Treasures

It is going to be a long hot summer and my mom and I are preparing activities for the grand kids to do once school is out.  I am checking into activities that don't cost an arm and a leg, can be done in the coolness of the house or a pool, is not always electronic......KWIM...... and I can participate in without showing my age too much. With 8 to 9 hours a day to fill it can be a challenge to keep minds and hands busy. 

Pictured here in my scrap page is one of the activities that we all enjoy doing together, painting ceramic.  I can see a bit more of that being done this summer.  Maybe I will have to see about ways to make our own molds and such. 

I was able to use some product that I had given to me from one of the ladies I met at the last LSS crop week end. Laura had a number of items she brought with her that she had not used since she had bought them. The buttons are from Making Memories and Laura said she did not want to carry them around any more. I have been working with buttons off and on in my scrapping so I offered to take them off her hands. Phew, I'm glad I found a use for them so soon, it makes me feel lass like a hoarder by using things in a timely fashion.

I ended up doing much more journaling than I had planned and ran out of space in the spot reserved for it. I ended up cutting the strip of paper in three pieces and stacking it on top of each other like a little booklet. Of course the page will have to be taken out of the protector to be able to read the whole thing, but I figure once I am gone and the kids want to reminisce a bit they will take the time.

Paper: Pinkpaislee's Amber Road Collection, SU card stock

Ink: Stickles distress, Copic (on the petal edges) 

Misc: Recollections: Boutique Fleur

Making Memories: Blossoms & Buttons

Tim Holtz: Grunge board key

Zva: Pearls

Websters Pages: ticket

lace from a kit by My Creative Scrapbook Club (which reminds me, I should be getting another package from them this week. It is always fun to see what they put together.)

As you can see I use just about anything I find that I like together to make a page, and this one I am particularly fond of.

Create With a 1 2 3 Kit!

 Have you seem the newest Create Kit at Flourishes??  It is that time of the week to show you what we have created. Then we want to see what you create! We have provided all the designer papers and embellishments you need to create your own cards and projects using a stamp set you own, or a newly purchased one from Flourishes.  We are giving you a few ideas to help get you started on your own 1 2 3 creation. We  have provided an abundance of ribbons and lace long with mosaic tiles and marble vintage brads, there are an abundance of pearls (not shown) in 5 sizes.  All of this at an incredible price.

My first card today is done in some of the darker colored papers that come in the 7gypsies paper pad. The papers are double sided so it is like getting 2 for one.  I have used Spellbinder dies to cut the center panels where I stamped the image from Signs Of Spring on classic white card stock, layered it with black, then adhered it to the last panel.  The shimmery peach ribbon is hand pleated using score tape to hold it in place. I added the gray braid and marble brad to complete the look.

This card was quickly finished and just waiting for a sentiment that can be added on short notice for whatever occasion arises, be it birthday, thank you, thinking of you, just a note, well you get the idea.

All coloring is done with Copic markers but any marker or colored pencil will do the trick. I use Copic most of the time because I can get the result I am looking for in half the time it takes me to color with anything else. Besides, I leave my Copic markers on my table top where they are handy to grab and color.  That and my grand kids have used my SU markers so much that the tips are so bent and squishy that they are hard for me to use without a water brush.

I think this next card is my favorite of the four I have made using Venice.  I have tired to give the card a more feminine look by using the peach papers with lots of white, then add in a little dark brown and a check for interest.

As you can see I made the card a few weeks ago, before Mothers Day. I love the bright colors of the tulips against the muted tones of the 7gypsies paper.  I used the Elegant Post dies to simulate a sign post from which I "hung" a tulip sign. I added a few pearls along one edge of the sign post to anchor it to the wall.

Papers and Embellishments: 1 2 3 Create Kit Venice, white, black CS

Misc: Copic Markers, Spellbinder dies, Elegant Post, Fleur De Lis Accents, Classic Rectangle, Labels

Stamps: Spring Is Sprung  and April Showers

Don't forget to follow the links to Julie, Dawn and Christine to see splended examples of what can be created with Venice using the same papers and even the same stamp set! Totally different looks!!

Here is a little peek as what I have in store for later this week!  I have it on very good authority that fish like green bugs!

Thank you for stopping by and see you later in the week.

Sunny Daze, Warm Beaches

I sometimes wonder how we ended up living to close to the most beautiful beaches in the world and I don't often take advantage of that. Each year we manage to take at least a few trips out to the Gulf and enjoy the warm breezes and pounding surf.  This section of the Gulf does not get may shells that wash up on the beach although I try to find some each time I come out.

I do not care to be out very far in the surf and seldom have a bathing suit on when walking, this day was a little cool and the girls did not have their suits with them anyway so we just walked along the shore for a time. It is not hard capturing photos worthy of scraping with scenery like this!

All papers are from Bo Bunny with the exception of the black used for the title, photo border, and flourishes from a Tim Holtz die.

You can't go wrong with these papers from Bo Bunny, they have combined the best of all worlds with bright colors, realistic images,  and sublet background design. They are also double sided so by turning over bits of left over papers I was able to achieve a coordinated look with very little use of paper. Or maybe I should say by having very little wasted leftover bits of paper that add to my ever growing stash.

There is not much in the way of added embellishments other than paper. Well for some peoples tastes there is plenty of embellishment like the white mosaics, glittery flourishes and the one large pearl to the left.

 I stitched round the larger mat using my trusty little feather weight sewing machine that I keep on my work table. For a few seconds last night I thought I could be on the new reality show that is coming to the Syfy channel about possessed treasures. I was working in my studio when all of a sudden I could hear a small noise behind me and my sewing machine started sewing all by it self. Spooky, until I realized I had put the foot pedal on the counter top, behind the machine, it settled into a small space and the button on the pedal got depressed making the sewing machine start up.  Once I moved the pedal everything stopped.....

 well there goes my change to be on TV.

I am always working on something so stop by again and take a look at what I finish next.

Papers: Bo Bunny Barefoot Collection, black card stock

Embellishments: Crystal Sticker Mosaic, Recollections glitter flourishes, Creative Charms pearl brad

1 2 3 Create Kit

Here is my card that I made using the 1 2 3 Create Kits. These kits are so popular that Flourishes has created additional kits for every two weeks,  if we sell out before the end of the week, then we may just add another for the month. It have been fun using the kit supplies to make different style cards. It is truly amazing at all the different looks you can achieve with one paper pad, marble brads, bronze mosaic  squares, plus loads of ribbon and trim.

Here I made two different cards out of just four sheets of paper. Yes! that is 4 sheets of designer paper for both cards with enough left over to use on a third card. This 7Gypsies paper is double sided with darker colors used in their designs that lends it's self well to a masculine themed card. Having raised boys I am always on the look out for a manly look in my card making.  Sometimes that is hard to find with all of the flowers, cutsie images, and bright colors out there.

The first card was a quick easy one to make, first I stamped a sentiment from the Apple of My Eye set on classic ivory card stock and cut out with Spellbinder Labels Sixteen.  To make the brown frame I used Labels Sixteen again with Labels Fifteen on the inside, then layered it over the ivory paper. 

The ribbon is a to die for shade of teal in crushed satin. The ribbon is 2 inches wide which I thought for a masculine card would look too fru, fru if I tied a bow so I just twisted the ribbon and used score tape to hold it in place.  

I placed the mosaic squares on the diagonal and added a dab of Ranger Distress stickles in the middle of each square.

Using all but one of the papers from the previous card I made this second one to send to a friend who is going through a rough time right now.

I stamped the ship (A Guiding Light) onto ivory card stock, colored with Copic markers in shades of blue and brown with a touch of gray, I cut out the ship and layered it over paper cut using the fourth and fifth die from Spellbinders new labels 21 die set. The little post cards that I added were cut out from the backside design of the dark brown dp.  

I have made a third and fourth card using more of the 7Gypsies create kit and I must say that I like each one I make better than the one before so be sure to check back again to see what can be done and follow the links for totally different looks that can be achived with the same supplies in one coordinated kit.

Dawn Burnworth

Christine Oken

Julie Koerber

Thank you for stopping today!

1 2 3 And it's Gone!

If you would like a change to receive the May Kit of the Month from Flourishes there are just a few left. I have seen some marvelous cards and projects done with this kit. It is so very timely for June weddings with the delicate papers, ribbons, lockets, and brads. It can also be combined with many other images for a variety of occations. 

In my card today I have paired the papers with the floral image from Hello Hyacinthe and sentiment from Country Charm Labels for an "anyday" card.

I stamped on classic white paper with Memento black ink, colored with Copic markers in reds, yellow green, and violet. The image was cut using Spellbinders labels eighteen and scallop classic circles.  I punched the hole in the classic circle with a hole punch and threaded the white linen ribbon through the holes.

Papers from the 5th Avenue kit is layered over pale plum and deep burgundy panels with a bit of lace trim peeping out at the bottom.  I added the vintage brad to the circle panel and popped it up over the designer papers.

With the addition of the sentment my card is complete.

There are more creations to see with Julie, Stacy and Danielle

Great Birthday Catch

This is one of the best stamp sets I have seen for Fathers Day cards and projects in a very long time. Flourishes has done it again, with the art work of Marcella Hawley they have created this Great Catch.

My father died 35 years ago (he was the fisherman) and I have never been in the habit of sending my kids Fathers Day cards, but I did have a birthday coming up (past, by the time this posts goes live, which is a good thing as my son reads my blog! And I would not like for him to see his card before it arrives in the mail) for which this image will work perfectly. 
It also is for this weeks Midnight Madness sketch challenge.

Once I colored my card I knew immediately that Life Of The Party paper pad from Basic Grey would be the papers I wanted to use for my card. I love the browns, designs, and patterns that have been put together for this paper collection. 

I have on occasion had to make "artistic corrections" on errors that have been made on projects that I just did not want or was unable to redo. In most cases it is with writing that I misspelled or inky smudges that I wanted to cover with new wording.   In this case where I added or changed words of the sentiment I did it on purpose. I wanted to use most of the original sentiment but needed it for a birthday card and not a Fathers Day card. I inked on the same background paper so it is a little hard to see in the photo but the word birth and son are added over the top of Fathers and guy.

I have submitted entries off and on for the last 8 months to a year.  I like having a "starting point" on a project like colors, a sketch, or inspiration to get me started on a card or scrapbook page. The sketches at Priscillastyles fits the bill.

If I have at least one starting point it takes at least 30 minutes creative thinking time, you know, the time you spend thinking about what you want the end creation to look like... With two starting points, the stamp set and a sketch, well then that takes off loads and loads of time.  Then all I have to do is find the image I want to play with, then papers that will work with the image and sketch and away I go.......... well so much for getting my studio purged and decluttered!

There is a great catch on Flourishes blog this week if you want to check it out!

From This Day Forward, Wedded Bliss!

Elegant as well as timeless, anyway you stamp it!! 

 And best of all there is no coloring, what more could you ask for with this newest Wedded Bliss set designed by Lauren Pope.  When you need a wedding card in a hurry, like me, this is the set to grab, stamp, and go.

I paired the stamp with the elegant designs from the May Kit of the month.

I stamped the image on vellum and put a double frame around it using Spellbinders nesting rectangles and scalloped rectangles then popped it up for added dimention. That was one of the first Spellbinder dies I acquired with great trepidation, I mean how hard is it to cut paper into rectangles? It happens to be one of my most used sets along with the classic circles, because I KNOW how hard it is to cut inside a rectangle to make a frame.

I used both the linen ribbon and the vintage lacey trim that comes in the kit. I made a double bow out of the linen and topped it with one of the larger brads from the card of 9 brads, and added two pearl pin that have been in my draws for years. At the end I could not resist and added some rhinestone swirls. I thought every good toast needs a few fireworks.

I stamped a small sentiment at the bottom and this card is ready to go in the mail!

Bottoms Up!

Today's card was built from the bottom up!! I don't know how most of you create your cards but I usually start with the stamped image, color it, then decide how I am going to build a card around that image. Not this time, this time I picked out the bottom dp then the layer that went underneath it, the cream color.  After that I choose the dp with the dove and the two layers under it, plus I already had the bow made from the previous card that I ended up not using  for that one.

Now after I had all of the layers on my card, along with the ribbons and flower, I found what space was left for my stamped image.  The blue bells from the Spring is Sprung stamp fit the bill.  I wanted to mimic the colors in the flower the dove is holding so I colored the bluebells a red violet. I did not think I needed a sentiment for the outside of my card as it has a poem on it already.

Papers and embellishments are from the 5th Avenue create kit with card stock from my scrap bins. I colored them with the Copic markers pictured. The ceramic holder I painted myself during a recent trip to Kil n  Time.  I found that it comes in handy to hold the markers I am currently using (those 6 for this one) and makes a great holder to display & photograph my card.

I will have one more card tomorrow with this set and a new release stamp from Flourishes.

Thank you for stopping by.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!

Create Kit Time

It is that time of month again when Flourishes presents you with a coordinating card kit for your purchasing pleasure. What a feminine, elegant kit this is.  With our 1,2,3, Create Kits - you have three essential elements in one kit - paper, ribbon and embellishments all color coordinated to make card making easy! This kit features a 32 page pack of 6 by 6" decorative paper by Melissa Frances, 12 French white Prima Fairytale Roses, a 9 pack of elegant vintage brads in two sizes and two styles, 6 vintage trinkets in lock and key style, 1 yard of pink silk crushed ribbon (1-1/2" wide), 2 yards of 5/8" white cotton linen ribbon, 1 yard of antique pinked lace trim.

This is the first card I made using the 5th Avenue create kit................. It took me forever to come up with a design then many photographs to get one that shows the color well. I learned one thing while making this card that you would think I would have learned a long time ago.  You need plenty of contrast in multiple layers when using papers that are so close in color.

I used paper from the 5th Avenue collection by Melissa Frances, these papers have a vintage look to them and have coordinating stickers.  Melissa Frances  is one of the paper companies that I have admired for their vintage look and their soft feminine look of the 5th Avenue series. I am so pleased that they have started making the 6x6 paper pads in the same design as their 12x12 collections but with the small scale graphic design desired for card making.

When designing my card I used only the papers and ribbons, in fact I used some of all three ribbons. The pink crushed silk brings out the pinks in the paper while the antique lace adds to the vintage look, then I added the white linen as a fourth "strip" down the right side.

I used the sentiment from Motherly Love which I stamped on MF paper and cut with Spellbinders

 Fleur De Lis Rectangles and the F D L Accents. The vintage looking lady sitting on the left side was cut from one of the papers and added last. 

This is just the beginning of what looks can be achieved using the same kit. Take a look at these!!

Stacy Morgan

Danielle Kennedy  

Now that you have seen a card that took me hours to design and make, come back tomorrow and see a card that took me only minutes to make (same kit) and I like it even better.

National Scrapbooking Month

And what a way to celebrate it by going to your local scrap book store to check if they are having any classed, crops, or specials.  I have spent the last four days at my LSS and put 75 miles on my car going back and forth. The store is not that far away but two of the 4 days I could not spend the 10 to 15 hour days there all at one time so it required two trips a day.  

I had a wonderful time, I met old friends and made a few new ones along the way.  One lady kind enough to share her time, talent, knowledge, and her Gypsy. A Gypsy is a hand held mini design studio that has (if you purchase them) tons and tons of letters, shapes, and phrases that alow you to cut inticate elements for a layout.  A Gypsy will be going on my wish list for this year or next.  Can you tell I had fun, and once Laura showed me how fast and easy it was I kept going back to her work area to see if she would do just one more, after all she had just about every Cricut cartridge ever made.

What is a Cricut, pernounced like the insect, you say? That is an electronic paper cut work machine. I just have a  few font cartridges like the title I made the the following page.

And speaking of pages, I was able to complete 19, for some that is not very many pages but for me it is huge. That is more than a months worth of work...........did I tell you I was slow?  One reason is I usually don't have much of a plan on what I am going to do, just the pictures and some papers that match the colors in my pictures then maybe a few embelishments.

I have to admit, this page did not take long to do, I think I spent the most time appling glue to the letters of Christmas cheer and sticking them to my page, that and coloring the border swag at the bottom of the picture. This page is a combination of sticker, stamped and colored images, a flower, and cut letters with a little net ribbon thrown in.

It was a very warm year for decorating the tree, as you can see my DGD is sitting in an open window with green grass and shrubs. It is often warm late in November and we usually have green grass at Christmas time.

The stickers are Bo Bunny with Fancy Pants designer paper. The ribbon is from May Arts and the flower is from my stash, I think Prima, a few years ago.

I am suppose to be making cards for Monday but have not gotten any done this week. May be in a day or two.  Glad you stopped and I will be posted more of from my scrapping week end.