Make A Wish

After a deep dive into my scrap box . . .

I unearthed a few textured pieces I thought went well together.  A few added inks to enrich the colors, plus some shredded edges for added dimension and a bit of bling at the top, and my card is complete!  I think I’ll keep my Scrap Box on my worktable for the time being . . .  

Cardstock:             Bazzill Tan, Scrap Box: Matted Background     

Stamps:                Unknown Texture

Inks:                      Distress Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Peacock Feathers

Dies:                     InLoveArts Make a Wish   

Doo Dads:              Prima Say it in Crystals

Happy Birthday

My first birthday card to my new nephew-in-law . . .

My niece Becky really scored when she met Mike, our newest addition to the family.  He's a great guy and just right for her.

I thought a leafy spray against a brick wall background would work for this Guy Card.  A raffia tied knot instead of a bow also seemed to fit.

Welcome to the family, Mike!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Palo Verde, Scraps White 

Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed

Dies:            Ellentina Whimsical Brick, Lil Inker Stitched Mats

Square, Memory Box Lorelai Leaf, TEMU 

Happy Birthday                  

Doo Dads:    Sparkle & Sprinkle Fantasy Gold, sequins        

Cheers!

My latest craze?  Layouts with some fun stitching on them . . .

A stitched panel topped with a Foamiran flower  adds some cheery perkiness to the layout.  Stitched cards take a little longer to make, but the needlework is so therapeutic that I think it’s well worth the time.

Cardstock:   Recollections Purple, Strathmore #184 Mixed Media, 

Bazzill Rainforest    

Dies:            Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles, Pink Fresh Nested

Squares Diagonal Stitch, AlteNew Cute Open Rose,

 Simon Says “Cheers”                 

Doo Dads:    Foamiran White      

A Starlit Strip

This sympathy card features my all-time favorite sentiment for such cards . . .

I was hoping for subtle shades of color for the background.  Unfortunately, the purple and green shades were too intense for a sympathy card.  My favorite solution to this problem is either a vellum or Dragonfly tissue layer on top of the coloring.  The vellum wasn’t sheer enough so the Dragonfly tissue was the answer.  I got just the soft results I was after.

Cardstock:   MatteSilver, Strathmore #184 Mixed Media,

 PaperArts Dragonfly tissue

Stamps:       Wordsworth Christ has made

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Encore Silver, VersaMark

Colorants:    Lindy’s Stamp Gang Pop Rock Purple,

Merry-go-round Green

Emb Pwdr:   Stampamania Silver Dollar

Dies:            Lapoo Scallop-Top Frame, Spellbinders 

Sparkling Stars         

Emb Fldr:     Sizzix Starry Night

Thinking of You

My dear friend and stamping buddy Carol has really been through the medical mill lately, and has had a variety of issues to deal with.  Hence the card . . .

After stenciling the flowers and butterflies, I felt the need for more definition around the edges.  So I used some coordinating markers around most of the edges to set them off a bit more.  I’m not sure it worked as well as I’d hoped, but I still think it’s an improvement.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Strathmore #184 Mixed Media

Stamps:       Judikins Celtic Background

Inks:             VersaColor Cyan, Lagoon Blue, Marigold, Rubber

                    Stampede Wheat, ColorBox Chalk Yellow Ochre,

Olive Pastel, Moss Green, Encore Gold

Dies:            TKOnline Celebration Set: Thinking of You                 

Stencil:        Waffle Flower Butterfly Blossom

Emb Fldr:     Spellbinders Fabric Weave

Doo Dads:    Gold mini beads     

With Sympathy

It seems the month has ended before I was ready to let it go.  Having broken an ankle last week, I am somewhat discombobulated, which likely explains my lack of perception re the fleeting days of May.  So to compensate, I’ve decided to re-print a posting from my early years of blogging.  This one comes from February 24, 2014.  Hopefully, my skills for stamping, blogging, and photographing have improved since then . . .

I thought the only annoying thing about my camera was the fact that sparkle and shine rarely show up in my photos.  Now, I’ve another annoyance to add to the list:  Color Corruption!  The phlox are actually purple – not the blue that is pictured . . .

 . . . OK, I guess this is a good time to use your imagination.  Think a rich dark purple with a few mauve accents to match the butterfly . . . whose color reproduction is accurate.  Go figure . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rope Swing, Beckett Candlelight

Stamps:       Inkadinkado Tall Phlox

Inks:            Marvy Wet Looks Markers #8, 11, 72, Copic G24

                          Willow, V15 Mallow, Distress Stain Dusty Concord,

                          Distress Old Paper

Emb Powder: Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals, Grommet tags,

                           McGill Butterfly punch

Doo Dads:      Gelly Roll Clear Star, Light Green grosgrain ribbon

 

Good Vibes

What more appropriate background on the card for my computer-savvy friend and neighbor Richard than a circuit board?

I used a favorite technique to add definition to the dry embossed background:  I inked the convex side of the embossing folder, added the cardstock, and ran it through my machine.  Normally, I repeat the inking 2-3 times in order to get an even coverage, but I inked this one only once.  The color dispersal is uneven and I really like that!  I also love the partial, grainy look the single ink application rewarded me with.  To heck with evenly applied coverage . . . this is far more interesting!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marcos Jute, Scrap Metallic Gold         

nks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Mid-size Frame, Tim Holtz 

Gears, Memory Box Alphabet Soup                  

Emb Fldr:     Tim Holtz Circuit

Doo Dads:    Marvy Marker Liquid Gold