A Quick Graduation Card

Here's a quick graduation card I made for my niece who graduates from college today.  We're going to her reception on Saturday.

I picked out this paper by Reminisce earlier this week.  I didn't have any idea what I'd do with it but I liked it.  Usually, I would spend a lot of time on a card for a family member.  Well, last night this idea came to mind.  I knew I wouldn't have much time today so........ta da!  This is what I put together.  I'll add a verse and it's done.  I'm way ahead of my usual last minute gotta get a card made!

The little verse is from a Cornish Heritage Farms set called Encouragement Expressions. I stamped it on glossy black card stock with Versamark and heat embossed it with Silver Pearl.  Then I cut and embossed it with the smallest of Spellbinders Double Ended Tags S3-149 which I trimmed to make shorter.  It's tied around the bow with a piece of silver crochet cord.  The silver ribbon that's not too shiny works perfect with the paper.

Have a great day!

-judy

Time to Stamp Background

Here's a collage background paper that I stamped, misted & stamped again for a Cornish Heritage Farms challenge.

I started with 1/2 of a file folder. File folders have a slightly different finish than card stock. I often use them for stamping. I used CHF Time to Stamp for all my stamping first using Ranger Pigment inks: Lemonade, Cloudy Blue, Juniper. These inks act as a subtle resist. I added more stamping with Ranger Adirondack Espresso after I finished misting.

I used various colors of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists: Juniper, Patina, Tattered Leather, Winter Pine, Suede and Wheatfields (one of my favorites for a soft tan comparable to Antique Linen Distress ink only with glimmer). I can't begin to tell you what order I sprayed the colors. I started with Wheatfields and added colors until I liked the results. It certainly didn't turn out like the idea in my head........sometimes that's good...... yet I like the results. Such a rich dark tone suitable for masculine cards with wonderful sheen!

Out of this paper, I was able to create 3 cards & a cover for a little notebook leaving only a few small scraps.......

I wasn't really able to capture the wonderful sheen with the photos. If you click on the photo for a closer look, you might see it better.

Here's each one individually..........

.......verse is from Time to Stamp

......another verse from Time to Stamp

.......this verse is from Encouragement Expressions.......

....."just a note" from Script Essential Expressions....

I had fun with this challenge. I didn't spend much time on any of the cards and certainly not the notebook. That was so easy........just cut a piece of the paper to fit the cover & glue it on.

Just think of the possibilities with this technique. Any style of stamps can be used for an infinite number of creative possibilities. Next time you need a number of cards, try this!

Thanks for looking! A BIG THANKS to all my followers who keep coming back even when I don't have anything new to post. Smiles to you! :)

Country Home

I created this card with stamps from The Homestead by Cornish Heritage Farms.

The scene parts were stamped using Memento Black Tuxedo. I colored it with Copic markers. The background paper is from Basic Grey's Lemonade 6x6 pad. I added a strip of twill with silk ribbons knotted around it. The verse has 4 strips of waxed cord knotted to each end.

I finished this card at my daughter's house. I only brought a few supplies planning to raid her stash.......only I couldn't find anything that seemed to fit except the cord.

A challenge to use products at hand!

Supplies:

CHF The Homestead

Bazzill papers - green & rust

Basic Grey Lemonade 6x6 pad

Memento Black Tuxeodo

Copic Markers

Waxed cord, twill tape, silk ribbon

-judy

Be Strong...

I created this card for a Cornish Heritage Farms challenge to use a resist.

I first stamped the CHF Picotage Print Backgrounder with Versamark & embossed it with clear. Then I rubbed Adirondack Bottle ink over it using a Cut n Dry foam piece. I misted it lightly to help the color seep into the paper around the embossing. When it was dry, I ironed the back side with it laying on scrap paper to absorb the embossing. I mounted it on a white card front which was edged with a dark green marker.

For the frame, I again stamped the CHF Picotage Print Backgrounder only this time using Adirondack Bottle. I clear embossed it to intensify the color. I cut the frame with the largest Spellbinders Labels Four and a rectangle set off towards one end. I also embossed it and added a green border with a marker. I cut a second Labels Four out of white cardstock. I cut it in half lengthwise and snipped off the points. I layered it under the printed frame. I added holes at each end of the frame to thread the ribbon.

I stamped the verse CHF Scripture Essentials I with Versamark Black Onyx & clear embossed it. It's mounted behind the opening.

After I tied the bow, I added Hero Arts pearls to the knot. It was just luck that I had this ribbon that matched so well. I have no idea where I got it. It's been in my collection for a long time.

I really had my doubts about how this card would turn out as I worked with the resist background. I didn't have time to try different colors so I had to go with it. I'm pleased with the results.

Hope you enjoy it, too!

Flowers for You

I created this card with stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms.



I actually started it several weeks ago.........it just didn't go together then. Today, I was sorting through some odds & ends of stamped images and found the stamped & colored flowers & printed & dark green mats already cut. I added a narrow white mat & a red one, too. Although the flowers were already colored with Copic markers, I touched them up a bit by adding more shading. I also added glitter with Spica markers (hard to see in the photo). I stamped the verse & cut it out with a Spellbinders oval tag. I think the DP is from a Basic Grey 6x6 pad.

I pleated the red grosgrain ribbon (stuck together with glue dots) and added Hero Arts pearls. Three strands of pearl cotton are tied together for the little bow. The flower circle & tag are mounted with foam tape.

Have a great day!

-judy

Time is Priceless

I sat down tonight to create a retirement card for a co-worker. I couldn't think of any specific retirement stamps in my collection. Truth is, I didn't feel like digging them out...... Instead, I pulled out some Tim Holtz sets: Slight Alterations for the background & Elements of Time for one clock & the verse.
....lots of layers of inks, a mask & some stamps to create the background. Then I added elements until I was satisfied with it.
The "Time...." verse at the bottom is from CHF Time to Stamp set as well as the ornate clock & the black partial clock faces in the corners.

I added Glossy Accents to "Time is priceless" because it didn't stand out. I couldn't emboss it with clear because all the back ground Distress inks were still damp. The embossing powder would have stuck everywhere......not a look I wanted.

It was fun to get inky again. I've been busy with other things this week so I've missed my stamping time. I did manage to make a card to post on Artistic Outpost for Saturday. Stop by then to see it here, too.

So glad you stopped by.......come back soon!

Supplies:

Tim Holtz Elements of Time, Slight Alterations

CHF Time to Stamp

Distress inks: Broken China, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Black Soot

Ranger Archival Black

Glossy Accents

Tim Holtz mask

Mother's Day Wish

A wish for Mom created with papers from the Porcelain collection by Basic Grey. I chose the bird from coordinating chipboard shapes. I love the soft colors!

I colored the flowers to match using Distress ink mixed with water in a Ranger Mini Mister. I used Tattered Rose & Scattered Straw. The flowers, from Prima, were natural color. The buttons are from Basic Grey, too.

The lace edge was created with a Martha Stewart border punch and white paper. I added Tattered Rose ink with a piece of Cut N Dry foam.

The verse & "mom" are from CHF Mother's Day Centers stamp set.




.....a closer view at another angle.



.......the inside.

















Enjoy!
-judy

Bird on a Branch

I worked with Tim Holtz' Urban Tapestry stamp set for the Fond Memories workshop. This is the card I created. The background color was created with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists Riptide & Tattered Leather. The bird & branch, flowers & spatters are all stamped with StazOn Timber Brown ink. The verse is from Cornish Heritage Farms Motivational Centers set. I matted it with Bazzill Java, added some brown twine and mounted it on a kraft card which was stamped with the spatter stamp around the edges.




In the process of working with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists for that project, I created numerous other backgrounds. Here's another card I created with the same stamps from Urban Tapestry only a totally different background. I used these Glimmer Mists: Hydrangea, Lemon Meringue, Garden Fairy, Lime Twist. The flowers were stamped with various Distress Inks. The branch with the bird and the verse (CHF Scripture Essentials I) are stamped using StazOn Timber Brown.

Neither of these photos really show the beauty of the Glimmer mist.

Enjoy a glorious day!

Create art!
-judy

My Final Spellbinders Submission

Here's the card I created for the Spellbinders Design Team final submission.......

Each of the Top 24 finalists were sent Spellbinders Butterfly Reflections and Classic Scalloped Heart dies. We were to use at least one of each of the die sets in our card or scrapbook layout. I chose to create a card.

To create this card, I cut one of the Classic Scalloped heart dies out of a piece of gold colored craft metal. I then embossed the metal over a Ten Seconds Studio mold to create the pattern around the cut out heart. I cut a Classic Heart out of black cardstock to layer beneath the scalloped heart. It's mounted with foam tape over the verse.

Here you can see the dimension of the butterfly & the heart mat before the flowers were added.

I used Distress Antique Linen & Vintage Photo inks to stamp the CHF Freesia around the verse, from CHF Scripture Essentials. I rubbed more Antique Linen around the verse to shade the edges. The background paper was also created with the CHF Freesia stamp. I stamped it multiple times with Vintage Photo, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain and then rubbed ink over the images until I liked the color.

The butterfly is cut from black cardstock. I embossed it & then inked & embossed it with gold embossing powder. A second set of wings add another gold edge to the wings.

The little flowers were cut from vellum and embossed with a Spellbinders die. I added Vintage Photo ink and curled the petals.

I enjoyed the challenge of the Spellbinders Design Team contest. I'm still in total awe to have been chosen First Alternate. I look forward to whatever comes next with Spellbinders. Until then, I'm working on projects for Fond Memories' Spring Workshop. That's just a month away! I'm also making a few cards for Artistic Outpost. They have a new release coming out in March.
Once in awhile, I even stamp a card for a family birthday, baby shower or other important event!

I'm working on a few new samples for my blog, too.

Enjoy!
-judy

Just For You

Hello everyone!


This week, I'm working on my final submission for the Spellbinders Design Team. It's due on Sunday evening at 11:59 p.m. The requirements are to make one card along with instructions & a supply list. Just one photo, one card......so it's got to be good!


I have the card done......well, maybe a little tweaking left. I'm working on the directions. I think I'll wait until Saturday to photograph it so I can have good natural daylight. I plan to submit it Saturday evening or Sunday morning.


In the meantime......since I haven't created anything new to post....here's a card that I submitted with my original application.


I used Spellbinders dies for the dotted mat with cut-out as well as the bird & various leaves. The heart was cut with 2 QuicKutz dies. The red branches, flowers & birds are from a Hero Arts Poinsettia background stamp. In fact, the dotted and swirl papers are holiday designs from Cloud9. The little verse is from CHF Essential Expressions.

Enjoy!
Happiness is stamping!
-judy

Day 1 - Anaheim

Hi, everyone!

It's Day 1 of our trip to CHA in Anaheim, California.

I spent today in a Copic certification class. What a great opportunity to learn about Copic markers & how to use them with stamping!

I learned the basic techniques for using Copic markers as well as helpful information about papers & inks to use with the markers. Next, I need to practice those skills a bit. Wish I had my markers here! I plan to share what I learned in some classes at Fond Memories.

Our instructor was Marianne. Here she shows some air brush techniques.

These are stamped images that I used to practice some of my newly learned skills. The stamp is new from Cornish Heritage Farms.

A closer view......

The sparkle on the flowers is from a Spica marker also made by Copic. After I used the Spica marker along the flower edges, I used the blender marker to move the glitter all over the flower......one of the techniques we learned.

And it's official.....

Tomorrow....opening day of the CHA show. Top on our list is the Spellbinders booth! I can hardly wait to see all the new products & visit my favorite booths. Best of all......I'll see Elizabeth at the Penny Black booth.

-judy

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas!

I've been so busy with Christmas preparations that I haven't created much of anything. Yesterday afternoon, I quickly put together a card, signed it & took it to the recipient....no time to photograph it for the blog.

I wanted to post something to celebrate the day so I pulled this card out of my collection. It was posted to the Fond Memories blog sometime ago. To me, it signifies the importance of this day.

Christmas blessings,

-judy

Snowbound...

Good Morning!

I have been so busy getting ready for Christmas that I haven't had much opportunity to create anything to post. My creating has gone into baking & wrapping gifts...

The weather helped me out a bit this weekend.

We were supposed to go to my daughter's house for the weekend so we could see our grandson's church program. Instead, we were snowed in ....and still are. Snow & winds and bitter cold. Makes me wonder why I live in Minnesota!

This photo is a view out my kitchen door towards the east(right through the glass, way too cold to go outside!). The trees in the distance are about 1/2 mile away. The blowing snow wasn't quite at it's worst at that moment.

Tonight, I put together some cards for my employees. Yeah! I got to stamp & create.

I stamped the Thomas Kinkade Village Christmas with ADirondack Raisin on a cream card. I stamped "Merry Christmas" & embossed it with clear. I cut a dark red rectangle to fit the card front & embossed it with a Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder. I then cut an oval out of the center. I cut a slightly smaller oval out of gold paper. I glued the gold oval under the red one, then attached it over the stamped image on the card front. I punched out some tiny branches out of the same gold paper & glued them along the oval opening. I added a burgundy bow and a verse inside.......done.

I can check that off my list....

Keep creating........

-judy

Over the River.....

.....and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh..........

Can't you just imagine this sleigh full of gifts gliding over the snow?

I created this sleigh with a Spellbinders die. I love the vintage style.

First, I cut & embossed it out of cream colored paper. Then......guess what I used? Distress inks, of course, starting with Aged Mahogany over the entire sleigh. Then I rubbed the Black Soot pad directly over the embossed areas. The firm surface of the pad keeps most of the ink on just the raised areas...keep the pad flat.

Next I added Brilliance Gold to the packages & runners. I used foam tape to lift the sleigh from the card front on an oval of Cosmo Cricket paper matted with dark red paper. (Spellbinders oval dies) I added the little words around the edge of the oval with a stamp from Penny Black's Crystalline set. It was a bit hard to get it to curve so the words didn't print very well. I decided it was okay as the card is meant to look vintage & a bit worn!

To create the shaped cream border, I laid the oval on the back side of a piece of cream paper the same width as the card (5 1/4"). I centered the oval on the strip & traced it with a pencil. Then I cut straight in from each edge to about 1/4" away from the pencil line and continued cutting 1/4" away from the line. I turned it over, added Antique Linen & Vintage Photo to the edges & mounted it the top of a dark red paper. I added Black Soot to all edges of the card once it was put together. A verse at the bottom & a gold edged ribbon finish the design.

Supplies

Stamps: CHF Pretty Pattern, Joyeux Noel, Penny Black Crystalline

Spellbinders Sleigh & Oval dies

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Bazzill, Cream Linen

Inks: Distress Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Versafine Black Onyx, Brilliance Gold

Enjoy!

-judy

Skater's Pond Two Ways

Tuesday night I took a break from baking cookies (I quit baking tonight at 10:30 with 49 1/2 dozen.........close enough to the 50 I signed up to do.) to create these 2 cards.

Both cards use the same Thomas Kinkade Skater's Pond stamp as well as the same greeting yet they have a totally different look. Both are stamped in black ink: one on kraft color paper & the other on glossy white paper. That's about where the similarity stops....

I used Versafine Black Onyx to stamp the image & added just a touch of color with Copic markers to the ice, sky & windows. Frosted Lace Stickles gives the snowy areas sparkle. The snowflake paper is My Mind's Eye.

I used Distress Inks Antique Linen & Vintage Photo to age the image after stamping it with StazOn ink on glossy paper. The background paper is actually from Cosmo Cricket's Halloween line......the pattern just seemed to fit for this card. I used a Spellbinders die to cut just the ends of the mat & then ran a black marker along the edge. I couldn't find a ribbon to match so.......I colored a black & cream striped ribbon with Distress inks.........not waterproof but just fine for this card.

Make time to create something.

Enjoy!

-judy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

I'll be spending my morning cooking.......that is after I sleep in a bit. We're having a small family group for dinner around 5:30 p.m. That gives me plenty of time to get the pies baked, turkey in the oven & a few other things done.

So much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day..........

....enjoy!

-judy