I Bee-lieve in You Card

 Often, I will stamp some images to color - with no intention of how I'm going to use it.  Today's card is using some colored bees from the My Monthly Hero January 21 kit.  The bees were colored with Tombow Markers.  A sparkle pen was added to the wings for shimmer.  

Starting with The Bees Knees paper pad, I selected a few sheets and used Stitched Rectangles for the background.  Flippin Awesome die gave me a place for all three bees.  The honeycomb paper was die cut and inked with Butter Bar ink.  My sentiment was stamped with Amalgam ink using the MISTI and then restamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder twice for extra dimension.  The card was assembled and adhered on black card stock.

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 :)

Birthday Card with a Sundae

Have you heard about The Stamps of Life?  They have several really reasonably priced monthly subscription clubs. Actually, it was my first stamping subscription club I ever joined.  Todays card is made with the sundae2stamp set.

 Who doesn't like ice cream?  Not anyone I know!  My Gemini Jr made quick work of the sundae2stamp dies and to make them stand out, I inked all the edges with coordinating colors.  Instead of centering the image on my A2 card, shifting it to the left made room for my daughters name along side with Olivers ABC Letters.  The perfect background paper is an older set from My Favorite Things that they no longer sell. Glossy accents add shine to the cherry on top and a sparkle pen adds interest to the letters.  Silver baubles from my stash are adhered for more shine.

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 :)

 

Bridal Shower Invite and Road Trip Crafting

 My beautiful niece, Maura, is getting married!  My sister and I are throwing a Bridal Shower for her and below is what I came up with for an invite.  

My parents are in their 80's, adventurous and love to travel, even though my Dad worked for the Airlines, my Mom no longer wants to fly - so road trip it is!  My sister and I went with them so we had 3 drivers.  Our original plan was to drive to New Hampshire to see a close family friends Grandson play baseball.  That fell through when he sustained an injury.  When that happened we opted for Colorado.  It was gonna be a 2 day drive so I brought crafty supplies to assemble the invites. 

Yep, I assembled those diamond rings on the road! Even with my shaky hands.  

I started at home, by stamping the background with Center Cut Heart Background using Soft Granite ink using my MISTI.  My Pinkfresh stitched scalloped squares had just arrived, so I tried several different combos and ended up with the smaller die set in 2 different shades of pink.  Those were super quick to cut in my Gemini Jr.  Edges were inked with pink ink and that was adhered to the front of the card. 

Using a silver card stock, I die cut the ring and setting in my Side kick.  Holographic card stock was used for the "diamond".  And just to make this a little more solid, I die cut all this again with 110 lb card stock.  Using precision glue and tweezers, the diamond ring was assembled and then adhered to the center of the card.

The inside invitation was printed with my computer, trimmed and adhered inside with score tape.  And once the invitations were addressed and stamped, we mailed them from Colorado.

Our road trip was awesome!  We stayed in Keystone and we road the gondola to the top of Vail and had lunch.  It's a perfect place to bring kids of all ages, lots of activities to do.  Glenwood Springs is my favorite place on earth!  We spent several hours there soaking up the mineral waters with over 1,000,000 gallons of water!  Another highlight was renting a pontoon boat on Lake Dillon and cruising the lake!  Shopping of course, was included and fun!  Best of all was spending this time with my Parents and Sister!

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 :)

Have I Told You How Much I Like Butterflies?

 I've fallen in love with all the recent butterfly products that have recently came out and my shopping has reflected it!  I've also decided that when I'm really happy with a card and I haven't put on a sentiment - I'm ok with that.

Today's card uses the Tim Holtz Mini Detailed Butterflies.  I die cut them with a white heavy card stock and generic black card stock using my mini die cut machine (Side Kick).  I actually sat on the floor and had a little desk set up with my Tonic Travel Glass Mat and die cut while watching a show on tv with the family.

Using Tombow markers I "loosely" colored on white with vibrant colors, knowing that a black outline die cut would be glued on top and hide imperfections.  Which is exactly what I did next using HoneyBee Creative Precision Tip Glue.  They went together really quickly and I ended up making lots of them.  

The background was made with a sizzix embossing folder that had been inked with a brayer and a mix of Lucky Clover and Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Inks.  I ran that through my Gemini Jr and proceeded to assemble my card.  I've found I have better luck using score tape to attach my embossed piece to the card base.

My colorful butterflies and pearls (from my stash) were attached with glue.

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 :)

Spiritual Cards

 I've been waiting for some spiritual stamps and dies and Honey Bee Stamps delivered.  The Old Rugged Cross Stamp and Honey Cuts sets are just lovely.  Their newest release included lots of elements that go quite nicely with this large 6x8 set.  One of these days I'm going to buy the whole new release when it comes out. (it's good to have dreams!)

I have two cards todays using the stamp set along with the Wood Frame Builders Set and Quatrafoil stencil set.   Both cards were stamped with Amalgam Ink onto watercolor paper.  Tombow markers and a water brush made coloring easy.  My sentiment is stamped with the amalgam ink and then again with versa mark ink, using my MISTI and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  All colored images along with the sentiment and Frame Builders set were die cut using my Gemini Jr.  Additional layers of the cross and frame were also cut, stacked and glued together.  I love how dies are included for the sentiments with Honey Bee Stamps, plus they are already cut apart - bonus!

Two colors of blue ink, Summer Shower and Sky Blue were used with the stencils for the background.   When assembling my cards, glossy accents was used on the flowers and to finish, I added Nuvo drops.

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 About The Heart Cards

 Hoping your staying warm today, it's 7 degrees here, in St Louis. Actually it's Super Bowl Day - I never watched football until after my second heart transplant.  Still in the hospital with nothing to do.  

Hospital tv doesn't have a lot of variety so I starting watching the pre game shows and was thoroughly entertained.  2013 game was played in New Orleans and they featured lots of local information.  It was also the year that the power went out and changed pace of the game for an upset.  Now, I plan to watch the whole day of Super Bowl coverage.  I'll be watching while I spend the day die cutting - hurray for multi-tasking!

Hearts have always been a favorite of mine, even before the heart transplants.  When The Greetery came out with this line of heart dies and stamps I did my happy dance!  The "add to cart" button was hit several times!  Here are two of the cards I made.

The first card is made using Designer Woodgrain by Hero Arts stamped with Soft Granite Ink,  Then die cut with Stitched Rectangles in my Gemini Jr.  This is added to my card base.  Boxwood Heart Detail Die was run through the Gemini Jr,   I taped the die cut pieces back into the negative place and colored the piece with blender brushes and Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint Oxide Inks.  I also die cut Boxwood Heart Base out of white card stock.  Using the attached directions, I assembled the leaves and attached with Precision Glue.  Using gold foil paper, I die cut the word love from The Stamps of Life and adhered to the heart.  Love is, is stamped with amalgam ink for the sentiment.  Finally, a bow, made with string, is attached.

The second card is made similarly but the background stamp is Simon Says Stamp You Are.  Love Is stamp is stamped with Coral Reef and Passion Fruit.  Boxwood Heart Base is used to die cut.  After adhering to base a Stardust pen add sparkle to leaf veins.  Using my MISTI, Amalgam ink and then VersaMark Ink I stamped Love You and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

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 :)

Fun Family Card

 Honey Bee Stamps has some of the cutest stamps ever!  I actually laughed out loud when I read the sentiments on this stamp set.  

I put this card together using Woodland Winter Animals along with Nuts About You.  As usual, I stamped with Amalgam Ink and colored with Copics, the squirrels, however are done with Colored Pencils.  All colored and non colored (Aspen trees) are then die cut using my Gemini Jr..

For my base, I used Sky Blue with Cloud Stencil and Key Lime with Grass Stencil using blender brushes.  Time to assemble my card by attaching all pieces with Precision Tip Glue.

Using my MISTI, I added that funny sentiment with amalgam ink.  The card front is attached to brown card stock from my stash and then attached to a white card base.  White gel pen adds details.

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 :)

Sympathy Cards, Needed but I wish it was Happy Moments!

 Unfortunately Sympathy cards are needed.  I sent out two recently and will probably need more soon.

Decided to use a "new to me" Altenew set called Crown Blooms and got to use brand new inks from Pink Fresh Studio as a Christmas gift.  I started with my MISTI and stamping the outline in amalgam ink and then stamping the layers with Ballet Slippers, Sparkling Rose, Bubble Gum and Raspberry Bliss for the flower.  Leaves were also stamped in layers with Olive and Key Lime.  Die cutting came next and then the sprig was colored with Copics.  After arranging the bouquet I decided I wanted a background cover die so I reached for an older die from Darice making a chicken wire.  Using E6000 spray made gluing those slim pieces easier.  Using Precision Tip Glue I adhered my bouquet along the left side.  Crystal Stickles adds a bit of sparkle.

My sentiment is die cut three times and layered then attached.

The next card is done exactly like the first but is larger, the first is an A2 card and this is a 5x7 size.  The Plaid A7 Cover Plate Top covers the card base.  A few more flowers and a sentiment strip is stamped and heat embossed.

Jennifer McGuire Ink offers many valuable tips and tricks to inspire and better your craft.  I purchased heavy weight card stock for layering and I have to say, it really makes the card substantial!  If you haven't before go check out her blog www.jennifermcguireink.com

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 :)

Birthday Box Card

 I hope you all had a good holiday!  I know it was a bit strange but at our house we made lemonade with this big pile of lemons.

My best friend gave me a bag full of The Stamps of Life goodies and today's card uses one of those - Thanks Becky!

So this is a bigger box card - 5x7 but it all went through my regular size Gemini Jr just fine.  Included with this set was a booklet with instructions and examples and I pretty much scrap lifted from that.  

The card went together quickly but there was lots of die cutting.  To combat this, I cut scraps to fit the smaller dies and filled the die cut plate to make fewer passes, purple tape helped corral all those bits.  I did use a few 6x6 paper pad scraps.  Then I added ink around the edges to define each color.  

Often, I will make two cards at once as I did today.  The difference is the sentiment and bows.  The framed rounded sentiment came with the die set,  while the stacked die, I already owned.  Just changing things up a bit.

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 :)

Pickup Truck Birthday Card

 The Big Pickup Cab stamp and die just called to me.  I had to have it and a few others from Honey Bee Stamps, so I indulged!  Now was time to play and have some fun doing it.  

Once the truck was stamped on copic friendly paper with amalgam ink, I went to town coloring, and it really is an easy image to do that.  A little sparkle pen over the "metal" parts gave some shimmer.  The emblem was die cut using mirror card stock.  Also stamped were the wiper blades and the sentiments.  So cool that HBS includes dies for the sentiments too!  All the die cutting went through my Gemini Jr.  This was the first time I brought out the Burlap die and added a little Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink around the edges.  Then I adhered it to the ivory card stock using Honey Bee Glue, I like that it is a larger tube-makes it a little easier for me to hold.  Next I added the pickup and a few silver baubles that I had in my stash.

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 :)