Here are the other cards I made when I was playing with embossing powders a couple of weekends ago:

Gold Horse Trio (b&j's art stamps) is Gold embossed (tim holtz super fine powder) on La Creme paper (DCWV).  Mounted on Giddy Up Prints (boxer scrapbook) on Barn Plank paper.  Jute Burlap (the paper studio) completes the card.

Heads-Up rubber stamp set (local king out of Canada) Giraffe is done in Gold embossing (tim holtz super fine) on dark blue cardstock; he is two-layered.  4-inch white paper doily (wilton) was sprayed with Lavender Tea (memories mists).  Base paper Friends Grass Stains (collectionz paperz).  A Jute Burlap ribbon (the paper studio) and 4 rhinestones (made by me -- Europe) complete the card.

Love Reaches New Heights set (local king) -- Baby Giraffe is Black embossed (HOTP super fine) and Momma Giraffe is Gold embossed (tim holtz super fine) on dark green cardstock.  They are two-layered.  Base paper is Glorious Glitters handmade paper (memory star).  Two small Swirls (my favorite things) and 3 buttons complete the card.

If you have never seen Sue Coccia's rubber stamps and products, here is a sample of her Camel rubber stamp done in Silver embossing powder (tim holtz super fine) on dark brown and metallic ivory cardstock. Base paper is Taj Mahal (dcwv).  Ribbon (american crafts) and Green Pearls (cloverleaf of the Netherlands) complete the card.

Use the link above and pop over to Sue's website.  My husband and I love her products!  She recently came out with a Peacock design, so be sure to look that up; besides the rubber stamp, I also have the magnet and trivet. I'm waiting for the t-shirt and tote bag to come out.  My husband loves her Dolphin and Camel designs; we have rubber stamps in both.

Reminder:  All my greeting cards are 5 X 6½ inches (or 6½ X 5 inches if horizontal), are blank inside and come with matching envelopes.

I haven't gotten much done in greeting cards the past couple of weeks due to family visiting.  Jan was here with her 10-year-old son, and we took a class together on coloring with Copic markers.  Hopefully, my cards will look improved in this arena.

Jan had not left to go back home yet when another set of relatives showed up, ones we had not seen in a couple of decades (live out of state).  They were only here for two days, but still no cards done -- just lots of talking and catching up!

Here are some more of the cards I made with the embossing powders I was playing with a couple of weeks ago:

I LOVE, Love, love! these horses.  I have seen trios of horses over the years, similar to this design, and I love every single one.  I was so tickled to find this in a rubber stamp (B&J's Art Stamps) at the Paper Arts & Rubber Stamp Festival in Puyallup, Washington last month that I had no qualms about buying it.  The horses are done in Black super fine embossing powder (HOTP) on light green La Creme Paper (DCWV), edged with Aquamarine (cats eyes) and mounted with pop squares on Hay paper.  Base paper is Giddy Up Prints (Boxer Scrapbook).  Black and white twine complete the card.

This Flying Dragon was done over a month ago and just have simply forgotten to post him.  He is done in Fall Forest embossing powder (creations unlimited).  This is a type of glitter embossing powder.  Embossed on white card stock edged with Salty Ocean distressed ink (tim holtz).  Base paper Black (momento cardstock).  One-half white paper doily brushed with Lipstick Red ink (cats eyes).  Black tinsel twine (tim holtz) and 3 pearls (kaisercraft) complete this card.

In playing with my embossing powders, I have discovered that not all embossing powders work well with these detailed rubber stamps.  The less fine the powder, the less detail the design.  So for bold design rubber stamps, use your basic embossing powders, but for detailed design rubber stamps like these, use Super Fine Embossing Powder for an outstanding design!

I have been listing my cards on I Did It Creations for the past year and have not had a single sale.  I am abandoning this option.  I have a craft show on September 6 - 7 in SEATAC, Washington, if you are in the area and want to come out and purchase some greeting cards.  I am not sure what other shows I will be able to get into before the holidays.  Let me know if you want to be on my email list for future shows.  We do 3 to 4 holiday craft shows each year.  My husband's etched glassware will be available at all these shows; his handmade chocolates will only be at the holiday shows as we do not know how to keep the chocolates from melting during the summer shows.

In the meantime, I will work on setting up my own website to sell our crafts.  I have tried Etsy and sold zilch -- there are just too many crafters on it.  I have had minimal success on e-Bay.  If you know of a site my cards should do well on, do not hesitate to contact me.

In the meantime, I have more cards to take photos of to post hopefully later this week.  Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

This weekend, I created a greeting card for My Favorite Things' Weekly Card Sketch #180 Challenge:

This was a fun little project as I used techniques I have not used in the past.  Since Jan is visiting this week, I also had access to some of her die-cuts in order to do this card (check out her blog for her entry into this challenge).

The base paper on this 5 X 6½" card is from Life's Journey paper pack (K&Company).  Metallic light blue paper is Stars embossed and cut using Banner die-cut (My Favorite Things MFT).  Glitter blue cardstock from Glitter pack (DCWV) is Stitched embossed and die-cut (MFT).  The Wheel is double layered with small pop squares.  I die-cut two pieces, one on brown and the other on tan paper.  I then rubber-stamped in black the tan paper wheel to give it a more rustic look and added it on top of the brown wheel.  The Anchor is on pop dots, cut from metallic gold card stock.  Both of these items are from Let's Get Nautical rubber stamp and die cut set (MFT).  I'm loving this set and will have to put on my wish list. The sentiment is from the same set and on a Flags die-cut (Spellbinders).  Two buttons complete the card.

Our schedule is pretty full while Jan is here, so not sure if I will get very many more cards made while she is here.  However, I will be taking advantage of her die-cuts and rubber stamps (and she is taking advantage of mine).  We are also taking a Copics coloring class, so hopefully, we will see an improvement on my coloring.

Oh!  Almost forgot....If you were unaware, you can emboss using the light-weight plastic templates (that many people use for painting on walls, sewing and, as in my husband's case, glass etching).  Jan showed me how to emboss using my Cuttlebug.  So cool!  I'll post a card when I'm done.

Have a great summer!

I have a cousin who has twin boys with an older brother, 2nd cousins, I have never met.  I was recently informed of the boys' birthdays which are coming up, so I sat down in my craft room to make some birthday cards this past weekend.  I also missed my Aunt and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary, so I made a card for them as well.  Then I spent the rest of the weekend playing with embossing powders. Here are the results of this past weekend's work:

Birthday card for one of the twin's 7th birthday.  The Cow rubber stamp is from the Dog & Pony Show set (technique tuesday), colored with Copic markers and edged in Aquamarine (cat's eyes).  The Moo sentiment from the same set is edged in Warm Violet (cat's eyes).  Base paper is Hay Bales; the Fleur de Lys Fretwork die cut (bergmann's noor! design) in silver glitter paper completes the card.

Card for second twin's birthday.  The Rooster and sentiment is from the same Dog & Pony Show set with the sentiment stamped in Circus ink (splendor) and edged in French Blue (cat's eyes) on pop dots.  Rooster is colored with Copic markers.  Base paper is Autumn Layered pad (me&mybigideas).  A Green Leaf ribbon completes the card for this 7th birthday card.

Both of these cards are 5-3/4" X 4½".

This 5" X 6½" Literary Owl birthday card for the older, 10-year-old brother was colored with Copic markers and edged in Blue Lagoon (cat's eyes). Using pop dots, he is placed on Dark Grey Glitter paper with Top Note die cut.  Base paper is Life's Journey (k&company). Three Splendor Fall Leaves (prima) and 2 Pearls (kaisercraft) complete the card.

For my Aunt and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary, size 5" X 6½".  I understand my Aunt Mary makes greeting cards, so this gives her a chance to see one of my techniques.  The Irises are colored with Copic markers, and Yellow, Grape & Green glitter glue (stickles) to highlight.  The white paper doily (wilton) is spritzed with Pal Ale (memories mist).  Base paper is from The Mariposa Stack (dcwv).  The sentiment (starform) is edged in Sweet Melon (cats eyes) and pop dot mounted.  The Hearts adhesive tape (zeeman in the Netherlands) and orange Butterfly brad complete the card.

A 5" X 6½" birthday card for an old high school buddy who I've recently re-connected with after 34 years -- way too long!  We will definitely be keeping in touch now (the joys of Facebook!).  This Circular Dragon was done in Black Embossing Powder (hotp) on marbled blue paper and mounted with pop dots.  Base paper from The Far East stack #2 (dcwv) and edged in Merlot (cats eyes).  Shanghai Vintage Fan (dove of the east) and Green Pearls (cloverleaf - The Netherlands) complete the card.  Now I'd best get it out in the mail!

For one of our kids who graduated from college with her second Master's degree -- can you guess in which state?  Not a bad graduation card considering I have very little materials for such.  This 6¼ X 4-3/4" card was edged in Vintage Photo distressed ink (tim holtz).  Base paper Graduation (the paper company) with Kansas items (jet setter - reminisce line) sitting upon a Top Note die cut piece with Congratulations sentiment dazzle (hotp).  Three Rhinestones (from The Netherlands) complete the card.  Now, I need to pop this one in the mail as well because she has already graduated!

Now that I got all the "work" out of the way, I went back to playing with embossing powders:

Now I understand why Jan enjoys this technique so much.  I was having fun!  Circular Dragon done in Silver Embossing Powder (tim holtz). Base paper The Far East (dcwv), Burgandy ribbon (craftsmart) and Friendship chinese symbol dazzle (hotp).  Notice Chinese gold lantern (starform) in upper right corner by the ribbon.  Three burgandy Pearls (queen & co) complete the 6½" X 5" card.  This one is up for sale.

Another version of the Circular Dragon, done this time in Gold Powder embossing (tim holtz) on patterned green paper.  White paper doily (wilton) spritzed with Strawberry Daiquiri (memories mist).  It has been a while since I worked with my mists, so it was time to get back into it.  Base paper is from The Far East (dcwv). Gold ribbon (celebrate it) and three Pearls (clover leaf - The Netherlands) complete the card.  This one is for sale.

This Golden Circular Dragon (tim holtz embossing powders) on black cardstock graces this 5" X 6½" greeting card.  He rests on base paper from The Far East #2 (dcwv).  The Yellow Sheer ribbon (celebrate it), Chinese Symbol dazzle edged with Gold ink (cat's eyes) and Pearls (cloverleaf - The Netherlands) complete the card; it is for sale.

Another Silver Circular Dragon (tim holtz embossing powder) on green mottled paper sits atop a white Doily (wilton) spritzed with Blueberry Shake (memories mists). Base paper from The Far East #2 (dcwv).  The Mah Jong Tile (dove of the east) is tied on to the Grey ribbon. Three Pearls (cloverleaf -- The Netherlands) completes this card; it is for sale.

As you can see, I love working with Dove of the East products.  I usually reserve these items for special family and friends as they are a little on the expensive side -- and difficult to find in local stores.   If you love travel, take a look at their website and see if you don't agree!

That's all for this time.  I am in the process of continuing to re-arrange my craft and hobby rooms.  Right now, my work table is buried under a ton of crafting material and unfinished projects as I re-arrange furniture and rooms.  I hope to be able to get back to creating cards again within the next two weeks as I have some Thank You cards to create and get out.  I need to at least find my working materials so I can complete my 50th Birthday Party book (from two years ago!) while watching The Belmont Stakes this coming weekend.  Yes, besides making cards, I do travelogues and special events scrapbooks.

Oh, just to make you drool......

My husband has been making chocolates for many years.  He has been selling them at various events for the past four or more years.  This batch is for a new baby, all with Baby and Pooh designs.  The new mother dived right into the chocolates as soon as we took them over.  Please watch the drooling on your keyboard as you view the rest of the photos....

These are done in White and Dark Chocolate.  Yes, we do take orders.  Keep in mind we have a limited variety of designs.

Have a good week!

Morning!  I'm shooting for another Greeting Card Challenge, this time with 7 Kids College Fund:

My neighbor just had a baby, but a boy.  I had his card made back in March, so this will be used for a future baby card.  'Tis the season, right?

I colored this little girl with Copic markers and Yellow glitter pen for the candle light; she sits on dark gold glitter paper (Top Note die cut).  The Baby Girl Text base paper (DCWV) is brushed around the edges and along the bottom with Picked Raspberries distressed ink (Tim Holtz).  The Baby Pink Ribbon is from our Belgium friends.  A lavender Butterfly brad completes the card.

I made a lot of birthday, graduation and 50th wedding anniversary cards this weekend, and I will post those in a little while.

Strawberries are on, just love them fresh!