It's Your Day

I came across this beaded dragonfly card in my stash and thought it was time to get him launched into flight . . .

As this one is admittedly bulky, I plan to hand deliver it.  I had a box in my former post office, and one of the most endearing postal ladies ever always decorated my box with a banner on my birthday.  So now, having found out when hers is, I get to reciprocate!

I've given cards with beaded dragonflies on them before and have always encouraged the recipient to remove the dragonfly and wear him as a brooch or hair ornament.  The wires that fasten the dragonfly to the background panel are left very long - they are coiled behind the panel - so it's easy to recycle him into wearable art.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog;  Becket Iceberg, Bazzill Purple, Generic

                        Watercolor paper, Wausau Firecracker Red       

Stamps:       Various solid leaves, Stampin’ Up It’s your day

Inks:             Vivid Red, Green, Yellow, Purple, Taupe, Ancient Page

                        Amethyst

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Doo Dads:    Beaded Dragonfly   

Peace

When a dear friend of mine from church was going through some overwhelmingly sad times recently, nothing would do but to send her a serene card to let her know she is very much loved . . .

After scattering three dried die powders over the misted cardstock, I misted them a little more and blotted up some of the excess.  Then I stamped and embossed the trees in white. My original plan was to stamp them in black but I didn't think that would work very well.  So I shifted gears and went with the white instead.  What's the point of being a women if you can't change your mind once in awhile?

Cardstock:   Generic Teal Linen, Strathmore #100 Bristol     

Stamps:       Unity Planted, Hero Peace

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, Distress Pine Needles

Die Powders:   Color Burst Terre Verte, Orange, Nuance Jade

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Fine Detail White

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles                    

Doo Dads:    Oriental Trading Vintage Jewels  

Thanks

During my recent troubles with amnesia following foot surgery, five of my incredible neighbors really stepped up to the plate and took care of absolutely everything:  transportation, errands, walking and feeding my dog Tater, and other details too numerous to mention.  So of course, my best efforts with Thank You cards were required . . .

The vase was colored with dried die ink powders which I chose for their wonderful vibrancy.  With my favorite marble image, I inked it in black, and overstamped the vase.  I think the result looks like an expensive antique done by an expert with ceramic glazes. Or am I being way too optimistic here?

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, #100 Bristol, Generic Mesh

                        Textured White cardstock, Love Nicole Licorice         

Stamps:       Purple Daisy Sand, Impression Obsession Sketchy

                        Chevron Border, Fresh Squeezed Stamps Background

                        Check           

Inks:             Hero Black, Wink of Stella Gold

Colorants:    Ken Oliver Color Burst Alizarin Crimson, Orange

Dies:            Simon Says Thanks on a Line, Impression Obsession

                        Vase Set, Spellbinders Victorian Tags, Pink Fresh

                        Floral Squares             

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents: Black       

Good Fortune

When I had some foot surgery recently, I had complications from the anesthesia and experienced four days of amnesia.  My doctor went above and beyond the call of duty during that perplexing stretch of time and I received the best care ever.  So at the very least, a card is in order.  My doctor is Vietnamese, so I went with an Asian theme . . .

I chose the image of the horseman because he reminded me of my empathetic doctor who indeed galloped to my rescue during those frightening days!

I used the Charlie Chan font to type the sentiment.  The Chinese text is printed on rice paper which is very thin.  So I glued it to a piece of cardstock to give it some much needed body.  The coin is attached with my favorite method of dealing with the hole that's in the middle of most such coins:  I cut a very narrow strip of black cardstock, push the ends through the hole, and insert a few dried pine needles through the loop.  The ends are pulled through from the back and taped down.  I use glue dots to attach the coin to the card front.  After covering the card with a thin piece of spongy packing material, this arrangement has so far made it thru the mail with no problem!

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Generic rice papers Chinese Text      

Stamps:       MJ Barber Chinese Horseman, Unknown Chops

Inks:             Hero Black, Ancient Page Cardinal

Emb Powder:   Distress Black Soot

Emb Folder: Taylored Expressions Weathered

Dies:            Spellbinders Victorian Tags

Doo Dads:    Chinese coin, dried pine needles           

Fall

I had lots of fun making the background on last year's Valentines card (just below) and liked the results enough to make some extra ones to use on other cards . . .

For today's card, I darkened the background with Aged Mahogany to better set off the Palm Leaf on top of it.  A few sparkles, a jute knot, and this card is ready to go . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Bazzill Juneberry     

Stamps:       Hero Autumn: “Fall”

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Aged Mahogany

Emb Powder:   Distress Walnut Stai,

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Hero Palm Fancy,

                        Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles               

Stencil:        Tim Holtz Doily

Emb Folder: Stampin’ Up Fancy Fan

Doo Dads:    Delta Texture Magic Dimensional Paint Country Red,

                        Oriental Trading Adhesive Pearl/Jewels Vintage 

Bloom

Not long ago, my dear friend and stamping buddy Carol set off on a Washi tape tangent and put together some wonderful cards which wound up being published in RubberStampMadness magazine.  I got inspired by her work, although it took me a good while to act on it.  Not long ago, another blogger went wild with Washi and that did it.  I decided to go a little wild too . . .

Carol is a huge fan of black and white and one of her favorite colors is lime.  So for her Fall birthday, I had me some fun with Washi in those colors.  I have a ton of Washi in my stash, so expect more flights of fancy in the future . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Parakeet, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper   

Stamps:       Savvy Outline Dahlia

Inks:             ColorBox Black

Watercolors:   Inktense Sherbet Lemon, Zig Real Brush Yellow Green

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            DieNamics Single Stitched Line Rectangle Frame, Yalatan

                        Stitched Tags, Impression Obsession Small Bow, Marianne

                        Butterflies

                        DieVersions font Noodles       

Doo Dads:    Various Washi tapes, Wink of Stella Black          

Autumn

Fall is not my favorite time of the year as it brings to a close an all-too-short Summer.  But Fall's colors are indeed lovely and a pleasure to work with . . .

On this card, I wanted to bring in several  Fall weather elements with my color choices.  So I've mixed a foggy grey background with some glowing autumn shades set off with  frosty white and emphasized with a few black accents.  Happy Fall, y'all!

Cardstock:   Generic Burgundy, Grey, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper   

Stamps:        Hero Autumn

Inks:              ColorBox Black

Watercolors:   Derwent Inktense Shiraz, Tangerine, Sienna Gold, Fern,

                           Amber, Tan

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Ali Express Etched

                        Frame, Hero Autumn Frame Cuts, Carta Bella Hello Fall

                        Set: “Autumn”, La La Land Stitched Ribbon    

Emb Folder:   The Paper Studio Woodgrain, Spellbinders Bricks and Bark

Doo Dads:     American Crafts Jute Black, Memory Box Jewel Stickers Black