Soar

My young friend Leon turns 14 today and while I have sent him sports-oriented cards before, I felt like going in a different direction this time . . .

Leon is a young man of many interests and I thought he’d enjoy this combination of styles:  something a little geometric paired with a more gentle image.  It was also a great opportunity to use up a nice selection of scraps!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marco’s Jute, Assorted scraps   

Inks:             Distress Antique Linen

Dies:            Simon Says Sentiment Labels, Lil Inker Stitched

Mats Rectangles, InLoveArts Butterfly, DieVersions 

Noodles font             

Doo Dads:   Martha Stewart Glitter Onyx        

First Class Mail

I usually stick to about three colors on most compositions . . . but not this time:

There are ten colors at work here, and I’m loving the bright and lively Spring look they provide.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth          

Stamps:       Waffle Flower Postage Collage, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Gina K Whisper, Superior India Ink Black, Distress 

  Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Dusty

  Concord, Shaded Lilac, Faded Jeans, Tumbled Glass,

  Mowed Lawn

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Waffle Flower Postage Collage, TEMU Label Strip

  Frame                    

Stencil:        Waffle Flower Postage Collage    

Thinking of You

My Postal Collage journey continues – this time in lovely shades of green . . .

 

Before stenciling the butterflies, I used blending brushes inked with Gina K’s Whisper to add a misty background to each of the panels.  This took away the competing stark white look and added a gentle feeling to the whole composition.  Happily, the pale grey color is light enough to avoid show-through when stenciling or stamping on top of it.  I absolutely love the look and I don’t plan to put my Whisper pad away.  Rather, I shall keep it at-the-ready on my worktable.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth       

Stamps:       Waffle Flower Postage Collage, Stamp Pad “Thinking

  of You”

Inks:             Gina K Whisper, Superior India Ink Black, Distress 

Black Soot, Distress Oxide Bundled Sage, Peeled

Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Gelly Roll Clear Star

Emb Pwdr:  Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Waffle Flower Postage Collage, DieNamics 

Sentiment Strips           

Stencil:        Waffle Flower Postage Collage Blocks, Butterfly

Hugs Inside

Waffle Flower’s exceedingly clever Postage Collage design has spawned their large and growing collection of coordinating stamps, stencils, and dies.  Following is my early attempt at playing with a few pieces of my own growing collection of this wonderful series . . .

I followed the lovely color scheme shown on one of their adverts and am very happy with the results.  But I am so looking forward to trying all sorts of creative journeys with this wonderful collection.  That was a heads up, in case you missed it . . . you’ll be seeing a lot of the Postage Collage collection in future, so get ready . . .                               

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore #140 Watercolor      

Stamps:       Waffle Flower Wildflower Silhouettes, Postage Collage

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, ColorBox Frost White,

                     Adirondack Denim, Distress Black Soot, Chipped

  Sapphire, Peacock Feathers, Carved Pumpkin

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Waffle Flower Postage Collage, Goodculler 

          Stitched Rectangles             

Stencil:       Waffle Flower Postage Collage Blocks

March 17

Traditionally, the Irish are known for great craftsmanship with metal.  So on my St Pat’s cards, I like to use intricate shapes that bring metalwork to mind . . .

A few shades of green plus a four leaf clover and we are ready to celebrate!

Enjoy the day . . . be your inner green self!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Green, Marcos Jute, Strathmore 

#140 Watercolor         

Stamps:       PSX Shamrock, Studio G “March 17”

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Cream White

Waterclrs:    ZIG Clean Color Marine Green, Light Green

Emb Pwdr:  Judikins Detail Black, B’Muse Eggshell

Dies:            Impression Obsession Small Flourish Background, 

Crafters Companion Mon Amour Label, Gina Marie 

Stitched Rounded Squares, TEMU Rectangle Dotted

Effect, Hero Nested Frame Cuts Rectangle               

Doo Dads:    Grosgrain ribbon Green     

It's Your Day

More fun with Foamiran . . .

For those new to my blog, Foamiran is one of my favorite toys to play with.  Made of a soft and flexible vinyl acetate material, it is a thin foam sheet that is a dream to work with.  Easy to cut with scissors or dies, it also takes color well. 

But the feature I love the most is how Foamiran reacts to heat.  When making layered flowers, I aim the heat gun at the flowers for just three seconds and the petals will curve up!  Best of all, they stay that way – even after going through the mangle machines at the Post Office!  Awesome stuff for sure . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Stampin’ Up Mellow Moss  

Stamps:       Too Much Fun It’s Your Day

Inks:             Hero Unicorn, Ink on 3 Shark Tooth White, Archival 

  Olive

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Close to My Heart Sprigs & Leaves Slimline, 

 Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, AliExpress Flowers

 Frame, Punch Bunch Flower Center                    

Stencil:        Close to My Heart Sprigs & Leaves Slimline

Emb Fldr:     Close to My Heart Sprigs & Leaves Slimline

Doo Dads:    Foamiran, Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Clear Droplets   

Sending a Smile

Fair warning:  I’ve begun collecting several toys from Waffle Flower’s Postage Collage collection and plan to spend a lot of time with these wonderful pieces . . .

There will be many more such adventures with this collection soon to come!  There are thousands of ways these highly creative elements can be put together and I plan to try all of them.  Well, as many as I can before I stop drawing breath.  Thankfully, I am currently in good health and am hoping that will last for quite awhile . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth  

Stamps:       Waffle Flower Postage Collage, Seaside Stampin’ Ink 

“Sending you a smile!”

Inks:             Distress Oxide Dusty Concord Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Superior India Ink Black

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Waffle Flower Postage Collage, TEMU Label Strip                

Stencil:        Waffle Flower Postage Collage

Thinking of You

This layout involves a layered stencil set which has unusual dimensions:  the layers were long enough to allow me to stencil over the entire card base, front and back!  The result is a wonderfully decorative look that is totally unexpected . . .

 

I also love the white line around each image which Christina allowed for when designing the stencils.  This adds both definition and charm to these delightful flowers.  Can’t wait to play with this set while using some really dramatic colors . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor        

Inks:             ColorBox French Blue, Rose Coral. Yellow Ochre, 

VersaColor Green Tea, Gelly Roll Clear Star

Dies:            Kristina Werner Cheerful Flowers           

Stencils:      Kristina Werner Cheerful Flowers

Doo Dads:    Gold Mini Beads

Comfort

My card for the family of Eleanor, my friend of 43 years who has gone Home to her Creator . . .

 

She was an extraordinary woman who spent a lifetime in dedicated and loving service to anyone who needed extra help.  The damaged souls she helped achieve strong and sturdy lives are too many to count. 

Rest in peace, Eleanor . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor

Stamps:       Stampendous Encouraging Words: “Peace”

Inks:             Distress Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Wild Honey, 

Sea Shells Ocean Aqua, ColorBox Moss Green, Nuvo 

Glitter Gloss, Gelly Roll Clear Star

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Waffle Flower Butterfly Blossom Collection, Lacy 

                     Layers                    

Get Well Soon

My married friends Carol and Gene have been through the mill health-wise over the last several months, so I decided they were owed a rather large Get Well card . . .

Once again, I put the We R Memory Keepers Rotating Precision Press to work and had me a wonderful time! Except I wish I'd seen the crooked middle word "Well" before it was too late . . .

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Ivy, Strathmore #140 Watercolor 

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Outlines Bits &

Pieces Set #1, Prickly Pear Blobby Flowers, Concord

& 9th Blooms Fill-in Set, Neat & Tangled Calathea

Inks:             ColorBox Gold, Moss Green, Memories Snowy

                     Evergreen, Memento Tuxedo Black

Emb Pwdr:   Sparkle ‘n Sprinkle Gold Coast

Dies:            EK Success punch Flower, Purple Daisy Get Well Soon, 

Memory Box Circle Basics Set, Punch Bunch Flower Center, Momenta Cut & Emboss: Corner

Doo Dads:    Hero Metallic Decor: Gold

Bloom

The wreath on this layout results from the maiden voyage of my newest tool:

We R Memory Keepers Rotating Precision Press.  LOVE this thing . . .

Designed to make corners and/or anything circular, I plan to put this easy, no-learning-curve, no-nonsense tool to work numerous times in future.  It sells for $50 but you can get it at Amazon for $39 and free shipping if you’re a Prime member.

It is completely self contained and doesn’t even require a stamp positioner.  You can make wreaths for 12” x 12” scrapbook pages and any other measurement you want, down to about 3½ “.  It takes up truly minimal space and is a no-brainer to operate.

The darkest fronds and branches were stamped four times each, and yet the edges are crisp and perfect.  The top plate fits over spring-loaded pegs located in each corner of the base plate.  For perfect repeat stamping, I learned to press down on the upper pegs first each time I stamp.  This correctly positions the plate and edges will stay sharp when you then press the lower part of the plate to stamp.  Doing this ensures perfect results.  One of my best purchase ever . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lima, Purple Pizzazz, Georgia Pacific #110,    

Stamps:       DieNamics Wild Greenery

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Fossilized Amber,

Peeled Paint

Dies:            DieNamics Wild Greenery, Lil Inker Dual Stitched

Squares, Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio, Butterfly

Meadow, Frantic Stamper “Bloom”                      

Doo Dads:    Stampendous Diamond Dot Stickers

Wantage Ave

Friends of mine recently moved to a wonderful country home, so that major occasion calls for a card at the very least . . .

It was fun to put it together but the next time I use this house die, I’ll put the roof and the house pieces into two different embossing folders.  More texture would be a bigger advantage, I think . . .

Cardstock:   American Crafts Blue, Scraps Yellow, White Dark Brown,

  Tan, Designer Paper

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            Waffle Flower Lacy Layers 2, Cottage Cutz House, 

 DieVersions font “Hint of Lime”              

Love

This seemed the right time to use a floral edger die I hadn’t used before . . .

The inside message was put a little to the left so that it wouldn’t show around the cutout. Happily, the card stands up nicely even though only half of the bottom edge is available.  I think the cutout rose is a lovely one and I’ll be looking for other occasions to use it!

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red       

Stamps:       Clearly Besotted Diagonal Stripes

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Waffle Flower Lacy Layers 2, TTina Fans 

Flower Background            

Doo Dads:    Studio G Pearls      

Loving Memories

While I love putting lots of embellishments on my cards, I think Sympathy cards are best when the layouts are on the more subdued side . . .

 Green is a lovely serene color, so I like using it for condolence cards. 

Carole was a lovely soul and will be missed for years to come.  Rest in peace, dear friend . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Pear      

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “Praying for friends…”

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Encore Honeydew, Pilot marker Gold

Emb Pwdr:  B’Muse Ebony

Dies:            EK Success Corner Adorner Interlaced

Emb Fldr:    Crafts Too Leafy Tree       

A Smile

I enjoyed using a leafy new layering stencil set on this one . . .

 

The set came with a matching embossing folder which really makes the design come alive.  And of course, I had more fun with sequins and Super Glue . . . and with every confidence in the world that they will survive the Post Office mangling machines!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bling Puppy Love, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, 

Vellum         

Stamps:       Seaside Stampin’ “Sending You a Smile!

Inks:             Adirondack Bottle, Eggplant, Wink of Stella Clear, Silver

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Studio Calico Nested Rectangles, Spellbinders 

                     Flutters                    

Stencil:        AlteNew Leafy Splendor

Emb Fldr:    AlteNew Leafy Splendor

Doo Dads:    Sequins

Enjoy

How I love it when I can put scraps and leftovers from past projects to work . . .

Conveniently, the red stitched frame had been previously die cut and the striped papers are leftover bits from my Christmas cards.  None of the scraps were big enough to fill the long panel on the left with one piece so I pieced three scraps and covered the mayhem with a die cut.  In this wonderful hobby, there is always a way out of an awkward situation.

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Scrap Red, printed papers

Dies:            White Lotus Metal Frame, Tim Holtz Labels, 

  Frantic Stamper “Enjoy”     

Doo Dads:   Kat Scrappiness Dots Shimmering Platinum