This card is almost entirely made using................

my good and faithful old Craft Robo and some very nice Silhouette digital cutting files.  Next Saturday is my best crafting friends Mother's birthday and I wanted to make a special card for Patricia and this is what I came up with!

The only items on the card that were not cut using my Craft Robo (I call her "Roberta") was the tiny butterflies and the beaded oval that I used on the inside of the card.

Here is a view of the inside:

I particularly love the tiny bluebird sitting on the fence.  Can you believe how well my "Roberta" cut out those tiny little legs and feet?  And just look at that fence..........it's just amazing!

Here is a  close-ups of the beaded oval containing the text on the inside of the card:

And last, but not least, is a close-up of the paper pieced gift on the front of the card:

I only used two different papers.  The cream card stock is some that I purchased from Walmart years ago...can't remember who makes it and the lovely blue is a piece of Wausau Paper.  I used my VersaMark "Watermark" and some "Star Dust Transparent" embossing powder on some of the blue paper which really changed the color and I like the contrast.  I sure hope Patricia has a wonderful birthday and likes her card!  Thanks for stopping by!

Finished Card Size:  5 1/2x5 1/2"

Supplies


Paper:  Wausau Paper Creative Collection "Classic Cardstock Pastel" (blue) and Walmart Cream CS
Ink: Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"
Embossing Powder:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent"
Tools:  Craft Robo and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories:  Spellbinders "Beaded Ovals", Martha Stewart "Classic Butterfly" punch,  Swarvoski "Chrystals", "Decorating Chalks" and numerous Silhouette digital cutting files

Wonderful Gift Box!!!!!!

I found the idea for this gift box here and if you check out her entire blog, Elly does some absolutely beautiful work!!!  I set about making a cutting file for this project so that my Pazzles Inspiration Creative Cutter would do all of the cutting for me, which is always nice!  The only thing that was not done using my PI was the Spellbinders Labels Two and the Martha Stewart "Eyelet Lace" punched border.  The "dahlia" flower is from a template I purchased from "Fred She Said" (you can find it here) and I even set it up for my PI to cut all of them out for me!  Something else that I want to point out is that I've used some silk wallcovering samples from Lowe's in the making of this box and............I LOVE it!!!

Here is a photo of the top of the box:

Here is a photo of the box opened up.....as an extra security I used some brads to attach the box tray to the card section:

And last but not least, here is a close-up photo of the flower I made:

I used this gift box to hold a Christmas gift.  Thanks Elly for the marvelous idea!!!

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill "Mystique", Strathmore "Parchment" and "Silk Encyclopedia (silk wallcovering samples from Lowe's)
Ink:  Tim Holtz "Old Paper" Distress Ink
Tools:  Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories:  Spellbinders "Lables Two", Spare Parts "Brads"

Just one more tissue box cover..........................

and this time I made one for me!!!  For those of you that would like to make some of these, you can find a written tutorial as well as a wonderful video here!

Here is a view of the top of the cover:

And here is a view of two of the sides:

And last but not least the other two sides:

I do believe this is all of the tissue box covers that I will be making for a while!LOL Thanks so much for stopping by to have a look.........and hurry back!!!  Hopefully I will have a new card design soon!

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill and Bazzill Bling
Ink:  Tim Holtz "Old Paper" Distress Ink and Tsukineko Brilliance "Platinum Planet"
Tools:  Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Provo Craft "Cuttlebug", Sizzix "Big Shot"
Accessories:  Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Textile" Embossing Folder and Spellbinders "Beaded Ovals", Shapeabilities "Fancy Tags" and "Symbology, Shapabilities Pendants "Fleur De Lis" and Nestabilities "Long Rectangles and Long Scalloped  Rectangles SM"

I LOVE this technique!!!!!

Double Embossing or Blank Embossing was the technique for today's challenge (TLC245) at Splitcoast Stampers......you can check out all of the details here at the site. Lynn sent us to a video by Nilda at "The Cuttlebug Spot" and earlier this morning the video was not working, but it is now. Once I watched Nilda's video this technique was a lot easier and I really had fun with it!!! Click on the photo below for a close-up of it:


There were a lot of "firsts" with this card.............first time I've used this technique, first time I've used this embossing folder, first time I've used these stamps, first time I've used my new Memento "Rich Cocoa" ink pad and the first time I've made my own "ribbon corners"!!! For all of my coloring, I used glitter and metallic pens. I also designed a Pazzles cutting file for the matching, lined envelope and I used the same embossing folder on the envelope too. Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"
Supplies

Paper: GA Pacific
Stamps: Recollections "Timres Transparent Merry Merry"
Inks: Tsukineko Memento "Rich Cocoa"
Tools: Provo Craft "Cuttlebug" and Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter"
Accessories: Stampin'Up! "Textured Impressions Finial Press" embossing folder, Bow Easy, Beifa "Glitter & Metallic Gel Pens", Offray Ribbon, Spellbinders Nestabilities "Labels Four"

Booooo!!!!!

I'm not positive, but this may well be the first time I've made a Halloween card! Today for the "Limited Supply Challenge" (LSC241) we were supposed to do a "FALL-themed" card with stamps, paper and ink.....NO embellishments! It was alright to use diecuts, but the focal point should be something STAMPED. If you would like to join in the fun, you can find all the pertinent information here! For mine I used this adorable "mummy" stamp by Recollections, cut him out and used black fun foam pieces to adhere him with dimension. I also used a stamp for the "sentiment and I colored the pumpkin on it with some Neopiko markers. All of the background was done using die cut files from Pazzles and they were cut with my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and my Craft Robo. For the creepy spider, I used some clear embossing powder and heat set it to give her a shiny, black widow look! Don't you just love that haunted looking house with the orange moon? I'm sure my little grandsons will love this!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"
Supplies

Paper: Black, orange and blue grey CS (don't know brands...have had for years!)
Stamps: Recollections "Mummy" and "October Calender" by Studio G
Inks: Tsukinedo "Graphite Black" Brilliance and Memento "Tuxedo Black"
Embossing Powders: Old Town Crafts "Black Jewels" (sentiment) and Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail Clear Transparent"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Graphtec "Craft robo", Ranger "Heat It" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Spellbinders "Standard Circles & Scalloped Cirles SM", Neopiko Markers

Playing with my new SU "Petals-a-Plenty"!!!

Last week I placed my very first order of Stampin'Up products and they arrived later yesterday afternoon, so of course I had to play with one of them today! I've seen many cards done using the "Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions" embossing folder and I decided to order it. I also used the Splitcoast Stampers Wednesday Sketch Challenge (SC249) as my inspiration. If you want to play along you can find it here. As you can see by my photos, these images were very difficult to capture. They look much better IRL (in real life), particularly the beautiful snowflake.


Here is a close-up of the snowflake:


I cut two blue panels and ran them through my Big Shot using the Stampin'Up "Petals-a-Plenty" embossing folder. On the first blue layer I used the debossed side and brushed over the top of it with my Brilliance "Platinum Planet" and then used a silver glitter pen on the circles in the middle of each flower. I did the very same thing on the top blue panel and the top white panel, but I used the embossed side! The gorgeous snowflake is actually from the letter "E" of the font called "Faux Snowflake BRK" and was cut out using my Craft Robo digital cutter. I used white card stock that was stamped with the "Platiunum Planet" then covered with "Star Dust" embossing powder and heat set with my heat gun...did this twice and then added a flat-backed pearl! The "faux stitching" on the horizontal blue panel was actually done using the silver glitter pen in the Pen Tool on my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter".

I have to say that I LOVE my new Stampin'Up embossing folders (I also ordered the "Elegant Bouquet" and the "Finial Press")...you will seeing lots of cards made by me using them!!!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"
Supplies

Papers: Bazzill and GA Pacific White CS
Stamps: Studio G "December Calendar Stamp"
Inks: Tsukineko "Platinum Planet" Brilliance Pigment & VersaMark "Watermark"
Embossing Powder: Old Town Crafts "Ultra Fine Silver" and Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Graphtec "Craft Robo", Ranger "Heat It", Sizzix "Big Shot" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Martha Stewart "Floral Lace Edge" Border Punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities "Standard Circles & Scalloped Circles SM", Mark Richards "Pearl Perle", Michael's "Silver Half Pearl Stickers", Beifa "Silver Glitter" Gel Pen, Ribbon (remnant that I had on hand, but looks much like the "Bridal Elegance" from Michaels)

"Faux Suede" Technique

OK, so I've been playing today! I decided to do the "Technique Challenge" (TLC241) at Splitcoast Stampers and this is my first try at this technique. If you would like to play too, you can find it here! First of all, please click on the following image to get a larger view:


The wine/burgundy cardstock the I used for the "faux suede" is some that I've had in my stash for years and I'm sorry, but I don't know who made it. I actually just started out to practice with it, but when I got through preparing it, I decided it was a "keeper", so then I started selecting other papers to go with it. I chose some black cardstock and a piece of "Wild Rose" patterned paper...I thought they all looked great together! I decided to keep my color scheme to the wine/burgundy, black and white. I used the same wine/burgundy cardstock (without making it "faux suede") for the outer labels frame. For the die cut corners, I used a piece of black from the Best Occasions "Metallic Paper Pack" since the shinny look of it matched the black satin ribbon that I used. This was a fun technique and I will certainly be using it again!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"
Supplies

Papers: Provo Craft Color Wheel Palettes "Wild Rose Bitty Pad" (patterned paper), Best Occasions "Metallic Paper Pack" (black metallic), Wine/Burgundy CS, Recollections (black CS)
Stamps: PSX (F-1741) "Asian Bamboo Shoots" and Inkadinkado "Spring Blossoms Clear Stamp Set (Thinking of You)
Ink: Tsukineko Brilliance "Graphite Black" pigment
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities "Labels Four", Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Vintage" die, Offray "Black Satin" Ribbon, Range "Black Diamonds" Stickles (flower centers), Flower Punches

I LOVE this little frog image!!!

I'm really pleased with this card that I've made for my brother for his birthday. The frog is a digital image that I created in Photoshop CS3 from a font called "KiddyDing". I used the "w" for the frog and the "q" for the mushroom, printed it out twice and colored the image using my Copic & Neopiko markers. I also have to add that the frog was a "boy" and I turned him into a "girl" by adding the eyelashes and the red lips!!! The "sentiment" was done using my "Basic Black" Stampin Up marker in the Pazzles Inspiration Pen Tool and a Pazzles font called "Engineer"...in other words, my PI did the writing for me.....love that feature!!! The "52" was cut out of "Sequins Silver" vinyl using my Pazzles Inspiration digital cutter too. The cupcake is clipart from Graphics Factory.com. I used a Card Sketch (SC79) from Splitcoast Stampers.
Finished Card Size: A2/5.5"x4.25"

Supplies

Papers: Embassy Black Cardstock (card base), Westrim Crafts (other black CS), Darice Paper Crafter CS (green CS) and GA Pacific White Carstock
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities "SM Classic Rectangles & SM Classic Scalloped Rectangles", Copic Sketch Markers, Neopiko Markers, The Robins Nest "Dew Drops", Marvy Uchida "White Liquid Applique" (I colored it green using Making Memories "Celery" paint), Stampin Up Black Marker, "Sequins Silver" vinyl and Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Stylized Flowers" & "Tiny Bubbles" embossing folders.

How about a masculine touch!!!

I made this card today for the Splitcoast Featured Stamper Challenge (FS132) and I'm so pleased that when completed, it really took on a nice masculine look! We have a dear friend whose birthday is on the 25th and I've earmarked this for him! You can find all the details about this challenge here if you would like to play too! Here is the card that inspired me!!! She did not mention the size of this card, so I decided to make mine 4"x9.25".

The main difficulty with this project was getting a good photo of it, which happens quite often! In the previous photo, the middle "square's" stamped image can hardly be seen, so here is a close-up of it!


The stamped sentiment is hard to see in the full photo too, so here is a close-up of it too!

Thanks for looking!!!

Finished Card Size: 4"x9.25"

Supplies

Papers: Westrim Crafts (Black CS), "Silver Swirl on White" by The Paper Company and "Kings Gold" Metallic CS by Wausau Paper
Stamps: "Lotus Greeting Stamps" by Amy Butler for K & Company (sentiment) & Hero Arts "Leaf Prints"
Ink: VersaMark "Watermark" by Tsukineko
Embossing Powders: Ranger "Super Fine Detail Gold, Old Town Crafts "Ultra Fine Silver" and Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail Clear Transparent"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Cuttlebug, Ranger "Heat It", Martha Stewart "Arch Lattice" Border Punch
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities"Small Standard Circles" & "Small Scalloped Standard Circles",
Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Vintage" die & "D'vine Swirls" embossing folder, Offray "Black Satin" Ribbon

Mother's Day........already?????

I've actually made this card for my seven year old grandson to give to his Mom for Mother's Day 2010. That adorable little "Precious Moments" boy reminds me of him!!! I will just store this card for him until May. I'm using this card for Splitcoast Stampers Color Challenge (CC231 & you can find it here) "Don't Fade Away", where you use bleach to do your stamping and use whatever color the cardstock bleaches out to as your second color (in this case a cream color). I'm also using it for the Sketch Challenge 241 and you can find it here.

I actually used a dingbat font called "Precious Moments Love 1" (letter "L") to make a digital stamp that I then colored with a combination of my Neopiko & Copic markers. I used some Stickles in the center of the flower. I designed the striped overlay using my Pazzles "Inspiration Studio" software and then cut it on gold metallic cardstock. I have not completed to inside of the card yet, as I want my grandson's input before doing so!

PS. I just changed out the photo of this card because today (8-14-2009), I found some ribbon that kind of matches the card that I like better, so I removed the old bow and added a new one!!!

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"


Supplies

Papers: Best Occasions "Metallic Paper Pack" (gold metallic CS), Gina K "Pure Luxury" (digitally stamped image) and GA Pacific (card base)
Stamps: StampCraft (bleached images)
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Leafy Branch" embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities "Long Rectangles Large" and "Long Rectangles Scalloped Large", The Robins Nest "Dew Drops" and Offray Ribbon (tied using the "Bow Easy")

WOW, this has been the most enjoyable crafting weekend........................

that I've had in months. I've only completed two cards, but I've got another project in the works too! I do think that maybe my "mojo" is coming home!!!! A little earlier today, I was checking out the Splitcoast Stampers "Gallery" and I came across a "hinged" card made by Wendy (aka/Wendybell @ SCS) and she has a fantastic video on how to make it...if you are interested in checking out her video, you can find it here! Well, here is my version of it and I had a blast working on it!!!


Here is a view of it opened up....I've not yet added the wording on the inside, as I will do that when I decide who I going to send it to!




The beautiful crocheted flower was made by my friend Teri's (tlfrank at SCS) mom. Teri was kind enough to send me some and I really treasure them....this is the first time I've used one of them. You know....I think I might be a "hoarder"!!! Here is a close-up of it.


Some time back I bought a "Bow Easy" from Sharon at "No Time to Stamp" blogspot. At here site she has a tutorial on how to use it and if you would like to purchase one and see her tutorial, you can see it here. I made my gingham bow using my "Bow Easy" and here is a close-up of it.


This was fun and thanks for stopping by!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific (white CS base), Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock (gray textured CS), Wausau Paper "Smooth Finish" (lavender CS) and Me & My Big Ideas Specialty Cardstock "Parisian Flourish" designer paper (PADX-18)
Stamps: Studio G (sentiment)
Inks: Tsukineko Brilliance "Pearlescent Purple" & "Victorian Violet"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and Provo Craft "Cuttlebug"
Accessories: Provo Craft "Swiss Dots" embossing folder, Recollections "Pearl Stickers", EK Success "Victorian Lace" Paper Shaperss Corner Adorner, Martha Stewart "Branch" punch, Fiskars "Lace" Border Punch, Spare Parts "Brad", "Bow Easy" and Michael's Basic Basic "Gingham Ribbon"

Triple Squares

Hey there! I'm finally getting a chance to do today's sketch challenge (SC238) at Splitcoast....it looked like a really good one. I decided to make mine a birthday card as I have several friends and relatives that have birthdays coming up! This also gave me a chance to use some of my new "toys", like one of the Cuttlebug "Vintage" dies and the EK Success "edger punch". I also used one of my stamps that I've never used before....the tiny butterfly! I also want to point out the white flower which was cut using my Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and a cutting file designed by my friend Teri (aka/tlfrank at the Splitcoast Stampers site). Thanks for the file Teri!!! Most of the panels, plus the "corner" treatment (which was designed by me) for this card was cut with my "Inspiration". The sentiment was done in Photoshop, using the "TXT LongHand" font and printed on the Bazzill using my Canon PIXMA MP530. It's the first time I've used this font as I did not even know I had it and I have no idea where I got it from, but I like it!!! This was fun and I hope you like it!

Supplies

Papers: DCWV "the All Dressed Up stack" (Green Glittered DP), Bazzill (white panel), Westrim Crafts black cardstock, Worldwin Papers "Sparkling Papers" (jewel toned mica coated paper center white flower) and Royal Brites
Stamps: "Lotus Greeting Stamps" by Amy Butler for K & Company
Ink: VersaMark "Watermark" by Tsukineko
Embossing Powders: Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent" and Adirondack "Moss"
Tools: Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Cuttlebug, Ranger "Heat It"
Accessories: Provo Craft Cuttlebug "Vintage" die, EK Success border punch, "Crystal" Stickles, Swarvoski "Crystal Beads" and glittered white brads (I think they are by Spare Parts)

I'm finally getting some of my "Mojo" back!

A very special friend of mine had a birthday yesterday and thanks to Lynn's Splitcoast Stampers "Try a New Technique" challenge for this past Monday, I was able to come up with a design for her birthday card. If you would like to check out the challenge, which is called "Stand Up Card" (TLC228), you can find the information here. This card design was introduced by Penny Wessenauer.....thanks for a lovely design Penny!



As most of you know, I have a Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" and serve on their design team as well. The other day I was playing around with label designs.....like the Nestabilities and came up with the label that's on my card design. I used my PI to cut what I call "Next Besties" (saw this somewhere online while surfing the net) out of acrylic and then I cut larger pieces out of card stock, used double-stick tape to adhere them to the acrylic and ran them through my Cuttlebug and got the same effect that you get when using the Nestabilities, which I own quite a number of. It worked like a charm! I used my Funtime software to design the borders which I cut using my Craft Robo...it's also a digital cutter.

I want to add some notes here regarding the Canson metallic papers that I used. The "Galvanized" is silver but in my photos it kind of looks blue...sorry but this sucker was difficult to photograph. Also, the "Iced Gold", as Canson calls it, is actually like a metallic white. They are really lovely papers, but difficult to capture in a photo!

I used Photoshop to do the card's inside and the font I used is "LD Hallmark".



Here, I've included some close-ups of my card:



Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"



Supplies

Papers: Bazzill Bling and Effects Papercraft "Galvanized", "Gold Leaf" and "Iced Gold" by Canson
Stamps: Lotus Greeting Stamps by Amy Butler for K & Company
Inks: VersaMark Watermark by Tsukineko
Embossing Powders: "Super Fine Detail Gold" by Ranger
Tools: Gold "Peel-Offs Stickers" by the Paper Studio, Silver & Glitter "Peel-Offs" by Mark Richards, Swarovski Crystal Bead, Martha Stewart "Pearls", Michael's Gold & Silver Beads, Anna Griffin "Gold Rectangle Label Holder" and "Gold Brads" and Offray Ribbon

I’ve been practicing with my Prismacolors………….

and Goo Gone. I have the OMS but I think it’s probably safer with the Goo Gone and it works just fine. I also used a paint brush with some alcohol and the ink from one of my Sharpies to add a little shadowing type background color. The image I used was not a stamp….I guess you could say that I made a digital stamp using the“Red Rose” Plate 28 in my “The Language of Flowers" Coloring Book by Dover. I just printed it using my Canon Pixma MP530 All-in-One inkjet printer and then heat set it with my heat gun. I then decided to use it to make a birthday card for my “adopted” daughter, Cathy. Her birthday is next month……..I sure hope that she will like it!

Oh, and I just have to mention this. Do you notice the beautiful designer paper? I love it……I purchased it from Michaels a few weeks ago when they had the “get 7 sheets of 12x12 paper for $1.00” sale! I wound up buying ten sheets of this particular paper for only $1.40…..WOW, what a bargain!!!
Finished Card Size: A7/5”x7”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, DP from The Paper Co. [Michaels], Bazzill Bling and “Best Occasions” Metallic Paper Pack gold metallic CS.

Tools: Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”, Provo Craft “Cuttlebug and Ranger “Heat It”

Accessories: Provo Craft Cuttlebug “Textile” embossing folder, Spellbinders “Ribbon Tags Trio” and “Small & Large Petite Scalloped Ovals”, Prismacolor Pencils, Goo Gone, “Gold Photo Corner” Peel-Off Stickers by the Paper Studio, Edwardian Script ITC font and Offray ribbon

I can't believe our youngest granddaughter.........

is turning 18 tomorrow and I guess you know what that makes me? Old!!!LOL It seems like just yesterday she was a little girl sitting on my lap at my computer. How time flies! At any rate, yesterday when I was starting to design her birthday card in my head, I decided to use the sketch for the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge (SC218) for this past Wednesday.


Some time during the past couple of weeks I had been playing with my new Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks and some gold mirror cardstock. I used some “Denim”, “Bottle” and “Silver Mixative” along with some of the blending solution and it turned out stunning on the gold cardstock……looks very marbled, but it’s extremely hard to capture using my camera. Here is a close-up that I took of some of it back on February 24th:

I used some of it for the corners, circular frame for sentiment and the ribbon buckle. For this card, I also decided to make my own “designer” paper using my “Antique Linen” Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad . The pretty lattice overlay was designed by me using my Funtime Deluxe 2009 software and then I cut it using my Craft Robo. All of the panels were cut using my Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”. The sentiment was created using Adobe Photoshop CS3 and printed onto my homemade designer paper using my Canan Pixma MP530 All-in-One inkjet printer.
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, “Majestic Blue” Creative Collection Metallic Cardstock by Wausau Paper
Tools: Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter, Craft Robo, Sizzix Big Shot, and Quickutz “Revolution”
Accessories: Provo Craft Cuttlebug “Textile” & “Happy Birthday” embossing folders, Spellbinders “Photo Corners” and “”Ladies Fashion Buckles" Shapeabilities, ribbon from Spare Parts “Neutral Doily Ribbon” pack, Michaels “Gold Beads” Rhinestone Stickers and “Peel-Offs” (18th) that was a gift from a UKS forum friend of mine.

Going to the chapel and I'm going to get married!!!!!!!

Well, not me! Had you going there for a minute, didn’t I? Seriously, my husband’s great niece is getting married on March 12th and I just found out about it about the time I was beginning to design a card for the Splitcoast Stampers “Ways to Use It” Challenge “Embellishment Pile-up”. So my card for that challenge became a Wedding Card! I loved creating this card, but it seemed to take me forever to get it all together, but now that I have, I really like it. What do you think?

I designed the “Leafy Branches” and a lady by the name of Sabrina, at the UK Stampers site, designed the lovely “white dove” and they were cut with my Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter”. The flowers were designed by Teri at my Yahoo Pazzles Inspiration Group and they too were cut with my Inspiration and then I sculpted them with my embossing stylus. I also used stamps and white embossing powder to emboss the main layer (underneath the embellishments), but unless you look at the close-up, you won't be able to see it. Here is a detailed close-up of some of the embellishments. As usual, please forgive my photography skills...some of these materials that we use to make our cards are to hard to capture!!!

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, Wausau Paper Creative Collection Textures Cardstock
“Sparkling Papers” Jewel Toned Mica Coated Papers by WorldWin and Villa Blanche
Textured Wall Paper Samples (for the flower centers)
Stamps: Anna Griffin “Flourishes” and “Flora & Fauna by KaiserCraft
Ink: Tsukineko “VersaMark Watermark”
Embossing Powders: Stamp-n-Stuff “Detail White Opaque”
Tools: Pazzles “Inspiration Creative Cutter, Cuttlebug, Ranger “Heat It”
Accessories: Cuttlebug “Leafy Branch” embossing folder, “Young Love ES” font, Martha Stewart “Branch” punch, Spellbinders “Photo Corners” Shapeabilities Collection and Large Scalloped Petite Ovals, Martha Stewart “White Pearl Stickers”, Offray “White Satin Ribbon” and the Cuttlebug “Textile” embossing folder by Provo Craft.

I have a lot to tell you about………….

First of all, I finished my Pazzles Design Team Project and got in the email on Wednesday! I was anxious to play with my new software program for my Pazzles Inspiration that I received on Monday….it’s the new Funtime 2009 and I love it! Needless to say, I spent Thursday playing with it and then yesterday I pretty much spent the day designing cutter files and designing this Christmas card for my youngest son and his family.

The beautiful glittered snowflake is a design by Monica, aka/Silene at the UK Scrappers site! I designed the twig/branch file and the bells using my new software. I made the “holly” paper piecing file using clipart from the Graphics Factory. I just signed up with them for a year. You can download all kinds of neat clipart! The upper left twig was punched using my Martha Stewart punch, but the others were from my design and were cut using my Pazzles Inspiration. I used four layers of embossing powder on the snowflake. I used liquid appliqué for the red berries on the holly and then I used Glassy Accents to make them shiny. I used my computer and printer for the sentiment. This was another one of those cards that was very difficult to photograph. I used silver and gold mirror like card for the bells and that mirror card never photographs well!

Well, after being ill so much for the past two months, I now have my work cut out for me, as I’m way behind on making Christmas cards and don’t know if I will be able to catch up………but I’m going to try!!!
Finished Card Size: A2/4.25”x5.5”

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS, Bazzill, Gold Mirror CS, “Metallic Silver” Best
Occasions Metallic Paper Pack
Ink: Tsukineko “VersaMark Watermark”
Embossing Powders: “Winter Wonderland Opaque” and “Star Dust Transparent”
by Stamp-n-Stuff
Tools: Pazzles Inspiration, Cuttlebug, Ranger “Heat It”, Fiskars “Lace” Border Punch
Accessories: Cuttlebug “Leafy Branch” embossing folder, “CK Cursive” font, Martha
Stewart “Branch” punch, Scor-Pal, Marvy Uchida “Red Liquid Applique”. Inkssentials
“Glossy accents”

Christmas Card for my Darling!

I took some time out from working on my Pazzles Design projects to make a Christmas Card for my DH and I got my inspiration from a couple of the Splitcoast Stampers challenges for this week. The first one is for the Technique Lover’s Challenge (TLC193), “Decorative Circle Medallion” and the second is for the Ways to Use It Challenge (WT191), “Cutting Corners”. I made my own background paper for the red layer by stamping and then using clear embossing powder. I cut the circle using my Pazzles Inspiration, punched it with my corner punch and then embossed it using my Cuttlebug. The green outer circle was designed and cut using my Pazzles as was the text boxes. I did the text using Photoshop CS3 using the BrockScript font and then printed it using my Epson printer and the Matte Heavyweight setting. The black and gold beads in the corners were designed and made by me!
Finished Card Size: A7/5"x7"

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS (painted gold), “Empress Emerald” Creative
Collection Metallic CS by Wausau Paper & Target Red Shimmer Finish CS

Stamps: Anna Griffin Flourishes Sets 2 3

Ink: Tsukineko “VersaMark Watermark”

Tools: Pazzles Inspiration, Ranger “Heat It”, Cuttlebug

Accessories: EK Card Creator “Venetian” Corner Punch, Glitter Ornaments
Peel-Off Stickers by The Paper Studio, EK Decorative “Love x 3” Corner
Adorner, Offray “Oatmeal” Satin Ribbon, "Black Jewels" embossing powder by Old Town Crafts and "Detail Clear Transparent" embossing powder by Stamp-n-Stuff

Happy Halloween everyone!!!!!

I’ve been away for quite a while and to tell the truth I’ve been going into withdrawal from not creating any greeting cards, as that is my passion!!! I’ve been busy working on a project for Pazzles, as well as creating some files, but I can’t talk about them just yet. I’ve also been experimenting with some techniques as well!

Well, today I broke down and created a Christmas card using the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge (SC200) for my inspiration. I used some “faux metal” that I made and I really wanted to use some handmade paper that I had recently purchased at Hobby Lobby. I also used some gold spray paint to spray my base card gold! I will have to tell you this….this has been one of the most difficult cards to photograph!!!! I think I’ve taken like 50 plus shots and I’m still not happy with the one I’m posting here, as it really does not do justice to the beautiful colors and textures of this card….but here it is.

I’ve also taken a close-up of some of the “faux metal”.

Finished Card Size: A2/4.25"x5.5"

I just came across this while reading a newsletter and decided to share it with everyone!

Blessings in Stone

Two friends were walking through the desert. As the day wore on and they became hotter and wearier, they had an argument and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand, Today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they knelt beside a pond, eager for a long, cool drink. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone, Today my best friend saved my life.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone. Why?”

The other friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it in the sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Let’s learn to write our hurts in the sand and carve our blessings in stone!

Supplies

Papers: GA Pacific White CS (card base & square frames that are spray painted gold) & The Paper Studio “Handmade Paper Pack”
Stamps: Hero Arts & Plaid All Night Media “Winter Holiday” (sentiment)
Tools: Pazzles Inspiration, Range “Heat It”, Cuttlebug
Ink: Ranger “Queen’s Gold” & Old Town Crafts “Ultra Fine Silver”Accessories: Offray “Gold Metallic” Ribbon, Michaels Gold & Silver “Rhinestone Stickers”, Premium Brilliant Finish "25 Kt. Gold Spray Enamel"