Warm Wishes...

Happy Monday, everyone! Today's card carries a sentiment that works for a few different occasions - birthday, friendship...maybe even a get-well-soon message. I mixed what might be considered "spring" colors with dark bronze glitter and shades of cream and tan to turn this into a card for any season.

There's quite a variety of Lili of the Valley stamps used here, along with one of the beautiful aqua and lavender patterned papers from LOTV's Antebellum paper pad. This particular paper has a water-colored look, and I love that the subtle shades of aqua and lavender have some pale green mixed in, with just a touch of old newsprint pattern in the corner. I was able to find a scrap of newsprint paper in my stash that coordinated perfectly for the larger background piece. The small music sheet in the corner, with the distressed and bronze-glittered edges, is from LOTV's Set 46, Background Bits/Notes ...

The large rose is made with Spellbinders' Rose Creations dies, using a light lavender cardstock that's inked around all the edges with a darker lavender. The "Paris" tag is from LOTV's Set 50, Tags/Madame, and the "fleurs coupees" tag is from LOTV's Set 66, Grunge Elements. They all sit atop a die cut paper doily and a tea-dyed cotton lace gathered layer...

The butterfly, from the same Grunge Elements set as the "fleurs" tag,  was stamped onto cold-pressed watercolor paper, colored with a water brush and Distress Ink refill inks, and accented with some Stickles and bronze glitter.  The fun part about watercolor paper is that it can hold shapes that some other cardstocks won't. After the glitters were dry, I spritzed the *back* side of the butterfly with water, and gently formed the wings around my pinky finger, and set it aside again to dry. The wings now have a permanent arched shape that adds a bit of interest and fun up in the corner...

Between all the larger pieces, I added some aqua and lavender mini roses and pearls to create a long floral cluster diagonally across the page...

Once again, I used a few different sentiments from LOTV's Set 35, Christmas Handwritten Phrases  to customize my sentiment. :)  "Sending" is from "sending you festive cheer,"  "warm wishes" is from the "warm winter wishes" stamp, and "across the miles," used just as it comes in the set...

Supplies:

Patterned paper:   Lili of the Valley Antebellum collection

Stamps:   Lili of the Valley  Set 46 Background Bits/Notes,   Set 50 Tags/Madame;    Set 66 Grunge Elements;    

Set 35 Christmas Handwritten Phrases

Dies   Spellbinders Rose Creations;    My Favorite Things Royal Leaves;    

Memory Box Quinn Flourish and Elegant Scrollwork

Punch:   Martha Stewart Medium Branch        Small Paper Roses:    Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls:   Recollections          Miscellaneous:  glitter, Stickles, tea dyed cotton lace

Thanks for stopping in for a visit...I hope your week is starting with a smile!

White Christmas...

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm ending the week with a monochromatic holiday card made up with the use of several dies, some embossing, and featuring a Lili of the Valley Christmas sentiment stamp as the center of attention.

I wish I could capture in photos how sparkly this card is in real life...between the embossed sentiment, the clear crystals, the shiny gold bells, and the glittery snow on the pine boughs, it really adds a lot of life to this white card...

The side view gives a better perspective of the dimension on the card, and actually, a better view of some of the "sparkle"...

A pearl stick pin balances out the area between the shiny mini bells and the sparkly bough branches in the upper corner...

This time, for the "snow," I used Snow-Tex that has glitter mixed in already...when it dries, you can see the glitter is multi-colored...

The sentiment was stamped with gold ink, then embossed with gold ultra-fine embossing powder...it really highlights the distressed feel of  LOTV's Christmas Grungy Messages stamp...

Supplies:

Sentiment stamp:  Lili of the Valley Set 33, Christmas Grungy Messages

Dies:   Spellbinders Floral Ovals, Twisted Metal Tags& Accents, Labels Twenty Three;

Impression Obsession Pine Branch;   Impression Obsession Twig Wreath (small pine branches)

Embossing folder:   Cuttlebug Geometric Rings

Pearls & crystals:   Prima          Hug Snug seam binding         Maya Road pearl stick pin        Deco Art Glistening Snow-Tex

As a reminder, there are still a few days left in September, so that means a few more days to enter Lili of the Valley's Ribbon and Lace monthly challenge. (The link will always be active over on the right side of my blog so you can check on the current LOTV challenge at any time.)  And have you seen the teaser photos of the new 8x8 paper pads coming soon? (check them out here) Oh my...can't decide which one I like best...LOL

Thanks so much for visiting today...have a wonderful weekend!

...With a Friend...

Here's another card I prepped during my die cut "frenzy" a week or so ago...no patterned paper used at all. That's a big change for me, but every now and then it's fun to step away from my "usual" and challenge myself a bit with some different designs.

I purchased this twig wreath die a while back, and it seemed just the right style and size for autumn-themed cards. Today it's the focal point of the card...placed above an all-white background, it really stands out. And a little unexpected bonus - I die cut the wreath from a piece of Core'dinations cardstock (from their "Chocolate Box" collection) that's brown on one side, and rust orange on the back. When it's popped off the background just a bit with foam tape, it casts a rust-colored shadow beneath the wreath that adds even more fun to the design...

I die cut lots of little leaves in bright fall foliage colors...bunched them up around a small bow of scrunched seam binding, and sprinkled them with a little bit of clear coarse glitter...

Behind the bow and leaves is a die cut burlap heart sprinkled with clear mica flakes. While at a local craft store one day, I spotted a 6x6 pad of burlap paper...fabric backed with heavyweight kraft paper.  It's so much easier die cutting this paper than having to stiffen burlap fabric on my own prior to die cutting...

A couple more small clusters of leaves and pearls around the wreath gave me a couple more spots to place foam tape beneath the wreath and not have it show through the twigs...that little extra added dimension made a big difference!

Supplies:

Dies:   Impression Obsession Twig Wreath;   My Favorite Things Royal Leaves;   Spellbinders Fancy Tags;

Xyron ShapeZ by Spellbinders/Hearts

Embossing  folder:   Cuttlebug Modern Wallpaper              Punch:   Martha Stewart Medium Branch

Burlap paper:   DCWV          Pearls:   Recollections and Prima         Hug Snug seam binding

Thanks for stopping by to visit today!

Hello, Autumn!...

My favorite season of the year is officially here. The leaves haven't started to change just yet, but with the days getting shorter, it will start soon.  We have a few roads around here that are so beautiful in the spring, lined with trees that sprout with pink, white, and lavender blossoms. As pretty as they are in spring, those streets are even prettier in the fall when the leaves turn shades of gold, orange, and deep purple.

So Saturday, since it was a rainy and thundery day, seemed like the perfect time to make up a card using deeper, autumn tones. Out came the deep purple, dusty grey-blue, and deep gold cardstocks, and off I went into the drawer of "older" patterned papers to find just the right one. And that's when this card became another example of why I'm glad I didn't toss/purge/donate some of my papers just because they're more than a few seasons old (and a reminder to myself that I need to visit the papers in those drawers a little more often than I do!).

The large rose is made using Spellbinders Rose Creations dies...I added a "shabby" embossing powder detail around the edges with a powder that's sprinkled with pale blue fine glitter in the mix...

It's a bit hard to see the true color in the pics, but the leaves and the sentiment tag are edged with Eggplant colored ink, the same color as the base of the card...

And here's another "gussied" up memo pin holding the little sentiment tag...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Basic Grey Wisteria/Violet and Stone Wall

Dies:   Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Postage Stamp Frame;   Spellbinders Rose Creations;   

Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves

Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com          Mini roses and stamens:   Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls:   Recollections          Memo Pin:  Tim Holtz

Thanks for visiting today...I hope your week is starting with a smile!

Sage and Celery...

TGIF! Friday seems to be just about everyone's favorite day of the week around here. We might have a bit of rain around these parts this weekend...the temps have cooled off to the mid-80's, the barometer is headed downward, and it's a bit muggy today...so maybe they'll be right this time...it's a welcome change.

Recently a friend asked why I haven't made any more mini twin sets...and my answer was, "I don't know...it wasn't intentional!" LOL  So I decided to give my triceps a little exercise by making a pair of die-cut mini note cards....there's a bit of machine cranking involved when making sets like this. One die is used to make the shaped card, one for the raised panel, and a couple more for the frame for the rose image at the center of each.  It's fun mixing and matching different die sets, but I'll admit, the fun of die cut cards can also be time-consuming. (But I always like the end results!)

So today's share is a pair of die cut monochromatic mini note cards in sage and celery green...

I used the same rose image for each card, but changed the background for one and flipped it 180 degrees, and desaturated the other a bit more. After die cutting the celery green cardstock pieces behind the rose images, I ran them through an embossing folder for a little bit of texture...

Adding more flowers to the center of the satin bows seemed a bit overdone, but a tiny pearl cluster fit perfectly, and added a bit more brightness...

The frame around the rose image was die cut from a very pale celery color, but it looked a bit "flat" for my taste, so I coated it with fine clear German glass glitter for texture and subtle sparkle. That's one of the main reasons I like using glass glitter...the sparkle isn't overwhelming...

Supplies:

Dies:   Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles,  Opulent Ovals;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves

Embossing folder:   Cuttlebug Geometric Rings

Rose digital image:   The-Feathered-Nest.blogspot.com

Ribbon:   Offray          Pearls:   Reflections          Lace:   local craft store

Miscellaneous:   Clear German glass glitter

Thanks for visiting today...I hope you have a fun weekend!

Cream and Ivory...

Today's card is a true monochromatic little number, with lots of texture from embossing folders, and lots of lacy touches from the edge punch and braided lace across the front. Three different embossing folders were used to make the textured sections across the front...

The side view makes it a bit easier to see the lacy punched edge detail...

The largest rose in the cluster is made using Spellbinders' Rose Creations dies...the smaller flowers are pre-made, but I was pleasantly surprised to see how perfectly they matched...

It's no secret I love using memo pins for sentiment tags...makes it easy when I change my mind and want to use the card for a different occasion...just swap out the tag...plus, it's fun to "gussy up" the memo pins...

Supplies:

Edge punch:   Martha Stewart Embroidery Deep Edge

Embossing folders:   Cuttlebug Polka Dots, Kassies Brocade, Modern Wallpaper

Dies:   Spellbinders Rose Creations;   Spellbinders Floral Flourishes;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves

Small paper roses:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Stamens:   ChocolateLetters on Etsy

Pearls:   Recollections          Tim Holtz Memo Pin (embellished and painted)

Thanks for visiting today!

Lilac and Lavender...

Happy Monday, everyone!  Lately I've been working on cards that use a lot of die cutting, and the embossing folders have even gotten a bit of a workout.

This one started out to be a monochromatic card, but it took a turn for the colorful once I decided on the floral cluster contents and the center artwork. There's no sentiment on it yet...it's an all-occasion card that I could add a sentiment later if I so decided...but sometimes a card with no sentiment on the front leaves the options open, and I like having cards like that available...

Each layer of the die cut shapes was adhered with foam tape...you can see a bit more of the dimension from this side angle...

The bow on the side is made up with pearl ribbon, with strands of coordinating satin ribbon for a bit more of the bright pink accent...

Sweetheart blossoms in lilac and hot pink, mini roses in lavender and purple...does a girl ever lose her love for purple? (well, I know some do, but I 'm not one...I still love it...)

Supplies:

Dies:   Spellbinders Gold Majesty Circles, Standard Circles Large and Small;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves

Paper flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Pearls:   Recollections          Vintage butterfly image:   The Vintage Workshop

Pearl ribbon, satin ribbons:   local craft store

And now, a couple of announcements. For those of you who love challenges (especially those with prizes attached...yay!), this month's at Lili of the Valley is a fun one...your challenge is to use ribbon and/or lace...and the best part? There are three prizes up for grabs this month!  Also, be sure to read about the new Top 5 honor that begins with this month's challenge. Click Here to get to the current challenge, or at any time you can click on the linked LOTV monthly challenge image on my sidebar over there on the right >>>, to get you to the page with all the information you need each month for the current challenge. You have until the end of September to post your project for the ribbon and/or lace challenge, so have fun!

Also, LOTV's new  Holiday Art Pads are available starting mid-day today (UK time). These are 4"x6" pads with 30 sheets each pad...3 each of 10 different color images.  In addition to being great to use when time is short for coloring your own images (or if you've never been one to want to color your own images), these wonderful art pad images would make adorable holiday gift tags...cut them into tag shapes, add your "to/from" information, attach some ribbon/lace/fibers to the top, and you have a perfectly special gift tag. 

And....there's a SALE going on in the LOTV store until mid-day (UK time) Wednesday, Sept. 18...10% off everything...who doesn't love a sale, right?

Thanks for popping in for a visit today...I hope your week is starting with a smile!

"Fully Loaded"...

Happy Friday the 13th! May you defy all the superstitions and have nothing but great, good, happy luck today! :)

"Fully loaded" is what I jokingly called today's card once I was finished with it...it's loaded with embellishments. And since summer temps are hanging on with a vengeance around here, I went with summery colors of pink, yellow, and bright green, but used grey and black to add a bit of drama and contrast...

At the center of the floral cluster is a large pink fabric rose. It's surrounded with paper roses of pink and yellow, but the bow from the black twine wrapped around the sentiment block adds a stark accent...

The sentiment was stamped into the upper corner of the block, and the chipboard heart accent in the corner is painted, distressed, and coated with clear German glass glitter. A small sweetheart blossom and a few pearls were added inside the heart, to offset those on the other side of the sentiment...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   My Minds Eye Miss Caroline/Fiddlesticks collection (gray),   Miss Caroline/Howdy Doody collection (yellow),   Bramble Rose collection (floral);    Authentique Cherish "E" (6x6) (pink)

Sentiment stamp:   Papertrey Ink          Dies:   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves          Fabric rose:   local craft store

Paper flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com          Chipboard heart:   Maya Road

Pearls:   Recollections          Miscellaneous:   Wilton doily, hemp twine, clear German glass glitter

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit...have a wonderful weekend!

Sending Hugs...

Remember how I once (or twice) mentioned how I like to mix up my sentiment stamps to make up a "customized" sentiment? Yep...today I did it again. :) And what's even more fun is that I used a Christmas sentiment stamp set to make up a sentiment that has nothing to do with the Christmas holiday season.

The sentiment set I'm talking about is Lili of the Valley's Set 35, Christmas Handwritten Phrases. I'll be showing more cards in the weeks to come using these phrases on Christmas cards, but today's card shows how versatile this clear photopolymer stamp set really is.  In addition to the LOTV sentiment set, I also used the clock stamp from Set 66, Grunge Elements as the base for the small floral cluster...

I stamped the clock onto a piece of heavy cold press watercolor paper, colored it with Tea Dye Distress Ink, distressed the edges, and adhered it to the sentiment block with foam tape.  The cluster of tiny brightly colored roses on top of a tilted seam binding bow leaves plenty of the clock showing beneath the cluster...

It helps to decide on your placement of the clock piece and floral cluster before you stamp your sentiment, so you can decide where to place the words. I lightly penciled the edge of the clock on the sentiment piece and then stamped the sentiment.  

"Sending" came from the "Sending You Festive Cheer" stamp, "Hugs" from "Love & Hugs x."  "Across the Miles" is a stamp in the set, but I needed to split the words to fit the space, so I carefully cut "Across" from the rest of the stamp to place it above the other two words. 

All of this is to say, when you look at your sentiment stamp collection in a different way now and then, you might be pleasantly surprised with the number of different combinations you can make from stamps in your collection to customize your sentiments...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Prima Almanac collection (coral);   Echo Park Dots & Stripes/Metropolitan collection (aqua stripe);

LOTV "Beach Bliss" collection, Susan Darter/Raspberry Road Designs for Lili of the Valley  (sentiment block); 

LOTV "Antebellum" collection, Raspberry Road Designs for Lili of the Valley  (tan/brown behind sentiment)

Clock stamp:   LOTV Set 66, Grunge Elements          Sentiment stamps:  LOTV Set 35, Christmas Handwritten Phrases

Dies:   Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork;   My Favorite Things Royal Leaves

Edge punch:   Martha Stewart Doily Lace          Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Pearls:   Recollections

Laces:   local craft store          Hug Snug seam binding          Miscellaneous:   cheesecloth, Wilton doily

Thanks for visiting today!

Thankful for You...

Happy Monday, all!  The other day I had an email from a friend asking when I was going to start making Thanksgiving cards. Well, I did have a "thankful" made up already for today's share, but then I thought...yikes...it IS time to start thinking seriously about getting more made up if I want to be ahead of the holidays.  Yes, I have already shown some Christmas cards, but as I made those up, I was thinking I was REALLY ahead of the game with those...after all, it was still nearly 100 degree summer-hot around here so Christmas felt waaaaaaay off in the future. LOL

As I was pulling papers and accents for today's card, I did have autumn colors on my mind...but then I decided I wanted to use non-traditional fall colors for a while yet, as a nod to our hanging-on-for-dear-life summer. So even though the cream, tans and browns made "the cut," I decided to accent with a pastel pink patterned paper in the mix, and use a few pink florals in the cluster.  And for fun, I used the current Deconstructed Sketch 117 as inspiration for the layout...

Here's Jen's current sketch that was used for inspiration...

The chipboard heart was painted, inked, and coated with clear German glass glitter. It has a little heart punched out in the corner...a perfect place to thread a couple small goose feathers...but not before the feathers are "shabbied" up a bit with a spritz of tea-dye stain, and a light touch of clear glitter run up the center vein...

The flower cluster surrounding the chipboard heart sits on a piece of dyed paper doily, a piece of dyed pink cheesecloth, and has a pretty pink seam binding bow as  "filler"...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   My Minds Eye Lost & Found/Madison Avenue collection (brown, stripe, pink dots);

Prima Nature Garden collection

Sentiment stamps:   Fiskars          Crocheted lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com

Dies:   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves          Chipboard heart:   Maya Road          Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls:   Recollections          Goose coquille feathers:   MoonlightFeatherInc on Etsy

Hug Snug seam binding          Miscellaneous:   cheesecloth, German glass glitter, Wilton doily

Thanks so much for visiting today...I hope your week is starting with a smile!