Boy Card Finally

Hi Everybody! Yes, a boy card! I haven't made a boy or masculine card for so long. . .I can't even remember the last time I made one. Anyway this was really fun to create because it's different.

I colored the image using Copic Markers and highlighted it with acrylic paint. I used ink with a sponge dauber to create the subtle blue background and the ground.

I don't know who the maker of the stamp is. It's another of my unlabled unmounted stamps. I'm smarter now when I unmount my stamps and write the company and the name of the stamp but when I first started unmounting my stamps, I didn't think about labeling them.


I won't go into the details of the this card because first of all, I used a "scrap" paper so I don't know who the maker of the DP paper. I believe it's a designer paper by Provocraft and the cardstock is SU Blue Bayou!

Until later folks!

Color Washed Image

Hi Everybody! Again another card I made 2 weeks ago when I was in a cardmaking marathon. Gosh, life is so busy and I haven't had the time to really sit down and craft for 2 days.

I still have a bad cough and my sleeping pattern has been sort of messed up. I haven't been able have a good night sleep so during the day I'm basically lethargic. I sort of perk up about 10 at night but I'm sort of too tired to craft at the same time.

Anyway, I'm glad I had this stock card to post. Sometimes, it's a good thing not to post all the cards you've made at one time so for days when you can't craft, you still have something to post. I typically post everything I made each day but I made a few cards right before my trip to Vegas and I didn't have a chance to post them.


I colored this image a while ago and again, only now using it. I colored the image with markers with an aquapainter on water color paper. I did a color wash by soaking my aquapainter with water and basically brushing the whole image smearing the colors to give it a softer look.

The shiny flowers are actually rhinestone flower stickers by Card Connection. I only have a few flowers left and I can no longer find this sticker set anywhere. It's a shame because I really love these pretty rhinestone flowers.

Until later folks. . .

Cutie Card

Hi Everybody! I made this card a few weeks ago but forgot to post it. I don't know what company the main image is from because it's a stamp that I unmounted but forgot to label. It's not a CTMH image.

I colored the image using my Copic Markers and added highlights using acrylic paint.

.

RAKs an Blog Candy Prize

Hi Everybody! Look at what I received in the mail! More awesome stuff! These embellishments are from my "Secret Sistah" from my SBS2 Group (see my SBS2 Blog Roll on the left of my sidebar).

I know who my "Secret Sistah" is but I have to play the game and pretend that I don't know who she is. . .:) At the end of the month we have to guess who our sistah is! My "Secret Sistah" is awesome because she sent me all these beautiful yummy embellishments that will be definitely be put to good use. I just love them all. . .but, wait. . .there's more. Scroll down below and you'll see the AWESOME cards she sent me.








Okay. . .this is the prettiest card ever! The DP is fabulous and the large flower looks like was stamped on acetate! BEAUTIFUL. She also sent me prima flowers which I love, love, love. For now, I'm going to use them to jazz up my blog pictures. It compliments the pictures of the cards, don't you think?

This is the second fabulous card I received from my sistah! Another beautifully done card and wow, I am so lucky to receive such a work of art!

This card is from a fabulous friend from Canada. . .Tracy of Tracy's Happy Place. It's a thank you card for the blog candy prize I sent her! Isn't this card beautiful! It has a glittery effect to it but you can't see in the picture. It shimmers in the light. Thank you Tracy for sending me this fabulous card! I really appreciate it!

Finally, this is a blog candy I received from Allison at "Stampin' When I Can". You all know Allison!! She's fabulous!

I won the "Inspirational blog" contest that she had on her blog site. Thanks to all of you who voted for my blog site, I won this lovely Vere Visual stamp sets courtesy of Julee of Verve Visual! It was so nice of Allison and Julee to work together to send such an awesome prize.

As you can see, I already used the stamps!! Thank you Allison and Julee for the wonderful prize and thank you everyone who voted for my site, your thoughtfulness is not left unnoticed! You guys are fabulous!!

3D Flower Template - Close To My Heart - Soul Mates

Hi Everybody! Here are cards I made using a 3D flower template that I found online. It took a bit of cutting but I love it. It's just a fun flower and something different. Drop by my Card Inspired blog site and check out the "Photo Plaque" I created using the template.

If you want a copy of the template: Click Here for part 1, part 2 and the instructions.

With the card to the right, I only used the part 2 template and shrank it to 90% in order for it to fit on to a 5.5 x 5.5 card base. I stamped the image from the Close to My Heart "Soul Mates - D1254" stamp set, heat embossed the hearts with gold embossing powder, cut the images out and ran a hemp cord around the large heart.

I do have several suggestions if you want to save the template for future use on to your computer.

• 1. Click on the image then right click on your mouse and click on "Save Picture As". Save the picture on to your photo editor , photo program, or document file.
• 2. Open your "Paint" program. Most computers with a Microsoft program has a "Paint" program located under your "start menu" under "Accessories".
• 3. Open the template file in "Paint".
• 4. Click on the "eraser" located on the tool bar on the paint program.
• 5. Erase the miscellaneous words on the template.
• 6. Save the template as a jpeg extension so you can adjust the size on your photo editor whenever you want.
• 7. When printing, adjust your print margin to ".5" inches located on the "page setup" under "file".

You may also print directly from the site and it will print the template centered and ready to use. The instructions above is if you want to save the template and adjust the size to whatever size you want.

Here is another card using the same template but with this one, I folded the flower in a spiral fashion as instructed then tied it with a bow then I attached it to a card base.

With the first card above, I did not use the largest flower. With this card I used all of the flower templates provided (both part 1 and part 2). There's a little message inside the flower when the recipient unties the bow. Scroll down to the next picture to see how it looks when the flower is opened up.

Again, I used the Close To My Heart Soul Mates for this card. I used K&CO designer paper to create the flowers, SU Apricot Appeal cardstock for the card base, and Cranberry Crisp ink to stamp the sentiments.

I'm still waiting for my CTMH order so I don't have any cardstock but a comparable CTMH cardstock color you could use is the CTMH "Sunflower" and "Barn Red" or "Garnet for the ink.

You're like "Wow, that's a huge flower" LOL! Yup, it is!! But it has such a dramatic effect when you untie the bow with the little message inside. I love it. It looks so cool! You could place a larger center with a larger sentiment or just write a little note to your recipient.

Anyway, try out the templates provided when you have a bit of time to cut out the flowers!


If you haven't had the chance to read my BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, be sure to scroll down to the previous post!!


Until later folks!!

Box Pocket With Funky Fold Card Tutorial

Click Here for the Tutorial

Hi Everybody! I created this "Box Pocket with the Funky Fold Card Insert" this evening. The Box Pocket is my own template but the Funky Fold is a template from Stampington & Company. The tutorial has the link to the template.

Sorry for the poor/dark quality of the pictures. I'm not the sort that take 50 shots of my cards. . .I've heard of some who actually takes dozens of pictures of their cards to make sure the card looks just right. I take one or two shots and that's it. If it's bad, it's bad. I normally don't retake it. I just use what I have. Most of the time I do pretty well but tonight my lighting was a bit off.

Anyway, this was really fun to make. I started off with just the "funky fold" but then I wanted to attach it to a card base. It sort of evolved in my creating a box pocket for it. I had to create a pocket that had enough depth to it so the insert could fit inside of it. The size of the pocket is the size of a card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4")Unfortunately, this pocket/card will not fit into a regular size envelope due to the bulk. It fits into a larger envelope.

This is how the "Funky Fold Card" looks when closed. The ribbon holds the flap down but you can be a lot more creative and use buttons, brads, velcro or whatever to close it.

The other pocket/card shown in the first picture is posted on my Card Inspired blog site. For those of you who've never visited my Card Inspired Blog site. I tend to be more "creative" with what I make on that side. I create more projects other than cards than I do on Stampin Inspirations so be sure to visit Card Inspired from time to time. I blog less on Card Inspired because it takes longer to make the projects.

Card Inspired focuses on "paper crafting" with no rubber stamping. . .you know, scrappy cards, scrapbook layouts, altered projects, mini albums, etc.

This is how the funky card looks when it's opened up. Try out the tutorial and tell me what you think!! It's easy. . .I promise.

Until later!!

Just A Bunch of Random Cards I Made

Hi Everybody! Thank y'all for welcoming me back! You guys are the best. I'm sorry I haven't been blogging. I've been sidelined with an upper respiratory infection the day after I got home from my trip! Cough, cough, cough! Argghh! I really hate being sick. The cough is better but now my head is stuffed up! I think that's worse than coughing.

Anyway. . .all I've been doing is lying in bed feeling sorry for myself. Today I decided maybe blogging will keep me from thinking about my stuffed up head., runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing.

I made these two cards before I left on my trip to Vegas but didn't have time to post. I can't remember what Stampin Up stamp set this image came from. I know it's a retired one.

I colored the image using markers and an aquapainter on watercolor paper. Rounded the edge with a round corner punch and embossed the background with the CB embossing folder.


Card Details:

Stamps: SU unknown
Paper: Rose Romance, Cranberry Crisp, watercolor paper
Ink: SU Markers and aquapainter
Accessories: Making Memories charm, silver metallic cord, SU Purely Pomegrantate satin ribbon, Marvy Round corner punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder





This is the same image but a completely different layout and design. I used a bunch of scraps to create the background. The scallops were created using Fiskar "cloud" scissors.

The little heart at the top left corner is actually a brad. I can't remember what brand because it's a scrap piece I had lying around. The photo corner was created using SU Photo Corner punch and I decorated it with little dots using a paper piercer.

Basically the whole card except the base card was made out of little scraps I had.

Hopefully I'll feel better later today. I have a big announcement that I'm excited about but I want to blog about it when I'm feeling "happier" so it reflects in my writing. I tend to write the way I feel and right now. . .I feel crappy!!! LOL!

Card Details:

Stamp: SU (unknown)
Paper: Miscellaneous scraps, SU Real Red, Black
Ink: SU Markers and aquapainter
Accessories: Fiskar "Cloud" scissors, SU Photo Corner Punch, Paper Piercer

I'm Back and RAKs I Received

Hi Everybody!! I'm back from Vegas. Did I win big? Of course not! But I did win back half of the money I initially lost so I'm happy. We had a fun time . . .Vegas is always fun. There's so many things to do and lots of yummy places to eat. If you've never visited Vegas. . .lemme' tell yah. . .you'll have a blast there.


Look what I received in the mail! Holy Cow! I was shocked when I opened the box that I received from Jen of "Pieces of Me" I was like "WOW". . .I couldn't believe what was in the box. Jen is so generous and I was so grateful for all the stuff she sent me.

Jen sent me 3 Bella stamps! Three of them!! Boy, they'll surely be put to good use! I also received 2 packs of scrapbook stickers (very pretty), a very beautiful handmade card and Christmas pictures of her and her family with a lovely handwritten note. She has such a beautiful family and her note was so kind. Scroll down there's more. . . .


Oh gosh. . .Jen's gifts were so thoughtful. I'm originally from Hawaii and she knows how much I miss the yummy snacks and food from there so the "mochi crunch" cracker snack is very appreciated. I can eat the whole bag in one sitting. . .seriously, it's addicting.

She also sent a bag that you can design yourself. The front has an insert for you to slip in a stamped design. This bag is so cool. I can't wait to decorate it. Last of all, she sent a "Stamper's Sampler" magazine. I love this mag. . .there's a lot of great ideas in this magazine.

Thank you so much Jen for being so thoughtful and kind! Lemme' tell yah. . .all of the items will be put into great use and I cannot tell ya' how appreciative I am of all of them! Jen, although we've never me, has become a wonderful friend! I can't wait to hang out with her when I visit Hawaii! I feel like I've known her for such a long time when actually, we've never met in person!!! In my opinion, blog friends are REAL friends. Again, I cannot express how grateful I am to have met such a lovely and kind person like Jen.


Here is another RAK I received. This one is from Karen. . .one of my blog readers. Karen is such a sweetheart! This card is so beautiful. This type of card is called a "bookatrix" I've never seen a bookatrix card in person. It's awesome. It's something I want to try to make and Karen's card is a beautiful example. It's decorated with pearly beads and the background design is embossed. It's very elegant. The picture does not do the card justice. . .

Visit Karen's card gallery to check out her creations and there's many of them to look at. Her cards are very artistic looking. Click Here to visit her card gallery and you'll see what I mean. Thank you Karen for being so kind!

Blog Vacation and a Real Vacation This Time! I'll be back on Tuesday, Jan 22!!

Hi Everybody. . .I'm going on a blog vacation and a real vacation this time. We're heading to Vegas on Thursday but I need to do some errands tomorrow before we leave. I won't be bringing my laptop on my trip because there's too many things to do in Vegas andmore than likely I won't have any time to be sitting in front of the computer!

Wish me luck! I never win in Vegas but maybe this time around I'll have better luck! Yeah, right!!

I'll be back on Tuesday, Jan 22. Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend and for some of you a 3 day holiday!!Until later!!!

A Whole Bunch of Purple Cards

Good Morning Everyone! Just a bunch of quicky cards I made this morning. Quicky? Yeah. . .the images were colored a few weeks ago when I was on a coloring marathon and the designer papers and ribbons are scraps from my scrap pile so all I needed to do was just lay the cards out and make the cards which was pretty quick.

What do I consider a quicky card? A card made in less than 30 minutes, usually about 15 minutes.

I'm not going to go into the name of the stamps because I've put the stamps away because I colored them a while ago so I don't know the name of the stamps or sets.

I will tell you the coloring medium for each card in the case you wanted to know. I colored this card using SU Markers with an aquapainter on water color paper and did a color wash over it.

Stampin' Tip:

What's a color wash? To create a soft colored background, I take the aquapainter and squeeze it to make the brush really wet and after coloring the image, I run the wet brush right over the image which sort of smudge the colors on to the background of the panel.

It's just an easy way to soften the colors as well as color the background. Try it out!

Again, this was watercolored with SU Markers. Nothing much else to say about this card. The designer paper, by the way, is from the DCWV Glitter Pack.

An interesting thing about this card is that the background paper is actually fabric with glitter on it. It's really pretty so I kept the layout pretty simple so I don't cover up the pretty fabric any more than it already is.

Hope y'all have a wonderful day!!

Whimsical Card and RAK #1

Hi Everybody! I made these cards today and I'm going to give one of them to one of my RAK friends that sent me their address when I had a "Blog Address roll" requesting for my blog readers to email me their mailing address so I can send out RAKs to them throughout the year. I'm thinking of sending 3 to 5 RAKs a month and this is the first one to go out. Because I received so many addresses, I used random number generator to choose the recipient of this card.

I actually colored the image a while ago but only now using the images. When I'm watching TV with my family, I sometimes bring my stamp stuff down into the family room and when there's a commercial, I would color images to store for future use. It's a great way to kill time during commercials.

These images were colored using SU Markers and aquapainter on watercolor paper. I had put the stamp set away and I can't remember the name of the Stampin Up stamp set I used.

Anyone know the name of the set? I don't feel like digging out the stamp set just to figure out the name of the set.

Anyway, I hope the recipient of this card, will like it.

Card Recipe:

Stamp set: main image (unknown), Love Ya Bunches (sentiment)

Paper: SU Pretty in PInk, Old Olive, Autumn Leaves Designer Paper, Watercolor Paper

Ink: SU Markers and Aquapainter

Accesorries: Making Memories Eyelet, Ribbon (Unknown), Heidi Swapp distressing tool, Fiskar scallop scissors

Sort of a Valentines Card

Hi Everybody! I decided to pull out this retired stamp set by Stampin Up. I believe it retired the previous year. I thought it could be made into a Valentines or "Love" type of card. The sentiment would be a great verse for a Valentines card so maybe I'll make another card with heart images and that sentiment.

I colored the image with Copic Markers and added highlights using acrylic paint. I think it came out pretty good. I'm still playing around with the markers trying to find the best way to use them. I think I'm getting better.


Card Recipe:

Stamps: Love Ya Bunches
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Creamy Caramel, Autumn Leaves Designer Paper
Ink: Copic Markers
Accessories: Making Memories eyelets, Tag Corner Punch, American Craft Elements ribbon

The Same but Different Cards

Good Morning, Folks! I made these two cards this morning for a swap that I am sadly very late on. I decided that after I complete a few swaps I've committed to, I no longer will be swapping. I'm never good with deadlines.

I usually send an extra card or some goodies to make up for my late swap but that doesn't take away the fact that I'm late. It's just my way of saying sorry.

Anyway. . .these two cards are the same but different. I basically used the same materials and same layout but with a little change here and there, the look of the card changes. That's the beauty of sketches. You can create so many different cards using one sketch.

Do you folks remember this SU set? It was so popular last year. This set is the SU "Like it a Latte"

It's a great "girlfriend" stamp set. Girlfriends like to get together for coffee. I remember when I was in college, I basically lived inside a coffee shop. My friend Rita, Michelle and I would meet at Starbucks and spend an hour or so just chit-chatting and drinking coffee. I miss doing that. Unfortunately, Rita and Michelle are way out there in Hawaii while I'm way out here in California. I really miss Hawaii, especially when I want to get together with my old friends. There's nothing like having a long history with old friends.

Card Recipe and Instructions:

Stamps: SU "Like it a Latte"

Paper: SU Creamy Caramel, DCWV designer paper, Pretty in Pink, SU Baroque Burgundy

Ink: SU Pink passion, Creamy Caramel, Baroque Burgundy, Copic Marker

Accessories: Liquid Applique, Fine clear glitter, JoAnn Brads, Grosgrain ribbon, foam tape (dimensionals)

Instructions:

1. Stamp the "mug" image on to white cardstock using Baroque Burgundy ink and color the white area using a light brown marker. Cut the image out.

2. Stamp the heart image on the Pretty in Pink cardstock using Pink Passion ink and mount on to the mug using a foam tape.

3. Stamp the steam image at the top half of a 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 white cardstock and apply fine glitter to the image.

4. Stamp the whip cream image on to white cardstock using the creamy caramel ink. Apply liquid applique and heat set until it bubbles. Cut the image out and mount it right under the "steam" image using foam tape

5. Mount the mug image using a foam tape under the whip cream image.

6. Shade the edge of the card using the creamy caramel ink then mat over a baroque burgundy cardstock.

7. Design the card as desired following the sketch provided.

Embrace Life Card

Hi Everybody! Just another card I made today. I'm not sure if I'm liking the color combo but I wanted to use a combo that I've never used so far.

Initially, I really didn't like this SU stamp set (Embrace Life) but you can get me to buy anything if it's on sale. But, now that I used it. . .I like it.

We're heading to Vegas next week and guess what. . . I don't have any money to play on the slot machines. I used up all my extra stash on stampin' and scrapbookin stuff. . .argghhh. I'm also on a diet so I can't pig out so what the heck am I going to do in Vegas?

We're staying at the Bellagio! Whoohoo! That is one beautiful hotel. I want to see Cirque De Soleil "O" but we'ver already seen it and WOW!!! That was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Although my DH loved it too, my DH don't want to see it again.


I guess I'll have to figure out what to do with my time. We'll probably see a show somewhere. Any recommendations? I already saw the Cirque "Ka" so don't recommend that one. That was a great show too. I wouldn't mind seeing "Carrot Top" but I'm not sure if they'll let my kids in to see his show. . .:) I heard his show is funny. I wonder if he still has a stint in Vegas. Anyway. . .I'd appreciate some recommendations. . .

Card Recipe:

Stamps: SU Embrace Life, Circle of Friendship
Paper: K&Co Designer Paper, Purple Cardstock, SU Groovy Guava
Ink: Copic Markers: V01, BV02, BV04, R20, R21, R22, Tim Holtz Distressing Ink
Accessories: Heidi Swapp distressing tool, Card Connection butterfly charm, organdy ribbon, Stickles glitter

Just Another Card

Hi Everybody. . .don't forget to drop by my Card Inspired blog site, I posted a tutorial on a "Simple Tri-Fold" card.

This is a card I created with TAC's "the buzz" stamp set. Isn't this mosquito cute? I think it's a mosquito. I never thought a mosquito to ever be cute but this one is. Maybe it's a dragonfly. . .I'm not sure. . .what do you think it is?

I was just watching a segment on Good Morning America on the subject of "happiness". They said that our happiness level is 50% genetically predisposed meaning we have a set level of happiness that we tend to go back to regardless of our life situation. For example, if you were to win the lottery, your happiness level will rise dramatically but eventually with time you'll return to your "set level" regardless of your situation.

I read a few books on happiness. There's this interesting book called "the Science of Happiness". They compiled the results of a whole bunch of scientific studies on happiness together into one book and it said that people with a "hobby" are happier than those who don't have a hobby. It's no wonder I wake up happy every morning. . .:) LOL!


Hey, do any of you watch "John and Kate plus Eight"? I love that show. I once watched the series in a row for 4 hour. They had a marathon night of that show and I stayed up until 2:00 morning to finish up the marathon. That show cracks me up!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: TAC "the Buzz"
Paper: SU Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, DCWV designer paper
Ink: Copic Markers, SU Bashful Blue
Accessories: Blue thread (sewing machine), SU Designer label punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Photo corner punch, Dot grosgrain ribbon, Clear glitter

Valentine Cards #2 - Heat Embossed

Hi Everybody. Just a few more Valentine cards. I made 3 of them with two similar but different designer paper. I heat embossed the heart and flowers with gold embossing powder to give it a shiny appearance.

I think gold and red go well together. I didn't create a sketch for this one because it's a fairly simple layout.


I don't know if you've figured it out by now but I love to heat emboss my images. It's just a fun way to create dimension to an otherwise flat image. I actually stamped and heat embossed the flower images for the Glittery Ornaments for Christmas but I didn't have a chance to use them all so I decided to use them for these Valentine cards.

Have you guys started on your Valentine cards already? It's best to start early.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: SU Loving Hearts, Flowers (SU unknown), Love Matters (sentiment)
Paper: K&Co designer paper, SU Creamy Caramel, Real Red
Ink: Versamark ink, Black, Tim Holtz distressing ink (shading)
Accessories: Gold embossing powder, Marvy oval punch, Fiskar scallop scissors, grosgrain ribbon

Another Card for the Day

Good Evening, Friends! Well, I decided to work on one last card for the day. It was a very productive day. I know I should have saved it for tomorrow but from past experience, whenever I save my cards so I have something to post on another day, I end up forgetting to post it or forget what materials I used.

Anyway, I colored image using my Copic Markers. I think it came out okay but I need to work on my shading a bit. It doesn't look very blended but at least there's some highlighting and shading. This card was fun to create. I love the K& Co designer paper. I think it's very pretty.


Card Recipe:

Stamp: Close to My Heart "Just Because"
Paper: SU Groovy Guava, K&Co Designer paper
Ink: SU Purely Promegranate, Groovy Guava, Copic Markers RV04, RV06, R39, R81, R05, R22
Accessories: JoAnn Brads, SU Scallop Punch