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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sponged Dry Embossed Card

Hi, everyone!

During my break at work today, I started imagining card ideas, and thought, "Wouldn't it be great if I can add a touch of color to dry embossed images?"

Hmmm.  Why not?  I couldn't wait to try it out when I got home (and of course, I was also working late today, of all days!).

I am so excited, I  just couldn't wait to share this card with all of you.  I snapped a photo as soon as I finished the card, I don't think the ink was even dry yet...


I ran my embossed my cardstock with an embossing folder and Big Shot, and used a sponge dauber and some distress inks to color the embossed images.


My sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.


Not bad for my first try, right?  This card reminds me of spring, which is around the corner (I have to keep telling myself that, especially since we are buried in snow and it's freezing cold here).

I am entering this card to the following challenges:


I used these products (with links to where you can buy them) on my card:
White cardstock (Georgia Pacific)
Spring Tulip embossing folder (Darice)
You stamp set (Simon Says Stamp)
Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
Worn Lipstick distress ink (Ranger)
Mustard Seed distress ink (Ranger)
Mowed Lawn distress ink (Ranger)
Sponge dauber (Tsukineko)

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Dinosaur Birthday Card

Hi, everyone!  I can't believe I finished this card, and just in time, too, for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The challenge this week is "All Creatures Great and Small," featuring Paper Smooches products.

I was excited when I saw the challenge, because I just ordered some Paper Smooches stamps, and I needed an excuse to break them out of their packaging and use them!

Today's card is a birthday card:


I recently discovered watercoloring using distress inks, and I'm really loving this technique.  The dinosaur and the images are stamped on watercolor paper, which I've matted with black cardstock over the turqouise card base.


I cheated a little bit on the sentiment (it's not a Paper Smooches product, but I think it fit perfectly with my card).

I used these products for my card (with links to where you can get them, if you're interested):
Black and turqouise card stock (my stash)
Watercolor paper (Strathmore)
Cuteasaurus stamp set (Paper Smooches)
Chit Chat stamp set (Lawn Fawn) - I bought the coordinating dies with the stamp set
Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Brushed Curduroy, Mowed Lawn Distress inks (Ranger) - I bought 10 of the 12 mini sets (so cute!), and I'm waiting for the other 2 to become available again
Versamark watermark stamp pad (Tsukineko)
Black embossing powder (Stampin' Up!)
Foam tape (Scotch)
Big Shot (Sizzix)

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Class Valentines and Teacher Gifts

Valentine's day is 4 days away, and I've already finished r's Valentines for his classmates, and for his teachers.

I'm sharing them with you today, because I'm proud of the fact that I did not have to wait until the last minute to work on them.

I got this idea here, but modified it so that I can use the stamps that have on hand (and have been dying to use).


I ordered my bugs online.  You can get them here or here (it comes in packs of 12).  I love that they are finger puppets.  r is actually loving bugs right now, so I hope his classmates are, too.  I hope none of them will get scared by the bugs (gulp).

I stamped the jar stamp on a sheet of white cardstock, stamped "Happy Valentine's Day" and "Bugs and Kisses," wrote each child's name, and signed r's name at the bottom.  I then stuck each bug with a glue dot.  Easy-peasy.

r's class is smaller this year, just 11 kids (including r), so I made 11 of these cards.  I always make one for r, and sign it as "From Mommy and Daddy."


Of course, we wanted to give a small gift to r's teachers, too.  They work with him and his classmates tirelessly throughout the year.

I bought a huge bag of Swiss Delice dark chocolates, and put them in these boxes, that I made with my Cricut.


I used the Artiste cartridge, which is available at Close to My Heart through a consultant.  I cut a 2.5 inch box (that's the biggest box that I can cut out of a 12x12 cardstock, using the "Fit to Page" option).  I used clear acetate under the window, and then used the shape that was cut out of the lid's window as my tag.  I used some twine to hold the box together, and to attach the tag.

If you can't find the Artiste cartridge, you can also try Tags, Bags, Boxes and More 2.  They have a lot of boxes in that cartridge that will work just fine.


Each box held 24 chocolate pieces.

They are so cute!  I can't believe I haven't tried to make these small boxes using my Cricut before!

I am entering this project at the Fantabulous Cricut challenge blog.  The challenge this week is to create something with a Valentine theme using any Cricut cartridge.

I used these supplies for r's Valentine cards for his classmates (as well as links to where you can find them):
White cardstock (Georgia Pacific)
Filled with Love stamp set (Simon Says Stamp/Mama Elephant) - it also comes as a set (with coordinating dies)
Celebrate Everyday stamp set (Hero Arts)
Bugs and Kisses stamp set (Lawn Fawn) - also available as a set (with coordinating dies)
Tuxedo Black ink (Memento)
Glue Dots

I used these supplies for the Valentine teacher gift boxes (as well as links to where you can find them):
Dark and light pink cardstock (my stash)
Cricut Artiste cartridge (Provocraft) - for the box
Cricut Expression (Provocraft)
Acetate sheet - for the window
Quick Dry Adhesive (Scotch) - I used this for gluing down the sides of the boxes
ATG adhesive (Scotch) - I used this to attach the acetate sheet to the window on the box lid
Twine
Crop-a-dile (We R Memory Keepers) - I used this to punch a small hole on the tag to slide the twine through

Thanks for looking, and have a great, fun-filled, love-filled Valentine's day!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Bright Pink and Gray Card

It's been a while since I joined challenges, but I just couldn't pass up this challenge from Less Is More and Simon Says Stamp.

The Less Is More blog is celebrating its 4th anniversary, and the challenge this week is to make a card with pink and gray.

Meanwhile, the challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge blog is "All things bright and beautiful," highlighting Hero Arts products.

I am excited for this challenge, because I have a lot of Hero Arts stamps.  They were one of the first stamps I bought when I first started stamping five years ago.

Here is my card:


I used this Hero Arts stamp set for the different splashes of pink.


The image and the sentiment came from two different stamp sets.  The bicycle was from this set.


The sentiment was from this set.  I love how the two stamps complemented each other perfectly.  I embossed both the bicycle and the sentiment using silver/gray embossing powder.

I love how this card turned out.  I am working on having a stash of handmade cards that I can readily pull out for different occasions, and this card definitely fits the bill.

Here is a complete list of products (and links to where you can find them):
White cardstock (Georgia Pacific)
Dark and light gray cardstock (my stash)
Brush Strokes (Hero Arts)
Joy Ride stamp set (Hero Arts)
Friendship Messages stamp set (Hero Arts)
Rose Bud ink (Memento)
Angel Pink ink (Memento)
Pixie Dust ink (Versamagic)
Pink Petunia ink (Versamagic)
Versamark ink pad (Tsukineko)
Heat gun (Nicole)
Embossing powder (Stampin' Up!)
Embossing powder tool (Inkadinkado)
ATG gun (Scotch)

Thanks for looking, and have a bright and cheery day!

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Love Bug Valentine's Day Card

To me, February means Valentine's Day, and Valentine's Day means Valentine cards.

This is pretty uncharacteristic of me, but this year, I already finished working on my husband's Valentine card.


I'm loving this clean and simple card.  I love the cute images from Lawn Fawn, too.  I'm loving coloring, lately, although I still have to take the leap into Copics.  I used my Stampin' Write markers to color these images.


See what I mean?  So, so cute.  It's such a great builder set.  There are so many more images in the stamp set, and I bought the coordinating dies.  When popped up with one layer of foam tape, the die cut images add such nice dimension to the card.  See?

I'm going to tell you a secret.  I actually stamped the branch twice, to make it long enough so there's room for the two love bugs.  I hid the "joint" between the two branches behind one of the leaves.

And the sentiment!  I'm super-loving how well it stamps with my favorite Memento ink.


I think this card will make my husband smile.  I can't wait to give him his card on Valentine's day.

I used these supplies to make this card:
Stamp set (Bugs and Kisses, Lawn Fawn) - I bought it with the coordinating dies, although I believe they are also available separately
Stampin' Write markers (Stampin' Up!)
Big Shot Magnetic Platform (Sizzix) - this is a life changer!!!  It helps keep the dies in place while die cutting.

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Beer Birthday Card

I can't believe it's February already!!!

This Saturday, my sister-in-law's boyfriend will be celebrating his birthday, so I made him -- a cake!!!

Just kidding.  Of course, I made him a card.

I typically struggle with masculine cards (I lack inspiration!!!), but I think I got this down pat.  He likes to drink beer, so I thought this the perfect card for him:


I cut the mug twice, once in acetate, and once in medium yellow cardstock, to give the illusion of glass.  It's hard to see in the photo, but you can sort of see the outline of the "glass" mug here:


I covered the beer froth in Stickles, to mimic the bubbles.  I know, it looks kind of glittery rather than frothy, but I think he will get a kick out of it.


I used these materials/supplies for this card:
Cricut Expression (I'm tempted to upgrade to an Explore, but I just can't let go of my very first E!)
Everyday Pop-up Cards (Cricut cartridge)
Bright yellow, medium yellow, and light yellow cardstock (my stash)
Black and white cardstock (my stash)
Sentiment (Happy Hour stamp set, Stampin' Up!)
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink - love, love, love this ink pad
Spots and Dots (Cuttlebug embossing folder)
Stickles
Sizzix Big Shot
Foam tape
ATG gun

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!  Cheers! ;p