...Makes Me Smile

So in my last post I said that the card 'makes me smile'. Ironically, those exact words appear in the sentiment on today's card.

I want to acknowledge Audrey Hiltke and her amazing blog. I cased her card here as best I could although without a gold leafting pen, it is not quite the same. Of course, I did not have some of the other products either so I substituted but I am quite pleased with the result all the same.

I used the Grand labels four and cut 3 of the third largest die from white c/s. Two of them were from a heavier weight c/s for stability. Then I dry embossed the lighter weight of the diecuts, used a Versa Mark pen around the edges, and heat embossed with gold detail EP. It was then adhered to one of the heavier diecuts with my AGT adhesive.  I scored the third die cut about 1" from the top and adhered the 1" area to the back of the embossed double layer. I used red sticky strip to ensure the two layers would not come apart. This created the back of the card.

I stamped a design several times on white c/s in three different colors and then die cut 4 hearts from each color. I edged each heart with gold encore ink by running the edge of the heart across the pad. Then I heat embossed with gold detail EP. I shaped the hearts with the HFC blossom shaping tools and pad, and attached a foam square to the back of each one.

I die cut a sentiment label with the Labels four die and used the same treatment to edge it. Then I stamped the JRS sentiment, heat embossed with gold EP, and attached the label to the front of the card with foam tape.

I began layering the shaped hearts on top of each other. I saved a couple, unshaped, for the inside of the card.

The person who makes me smile is my amazing daughter, whom I get to see far too seldom as she lives quite far away and is always incredibly busy. I am so proud of the wonderful person she has grown to become. ILYTB kiddo.

That is the second of three Valentines I need to get made. This one is off in the mail to Canada as well.

Hope you all have and inky day.




Stamps: JRS Grand Clear Sentiments, Cloud Nine Designs (name of set unknown - this is what I used for the hearts), a stray Valentines Day stamp from my stash.
Papers: SU white c/s, Heavy weight c/s from my stash
Dies: HFC Timeless Amour, SB Grand Labels Four, and Labels Four.
Inks: VersaMagic turquoise, pumpkin spice, green, Encore gold, Versa Mark pen.
Other: SB Asian M-Bossabilities, SU gold detail EP, Foam tape and dots, SU sticky strip (red tape), Heat gun, HFC blossom shaping tools and pad.


PS You may have noticed by this time that I have a rather large 'stash' and lots of 'unknown' products. It is something I have to work on reducing. I have found a new blog that seems geared for me and others like me who have this problem. It is called Craft Hoarders Anonymous and I can't wait until it is going full gear. Check it out here.

I Heart This Color Combination

Good morning everyone. I have a creation today that just makes me smile.

I still had all these papers on my work space from last week when I was working on the JRS color challenge. I was about to put them away when it occurred to me that they would make a perfect Valentine. As I needed to get one made up quickly to get into the mail back to Canada, this is what I came up with.

It is pretty straight forward. In addition to being flat (easy to mail) and cheerful, I also like the unusual  colors for a Valentine. The little hearts on the front and inside of the cards all were die cut from the center of one of the larger dies in the set.

 I am pretty sure my grand daughter will love this one.

Get busy making those Valentines. The day will sneak up on you before you know it. Have a great day and get your fingers inky.

Stamps: an unknown stray from my stash
Papers: Graphics 45 Secret Garden, Bazzil peach, blue, and red c/s , SU white c/s.
Dies: SB Lace Hearts, HFC Timeless Amour, Decorative Lace Border, and a retired set (the two corner dies).
Inks: Ranger Distress Fired Red Brick

A Little Rusty

I had some extra time today after my 3 hour golf lesson and before picking up my husband at the airport so I threw this little number together.

I jest, but actually, this one did come together very quickly. I had purchased the lace and flowers together a couple of weeks ago and had them laying on my work space waiting for my inspiration. I pulled out my packages of Heartfelt Creations papers and came up with one from the Antiquity collection.

I think this card took about 45 minutes to design which is some kind of record for me!  :)   I had one flower leftover from the package and already have the next card started in my head. I may have to pick up some more flowers in this color, which I just love, as I have a couple of other color combinations I want to try. And isn't this crocheted lace just gorgeous?



Stamps: Grand Birthday Sentiments
Paper: HFC Antiquity Collection, ivory and rust  c/s papers from my stash.
Dies: SB Labels 8 and Decor Labels 8
Inks: Color Box brown, VersaMagic Jumbo Java
Other: Petaloo flowers and lace

You Learn Something New Every Day

I decided I wanted to take another run at the JustRite Stampers challenge #112. Just to remind you, it is a colour challenge as seen in this photo.



And this is my second card using these colours.

So what did I learn that was new, you ask. Well I was not sure if it would work, but I decided to try using a Spellbinders die to cut through two layers of card stock. Lo and behold, with a little perseverance and 6 runs through the Grand Caliber, it worked!! My excitement made up for my disappointment in the fact that the Curved, Scalloped, and Bracket borders are all only 6 " long and I make most of my cards 5X7. I need to send a strongly suggestive message to Stacey over at Spellbinders. But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, die cutting two layers. To make things even trickier, because my card is 7", I had to shift the trellis die after the first cut was complete, line it up perfectly and run it through again several times to get the last inch cut.




For the top label, I used the peach coloured gelato and a baby wipe to create the light peach tone on white c/s before stamping the image. Then after die cutting, I decided it all needed the colour to be a bit more saturated, so I sponged on some VersaMagic pumpkin spice on the edges and over the center section.



The little flowers on the bow are a retired item from Stampin'Up! that only came in ivory, so I coloured them using my aqua brush and some dye ink that I applied onto a craft sheet using the Marvy ink pad. I attached them to the bow with Ultimate glue. Sorry about the photo. Focus, girl, focus.


And, of course, the inside.

I am still not completely thrilled with the finished product and may give this one more try, though I am running out of time for the deadline.



Stamps: JRS Celebrate Today Vintage Labels.
Papers: Graphic 45 Secret Garden, Bazzil red and blue c/s, SU white c/s.
Dies: JRS Vintage Labels 4, SB Floral Ovals, Classic Ovals, Fancy Lattice
Inks: Ranger Distress Broken China, VersaMagic pumpkin spice and cranberry, Marvy light orange.
Other: SU white satin ribbon, SU ribbon flowers, Ultimate glue, 3M foam tape, Zots glue dots.

A Bunch Of Juliet

Today I worked with a fun die from Heartfelt Creations called Sweet Juliet. The first time I saw it, I could not figure it out but now I adore the unique blossoms it makes. I think one of the things I like about it is you don't have to stamp something first, and then line up the die properly. Just lay the die on the paper and run it through the machine.

All the patterned papers I used (which is all the papers in the project) are also from HFC. I may have mentioned in the past how much I love them. The collections I used are listed below. Even the blossoms were made from patterned paper. Some of the lighter petals are from the same paper as the top mat with the words; you really can't tell when they are put together and it gives such nice texture to them.

If you look closely, you will see that I used 3 different types of brads. Also, the flowers where adhered in two different ways. On the back of the larger ones, I attached a square of foam tape with Zip glue, then used more Zip on the foam square to glue it to the card. The smaller blossoms were adhered with Diamond Glaze.

I dug out a set of dies that I have not used in a very long time, but that seemed very suited to the style of the card.

As you can see, I did not do much stamping on this one. I hope you like it anyway.




On the right, you can see the inside of the card.






Stamps: HFC Heartfelt Expressions
Papers: HFC Antiquity, Recollections Card Base, Stampin'Up! ivory, I also used some retired HFC             paper for the green bits.
Dies: Spellbinders deckled rectangles, HFC Sweet Juliet.
Ink: Memento eggplant.
Other: Stampin'Up! and Graphics 45 and Spare Parts brads, Diamon Glaze, Foam Tape.

One For The Mail

Yes indeedy, I decided to make a card the would go through the mail in a regular envelope with no extra postage. This is hard for those of us who are addicted to our embellishments.

Once again I went to my favorite papers with the Heartfelt collections. And I decided to stay with HFC all the way.

There is not much to explain here. I did smudge the greeting the first time I stamped it and that led to an opportunity to improve the overall design with the oval die cuts.

I just got a parcel in the mail from HFC, with some of their newest papers, stamps and dies. So I suspect you will see something with these products. Meanwhile, take some time to get your fingers inky.

Stamps: HFC Heartfelt Expressions.
Papers: Recollections card base, Stampin'Up! ivory, HFC burst of splendor.
Dies: HFC decorative lattice swirl, Spellbinders classic ovals.
Ink: Archival coffee

Aaaaahhhhhh.........

Well the last of the eggnog has been drunk, the decorations are safely packed away for another year, and I have seen my last snowflake of the season. I am safely back in my southern home and finally back in my craft room again.

For my first post of the new year, I have decided to try another JustRite Challenge - #112. This one is a color challenge - green blue, lipstick red, and peach puff.




I had to go out in search of some cardstock as my limited supply here did not include these colors. I hope what I was able to find is close enough to the requirements.

I also picked up some paper flowers at Hobby Lobby - Spare Parts.   I stamped the background stamp using brown permanent ink, heat set it, then lightly applied the peachy colored ink with a baby wipe.

I attached the blossoms with quick dry paper glue.

Inside, I attached some separated petals along the border with glue dots.

Stamps: JRS French Rose Background, JRS For All You Do

Vintage Labels, JRS Large Fancy Sentiments.

Dies: JRS Vintage Labels Three; I do not know the brand of the lacy circle and the inside borders.  (They are the first thin dies I ever bought and at the time did not have a blog so never thought I would need that info.)

Cardstock: colored c/s brand unknown - purchased at Hobby Lobby, Stampin'Up! white.

Ink: VersaMagic pumpkin spice, VersaMagic turquoise gem, Archival coffee.

Other: Spare Parts paper flowers, Zip dry glue.