One more Easter card ...

Hi everyone.  One more Easter card that I finished late yesterday ... and just in time!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Today I used a sweet digital stamp set from my friend, Lisa Lara.  Lisa designed this adorable digi (available through Clear Dollar Stamps), and she sent me a copy of it a little while ago as her way of supporting me and cheering me up through the tough times that life has thrown at me over the past six months.  Thank you Lisa!!  I just love this adorable set ... and think the clicks are so sweet, especially done in polka-dots!  And they definitely brought a smile to my face ... so thank you for that too!

Stamps:  Peep Peeps (Lisa's Doodley Doos - Clear Dollar Stamps)
Paper:  White, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Polka-dot DP in Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery (SU!), Yellow Gingham (Making Memories)
Ink:  Soft Suede (for the sponging on the basket)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder (Sizzix for SU!), Pink Twine (The Twinery), Crystal Effects, sponge, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I paper-pieced this image, adding embossing to the basket and sponging with Soft Suede ink.  I added a strand of twine around the gingham "ruffle" before gluing it down.  The beaks are covered in Crystal Effects to give them shine and dimension. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I would have like to have rounded the corners to match the image, but my corner rounder broke just a little while ago and I haven't had a chance to replace it.


Here's a close-up of the image:

Spring Flower Basket

Hi everyone.   Hope you are all having a wonderful start to your Easter weekend.  Here's a little basket of flowers to celebrate Spring (and Easter).  I am again trying to use some of my reams of designer paper. :)

Stamps:  Flower Basket (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Paper:  Watercolor, Daffodil Delight striped DP, Cherry Cobbler (SU!); Yellow gingham DP (Making Memories)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  blender pen, Maraschino Twine (The Twinery, adhesives, and dimensionals

I used the marker layering technique to watercolor in my basket of flowers.  The Raspberry Ripple is such a saturated color that when I went to add the frame of cardstock, it matched better with the Cherry Cobbler.  I didn't add a sentiment ... thought there was enough going on and wanted to leave the basket as the focal point.


Here's a close-up of the basket:

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Thank you to all that commented on my Card Candy.  I really appreciate your support and kind comments.

I used the True Random Number Generator to pick the winner of the Card Candy:

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 42 Powered by RANDOM.ORG


#42 is :

LINDAH

Congrats LindaH ... if you would please email me (click on the "Email Me" in the right-hand column near the top) with your address, I'll send you the Card Candy.

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One more quick thing to share with you today.  Here's a picture of my new shelving that I mentioned yesterday.  I went to the $1 Store and bought 15 brightly-colored boxes and even managed to get them all labelled ... how organized am I??!! :)

Looks like I still have room for more boxes and I definitely have lots more things to sort through, so I'll be heading back there tomorrow to pick up some more.  I'm so happy with how my shelving turned out.  Thanks to Evan for all his hard work!!

Happy Easter everyone!

Yellow Gingham

Hi everyone.  I finally managed to make another Easter card ... and it actually went fairly smoothly - yah! :)  I had a wonderful day, spending time with my kids ... so I was in a really good mood when I went into the studio and I think that helped :)

Evan is off for an extra long weekend and so I asked if he would put up some shelving in my studio for me.  He is so helpful and the shelving was put up this morning - awesome!!.  Just need to get to the $1 store where I saw some adorable storage boxes that will fit perfectly.  I will post a picture once I have everything organized.

After Evan finished installing the shelves, we met up with Jeremy and the three of us headed out for a nice lunch.  The sun was shining and it was warm enough that we sat out on the patio at the restaurant to eat - so much fun!!

Back to the card.  My friend Debbie told me about these sweet digital images at Pink Petticoat and I couldn't resist getting them (it's a set of several different versions).  I watercolored this with my aqua painter and ink (chick) ... and also my blender pen and ink (bouquet).  I also added a strip of yellow gingham paper down the side which qualifies this card for today's SCS Ways To Use It Challenge (WT420 - use gingham). Love it ... and perfect for this card.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Fluffy Little Chicks (Pink Petticoat)
Paper:  Watercolor, Perfect Plum (SU!); Yellow Gingham (Making Memories)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories & tools:  Aqua Painter, blender pen, Lilac Twine (The Twinery)

Here's a close-up:

Happiness Always

Hi everyone.  Where has my mojo gone??  .... I have been trying to make some more Easter cards, but things just weren't working out.  It happens to all of us ... but it's been three days of this - which is really long for me :(  I'm thinking that the kids will get a bag of treats and no cards this year.  Yep, I need to let myself off the hook. :)

So today I didn't even attempt an Easter card ... instead I tried making some roses with my Rose Creation die from Spellbinders.  I had seen some gorgeous hand-made roses on SCS by Joanna Krog ... amazing!!  I thought I should give it a try.  Well, it went  ... OK.  I still need to work on them, but I think I'm on the right track.  Just need to figure out an easier way to get the petals to stay "scrunched up" ... I'm thinking glue.  I'll do some more practicing ... but for now, I'm using one of my roses for this card.  Happy with how this card turned out in the end ... this is after I broke my favorite fern punch (it had been giving me trouble for a while so I guess I should have picked up on the fact that it was done).  I subbed in some olive branch dies instead and I'm really happy with how they look ... these are the darker sprigs covered with white flowers.

So I'm happy that I made a card that I actually get to share with you :)   And making something that is pretty makes me happy too.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Whimsical words (SU!)
Paper:  White, Raspberry Ripple, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Ink:  Raspberry Ripple, So Saffron (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Rose Creation Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Olive branch die and 8-petal die (C.C. Designs), paper piercing tool, stylus and mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, and dimensionals

I pierced a square about 3/4" in from all sides of the front panel.  I stamped the sentiment in Raspberry Ripple using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.

I die-cut the Rose from Raspberry Ripple cardstock and used my stylus and mat to shape the petals and then glued all the layers together.

I created a triangle of Little Leaves die-cut from Certainly Celery cardstock.  Then I added another triangle of Olive branch dies on top out of Wild Wasabi cardstock (the triangles need to be off-set from each other).  I placed the rose in the center and added both sizes of the 8-petal flower dies (the larger ones have a center dot of So Saffron ink).  


Here's a close-up of the rose spray:

Happy Easter

Hi everyone.  Time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Addicted to Colours #38 (regal rose, sahara sand, tempting turquoise).  You can make any style of card you like ... but please keep it to the colours from the challenge as well as neutrals (brown, black, white, ivory).  You don't have to use the specific colours mentioned above from SU! ... use whatever you have that is close to those three colours ... and have fun!

Stamps:  Critter Balloons - Bunny (Bugaboo); Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White, watercolor, Regal Rose polka-dot DP (SU!)
Ink:   Black, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box), Crystal Effects, blender pen, sponge, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I used this sweet digital image from Bugaboo, sized it to what I wanted and printed the image three times (card front, watercolor paper, polka-dot dp).  I cut the image out of the watercolor paper and used my blender pen and inks to color it (marker layering technique).  I cut out the balloon from the polka-dot paper and then covered it with Crystal effects.  When everything was dry, I glued it onto my card front on top of my printed image (paper piecing).  I added some faux stitching with my Stampin' Write marker and then stamped the sentiment onto a large cloud.


Here's a close-up of the main image:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

Orange Gerbera Daisy

Hi everyone.  Today is my first attempt at an orange Gerbera daisy.  It is my future DIL's (Nikki) birthday in a couple of days, and it is her favorite flower, so I made this card for her.  I love the way it turned out and will be making more of these Gerbera daisies in other colors.  Unfortunately, I had trouble capturing the true colors of the card today ... just not enough light - where is the sun when you need it??!! :)  The daisy is a lot bolder in color that in the photo above.  Also, the low light makes the sentiment look blurred - but trust me, it's clear IRL. :)

I was inspired by this flower image I found through Goggle:

Stamps:  Be Happy Sentiments (AmyR)
Paper:  White, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Summer Smooches DP (SU!)
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Giant Daisy Punch (Punch Bunch), Medium and Small Sun Punches (Punch Bunch), sponges, stylus and mat for shaping, gold and red micro beads ($1 Store), Tangerine Tango stitched ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives, sticky strips, and dimensionals

I made the Gerbera daisy as per my 3D Daisy Tutorial,  (see link on Tutorial tab above), this time pinching the petals downwards and changing the way I make the center.  I used two medium sun punches from Tangerine Tango cardstock, sponging the edges with more Tangerine Tango ink and then cutting each "ray" in half to create a very spike-y look.  I did the same with one small sun punch (sponged and cut) and then added a little Crystal Effects to the center, pour over the mix of mostly gold (and a little red) micro beads and then topped it with more Crystal effects.  Once dry, I glued all the center layers together and glued it to the daisy.


Here's a close-up of the daisy:

Since it had beads in the center, I'm entering this card into the latest challenge at Less Is More (LIM 112 - Recipe - use beads).

Spring is Here!

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest Addicted to CAS challenge.  Each challenge has a code word (selected by the design team) to inspire your creations.

It's Harriet's turn (Ally Cat Cards) to be in charge of this challenge and she chose "Spring".  :)

The sponsor for this challenge is

I'm so happy to make a bright and cheerful card during all this miserable, rainy weather.  Looking forward to when the sun is shining and I can get out in the garden and play in the dirt! :)

Stamps:  Flower Fusion #6 (leaves) - Melissa J; Spring is Here (Penny Black)
Paper:  White; Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Mambo Melon polka-dot DPs (SU!)
Ink:  Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Five Point Flowers die (C.C. Designs),  Lemondrop twine (the Twinery), stylus kit and mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue dots, and dimensionals

This is a super simple card.  I die-cut two sizes of the flowers from each of the three polka-dot DPs and then used my stylus and mat to give the flowers some shape before gluing the centers in place.  I stamped the stems and leaves, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up (LOVE these plaid leaves!).  Then I glued the flower heads onto each stem.  The sentiment is a stamp I bought ages ago (but hadn't inked yet).  And a little twine with a knot to finish things off.


Here's a close-up of the main image:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team members at ATCAS!

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Since I had all my papers out ... and the die-cut comes with three sizes of flowers (which I had cut a set of each), I decided to use the leftover large flowers and make another card.  So basically same papers, same die-cut and same sentiment.  Just changed up the layout and added some buttons!  Hope you like this version ...

I added some faux stitching around the edges of the four punched squares, which are popped up off the card front.  The flowers are also popped up on the squares, so there's lots of dimension.  Added twine to the centers of the buttons and used a glue dot to secure them in place.


Here's a close-up:

This card inspired me to create my own Card Candy which is featured in an earlier post (Mar. 21).  If you are interested in adding your name to a draw for a set of these cute flowers, please remember to leave me a comment on my Mar. 21st post before Mar. 29th.  Anyone that leaves a comment will be entered for a draw to win two packages of Loll's Card Candy - one with nine of these cute polka-dot, button centered flowers and one with nine polka-dot centered daisies.

Daisy Thanks

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for a couple of challenges ... All That Scraps - Anything Goes and SCS Free For All (F4A161 - Geometrically speaking ... use circles and squares).

And ... I used some of my daisy candy for this card.  :)

Stamps:  Be Happy (AmyR)
Paper:  White, Hello Sunshine DP (Bo Bunny)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Daisy Punch (Punch Bunch), Itty Bitty circle punch (SU1), Double-stitched Red Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I used one of my favorite pattern papers by Bo Bunny (so cheerful!) and cut out three 1 1/4" squares.  The daisies are made as per my instructions on my tutorial page - click here.  For these daisies, I used a smaller daisy punch than in the tutorial (approx. 1" in diameter) ... and I added a small circle punch of polka-dot paper to the centers, covered them with Crystal Effects.


Here's a close-up:

Card Candy Give-away

Hi everyone.  I'm trying something new today ...

I have made "Loll's Card Candy" ... a package filled with spring flowers, that are all glued together and placed on an acetate sheet with a pop-dot, ready to place onto a card.  I had so much fun making these sweet button-centered flowers ... and fun creating my own packaging too! :)

After I was finished making the package above, I had another idea.  This time I made a sheet of daisies with different colored centers that have been topped with Crystal Effects to make them shiny and give them dimension.  So fun!!

I have lots of other ideas for Card Candy that I will be trying out over the next few months, so you'll be seeing more of these.

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Would you like some of the card candy above??

I appreciate each and every one of you for taking the time to join my blog and read my posts.  So I want to share some of my candy with you. :)

I have made another package of both candy (spring flowers and daisies).  If you are interested and are a member of my blog, please leave a comment on this post.  In one week's time, I will use a random number generator to pick one person.  I'll announce the name and ask that person to email me with their address so I can mail off the packages of candy.

Again, to all of you that take the time to look at my cards ... and especially to those who also take time to comment .... thank you!!

Pot of Flowers

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark #37 (use any markers).  I used a sweet image from Clear Dollar Stamps called Bless My Bloomers. :)

The sponsor for this challenge is

Prize:  $15 gift voucher

(please follow the rules of the challenge to be eligible to win)

Stamps:  Bless My Bloomers (Clear Dollar Stamps); Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White, Yellow gingham DP (Making Memories)
Ink:  Copics:  YR24, YG95, YG97, YR07, R17
Accessories & Tools:  Mandarine Twine (The Twinery), Crystal Effects, glue adhesives, and dimensionals

I colored the flowers with copics and paper pieced the pot with yellow gingham designer paper ... I'm a little obsessed with yellow gingham lately. :)   I covered the flower centers with Crystal Effects to give shine and dimension.


Here's a close-up of the pot of flowers:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

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Kylie (owner of the ATS&M and ATCAS challenge blogs), has revamped the challenges for ATS&M starting today.  The number is changed to reflect the actual # of weeks the challenge has been running ... and she has come up with a new series of challenges.  Here's how they will be ordered moving forward ...

Make Your Mark (use any markers)
Addicted to Colors (color challenge)
Addicted to CAS (anything goes as long as it's clean and simple)
Photo Inspiration
Anything Goes

I just love the new line up of challenges and hope that you'll join us for some fun (and prizes!!).

Thankful for Nancy

Hi everyone.  This card is for a couple of challenges.  First, the SCS Featured Stamper (FS319) this week is my good friend, Nancy Littrell.  Congrats Nancy!!

Nancy and I met while on the CAS Design Team for SCS just over a year ago and we've been friends ever since.  We have so much in common, and share a passion for CAS cards.  I have been inspired by Nancy for many of my cards that I have made and I know that she has inspired many others as well.  Today it's all about her ... and she will know that I really worked hard to make this card for her :)  She has made several beautiful cards using the two-step bird punch from SU! and I mentioned to her that I had the same punch, but just couldn't seem to get it to work for me on any of my cards ... I had tried several times and they always looked terrible and I would ditch them and start with something else.  I think I ended up with some sort of complex about using this punch!! :)  Today I used this beautiful card from Nancy's gallery to get me over my phobia!!  I'm so happy with how this turned out ... thank you, thank you, thank you Nancy!  I appreciate you for all your wonderful cards and inspiration you provide, but most of all, I appreciate you for you.  Enjoy your special week, my friend!!

I'm also entering this into the Less Is More challenge (LIM#111 - frame it).  I used piercing to frame my label punch.

Stamps:  Be Happy Sentiments (AmyR)
Paper:  White, watercolor
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Not Quite Navy (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  2-Step bird punch, Label punch; Piercing tool, template and mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig, water mister, glue, and dimensionals

I dropped some watered-down re-inkers (Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Not Quite Navy), onto a piece of wet watercolor paper.  The ink spreads across the water to create a large piece of multi-colored watercolor paper, which I let dry and then punched out the bird and branch.  I punched a second branch which is attached to the inside of the card.


Here's a close-up of the main image:

Origami Box

Hi everyone!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Today I'm posting my first origami box.  Anne (Stamps and Paper) made several gorgeous boxes posted them on her blog a couple of days ago.  And she also added the link to the instructions - click here.  Thanks Anne!!

This was fun to make ... and not difficult at all ... just a lot of folding.  And the base and lid are made with less than 3 - 12"x12" sheets of DP / cardstock.  It's a pretty amazing piece of engineering!

My difficulty was decorating the top.  I didn't have large enough roses, so added several small ones, but the spray is still too small (I think) to balance out the box.  I'll need to make my own flowers next time.   And I'm not completely happy with the green leaves ... maybe I need to switch them out for gray ones ... I'll think about it :)

I used some long retired DP (Elegant Soiree) from SU!  It seems the perfect mix of designs for this type of box.  Also, next time I think I'll dig out my glue gun.  It would have been a lot easier to work with than my Tombow glue. :)

Spring Violets

Hi everyone.  Had so much fun in my art studio this morning! :)   LOVED working with this sweet pot of flowers from Clear Dollar Stamps.  This card is for two challenges ... SCS Ways To Use It (WT418 - A Knotty question - include a knot) and Inkspirational #11 - photo inspiration.

Here's the photo that inspired my card:

Stamps:  Spring Violets (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Yellow Gingham (Making Memories); watercolor paper
Ink:  Black, Elegant Eggplant, Gumball Green, Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  blender pen, Lilac Twine (The Twinery), glue, adhesives, and dimensionals


I printed out the digital image three times:  1) card front; 2) yellow gingham DP; 3) watercolor paper.  I cut out the gingham pot and glued onto my card front (paper piecing).  I used the marker layering technique to watercolor the violets and leaves on the watercolor paper and then cut them out.  I used my Black Stampin' Write marker to go along the cut edges of the watercolor paper so that it looks better when placed on top of the printed digital image on my card front.  I glued the violets to my card front, added a strip of the gingham paper at the top, and finished it off by adding two strands of twine with a double-knot just off-center.


Here's a close-up of the pot of violets:

The sentiment is also part of the same stamp set ... as is a small violet posey that I printed separately, watercolored, cut out and glued to the inside of the card.  In hindsight it would have been easier to photograph if I had made a separate panel for the inside, but here's the best I could do ...

Inside of card:

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Welcome to two new followers ... Anitah and Monika!  Glad to have you with us!!

If Friends were Flowers ... I'd pick YOU!

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Sketch #6 (check out the sketch below).  I wanted to use the beautiful designer papers called Sycamore Street ... the colors are so bold and bright and it definitely says "Spring".  I have a fairly large "collection" of designer papers.  I call it a collection, because I don't use them on my cards very much ... just keep collecting them :) My goal is to start using them more ... hopefully!

FYI, Addicted to Stamps & More is making some changes.  A new series of challenges begins next week, so stay tuned for some fun and exciting changes!

Here's today's sketch:

Stamps:  Watering Can Logos (C.C. Designs)
Paper:  White, Sycamore Street DP, Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Small daisy and small sun punches (punch bunch), Little Leaves die (Sizzix),  Stylus Kit (McGill), mat, piercing tool, piercing template, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I stamped the large sentiment just above center and then added a line of piercing below.  The daisy is three layers, with the petals pinched and shaped.  Two sun punches (also shaped) are the flower center.


Here's a close-up view of the flower and sentiment:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!