Fu Man Chu Bear

Another card created because of the rainy, rainy day here in North Idaho. I cut the topnote out of very vanilla, masked the sun, and then sponged with marina mist, pool party, daffodil delight, tangerine tango, crumb cake, soft suede. Then I stamped the flowers/stems from the Nature Walk set. You inspire me is from the Petite Pairs set and is cut with the bitty banners framelits.

The background panel is daffodil delight and is embossed with square lattice. The ribbon is also daffodil delight.

To make the bear I used these punches: ornament, cupcake builder, fancy flower, 3/4" circle, and 1/2" circle. The eyebrows, nose, and whites of eye are from the cupcake builder. I cut the 3/4" circle in half for the ears and the 1/2" circle for the eyes in black. I stamped the bottom of the bear's chin with a cupcake wrapper from Create a Cupcake set to create a "fu man chu". I added brown rhinestone pearls to the eyes. I punched the fancy flower and then embossed with the square lattice EF. The bears face and body are done in soft suede.

FISHY Kiss

It's a rainy, rainy day here in North Idaho - boo! So I got in the mood for some paper piecing silliness ( :
I sponged the background topnote with pool party, marina mist, elegant eggplant and then stamped with grass from Inspired by Nature set. The background panel is Perfect Plum and embossed with Perfect Polka Dots. To make the fish I first embossed a very vanilla piece with the Vintage Wallpaper EF. Then I punched it out with the ornament punch and sponged elegant eggplant and marina mist; punched the ornament again out of black and cut off for the tail. I made the top fin and mouth with the cupcake builder punch. Added a pearl for the eye.  I used labels framelits for the fish background and sponged around the edges with elegant eggplant. Sending a Kiss is from the Petite Pairs set and is punched with word window and matted with modern label.  and voila!
Punches Used:

Tortoise Shell Father's Day

I wanted the green background print to look like a tortoise shell - for some reason I woke up thinking about that ( :

To get the look, I took Wild Wasabi paper, and stamped the background print from Fresh Vintage in Early Espresso. Then I crumbled the paper up and sponged on Old Olive, Certainly Celery and Soft Suede. I covered with versamark ink and heat embossed; then embossed it with the vintage wallpaper EF. wheeew!

The boot is stamped in Early Espresso, and colored with Cajun Craze, Early Espresso and blender pens. I sponged Soft Suede and Early Espresso around the image.

The ribbon is some old SU twill tape I had - I stamped it with the background image from the Fresh Vintage set in Soft Suede to give it a worn look.

Get Well Soon

I made this get well card using the Nature Walk and FreshVintage stamp sets.  I stamped the Fresh Vintage pattern on the background using Pool Party  and Wild Wasabi ink and then ran it through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice EF. Used the Vintage Wallpaper EF on the Wild Wasabi. After I stamped the bird and colored using markers and blender pen, I embossed with the Square Lattice EF. Trimmed it with victoria crochet ribbon and designer series button. I took a very small trimmed edge of baja breeze paper and ran through the button holes to look like thick thread; then used tacky tape to stick the button to ribbon.

Apothecary Sympathy

Another card I wish I didn't have the occasion to make.  Because the family has such a love of life, gardening, and Jesus, I decided it should also be colorful with flowers.  Used my fav - apothecary art with labels framelits, bitty banners framelits, and the vintage wallpaper EF. The sympathy and friendship stamp is not SU - it's from My Sentiments Exactly (a very stamp).  SU papers used are cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, very vanilla, and watercolor paper. Ribbon is also daffodil delight. I used the marker layering technique to color the flowers.

Sympathy & Prayer

This is a card that I wish did not need to be made. My step-cousins 5 year old son died in a tragic accident 2 weeks ago. His name was Rhett and he was a beautiful, energetic boy that loved life, Jesus, and bright colors.  He would tell anyone that would listen about Jesus, and he had the utmost confidence in his child-like faith. Rhett lived the type of faith we are supposed to live as christians. So because Rhett loved colorful things, and because his mom loves green and purple, this is the card I came up with. We all use the phrase "life is so short" as more of a figure of speech. But never have those words had so much meaning and never have those words been so hard to swallow. It reminds me that each day is a gift, and the silly things that I grumble about or worry about, are so small compared to eternity. We have so much to be thankful for!

I am reminded of Romans 8: 38 - 39 

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Faux Leather Deer Coaster

I made this coaster in a set of 4 as a christmas gift last year.  My friend reports they have received many compliments and "where did you find those" question.  To create the aged leather look, I took a piece of crumb cake cardstock and sprayed lightly with water, then crumbled it up.  I flattened the crumbled paper out, then inked the crumbled creases with soft suede. Then I stamped the deer from nature silhouettes set using black stazon ink. I ran it through the big shot using an embossing folder similar to snake skin pattern. I affixed the paper to the ceramic tile using mod podge and glossed over the image using mod podge.

Abuzz With Spring

This is the flower from the Every Moment stamp set.  I colored it with markers and blender pen, embossed the background with square lattice EF, and then add the crochet trim with a button.  Clean and simple.

For you Floral

Well, at least I used a different EF and did not use the lace ribbon border punch ( :  Still couldn't sway myself away from the label framelit.  I was trying to do the marker layering and have it turn out as beautiful as Karen Barber and many of the other amazing stamping artists out there - hopefully with a little practice.  I may need to change this out to a get well soon card - my best friend's mom just fell off her bike and broke her knee cap.  She is having surgery today - ouch!

Late Birthday Wishes

A late birthday card for one of my closest friends.  Because I was running late, I kind of hi-jacked my previous card "A Note of Thanks" and just changed up the colors.  Used Apothecary Art set with Labels framelits diecuts, and the wallpaper EF. I have about 60 punches, diecuts and embossing folders to choose from - so why do I always end up with the labels framelits,  the lace border punch, and the wallpaper EF?  I need to broaden my scope of thinking ( :

Pinwheel with Love

This was actually my first attempt at the pinwheel - prior to the previous pinwheel birthday card post.  To make the pinwheel you just start with a triangle (I cut a 2 1/2" square in half); then fold over the inside edge of each triangle and glue it to a circle in back. Then cover the front seems of the 4 triangles with a decorative brad, button, or stamped circle.  It is not my favorite card of all time - but the pinwheel is cute.  And of course I used the bitty banners framelits again :-)  I need to try and diversify!

Pinwheel Birthday

My friend's granddaughter is having her 1st birthday party today, and I made this card for her.  I pre-ordered the bitty banner framelits that will be avail in the new 2012 - 2013 catalog; I think they will be one of my favorite must haves, along with the label framelit :-)  I tried the pinwheel technique and had fun with it!  To make the pinwheel you just start with a triangle (I cut a 2 1/2" square in half); then fold over the inside edge of each triangle and glue it to a circle in back.  Then cover the front seems of the 4 triangles with a decorative brad, button, or stamped circle.

On the inside I used the create a cupcake stamp set and punch, along with happiest birthday wishes hostess set.  The happy birthday sentiment is a little crooked, but I figured since she's only 1 she may not notice :-)

For You From Me

Another inspired by spring project, using stamps from Elements of Style, Fresh Vintrage, and A Word For You sets. Embossed with square lattice, and used label punch and diecut. Simple but springish :-)

For You Elements of Style

Inspired by spring and the beautiful weather, I pulled out my Elements of Style set.  I colored with markers and blender pen, embossed the front with vintage wallpaper EF. 

Apothecary Note of Thanks

I absolutely love the Apothecary Art set item #125527 with the label framelits from the occasions mini catalog 2012.  The set is still available for early order, as it is one of the carry-overs into the new 2012 - 2013 idea book and catalog. 
I used the marker layering technique as shown on one of Karen Barber's posts.  The embossing folders are the vintage wall paper, square lattice, and perfect polka dots; the punch is the lace border.  The paper colors used are daffodil delight, wild wasabi, pink pirouette, very vanilla.

Ride in Peace

This card was inspired by my Idaho friend Heather who has a love for horses and the outdoors :-)  It is not my traditional style, but it makes me think peaceful thoughts!  It is done with a brayer and masking technique.  The cowboy is embossed.  Have a blessed day!

Stampin supplies: Cajun Craze, Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso and Soft Suede paper; Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede and Early Espresso ink; Out West stamp set; Square Lattice folder; Label framelits diecut, Big shot

Thinking of You Everyday Enchantment Card

This card was layered using the everyday enchantment DSP, the posy punch stamp set and punch, and the dotted scallop ribbon border punch. And finished off with one of my favorites - the crochet ribbon.

Happiest Birthday card

This card was inspired by the card on the front of the occasions mini catalog.  I love the labels framelits!

So Grateful

Still playing around with the Fresh Vintage SAB set, and the Everyday Enchantment DSP.  Lately I have been drawn to using the Pool Party in color.

Fresh Vintage Cupcake Birthday

I made the background of this card using the Fresh Vintage SAB set, along with the everyday enchantment DSP. I also used the Create a Cupcake set with the matching punch.