Running With Scissors...

Tea and Roses

I don’t know if anyone still looks at this blog, or subscribes, or views it in a reader, but I’ve decided to come back here for cards and whatever crafty projects I may dream up.  My other blog, Goldens and Garden, will be just that – a blog for Wally and LuLu (my two Golden Retrievers) and the happenings around the garden.  Though everyone has been kindly tolerant of me, so patient and indulgent while I find my way – to blog or not to blog, and what to blog about – I’ve never felt quite comfortable about posting cards on Wally and LuLu’s blog.  And, let’s face it, I love to stamp and I miss my stamping blog.

 

So, here I am, back on TypePad.  I lost some of the functionality when I downgraded to a free blog, but I think it will suffice.  Are you still with me?

 

So… I’m not sure what led me to create this card.  I think it was the Lace Edges border stamp which, for some reason, I felt compelled to use.  Looking for an image to pair it with, I thought of the stamp set, Let’s Have Tea, which I believe Flourishes has retired.  Once I got those two together, it seemed the perfect sentiment was this one from Around the Arbor.  It’s always been one of my favorite quotes and I believe it wholeheartedly.

 

 

I hadn’t planned on cutting out the Lace Edges, but card making can be full of twists and turns and I rarely end up where I initially intend.  I needed someplace to put the pretty velvet ribbon, and this is where it looked best.

 

 

The center embellishment is a piece cut from a length of trim to create a ribbon slide.  Its make up of gold with a clear rhinestone decided the tone of additional embellishments.  The vertical lace trim is edged with foil sticker strips by Flower Soft.  Spellbinders dies (listed in the recipe, below) gave the center panel some graceful curves.

 

The images were stamped in Ranger Distress Vintage Photo and colored with these Copic markers:

 

 

That’s it for today.  I’ll be back when I have time.  Thanks so much for visiting, and I wish you a beautiful day.

 

Stamps:  Lace Edges, Let’s Have Tea, Around the Arbor (all Flourishes)  Paper:  Caramel textured, Flourishes Classic Ivory, Prima Romantique designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Distress Vintage Photo for stamping images, SU! Chocolate Chip for sentiment, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Velvet ribbon, ribbon slide, lace, rhinestones, brads, gold foil sticker strips, Scotch brand foam mounting tape, Spellbinders Curved Rectangles (curved edge), Labels One (frame), Labels Eighteen (sentiment panel)

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

Clematis in Bloom

I finally have a card to share. It’s a design that had been floating around in my head for a while but I just didn’t have time to put it on paper.  I started this card on Feb. 29 and finished it on Mar. 4.  It’s not so complex as all that – just a lot of stamping and watercoloring – and it didn’t truly take five days to make.  It’s just that my stamping time lately has been parsed out in small increments, though I did blissfully have a couple of free hours this afternoon (heaven!).  I spent them working on children’s birthday cards (two down, one to go).

I’ve used a favorite Flourishes set called Butterflies & Blossoms.  I stamped in Palette Umber on 90 lb hot press watercolor paper and watercolored using Stampin’ Up! reinkers.

• Flowers/leaves:  Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
• Butterflies:  Really Rust, Bordering Blue
• Shading around image:  River Rock

I’d have to get the book out to see which, if any, of these SU! colors are retired.  Although I’m slowly collecting some of the new colors, these older shades are still quite functional and beautiful for watercoloring.

The flourishes I stamped in the corners are from Flourishes’ Siberian Iris set.  They were stamped in Olive after the watercoloring was completed.

The frame which I placed over the image was made with the two largest sizes of Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two S4-346.  I glued the designer paper to lightweight cardstock before cutting so the frame would be more sturdy.  My original intent was to make it appear as though the flowers were growing behind, around, and over the frame, but I cut back the “growth” somewhat when I felt it would look too busy.  Two flowers cut out and placed outside the frame were all I felt comfortable with.

I think that covers it.  I’m looking forward to starting my next “grown up” card now.  Gee, maybe if I get on the ball I’ll finish it by sometime next week.

I’ll see you Saturday.  There’s always Wally and LuLu…  Have a great rest of the week!

Stamps:  Butterflies & Blossoms, Siberian Iris (Flourishes)  Paper:  Elegant Eggplant, 90 lb hot press watercolor, BasicGrey Wisteria designer paper  Ink:  Palette Umber, Stampin’ Up! inks as listed above for watercoloring  Accessories:  Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two S4-346

It’s a Topsy Turvy World

Hello!  I’m still working on children’s birthday cards and that’s all I’m going to do until they’re done.  Five more to go.  I hope these will be okay for 11 and 12 year olds.  I’m not sharing all the cards because I’m beginning to feel like this is The Blog for Children’s Birthday Cards, but since this is a new set, I thought I’d go ahead with these.

I’ve used JustRite’s Topsy Turvy Cakes for both cards.  Both are colored with Copic markers.  The first card has a sentiment which was originally part of an oval sentiment frame – more words on the bottom with candles and swirlies in between.  However, I cut it into four pieces so I could more easily use only part of it, yet I can still piece it back together for the full frame.  These are clear stamps, so the cutting was easy.

The second card has all that clean white space I’m loving these days.  I used another of my Designables cut and emboss folders.  This one is #DS0907.

Shown below are the Copics I used for coloring – same colors on both cakes, but mixed up a little bit.  I did not use E50 and E51 on the second card.  Those were used only for shading around the image on the first card.

By the way, the camera I lost is gone for good.  It was not turned into lost and found.  I checked with all the usual sources and no one has seen it.  It was a Nikon Cool Pix, which I loved because it took great pictures and was very compact.  I could slip it into my pocket and hardly notice it was there.  Great for when we were out with Wally and LuLu.  Tsk, tsk.  Well, hello Canon Elph!

I’ve already ordered it.  In the meantime, I do have two other cameras I can use and, thankfully, there weren’t many pictures on the Cool Pix.  I always put them on my computer and then clear the card.  Later they’re uploaded to Shutterfly and saved to disc.

I’ll leave you with the recipes for today’s cards and wish you a happy day.  Take care!

Card #1 --  Stamps:  JustRite Topsy Turvey Cakes  Paper:  Classic White, Crystal Blue, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, BasicGrey Phoebe designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, rhinestones, Prima flowers, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, Spellbinders Classic Ovals Small,  Classic Ovals Large, and Big Scalloped Ovals Large, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Card #2 – Stamps:  JustRite Topsy Turvey Cakes  Paper:  Classic White, Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum Pink  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Marianne Designs Designables cut and emboss folder #DS0907, Spellbinders Nested Pennants, Classic Ovals Small, Classic Ovals Large Scalloped Ovals Small, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Joy is in the Air

Well, here we are in the countdown week before Christmas and I’m feeling just about ready for a few days off to enjoy the holiday.  I have some presents to wrap and grocery shopping to do, but mostly I’m ready.  How about you?  Might as well keep up the holiday spirit and share the last of my Christmas cards this week.

 

Today’s card was made for a friend who loves Santas and glitter.  I’ve used Flourishes’ Joy is in the Air.  It’s a snow globe set, but the three images that come with the snow globe can easily be used on their own, too.  I wanted to add a lot of snow and glitter so I used this image alone.  The sentiment is from another of Flourishes’ 2011 Christmas sets – Sentimental Christmas (sentiments only).  The coloring was done with Copic markers.

Spellbinders dies used are:

• Labels Twenty S5-026
• Labels Twenty Two S4-346
• Classic Ovals Small S4-112
• Classic Ovals Large S4-110

More ingredients are listed in the recipe.  Have a jolly holiday!

Stamps:  Joy is in the Air, Sentimental Christmas  Paper:  Flourishes Classic Ivory, red mirror cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Riding Hood Red, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, rhinestones, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Sparkly Fluff (snow), Stampin' Up! small tag punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape, Spellbinders dies as listed above

Two For Christmas

I chose to play with my JustRite Deck the Halls set this weekend and (hooray!) got two more Christmas cards done.  The first is all copper, gold, and ivory…

I’ve used copper and gold brushed metallic cardstock.  The ribbon has gold thread running through it, and I’ve added gold thread across the middle panel.  Goldenrod Stickles glitter glue dot the ornament, and the center oval is brushed with Encore Metallic Gold ink after embossing with the Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder.

The ornament, itself, is colored with Copic markers on shimmery ivory cardstock – not the best paper for blending, but, frankly, I just wanted to try it.

Spellbinders dies used are:

• Twisted Metal Tags and Accents S5-071
• Classic Ovals Large S4-110

The next card is a switch to white and red with little touches of silver…

I worried that it might look top heavy and almost cut it apart for a square card but decided I lacked the luxury of time.  The ornament is topped with glittered branches and a snowflake embellishment.  The sentiment is from the JustRite Christmas Nested Sentiments set which, I believe, is retired.

Spellbinders dies used are:

• Ironwork Accents S5-058
• Labels Thirteen S4-248

Have I mentioned how much I love my Spellbinders?  Playing with the layering is one of my favorite stamp room activities.

Thanks so much for visiting today.  Happy holidays!

Fairy on Tiptoes

This is a project I made way back in the beginning of September.

My friend saw me coloring this Lili of the Valley fairy image, On Tiptoe, and exclaimed how the colors matched the quilt she was making for her little granddaughter, so I decided to make it up extra pretty for gift giving.

It’s colored with Copic markers on Classic White cardstock and embellished with flowers and flourishes.  The larger purple flower with the pearl center is a Prima, but the roses are a Wal-Mart find from a long time ago.  I’ll list all the ingredients in the recipe at the end, but for a quick reference, these are the Spellbinders dies I used (cut in my Grand Calibur):

• Classic Squares Large S4-126
• Lacey Squares S4-295
• Twisted Metal Tags and Accents S5-071
• Nested Lacey Pennants S5-029

The finished product is sprinkled overall with fairy dust (Stickles Stardust Glitter Glue) and the Lacey Square is dotted with a rather inexpert application of Ranger Liquid Pearls.  The fairy’s red hair -- you guessed it -- matches the hair of the adorable little girl who will receive the card and quilt.

Ordinarily I like to keep my cards envelope-able (I know, not a real word). Even if they require extra postage for hand cancelling, I like them to be ready to mail in an envelope, rather than a bubble pack or box. In this case, however, I knew the card would be hand-delivered, so I was free to indulge myself.  I made a little window box for the card:

The construction of the box is not a new concept, but I’ve included a brief tutorial with measurements, photos, etc. for the sake of keeping it all in one place (and in case I make more lumpy cards in the future, I’ll have these instructions to refer to).

Box bottom:

• Cut cardstock 6 1/2” square (to fit a 5 1/4” square card).
• Score all four sides at 1/2”.
• Cut each end to score line as shown below.

• Fold into box shape and tape closed with flaps to the inside (I used Scor-Tape).


Box top:

• Cut top 1/16” larger – 6 9/16” square.
• Proceed same as box bottom – score all four sides at 1/2” and clip ends.  Do not fold and tape yet.
• To create window, center die on box top (I used the smallest die of the Spellbinders Grand Squares LF-126).
• Cut and emboss.

• Apply Scor-Tape to inside around window.
• Cut acetate or clear cardstock (I used Flourishes Clear Cover Cardstock) 5 1/4” square.
• Adhere to inside of box top.

• Now it’s ready to tape into a box shape and decorate.

I used more roses and glitter and shapes from Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents, as well as pearls, metallic ribbon, and the Martha Stewart branch punch.  I also embossed two of the box top surface ends with a Cuttlebug Organic Flourish border folder.  With the Grand Calibur, embossing can be accomplished by sandwiching the folder between the Grand Calibur cutting plate and a Cuttlebug B plate.  Very easy!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and my erratic posting!  Bless all your little hearts, and I’ll see you again soon.

Stamps:  On Tiptoes (Lili of the Valley fairy image), Warm Words (SU! sentiment)  Paper:   Pink Pirouette, Barely Banana (Stampin’ Up!), Wisteria (Memory Box), Flourishes Classic White cardstock and Clear Cover Cardstock, Prima Sweet Fairy designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Flowers, pearls, ribbon, decorative pearl brad, Martha Stewart branch punch, Stickles Glitter Glue, Cuttlebug Organic Flourish embossing folder, Spellbinders dies as listed above, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

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!

From One Desk to Another

I’ve made this card in response to a notecard I received from an acquaintance, asking me to make 6 sympathy cards and 11 birthday cards for her.  This is a woman who frequently buys cards from me.  The fact is, she sends more cards and letters than anyone I know.  Her art is letter writing.  She’ll even send cards to people she doesn’t know.  She may read about them in the paper, or hear of them at church.  She writes beautifully, never runs out of words, and the reader is left feeling blessed with a new friendship.

I thought this Flourishes set, From The Desk Of, would be perfect for the occasion.  I had stamped the image some time ago, having always intended to come back to this set since I think it’s so beautiful.  I stamped on Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copics.  I’m sorry to not provide a photo of the markers used.  This is one of those occasions where I had several projects going on at once, carrying markers in my bag to work, everything got mixed up and ultimately put away with no photo.

Absolutely everything I used on this card, except the Chocolate Chip cardstock (Stampin’ Up!), came from Flourishes at one point or another.  What a wonderful place to shop!  It’s all listed in the recipe, below.

Thank you so much for your time.  You’re all one of this life’s blessings.  Have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  From The Desk Of  Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom, Flourishes Classic Ivory, Webster’s Pages Lullaby Lane & Life’s Portraits Combo Pack designer paper  Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Vanilla for sponging, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Green butterfly lace trim, pearls, Spellbinders Curved Rectangles S5-006, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Double Adorable

First of all, I would like to thank you all for the warm "welcome back" on my previous post.  You give me a happy heart, and that is a wonderful gift!

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A coworker asked if I’d make a couple of baby cards for her – one for a boy and one for a girl.  I held out my arm for twisting.  Truthfully, I’m thrilled to be able to use my new Popcorn the Bear Bundle of Joy and Little Cutie sets again.  I have since made another card with these sets, as well, and I’m happy to be able to move them from the “new stamps” basket and onto the shelves with the rest of my stamps.  It feels like an accomplishment.  I have lots more uninked stamps in the basket and I plan to make no further purchases until I’ve satisfied myself with them.  We’ll see how that goes.  I know… I’m a weak person when it comes to stamps.

So, here’s the baby boy card using the Bundle of Joy set:

He’s watercolored on 90# hot press watercolor paper with these Tombow Markers:

Ribbon, buttons, lace, and designer paper from my stash made him cute and baby-frilly.  The sentiment is stamped in one of the JustRite custom dies by Spellbinders.

The next one is for the baby girl.  Bet you could tell, couldn’t you.  I used the Little Cutie set for this:

It’s colored up all soft and sweet with these Tombows:

More ribbon and lace from my collection – the ribbon is Offray and the lace is from my sewing stash.  I have yards and yards of lace of all kinds, most of which came from a fabric store, as do many of my ribbons.  I added Kaiser flat-backed pearls and a flower for embellishment.  I removed the flower’s center and replaced it with a button tied with linen thread.  The papers used on this card are Stampin’ Up! Pink Pirouette, including the Prints designer paper (a couple of years old).

Spellbinders dies used are as follows:

• Standard Circles Small
• Standard Circles Large
• Picot Edge Circles S4-345

Alright, then… it’s good to be back in the swing of things.  I hope you enjoyed these cards.  See you soon!