Running With Scissors...

Baby’s First Easter

 

I’ve been feeling the urge to make some baby cards lately, but I’ve needed first one card and then another, and no time for baby.  So when my friend asked me to make her grandson’s first Easter card, I thought this was as close as I was going to get to a baby card for a while.  In fact, I used baby papers and I almost set it aside because I thought it looked a little too much like baby and not enough like Easter.  Sweet, though.  It will have to do, I guess.  I’ve had my hands pretty full stamping-wise this month.

 

 

This is Crunchin’ Carrot Bunny from Peachy Keen stamps.  He’s colored with Copic markers on Flourishes Classic White cardstock and popped up on foam mounting tape.  I’ve listed all the ingredients in the recipe, below,  so I won’t keep you longer.  Thanks much for stopping by.  Wishing you a sweet and special day!

 

Stamps:  Crunchin’ Carrot Bunny (Peachy Keen), Somebunny Special sentiment (Stampendous)  Paper:  Bazzill shimmery blue textured, Classic White, DCWV Nana’s Nursery Baby Boy designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Polka dot brad, Spellbinders circle die, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

My Sweetie’s Valentine

 

The moment I spotted this Puppy Love image while browsing digi stamps at Designed2Delight I knew it would be my Sweetie’s Valentine.

 

 

Printed on Flourishes Classic White cardstock and colored up with Copic markers, I made it as close to Wally and LuLu as I could manage, though these pups in love would be adorable in any color.  I surrounded them with hearts and placed them on BasicGrey Sugar Rush paper.  All the die cut pieces were made with Spellbinders.  I situated the heart dies on the designer paper to place a tiny heart in the center of one, and “love” in the center of the other.  Stickles Stardust glitter accents the hearts.  However, I see I failed to glitter the tiny heart above their heads.  What was I thinking?  I must remedy that.

 

Wishing you a sweet and wonderful day, and I’ll be back to visit again soon!

One More Easter Card

I couldn’t let the occasion pass without using this beautiful set from Flourishes called He is Risen.

I’ve gone a little muted in the colors, and not a lot of embellishment.  I almost left the ribbon off, but added it at the last minute.  My sewing machine has been giving me fits lately, and the decorative stitching down the side looks more like a tangled fishing net than anything decorative.  I’ll have to take some time to figure out what’s wrong.  It may be something as simple as a dull needle, but the thread seems to be catching somewhere.  Darn.

I watercolored the image on 90 lb hot press watercolor paper, then cut it out and mounted on Scotch brand foam mounting tape.  The design is so simple there’s not much more to say about it, and I seem to be plum out of words at any rate.

Thanks so much for dropping in for a visit.  I’ll see you again soon!

Stamps:  He is Risen (Flourishes)  Paper:  Beige textured cardstock, 90 lb hot press watercolor, My Mind’s Eye Rosy designer paper  Ink:  Palette Umber, various SU! inks for watercoloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, gold cord, Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Bunny Basket

It’s almost Easter and I’ve been seeing Easter cards everywhere.  I guess I haven’t been very good about getting Easter cards done.  Someday I’ll be better about the seasonal cards…  I have no shortage of Easter stamps, but when I saw this beautiful digital image at Squigglefly I just had to pop it into my virtual basket.  You can find this particular image as well as similarly illustrated images here.

I colored this with Copic markers.  Even though I tried to limit the colors, there were too many to mention or photograph.  This is one of those easy to color images which shows you exactly where to add your shading.  I just love how soft and realistic it is.

I added a floral flourish in the corner with an old Hero Arts greeting.  The stamp reads “Easter Greetings”, but I isolated the one word by coloring it with a plum marker.  I think the rest  of the details are apparent in the photograph.  Everything is listed in the recipe.

I won’t keep you long today.  Just know I wish you all things wonderful, and a very happy day!

Stamps:  Bunny Basket (Squigglefly digital)  Paper:  Pale plum and pale yellow textured cardstock, Flourishes Classic White, Prima Fairy Flora designer paper  Ink:  Printer, plum marker, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Prima flower, decorative brad, pearls, Spellbinders dies as follows -- Floral Flourishes, Nested Lacey Pennants, Grand Scalloped Squares, Grand Squares

A Love Song for Three Occasions

Hello!  Just a quick peek today at three cards made with a stamp I purchased months ago and hadn’t used yet.  I thought it was cute, would have multiple uses, and be quick and easy to color.   Since the stamp had sat so long unused I decided to make up for lost time and do three at once.   They’re all the same, but with different colors and sentiments.  The first is the one and only Valentine I made this year and it is, of course, for my One and Only.  The second is a wedding card, and the third, as you can see by the sentiment, is for an anniversary.  The outside sentiments are all from Stampin’ Up!, and the image stamp is Love Song from Penny Black.

I did very simple coloring with Copic markers   The swirly embossing behind the image panel was done with a large-size Cuttlebug folder from the Heritage collection.  The title above each card is actually the inside sentiment, all from JustRite.  So, here you go, a little candy shop of cards:

You Fill My Heart With Love

Happiness is Being Married to Your Best Friend

The Best Thing to Hold Onto in Life is Each Other

I’m so glad you dropped in.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Love Song (image, Penny Black), Holidays and Wishes (Valentine sentiment, Stampin’ Up!), Hugs and Wishes (other outside sentiments, Stampin’ Up!), JustRite Romantic Sentiments and Loving Thoughts (inside sentiments)  Paper:  Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black (all Stampin’ Up!), Classic White (Flourishes)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Offray ribbon, rhinestones, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Stampin’ Up! heart punch, Cuttlebug Heritage embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Cheers!

I finally did something I’ve been meaning to do for years – make some New Year’s cards.  It comes so close after Christmas… I guess I’m just not ready for another holiday yet, except in regard to having the day off work.

The first card uses an American Art Stamp couple with an Art Impressions sentiment.  Both stamps have been gathering dust for a few years – not because I don’t like them (quite the contrary), but I don’t have a lot of occasion to use them.  I generally look at them every year when I think about doing New Year’s cards, but that’s as far as it goes.

So… you’ve probably noticed the embossed and cut away card base.  That was done with a new-to-me product called Marianne Design Designable Folders.  I got mine here (in the UK), but you can find them elsewhere, too, if you do a Google search.  I was amazed with the speedy delivery from all the way over there.  I guess those planes fly pretty fast!  The price of these folders is a little scary, but they sure can help you do a cool card design in record time.  That can be important.  However, you can do a little or a lot.  Either way, they’re very fun to play with.

I decked out the couple in glittery party finery by stamping in Versafine Onyx black ink and embossing with sparkly Stardust embossing powder.  The sentiment was embossed with plain clear powder.  You can see the sparkle better in the next photo.  Even the gentleman’s moustache and hair have glitter in them.  Either he’s been nuzzling his lady friend or he’s been wiping his nose on his coat sleeve.  Maybe he’s no gentleman, after all.

I cut the image panel with Spellbinders Labels Sixteen S4-301, and added just a touch of color with Copic markers and a pink rhinestone.

The next card features an image from a retired Stampin’ Up! set called Along the Same Lines.  The sentiment is from A Muse and is cut with a Spellbinders Ribbon Banners S4-324 die.  I sponged with ink while the die was still in place.  The BasicGrey Euphoria designer paper looks all bubbly and floaty (like your head after a few glasses of champagne).

We have sparkling pink champagne for our New Year’s celebration.

I hope your plans for New Year’s Eve are as exciting as mine.  If I’m still awake at midnight maybe I’ll hear some distant fireworks…   Whatever you’re doing, stay safe and enjoy!  See you again soon!

It’s the Season of Thanks

I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever finish this card!  Since we brought LuLu home I’ve been inexplicably tired, dragging through the work day and spending the rest of my time establishing a routine with Wally and LuLu.  I had a headache for three days, and (ahem) some other discomfort, but it wasn’t until the chills and achiness hit me Friday night that I realized I had a mild bug of some kind.  Darn those bugs!  By Sunday I was feeling a little more perky and I managed some time in the stamp room.

It looks like this may be my one and only Thanksgiving card this year.  I’ve used Flourishes’ A Season of Thanks and watercolored on 90 lb hot press watercolor paper with Tombow Markers.  Every image in this set is simply wonderful, and if I had my druthers, I’d color every one of them.  In reality, however, I had to choose one for starters and leave the rest to chance.

It’s hard to not spend all my time following Wally and LuLu around with a camera.  They’re so cute together!  More photos of them in a day or so.  For now, I think I’ll go indulge myself in a little more of that puppy love.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  See you soon!

Stamps:  A Season of Thanks  Paper:  Dark brown Bazzill textured, More Mustard, 90 lb hot press watercolor, 7 Gypsies Gypsy Market designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, Chocolate Chip, Adirondack Sandal (for sponging edges of image panel), Tombow Markers for watercoloring  Accessories:  Silk ribbon, copper nailheads, SU! Modern Label punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Friend. Good.

At long last I’ve gotten around to pairing my ages old Frankie stamp with this quote from Stampin’ Up! 

Frankie is one of my first stamps ever purchased.  He’s from D.O.T.S. – that’s what CTMH was called in the old days.  The quote is from a Stampin’ Up! set called Smarty Pants – retired, I think.

I colored Frankie with Copic markers, then masked him and stamped the spider webs and spider (also D.O.T.S.).  Again, my markers were all mixed up so I have no photo of them.  That’s what comes of stamping on the run.

And that’s the sum total of my Halloween cards this year.  I’ll be sending this to some old friends.  Old stamps, old friends.  Love them both.

I hope Frankie tickled your funny bone today.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Old Halloween stamps from D.O.T.S. (now called CTMH), quote from SU! Smarty Pants  Paper:  Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Flourishes Classic White, BasicGrey Eerie designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Going Gray, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, screw brads, spider embellishment, Spellbinders Lacey Pennants die

A Friendly Halloween Greeting

Well, now, don’t all those smiling faces beaming at you make you want to smile right back?

I made this card for a little girl, and that’s one of the best reasons I can think of to cut loose with the fun images and bright colors.  At least that’s the reason I’m giving.  Honestly, there’s a kid in me that just loves this stuff, too!

I’ve used my Whipper Snapper Hocus Pocus set, designed by Anna Wight.  It’s a few years old now, but since Halloween comes around only once a year it seems new every time I bring it out.

I watercolored on 90# hot press watercolor paper with these Tombow Markers:

The designer papers are not Halloween at all, but something old called Kaleidoscope from My Mind’s Eye.  I’ve been using them for kids’ Halloween cards for years.  I matched them up with Memory Box cardstocks in Wisteria and Key Lime and matted that on Stampin’ Up! Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie.  The Wisteria panel was embossed with the Cuttlebug Seeing Spots folder, then sanded to bring out the white core.  I also used some CTMH black cardstock in the design.  It’s not as black as Stampin’ Up!, but I love that it can be sanded to show the white.

The bat is covered with Black Diamond Stickles, and each character has one tooth glittered with Stardust Stickles (clear).  There’s more Stardust on the pumpkin leaf and banner.  Not such a great photo sparkle-wise.  It’s much more effective in real life.

The Spellbinders dies used are:

• Standard Circles Small
• Standard Circles Large
• Labels Sixteen S4-301
• Floral Flourishes S4-327

And that wraps up Halloween for now.  I would have loved to make more Halloween cards for the fun of it, but there are so many things to do just for the fun of it, and only so much time.  What’s a girl to do?  And what about Christmas?  I’ll pop in with a little bit of that on Friday.  Hope to see you then!  Have a great day!

The Leaves are Falling

Hello?  Is anybody out there?  Well, here we are at the first Monday in October and it’s time for me to step back into blogging.  I have to say I enjoyed my break, but I did miss communicating with you all through this medium.  Funny, how that is… it’s become such an integral part of my life.

During my break I did a little stamping, though not as much as I expected.  I found I enjoyed it more when I didn’t have unfinished business in the back of my mind, and, goodness, I do always seem to have a lot of other things on my mind!  One makes time for the things they love, however, and… well, we all know how I feel about stamping.  Now that I’m no longer designing for anyone, my only deadlines would be self-imposed, and I think I’ll not go down that road.  It’ll be free-flowing, come what may, when the mood strikes and time allows.

Since the season changed while I was lollygagging, I thought it appropriate to come back with a Fall card today.

I stamped Flourishes’ Falling Leaves on the Basketweave background and watercolored with Tombow Markers.  I used Palette Cognac for the Basketweave, and Palette Noir for the leaves.  All Palette inks are waterproof and perfect for watercoloring.

My designer papers are from the Kaiser Craft Hunt & Gather collection, including the curved border along the lower edge.  It’s one of the punch outs that come with the collection.  I sanded the edges of the designer papers, and the center chocolate panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder.  I added Spellbinders Floral Flourishes S4-327 along one edge of the image panel, and the sentiment is cut with Labels Four S4-190.

I took pictures long the way, so I might as well share those, too.  It’s sometimes fun to see how an image evolves.

Stamped leaves, masking one.  I used a pink Post-It note for the mask.

I masked all four leaves before stamping the Basketweave background.

I cut the panel down to size and colored all leaves in a mustard yellow base.

Added gold, green, and red with center leaf in all three colors.

The finished image has a little brown shading around the leaves to add depth.  I did that with SU! Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa markers.

I hope you’re enjoying these early Fall days.  They’ve been incredibly beautiful here, for the most part, and all the better when savored at a slower pace.  Thank you for visiting today.  I’ll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Falling Leaves, Basketweave (both Flourishes)  Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, 90# hot press watercolor paper, Flourishes Classic Ivory, Kaiser Craft Hunt & Gather designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, Palette Cognac, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron (for sponging the sentiment panel, SU! and Tombow Markers for watercoloring  Accessories:  Velvet ribbon, decorative brad, Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder, Spellbinders dies as listed above