Running With Scissors...

Happy Wishes

 

Happy Monday and Dies R Us day, friends.  I have one last anniversary card to share today, and this one’s a sweetie.  I thought I might stamp some birds, but then this cute little die caught my eye and everything just happened from there.

 

 

The darling birds are Impression Obsession Love Birds.  So dang cute!  I popped them up over a Poppystamps Woodland Oval which frames a Power Poppy Simply Camellias sentiment.  The overhead branch is a Memory Box Lavish Branch, which is not available in the Dies R Us store, but it was too pretty not to use.  All the die cuts were colored with Copic markers ‘cause I just wanted to color something.  The embossed square was done with a Cuttlebug Wicker Weave folder.

 

 

Speaking of pretty, have you seen the Memory Box New Release dies in the store?  Oh, my goodness, my heart flutters!  Yes, I’ve got a bad case of the “die crazies”, but I’m okay with that.  They’re the coolest thing since sliced bread!

 

Don’t forget our two challenges per month on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog where you can win some Dies R Us dollars.  Visit the Inspiration Blog, too, for new ideas every weekday.  See you again soon!  As always, have a happy day!

 

Stretch Yourself!

 

 

It’s time for a new Power Poppy challenge, friends, and our Tosha has come up with a good one:  Stretch Yourself.  We are to use or try something new and put it on a tall card.  Your “new” could be a technique or an item or a color combo.  Anything new to you.

 

 

 

 

I did feel challenged by this, even though I love making tall cards.  In addition to the “new” and “tall”  I was determined to get another anniversary card done.  This is the third of four.

 

I combined stamp sets, using the clear sets, Lilac Time, for the flowers, and Good Thinking:  Love Notes for the front sentiment.  That was an easy choice as both are so pretty.  But what could I use that’s new, keep with my anniversary theme, and stretch it into a tall card?  Hmmmm. . . Naturally I looked at my dies ‘cause you know how I love them.  After much hemming and hawing and gnashing of teeth I settled on these new-to-me decorative panels, which are part of a larger set and, hey, if it wasn’t for Tosha’s challenge I might not have thought to use them this way, so it’s all good.  The ivy corners are also new in my die collection.  All ingredients will be listed in the recipe at the end.

 

I colored the lilacs with Copics and cut them out.  A little strategic cutting removed one leaf from the lowermost lilac so it would fit on the card.  Add glitter and pearls and call it done.

 

In the photo below you see the inside where I used a sentiment from the digi set, Gladioli, with more die cuts and a cluster of lilac florets.  I really don’t have much in the way of anniversary sentiments, but I think these two work well for either anniversary or wedding or for any occasion where love is involved.  I’m sure my lady will be happy to write her own “happy anniversary”.

 

 

And, finally, the Copics I used for coloring:

 

 

Let’s see how some of the other Bloomies rose to the challenge:

• Julie
• Christine
• Stacy
• Allison
• Katie
• Cindy
• Tosha

Now let’s see yours!  You might win a Power Poppy stamp set!  So glad you could stop by.  Have a good weekend!

 

 

Stamps:  Lilac Time, Good Thinking:  Love Notes, Gladioli digi set  Paper:  Neenah Classic White, plum, Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters designer paper  Ink:  Gray (lilacs), Versafine Onyx Black (front sentiment), printer (inside digi sentiment), Copics for coloring as pictured above  Accessories:  Pearls, Stickles Stardust glitter, Scotch brand foam mounting tape (to pop up lowermost lilac)  Dies:  Cheery Lynn Dutch Daisy Boutique Stacker A2 Frame (small panels on front), Die-namites Ivy Corner, Sue Wilson Porto (inside)

Pretty Birds of Happiness

 

Hello, my friends!  Monday already?  Sheesh!  It’ll be Christmas again before you know it.  I hope you’re all having a happy new year so far.  My laptop crashed on New Year’s Day, so not a great start.  I was able to start it in safe mode and save a few things to removable storage and then I spent a good part of the day setting up operations on the desktop.  It’s a whole other world here on the desktop, but here I am, ready or not!

 

I’ve made another anniversary card today, rolling along on that card order.  This almost looks like I photographed it in black and white, but, actually, I was in the mood for soft neutrals and this is what came about.  The birds are a new-to-me die:  Tattered Lace Oriental Blue Bird.  So pretty!  I found it when searching “bird” on Dies R Us.  I teamed it up with my Sue Wilson Gemini Orion border and some pretty paper, a bow, and pearls.

 

 

The birds were cut in SU!’s Sahara Sand – gray with a tint of green – and, really, a perfect match with the designer paper and the ribbon.  To deepen the color of the die cut I went over it with a Sahara Sand marker after it was cut, then layered over two more cuts for dimension.

 

Orion is a three die set – the decorative border and a separate die for each edge.  For the first layer of white I used the decorative cut and the lower edge.  The top layer of white uses only the upper edge die.  Any one of these dies will give a pretty cut all on its own, but together they’re exquisite.  The photo below shows the inside where I used all three dies together to cut a stand-alone border from the designer paper.

 

 

A new challenge began New Year’s Day on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  The theme is “Something New” – your interpretation.  Several of the team made baby cards, so you see where you can go with that.  As always, you can visit the Inspiration Blog for something different each week day.  Those girls are always making me add to my wish list!  See below for a summary of supplies.  Have a happy day!

 

 

Stamps:  SU! Warm Words and Heard From the Heart  Paper:  Neenah Classic White, Graphic 45 Botanical Tea designer paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Sahara Sand marker  Accessories:  Ribbon, pearls  Dies:  Tattered Lace Oriental Blue Bird, Sue Wilson Gemini Orion

Anniversary Wreath

 

Surprise, I do not have a Christmas card today.  It’s my Dies R Us inspiration day and I decided to take this opportunity to fill a card request – one of four anniversary cards for a friend’s children.  I’m starting with a new-to-me stamp by Hero Arts called “Flower Wreath”.  The card features pretty die cuts and easy Copic coloring with the wreath cut out and popped up and pearls courtesy of an Ice White Viva Décor pearl pen.

 

 

Any dies that look like a garden are okay by me, which is why I’m loving my Impression Obsession Fancy Cut Out Border and Poppystamps Dianna Border.  To emphasize the “love” aspect of this card I dangled some Memory Box Precious Hearts from the top of the wreath.  Precious Hearts is a two-die set.  I simply cut both and put them together.  Aren’t they cute?  The Dianna Border and Precious Hearts were colored with Copics. 

 

 

The sentiment is from the retired Stampin’ Up! “Wonderful Words”.  You know I never give up a sentiment set, and just look how pretty it still is after all these years.

 

I don't have much in the way of anniversary sentiments and most of the ones I do have are smallish, so inside I used framing to make a small sentiment look bigger on this 5 1/2" square card.  Enter one of my most frequently used die sets,  Impression Obsession Rectangle 6-in-1 Frames:

 

 

I dangled the smaller of the hearts with another faux pearl in the center of the bow.  All finished and so much fun!

 

Join us on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog for something new every week day, and don’t forget to check the Challenge Blog to see what’s up and how you can win Dies R Us $$.  Have a happy day!

 

Best Wishes

 

Hello there, and happy Monday!  Well, friends, I’m in the two week countdown to retirement now.  I’m more than ready.  You’d think these last two weeks I’d be like a horse that sees the barn, running with a sudden burst of energy with that bag of oats on my mind.  However, it feels like a typical Monday with too much left undone at home.  Ah, well, that will soon change, although I don’t kid myself that the overwhelmed feeling will instantly dissolve at 5 pm on August 14th.  There’s so much catching up to do!

 

For now, though, I’d like to share how I spent my Saturday morning.  I simply wanted to use a gorgeous new die from a recent Dies R Us shopping trip and the project evolved on its own into a wedding card.  I don’t currently need a wedding card, but it can’t hurt to have one in reserve, can it?

 

 

This is a 5 x 7 card.  I usually make A2, but I find if I’ve got the right stuff to fill the space I like the larger size, particularly for so momentous an occasion as a wedding.  The die I couldn’t live without is the beautiful Sue Wilson Gemini Die – Orion.  It’s currently out of stock because apparently I’m not the only one who loves it.  No worries.  If you love it, too, put yourself on the waiting list and I guarantee you’ll get an email as soon as it comes in.  Perhaps you’d fancy one of the other Gemini borders, so for your convenience I’ll link you to all of them here.  Good luck trying to choose just one!

 

To help fill up the space I used an older Spellbinders die – Labels Twenty – as a base, and embossed it with a Swiss Dot folder.  I stamped my image on one of the Spellbinders Elegant Ovals and colored with Copic markers.  For accent I cut two Spellbinders Sprigs and positioned them with some additional flowers, a tag, and silver cord.

 

 

The flowers, by the way, are from a retired Stampin’ Up! set called Toile Blossoms.  Remember that one?  The date on it is 2002.  Still pretty after all these years.

 

Join us on the Dies R Us Inspiration blog for something different every week day.  It’s a great way to become acquainted with dies you didn’t even know existed.  Or you may like to while away some time browsing the categories at Dies R Us – so many different brands in one place and fantastically fun shopping.  Perhaps you’d like to win a gift voucher to Dies R Us.  If so, link up a card on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  The current challenge is Summertime Fun.  All you have to do is use that theme and at least one die – any die. 

 

That’s enough from me for one day, I think.  Onward into the week!  Have a happy day!

 

Newspaper Pup

 

Hi, there!  I finally have a card to share.  Seems like I haven’t been getting it together much for stamping lately, but that’s the effect of spring and pretty weather, I guess.  In light of that, I’m thinking ahead for once – all the way to Father’s Day -- and I knew this Stampendous Newspaper Pup would be perfect for Rich.

 

 

And this is why:

 

 

That’s LuLu.  She’s pretty pleased with herself when Rich puts his glasses on her.

 

Okay, back to the card.  Of course, he’s reading The Daily Woof.  See the newspaper print behind him?  Looks like a page right out of The Daily Woof.  In fact, it’s Graphic 45 Raining Cats and Dogs designer paper.  Don’t you love it when you have all the right stuff?

 

 

I colored with the following Copic markers:

 

 

I’ll list everything else below.  I’m off and running again!  Have a great day!

 

 

Stamps:  Stampendous Newspaper Pup, Hero Arts Moments sentiment  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, Graphic 45 Raining Cats and Dogs designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip, Copic markers for coloring as pictured above  Accessories:  Offray Ribbon, button, linen thread, Spellbinders Classic Squares Large, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

An Unconventional Wedding Card

 

My only reason for making this card was so I could color the image, but I’m certain there will be just the right couple for it one day.

 

 

I’m making an effort to get some of my digis colored up, but it’s hard to make progress when I keep saving more of them.  Two steps forward, one step back.    I found this one on the Digital Two for Tuesday blog and, yes, it is a vintage image from a 1928 magazine.  You can find it here – free, as always.  I have a fascination for these vintage images in that so many of them appear to be a modern day illustration, and I’m particularly fond of turning them into a bright, clear, brand new, non-vintage card.  I printed on X-Press It Blending card and colored with the following Copic markers:

 

 

Love the sign on the back of the car – “She got her man!”  I suppose that’s a rather vintage statement.  The flocked flowers were a Wal-Mart find, picked from an artificial spray labeled “cherry blossoms”.  I’ve never seen cherry blossoms this dark, but I do like the flowers.  I put an enamel dot in its center and placed the layered flower over an Impression Obsession bow die cut.  The deep scallops on the polka dot border were cut with the Stampin’ Up! slit punch – retired, I think.

 

 

So glad you could stop by!  Have a good day!

 

 

Stamps:  Free vintage digi from Digital Two for Tuesday, Stampin’ Up! Hugs & Wishes sentiment  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card (for colored image), Neenah Classic Crest Solar White (card base), Riding Hood Red, BasicGrey June Bug designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers as pictured above  Accessories:  Flocked flowers, Doodlebug Sprinkles (enamel dots), Impression Obsession bow die, Stampin’ Up! Sizzix Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, slit punch (retired SU!)

Happy Birthday to Ewe and to Me!

 

Today is an important date for me, not simply because it’s my birthday, but because it begins the 12 month countdown to retirement.  It will be a little early, but barring unforeseen circumstances and with careful planning it’s going to happen.  I’ve worked my entire adult life and I’m more than ready to give it up.  It’s not what it used to be, the medical profession – too much red tape and too many hoops to jump through.  I’m physically exhausted from being a ball of tension at work all day and I drop like a sack of potatoes in the evening.  Essentially, the rest of my life is condensed into the three days a week I don’t work, and that’s not enough time for the many things I love to do and for the family I love more than anything else.

 

So, I figure if I break it down into smaller parts, the year won’t seem too long.  October is birthday month at my house and among several of my friends.  The card I’m sharing today was made for a friend, using a Bugaboo digi image called, appropriately enough, Happy Birthday To Ewe.  She’ll like the comical image and the glitter.

 

 

I printed it rather large on X-Press It Blending Card and kept the coloring very simple with Copic markers.  I made a hand-cut banner for the sentiment which comes with the image.  I also shimmered up the balloon with Wink of Stella, but you can’t see it in the photo.

 

 

Seize the Birthday is having an Anything Goes challenge, so I'm linking up as soon as I can get over there.

 

Not much more explanation is required for this one.  Thanks for your visit, and happy day to ewe, er. . . you!

 

 

Stamps:  Bugagoo Happy Birthday to Ewe digi  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White (card base), BasicGrey  Nook & Pantry designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Wink of Stella glitter pen, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up sentiment banner

Use it or Lose it: Baroque Motifs

 

I haven’t forgotten my Stampin’ Up! A – Z project.  Today’s Baroque Motifs cards are the first of the “B” sets.  I’ll admit the only reason I kept this set is for the swirly vine image, but now I’m seeing it differently.  That’s the beauty of revisiting old sets like this.  I didn’t have dies or embossing folders when I first bought this set, and what a difference they make in my opinion of it.

 

The first is a wedding card using Spellbinders Labels Sixteen and Fancy Tags, and a Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder.  I love how the square motif fits in the die shape.  If you look closely you’ll notice the little diamond shapes on the ends of the Fancy Tags die cut.  That is what determined the embossing folder I used.

 

 

My colors are Cameo Coral and Ruby Red, with Certainly Celery in the background.  Now, here we go again. . . I have to wonder why my Well Worn Words background stamp lay dormant for so long.  I remember thinking how difficult it was to see the pattern unless it was stamped in dark ink on light paper.  Now I just love its soft and subtle look.  Was Stampin’ Up! more ahead of its time than I realized?  I see very similar designer papers in today’s collections and they’re quite desirable.  Just imagine all the different colors I can have now that I’ve rediscovered this beautiful stamp!

 

 

The second card is extremely clean and simple and about as close as I’ve ever come to a 10 minute card.  I didn’t cut out anything or embellish.  I did layer one white panel onto the card base.  Again I used Cameo Coral and Ruby Red, but the vine is stamped in Blush Blossom and the “Kind” in Old Olive.

 

 

Together these cards use every stamp in the set and I’m ready to move on to the next “B” set.  B is for. . . hmmm. . . baseball?  Bananas?  Buttons and Bows?  I hope it won’t be too long till you find out!  See you again soon!

 

 

Stamps:  Baroque Motifs, Well Worn Words background  Paper:  Whisper White  Ink:  Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Blush Blossom  Accessories:  Ribbons, pearl brad, tiny pearls, Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder, Spellbinders Labels Sixteen and Fancy Tags, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Wedding Card in a Box

 

I recently went shopping at The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, and it was not impulse shopping, as is so often the case with crafty stuff – to which I say “why not?”, as long as you stay within a budget, and I do, despite appearances to the contrary.  I’m very strict about that.  You see,  I was all out of 1/4” silk ribbon, a necessity in my stamp room, so I restocked a few oft used colors.  Additionally, I have for a very long time been meaning to purchase some clear card boxes for those occasional times I make a card too bulky for an envelope.  When those cards happen I will generally make a box for it – pretty and not too difficult, but definitely extra bother.  Well, happy day, I now have pre-made boxes which I can decorate or leave plain, and I can bulk up those cards to my heart’s content.

 

So, I did.  I may not have chosen these particular papers, but I’m trying to use them up.  I fell out of love with the BasicGrey Eva collection after I used my few favorite sheets.  Waste not, want not.  I chose to make a wedding card, as those cards are often hand delivered, and with a gift certificate slipped inside it makes the card in the box rather like a gift, itself.  I frequently like to give both a gift and a gift certificate.

 

 

This photo is just to show you the bulk of the flowers.  They fit very comfortably in the box.

 

 

I used a JustRite sentiment from the Romantic Sentiments set, which I’m sure is retired, but I never give up a sentiment set.  I believe JustRite retired all these sets that require the grooved wooden stampers.  I have all the stampers, but these days I simply apply a piece of double-sided removable tape to the back of the stamp and stick it on a clear block.  Works like a charm.

 

The bird cage and birds are one of my new Die-Versions dies called “Beautiful Bird Cages”.  I let the birds loose and hung the cage from the flower cluster. 

 

 

Here’s the card inside one of the A2 boxes.  Quick and easy and a nice presentation.  I didn’t decorate the box as the card was plenty decorated enough, and that’s the beauty of a clear box – it shows off the card and protects it at the same time.  I tied it up with silver elastic cord just to make it a little more “gifty”.

 

 

Again, I’ve talked your eyes off through my compulsion to share information which some may find useful.  If you’ve skipped to the end but still want the basics, it’s all in the recipe below my signature.  Wishing you a happy day!

 

Stamps:  Retired JustRite Romantic Sentiments  Paper:  Pink Bazzill, Cougar Opaque White, black, BasicGrey Eva designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Pink Pirouette for sponging around sentiment  Accessories:  Silk ribbon, silver elastic cord, lace, Prima flowers, pearls, EK Success scallop edge punch, Die-Versions Beautiful Bird Cages, JustRite Custom Charms (heart shape for sentiment), Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Heart dies, Spellbinders Floral Flourishes, A2 Crystal Clear Card Box