Bright Blossoms Beauty!

As simple as this card is, so is it beautiful.  It's such a sweet looking card.  I saw it on one of Terri's display boards and I had to take a photo of it because I wanted to make it.  As I was looking in my phone for the photo I saw that I had taken a photo of this card at the last event!  Hmmm, that must have meant that I really liked it (and still like it). In fact I liked it SO much that I just had to make one.  

My red polka dot background paper is a little different.  The one on the display had smaller dots.  Mine is from the new polka dot decorative papers.  And my ribbon is different.  I'm going to have to make a note to myself to order some current ribbons.  Though I don't think it matters to those who copy cards. We tend to use what we have on hand or what is current.  So you just substitute!  Whatever works, right?

This was a very fun card to make.  I used markers to color in the image, then I embossed it with the oval embossing folder.  I have not used those two little folders much and I need to start.  I need to start using a lot of my stuff more!!!

You can't see it in this photo but the front panel was set in place using Dimensionals.  I like how the original artist of this card used the pretty red button for a flower.  I LOVE those little buttons.  Once again, it's an item in my workroom that I need to start using more of. I have more retired buttons, brads, eyelets, etc. than I care to mention.  I use to use them sparingly and when you do that you end up with retired products, LOTS of them!  Use the stuff you have, don't hoard it!  LOL

This was a very fun card and not to mention simple and quick too.  It can be used for SO many occasions too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Cards using Punches

My sister and I went to Terri's VERY fun Stamp-a-Stack last night.  We had a wonderful time.  It's always fun spending time with her plus spending time with her stamping.  She is SO hooked on these Stamp-a-Stacks!  And when you see all the fabulous cards we made you'd be hooked too! 

This was one of the designs we did last night.  Such a cute little animal, isn't it?  These would be great for welcoming the baby into the world, a first birthday or even a second one too!  A child's get well card would work here too!  It was just TOO stinkin' cute!  

Terri sure puts a lot of time and effort into designing the fun cards for the Stamp-a-Stack and it sure shows.  

I will be showing you the other cards we made in the days to come.  I have some other things in the works to show you in between so just stay tuned so you don't miss anything!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bright Blossoms Thank You Card

I have only just begun to play with this Bright Blossoms set.  When I saw it at a Stamp a Stack earlier this spring I knew it was going to be a set I was going to order right when the catalog came out!  So at my next stamping open house I did indeed order it.  I have no regrets either!  It's a fun set and I have seen LOTS of great cards made using it.  In fact this is one I saw that I new I had to copy!  I saw it at Julie's Kewel Stamps-n-more blog.  It was such a bright and cheery card and it gave me a happy feeling inside just looking at it.  I'm sure it was because of the colors and calmness of the card.  It wasn't busy with tons of bright colors, it had just the right amount to be tastefully done and very attractive to the eye.

Her card used some green Baker's Twine where I have the 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.  You sometimes just have to use what you have on hand!  And her background had the new Fancy Fan embossing folder.  I am going to a Stamp-a-Stack tonight and I of course will be placing an order. I will be adding that folder to my order for sure!  It's very pretty.  But the dotted background did work well too. It's still got that simple and clean look to it.  I SO love embossing folders. They add a lot to the background of a card.  

This was a very fun card to make and it really didn't take all that long to do either.  I could see myself making these for a swap.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Happy You Thank You Card

Ok, I had promised myself that I would not get a stamp set just because I liked one image in the set.  I broke that promise.  But I did tell myself that I was going to try to use every image in this set to make up for it!!  Do you think that's a fair trade?  LOL

First of all I have always LOVED this card layout.  It allows you to use the smaller images as a focal point of the card.  How sweet is that?  I taped off the word "friend" under the boot and I stamped the image on Whisper White card stock using black StazOn ink.

I colored in the image using markers.  It was fun to actually sit down and just color for a change.  It went pretty quick too!

The words are from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set and I punched them out using the Word Window punch.

The little red dots on either side of the words are just that, punched out dots of Real Red card stock.

The decorative paper is from the new Polka Dot collection.  I like both sides of the paper so it was difficult to pick.  But once I got to looking at the polka dots on the boot I thought these larger circles would blend better.  This is always such a fun card to make and this boot is just TOO darn cute!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

For the Birds

Don't  you just LOVE playing with new stuff?  I was at a Stampin' Up! Open House on the 16th and of course I had to order!! I just can't help myself!  There's TOO many new and fun things in the catalog that are on my "gotta have" list!  This set looked like it would be a lot of fun.  It covers quite a few events so it is a versatile set to have.  I bought the clear mount set.  I've been buying them lately, mostly because of the cost.  If you don't have the clear blocks you can always use the back of a wooden stamp that is already mounted.  As long as it's got a finish on it the stamp will stay on.  I don't mind the clear mount sets.  They also take up less room.  

Ok, lets talk about this fun card.  I used the new Summer Starfruit card stock.  At first glance I didn't really like the color but once I set it next to the Comfort Cafe decorative paper I began to like it even more.  I was going to use the Midnight Muse card stock for the base of my card but switched to Pool Party so it had a brighter and cheerier look.  The Midnight Muse was just too dark for my taste on this card.

I stamped my image using Black StazOn.  I colored in the image using the new in-color markers!  I told you I ordered some "new stuff!"  I set that stamped image piece in place using Dimensionals. I did mask off the words on the image.  It read: "with you... is my favorite place to be".  I didn't want those words on my card and as I was working on the card I decided I didn't want any words on it at all. I think it could use a ribbon and I may add one later if I didn't put Dimensionals in the center of the image piece. Knowing me I did!!!  But other than that I like the card.  I LOVE the stamp set and the decorative papers are fun.

I am going to a Stamp-a-Stack on Thursday evening and I'm sure there will be more shopping to do!!!  YIKES!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Best of Everything Notebook Weekend Project

Well, these were extremely fun to make!  They are altered notebooks.  They open like a matchbook.  Click here to see another one I made a while back.  There is a photo there of one open.  

I just printed out my background paper from the Floral District download.  I'm hoping I got the size of the paper right.  I should order a package of the paper and compare it.  That way I will know in the future if what I'm doing in the program I'm using is correct!  I wish the paper would load up on the My Digital Studio to the exact size.  But it doesn't so it has to be played with until it's close.  Dragging it across the screen and trying to keep it even on both edges is difficult to do.  

Anyway, I like the paper here and I thought it would be SO pretty on these matchbook notebooks.  Click on the photo for a closer view.

I had used some retired 1/4" grosgrain ribbon because I didn't have any current ribbon.  I have a ton of ribbon to use up and I'm sure you demonstrators will just find something that is current to substitute with if you are planning on making something like these. 

I got my notebooks at The Dollar Tree.  They have lots of fun notebooks and booklets to alter.  I try to stay away from that section of the store when I go in there.  

The set I used here is "Best of Everything."  I have had a lot of fun with this set and would like to use every image in it before it retires!

I am going to wrap these up in clear cellophane wrap, price them and box them up for the fall craft fair.  If you plan on selling the things you make using Stampin' Up! products be sure to use the copyright stamp on the back of your work.  It's their policy.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Rolling Marbles Card Technique Page

This is one of the techniques that Terri taught a few months back. As I have said, I've been cleaning up things and sorting through papers and I ran across this card. Terri had given me the card and the technique page and of course I set it aside in a pile of papers and then moved the papers to an even larger, ever-growing pile.  Well, until this weekend that is.  I'm going through it all and putting things where they belong.  Now the trick is to keep doing that and NOT piling stuff!  Wish me luck on that one.  I just don't understand why I don't deal with it right away!  If you can figure that one out for me I'd be eternally grateful! 

Ok, onto this beautiful card that Terri made.  She used Whisper White and Pool Party for the card stock colors.  Pool Party has become one of my favorite colors to use lately and I'm actually in need of another pack of it!

The technique here is called "Rolling Marbles". I did that technique a few years back and you can find those directions by clicking on the "Rolling Marbles" words.  I just linked them both so there would be no confusion.

It's an easy technique to do and watching the marbles roll around is fun!  Wash them off, pick new colors and begin again.  You can make lots of different and unique cards using this technique.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Blooming with Kindness Book Weekend Project

You know me and notebooks.  I just LOVE them. I love to buy them, make them and alter them!  What better way to alter a notebook than to do it with decorative papers and stamps?

Here I actually altered the notebook, though I have made notebooks like this in the past.  It is easy enough to do too.  You sort of follow the directions I did for the Post-it holder.  When you cut your cardboard for the front and back you will need to make a 3/4" strip and add the toothpick between the cardboards before you tape or glue the decorative paper in place.  You need to decide what size you want the inside papers to be and go from there.  Make sure you cut the cardboard 1/4" longer and 1/4" wider on the front and back.  This is the left side strip where the notebook will fold open.  Without it your notebook will open funny and the fold will probably be crooked.  

I glued the decorative paper in place using a glue stick.  I bent the fold right away before the glue set 100%.  I wrapped and glued the paper around the back side of the cardboard.  I trimmed the corners before folding them in.  

You will need to punch your holes in the front, back and on the pages for the inside so they all line up together.  I tied my pages to the covers using white Baker's Twine.  I also glued the front and back page of my papers to the inside cover.  It made it look more like a book doing that.

Then I decorated the front using the Blooming with Kindness stamp set.  The "notes" came from a personal stamp I had made for me a number of years ago.  I sure do get a LOT of use out of that stamp!  Probably because I make a LOT of notebooks!  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spotlighting Just Believe

This is a card from Terri's Technique Tuesday class.  It was a few months back that the Spotlighting Technique was done.  I had misplaced the card.  If you saw the mess in my workroom you would know how easy it is to misplace anything!  But this weekend I am working on getting it better organized and picked up.  I have been working on the den and have been filtering a lot of things through my workroom.  Now I have piles of papers and card stock to sort through and put away. SO in reality, I now have 2 messy rooms!!!  Why do you have to make a mess to clean one up?  LOL

Ok, lets talk about how to do spotlighting.  This one was done using just two colors.  Using two colors gives the card a very elegant look.  The flowers could have been colored in with markers. It's all in the look you are seeking.  

So the first thing you do is stamp the image in one color.  Then you stamp it in another color. You pick the area you want to highlight and you punch it out of the darker color.  Layer it on a coordinating color and set it in place where the image lines up on the first color.  It's very easy to do and creates a nice effect, doesn't it?  

Terri also shared a fun ribbon attaching trick.  I usually add my ribbon with either a Glue Dot or a Dimensional in the middle of the bow.  Terri showed us how she did it.  She put a Dimensional on each loop of the bow.  It lame the bow lay nicer and it didn't look wobbly!  I LOVED that idea!  Terri comes up with some of the most creative and extremely useful ideas!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Covered Post-it Note Holder Weekend Project

 Today I have for you a fun and pretty easy Weekend Project.  It just takes a little time to do but not a whole lot.  It's SO worth it.  And lucky you, I am going to give you the directions on how to make this.  The original one I have from MANY years ago was made using wallpaper.  What a great way to use up those left over piece of wallpaper.  Does anyone wallpaper anymore?  I still have some rooms with paper on the walls that I need to take off.  But that all takes time and I'd rather stamp and craft than take down wallpaper.  LOL

Ok, I know you want me to tell you how you can make one of these!

First you will need a pack of Post-it notes or sticky notes.  You will need some cardboard commonly known as box board.  It's the kind that cereal boxes or tissue boxes are made of.  That kind.  If you don't have any that thick you can glue 3 to 4 pieces of card stock together and let them dry overnight under something heavy.

You will need to cut that cardboard 3-1/4" x 3-1/4".  Cut two of them that size.  Then you need to cut a strip 3-1/4" x 3/8".

Cut a piece of decorative paper to measure 8-1/2" x 4-1/2".  Lay your cardboard pieces on it as shown in the second photo.  To keep the spaces even between the tiny strip and larger pieces I used a toothpick.  

Looking at the photo you can see where I cut the pieces on the sides. I cut it even with the cardboard.  And that top strip with the green showing, I cut off that folded little square on each end.  Then I cut the side edge at an angle but not too big of an angle, I didn't want any of the cardboard to show.  After cutting the angels, I glued that top strip in place.  I used a glue stick for my gluing here.  

I removed the tooth picks and added a strip of decorative paper measuring 6-1/2" x 2-3/4" and I glued it over the exposed card board.  It's wide enough to cover the decorative paper too.  It gives the inside a nice finished look.  There is a trick to adding this piece.  I laid it on the whole piece and folded one side and then carefully pulled the paper back to get any air bubbles out of it and then guided the paper on as I worked my way to the end.  

I took a piece of cardboard and cut it 3" x 3" (the same size as the sticky notes) and I glued it to the back of the notes.  Then I glued that in place onto the holder.  And then you can decorate it as you desire.  I opted for a belly band.  If I would have made the holder a little longer I could have punched a few holes in it, threaded some bakers twine or ribbon through it and tied the cover shut.  But I didn't so I opted for the belly band.  Either one works. And personally I like belly bands on things like this.

I tied a piece of ribbon around the spine of the holder and I tied a pretty bow in the middle. That was it.  A fun project.  I want to make some more for the craft fair.  I have a box full of sticky notes.  I think I got them at a great price at Staples a while back.  Hunt around for the best price!  

And this project makes it #200 in the "Weekend Projects" posts here!  WOW, that will keep someone busy for almost 4 years!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florets To Do List Notebook Weekend Project

This is not one of the little projects I've been working on.  It came from a much bigger project I'm working on.  The big project is cleaning up the den.  I've hoarded it out and I'm slowly cleaning it up.  I have several totes and a few boxes of stuff to go through and I can claim the room back!!!  I kept piling stuff on the couch and chairs and it just got out of hand.  So it was time to clean it all up but it's a slow process since it's something I'm not interested in nor am enjoying what I'm doing!! But it's getting done and that's the main thing.

So onto this post!  While I was going through one of the totes  I ran across two stacks of printed, cut and punched "To Do" lists.  I thought I should put them together and decorate them up so that is what I did this evening.  

I used the Fabulous Florets stamp set on the front.  The Regal Rose flower is set in place using Dimensionals.  The other two flowers were stamped in Pretty in Pink and then cut out.  

The words are from a personal stamp I had made many years back.  I LOVE making "To Do" lists and having a stamp with those words on it was a must for me!! It comes in handy when you run across stacks of "To Do" lists!!

These are a nice size too.  They are 8.5" long and a bit over 3" wide.  They are a third of the 11" side of the paper.  I remember getting 3 pages per sheet of copier paper.  I cut it in thirds and of course it didn't work out exactly right so there was one that was just a little bit bigger but it was easy enough to work with.  I just made sure I set it aside so I would get the paper size accurate for the front and back.  

I'm going to pack these up with the other craft fair stuff I've been running across and also creating as I go! 

Ok, I'm off to clean up a little more in the den.  Still NOT with any enthusiasm!  Only determination! 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bright Blossoms Versatile Card

Ok, for this week my new favorite set is the Bright Blossoms.  And it will remain my favorite until something else comes along that I can't keep my hands off!  I have wanted this set ever since I saw it at a Stamp-a-Stack in May.  I LOVED everything about it, including the decorative papers, of which I don't have YET!  

This set can cover SO many occasions.  I thought I wouldn't add any wording on the front so I could use it for a birthday, get well, anniversary and even a sympathy card if I needed.  It's just such a sweet set.  I LOVE all the little images in the set and I am looking forward to playing with them all!  It's one of those sets that I know I will be wanting to play with them all.  I have a little project that I'm working on that is using a few images from this set and I will share it with you as soon as I'm done with it.  I have LOTS of little projects going on. It would be marvelous to be able to finish up some of them!!!  I just imaging all the drawer and cupboard space I would have if I got these projects done!  But on the other hand I'd just fill up those spaces with more projects or "stuff."  But then on another hand (LOL) I'd have the room to do that now wouldn't I?  LOL  

Anyway, this was a very fun card to make, it has a clean look to it, it was quick to make and simple too!  And I was able to play with the fun embossing folder to make that adorable frame!!  I don't play with those very often because I forget I have them.  Plus you need smaller images for them!  This set works perfectly for that, as you can see!

My card ingredients:  The base of the card is on Whisper White card stock, then a 5-3/8" x 4-1/8" piece of Pacific Point card stock was taped in place on top of that.  Then a piece of 5-1/4" x 4" of Whisper White that was textured using the Dotted embossing folder was added to the top of the Pacific Point piece.  I took a scrap piece of Pacific Point card stock measuring 2" x 3-1/2" and taped a piece of Pacific Point decorative paper measuring 1-7/8" x 3-3/8" on top of that.  Then the stamped frame was set in place using Dimensionals.  For the stamped frame, I used markers to color in the images on the stamp and stamped it on Whisper White card stock.  Then I lined it up in the folder and embossed it.  Once you close the folder the card stock seems to stay in there tightly.  It didn't shift at all when I ran it through the Big Shot.  

I thought this was a very fun card to make. I LOVE coloring on the stamps with markers.  It's such a fun technique!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bright Blossoms

I have bought quite a few flower stamp sets but I do have to admit that I think this one has got to be my favorite.  I love the smaller stamps in this set.  It's kind of refreshing to play with smaller images once in a while.  

I saw a card similar to this at Terri's New Catalog Open House on Saturday.  It was such a fun time.  Lots of new things to see.  This card was on display and I had to take a photo of it because I knew I wanted to make one.  Or more than one.  It can be used for many other occasions.  I think the original one was a birthday card.  I'm sure I'll be turning one of these into a birthday card too.  Maybe in a different color.  

I have a little project in mind for this set and I'm hoping to show it to you later in the week.

To make this card I used Regal Rose for the base of the card.  The Whisper White piece was textured using the Dotted folder.  The flowers were stamped using Regal Rose ink and the petals were stamped using Wild Wasabi but stamped off once.  

I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes set because I needed an anniversary card and that was the only set I had with one in it.  I think!  I used the Modern Label punch behind the Word Window punch.  I set that in place using Dimensionals.  I added some rhinestones to the flower and the words.  This was a very simple and quick card to make.  Another reason I will be making more. I think I may just make a set of them for a gift!

If you know the originator of this card, please let me know so I can give them credit. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Summer Silhouettes Birthday Card

Somehow my post got deleted (more than likely human error).  This is another card I copied from Deb at Artfelt Impressions

I don't remember what my post had said but I'm sure I told you that I used Garden Green for the base of my card.  The flowers were stamped using Daffodil Delight and then cut out.  The leaves were stamped in Garden Green and the tall flowers were stamped using Eggplant Envy.  That is a color I don't use very often but when I do I like it all over again!!


This was a very easy card to make too.  I stamped the images on Very Vanilla card stock.  The corners were rounded using a 1-3/8" circle punch.  The larger the punch the more you can clip off the corners.  A fun and easy way to make round corners.

Once again I found an easy and quick card to make!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes Birthday Card (another one!)

Ok, I have left Deb's Artfelt Impressions web site now (for a few days).  She's such a talented gal and her taste in cards is SO much like mine.  Perhaps that is why I spend a lot of time stalking her blog!!!

I am REALLY loving this Serene Silhouettes set and have no regrets buying it!  I just love the simplicity of this card.  It's busy enough to keep your eyes moving around yet simple enough to give you a warm squishy feeling!

I do see myself using this birds in a tree image a lot.  It would be great for a masculine card, a thinking of you card and even a sympathy card.  I think I'm going to give the tree and birds some color and see what I can come up with.  So that means I'm done doing a CASE for a little while.  I don't know how little of a while.  I see cards that I just LOVE and I want to make them.  And then my stampers want to make them too!  

To make this card I used Whisper White card stock. A scrap piece of Basic Black card stock and a scrap of black Decorative Paper.  I used a piece of white ribbon, a couple of black brads and the Petite Pairs stamp set for the words.  And of course black ink. I used black StazOn.  My ink of choice when it comes to needing black on solid areas.

This was a very fun card to make.  Very simple and very quick too!  Please note that there is nothing wrong with doing a CASE of someones card as long as you give them credit and a link back to their blog.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes Birthday Card

Now if you saw a card like this posted on someone's blog you'd want to make one too, wouldn't you?  I saw this card briefly and then I kept obsessing about it and tried to remember where I saw it.  Duh!  I had been stalking Deb's Artfelt Impressions blog for a few days!!!  

I thought this was such a pretty card.  I don't know what it is about it but I just loved it.  I did use different words since the ones Deb used I didn't own.  But you can use whatever words you want, it is still a pretty card!  

Deb had used Crumb Cake card stock.  I opted for Very Vanilla.  I am not a bit fan of Crumb Cake for the focal part of my card.  For a layer I'm ok but not the focal part.  Maybe I should just try one with the Crumb Cake and see how wrong I really am!!! LOL

This was a very fun, extremely easy and amazingly quick card to make.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Get Well via Blooming With Kindness

I actually did have this stamp set put away.  Honest!!!  I just thought it would make a very pretty get well card and it did.  And talk about easy to make too!!!  

The base of my card is Marina Mist.  Then a 5-3/8" x 4-1/8" piece of Basic Black card stock.  On top of that is a piece of  Marina Mist decorative paper cut 5-1/4" x 4".  

I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to measure 3-1/4" x 3-3/4".  I stamped the image using Marina Mist.  Then I took a blender pen and got the blue ink off the stem.  I colored in the stem using a Wild Wasabi marker.  I huffed on the entire image and stamped it on my cut piece of Whisper White card stock.  I layered it on a piece of Basic Black card stock measuring 3-3/8" x 3-7/8".  

I punched out a black scalloped circle and a Marina Mist colored circle. The words were punched out from a sheet of words I had printed on my computer.  I have a bunch of circles all punched out and ready to go for when I need them.  They sure do come in handy!  

I did set the words in place using Dimensionals.  

This was a very quick and extremely fun card to make.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Blooming With Kindness Sketch Challenge

 I was SO glad I had time today to play with the Wednesday Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers.  Today's sketch looked simple enough.  I still had the Blooming with Kindness stamp set sitting out and I thought the flower would be fun to use on the card.  First I stamped it in VersaMark and then used gold embossing powder.  YUCK!  Then I stamped the image with VersaMark and used white embossing powder.  YUCK! once again.  And then I stamped the image with VersaMark and used black embossing powder.  I'm not overly thrilled with it but it's not as gross looking as the gold and white were!  I wanted to use embossing powder because I was going to use the watercolor crayons but changed my mind and used chalks and some Smooch Spray.  I think the Smooch Spray acts like a fixative because the chalk feels pretty set.  I still have Smooch Spray on my keyboard because I didn't bother to use the special box or protect my keyboard.  That stuff doesn't come off very easy!  Anyway, now the flower has not only some soft color but a bit of pearly shine to it too!

I did flip the sketch.  I didn't like this flower at the bottom.  It somehow looked much better at the top.  I guess I just like to be different.  I added some green leaves from the punch with the Bird Builder punch.  The words are from the Field Flowers set. And the decorative paper is from the Subtles Pack.    

There's not a whole lot to this card. It was very fun to do and very simple too!

If you have time I do highly recommend you give the sketch a try.  You don't need to post it at Split Coast Stampers but it is fun to do!

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,
Wanda

Blooming with Kindness Greeting Card Holder

I made one Blooming with Kindness card on Saturday and I was ready to file it when I had gotten several emails asking me about the chalking technique I used.  So I decided to make 3 more cards and the Greeting Card Holder to go with them and then tell you how I did the chalking.

I stamped the image using VersaMark and sponged the chalks on.  I did not smudge the colors in, I actually had a dauber and tapped on top of the paper to get the color on.  I started with Pink Pirouette in the center, around that I added Pretty in Pink and the outer edge is Regal Rose. Then I came back with some Daffodil Delight.  I added that to the very center and then inside the flower around the area where the Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose met.  Be sure to tap straight down.  It keeps the color from smudging.  Now if you want the flower to be even cleaner you can wipe it with your finger.  Wipe inward and clean your finger off each time.  You can also take a pencil eraser.  A nice pointed one or a brand new one with sharp edges.  

I love making these card holders.  They make great gifts and they sell well for me at craft fairs.  Who wouldn't love a set of 4 cards and envelopes in a matching holder?  The Greeting Card Holder can be purchased here.

You can see another card holder I made here.  Decorative papers were used on the outside.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bright Blossoms on Notes Weekend Project

 The title of the post sounds like it should read, "Notes on Bright Blossoms" but in fact it is correct.  The Bright Blossoms was done on top of a note pad!

While cleaning in our den (it's such a mess from be dumping stuff in there for so long) and I ran across a few notebooks that hadn't been boxed up with the other ones.  I had bought them for a project that has gone by the wayside now.  SO I will redecorate them for the fall craft fair and for stocking stuffers. These make such wonderful gifts.     

The bottom photo is of the original note holder.  The top flips up and then you flip down the bottom piece and you can write on the tablet that is inside.  

I just took that note holder and covered it with the Summer Smooches Designer Paper.  I cut away the excess on the front.  I wasn't going to measure it exactly. I just got the paper taped to the cover and then trimmed away the excess.  SO much easier than measuring and hoping you got it on straight.  

I cut some Pacific Point card stock to fit the top of the front flap. I layered it using Daffodil Delight and Whisper White card stock. I was going to use Very Vanilla but the colors got washed away so I went with the white.  

I then took one of the images in the set (this was my favorite today) and I colored it in with markers.  I huffed on it and then stamped the image on the piece of white I had cut.  I taped it in place and the notebook was now redecorated.  

I will probably add some red ribbon (when I order more) at the bottom, it does need something there.  And maybe next time I will add two designs of decorative paper to give it a bit more of a punch!  But I still like the looks of it as it is with the fun yellow circles!!

You can redecorate any notebook with the right paper and stamps!  And sometimes you don't even need to use stamps on it!  Just let your imagination run, but not too wild!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes

Did you ever buy a stamp set on a whim and when you started playing with it you knew you made a wonderful choice?  That is how it was with this Serene Silhouettes set.  I wasn't sure why I bought it but once I started playing with it I was glad I bought it.  

When I was looking at it in the catalog I had notebook covers in mind but now that I got to play with it for a few minutes I knew I would be using it for much more than just notebooks.  This is an extremely versatile set and I can see myself making LOTS of different cards with it and for different occasions too!

For my card today I used Regal Rose for the base.  On top of that I had cut a 5-3/8" x 4-1/8" piece of Basic Black card stock.  The white piece is cut 5-1/4" x 4".  I stamped the butterfly circle image three times on it.  I didn't even use the Stamp-a-ma-jig, if you can believe that.  I know I was shocked!!!  

After I stamped the three images I taped them together.  Then I added a piece of black ribbon around them and taped them in place on top of the base of the card.  If you don't have ribbon, you can always use a piece of black card stock.  

The image was stamped on a piece of Whisper White card stock that measured 3-1/2" x 2" using Regal Rose ink.  I stamped it once and moved it slightly and stamped it again.  You will see that better if you click on the photo.  That piece was set on top of a piece of Basic Black measuring 3-5/8" x 2-1/8".  And those two layers were set on top of a piece of Regal Rose that was cut 3-3/4" x 2-1/4".  

I finished off the card by adding a few pearls.  Three of them on the flowers.  Again, you'll have to click on the photo to see that closer. There's three small pearls on the corner of the layered image and three larger ones on the circle image piece.  

This was a very fun and easy card to make!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Blooming with Kindness

When I saw this stamp set in the catalog, I had put it towards the middle of my HUGE wish list.  When I finally got ready to order I had moved it up for some odd reason.  Now I know why.  It's such a beautiful flower.  It stands alone on a card (or with words).  

I stamped the image using VersaMark.  I sponged in chalks.  I started with Pirouette Pink in the middle, then I added Pretty in Pink around that and the edges were done in Regal Rose.  Then I took some Daffodil Delight and added it to the very center of the flower and a bit around the ares where the Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose met.  I added some Wild Wasabi on the stem and the coloring was all done.

I purchased one of the new ink pads, Chocolate Chip.  My other ones are just fine (which is too bad because these pads are REALLY nice). It will be a while before I replace all of my pads.  Mine are still in very nice condition and over a year ago I had bought all of the ink refills so I'm set for a while.  I will replace as needed.  Often when my ink pad is dry I will just spritz it with distilled water.  My pad is not empty, it is just dry.  I usually do this after two inkings.  I don't want to dilute my color so I make sure I don't do it every time it's dry or ever other time it's been inked.  Does that make sense?

This is a very fun set to play with.  It makes very quick cards.  At least this card was quick anyway. I am going to try a card with this flower using markers and see what I get.  I do love the chalk look though!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda  

My Friend Birthday Card

I was visiting Mad Stamper a I found this card a while back.  It's not exactly like this one.  Hers was made using the Upsy Daisy set and the Concord Crush color.

I liked the elements of her card so I ran with it.  I liked the punched out and raised circle and I liked the butterfly on the card.  My card is somewhat different though.

My card was made using Crumb Cake for the base, Cajun Craze for the accent color.

The image is from the My Friend set and it was stamped using Cajun Craze (stamped off once).  

The ring was made using the 2-3/4" circle punch and the 1-3/8" circle punch. It was set in place using the circle Shake Frames.  Rhinestones were added around it once it was set in place. 

The sponged butterfly was added just before the rhinestones went on.  Oh and the ribbon was added before the circle went on.  

The background was speckled using the Spritzer tool.  I'm not sure if that is still current or not but I'm not giving mine up.  It creates a fun background.

The words are from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  I marked the outside of the circle lightly with a pencil so I could see where the words needed to be stamped.  

This was a very fun card to make too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

My Friend

What a fun card this was.  And easy too!  I had a run across a piece of decorative paper in Rose Red.  I was going to toss it but I decided to make a card with it.  Rose Red was not a retired color and I have the ink and the pad so why not run with it? Just because the decorative paper is retired doesn't mean you can't use it.  If you only like to use current papers then you can just replace it with current stuff if you're going to copy this for a swap or Stamp-a-Stack. I do that kind of swapping all the time!

I saw this card at Artfelt Impressions and I knew I wanted to make it.  I believe the original card was done using Crumb Cake for the base of the card and those color tones were used.  I used the Rose Red because of the decorative paper that I found.  I also realized that I had not used this set either.  I had bought the download and used it digitally but never with rubber.  I like both but rubber does have more advantages.  

This was a lot of fun and I love the layout.  I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.  Maybe I'll find more papers if I continue cleaning!!! It's amazing what you do find when you clean.

I was hoping to get done with my stamping stuff early tonight so I could play with some polymer clay.  I have been wanting to make this beautiful cabochon. I saw a pretty rock and I thought I could mix some clays together and make it.  I'll let you know how that goes if I get it done anytime soon.  There's always something that gets in the way.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Believe Sketch Challenge

 I actually had time to play with the Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers (SCS). I have not played along with them since the first part of May.  I have done a few of the sketches since then but I did them later in the week(s) and never posted them at SCS.  

This was a very fun sketch to play with and I can see myself using it for other cards.  I have a giraffe in mind for the #4 panel!!!  I think it will make a great uncomplicated and simple masculine card.  I'll be giving that a try maybe later in the week. I have some other things going on that I need to work with and finish up too!

So onto my card.  I used Cajun Craze for the base of my card.  On top of that is a piece of white card stock that was textured using the Dotted embossing folder.  The #2 layer is a piece of Cajun Craze on the back layer and on top of that is a piece of Tangerine Tango decorative paper.  

The image is from the Just Believe set.  I stamped the image using Cajun Craze ink.  The words are also from the Just Believe set.  I stamped them using Cajun Craze ink and punched them out with the oval punch. I used the large oval punch and Cajun Craze card stock and I layered it behind the "thank you."  I added a piece of ribbon to the dotted texture piece and I then assembled the card.  

The #4 image panel was set in place with Dimensionals.  

It was a very quick and easy card to make.  I was glad I had time to play this week.  I really enjoyed playing with this sketch.  I feel like I'm getting back in the groove of stamping after taking a day off to play in the gutter garden and getting my hands dirty (which I HATE to do).  I whined about the dirt under my fingernails until we were done and I was able to go in the house and scrub my hands!!!  I'm not a true gardener!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A New Look at Green Thumbs!

Today I am showing you something completely different than I have ever posted on my blog before.  When I said "Green Thumbs" in the title, I am not talking about a green thumb from stamping!  I'm talking about a gardening green thumb.  Though when you think about that whole saying of having a green thumb I often wonder if someone actually had a green thumb from the vegetable stains.  I am not a gardener, I have never claimed to be a gardener.  And as I'm getting older any amount of gardening doesn't give me the warm squishies!!!  And speaking of warm squishies, there are sometimes some of them out in the garden too. I don't like any of them!!

This year we decided to make a gutter garden. I had seen them in an email that was forwarded to me last winter.  NOT a good time to start a garden!  But much to my surprise I remembered how cool it was and as summer approached I kept talking about it and how easy it would be to garden in one of them.  I had also talked for years about wanting raised gardens but that never happened either!!  So this year the gutter garden went up.  Now in the original gutter gardens they tell you to screw or nail them to your garage wall.  I didn't like that idea at all.  So the more I thought about it I figured we could "attach" them to the deck beams.  We (and when I say "we" I mean the hubby) cut boards and wedged them under the deck in front of the beams.  Then they were tie-wrapped to the beams.  The gutters were screwed onto a board and then the board was screwed into the vertical boards.  The gutters were also set in place so one end is 3/4" lower than the other (just in case of torrential rains!).  Once the gutters were up then they were filled with dirt and watered down.  Then the fun part, the seeds and seedlings.  The bottom row has table onions.   Hubby said that rabbits probably won't eat those.  So the leafier vegetables have been planted up higher.  

The last photo is of the parsley plant I had bought weeks ago.  It was starting to look a bit distressed and in need of fresh dirt.  It is now in it's new home and hopefully it will grow nicely.  I'll keep you posted on that.  In a week or so I will cut off all the ugly stuff on it but for now it needs to recover from the stress of being transplanted.  The gutters face south so they will get full sun all day long.  I hope that is a good thing!

I don't remember what all we planted.  I do know that on the top left is radishes and today when I went out to water the gutters I saw that they had already germinated.  There were little white roots coming off the seeds that floated to the top when I watered. UGH!  So I had to gently cover them all up again.  I'm hoping that there won't be a lot of weeds in the gutter gardens.  And bugs and other "squishy" things!!! LOL

We even talked about putting flowers in the gutters next year.  Maybe something that cascades down.  Or maybe we'll add more gutters to the other half of the beams.  The deck is 24' long and we only used 10' of it for the gutters.  So far it's fun.  I'll let you know if the fun continues through the summer!!!

This was a nice and fun break from stamping.  I needed a day off to regroup and clean up my workroom too!

Thank you so much for visiting today,
Wanda

They All Can't Be Winners!

Well, have you ever in your whole life seen an uglier card than this?  The whole card concept of this card was SO much prettier in my head than it is on paper.  I was looking for a clean and simple look.  This looks like some kind of weird test pattern that went awry.  LOL  But you do have to admit, I did hit the clean and simple right on the nose!  LOL

Most of the time my cards turn out but on occasion (like today) they don't and I still feel obligated to share them with you.  It's good to let other's know that I can make a crappy card too!  I've been known to make quite a few of them but this one takes the cake.  I honestly have nothing to say about this card other than "Oh My, what an ugly card this is!"  Like I said, they all can't be winners!!  This one just seems like such a waste of card stock!  I think this happens about once a year!! Well, isn't it good to know that it's now out of my system until next year?  LOL

Thank you for reading to the end of this post, it must have been grueling!!! LOL

Tomorrow will be better!
Wanda

Quick and Simple Thank You Cards

If you are in a hurry and need a bunch of cards, this is the way to go!!  You can do the texture in 1/4 sheets and cut them in three pieces.

I then stamped the flower from the Every Little Bit set. I used a guide.  I happened to have had an Altoid tin next to me so I used that.  An ink pad will do or even the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  

I stamped the words under the flowers.  My words are from the Delightful Dozen set.  I colored them in.

I taped the texture piece in place and tied a ribbon around the card. My card was cut on the 8.5" side at 4-1/4" and then folded in half on the long side so the card opens from the right side.  

This is a very quick, simple and clean looking card.  It was a lot of fun to make too. Don't forget to put the "fun" in your cardmaking!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Masculine Get Well

Lovely as a Tree has been a favorite set of mine for years and I'm always glad to see it back in the new catalogs.  It kind of gives you a feeling of "home" when you see it in the new catalog.  It's such a wonderful old "stand-by" set.  It can be used for so many occasions. I especially like to use it for masculine birthdays, get well cards and sympathy cards.  It works so well with all of those.

Today I made a masculine get well card.  The words are from the Delightful Dozen set.  I wonderful word set that covers a lot of occasions too.  

The background was done with the Dotted embossing folder. Those folders are a must have item.  They can really make a plain background look fabulous!  It dressed up this background just enough to keep it looking masculine!  

I was going to add a ribbon around the dotted layer behind the tree layer but I had to keep telling myself that it's a masculine card and I needed to keep it simple.  

I stamped the tree using Wild Wasabi ink and then I took the Early Espresso marker and colored in some branches and the tree trunk.  I added a little more to the branches after the image was stamped.  There were a few spots that really needed some brown and it seemed to have done the trick.  I think it turned out nice.  A perfect guy card!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

2012-2013 Color Keeper

I have created the new 2012 - 2013 Color Keeper folder.  

You can purchase the PDF file for the inside of the folder here.  

The outside was made using Island Indigo card stock and ink.  The white dots were put on by using a toothpick and the Frost White shimmer paint.  I tried using my gel pen but it didn't like writing over the ink.  The gel pen would be quicker but not quite as pretty.  You can decorate the outside of your folder as you wish.  

The finished folded size measures 3-3/4" x 7-3/4".  There are squares by each color for you to check your inventory of card stock, ink, ink pad and markers.  The center of the folder is where both years of in colors are located.  

his also makes a great Make N Take, Hostess Gifts, Customer Appreciation Gifts and of course just to have one for yourself.  You can print out as my as you wish to use for gifts or classes.

A must have for any stamper to keep track of your colors.

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda