A Work of Art Valentine's Day Card

Using the limited amount of supplies I have to make Valentine's Day cards, I have created this one.

I used Real Red ink.  Basic Black, Whisper White, and Real Red card stock.  

I used the zig zag image from the "Work of Art" set and stamped the image first near the bottom of the page.  I moved the stamp up a bit and stamped it again. I moved it up one more time and stamped again.  I did discover by just playing that I could stamp this image 7 times before it was too faded to stamp again.  Real Red goes a long way!!!

I trimmed the piece and then added an 1/8" Basic Black layer.

I stamped the "Happy Valentine's Day" from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set.  I set the layers on top of a folded half sheet of Real Red card stock.

I stamped the heart from the "Work of Art" set.  I used the 1" circle punch on it. Then I punched a 1-1/4" Real Red circle.  Then a 1-3/8" Basic Black circle.  I layered the circles together and set them in place using Dimensionals.  And that was it!  SO see, you can come up with Valentine's Day cards with very little effort and supplies.  I did not purchase any Valentine's Day sets so I'm just trying to get by with what I have.  I just can't see buying Valentine's Day sets right now.  I have no use for making tons of cards with it.  It would have to be an extremely versatile set before I would purchase it.  I want to get the best bang for my buck!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Work of Art and Traveler Masculine Card

Today I needed a masculine birthday card for my brother-in-law.  It's late.  His birthday was yesterday!  I didn't pay attention to the calendar.  I guess I'm going to have to break out my new perpetual calendar stamp set and make myself a calendar!!!

I am not thrilled with how this card looks in the photo.  In real life, the water blends SO much better with the card stock.

And with that said, I'll give you some details on this card!!!

I used Basic Black for the base of my card.  Then I added a stamped piece of Lost Lagoon.  I did stamp the suitcase image using Lost Lagoon ink.

The little panels are done using a piece of decorative paper from the Adventures Bound paper pack in the Occasions catalog.  I thought it had some fun masculine papers in it.  You get 48 sheets.  I used a half a sheet here.  I think this pad will last me a very long time.  I don't plan on retiring it.  I will be pulling it out when I need to make masculine cards!!!  Father's Day is 5 months away, I have time to whip up a few of them just to be prepared!!!

The ship is from the "Traveler" stamp set.  Oh and so was the suitcase that was used on the Lost Lagoon card stock.  

I used the Work of Art stamp set for the water and the sky.  I used Lost Lagoon for the water.  Hello Honey for the setting sun, and Pumpkin Pie for the top of the sky.  

I did have fun making this card, I just wish the color would have been more true to the card than it shows up here!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

A Teeny Tiny Wishes Valentine's Day Card

I don't usually make very many Valentine's Day cards.  Mostly because I don't send out Valentine's Day cards!!!  So that usually means I don't buy very many, if any, Valentine's Day stamp sets.  I have a few but I have not purchased any the past couple of years.  They retire too quickly and many of them are not versatile.  I like stamp sets that I can use for other occasions as well.

So, with that said, I have created a Valentine's Day card using a paper doily.  It turned out very yellow looking on here for some odd reason, in real life it's pretty white looking.

I used the new border punch to make some teeny tiny hearts!!  I glued them in place on the doily.

I used the Dotted folder and I cut a strip off it and taped it across the top of the cut doily.

I used the hearts framelit and added the hearts to the top of the card.

I used the tiny heart punch and added one heart to the bottom left of the card.

The words are from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  I stamped them using Real Red.  I used Real Read and Whisper White card stock.

This was a fun card to make and it didn't take hardly any time to put it together either!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Beautiful Bunch and Petite Petals Birthday Card

I ran across a fun card made by Carmen at "Stamping Addiction" that I thought was a fun easy on the eyes card.  I did change the image a little.  I didn't have frame embossing folder so I opted for the textured circle which I sponged with Crumb Cake ink.  

The flower was stamped using Lost Lagoon.  I sponged the center using Crumb Cake.  Then I set the flower in place using Dimensionals.

The tiny flowers are from the Petite Petals set.  They were stamped using Crumb Cake and set in place using Dimensionals.

I didn't have any Lost Lagoon colored ribbon so I used the Organza ribbon I had and I sponged the color on to it.  I sprayed it with hair spray to help the color set.  

The words are from the Wetlands set.  And that's pretty much it.  It was a fun card to make and I do like the colors.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

A Painted Petals and Butterflies Thinlits Card

Well, I have to tell you.  When I saw this beautiful gem of a card on the net, I just HAD to make one.  Now mind you, I didn't have a lot of the materials that the original card made by Mercedes at Paper Paradise used.  But I did manage to make the best of what I had on hand.  

I had the butterfly and the Painted Petals stamp set.  I don't know about those of you who have that set, but I am having a very difficult time trying to get the leaves lined up with the flowers and vice versa.  Is there a trick to this????  What are your tips for getting those leaves and stems in the right places easily?

Anyway, I did not have anymore Baker's Twine but I did have some waxed cotton, so I used that.  I didn't have the pretty Crisp Cantaloupe flower so I used a retired cream one and colored it in with the lightest marker from the Calypso Coral Blendabilities assortment.  And I didn't have the gold marker but I did have some gold fingernail polish.  So I clipped the tip off a toothpick and dipped it in the polish and added some gold dots to my paper. 

Now I did like the words on Mercedes card but as I was putting the card together, the words being the last element to add, I liked the card without the words.  So I left it that way.  It's such a pretty card with or without the wording!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

A Painted Petals Thank You

I have a feeling this post is going to be short. Mostly because there isn't a lot to explain about this card.  I took a half sheet of Melon Mambo card stock and folded it in half. I then took a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock and trimmed it about 1/8" and finally I took a piece of Whisper White card stock and trimmed it 1/4".  

I stamped the flowers using Melon Mambo and then I stamped the leaves using Pear Pizzazz.  I was wishing I had done the leaves first because I found it a bit difficult to stamp them on.  I tried them on a practice piece of paper first so I could get them lined up right.  

The "thank you" is included in the set.  

I found this card made by Tammi at "Stamping With Tammi".  I was looking for a quick and simple card to make using this set.  I needed a thank you card so I changed up the words on it.  Plus I set my words in place using Dimensionals.  I just thought the card needed a little dimension to it.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda  

Painted Petals Faux Silk Stamping Technique

There are several versions of the Faux Silk technique out there.  I had learned this one at Terri's Tuesday Technique night a couple of months ago.  I had the card sitting on my worktable but I had never posted it.  So today I thought I would share this simple technique with you.  

First you take a piece of tissue paper and stamp your image on it. Make sure the ink is dry.  Next crumple the tissue paper up, uncrumple it and crumple it up again.  Uncrumple it one more time and set it aside.  

Take a piece of Whisper White card stock and run your glue stick all over, covering the whole piece.  Lay your stamped tissue paper on top and begin to pat it in place starting from the center and working your way out.  Allow the crinkles to remain in the tissue paper.  Do not try to smooth them out.  You may need to trim up the edges a bit.

Decorate and layer as desired.  And that's all there is to it!!! So simple and very quick.  And isn't it pretty?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

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