Funky Spring Ducks

I think the little duck on the end perfectly embodies the sentiment











Card Details:

Image: Missy B Designs

Sentiment: Stampabilities

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring: Copics

Tools: N/A

Embellies: CTMH baker's twine, Studio 18 rhinestone

Jump for Joy

You may recall I mentioned joining an SCS swap for Stampin Up stamps, a while back. I missed posting about a few of the interim cards, but I am back with the most recent. The theme due in March was "Jump for Joy". I knew immediately what stamp set to use, but as usual, the rest of it was up in the air. (Ha! No pun intended)

Came across this sketch while googling. My kangaroo circles were already cut and colored; I could not have found a better fit!

Since I was cutting it close with the due date, there may have been some jumping for joy when I discovered it







Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown ribbons

Butterfly Blessings

In the Sisterhood this round, the theme is Blessings, with the request to include a butterfly.

"So long as we are loved by others,
I would almost say that we are indispensable;
and no man is useless while he has a friend."
- Robert Louis Stevenson
















Card Details:

Image: SU, Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Color Box Chalk Archival, Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring: N/A

Tools: SU punch

Embellies: Unknown ribbon

Christmas Critters, Sorta

I cannot resist buying cute critter stamps, and I have to hold myself back from overloading on Holiday images, so I was sure I had piles of Christmas Critters. Turns out, I don't. Lots and lots of wintery ones, but only one or two that are clearly Christmassy. One was too small, and the other too large. In true Goldilocks fashion, I chose a winter one that is just right. The size anyway; hopefully the hostess will like it for the holiday, too. 

Perhaps they are watching Santa load his sleigh...















Card Details:

Image: Stampendous

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU, SU dp

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Mini Snowflakes Lawn Cuts die

Embellies: Gelly Roll glitter pen, Liquid Applique, unknown ribbon
Special Thanks to Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 (#2-74)

Serene Grace

I joined a new swap over on SCS. It is a monthly themed swap, using Stampin Up! stamps primarily. Sounds fun, right? First theme was released yesterday and it is "Serene Grace". Huh. Makes my brain go to something religious. But that is not my style at all. I do not own a single religious stamp, nor do I wish to. (ok, that is not completely true, I own one. It was a gift for my sister in order to make a gift for my brother cuz the image was so close to a quilt she had made for him. Ironically, neither of them are religious either)

I googled "serene" and I googled "graceful" and came up with a great idea. Only problem? My image would not be SU. Back to the drawing board. Keeping my google results in mind, I opened drawer after drawer of stamps, and an idea struck. And every single stamp in it was the right brand!

Kind of mellows you right out, doesn't it?




















Card Details:

Image: SU

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU, vellum

Ink: Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: water mister, 1/16" hole punch

Embellies: White embossing powder, white brads

New Life

Let me start by saying I love, love, love, Love, LOVE this theme!

Every once in a while a swap is posted that really gets my imagination flowing, and I cannot wait to jump in. Even then, though, the card I create seldom translates from brain to paper the way I envision. But this time, this theme, this sketch, this card, embodies that rare moment when it all comes together perfectly.

Maryann is our hostess this time around in the 'Hood. And by this time around, I mean for March/April (I have gotten rather ahead of myself in the card-making department). Here is what she wrote: "March and April remind me that spring is coming. Along with spring comes new life: of grass, the gardens, flowers, the baby deer, all the new baby chicks, and all the creatures of this earth. Let's make a card for a new life. It could be a baby card, flowers in bloom, etc. Let your imagination run wild. Have fun!"
Immediately I knew what stamp set to use, and as soon as I saw Tuesday Morning Sketches (#286), it all came together in my mind. All that was left was to get it out onto (into?) paper.

Card Details:

Image: SU

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: SU punch(es), MFT die (grass)

Embellies: Unknown ribbon

Whipper Snapper in Color

Once again, Barb is hosting her Whipper Snapper (or Penny Black, but I did not join that one) swap. This time around, we are to use our favorite color combo for crafting. For me, that depends on my mood, the stamp, or what catches my eye at any given moment. My newest WS stamp (that I have not already used in a previous swap with Barb) is a flamingo, so on the day I created this card, my favorite color combo was pink, more pink, and a little pink for variety's sake.

Card Details:

Image: Whipper Snapper

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities

Embellies: Generic ribbon

Let's Get Naught-y!

I have to admit, it was not until I was checking the exact title of the Sisterhood's March/April theme, that I realized the Jan./Feb. theme had one, too! I only saw the nautical part of the theme, not the naught-y part in the title. Mine clearly does not have that last twist, as I made a Sympathy card. Oops Fortunately, this month's hostess, Kelly, was happy with what I made.

I did not realize the challenge blog where I got this sketch was defunct until after I had made my card. I have since deleted it from my bookmarks, so I cannot even give them credit. My apologies; I never really expected I would get around to blogging it. (2/20/14 Edited to add: Hold the presses! I found it. The sketch came from Sketch N Stash Challenge Blog. I found it while looking for the hostess of the sketch challenge for the card in my next post. Yes, usually I do save these things, but again, never really believed I would blog it)







Card Details:

Image: Love You to Bits

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: Reinkers, alcohol

Embellies: Generic baker's twine, unknown brads

Happy (Humorous) Birthday, Barb!

I think of myself as a rather entertaining person; I can usually get a good guffaw out of ya at least once in a conversation. But I will admit, coming up with an idea for a humorous birthday card stumped me. Over the course of a few days, whenever it would cross my mind, I put in varying search terms in Google Images to find something funny that I could replicate. Nothing too difficult, as I was going to need to make multiples. 

Finally, FINALLY, I hit pay dirt. A sentiment made one of my stamps jump to the forefront of my mind. It would be complicated, as it would involve much detailed cutting and numerous maskings, but I have plenty of time (cards are not due until October, after all); I decided to go for it. 

This time around, The Deconstructed Sketch (#111) provided inspiration for the layout. 

About five minutes in, it became very clear, that the idea was beyond my abilities to produce once, never mind eight times. A quick search through my birthday drawer and I found another image that would work just fine; and a card was born.

I alternated between punches for the border. At first I had the candles dripping red wax (different punch than shown here), but Princess A stated that it looked more like blood, which had also crossed my mind. Not exactly festive.

I punched icicles, turned them upside down and put them along the top, and she agreed it could pass for flame. All those candles would produce a mighty blaze. 





With the way Barb and Jeanette are always ragging each other, I think this card's message is perfect. 








Card Details:

Image: Hero Arts

Sentiment: American Art Stamps, computer generated

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, SU punch, Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown brad

Aprils 15th Anniversary

The hostess for July/August in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is April. She has requested, in honor of her 15th... 

Anniversary cards. 

UGH, April, not my forte. An anniversary is not something I have ever celebrated, and is not really on my radar of occasions for which to make cards. But, I searched and searched and searched and searched and searched (you get the picture) and finally came up with an idea. Fortunately, Tuesday Morning Sketches (#208) had a sketch that fit my image and sentiment perfectly.

 

















Happy Anniversary, April and Michael!!!




Card Details:

Image: Elzybells

Sentiment: Elzybells

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, Nestabilities

Embellies: Stickles, generic dimensionals

What Happened to Flopsey?

Some weeks ago, LJ opened a swap for a stamp company I do not own and have no desire to acquire. I checked out Linda's stash, but nothing jumped out at me. She and I discussed it and decided to request LJ host a My Favorite Things swap so I could join it. (Sure, I could have hosted it myself, but I really wanted to join an LJ swap.)

Here we are more than 30 days later, and I have just finished my cards. But, since they are not due for 20 more days, I am actually ON TIME!!!

Back to MFT... What happened to Flopsey?? I went on the site to see if there were any new Flopseys I needed for this swap and there was not a single one! I read a little further only to find out Flopsey was discontinued?! WHAT?!? How could they do that to this bunny that reminds me so very much of Princess A's own special Mel??

[This was Mel on Princess A's first First Day of Fifth Grade (I say first First because she had a second First Day when we moved). He is sitting on the front steps waiting for her to come home from school so he can present her with the gift we made for her while she was away.]






I cannot believe that my six sets of Flopsey are all I am ever going to have of him. I guess Mel will have to live vicariously through the critters of some of my other stamp sets instead...

I found the sketch for this card on Sketch Saturday (#266) after reading Kelly's post about it. I had never heard of this blog before, but it is now bookmarked and I hope to continue to find inspiration there.

  


















Card Details:

Image: MFT, Artful Inkables, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento, SU

Tools: Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, IO Mega Mount, SU punch

Coloring: Copic markers, Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Unknown dimensionals

Thank You to Yoda

When Princess A was just barely three, she liked to sing into the microphone on my computer and have me play it back for her. I decided to use this opportunity to my advantage and had her sing Happy Birthday to various people and then I would email them the track. One of them was to Laura, but Princess A, being just three did not pronounce Ls or Rs very well. The resulting line was, "Happy Birthday Dear Yoda". Laura has been Yoda ever since.

Fast forward to 2013. Yoda is now on the Management Team of my Chorus; her position being Corresponding Secretary or Communications Manager or something like that. Anyway, she was talking after Contest about needing to send cards, and I jumped in and said, "What kind of cards do you need? I will make them for you".
She said she needed three congratulations and one thank you and that she would need more in a few weeks to send a "love gift" to the chorus and quartet competing in Hawaii. When I got home, I remembered this as she needed multiple thank yous and one of something else, whose theme I could not recall. Oops! What can I say it was a long, busy weekend and I was tired. (But I won some pretty medals )

As soon as I realized that the thank you image was flowers, I decided to make lots (16 to be exact) so I could send them for a swap as well. (Soon after I had signed up for two spots in Barb's Fabulous Flowers swap, the hostess for May/June in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards picked flowers as her theme as well. That is a lot of flowers!) It is hard to tell in the scan, but the center of eight of the falling flowers is a pearl. Without further ado, here are the cards that Yoda will be sending and will also go to the SOTC swap: 

Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up!

Sentiment: (SU)

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: SU

Tools: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page (Corner)

Coloring: N/A

Embellies: Viva Pearl Pen











On a related note, I posted this to Yoda's Facebook Wall this morning:

 

Planting for Thanksgiving

When I read that this month's theme (and by this month I mean March/April) for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is "What's Cooking?", my first though was my little Inky Antics chefs. They have been staying with Linda for a while, but she said she could send them back home again. I was not, however, positive that that was the direction I wanted to go, so I went sketch challenge blurfing for inspiration. 

I browsed at least five different challenge blogs, but it was not until I saw Freshly Made Sketches(#76) that I was inspired. To the stamp room I went and started opening drawers. Suddenly I remembered I had a fruits and vegetables drawer! On top was this lovely set from The Angel Company (now out of business) and I knew right away what I was going to do. 

Embossed lines on the brown card stock evoke planting rows (or that was the plan anyway). My first thought for the designer paper panel was to find something kitchen wallpaperish but the ones I found were too busy; I opted for the muted print instead. The sketch calls for a sentiment, but I did not know what to say. First I tried "Happy Thanksgiving" cuz these are all (intentionally) Thanksgiving veggies, but, no wait, they are seed packets and should have planted long before the holiday. Next I looked at "Thinking of You" cuz I am thinking of you as I plant the veggies for our Thanksgiving dinner, but that seemed too much of a stretch. Truth is I am not a fan of sentiments - what if the sender wanted to say something different with this card? It took a while, but I finally decided upon a plain knotted ribbon instead.

Originally I was planning to make a tomato seed packet, but then I suspected that Jeanette does not like tomatoes, so I went with corn. At least it gave me a little color contrast against the carrot and pumpkin. When the card was all put together, I felt it needed a little something, so the "O" in corn got a little jewel. Livens things up a bit don't you think?

Card Details:

Image: The Angel Company

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Basic Grey ribbon, unknown bling

What This Woman Wants

I have missed stamping and swapping and all the friendships I have made online along the way. As soon as I finished my 'Seasons of the Forest' cards, I went looking for another swap. Barb (another favorite SCS'er) had a new swap, "What Women Want". I read the description and headed into The Refuge. There on my desk was my one and only Pure Innocence stamp from MFT. I had not yet gotten around to putting her away after she had arrived several weeks before, mostly due to the fact that my desk, floor, shelves, etc had been completely buried for many months. Fortunately, last weekend I thoroughly, though admittedly not completely, cleaned the Refuge. Serendipity; It was as though she was waiting for this moment.Too hokey? OK, well, there she was on the desk anyway.

Next I went to Tuesday Morning Sketches(#188) for my plan, as I have long been a fan. (I'm a poet and I did not know it) (I guess I am more tired than I realized, sorry)

This woman loves to watch and listen to Princess A make music. She has played the violin since she was seven and it is a joy to see her on stage, rare though those occasions may be. On Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th she was due to participate in the Eastern Regional Middle School Music Festival, invitation by audition only I have to brag, but it has been postponed for a week due to our excessive snow fall on the 8th. Therefore on March 16th, I will be there in the audience excitedly waiting to see her and the rest of the orchestra.

What a woman wants is to see and hear her talented, hard-working and beautiful Princess perform on the violin






Card Details:
Image: MFT
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP
Ink: Memento
Tools: Marvy Corner Rounder punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Martha Stewart ribbon, SU button



This post is also being linked to Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog (Week 42) - Anything Goes!

Autumn Leaves in Winter

It has been a long time since I have done a card swap, but I promised myself that I would not sign up until the cards were actually finished. This week I discovered that one of my favorite hostesses had opened a new Forest swap, due in July. Plenty of time, but my goal was to be the first to arrive.

This theme is 'Seasons in the Forest'. I looked through my nature stamps and found the perfect one. I then CASE'd a card from a long ago class at my LSS (What can I say, I was rusty)

Princess A came in as I was finishing to tell me, "You do realize it is not Autumn, right?" Newly minted fourteen-year-olds are ever so helpful

Without further ado, here is my Seasons of the Forest card:

I sent it to the Post Office with Main Squeeze and got confirmation from that it was on its way before I sent a PM to Jeanette to tell her my cards were in the mail, so I needed to sign up for a spot.


Card Details:
Image:Memory Box
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento
Tools: SU Scallop Edge punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Ranger Glossy Accents, SU button, SU Baker's Twine, unknown ribbon

Bird Watching

Darlene was the hostess for this round of Mystery Image swap (I know this is the first my loyal readers have heard of it; I admit, I have not been so regular with the posting), and gifted us all with a very pretty, but detailed image from D. Morgan (Stamps Happen). I took one look and thought, "Oh my! Where do I begin?!" Then I put it away for many weeks...

...And listened to what others said. There were so many comments about 'messing up' the frame, I knew I no longer wanted to attempt my original plan; instead I eliminated the frame completely and fashioned one of my own. 

I layered the image at a slight angle and used my brand spanking new, even though it had been  discontinued (shout out to my LSS for managing to get some in stock this past December!!), Tim Holtz Texture Hammer on the brads for an added bit of interest(?). Well, I like the effect, anyway.

Since I never know exactly how to color kitties so they look like real, I just left them alone. Some kitties are white after all; like my own sweet Iisis. 

In the midst of typing this post, I turned and discovered, that two of my babies were posing, hoping to be famous in blogland!

To the left is Osiris and Miss Miri is on the right. Someday they will figure out that the bird watching is much better in the back of the house, where the bird feeder is.

Card Details:

Image: D. Morgan for Stamps Happen

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: unknown for image, SU, unknown dp

Ink: unknown

Tools: Tim Holtz texture hammer

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Recollections brads

Love my Elzys!

Today was my first foray back to stamping in a few weeks. What better way to come back than with a card for "My Favorite Stamp Evah" swap? I had trouble with this one only in that it was so hard to choose a stamp - I don't have one favorite. I sure do adore those Elzybells, though!

Given the chance, Princess A would spend all her time in the swing; alas there is school, and violin lessons, and homework, and practicing, and chores, and... well, you get the idea. But this little Elzy has no such constraints.

The sketch is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday (#47) with one of the elements removed, which seems to be my method lately.

Thanks for sticking with me through my 'radio silence'. I hope to be able to find more time to stamp (among other things) again.







Card Details:
Image: Elzybells Art Stamps
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: GP, SU, DCWV
Ink: Memento
Tools: Nesties, SU punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: paper piecing

Two Embossing Folder Challenge

Don't you hate when you finish a card (or even worse a set of 8) and you see a bunch of things that you could have done differently, but just don't have the time? That is how I feel about this card. Well, to be truthful, there is really only one thing I can think I should have done differently (other than the whole card itself) and that would be the ink color of the sentiment. Should have matched the green I think. Or at least tested that to see which was better.

I could not think of any embellies to add, so there are none. At least I fulfilled the swap requirements of using at least two embossing folders.

I admit it, I do not love this card and I feel guilty to sending it to Paola, as I do really like her. Of course, one of the great things about Sweet P is her forgiving nature. Looks like I will be putting it to the test with this one!




Card Details:
Image: N/A
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: SU, GP
Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (x2) 
Coloring: N/A
Embellies: N/A

Kitten Kisses

I have a stamp that reads, "I kiss my dog on the lips", but I do not have the feline equivalent (I think my sister might; I am not sure). Last night I was doing something on the computer I did not want Princess A to see, so when she peeked over my shoulder I quickly closed the window. Open underneath was a Word doc for the making of my own "I kiss my cat on the lips" sentiment. It was printed about six times on the page. Princess A looked at me quizzically and asked why was I writing about kissing the cat over and over...

This card was born after perusing KJs blog where she had participated in a Mojo Monday sketch. Needing a serious dose of mojo, I headed over to the Challenge (Mojo Monday week 121) and was immediately inspired.

I am not sure this big cat appreciates all the affection. Or perhaps he is just overwhelmed. He is from Stamps by Judith. The sentiment, as already mentioned, is computer-generated, but inspired by a stamp from Paula Best. It is also raised up with foam dimensionals. At least three different SCS friends sent me the same package of bling. I cannot say for sure whose was used today. All other supplies were from SU.

For your viewing pleasure, here is Princess A and our two kittens, Iisis (looking straight at the camera with all dignity intact) and Osiris (the one who really does get kissed, rather frequently, on the lips)

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Yesterday I woke up to snow. About four inches. When I went out to shovel, I measured 5.25" and when all was said and done, six inches had fallen. Today I awoke to snow again! Not falling quite so heavily as yesterday. Sometimes the wind gusts and the snow cannot seem to tell which direction it should be falling. Gravity ceases to be the law. What a perfect day to talk about a Winter Wonderland. Jeanette's Forest Winter Wonderland swap, that is.

I stamped the tall pine from SUs Lovely as a Tree (that is one of my favorite SU sets) and then cut out the frame with my Nesties. I am not sure what I am going to do with those scraps, yet. If nothing strikes me they will be donated to the special ed preschool where I send most of my scraps, used card fronts and mistakes. (Plus lots of embossed papers, cut out shapes, ribbons and stickers). A friend is a teacher there and she says the kids love it. They have no idea they are doing me a great service.

The stamp is from Stampscapes and is colored with chalks. The colors are not showing up in the scan, but the rocks were given a slight pink hue and the sky a wee bit of grey. Trees are green, grass is yellowed and the water you can see is shades of blue. Much of the coloring was very subtle, just enough to change it from the cream colored cardstock that was used. I hope the recipients could tell... That is about my limit with Stampscapes, though I have seen some really gorgeous things done with them (Hey Linda - I think I found the class I should take!! Wanna join me?). A glitter pen added a little bit of shine to, hopefully, look like snow in the distance. The ribbon was one of the three picked up when making the previous card

This swap is long over, of course, as I am so far behind in posting. In fact, I have already received my cards back; and what FABULOUS cards they were!! Don't be sad, though, cuz now she is hosting the Enchanted Forest swap and it is sure to be just as amazing. You should join us. (Tell her Gael sent ya!)