Some Blueprint Birthday Cards

Hi, guys!  Hope all is well!  I made a pair of birthday cards using the Blueprint Stamps by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.  I just love using these stamps as they are so fun to color and have a great look to them.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Gina K Designs, Desert Strom
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers
Misc.: Tim Holtz Wishbone

Isn't that wishbone adorable?  I applied it with Glossy Accents.

This second one is a fun present/gift stamp.  I like that I can use this for birthdays as well as Christmas or any other occasion that a gift is involved.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers
Misc.: Gems

If I had to recommend a great birthday stamp set, I would say this is it!

Hope you have a great day!  Until next time!

Quotable Monster Cards

Hi, guys! Today I thought I would share a fun pair of cards I made using some cute monster stamps by Victoria Case.  I love them, but haven't really used them much.  I paired them up with quotes by Stampers Anonymous. I thought they went well together.

Supplies (both)
Stamps: Victoria Case, Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Gina K
Ink: Archival Black, Distress Ink, Copic Markers
Misc.: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder

I love these quotes.  When I was creating these cards, I thought about those words, and hope that my fears won't hold me back in life.  I also know that imagination is boundless for sure!

I am entering these in the following challenge:  http://www.simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/2013/03/challenge-quotable.html

Do you have a favorite quote that you use in your creations?  If so, why not join in the fun?

Until next time, my friends!

Make A Wish (Tim Holtz Blueprint Stamps)

Hi, guys!  Hope all is well!  Today I am going to share a pair of cards I made this week for friends who requested personalized birthday cards to give.  I decided to use my Tim Holtz Blueprint Stamps as I find the images to be just so great and fun to color.  Both these cards use the same sets, but this first one is my normal size and uses only one image, whereas the second one is a large card using three images.

Supplies For Both Cards:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers, Archival, Distress Ink
Misc.: Computer Generated Names, Circle Punches, Tim Holtz Alpha/Numeric Sticker

I used my Copic Markers to color these images, and find they are just so fun to color. There is something very calming in sitting down and just coloring away.

Hope you enjoyed these cards as much as I did sharing them with you.

Until next time!

Happy "Owl"idays!

Hi, guys! Sorry for the lack of posting, but with the holidays comes lots of obligations, and also lots of fun times as well.  Today I am sharing a Christmas card I made for my friend Erich's nephew, Alex.  I thought I would use this adorable set from Hero Arts which features various owls.

Suppplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: Gina K Designs
Ink: Black Memento, Distress, Stampin' Up
Misc.: Copic Markers, Glitter, Red Gel Pen, Typewriter Dies (Memory Box)

Distress ink was used to make the sky blue (very light application of Tumbled Glass color). To personalize the card I used the Typewriter Dies by Memory Box.  I decided to use more untraditional colors for this card and used a lot of browns.

Wishing Alex and his family a very happy holiday season!

Until next time!

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Hi, guys!  I am sharing a Christmas card I made for a friend.  She requested a special card for a little boy named Benjamin who will be celebrating his first birthday. Christine asked that it be a religious card for the season.

Supplies:
Stamps Stampendous, Studio G
Paper: Recollections, Core-dinations, Gina K (White)
Ink: Distress Ink, Memento Black
Misc.: Copic Markers, Glitter Pen, Circle Punch, Sanding Block

I just love this image and thought it would be perfect for a little one.

I am a big fan of Core-dinations paper, as I love to use my sanding block to distress it, and by using a swiss dot embossing folder and sanding the paper,  it gave the card a fun snow look to me.

Hope Benjamin has a very blessed First Christmas!

Enjoy your day!  Until next time!

A Heart On The Mend

Hi, guys! Hope you are having a great day!  Today I am sharing a card I made for a special friend.  She is one-of-a-kind and so supportive of my crafting and was the first one to actually pay me to make her a card.  I have the first dollar she gave me framed to this day.   Well, my friend suffered a heart attack on the way to work a few weeks ago.  It was so scary to hear and it is WONDERFUL to hear she is on the mend now.  After thinking about it for a bit, this is the card I came up with for her.  I decided to stamp on an Avery mailing label to make the Band-Aid look realistic and was able to drape it across the heart that way.

Supplies:
Stamps: Vap! Scraps
Paper: G Studio Note Card, Ink Pad NYC Earth Tone, Gingham Creative Imaginations
Ink: Memento Black
Misc.: Copic Marker, Heart and Scallop Heart Spellbinders Dies, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Avery Shipping Label

I am sending this wish out to my friend for a speedy recovery! I miss you each day.

This unsettling experience has reminded me, yet again, that each day is a gift and not to be taken for granted for a minute.

Hoping you have a great day, and each moment is enjoyed to the fullest!

Goddaughters Are Blessings

Hi, guys! I am blessed with two Goddaughters and one Godson. Today, I am going to share two birthday cards I made for my sweet Goddaughters this weekend.

This first card I made for Rory, who is 4.   She is very girlie and princess-like, so I used Cinderella as the focal image.  I used letter beads for her name, as they remind me of the baby bracelets from the past.

Supplies:
Stamps: Disney Stamps
Paper: Stampin' Up, Gingham
Misc.: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Circle Punches, Corner Rounder, Beads, Hero Arts Pearls, Martha Stewart Lace

The next card is for Grace who is turning 5. I came across this adorable image from Inky Impressions that reminded me of her. Pigtails and jeans are her style.  I love that she is holding a blackboard since Grace will be starting kindergarten next month and is very excited.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Impressions
Paper: Stampin' Up, Echo Park
Misc.: Copic Markers, White Prisma Pencil


I wish them both the best as they celebrate their special day.  It is truly a blessing to be their Godmother.

Have a great day!  I hope you find a few moments in your day to do something you love!

Happy Birthday, Amanda

Hi, guys! You know the saying, "Sugar & Spice and everything nice..." - well, that describes my niece Amanda to a T!  She is turning 8 and I thought I would share the birthday card I made for her.  If you can picture the ultimate girlie-girl, you will have Amanda in mind.  She loves dressing up and having tea parties with me either at my house or at our favorite tea shop in Manhattan.  Nothing cuter than a little girl dressed up in a dress, hat and gloves.  It will melt your heart.

I decided to use a stamp by Suzi Blu by Stampavie.  She looks so pretty, feminine with a touch of sporty. I love the way she is on skates in a dress with flowers. So fun, and so Amanda.

Supplies:
Stamps: Suzi Blu/Stampavie
Paper: Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Black
Misc.: Copic Markers, Tim Holtz Alpha/Numeric 8, Washi Tape from Japan, Flower Gem 


I want to give a special thanks to my sister-in-law Rika for bringing me back a great supply of washi tape from Japan when she visited her family last summer.  I got to use it on this card and I love the colors and patterns on them.

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Thanks for visiting with me today, and I hope to see you back soon!

God, Family, Country and The Pittsburgh Steelers

Hi, guys!  Hope you are having a great weekend.  My husband and I are working on my stamp room and a few other things around the house.

I thought I would share the Father's Day card I made for my father.  If you know my dad, you will know he loves a great many things.  He loves God, his family, our great country and the Pittsburgh Steelers (not to mention a beer and some chips to go along with the game!)  So when I decided to make this card I knew I had to use the Steeler colors!

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet & Sassy Stamps
Ink: Memento Black Ink, Copic Markers
Paper: Stampin' Up, Gina K Designs (White and Black)
Misc.: Gems. Spellbinders Deckle Rectangle Dies

Our family always roots and cheers for the Steelers (with the exception of one of my brothers who insists on rooting for the NY Jets)  as my dad was raised in Pennsylvania.  This was a fun card to make and I know he liked it as he called to tell me so.

Wishing my dad a very Happy Father's Day and a big thank you for all you have done for me and our family.  I hope all the dads out there enjoy their special day.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!  Until next time!

Look Who's Turning 1

Hi, guys!  Hope all is well.  I just finished making a birthday card for my friend's daughter who is turning 1.  She asked that the card be girly and sweet.  I thought this fit the bill.

Supplies:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets
Paper: Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Black, Copics
Misc: Corner Rounder, Heart Gems, Computer Generated Name

I really enjoy using this Crafty Secrets stamp set.  It is fun creating different scenes each time you want to make a card.  There are a few boys and girls in the set, so you can vary the look.

Sure hope Victoria has a very happy 1st birthday!

Hope you have a great day, too!

Skating By with Birthday Wishes

Hi, guys!  Hope your day is going well.  I thought I would share a card I made for a friend's granddaughter's 7th birthday.  Her only request was to have a girl with long brown hair like her granddaughter and have her name and age incorporated in it.  When she mentioned the long hair I knew I had to take out my Stampavie Suzi Blu stamp!  She is adorable, don't you think?  Perfect for a little girl's birthday.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampavie Suzi Blu
Paper: Stampin' Up, DCWV Glitter paper
Ink: Memento Black ink, Copic Markers
Misc.: Prima Flowers, Stampin' Up Oval Punches, Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you find some time in the day to do something you love.

The Ink Pad, Part III: Dye Harder

Hi, guys!  Hope you are having a good day.   I thought I would share the last two cards I made for this month's submission for The Ink Pad NYC design team.  I colored the images with Copic markers and dyed the ribbons with the matching marker.  As you can see, these are more floral images.  All embellishments, images and sentiments were supplied by the store.

I hope you like them.  They were fun to make.  I am looking forward to seeing what May's theme will be!

Have a great day!  Hope you find some time in the day to do something you love!

Flower Window Card

Hi, guys!  Hope all is well and you are enjoying your weekend.  I thought I would share the card I made for day 2 of A Cut Above Online Class with Jennifer McGuire and friends.  We were learning how to use our die cuts to make windows.  This was a lot of fun to make. 

Supplies:
Card: Earthtone Card The Ink Pad NYC
Ink: Black Archival, Versamark
Misc.: Sizzix Die/Stamp Combo,  Leaf Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Copic Marker, Pearl

I am playing catch-up with these classes this weekend.  Life seems to get in the way of my creating time sometimes.  I look forward to sharing more soon.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Floral Cards for April Design Team for The Ink Pad

Hi, guys!  Hope your day is going well.  I thought I would share two more cards I made for The Ink Pad this month.

This month I did a bunch of floral cards.  I love that even though they had flowers on them, they were all very different in look and feel.   Personally,  I am not much of an earth tone kinda gal, but ended up loving the papers so much that I had to go to the store and pick up a supply for myself.  The card stock is from a 6x6 pad from a company called Canvas Home Basics.

I also had to use Stickles in Star Dust.  So I applied it directly to the stamped flower image above and in the light it twinkles so nicely.   I love Stickles and have them in so many colors.  I am definitely a glitter and shine kinda gal.

One other tip I have for you is to use your markers to color ribbon.  I had a piece of pale pink ribbon, but you will see on today's cards and the cards that follow later this week that the ribbon is not that shade any more.  I colored it with matching Copic Marker colors to match the focal image.  It is a fun way to get even more use out of your supplies.

Hope you like them, and hope you have a great day!  I can almost feel the weekend upon us!!

Don't Distress 80 - Celebrate it!

Hi, guys!  Hope you had a great holiday weekend.  We had a very nice one.  I was asked by a co-worker to make a 80th birthday card for an attorney who used to work with us.  It was fun to make.  I wanted it to have a masculine feel and also a distressed look.  I sure hope he likes it.

Supplies:

Paper: Ranger Coredinations (Broken China)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Copic Markers

Misc.: Tim Holtz Bingo Chip, Ribbon, Sanding Block, Cuttlebug Birthday Embossing Folder

This was the second 80th birthday card I have made these last few weeks.  It is such a thrill to make cards for people, but it is so exciting to make them for people experiencing milestone birthdays.  I often wonder why so many people don't want to celebrate each and every birthday with joy and happiness. So many worry about their age, or aging in general.  I know from personal experience that each and every year you are given is a gift and should be enjoyed to the fullest.  So, whether you are turning 40, 50 or even 80, kick up your heels and raise a glass to another year ahead.

Hope you have a great day, and find a few moments in your day to do something you love.