Bring on the Cake

Here's another fun card I found on Pinterest.  You can see the original one here.  I actually remembered to mark where it came from this time. 

This card is simple but yet a bit more difficult that I thought it would be.  I didn't think cutting those pieces would be that hard.  I tried to count the strips and get the same number on my strip but that didn't help.  I ended up cutting the strips at 1" each and tried to make sure I got the spacing between them right.  Well, as you can see I didn't. Once I got to the end there was hardly enough room to show the white.  

I also didn't have the same ribbon or the same wording but I made do with what I had!  It's my motto for this year.  I have SO many things in my workroom and I need to start using the stuff instead of buying so much more.  Now don't get me wrong here, I didn't say I wasn't buying any new stuff, just not as much!

Knowing what I know now about making this card I can say that I would probably make more in the future.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

A Bright Blossoms Greeting

"Wishing you a wonderful day!"  What a nice thing to have on the front of a card, isn't it?  

I had seen this card on the internet and for the life of me I can't find the link to it.  If you know who made this card, please let me know so I can give them the credit they deserve.

I used the "Bright Blossoms" set here.  The original card had the background textured with the Dotted embossing folder.  I didn't do that to this card.  I didn't want those tiny words to appear warped.  

My card is not crooked, it's just the way it photographed.  I actually measured it because I thought it was crooked!  Now I need to take a class in taking photos of my cards!!! LOL

This is a very simple and quick card to make.  I took a strip of Whisper White card stock and stamped the three flowers on.  I started with the leaves and then added the flowers.  I trimmed it up a bit and then layered it with Wisteria Wonder card stock.  I set it in place on the card so I would know where to stamp the words.  Once the words were stamped (from the "Bring on the Cake" set) I set the layers in place using Dimensionals. 

And finally I added the rhinestones.  That is all there is to this card.  It is simple, quick and not to mention adorable!!  I think that was why I was attracted to it when I first saw it.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

And the Winner is . . .

WOW, this is really difficult to see.  I have no idea how to copy the image directly from the Random Number Generator website.  If anyone knows how to do that please let me know.  But in the meantime I will have to post the photo I took of it.  

The winner is #5 and that is Peggy and here is her comment:

 peg said...

Wanda, Thank you for sharing your talent. I check your posts daily.Peggy

Congratulations Peggy, please email me with your snail mail address and I will get the cards out in the mail to you soon.

Thank you for playing along.  I'll have to do this more often, it was a lot of fun!

Wanda

  

My Friend Birthday

While I was digging through my stash of stamped images I ran across this one and thought I would put a card together.  I need to use up some of these little stashes of "stuff" in my workroom.  So I set aside what I was originally going to do and headed to the cupboard of card stock.

I used Cajun Craze card stock for the base of the card since the image was stamped in that color.  I put a 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" piece of Basic Black card stock on top of the base.  Then I added a piece of Cajun Craze polka dot decorative paper that was cut 4" x 5-1/4".  

The image was cut 3-3/4" x 3-1/4" and the Basic Black behind it is cut 3-7/8" x 3-3/8".  

I used the round scallop punch and punched out a Basic Black piece.  Then I used the 1-3/4" circle punch and used Cajun Craze for that layer.  The words were printed on the computer and then punched out with the 1-1/4" circle punch.  The words and image were stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and both were sponged with Cajun Craze ink.  

I had used a high density sponge so the sponging had a smoother and softer look.  High density sponges are the same as the makeup remover sponges you get in the beauty department of the stores.  

What was fun about this card tonight was that I didn't stamp a thing (it was done a while ago) and I didn't have any stamps to clean up!!!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Delightful Dozen Birthday

I think this "Happy Birthday" image is one of the reasons I bought the "Delightful Dozen" stamp set.  I have seen this image colored in with markers but I have never used it like that.  On the few times I've used it I just used a solid color.  But today I thought I would use the markers and have some fun.

I used the "Summer Smooches" decorative paper and I colored in the words with markers.  I like the looks of it but it's not a technique (Direct to Rubber) that I enjoy doing, especially with words.  But I did it and it did turn out pretty.  

This is such a colorful card.  Sure to bring a smile to whomever receives it!  And color was what I was looking for today after getting a bunch of snow yesterday!  

I also like the layout of this card.  You cut your card stock in half on the short side and fold that piece in half.  Then you cut the front piece in half (2-3/4").  Then you cut the decorative paper to fit the front.  Mine is cut at 4" x 2-1/2".  And the focal panel is cut to fit your image.  Make the background layer 1/4" bigger than the stamped layer.  As simple as that!  And SO quick too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Best of Everything Birthday

Let's put a little color in our day today!  I love some of the papers in the "Summer Smooches" pack.  This  happens to be one of them!  I have been very conservative with that pack and I'm not sure why. In a few months it will retire and there I will be with a bunch of sheets laying around here.  So I am going to try to use them up before they retire!  Wish me luck on that adventure!

Today's card comes to you courtesy of the "Best of Everything" set.  This set has gotten some use but there are some images in it that I have not used.  I think I will play with them later in the week.  Some of them look like a lot of fun too!  I do feel like being creative so be sure to stop back and see what I did with the images!

Today I used the bird and the branch images.  First I colored in the branch.  I used markers on the leaves and then Chocolate Chip on the branches.  I huffed on it and then stamped the image on a piece of Whisper White card stock.  

Then I stamped the bird with Marina Mist ink and then I took my blender pen and got the ink off the beak. I colored the beak in with Daffodil Delight and I colored the feet in with Chocolate Chip.  To get the birds feet to touch the branch I figured out that I needed to have the bottom of the rubber stamp line up with the dotted lines on the branch.  This only works with the clear mount stamps.  

Then I got out my "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set and stamped the words on.  I layered the image on a piece of Marina Mist and then I layered that on a piece of Gumball Green.  I thought I had Old Olive but it was Gumball Green but it worked anyway.  I layered the decorative paper the same way.  I set them in place on a piece of Island Indigo.  I textured it with the Lattice embossing folder first.  Then I taped that piece on a folded piece of Calypso Coral.  A couple of colors I have not played with much either.  

And here you have it.  No frills!  Nothing that will make you have to pay extra in postage to mail it either!  It's easy and quick to make too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Betsy's Blossom Birthday

Once again I'm going quick and simple.  Here I used the cute little flower from the "Betsy's Blossoms" set.  I am now feeling that I actually got some use out of this set, so if it retires I won't feel so bad!

The base of the card is Early Espresso.  The flowers were stamped using More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.  

The center of the flowers were stamped using Early Espresso and the small trio flower image from the set.  That was an image I hadn't used yet!  

I  punched out the larger flower of the three using a 1/2" circle punch.  I attached them to the center of the flowers using Dimensionals and I colored the centers with a More Mustard marker.  

The words are from "Bring on the Cake."  They were stamped using Early Espresso ink.  And that was it, very quick and very simple.  It was so simple in fact that I made 6 of them.  I figured if I had to stamp each flower and wash off the stamp just to reink it with the next color, I might as well make several cards.  I could have stamped each color but I wasn't sure where they were going to land on the paper so I found it easier to just stamp each color as I went.  And yes, even doing that it was a quick card!  

Now being I have 6 of them I would like to mail four of them to a lucky reader in celebration of my blog reaching half a million hits!!!  WOW!!!  Just leave a comment on this post only and I'll draw a name on Wednesday and send the cards off to them.  The lucky 13 in 2013 is still going strong!

OOPS, that's one and a half million hits, not half a million!  Silly me!
Edited on 1-28-13

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Elegant Butterfly Punch Meets Bring on the Cake

I saw this pretty card on Pinterest.  It was not done using any Stampin' Up! products but I thought I could work with it with the materials I had and create a pretty card too.  And guess what?  I did it!

I used a half sheet of Whisper White card stock and I folded it in half.  I used the scalloped Adorning Accents Edgelet and die cut the top edge.  Then I marked the center of each scallop with a pencil so I could eye it up to punch them out.  Once they were punched out I got out my "Bring on the Cake" set and stamped the words on the card using black StazOn ink.  The original card did not have any words on it.  

I got out my decorative paper and cut a piece to fit on the inside of the card and I also punched out the butterfly.  I set the butterfly in place using Dimensionals.  I added the tiny rhinestones and then I drew in the antenna.  And that was it.  I can see myself making more of these cards.  With spring colors, would't this make a pretty Easter card?  

This was a very simple and yet elegant card to make.  I should have made this week the "Elegant Card" week!!! I must be in an "elegant" mood this week!  LOL

Thank you for stopping by today,

Wanda

Elements of Style Elegant Birthday

I had no idea where I was going with this card when I started out making it.  I had taken a piece of Whisper White card stock and started stamping one of the images from the "Elements of Style" set.  I was using black StazOn at first but switched to my old Basic Black ink pad.  I did have to ink it up, it was a bit too dry for what I was trying to accomplish.

After the ink pad was to my liking I began stamping the image all over the paper.  Cutting pieces off a paper stamped like that is called the "One Sheet Wonder" technique.  It's great if you want to make a lot of the same type cards too.  Today my plan was to make 2 cards.  And yes, it does take me a whole sheet to make two cards. If I would have been a bit more careful in my stamping I could have gotten 4 cards out of that sheet but I didn't!

I cut off what I needed (which measured 4-1/8" x 2-3/4") and I taped it to the bottom part of the card (which was cut on the short side at 4-1/4" and then folded in half), leaving an equal border all around.  I stamped the words on.  Mine came from the "Bring on the Cake" set.  The words were pretty enough to make this card look elegant.  

Then I added some ribbon (all the way around).  I taped it in place.  I made a bow and used Glue Dots to set it in place.  And that was it.  SO quick, and ever SO simple!  You can make these with whatever ribbons you have that match your ink.  I wanted to play with black and white today!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bring on the Cake

Today's card is brought to you through the magic of Pinterest!!  This one got away from me.  I don't remember where on Pinterest that I found it and I apologize that I am unable to give you a link to the original card.  But trust me here, it's so close to the original that it is hard to tell!  Ok, it is easy to tell.  The ribbon strips on my card are done using decorative paper and the ones on the original card are stamped on.  It's from a new stamp set that I am not sure I will be getting.  I'm not overly fond of it though I do like how it was used to make this card.  But if that was all I liked about the set then that is not a very good reason to get the set.  I've achieved the effect without the set.  So what does that tell me?  Shop some more for something else!!!  LOL

I did use different words on mine.  Only because I didn't have what was used on the original card. Mine came from the "Bring on the Cake" set.  It seems to be my go to birthday words set lately.  

This was a fun card to make.  For my "ribbons" I cut a strip of scrap copier paper and I made the ribbon.  I folded that strip in half the long way so I knew how long to cut the end of the ribbon.  I wanted to make a template so I could get each ribbon the same.  And obviously it worked!  I do like the punch of red with the flower.  It's very eye catching.  Though the eye is attracted to red and when you look at the card your eyes go directly to the flower.  Try it.  I'm right, huh??

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Cupcake Builder Birthday Card

I saw this card on Pinterest and just had to make it.  You can see the original one here.  I do like the original one much better but once again I was working with what I had.  

The words on my card came from the "Bring on the Cake" set.  The cupcake was done using the Cupcake Builder punch.  I thought I had the stamp set that goes with this but I had trouble locating it.  That doesn't mean it's lost, it could mean that it was one of those sets that I wanted but never got around to ordering. And I probably won't now. If I got along this long without it I think I can go on using the punch and making it work without the stamp set!  Besides, it's been out a while now and will probably retire with the current catalog.  

This was a very simple card to make and I did have a lot of fun making it.  This punch is fun to play with and using it this way I didn't have to stamp anything but the words!!   Talk about simple.

I love the layout of this card and I think it was that and the colors that caught my attention.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

My Friend

Every time I see this stamp set I see the big "hello" and then below that to the right is "my friend."  A Neil Diamond song starts paying in my head and I hear the words "Hello my fried, hello."  I know I'm dating myself there a bit but what can I say.  I still like that song!  

I was thinking of a friend of mine and thought I would drop her a line to say hello.  So I headed over to Pinterest to see what I had pinned but wasn't sure what I was going to make.  I just wanted to say "hello" and this stamp set came to mind.  I pulled it off the shelf and realized I had not used it yet. But I recalled making cards with it before.  Well, I had purchased the download and liked it so much that I bought the set.  

I used the Lattice embossing folder for the background of the base of the card.  Then I cut a piece of Wild Wasabi to set on top of that and another piece of white to go on top of the Wild Wasabi.  I only cut it 1/8" smaller so just a sliver of it would show.  

The words came from the "Happy You" hostess set.  I just masked off the kite with a piece of sticky note paper and inked it up, removed the note paper and stamped on the card.  I probably could have used some larger words but I just wanted it to say hello and there wasn't a lot to pick from.  

When I work on my post I always add he photo first and then I type my words.  As I'm looking at the photo I think I should have stamped the words on a separate piece of card stock and punched them out and layered them on a scalloped circle.  Something to fill up that corner more.  Well, that's your job.  You improve on the card and make it dazzling!

Now I'm off to write a few words inside and get it ready for the mail.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Teeny Tiny Wishes Valentine

I can't believe how quickly this card went together.  Once I was ready to put it together.  This is not the card I started out making.  

My vision was for a card with the 3 hearts but they were traced in using the paper that was left from punching out the hearts.  I traced the 3 hearts using the fine tip of the black marker.  YUCK!  

So then plan B went into action.  I punched out a heart and set it in the middle of those three traced hearts.  Once again YUCK!  

Now plan C had to go into effect.  I usually don't have a plan C so I gave it a bit more thought and decided to toss out the 3 traced hearts.  I did like the color that the single heart added so I thought 3 punched hearts would be pretty.  And as I was heading over to my scrap bin I saw a lighter shade of pink and I thought I would go with a graduated look or a Faux Paint Chip look.  And this is what I came up with.

First I stamped the words and then added the hearts.  That way I didn't have to work hard on getting the words in the exact spot.  But I noticed I did get the words a little crooked.  Now I have to remind myself that this is a handmade card!!!

To make this card I used the Dotted embossing folder.  Then I cut the black card stock 3/14" x 4-1/2" and the white was cut 3" x 4-1/4".  I stamped the words on using black StazOn and the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  Then I punched out 3 hearts using Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose.  The black and focal layers were taped together and set in place on the base of the card using Dimensionals.  And that was it.  SO easy and SO quick.  Now why couldn't that idea have come to me first?  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Need For Speed Masculine Card

Masculine cards are hard to come by.  I am in need of one this month but not for another week.  Yup, I'm still ahead of the game this year!  Let's hope I can keep it up!  

I headed on over to Split Coast Stampers to see what I could find there for masculine cards and much to my surprise, there are a lot of them but using so many other rubber stamps.  So I narrowed my search down to just the Stampin' Up! ones and I found one I liked but I didn't have the same papers  so I improvised.  I do like how this card turned out, it still looks masculine and that's the most important part!  I actually made two of them because of the ease of this card I wanted to have one on hand for my stampers to copy if they are in need of a masculine card.  

The colors I used here are Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.  The inks used here are Wild Wasabi, Basic Gray and Black StazOn. The stamps used here are Need for Speed (for the car), Clock Works (for the background) and Bring on the Cake (for the words).  

What's also nice about this card is that it didn't take long to make either.  Oh and there was no coloring!!   Not that I don't like to color in the images but today I wasn't in the mood for it.  Plus it's a masculine card and somehow coloring it pretty just won't do!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Candy Hearts

No, they are not real!  They are made of polymer clay. 

This week I was playing with clay and I thought I should finish up some of the projects I started.  I have both of my worktables full of clay things that are not completed.  I keep finding things that I want to try (clay techniques) and I set what I'm doing aside and try the new thing.  Some of the techniques are a bit more intense than others and some are more fun.  I have bits and pieces of projects left and I'm not sure what to do with them. Maybe make some beads.  I know I can't remake the other components because the clay colors won't match.  That's the bad thing with the polymer clay.  You need to mix up a big batch so you have enough to make your projects.  

The clay never goes to waste.  It can be made into beads.  I have some clay veneer that I made using a retro blend a I can just slice the blend and lay it over the scrap clay and make some fun beads.  I did make some last month and I just now got them polished.  I hate polishing them.  I am now covered in bits of fabric threads!  I attached a pile of fabric circles to my Dremmel and use it to polish the clay.  Bits of fabric are always flying off it and they cling to me like a magnet!!!  I'll show you those beads some other time.

These beads are ready to go to the shop to be sold.  They needed white ones.  I don't have any colored ones on hand either.  They sell fast this time of year.  I am sure I will need to make more for the shop but this is all I have made right now.  I don't have any molds on hand but I will be getting some in my web store soon.  I'll post a message on here and on my beading blog when they are available.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Angled Layers Technique

I found this card at Andrea Walford's blog.  I can't find the link to the project but it's somewhere on her site.  I will explain it so you can make these with ease!

I thought this was a fun technique and a great way to use up those scrap pieces of decorative paper. And we all know how those things pile up, don't we?  I have a stack of them and I really need to use them up.  Though, with the amount I have, I know I won't use them up in my lifetime!!! I should have a big "Scraps" party and maybe we could put a dent in them!!!

This card is very easy to make, which is one of the things I like about it.  You can put a bunch of these cards together pretty fast!  

The words are from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set.  I stamped them on first and then I added the papers.  I wanted the words to line up perfectly under the decorative paper and the only way to make that happen was to stamp them first!  

After stamping I took a strip of decorative paper and set it in place just under the words.  I followed the angle of the words. My paper was a bit longer on each end than the card was.  You want that.  It reassures you that the decorative paper will fit nicely on top of the card front.  Continue to add layers, tilting the papers a bit each time.  Here 4 layers are used.  You can use more if you like.  But I was following Andrea's card and she had used 4 layers.  

I rounded the corners with a 1-1/4" circle punch and added some ribbon and then taped the card front on the folded piece of card stock. Yup, as simple as that!

Now get to work using up those scrap pieces of card stock!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Delightful Dozen Valentine

Is it too early for a Valentine's Day card?  Hope not.  I was a bit surprised a few days before Christmas when I saw Valentine's Day stuff already on the shelves.  And no, I didn't buy any!!!

Today I have a very quick and simple card for you.  Dig out those embossing folders and Sizzlets along with your red and white card stock and you're set!!  I used the Stripes folder, Fashionable Hearts Embosslet, Scalloped Heart Embosslet and Real Red stitched ribbon.  

I just layered the hearts and set them in place.  It probably took me longer to get the stuff out and cut out than it did to put the whole thing together.  

If you're looking for a quick card, this would be an ideal one for a Make n Take or for a fun Stamp A Stack.  

The stamp set used here is from the "Delightful Dozen" set.   I want to say it's my favorite word set but I'm actually torn between that set and the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set.

This was a fun card to make.  I will put it in my stash of cards

Stop back tomorrow.  I have a fun and easy technique to show you.

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda 

Betsy's Blossoms Thank You Card

"Betsy's Blossoms" set is one of those that I look back and wonder why I bought it.  What was I thinking?  Or better yet, what did I see made with this set that made me want to buy it?  That's closer to the truth!!!  I'm not sure but what I do know is that I don't use it much at all.  I think I may have to surf the net for some samples and maybe it will all come back to me why I bought it.  I do like the bird and the branch but there's more to this set than that!!! LOL

Anyway, I played with the set and I also used the Adorning Accents Edgelets.  I LOVE those edgelets.  They are fun and easy to use.  I am thinking that Stampin' Up! may be putting more of those out and the framelet dies and get away from punches.  These dies don't get jammed up like the punches do.  They are SO much easier on the hands and you can cut a lot of different thicknesses with them.  Anyway, that is just a thought of mine.  Let's see how close I am when the next catalog comes out!!!

Ok, back to my card.  The words are from the "Perfectly Penned" set.  A set I have used a lot and am glad I own!!  

I just thought I would make a spring looking card today.  We are in a deep freeze and this warmed me up!! LOL

On Christmas morning we were in a deep freeze too.  I had seen this fun thing on the net so of course I had to try it.  "They can't put anything on the net that isn't true," right?  LOL  You take boiling water in a cup and toss it in the air and it turns to crystals.  I imagined the whole cup of water going "plunk" on the ground.  Some of it did.  But there is a little trick or technique to this.  You must throw the water from the cup in a long sweeping arch.  All that was left was a puff of white crystals in the air.  It was SO cool.  Hubby and I emptied out a whole tea kettle of boiling water.  We're such kids!  It was a fun thing to try on Christmas morning.  I may go out tomorrow morning and give it a try again just because it was fun.  Hubby will be back at work and he won't know the silly things I do during the day!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Happy Anniversary

Our son and daughter-in-law had their first anniversary on the 14th.  It's SO hard to believe that a year has passed already.  It only seems like it was a couple of months ago that we were downtown at the wedding.  

This is the card I made for them.  Don't be too impressed, I found one like this on Pinterest.  You can view it here.  

I used the Elegant Lines embossing folder for the background.  I punched out 3 hearts.  One of Basic Black, one of Whisper White and another Whisper White that was embossed with the Dotted Swiss folder.  It's hard to see in the photo but the black piece is cut in the center and then folded back to make it look like lapels.  

The black pearls were actually colored in using a black Sharpie marker.  The hearts were set in place using Dimensionals.

It's a very quick and easy card to make.  The lapel took the most time to do but it wasn't bad.  Just mark on each side where you want the fold to be and then just score it to the center.  The original card was a wedding card but these images work great for anniversaries too!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Baby Bundle

Need a baby card but don't know if it's a boy or a girl?  Well, this is the card for you!  It's got pink, it's got blue, along with some yellow and green!!! You can't go wrong with this card!!!  Plus you get to use that adorable "Baby Bundle" stamp set.  It's such a fun set but it's got those little images in it that don't get used much.  Well, not anymore!!!  With this layout you can use those stamp sets that have small images in them!  

I also have another layout that I like to use for those smaller images.  Maybe later in the week I'll make a card with it and share the measurements (again) with you.  I use it enough that I have it setting out in my workroom so I know where it is at a moments notice!!!  It's just nice to have it on hand when I need it for making a card with smaller images!

The colors used here are Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Whisper White.  The words came from the "Curly Cute" set.  The images and words were stamped with black StazOn and were colored in using markers.  

This was a super easy and quick card to make!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Open Sea

I REALLY like "The Open Sea" set.  There's not very many masculine sets and this one seems to be fun and easy enough to work with.  There's not a lot of coloring to do on it so you can whip out a card in no time.   

This card did take a little time but not a lot.  

The colors of card stock used here is Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point and Early Espresso.  

I stamped the Pacific Point piece with Pacific Point ink and the anchor image.

The front layer was stamped on Very Vanilla and the ship's log image was stamped on it using Crumb Cake ink.  Then I stamped the image using Versa Mark and I embossed it with clear embossing powder.  Then I sponged Crumb Cake over the ship and outside it about a 1/2".  I sponged the edges and that panel was done.

The words are from the "Teeny Tiny" wishes set.  Once all the pieces were cut and stamped it went together pretty fast.  

And the best part of making this card is I'M AHEAD ON MY CARDS!!!!  LOL  I am not usually ahead in my card making but this card puts me ahead of the game.  Now don't be too impressed or even jealous, I didn't say a word about getting it mailed out in time!!! LOL  Let's hope that goes well this year too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Clockworks Masculine Card

I bought this set when it first came out and have never used it.  Silly me.  So today I went on Split Coast Stampers to see what samples are out there using this set.  I ran across this card and I thought it would be perfect to make since I had most of the stuff on the original card.  The poster of this card is ladybugdesigns and you can see her original card here.   

I only changed a couple of things.  At the bottom right was the #80 in Midnight Muse card stock.  I didn't need an 80th birthday card and I didn't have the die for the numbers so I used one of the gear images.  

I also added another gear image on the Comfort Cafe decorative paper. And I also changed the greetings.  I didn't have the words or the ribbon die.  I just went with what I had and it worked! Once again proving to myself that I can work with what I have (but that doesn't stop me from ordering a few new things now and then!

I need to get this out in the mail tomorrow for my nephew's birthday.  It's on Sunday so if he gets it on Saturday it will be early and on Monday it will be late!!! Nothing I can do about that!  He's lucky I remembered so close to his birthday!!! LOL

And I also needed another masculine card for a brother-in-law so I made another card just like this one.  I had all of the stuff out anyway and I figured "why not?"  Those two will never get together to compare cards!!! LOL  

I am not putting this set away yet.  I still need a few more masculine cards for 2013.  I had gotten a WONDERFUL monthly greeting card holder for a Christmas gift from a VERY special friend and I'm going to be filling it up so I can be on time this year with most of my cards.  (Notice I used the word "most"?)  LOL  My plans are to sit down with my photo album that is filled with the Split Coast Stampers Card Sketches.  I know I have typed this many times but I have all of them in one album.  I just noticed today that my album is getting pretty full and soon it's going to be time to go shopping for a new one.  There's around 420 layouts in that album.  It's a wonderful tool to have!

This was a very fun card to make.  You know me, I LOVE layers!!!  This one had lots of fun ones!

Thank you SO much fro visiting today,
Wanda

Watercolor Wash Technique Technique Page

This is a fun technique I thought I would share with you.  It allows you to move colors around and even reuse what is leftover so you don't have a lot of waste.  

I took a piece of Shimmery card stock and misted it with water.  I put a few drops of inkers on a plastic sandwich bag and then with a wet paint brush I moved the colors around.  Then I set the card stock on top and when I removed it this is what I saw.  I LOVED it. 

You can even take another piece of sprayed card stock and put it on top of the bag again, without adding any more ink and see what you get.  It's quick and easy and super fun to do!  And it's SO pretty. I LOVE the bold colors.  I used the primary colors here, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point and Perfect Plum.  Next time I make it I will omit the Pumpkin Pie since the red and yellow will combine to make an orange color.  As long as you don't move the colors around too much you won't get mud and it will always be pretty!  Experiment and have fun with it!

This is another installment in set #5 of my technique pages.  These pages are designed for you to teach classes with.  The CD's come with the instructions on a page ready for you to print out (5-3/4" x 5-3/4").  Your customers would just do the technique, cut it to fit the page and also decorate the page.  A photo of the finished page is also included.  And you could have your customers make a card using the technique too.  That way they not only get a page to add to their collection of techniques but a finished card too!  You can purchase the CD's here in my web store.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Mr. & Mrs. Frosty and Cat

Just a little change of pace today and I'll be back at it tomorrow with a very fun background technique.  I promise!!

I just wanted to share with you the ornament I made for my niece and her husband.  She asked me to make her an ornament to commemorate their first Christmas together and to quote, "It has to have a cat on it."  So the same night (two days before Christmas) I'm in my workroom playing with clay.  She had seen a cute snowman and snowlady ornament that she thought was cute so I thought I would go that route.  I got out the clay and began to play!  I

I even took some scrap clay and made the kitty and stuck it to the side of the snowlady.  It's kind of hard to see in the photo but it's there!  

The second photo is of the backside of the ornament.  I had made it so the snowman's arm was around the snowlady but it got hidden behind the veil.  

I was not thrilled with the flowers.  I like how they looked but not at the bottom where I had affixed them to the head with liquid Sculpey.  I should have done something different.  But now I know so the next time I make these they will look better.  

And I'm not thrilled with the wire in the back either.  I had to make a wire to hang them and then I had to split the wire at the end so a piece could go into each character. There was no way just to put one hanger in the middle of them.  That is something I will have to work on later when I have more time.  Something like that is all about balance.  Had I stuck the hanger in the man it would have hung in one direction and had I stuck it on the lady it would have hung the other direction.  It needed to be in the middle.  I may have to add a wire first and then attach the two bodies together.  That is something I'll work on the next time I make a pair of these!  

But the most important part of this was that when they opened them and saw it they loved it!!!  That made me happy!!  They were fun to make.  Anytime I get my hands all oily from the clay is fun!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fruit & Flowers

I saw a card much like this on Pinterest and I really wanted to make it.  But I didn't have the set with the apples in it.  So I looked through my stamps to see what apples I had.  I found this apple in the Fruits & Flowers set.  I had bought that set because I thought it was cute and I had never used it.  So it was fun to be able to finally play with it!

The original card was found here.  I didn't pay attention to the design of the original card so when I went to add the dots to the bottom I added a few rows too many.  But it worked and it still looks good.  

After coloring in each apple I cut them out.  I set them in place on the card but didn't tape them.  My eye was not liking what it saw, the card still needed something.  These apples had a heart in the center and I had colored the center edges in using Cherry Cobbler but it just wasn't enough.  Then I got out the heart punch and punched 3 out of Real Red card stock.  I taped them in place and took the Chocolate Chip marker and added the seeds and that was exactly what the apples needed.

The words are from the Just Believe set.  And that was it.  It's a very clean and simple card to make!  It was fun and quick too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Gingerbread House Christmas Ornament

I thought I would share with you a Christmas ornament I made just 2 days before Christmas.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get things done!!!  

I made this out of polymer clay (Fimo and Sculpey).  Polymer clay has always been one of my favorite things to play with.  I actually have three craft mediums I love to play with and they are polymer clay, rubber stamping and beading.  Clay being the cheapest of all of them!!!  Clay is something that I can actually run out of.  The stamps and beads, well that would be unheard of!!! LOL  

When I started this ornament I had a different house in mind.  But I do like how this one turned out.  I had this little jar half full of little clay candies so it was easy to just add them to the door trim. I whipped up a couple of  candy canes and with the snow on the roof and ground I was going to leave it as it was.  But then I realized I didn't have any room for the year so I added the little clay charms (the gingerbread boy and girl and heart).  And that completed the ornament.  I was now proud to give it as a gift!

It was very fun to make and I may make some to sell in my web store but not for a few months.  I need to recover a bit longer from the holidays before I dip into Christmas stuff again!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Blog Candy Winner!

Today is the day for the Blog Candy drawing.  I thought it would have been funny (and kind of eerie) had the Random Number Generator picked the #13! (the link for the generator is on the right sidebar, way down on the list). My grandma was a very superstitious person.  Her birthday was on September 13th and if it landed on a Friday she would stay indoors all day. Poor thing!  Fortunately for her that didn't happen too many times! But we made sure she had a nice birthday anyway!  

So lets move on to the Blog Candy winner!

  The Random Number Generator picked the #28.  And that number belonged to Connie.  Here is Connie's comment:

" connie said...

The number 13 is just another number. It is only what we make of it. Buttttt. . .I will not walk under a ladder. Let's hope 2013 will be a great year and if I win the stamps, then I know for sure 13is lucky. Thanks for the chance to win." 

 I thank you all for playing along.  As I work on getting my workroom more organized I am sure I will be running across more unused stamp sets and of course I will post them here as Blog Candy!!  Everyone loves getting free stuff, don't they?  LOL

Connie, I do need you to email me with your snail mail so I can get the package off to you.  I managed to fill it pretty full too!  You will have hours of fun with the stuff that's in there!

I thank you all for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I have a fun item to share with you.
Wanda

Just Because

Just Because is included in my list of favorite sets to play with.  Today I thought I would try the Sponged Stencil Technique.

You just find a punch that you like and take a piece of scrap card stock and punch the shape out.  Save the piece you would normally keep for another project.

Take the scrap piece with the punched out area.  Here I used a large circle punch.  I did take the original circle and a pencil and made a mark around it on my working paper so I could see where to line up the "stencil."  I did that because I wanted the circle centered.  You don't need to do that unless you want things in a specific place.

I lined up the "stencil" with my pencil lines and I sponged in some Daffodil Delight first and then some More Mustard.  And for this card, that was it.  The sponging gave the circle a nice look of the sun setting.  Though I should have done more on the background to give it a bit more depth.  But I do like how this turned out anyway, so I left it as it is.  I kept it simple.

The butterfly is from the Kindness Matters set.  I just took a piece of post it paper and masked off the are I didn't want ink on and then stamped the butterfly.

This is a very easy and fun card to make.

Don't forget to leave a comment here for the Blog Candy drawing tomorrow.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Curly Cute Butterflies

I love butterflies!  One of the things I would like to do this spring is to buy a chrysalis or four!! And watch it go through it's phases.  Wouldn't that be fun?  Well, I think it would be anyway.  

I saw a card like this on Pinterest.  It was made by Chunyuan at Dahlia Memories.  I think the butterfly punch she used was one of the Martha Stewart ones.  I used the Stampin' Up! one and made it work.  My circled had to be a little bigger (2-1/8") to make it work but if you don't compare the two cards no one will ever know!

It's just such a pretty card and easy to make too.  Just punch the butterflies and then center them inside the circle punch and punch out the circle.  I then punched out 2" circles using the Brights pack of decorative paper.  Those were put together using Dimensionals.  

The words are from the Curly Cute set.  Once I got the words on I set the butterfly circles in place.  I put the  yellow and green ones on first.  I just used tape only on the back.  For the Melon Mambo butterfly I used tape on the upper part of the circle and Dimensionals on the bottom .  

And lastly I added some rhinestones to the bottom corner and that was it.  Very easy.  Very quick and oh SO fun!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Day Planner Weekend Project

I thought I should start the year off right with a new Day Planner. I surfed the net to find some free pages that I liked.  I found so many of them that were 8-1/2" x 11" but I didn't want a planner that big.  I guess I was looking for one half that size so I could lose it easier!!!  LOL  My workroom is such a mess and I do misplace things a lot.  I'm hoping to get it cleaned up this coming weekend.  I have no other big plans!

After surfing the net and finding a page layout that I liked I printed them out.  It only took 26 pieces of copier paper because I printed it on both sides (just like a real day planner!!!).  Though I did use only 20# paper.  It did work but 28# or 30# is much nicer.  It's got some substance to it and you can't see the writing from the previous page.  But it's ok, this will do the job I have in mind for it.

I wasn't sure where I was going to go with the cover.  I used the Summer Silhouettes set.  I was going to use the card that was on that same page for my cover but it didn't really work.  The card is smaller than the front of my book so this is what I ended up with.  The catalog I am referring to is the Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 one.  

I stamped the images and then added the layers of decorative paper.  This paper came from the Summer Smooches pack.  I'm not overly fond of how the bottom part of the planner and again, it's ok, it will do the job!!

To make the planner you will need to print out the pages.  Here is the link to where I got the free pages to download and print out.  Once I got the 26 pages printed on both sides I cut them in half.  Then I punched the holes in them with my RubiCoil machine.  You can always take them to an office store such as Office Max, Office Depot or Kinko's, or maybe your local printer and have the holes punched.   Be sure to bring the cover pages with you too.  I also cut a sheet of copier paper in half so I could add one to the front of the book and one to the back.  You can always use a paper punch and bind the book together with twine or rings.  There's lots of ways to bind a book!  Once the pages were punched I ran the spiral through them and bent the edges to hold it in place.  Then I proceeded to decorate the front and that was it!! Now I have no excuse to not get the things done I need to.  Well, they will be written down at least.  Getting them done is a whole different story!!! LOL

Have fun making these.  Please be sure to check the copyrights on the pages if you plan to make these to sell. The pages were made by someone and they may have rules to them beyond personal use.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Happy New Year Blog Candy

 As promised I am posting my annual New Year's Day Blog Candy!!!  Today I am posting 4 sets of Scrappy Cat clear stamps.  These sets are nice size too.  The first one measures 4" x 6" (not including the colored header).  The other three are larger and measure 6" x 8" (not including the colored header).  There's a lot of stamps to play with here.  

And now you want to know how to win these stamps!  Well, you just have answer one question and leave that answer at this post only.  The question is:  "Is the #13 a lucky number to you or not?"

I will give you my answer here but I will not add it to the comments, I already own these fun sets!!!  LOL  Personally, I think the #13 is a lucky number, despite what superstitions or legends my say.  I LOVE it when Friday the 13th rolls around.  I think it's a fun day.  I think I like it most because it defies those superstitions and legends.  I don't throw salt over my shoulder when it gets spilled (though I don't ever recall spilling salt LOL). I don't worry about walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror.  And I adore black cats!!!  

My mother-in-law knew all the meanings to those superstitions.  I don't know if she really believed in them, I just remember that she knew what they all meant.  I remember one time when my nose itched I told my husband to kiss me.  As the superstition, legend or "wives tale" tells, it means I'm going to kiss a fool!  LOL  Poor hubby!!! 

So as far as the #13, I am looking forward to 2013 with high hopes and expectations.  I have a very busy year planned and I see it as a positive year.  A year filled with many good things for me and my family!!!  

Ok, now you tell me what your thoughts on the #13 are.  I will draw a name from the list on Sunday January 6th.  

Oh and for those of you who have followed along with my blog candy in the past, you know that I always add lots more stuff to that package before it goes out in the mail!! LOTS of fun stuff.  Lots more this year because I think the #13 is lucky!!!  So some lucky winner is going to be very happy with this package. It's usually well over a $75 value!

One more thing, I need to keep this open to USA and Canadian residents only.  I just can't afford the postage outside these areas, sorry.  

Thanks for playing along and good luck to you!
Wanda