Pattern Play Makes A Great Masculine Card

 When I saw Concord & 9ths Pattern Play, I knew it had possibilities.  I purposely chose different colors than my usual go to and once finished I had a card that could go for several sentiments.  My Son-In-Law had a birthday coming up and I used Honey Bee's Big Bold Birthday Stamps and Honey cuts.

I tell you now, if you do a lot of die cutting the Anna Griffin Empress Elite is the way to go.   Splurge on it and you won't be disappointed!  It's the machine I reach for most.

I grabbed several scraps to fill this card front with two metallics and was pleased with my choices.  Got to love Bearly Arts Glue for adhering all these shapes down.  For my sentiment, I stamped with Versafine Onyx Ink in my MISTI and then added clear embossing powder.  After I melted the embossing powder, I ran it through the Empress Elite.  Foam Strips raise the sentiment. 

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)

"Bruce" Birthday card with his "Flat Stanley" adventure

Like many others, I struggle with masculine cards.  But when I saw Unity's Bruce stamp, inspiration struck.  Bruce was in my cart and I grievously paid for shipping.  I prefer to meet the minimum for free shipping but not today.  

Now for the "flat Stanley" adventure:  Following the tracking information - Bruce left New London MN and traveled to St Paul MN, on to St Louis MO within 2 days.  He then spent the night in St Louis MO and went to San Francisco CA where he spent the night, on to Oakland CA where he spent 2 nights, back to San Francisco CA and arrived in Memphis 2 days later, next night in St Louis MO where he rested for 4 days before making to my mailbox. Now, I would have loved to accompany him, particularly to the warmer weather, while we had frigid temps and snow.

Finally, time to create!  I decided to color with Copic Markers and used Onyx ink on Neenah card stock, then used YG03, YG09, YG17, BG96, RV11 and C1.  I used Hero Arts Circle Infinity Dies to cut Bazzill Quicksand and Patch card stock in my Empress Elite. To make Bruce's eyes shine I applied Glossy accents.  

For the background I used Large Sprinkled Dots Stencil with Frayed Burlap, Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint.  Once I was happy with that I sprayed Distress Mica Spray in Decayed for shimmer.  To bring the card together I used Bearly Arts Glue to attach "Bruce" and the sentiment.  Tiny Words Stamp from Simon Says Stamps added the perfect Happy Birthday!

Have a great day and keep on crafting!

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)

Love you to pieces card

 Valentines Day came and went but here's a card you could use for Heart Day or to let a special someone know how much you love them.  At our house, we celebrate February 14 and yes we got that from Tim the Tool man Taylor aka Tim Allen.  Yes, we are weird!

This card started out with a bright pink card base stamped with Versa Mark ink using Heart to Heart Stamp.  White Satin Pearl embossing powder was sprinkled and heated - Love how it looks on that bright back ground!  While I had my Wagner Heat Tool out I put Honey Bee Stamps SWAK stamp in my MISTI and again stamped with Versa Mark ink and this time I used Pink Sparkle embossing powder.  I stamped several and used the coordinating Honey Bee Stamps SWAK die in my Empress Elite.  Next I used Simon Says Stamp Love Stamp and Die for the word die and sentiment strip - Raspberry Bliss ink was used.  To bring the card together, I trimmed the back ground, placed my lips with one Foam Strips and used Bearly Arts Glue to adhere everything down.  Sparkle accents were made with my Stardust Pen.  I wish you could see this card in person, as the sparkle lips really catch the light.

Have a great day and keep on crafting!

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)

All Kinds of Wonderful Card

 My goodness!  If you are a lover of stacking dies - Elephantastic is the way to go.  Altenew has a tiny arrow imbedded in this die, so when you layer them up, it's easy to place them perfectly.  Only the top layer doesn't have the arrow.  Meaning those dies that have a "helper" and the placement is not obvious - that arrow rocks!  When I first saw this die I was drawn to it, such perfect details.  Social Media is full of reels with baby elephants lately and I just can't look away.

This card came together with Ocean Waves Bold Back ground stamp in my MISTI using Grassy Knoll ink.  The trimmed piece is backed with black card stock.  Empress Elite makes die cutting Elephantastic on Fog Card stock easy peasy. Bearly Arts Glue is my glue of choice lately and like I said above those elephants were quick to assemble.  Finally Skinny Sentiment Strips 1 placed in my MISTI made stamping with Versafine Onyx ink fast and aligned.

Have a great day and keep on stamping!

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)

Birthday Card Using My Stash

When I started card making there were a several favorite companies and one was The Stamps of Life.  Pulling out an oldie Die Set called Framelits Drop-Ins.  I searched for a link but alas, no luck.  I highly recommend The Stamps of Life Dies, especially the Flip-its, Step-Ups and other card bases, they are very versatile for many occasions, a true bang for your buck!

  

Hero Arts Star Confetti Fancy Die was a quick answer for the many stars I wanted.  I used a silver, teal and holographic paper for stars.  The blue paper is from My Favorite Things Sweet Celebrations and the Coral is from DCWV Cardstock Stack.

My go to supplies for assembly include the Best die cutting machine I've ever used Anna Griffin Empress Elite, Bearly Arts Glue and Foam Tape.  American Crafts Premium Ribbon that I bought forever ago at Michaels with a 40% off coupon.  Gosh, I miss those 40% coupons!  Nearly everything I bought in those early days came from Michaels, Hobby Lobby and JoAnns with a coupon.

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)

Hoosier Cabinets - Extreme Fun

 When I saw Honey Bee Stamps Hoosier Honey Cuts I was enchanted and terrified at the same time!  Why "terrified" you ask?  So many tiny dies and tiny pieces!  Guess what?  The first one was a bit trying but the second one - went super quick and the third was even faster.  Why oh why was I scared of tiny dies - pretty silly now.  My Anna Griffin Empress Elite makes it sooo much easier because the large die plates can hold A LOT of dies!  I did go ahead and purchase the smaller cutting sandwich and I love that one too, you can put that sandwich in the machine "sideways" meaning the long side can fit in the opening.  Yay!

So here are a few cards using Hoosier Cabinet.  Some of the cabinet doors open so you can add lots of hidden dishes and kitchen tools - Go ahead and buy the Baking Add On to include more kitchen tools/dishes.  

If you look closely at the second image you can see my boo boo - the rolling pin is hanging out. oops. This was my first try, once I got all the pieces where I wanted I used a plain cream card base.  This was the one change I wish I had made.  Besides the dies, cutting machine and scraps your best friends are a good glue and reverse tweezers.

For my second try, I had a basket with all the scraps I had used before and a better understanding of what I liked and where to try other die cuts. There are oodles of options and it really makes you question what you like/dislike.  We moved 2 years ago and at my old house my kitchen aid mixer sat on the counter - now it hides in a cabinet.  Isn't it wild how your mind thinks?  The options include decorative cabinet: plain, swirled vines and lattice. This card base went through an embossing folder (older one) and got some complimentary ink Mint.  These newer brushes ROCK!  Our Crafting Goddess, Jennifer McGuires recommendation, was spot on!  If you're not watching her videos, you are missing out.

Last card is very similar but does have a different embossing folder, cabinets covers and I think I like this one the best.

Have a great day and keep on crafting!

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)

Happy Flappy Cards with Creek Bank Creations Card Base

 Hello, it's been a while.  You know when a life event changes the whole family dynamic - we had a few of those happen.  And as much as I love crafting, the blogging had to take a backseat.  The boat has stopped rocking, occasionally a ruffle in the ocean starts motion, but for the most part we have a new normal and smooth sailing.  

My family and I just celebrated 32 years living life with two heart transplants.  Wow, 32 years to watch my kids grow up and a host of experiences that wouldn't have happed - without the generous gifts of life.  Please have a conversation with your family about your wishes.  It's a gift, so let the Doctors decide what they can use!

Today's cards uses a nifty card base from Creek Bank Creations called Happy Flappy Card Base.  I was at a CKC convention where I happened on this Company's Booth.  They had a make and take and I was hooked!  Very clear instruction video on their site shows all the steps.

Fitting name for this Die set, don't you think? The second assembly goes quickly!  The Happy Mothers Day Sentiment Stamp provides a sentiment for all 3 places.  Didn't purchase the stamp set for "pull" so I improvised with what I had - definitely would look better with a size appropriate stamp set.

Warning, I dug into my stash of scrapbook paper, much of it was purchased many moons ago.  I tried finding links but alas - they gone!  For the card base I used Craftsmith Wedding Neutrals and the sparkly paper is from My Minds Eye - Laundry Line.  The flowers are from Be Bold Blooms and sentiments are stamped with Ballet Slipper.  The card front is raised with Foam Tape and my glue of choice lately is Bearly Arts Glue.  My latest purchase (drum roll please) Anna Griffin Empress Elite has taken die cutting to a whole new level.  More on that later....  Here's another card 

Products used on this version are DCWV Bahama Moma Pad,  Turquoise Ink, Honey Bee Stamps Tropical Bouquets Dies and a Micron 005 pen.  The sentiments are from the same Happy Mothers Sentiment Stamp.

Transplant Recipients have to be very careful of germs!  This time of year (cold and flu season) is hermit time for Bev, in the basement (my happy place) and I've been creating lots of cards lately, so there will be more blog posts.  

Have a great day and keep on crafting!

Affiliate links used at no cost to you.  Not all links are affiliate, I just want to share what I used.  All products were purchase by me unless noted.  I don’t sell anything nor am I employed.  This is my hobby and I hope to inspire you to play :)