Wednesday, March 27, 2013

My Easter cards for this year:


 Notice metallic Easter egg brad on both these cards.

 Bunny punch-out on inside of card.



Bunny punches using different color paper on inside of card.  Simple, but a nice touch.

One of the recipients of these cards called me early this morning with a hearty Thank You!  They love their Easter card!


If you remember, I enter Greeting Card Challenges every once in a while, but have not won anything.  A couple weeks ago, I entered a Challenge where all I had to do was leave a comment.  (I've done this once before.)  I just couldn't pass up this opportunity, as it was sponsored by DCWV.  Lo and behold, I won (1 of 3 winners)!  Here are photos of my goodies:

The entire "she-bang!"


Close-up photos.....




Some of these paper packs were on my wish list, some I have never seen before.  So many goodies and so little time to make greeting cards!  Of course, I will post photos of cards I make from these products.  (And, yes, Jan is drooling over what she thinks she can sneak out when she comes over for Spring Break tomorrow!)



I am just beyond "tickled pink" with my goody boxes (came in two shipments). ...And now you know what I look like....


How many of you have shopped for scrapbooking/card making supplies on the Home Shopping Network (Channel 17 through Comcast in Washington state)?  I have not yet.  What is your opinion of the quality of the products? Prices? I would be very much interested in hearing your opinions on this.  Thanks Vickie F. for the heads-up!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Today's entry into the Earth Art International designer contest is the Elephant.

Supplies:

  • Base and matt paper are both from Taj Majal stack by DCWV (love this paper pack!)
  • Elephant rubber stamp is from Earth Art International/Sue Coccia. Colored with Copic markers.  (If you are wondering, yes, Sue's designs are very time consuming, sometimes challenging, to color, but fun.)  Elephant is attached using pop dots.
  • No glitter glue on this card as there is enough bling on the papers.
  • Black ribbon is basic stuff from any craft or sewing store.
  • Basic Yellow glitter paper stock cut with Nesting Lace Circles die cuts using my Cuttlebug.
  • Metal is from Dove of the East India Journey collection. I hope they come out with more India stuff as I love it!
  • The Thinking of You rub-on is left over from a previous India style card kit. Love it when the card kit manufacturers add extras for future use!



My entry into the Earth Art International designer contest earlier this week is the Horse.  Owner Sue Coccia is looking to put a design team together, so I thought I would give it a try.  


This is the first time I have used Sue's rubber stamps even though I have owned some for a few years. 

Supplies used:
  • Basic paper is Bales of Hay 
  • Matt is Gloss Marble Black by The Paper Company. Got to get more of this paper! Any other black paper just did not make the Horse stand out like I wanted it to.
  • Horse rubber stamp by Earth Art International, colored with Copic markers
  • Stickles Glitter glue for Fish Bubbles (Turquoise), Stars (Yellow) and Spider "trail" (Lavender)
  • Lariat is jute twine
  • Happy Birthday rubber stamp (using Staz-On Forest Green ink) is from Greetings collection; Horsehead/Horseshoe (using Staz-On Jet Black ink) is from Horses collection; both collections are by Inkadinkadoo.


I have been making greeting cards since 2004, and I must say I have greatly improved over the years.  I started off just doing rubber stamps and some basic matting.  Since then, I have added other medium, bling, ribbons and flowers, and have learned all kinds of techniques.  I thoroughly enjoy making greeting cards and plan on continuing for as many years as I can.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The new Paper Boutique is open at Stampin' in the Rain!  When you are next visiting the Country Village in Canyon Park/Bothell area (Washington state), be sure to pop on in for a visit.  The Country Village is great fun for the entire family while you are shopping at Stampin' in the Rain (chickens, fish, train ride, popcorn,etc.).





Plenty of bright, bold colored paper in stock.

Lots of racks hold a wide variety of paper, some I've never seen anywhere else.


 A basket of other goodies.



A basket of page layout kits.  Greeting card kits will be coming.



The other end of the paper boutique -- more paper!

Have you ever seen lace paper?  They have a variety of papers with a sheet of lace stitched on top. Pretty cool and so pretty!



They always have samples for ideas in using their paper and rubber stamps!


Rack with paper packs and other goodies.



Need canvas or gunney sack paper? Would be interesting to work with....



Another sampling of their tempting paper!



Of course, plenty of ribbon and twine to complete that special greeting card, travelogue or scrapbook.

Enjoy your shopping trip!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Need a chart to keep track of your Copic Markers (until you have the entire set)?  Download from Copic Resources and let the fun begin!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Everyone once in a while, we just need to do something different. This card is one of those.


After I stamped and colored Mr. Frog, I cut around him leaving a smidgen of white border.  When I showed the completed card to my husband, he said it looked like the frog was getting ready to jump off the card.  Now, that's what I want to hear!!  I'm sure some of you understand how difficult it is to get comments on your cards from family besides, "uh huh, nice." 

I've had this, and other card bases sitting on my work table for quite a few months.  I had tried out a new embossing folder and then set the cards aside to put something on them later. Well, that something  is now, at least for one card.  The embossing folder is Iron Works by Cuttlebug.  Base paper is Ferris Garden 42-5347 by Provo Craft.  The Frog and Leaf rubber stamps are from Friendship set by Local King Rubber Stamp. We picked this set up when we were on Victoria Island three years ago for vacation.  Colored Frog with Copic markers, and used color pencils on the Leaf.  I cut out the Leaf without leaving a white border.  Used pop dots on both.

When I got this far on the card, I wanted the Iron Works embossing design to "pop" out, so I brushed a little bit of Tim Holtz' Vintage Photo distressed ink over the top.  Perfect! 

The sentiment is from the same Friendship stamp set and edged with Merlot from the Rich Rustics Color Box Cat's Eyes ink set.

The little frog and salamander on the leaf are punches.



Even though Valentine's Day is past, there are other occasions to show someone love (or start on NEXT year's Valentine's Day cards).

For this card, I decided to go BOLD.  I rarely use bold, flashy papers as a base.  But this card called for it.


I used Monica Romances (HMER1004) rubber stamp by House Mouse, stamped on basic marbled pink paper from a craft warehouse  paper pack.  She is colored with Copics with the paper edged in Aquamarine from Misty Meadow Color Box Cat's Eyes ink set.  She is set on the doily with pop dots.

I found a package of Wilton's 4" Paper Doilies in the cake decorating section at Michael's Arts & Crafts.  This particular design only came in white.  There was a package of doilies in black, but I didn't care for the design.  When I find black doilies in a design I like.....oooohhhhh, wouldn't that make for a cool card?!

Base and matt paper are from the These Days 6½ inch paper pad by Kaiser Craft.  I added a basic Green lace (that you can find in most sewing stores).  Doily was glued down and Monica place on top with pop dots.  The sentiment paper is basic Beige paper topped with Tim Holtz' Peeled Paint Distress Ink.  The sentiment is "Sweet as Love" (QR1063) by House Mouse.  Two (2) Red rhinestones for added bling finish off the card.

The remnants from the sentiment paper is what I used to punch out the frog and salamander on the Frog card above.


I'm teaching a couple of friends how to make fudge this weekend, so I do not know if I will get any cards done (but with the sun out, I should be gardening!).  Would love to see your cards.

Happy Craft Month!



Thursday, March 7, 2013

Went to post today's greeting card, and discovered I have not yet taken photos and downloaded it.  Ooopps!  Be right back......

Okay, I'm back.  Today's card, just for a birthday girl!  I do not normally do fun and whimsical cards, but figured it was time to do one. What else can you possibly do with this topic, but be fun and whimsical?!


The base paper and green matts are from Bright Embellishment Punch-Out pack by Colorbok.  Papers behind the big cupcake are: plain yellow paper and glitter yellow paper from basic paper packs; using Fancy Frames cartridge by Cricut to cut them out (Frames 15LR and 15).  The rubber stamps are Birthday Cupcakes (#97628) by Inkadinkadoo and colored with Copic markers.  I added Stickles Glitter Glue for the cupcake blings: Firefly, Turqouise, Glam Pink and Yellow. Edged all the cupcakes and sentiment with Gold ink from Basics Color Box Cat's Eyes ink set.  The Sentiment is from the Stone Rubber Stamp Set.  I stamped it using Circus ink by Splendor/Tsukineko.

You've probably noticed I've been using these Cricut frames for several cards lately.  They just seem to add something to the cards.  I've been using two shades of the same colors -- I think it is time to use two different colors, don't you?  We will see what the future holds!



I love this dolphin card!  It is a brand new design I picked up not too long ago.  Base paper is 12 X 12 Waves by Flavia; matt is basic Water paper. I purchased these two papers years ago from Michael's Arts and Crafts, or JoAnne's Fabrics and Crafts.  The Dolphin Mother & Young is by Inkadinkadoo, and colored with Copic markers.  The Fish Net ribbon (I have no idea what it is really called, but that is what it looks like) I bought from Urban Scrapbooker.  I was in her store last week, and she still has this type of "ribbon".  She even has a couple more colors than when I originally purchased mine.  If you want this for your cards, call, e-mail or visit the store as she may not be able to get it anymore.

The sentiment is from the In Love rub-on set by Kaiser Craft.  I picked up the Seashells at a scrapbooking convention a couple of years ago. I believe they are put out by Eyelet Outlet & Brads. If you have never bought from them, be careful when you visit their website.  They have so many fun and neat brads, you just might end up spending way more than your budget will want you to (I did)!