Let's Hang Out

Hey, let's hang out!

Thanks for giving me a bit of your time today. :-) I'm sharing a card I made for a Paper Crafts Magazine publication call eons ago, but it didn't make the cut. I believe the category was 'framed,' or something of the sort.

I stamped three different frames from Glitz Designs' Fancy Frames set, and cut out the centers. Then I used an atlas transparency that I bought at a Tuesday Morning in Nags Head, North Carolina a while back. I lined the back of it with white cardstock, so it's more visible. On top of those two layers, I added clear acetate. And finally, I sandwiched all those layers together -- frame, acetate, atlas, and white cardstock -- and mounted the frames on foam dimensional stickers (3M). 

The 'picture hangers' are made with bits of black twine and bronze brads. The sentiment from The Craft's Meow goes really well, I think.

This card is larger than the typical A2 (4.25" x 5.5") size, to accommodate the three picture frames. I actually found an envelope in my stash that fits it, as it's an odd size. Yay, it can be mailed!

Stamps: Fancy Frames - Glitz Designs; sentiment - Sending You Sunshine - The Craft's Meow Paper: kraft - Papertrey Ink; Whisper White - Stampin' Up!; atlas transparency - Tim Holtz?; clear acetate - repurposed from packaging Ink: Walnut Stain - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: black twine Accessories & Tools: bronze brads - SU; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

Magnolia Peace Christmas

Hello all!  I'm super-late in sharing this card, which was published on page 61 in Paper Crafts Magazine's Holiday Cards & More, Volume 8 - Summer 2013.  Just never got around to it 'til now!

Still lovin' my Market Street Stamps background stamps.  This one is Gingham.  I wanted to give a homespun feel to this card, you know, all cozy.  The 'handmade ornament' (some die cuts, satin ribbon, and a magnolia sticker topped with pearls) is just what I'd expect from a rural Christmas.  Vermont, perhaps?  Ahhh, I am instantly transported to snowy fields and forests, with wood smoke coming from chimneys of log cabin homes.  Sounds good to me.

I'd really better get a leg up with my Christmas cards.  Once September rolls around, it's a quick slide to that holiday.

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Stamps: Gingham Background - Market Street Stamps; sentiment - Merry Christmas Trees - Hero Arts Paper: Naturals White, Basic Black, newsprint patterned paper - SU Ink: Crumb Cake - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: red satin ribbon Accessories & Tools: pearls; magnolia 3D sticker - K & Co.; circle dies

Button Wreath in CARDS Magazine

Gotta celebrate the times you're published...even if it was last year.  Here's something that made it into an issue of CARDS magazine, before they went all digital:

I've got buttons here from my favorite aunt's stash, and they are indeed vintage.  The sentiment is Verve.

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Stamps: Winter Mittens - Verve Paper: white - PTI Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: white twill ribbons Accessories & Tools: lots of buttons; Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - SU; circle die - Spellbinders; red pearls - Queen & Co.

Give Thanks for CARDS Magazine

I'm often late to 'the party' when it comes to sharing cards of mine that have been published.  I wanted to time this thankful card with the Thanksgiving holiday, but it didn't work out. ;-)

Some gold-embossed Verve goodness....

I had hand-stamped my patterned paper using Elements of Style, Linen Background, En Francias, and Bella Toile - all by Stampin' Up!.  

Okay, now back to Christmas!

Stamps: Elements of Style, Linen Background, Bella Toile, En Francais - SU; Happy Fall - Verve Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede - SU Ink: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand - SU; Versamark - Tsukineko Fibers: white ribbon Accessories & Tools: gold embossing powder - SU; chocolate pearls - Recollections

Christmas Apron

Hello my friends!  I feel like I've been away from my blog for a long time.  We went to North Carolina for several days to celebrate Thanksgiving with family, and whenever I go away, it takes me a while to catch up back here at home.  I wasn't always like this, so I fear age is creeping up on me!  It's either that, or LAK (Life After Kids) is taking its toll on me.  LOL

This card I'm sharing today....can I just say how much I love it?  ;-)  I'm not sure if I can bear to give it away!  That's crazy-talk, I know.  Why make a card if it'll just sit around?  I don't know if any of you feel this way, but sometimes I keep a card for a while because I love the outcome.  I like to look at it as I pass through my dining room (where I craft...and eat...and pay bills, and do work, etc.), until one day, it's simply ready to go to someone special.

See the black die cut behind the sentiment panel?  I chose that because it reminds me of wrought iron, which is featured in the JUGS challenge inspiration photo (further below).  Fancy wrought iron is something I've always been drawn to.  They just don't make it like they used to!  The sentiment is from Inspired By Stamping.

All the best-dressed dress forms should wear pearls!  Or, Liquid Pearls, in this case.  The stamp is from Girls' Paperie, and it is wearing a lace 'apron' from my stash (it's gotta be, like, 20 years old already!).

Has this ever happened to you?  When I dot the White Opal Liquid Pearls onto an image that was stamped in red ink, the pearls turn pink!  The ink isn't wet when I apply, but the 'pearls' still turn pink anyway.

Challenges entered:

• Just Us Girls - photo inspiration (above) - I took my cue from the red, gray and white color palette; the wrought iron planters beneath each window I interpreted with lacy die cuts surrounding the sentiment; red bows on the planters show up as a red bow on my dress form's apron.
• Shopping Our Stash - Odds 'n' Ends or Waiting to be used.  I used a lace scrap that I've had FOREVER in my ribbon bag, and that little bow was in a $1.00 Scrap Bag from my Stampin' Up demo, already tied (thanks, Gail!).
• Simon Says Stamp and Show - 'A Project with Heart' - create a heartfelt card for someone dear to you, create a mixed media canvas with a heart focal point, use hearts as embellishments on your next layout, or art journal about what is dear to your heart.  My project includes things dear to my heart:  a shabby chic feel, some lace, some pearls, and a feminine touch.

Do any of you have the November issue of CARDS Magazine?  I have a card that is published in there, but cannot find a copy of that issue, so I don't know what page my "Give Thanks" card is on.

I'd like to thank the gals at Papercraft Star for choosing my 'Pretty Pink Thanks' card as a runner-up.  :-)  That was nice news to receive today.

And to each of you...I'm glad you came for a visit...thanks so much!




Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: music notes - Tinsel & Twig - Girls' Paperie; dress form, flowers - Paper Girl - Girls' Paperie; sentiment - Elegant Christmas Sentiments - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU
Ink: London Fog - Memento; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Riding Hood Red - SU; Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: lace, gingham ribon
Other: Persian Motifs, oval dies - Spellbinders; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Published in Papers and Pixels magazine!

Life has been moving at such a quick pace since the kids started back to school.  With all that's been going on, I forgot to post this card, which was published in the online magazine, Papers and Pixels, September 2012 issue.  My card was included in an article about Joanna Munster, owner of Inspired By Stamping.  Joanna kindly asked each of the IBS design team members to create something special for the issue.

I used the set Paris exclusively for this card.  I made my own background print from fleur de lis and laurel wreath stamps included in the set.

I stamped another fleur de lis very lightly behind the Eiffel Tower on the clock face.  The punched star is made from cereal box chipboard, edges inked, then coated in clear glitter (I have a whole bag of these...just sat and made 'em up one day).  The paper rose and the crochet lace are from IBS, too.

I stamped the decorative flourish from Paris with white craft ink on black cardstock, then topped it with two different-sized pearls.

Thanks so much for joining me today!  I always love when you visit.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Paris - IBS
Paper: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Black - SU; cereal box chipboard
Ink: Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen - Ranger
Fibers: Cream Crochet Lace - IBS; twine - Creative Impressions
Other: pearls; circle die - Spellbinders; Big Shot; star punch - Fiskars; clear glitter - Martha Stewart; Off-White Flower - IBS; Arches punch - EK Success

Dotted Elephants

I've just returned from vacation, and have many things to share with you.  This is kind of a long post, so if you just want to look at the card below and be on your merry way, go right ahead!  I don't mind.  :o)

One thing to share is a card that is published in the Stamp It! Volume 9 issue of Paper Crafts magazine, and it's featured on page 49.

Here's my card --

I used a DeNami elephant and some Copic markers to create this little 'parade'.  A Copic blender pen helped remove some of the red ink to show pattern on the middle guy.

We were on vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week, visiting my in-laws and just got back.  We had a good time, and I was able to finally kick this bronchitis-turned-bronchospasm problem I've had for a few weeks.  (Amen to that!)

A dock by the sound.  This is a short walk from the house, and this is where we crabbed.

Okay, so you know how most of us do laundry or grocery shop when we get home from vacation?  Well, we had to look for a car.  Hmph.  My oh-so-dependable, well-maintained mini van's transmission had a sudden death while my family and I were out getting supplies to go crabbing.  As my hubby was driving into a parking lot, the car made a loud, strange noise and I said "That doesn't sound good."  He agreed.  He drove a few more yards and it made a louder sound, combined with a lurching motion.  We decided we'd better head back to the house instead, and he tried to pull out of the parking spot when it lurched all of us quite violently.  We were now in a lane in the parking lot (in people's way) when the car stopped altogether.  The engine was still running, so my hubby wanted to push the car while in neutral to a safer spot.  No dice.  It wouldn't budge.  It was as if the emergency brake was on, but it wasn't.  My father in law came to get me and the girls, while AAA came to tow our car to a garage.  The price tag was almost $4,000 and a 3-day work time to put a different (read:  not brand new) transmission in the van.  Based on many factors, my husband decided not to fix it.  It was a 10 year old car, but the good thing was that we had owned it and there were no more car payments on it.

Our little crabber, helping her dad.

We had to leave the car down there, and donated it to a charitable organization.  Luckily, my in-laws were able to lend us a car for the ride home, otherwise we'd have to rent one one-way.

One of 15 crabs caught - and returned - in the sound.

We're leasing a 2012 Chevy Traverse, which is an SUV crossover vehicle.  I get to pick it up tomorrow.  I'm a little excited to drive something new and different, but we were just not prepared for another car payment so soon.  :/

The clouds just seem bigger down south!

We had fun on vacation, despite this unexpected event.  The kids and Daddy went on a waverunner, and they all enjoyed that.  I stayed on shore to take pictures, but they didn't turn out so good.  I'm better at photographing things that don't move too much!

This is Hazy Daisy.  She lives at the pottery shop we always visit when we are in Manteo.

We also took a Dolphin Cruise, and saw about 6-8 of them.  Again, didn't get any good shots, plus it was raining that day so every photo is gray, and shows maybe the tip of a dorsal fin.  ;-)  There were two good beach days, and the water felt so warm.  I did not find any beach glass this time 'round.

I shopped (when I still had the car), and found a scrapbook store, TJ Maxx, antiques shops and Tuesday Morning all within a short distance.  I came home with some fun 'souvenirs'.  ;)

The sun seems to dip very quickly at the end of the day.  I ran for my camera and almost missed it.  You can just barely see it above the sound.  This is the view from the deck.  It's really, really lovely.

When I came home, I was delighted to see so many comments on the posts I had scheduled this past week.  Thank you ALL for leaving love for me!  It was a good end to my trip.

I also discovered that my hydrangea card earned honors at City Crafter, CASE Study and The Shabby Tea Room.  Thank you to all the ladies at those challenge sites!

Well, that's it for me.  I hope I can do some crafting soon...I missed it a lot!  And I've missed visiting your blogs, so you will see me soon.



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Elephant - DeNami; Timeless Tags - The Craft's Meow
Paper: white - PTI; Baja Breeze - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white crochet lace - Simplicity; red satin ribbon - craft supply
Other: pearls; Copic markers; corner rounder punch - SU

Published!

Hello everyone!  It feels like a loooong time since I've been here.  Last week was a heavy-post week for me, with many projects to show.  Those were all scheduled in advance (thank heavens for that Blogger tool!), while behind the scenes I was busy with lots of other 'life' things.

First, let me show you a card of mine that is currently published in the July/August 2012 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine:

It never fails to make me happy, seeing one of my projects in a magazine.  :)

I used a set by Stampin' Up! called Homegrown for the sentiment label as well as the artichokes.  I LOVE this set.

What's been keeping me busy the last couple of weeks?  eBay, for one.  I put over 90 items up for auction, with most selling.  The majority of those items were SU stamp sets that I no longer use.  If you have ever put something for sale on eBay, you know how much time it takes to do the whole process (photograph, upload,  inspect each item carefully for the write-up, weigh and figure postage options - and if it sells - print out packing slips, calculate combined shipping if need be, print postage, package each item(s) and head to the post office).  Some of my auctions are ending in the next couple of days, so I anticipate more busy-ness!

I did a home decor project for my 14YO's bedroom, too.  Did you ever see THIS Martha Stewart project, for turning a picture frame into a customized bulletin board?  I took some black high-gloss spray paint, Homasote board (Home Depot will cut it to size for you), an old frame, and gorgeous lavender moire fabric (extra remnants from a friend who made her bridesmaids' dresses with it) for the project.  The frame is old, from my grandmother's home.  It had been spray-painted gold when it lived with her:

BEFORE

And the end result --

AFTER

It was a relatively quick project (waiting for paint to dry was the longest part), and gave my daughter's room a punch of sophistication and practicality.

Another thing I've been up to:  the attic.  We have a walk-up attic that needed insulation.  The company came and did it for us on Monday, but in the two days prior to that, we had to bring down nearly EVERY box that is stored up there.  All the boxes and various items are stacked around my (small) house, including in every bedroom, living and dining rooms, basement and even the front porch!  Yikes.  We are going through each box before putting it back, so we can give some things away.  Oh, and did I mention it's been 100 degrees here in New Jersey?  Yep.  The attic is even hotter, even though the windows are open.  There are more boxes to go through and put back, but for today I am taking it easy.  The humidity is quite high here, and I'm having trouble breathing (I've had asthma my whole life).  


I'm horribly behind in visiting blogs; please forgive me.  I'll get back in the groove soon! 

 

Shabby Chic Toile

So....when I was brand-new to card-making several years back, the only game in town for me was Stampin' Up!.  It was at an SU party that I fell hook, line and sinker for the world of stamping.  I didn't even know then that other stamp companies existed, and when they did start to enter my peripheral crafting vision, I thought there was no WAY they could be as good as SU.  (happily, I was proven wrong -- but SU stamps still hold a special place in my heart)

Since my foray into stamping began, I have tried many different stamp companies and have fallen in love with various lines.  Can't believe I ever thought I could never cherish clear stamps:  now, they are my fave type of stamp.  The rubber variety sits largely unused around here lately.

That is, until this afternoon.  My delicious box full of Unity stamps (I'm pretty much new to the brand.  Thank you, Emily, for enabling me) arrived, and I had a chance to play with a few tonight.  OH. MY. GOODNESS.  I LoVe the stuff!  I can see how addicting this will be, this Unity stuff (again, *thanks*, Emily ;).

I'm tying together a summer theme for some of the challenges listed below.

I used Pale Plum for the Tea Time Toile background stamp.  It's a little tough to see, but there are kids climbing trees on this stamp.  So fun for summer!  The clear, dotted acetate panel was in a $1.00 Scrap Bag from my Stampin' Up! demo a long time ago.  I thought it added a fun edge to this card.

The birds stamp is from Play in the SUN, and the sentiment is from a set by the same title.  There's a canvas circle behind the birds; that's something from my local craft store.

And speaking of the sentiment, there's some symbolism going on there.  After stamping it, I cut a "V" on one end, inked all the edges, then roughed 'em up with my fingernail.  Then I crumpled it, and attached it to the card.  All that distressing and rumpling symbolizes ME before school let out.  (anyone who follows my blog knows how stressful these last couple of months were for me (it's ALL good, but it was all too much) (this part ties in with the Simon Says Stamp challenge).   The sentiment is there to remind me that summer will refuel my soul.

Challenges entered:

• Stampendous - Summer theme
• Unity - Summer theme
• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Vintage Depth of Distress (the edges are distressed, some with ink, some with ink AND roughed up edges; and *I* was distressed, too! - please read above paragraph)
• Sugar Creek Hollow - primitive, shabby chic or vintage card with circles
• CPS Card Sketch 

Did you see the new Paper Crafts special issue called Stamp It! yet?  I've got a birthday card on page 49! 

Thanks for visiting!  You've made my day.  :o)

Dimensions:  4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Tea Time Toile, Play in the Sun, Relax,Renew,Restore - Unity
Paper: white - PTI; dotted clear sheet - SU
Ink: Pale Plum, Early Espresso, Soft Suede - SU
Fibers: cream lace - Spare Parts
Other: canvas circle - AC Moore; pearls - Queen & Co.; Big Shot; circle die - Spellbinders