LIM #329 - Geometrics

I hope none of you faint!  Here I am back again for the 3rd day in a row!!  I've had a productive day today.  Finished a dress for one of my granddaughters, bought groceries to prepare dinner tonight for two of my children and their families and made two cards for the Less is More Challenge!

And....I'm getting my cards posted on the same day I made them! WooHoo!!!

For this first card, I used a wood mounted stamp (that I coveted) from the wonderful Darnell of djkardkreations and leader of the NBUS challenges.  So...thank you, Darnell!  I stamped the image in versamark and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.  I colored in parts of the image with two yellow Copic markers.  The butterfly is from Hero Arts, and was also stamped and heat embossed with gold.  I fussy cut the image and added some yellow to the butterfly.  The sentiment is from SSS. I colored the side of the card and the sentiment strip with one of the Copic markers, then heat embossed the sentiment in gold.  Added a few drops of Nuvo to match, and popped the white panel with some craft foam.

Not too sure about this card.  It might not be CAS enough for the challenge.  I got this new 6 x 6 image from Concord and 9th.  I think I might need just a "little" more practice with the stamp! After my attempt at stamping, I added some Wink of Stella to the blue triangles and the orange stripe down the right side.  I wiped the blue ink on a scrap of white to make the sentiment tag.  Sentiment is from SSS and is heat embossed with white.  Added just a few Nuvo drops and popped the panel with craft foam.

That's all for me today....As always, thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate your visit...and I appreciate each and every comment!

LIM #313 - Balloons

It just so happened that I just made a card this morning that fits perfectly with the LIM challenge for this week!  I needed a card for a new baby, so I made this cute little gift card holder card. 

The only part that opens on this card is the light blue striped piece on the very front of the card base (and is the actual card).  The flap that says "welcome Ezra" is held down by the elephant's trunk.  When you slide the sentiment tab out from under the elephant's trunk, the card will open to display a gift card and a message.  The elephant is from W Plus 9 Unforgettable set, the "welcome" part of the sentiment is from PTI, and the name was stamped with Concord and 9th's Perfectly Penned set. The sentiments was stamped in versamark and heat embossed with white.  I colored the elephant and balloon with Copics and cut them out to pop on the front of the card. I would say this was a quick and easy card...and it probably would have been if I hadn't totally messed up the elephant's eyes on the first one I cut out...so that meant that I had to re-stamp, re-color, and cut another one out! Other than that little mess up, it was quick! LOL!

As always, thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate your visit...and I appreciate each and every comment!

Happy New Year.....and...LIM 309

Happy New Year!  It seems the older I get the faster the years fly by!  Sometimes I can barely keep up! Hopefully, this year, I'll be a little better at keeping up with my blog.  I've been making a few changes and hopefully, keeping up with my blog better will be one of the good changes!

The holidays were extremely busy around here.  We had several family get-togethers and those are always BIG!  There was baking, shopping, wrapping of gifts...and just the general holiday rush! I had to move the location of my tree this year...I'm thinking I like it in this spot. I also managed to make some cards.  Unfortunately, I did not manage to get any Christmas cards mailed this year!  (I'll have plenty for next year though.)☺

I've made a few cards that I can use as encouragement for a friend of mine who recently found out that she has breast cancer.  

So, let's move on to the cards...

I believe this card is perfect for the LIM challenge. The last challenge of the year was to make a card with dimension...and here it is!  I stamped the flowers on water color paper using a Penny Black stamp and a very light distress ink for stamping.  I colored the images with Tombow markers and a little water on a brush.  Then I cut around the edges of the image and popped on a white card base. The sentiment is from SSS.  I colored some water color paper with the same color used for the blooms, then used the believe die to cut the sentiment.  I cut several layers of the word so that It would be popped up off the card.  The "all things are possible" is from the same stamp set.

This next card also has dimension on it...I used the Peony Swirls stamp from Altenew.  I layered my stamping using masks, then after coloring with Copics, I cut around the image and popped it on the card base. The sentiment is from SSS.

I really love this PB stamp, so i used it again, only this time I stamped it on Bristol paper and colored it with Zig Clean Color brushes. I added a few Nuvo pearl drops.

I love this sentiment from SSS.  I smooshed some distress inks on some card stock, then sprinkled a little water over it and blotted it with a paper towel.  After making sure it was really dry, I stamped the SSS sentiment in Versafine black and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I also added a few faux stitches on each side of the panel.

I know this was a looooooong post...so thank you for sticking with me!  Maybe if I keep up with my blog on a regular basis, my post won't be this long! ☺

As always, thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate your visit...and I appreciate each and every comment!

LIM #299 - Acetate or Vellum

It's been a while since I've played along with the Less is More Challenge.  This week the challenge is to use acetate or vellum on a card.

Here's my take on this week's challenge...

I guess it's been a while since I made a card...this card took me ALL day long to finish!  I have no idea why it was so slow!  

This is a new die from Hero Arts...cut twice (once in red and another in white) and layered slightly off center.  I cut an aperture from the center of a card panel with a stitched circle die (also cut the edges with a stitched-edged rectangle die).  The holly leaves were cut with a very OLD die that I'm not even sure where I got it! I backed the circle with a piece of vellum, then stamped part of the sentiment with Stazon ink and added the layered "joy".  The leaves were colored with Copics and I added some Wink of Stella for a little shine. For berries, I used red pearls.  Popped the panel with craft foam....and done!

I really loved the end result...just took me a while to get there! LOL!

As always, thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate your visit...and I appreciate each and every comment!

LIM 291 - Let's Use Stickers!

The challenge this week at Less is More is encouraging me to reach back into my stash and find those stickers (that I just HAD to have) I've had for years!  And do I have a stash of stickers! I must have thought there was going to be a shortage of stickers in the future! As many of you know, if you normally read my blog, I can rarely just stop at one card....so, this time I've made 4 cards for the LIM challenge!  Let me show you....

Making the card wasn't nearly as difficult as deciding which stickers I wanted to use! LOL!  This card features a single tulip bloom.  I stuck the sticker on a piece of white card stock, then cut it out with a MFT double stitched die.  I backed it with a thin strip of red, then another of white before popping it on another MFT double stitched square.  The sentiment is from SSS Uplifting Thoughts.

This card made me happy when I finished it.  The flowers are one big sticker that I adhered to the corner of a white card panel. I cut the panel with a stitched border die (SSS), then added a tiny red border to the panel (to bring out the red lady bugs).  Sentiment is from SSS Uplifting Thoughts. I absolutely LOVED how that sticker looked once the panel was trimmed!

My photographing skills definitely need some work!  My Ott light that I normally use when photographing my cards, suddenly went out and I don't have a replacement bulb.  So...I had to improvise! All the card stock used for these cards are a bright white...not a dull yellow/beige! The peace sentiment is a sticker on this card.  I cut the oval with a Spellbinder die, then cut another oval slightly larger and popped the sentiment on the second (gold) oval.  I dry embossed the card panel with a snowflake embossing folder that I really like. (I have NO idea who makes this embossing folder!).  I added a small gold border with the same card stock that I used for the larger oval and adhered it to a white card base.

This is actually the first card I made, and I wasn't overly thrilled with it.  I have a MILLION (well, maybe not quite that many!) of these Me and My Big Idea stick children.  I love the cute images, but I don't like that the edges of the sticker show.  Sentiment is from PTI.  I inked a small hill with distress ink so that she didn't look like she was just hanging in the air. I cut the card panel with a stitched rectangle die from SSS and adhered it to a white card base.

As always, thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate your visit...and I appreciate each and every comment!

Addicted to CAS and LIM 290

I spent a little time in my craft room today...and made a card for the challenge at Addicted to CAS and the current challenge at Less is More.

As it turns out, I made a card with a "silhouette" on my Silhouette Cameo for the challenge at Addicted to CAS!

I cut the beach scene with the Cameo. The design is from the Silhouette store Design #2666.  I cut it from black card stock.  I used distress inks to blend the background, masking off the sun with a circle cut from a post it note.  After I finished inking the background, I removed the mask and added a bit of mustard seed DI to the sun so that it wouldn't be stark white.  The sentiment is from TPC Studio stamps and is heat embossed in white on the black silhouette piece.  The silhouette was popped off the sunset panel with foam tape. 

The second card is for the challenge at Less is More.  The theme this week is Exotic.  That was definitely a brain teaser for me!  Of course, after I made this card, I remembered that I do have some panda stamps! Duh!  Anyway, this image is a coloring book image I downloaded from the Internet.  I printed the image and the sentiment and colored it with Copic markers.  This is a one-layer card. I had to look up the bird to see what color they actually are, so he's probably not perfect, but he's close!

I used Aloha for the sentiment, thinking it meant "hello" or "goodbye" in Hawaiian, but then did a little research and this is what I discovered.  "The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is that of Love, Peace, and Compassion.  It’s the guidelines of how to live – a life of Aloha is one when the heart is so full it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with your spirit."

I like Aloha even better now that I know that it's not used to mean hello or goodbye!

As always, thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate your visit...and I appreciate each and every comment!

LIM #275 and Addicted to CAS

The challenge at Less is More this week is a color challenge to create a card using pastels and the challenge at Addicted to CAS is to use plaid on your card.  I've managed to get the cards made, took photographs, AND now I'm getting them posted before the challenge is over! YAY me!! 

So....here we go....

Very simple...almost one layer card.  I cut the slope with dies from SSS.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts, and the dragonflies are from PennyBlack.  I lightly inked a background for the dragonflies with some tumbled glass, stamped the dragonflies with memento ink and colored lightly with Copics. There's also a little shimmer on the dragonflies, but the camera didn't pick that up.  After I cut the slope at the bottom of the front of the card base, I added a piece of light pink card stock.

This card was also quick and easy.  I inked the area where I wanted to use the Tim Holtz distressed circles die.  After die cutting the card panel I added just a little more ink (tumbled glass). The butter is a two piece butterfly from Clearly Besotted.  I die cut the solid piece from a light pink card stock, and then cut the top from vellum and colored it on the back side with Copics.  The butterfly trail is tiny little bling.  The sentiment looks washed out, but it's really not.  I stamped it in a SSS fog ink.  Popped the completed panel on a white card base and rounded the bottom corners.

I decided to make a little plaid for my card for Addicted to CAS.  I masked off the top area of the card panel and stamped the plaid using pink, yellow, and blue inks from Hero Arts.  I added a small strip of pink card stock for a more finished look.  The sentiment is from PTI.  Added a couple of Darice clear sequins...and popped the card panel on a white card base.

Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate all of your comments!  

LIM 274 "lucky Dip" and lots more!

Sorry....but this is another PHOTO HEAVY post!  

I think I've made a card for the last several weeks for the Less is More challenge, but can't seem to get around to getting them photographed and posted on my blog!  The challenge this week at LIM is to create a card using designer paper and keep it CAS....

I actually made two cards for this week's challenge and I can't seem to decide which one I like more! I think this first one is probably more CAS....so I'll go with that!  I used some scraps I found in my scrap bin, adhered a strip to both the top and bottom of the card base, added a strip of shiny red paper to finish off the patterned paper.  The sentiment is from SSS and is heat embossed in red.  Added a few sequins to tie the colors together...and done!

I really LOVE this card, but thought perhaps it wasn't CAS enough.  I stamped the peony scroll flowers and leaves on designer paper scraps from my scrap bin, then used copics to add a bit of shading to the blooms.  I used a pink card base and cut a large square opening with a die, then cut a smaller aperture from a piece of white using a stitched edge square die and popped it beneath the pink card front.  I used the square cut from the white and adhered it to the inside of the card base, stamped happy birthday on it (SSS) and added a few rhinestones to finish it off.

This is a card I believe I made for one of the LIM challenges a few weeks age...sigh....The image is a digi image that I made a cut file out of in my silhouette program.  Printed it...cut it out with the Cameo and colored it with Copics.  Sentiment is from Flourishes, I think.

This was a card I made just for fun.  I had a piece of white card scrap on my desk that had a small circle cut from one corner area....so I cut out an oval with a die, inked the card base with some distress inks and popped the panel over it.  The kite is from PTI and the hello is from SSS.  I shaded the sentiment with several shades of distress ink to make it gradually fade at the top of the letters.  The kite and tail are had cut and popped over the oval.

Using instructions from a recent online card class, I made the card above using heavy weight vellum as the front of the card.  I inked the vellum with various SSS inks.  The flowers were heat embossed in white and the white panel has a SSS heat embossed sentiment on it. I really like how this came out, so I might just have to make another one!

I'm LOVING my Altenew stamps!  This flower was stamped and fussy cut before adding to the front of my card panel, as were the leaves. I colored the leaves and the blooms with Copics.  This card also has an aperture cut in the front panel and the card base underneath.  I used the square cut from the white panel to put inside the card to stamp the sentiment on.  The photo below shows the card at a better angle so you can see the dimension.

If you're still with me...Thanks a million!  I appreciate each and every comment.  If you have any questions, please shoot me an email. I hope you'll come back to visit soon!

Muse Challenge, ATSAM, and LIM...Go ME!

I've made several cards today for three different challenges! Go ME!  I've had a very productive day! The challenges I have cards for are Less is More, Muse, and Addicted to Stamps and More...

          

I actually made two cards for the LIM challenge...but that's not unusual for me.

Used the Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set for this first card.  Sentiment is from PTI.  I stamped the flower in layers using 3 different colors of ink.  Leaves were stamped in two layers.  I LOVE layered stamps (now that I've figured out how to use them!)

I inked the background with distress ink, then stamped the image over it in black Memento ink.  I wasn't sure how it would turn out to color over the background ink with Copics...but I think it turned out just fine.  Sentiment is from Altenew's Beautiful day stamp set.

This next card is for the MUSE challenge.  I heat embossed the flowers from Clearly Besotted stamp set (love this set!) with clear embossing powder.  The sentiment is from SSS and is stamped in black and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  After coloring the flower and heat embossing the sentiment, I ran the panel through my Big Shot machine with an embossing folder....pretty cool look!

I can't say I'm really happy with this card...I often feel that way when I try to use water colors!  I water colored the background, stamped the cupcake on watercolor paper and then painted it with distress inks.  Sentiment is from MFT and is stamped in Versafine black.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by for a visit!  Hope you'll come back soon!  Your comments are greatly appreciated! Until next time...

CASology, Less is More, CAS(E) this Sketch, Simon Says Stamp...and more!

Got LOTS of cards to share with you today.  This post is very photo heavy!  I've made cards that fit in several challenges...I'm really on a roll this week!  

First up is my card for the CASology Challenge and the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (one layer).

I used a Spellbinder die for the lacy heart and cut it from the card front.  I masked off the same size heart on the inside of the card and inked it up with some distress inks.  I added a touch of clear Wink of Stella to the lacy heart.  The sentiment from SSS Square Sayings was heat embossed with liquid platinum embossing powder.

My next card is for the Less is More 5th Birthday Celebration.  I don't get to play along with this challenge as often as I'd like, but I was very active when this challenge first started 5 years ago.  It's still one of my favorite challenges!

The LIM challenge this week is a white on white challenge.  I cut my butterflies with a SU! emboss folder that cuts and embosses.  I've had it forever, so I don't know if they still make it or not.  The sentiment is heat embossed in liquid platinum and is a SSS stamp.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but each of the butterflies have a touch of glitter on them.

Next up is my card for CAS(E) this Sketch

I made my background with Hero Arts ink and masking tape.  There's actually a couple of boo-boos in there, but hopefully, they're not too noticeable! The sentiment is from MFT...and I believe this is the first time this set has seen ink!  I cut the plaid panel with a SSS stitched rectangle die and stamped the sentiment in Versafine black ink.  I inked the edges of the card base with the same ink used in the plaid. (I used Mint Julep, Latte, Fresh Peach inks).

As I mentioned previously, I am in a widow's group that meet monthly.  Last month I took 15-20 of my cards and each of the ladies took a few minutes to write a note to someone on the group list that wasn't able to meet with us for lunch.  We've had some very positive feedback from some of the ladies who received cards, so I'll be taking some more cards to this month's luncheon.  

The first two are my favorites.  I love the no line coloring...I used Copics. The flowers are from Clearly Besotted  The second card I did a little ink blending with some distress inks...LOVE how this turned out. The grid die cut is from Spellbinders.

The third card was made as a one layer card and I used PTI leaf stamps and the sentiment is from Winnie & Walter.  On the last card I used the same Clearly Besotted image, stamped in black and colored with Copics.  I added a few drops of shimmer and some white dots for the flowers.  I reached waaaaaay back in my memories and thought about torn edges...and just went with it.  I think I like it!

I know this has been a VERY PHOTO heavy post...if you made it here to the end...bless you!

If you have any question about any of the cards, drop me an email and I'll get back to you!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by for a visit!  Hope you'll come back soon!  Your comments are greatly appreciated! Until next time...