Just for You

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a quick and easy CAS card that I made using the sketch challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  This is such a great sketch that is easy to use ... any style of card is welcome for January's Sketch Challenge at HLS.

I bought a fun set of stamps from my local $1 store a few years back for about $3 --- what a great deal!  The flower bouquet is one of them.  I inked it up with my markers and stamped onto my card front.  Then I coloured in the blooms with a light pink marker and added a darker pink to the centers.  I added a smattering of sequins and rhinestones.  That's it!  Quick and easy, fun card that took under 10 minutes to make ... you gotta' love that! :)

I'm going to enter this into a couple of other challenges - CAS-ology #130 - cue card: Friend, and Less Is More #207 - Friends.

Today I'm taking it pretty easy, just playing in my studio and then off to take my mom to the doctor's this afternoon.  Yesterday Gord and I were lucky enough to spend the day with Cooper ... and we'll be babysitting again tomorrow.  He's such a joy to be with ... a happy, happy guy!  I'm sharing a pic that my DDIL, Nikki posted on Facebook recently (so some of you may have seen it there).  It's from his one year portrait session ... he's growing up so fast! :)

Seriously, isn't he adorable??!!  Not that I'm a biased Nana. :)

Stamps:  Marine Drive (Heid Grace); Autumn Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  green sequins, clear rhinestones, stamp-a-ma-jig

Challenges:
January Sketch - HLS
CAS-ology #130
LIM #207

It's a Girl!!

Hi everyone.  Today I made a card for my nephew and niece-in-law to celebrate the birth of their daughter Ava.  I love this sweet digi image from Pink Gem Designs.  I just googled baby digital images and when this one came up, I knew I had to have it.  But, it was a challenge to paper piece as the line drawing is very thin so there wasn't much wiggle room (those who paper piece regularly will know what I mean). I also had a tough time getting the stars and hearts to hang straight, as you can see ... looks like I had a few drinks before attaching them to the card :)  But sadly, no, it's just my lopsided-self.

I used the sketch from this week's challenge at Inkspirational - Sketch Challenge #9 (see below).  When I saw the sketch I knew it would work perfectly with this image.  Hope you like.

Here's the sketch:

Stamps:  Baby Girl Sleeping Teddy (Pink Gem Designs); Baby (Heidi Grace)
Paper:  White, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette Polka-dot DP, So Saffron Polka-dot DP (SU!); pink gingham (unknown)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, paper piercing tool, mat, Pale Pink and Pale Yellow twine (The Twinery), glue, glue dots, adhesives, and dimensionals

I paper pieced the sleeping teddy image and mounted it onto a square that I had sponged with Bashful Blue ink in a cloud pattern (hard to see in photo).  I popped up the teddy and also the square of clouds to give the card lots of dimension.


Here's a close-up of the sleeping teddy:

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My Hello Doily card was picked as one of the Top 5 for the CASE challenge at Inkspirational.  Thanks to Mynnette and her team for picking my card!!

Japanese Screen

Last night we had our friends Lance, Lili and Natasha over for dinner.  It was so great to spend an evening with them!  This afternoon we're heading to a family dinner with my nieces and nephews (and my kids, mom and SIL).  Kevin and Sarah will be hosting the dinner at their house ... and Adrienne and David will be the cooks for today.  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone!

But before I go, I needed to get this write up done for today's card for Monday's CAS Challenge (CAS152) - Die-cuts!  I made an Asian-themed card, creating a flower arrangement and a screen.  I cut a rectangle "window" on the front panel of the card and lined it with vellum so it has a slightly transparent appearance (the picture doesn't show that ... much better in real life).  I used three die-cut squares to create a "screen" that I placed on top of the vellum.  And I randomly sponged a darker brown over the entire front of the card to give it an aged look.  Hope you like.

"Japanese Screen"

Stamps:  Silhouette Sentiments (SU!)

Paper:  Crumb Cake (Kraft), Basic Black (SU!); vellum, red swirl DP (unknown)

Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive, Soft Suede (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Cuttlebug Corners Die (squares), Big Shot, ornament punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge, mini half-pearls, Tombow glue, adhesives and dimensionals

* * * * *

I made the card base from Crumb Cake and cut a window 4" x 1 1/4".  I randomly sponged Soft Suede ink all over the card front to create an aged look.  I used sticky strips to attach a slightly larger piece of vellum behind the cut-out.

  

I ran the Cuttlebug die-cut through my Big Shot three times with Basic Black cardstock to create the three squares.  I mounted the squares to the front of the card overtop the vellum, using Tombow glue to secure.

Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement, I stamped the flowers using Red Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers.  I went over the stamping again (free-hand) with the Stampin' Write markers to make the image darker and I also enlarged the flowers.  I place mini half-pearls in the center of each flower.

I punched the ornament from Basic Black cardstock and trimmed the bottom slightly and then cut the whole piece so it was only 1/2" deep, creating a dish for my flower arrangement.  I cut a thin (1/16") strip of red swirl DP and mounted it on top of the dish to create interest.

I mounted the dish on top on the card front so that the bottom lined up with bottom of the screen, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

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A second card for CAS Challenge - Die-cuts (CAS152).  This time I made a baby card using my new purchase of the Top Note die ... I've been wanting it for a long time!  Another card for my upcoming twine workshop with my crafty girls next weekend.  Hope you like!

"It's a boy"

Stamps:  Baby (Heidi Grace)

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White (SU!); stars and swirls DP (unknown)

Ink:  Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Top Note die-cut, Big Shot, Lemon Drop and Caribbean Twine (the Twinery), More Mustard button, adhesives and dimensionals

* * * * *

I ran a large piece of Whisper White cardstock through my Big Shot with the Top Note die-cut.  I used a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker to go over the stitched line of the die-cut.  I stamped the main image and sentiment in Basic Black ink and then colored in the birds beak with Daffodil Delight and the baby bundle with Tempting Turquoise.

I wrapped Lemon Drop Twine and Caribbean Twine around the Top Note and tied a bow.  I added a small More Mustard button on top of the bow.

I mounted a large piece of the stars and swirls DP onto a Daffodil Delight card base.  I mounted the main panel on top, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

Three Cards ...

I'm posting three cards today - whew!  Hope you like ...

Today I focused on Christmas cards.  Specifically Christmas cards using some more of the wrapping paper I just bought at Costco.  I love the design of the paper - it's so elegant and I wanted to use it instead of Christmas DP.  Here's two cards that I made today, one using the wrapping paper as the background and the other using it as the focal point.

"Wrapped Gifts of Christmas"

Stamps:  Gifts of Christmas (SU!)

Paper:  Old Olive, Whisper White (SU!); Christmas wrapping paper

Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, BowEasy, red stickles, sticky strips, glue stick, glue dot and dimensionals

* * * * *

I cut a large piece of Whisper White cardstock and glued a piece of wrapping paper on top (used glue stick) to give stability to the wrapping paper.  I cut it to size and cut another piece of Whisper White 1/8" larger to use as a thin frame in-behind.  I wrapped Cherry Cobbler seam binding around the background panel and then mounted it onto a card base of Old Olive.

I inked the stamp with Stampin' Write markers and stamped onto another piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I added red stickles on top of the poinsettias and buds and let it dry before continuing.  I framed the stamped image with Old Olive cardstock and  then mounted it on top of the seam binding, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

I used the BowEasy to make a bow with the Cherry Cobbler seam binding and mounted it onto the card with a glue dot.

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No stamping on this card ...

"Wrapped Ornament"

Paper:  Old Olive, Whisper White (SU!); Christmas wrapping paper

Accessories:  ornament punch, Big Shot, Cuttlebug "Snowflakes" embossing folder, Mistletoe ribbon (SU!), gold thread, gold eyelet, hole punch, eyelet setter

* * * * *

I cut two pieces of Whisper White cardstock (one large and one small) and ran them through my Big Shot with the Snowflakes embossing folder.

Using wrapping paper glued to cardstock for stability, I punched out an ornament.  I punched a hole in the top and added a gold eyelet.  I cut a piece of gold thread and tied it through the eyelet and attached it to the small embossed white cardstock, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.  I attached the main panel to a frame of Old Olive cardstock.  I wrapped Mistletoe ribbon around the main panel, tying a knot in the center.

I mounted the large piece of embossed Whisper White cardstock to the card base of Old Olive.  I mounted the main image on top, popping it up with dimensionals to add more depth.  The main image is "weighted", meaning it is centered side-to-side, but has a smaller margin at the top and larger at the bottom.

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Yesterday I spent a little time in the art studio making an invitation for an upcoming High Tea that I'm holding.  I am having Fran, Deb and Kelly (aka the Crafty Girls) over for High Tea this coming Sunday and the past couple of years I've always sent them a handmade invitation.  I don't know what happened this year??  I only thought about making the card a couple of days ago and it's too late to mail.  I was mad at myself for not thinking ahead ... but my son, Jer, suggested I make one and email pictures to them.  Good suggestion Jer!  This is the front and inside panel that I emailed to my friends. 

"High Tea Invitation for the Crafty Girls"

Stamps:  Marina (Heidi Grace), Sincere Salutations (SU)

Paper:  Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White (SU!)

Ink:  Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, VersaMark (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, computer generated message, white gel pen, sponge

* * * * *

I purchased the vine and flower stamp at my local $1 Store ($3 for a set of 16 stamps - what a deal!!).  I find with the clear stamps that sometimes I don't get a clean impression - the ink doesn't stick consistently.  So I find if I ink the stamp with VersaMark first, then re-ink with my colored ink, the impression is much better.  I stamped the vine in Always Artichoke ink.  I stamped the flowers in Elegant Eggplant ink.  I used the white gel pen to add white centers to the flowers.  I lightly sponged Certainly Celery for some background color just around the middle of the vines.

I stamped the sentiment "You're Invited" in Elegant Eggplant ink, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.  The inside panel was generated on my computer.

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I'm also doing a little experimenting in the kitchen today for the High Tea.  I make Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie in the summer (see the Baking section of this website for the recipe).  It's delicious!  I thought it would be fun to try revamping the recipe a little and make Pumpkin Mousse Tartletts for the High Tea ... it's the time of year for pumpkin!  So I made it today and the mousse turned out wonderful!  The crumb crust is really crumbly so I don't know if it's going to work.  I filled the shells with mousse and am leaving them in the fridge overnight to see if it softens the crust and helps to hold it together better.  Hopefully it works ... and hopefully I'll be able to see if it works - I just have to keep hubby and son out of the fridge tonight!! :) 

Vines of Flowers

What a busy past couple of days!!  Yesterday, Gord and I headed out to Langley early in the morning to pick up Penny.  Evan and Nikki were going to be busy all day painting their garage and we thought we'd take the dog so that they didn't have to worry about her while they were painting.  We love looking after Penny - she's so much fun!  My friend Cindy came over and her and I went for a nice lunch at Times Pub (formerly The Celtic Pub).  We had a delicious lunch and then headed back to my place for White Peach Daiquiris on the deck - yum, yum!!  After dinner, we took Penny home.  It's not that we did that much, but I was tired by the end of the day - might have been the rum!! :)

Today I made batches of Sun-dried Tomato Pesto.  I make it every summer when the basil is fresh and plentiful and then freeze it to use throughout the year.  Moe (SIL) was nice enough to pick up a big bag of fresh picked basil for me from Westham Island Herb Farm on Saturday morning ... thank you Moe!!  I managed to get 15 dinners made for the three of us.  Whew!!  Tomorrow I make dinner for Evan to pick up on his way home ... I'm thinking we'll all be having Penne with Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Pesto.

On to today's card.  I was planning on making a one layer card, but I felt it needed a little something more, so I added a thin purple frame for the main image panel and a thin purple frame for the card base.  I got to use my new stamps that I picked up from the $1 store - they are so cute!  This is a quick and easy card and took only about 10 minutes to make.  I added half-pearls to the centers of each flower after posting onto the SCS website ...   Hope you like.

"Vines of Flowers"  

 

 

 

Stamps:  Marina Drive (Heidi Grace)

Paper:  Elegant Eggplant (SU!); Bazzill White

Ink:  Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  mauve half-pearls, adhesives and dimensionals

 

* * * * *

I inked the vine stamp with Old Olive and stamped it three times.  I inked the flower stamps (two different ones) with Elegant Eggplant ink and stamped them over top the vines.  I added mauve half-pearls to the center of each flower.

I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, popping up the main panel with dimensionals to add depth.  Easy, peasy!!
 
 

Vase of Flowers

Today I went to a $1 store near me ... my friend Heather mentioned that they are now carrying some great scrapbooking / card making supplies.  I ended up buying six sets of clear stamps that are really cute (only $3.00 ea!!).  What a deal!!  Here's my first card using one of my new stamps and it's for today's SCS Challenge - Technique Lover's Challenge - Stamp the Sentiment over the Image.  Hope you like.

"Vase of Flowers"

 

 

 

Stamps:  Marina Drive (Heidi Grace stamps); Cottage Garden sentiment (SU!) Paper:  Early Espresso, Early Espresso Designer Series, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso; Stampin' Write markers: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette (SU!)  Accessories & Tools:  1/4" Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon, glue dot, adhesives & dimensionals

* * * * *

 

I inked the flower stamp with Stampin' Write markers: Rose Red and Old Olive.  I stamped the image onto the Whisper White cardstock and then colored in the flowers using the Pink Pirouette Stampin' Write marker.  The vase was inked with Soft Suede.

I inked the sentiment with Early Espresso and stamped it over top of the vase.  I mounted the main image onto a frame of Early Espresso cardstock.  I added an Early Espresso knotted ribbon, and secured the knot to the cardstock with a glue dot.

I mounted the striped background paper onto the card base and then added the main image panel, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.