A New Card, Die Set Storage Idea, & Google's New "I'm Not A Robot"

IO QUILT VASE, CAC DOTTED ARGYLE, & GREETINGS DIE SET

I need to schedule time to do what I love best since Spring is here.  For this card I chose another Tara Caldwell image.  She has only been with IO a short time.  I have fallen in love with her designs.  Here is how I used her Quilt Vase design:

DETAILS:

1. Stamped the image with Timber Brown ink 1 time, and then the flowers 3 times on white cardstock and painted with Twinkling H2Os.  Cut around the main image and embossed from the back with a stylus.
2. Used largest Spellbinders Labels 40 die twice with white cardstock to get the front and back side of the card, mounted on red cardstock.  (Mounted using ATG tape in the middle of the die cut and then used needle nose bottle with Glossy Accents (GA) to tack down the lace area in places.
3. Stamped Argyle background with Blazing Red.  Used the center of the die as a template to get the portion I wanted for a tablecloth look, traced with a pencil, and cut out.
4. Mounted tablecloth with 1/4" ATG tape, mounted the vase with ATG along the bottom of the vase and 3D pop-dots from middle to top.
5. Cut out flowers and leaves from second image, embossed from the back and used GA lines on matched flower/leaf, let dry just a little and mounted flower or leaf with a tad of glue dot at one end.  Highlighted areas with Vivas, Wink of Stellas, and Stickles.  Mounted gold sequins and heart stick pin with gold bow.
6. Die cut the "Hello" using the red and gold mirror cardstock.
7. Trimmed the other 2 flower images and mounted as shown with tape and GA.
8. Below is the back of the card with one of the flower images at the bottom.
9. The third image was mounted on the envelope as shown above.  (The cardstock has been peeled to make the image thinner in case I mail it.  If mailed I will also place a clear piece of packing tape over the corner area with at least .25" overlap to the back side.  That way it slides right through the mail postage reader.)

DIE SET STORAGE SUGGESTION

I store my die sets in plastic ziploc bags.  I hate all the dies collecting on the bottom as it's to sort them to find the one I want.  It's hard enough reading them 'backwards'.  ;-) Another bad habit I have is saving anything that looks like I can use it for my cards, etc.  I save the magnetic strips that have come on the telephone directories, etc.  Below is what I did:

1. Taped two of the magnetic squares together using duct tape.
2. It was too big for the back of the IO cover, so I added ATG to the back of the magnetic strip(s) and mounted from the top and center on the IO cover back.
3. Trimmed the bottom of the magnetic strip to match up with the IO cover bottom.Mounted the dies.  Love it!!!

 GOOGLE UPDATED
"PROVE YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT"

Many of you probably already know about this, because that's how I found out.  Some of us chose to use the 'Prove You're Not A Robot" feature and many of us hated it as commenters because of the time taken to figure out what the image said, like the one below which is easy compared to most.

OUT WITH THE OLD

One of the first things I noticed when blog hopping again was the NEW "I'm not a robot", shown below. Most of the time I didn't have to read a caption anymore (unless the Show Word Verification is checked in your Settings-Posts and Comments area).  Even then it was just three or four letters that were easy to read.  ***Below is the best part.

IN WITH THE NEW

With the NEW as Blog Moderator:

1. "I'm not a robot" is automatic.
2. They have also given us a choice of continuing to use the Word Verification or not.  It too has been improved with simple to read short letters.  I have mine turned off because I tested having it on or off and I still didn't get those pesky ads anymore, even on old posts. (If any of you have questions, just email me).

Well that's it for this post and I can guarantee you the next one will be shorter!!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  Thanks for all of your welcome backs too!!!  Big hugs.

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

A Big Hello

IMPRESSION OBSESSION THOUGHTFUL BOUQUET & CAC FRENCH TEXT

To all of you.  I especially want to also say thank you to my friends who emailed me to ask what I had been doing.  I am sorry I didn't post about why I had not been posting.  I had some difficult family matters and had to take care of business.  :-)

For today's card I chose a new Impression Obsession stamp.  Below is how I created the card:

IMAGES:

1. Stamped Thoughtful Bouquet with Espresso Truffle on natural cardstock once and the flowers on top on white cardstock twice.  Painted flower images with Twinkling H2O's ( they have shimmer.  Trimmed around main image and flowers.  Embossed main image and one flower image from back with stylus on mat.
2. Stamped CAC French Text with Espresso Truffle on natural cardstock twice.  Stamped the corner of a natural envelope with the text too.
3. Embellished the flowers with the Yellow and Purple pens from my Wink of Stella set.

DIE CUTS:

1.  Did 2 die cuts from Spellbinders new Labels 39 die set.  I had to do the die cut and then trace around the edges of the die before removing it.  Then I trimmed the penciled edge as shown above and just below.

BACK OF CARD

ASSEMBLY:

1. Trimmed 2 pieces of French Text to 4.0"X5.25" and mounted on 4.25"X5.5" white cardstock for front and back.  (I have found I really like the cards without the fold and it saves on cardstock.)  Used watercolor around the edges for a shadow or aged look.  Mounted the ribbon through the centers of the die cuts as I mounted them as shown.  Used Glossy Accents in my needle-nosed bottle for the die cut edges.  Taped my centers with ATG tape. (BTW you don't need the gun to use the tape.  Let me know if you want me to explain how).  Added bows and white pearl hearts to front and back.
2. Tore the piece of French Text done on the envelope diagonally and painted on the edge as shown.  Added to envelope corner.
3. Mounted the layered Bouquet image on the front and laid the bouquet image on the back.
4. Cardstock has layers and I took the bottom layer off my last bouquet image before mounting it to the envelope.  If I send it in the mail I will cover the corner with clear package tape so it will glide through the postal thingy.

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

Something Old And Something New Two

I'm back with the kind of new thing again!  I created the background using a technique from my Online Watercolor Class.  I had the images from an earlier card and just changed them around a little.  Here is how this card was created:

CARDFRONT:

1. Stamped Rose Pitcher on white cardstock with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, painted with Twinkling H2O's.  The roses and the bud with stem were both stamped 3 more times and painted with twinks.  All were fussy cut, embossed from the back and mounted on the cardfront with 3D pop-dots and w/o on other areas.  The lace tablecloth open areas were cut out with an X-Acto Knife and a healing mat.
2. The background area was created with CAC Craquelure and Twinkling H2O's using a technique I learned in the Online Watercolor Class series.

 Building Card:

1. Front -  White Laid cardstock was used for the base.
2. The Craquelure BG was mounted on that.
3. The image was mounted on die cuts from Spellbinders Lacey Squares using white and natural cardstock.  It was then mounted on the Craquelure.
4. Inside - Die Cut edges were mounted with strips of the Craquelure BG.
5. A small die cut was used for the Rose and a rose with stem was mounted to the right.
6. Envy - Two of the Lacey Square edges were mounted back to back and a rose with stem added. The lacey edges were peeled to thin before mounting and so was the rose with stem.  I start the separation by flipping the edge back and forth with my X-acto knife, see it starting a little and open it up enough to gently a little at a time holding one side flat or with the free hand.
7. The bow is May Arts and the heart pen is Maya Roads with a Czech bead added by applying Glossy Accents to the stem.

Off to clean some rain gutters.  LOLOL  No rest for the wicked....or is it the stamping.  ;-)  Thanks for stopping by to  look and share.

 Shirley
SUPPLIES:

Mackintosh Beauty

MACKINTOSH BEAUTY

I fell in love with the Mackintosh stamps sold by Chocolate Baroque the minute I saw them at Paper Creations by Shirley and Miranda's 'Mir'acle Art In Inspiration. I found you can order them in the US HERE. She didn't have all I wanted, so I shopped at Chocolate Baroque in the UK. The shipping was quick and here I am with my first card!  I chose to start with Mackintosh Beauty.

IMAGES:

1. Stamped lady on white cardstock and 2 of the roses on stems with Golden Glitz twice (once on white cardstock and once on a white leftover envelope for the new envelope!  ;-)  Embossed main image on back with stylus Painted with twinks and highlighted areas with Spica Atyou Pink pen, Brown Fine Sharpie pen and Golden Rod glitter glue.  The roses on stems were painted with twinks and cut out and highlighted too.

CARD FRONT BACKGROUND:

1. Stamped CAC Dotted Argyle with Memento Bamboo Leaves on white cardstock.
2. Used largest Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles for white cardstock die cut and stencil for Dotted Argyle as shown.  I used the Palette knife on the right, shown below, to release the die by placing it under the inside rim and gently moving it toward the outside of the die.  It works like a charm. Mounted to a piece of Green cardstock.

STENCILED AREAS:

1. I trimmed the Fancy Frames template as shown with the black lines along the corner areas.  It made it easier for me to tape to the corners of my cardstock.  I chose to stencil the pink area on shown on the stencil.
2. Taped it to one corner of the stenciled Dotted Argyle.
3. Used my Palette Knife to put a bit of Viva Pearl Modeling Cream in an empty H2O jar. Matched Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink with my Twinkling H2O color Cherry Sorbet. Put 3 drops in the cream and stirred until mixed.
4. Used removable tape for stencil on each corner.  Used the pointed palette knife on left below to detail stencil where shown above.

LEFT - MODELING CREAM/RIGHT - LOOSEN DIE CUT

INSIDE CARD

INSIDE CARD AND ENVY:

1. LEFT SIDE:  Die cut on the left is same as front but Dotted Swiss cardstock, followed by next die cut of Dotted Argyle, followed by next die cut in white cardstock.  Used the left The roses on stems on cardstock was mounted as shown.  Stenciled flourish again on corner of die cut. Used Golden Rod glitter to embellish.
2. RIGHT SIDE:  Stenciled 4 corners on right-hand side.  Added left overs from largest die cut for edges and trimmed as shown.  Embellished with glitter glue.
3. ENVELOPE:  Added a piece of left-over Dotted Argyle to corner of envy, added roses on stems, and embellished with glitter glue.

That's all for today.  Back soon and thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

A New Artist At IO

Swirl Vase

When I saw Impression Obsession's new Spring images and dies, and I fell in love with Tara Caldwell's images!!  I also said to myself, "That flower pitcher will go perfectly with the CAC Swirls stamp".  Above is one of many I bought!!  Below is what I did:

Card Front Base:

1. I stamped CAC Swirls on white cardstock with Delicata Golden Glitz.  Heated with heat gun to set.
2. Put largest and second largest die (taped in place inside largest) from Spellbinders Marvelous Squares through the machine with embossing sandwich. Trimmed around the outside as shown. Removed the slots where you see the pink ribbon with X-acto knife.  Threaded ribbon through as shown.
3. Using larges die as a template, traced around it on the Swirl BG with 3/8" disc and trimmed as shown.
4. Cut 5.25"X5.25" white cardstock square and rounded corners with Rounder punch.
5. Mounted layers as shown.
6. Cut white cardstock 5.25"X10.5" and folded in middle.  Mounted cardfront and trimmed around the rounded corners.

Image:

1.  Stamped Swirl vase once with Delicata Golden Glitz for the vase and twice with Memento Cocoa Brown for the flowers.  
2. Trimmed around vase, embossed with stylus from the back.
3. Painted flowers with Twinkling H2O's, embossed with stylus from back, and mounted over vase.  Applied 3D pop-dots on the upper portion.  Mounted to cardfront as shown.
4. Painted 6 of the flowers, embossed from the back, and mounted with 3D pop-dots.
5. Added some highlights with stickles and Spica Glitter pens to the flowers and Glossy Accents to the vase.
6. Made a bow with my Craft-Dee Bowz.  I couldn't believe how easy it was to use!! I usually have to use a crochet hook to get the ribbon through on the Bow-Easy, but this was just....Well see it HERE.
7. Added a Maya Road stick pin with an added 6mm cream heart bead.

I did the inside too, but haven't decided what I will do for a verse.  Will leave it to see to whom I give it!!!  See you back here soon with another card.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Twisted Peppermint Moon

I was inspired to use this stamp by Ellen Taylor, who used it in her post HERE.  The colors on my cardfront match the bottom of the card in real life, but somehow when I took the picture it looks like different colors were used on the bottom.  Go figure!

I really like twisted easels and so do my friends.  I used to think they limited my ability to write extra if I wanted, so I started using the back side of the card for my note.  Some said they liked that so they could stand it up for others to see without sharing the personal writing.

CARD FRONT AND IMAGES:

1. Stamped Peppermint Moon with Espresso Truffle on white cardstock twice, painted with Twinkling H2O's, cut out, embossed with stylus from the back, and mounted on Lacey Circles largest die cut from white cardstock.  Cut out extra sash and tree, painted with H2O's, embossed from the back with stylus, and mounted with 3D pop-dots on main image.
2. Stamped two more trees from the main image, painted and trimmed (one for the easel bottom and one for the envelope).
3. Created card front and bottom bases using the outised of  the Curved Matting Basics largest die as a stencil on white cardstock. Used as a die to get 2 red die cuts.  Stamped CAC Thick Stripes on white 8.5"X11" cardstock with SU Real Red twice along the length. 
4. The bottom was built just like the top, only Lacey Ovals was used for the sentiment.  The sentiment from Round Ornaments was stamped with Real Red too.  The extra tree was mounted on the smallest Lacey Circles die cut.
5. 2mm round and 5mm heart pearls, Glossy Accents for the stars, Glitter, a bow, and heart pen were added to embellish.
6. *I've had the glue bottles you see in Supplies for nearly 6 years.  I use them for Glossy Accents and other adhesives.  They're great for small places.  **At first I thought the QuikStik would be awkward, but after using it I love it!! Thanks to you, Kitty Caracciolo. It doesn't grip it as hard as the AIG Sticky Sticks and means the Glossy Accents doesn't have to have started drying for the item to release.  Also, that green stuff you see on the tip lasts forever.

TWISTED EASEL BASE:

1. I did the easel base the same as my tutorial HERE.  As an extra step on this card I trimmed around the rounded corners on the front so they lined up after mounting the cardfront.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share everyone!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Birds And Twigs And Fun Too!

This was a quick and fun card.

IMAGES:

1. Birds and Twigs was stamped with Brilliance Galaxy Gold on white cardstock, heated to set the ink, painted with Twinkling H2O's, and red rhinestone stickers applied as shown.  Glossy Accents was used under the stickers for extra traction.  Trimmed around it and set aside.
2. Background is CAC Small Quatrefoil stamped with VersaMark, embossed with Stamp 'n Bond Adhesive powder, Deco Art Glamour Dust applied, and reheated so it would stick.
3. The sentiment, Blessed Christmas, is stamped with Brilliance Rocket Red ink on white cardstock (big enough to be cut with the second largest die from Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight, and heated to dry.

ASSEMBLY Card Base:

1. Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight largest die cut was used for the base and the center as a stencil over the CAC Small Quatrefoil, so it would be attached to the center.
2.  Birds and Twigs image was mounted with 3D pop dots in the center.
3. Red Velvet ribbon bow was mounted with Glue Dots.
4. Red rhinestone sticker heart was done with Glossy Accents as base.
5. The stick pin is from a Making Memories Deco set.   It may be discontinued.  Couldn't find it online anywhere.  :-(

ASSEMBLY Inside:

1. Measured the inside of the die cut to the corners of the flowers (4.75"X3.5").  Cut white cardstock 9.5"X3.5" and scored in the middle.
2. Used the die cut cardfront to trace the edges and trimmed to the inside.  Did the same for two pieces of Small Quatrefoil mounted to the top and bottom as shown.
3. Die cut the sentiment with the second largest die from the Spellbinders set.
4. Used the center as a stencil to trace around the sentiment and mounted, traced around it with a red fine end marker, applied a glue pen on top of that and added glitter to it.
5. Placed 3 dots with the red fine point marker and added Glossy Accents to them.
6. When dry, mounted as shown.

A really fun card.  Hope to get back sooner with another one!!  Don't forget to check out the IO blog, HERE, for challenges, blog hops and a chance to win $25 gift certificates for the IO online store.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner!!   Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  I have missed sharing with all of you and can't wait to start hopping by.  :-)

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Winter Mitten

When I saw Snowman Mitten, I immediately thought that stamp needs the 'Kiss' technique with CAC Knit!  That thought led to below:
Cardfront Background:

1. Stamped CAC Ornate Snowflakes on white cardstock with Memento Summer Sky, trimmed to 4"X5.25" and mounted to white cardstock.

 Kissing Technique:

1. Inked CAC Knit with Summer Sky ink, placed Snow Mitten on inked CAC and then stamped on white cardstock twice.  Trimmed around first mitten.  Cut out snowman and buttons on second mitten.
2. Mounted mitten on white cardstock with 3D pop-dots, traced around with Magic Matter 1/8" and cut out.  Mounted buttons with 3D pop-dots.

 Sentiment Snowflake:

1. What a pleasant surprise when I die cut Lg. Snowflake.  I honestly had no idea this die was actually 4 separate snowflakes if you want.   I saw it embossed by Jenny Gropp HERE, so I thought I would be getting a really detailed one snowflake and instead I got 4 detailed and lovely snowflakes.  You see 2 above and I used the other two for the sentiment on the card as shown.
2. I stamped the sentiment Happy Holidays on a leftover circle from Circle Shaker Frame Die Set.

Assembly:

1. Mounted the snowflake on the right first with Glossy Accents, mounted sentiment in the center, then mounted the center small snowflake.  Added glitter with a Sakura glue pen to snowflakes and parts of mitten.
2. Mounted the circle with sentiment.
3. Mounted mitten.
4. Added a bow and heart embellishments.

A really fun card and can't wait to use the leftover snowflakes.  I see a frame with the large one!!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Cut-Out Sparkle

A quick card with a bit of whimsy using the Cutout Christmas Tree Die.  I tried a new way of taking the photo to see if I could pick up more sparkle and I think it worked.  I laid the cardfront down flat and took the photo from above, just as I do supplies, etc.  The pearls don't show as white as they truly are though.

CARDFRONT BASE:

1. Cut cardfront dark green background of 5.25"X5.25", and white dotted swiss at 5"X5" and mounted.
2. Stamped CAC Mesh Circles with VersaMark on white cardstock, applied stamp and bond powder, heated to a gloss, applied glitter, and heat embossed to seal; trimmed to 5"X5".
3. Added ribbon to green CS
4. Die cut Mesh Circles BG with Spellbinders Scalloped Labels One die and mounted frame to cardfront with 3D pop dots..  Saved die cut for inside.

CHRISTMAS TREE CUT-OUT:

1. Cut clear acetate 3"X4".
2. Die cut Christmas Tree Cutout and mounted on acetate, trimmed around with scissors.
3. Added yellow and clear sparkle glitter glue to light and ornament areas.  Next time I would like to try Glossy Accents and glitter for better dimension.
4. Added Viva Ice White Pearl to the trim area.
5. Added the flourish to the base and mounted in open area with 3D pop darts.
6. Added ribbon as shown.

INSIDE LEFT:

1. Mounted dark green cardstock on die cut left from the cardfront area.
2. Stamped Peace Hope Joy and Love with Olive Grove on white cardstock die cut and
3. Mounted inside left at a slant.  Attached a piece of the dark green cardstock.
4. Added Glossy Accents, white pearl heart, and glitter to bottom of sentiment.

Hope you enjoyed my project.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Out Of The Box Flies Away

Another masculine card for a student achiever.   When I saw the Geese Flying and then the new Banners & Tails die set, I thought a Goose would be a great way to send a 'flying message'.

IMAGES:

1. Stamped CAC Clouds on white cardstock with Memento Summer Skies.  Trimmed it to 4.75X4.75".  Mounted to blue 5.25X5.25" cardstock (This size card fits a 5.5" square envelope and allows room for bows, 3D pop dot, etc.).
2. Stamped CAC Wood Grain on white cardstock with Memento Nautical Blue.  Trimmed it to 4.75X1.5" and included the most open wood grain (to resemble open water blowing in the wind), then mounted bottom of sky. Watercolored a little.
3. Stamped Flying Geese twice on white cardstock with Memento Toffee Crunch and then:
4. Painted one of the suns yellow and trimmed around it to resemble a circle.
5. Painted the geese in the other image and trimmed around.  Used the geese as an overlay and matched up with the wings in the trimmed sun.  Mounted to sky.

DIES AND SENTIMENT:

1. Die cut banner from Banners And Tails, mounted the sentiment from Warm Fuzzies Sentiments (used the die cut to line up the sentiment on the acrylic mount), stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, remnant gold cord to mount sentiment and attached under goose.
2. Die cut the Cattails once on green cardstock and just the heads on white cardstock, mounted and painted the white cattail heads.
3. Die cut the Grass twice out of the green cardstock.
4. Mounted Grass first and then the Cattails.

Another fun card.  Hope your week is going well and thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

A Quick Card

I just finished this card for my grandson's birthday.  It's later in December.  Here in NC our first snow can happen then, if we are lucky, and Winter Scene reminded me of that.  It was so easy as you can see below!!

 STEPS:

1. Stamped Winter Scene on Ice Gold Cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa.
2. Painted with watercolors and Niji waterbrush.
3. Added some glitz for snow with glue pen and glitter.
4. Trimmed to 5.25"X5.25" and mounted to the blue cardstock.
5. Die cut cardstock for the Anytime Sentiments clear set words.
6. Stamped the words curving them to fit the die cut with Memento Rich Cocoa.
7. Mounted on blue cardstock and used Magic Matter to trace around it.
8. Used two die cut snowflakes from Sm. Snowflake set for ends.  Glued and then added glitter with glue pen.

A quick fun card.  I thought maybe I might not like the brown ink because of the creek, but I really like the look for all of it.  A fading Fall into Winter Scene!!

Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  See you then!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Angelic Tree and Snowman

For my card today I chose Alesa Baker's Angelic Tree, Cover-A-Card Dots, and Fir Tree die set.  I think because there is so much glitter, I had a very difficult time getting a good picture.  I created it by:

1. Stamping the image on white cardstock with Memento London Fog, painted with Memento Cottage Ivy marker, Spica At You Lipstick pen, and Twinkling H2O Warm Pecan.  Used Sakura glue pen for the edges of the snow angels and DecoArt glitter, added bow to tree.  Mounted with 3D pop-dots after the cardfront background was done.
2. I cheated on the CAC Dots background.  It is a leftover from another project.  It was stamped on white cardstock using VersaMark, Stick and Bond powder applied, heated until glossy, Deco Art Glitter applied, heated to seal.  Die cut and layered as shown.  Leftovers were torn for snow around trees.
3. Used Spellbinders Labels 8 for the die cuts and as stencils for the white and blue cardstock as shown.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!
 Shirley 
SUPPLIES:

Ghost Espresso - They're To Die For

For my card today I chose Leigh Hannan's Ghost Espresso and the sentiment is Kalani Allred's Poisonous Potions (also available in clear set Have Broom Will Travel).  The background is Cover-A-Card Mesh Circles.  I created it by:

1. Stamping the espresso twice on white cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa twice, painted the first one with Twinkling H2O's.
2. Cut out the front of the matching plate, the label in the middle and the ghost "steam", painted, and mounted with 3D pop-dots.  Added Stickles Cinnamon as shown.  If you click on the photo you will see the label on the cup says, "Its Scary Good".  :-)
3. Stamped sentiment on white cardstock inked with Rich Cocoa marker.  Cut out using die from Curved Matting Basics A, inked some of the tiny circles of the Mesh Circles stamp with Memento Tangelo and stamped the corners of the die cut sentiment.  Mounted on brown cardstock and used Stickles Cinnamon for the 3 dots.
4. Stamped white cardstock with CAC Mesh Circles and Memento Tangelo ink.  Used Curved Matting Basics largest die with it and for the matted brown and orange borders.
5. Added some ribbon and corsage pin with a coffee bean bead from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share.
 

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Triple Thanks

This card happened by accident.  I had something else planned, but I have a neighbor boy who comes over and helps me with my flowers and weeds.  He sees me out there and just starts doing what I do.  He saw my cards the other day and asked if I would make him one.  This is to thank him for his help.  His favorite colors are purple and yellow.  Here is how I put it together:

IMAGES:

1. Stamped Sketchy Flowers with Memento Pistachio ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock.  Used Spellbinders Majestic Elements as die for the Bazzill base and the Sketchy Flowers background.
2. Created die cuts from Basket and Grass dies using Bazzill Dotted Swiss colors.  The basket has a slit ready to take the Grass, (stems for the flowers).
3. Created 3 sets of Spiral Daisy, Layered Floral flowers and leaves.
4. Did 2 die cut sets of the Heart Stems.
5. Die cut a Sign Post for the sentiment and stamped it with "Heartfelt Thanks" from Thank You clear set.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Mounted the Sketchy Flowers background to the Bazzill carstock.
2. Inserted the stems (Grass) into the basket and mounted with 3D pop-dots.
3. Rolled the Spiral Daisies.  Kittie has a great tutorial on how to roll all of the IO spiral flowers.  See it HERE.  The only difference is I use Glossy Accents as glue.  I place it on the inside part as I roll and then on the bottom before I put a glue dot between the bottom and the round dot on the bottom.
4. Mounted the Layered Floral flowers and leaves with glue dots and 3D pop-dots.
5. Mounted white hearts on green heart stems and inserted in basket.
6. Used Stickles glitter glues for the centers of the flowers and Viva Decor Yellow Glitter for the hearts
7. Mounted sentiment and bow.  The grass on the basket is leftovers from Grass Border.

Hope your weekend was great and your week better.   Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Frilly Forget-Me-Not

This was done for a special friend that likes pink and hearts!

STEPS:

1. Stamped CAC Dotty Circles on Neenah Natural cardstock with Memento Angel Pink.  Used Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles as a stencil to get the background shown above.
2. Stamped Frilly Forget-Me-Nots (can also be purchased as part clear set Spring Medley) with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, embossed to dry, painted with Twinkling H2O's, glued and applied Baby Pink Flower Soft, applied Stickles glitter glue to the centers.  Trimmed around, applied 3D pop dots and set aside.  (It was so much easier cutting around the flowers with the flower soft for body)
3. The die cut is from Circle Shaker Die Set.  Went around it with Angel Pink brush marker and mounted on a piece of the background.  Stamped the sentiment from Hydrangea clear set with Memento Bamboo Leaves and applied 3d pop dots to the back.
4. Mounted ribbon to back and taped to one end.  Punched slots into sentiment die cut, threaded ribbon though slots, taped to other end, and mounted bouquet.
5. Applied ribbon bow and stick pin.  Applied a little glitter glue to 3 of the centers of Dotty Circles.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

I Love Angels

I am using some of the new stamps by Impression Obsession and what fun.  This little lady is Angelica.  She can also be purchased as a Clear Stamp Set.  Just a note that I pretty much emboss all of my images from the backside with a stylus on an embossing mat.  The minute I saw her I thought "Perfect for paper piecing."  Below is how I did the rest:

IMAGE:

1. Stamped Angelica on white cardstock with Memento Cocoa Brown.
2. Painted the first images face, hands, and feet.
3. Used Stickles Diamonds glitter glue inside her wings.
4. Used Flock for the halo and wing edges. (It wasn't white enough for me so I applied Fluid Chalk Popcorn ink with a paint brush on top of it.  I squeezed the bottle just enough to wet the top opening.  I laid the image aside to dry.)  You could try Flower Soft too.
5. Stamped Angelica's head and painting hair, cutting out and mounting on head.

BACKGROUND and GOWN:

1. Inking Cover-A-Card Ornate Snowflakes with Fluid Chalk Warm Red and stamped on white cardstock twice length-wise with Mega Mount. 
2. Trimmed a piece to 4"X5.25" and applied the bottom half of IO Border Duo 1 to one of the bottom of the 5.25"H sides and mounted to white cardstock base.
3. Stamped arms and skirt of Angelica on piece of Ornate Snowflakes with Memento Cocoa Brown, cut out and mounted on Angelica with 3D pop-dots.  Added embroidery string bow and pearl stickers to waist and skirt.
4. Applied a piece of white cardstock to a Spellbinders Oval Deckle die, used a dauber to add Fluid Chalk Warm Red around the edge using die as stencil as shown.
5. Stamped Heavenly Holiday with Memento Cocoa Brown to oval and added 6mm pearl heart.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Mounted oval with image to background.
2. Mounted white organdy ribbon and bow as shown.

INSIDE and ENVELOPE:

1. Two Deckled Oval dies were used with a piece of Ornate Snowflake background and used like THIS.
2. A piece of the die cut from Border Duo 1 was used for the lower left front.
3. The die itself was used on the flap of the envelop as shown.

I am posting this Monday evening.  If you want to see my cute Halloween card tomorrow, 09/04, on the IO blog go HERE.  That's it for this visit. Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Romantic Bouquet With A Fun Technique Too!

I actually had half of this card done before I knew what my main image would be.  I did another card similar to this for IO Tuesday Tips and Techniques last week and couldn't decide whether to use a pink or beige background.  So if you want to a photo tutorial of how I did the Faux Distressed Background, I am going to ask you to look HERE.  Below is a photo of the exact same background, only done in pink if you want a close up of it:

I was inspired to use the die after seeing Jenny Gropp's card HERE.  I used the left over from both backgrounds for the inside and the envelope.

A lot of people don't realize all of the things that can be done with Tsukineko Brilliance inks.  This tutorial will include a couple.

BACKGROUND:

• Inked CAC Thick Stripes with Memento Desert Sand and stamped on white cardstock.
• Inked CAC Floral Lines with Brilliance Moonlight White.  After stamping the ink was covered with Stampendous White Detail Embossing Powder (I keep my powder in a plastic sandwich container.  I can put the leftover powder right back into the container as I shake it off the cardstock.  I have a little scoop I use to apply it.)
• I heated the embossed areas.  Later you will see that Brilliance ink has a semi-fast drying quality.  So some areas are embossed and other are not.  It gives it shiny and flat white areas (A FAUX LOOK).
• Next the largest Spellbinder's largest Romantic Rectangle was put through the Cuttlebug with White cardstock for both the die cut and embossing.
• The die was then placed over the Faux Distressed background and traced.
• It was then cut out and set aside.

IMAGE, SENTIMENT, AND EMBELLISHMENTS:

• Next I stamped the IO Romantic Rose with Brilliance Galaxy Gold 3 times.  Once for the card front, once for the inside, and once for the outside.  I will use parts of the image for each while including pieces of the background too. 
• They were painted with Twinkling H2O's, turned over on a Pergamano mat and embossed with a stylus to give them depth.
• Viva Decor White Peal pen was used to accent the tiny white flowers.
• Another Romantic Rectangle die cut was used for the sentiment,  Just For You, from All Occasions I clear stamp set.
• The lace and buttons are remnants from my stash.  The ribbon is from the $1.00 bin at Michael's.

CARD INSIDE TO FIT THE FRAME (Again if you want pictures go to the IO Tutorial HERE:

• The die cut was lined up with the right-hand and bottom margins of the cardstock.  The open areas were used as guides for the edge of the card being created.
• The open spaces on the left and top were used for guides for marks with the stencil
• The left marks were used to cut the height of the card.
• The penciled marks at the top were used to find the middle fold and scored with the Scor-Pal.
• After folding the excess was trimmed to match as shown.  Then the Rounded Corner Punch was used on the corners.

So that's it.  Pretty quick the second time around because I already had the background done.  I am so far behind in blog hopping!!!  Hope to see you all soon!  Thanks for stopping by to look and say HI!!

  Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Victorian Fun

I have been dying to get to these stamps.  I love Victorian anything.  Alesa Baker has a lot of new stamps for Spring and here are some of them.  I am afraid I got so into using the stamps I got a little carried away.

I started out:

• stamping with my Cover-A-Card Screen Stamp onto Neenah Classic Crest Natural cardstock for my background.  Trimmed a piece 4.25"X5.5".  I think any tan or brown colored ink pad would look good.  I used Stampin' Up retired Creamy Caramel. I think Adirondack Caramel will work.
• Used Cover-A-Card Scratch on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock.  Trimmed to 3.75"X 5.0". Stamped the Worn Rose image in the upper left corner as shown and painted it with Cherry Sorbet and Olive Green Twinkling H2O's.  Mounted on the Screen cardstock.
• Stamped Rose Ledger on more Neenah Classic Crest Natural cardstock and painted the bottom with the same Twinks. I trimmed around the edges and top scallops. Mounted on Scratch cardstock.
• Stamped the inside pages (Worn Rose Vintage Book) for my book and painted with Twinks.  Trimmed and turned over to emboss the floral areas.  
• Stamped the sentiment, So Glad We're Friends, on the right side. Folded.
• Stamped the cover for my book, Vintage Worn Rose Cover,  trimmed, painted floral image, turned over and embossed the floral image, and mounted on folded vintage book pages.
• Punched butterflies with MS 3-in-1 Butterfly punch.  Mounted with Glossy Accents.  Pearls on the butterflies are 2mm from HERE.and were placed with a Sticky Stick and Glossy Accents.  The pearls on the bottom right are probably 3mm and are from Mark Richards Crystal White Pearl stickers.
•  Ribbon and lace are leftovers from other projects.
• The ribbon buckle is from Fancifuls.  

Below are photos of what I did for the inside of the card, the envelope, and inside the little book!

The scratch areas on the envelope were done after using a paper crimper to peel the paper apart so it would be thin if I mail the envelope.

I have one request for anyone who knows about blogger and the New Designer Template.  I am having a problem getting rid of the snow.  LOLOLOL  I deleted any widgets that had the code and it hung in there.  I looked all the way through my html layout.  No snow codes there.  Wow!!  This has been a really funny month.

Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!!That's my card and envy! Hope you liked them. I got to stamp and make up for some of the time when I couldn't. :-)

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Phoebe Butterfly

Hi everybody! It feels wonderful to be back and with a card to show you.  The little lady above was designed for Impression Obsession by Claudia Tenorio-Pearl.  She is called Phoebe and can be purchased in Red Rubber or as a Clear Set with sentiments.  I have the Clear Set.  She is intended to be a Ladybug, but I have chosen to use her as a Butterfly 'Fairy'.  Believe it or not, there are pink butterflies.  I fell in love with her after seeing Julie Koerber's Ladybug HERE.

IMAGE:
I stamped her with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and embossed with a heat gun to dry the ink.  She was painted with Twinkling H20's.  Her eyes and nose were accented with a Script fineline Brown pen.

I chose the largest Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Three die and

• Used it as a template to determine my 'out of the box' area (leg) and traced with a pencil
• Cut around her leg as shown, went up past the edge a little on each side of her leg
• Laid the leg over the edge of the die (so it wouldn't be cut) and put it through the Cuttlebug
• Turned it over with die in place, used a stylus to emphasize the embossed areas from the back
• With die was still in place sponged the edges with Brilliance Coffee Bean (after stamping off to make sure it was not too dark) as shown.  
• Removed the die and inked the outside edges with a Memento Cocoa Brown marker 
• Outlined the areas where I wanted to emboss with a fine stylus on the front on a Pergamano mat (when you turn it over it looks like a map)
• Turned her over again and embossed the areas I wanted raised from behind with a bigger stylus
• Stamped another wing with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, dried with heat gun, and cut out. edged with the Galaxy Gold, turned over and embossed with a larger stylus, mounted it with 3D pop dots as shown.

Embellishments added:

• Viva Decor Bronze Pearl for her 'butterfly bumps' and antennae
• Glossy Accents and Deco Art Glamour Dust for her 'fairy spots' on her wings, and
• Viva Decor Yellow Quartz for the Daisy centers

I used parts of sentiments from both Phoebe and Kate Clear Stamp Sets to get the wording I wanted.  Here is how I did it:

• From Phoebe, "Sending ladybug hugs", inked bold words
• From Kate, "Birthday kisses and butterfly wishes", inked bold word
• Gave me "Sending butterfly hugs".  It was inked with a Memento Cocoa Brown marker
• Put it through the Cuttlebug with the next to smallest of the same die set
• Sponged the edges the same as the large die cut and then the outside edges too
• Added some Glossy Accents with Glamour Dust and Viva Decor Bronze around that in the corner attached with as glue dot.

 BACKGROUND:

• Mounted Sketchy Flowers on Mega Mount
• Inked with Brilliance Coffee Bean and stamped on white cardstock.
• Mounted image near one corner of  stamped background with 5/8 of an inch border on top and left side
• Used Magic Matter 1/2" disk around entire die cut with image and trimmed
• Used Magic Matter 1/8" disk around stamped background mounted on Bronze metallic text weight paper and trimmed
• Mounted image with die cut on top
• mounted May Arts ribbon as shown
• Folded 8.5X11" white cardstock in half
• Mounted image along fold and trimmed around for card
• Added bow done with Bow-Easy
• Used leftovers from Bronze metallic and Background cardstock for inside top part of card

Because the card measures 5.5"X4.5" I will need to make an envelope.  I plan on doing a tutorial for the IO blog on Tuesday Tips and Techniques, April 13.  It will show how to make a quick envelope for any size card easily and with a decorative easy liner too.  I am going to be doing the Tips And Techniques portion of the IO blog on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

Hope you liked my card and I can't wait to get around to looking at yours.  It has been a while!!!  See you on your blog....:-)  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!!

 Shirley

Supplies:

Snow Family Fun And No Patterned Paper

The IO blog is having a "No Patterned Paper" challenge this week, and although I didn't play, I couldn't resist finishing this card that would have been okay to enter.  I love Alesa Baker stamps and had started this card a while back.

For some reason I did the card front and base backgrounds first this time.  I wanted a 5" square easel card.  I used a 5"X10 piece of Domtar Cougar Super Smooth White cardstock for the card.  You can find the measurements and instructions HERE.  If you would prefer a video, you can go HERE.  (You could increase the top half by .25" so it would cover more to the right when open, and set further to the right when flat.  It would extend .25" over the bottom part.  It would still fit in a 5.5" square envelope.)  I may try that next time myself.

The bottom cardstock is 5"x5" Bazzill Basics Blissful from their Blissful Trio collection.  The next layer (for the card front) is Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock stamped with my Mega Mount and Impression-Obsession Cover-A-Card Pine inked with SU Old Olive.  I used snow behind the family that I had left over from another project.  I had stamped Cover-A-Card Dots on Neenah CC Solar White Laid CS with VersaMark, added Deco Art Crystal Glamour Dust, and heated it to set.  The layers were torn to give a snow drift effect. Then it was layered onto the Pine as shown.

I stamped Impression Obsession Snow Family Fun using Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock.  They were painted with Twinkling H2O's, cut them out, turned them over on my Pergamano embossing mat, embossed their caps, scarfs, and buttons with a stylus, and then layered them on top using 3D pop dots as shown.  I added Glossy Accents to their buttons, coal, and carrot noses. :-)  Viva Decor Ice White Pearl Pen was added to the dots on the little snow-girl.

To finish off the bottom, I used the pine boughs from Impression Obsession's Clear set Winter View, by Alesa Baker on Neenah CC Solar White.  The image can also be purchased in red rubber as Pine Garland Border.  I used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags One die for the sentiment.  The sentiment is from Impression Obsession's Clear set Swirl Tree.  The pearls are Oriental Trading Post 7mm pearls.  The star pin is from aking Memories Mistletoe Deco Pins.  (I altered it in the photo because it looked gray when it really is a pearly white.  :-)

So that's all for now.  If you want to play, you have until this Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m.  The theme is No Patterned Paper and you could wind a $25 Gift Certificate for the online store.  You can get the detials by going HERE.

Hope you are having a great week!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and say hi!!

 Shirley

Supply List: