Snowy Thinking...

Well, I've been having enormous fun these past few days with "blog hopping". If you don't know what that is, it is a group of blog owners, sending you on a merry round of card viewing. A lot of them are from a particular design team, a stamp company's blog, etc. Some have challenges that include a "sketch" of which you can participate.

As an example, my first card is for the "Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #42", and you have to make a card using the sketch above, then post your card to your own online gallery or blog, then go to Mercy's blog and post your link. It's a way to challenge yourself with new card ideas!

My challenge card uses Hot pink Bazzill cardstock, and a Marvy Matchables "Caribbean Blue" ink pad. I first stamped the large snowflake (Inkadinkado) with Caribbean blue on white Bazzill cardstock. Next, I stamped my sentiment (Close to my Heart) on white cardstock, then stamped a tiny portion of my large snowflake on the corners. I next layered it to a hot pink glittered cardstock. I punched my upper and lower right corners with a Fiskars Emboss plus Punch, then added a few lines around three sides with my Scor-Pal. I tied a pretty teal bow around my card, then mounted my sentiment with pop dots. With a Stardust GellyRoll pen, I colored my snowflake, then added gemstones to finish the card. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

This next card is my version of a card on Andrea Walford's blog. Of course, I altered it for my own card, but I love the look! I stamped the flourish from the "Nightingale" stamp set by Inque Boutique in #3 Blue from Marvy Matchables. I then inked the snowflake (Inkadinkado) with #3 Blue and Prussian Blue on each half then stamped it so that it looked like the snowflake was hanging from the flourish.

I tied a pretty sparkly blue/gold ribbon that I purchased from Hobby Lobby, and added rhinestones on the flourish and snowflake. I next punched a snowflake border (EK Success) on blue glitter cardstock, mounted my flourish piece, then attached it to a white card. Card size 4 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches.

Thomas Kinkade and a Ghost....

It's Mojo Madness #107 and here is my entry for the contest! You can find out more on the Mojo Monday blog! I used a Thomas Kinkade stamp (Cornish Heritage Farms) called "The Open Gate" for this card.


I stamped my image twice on glossy paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then heat set it. I cut a scalloped circle out of one image using a Nestabilities Die. I colored that image with dye based inks and a paintbrush. I cut the ends off of the second image, attached them to cardstock, and mounted them to a coordinating designer paper with two punched corners. I found a pretty white satin ribbon and put it over the bottom portions of the black/white images, then mounted the scalloped circle with pot dots in the center. I placed the circle carefully to align the image so that it fit on top of the other images and looked seamless. I finished the card off with rhinestones (according to the Mojo Madness sketch provided) and adhered it to a sky blue card. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.


This second Kinkade card uses the "spotlight" effect and I used "It Doesn't Get Much Better" and "It Doesn't Get Much Better Vignette" stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms. I stamped both images onto glossy paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I punched two corners of the full scene, stamped "Peace in the lower right corner, and dusted a bit of color in two corners with the Colorbox Stylus. I then mounted the image to sky blue cardstock, then to a teal card. I colored the vignette with Memento inks and a paintbrush, then adhered it to the black/white scene with pop dots. I added rhinestones to finish the card. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

Here's my card for the Crazy 4 Challenges Week 5 Sew Happy Challenge! How cute is this card? I have a darling quilted Halloween Banner kit using fabric, and thought that I could use the pattern for a great card! I scanned the pattern into my computer, resized it to fit a card, then cut out the pieces using patterned paper. I then put the pieces together onto a glittered black cardstock. With a black pen, I added the tiny "stitches", then mounted it to an orange card. His eyes are black rhinestones. Card size 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches.

10 minutes or less...

I've been swamped all week, so I've taken a few minutes to make 2 cards that took less than 10 minutes each. As we head into the Holiday season, I bet a lot of us are going to have to squeeze our cardmaking into small amounts of allotted time!

I've used the "Autumn Harvest" stamp set from Stampin' Up! for these two cards. I love this little set as it's so versatile and perfect for the Fall holidays. This first card is for a friend who has a birthday in October, and her sister asked me to make a card that had pumpkins and sage green incorporated.

I punched the Fluer-de-lis border on both sides of a soft yellow cardstock sized 4 x 5 1/2 inches using an EK Success punch. Next I stamped "Happy Birthday" (Close to my Heart) in Memento Rich Cocoa. I then stamped "Dot Flourishes" (Inkadinkado) using Pear Tart where my pumpkins would be. I stamped the two pumpkins from the stamp set onto light orange cardstock using the Rich Cocoa ink. With Pear Tart, I stamped the small leaf on the light orange cardstock as well.

With a sponge, I tapped Memento Dandelion and Tangelo inks onto the pumpkins. I tapped a light amount of Rich Cocoa on the stems. I then added a touch of New Sprout ink to the leaf. I tied a pretty brown/gold ribbon around the card then attached my pumpkins and leaf using pop dots. Lastly, I added tiny brown rhinestones on the sentiment. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

This next card was fun! My sister and I were doing a challenge where you can only use two colors in your cards, and we had to use the "Dot Flourishes" stamp set from Inkadinkdo. Her card was adorable with lime green and pink as the main colors!

I stamped the flourish stamp using Memento Tuxedo Black onto dark orange cardstock. I then tied a black with orange polka dots ribbon around the card and knotted it. It's hard to see in the photo but the black piece behind the pumpkins is glittered cardstock. I repeated the process for the pumpkins as with the previous card. I added the faces instead of leaving the pumpkins blank. I omitted the leaf, instead cutting out a tag and stamping "Trick or Treat" (Hampton Arts) onto it. I mounted the pumpkins to the glittered cardstock with pop dots, attached the tag with a polka dot brad, then finished it off with orange rhinestones. (Yes, Robin, I have that stamp set for you!) Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

Don't forget to check out my friend Sandy's blog, as she has been doing some adorable cards for Halloween, Winter and more. Her parchment crafting is gorgeous too!

Scenic Cards....

Stampscapes is probably my favorite stamp company, and I've been creating a bunch of scenes lately. Fabulous cards can be made using these scenic stamps, from simple to elaborate. So many different techniques can be used with the images. You can brayer the ink onto your cardstock, sponge, stipple, direct to paper and more. The owner of the company, Kevin Nakagawa, has created a stamp line that can take your level of stamping to a higher plain. If you are looking for something new, take a look at the Stampscapes website, the many tutorials and galleries. Once you get bitten by the scenic bug, you'll become addicted.

Check out my gallery 1 and gallery 2 on the Stampscapes website, and that's MY scene on the home page! How exciting is that!!!

"Winter Chill" uses the Colorbox Stylus for color in this scene. I covered the entire cardstock (non-glossy) with Adirondack Lights Aqua ink first, then used Ranger Archival Ink Teal from the bottom to the center of the card. Lastly, I added Adirondack Denim to the lower portion of the card to deepen the water.

For the distant shoreline, I took the straight edge of Marvy Matchables #10 Lt Blue ink pad and swiped downward, then turn the card around and swiped again. This made the shoreline, and the reflection. For the sky, I added a bit of Teal ink into the sky, leaving some light spaces for clouds. I stamped the images next, then added white highlights with a Signo White Gel Pen. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

This next scene, I went directly to the glossy paper with my ink pads. I used Memento inks in the following colors: Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Lady Bug, Rose Bud, New Sprout, Pear Tart, Rich Cocoa and Tuxedo Black. These ink pads are the little tear drop pads that you can purchase at Michael's in sets of four.

Cover the entire glossy card with Dandelion ink, then on the upper portion, deepen the Dandelion with Cantaloupe ink. I added swipes of Tangelo, Lady Bug and Rose Bud inks until I liked my sunset. On the lower portion of the card, I covered the Dandelion with New Sprout and Pear Tart. In a few areas, I went over again with Pear Tart in a sweeping motion to get my impression of the pasture.

With Rich Cocoa, I stamped the Spotted Horse from Stampscapes in the grass, then added the Gulls to the sky using Tuxedo Black. The background wheat (Inkadinkado) I stamped with Pear Tart, then added the foreground wheat (Stampabilities) with Tuxedo Black. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

(Click on picture to see larger version of the tags)

These next 4 tags is for a Tag Swap on my Stampscapes II Yahoo Group. I wanted to show the different ways you can use the same stamps by just changing the ink colors. I love the effect!

Here is one of the twelve new Paper Embroidery Patterns I released this week! You can see all my new patterns on my Stitching Website or on my new Etsy Store! That's right, I finally opened a store on Etsy for my Patterns, and you can also purchase custom ordered stitching cards! It will take me a bit of time to add all the patterns and cards, but keep checking back. I'm also in the process of opening another Etsy store for my Lampwork Beads and Jewelry. Stay Tuned!

Fall and Halloween...

From time to time, I'll get an email with another cardmaker's blog address and I'll browse their creative websites and learn new things. I was sent Michelle Zindorf's Freedom in Creating blog and fell in love with a lot of her ideas. She's a Stampin' Up demonstrator and her cards are fresh and exciting.

This first card is an adaptation of her card titled "On a Cliff - Tutorial #258" (you'll find this card on the first page if you scroll down a bit) and another card titled "Lonely Owl - Tutorial #243 (you'll find this card on the fifth page of her website). Both tutorials are well detailed with excellent instructions. I added a few of my own personal touches, and I'm quite pleased with the techniques I learned with this card. The stamp set I used from Stampin' Up! is called "House of Haunts". The flying bats is a stamp from Stampscapes called Gulls, but look like bats from my point of view! I used a white Signo pen to add the highlights to the tree and ground. Card size is 5 x 5 inches.

These next two cards were created from her card titled "Blowing in the Wind - Tutorial #257" (about half way down the first page). As you can see, I changed the design a bit, added my own touches, and a new card was born! The leaf stamp on the first card is from Judikins and the leaf on the second card (below) is from Inkadinkado. The sentiment on the first card is from Stampscapes, and the sentiment on the second card is from Stampendous!. First card size is 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 and the second card size is 5 1/2 square.

My latest necklace has a Fall feel to it. The cubed bead has a base of white, with a pretty orange/gold/red frit burned in, then accented with a gold-filled bail and findings on a gold necklace.

Seasonal cards...

My cards for today are quick and easy for the upcoming holiday seasons! I used a wide variety of items from my stash for these cards and you can find most of them at your favorite craft store. Now, on to the instructions!

I received my Debbie Mumm paper stack from JoAnn's online yesterday, and the fall designs are adorable! The pine cone paper is soft and was perfect for my idea! I mounted the paper to a peach card measuring 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. I "inked" the leaf stamp from Judikins with the Essential Glue Pad and stamped it on a scrap of peach cardstock. With Martha Stewart glitter, I added green for the center of the leaf, then orange and gold for the sides and let it dry. Once it was dry, I cut the leaf out and put it aside.

With the Cuttlebug, I cut out a scalloped brown square. I stamped the "Fall" stamp from Hero Arts, using Memento Rich Cocoa ink onto peach cardstock. I mounted the stamped image to the brown square at an angle and added gold pearls. I mounted this to my card, added pop dots to the leaf cut out and adhered it beside the fall sentiment. Lastly, I added a brown ribbon and tied it in a knot. A pretty and easy card for a loved one!

Here's a pretty Christmas card using the Snowflake embossing folder for the Cuttlebug. Once my paper was embossed, I took a stipple brush and added blue ink around the edges of the card. I mounted this to a purple card sized 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. I stamped a Christmas tree from the Winter Wonderland Stamp set at Michael's onto a small tag. I outlined the tree and ground with a purple glitter pen.

With my stipple brush, I added color to the tag with Memento inks in blue and light purple. I added a pretty bow and mounted the tag with pop up dots onto my card. Lastly, I added sparkly rhinestone swirls on the corners on the card.

I think this next card is the cutest thing I've made in a long time. I used my scalloped circle Nestabilities in the Cuttlebug and cut 4 circles and assembled my basic snowman. I found some too cute snowman face rub ons at Michael's that fit my snowman perfectly! The "tis the season" scarf is a stamp from the same Winter Wonderland stamp set from Michael's. I added tiny black dots for the snowman's belly, and added just a touch of blue and purple ink with my stipple brush.

I used an EK Success Snowflake punch for the edges of my decorative background paper. I mounted that piece to a purple card sized 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. I cut and embossed a Cuttlebug snowflake and added a purple epoxy dot to the center, then mounted it to my card in the upper right corner. Lastly, I attached my snowman to the card then sent it off to my sister who loves Snowmen!!

How are these for cute? I made these aliens for my son! Al loves my glass beads, and every time I sit at the torch, I make him an Alien bead. These are just a few of the ones I have made for him!

Another in the series....

Here's "Gone Batty!", which is the second scene in my Halloween Series using cut outs, masking and Stampscapes stamps. The technique for this scene is similar to the one in my previous post with the Halloween Ghost. I used only Memento inks with this scene. I cut out a moon and the bat, then laid the cut outs down on glossy cardstock. I stamped the Cloud Cumulus with London Fog ink over the entire card. With the Colorbox Stylus, I added color for my night sky, using Lulu Lavender, Grape Jelly, Paris Dusk, Bahama Blue, and Dandelion inks. I removed the masks and my bat and moon were exposed.

Next, I laid down the paper I cut the moon from over the scene, and replaced the bat mask. This left just the moon exposed. I applied Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Tangelo and New Sprout inks on the moon with the Stylus. I then removed the masks again, and only my bat was left white. I laid down the paper I cut the bat from over the scene and stamped the "Eyes" from the Symmetry: Sheet 4 using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added Paris Dusk, Grape Jelly and Tuxedo Black inks on the bat. I tapped a touch of Dandelion ink on the eyes. Lastly, I stamped the Spooky Branch over the scene in a random manner and finished it off by adding purple rhinestones to the bat for eyes.

I was asked to make a monkey pattern for a wonderful lady who will be stitching him for charity. I think she said she had to make over 5,000 cards! WOW! I say! I think after 10 cards sewn, Dawn will think she's going bananas :)(Right click on the pattern to download it to your computer)

Here is a recent necklace I've made using my own lampworked beads, sterling components with Swarovski crystals. The floral bead in the center takes about 20 minutes alone to make at the torch, but I love how it turned out. I etched all the beads except the pinks ones for a soft effect.