Season of Friendship Owl Punch Birthday Card

Wow, I can't believe it's the end of July already. It always seems like summer flies by right after the 4th of July.

I am on a quest to find a fun card to make for our upcoming Show Box Swap. SO I am going to be posting them here and will narrow it down to one by August 7th. The swap is on the 8th and I need to prep for it so I only have a week to find the card I want to bring.

This is card #1. I had a LOT of fun making it. I did not design it but I did change it up a bit. It was made by Jenn from Stamp Your Heart Out. When I saw her card I thought it looked like it would be a great card for the swap. For the swap we are to use something new from the catalog. The "Season of Friendship" set is not new but the owl is. I actually took it out of the package just before I used it here. Can't get much newer than that! It's SO cute! I'm going to have to surf the net for more ideas to use it with. I know it will come in handy next June for graduation cards. I'm sure more samples will show up around that time.

I love it that I was able to use the three orange colors we now have too. Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait and Tangerine Tango. I could have added a bit of More Mustard but it was a bit too yellowy for these oranges. I like how these look. I hope it's not too early to show fall trees! All of the black walnuts are gone from our tree and the leaves started to fall from it over a week ago. Once that happens it's usually 6 more weeks and we get cool weather. That tree has been pretty accurate in the past. I wish it could tell me when it was going to snow!!! LOL

Ok, back to this cute card. Th owl is punched out of black and the other owl components are layered on. I punched a 1-1/4" circle for the moon and I added the "happy birthday" from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. Such a fun set!

So this card is in the running for the swap. It's fun but I'm glad it's a Show Box Swap because I wouldn't want to make a dozen of these myself!

Thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

Mosaic Tiles Technique Card

Yup, I found that silly little tile frame. You will not believe where it ended up. Inside a stamp set. Didn't think to look in there. I even dug through the recycling paper to see if I had accidentally tossed it. Not there nor as it in the obvious places. SO I was going to use the card stock and decorative paper to make a different card using a similar layout and when I opened up the stamp set there that little rascal was!!! So I decided I would go ahead and make up the sample.

Now these tiles are tiny. I used the 1/4" square punch on the image. I had set the tiles on a piece of waxed paper and added my Crystal Effects and let it dry. Once it was dry I assembled the square frame. That frame was made by using a 1-3/8" square punch and in the center I used the 3/4" square punch. I actually used the 3/4" punch first and lined up the bigger one around it to get the square as square as I possibly could.

For the cute little cupcake I stamped the image using Pacific Point ink. The image came from the "Itty Bitty Bits" set. I have used the images, matching buttons and matching punches for everything else except for using them all together. I'm saving that for another day!!!

The decorative paper is from the "Blueberry Crisp" pack. It's exactly like the Razzleberry Lemonade one but in blue!

The background paper is Sahara Sand. That is a color I don't use very often at all. I opened the cupboard to get a piece of card stock and saw how much of that I had on hand. I need to use it more, it is a very pretty color.

I stamped the Happy Birthday on using the "Sincere Salutations" set and Pacific Point ink.

Then I tied a white satin ribbon around it and finally taped it in place. It was an easy card to so. A very simple layout too. It is not quick to do because you must wait for the Crystal Effect to dry. I like to let it dry overnight. That way I'm sure it is dry and I can work with the pieces with no worries.

Check yesterday's post for directions on how to make the Mosaic Tile. It's fun and SO cool!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Mosaic Tiles Technique Page

Tah dah! Finally another technique page. It's just been so crazy here this summer with all the yard and house stuff. The shed is up and it looks like it's by PlaySchool! LOL The house is about half painted. Ok, the actually house part is 3/4 painted and all the trim has not been painted. Bottom line is the house is not done being painted yet. We plan to put a big dent in it this weekend. Between every day stuff I had a busy week teaching at the bead shop and some me time to stamp! I can't even look forward to the weekend because it consists of painting outside in the heat. I am not a big fan of summer as it is! Ok, did I whine enough? Are you craving cheese now to go with all that whine? LOL

The technique I am showing here is the "Mosaic Tile" technique. It's a very easy technique to do too. I did have a little square tile all made up to make a card with but as I was working with it I misplaced it so I had to take a photo of the actual technique page so you can see the tiles. On the square I made I had punched out the center of the square so I just had a square frame and around the frame was the tiles. It looked pretty cool to! Sorry I lost it in the mess in my workroom. Would anyone like to come volunteer to clean up my workroom? You get to come back the next day and stamp all you want and use anything in the room!!! Tempting? Isn't it?

Anyway, it's probably meant to be since the tiles were done in Brilliant Blue and that color is now retired. So on the brighter side the card would not have matched with the ink and that is important to me.

You can purchase sets 1, 2 and 3 of the technique pages on CD by clicking here. They are designed for you to print out, cut two sides and layer on a 6" x 6" piece of coordinating card stock. You can use them to hold technique clubs or have technique classes with. The technique shown here will be in the 4th set. A set contains 20 techniques. I still have some technique pages (finished) of set 3. Please email me if you are interested in those.

To do this technique you just stamp your image on card stock. You either cut or punch out the images. Set them in place on your card or on a surface you will be able to easily remove them from should they stick. Pour on some Crystal Effects and allow to dry. Once they dry they look like ceramic tiles. It's SO pretty! The smaller the tiles the prettier they are and the better the effect is. Click on the photo for a closer view.

Thanks SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Flores Suaves Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I REALLY love this "Flores Suaves" set. I was looking though the Spanish version of the Stampin' Up! catalog and ran across this gem that was in their book but not in ours! I just LOVE this rose but it's the butterfly that really caught my eye! I thought it would be a fun set to have so I decided to order it and I'm glad I did.

This set fit well with this weeks Sketch Challenge over at SplitCoastStampers. One of my favorite websites to spend LOTS of time at! There's SO many samples over there. When I get at a loss for what to make I find great inspiration there and sometimes when I just can't get motivated to create on my own I will always find cards that are exactly what I would do so I copy them. Yes, it is ok to copy other people's cards BUT you do need to give them credit and a link back if at all possible! It's only fair.

My card is actually very simple. The rose was colored in using a blender pen, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Pumpkin Pie markers. Same with the butterfly except I added some black to the wing edges.

I didn't care much for cutting out the antenna of the butterfly. I am not so good at that and I usually end up cutting off one or both of them! I didn't cut them off this time but I do think there is too much white showing around the edges. I suppose I could have colored it in with a marker but then it would be too wide or thick looking, so I left it as it was.

The "thank you" is from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. Another one of those sets that is high on my favorites list. I think it has words to cover nearly every occasion!!

The decorative background paper is from the "Soft Subtles" pack. I WANT to get all of the color group packs. These papers are great to have on hand! They sure do make putting a card together a quick task!

It was a fun sketch and if you have time give it a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Pretty "For You" Card!

WOW, I didn't think I would get my post in today. Blogger wasn't letting me sign in. But obviously it's working now.

The card I am sharing with you today is one that I had made at our last Shoe Box Swap. I do not know the name of the set used or the name of the person who designed this card.

As you can see I am honestly not the greatest stamper. When I go to these swaps I become a very "dumb" stamper and get lost and confused very easy. The two images stamped on either side of the scalloped square are not on straight. I like to use a Stamp-a-ma-jig for that but I thought I would give it a try anyway. And they are crooked. But you get the idea of what it should look like had it been straight!!!

I love the colors of this card, the pink and red are so pretty together. It was a fun card to make and the "for you" can be used for several occasions.

Thank you to whoever designed it. Our group needs to start putting names in the boxes so we know who's card we are making. And like I said I don't even know the name of this set. It's not one I have. I did quickly look through the catalog to see if I could find it but I couldn't and I didn't have the time to page through so if you know the name of the set please let me know so I can add it to the post and WHO designed the card??? Credit is due to you!

Thanks SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

It's the Thought Simple Card

My oh my, talk about simple! Oh and not to mention quick!!! What would make this an even simpler and quicker card to make is to use the original wording under the image. Those words were "it's the thought...". It didn't fit with what I wanted to use the card for so I used the "thank you" from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

This image is such a sweet one and I have a feeling I'm going to be using it in my favorite circle layout, if it fits in the circle that is.

As I look at this card I am thinking I should cut off the front of the card and trim the edges and make it into a layer that fits on top of some Pretty in Pink or Daffodil Delight card stock. I like the simple look but I'm such a layers person. This "no layers" card was a BIG challenge for me. I think I'm either going to have to use the card or put it away because the more I look at it the more I want to trim it up and use it as a layer!!

I do like these little flowers in the vase. This could be used on a birthday card as well. And wouldn't it make the sweetest get well card? Hmmm, maybe the layer thing isn't' bugging me as much as I thought it was!!! LOL

Thank you ever SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Apple Blossoms Not So Bloomin'

I saw a card layout like this at "Carolina's Creative Pad" and I thought I would like to duplicate it in some colors that I had the ribbon for. Well, pink it was. Not such a great idea but at least I have the card in my file for future reference! The layout is fun but I didn't care for how soft the pink is. My next step is to purchase some new and brighter ribbons. I really like this layout and want to try it again but in something brighter.

This is one of those cards I latched onto because it's a very versatile one. I can use this layout to make cards, for weddings, birthdays, thinking of you, get well, Mother's Day and even a sympathy card. Oh and of course a "note" card! I don't make too many of those. Actually I don't think I send out "note" cards to anyone. I should do that more often to let those I have not seen or heard from in a while that I'm thinking about them. But then again a "thinking of you"card works for that. But (again another but) I don't send out thinking of you cards much either. WOW, I make all sorts of cards and don't send many out! What's wrong with that picture?

Oh and I really think a Stamp-a-ma-jig woud have been a helpful tool here to get the flowers on straight. So to live with this mistake I just say, "it's a handmade card!" Works for me!!! LOL

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

It's the Thought Bridal Shower Card

I needed a bridal shower card but didn't really have any wedding sets that weren't retired and I wasn't sure how I was going to make "something else" work. I had wanted to get this "It's the Thougth" set because of the cute turtle and crab. Actually I thought I could play with all of them using this card layout. Well, all of them except for the giraffe. He's just too tall for that layout. Maybe I could work him into an oval layout?? I'll have to give that a try and see if I can make it work.

I used the little wedding cake and under the image it reads "happy for you." Just perfect for what I needed. Too bad I didn't get it done earlier in the week so the card wouldn't have been late!!! Late is a familiar thing for me lately!! UGH! Just too much going on in my life right now. I need to get caught up on a few projects so I can have time to compose a thought!! LOL

This beautiful decorative paper is from one of the fun "Patterned Stacks". This one is the Soft Subtles pack. I LOVE all the designs in it and I want to get a package in every color group!!! These pages are 12" x 12" and there are 40 double sided sheets per pack. Plus they are cost effective too purchasing them like this.

I really like making cards using this layout. I get to use the smaller images I have in such a way that they become the focal part of the card and somehow just don't seem so small anymore. Also with this layout the ribbon could be moved higher or lower and layered wording could added. This makes the design a bit more versatile too! I usually make them like you see. It's one of my favorite card layouts!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Because Spotlighting

I don't do the "Spotlighting" technique very much but it is a fun way to highlight a part of a card. Not that this image needed any special focus but this is a great way to put the focus on a part of a card.

This is a card I had done at our last DIVA Day Shoe Box Swap. I do not know which DIVA designed this card so I can not share with you her name. Maybe, just maybe she'll come forward!!!

It's such a pretty card too! I think spotlighting like this gives the card a wonderful and fun look. It's kind of like coloring the flower in but yet a bit different. This circle was a bit challenging to line up for me. I turned it and turned it until I found the right flower petals that matched. Then I quickly taped it so I didn't lose the spot!

And that beautiful "thank you" is from the same set. Gotta love that. A fabulous image and beautiful fonts all in one set!

This was really a very simple card to do too. Other than matching the petals, which really didn't take all that much effort to do, it was a very quick card to make. It doesn't have a whole lot of elements to it but just enough to make it elegant! Simple and elegant too! My favorite! And it's a very versatile set too. This card could be used for a birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, get well and even a Mother's Day card! I especially love that about a stamp set!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Watercolor Trio Sympathy Card

This "Watercolor Trio" set is a great versatile set. And you know how much I love sets that are versatile. You can use this set for quite a number of other events and occasions. This time I made a sympathy card with it. But you can also make wonderful birthday cards, get well cards, thinking of you cards. It would even work for a Mother's Day card.

The technique I used here is called "Direct to Rubber." I colored the rubber stamp with markers. Always start off with the lightest color marker. You want to do this so if your marker touches another color it won't ruin the marker. Darker markers will pick up the lighter color but drawing with it on scrap paper will wipe it off the marker and the marker color will be fine. But doing it the opposite way could cause the marker to absorb too much of the other color and you could end up with a new colored marker. Something you really don't want!

I kept my image small meaning I just stamped the image on a small piece of card stock and layered it. This would even be pretty if you didn't add the layer and just stamp directly on the card stock.

The words are from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. One of my favorite word sets.

This "Watercolor Trio" set is one you can have a lot of fun with. I did not see it in the new catalog. I had made this card last month and forgot about it. I'm SO good at forgetting things!!

Anyway, it's a set I will hang on to for a while because I like it and it's versatile!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card

I know, it's another card using the "Apple Blossoms" set but I just can't help myself. I really like this set and even more since the SplitCoastStampers Sketch Challenge #290 came out this morning.

This is such a wonderful card layout for those smaller stamp images. Not that this flower was one of those solely. This flower also has a stem to it so you can take up a substantial amount of card stock with it. But I did like how the flower fit so nicely into those squares. SO I ran with it and this is what I got.

I did have to resort to some retired decorative paper though. It's to early in the catalog season to have all the decorative papers you need to be set for anything that comes along. I did buy one package of fun decorative paper. It came in a huge pad and in the pastel colors. SO I guess I will be ordering more of that in the richer colors for fall. But on this card the retired stuff worked and if anyone wants to copy the card they can just substitute the retired for some current paper (if they have it - lucky them!).

Oh and on my card I even got to play with the new little "Bitty Buttons". These little clear buttons are the cutest. I actually bought the punches that fit the buttons but I have not had a chance to play with those yet. I just have WAY too much going on right now. I'm getting "stuff" ready for the upcoming fall craft fair and am also working on some wedding invitations for a neighbor and wishing the whole time I was doing them for our son. But no. We are still waiting for him to propose. UGH! He's got to realize my grandmother clock is ticking away here. I have plans for his future children and he's ruining them!! LOL Anyway, he will propose in his own time, they will get married and eventually have children. In the meantime I just have to wait it out and whine about it here! LOL

SO back to my card. The colors I used in my card are Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight. And of course a black background as usual on my Wednesday cards! I just like the look of it. Actually it all started out with the sketch design. I thought it was all suppose to be layered in black but it was just the computer lines showing the different color layers. DUH! But after I made the card I liked what I saw and I continue to do it. It can really make some of the colors just pop off the card. So I continue to do my weekly challenge cards that way.

If you have some time today or even later in the week I highly recommend you play with this sketch. These are so fun. And you don't have to post it at SplitCoastStamers. You can just do it for yourself. Though posting it there is SO much fun. I just love seeing what everyone else does with the layout. It's just amazing how everyone has the same layout and the end results are always so different than yours and SO wonderful!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Apple Blossoms Card

Yup, another card. I have a few projects in the works but they are sitting in a box until I get done working on the wedding invitations for a neighbor. They are taking up much of my free time lately and I'm hoping to be done with them by the end of the week!

So, here is another card I made using the "Apple Blossoms" set. Once again I wasn't sure where I was going with this card when I started it out. I had first stamped the three long leaf things, each in the colors they are in, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight. I liked the colors I picked. Together they were pleasing to the eye. But now what to do with them? I had cut the white strips I stamped them on way too long so they fit on the card but without the colored layer. Well, I HAD to have color! SO I trimmed them up and it gave me room for the layers.

I originally wanted the card orientated the shorter way, with the fold on the top. But that wouldn't work unless I cut the image off at the bottoms. I wanted the whole image so I turned the card and tried to figure out where I was going to set my panels. First I was going to make them all even across the top. That would leave me room for a ribbon or wording on the bottom. But I didn't like the looks of it so I set the Pumpkin Pie one in the middle and played with the other two until I got what you see here. If I hadn't played aroudn with the layout so much this card would have been one of those you could whip together in less than 20 minutes.

I used Pumpkin Pie card stock for the base of the card and added a layer of Whisper White that I dry embossed with the fun embossing folders! I just love using them.

This card can be used for a lot of occasions. I will probably use it for a thank you card. It seems lately that I am in need of them.

I like the colors and I like the image too!

Thank you SO much for visitng today,
Wanda

Three Little Words Card

I have this set and have yet to use it. I have made two cards from it and both were from Shoe Box Swaps. I like the set and I know I should get it out, put it together and play with it before I even begin to think about buying anymore new sets! Why do I do that? Is it "the grass is greener" syndrome? Is it a syndrome??? Is there a cure? Do I want a cure? LOL

Ok, onto this card. I don't know who in our DIVA group designed it for the swap so I'm sorry I can't give you credit. But if you read my blog leave a comment saying it's yours!

As I'm looking at my card I realized I didn't put three little words on the inside! I guess I will have to put my set together if I ever decide to use this card!!

It was a very quick and simple card to put together too! I love the brushed silver card stock on the card. It gave it a very elegant look. It was a very fun card to make at the swap.

I guess it depends on what words you put on the inside to know what occasion it can be used for! But it has lots of possibilities!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Apple Blossoms Card

I have seen SO many cards made with the new "Apple Blossoms" set. SO I thought I would make a card or two with the set too!

I had no idea where I was going with this card when I started so I just decided to stamp the larger flower image all over the card front. I used Whisper White Craft ink. I heat set it to dry it faster.

I also got to play with the new Basic Pearls Jewels. I LOVE it that they come in three sizes and those three sizes are in one package! I used 11 of the medium size ones on this card. You get 150 of them so you can have LOTS of fun!

The butterfly is from the "Flores suaves" set. I took one look at that butterfly and knew I had to have this set. It's such a pretty butterfly ad I really like all the detail in it. I can't wait to play with the other pieces in that set. And of course, I will share them with you! Regardless of how they turn out! Lucky you!!! LOL

The "thank you" on the card is from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. A set I am finding myself using quite often lately.

This card went together quickly and was very easy to make. I did enjoy making it, including putting on those pearls one at a time! But the pearls really need to be on the card, it just dressed it up a lot!

This card can be used for other occasions too, like birthdays, thinking of you, Mother's Day, get well and even a sympathy card.

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Aviary Set Caged Animals!

As I was playing around with the "Aviary" set yesterday I thought it would be fun to put the kitty in the cage and allow the bird to be free! An interesting little "turn of events!" LOL

I just love this little kitty and I'm sure you'll see it a couple more times on my blog!

The "Hello" came from the "Hello Again" set. Another set I have not used much but still like. I should make a card with it before I put it away, then I won't feel so bad about not using it much! Right?

The little bird on top of the cage was stamped using the new Cajun Craze color. Nothing like a bird tormenting a cute little kitty!!

I just thought it was a fun card to make. I just LOVE those bird cages in the set. Can't wait to play with them again. I want to see if I can make a fun birthday card using it and a thank you card too!

This card was very easy to make and put together too! Click on the image for a closer view!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Aviary Set the Caged Owl

When the new Stampin' Up! catalog came and I paged through it about 400 times a few sets just kept popping off the pages and this "Aviary" set was one of them. I just think it's the cutest set!! I even thought I could use this set next spring for graduation cards. That little owl is perfect for that! And you know how much I LOVE versatile stamp sets!!! This set can also be used for birthdays, thinking of you, thank yous, anniversary and other occasion you can work in!

Now the kitty in this set is from the new "Every Little Bit" set. That set covers a lot of holidays and just fun stuff too! Fun like this kitty! I LOVE kitties and honestly that is not why I purchased this set. There's 28 images in this set and all of them look like they would be a lot of fun! It just happened that I started with the kitty. This is one of those sets that I will have to challenge myself to use every image in it. And after glancing over all the images I think I am up for that challenge!

I colored in the kitty with a blender pen and Soft Suede. The owl was stamped using Soft Suede. The bird cage was stamped using black StazOn.

Oh and lets not forget that cute scalloped edge. That was made with the new "Dotted Scalloped Ribbon Border" punch. I slipped it behind the layers. This punch is SO cute and makes such an adorable petite and sweet scallop!

This was just a fun card I threw together for Sharon last night. I am going to play with this set again tomorrow. I LOVE the bird cages!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Funky Four Fungi Masculine Birthday Card

This is one of those sets from the new catalog that I just couldn't pass up. And yes, it can be a very versatile set! I made this set work for a masculine birthday card! Something that is a bit rare but I did it.

Now I did do the wording on my computer and printed them onto Whisper White card stock. I punched them out with the Word Window punch. I layered them on top of a tag from the "Lots of Tags" Sizzlets set. I had never used this tag before and I really do like the looks of it. Perfect for a masculine card.

My colors here are Riding Hood Red, Sahara Sand, Whisper White and some Always Artichoke decorative paper. I even got to play with the new "Ribbon" punch. It's SO cool and it does look like ribbon. And it was nice to put "ribbon" on a masculine card and not frill it up!

I just thought it was a cute set and I wanted to make it work for a masculine card. Mission accomplished!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card

I was SO thrilled that I was able to have some time this Wednesday to play with the new Sketch Challenge from Split Coast Stampers. I SO look forward to these. Anxiously awaiting the email saying the sketch is in at SplitCoast. Then hopping on over there to see it and oooh and aaaah at it. Then try to find an image I want to play with that will fit in the focal point of the card. In this case the #4 spot.

As I was paging through the catalog to see what sets I had that would fit in that space I came across several but settled for the "Pocket Silhouettes" set. I chose that one because I have not used it very much. I need to start using what I have a lot more. But I get stuck on a stamp (like the hydrangea from the "Just Because" set and the next thing you know you're making cards with it for days. I guess it's a good way to use the set. And I do have more ideas for that beautiful hydrangea!

My card went together rather quickly. I used one of the Builder Wheels, the "Posy Party." I have not used those wheels much at all either. That went in the #3 spot. The #2 spot is a piece of Always Artichoke decorative paper. The background, the #1 spot is a piece of white card stock that had been dry embossed using the Dotted Swiss folder (one of my favorite folders - for now).

I tied a piece of 1/4" black grosgrain ribbon around the #4 panel and it filled up the empty space as planned. I was hoping the words wouldn't be too big or two long for that bottom space. And they weren't. They were just perfect for that space. Adding the ribbon filled up the empty space between the image and the words. I was thrilled that what I had in my mind actually turned out the way I wanted it on paper! That's a first in a long time!

For a finishing touch I sponged all the edges of the white card stock. It was just what the card needed!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Gems & Jewels

Ok, it's not real gems or real jewels. It's seed beads and Czech fire-polished beads, which at times could be called gems! You use enough of them in a project and it's going to cost you a bit of change!! And speaking of change that is what this post is tonight. A change from the stamping posts. It's tough when you are torn between stamping and beading. I LOVE doing both.

I LOVE making bracelets. This is a Serpentine bracelet. Named that because of the waves in it. I had made one a while back, you can see it here. I think they're fun to make and it's amazing how different they look in different colored beads. The first one I made I used silver seed beads and black AB (aurora borealis) fire-polished beads. On this one I used gold lined seed beads and garnet fire-polished beads. I'm partial to garnet since it is my birthstone. It's such a beautiful deep red. Sometimes the beads and stones are so deep that they almost look black. You will have to click on the photo to see the beads up close. They are SO pretty! I do take special orders for these. If you're interested please email me!

Tomorrow is the Wednesday Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers so I will be back to stamping then. I just needed to take a day off from stamping and play with beads. Just a little time to regroup and have some other kind of fun.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Watercolor Trio Quick Card

I am SO into these quick cards lately. I'm not purposely making them. I just think of a layout and suddenly it all just goes together so quickly.

I wanted to do a black on white card but decided not to. I wanted a little more color than just black but I wanted to be able to do the white ink on my card. SO the new Concord Crush color worked perfectly for this.

When using Craft white ink you want to stamp your image first and set it aside to dry. Craft ink takes longer to dry. So after I stamped the images I set the piece aside to dry. And when it's sitting there I was looking at it thinking of what to put in the upper left corner. It had to be something simple and the way the card was going, it had to be something quick too! Well, you can't go wrong with punches!!

The words were done using the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. It's such a fun set. The words work really well with the "Word Window" punch but some of them work well with the oval punches too! And this one happened to have worked out!

I stamped the words in the Concord Crush ink so it matched the card stock. I could have done them in black too but this ink was dark enough to work!

That's pretty much all there is to this card. And this set has words with it too so you don't need more than one set to make a card. Though I'm not sure if the words would fit in the oval or not. This is a very versatile set too. You can use these images for other cards as well. Like thinking of you, thank you, sympathy, Mother's Day and get well. Plus other things you can think of that would work with these flowers. It's such a pretty set.

You can ship up a bunch of these cards in no time!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Because Card Holder

I'm a bit late in posting tonight. It was such a busy weekend. I'm trying to get things done with a sore leg from a fall I took on the 3rd. It's healing but it's SO massive that it's going to take a while. Anyway, I thought I would play with the "Just Because" set again. I am SO loving that hydrangea stamp. I thought I would make a set of cards with it since the image fits so may occasions.

In the set I usually make a birthday card, a thinking of you card, a get well card and a sympathy card. All four of those fit with this image.

You can get the pattern here for the card holder. There are no photos in the store right now. The computer was upgraded and something happened. I've contacted the web master and the problem should be fixed soon. I hope! The item is called "Greeting Card Holder Instrucion Sheets with Patterns."


These card holders are very easy to make. Once you follow the directions for the first one the rest can be done SO quickly. I LOVE making these for gifts. I'm in the process of making a bunch of them for the up coming fall craft fair.


I have a ton of decorative papers and I plan on using up a lot of it on these!


I'm hoping that I can get the three photos on here with out enough words for them to be inside of. I've never had more photos than words. I guess I didn't ramble on in this post! There's a first time for everything!!! LOL



Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Awash With Flowers Notebook Weekend Project

Here's a fun weekend project that does not take the whole weekend to complete! I LOVE altering items though this notebook I didn't alter. I made this notebook so there was nothing to alter. I just cut and punched some copier paper, added card stock to the front and back and decorated it.

Since the copier paper is cut in quarters it is the same size as a card. SO any card you like can be made into a notebook! How cool is that? I LOVE making these and giving them as gifts. Everyone can use a notebook. I keep one in my car too. They are fun to decorate.

Wow, this is a short post! I'm off to play with some beads. When I'm done with my bracelet I will show you it. I like it so much because I think beading is a lot of fun and very relaxing!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sweet Scoops Birthday Card

Well, you can hardly have a "Sweet Treats" milk carton (with an adorable eraser) without making a birthday card to go with it. When I finished the milk carton yesterday I kept thinking that I should make a card to go with it. And today I took a few minutes and played with that stamp set. It's such a cute set. I wanted to keep the card simple so I just stamped the cone once instead of a multiple of times like I did with the milk carton box.

The card went together rather quickly. I even got to use the new "Vintage Wallpaper" embossing folder on the background. It was a toss up between that one and the "Dotted Swiss" and since this one was new and already sitting out I thought I'd play with it. I'm glad I did, I like the look of it on the background of my card.

I accented with Pretty in Pink card stock, ribbon and ink. For the sprinkles on the ice cream I used the Cherry Cobbler ink pad. It was a bit dark but it is still cute on it.

The words are from my favorite "Sincere Salutations" set I bought MANY years ago. I find this set comes in handy a lot! Plus I LOVE the fonts on it. It's one of those word stamps you look at and know it says "greeting card". And I think it's because of the font. Doesn't really matter, I just like the looks of the stamps in the set and use them a lot!

So this card will go with the milk carton as a set! Just TOO cute!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Milk Carton Gift Box Weekend Project

I thought it was time for another weekend project. It's been a while since I've posted one. I was playing with the Sizzix Milk Carton die. It's my most favorite die of all!!! I LOVE using it and creating with it.

Today I created a mini milk carton. Imagine that, a mini milk carton from a milk carton die!!! I was also playing with the "Sweet Scoops" stamp set. I stamped the ice cream cone image all over a half sheet of card stock. Then I ran the card stock through the Sizzix Big Kick with the Milk Carton die and got my milk carton cut out. It's all scored for you too! Before I assembled the box I cut out a window and added a piece of acetate to cover the window. I glued the bottom flaps and side together.

I also made a little stand for the inside of the box. I measured the bottom flaps of the box and added 1/8" on all sides. I scored those sides at the 1/8" mark. I then folded the score lines. In each corner is a tiny little scored square. I cut those away and folded the flaps down. I inserted the stand inside the box and placed my adorable little ice cream cone eraser inside. Isn't it just adorable? When I saw it in the store I HAD to buy it. This "Sweet Scoops" set immediately came to mind. You will need to click on the photo to get a closer view of that eraser. It's just TOO darn cute!!!

I was glad I got to play with it before the set retires. A lot of times I get these ideas and buy the stuff and by the time I get around to making something with it the set has retired. Though I suppose I could still make up my item, not everyone lets go of their retired sets. Plus I can always sell what I make with it so I guess I should just start digging out some of that "stuff" I've bought and tucked away.

I added a piece of Pretty in Pink ribbon to the top of the milk carton and it just finished it off nicely. Personally I think it turned out cute and I may have to pick up another eraser when I'm out and about shopping!! I LOVE making these milk cartons and I especially LOVE making them as bath salt gifts. They hold a little baggie of bath salts perfectly and they really do make a WONDERFUL gift. I'm going to be making some for the upcoming fall craft fair. I keep saying that about a lot of things and I have nothing made. I guess I'd better get cracking on it, fall will be here before I know it! It always seems like after the 4th of July the summer just flies by. So on that note I will close here so I can hit publish and you can see my creation! And I will get out some card stock and start cutting out the milk cartons. I think that part would probably take the longest in making these bath salt boxes. And I have to remember to stamp the copyright logo on the bottom flap before I assemble the box. It's SO much more difficult to do it when the box is assembled!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card

I have SO much fun with punches and I really like this 2 Step Bird Punch. I wasn't sure where I was going with this card. All I knew is that I wanted to play with the Pussy Willows from the Summertime Splendor download. I was SO excited when I saw that in the downloads and I had to buy it right away. I played with one of the other images but have not had time to play with anymore until today. I originally printed it out on #30 white copier paper. It's very important to print these out on nice paper to get the best effect of the colors as you can. Regular #20 copier paper will work but it absorbs the ink more and the colors are not as vibrant and true to the original image.

Anyway, after I printed the image on white I didn't like how bright it was against teh Newsprint decorative paper so I printed it out on Very Vanilla card stock. I sponged all the edges in Early Espresso. On the #1 layer I used the Smooch Spray after I ran the Crumb Cake ink pad across the decorative paper. Then I sponged the edges. The "hello" is from the "Hello Again" set. It's the only stamping on the whole card, the rest is punches and layers. And don't forget the Embossing Folder on the small green #2-a piece. I also sponged that and then I dragged the sponge lightly over the top so the raised parts took the ink. It gave it a nice dirty look.

I wasn't all that thrilled with my spritsing technique. I got a bit too much on the "hello" circle. I'm still up in the air about adding an eye to the bird. What do you think? Does it need one or is it ok as it is? I think it's buggig me that the bird doens't have an eye!! LOL

The card turned out ok but grungy stamping is really not my thing. I do like the layout and hope I can use it again sometime. I can't believe that this is sketch # 288. I started playing back at # 126 and I think I've only missed a couple of weeks in there. I have never gone back and done 1 thru 125 and maybe one of these days I will. I did print them all out and put them in the album. And when I'm finished with this post I'll be putting this one in the album too. It's SO great to have them all in one album. Anytime I have an image I'm not sure what to do with I just take it over to the album and flip pages until I find one that the image fits on and I run with it. Such a time saver!

So, if you have some time, play with this layout and see what you can come up with. You can also head on over to SplitCoastStampers and see what everyone else has done with this layout. I love the different takes on it. I flipped mine a quarter turn. I wanted to use that bird and had I kept it the other way the bird's tail would have had to have been cut off and I didn't want that at all.

Thank you for visiting today,

Wanda

Elements of Style Anniversary Card

I really like this "Elements of Style" stamp set. I thought I would play with some embossing powder with it. I originally was going to emboss it in black and do some coloring but I'll save that for another day.

This time I played with black card stock and silver embossing powder. The base of this card is Brushed Silver and so is the scalloped layer.

I stamped the image with VersaMark and then embossed it with the silver powder. I heat set it and taped it in place on the silver card stock. I used glue dots to set it in place. I find that the tape doesn't stick as well, it needs something a bit stickier. The Sticky Strip would work too but the glue dots were already sitting out! I also used them on the silver scallop piece. This card is not coming apart!!

The words were done on the computer and punched out. This is a great card if you need to make something quick that doesn't look like it was whipped together in no time at all!

I think it would be fun to try out the bleaching technique on the flowers and then color in some of them with vibrant colors. I'll have to give that a try sometime. Or you give it a try and show me your finished item!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Because I Care Hydrangea Quick Card

I actually put my "Because I Care" set together. Ok, only the images I used here but it's almost all together!!! I just love this hydrangea. I was amazed at how quick it was to make this card. Including the sponging and the Dotted Swiss embossed background.

To ink up this flower I just took my Bashful Blue ink pad and got as close to the stem as I could. I did get a little ink on the stem and on part of the leaf. I just took my blender pen and wiped it off. Then I took the Wild Wasabi ink pad and inked up the stem. I got very close to the flower but didn't touch it. I then huffed on the image and stamped it. Simple as that. I'm not a big fan of coloring directly on the rubber with markers. Especially on images such as this. The texture of the image wears on my marker. NOT fun! I don't like replacing markers before their time!

This is a very versatile stamp set too. It would work well for birthdays, thinking of you, sympathy and friendship cards. I'm going to have to make some more of these cards, they just went together SO quickly!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Because I Care Hydrangea Card

I just love this new Hydrangea stamp. I have seen several cards that are absolutely stunning. I am really not sure who made this card. Was it Amy or Sue A??? We made this last week at the DIVA Day event. I especially LOVE the embossing on it. Click on the photo for a closer view, it's just beautiful! This card is SO much prettier in person.

There are a lot of fun elements to this card. The Old Olive card stock was punched with the "Eyelet Border" punch. The blue piece was punched with the "Scallop Trim" border punch.

If you look real close you can see 3 of the new tiny pearls at the bottom. Aren't they sweet? Oh and those little pearls can be found in the center of the flowers too. I can't wait to order me some of those!!!

This is such a pretty card and I thought it was very fun to make! Thanks Amy or Sue for such a fabulous card!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Motorcycle Birthday Card

I am SO loving this motorcycle stamp. I made this card for my nephew. I don't know if he liked motorcycles but the card screams "masculine!" It's so difficult to find images to make nice masculine cards with. SO I'm running with this card! I think he's going to like it too!

I used Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla and Night of Navy card stock. I also used new "Newsprint" Designer Paper on the second panel/layer. I sponged the edges with Always Artichoke.

On the motorcycle I colored in a few parts using Night of Navy and a blender pen. I also used the Color Spritzer Tool to make the Night of Navy splatter marks on the front of the card. It only takes a few poofs on it and your card is splattered. If you have never used one you should practice on scrap paper first to get the feel of it. Keep a nice distance from your work too helps. And how hard and quick you squeeze the bulb gives you different effects. That is why you should play with it first. It's a lot of fun once you know what you are doing!

The "happy birthday" is from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. I LOVE that set because every word/phrase in it fits in the Word Window Punch. And what you punch out fits on top of the "Modern Label" punch. It gives a fancy look to the card.

I am happy with the way the card turned out but mostly I like the way it opens. It's SO different. I don't often find cards that I really like the unusual way they open but this one is GREAT!!

The measurements for this card are as follows:

The base of the card, the Night of Navy is cut 4-1/4" x 9" and scored at 3-1/2". The Always Artichoke piece is cut 9-3/4" x 3-1/2" and scored at 4-1/4". And you decorate as desired. Refer to the photo for taping. The long pieces get taped together and the smaller pieces get folded in the front, one over the other. It's not as bad as it sounds, really!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Card Holder Weekend Project

I LOVE making these Magnetic Tri-fold Card Holders. They are very simple to put together too. I like how they stay shut with the magnet plus the sides are closed so the cards don't slide out at all. One side holds the cards and the other holds the envelopes. These make great gifts. They also are a fun item to sell at Craft Fairs too. They even make a nice Stamp Camp project.

The pattern for the card holder can be found here.

I have posted a couple of these. You can see one here. And here, this one is my favorite so far! I think it's because of the decorative paper I had used, it was one of my favorites.

The card holder pictured here is one I made for a sweet friend of mine. She had left me with some of her pretty decorative paper so I decided to play with it and turn it into a gift for her. I felt bad though because this one got ink on it from an ink pad that had some strings hanging out of it. A lesson was learned here too. Always pull off those strings that hang out of your stamp pad once it is closed up. SO I made her a new one. You can see that one here. That one I liked a lot too. And each card in it was for a different occasion.

I am hoping to have a weekend where I can sit and make a bunch of these for the craft fair that is coming up in November. I'm SO far behind on everything. UGH! And I wonder if I ever will get caught up! I have a million projects all going on at the same time and all take a lot of time to complete. Plus we have some not so fun home projects this summer too. We are waiting on our shed to be delivered. It is a week late as of yesterday. Some issues with not being able to get the hardware for it. SO we wait. And in the meantime we are getting the house ready to be painted. I can do a lot of it as long as it doesn't involve going too high on the ladder. I can usually handle the back of the garage and the back of the house up to the top of the living room windows. Our deck goes across the whole back of the house so I don't need a ladder to paint up there. I like to do window and door trim so I will start there in a week or so and hopefully get the house all done within a few weekends. Siding would be nice but it's not in our budget so we make do with what we have. SO some projects are huge and others are not but there are a LOT of them!!! I have some in the works that I will be posting on here soon too! Lucky you!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Scallop Envelope Bags Weekend Project

I have not posted a Weekend Project in a while. It's about time for one, huh? A long, long time ago our DIVA Day event was held at Cyndi's. She had the most adorable bags made from the Sizzix "Scallop Envelope" die. I'd always wanted to make those little bags but never had the time. SO today I took the time to play. I SO love using the dies. Dies of any kind really. It's amazing to be able to run a piece of paper through this machine and out comes a shape all cut out for you! How cool is that?

These little bags are very easy to make too. You do need to cut off the bottom part of the envelope to get it to be proportioned right. The side flaps measure 1/2" so the bottom flap will need to be cut to 1/2" as well.

So let's begin. You will need two envelopes. You can use card stock or decorative paper. Cut them one at a time or they machine will end up cutting your paper on the score lines and you really don't want that.

After the pieces are cut with the die you can cut off those ends as described a few paragraphs above.

Next you will want to punch your hole for the handle. Do them one at a time, though with decorative paper you could probably cut them both at the same time. I just do them one at a time and I know everything will be punched right.

Now you can tape those new bottom flaps together. Next tape the side flaps. Use your bone folder on the inside to press the sides together. Tie your ribbon on and decorate as desired. Pay special attention to what part of the box is the front and which is the back. On the front the flaps will be going towards the back. It has a nice clean look to it when you use that as your front.

Fill them with whatever your heart desires.

These little bags are great for Customer Appreciation gifts, Hostess Appreciation gifts, Make n Takes, Craft Fairs and even fun Stamp Camp gifts!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda