Playing Card themed Birthday Cards!

Hello! I have some very clean and simple cards to share today!  Both use playing card themed dies and sentiments and use patterned paper in a subdued way.  I plan to use these for masculine birthday cards - I think they are going to go over ver well with the punny sentiments!

These, of course, are to showcase Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge for February!

 Supplies: Casual Fridays In the Cards stamp set and Shuffle dies, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Teresa Collins World Traveler 6x6 Paper Pad, Recollections Valentine paper pad, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy Life - Tea themed card

Hello!  Hope your week is starting off well.  I am making that meal for the family in need today (to go with the card I made last week).  It smells wonderful in my house as I am making home made chicken soup and rolls.  I am making a huge batch so we can eat it too!

I have another quick share for a card I made for Power Poppy’s monthly challenge using a card sketch from PageMaps. I think it turned out cheery! I am also linking it up to the Daily Marker’s 30 Day coloring challenge.

Supplies:  Power Poppy Short Stacks stamp set, Memento Black ink, Spectrum Noir makers, Gold and sparkle gel pens, Darice Aquarelle patterned paper, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, other supplies from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!

Old Country Roses Card

Hello, thanks for stopping by!  My posts have been wordy lately, so here’s a quick share!

Supplies:  Gina K Designs by Claire Brennan Old Country Roses stamp set, Flowers Ink colors: Gina K Innocent Pink, Passionate Pink, Hero Arts Raspberry Jam, Leaves Ink color: Gina K Applemint, Hero Arts Green Hills, Gina K Christams Pine,  Sentiment Ink Versafine Black, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, Spellbinders Oval dies, Sizzix Moguls Embossing Folder, Gina K Innocent Pink cardstock, other supplies from my stash.

Special thanks to these challenges for helping inspire this card:

Stamp TV January Challenge - Kindness

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Have a great day!

Flower of the Month - January Snowdrops Card

Hello!  Hope you are having a great weekend!  I have a second card for my Flower of the Month theme.  

I saw that Snowdrops are also considered a birth flower for January. I have always loved how the snowdrops come up from the snow in early spring.  Last year, we did have them bloom in February, because it was unusually warm, but typically they come up in March.  So it was a surprise that they are actually a January flower.  Maybe down South?  Or maybe people plant the bulbs indoors to bloom in the winter?

Again, my stamp comes from I Brake for Stamps.  It is my only snowdrop stamp, but I search around and found just a few more that are available.  I stamped it with green Distress Oxide ink onto ivory card.  Then I used a water brush to bring out the color.  The background lattice was stamped with the same ink, but I spritzed the stamp with water before stamping.  I was in the mood for a bright, springy look, so that is why I used the pretty lemon yellow.

Supplies:  I Brake for Stamps Bubble Wrap, Lattice and Flowers stamp set, Distress Oxide Lucky Clover ink, Gina Marie X Stitched Circle Die, DieNamics Pierced Squares dies, Tim Holtz tag dies, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Special Thanks to these challenges that helped inspire my card today:

Tuesday Morning Sketches #437

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Layer it up

I was thrilled to see that Bonnie is also making cards with a Flower of the Month theme too!  See her January Card here!

You can see all my Flower of the Month Cards for 2018 at this link.

Thanks for stopping by!

Santa and Mrs. Claus

Hello and happy Friday!  I was looking at the stamping challenges going on, and I decided to combine Christmas with a Love Challenge because I had the perfect stamp to do so!  

I think you can “feel the love” with this cute stamp of Santa and Mrs. Claus. This image takes a little while to color, but it is really cute.  I heat embossed the sentiment and then die cut out the components.  I thought the gingham paper went well with the image.

Supplies: Art Impressions Twinkle in Tangle stamp set, Memento Black ink, Versamark embossing ink, Recollections white detail powder, Gina K Gingham paper, Gina Marie X Stitched Rectangles and circle dies, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Doodlebug twine

Special Thanks to these challenges that helped inspire this card!

Art Impressions Feel the Love

Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

I am glad to get another Christmas card in this month. I think I only did 3 of the 5 I would like to.  I noticed more people are starting their Christmas cards early.  Have a great day!

“Made with Love” Veggies Card

Hello!  Hope you are well today!  

Yesterday, I posted a card to go along with a meal delivery, and today’s has a similar theme. I figured why not have a second card ready for another similar occassion?  I have the funnest stamp set for this theme.  I colored the veggies up the other night, and then assembled it the next morning.  

Everything came together with patterned paper that looks like wallpaper and a wooden table.  The sentiment is meant to look like a picture hanging in the kitchen.  This card was so much fun to put together!

Supplies: Hero Arts March 2017 My Monthly Hero kit, Memento Black ink, Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers, My Mind’s Eye “Stella & Rose” Mabel 6x6 paper pad, Hero Arts Love Jar stamp set (for sentiment and frame), Versfine Onyx Black ink, Gina K ribbon

Special thanks to these challenges that helped inspire this card:

Double D Challenge - Kitchen is the Heart of the Home

Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Word Art Wednesday 318-319 Anything Goes

I am so thankful for your visit today.  I enjoy creating for its own sake, but your kind comments really make my day!

“From Our House to Yours” Card

Hello!  Have you ever signed up to take a meal to a family in need?  I have been inspired to make a card to send along with the meal.  That way, I can write a note of encouragement inside.  

I used mostly die cuts and a new patterned paper pack for this card.  I did get to use up some small scraps for the die cuts.  The whisk is a very dark green.  

I substituted a stamped tag for the banners in the sketch I was using.  I also did stamp a lemon on the inside, but didn’t bother taking a photo of that.  

Supplies:  Spellbinders What’s Cookin’ dies, Gina Marie X Stitched Circles dies, Sizzix Tim Holtz tag collection dies, Die-Namics Pierced Squares dies, Recollections Coastal Village 6x6 paper pad, Our Daily Bread Designs Home Sweet Home Sentiment stamp set, Versafine Black ink, brad is My Mind’s Eye.  

I would love to play along with these challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches #437

SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge - Tag it

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Layer it up

Double D - Kitchen is the Heart of the Home

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

When I finished making this card, I went ahead and organized my scraps box a little so that I can more easily fine scraps of the size I need.  We’ll see how long that lasts!  Have a great day!

Flower of the Month - January Carnation Card

This year, I have decided to try to make good use of my flower stamps.  There are several flowers that are either official or unofficial flowers for each month.  I want to make at least one card each month to go along with that theme.  

For January, I am using this Carnation stamp from I Brake for Stamps.**  Carnations are on both the British list and the USA list for Birth Flowers.  Sometimes, I feel that carnations are an underrated flower.  I really think they are pretty on their own and in bouquets, and there are so many colors.

(**They are one of a few companies that make stamps with a flower of the month theme (in the Embossing Arts category.)  I have just a few of these!)

 I used a pinky peach when I colored with alcohol markers.  I need some Sympathy cards, so I used a simple layout and embossed my sentiment in black. 

Supplies:  IBFS Jumbo Carnation stamp (there is a regular version too), Memento Black ink, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers (light corals), Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, grey and black cardstocks from my stash.

I would love to play along with these challenges:

WordArtWednesday Anything Goes

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.  You are much appreciated!

Polar Bear Campfire Card

Hello and happy day-before-Friday!  We had snow yesterday, but it is back to sunny today.  Today, I am sharing a card that was a lot of fun to color with alcohol markers.  I used 4 coordinating stamps to create a little scene. The patterned paper has so many words on it, I skipped the sentiment and put that inside.

Supplies: Purple Onion stamps, Memento Black ink, Gina Marie X Stitched Circles dies, My Mind’s Eye Happy Camper 6x6 Paper pad, Spectrum Noir and Copic markers

I would love to play in these challenges:

Daily Marker’s 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Cute Card Thursday Something Fun

Thanks for your visit!  Hope you have time for crafting today!

Using Valentine stamps for a Birthday Card

Howdy everyone! I know it is time to make Valentines, but today I have a card where I used a Valentine stamp for a children’s birthday card.  I am always happy to add one of these to the stash!  

I did paper piece this dog by stamping onto both patterned paper and white cardstock.  I added a touch of coloring to the dog, but carefully trimmed out him out in white and adhered him to the patterned paper.  I also added blue stickles to the heart.

The background was made with star dies.  I used the embossing sandwich with my die cutting machine so the shapes showed up but they did not cut.  I like this look to keep the card more clean and simple.

Supplies:  Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Cat/Dog Hearts and Sweet Birthday Wishes, Versafine Black Ink, DCWV Citrus Stack paper, Blue stickles, Nicole Star dies, MFT Die Namics Pierced Square dies.

Thanks so much for visiting today!  

A “Deep Breath” Kind of Birthday Card (and a fix for blogger slow comments)

I have noticed as I am getting older, my friends aren’t looking forward to their birthdays so much.  Who knew!?  But, many of them do look forward to getting a handmade card from me, so I sometimes enjoy using some punny sentiments like in this card!

I colored the image with alcohol markesr.  This is my second attempt.  The first one was far too colorful.  I enjoy coloring and hope to play along with the 30 Day Coloring challenge (link below) quite a bit this month!

Supplies:  Art Impressions Deep Breath Birthday stamp set, Memento Black ink, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  Gina Marie X Stitched Rectangles dies, Crate Paper DIY Shop 6x6 Patterned paper, Gina K Designs Jelly Bean Green cardstock, Goosebumps embellishments.

I would love to play along with these challenges:

Art Impressions Anything Goes Challenge

Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge Patterned Paper

I have been noticing that it is taking lots of clicks and extra time to get Blogger to post some comments.  How annoying!?  I changed my settings to open a pop-up window for comments and that seems to solve the problem.  (Credit to Viv for this idea.)

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to make comments! I always try my best to return visits.  The blogging community of stampers cannot survive unless we interact with each other, so I always strive to visit other blogs to admire your work and find inspiration!  

Have a great day!

Two Cards - One Stamp Challenges

Hello!  How are you all doing?  It is very cold again in my neck of the woods.  I have sent quite a few cards recently, but I still have a list of ones that I need very soon.  I hope I can keep up.

I was excited to see some new challenges designed to help you stretch your stamps so here are my cards to play along!  

(You can click on the photos to enlarge them.)

I decided to make one card a Valentine and the other a Friendship card.

Supplies:  Gina K Designs Better with You stamp set, Inspiration Mosaic stamp set (love sentiment), Memento and Versafine Black inks, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Spellbinders Oval, Scalloped Oval, and Labels 18 dies, Crate Paper DIY shopp and Pebbles Yours Truly 6x6 Patterned paper pads.

I would love to play with these challenges:

Twofer Card Challenge - Feather

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Patterned Paper

Gina K Designs Jan 2018 Release Challenge

WordArtWednesday #316-317

Thanks for stopping by!  

Dinosaur Birthday Card

I have so many cards that I need to make this January, including two for little boys.  I chose this 1985 Hero Arts Dinosaur image for this card.  I do think that this is mature enough for a man who likes dinosaurs, as well (and I do know men that really like them)!

I used a sketch for this card, and just changed up the two supporting elements for the banner and star. I also used a sentiment on the inside which is from the same set as the star.  

I would love the play along with:

Tuesday Morning Sketches - #435

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Patterned Paper

Tuesday Throwdown - Layer it Up!
DiesRUs Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Supplies:  Hero Arts Dinosaur Stamp, Memento Black ink, Gina K Designs Birthday Go Round stamp set, Versfine Olympia Green, Spanish Moss ink cubes, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, EK Success little Banner punch and 1 inch circle punch, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers

I decided to make a second card with different papers for the second birthday boy, so I am tagging that on to the end of this post.  It is amazing how much less time a duplicate card takes!

Thanks for stopping by!  

2018 Christmas Cards (and a sale announcement)

These are my first Christmas cards of 2018.  I am striving to get about 5 done a month, on average, to have them ready to send by Thanksgiving.  I have found this really works for me!  I also used some challenges to complete these cards, but a few of the deadlines passed before I was able to upload this!  That always happens to me, does it happen to you?  One week is often too short a time period for me!

This stocking stamp is new to me, but I didn’t have a chance to use it last year.  It was fun to color in two tones of red.  I used a sketch for this first card.  The plaid paper is a scrap of a larger piece.  I used a trusty edge PUNCH and I always love to use the leftover little snowflakes as embellishments.

This darker stocking is the one I colored first, but it didn’t match the plaid paper well enough, so I made a new card around it.  I had the die cut tree paper and die cut circle in my scraps box.  The ribbon is recycled from a gift I got.  Both of these were fun to make!

Supplies:  Kaisercraft Stocking stamp, Memento black ink, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Heidi Swapp Marquee Love paper pad, American Crafts Wish List paper pad, Spellbinders Labels 18 dies, Spellbinders Scalloped Circles dies, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, EK Success Snowflake edge punch, Hero Arts Layering Tree CL887 (sentiment), Versafine Onyx Black ink

I would love to enter these challenges:

CASE This Sketch #253

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge- Use Patterned Paper

Pixie’s Snippets Playground

Thanks for stopping by!  I also wanted to call your attention to a great sale at Just for Fun Rubber Stamps.  Everything is 40% off through January 15th.  No code needed, the sale price shows up in your cart automatically.

New Cat Card

This is the first card I have made in the New Year!  I know someone who got a new cat recently so their other cat will have a companion.  I thought I would send a welcoming card.  My stamping friend, Cat, sent me some images and I used one here for that purpose.  Check out here blog here.

I colored the image with alcohol markers. I regret using pink for the book. I originally was going to add a pink banner with a sentiment, but changed my mind and added some text with a pencil directly to the book. So the colors aren’t as balanced as I would like.

I am not sure if that text will be appreciated or not!  I do think the cats look similar to the ones in real life, though!  

Supplies:  Newton’s Nook A Cozy Day In stamp, Memento Black ink, Spectrum Noir and Copic Markers, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles dies, Crate Paper DIY Shoppe 6x6 paper pad, vellum scrap from my stash

I would love to play in these challenges:

Pixie’s Snippets Playground Challenge - vellum is a snippet

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Thanks for your visit today!

Anyone else having trouble with blogger?

If you use blogger, are you having issues?  I cannot add any pictures to my post today.  They are in my albums, but if I try to choose one to add to my post, it just says it cannot copy it to the blog post.

I see some people posting, but not as many as usual.  So I wonder if other people are having problems, too, or if it is just the business of the new year?

UPDATE at 5 pm EST:  I kept trying every few hours, and it works now!  Hopefully it will keep working!  

Thanks!

Galaxy Cityscape Greeting Card

I am a little late on the Galaxy bandwagon, but it is really a fun one!  Have you tried it?

I used regular distress inks on watercolor paper and dropped water onto it.  Then, when it dried, I used a white gel pen to add some stars.

Of course, over top, I heat embossed the Cityscape in gold.  

Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Skyline Silhouette, Colorful and Happy sentiment, Distress Inks Dusty Concord, Mustard, Black Soot, Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Picked Raspberry, Watercolor paper, Versafine Black ink, Versamark embossing ink, Recollections Detail Gold Embossing Powder.

Thanks for stopping in today!  I appreciate your visit!

Color Challenge at Just for Fun’s January Card Challenge!

I want to wish you a very Happy New Year!  December just flew by.  I hope you had a lovely holiday season.  This is one of the many times of year that I need Thank You cards.  Just for Fun’s January challenge is a fun color challenge!

As most of you know, I am a happy member of Just for Fun Rubber Stamp’s design team.  I do like their original-styled stamps (and that they come in unmounted, mounted and wood-mount - my favorite type of stamp is rubber on cling foam), but want you to know that you do not have to use their stamps in order to participate in the challenges.  So if you are looking for some fun ways to help you get more cards made this coming year, I hope you will do our challenges! The prize winner is random, which I think is a great way to encourage crafters to join in!

For my card, I first scribbled blue and purple water-based markers onto watercolor paper.  I sprayed it heavily with water to soften the color.  After that dried, I then colored onto my snowflake stamp with the same blue and purple markers, sprayed that with water and stamped it.  The differences between the purple and blue are a bit more obvious in real life.  

Supplies:  Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Framed Snowflake, Tombow Water-Based markers, watercolor paper, Cheery Lynn Designs Thank You die, Darice Snowflake Folder, White Pigment ink (which I pounced on top of the purple paper to bring out the embossing)

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you again soon!