Warm Thoughts - a mini album

About a month ago I created this mini album as a gift for a close family member.  Since the recipient reads my blog occasionally, I didn't want to post it on my blog until after Christmas.  The basic concept for the album comes from a tutorial on Wilna Furstenberg's blog.  HERE is the link to Wilna's blog and video.
As soon as I watched the video, I knew that I wanted to give this a try and I knew exactly who I would create it for.  I am so pleased with the results and so happy that I ventured out of my paper crafting "comfort zone" and tried something new!

I used several mediums in creating the album pages.  Color mists sprayed through stencils, stamping, ink splatters, etc.  Also, I layered the photos over various embellishments and die cut pieces.  This was such a labor of love for me!  It took about 6 hours from start to finish and was well worth the time.  In fact, I would love to make another one!

To protect the privacy of the recipient, I've blurred the faces of everyone in the photos.

Thank you for taking a look!

Shaking it up!

Hey!  Just posting, real quick, with a shaker card I created today for a friend. :)
I spent a day at home today and enjoyed it so much.  A long walk outdoors early this morning (in our unusually warm December weather!), then breakfast with...coffee! Yum.  A great way to begin the day, right?

Let me get back on track. My card.
Even though shaker cards can be a bit of a challenge, they're so much fun to make.  Well...it wasn't fun when I messed up the first banner panel.  Forgetting to add the clear acetate window, didn't work well to hold the sequins inside.  Imagine.

The second attempt?  Much better.

I used a mixture of clear sequins and beads in this card.  This blue card stock is showing much darker than it actually is.  My photo editing software just couldn't seem to get it right.

Thanks for taking a look!

Supply list ~
Cardstock: white (Recollections), sky blue (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine)
Stamps: handwritten sentiments (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: stars (WPlus9), banner (Clear and Simple Stamps)
Embossing folder: gently falling (SU)
Other: baker's twine (SU)

Guest Designing at CCCB this week!

Hello!
The card in one of my previous blog posts (HERE) was chosen as the winner at the City Crafter Challenge Blog that week, so I won the Guest Designer spot for this weeks challenge.  I'm SO excited!

Here are the details.
Our theme this week, at the City Crafter Challenge Blog week 292 is The Heat is On - Use heat embossing on your card or project.  Take a look at this clever graphic provided by Kirsty!

I had several ideas tumbling around in my brain, but this one came to me while I was outdoors for a brisk walk last weekend. There's something about the great outdoors (and a long walk) that helps me focus and get creative.

Anyway, here's my card!  To see a larger pic, just click on the photo.

This card turned out just as I had imagined.  Believe me, that doesn't usually happen.
After die cutting the birch tree panel from kraft card stock, I took my Versamark pad and swiped it  across the areas of the trees that I wanted to emboss in white.  Once I poured on the embossing powder, I saw that I had covered more of the trunk areas than I intended to.  That was easy to remedy.  I just took a small paintbrush and swept away what I didn't want.  It worked like a charm!

My sentiment is also heat embossed.  Oh, I'm not sure if you will be able to see it...but, I took my clear Wink of Stella and ran it along the areas of the tree trunks that are not embossed.  Just for a little more winter sparkle!

I hope you'll play along with us this week.  Thanks for stopping by and a big Thank You to Kirsty for inviting me to guest design this week.  Such an honor!

Supply List ~
card stock: kraft (PTI), whisper white, bashful blue (SU)
ink: Versamark
stamps: in the meadow (PTI)
die: birch tree cutting plate (Taylored Expressions)
other: white embossing powder (SU), clear gems (The Paper Studio)

It's all just card stock and embossing!

Hi!  I'm sharing a very simple card that I created a couple of weeks ago.  Yup, just now finding the time to post it.  :(

It's such a simple and easy card to make, but I sure like how it turned out!

The card base and the sentiment panel are both Blackberry Bliss card stock from Stampin' Up!
For the panel, I heat embossed the sentiment using SU gold embossing powder.  Once that was cool, I swiped my Versamark pad along the edges of the panel then poured EP over that, too.  A little heat and my card was nearly done.  Of course I used foam tape to adhere the panel.  Because, well...I love dimension.  :)

That's it!

A Shaker Card - Wood!

You may have forgotten who I am...it's been so long since I posted a card.  I've been crafting, but somehow never find the time to photograph and post my cards.  And that's too bad, because enjoy blogging SO much.  It's so much fun to share!

Hey, onto the card.

I'm playing along in 2 fun challenges today.  :)

City Crafter Challenge Blog, week 284 ~ Into The Wood

Can You Case It - CYCI #91 Color Challenge

This is how I combined the 2 challenges.

Well.  You know how difficult it can be to create a masculine card.  Not this time, though!
The challenge to use something "wood" (and those masculine colors) was just the jump start I needed, to use some of these wood slices that I picked up on clearance at a local store...mmmm....probably 5 or 6 years ago.  They were SO different than any other "embellishment" I'd seen before.  Actually, they were in the home accents section of the floral aisle.
So.  I created a shaker card, using some patterned paper for the background, clear acetate for the window...then popped in some wood slices and a few clear beads before attaching the die-cut frame and window to my card base.
A simple sentiment finished my card.  I considered not even adding a sentiment to the front.  Still not sure if I should have left it off.

Ahhh...it feels good to be crafting and blogging again!

Later,

Supplies ~
card stock: garden green, early espresso (Stampin' Up!), clear (Heartfelt Creations)
stamps: Christmas stamp set (The Precious Remembrance Shop)
ink: early espresso (SU)
dsp: adventure bound (SU)
dies: in and out diagonal stitched rectangles (My Favorite Things)
other: wood slices (Akasha), clear beads (Michael's), scor tape & foam tape

Wishing you all the joy!

Hi again!  It's my 3rd (and final) post for today.  Like I said in my previous posts, I like the current sketch so much that I made three cards for Freshly Made Sketches #198.
Take a look!

So versatile, right?  I had loads of ideas, but not enough time to use them all.  Such a dilemma.  :)

Here's my final entry for the challenge.

This background has a lot going on, so I kept my layers simpler than on my first 2 cards.  I couldn't resist added a glossy little heart though.  :)

Thank you for taking the time to stop by!

Supplies ~
card stock: naturals ivory (SU)
ink: onyx black (Versafine)
stamps: happiest of holidays (PTI)
patterned paper: festive collection 6 x 6 pad (Authentique)
other: notebook page die (PTI), glossy accents (Ranger), small heart punch (SU)

Sending warm wishes!

I'm back with a second post, playing along with the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

Freshly Made Sketches #198

Here's what I created!

Unlike my previous card, I think this one could to anyone.  Well...with that shiny little heart, maybe it will be more suitable for a female.  We'll see!
I loved working with these nice bright reds.  So much, that I really added on the layers for this card.  Why not?
I did some layered stamping again, then punched out a little red heart and coated it with glossy accents.  Finished!

Thanks for stopping by,

Supplies ~
card stock: natural ivory, riding hood red (SU)
ink: crumb cake (SU), onyx black (Versafine)
stamps: happiest of holidays, wreath for all seasons (PTI)
patterned papers: santa's list 6 x 6 pad (Teresa Collins)
other: notebook page die (PTI), small heart punch (SU), glossy accents (Ranger)

Wishing you cozy

Oh my, it's been a long time since my last post.  Hmmm. I think I said the same thing last time, didn't I?  I've been creating Christmas cards, but just haven't had the time to photograph, edit and post them here.

I created 3 cards this afternoon.  All of them using the great sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches.
Freshly Made Sketches #198

Here is the first of my 3 cards for this challenge.

I wanted this card to be appropriate for a guy, so I went with that great reindeer patterned paper for my background.  A few more patterns and some layered stamping onto a notebook page die cut finished this card.  It really came together quickly.  So quickly, that I made 2 more cards using the same sketch!

So, 2 additional post will follow!

Thanks for taking a look,

Supplies ~
card stock: naturals ivory (SU)
ink: vintage sepia, onyx black (Versafine)
stamps: happiest of holidays, wreath for all seasons (PTI)
patterned papers: lost & found Christmas 6 x 6 special edition (My Minds Eye)
die: notebook page (PTI)

Peace!

Hi!  I'm finally playing along in a card challenge...it's been so long!  The sketch at CAS(E) this sketch! was just what I was looking for.  I was in the mood to do a little collage style stamping and this sketch was perfect for that.  I have several more ideas.  We'll just see if I have the time to put them into use this weekend. :)

Here's the challenge:

CAS(E) this sketch! - CTS #133 by Gayatri Murali

My card:

I wanted to use some non-traditional colors for this Christmas card, so I chose a dark blue and a dark green along with a very traditional gold.  This was a very simple and easy card to make, but one that I'm really pleased with.  Over the stamping, I added the die cut word 'peace".  I glued together 2 die cuts to give it some dimension.

Well, that's one more card to add to my (very slowly) growing Christmas stash.  :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections), brushed gold (SU)
ink: midnight muse, mossy meadow (SU), delicata golden glitz (Tsukineko)
stamps: christmas blessings, in the meadow, snowflake medley (PTI)
die: wonderful words holiday (PTI)

Sip by Sip! - Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Hi!  A whole lot of us paper crafters are joining Amy Tsuruta in the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  It's a fun way for us to kick off summer...sit back with your coffee or tea and hop from one blog to the next!  And.....you just might want to play along.  There are lots of prizes to win!

Just click on Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop to start at the beginning of the hop.  :)


I had fun using several fun, bright, summery colors for my card!

I pulled out a fun, summer themed Stampin' Up! rubber stamp to create my background.  A drew a few pencil lines, diagonally, to guide me in stamping that fun background.  The sentiment is computer generated.  I found a similar quote online, but it said "life" instead of summer.  I wasn't able to find the original source or credit of the quote.
The lid of the coffee cup was die cut, then coated with Glossy Accents.  My attempt to make it resemble a plastic lid.  It sort of does...don't you think???

I had fun with this summer themed card, even though it took me several days to make it.  It was just one of those weeks!

Ok, here's a link to go back to the hop...just click HERE!  Enjoy!!!!!!

Supply list -
card stock: hello honey, gumball green, tangelo twist, whisper white (SU)
ink: hello honey, gumball green, tangelo twist (SU) black onyx (Versafine)
stamps: simple sentiments (PTI), now you're cookin', house and home (SU), need to venti (Amuse Studio)
dies: need to venti (Amuse Studio)
other: dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), glossy accents (Ranger)