The Lord is Great

This card began by creating the leaf.  I inked the stamp with four colors of Distress ink:  Worn Lipstick, Vintage Photo, Mowed Lawn, and Mustard Seed.  After stamping it on white cardstock, I cut it out.

The bottom yellow piece, I embossed with Wicker Weave (Cuttlebug). 

The patterned paper is from the Autumn Melody matstack by DCWV, which appears to no longer be available.  (I bought mine at Joann's.)

At the very top of the card, I stamped Psalm 96:4 (Biblical Impressions) using Brilliance Coffee Bean ink.

I have to be honest and tell you that I have no idea what I used at the top and bottom of the patterned paper!  It doesn't look like ribbon, so it is probably just strips of patterned paper.

To finish the card I tied a piece of ribbon around the middle panel.

Thinking of You

On a piece of Soft Sky cardstock (Stampin' Up!), I stamped one of the images from Stampin' Up!'s Baroque Motifs using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I love that stamp set; too bad it's retired.

I then cut a piece of black cardstock and punched one long edge using a Fiskars Border Punch; unfortunately, they don't put the names of the punches on them and I bought it long before I realized I should label things.  The blue stitched ribbon was a clearance item from Stampin' Up!, and the white ribbon on top of that is from my stash, probably purchased at the dollar store.  At the very bottom of the card I stamped one of the borders from Fiskars' Borders-a-Plenty, again in Black Onyx ink.

The sentiment is Thinking of You Script by Sweet Impressions.  I cut it out using one of the Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents, then drew around it to cut a mat out of black cardstock.  To finish the card, I used some enamel dots from My Mind's Eye, which gave some interest to the empty space on the top right of the card.

Happy Birthday

Background:  white cardstock, embossed with Rosa by Anna Griffin for Cuttlebug 

Stamps:  Birthday Messages (Simon Says Stamp) and Thoughts and Prayers (Stampin' Up!)

Ink:  Mediterranean Blue (Brilliance)

Butterfly:  Quickutz die cut from paper from Parisienne Blue (Docrafts)

Pearls by Recollections (Michaels)

Thanks

The only time I have used this stamp set - Posh Motifs and Trimby Inkadinkado - is on this card, which is really too bad since I really like it!  Anyway, I started by stamping the large image on Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!) using Heliotrope ink by Color Box.  I used one of the dies from the Classic Rectangles Large (Spellbinders) to cut it out.  I cut a slightly bigger mat from a piece of yellow cardstock from my stash.  Using the same ink I stamped another motif from the set on the pink cardstock, cutting it out with one of the Standard Circles Small (Spellbinders); it was layered on another piece of yellow that I cut out with one of the Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles Small.  Finally, I stamped my sentiment (Thanks by Simon Says Stamp), and cut it out using one of Spellbinders' Classic Rectangles Large, and layered it on top of one of the Spellbinders' Fleur de Lis Rectangles.

All of these elements were mounted on a piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock (Stampin' Up!), along with a piece of lace and ribbon from my stash.  The gems are by The Paper Studio, and I attached them with Glossy Accents, which is a really strong adhesive.

Happy Anniversary

This card doesn't need much explanation, so here are the "ingredients":

Patterned paper:  Cherish paper pad by Authentique (6" x 6")
Sentiment:  Happy stamp set by Simon Says Stamp
Ink:  Memento Bamboo Leaves (sentiment); Memento Angel Pink (sponging over sentiment)
Die:  Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents
Accessories:  ribbon; sponge dauber; Glossy Accents (to glue bow)

Praying for You

I just glanced out the window only to discover it's raining.  Again.  Since the 5th, we've had at least 6" - 7" of rain, usually accompanied by violent thunderstorms.  On Friday I went to an appointment, and learned upon arriving at the building that the power was out.  I decided to go to the home improvement store before returning home, and they were on generators.  It turns out a large section of town was without power, most likely because of water getting into the underground electrical cables.  Enough already!

Most of the cards I make are inspired by ones I find on the Internet via Pinterest.  The original for this one - which I copied almost completely - is found here.

I started by stamping two of the designs from Stampin' Up's Flowering Flourishes set on off-white cardstock using black ink.  I adhered this on a black piece of cardstock along with decorative paper from the Mirabelle paper pack by The Paper Studio.  For the divider between the top and bottom of the card front, I punched a strip of black cardstock using the Eyelet Lace punch by Martha Stewart.  Also from the black cardstock I cut two small rectangles, adding a ribbon edge to one end of each.  From off-white cardstock, I cut a wavy banner; I stamped my sentiment in black ink, curving it to fit the banner.  The sentiment is from the Joy for the Journey stamp set from Verve (no longer available).  The brad I used to attach the banners is from Stampin' Up!  Finishing the card are the pearls in the upper right corner are by Recollections (Michael's).

Birthday Blessings

I started this card by running my cardstock through my Cuttlebug using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  It's no longer available, but you can probably find it on eBay.  I ran a white pigment ink pad lightly over the top of the embossing.

The sentiment is a single stamp by Verve (no longer available), that I stamped with Versamagic Perfect Plumeria ink.  I then cut it out with one of the Classic Oval dies by Spellbinders; before I removed it from the die, I sponged on some Versacolor Ash Rose ink.  I cut another oval, ran some Versamark ink (a clear, sticky ink) over the edge, then embossed it with some silver embossing powder.  I also cut one of the Spellbinders Labels One and layered a Spellbinders Decorative Labels One underneath. 

On the bottom of the card, I placed some lace underneath a white ribbon, then affixed a folded pink ribbon in the center using a brad from the Stampin' Up set Antique Brads.

Thinking of You

The blue background was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, one of my favorites!  The patterned paper is from my stash, as is the lace on either side.

The ribbon is from a roll I picked up at the dollar store.

I stamped the sentiment in Memento Bahama Blue ink, then cut it out with one of the Spellbinders Small Ovals.  I adhered it to one of the Spellbinders Floral Ovals.  For the rectangle part - from the bottom up - Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles and two of the Spellbinders Classic Rectangles.

All the pearls on the card are by Recollections (Michael's).

Thinking of You

The pink paper is by Stampin' Up! - Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose (retired); I embossed the lighter color with Rosa by Anna Griffin (Cuttlebug).  Isn't it pretty?  I stamped my sentiment (Sweet Impressions) on a white strip using black ink.  I tied a piece of ribbon below the strip.  Finally, I used my 1/2" Corner Chomper to round both the right hand edges.

Happily Ever After

This is another of those simple cards that I really like.

All the hearts were cut with paper from my scrap box using a Spellbinders Classic Hearts die.  I embossed the left side of the card using the "Dots" embossing folder from Just My Type by Cuttlebug.  It left a ridge on the inside edge, so I fixed that by using my Martha Stewart Scoring Board to score a line from the back side of the card.  The sentiment is from the Lots of Thoughts set by Stampin' Up! (retired, but check eBay).

For Someone Special

I stamped the sentiment, which is from the Watermill set by Stampin' Up! (retired), then traced over it with a Sakura Clear Stardust pen.  I cut it out with one of the Spellbinders Standard Circles Large.  I also cut two sizes of Spellbinders Labels Five and two of the pieces from Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Accents, layering all of them together.  The lace and ribbon are from my stash.  Simple card.

This is an older card that I don't think I ever shared.  It's one I kept detailed notes on, so I am glad to find the information in case I ever want to make it again!

The papers are from the DCWV Spring Fling mat stack, which doesn't seem to be available anymore.  I cut six strips, each 1" wide; three are 4-1/2" long, and the other three are 3-1/2" long.  I measured up 3/16" and cut the ribbon end, then attached them to my card base, placing them 1/8" apart.  The blue ribbon across the top is from Stampin' Up!, and the lace from my stash.  I used baker's twine through the middle of each button between gluing them to the ribbon/lace.  Finally, the sentiment is an old stamp from Holly Pond Hill, which I stamped with black ink. 

Too Quiet

I do apologize for being so quiet the past six weeks.  My last scheduled post went up the week after our dog died unexpectedly following surgery.  A week later, we adopted a third cat!  That was unplanned; we'd had to go to Fairport, a village about half an hour from our home (yes, we call some of the towns around here villages), and thought we might go by the local humane society, but they had only older cats on the website, and we wanted one a bit younger.  On our way home, we stopped by the pet store to pick up some things, and as we always do, stopped to look at the cats.  (Two of the local shelters have cats at the store.)  One kitty stole our hearts!  When I picked her up, she nuzzled my nose and gave me a hug!!  We weren't able to take her that night, so they held her for 24 hours, and we brought her home the next day.

Three year old Katie, as we've named her, is so sweet, but a bit crazy at times.  She's still suffering the after effects of having an upper respiratory infection that she picked up at the shelter; she was on multiple courses of antibiotics, and our vet thinks it's going to take a while for her immune system to get back to normal, so meanwhile, we wipe her nose and clean up the walls and floors after she sneezes.

We are happy to say our three cats are co-existing rather peacefully, although there's always room for improvement.  Happily, Katie is very laid back and doesn't mind if she gets chased or hissed at.  (Lately, she's doing her share of the chasing!)

I've also been dealing with what my doctor says are severe allergies.  This has been going on since mid-February.  My coughing was getting worse and worse, so I finally went to the doctor, who put me on Zyrtec and a strong cough syrup.  A second refill of the cough syrup wasn't working, so this week I've been on Prednisone as a last resort.  Unfortunately, Pred and I do not get along, and I've been just miserable.  Two more days, and I hope to feel better, even it's just from being off the Pred.

Despite feeling poorly, I managed to write and schedule a few blog posts tonight.  I do hope to get back to some other crafts besides cardmaking.  Or perhaps the flowers will bloom - after the horrible winter we had, everything is taking it's time coming up.  Until then, enjoy my cards.

Hello

Patterned paper:  Lady Rose by Kaiser Craft
Embossing folder (top of card):  D'vine Swirl by Provocraft
Punch:  Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace
Hello die:  Simon Says Stamp (7 layers)

Masculine Birthday Card

The most difficult part of this card was weaving the papers!  The sentiment is by Stampin' Up!, and is stamped in Coffee Bean Brilliance ink.

I started by embossing the purple piece of cardstock with the Damask embossing folder by Darice, using my Cuttlebug.  After mounting the piece on a piece of black cardstock, I wrapped a piece of silver ribbon around the middle.  My scrap box furnished the tree papers on the left side of the card, which I cut to different lengths and layered on more black cardstock.

The circle was stamped in Versamark ink with one of the stamps from Stampin' Up!'s Baroque Motifs set (I love this one, but sadly, it's no longer available), then embossed with black embossing powder.  I cut it out with one of the Spellbinders Standard Circles Small dies.  It is layered on a scalloped circle.

To finish the card, I stamped Happy Birthday (Hero Arts) in Versamark ink and embossed it with silver embossing powder.  It is cut out with one of the Classic Rectangles Large and layered onto one of the Lattice Rectangles.

Birthday Card - Two Versions

I embossed each side of a 4.25" x 5.5." piece of white cardstock using the Dots embossing folder from the Cuttlebug Just My Type collection, then added score lines using my Martha Stewart Scoring Board.  The patterned paper is from the Linen Closet and Spring Fling paper packs by DCWV.  I used an Impress marker in Teal (#10) and a Memento marker in Rose Bud to ink my sentiments; they were attached to the card using Pop Dots.

Thinking of You

Today's card is a variation on the one I shared here.  It's the same size, and fits in a business sized envelope.

The background is a piece of patterned paper I had in my stash, which I cut slightly smaller so I had a border around it with a light purple cardstock.

Using my Cuttlebug, I cut one size from the Nested Lacey Pennants set by Spellbinders five times from white cardstock.  Then, from scraps of patterned paper, I cut five Nested Pennants (Spellbinders) and layered them on top of the Lacey Pennants after rounding the corners.

The small circles were cut using the smallest die from Spellbinders' Standard Circles Small set after I stamped either a flower (Avery Elle Simply Tags Christmas) or heart (Simon Says Stamp Pillow Talk).  I used Color Box ink in either Royal Silk or Sapphire Silk (both discontinued).

I used a piece of natural twine to create a "clothesline" to attach my pennants to.  The tiny birds are from a Memory Box die called Resting Birds.  Aren't they cute?

The sentiment is from Thinking of You Kite by Hero Arts.  The butterflies were punched using a really old punch I have in my collection.

Thinking of You Card

Looks like I ran out of scheduled blog posts!  It has been a crazy month with unexpected appointments and obligations.  We won't, however, talk about the snow or cold.

I started by stamping Stampin' Up's French Flair(retired) with Ash Rose Versacolor ink.  I then cut Thinking of You by Simon Says Stamp four times, stacking them together using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.