" challenge. I had stamped these images using Distress Markers and then used a wet paint brush over them to get a watercolor effect. Then the cards sat and I never did anything with them, as is often the case. I decided they would make decent sympathy cards.

Such a simple card using "Penelope's Blossom" stamps from Lawn Fawn. I used an MFT Blueprints die to cut out the watercolor paper and mounted it on a Royal Velvet card.

To finish, I used Stickles to add some sparkle to the center of the flowers. I think this came out so pretty!!

For the second card, I die cut the watercolor panel with a Mama Elephant die and layered it over a piece of patterned paper that was cut with the companion die in the set.

I used Stickles on this card for the middle of the red and orange flowers, as well as used a clear Wink of Stella over the yellow roses. It is hard to see from the photo but I tried!!

This technique is so much fun to do and it looks like I actually water colored these pieces. I think I might make a few for myself to frame.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a great night!!

Supplies:

Paper-140lb Watercolor paper, Pebbles-"Rouge Mini Dot," Stampin Up! "Old Olive," and Paper Trey Ink "Royal Velvet"

Stamps-Lawn Fawn-"Penelope's Blossoms," Paper Trey Ink-sentiment

Dies-Mama Elephant and My Favorite Things

Other-Big Shot Machine, Ranger Distress Markers, Stickles, Gray Ink, paint brush

Make It Monday #195 A la Carte Challenge-Camouflaging Die-Cuts #193

Happy Sunday!! It is back to work tomorrow. The vacation flew by and has been just what I needed. This week will be busy with getting ready for a baby shower that is being held at my house in honor of a co-worker. I have a lot of cooking to do!

Today I am sharing a card I created for Paper Trey Ink's "Make It Monday #195 A la Carte Challenge." The challenge was to use one of this year's many videos to create a card. I chose the "Camouflaging Die-Cuts #193" as the inspiration for my card.

In Laura's video, she used ink for her camouflage. I chose to use ink AND stamping to create my card. This card was actually an evolution of sorts. I attempted to use "Enchanted Evening," "Spring Rain," and "Blueberry Sky" inks to create the shading but I just could not get the look I wanted with just the inks. I then decided that I would use Paper Trey Ink's "Ombre Builders" stamp set to stamp a pattern over the shaded ink. I think this was the right choice!!

I also used Wink of Stella clear pen over the die cut word. It is hard to see this in the photo but in real life, it makes the word pop a little off the card.

That is all for today. Thank you for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Paper-Paper Trey Ink-White
Inks-Paper Trey Ink "Spring Rain," "Enchanted Evening" and "Blueberry Sky."
Die-Paper Trey Ink-Banner Die, Mama Elephant "Happy" and Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangle
Stamps-Paper Trey Ink-"Ombre Builders," Mama Elephant "Happy Everything"
Other-Sequins, Wink of Stella Clear Pen, Glue Dots, Foam Adhesive, Sizzix Big Shot Machine

Mojo Monday Challenge #378

It is Friday, my last official day of vacation. The time has FLOWN by and been so relaxing. One of the things that I was able to do over vacation was to see a lot of movies. I saw "Unbroken" and "Wild" at the movie theatre and watched "Delivery Man," "Sex Tape," and "Lone Survivor" on TV. I have an eclectic taste in movies, don't I?

Today I am sharing a card I created using the sketch #378 from the "Mojo Monday Challenge Blog."

I used Ranger Distress Markers to ink up the flower stamps from Lawn Fawn's "Penelope's Blossoms" stamp set and the vase from Lawn Fawn's "Our Friendship Grows" stamp set to create the vase with the flowers. After they were stamped, I took a wet water color brush and brushed over them to give them a water colored effect.

After the flowers were dry, I added some Stickles to the middle of the pink flowers and Clear Wink of Stella over the purple to the make the images sparkle.

I then used the sketch below for the rest of my card.

I did not do a tall and skinny card but adapted it to a regular 4 1/4" by 5 1/2" card size. The papers were all scraps that I had in my scrap bin.

Thank you for looking!! Have a great day!!

Supplies:
Paper-Watercolor, Bazzill (light purple), Fancy Pants (gray striped) and Stampin Up! (purple card)
Stamps-Lawn Fawn "Penelope's Blossoms" and "Our Friendship Grows"
Dies-My Favorite Things-"Fishtail Flags Stax," "Pierced Circle Stax," and "Pinking Edge Circle Stax." Paper Trey Ink-Stitch die
Other: Big Shot, Distress Markers, adhesive foam, Raspberry Stickles, Wink of Stella Clear Pen

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!!