Celebrate

 This card is for a March birthday and I like it so much, I hate to wait so long to send it . . .

 

The Greetery produces a unique line of gorgeous products and I admit I’m hooked.  Each set in their Rosemal collection is filled with highly creative elements that are interchangeable, producing a virtually unlimited variety of layout options.

 

Cardstock:   LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum

Finish, Scraps Dark Green, Dull Gold     

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            The Greetery Regency Bow #1, Hang It Up, Bigger

Holiday Botanicals Paper White, Capsule Basics,

Capsule Filigree Borders 

Emb Fldr:     TKOnline Celebration Set: “Celebrate”, The Greetery, 

Rosemal Reflections

Cheers

I had fun creating a stone background topped with a little texture and a couple of perky flowers . . .

 

Then I gilded the lily, so to speak, when I got the idea to brush on some Perfect Pearls.  These are mica powders mixed with fixatives that will permanently anchor the powders in place.  You can draw with a Dove marker and then just dust on the powders.  The excess is lightly buffed off.  A pearlized gleam remains and it lights up the whole layout.  Most likely, the camera won’t pick it up, but in real life, it’s so very pretty.

 

I haven’t used Perfect Pearls in years and have no idea why.  That changes now!  I have a nice collection of these lovely powders and I can’t wait to put them through their paces . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cinder, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       AlteNew

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Memories Soft Stone

Waterclrs:    Zig Clean Color Pink Flamingo, Bright Yellow, Yellow,

Mid Green, Olive Green

Dies:            Simon Says Layered Scallop Tags, TKOnline 

Celebration Set: Cheers, 

Stencil:         Tim Holtz Stone, Frantic Stamper Stitched Quilt, 

The Greetery Regency Bows #1

Doo Dads:    Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste, Perfect Pearls 

Perfect Sparkle, Lemon Sparkle    

Home

My long-time friend, stamping buddy, and fellow church-goer Anna is moving from NY to Delaware.  Closing on her home is next week and I’m hoping this will be the first mail she gets in her new home . . .

 

I wanted some high contrast and that’s what I got.  However, instead of a daytime scene, I now have an unexpected evening one.  I like it!  I hope Anna does too . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bazzill Blue, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, 

Scraps Yellow, Green, Brown      

Dies:            Impression Obsession Congrats Word Set: “Home”, 

Spellbinders Home Sweet Home, TEMU Christmas

House (trees only), Divinity Designs Clouds & Raindrops, 

Hero Cloudy Sky (birds only), DieNamics Grassy Edges            

Cheers

Blue and icy white – perfect colors for a January birthday card, yes?

As this is a guy card, I thought a dry-embossed birch tree background would look good. The tag is deckle-edged and instead of a bow, I just passed the ribbon through the tag hole and anchored it with a sticky dot.  A few frosty drops and we’re done!

Cardstock:   Stedner Bright White, Neenah Bright White      

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky

Dies:            Impression Obsession Deckled Tag, TKOnline Celebration Set:                                  “Cheers”  

Emb Fldr:     Stampin’ Up Woodland Textured

Doo Dads:    TEMU Clear Drops, Blue & White fiber   

Ornaments 2025

Every year, I make ornaments for two of my grandchildren.  My mother did that for her two and I thought it was a great idea . . .

 Cardstock:   Neenah #110 Solar White,  Marcos Carnival Cover

Red, Concord & 9th Glitter Paper: Gold, Silver

Inks:             ColorBox Silver, Gold

Emb Pwdr:   PastTime Glitter Silver, All Night Media Glitter Gold Tinsel

Dies:            Spellbinders 2013 Heirloom Ornament, Pretty Quick 

Poinsettia Bauble & Banner, Memory Box Garden

Sprig, Concord & 9th Take a Bough                   

Doo Dads:    Mark Richards Metal Stickers Silver, Gold        

 

Here are the boxes I make to mail them.  The ornaments are dimensional and a little on the delicate side, so some extra protection is a good idea.  Since each is labeled, it also helps to keep them organized.

 

BOXES

Cardstock:   Recollections #110Kraft

Dies:            Papertrey Ink BulkMail Envelope, Tim Holtz 

Alphanumeric, Pretty Quick Poinsettia Bauble

& Banner                    

Celebrate

The background color scheme of purple and blue was supposed to be peaceful and serene.  However it turned out to be on the lurid side . . .

 So I turned to my favorite secret weapon:  dragonfly paper!  It’s an Asian innovation made (I think) from rayon.  It’s sheer, wispy, and contains occasional silky strands of shimmering beauty.  It also transforms lurid to calm and quiet.  I taped it to the underside of the frame and then set that over the background.  Problem solved!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lilac, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Paper Arts 

Dragonfly Rice Paper        

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, Black Soot, 

Ranger Archival Fern Green

Dies:            My Favorite Things Rectangle Frames, InLoveArts 

Buttterfly & Hollow Line Background (not used), 

TKOnline Celebrate          

Stencil:        Hero Golden Poppies

Bloom

How I love the combination of a busy background offset by a more peaceful focal point . . .

 

I know Winter has just started, but dreaming of Spring is how I get through the frigid days.  I love how making art can take me anywhere I want to go.  Happily, with this stencil set, I can tiptoe through the tulips anytime I want!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth       

Stamps:       Lindy’s Stamp Gang Tulip, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Ancient Page Bordeaux, Plum Wine, Archival Fern

Green, Leaf Green, Distress Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Superior India Ink Black

Waterclrs:    Zig Clean Color Light Carmine, Olive Green, Deep Red

Dies:            Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles, Frantic

Stamper “Bloom”    

Stencil:        Hero Tulip Pattern

Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Green