A Bloom with Hope Notebook Weekend Project

When I have scraps of copier paper I cut them into 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares and set them aside until I have enough to make a notebook.  I know, talk about being frugal!!!  I love making these notebooks. I've been making them for many years.  I always end up with a bunch to just sell off at the craft fair.  It's a fun way to make a little money out of scraps.  I also make a lot of them to give away too!

I ran across this flower in my big mess on the counter behind my worktable.  I'm SO glad it's behind my back because I would hate to look at it day after day!!! It's such a mess!!!  I need to spend a little time and clean up that whole counter.

Anyway, back to my fun project.  I don't remember when I had stamped and colored in this flower but it was fun to find it and use it so quickly!  I punched the image to 1-1/4" and I punched the Hello Honey card stock layer at 1-3/8".  I glued the layers together because these notebooks end up in purses and the tape might not hold.

I have a RubiCoil binding machine. I've had this machine for about 15 years now!!! It's been a good machine. The spring did break in it and I called and ordered new ones and replaced both of them at the same time.  I have made TONS of notebooks and cookbooks with this machine and it's paid for itself a long time ago!!!  Once I punch the copier paper and the front and back cover, I run the coil through the holes and turn the ends so it stays in place.  The back cover is usually made using a piece of shirt board.  I use to use card stock but it didn't make sense.  Why use the colored card stock on the back when I had all of this shirt board.  It's the thickness of a cereal box and makes the notebook feel more firm.  

These are great little sellers at the craft fairs.  This one probably won't make it to the craft fair, I have someone in mind for it!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Moon Lake and Gorgeous Grunge Masculine Birthday Card

I tend to purchase the masculine sets when they come out. It just seems like there are not enough images to make masculine cards. This set has 3 images in it.  There's a bird on a branch and a canoe by a tree yet to do!!! I will be playing with them sometime soon.  

I chose the goose for today's image.  I didn't do so hot with the coloring.  I have not colored wild life in a long time.  

I also added images from the Gorgeous Grunge set. I used them in the background just for fun!  I'm not overly fond of the oval piece.  I wanted to layer it but the next larger oval made too big of a border.  There needs to be some ovals that are about 1/8" less than the ones in this pack.  Then the layers would look nicer.  So to compensate for the larger layer, I opted to sponge on some Marina Mist.  And then I was not happy with the image at all!  UGH!!!  I'm not so thrilled with the Marina Mist and the Night of Navy together.  I even went to the Color Lab and entered in "Night of Navy" and let the lab find what colors would go with it.  I'm not thrilled with the mix!!!  But this is my first card using this set and I will be making a few more.  One can only hope that they get better as I go!!! LOL
Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda 

Lotus Blossom Multipurpose Card

This is such a fun layout from Split Coast Stampers.  It's SC374.  I thought it would work well with the Lotus Blossom image.  

I used Melon Mambo for the flower and Pear Pizzazz for the stem.  

The oval dies were used and the top one is set in place with Dimensionals.

The 4 panels are also set in place with Dimensionals.

It's a very simple card to make.  Though I did have trouble with the panels.  I didn't get the size right so I will share the measurements with you.  Cut the panels 2-1/2" x 1-7/8".

I think it's a very elegant card and I'm thinking of keeping it for when I need a sympathy card.  It has that feel to me.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Gorgeous Grunge Lotus Blossom Valentine's Day Card

Wow, I went from a card with a bunch of layers to one that has no layers!!!  I'm not big on the no layer cards, but I do have to admit, they are quicker to make!  

For my card I used Smoky Slate ink, stamped off once and then stamped on a folded half sheet of Whisper White card stock.  I used the two splatter images in the Gorgeous Grunge set.

Then I stamped the Lotus Blossom using Real Red ink.  I cut the image out and then I sponged the edges a little to cover up the white areas where I didn't cut close enough.  It's a good way to hid your crappy cutting job!!! LOL

I stamped the stem using Pear Pizzazz ink.  Then I set the flower in place using Dimensionals.  

The final thing was the words.  I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes set and Memento ink.  And that was it.  So quick and so simple. Cutting out the flower took the longest and that didn't take all that long!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Lotus Blossom Birthday

I LOVE the Lotus Blossom stamp set!  I just can't get enough of it.  Today I thought I would go with a yellow lotus blossom.  I didn't do any stamping off on this card.  I used 3 different colors of ink.  For the first image I used Hello Honey.  For the second image I used Crushed Curry, and for the third image I used Daffodil Delight.  I think the colors worked perfectly together.  I was happy with the way it turned out.  

I used Pear Pizzazz for the stem and for the decorative paper.  I used Hello Honey for the scalloped circle and for the other decorative paper.

I was starting out using the Split Coast Stampers sketch #320 but when I went to put the pieces together, I laid them out differently than the sketch and I liked it.

This was such a fun card to make.  I am SO into this new stamp set!  It's too bad it's a Sale-a-Brations and not a regular catalog set.  One can only hope that there will be a fantastic one like this in the upcoming new catalog this spring/summer.  

The words were done on my computer.  Having them printed and ready to go makes for a quicker card too! I set them in place using removable tape.  I will be replacing them with "Happy Mother's Day".  It's such a pretty flower, isn't it???

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Mother's Love Birthday Card

I thought I would play with the "Mother's Love" set again. There's several flower images in that set, plus a few wordings too. I chose Crisp Cantaloupe and Pear Pizzazz for my colors today.  Crisp Cantaloupe was chosen because in a few months it's going to be retired and I still have a lot of it left in the big packs.  The Pear Pizzazz is also from one of those large 12" x 12" stacks but that color is a regular color.  Though the pack images could change, they did a couple of years ago.  Anyway, those were the colors I chose.  You can do this card without all of the doubled layers. Omit the black layers and just use decorative paper, it will still be pretty and not so much cutting.

I stamped the flower stem and outline part using Memento ink.  I wasn't sure if I was going to color them in or use the two step stamping stamp.  I ended up using the stamp.  I used markers to color in the images and then I stamped on the flower.  SO quick and extremely simple.  And that was it!!! Nothing more to do at all.  Oh wait, I did color in the bottom part of the stem using the Pear Pizzazz marker.  

I punched out a Basic Black scalloped circle.  I punched out a 1-3/8" Crisp Cantaloupe piece of card stock and the words that are in the 1-1/4" circle were computer generated.

The layout is from sketch #251 at Split Coast Stampers. I've been digging out my layout book so I can come up with ideas of my own for cards.  I have been looking at so may pretty cards on Pinterest and I've been copying them and I felt like I had lost my Mojo for card making.  I use to be a lot more creative and I got in a slump and I struggled to get out.  I also use to make a lot of projects too.  I think I'm ready to get started on those again too!!

This was a very fun card to make.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  I did put the words on with removable tape.  I often take the words off and add Mother's Day words for the spring garage sale.  I just love making the little kids happy that the picked out their own card for their mom!

I thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

A Mother's Love Birthday Card

Today I thought I would open up another one of my new stamp sets. I bought the "Mother's Love" set because of all of the pretty flowers in it. I knew it would be a set that I would find very versatile. The images are perfect, not only for Mother's Day, but they would be nice on a birthday, get well, thinking of you, and even a sympathy card. 

I used Rose Red for my color. I have not used that color in a very long time. I found a sketch on Split Coast Stampers to play with. It's #221 and I modified it a little. Once again I found myself playing with lots of layers. I LOVE lots of layers on a card. And there are times I just like minimal layers. Today it's not minimal!!!

I am liking this new set and I will probably be making some Mother's Day cards with it in a few weeks. I usually make lots of Mother's Day cards to sell at the annual neighborhood garage sale. They don't start out as Mother's Day cards. I take made cards and add different words to them. Anyway, It's a way for me to get rid of my extra cards and the kiddies love buying them for their moms. I end up with space for more cards and the kids have a card for mom!!!  

This was a fun card to make. Two step stamping is always fun!

Thank you for stopping by today,

Wanda

A Lotus Blossom Birthday

I had a lot of fun making this card. It was SO me.  I LOVE layers, lots of layers and this card has it.  I have not done a card with an excessive amount of layers in a VERY long time.  I guess was due!  

I played with the Bermuda Bay ink and card stock.  I have lots of things going on in this card.  There's the Dotted texture, the Fancy Fan texture.  There's the dotted decorative paper.  There's oval dies, oval punches, and LOTS of layers!!!

The words are from the "Wetlands" set and of course the flower is from the "Lotus Blossom" set!  I can't seem to get enough of that flower!  When I saw it in the Sale-a-Brations book I wanted it so badly that I couldn't think of any other cards to make.  It seemed like it took forever for it to get here too, though it did arrive quickly!!!  It was, and still is, the first set of all the sets I bought that I played with.  Can you say "obsessed"!!  LOL

It was a SUPER fun card to make and I think I may be keeping this one for a very long time!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

A Lotus Blossom Note Holder

While surfing the net I ran across a note holder on a German web site run by Jana, you can see it here.  I liked the concept.  I dug out a scratch pad and measured the card stock from that.  I just laid the note pad on the card stock and marked it with a pencil and cut it to fit.  Then I marked how thick it was and scored the fold lines.  I should have taken another photo to show you the folds.  I used a half sheet of card stock and I lined up the left edge with the note pad and then I marked where the scores would go.  I was going to cut off the card stock to be flush with the back of the note pad but I decided to go ahead and score it so it folded over on top of the note pad.  It only goes about half way across the pad front on the inside. 

Once I got the folded thing down, I glued the note pad to the card stock.  

I added a small piece of Blackberry Bliss decorative paper along the edge.  Then I stamped my flower using the Lotus Blossom set.  I used Old Olive for the stem.  I layered the image using some Blackberry Bliss card stock.  I wanted matching ribbon but I didn't have any so I used the Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities and I colored in the ribbon.  I think it matched rather well in person.  The light reflects a bit differently on the photo and it looks a little off!  

The words are from a custom made stamp I had done many years ago.  I LOVE making note cards and note holders and when you make them, you just HAVE to have a "notes" stamp!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Blushing Bride Flower Shop and Petite Petals Birthday

You were probably expecting another "Lotus Blossom" card but I don't want to over do it with that set.  Though I think it would be easy enough to do!!  I had this card made before the one I did yesterday but I couldn't wait to post it so I saved this card for today.

I found this card on Pinterest and the link took me to Glenda's Stamp Camp blog.  I did not find the card on the blog.  The image was linked to the blog and not directly to the card.  I did search for a little while but gave up.  It's somewhere on her blog.

I used Blushing Bride, Basic Black, and Whisper White for the card stock and inks.  The flowers are from "Flower Shop" and "Petite Petals" set.  This was a very fun card to make and it went together very quickly.

The words are from the retired "Perfect Pairs" set.  I don't get rid of my words sets very often.  You never know when you will need them!

I did enjoy making this card.  It has images that have matching punches!!! How can you not love that?

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

A Lotus Blossom Birthday

I have not been feeling very creative these past few days.  Ever since I saw the new Occasions and Sale-a-Brations catalogs I could think of nothing else.  I couldn't wait until the 6th to order some fun stuff from those catalogs.  I especially love the "Lotus Blossom" set and I've seen some very pretty cards made using it.

My order arrived today and I dug right in.  This was the first set I took out. I was sad because the case it came in was cracked but I'll just get a request in for a new one. At least the images were fine.

I took out some Cherry Cobbler card stock and ink and began. I had remembered reading on how to stamp with this set.  It's a bit backwards to me but I followed what I had read.  You stamp the darker image first.  That would be the smaller image.  For the second image I stamped off once and for the third image I stamped off twice.  It was very easy to use, plus the stamp set has tabs so you know which direction you have stamped the image.  This one was stamped with the tab straight up.  I used the stem image and Pear Pizzazz ink.  And that was it.  The stamping went SO quickly.  Though I did practice on a piece of card stock first to get the feel of what I was doing.  

The words are from my computer. I used a small strip of Cherry Cobbler decorative paper and I used the "Dotted" embossing folder on the Cherry Cobbler card stock.

This was a very simple and quick card to make.  I should have found some Valentine's Day words for the front. It would make a perfect Valentine's Day card.  This image could also be great for a thinking of you, get well, Mother's Day, and even a sympathy card.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this set!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Flower Patch Birthday Card

Today I spent the better part of my day working on a new beading pattern.  It takes me a lot of time plugging in the little bead icons on the computer program, trying to get the pattern formed.  Then I add the arrows and lines to show how the step is done.  Then I have to save the image.  I save it as a photo and as an SVG file.  The SVG allows me to make changes and then I would need to replace the matching photo.  I usually end up with an average of 12 diagrams per pattern.  Each one having to have bead icons added and moved around.  It takes me a long time to do this.  And then when I'm done with that, I have to open up my Open Office program and start the writing part of the directions and add the photos with each step.  And lastly I take a photo of my creation and put that on the top of the pattern instructions.  I cross my fingers and hope that I don't need to make any changes!!! And then I will be posting it in my web store for sale. So I'm a bit late in posting my card today due to the beading pattern.

Today's card is a cherry birthday card using Rich Raspherry ink and Hello Honey and Rich Raspberry card stock.  I found the original card here at The Stamp Review.  I didn't have the decorative paper so I used the little flower from the "Flower Patch" set to make a background sheet.  I also changed the wording layout. I didn't want to make another banner type piece so I got out my scalloped circle punch.  The words are from my computer.  I do sell the words in my mywebstore.  This PDF download file contains 10 greetings that will fit in a 1-1/4" circle punch and layer them on the 1-3/8" circle punch and then the scalloped circle punch.  You can also just punch them out of the 1-3/8" circle punch and have more card stock showing around the words. Some of them even fit in the oval punch.  The greetings include "Thinking of You, Thank you, Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, With Sympathy, Get Well, Merry Christmas, Happy Father's Day, Happy Mother's Day, and Be Mine.  There are 24 greetings on each page.  You can print out as many pages as you wish and use them on cards you make to give away or even on cards you make to sell.  I print them out and punch half of them out.  I put the rest in an envelope for safe keeping.  It's nice to have some already punched out for when I need to throw together a quick card.  

This was a very fun card to make.  I like how bright and cheery it looks.  I think it would also make a great Get Well card.  Who wouldn't feel better after seeing these fun colors together?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

A Blooming with Kindness Birthday Card

I thought I would make a monochromatic card today.  You can't go wrong with that.  Well, I suppose you could if you over did it with the one color you get to play with!!!  With monochromatic cards, less is more!!!  Keep that in mind when making them.  

I used the Blooming with Kindness set.  The words were done on the computer. I do sell the words in my my webstore.  This PDF download file contains 10 greetings that will fit in a 1-1/4" circle punch and layer them on the 1-3/8" circle punch and then the scalloped circle punch.  You can also just punch them out of the 1-3/8" circle punch and have more card stock showing around the words. Some of them even fit in the oval punch.  The greetings include "Thinking of You, Thank you, Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, With Sympathy, Get Well, Merry Christmas, Happy Father's Day, Happy Mother's Day, and Be Mine.  There are 24 greetings on each page.  You can print out as many pages as you wish and use them on cards you make to give away or even on cards you make to sell.  I print them out and punch half of them out.  I put the rest in an envelope for safe keeping.  It's nice to have some already punched out for when I need to throw together a quick card.  

This was very fun and super quick card to make.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Hey You Flower Shop Thank You Card

I'm still working on some needed thank you cards. I found this fun, bright and cheery looking card at Klompenstampers.  I thought I would work with this design.  I did make a few little changes. I put the wording in the upper right corner, I changed the color of the Baker's Twine and I used Strawberry Slush instead of the Pirouette Pink.  I wanted something brighter.  Oh and I also added an extra layer, I used some Strawberry Slush behind the Whisper White focal piece.

This was a super easy and quick card to make.  

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda