think spring

We still have a bit of snow on the ground here in New Jersey, and still have to get through March... but, spring should be right around the corner! However, we always seem to get a snowstorm or two in April... Today's card features Lockhart Stamp Company Bouquet, to keep my thoughts of spring from vanishing!! Image was stamped in black ink on white cardstock, main image colored in with markers. Flowers were simply colored in with one light blue, then detailed with a little darker blue. The pink buds were just dotted with a coral marker - easy image to color in quickly! Memory Box Blue Poppy card base, and matching cardstock was used for the small light blue strip. I stamped the long floral rose image and trimmed to the size needed. The blue buds and the buds on the light blue strip were colored in with a glitter pen. Thank you for stopping by!

stamps: Lockhart Bouquet,Thanks a Bunch sentiment and Millinery Rose Ribbon paper: Memory Box Blue Poppy and cotton candy, Papertrey Ink white, patterned: The Crafter's Workshop ink: Palette pad in Noir Black accessories: Copic markers, Atyou clear glitter pen, 5/8" light blue polka dot ribbon, sewing machine and thread, paper piercer and mat, pinking shears, Tim Holtz ruler (temporarily out of stock -more due by mid-March..hopefully!!).

bebe on the way!

Volunteering at the book fair for the school this week - not much time so I must make fast cards! Happy news today - I found out a friend is expecting! Lockhart sweeeeeeet ice cream and pickles image was stamped on white cardstock and colored with markers. I outlined everything with my favorite BV31 pale lavender so it would make the images 'pop'. I used a Tim Holtz trick for this one! I cut the white cardstock to the size I wanted, then realized I wanted the 'congratulations' really low - there was not enough room for the stamp-a-ma-jig to 'grab' the cardstock. So, using Tim's trick to make grungeboard 'hold still' (see his step 8), I took a glue dot (a mini one) and placed it on the back of my white stamped piece, then stuck it to my non-stick craft sheet. Presto! It held in place for me to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig! This layout and stamp usage was inspired by Trudee Sauer's post here - her card is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company paper: patterned: retired Crate paper, white: Papertrey Ink; green cardstock and folded card base - key lime from Memory Box ink: Palette pad in Noir accessories: Copic markers, white 5/8" polkadot ribbon, celery eyelet: Impress

baby congrats

The first time I saw scalloped notecards was in a magazine - and I found some for around $8 for 10. Super nice notcards, but pricey for me. Michelle Wooderson came up with the idea of using a Spellbinders Nestability die and making custom ones! Thanks Mish, and thank you for the wonderful directions too!!! A family member of ours is having a baby boy - so I used that excuse to play with Mish's directions on how to make one of these....Well, they are easy and fun and the results are incredibly professional. I love it when I am able to make something that is less expensive than what is manufacturered, and still look professional. Seriously - it looks like I bought these and paid bookoo bucks for them! I used a Memory Box notecard in Blue Poppy - these notecards from Memory Box are white on the inside and a color on the outside. Their cardstock sheets are this way too. Quality product in both look and feel. Following Mish's directions I ran the Blue Poppy notecard and scallop die (their largest one) through a Cuttlebug, and used a small piece of white polka dot ribbon at the top fold. I then die cut a circle from polka dot paper and adhered. I punched another Nestability circle from white cardstock and stamped Lockhart Stamp Company's baby carriage, coloring in with Copic markers. I also used a Krylon Leafing pen in silver to edge the white circle. I'd recommend doing this edging first, and letting it dry, because if you do all the work coloring in and smudge it w/the leafing pen...oh does that hurt... :) :( I used a marker to make the dots on the blanket to mimic the dots in the patterned paper & ribbon. Dang I love dots!! The stamped circle was mounted with dimensionals. Thank you for stopping by & hope you have a wonderful weekend! polka dot paper - The Crafter's Workshop, white cardstock - Papertrey Ink; Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger);

sweet ride

Oh the love of vintage cars...this stamp is one of those that fits the bill when I need a quick masculine card! The verse and vintage car images are from B Line Designs. Into a Mini Mister, I placed a dropper full (not just a drop) of Brushed Corduroy Distress reinker, about 1/8 of a teaspoon of Gold Perfect Pearls, and filled the tiny container to about 3/4 full with water. Shook to incorporate the products, and misted this mixture onto a standard office tag. I'm impatient sometimes, so I ironed it flat with a craft iron and did not wait for it to air dry. Distress various torn Tim Holtz and 7gypsies papers and collaged them onto the tag, then stamped cars and sentiment with Archival Ink (Ranger) in Jet Black. Inked edges using a blending tool and a Walnut Stain Distress pad. I used a Pesto Adirondack pad and stamped 3 autos image at random onto a Pea Pod folded card (Memory Box) and blended the edges too. Added striped ribbon and a Making Memories brad that to me, looks like an old tire! :) Inside the card - I spent some time on the inside of this one. Normally my card insides are not this fancy. ;) (sentiments: Penny Black & Stampin' Up!) Thank you for stopping by!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Arturo cards are fine, luxurious stationary from Italy, available in delicious hues from Ellen Hutson, LLC. Here, I've paired lavender Arturo cards with a folk heart design from Lockhart that reminds me of the Pennyslvania Dutch influence I had while growing up. Where I grew up, near Kutztown, PA, hex signs were common on sides of barns. This image from Lockhart reminds me of that happy place from when I was young. :) By changing the sentiment, this design could be used for a wedding card, anniversary, thank you, or in my case - a Valentine's Day card! It is simple enough for mass production as well. To hide the seam of the lavender polka dot sheer ribbon, I adhered it first, meeting the ribbon ends at the front center of the card front and layering the oval pieces on top. The heart image was stamped with Palette ink in Noir Black, then colored with Copic markers. I used my fave BV31 pale lavender to outline the whole image to make it 'pop'. Image was then punched with a Marvy oval punch. The scalloped oval was punched with a Marvy scallop oval punch using Lavender Memory Box paper. Using a 1/16" hole punch I zapped the scallop oval at every loop, mounted layers with dimensionals. Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink. Thank you for stopping by!

gift ensemble

It's been a while since I played with Stampin' Up!'s stamps. Their images held a back burner for me for years, due to their restrictive angel policy - which was lifted a few months back. Yippie! This gift set was created for my husband's co-worker who fell and broke her leg and can't return to the office for a few more weeks. Although I would not mind being caged in my house for a few months, I can completely understand how this would annoy others who like to get out and about. I'm telling you all now - I'm going to be one of those grey-haired ladies that never, ever, leaves her house. Give me delivery service and the UPS man. I'm good. LOL! The gift box with clear lid - this gives your handmade cards a very professional presentation they deserve. The boxes fit seven envelopes and six cards (love giving an extra envelope for potential mistakes in addressing). I found these gift boxes at Nashville Wraps. They do not arrive flat, so prepare a big spot to store them - lol... For the interior of the box I created an elongated rectangle spacer from a piece of white cardstock. This stabilizes the cards and envelopes inside the box and allows for a custom fit of the contents. The bookmark featured in this photo is from this post. Thank you for stopping by! flower stamps - SU, thanks sentiment - A Muse, interior verse - Verses Rubber Stamps; Memory Box pre-scored cards, envelopes and paper, SU decorative paper, dimensionals and scallop circle punch; Adirondack inks (Ranger); May Arts satin ribbon; brads; Prima flowers.

you made my day

Hero Arts new 2008 stamps are out - this one sang to me (pardon the pun)...

I like cards that make me happy. And I like this birdie in blue, cuz my grandma loved birds and this color blue too! Makes me think of her. I find I am using eyelets more now that I've got the hang of the Crop-a-Dile. :) Brown and olive waterbased markers were applied to the stamp; image was then stamped onto a piece of white cardstock. Layered onto card - easy peasy!

cardstock: Memory Box, Papertrey Ink; Archival Ink - Jet Black (Ranger); Copic Markers; eyelets and olive and brown markers - Stampin' Up; metal rimmed tag (Staples); circle punch -EK Success; olive May Arts ribbon.

sparkle cupcake

Nothing sparkles quite like vintage German glass glitter - this cupcake image uses sparkle-y pink colored glass granules to create a focal image with impact! This template is from the last issue of The Stampers' Sampler magazine. Easy template - quick card with a nice glittery effect. To create the cupcake, I created the template on the card base using Basic Grey's Two Scoops Swirl paper. Stamped Lockhart cupcake once on a circle of white cardstock and once on a piece of white cardstock scrap. I colored in the cupcake bottom portion on the circle cardstock, and placed a dimensional on the icing part to show off the raised icing layer. Then I cut out the icing part only on the cardstock scrap. Using a tiny Xyron machine, I ran the icing portion through the sticker machine, creating a layer of adhesive over the top of the image. Using tweezers, I dipped the icing into the pink glass glitter, avoiding the cherry part so I could attach a crystal there later. The glitter sticks so nicely to Xyron tape. I edged the bottom of the card front with a glue pen then dipped it into a line of the pink glass glitter for even more sparkle! Thank you for stopping by! I am having a give-away this week and am scooping up merchandise today! I returned from my mother-in-law's funeral down in Georgia yesterday. She passed away due to breast cancer. Thank you to those that sent cards and emails; I will close with a funny story: My MIL was 84, and had lots of elderly girlfriends. My MIL looked fabulous in the casket - almost radiant. The man that does the preparations - his name is Larry. Larry is very, very good and is well known in the community for his amazing funeral preparation of the body. Anyway, one of my MIL's elderly friends came up to me as I was standing beside the casket. This little lady turned to me and said in a sweet Southern accent, "Oh she looks so beautiful! I told my kin when I went if Larry wasn't available to just cremate me." I laughed so hard through the tears!! Best wishes for a wonderful week ~ Lockhart Cupcake, Lockhart Happy Cupcake Day sentiment; Stamper's Select white cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Two Scoops decorative papers; Copic markers; Archival ink in Jet Black (Ranger); Swarovski crystal; Pink Cameo German glass glitter; tiny Xyron sticker machine (Wal-Mart); Nestabilities; dimensional (stampin' up)

what a pair!

Two cards, same stamp and layout, different accessories & paper. Every time I pick up this sock stamp I hear in my head Phoebe Buffay singing the tune 'Smelly Cat' from the TV show Friends...I have no idea why the coorelation of that song and this stamp exists, but it does...I actually have to put the stamp back on its shelf for the song to go away - lol... I needed a card for my sister-in-law, whose home we invaded, I mean stayed with, during the recent holidays. The line, 'guests, like fish, start to stink' went through my head while thinking up a clever card to make for her. I saw this stamp, heard the song, and the card came next... :) I composed the card front verse and the interior sentiment in Microsoft Word. The template can be found here - the beauty of this template is one can print it onto cardstock, cut in half (two pieces - 8-1/2" x 5-1/2") and use the bottom portion as is for a card base! Interior sentiment is already in place for an A2 size card (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), portrait layout. Cut the sentiment at the top out for the card front and use in the desired location. If there are leftovers, I always try to use a small piece of patterned paper inside the card to tie in the inside with the outside. Image was stamped then colored, pierced at the corners to mimic the diagonal pattern in the stamp image. Sock image was matted then mounted with dimensionals. Thank you for stopping by! card on left: Lockhart Warm Socks, 'sole mates' sentiment - A Muse; Palette pad in Noir Black; Copic markers; 7gypsies Karachi paper, corner nipper & olive cardstock (SU); piercer, awesome pad; piercing template - SU; dimensionals. card on right: Lockhart Warm Socks; Chatterbox paper, white Papertrey cardstock; Palette pad in Noir Black; Copic markers; olive ribbon; fish skeleton; brown linen thread; piercer, awesome pad; piercing template - SU; dimensionals.

Madison's notebook

Birthday gift notebook (see this post for directions) with quick purse card. The purse card holds a Borders gift card (held in place with a mini Glue Dot); this gift is from my 5yr old daughter to a schoolmate for her birthday. Directions for Purse card:

1. I used this template from Stampington, and cut the cardstock or decorative paper at 4-1/4" x 8", then scored at 3" and 6". I omitted the explosion interior feature of this template.
2. For the measurements of the side cuts or angles, looking at the template, I marked in 3/4" on each side along the top.
3. Fold up 2" section and fold down 3" section, and cut from top corner to mark, both sides, through all 3 layers.
4. Open purse, hold purse according to template. Mark in 1" along each side along the bottom and cut to score line - aligning the first angle cut up with your cutter. The cut angle will meet up perfectly.
5. Looking at the template, trim a scant 1/16" from the top of the purse so it lays nicely.
6. Add ribbon, beads strung on wire, and so forth for the handle; adhere under flap.

I used a 1/2 piece of a velcro circle as a closure. Thank you for stopping by! Oval stamp and monogram - PaperTrey Ink; My Mind's Eye patterned paper, white cardstock - Stampers Select, bunny strip - source unknown; Olive and Rose ink pads - Stampin' Up; Swarovski crystals; faceted crystals - Michaels Craft Store; ribbon - Stampin Up.

simple sympathy

I will be doing a class with this simple technique next month. No coloring - speedy and simple with a clean look and feel. I've mentioned it before: it is an interesting yet sad fact that I create and sell more sympathy cards than any other type of card. More folks, myself included, are prone to send a card as it sends a message: I care. I am thinking of you in your time of grief. I am grieving with you. For this card, my very dear friend Loretta lost her mother, and I wanted to make a card and think of her and her wonderful family while I was making it, versus sending one from my stash. I think making a card while thinking of the recipient makes it more special, and I wanted this one to be special. Image and verse were stamped onto a scrap of Stampers Select white cardstock, then punched and embossed with a Nestability die. Added two gold brads. Mat was also punched & embossed. Adhered brown cardstock mat to card base, then ribbon, then stamped image was adhered with dimensionals. I would call this a standard Valerie Stangle style and layout - due to the clean look and feel to it. Wishing you the very best ~ today and in the New Year ~ Lockhart Cottage Flowers, Penny Black sentiment, Memory Box card base in Hyacinth, Stamper's Select white cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Latte Adirondack ink and Coffee Archival ink (Ranger); 5/8" May Arts sheer gold ribbon with gold edge; Nestabilities; gold brads; dimensionals.

Hero Arts Gratitude

I received a complimentary copy of the Dec/Jan/Feb 2008 issue of Take Ten Christmas Eve! This card is in there somewhere - it was a design challenge and I used all Hero Arts stamps. Hero Arts has amazing collage stamp images. For this card, I used a Key Lime Memory Box card base that has a white inside. directions: stamped collage image with Archival Black ink (Ranger) onto Archangel (Basic Grey) patterned paper and again onto Key Lime card front. Stamped Play Print to card front with Archival Black ink. Trimmed stamped Archangel paper into diamonds & matted onto black cardstock. Applied Tattered Rose distress ink using DTP (direct to paper technique) onto a strip of Stamper's Select cardstock and stamped Dot Flourish on card front. Adhered diamonds to rose cardstock strip and attached silver brads. Adhered unit to card front. Wishing a Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones ~ ! Hero Arts Collage Gratitude, Play Print & Dot Flourish; Key Lime Memory Box card base, Basic Grey Archangel paper, Stamper's Select cardstock (Papertrey Ink), SU black cardstock; Archival pad in Jet Black (Ranger), Distress pad in Tattered Rose (Ranger); silver brads.

all-occasion cards

I am huge fan of Leslie Miller. She has an amazing blog here, and within this incredible site is an amazing tote bag, complete with tutorial...perfect for a stack of cards & envelopes for gift giving! My mission: to create 2 sets of 'generic' cards, suitable for most all occasions, in a gift tote suitable for gift giving. Leslie's tote idea came to the rescue!!! This Lockhart butterfly is ideal for all happy occasions: birthday, thank you, thinking of you, and so forth. EASY to color - that is what I love - looks hard and time consuming, but here is my shortcut trick - color in whole image with details (like the wings) with one light color, then go over the image with darker markers in the areas that need details. I used 4 colors for the butterfly, pulled from the colors used in the patterned 7gypsies paper. Quick, simple swipes of color were applied in the lower wings - fast & finished in a jiffy. BV31 - pale lavender Copic marker outlines the whole image, making it pop. Since I needed to include sympathy cards, I cased my sympathy design with Prima flowers and brad centers. I included five of each design for a total of ten cards, plus envelopes in each tote, so I increased Leslie's bag depth from 3/4" to 1-1/4", and used 12x12 cardstock paper. Oval punches (Nestabilities) were stamped, colored, then edges distressed with a Distress pad in Antique Linen and an ink blending tool. I punched scalloped ovals too to mat each image. White cardstock (Papertrey Ink) was stamped with a Lockhart butterfly with Palette Noir, the colored in with Copic markers. Machine stitching on the top borders adds quick & easy details! Thank you for stopping by!! Lockhart Butterfly image; 7gypsies patterned paper (Masai & Asmara), SU light blue, brown, real & ruby red cardstocks; Copic markers, Distress pads in Vintage Photo (outside edges of bag) & Antique Linen; white cardstock from Papertrey Ink, eggshell cardstock from Ellen Hutson; ribbon from Martha Stewart (Michaels) SU & May Arts; large eyelets - We R Memory Keepers; inverted corner rounder - EK Success; pinwheel eyelet collar (on red flower under brad) - Bonnie's Best.

Butterfly tag trifold

I have a neighbor down the street named Alice that just loves butterflies. I admire Alice greatly - Alice runs. Not jogs - but RUNS. She ran the NYC Marathon this year - and came in 23rd for her age group. She is amazing to me! Alice has these bushes called 'butterfly bushes', and in the warmer months here in NJ they attract some incredible butterflies...and often they flutter down to my house - sheer enjoyment! The bushes are pretty too - I should plant some in the spring! Every time I see a butterfly stamp or image, I think of Alice! This card is an A6, measures 4-5/8" x 6-1/4" when folded. Opened it measures 11" wide and 6-1/4" tall. To make it easy, I take a 12x12 sheet of cardstock (patterned MME used here) and cut it at 6-1/4". Then I chop off 1" from the 12" side to make it 11" x 6-1/4". Then, along the 11" side I score in 3" on one side and 3-1/2" on the other side. Added a distressed edge band using the leftover 12" x 5-3/4" MME paper (trimming to height desired). Then, since I love creating a mess, I spritzed a walnut ink solution onto a shipping tag. Allow to dry. (and clean up...lol) I used a JulieHRR technique, of taking a new pencil, with a new eraser head, and using the eraser head as a stamp to create the neat, little stamped circles in Adirondack Ginger. The little butterfly image is from Papertrey Ink (stamped in Pesto). Large, script butterfly image (My Sentiments Exactly) was stamped (Vintage Photo Distress), cut out and edges inked (Peeled Paint Distress). Wings were mounted with pop-dots but body was firmly adhered to the tag. Domino body was created using Tim Holtz's Alcohol Inks (Pesto, Ginger, Lettuce, Denim), stamped with a collaged image (Stampers' Anonymous - Artful Mosaic) in Archival ink, then edged with a Krylon 18kt gold leafing pen. Swarovski crystal dotted the center. Adhered domino to butterfly body area with E-6000. I left the resolution on the photo pretty big in case you want to view the domino in more detail. These are so much fun to do, and fast too. If you wanted to, you could put a pin-back on the back of the domino, and mount it with a glue dot to the butterfly body. The recipient would have a gift and a card... :-) Thank you for stopping by! Hope you are warm where you are - it's supposstah snow tomorrah! :-)

Cupcake birthdays

Birthday cards for girlfriends! The one with the big cupcake and the glitter makes me hungry for a scoop of icing right from the container...forget the cupcake... I just love a good sugar fix...lol... For the large cupcake, I stamped the image once onto white cardstock (circular Nestabilities die cutout), then again onto a piece of white cardstock scrap. Colored in scrap using Copic markers then cut out. On the die cut I only shaded the outside of the stamped image using BV31 Pale Lavender Copic marker, and adhered the cut-out cupcake with a dimensional. I use this pale purple marker (BV31 pale lavender) frequently for outlining stamped images. It literally makes them pop off of the page, and the pale lavender hue makes the easy shadowing appear natural. Matte Accents from Ranger was used on the cupcake liner, and a glue pen was used to outline the swirls on the icing. Sprinkled Hero Arts Prisma Glitter over the wet glue & allowed to dry. Acrylic red bauble droplet was added over the cherry. The patterned paper used here is from Scenic Route Paper. The opposite side is a really nice turquoise, of which I cut out a circular layer (under the white stamped layer). Scallop circle green layer is Stampin Up wasabi. Charm and brad add the desired sentiment and more layers to the card. Newer Lockhart image featuring stacked cupcakes takes instant dimension when the BV31 (pale lavender...again) Copic is shaded heavier on the right. A tiny Hero Arts red crystal was added over the stamped cherry image. bling! bling! :0) Lockhart images; SU wasabi, chocolate & guava cardstock, Papertrey Ink white cardstock, Scenic Route patterned paper-Charlotte; glue pen, acrylic bauble, Hero Arts tiny red crystal & prisma glitter; Copic markers, scallop scissors, May Arts 1/2" celery ric rac; pewter charm, silver brad, clear Glaze pen, Matte Accents.

simple snowflake

The snowflake image here is from Papertrey Ink's Snowflake Serenade set. Hectic holiday times often calls for simplicity...here is now I made this ever-so-simple holiday card: Start with a wide ribbon. I used 1.5" wide May Arts polka dot DD series in celery*. Fold down top of ribbon two times and sew directly to the card front. I actually ironed the ribbon folds in place first, as I did a bunch of these assembly-style. The series of tiered X-stitches is a style of topstitching available on my sewing machine. You can use any style top stitch you like and achieve the same thing. My five-year-old actually chose this topstitch style... :0) For the circle printing, my friend Kendra Weinstock introduced me to creating print within a circle format. Simple Scrapbooks has an article on this - Sept/Oct 2006 issue, page 100. There is a how-to written up here - please scroll down to Bob Buckland's post to 'B. for your circular text'. The circular text reads: "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." This quote is attributed to Hamilton Wright Mabie, and is one of my favorite quotes. Print out as many formatted circles onto white Papertrey cardstock as your margins allow. Stamp snowflake (I used Adirondack Lettuce) in center of text. Using a 1-3/8" circle punch, punch out all printed & stamped circles. Adhere each cardstock circle to a circular metal rimmed tag. Punch hole at snowflake center with 1/8" hole punch and insert gemstone brad. Adhere completed circle tag to ribbon on card front and violà! Hope you have a warm and happy day!! It is icy cold here, and snowing!! materials list: Snowflake Serenade set & white cardstock - Papertrey Ink; May Arts ribbon; circle metal tag - Staples; Adirondack ink in Lettuce - Ranger; MM gem brad; sewing machine *this item is a special order through StarLitStudio. Please contact me directly.

Favorite Fellas

Crafty Secrets has a fabulous masculine set called Favorite Fellas. I combined this new set with the 7gypsies new Pretoria paper line, and presto ~ instant masculine birthday cards! Makes the difficult task of my creating 'manly cards' very easy! Are masculine cards difficult for others to create or just me?? The black metal scallop running along the base of the card fronts is a new embellishment from 7gypsies, originally meant for the edges of your journal pages to protect them. Since they are unique I decided to put them on a card first instead of a journal. These metal pieces are 8" in length; I cut one for a complete card front (4-1/4") and the other, being 1/4" too short, I centered it and snipped the cardstock bottom corners at an angle (see 'tie one on' card on the right). Great way to use up something that would have just sat in a box. :0) Thank you for stopping by and hope you have a great day! materials list: Crafty Secrets Fabulous Fellas set; Palette Noir pad; Stampin Up burgundy pad (I watercolored his shirt); 7gypsies Pretoria paper line, Stampin Up burgundy, green & black cardstock; Copic BV31 marker (outlining) & R02 (flesh); aquapainter; 7gypsies scalloped metal edge; black brads; dimensionals (for the tie); twill tape; MM brad.

Tag Curler card

I was not going to get yet another tool. Well, y'all know how that goes. Making Memories manufacturers a toy...oops I mean tool ...that squeezes metal tags around ribbon. The tool is fun and easy to use, and the tags are oh-so-cute. I store mine and all the tags in a Tim Holtz (BTW, he has a blog now! OMG!!! ) Cropper Hopper Embossing Ink box. Tags from open boxes are stored in glass-lidded tins (from Lee Valley Tools. I cut out the designs from the tag box packaging and keep it in the tins for quick & easy identification. Onto the project: boy birthday cards were on my to-do list. Here's how I created a couple real speedy-like. I just finished stamping 100 holiday cards and didn't feel like stamping - just playing with paper (I promise to show this years' holiday card ideas in a future post). Amanda Blu - critters paper (Archivers), 3/8" green stitched May Arts ribbon, Stampin' Up olive, black cardstock; PaperTrey Ink white cardstock; two large black eyelets & necessary setting tools, MM Tag Curler & tag. I used Nestabilities dies (rectangles & scalloped rectangles) from Ellen Hutson's store for easy stacking/layering. Step 1: Adhere printed paper. This is a standard Valerie Stangle layout. Tie length of ribbon around card and tie in a relatively tight knot. Val has an awesome tutorial on knot tying on her blog here. It does not matter where on the card you place the knot; you will be sliding it off anyway. Step 2: Slide the ribbon loop off of your card. Get your Tag Curler, insert tag, insert ribbon with knot smack dab where it will get all caught up in the curlin'. :) Step 3: Squeeze Tag Curler, encasing ribbon knot. Release. Slide ribbon loop back onto card, position in desired location. This is best done by slightly bowing the card, then slipping the ribbon loop back onto the card. Step 4: I mounted the black and white Nestabilities die cuts after I had the tag placed where I wanted it, to make centering easy-peasy. To affix the metal tag, I used a Glue Dot pop up style. Tweezers were used to handle the Glue Dot, as the minute the oils from your skin hit the Glue Dot it becomes powerless. That sounds very funny to me at the moment but it's true. Step 5: Finished card. Thank you for stopping by!

September cards

There are a lot of birthday cards for me to create for the month of September. This style card is a 'criss-cross' pocket design developed by Michelle Wooderson (her blog here); Mish's tutorial on Splitcoastampers ("SCS") is here (done by Beate Johns), done vertical - 'Cami style' (Cambria Turnbow directions here). I did six of these cards in a snap. Cut all cardstock, stamped everything at once, punched it all out - took about 1/2 hour I'd say to do all 6. If your birthday is in September, Happy Birthday!!!! Try adding a strip of leftover cardstock to the inside of your cards, or to the insert as shown here. Anything to keep the scrap pile from overflowing.... I had never created a criss-cross pocket card until I saw it on SCS and then on Mish's blog. They are indeed fun and habit forming! Hope you make one too!! Doodlebug Birthday stamps; Basic Grey Oh Baby Girl! patterned paper; Stampin' Up tag punch, celery & lilac cardstock, dye ink pads and markers; Palette pad in Noir Black; 1-3/4", 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches; 1-1/4" scallop punch; teeny tiny metal rimmed tags from a LSS in Wisconsin; CopicSpica glitter pens from Ellen's store.

Papertrey birdie

This card combines two of Nichole Heady's newest sets from Papertrey Ink. For the branch, I stamped in caramel ink, then took the large & small leaf images and stamped them randomly on the branch tips, using the second generation image (it's lighter) as well. Randomly punched circles on the branch, using a Fiskars 1/16" handheld punch. Inserted brads. Thanks Nichole, for spectacularly developing not only incredible sets but ones that we can use multiple colors easily! stamps: Papertrey Ink - Take a Bough & Believe sets, Hero Arts sentiment; , Chatterbox Chateau Stripe, Papertrey white cardstock; Stampin' Up caramel & olive dye pads, blue ribbon, caramel and chocolate cardstock; Palette hybrid pad in Burnt Umber; Copic markers; StarLitStudio celery brads; dimensionals; Ranger Glossy Accents.