Sunday, December 31, 2017

Floral Thank You card

As many of you know, I am on the design team for Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned paper challenge.  I really love this challenge because it helps me to use the patterned paper I already have.  There is nothing like the new year for getting yourself into good habits, so if you have any patterned paper waiting to be used up, maybe you should check out this challenge!


The main image for this card was sitting there in my half-done projects pile.  I am not sure if I, or my son, colored it YEARS AND YEARS ago. (My son doesn’t think he could have colored it so well, but he was a dandy little crafter back when he was willing to share this craft with me.) I can tell it was done with Derwent Watersoluble Metallic Pencils and I had already die cut it out!  I paired it with some very, VERY old paper in my stash that I had purchased when Michael’s had a sort of dollar spot.  


Supplies: Gina K Stately Flowers and Assorted Greetings stamp sets, Versafine Black ink, Treasures by Shabby Chic LLC papers, Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles dies, other cardstocks from my stash.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  In December, I had such little time for crating, posting on my blog and commenting.  I hope to be much more active in the new year!  

Friday, December 29, 2017

My Top 10 Cards (Part 2)

Hello!  I am back again to share the second half of my personal favorites of all the cards I made in 2017.  You know, sometimes you make a card that you know someone else is going to love, so I am sharing the ones that I really liked, too.  Even if you don’t write a blog post about this topic, I hope you have time to review your personal accomplishments for 2017.

Bunny Gardening - This kit from Hero Arts was my favorite purchase of the year.  I love the illustration style (and hope they come out with more) and the die for the little garden with cutouts for the veggies.  


Patriotic Happy Birthday - This is a card that I CASED from a similar card at Rubber Stamp Tapestry.  I don’t do a ton of die cutting, so I was so pleased with how it turned out.


Some Birdie Loves You - I really love birds, and I just loved the bright contrast between this bluebird and the hot pink background.


Sending Love - This card was of my first cards using Distress Oxides.  I really think it is pretty, but I was also just happy to have it around as I needed a card for a friend who lost her young daughter this year.  It would have been too hard to make a card for such a sad occasion.  


Cameo Engagement - I just loved how clean and simple this was!  I like these traditional cameos!


Thanks again for visiting!  I will be back soon with new card projects.  I still love stamping and enjoy making and sending cards, so I look forward to a whole new year of it!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

My Top 10 Cards (Part 1)

Most of the time, we are looking at what we need or want to do next, instead of looking back and what we have already done.  I thought it would be fun to look through all the cards I posted on my blog this year and choose 10 that I liked best.  It was fun to do and I would encourage all crafting bloggers to do it too! (I will link to the original post under each photo.)

Ballerina - I love this image and how fun she is to color.  


Snuggly Quilt - Very fun to use some of my favorite patterned paper scraps!


Happy Father’s Day - This is the card I made for Mojo Monday’s last sketch challenge.  It is a fantastic sketch, I should use it again!

Voice of the Sea - I really enjoyed doing this CAS, but artistic card.  


Sassy Witch - It was a big deal for me to make a video of a new technique. I LOVED how this card turned out. 


Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with me! I will be back soon with part 2.  I hope you will also take a moment to see how much you accomplished this past year.  Let me know if you have a favorite card you made?  Have a great day!

Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas! (and my personal favorite Christmas card)

I just want to take a moment to wish all my blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!  


(I am just adding this photo of my personal favorite of all the Christmas cards I made this year.  The blog post with the details is here.)

I am going to do a couple little recap posts this week, and then I will be back New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with new card projects. 

Thank you for visiting! Enjoy the magic of the season!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Featured Stamper Challenge

I got some news late last night.  I am Featured Stamper this week at SplitCoastStampers!  This is not only a lovely honor for me, but there is also a challenge involved.  Stampers are asked to CASE one of my cards from the gallery.  


Here is a link to the challenge!  I know it is a busy week, but it would be fun if you could participate!  

Merry Christmas Eve!

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Last Minute - 5 Minute Handmade Christmas card

This card comes from a last-minute need to send a Christmas card.  Someone send me a card this year, and I hadn’t yet sent them one.  I LOVE receiving cards, so even though my stash is depleted, I want to make them a card, too.


This card literally took me less than 5 minutes.  I used the set of 4 snowflakes in the Snowflakes Mini Cube set and a really beautiful saying, Have a Wonderful Christmas.   I first stamped the saying in black.  Then I chose 3 colors of light blue inks and stamped the snowflakes from corner to corner.  I used a glitter pen to add some accents and added some gems. 


If I had more time, I would have use some Nuvo glitter drops, but they require dry time, so I went with gems.  You could also easily cut a mat for the card front if you don’t have a decorative frame die.  If you don’t have several colors of inkpads, try some water based markers, or use generation stamping to get different tones.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season and Happy Holidays!  

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Latte Coffee Lover’s Card

Hello!  I know you are so busy, so this is going to be a quick share!  I made this card with Valentine’s in mind - a warm latte to warm your heart in the cold weather!  Main image is colored with alcohol markers, the background stamped in brown ink.


I did use wink of stella glitter on the image, you can kindof see the subtle shimmer in this close-up.  I did keep the card very flat for mailing.


Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Latte Love,  Coffee Background, Memento Black Ink, Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk ink, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, cardstocks from my stash, Spectrum Noir markers

I would love to participate in these challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown Anything Goes
SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge Stitch It


Friday, December 8, 2017

Santa’s “Twinkle in a Tangle” card

Hello stamping friends!  Thanks for stopping by during this busy season.  I have been trying to catch up visits to everyone’s blogs and I finally also got in some crafting time today.  I really recommend crafting during the holiday season, it does help take away some of the stress for a little bit.


I colored this image with alcohol markers. It was the first time I colored it, so I did follow the colors on the Art Impressions packaging.  That helped speed it up quite a bit.  


From this angle you can see the sparkle from the wink of stella and stardust gelly roll pens that I added just to the ornaments. 


Supplies: Art Impressions Twinkle In Tangle stamp set, Memento black ink, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Spellbinders Heart circles dies, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, American Crafts WishList 6x6 paper pad, Wink of Stella clear pen, Gelly Roll stardust glitter pen

I would love to play along with these challenges and thank you for the opportunity:
Art Impressions Funny and Punny
DiesRUs Challenge Christmas Carols (It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year)
Tuesday Throwdown Christmas Scene
Pixie’s Snippets Playground Anything Goes with snippets/scraps
Cute Card Thursday Anything Goes

Thanks for your visit! 

Friday, December 1, 2017

Christmas Lightpost card - JFF Challenge

I made this card for Just for Fun’s Happy Everything Challenge.  You choose the holiday.  I am still in the mood for Christmas, so I pulled out this classic stamp and colored it with alcohol markers.


I used some patterned paper for my background, embossed my red cardstock,  and embellished.  The number is cut from the patterned paper too.


Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Christmas Lantern, Memento black ink, Spectrum Noir markers, Sizzix Embossing Folder, Theresa Collins Christmas Home 6x6 paper pad, American Crafts candy enamel dots

Thanks for stopping by! I hope I will see you at Just for Fun’s challenge!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Plant Trio by Gina K - Patterned Paper December Challenge

I have a friend who is coming up on one of those “milestone” birthdays.  I don’t like to overemphazise such things, BUT, as I was going through my stamps, I saw this Plant Trio set with a saying that I thought was very appropriate for the occasion.


I am also announcing Crafty Hazelnut’s December Patterned Paper challenge!  Anything Goes so long as you use some patterned paper from your stash on your project!  

I colored this image with my Derwent Coloursoft Pencils.  I initially planned on using a marker to highlight the word, “long,” however, I sortof unevenly inked up that sentiment, so it was already bolder.  It works!  I also used some coordinating paper on the inside of the card.


Supplies: Gina K Plant Trio stamp duo, Versafine Olympia Green ink, Happy Birthday from Anita’s Stamps, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Derwent Coloursoft Pencils, LoveNicole Aquarelle 6x6 Patterned Paper pad, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Romance at the Holidays Handmade Card - Couple Under the Light Post

Today, I am stretching my stash by using a non-Christmas stamp to make a special & romantic holiday card.  


I stamped the Couple Under the Light Post stamp on some snowy patterned paper.  I decorated the lamp post with a little bow, and then added glossy accents to the lamp and stuck a heart rhinestone right inside.  Let me show you the red frame so you can see how I made it.


I embossed the red cardstock, then added silver ink directly to the paper.  I like to do this to resemble a fancy picture frame.  


The “Be Merry” sentiment was white heat embossed.  This comes from the Sentiment Set 1.  I just thought this worked perfectly to give to someone very special this Christmas!


I really think I have found my go-to set for romantic cards!  I can see myself changing up the background to use this scene stamp for a lovely engagement card in any season.  I just love the possibilities here!


Other supplies: Theresa Collins Christmas Home 6x6 paper pad, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Gina K Designs red cardstock, Brilliance Platinum Planet ink, Recollections Detail White Embossing powder, Elizabeth Crafts Embossing Folder

As always, I truly appreciate your comments and your visit today.  Happy Stamping!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Silver & White Handmade Christmas card

This is my final week guest designing for SplitCoastStampers Color Challenge. I have had an amazing time and am very thankful for the opportunity.

This last week of November is a different color combo, you can choose from either Gold and White OR Silver and White.  I really thought I would want to use gold, but as I went along, I changed over to silver.  The optional theme is sparkle, and as you can see, I did add it!


This card has sparkle and shine, so it was hard to photograph. The chevron layer is acetate printed with silver dots.  In some of the photos it looks black, but it is silver AND it is layered over white lumiere paper for extra subtle sparkle.


 I heat embossed my trees in silver, die cut out a portion of the image and added the glitter ribbon and brad at the bottom.



Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Silhouette Pines, Versamark Ink, Recollections Silver detail embossing powder, WeRMemoryKeepers Acetate 6x6 pad, American Crafts Glitter ribbon, brad is My Mind’s Eye, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies.

I would also like to enter ScrappyMo’s Rudolph Days challenge and the DiesRUs Snow Challenge.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Clean & Simple Emoji Handmade Card

Hello and I hope all my American stamping friends had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  As I was addressing Thanksgiving cards to send out to family earlier this week, I stamped the message, “Smiles Across the Miles” on the outside of the envelopes.  I had a thought for using that message on a card.


I have this small set of emoji dies from Spellbinders and I thought it would be cute to pair the sentiment with these!  I also added the bridge from a Mama Elephant set just so the card wouldn’t be too plain.  I will be sending this off to a tween boy.  It is always such a relief to have the cards finished for this age of boys!  You never know what they will like, but I am sure this will work.

(A quick photo of the inside.)

Supplies: Gina K Designs Happy Mail Stamp Set, Mama Elephant Sightseeing stamp set, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Spellbinders Emoji set, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies.

I got to use up a bunch of scraps of yellow and black cardstock with these tiny dies, so I would love to enter Pixie’s Crafty Workshop’s Snippets Playground challenge.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Stamptangle Stars & a fun Color Combo

Hello!  I am on my third week guest-designing for the Color Challenge at SplitCoastStampers!  This week, there are 4 colors.  Hot Pink, Green, Kraft and the addition of Gold!  The dessert is to color something, but I skipped that this week.


I heat embossed my stars with gold powder and trimmed them out.  I added some Nuvo glitter drops to the centers. Then I used an embossing folder on a scrap of lumiere paper for the background.  The shimmer is really pretty in real life.  Of course, I spent a lot of time moving the stars around, but eventually decided on an arrangment and glued everything down.


Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber stamps Stamptangle Stars, large and small, Versamark Ink, Recollections Detail Gold embossing powder, Sizzix Swirl Embossing folder, Kraft and Lumiere papers from my stash, Gina K Passionate Pink and Christmas Pine cardstocks, Nuvo Crystal drops in Ruby Slippers, Emerald City and Golden Sunset.

Thanks for your kind visit today.  Please leave a comment so I can return the favor!

Friday, November 17, 2017

Snowy Snowman Scene

Hello! I have another snowman card to share today. I’m not sure why, but I am really in the mood for using them on cards.  This is a set that I have played with before, but never used on a card.


I colored him with pencils with a touch of white gel pen for detail.  I again added white flocking to the hat!  For the background, I used a paint spatter stamp from Just for Fun and some Distress Oxide ink.  Then I sponged regular distress ink around too.  

This set has nice sayings for the inside and out, so I will share the inside too.



Supplies:  Inky Antics Decorating Snowman clear set, Versafine Black ink, Derwent Coloursoft Pencils, Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Spatter Background stamp, Distress Oxide Salty Ocean ink, Distress Tumbled Glass ink, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, Stickles Glitter Glue, cardstock from my stash.

I would love to enter these challenges:
Merry Monday Outdoor Activities (Decorating!)
Dies R Us Challenge - Snow
ModSquad challenge - Merry and Bright
SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge blog - It’s a Stitch Up!

As always, I want to thank you for visiting my blog today.  And a special double thanks for those of you who subscribe and leave comments!  It is a real pleasure to have you here!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Chickadee Card (and a story about a much bigger bird)

In addition to stamping, I like to watch birds. 

 The other day, as I was sitting by my the window working on some cards, I saw five raptors circling quite low.  I knew they were mostly vultures, but suddenly, another bird caught my eye.  It was a Bald Eagle, so I rushed outside to take a better look.  It did circle around a few times so we could get a good look, even without binoculars.  What luck!  

So naturally, with these two interests, I like to have some bird stamps in my collection, and I use them quite a bit!



Let me explain how I did the background.  First, I stenciled three colors of Distress Inks onto regular white cardstock.  With the stencil still in place, I then spread flexible modeling paste over top of the inking.  After that, I removed the stencil.  As it dries, it gives the look that I colored the pastes, but this method is SO much simpler! 


Supplies:  Just for Fun Rubber stamps Stamptangle Chickadee stamp, Happy Birthday sentiment, Gina K Designs Dark Chocolate ink, Spellbinders Labels 18 die, Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage and Tea Dye, Heidi Swapp Stencil, Liquitex Flexible Modeling Paste, cardstocks from my stash.

I thank you for visiting today, and double thanks if you leave a comment!  I hope you have time for stamping today!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Color Challenge Christmas Cards

Hello everyone! I am back for my second Tuesday guest designing for SplitCoastStampers Color Challenge.   This week, Mary is the host and she chose Real Red, Cucumber Crush and Marina Mist. (Translation is Red, Green and Blue).  I hope I was able to get a close match for the Cucumber Crush - I really dug through my papers!  The optional theme is Christmas and I did go with it for both of my cards!


My first card is SUPER clean and simple.  I was inspired by a design on Pinterest, but I changed it up to make it my own.  It felt good to use the tiny star die in my set!


My second card is my favorite because I do adore this country Snowman stamp.  The birds were perfect because I could use them to include the blue.  I colored this with alcohol markers.


Supplies: October Afternoon Boughs and Berries Stamp set, Deep Red Stamps Snowman with Birds, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Memento Black ink, Spectrum Noir and Copic markers, Gina Marie X stitched rectangle dies, DieNamics Pierced Square dies, Darice star dies, American Crafts Let it Snow patterned paper, Sizzix embossing folder.

I know everyone is busy so I really appreciate your visit today!

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Snowmen!!!!!!

I have been wanting a new snowman stamp, and I recently found the cutest set!  I stamped out a bunch of these and colored them this weekend. Then I paired them up to make a card and a tag.  Oh what fun!


These are the cheaper acrylic stamp material and I always get great results with these using my Versafine ink.  Because I used that ink, I used my Prismacolor pencils and the pencil blender for coloring.




I did add some close up photos here because I hope you can see that I added some FLOCKING to the mittens and hat.  I know flocking has been out of style for ages, but I really think the white in my stash is well-used with Christmas cards. (I just need to be patient as the glue dries!)


Supplies: Art Impressions Warm Wishes Stamp and die set, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Prismacolor pencils, EK Success flocking, Heidi Swap Marquee Love and Pebbles Home for Christmas patterned papers, Stickles glitter glue, Sixxiz Tim Holtz Tag die, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies

I would love to play along with Art Impressions Tag It Challenge, Cute Card Thursday Sparkles Challenge and SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge blog Snow White challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Color Challenge - Fall Cards!

I was really happy to be asked to be a Guest Designer for the SplitCoastStampers Color challenge for November.  There is a new challenge every Tuesday.  The colors today are “crushed curry, cajun craze, cherry cobbler“ which are Stampin Up colors, but I used the closest I had in my stash to go with Burnt Orange, Yellow and Red.  The “dessert” for the challenge - an optional theme - is “gratitude.”  


For my first card, I stamped a pretty leaf and cut it out and then layered it with colored cardstocks.


The inside is where I added the gratitude twist.  I haven’t used these stamps for a long time.  I do like this sentiment with an image built in!


For the second card, I got out my Distress Inks and did a lot of generation stamping.  


Supplies:  Card One - Inkakinkado Harvest Expressions and Mindscape Fall stamp sets, Technique Tuesday Little Sentiments Stamp set, Versafine Onyx Black, Crimsom Red, Satin Red, Cardstock from stash, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles, Darice Woodgrain Embossing Folder; Card Two - Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Flora and Fauna Sheet, Distress Ink Dried Marigold, Faded Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Inkakinkado Harvest Expressions, Versafine black ink, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles, Spellbinders Foliage dies.

Thanks for stopping by today!

I would love to enter these projects in SimonSaysStamp’s Monday Challenge “Thanks/Thanksgiving.”