March Challenge - Embossing Folders!

Happy first day of March!  Can you believe we are already in the third month of this year?  I cannot!

Happy ersten Tag der März! Können Sie glauben, wir sind bereits im dritten Monat des Jahres? Ich kann nicht!

We have a new challenge for you.  Check it out:

Please join Michelle, Regina, and me as we create cards with embossing folders!  We'd love to see what you create.  We'll post ours at the end of the month.

Have a wonderful day!

Bitte beteiligen Sie sich an Michelle, Regina und mich, da wir erstellen Karten mit Hochprägung Ordner! Wir würden gerne erfahren, was sie schaffen. Wir stellen uns am Ende des Monats. Haben einen wunderschönen Tag!

Reinker Cards - Two Different Looks

I was asked to be a guest designer for the Sisters In Stamping.  This week, they are focusing on reinkers.  I made two cards with basically the same technique.  I'm surprised at how different they look though.

I used this year's SU! In Color reinkers.  I just dropped ink in various places on a paper plate.  I first laid a piece of tissue paper on the ink.  I quickly pulled it up and set it aside to dry.  It did take a long time to dry and I got ink all over my fingers!  It was also very hard to cut.  I accidentally tore some of it and then had to cut it shorter than I wanted.  That's why I used so much ribbon on this card ;)  I wanted to hide the empty area!  I felt it still needed a little something, so I stamped the banner image and punched it out with my banner punch (love that!).  I decided not to add any more (although that goes against my nature!) so that it wouldn't be overworked.  Here is the first card.

 After I laid the tissue paper down, I laid a piece of watercolor paper on the plate to continue to soak up the ink.  I quickly pulled it back up and used a paper towel to blot the excess ink.  I love how this one looks.  Even though you don't see the colors as easily and separately on this paper, I think it looks mystical and beautiful.  Again, I wanted the reinked paper to be the main attraction of this card, so just added a little ribbon and the sentiment.  I'm much happier with this card.

 

Thank you to my real sister for asking me to guest design for the Sisters In Stamping!  And thank you for looking!  I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Happy Birthday, Brian!  After I made this card, I knew it was meant for you - don't know why, but it makes me smile and I hope it does you too!

To everyone else - hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for looking!

Pet Sympathy Card

I was sad to hear that a friend's dog had passed away.  It's during a difficult time in her life, so I wanted to make a card to let her know I was and am thinking of her.  I decided to keep it clean and simple, so I let the scrapbooking paper do most of the work.  I pulled colors from it for the card base and sentiment piece.  I added the paw brads to tie it all together.

Thanks for looking.

First Christmas Card for 2014 - Check!

I'm going to really try to have all of my Christmas cards made early this year!  It is one of my resolutions.  I started off strong in January and made this card.  I used this card for inspiration.  It wasn't working out as well as I thought it would, so I really changed it up.  But, I'm happy with the end result. 

I used Stampin' Up! framelits and punches to build the snowman and hat.  I then used a retired SU! ribbon for the scarf.  I added pearls for the holly berries, eyes, and buttons.  It was a pretty quick card once I had everything cut and punched.

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!

Wine? Yes, please!

My friend's birthday was earlier this month and I know she loves wine.  I had never used this stamp, but always wanted to.  So, it was a perfect reason to break it out.  I had a hard time deciding on which colors to use on this image, but am happy with the choices.  I used my Crystal Effects on the bottle and wine classes and really like how that turned out.  I don't think using any embellishments would work with this image, so the Crystal Effects gives it just a little something extra that I wanted on this card.  She like the card and that made me happy :)

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!  Don't forget to have a little wine too :)

I won!

I have recently discovered Sister Stamps - finally, a company that does Asian themed stamps perfectly!  Well, I ordered some and you saw some cards recently.  When looking for more and inspiration, I found their blog.  They were doing new release giveaways and I was one of the lucky winners!!!  I'm so excited to have won one - I won Misaki.

 I think she's adorable, don't you?  I love the birds too.  Again, I pulled out my origami papers and matched Copic marker colors to color in the image.  I use my Stampin' Up! color coach to match cardstock and was so pleased that the Midnight Muse color matched the blue in the origami paper so well.  I decided to layer up this time too, to make the image pop a little more.  Jenny, from Sister Stamps was very generous and sent me those beautiful sakura (cherry blossom) die cuts (as well as a die cut sentiment - will get to that later!).  I decided to add the mini pearls in the flowers to make them match the ones on the paper.  I just love Misaki - she makes me smile and I hope she makes you smile too!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!