Life is Good - Rub It On

Morning, all!

Once again I'm using scraps as a jumping off point for today's card.  I had leftover rub-ons from The Robin's Nest that I used on plain cardstock.  A little different style for me....but enjoyed putting them together.

Queen of Cards - Week 4

Morning, all!

For today’s card, I'm continuing with the Queen of Cards challenge from the Cardmaking Facebook Group.  I was intrigued with this week's challenge by all the requirements - specifically the requirement to be 3.5" x 5.5".

I used a Christmas paper pack I got on sale. I just love the colors in this pad.

This is the second Christmas card I made for 2014 already.  Second?  Yes, I made a similar card for the challenge - then more carefully read the instructions and see I missed a requirement.  The challenge was described as being a Tall & Skinny card, so I made a card to fit a business envelope.  Ooops....Wrong size!  But I'm sharing that card as well.

Keep Warm

Morning, all!

For today’s card, I am still with a basic card that lets images be the focus of the card. I love cards like this - so simple to make if you have some fun images.

I used images from the Place in Time collection from Graphic 45.

So, enjoy the card! And....remember....What Day is It?????

Amazing Mother

Hello to everyone,

Hopefully those of you out East have weathered the snow.  By now I hope the "worst" is over for you, and you will soon be feeling some warmth.  Ha, ha, ha...sorry, I just can't quit chuckling as I enjoy a beautiful winter with highs in the 70s.

So I am currently on a countdown to true retirement - 309 days to go.  I am truly enjoying my job - but I don't have enough time to do all I want to do with my card making.  Of course, when I retire, the question may be how that will impact my crafting budget.

At any rate, that is why many of my cards right now are basic.  Have a card to share with you that is perfect for Mother's Day, Mom's Birthday, and just because you're thinking of Mom.  Here it is.

Until tomorrow - have a fantastic day and happy crafting.

Cupcake Frog

I've been working on replenishing my inventory with new birthday cards...so using one of the new cupcake digis was in order - today I chose Cupcake Frog. Everyone will absolutely love receiving a birthday card with this adorable character.

I'm continuing my learning process of filling in digi stamps using Photoshop. This image sports using some texture (cupcake wrapper) and shading (frosting), as well as background highlighting. Don't ask me yet how to do this - I'm still just pressing keys until I get what I want. 

Here is a close-up of the colored digi frog.

Scrap Borders

Hi, all!

For today's card, I really wanted to use up some borders from Graphic 45's Place in Time collection and Halloween in Wonderland collection. I've had all these scrap borders for quite a while and would often take them out, look at them, and then use something else. I suppose I was waiting for an idea to strike. I'm sure that's happened to you. You love a paper, buat it just takes you a bit to come up with an idea for it. Who hasn't experience that!

Anyhow, I decided to add an image from Place in Time - and a butterfly chipboard embellishment from The Robin's Nest.

Collage Card

Morning, all!

For today’s card, I'm continuing using some leftover images from a Place in Time by Graphic 45.  I am intrigued by the simplicity of this card idea.  It's basically just a collage card.

First eClips Test

This is a card I did to test out my eClips when it was new and thought I'd share it here. I love the intricate detail the machine cut - I was never able to get that with my Cricuts. I'm using my eClips much more than I used my Cricuts...my results have just been beyond satisfying!

Recycling Project

Treasure those unforgettable Christmas cards by recycling the card front. I don't generally like to do that with cards I receive....but I couldn't pass up this beautiful image. I teamed it up with a scrap of border from Graphic 45 and a dotted chipboard border to make the perfect card for my family and friends who are snowed under out East.

Queen of Cards - Challenge-Inspired Design

Hi all!

Super late. Keeping it short so I can head to bed. Just sharing my card for the Cardmaking Queen of Cards Challenge. Card must contain a butterfly, dry embossing, 6-9 inchies (all matted - four with a stamped image), sentiment, small bow, and colors red - orange - green.

Not my best work - but I think I hit everything! :D Enjoy!

Leftovers

Hi all! Once again as I've been picking through my scrap piles, I was inspired to find a way to use some leftover images from Graphic 45's Place in Time.

What a Bug!

Hi all!

For this week’s design, it all started with a challenge I am entering requiring a Joy-Fold Card.  I wanted to use a 2 Cute Ink digi as the "hidden treasure" inside.

Front 

As it Unfolds

For my "hidden treasure," I used 2 Cute Ink's recent release "Cupcake Ladybug."  I used WordArt to add a sentiment over the bug.   For those of you following me, you know that I have been trying to learn Photoshop better to color digital images....I had fun with this one practicing some shadowing (cupcake topping) and some texture (cupcake wrapper) - as well as how to give my ladybug a black face without losing her eyes and nose.  I wish I could provide a tutorial for you - but, quite honestly, I just kept hitting buttons until I got lucky!  Hopefully soon I will know the program well enough to provide solid tips.  I do have to say - I may never use my Copics on another digital image.

"Hidden Treasure"

I enjoyed making this special-fold card . . . and I'm off to make another one for the challenge.  You see, I need a lot of birthday cards, so made this a birthday card.  When I finished - ooops - read instructions.  The challenge card needs to be a Valentine's card (requiring hearts should have been my clue!).  So now off to make a Valentine's card.

Miss Kitty Collection

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday! Today I am bringing you a post filled with inspiration from Miss Kitty. Getting rid of some Miss Kitty paper that has been hanging around, complimented by Special Delivery and Glitter Sorbet from The Robin's Nest...and posies from Heartfelt Creations Posy Patch stamp set, all glittered up with Glitter Ritz.

Have a crafty week!

Scraps-to-Treasures Blog Hop - Happy New Year

Here are two cards I made for today's Scrap-to-Treasures Blog Hop.  The theme - Happy New Year.  I completed my project a couple weeks ago.  But last week as I went to post it - I wasn't too sure what happened.  I kind of remember making it....but couldn't remember what it looked like. I remembered I wanted to use a Graphic 45 image from their Place in Time collection that seemed to be floating around my craft table...but when I looked for it, it seemed to have floated away. 
So I created a second project.  As I waded through my scraps for the second card, I came across a lot of baby boy cardstock I used for a project for a coworker.  Since my new year began with finding out our first grandchild due in May is a boy - I thought how appropriate to use these scraps to celebrate my new year!  Thus, the second card is baby blue.  

When I went to photograph the second card - guess what I found!  Yes - the original card I made weeks ago ready to be photographed in my "photo studio."  So here they both are - my two scrappy New Year's cards.

Join the fun by entering your card at Scraps-to-Treasures.

Glitter Crackle with Graphic 45

Hi all! For this week’s Friday card, I went back to hit my scrap pile. I chose some Glitter Crackle from The Robin's Nest and paired it with leftover graphic images from Graphic 45's Place in Time collection.

Enjoy!

You're my cup of tea!

Good morning, all! I'm participating in the Queen of Cards Challenge on the Cardmaking and More Facebook Page.  This week's challenge was to make a Joy-Fold Card.  I made one Tuesday that was, I thought, cute as a bug!  But when I finished and reread the requirements for Queen of Cards - ooops....missed the Valentine's theme.  You can see my first card on the 2 Cute Ink Blog on Monday, as it features one of their new releases, Cupcake Ladybug.

So back to the drawing board....and here is the card I came up with for the challenge.  Anyhow, enjoy!

Great Glitter

Hi all! For today's card, I created another burnished-velvet embellishment, but kept it simple by using a simple background. The flower circle is from Miss Kate Cuttables.

Enjoy!

Another Burnished Velvet Card

Hello and welcome to the middle of January!  As I am staring true retirement in the face (325 days . . . but who's counting?), I secretly wish for every day to fly by.  Love my job, but I do not especially "like" working.  

Hope those of you who are experiencing the severe cold wave are coping well....remember to stay warm!  I keep checking the weather in Michigan and Pennsylvania (our children live there) and see nothing but cold there.

Time to get to some crafting!

You know I like glitter....especially the burnished-velvet technique.  (Step-by-step instructions available at 2 Cute Ink).  The design I used today is from Miss Kate Cuttables - excellent cutting files.  And if glittering the flower embellishment isn't enough....the background cardstock is Glitter Sorbet from The Robin's Nest.

That's it for today.  Have a great day.

Marvelous Monday - Cupcake Birdie

Happy Monday, All!

For this week’s 2 Cute Ink card, I wanted to use the Cupcake Birdie - simple with some patterned paper behind it.  I "painted" the image with Adobe Photoshop - still practicing my skills of painting with the gradient tool.  Makes for a quick and simple birthday greeting.

Happy Sunday!

Hello and HAPPY SUNDAY!  I hope you had a great week and are enjoying your weekend.  : )

On to some glitter! 

I love Miss Kate's Cuttables, especially her Freebies!  Some very nice cutting files here.

A while ago, Miss Kate offered pretty neat circle designs.  These designs are just begging for Elizabeth Craft Design's burnished-velvet technique.  WOW!  Lots of glitter!

This technique is so fun . . . looks like it might take a bit of energy to put together, but well worth the effort!  Step-by-step instructions for creating a burnished-velvet embellishment can be found at 2 Cute Ink's site.

Love the finished image!

Okay, that is it for today.  Have a wonderful week - happy crafting!

Fabulous Fragments - Using More Scraps

I've been on a mission to get rid of my scraps.  Here is another card using all scraps.  Speaking of scraps - don't forget to follow the new Scraps-to-Treasures Blog - a new blog to celebrate scraps.  Follow the blog - tell them I sent you - and we both could win a prize!  They will also be hosting their first Scraps-to-Treasures blog hop for the year - so come back next Saturday to see some inspirational New Year's projects using, of course, scraps!

Ga Ga for Glitter

I’m coming clean – I'm officially addicted to glitter!  My glitter addiction began several years ago when I attended an Elizabeth Craft Designs workshop on burnished velvet.  I am continuing to add to my glitter collection, as it is my goal to have every color of Glitter Ritz!  I've been known to add glitter to everything in sight - including my husband's work boots when for some reason they landed on my craft table.  

While everyone at work complains about glitter piles on the floor when we stock - I was in 7th Heaven last week when I helped move the Christmas picks - full of glitter - including my own work boots!  Even slipping on glitter and landing on all fours (like an animal sliding across ice) didn't curb my enthusiasm.  Regardless - it's one of my favorite embellishments and I'm sticking with it!  Today my post features an example of burnished velvet in the glittered tea cup on my card.

Lacey Punched Borders

Instead of tossing those scraps, use border punches to make make your cards a bit more special!

Bits of Scrap Card

Cash is too short not to use every scrap of cardstock in your craft room. That's my theory, anyway. There is an entire scrappin' group that seems to agree (Scraps to Treasures). Look what I did with a few scraps of Glitter Crackle cardstock from The Robin's Nest!

Yooper Card Series

Happy Snow Day to Family and Friends in da U.P!  

I posted a Yooper card I made for my sister the other day....but then came across all the cards I made for her - so am posting today.  Enjoy!

Bear Collection

Hi Everyone,

Today I am bringing you a card made with Butterfly Bear from 2 Cute Ink's Bear Collection.  The Butterfly Bear captures the playfulness of a relaxing day in a garden.  This stamp makes for very cute Valentine's Day card.

Enjoy the fabulous projects from our designers through the new year.  Have a crafty 2014!

Ninja Turtle

These cute Ninja Turtles are perfect for any occasion, but they they evoke cheeriness in a birthday boy.  Featuring my four-year-old neighbor's favorite super heroes, this card is overflowing with fun.  Add a pop-up birthday sentiment and send off to bring sweetness to a birthday boy!  The turtles are cut from the Cuddly Animals file from SVGCuts.