Thrilled For You!

Today I am sharing a card I made for my husband's aunt and family.  They relocated to Long Island from Virginia and bought a new home.  While looking through my stamp stash, I came across this fun house stamp by recollections.  I heat embossed it in black and used some fun heart paper from my Simon Says Stamp card kit.

Supplies:

Stamps: Recollections, Paper Smooches

Paper: Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Ink: Distress Ink (Faded Jeans, Worn Lipstick), Versafine Black

Misc.: Clear Embossing Powder, Heart Gems

Instead of the usual "Congratulations" sentiment, I went with this one by Paper Smooches, as we really are thrilled for them.

This Sunday we were able to visit them in their new home and I learned how to play bocce ball!  I seemed to get better as we went along, but still came in last!  I married into a bocce-loving family, it seems.  

Hope you have a fabulous weekend ahead!  My husband and I will be working in our basement as we are clearing it out after our flash flood last week.  We got it all dry, etc, but so many things to sort through and continue to toss away things we don't need.  One fun thing we will be doing is attending a barbecue with some dear friends.  

Until next time!

Say It With Flowers

As I have previously written, I haven't been doing much in the way of crafting or card making lately.  I have been out and about enjoying summer and spending time with family and friends.  I had to make an exception to my break when I was asked by a partner at the firm I work for if I could make a special card for him to give his wife for their anniversary.  He had never asked me before (normally, I make them for assistants and a few other staff members), so I said yes.  The only guidance he gave me is his wife loves color and flowers, so this is what I came up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts, Paper Smooches, Gina K Designs
Paper: Gina K Designs
Ink: Archival Inks, Memento Black
Misc: Copic Markers, Gems

Here is another example of one card using three stamp sets by different companies.  It is a fun way to get the most of the many supplies I have and give the sets a different look.

It felt so good to get my fingers inky!  Hoping to just find time to create for myself soon.  I know I have relatives coming next week and a block party to attend next weekend as well so I am not sure when I will fit it in.  Summer is really in full swing here!

If it is summertime in your area, I hope you are having a lot of fun and family/friend time, too!

Until next time!

Distress Stain Cards (Sympathy & Thank You)

Hi, guys! Hope all is well!  Today I thought I would share a pair of cards I made using my Distress Stains.  I made two similar backgrounds and used the same stamp set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.  The paper I used is watercolor paper as I find it works great with stains as they are a wet medium.

After they dried, I used the lighter (softer) background to turn into a sympathy card for a friend who lost his mom.  I think nature themes work very well for sympathy cards.

I then used the second panel to make a thank you card for a friend who hosted us for this Labor Day weekend.  Barbara is someone who ALWAYS makes me laugh and smile.  I used the brighter background and went with a more whimsical way to display the sentiment. The sentiment I used is from Paper Smooches.

Isn't it great that you can create two cards easily using the same backgrounds and stamps but change them a bit for two special people in your life?  I know when I take out my stains, or paints, it is very rare that I only make one card.  It saves me time and cleanup and I enjoy stretching my imagination.

Until next time!

You Add Color To My Life

Hi, guys!  Today I am sharing a birthday card I made for an interior designer.  Fern helped pick out paint for my friend's new home and so I thought this would be a great way to celebrate her.

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches

Paper: Bo Bunny, Gina K Designs

Ink: Memento Black, Hero Arts Shadow Inks

Misc.: Copic Markers, Scallop Rectangle Punch

I went with primary colors and framed the easel with the paint brushes and crayon stamps.  A computer generated name was added to personalize the card.

Wishing Fern a wonderful and colorful year ahead!

Until next time!

Sending A Big Thank You

Hi, guys!  I just finished making a card for our friend Jeff. My hubby and I lost our phone and electricity during Hurricane Sandy and had exhausted the power in our cellphones and my iPad by day 4.  Luckily Jeff had power and we were able to spend some time visiting and charging all our devices.  It was such a blessing, as I was very nervous not having a way to make a call should we have an emergency. I decided to make him a card today to express our thanks.

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Versafine

Paper: Studio G Card

Misc.: ClearEmbossing Powder, White Gel Pen

Hope Jeff and his wife Lisa know how much they mean to us, and hope you take a moment to let those in your life know how important they are to you.

Have a great day!

When High Tech Meets Low Tech

Hi, guys! My nephew Tom celebrated his 11th birthday last week, and I thought I would share with you the card I made for him. Tom loves all things "techie."  He loves computers, cell phones, iPods, and - of course - video games.  I saw this set of stamps by Paper Smooches and had to have it for all the lovers of these gadgets.

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches
Paper: Recollections Note Card, Husk Cardstock The Ink Pad NYC
Ink: Memento Black
Misc.: Copic Markers, Twine


While making this card, I was trying to think of a fun way to incorporate Tom's name on the card. I remembered that I have been keeping a stash of mini Scrabble tiles that a friend sent to me from Ireland years ago. I decided it would be fun to use them on his card, as not only is Tom a lover of video games, but of all kind of boardgames as well. The contrast between the high tech toys and low tech toys on one card should make him chuckle.

Since I have been saving (hoarding) this Scrabble tiles for some time, I decided to use some of them this weekend and made a few more cards using them.  I will share them later on in the week with you. Is there any supply that you are holding on to?  I hope this card will inspire you to use some of you goodies that you are saving.

I hope Tom had a birthday as special as he is!  Wishing each of you a great day, and hope you find a few moments to do something you love!