Bliss.........

So, I'm having a bit more success on my canvases than my art journal - but I'm still having fun learning new techniques.  Holy cow - I'm following like 6 new art journaling blogs - so that's fun!

Here's a journal page I made this week after thinking about our 16th wedding anniversary:

I'm pretty happy with the background. Kind of reminds me of a chalkboard AND Venetian plaster at the same time.  I just took black and white acrylic paints and then dragged them around with an old gift card.

I added strips of washi tap and then swipes of more paint using my finger.  Added some Memory Box hearts too.  You can't tell from the picture - but the heart in the lower center of picture is actually a wood heart with glitter glued to it. Looks pretty neat in person as the 'dot' to the "i"

I looked through my stash and found these postage stamp stickers.  I was limited on what I had - so I was trying to have it read "2-15-13"

For fun - I added a Studio G bride and quickly colored her in with a white gel pen!

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!!!!!!


Thanks for your visit!

RS50 - Happy Birthday

Wow - I've been making A LOT of birthday cards lately! I guess you can never have too many right?  This one I made following the Retro Sketches #50 layout:

Super easy layout and very minimal stamping!  I used MME paper and die cut a PTI bookmark, a Memory Box flower and a Sizzix label.  Then stamped a PTI sentiment and random bursts.  I added some washi tape too!

Here's the layout:

I'm also going to enter this in the Catered Crop "polka dot recipe swap quickfire"

Thanks for your visit!

I'm so sorry

Hiya Friends!  Hope you are well today.  I made this card last week for a friend who had to put her dog Brandy down.  She was 14 years old, which is quite old for her breed, but even still - it is a tough loss for them.

When I saw the Mojo#270 sketch - which was two week's ago - I kept it unread in my Google Reader because I liked the sketch and knew I wanted to use it even if I missed the deadline.

I used papers from My Mind's Eye pack, which I just love the pink/brown combo.
I die cut hearts from a Verve die and the heart border is Memory Box die.
The sentiment is Studio G and I forget who makes the pawprints.

I hope this gave some comfort to my friend.  Have a great day!


Thanks for your visit!

Tag wrap up post!

OK - I've about had it with tags!! LOL  So, today, I'm posting the remaining ones I made for my hubby's gift baskets:

Hero Arts reindeer embossed in black and colored with Distress Markers on watercolor paper.

Memory Box dies cut from green & red paper and Memory Box santa again embossed in black and colored with Distress Markers

Easy Peasy - Inky Antics stamp colored with Distress Markers

Lastly, this one I laid down red/white striped washi tape across tag leaving space in between.  Then I used green Distress Markers and perfect pearls for a nice shine between washi tape. I stamped sentiment on a thick vellum and wrapped around. Finally, embossed a Memory Box image and added bling for the lights.

If you're up for some more pictures...........here's how the basket-filling process went.  

I'll remind you......I had to do THIRTY of them.

Fresh from the store:

Fresh from the grocery store.  Yes - I wish I was an extreme coupon-er at this point!

Packed up!

OK - had to call in the reserves.  Mom is a PRO at cellophane wrap. So, I continued to pack the baskets and the pro wrapped them!!!

Buddy was NO HELP!!!

Ta-Dah!!!!!!!!

Completed!!!!!!

 Have a wonderful Monday!!!!! I hope to get around for blog visits today!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Birdie Greetings

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!   Hope you're able to spend the day with family and friends and be thankful for all that you have!  I know I am :)


So my cousin-in-law, Julie's birthday was yesterday. I asked for her card to be mailed while we were away (Hopefully it got to her).  Here's what I made her!

She and her husband Vin love birds - so I thought it would be fun to gather up my bird stamps to make her a card 'from the whole flock'.  We've got many birds here:  Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn, Memory Box and Studio G.  There were even more inside, but I failed to take a picture of it BEFORE writing my greeting - but it was just as cute :)

And btw, Julie has put a kabash on people buying penguin things for her husband, since he collects penguin 'things' so you know I just couldn't resist adding one to her card :)

Oh..........and I must show you what was awaiting us when we got home from Italy:

There are about 50 paper roosters glued on to sticks. Plus there are three at our front door along w/ a birthday sign for Frank.  Roosters are a running joke in our family.........I'm sure you haven't seen the last of these! ;)

Thanks for your visit!

CASology#15 - I love you

The CASology challenge #15 this week is "Night".  I ended up making this card and THEN found the challenge - so it was a nice coincidence.

I used Memory Box City Scape dies.  There are two - one is solid and one has the 'windows'.  I cut one 'black' window out and replaced it with a piece of yellow paper.  I used a Simon Says word bubble die and repeatedly stamped PTI hearts and a sentiment.  For the background I used a Hero Arts stamp in silver.

Same exact thing, but I colored in the buildings and used a different PTI sentiment.

I've been MIA this week.......just haven't been crafting and/or blogging.

You've got until Sunday at noon to play:

Thanks for your visit!

S{CRAP} on my desk!

A few weeks ago, Kristina Werner posted a video of a card she made using the scraps she had on her desk.  As I looked around my desk on Tuesday - I was inspired to do the same.  I keep a lot of scraps on my desk........so there was a lot to work with!

Here's what I started with:

I had a few die cuts, chevron embossed background, stamped paisley background, washi covered heart, some burlap and just some other 'crap'  :)

I laid things out on my desk that I felt went together and was able to put together FOUR cards!

Holy S{crap}!

So..........here's what I'm calling my S{crap} cards!  LOL

 S{craps} plus a Simon Says sentiment, PTI Owl, Cuttlebug embossing folder and some bling.

S{craps} plus a PTI wheat stamp, PTI impression plate for card base and buttons.

S{craps} plus a DCWV piece of plaid paper, PTI sentiment and felt acorn.

S{craps} plus silver ink for paisley panel, ribbon and PTI sentiment.

What do you think? 

I was actually patting myself on the back with these! 

Do you use your scraps or just chuck 'em?

Thanks for your visit!

More Fall Cards

Are you getting tired of my Fall cards yet?  Hope not!  I've got two more to show you today and I'm going to finish out the week with more! Watch out!

I'm am still creating cards using the Impression Obsession leaf stamp that I stamped out last week. I guess I went a bit crazy huh?  But it was fun to use the stamp in different ways.

This first card used 'second generation' stamping on watercolor paper with my Distress Markers.   I cut out the image using my nesties and sponged a bit.

 I layered that on glittery brown cardstock. Then used a PTI woodgrain impression plate and layered some color over that to give it some dimension.  Used up some scrap DCWV paper and a Studio G stamp and one more fall card was complete.

For the second card - I thought I'd try my hand a collaging..........which needs some PRACTICE!

I took a Tim Holtz tag and used a few different stamps to create the collage.  You can still see some of the Impression Obsession leaves floating around on the card.  The tag was so big, I ended up tearing the bottom off.

I stamped the card background with a Stampin' Up stamp I bought at my LSS 'consignment sale along with two PTI sets! SCORE!  You see that material on the card?  My hubby bought some new shoes and they came in these fabric bags, so I decided to use some of that on the card.

So - there are two more cards!  I'll be back with more :)


Thanks for your visit!

50th Anniversary Pop-Up Card!

Happy Sunday!!!!!!!!!!  Well, last night was my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary party  - so now - I get to show the card I made for them! I decided to do a pop up card and followed Darlene's instructions on her post (LOVE HER!)

It all started very elegant on the outside.  I used my Memory Box flower die and embossed the background with a PTI impression plate. Added a gold button to the center of the flower and used my Stamping Bella sentiment on a nesties die.

Then it went a bit a whimsical:

I wanted the red paper to represent the 'red carpet' this royal couple was standing on :)

I used the coordinating Stamping Bella stamp colored with my prisma pencils.  I added a Lawn Fawn banner and alphabet and then a There She Goes Ribbon die - embossed in gold.

Here's the side shot of the pop-up:

And a close up:

 I used gold acrylic accents for their crowns and stickles for their 'diamonds'.  I had a lot of fun making this card!

But picture taking was quite a task.  I took pictures of the card on three separate days trying to get my 'best shots'.  One day - this is what I had to compete with:

Buddy would not get off so I could take the pictures! LOL

Hope you have a great Sunday!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Happy Labor Day!!!!!!

Wow - it's been a while!  Hope you have something fun planned today. We'll be  hanging at the pool if the weather cooperates........

So............the BIG news is DESTINY GOT ADOPTED YESTERDAY!!!!!!  Along with another one of our CT Humane Society dogs Chi Chi.  Here's a picture (although blurry) of her new family:

When we got the call that she was going home - Frank and I hopped in the car and drove up to say goodbye. I gave the new mom my email address - so hopefully she'll keep in touch.  I will miss Destiny GREATLY!

I also have a quick card to show - this has sat on my work desk for a week and I finished it up Sunday morning for my friend Jim (even though it has flowers on it - oops)

I took the picture using my cell phone AFTER giving him the card!!

I used my new Memory Box tree/moon stamp and a PTI owl and sentiment.

I really don't love it (Sorry Jim - my next card for you will be MUCH better)

I kind of 'forced' this card because my mojo went out the window.  Hopefully it comes back soon!

Well, have a great day!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Miss You!

Happy Monday to you!  Hope you're weekend went well! Here's a Stamping Bella image that I colored up a few weeks ago with my Distress Markers.  I finally got around to making a card and yes - there's even some stitching on it, but lets not pay too much attention to that ;)

I die cut some Memory Box hearts and then used my Distress Inks to color them in - using the 'smoosh' method.  Then I added some Lawn Fawn letters for the sentiment.  She looks like she's missing someone, right?

OK - not too chatty.................enjoy the day!

Thanks for your visit!

SFYTT-Aug & PC19 - Thanks

I was feeling the need to color up a Memory Box image - so I grabbed my "Adore" stamp.

I colored up the image with my prisma pencils and popped up the flowers.  I colored the background with Distress Inks and added some water splotches.  I really didn't want to have the "Adore" on it - so I slit the image and ran ribbon through the front to cover it up.  Using the Sketch For You To Try August layout - I put the card together AND I was so excited to see that my card actually worked great with the {Pin}spirational Challenge#19.

Here's a close up:

Here are the two challenge:

Hope you have a terrific Friday!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!