Cheers

Currently I’m on a mission to play with as many tags as possible and also to use as many pieces from my scrap boxes in the layouts as I can.  Pure artsy gold resides in those boxes and I’d be a fool to not take advantage of this treasure trove of collected creativity . . .

 

This project began with a large tag I’d experimented on several years ago.  The results were a disaster involving three murky colors and a fling with clear embossing paste.  The solution was to cover up as much of the mayhem as possible while leaving a little of the only part worth saving:  the Celtic background script. 

 

Then I experimented with letting a bit of the original background show through some leafy cut outs.  A few added crystal raindrops and I called it done.  It’s not my finest creation but at least I can look at it without shrieking.  Hopefully, the same is true of my recipient . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Inkssential Tags Craft, Scrap Black,

Silver embossed Black      

Stamps:       Judikins Celtic Background

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Distress Weathered Wood

Colorants:    Ink Sprays Purple, Green, Blue

Dies:            Tim Holtz Cut Out Leaves, Lychee Flower Stitched

Circles, TKOnline Celebration Set: Cheers                  

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Clear Droplets         

Bloom

I think I’m at the beginning of a tag jag.  It’s so easy to fall in love with tags . . . fun to find out that such a small space can support an amazing amount of creativity.  Their versatility is every bit as great as that of conventionally-sized cards.  In my mind, tags are the cardstock equivalent of tiny powder rooms where all of the normal decorating rules of size and proportion can be broken to greatly charming effect . . . 

All that having been said, this tag did not turn out at all like I imagined it would.  Still, I like the results anyway.  I even learned a new work-around to use when things go sideways, so that’s always a great step ahead.  More tags to come, so get ready . . .

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Foamiran, Scraps Black, White    

Stamps:       Alias Smith & Rowe Flowers/Swirls Background, Waffle

Flower Script Texture, Waffle Flower Script Texture, 

Zettiology Journey

Inks:             Concord & 9th White, Superior India Ink Black

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            DieNamics Traditional Tags Stax, Spellbinders Floral

Berry Accents, TEMU Braided Frame Strips, Frantic Stamper “Bloom”         

Doo Dads:    Checked ribbon, Black plastic buttons    

Hugs

Not really sure if this layout works, but I had fun with it anyway . . . 

This one goes to my newly-15 year old friend Justin who is happy when anyone makes a little fuss over his birthday . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Light Denim, Strathmore Bright White, 

Marcos Jute         

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Bark

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky,

Weathered Wood

Colorants:    Inktense Pencils Dark Aquamarine, Peacock Blue

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, DieNamics 

Traditional Tags Stax, Impression Obsession Large

Fence, Bird, TEMU Sentimental Shadow Words: Hugs         

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Art Is . . .

Doo Dads:    Suze Weinberg Whipped Paper, American Crafts

Jute Dark Blue     

The Journey

This is the second tag-themed card I’ve retrieved from my pre-made card stash . . .

As before, I made this one at a stamping EXPO Make and Take, so I’ve had to guess at some of the materials list as I don’t own the stamps.  But I love this composition and am grateful to the many vendors at these shows for offering such inspirational opportunities via their Make and Takes.

Cardstock:         Bazzill Horizon, Manila Tag

Stamps:                 All by Stampers Anonymous

Inks:                       Possibly Distress Black Soot, Speckled Egg, Vintage Photo

Doo Dads:              Tim Holtz Arrows and Gear Wheel, Grosgrain ribbon

Your Special Day

A busy Spring and various unplanned challenges have put me behind with my blog as well as with my card preparations for submission to our annual NJ Fair.  So with Time breathing down my neck, I’ve dipped into my previously made card stash to come up with this posting and the next one . . . 

Both cards were made at EXPO Make and Takes, so my Materials List is rather short as I don’t own these stamps and don’t remember their names.  Manila tags are the focal points for each of these cards and this has rekindled my long time love affair with tags and all of their infinite creative possibilities.  I expect to have me some fun in using them for more cards in the near future.

Cardstock:         Neenah Desert Storm, Scraps Black, Manila Tag

Stamps:                 Unknown

Inks:                       Superior India Ink Black

Doo Dads:              Black grosgrain ribbon, Crystal   

Hudson

The loss of a beloved pet who has been a member of the family for over eighteen years is especially hard . . .

As the beloved pet of my priest and his wife, Hudson led a blessed life indeed.  He is now home with his Creator . . . happy and healthy.  Hope I get to meet him when it’s my turn to go Home one day . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Scraps: Brown, Black, Red

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Bark, Our Daily Bread Never

Forgotten, Simon Says Pawprints On Our Hearts, 

Unknown Tiny Pawprints

Inks:             Hero Soft Brown, Superior India Ink Black, Gina K 

Charcoal Brown

Colorants:    Tombow Red, Orange, Purple, Zig Greek Isle, Memento 

Cantaloupe

Dies:            Gina K Master Layouts 20, Scastoe Door Window Set

(Flower Box), CoolifWang Door Window Set, Impression

Obsession Cat Set, Memory Box Alphabet Soup, 

DieVersions A Hint of Lime  

God Bless America!

 My Postage Collage collection gets another workout . . .

 

Hard to find a more eye-catching color combination than red, white, and blue . . .

To all of my American readers, I wish for you and your families to have

a GLORIOUS Fourth!

 

Cardstock:   Scrap: Navy Blue, Bazzill Classic Red, Strathmore 

#100 Bristol Smooth        

Stamps:       Waffle Flower Postage Collage “Postoids”, Our Daily

Bread God Bless America

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, VersaFine Majestic Blue, 

Brilliance Rocket Red, VersaMark

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White, All Night Media Silver

Dies:             DieNamics Sentiment Strips, Waffle Flower Postage

Collage, Postage Collage Blocks            

Stencil:         Waffle Flower Postage Collage: 4^th of July

Congratulations

My grandson Keaton graduates High School this month – can’t believe how fast he got to this milestone in his life . . .

 

The message inside reads: “Greet the future with anticipation, dream big and work hard.  Remember your roots, manners, and the way home.”  Surely these are words to live by for all of us . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cheddar, Scraps Patterned Paper         

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Congratulations, PSX Diploma, 

Art Impressions Mortarboard

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Memento Desert Sand

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame                 

Doo Dads:    Tassel

Starlit Strip

I think it would be hard to find a better sentiment than this one for a Sympathy card . . .

 

Tina was a gem – both as a manager in our store and as a very dear friend of more than two decades.  She will long be missed . . . but as the sentiment implies, our reunion will be wonderful.  

 

Cardstock:   Handmade Paper with plant inclusions, Scrap Sage

Green

Stamps:       Wordsworth “Christ has made…”

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, TEMU Flowers

Doo Dads:    TEMU Raindrops       

Play

Another deep dive into my Scrap Stash produced this pretty background . . .

 

For some odd reason, anything white on my layouts is now photographing pink.  Not at all the look I was after.

The background was first inked and then covered with a thin coat of Micro Glaze.  This kept the wet paste from wicking up the colored inks when I stenciled on the words.  After the paste was dry, the drops were spattered on and heat embossed with white powder.  

The butterfly has been topped with a layer of vellum to add a light and misty look, which comes across much better in real life . . .                                                                                                                                                   

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bazzill Blue, The Paper Cut Eames White, Vellum         

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Cracked Pistachio, ColorBox 

Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            TEMU Three Butterflies, Stitched Rectangle               

Stencil:        Stampers Anonymous Artful Words, A Colorful Life 

Dream Words: “Play”

Doo Dads:    Golden Light Molding Paste, Couture Creations

                     Glitter Silver                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Cheers

 

A romp through my Scrap Stash produced this frothy background . . .

I thought this wispy dandelion die cut made the perfect match to the background in both feeling and style.  The colors were a bit stronger than I wanted for this card so I covered the background panel with a sheet of vellum.  This tempered the colors and gave me the slightly misty look I was after.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ivy, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, Vellum   

Inks:               Distress Mowed Lawn, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed,

  ColorBox Cream White

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Weathered White

Dies:            TEMU Dandelion Pattern, Simon Says “Cheers!”,

Punch Bunch Flower Center                 

Moments

I have about fifteen clear plastic clamshell boxes I’ve labeled and am using to store stamping castoffs, die cuts of all kinds, stamped rejects, dry embossed panels, stamped images, and all manner of leftovers from previous projects I’ve done over the last twenty five years.  When the Muse is being snarky, the contents of these boxes never fail to jumpstart my creativity . . .

 

Except for the small tree, everything on this card came from those boxes.  They are quite full, so my new plan is to dive into this stash for at least every other card I make and see if I can lighten them up.  Using those containers is a real timesaver and a great help in composition:  having various elements already complete and right in front of me truly helps in putting together a layout.

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Scrap Box Background  

Inks:             Distress Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Antique Linen,

Walnut Stain, ColorBox Frost White

Dies:            Sizzix Floral Arch & Words Set: “Moments”, Memory

Box Fremont Pin Outline (Large & Small), Sweet ‘n

Sassy Clouds & Raindrops set                   

Stencil:        Tim Holtz Stone

Emb Fldr:     Spellbinders Blistered

Doo Dads:    American Traditional 3-D Molding Paste 

Happy Father's Day

Not too sure about how this one turned out . . .

Not enough contrast, I think.  Still and all, it was fun to do and I hope every father on the planet enjoys his special day . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, Unknown Rich Cocoa,

                     Scrap Blue, Ranger Silver Sparkle         

Stamps:       Carabelle Wood Effect Background

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Dies:             InLoveArts Decorated “Fathers” Word Set, Simon Says 

Sentiment Label, On Air-store Fall Thankful Words Set:

“Happy”, TK Online Celebration Set “Birthday” (used only

the “day” part)                      

Doo Dads:    MME Wood Dots    

Forever

Waffle Flower has expanded their popular Postage Collage collection by designing several delightful variations on the theme.  The sets now range from an adorable, truly Mini size all the way to what I’ve used for today’s post:  Oversized!

 This card is going to my granddaughter for her birthday.  The sunflower was her grandfather’s (my husband) favorite flower, so I wanted to use one for the main image.  I never pass up the chance to continue the happy memory threads that run through all families.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cutie, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth  

Stamps:       Local King Sunflower, Waffle Flower Oversized Postage Set Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Distress Oxide Spiced

Marmalade, Mustard Seed

Waterclrs:    Zig Clean Color Deep Brown, Olive Green, Yellow,

Orange

Dies:            Local King Sunflower, Waffle Flower Oversized Postage          

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Organic Matter Mask

Cheers

My computer guru and his wife have long since become dear friends who are on my A-list for cards.  Today is his birthday and as he is a fan of the steampunk genre, I like to use images from my small stash of this style for his cards.  Last year, it was a hot air balloon – this year a very fanciful car.  I think I need to expand the collection . . .

 

The die is all one piece and includes that marvelous border.  I added some stamped text interest for the background, and die cut the car image twice so I could cut out the wheels and stack them for added dimension.  A stamped flourish in front serves as steam.  Finally I dipped into my collection of clock parts for some gear wheels to super glue onto the car wheels.

 

I think Allan is gonna enjoy this one . . .

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Scrap Beige

Stamps:        Postmodern Design  Opus Postumum, 100 Proof

Press Flourish

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Distress Brushed Corduroy,

Vintage Photo, Encore Silver

Dies:             InLoveArts Vintage Steam Car, TK Online “Cheers”              

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Silver watch gears