Custom Design: A Bridal Bouquet

Hi! This wedding card was a custom order from a coworker.  She gave me the bride and groom's invitation (second picture below) to be inspired by. I love doing this kind of card! It's my favorite kind of challenge. :-)

This glorious arrangement of blossoms is from the Flourishes Spring Bouquet stamp set (retired), colored with Copic markers, and sprinkled with clear glitter.

The sentiments are from Papertrey Ink's Garden Gild set.  I matted the focal panel on a piece of mirrored gold cardstock, then a piece of burgundy cardstock.

Thanks so much for your visit today!

Golden bees buzzing

In last year's Stampin' Up! catalog & idea book, I found a terrific card that I wanted to CASE (copy and share everything).  Here's the result:

It's very eclectic, and I love it!  The Ton Stamps' Wild Peonies were stamped in Cameo Coral, and overstamped with black splatters from Inspired By Stamping's Create A Cupcake. 

Under the black striped patterned paper is a bit of page from a vintage book. The sentiment pairs Verve's Small Phrases with Everyday Tabs by Inspired By Stamping (stamped in Pool Party).

How about those shiny bees? Wow! They are from Stampotique's Big Bee with Medium Bee set, heat-embossed in gold.

This was a lot of fun to make. It's a wee bit different from my normal style, or maybe it's the color combo that felt different to me.

I appreciate your visit today! Be blessed!

Inspired By A Magazine Tableau

It's been ages since I created an "Inspired By..." card.  I love to be inspired by things around me, like signs on the road, a little girl's bathing suit, a tissue box, framed butterflies and so much more.  I'm at it again with another framed butterfly.  I'll show you the inspiration, which came from maybe Better Homes & Gardens (saw so many magazines during my initial recovery after surgery, I just don't know!)  in just a moment.

I used a sentiment from Hero Arts, and a butterfly from Lost Coast Designs, one of the best sets I received when I worked on the design team at Blockheads.   

After coloring and trimming the butterfly, I applied Glossy Accents liberally to it.  

Gonna play along with the Simon Says Stamp challenge:  'Anything Goes' and at CASology's 'Book' challenge.

When my 11 YO was younger, she was fascinated by the whole series of these I Spy books, including this one about butterflies.

For my U.S. friends, enjoy your Labor Day weekend!  And for those of you around the rest of the world, enjoy your weekend, too.  :-)



Stamps: Butterflies - Lost Coast Designs; With Sympathy - Hero Arts Paper: Vintage Cream, white - PTI Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; Glossy Accents - Ranger; Rectangle die - Spellbinders

Inspired By A Wine Barrel

Happy Father's Day!  I'm sure I don't have too many dads reading this blog, but wanted to shout out to them just the same.  :-)

My husband makes delicious wines as a hobby:  chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, shiraz, pinot grigio, valpolicella and more.  I gave a nod to that hobby by making this card the other night, while brownies were baking for my 15 year old's birthday party (just watch me juggle!):

I was inspired by this photo, found online:

Photo Credit

I used the grapes, the colors in the photo, and the lines of the wooden barrel are echoed in the striped paper.  I used a couple of metal brads, a reference to the bands around the barrel.  The round sentiment tag (that's a word from Technique Tuesday's Simply You) reminds me of the circular shape.

This is genuine vintage twine, found at a thrift store in North Carolina.  I love the creamy patina that time has given to it.  The grape stamp is one of my oldie-but-goodies from Stampin' Up! (Sun Ripened II).

Inside, I paired Technique Tuesday with some Verve.

I'm linking up at City Crafter:  "All About Him".

The Disney-themed costume birthday party was a hit last night, and I hope to post pictures sometime soon.  The birthday girl had lots of fun, and isn't that what it's all about?

Stamps:  Sun Ripened II - SU; Simply You - Technique Tuesday; Purely Sentimental  - Verve Paper: Crumb Cake, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Going Gray - SU; stripe - Julianne - K & Co. Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen, Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: vintage thread Accessories:  brads - SU; distressing tool - Tim Holtz; Copic markers; Classic Tags die - Memory Box; Postage Stamp border punch - EK Success

Inspired By A Pillow

Hi everyone!  It's been AGES since I did an "Inspired By..." post, where I make a card based upon something I see (stuff in magazines/circulars, signs along the road, clothing, etc.).  I thoroughly enjoy this sort of  "self-challenge" and haven't made enough time for it.

At Christmas, I received a catalog from Red Envelope.  I saw this pillow in it and thought it would make an AWESOME card:

Last night I made this as a Valentine for my hubby:

Just lots of punching and one embossed sentiment, from the set Fancy Sentiments by Inspired By Stamping.  Super simple, but big impact, don't you think?

I'm entering here:

• Addicted To CAS - embossing (any type)
• Little Red Wagon - Get Into Shape - repeat a shape (mine are the punched flowers and hearts)
• Word Art Wednesday - anything goes (ya gotta love a challenge where anything is accepted, but more than that, I love the extra-warm reception I always get from the ladies at WAW)

As promised, here are a few pictures of my daughter the night of her high school's recent Winter Ball.

The dress and necklace both came from Forever 21, which is a god-send to parents who need to watch their wallets.  Great fashion at very affordable prices.  ;-)

Thank you all SO much for the great, big cyber-hugs you've sent my way.  They really do help!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Fancy Sentiments - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler - SU
Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko
Other: Heart to Heart, Boho Blossom, Extra Large Bird punches - SU

Inspired By A Carpet Ad

It's been much too long since I've done an "Inspired By..." card.  They are still one of my favorite types of cards to do.  There's inspiration all around me, and I have far too many ideas, but not enough time to translate them into art!  I'm sure that's the case for most of us.  ;)

This magazine ad for carpet has been in my Idea Folder for quite a while now.  Purple's my favorite color, and the pattern in the rug just screamed 'Copy Me!'

I thought right away of my Stampin' Up! Filigree background stamp.  An oldie, but GOODIE!

This Unity stamp is called Go With Your Heart.  The frame is soooo beautiful.  The dragonfly beneath it happens to be on the patterned paper.

A simple scattering of buttons and pearls, all in the same tones for a cohesive look.

Soon I will have some vacation photos to share with you.  We went to a Hawaiian island, the island of Kauai.  It's Heaven on Earth!

Thanks so much for your visit today.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Go With Your Heart - Unity; Filigree - Stampin' Up!
Paper: Pale Plum, Very Vanilla - SU; pattern Flora & Fauna Ledger - K & Co.
Ink: Perfect Plum - SU; Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other:  buttons; pearls; Dotted Scallop border punch - EK Success

Inspired by Framed Butterflies & a goodbye

Happy Tuesday!  I have missed being here on the blog, but these last several days were so busy.  I made a lot of design team cards in advance, did major work in the front yard, went to dinner with the family, took a yoga class, buried a dead baby bunny found in the garden (made me SO sad), took Cristabel to the vet.

That last thing was stressful.  Cristabel HATES to go into her carrier, and I usually walk away with lots of scratches.  It actually went smoothly, to my surprise, thanks to a trick my vet taught me (if you want to know what it is, just email me ;)  Unfortunately, Crista might have asthma (ironic, because I have it too).  The vet heard a little bit of wheezing, but wasn't sure if it was actually a breathing problem, or the fact that she was super-nervous being in the vet's office.  We need to keep an eye and ear on her, to see what is going on.  :-(

As for today's card, I ripped out a page from Country Living magazine's May 2012 issue because it inspired me so.  Check this out:

Those butterflies aren't real; they are paper and available from Blumchen & Co. HERE.  You get 18 butterflies for $2.00.  SO cheap!  I, however, love to make my own.  These are from Lost Coast Designs' Butterflies set.

Here is a Mother's Day card for my MIL:

Challenges entered:

• Runway Inspired - (photo above) - I was inspired by the way the light in the background creates a 'frame', with texture on the white portions (so I embossed my card base); also, if you enlarge that photo, you can see beautiful design and color like a butterfly's.
• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - butterflies

Okay, so now the part about the "good bye".

I've been with Blockheads Paper Arts since December 2011, but my term has come to an end.  Owner Stacey Dunning has been so generous and kind, laid-back and encouraging.  Thank you for letting me be part of your team, Stacey!  I enjoyed every moment.



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Butterflies - Lost Coast Designs
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other: Victoria embossing folder - Cuttlebug; Big Shot; frame die - Spellbinders; rhinestones - Recollections; Copic markers

Inspired by a Honeybee Print - Emboss Resist Tutorial

I've got a tutorial to show you today for the Emboss Resist technique, using the Blockheads set, ATC Honey Bees:

I was inspired by a print, offered as a free download from Victoria Magazine. (there are two prints at that link) You can see the image below HERE as a PDF file.

I love that the stamp set has different words included, so you can create your own sentiment/phrase.  I used gold embossing powder on mine.  The label was kind of a happy accident, and fit perfectly over the honeycomb panel.  A bit of lace and pearls added finishing touches.

Now, please go easy on me; I'm not a pro at tutorials.  :-) Note that I've used only Distress Inks by Ranger on this project, but you can use any dye inks you wish.

1. Rub an Embossing Buddy or dryer sheet over paper,
so you don't get stray 'freckles' of embossing powder.

2. Ink up stamp with VersaMark watermark ink.

3. Sprinkle clear embossing powder over image, and tap off excess.

4. Use heat tool to set image.  I use a wooden clothespin on
small papers, so I don't burn my fingers.

5. Begin layering colors. Antique Linen Distress Ink is first.
Use a light hand and a swirling motion to put the ink down
with a sponge (even a makeup sponge would work.)  Do not
pat sponge on paper; it creates a different look altogether.
Swirl color all the way to the edges of the paper.

6. This is the image after a coat of Antique Linen.
It's too light, so we need to add more colors.

7. Scattered Straw is next.  Pick up color from ink pad with your
sponge.   Dab off color once or twice onto a scrap piece
of paper, so the color is not too intense.  Sponge in a
light, swirling motion almost to the edges of the paper.

8. Time for Frayed Burlap.  Again, pick up color with the
sponge from ink pad and dab off once.  Sponge lightly around the edge
of  the honeycomb image, to the edges of the paper.

9. With Walnut Stain, lightly go over edges of paper.

10. Go back to center of image with more Scattered Straw.
Think of a warm glow, leaving the very center of the image lighter.

11. Make a card base from white cardstock.  Stamp edges with  flowers
from stamp set, using Scattered Straw and Frayed Burlap.

Don't forget the envelope!  I used Scattered Straw and Walnut Stain here.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have on this project.  It was fun to put this together for you!

Play along with  the Blockheads Emboss Resist Challenge by linking your creation with the linky tool below, and be sure to visit the Blockheads blog link for more details:


Thanks for coming by.  I always love when you visit.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: ATC Honey Bees - Blockheads Paper Arts
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Scattered Straw - Ranger; VersaMark - Tsukineko
Fibers: lace - JoAnn
Other: Gold, Clear embossing powders - Stampin' Up!; heat tool; pearls