Mother's Day Card #3

Here's a bright and cheery looking Mother's Day card. I used Barely Banana and Certainly Celery and the two colors just seemed to warm up this card, didn't it?

I did stamp Summer Sun on the Barely Banana. Versa Mark and Barely Banana showed up too light on the card stock.

I was torn between adding just a knot or a bow. I went with the knot to keep the focus on the flower.

For the flower I used the direct to rubber technique. For those of you who are not familiar with that technique, it just means you color the ink on the rubber with a marker and when you're done you huff on it to add some moisture from your breath to moisten up the ink. It's a very nice technique. It allows you to use many colors on your image.

I added some holes to the upper right corner using the Mat Pack and I added a brad to the center of the flower.

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow. I have a VERY fun weekend project to show you!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

The Long Awaited Bracelet!!!

As I said in my post yesterday, I was going to a beading class. It was the first beading class I'd ever taken. Most of the time I can figure out the beading on my own but this bracelet really threw me for a loop and when I saw it at the beading store I was informed that there was a class coming up on it. Well, I was the first one to sign up!!! If you click on the photo you can see it closer.

So this is the bracelet I learned to make last night at the class. I made one in class but I didn't finish it and I took it apart because it is SO awful. The leaves are loose and very far apart. You can see a lot of thread but only at the beginning of it. Once I caught on the spaces tightened up and it started looking like it should!!! And that was all the practice I needed as you can see by the two I did last night after I got home from the class! I started another one after dinner tonight and it just needs the flower cluster and it's done. It's for me too!! The other two are already spoken for!! I'm going to use red for the flower cluster on mine. Well, a red/cranberry color. Ok, fine I'll show you when I'm all done with it. Maybe tomorrow depending on how much cleaning I get done in my workroom and laundry room tonight. We've got the plumber guy coming to put shutoff valves under the kitchen sink. Then cable is coming because they gave us a faulty box and now they have to come into my home just to tell me that. UGH. And it's in my workroom that they need to be in. Hopefully no where else. It's such a mess here. I have a HUGE counter top sitting on my living room floor. The new kitchen sink is in the den and the laundry room is full of dirty clothes waiting to be washed. Who wants to come help??? LOL Oh and on Monday the handyman will be here to remove the old counter top and sink and do who knows what. It's going to take him 3 or 4 days to finish the job. It's ok, that means I won't have dishes to do for 3 to 4 days or cooking either since the refrigerator and stove will have to be moved into the dining room to give them more room to work and maneuver that HUGE counter top. So there you have it, my chaotic life and messy house!! I wonder how I'll make coffee?? LOL WOW, if that were my only concern!!! LOL

Thanks for viewing my bracelets!!! I had fun at the class and a wonderful instructor!!
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

Here is my submission for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers. I'm posting early today because I'm off to a class I signed up for. Nope, not a stamping class but a beading class. There is this one bracelet that I've wanted to make since November but couldn't find the patter. Well, the bead shop I was at was offering a class on that very bracelet. I'll show you my bracelet tomorrow, imperfections and all!!! LOL

We were to make a long card today. It measured 8" x 9-1/4" and then folded on the 8" edge. The part where I have the long scallop was a fold. The card was scored at 3/4" and folded forward. It added a nice touch. And something a bit different too!!!

I added some brads and ribbon to the scallop area but I didn't want to add too much. I wanted to keep it a clean looking card.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Flower Pot Mother's Day Card

This is the third Mother's Day card I've made. I'm still somewhat stuck on the first one.

For this card I used the Stampin' Up! "Fun and Fast Notes" set. I made the background circle using the Coluzzle. I cut out the circle and kept the large hole part instead of the circle!!! I set it on top fo the card and sponged on the Bashful Blue. Then I took the Color Spritzer Tool and splattered Bashful Blue all over the front. I stamped the flower pot and colored in the image. I added layers and set the piece in place to decide where I'd like to stamp the words.

It's a simple and basic looking card and that is what I'm going for. I realized that there are a lot of stampers that have limited supplies so I thought I'd make some cards that fit in that category too. And I believe this one does.

For my coloring I did use the watercolor crayons but this effect can be achieved by using markers and a blender pen. I color with my marker on a piece of plastic. You can slip a piece of white card stock into a zip sandwich baggie and have a piece of plastic to work with. I add white card stock inside so you can see the ink you put on it. Once you scribble some ink on it pick up that ink with your blender pen and color in on where you think the darkest area would be. I started with the center of the flowers. That would be the darkest part of the flower. The fresh ink you pick up with the blender pen is the darkest the ink will be. Work our way outward until you have no ink left on your pen, then pick up some more but not in the same spot as you did the first time. That area now has a mixture of ink and blender pen fluid. It's a very weak color that you don't want to use. It's too washed out and too much blender pen fluid on paper will cause it to wear on the paper if you work the area too much. It's best to use fresh ink and work the color outward

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Mother's Day Card #2

Here is my second Mother's Day card. This one was fun because I got to play with the flowers from the Stampin' Up! "Pretties" kit.

I didn't come up with this layout. I saw it on SplitCoastStampers by user name sf9erfan. I made a few subtle changes but for the most part it would blend in with her cards!!

I made my own background paper here using the Stampin' Up! "Polka Dot" background stamp. I used the "Mother's Day" word image from the "All Holidays" stamp set.

Measurements for this card are as follows (working from the bottom layer to the top):
Black card stock = 8 1/2" x 5-1/2" folded in half to measure 5-1/2" x 4-1/4"
Barely Banana = 5-3/8" x 4-1/8"
Black = 4-1/8" x 3-1/8"
White = 4" x 3" (this piece has the Polka Dots stamped on it)
Black Strip = 1-5/8" x 5-1/2"
White Strip = 1-1/2" x 5-1/2"

The center of the silk flowers is a flower from the Boho Blossoms punch
And a crystal rhinestone brad was used in the center of the flower. The flower was attached with a Dimensional.

I added two black brads to the strip and assembled the piece. This is a very simple card layout to work with. It's a quick card to put together too!!

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Mother's Day Just Around the Corner!!!

I just looked at the calendar and Mother's Day is sneaking up on me!! I thought I'd better get a few Mother's Day cards made up to see which ones I'm going to want to use for those special people in my life.

This is the first of the Mother's Day cards I'll be making.

I used the new Dotted Swiss Cuddlebug folder for the background. I was asked about this background. No, it's not a retired background, it's new and very difficult to get. I got mine at Oh My Crafts I ordered several folders but a few of them were on back order, one of which was the Dotted Swiss. But it was less than a week and it arrived. I was sad because that was the folder I wanted the most. Isn't that how it always works out?? LOL But anyway, I got it and I'm having a lot of fun playing with it!!!

I used the Stampin' Up! "Embrace Life" set and the words I did on the computer using SchneidlerAmaTBla font set at 18. It seemed to fit in the 1-1/4" punch the best. It was roomy enough and no part of the lettering got cut off. I layered it on top of a 1-3/8" Mellow Moss circle and then layered that on top of a Regal Rose Scallop Circle. I set it in place using Dimensionals.

I added a piece of Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon and tied a bow to finish off the card.

It's a pretty simple card to make. For you Stampin' Up! demonstrators who want to convert this card to all Stampin' Up! products, use the large "Polka Dot" background stamp. You can use it with clear embossing powder to emphasise the dots more but yet keep them subtle. You can also try white craft ink on the "Polka Dot" background stamp and emboss in clear. You'll get a touch of offset color to aid in making the dots slightly visible. You don't want them to stand out, they are a background. The flower is the focal point of the card. There's a lot of background you can use that will work with this set

I do like this card!!! And it may be one I'll be using for Mother's Day. But there's still more to come so I won't commit to it yet!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Beate's Weekend Challenge WSC45

Once again I had time to make a card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. This one was a very fun sketch and it was perfect timing too. I am in need of wedding cards. It seems we have more weddings this year than we do graduation parties. And I need to make cards for those too!! I'll be taking advantage of the challenges that are out there!! It's a nice way to kill two birds with one stone!!!

This card was actually simple to make. I did use the Cuddlebug "Dotted Swiss" background folder. I just got it and this was the first time I got to use it!!! And this was the perfect card for that background

I used the Stampin' Up! "To Have and to Hold" set. I did have to add my own ampersand between the Mr. & Mrs. I ended up doing the one that looks like the backwards "E" because every time I tried the one in the line above this one it kept coming out like the musical symbol!!! I just couldn't get myself to make it right!!! LOL SO after ruining a dozen of them I decided to give up!!

I only colored in the flowers on the wedding couple. And I did add some glitter on the veil and dress.

Such a fun card layout!!! If you have time give it a try!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Lemon Tree Very Pretty!!!

Once again I find myself using the Stampin' Up! "Tart & Tangy" set. This time it is for a technique page for my Technique Book. At our Diva Day event one of my fellow demonstrators, Julianne demonstrated an oldie but goodie technique. Scratch n Sniff.

It had been many years since I've done it and it's still as simple as it was back then. And this "Tart & Tangy" set is perfect for this technique!!! I did mine as a lemon because lemonade Kool-Aid was all I had in the cupboard. I think of that old Peter, Paul & Mary song "Lemon Tree" when I use this stamp set. Dating myself a bit here!!! Though they really are older than I am. I just liked listening to their music!

To make the powder mixture I used one teaspoon Kool-Aid and 1-1/2 teaspoons of clear Embossing Powder. Mix them together well and you're ready to go. I also used Craft Ink instead of the water-based because the color showed up more vivid. And of course lemon was the lightest color too!!

Here's now you do it in it's simplest form. Once your color is mixed, stamp the image on card stock. Sprinkle your color mixture on the card stock. Heat emboss the image. Once it cools it's ready to scratch n sniff!! As simple as that! Kids just LOVE this!

Now what to do with that leftover Kool-Aid. Well, like I said, all I had in the cupboard was lemon. That is because I use it in my dishwasher!!! I use it in there to keep it sparkling clean. I add it right with my dirty dishes in it too! You see, dishwasher cleaner is really just citric acid and whatever other chemicals they may add to it to make it unique of their company. Lemonaid Kook-Aid is citric acid and a bit of colorant. I prefer to use this to clean my dishwasher because of this very thought: "if anything is left behind on my dishes or the walls of my dishwasher it is only Kool-Aid. Something I would have mixed with sugar in a container and consumed anyway!!!" SO if it's ok to consume and it cleans my dishwasher it must be ok??? The first time I used it I used 6 packages because the water in my area is high in lime and calcium and the inside was starting to look a little rusty. I ran it empty that first time only because I still had dishwasher cleaner package instructions still on my mind. After it cleaned it SO well and realizing it's just Kool-Aid a consumable item I ran it with my dishes to save on water too! Plus I thought it made my silverware shinier too!! Now I just use one package about every 2 or 3 weeks whether it needs it or not! There, see?? Nothing goes to waste!!! Oh and I forgot to mention, I don't need to wear protective clothing or gloves to put this in my dishwasher. AND it's cheaper than the dishwasher cleaner stuff!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Happy Birthday Denise!!!

One of my fellow demonstrators had a birthday this week. But I won't mention her name. But I bed you can guess it!!! LOL I won't tell you how old she is. I won't tell you how many candles were on her cake either but I will tell you that if you were to light those candles a fire extinguisher should be on hand!!! And the neighborhood would have been a little brighter too!!!! LOL

I made this card for my friend (you're still my friend, aren't you??? LOL). I've had the decorative paper that I've never used yet and I've always wanted to make a card or something with that little hedgehog. It's SO cute. SO I played around and wasn't too thrilled with the colors. Maybe it's becaues they are not in the color groups I prefer or use the most. It's always uncomfortable when we step out of our boxes, isn't it?

It was a bit of a challenge but I did manage to get it all together. And I got it out in the mail to be only a couple days late!!! I don't think I've gotten a birthday card to anyone on time this month!! Did I say month? I really mean this year!!! I'm so terrible with that. And it's not like I don't have any cards or can't make a card. I just don't look at the birthday calendar like I should. I use to be a LOT more organized with that. Oh well, better late than never, right???

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

Today's Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers was a lot of fun. Much like one last fall but just a bit wider on the sides. But last fall I did a snowman card. As much as I LOVE snowmen I just couldn't do one. Besides I needed a wedding card!!! Actually I need LOTS of wedding cards!!!

SO here is my card for the Sketch Challenge. I used the bride and groom from the Stampin' Up! "Viola to Go" set. The Mr. & Mrs. and background flowers came from the "Together Forever" set. Not a whole lot to this card but it will get the job done

I used Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bashful Blue and Basic Black card stock. I added Bashful Blue and White grosgrain ribbon to the final top layer and left it simple. There's not a lot of bling on this card!! Pretty clean and simple

For those of you who like measurements, if you print this sketch out, it prints out actual size so you can measure the areas yourself!! I like that feature

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

We're Off to See the Wizard!!!

There is a gal I know who LOVES the "Wizard of Oz." SO I thought I'd make her a bracelet with some photos I found online.

I printed out the photos on my computer using photo paper. Regular copier paper, even the #28 good quality stuff does not do a photo justice like photo paper does. I did use copier paper to test my photos first before the final draft!! I didn't want to ruin the photo paper. And I had to adjust photos to get them small enough to fit.

Once the photos were printed and dry I punched them out using the 1/2" round punch. I then set them in place on top of my prepared brads. I used the brads from the "Build A Brad" set. To prepare them you need to open the prongs, snip a about 1/4" off the end and then curl the end up to make a loop for the jump ring to attach to. I secured the photos with a touch of Crystal Effects. Once I got done adding all the photos I put the clear acrylic pieces from the "Build A Brad" set on top. They are self-adhesive so I just peeled them and set them in place.

Then I opened up the jump rings and linked the pieces all together. I added two red brads on either side of Dorothy. I wanted to give it a "ruby" look. An emerald green would have worked with this theme too! I added a lobster clay clasp and it was done. I'm a bit disappointed in it though. I wanted jump rings to match but I couldn't find any. I did get a brainy idea to take a piece out of the Hodge Podge Hardware set and I was going to open it up and make my own jump rings. Well, I pulled a piece apart and had such a time cutting it. I never did get a piece cut off it so I gave up and went with gold jump rings. I didn't have much of a choice!! She'll be too awestruck to even notice the different colors of metals!!! Well, that's what I'm hoping for anyway!!! LOL

Thank you for stopping by,
Wanda

Completely Out of the Box!!!

I took a GIANT step out of the stamping box here. I used my love for primitive stitching and the Accents & Elements Flower Fusion felt flowers to make this for Sue! Sue is the BEST!! She's my upline and has been VERY supportive of me, very helpful and had a good ear to listen to me!! And she's a good friend!

There's not a lot to explain here. I stitched the wording with DMC floss on muslin and added the flowers. I secured them in place with the brads. I cut a few of the green flowers up so I could use them as leaves. I usually stain dye my fabric but here I used the Stampin' Up! chalks to give the piece an aged look to it.

This was a LOT of fun to do. And these flowers are SO much fun to play with.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

And More Gifts

There was also another person I wanted to make a gift for. Cyndi! She LOVES to see her name on my blog! She's famous now!!! LOL

My niece and nephew went off to college and I bake them cookies (though I have not been too faithful about it lately). Cyndi gave me many tins so I could mail the cookies to them. SO I thought I'd make her something too.

I had gotten my hands on these cute mini album/scrapbooks. Aren't they just adorable???? I added my own personal touch to it in the Boho fashion that Cyndi likes so much and presented it to her on Sunday.

These are very fun to do. You just take them apart and wrap the front and back with your favorite decorative papers and put the album back together. Then decorate away!!!

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Beate's Weekend Challenge WSC44

I was able to find some time this weekend to play with Beat's Weekend Sketch Challenge. She has some fun sketches to play around with.

Her sketch was pretty similar to the one on SplitCoastStampers this past Wednesday. The background part was similar.

I REALLY wanted to use some decorative paper for my background but I did that on the Wednesday sketch. SO I decided I'd make my own background and just run with it. I used the flowers from the Stampin' Up! "Boho Backgrounds" set. I colored in the flowers with Pretty in Pink, the leaves in Certain Celery and white for the dots on the center of the flowers. I sponged all of the edges with Chocolate Chip.

For the flower I used the "True Friend" set and for the birthday part I used the "Think Happy Thoughts" set. I also used the corner rounder to make my scallops on the Chocolate Chip card stock strip. I added some 5/8" Chocolate Chip ribbon to the top of that and on top of that I added a piece of Pretty in Pink ribbon. Before I attached it I took my sponge with Chocolate Chip ink on it and ran it across the ribbon to "dirty" it up a bit. Adding it right off the spool was just too bright. Adding the ink to it toned it down and it just blended right in.

I tied a bow of the 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon to the top and it pretty much filled up the card. I didn't see any areas that I wanted to add any more to. Well, except for the center of the flower. I had colored it in with Pretty in Pink and added Chocolate Chip dots to it. Once I got it layered I didn't like what I saw so I got out the small round punch and punched out a circle and glued it in place on the center of the flower. It was just enough to "finish" off the card.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda