June 2013 Tim Holtz Tag (Distress Marker Fun!)

Hi, guys! Today is the last day of the month, and I am squeaking my June 2013 Tim Holtz tag in! This month Tim focused on using the Distress Markers for watercoloring and other techniques.  I had fun using them to watercolor and splatter ink as well as a few other tips he gave us. This month I decided to have some fun and use some old twill I had on hand.  I saved it from an old shopping bag as I loved the thickness and color.  I used Tim's tool to fray the edges of the twill and used ink along the edges to give it an aged look as well.

As you can see, I did two tags.  I do one for myself each month, and one for my friend Ruth, who loves them, and now visits Tim's blog as well.  Some day, I hope to get her to get her fingers inky, but until then, she can share in the fun this way.  If you haven't tried your hand at these tags, I highly recommend you give one a try! You learn some great techniques, and you have plenty of inky fun!

Hope you have some fun today, and enjoy the remainder of the weekend!

Until next time!

Birthday Cards for a Daddy and a Grandfather

Hi, guys!  Today I am sharing two cards that I made for a little girl named Victoria to give to her daddy and her grandfather for their birthdays in a few weeks.

The first card up is for her father, Seth.  I decided to use an old Stampin' Up set featuring one of my favorite stamps:  a fun loving crab!  I figured since his horoscope is Cancer (just like mine!) that this set would be a fun one to use.   I wanted to keep the card fun and happy since it was coming from his very young daughter.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' Up
Paper: Gina K Designs, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Distress Stains, Archival Black, Inktense Pencils
Misc.: White Felt, Googlie Eyes, Twine, Corner Rounder

I thought adding the felt and the googlie eyes made it fun and whimsical and something Victoria would love.  Who can resist not shaking a card with those eyes?

For the next card, I decided to use a set of stamps and a matching set of dies by Lawn Fawn.  They feature paper airplanes.  I figured they would be perfect for a grandfather.  Do you remember making them back when you were a kid?  I sure do!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn, Studio G
Paper: Gina K Designs, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Distress Stains, Distress Ink, Archival Black
Misc.: Lawn Fawn Dies, Hero Arts Gems

I did the background using Distress Stains in various blues and white and plenty of water.  I was inspired by a wonderful blogger and artist, Sandee. She is so kind and shares her knowledge with you.

I hope Seth and his father have a Happy Birthday!

Until next time!

20th Year of Teaching Anniversary Card (Chalkboard Technique)

Hi, guys! Today I am sharing a very special card I made.  My very good friend Asia is celebrating her 20th anniversary as a teacher!  I am in awe of her talents and kind nature.  She teaches kindergarten and I know she gave so many kids such a great start in their schooling.

I decided to use the chalkboard technique and to use one of my very large Ranger Tags as the card.  I found these adorable bags that look just like looseleaf paper and so I decided to use one of those instead of an envelope.

The stamps I used for the tag are from Stampendous.  I used some fun math-themed washi tape as the ribbon pull.  I think it was a fun touch.  The funniest thing for me while making this card was to try and print the way I used to in grade school.  I was much neater as a kid, and formed my letters properly back then, too.

This was a fun card to make, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful friend in Asia.  Her students  sure hit the jackpot by getting her as their teacher!

Have a great day!  Until next time!

WOYWW #212 - Fantastic Friend

Hi, guys!  Today is Wednesday, so you know what means!  I am sharing what is on my work desk with you! Thanks to Julia of Stamping-Ground for this weekly desk-snooping fun!  Here I'm starting to work on a birthday card for my good friend Asia.  As you can see, I pulled out stamps and fun papers.  I just picked up the Ten Seconds Studio metal tools and they are there waiting to be used, too!

Here is the completed card!  I had fun, as I got to use my Stampers Anonymous Blue Print stamps, and my Tim Holtz French Industrial paper. The fan is heat embossed using Ranger Platinum embossing powder. I like the look of that one better than the silver color as I think it gave it a vintage feel.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous, House Mouse
Paper: Tim Holtz French Industrial, Gina K White
Ink: Versamark, Versafine
Misc.: Ranger Platinum Embossing Powder, Hemp Twine, Corner Rounder

I am very happy with how it turned out.  I am going to enter it in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Stripes.  I used large striped paper from the Tim Holtz paper pad, and smaller striped paper from the pad and made tabs along the side.  The hemp even has stripes in it, too!

Thanks for visiting with me today!  I appreciate each and every one of you!  I hope to visit some of your desks today as well!

Until next time!

It's A Girl!!

Hi, guys!  I have been so happy this week as my stepson Eric became a father on Wednesday! Sweet little Aryana is here and mom and baby are both doing well!  I have been champing at the bit to make a card for them, but they didn't know the sex of the baby, so I waited.  I decided to use one of my House Mouse stamps as the focal image.  I find her so adorable all nestled in her walnut shell!

Supplies:
Stamps: House Mouse, Amy Tangerine
Paper: Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers, Distress Ink
Misc.: Paper Doily, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder

I decided to use my new date stamp by Amy Tangerine to add the birthdate on the card.  I thought it would be a fun way to personalize it.  The doily is aged by using Antique Linen Distress Ink.

I cannot believe the young boy I remember is now a dad! It is amazing how fast time flies!  I know my late husband is looking down on the happy family and is sharing in all the happiness.

Aryana, you are loved more than you can possibly know!

Until next time!

Dude, You Rock!

Hi, guys! Hope you are enjoying the last few hours of the weekend!  It has been a long time since I got to sit down and blog!  Family, work and summertime commitments have had me swamped.

Today I am sharing a birthday card I made for a friend of my husband.  Steve is an actor and performs with my husband monthly in their company's recreations of old-time radio productions in Manhattan. I decided to use some of the goodies from my June Simon Says Stamp Kit, and added the old-time microphones from a Lawn Fawn set I had on hand.  They look just like what the theatre company uses!

For the inside of the card I added the sentiment "You Rock!" I thought it would be perfect for him as well as for the fun paper I used.

Steve signs off the monthly shows with the line "Good night, America, bye-bye and buy bonds!"  The audience all joins in with such gusto and it makes for a fun end of a great evening.

Wishing Steve a very Happy Birthday and as much joy as he brings to so many others!

WOYWW #211 Graduation Card Using Tim Holtz Stamp Focal Image

Hi, guys! Today is Wednesday, so you know what that means:  I am sharing what is on my work desk with you!  A new purchase is sitting in plain sight today.  I picked up a set of Inktense pencils. I have been wanting them for some time.  They work so well and are so vibrant.   I am working on a card for my nephew Tom who is graduating grade school this week.  I didn't want to do the usual cap and diploma since he is so young and thought he would like this Tim Holtz stamp. Tom has made Tim Holtz Tags with me in the past, so he has an appreciation for his work and loves Distress Inks, too. Those alpha/numbers by Tim Holtz are a fun touch to personalize it.

Thank you to Julia of Stamping-Ground for this weekly desk hopping fun!  I look forward to visiting with some of of you today!

I am entering this card in the Challenge: Kraft at: http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk


Hope you have a great day!  Until next time!