Sadie.......

I found Sadie at Mo's Digital Pencil.....I think she is too cute!  The correct name is Sadie with Basket of Apples.  I printed her on Watercolor Paper and waited patiently for the ink to dry.  Then I colored with my Ranger Distress Inks. (Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, Aged Mahogany, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo, Shabby Shutters, and Spiced Marmalade)  I mounted the image onto some Burgundy card stock I had in my stash and used a Martha Stewart Punch to punch some lace to edge the design.  I used some Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet to shade the punched out card stock.  I added a little rose and some stamen (I think that is what they are called...the inside of a flower) and my card is done!  I hope you enjoy...  I just love this image and you will probably be seeing more of her in the future.  I don't want to bore you, but I  think she colors well!  Here is a close up.

Ok I'm off to do my Suzy Homemaker chores today.  Lots of scrubbin, rubbin and bubbles to come....

Supplies:

Gina K Designs Card Stock
Ranger Distress Ink
Mo's Digital Pencil Image
Rose and Stamen from my stash
Martha Stewart Punch

Just a Quick Post.....

It is very early and I'm trying to be quiet so my husband can rest a little longer.  It is raining here.....much needed...and it looks like it will a football kind of Sunday.  I just wanted to share with you a little jar, I have refurbished to sit on my kitchen counter and hold pens.  I discovered Camelot Roses on YouTube and they are gorgeous, so I had to give them a try.  I can't remember about who did the video, but the name of it is "Camelot Flower Doop".  You need to check out this tutorial and give it a try.

I used Scrapperdashery paper that I have saved for over a year.  This paper is mfg. in the UK and very hard to come by here in the states.  I don't even know if the co. is still going.  But I love this paper and it is double sided and very thick.  The name on the sheet is Oscar Wilde.    Check out my roses!  I just love these and they are very simple to make.  I used Tim Holtz's Alterations Die (Tattered Florals) and cut out the two smallest flowers.  You can check out the YouTube video to get the specifics.  Anyway when I finished I just had to do the UTEE technique on them and I just love how they turned out!  Once my petals were cut out I placed them on the embossing pad to get them wet and then I used my tweezers to twist the petals then I sprinkled UTEE onto the petals and used my heat gun to melt, then more UTEE and the heat gun again and so on until I was happy with the look.    I think I did about 3 layers.  This makes a big mess, so I got a cardboard box and would heat down in that to keep the UTEE from flying everywhere.  These flowers would make wonderful pins, or would look lovely on top of a gift.  I also used some more of the leaves I made using the Spellbinders Dies.  I hope you enjoy this. 

Be sure and check out the video on YouTube and give this a try.  They are so pretty!

Have a wonderful Sunday, and I wish you Joy!

Happy Fall.....

Good morning ladies, I hope you are beginning to open your eyes and face the weekend.  When I worked all I got to do on the weekend was Suzy Homemaker stuff!  Now I love them, because I can do what I want, when I want.  Nothing like a little independence!

I want to share a card today, using some of the leaves I've been doing with Spellbinders Dies and UTEE.  I also have been making flowers, but they didn't go with this stamp:

I used a JustRite pumpkin stamped on watercolor paper.  I colored it with Ranger Distress Inks.  I used a Spellbinders oval die to cut out dark brown mat for that.  Then I used the new Beaded Ovals Die from Spellbinders and cut out another piece of watercolor paper.  I used Spiced Marmalade Distress ink and colored the small ovals while the paper was still in the die.  It looks like some of them are lighter, but it is just my picture taking....it leaves a lot to be desired.  The leaves were cut out of different pieces of card stock and then I used Encore gold ink to hi-lite...next I put the the leaf onto my embossing ink pad and then sprinkled UTEE onto the leaves.  I used the heat gun to melt the UTEE and while it was still hot I put on more UTEE and added another layer.  After about three layers I was happy with the look.  It makes them look like porcelain and I just love the look.  I tried the melting pot for the UTEE but I really like the dip and heat method better as I seem to have better control.  My base card stock is a dark green and it was embossed with a Sizzix (Tim Holtz) embossing folder.  I hope you enjoy this .....it's another one for my Fall stash!

Supplies:
JustRite Stamps
Spellbinders Dies
Ranger Distress Inks
UTEE
Heat Gun
Tim Holtz Embossing folder
Gina K Designs Cardstock

MoJo Where have you gone?!.......

Yep, right in the middle of all my wonderful ideas that little sucka, packed a bag and slipped out the side door when I wasn't looking.  Most of the ideas I had are now safely tucked in my rummage bin ready to go the way of my other trash!  I hate when that happens....nothing seemed to pan out and I'm left here wondering what I'm gonna do next.  So I have been working on making some flowers to embellish my cards with and then dipping them in UTEE.  I love the look, but let me just say, that little hot pan is an accident just waiting to happen with me.  I keep getting that stuff on my fingers cause I just want to play with it, and form it while it is still warm.  I love flowers that have dimension and I finally got the hang of it, but for me it has been a slow go.  I'm just accumulating flowers and leaves and when MoJo decides to come back around, I'll dig these out and use them.  For now, I'm trying my hand at some roses made out of mulberry paper that I found in my stash and the first one is awesome and it is going into the UTEE pot too! 

Try to be patient with me, as I'm struggling with this too.  I am getting behind on all my fall cards I wanted to do and Christmas is coming and I only have a very few cards.  I also need an Anniversary card, as my husband and we will be celebrating our anniversary this weekend.  I think I will use one I already have.  I have a couple put back just for these times. 

Well it is 4 PM and the only thing craft wise that I have accomplished today is one little pitiful rose!  I'm going out into the sunshine for a little while and get a little fresh air and clear my head.  Have a wonderful evening and I will be back in a day or two when things start to flow again!

Secret...Who has a Secret?

Good morning!  I am up and having my first cup of coffee this morning.  It is almost 5 am and all is quite in our household.  I love this time of the day, when I can cruise the Internet and check out all the blogs I love to follow.  It is "My Time". 

Yes, I do have a secret....and I can't tell you just yet!  I'm having to sit on it until October 1, 2010!  Now you all know how hard that is for me.....but I did promise.....and a promise is a promise!  So come back then if you want to hear!

I haven't had anything to post lately, but I am working on some things to have to show you a little on down the road.  My Magpie has had a bout with her allergies so the weekend was spent doing cool wash clothes to her skin and Benedril every 4 hours to hold her until the vet opened on Monday morning.  She  has had her little shot and is calm now.  I hate that she struggles so with allergies.

Sooooooo.....I'm off to get my second cup of coffee and spend a little quality time with my blogging friends!  Have a wonderful day and take a little time out for yourself.....just for you.....and breathe!

Little Witch.....

Good Friday morning everyone!  Do you like my little witch friend?  She is a Mo's Digital Pencil image I purchased and I just think she is too cute!  I printed her onto watercolor paper and used Ranger Distress Inks to color.  I love coloring this way and keep trying to get it right.  I wish there was a class on this in my area, but I just have to rely on videos on blogs to try and understand the mechanics of this.

Once she was colored I mounted her onto black card stock and then onto a green card base.  I used Gina K. Design Card Stock .  I got a  new leaf stamp this week and decided to use it to stamp on watercolor paper and colored with Distress Inks and Stickles; then just cut it out and mount.   I found this orange button in my stash and tied it with a little jute.  The sentiment is from Flourishes Sunflowers set.  Simple and to the point.  I mounted it onto a Spellbinders die.  All the edges were distressed with Ranger Distress Inks.  I also did a little paper piercing in the top right hand corner.  I'm feeling like I will  make more cards using this image!  She is such a cutie and I love the little cat hanging on for dear life! 

OK, I'm off to get another cup of coffee and try to get started for the day...I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!  Remember, no matter what you are doing; take time to breathe!

Supplies:

Image from Mo's Digital Pencil

Watercolor Paper (I use Canson 140 lb. wt.)

Gina K. Designs Card Stock

Flourishes Sunflowers set sentiment

Leaf Stamp (Red Fall Leaf) Stampabilities

Button & Jute from my stash

Spellbinders Dies

Ranger Distress Inks

Ranger Crystal Stickles

Scor-Tape

Roaming Around In The Middle of The Night!

Yep, that would be me.....sometimes conditions aren't just right for sleeping and this night was cut short by Niki. ( 11 yr. old Pug)   I've been up since 2:30 and now everyone else is asleep but me!  I'm thinking I might squeeze in a nap this afternoon!

While I've been roaming around, I finished a card for my Grandson for Halloween.  He may be too old for trick-or-treating, but never too old to receive a card and a couple of bucks from his grandmother! 

I used a Mo's Digital Pencil image that I downloaded and printed onto watercolor paper.  I just think he is too cute!  I colored the image with Distress Inks and used Distress Inks to add color around my image.  Next I cut out the image using a Spellbinders Die and distressed the edges with Distress Inks also.  Can you tell.....I just love Ranger Distress Inks!  I matted onto Gina K Designs card stock and on the black I roughed up the edges.  I found this paper yesterday and thought it looked like Halloween so I used that and mounted it on black.  Next.....tie a bow and pull it all together with a few dew drops and your finished.  Can you tell...I didn't wait for the glue to dry clear behind my dew drops?  It looks a little funky now, but when it totally dries it will look just fine! 

Now I'm off for another cup of coffee.....Lord knows I'm gonna need it this morning!  When it is time to be getting up, I'll be getting sleepy!  Sometimes I think I'm like a little baby with it's days and nights mixed up!  Once I'm awake, that's it.....I have to get up.  I think it is a carry over from all those years of working.

I hope your day is filled with happiness and many smiles, and whatever you find yourself doing, please find time to breathe!

Supplies:
Mo's Digital Pencil Image
Ranger Distress Inks
Dew Drops
Gina K Designs Card Stock
Paper from stash
Scor-Tape
Ribbon from stash
Bow Easy

Friends.....

Good Tuesday morning everyone!  Are you up and ready to go?    I hope so!  As for me, I'm just hanging out today waiting on the guy to come install my new dishwasher! 

This morning I want to share a Christmas Tag I made for the JustRite Friday Challenge 035 (Christmas in September).  You can get the details on their blog here:  JustRite Inspiration.  This week the challenge is sponsored by Spellbinders and you know how much I love both of these companies! 

I started by stamping my JustRite image onto Watercolor Paper.  I used a stamp from the JustRite Old Fashioned Christmas Set.  I used Ranger Distress Inks to color the little snowmen, then I cut out using a circle die from Spellbinders.  I distressed the edges with Ranger Distress Ink and then mounted onto a Spellbinders Die Cut (also Watercolor Paper) that has been also distressed with distress ink.  A little green ribbon and it is done!  I hope you enjoy this as it will be going into my Christmas Box to use during the Holiday Season!

Supplies:
JustRite Stamps
Spellbinders Dies
Ranger Distress Inks
Ribbon from my stash
Scor-tape
Watercolor Paper from my stash

Cooling Down.....

Well, it is Sunday, and we have much needed rain and now there is a cool down on the way.  We are so thankful for that!  I hope you have a wonderful Sunday planned...we are just going to veg-out and do nothing; maybe watch some football.  I plan to practice my coloring with Distress Inks or cross-stitch.  I love these days when I can do what I want.

Today, I want to show you the card I'm entering in Joan's Garden Challenge # 14.  You can find this challenge here:  Joan's Gardens.  Joan's challenge called for the colors: Red, Brown and Green.  Use some pearls and lace, Heartfelt Creations Stamps and Die if you have them.  Well it just so happens that I have one stamp set and one die from Heartfelt Creations.  So I used them.  Here is my card:

My stamp is from HCPC 3306 Posy Patch Garden Delights and the die is from HCD 704 Perfect Petals Die Cut.  These are both from Heartfelt creations and can be purchased at Joan's Gardens.  I stamped my image on Watercolor Paper and colored with Ranger Distress Inks.  I distressed the edges and mounted onto a piece of brown card stock from my stash.  I cut out the die and distressed it a little.  I added a few pearls a piece of lace, also distressed with ink and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and it is done!  I didn't use any designer paper because I really wanted the image to stand out.  I just love this watering can with flowers. 

Supplies:
Heartfelt Creations (dies and stamps)
Gina K Designs Card stock
Pearls and Lace from my stash
Ranger Distress Inks
Scor-tape

Holiday Doves...

Good morning everyone!  We have made it to another wonderful weekend!  It's raining here this morning, with more rain expected today and tomorrow.  I'm so happy to be receiving this rain....it is much needed! 

I am continuing to work on my Christmas Cards and here is my next one:

And here is a close up picture.....

I used Ranger Distress Inks to color my image, which is a Flourishes Stamp.  I watched the doves in my yard and they are very beautiful creatures.  I'm afraid I can't do them justice here.  There are some iridescent feathers on their neck and chest that look almost pink so I used pinks and then I sprayed some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold onto a piece of glass and then picked it up with my watercolor brush.  It added just a hint of glimmer which is exactly what I wanted.  It doesn't show up very well, but that is my picture taking not the card.    Once I finished with my coloring, I used Antique Linen Distress Ink to age the paper and add a little background color.  I used a Spellbinders Beaded Ovals Die to cut out the image and then trimmed the edges with a gold leafing pen.  Then I made my card base using Spellbinders Labels Ten and edged it in Gold.  A silk ribbon bow a few pearls and it's done!

I hope you enjoy this Holiday Card.  I'm really having fun using the Ranger Distress Inks as Watercolor and am trying to learn new techniques all the time.  The shading still has me a little stumped, but I keep trying. 

Have a great Saturday, and a wonderful weekend and remember to take time to Breathe!

Supply List:
Spellbinders Dies
Flourishes Stamps
Ranger Distress Inks
Gina K Design Pure Luxury Card stock
Krylon Gold Leafing Pen
Silk Ribbon from my Stash
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Pop Dots
Scor-Tape

Sunflower.......

Flourishes is celebrating their 3rd. Birthday and they have a new challenge for this month:  Look Who's 3 Challenge.   You just have to make a birthday card for Flourishes and use a flourishes stamp.  Well, just look at what I came up with:     I'm also going to enter this in the Bring Back Beautiful...Rustic Challenge at Flourishes.

Since I just love Sunflowers and just happened to have this new Flourishes stamp from their Sunflower set,  I decided to make the birthday card using this image.  I stamped the image on white card stock with Rich Cocoa Memento Ink and colored with Copic Markers.  I used a cotton ball with blue ink to add color behind my image.  The corner medallions are a new Heartfelt Creations Die manufactured by Spellbinders (so naturally, I just had to have it!) I distressed those with Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen. You can purchase these dies from Joan's Gardens.  I used Spellbinders Dies to add layers for my image.  Flourishes has so many beautiful stamps and they are just made to use your Copic Markers.  I hope you enjoy my card.  I just loved making it!

Supplies:

Flourishes Stamps
Gina K. Designs Card Stock
Heartfelt Creations Die (Spellbinders)
Spellbinders
Pearls, ribbon, Paper from my stash
Scor Pal
Scor-tape
Memento Ink
Ranger Distress Ink
Copic Markers

Happy First Year.....

Can you believe it?  I must have been snoozing right through it!  My one year anniversary for blogging was Sept. 1 and I didn't even remember!  So many things going on in my little blog world and I just totally let it slip by.  So Happy Birthday to me!  I started this little journey for myself....Sort of like writing in a journal.  I didn't ever think anyone would notice that I was even here.  There were a couple of ladies blogs that I followed and I visited their site each morning.....still do.....as a matter of fact.....I'm not mentioning any names .....but their initials are:  Sherry Cheeverand Broni Holcombe....LOL....I hope you ladies don't mind that I mention your names.  After several months of this I decided to start my own blog.  Now I love making cards and I decided to show a few here and there.  Months went by and one morning, on my blog, I said "Is anybody out there?"  "I'm just wondering if anyone reads this stuff besides me."  It seems like from then on people started to come and leave comments. 

Of course, my dear sister was the first to read my blog and we communicated back and forth about it....she has been quite an enabler since I became unemployed.  She is always cheering me on and telling me....."See, I knew you could do this!"  Now I actually have a little band of followers and they visit and leave wonderful comments.  I find that this has been a wonderful outlet for me and I plan to continue on my "Journey" through the crafting world. 

So my Journey began one step at a time, one day at a time, and that is how I will continue.  This has been a wonderful year for me.  I have met many new people and made a friend or two along the way; and I would not change anything!  I feel like this is helping me grow and become a better person.....so .....as I step into my second year I just want to say thank you so much for welcoming me into the blogging world!
And as Arnold would say....."I'll be back!".......tomorrow.....I think I will have another card to share!

Good Morning!

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend!  I have just been puttering around doing nothing and yesterday I decided to make a card for the JustRite Friday Challenge # 034.  The challenge was to use glitter!  Well those of you who know me, know I love glitter, but I always wind up wearing it for days afterward.  This time is no different!  I even have glitter in my eyelashes!  But I had loads of fun making this card so here  it is for you to see:  I need to apologize for the pictures...I haven't learned how to take a good picture when it is shiny.  I just keep trying and one of these days I will find the right way of doing it!

I used Spellbinders Dies to cut a circle card.  You just scoot the die over a folded piece of card stock and cut.  then you add another piece of die cut card stock over that to hide the fold.  I stamped the JustRite image on watercolor paper and colored with Ranger Distress Ink.  I used Antique Linen to distress the card stock and then I cut different layers using Spellbinders Dies and the white card stock was all distressed to match the top layer.  Then I added glitter to the sleigh runners and the first layer of red card stock.  No ribbon, no pearls, just good clean images and die cuts!  Oh yes, and lots of glitter!

I hope you enjoy this!

Supplies:
JustRite Stamps
Ranger Distress Inks
White and Red Card stock
Watercolor Paper
glitter,glitter,glitter
Score tape

Stepping Down.....

Those of you who know me, know that I have been on the Design Team for Just For Fun stamps these last few months.    After much deliberation and a little blood, sweat and tears, I have decided to step down from the Design Team.  I want to head off in a new direction and feel that this is the best thing for me at this time.   I hope you will continue to follow me in my journey and let's see what happens next.    I wish Debbie and Rick much success as their business continues to grow.

As for me, I have nothing planned at this point...just being open for whatever comes my way.  I plan on spending a little more time with my family and of course I will continue to blog and show you my creations.  I have my wonderful new craft room and am content to just be here!

Have a wonderful Holiday and we will talk soon.  Come back later this morning.....I have a new card to show you!

Purple, Purple......

Good Friday morning everyone!  The long weekend is just around the corner!  I hope you have many wonderful activities planned!  Since I haven't posted for a few days, I wanted to share my latest card with you.  I'm going to enter this in Joan's Gardens Challenge #13.  Joan's challenge calls for:

Color - Deep rich purple
Embellishment - a Spellbinders Pendant - or a punch making a design
Cut out flower that you color
Punched Border

Here is my card:

I used Spellbinders dies to create the pendant and the flowers and leaves.  I colored white ribbon with a Copic Marker and used Ranger Distress Inks to color the pendant, flowers and leaves.  A Martha Stewart punch was used to add the border to the bottom.  I hope you enjoy this, as I struggled with the color Purple!  Have a wonderful day and be safe during this Holiday!