Saturday, November 29, 2014

ODBD November Challenge



The hearts may be small, but the feeling is big!
Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

OWH Sketch #241

I haven't been able to do an OWH sketch challenge for awhile,
so it's great to be here today for Sketch #241!

Here's the sketch:

241

and here's my take on it:


The patterned papers are from the Basic Grey "Fresh Cut" 6x6 pad, with 
the hearts and scalloped strips from my stash per The Scrap Wrangler


Thanks for coming by to take a look!


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Halloween!

and make a card for Halloween!


Basic Grey "Eerie" pattern paper, Inkadinkadoo sentiment,
Whipper Snapper image, Papertrey Ink True Black cardstock,
Versamark ink, gold embossing powder, sequins

Because we live "out of the village" in our rural Vermont town, we don't get many 
trick-or-treaters here at the house. 
 (Fortunately our grandchildren live in town, so we'll have "Kronos", a" bumble-bunny", and a "zombie superhero" knocking on our door on Halloween night!)
 The 20 or so houses in the village center get LOTS (all!) the kids in town, so to help them out the PTA organizes a candy collection.  And to keep the fun going, they also sponsor a costume parade, a jack-o-lantern contest, games, and a spaghetti supper at the town hall.  
Thank goodness it's not a school night this year!

Thanks for taking a look!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

ODBD Challenge for October

Hey there!
sound like fun?  You bet!

Here's what I've come up with


I used some Echo Park patterned paper from my stash
and a Phrase Play stamp and die from Papertrey Ink.

The wind is howling outside right now--
( yikes, it sounds like the snow is flying and it's not even Halloween yet!!!)
although it's called a "nor'easter"' there's no snow with it today, thank goodness...
 I still have a lot of bulbs to plant!

It makes me so happy that you stopped by to take a look--
many thanks!

Monday, October 13, 2014

The Most Colorful Time of the Year

Back again for another Shopping Our Stash Challenge using fall colors on our projects-- 
love this challenge!



I used Hero Arts stamps, an assortment of Memento inks, and some
Tattered Angels shimmer spray


Here in Vermont, the colors have been really gorgeous this fall-- a truly spectacular year.
The amazing reds--scarlet, crimson, cranberry, maroon-- are short-lived
among the yellows, oranges, and greens, but how they make me happy!



Thanks for coming by!



Saturday, October 4, 2014

World Card Making Day 2014


Hello!  Hello!  Hello!

(and apologies for the Mr. Linky misfire-- oops)

A day to celebrate this thing we love to do-- brilliant!

I hope you have lots of fun today with lots of inspiration,
and you send a card to someone you card about.

Stampin' Up cardstock & inks, Authentique pattern papers,
Paper Smooches images, Papertrey Ink sentiment,
star punch, vellum, button, baker's twine

Happy WCMD!!!



Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Hey there!

I'm posting a card for the Shopping Our Stash Challenge #171:  

I love those fabulous days, those exhilarating moments, when I recognize 
how much there is to celebrate,
how much there is to be grateful for...



Authentique paper, Papertrey Ink cardstock, stamps, & dies,
Hero Arts inks, hand lettering

Many thanks for stopping by!

Color-Blocked Background

I'm getting in just under the wire (hopefully!) for the
  September Our Daily Bread Design Challenge at Operation Write Home.
 This month's challenge was to create your own background.


I tried some color-blocking with Papertrey Ink cardstock--
Autumn Rose, Smokey Shadow, & Simply Chartreuse on Rustic White.
I die cut the Mama Elephant "hello", gold embossed some Hero Arts trees,
and added a smattering of sequins.

And for a seasonal update,
 it's crazy colorful right now in Vermont everywhere you go,
but seeing it from the air must be truly breathtaking.
A local TV station, WCAX, is collecting images on their web page and this one
really captures the breadth of this indescribable display



Photo: The view from above in this leafie. Photo by Peter Kimball – Pilot, Winston Currier
 I thought you might enjoy seeing the beauty over Eastern Vermont and specifically, Lake Groton, the Groton State Forest and beyond to the West. #leafies 

The view from above in this leafie. Photo by Peter Kimball – Pilot, Winston Currier
I thought you might enjoy seeing the beauty over Eastern Vermont and specifically, Lake Groton, the Groton State Forest and beyond to the West.#leafies


I hope you have a beautiful day wherever you are,
 and thanks for stopping by!


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Papertrey September Blog Hop Challenge


Blog-hop-logo



A spectacular foliage display is well on it's way here in VT-- an inspiring day to be thnking
all things fall!
Here is the inspiration for this month's blog hop at Papertrey Ink


Inspiration photo

There's so much to delight the mind and eyes in this photo--
 the colors, the textures, the patterns,
and of course, the suggestion of coziness in the first crisp breezes of September--
 but it was those branches and pink berries that  inspired my card.


On a Soft Stone panel, I used Polka Dot Basics III for the berries in Autumn Rose,
Raspberry Fizz and Ripe Avocado.  I die cut the stems from Simply Chartreuse and used the
matching stamp from Larger Than Life in Ripe Avocado.  The sentiment is
from Autumn Abundance stamped in Smokey Shadow.  I split the panel in two, adhered both 
pieces to a Ripe Avocado base, and wrapped the space with silver twine,
 finishing off with a pink PTI button and dots of silver pen.

Happy Fall, All!








Saturday, September 20, 2014

Thinking Autumn


BLACKBERRY EATING

I love to go out in late September
among the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberries
to eat blackberries for breakfast,
the stalks very prickly, a penalty
they earn for knowing the black art
of blackberry-making; and as I stand among them
lifting the stalks to my mouth, the ripest berries
fall almost unbidden to my tongue,
as words sometimes do, certain peculiar words
like strengths and squinched,
many-lettered, on-syllabled lumps,
which I squeeze, squinch open, and splurge well
in the silent, startled, icy, black language
of blackberry-eating in late September

We're picking our last wild blackberries.  Last night's frost-- the first of the season-- means I'll be putting my garden "to bed" soon.
Here are a few cards to say thank you and goodbye to beautiful summer and welcome old friend fall...





Thanks for stopping by!




Monday, August 25, 2014

Stamp-a-Faire: the 80's

I was a new mom and a new teacher in the 1980's...I remember Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, Smurfs, Muppets, and Princess Diana glam.  
It really doesn't seem all that long ago, but
my "li'l girl" turns 35 this year, and she's got 3 l'il darlin's of her own,
who are fascinated with solving their GrandpaBob's Rubik's Cube!

using one of the dies from the 1960s set to cut out my rainbow hearts.



The sentiment is Paper Smooches, embossed with
black Stewart Superior embossing powder.

Thanks so much for looking!

Stamp-a-Faire: The Groovy '60s

When I saw all those dies in the SAF kit that came for the 1960s, 
I was intrigued but I had no idea how I would use them. 
Watching Erin's great videos, listening to her playlist, well,
"now I'm a believer!"

Here's my card for her rad ad challenge, and while you're there
click on her outta sight Pinterest board!


All supplies are from the SAF 1960s kit
(I cut 3 of the large ad banners in half
and matched up the ends over the ovoid design on the pattern paper)

You're cool to visit... rave on!






Stamp-a-Faire: Exploring the 1940s

I'm fascinated by the 1940s-- some of my favorite styles, stories and films are from that  era.  
 As I looked at Betsy's Pinterest board
 for creating a vintage pattern for one of her challenges,
the gorgeous tablecloths caught my eye with their rich combinations of colors and patterns,
mixing images of fruits and flowers with plaids and checks.


Some of the table cloths had a central design element, surrounded by a large border, 
and often the corners reflected some of that central design.
Here's what I used in making this card:
PTI supplies-- Canyon Clay, Vintage Cream card stock;
Canyon Clay, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartruese, Dark Chocolate inks;
scallop square stamp & sentiment from SAF 1940s kit;
small decorative images from Simply Stationery.
Other Supplies--
Authentique pattern Paper from Thankful 6x6 pad
Stampin' Up! Cajun Craze ink;
Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.

Thanks for coming to visit... I hope you'll come again!

Stamp-a-Faire: Exploring the 1920s

I've really been enjoying using all of the Stamp-a-Faire kits, 
and what Heather has included in this kit she designed for the 1920s era is truly dazzling.
Plus, she did 2 great videos demonstrating some truly sparkling techniques.
 One of her challenges was to use rhinestones and glitter to create a custom embellishment.
Her kit provided a wonderful die, and her Pinterest board is loaded with
fashion, design, and decor ideas from that era.  
Here is one of the dresses she pinned
Dress  early 1920s.

which was the inspiration for my card


Except for the DCWV aqua and silver glitter paper and the Stewart Superior
silver & balck embossing powders, all the materials are PTI:
die, flourish stamp, pattern paper & rhinestones from SAF 1920s kit;
black Shimmer & Fine Linen card stock; sentiment from Gatsby Glamour.

Thanks for visiting.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Stamp-a-Faire Antique Embossing

Melissa Phillips has such a gorgeous, feminine, inimitable style which is just perfect 
for the Regency Era.  One of her challenges was to create a kind of antique embossing.
In my attempt, I made several layers of the gold embossed vellum with a bottom layer of gold shimmer.



In addition to the stamps, die, & papers in the SAF Regency Era set,
I used the Mat Stack 1 die, Background Basics Tin Types, and Aqua Mist ink,
as well as border punches, ribbon & pearls, some Distress, Versafine, & Delicata inks.

It's great to have music of each era to help inspire-- love it!

Thanks for the visit!

Stamp-a-Faire: Renaissance Wax Seal

Not only did I use the SAF Renaissance set for this challenge,
but I also used images from several other sets
that I'm sure were designed by Nichole as their elegance coordinated so nicely.


I used Vintage Cream and Gold Shimmer for the die cuts; the sentiment is from
Big and Bold Wishes; the center medallion is from Simply Stationery; the side flourishes
are from Mat Stack 5 Collection, and I used that same flourish
to make the wax seal on wax paper which
I will adhere to the envelope when I send this posh card.

Thanks for looking, and I hope you
are having as much fun as I am!




Stamp-a-Faire: Faux Fresco

I didn't have embossing paste to make a faux fresco for one of the Ancient Rome challenges.
Instead, I used a ProvoCraft Distressed Stripes embossing folder 
after I stamped the Soft Stone panel,
with Tropical Teal, Pure Poppy, Limeade Ice and Onyx Black,
using a blender pen and some Limeade Ice to fill in the laurel leaves.  
I cut a thin space which I filled with a strip of Pure Poppy cardstock,
layering the stamped and embossed panel on another panel of Soft Stone,
 and adhering it all to a Smoky Shadow card base.


I found some recipes (or "receipts" as old Vermonters say) for embossing paste,
but I'll try them out another day!

Thanks for looking!

Stamp-a-Faire: The Timer Challenge

what a great way to start the morning!


The leaf is from "Masculine Motifs"
with a "Wet Paint" sentiment.

(Maile's great tip about using scrap paper to practice
really came in handy here!)

Friday, August 22, 2014

Stamp-a-Faire Meet and Greet

SAF-2014-logo
Hi!
I'm so very excited to be taking part in Stamp-a-Faire!
I love the idea of creating designs while "travelling through time,"
working with some of the styles of the different eras--
it's kind of like card making meets historic preservation with a modern twist!

See you tomorrow!

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Stretch Your Stamps 2- Day 5

I'm posting today a card using the debossing technique shared by 
the extraordinary Jen Rzasa.  I find her creativity and resourcefulness so inspiring.
I stamped the feathers on Craft-a-Board from Ellen Hutson, 
making the debossed image just deep enough, 
giving a touchable texture to the soft images on the Rustic Cream cardstock.


The feathers are from Hero Arts, stamped in Papertrey Dark Chocolate ink and colored with
Distress Wild Honey & Tea Dye inks as well as
 Memento Cantaloupe and Rich Cocoa markers.
The sentiment is from Gina K's Stippled Nature set.

Though I didn't set out to make a sympathy card, it just came together that way, and I have to say that I'm glad it did.  It seems as time goes on I need them more and more, 
yet they can be difficult to make in the moment.

Many thanks for looking.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Stretch Your Stamps 2- Day 4

So much homework playing!  So many great ideas to try!  So many beautiful examples to inspire!
Today I've made a stamped sentiment background using a strip sentiment, "You mean the world to me" from Avery Elle's Love Notes behind a banner featuring stamps from Hero Arts' Epic Love.  I'll be adding this to my box of cards for Operation Write Home, thinking it works as a masculine "love  you" card.


Supplies used:  
Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores card base;
Background panel- stamp from Love Notes by Avery Elle; inks- SU! Island Indigo & Soft Sky;
Papertrey Ink Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores,& Aqua Mist
Banner- stamps from Epic Love by Hero Arts; inks-Hero Arts Field Greens Mid-tone Shadow;
Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores applied with an SU! blender pen; Peeled Paint Distress Marker;
Versafine Onyx Black

Many thanks for visiting!


Monday, August 11, 2014

Stretch Your Stamps- Day 3

Wonderful and fun suggestions for using alphabet and sentiment stamps-- I'll definitely being playing more with these ideas!  My card today is based on Stephanie Klauck's lesson on stamping through stencils.  Originally, I did stamp the sentiment through the stencil, but it just didn't look right to me so the sentiment on this card 
was stamped after the stencil was removed...


Supplies used:  Memory Box Garden Birch Landscape stencil; 
Distress Tumbled Glass ink;
Tsukineko Delicata  Silver Shimmer & Brilliance Starlite Silver inks;
Papertrey Ink sentiment, tiny star, Enchanted Evening ink'
Stamper's Select White & Silver Shimmer cardstock;
Uniball white gel pen

Thanks for taking a look!

Stretch Your Stamps- Day 2

Working with Perfect Pearls and using the neat idea for a different take on a standard size card, courtesy of the talented, generous Jennifer McGuire...



Supplies used:  Hero Arts Triangle Trees; Versamark Ink;  
Perfect Pearls in White & Forever Green; Memory Box ornament die;
My Favorite Things ribbon bow die; Paper Smooches sentiment;
Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream cardstock & Pinefeather Ink;
Recollections black cardstock; DCWV gold glitter cardstock


Thanks for looking!




Splish Splash

Time to play along with the latest Shopping Our Stash challenge #163, Splish Splash.  The challenge is to use a wet medium on the project.  My card uses some Distress Inks on the background with water misted through a stencil and some silver embossing for a little texture and shine.  The feathers are also colored with Distress Inks with water dribbled over them.  I finished things off with a Distress Marker and a spritzer tool.  
Thanks for looking!


Supplies used:  Distress Inks-- Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Festive Berries, Seedless Preserves; Distress Marker-- Dusty Concord; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Versamark ink; Stewart Superior silver embossing powder;
stamps & feather dies-- Wplus9 Fanciful Feathers; Memory Box Texture Honey Comb stencil; Hemptique twine;
Papertrey Ink white cardstock; Ellen Hutson Sapphire cardstock.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Stretch Your Stamps 2-- Day 1

Wow, another great Online Card Class has begun with so many 
great tips, techniques, and examples!  
Here's a card for the Day 1 gallery, inspired by Lisa Spangler's lesson:


The background stamp is by Hero Arts, but I don't know the name-- I think it might be something like Chevron Snowflakes-- inked with Distress Faded Jeans and a little Seedless Preserves.  There are 3 white embossed snowflakes from Snowflake Serenade by Papertrey Ink, a Paper Smooches sentiment, white iridescent sequins and a few clear rhinestones.
Thanks for looking!

August ODBD Challenge

After stamping with Versamark and embossing the stars with clear powder, 
I painted each layer with watercolors, 
finishing the final layer with a wash of Night of Navy from Stampin' Up!. 
 I used one small solid star from Papertrey Ink's Super Stars set
with the goose and sentiment from Avery Elle's Storybook set.
 The banner is Spellbinders, and it's mounted on an SU! Bashful Blue card base. 




I know this card was definitely inspired by Heather Campbell's design
when this set was released earlier this year.
You can see her card, as well as some other great
cards using this adorable set here:  http://www.averyelle.com/storybook-clear-stamps/

Thanks for the visit!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

July ODBD Challenge

It's time for this month's challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD)
 at Operation Write Home (OWH).  For every 50 cardmakers each posting one card for the challenge, ODBD pays shipping for one box of 300+ cards to our heroes-- nice!!!




Thanks for taking a look!

VCMP Challenge #4

Since it's a Virtual Card Making Party for the Fourth of July, it just seems natural to make a birthday card in red, white, & blue.  It's a fun challenge, Lori, and here's my card:


 I used a set from Papertrey Ink called Butterfly Kisses, an oldie but goodie!

Thanks for taking a look!

VCMP Challenge #2

The Virtual Card Making Party (VCMP) at Operation Write Home (OWH) has so many great challenges-- I hope to take on as many as I can!  
This challenge was to make a thank you card using spray inks.  
Here's my card:

I stamped, flicked, and spritzed the spots of color around the embossed sentiment-- so much fun!

All supplies from Papertrey Ink, except for Zing embossing powder in rouge.


Thanks for looking!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Playing the Colour Q Challenge

I follow the Color Q on Facebook, and this week I'm excited to actually be able to play along-- YAY!!!

Here's the color challenge



and here's my card


I used Authentique papers with colors similar to the SU! colors of the challenge,
 and a Papertrey Ink sentiment.

Thanks for visiting!


OWH Sketch 231




231


This one is really versatile, I think, so I played with it a little bit


Supplies:  Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores card stock; 
Versamark Ink; clear embossing powder; Distress Inks in Faded Jeans and Festive Berry; 
My Mind's Eye stamp, sentiment & patterned paper;
SU! oval & scalloped oval punches.


Thanks for looking!


A Card for a Hero



I will write this and send this with gratitude
and all my best.

Monday, June 30, 2014

My Favorite Color (Right Now)

The challenge at Shopping Our Stash this week was to "use your favorite color."  I guess I'm pretty fickle when it comes to picking a color-- it's HARD to pick just one, or two, or even several-- I really like them all.  Pondering this challenge while working in my garden this morning I realized that TODAY my favorite color is green. Tomorrow it may be the same, or something else.  But for today, I celebrate some of the many shades of green this lush summer day is showing me.



Thanks for looking!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

My Desk

Welcome to what we lovingly refer to as The Craft Shack and
a quick peek at my desk, Moxie Fabbers!
When I'm being "good," I put things in their proper places when I'm done with them,
and I can be quite neat and tidy-- even while making a card....


but usually I'm way too involved with the process and the materials
and the fun of the projects--
I don't mind working in a happy jumble and most of the time I can even find almost everything!



Thanks for the visit!


Saturday, June 28, 2014

In My Heart

The OWH Midweek Throwdown this week is a challenge to make a miss you kid's card, with an added request to use the Mama Elephant In My Heart stamp set.  
It has such sweet images, and I love the plain font mixed with the gently flourished script. 
 I've noticed that "missing you" sentiments are often missing from nice stamp collections, 
so it's great to find a good one, like Mama Elephant's In My Heart,
 and to support a great organization in OWH, 
because it's a fundraiser!!! 
Mama Elephant is donating to Operation Write Home 20% of the proceeds of the sets 
sold on their retail site

IN MY HEART

My set arrived yesterday and here are my first few cards:






And even though it's almost July with summery heat and humidity, I'm starting to work on 
some wintry cards... A card maker's way of keeping cool???



Many thanks for visiting!