Two Dalia Cards Specials

The brown Dalia card was made using different pattern paper, dollar store brand brad and some bella doo-dads (pink). I love these little things. My girlfriend Nancy gave me some of these little beauties. What a cool little embellishment these make!

The next card I made with other scrapbook paper patterns and "God's Blessings" SU Sentiments and my SU Word slot punch. The sentiment didn't say all these words in a row but I was able to stamp and punch them out to make the words say what I wanted. I like this technique. So... a few more cards for the fundraiser done!

Well I hope you enjoy.
Happy creating everyone!

It's Fundraising Time - How To Get Inspired

Okay, I am getting all set up for round 2 of Fundraising for Kid's Camp at Church to help kids go to camp this summer. So far I have made approximately 80 cards... only 320 or so to go. How do I keep inspired while making cards? I hang my cards up around me on strings so that it seems like I have made hundred's of cards already ~ when I have actually only made about 80 - LOL. I don't know why, but it makes me feel like I don't have as far to go.
The last two cards I made are fairly simple though I used a concept I am not prone to using - mixing different patterns of paper together. I have seen this more and more throughout the web ~ there are some amazingly talented people out there! I have just started using this technique and I'm not too sure about it yet.
I also used my Spellbinders Nestabilities to form a simple layered card. For the blue card I used "Glorious Gift" SU Stamps for the flowers, Sentiment "Michael's Clear Acrylic $1.50", SU Stampin spot Bordering Blue.

Happy Creating!

What Do I Do With My Acrylic Stamps????

I was at my girlfriend Nancy's house on Friday, I haven't been to her house in a long time so she had a lot of things to show me. One of these things was the way she stored her acrylic stamps. She used empty CD cases and stuck them inside and taped the pictures to the cover. What an awesome idea! We went to Future Shop after lunch and I picked up a package of empty CD cases. When I got home I went to work. I didn't think I had enough acrylic stamps to fill the 30 cases I purchased but I did manage to fill more than half of them. One case can accomodate two small acrylic sets or half of a large set.
I am starting to get organized and it feels great!!!

Nancy has also posted another wonderful storage idea for storing your Spellbinder Nestabilities. She is full of awesome ideas so go and take a peek!

Happy Creating Everyone!

Dalia Card and Another Journal Entry

Over on Kelly's Blog yesterday she posted a card with a tea bag Dalia fold flower and I fell in love with it. She is a very talented stamper and I enjoy seeing her creations. I have since made numerous Dalia's and now have to figure out what I am going to do with these lovelies. LOL!

I promised my boys that I would watch a "Boy Movie" with them tonight as my hubby is not home. So we rented "Hot Rod" a really silly boy movie (with unfortunate swearing though). I had to sensor it in a few places.

Anyway, while watching a 'boy' movie what do I do but create a 'girl' journal entry of course! I don't know why I am into drawing faces and pretty things lately... I guess I just need feminine things around me. God made me and I think most women with a desire for beauty around us, a longing to be beautiful... like a queen or a princess must feel. Maybe He has placed this desire inside of us to give us a glimpse of how special we are to Him, and how special we will be in heaven. As Jesus sacrifice made us heirs to His kingdom we God's children, are adopted heirs and therefore will be royal for eternity. What an awesome thought!

Happy Creating Everyone!

Another Doodle Me This Card

Lot's of love... feelin' the love. This is the first year I have made so many Valentine's cards and I am finding it's really cool! This card was so much fun to make because I got to use my new Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink as well as my Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and my new little 'Notepad' journal stamp. The letters I drew out and doodled around them as well as the sentiment "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..." and the x's and o's. The little hearts are from my 'Peace and Love' Stampin-up set. I used a q-tip and dabbed it in black and just rubbed it around the outer edge of the card to make it have a more distressed look. That's basically it.
I hope you like it.
Happy Creating everyone!

Catherine's Freehand Challenge - First Card

A card challenge... believe it or not I have never taken part in a card challenge before. I know it's shocking! It never appealed to me because I didn't like the idea of confining my creativity to a particular challenge, not that I have read many challenges. There are more than likely many out there that I could possibly do but none have drawn my attention until this one!
Over at Catherine's blog she has put forth a challenge that I find rather intriguing. Making a card with any layout that uses mostly free hand doodles. I know the concept sounds rather scary... but why not give it a try. I love to doodle and therefore I went to work.
The card is rather easy to explain as I used no stamps and only my doodles including the sentiment and background. Even the layers I cut out myself. So I can't really give you the directions... LOL.
Catherine was so nice to contact me personally with her challenge after seeing my doodles - she knew I would love her challenge and she was right! I am going to set out to make a few more over the next few days. Thanks so much Catherine for thinking about me.
So hey, why not step out of your comfort zones and give it a try - you might just be surprised!
Happy Creating everyone!

Valentines True Love

Feeling the love again! This morning as I was going through my blog subscriptions I ran into this post and Leigh had an incredible tutorial. Part of it was using a glue gun and stamping an image with the glue gun... and this gave me a great idea. Thanks Leigh for the inspiration.
The first thing I did was heat up my glue gun, find an image that I thought was romantic for Valentines day and got out my "non-stick" aluminum foil. I placed the hot glue on the non-stick side of the foil and then stamped the rose. Letting the glue dry a bit I carefully peeled the glue off of the stamp... then I used my Perfect Pearls gold and brushed it over the image.
I cut my black cardstock to the appropriate size then layered it with a piece of mulberry red paper. I sent a piece of gold shimmering paper through the cuddlebug to emboss it. I had a foamy layered embellishment that I'm not so sure where I got it from and layered it with gold pigment ink. Then I glued the glue image onto this little foam pattern piece. Lifting one corner and attaching it with brads, I then stamped the "true love" image from one of my "g" Clear Stamps set in gold with gold embossing powder, then embossed it. I find this card very romantic and beautiful. I may just give this one to my hubby for Valentines day.

Remember to scroll down and enter for my blog candy. All and any comments count and feel free to enter as many times as you like.Happy Creating Everyone!

Easter Cards in January?? & Blog Candy Reminder!

I know it's January... a little early to be posting Easter Cards... however I am making all occassion cards right now for another fundraiser I am doing at Church for Kid's Ministries. This summer our Church is having a kid's camp at a more expensive facility that will accomodate more children and have a kitchen staff (which we usually cook ourselves), though is more expensive. So... I will be selling cards to raise money to send kids who cannot afford to go to this camp.
So... my first card; A simple "Happy Easter" card made with my Nestabilities for layers, scrap paper from Costco box, the stamps are both from Stampin-up, one from an occasion set and one from an Easter set. I made this card simple for a reason, not everyone likes embellishments! I know, I know, that's crazy right???? It's true. There are some out there who really just want a simple card.
Card #2 I absolutely adore! I used my cuddlebug circles embossing folder for the background. For the half scallop behind the "Happy Easter" I used a piece of a scalloped circle and just cut it and then slid the stamping spot (SU) up to look like pedals on the scallop. The swirls are also from Stampin up as well as the half flower stamp. Then I added a little bling and voila! A lovely Easter card.
Card #3 Also a simple Easter Card. I used my Nestabilities for the scalloped circle, my cuddlebug for the background, I cut a scalloped circle to make a ribbon slider and used my slit-punch (from SU) to pull the ribbon through. The butterfly is from the "So Sweet" (I think) set from SU... I stamped it, cut it out and layered it with self-leveling gel... let it dry... then added two bling gems to it. I really like the look of the ribbon slider.
Card #4 One of my favorites again. The Cherish card. It can be used for Valentines day or Easter, or whatever occasion. I wanted to experiment with the swirls so I used two different colors of SU spots... Regal Rose and So Saffron. I stamped the So Saffron first and then the Regal Rose. Again I used the half flowers as well as the little daisies from the Baroque Motifs and stamped them in the two colors as well. Then I stamped a larger flower image, layered it with regal rose SU paper and placed it on the card with double-sided mounting tape, added my "Cherish" sentiment and my bling and away I went. I like the way it turned out.
Happy Creating!

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More Valentines Day Cards

More V-day cards. Another butterfly "You make my heart have wings" and my Nestabilities scallop circles layered on my Costco scrapbook paper. The butterfly was drawn then layered with self-leveling gel and Adirondack Ginger Alchol ink. I embroidered the body of the butterfly and layered it with a few specks of stickles stardust and placed a small gem at the top and bottom of the body.

"With Love" was stamped with "Potted Hearts" Vap Scrap stamp from Michaels. This card was layered with my Nestabilities scallop circles. The cardstock SU Brocade Blue was embossed with my cuddlebug.

I hope you enjoy them.

Happy Creating Everyone!

Feel The Love Cards

Okay... I'm finally getting into the Valentine's Day mood. After seeing all the beautiful cards all of you stamping bloggers have out there I am officially inspired to create my own.
These two cards were relatively easy... they just took all afternoon to make because there is alot of cutting out and layering.
Here's the scoop: Michael's low price cardstock (camel), SU Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip Stampin Spots for background, Costco Scrapbox stack paper, Future Shop Ipod bling gems (99cents) if you can still find them) and Michael's diamond gem from 2006 $1.50 pack of gems. "I Love You" sentiment Studio G Series 6 stamps, "With Love" Anita's Stamps. SU Word Slot punch.
I cut each flower out and each layer, layered them either on SU Old Olive, or Camel cardstock.

Hope you enjoy them.
Happy Creating Everyone!

You Make My Heart Flutter Card

If you've been following my blog lately, you will know that I have been going through a butterfly phase. Maybe because Spring is coming??? In Calgary that doesn't happen for a few months! Anywho... I have made all sorts of different butterflies. Today's card uses one of my butterfly doodles.
The paper is from my beautiful box of Costco Scrapbook paper. I used Spellbinders Nestabilities for the scalloped cirles. I wrote the "You Make My Heart Flutter" sentiment, and for the butterfly I drew it out, put a layer of self-leveling gel and then dropped my Adirondack Alcohol Ink (Tim Holtz) ginger onto the gel right away. I let that dry, set it aside overnight and then did my second layer with gel and alcohol ink. This is my first time using these alcohol inks and I have to say that I am addicted. I love them! I have been keeping up with the Tim Holtz website and I am really loving what he is coming out with. His newest product looks fabulous - GRUNGEBOARD. Check it out on his site, you won't regret it. I don't think it comes to stores until after the big Distributor's Show in February. I can't wait for it to come as I will definitely be purchasing some, especially the alphabet grungeboard.

Happy Creating Everyone!

New Product News - Crop-a-dile II Big Bite

Look at what I found? On-line of coarse. I'm not sure if it is for sale quite yet but isn't it cool! I think it reaches up to 6". It does what the Crop-a-dile can't and that is have a further reach so that you can put holes where you want them! Yahoo! I can't wait for it to come out! What an awesome tool - okay... I guess my eyelet setter can put holes where I want them too, but IT'S A NEW TOY! HELLO? Do you hear me gals or what? Boys have their toys and we have ours! (No offense to the crafty guys!)
Happy Creating!

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season Cards

"Jesus Is The Reason For The Season" stamp is from "All God's Children" stampset from Stampin-up... I'm not certain if it is still available. I use many of the stamps from this set for Sunday school. I'm still trying to make enough cards to give out this year and I am getting there. The hard part is writing out messages for all cards and addressing the envelopes. OY VAY! I get writers cramp after doing only 25 or so! My uncle sent me a card this year and he put it through his printer with messages for everyone - he has really bad arthritus and cannot write out all his cards. You can't exactly do that with handmade cards unless you put it through your printer before you have embellished the cards. That might be a good thing to keep in mind for next year.
For these cards I used some of my left over scraps from my Michael's Christmas Slab paper. I also ran it through my cuddlebug to emboss the circles in the background. I love that simple little machine but I must admit it does hurt my wrist after awhile, only because I am making so many cards! Well enjoy the cards!
Happy creating everyone!

Merry Snowman Nativity

I'm still trying to make my 70 cards for our family to send out and I am up to 54. I am making an assortment instead of making them all the "JOY" card I said yesterday. No... I didn't make all of the 54 today, I had 29 left over from the fundraiser. My mind is going crazy trying to think of all different kinds of cards. I love this snowman nativity so I made 5 of these cards. I am still using up some of my Michael's Christmas Slab scrapbook paper. I didn't know what I was going to do with this blue poka-dot paper as I'm not a huge fan of blue. I don't know why... I guess some people are blue people and some people are not. I am not. I think I am more of an olive green person.
Still enjoying the Nestabilities and particularily the scalloped circles. I have made many cards with these and have really liked all of them. Once again this stamp is from my "Nativity Snowman" stamp set from TAC (The Angel Company), the 'Merry' is from Stampin Up.
Happy Creating Everyone!

Interesting Tree Card With Cuddlebug

I purchased an alphabet for my Cuddlebug months ago and with each alphabet there are usually some extra die cuts after the numbers... on this particular alphabet there is a half view of a flower, kind of like a daisy. I haven't used it until this card. As I was looking at the picture on the die cut I realized that the pedals looked a little bit like pine needles so I put it through the cuddlebug and then turned the image upside down... then put it through the cuddlebug about 20 more times and continued layering this upside down flower. I used approximately 18 flowers for each card (which is alot of rolling through the cuddlebug) as I wanted to make it really full. I think it turned out pretty cute though my wrists are somewhat sore - LOL. Was it worth it? Definitely!
Happy Creating Everyone!

My Christmas Card This Year

After making 101 different kind of cards for the Christmas Kid's Ministry Fundraiser this year I am finally free to sit down and make some cards for us. I only have to make 70 or so! Yikes. I have tried to make a simple design and this one is fun and not too difficult. I get to use my cuddle bug and that's where the fun comes in. The tags and the letters are from my alphabet for the cuddlebug. The glitter is from Making Memories. I love the fact that the Cuddlebug can cut right through felt and foam and chipboard... that is why it makes this card so relatively easy. Well I hope you like it everyone.
Happy Creating!

Nativity and 'Politically Correct' Cards

I really love my new Nativity stamp set from Stampin up. I have made a number of different cards with it already this year and have loved everyone of them. Now that I have my Nestabilities (as well as understand the 'concept' of Nesting - duh!) I am using them with all sorts of colors and layers. I have found that they add so much depth to an otherwise plain card. I am still making my way through some of my Christmas scrap paper that I purchased this year, so I have had a lot of fun piecing different schemes together.

Ah... I love the Christmas tree on this next card. I borrowed it while playing at my girlfriend Nancy's house one day and I still have yet to use all the images I stamped with it. It reminds me of a 'fuller' version of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. While she and I went shopping that day we ran into this series of stamps at Paper Pastimes - apparently the company that made this stamp put's out a new line of stamps at Christmas and have special discounts on specific sets and with each purchase they provide you with pictures of sample cards that have been made with them. The name is on the tip of my tongue... nope... it's gone. Hop on by Nancy's blog (Nancy's Creative Mess in my 'cool links') as she is really good at remembering names and I am certain she has posted the name of the company that made this stamp on her blog. I have a fellow at Church that wanted me to make a plain Christmas card with no sayings in it so not to offend anyone. I do not wish to offend anyone either. I like the simplicity of this card though I would love to put a 'Merry Christmas' or 'Christmas Blessings' on it of some sort.
Well, thanks again for stopping by.
Happy creating everyone!

Artsy-Bella

Wow - I can't believe it has been a whole week since I posted last. What have I been doing? Hmmm... let me see... Friday night was 'Movie Night' at our Church and we watched Ratatouiie, Saturday was... Randy painted at the Church and I spent the day with the boys just hanging out, we went to see the movie Enchanted which was awesome. Saturday night was Youth night. Sunday was Church, then Sunday School potluck, Monday - can't remember, Tuesday was lunch with some friends and shopping, then parent teacher interviews... Wednesday I spent all day with Randy as he had the day off... ah yes then the boys got out early on Thursday and they had no school today! Wow, a week really does fly by.
I managed to have some 'play' time today and decided I wanted to make some Christmas cards for my 'artsy' friends. What better time to use my Artsy-bella stamp from Stamping Bella than now. I enjoyed piecing a funky outfit together for these gals. It was a little tricky using this for a Christmas card because it isn't really intended for one, but the shimmering ribbon adds a 'Christmasy' feel, I think it does anyway. I couldn't give it to everyone on my list though I know exactly the friends that will appreciate this card.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Please leave a comment so that I know who stopped by.
Happy Creating!

It's-a-bella Cute Baby Shower Cards

Teddy-a-bella is such a cute stamp! I created these two cards this afternoon while watching my movie "Material Girls" and half listening to my son's computer playing 'Myth Busters', something about hot chili sauce and milk, and scaring elephants with little white mice (boys are a strange creature aren't they????) Lol. I have four friends having babies within the next year so I figured some shower cards might come in handy. Since I am selling the cards this year at Church chances that someone is throwing a shower for one of them is highly plausable, I think they will sell quite nicely.
Bella stamps are awesome because I can be creative with the outfits the images are wearing - it's almost like dressing a paper doll! How fun is that??? That was exactly what I was doing while watching my movie this afternoon, stamping mini-images of a pregnant outfit and cutting and pasting them on the image. As I've mentioned before I would love to have all the Bella images, but I don't want to be greedy!
Well, happy creating everyone! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Nestabilities and New Scrapbook Paper... Aaaahhh!

What can be better than watching an old musical and making cards in the afternoon?

While watching "Singing In The Rain" for the first time ever, I managed to make these three cards using my new scrapbook paper (from Costco) and nestabilities die cuts. I love the layering effect of the nestabilities as well as the colors of the paper.
I always enjoy adding bling to my cards, as "bling" is the new "thing" for cards and well everything it seems. I'll just stick to bling for my cards thank you very much! It's rather funny that I picked up some bling gems from Future shop - they are originally intended for your cell phone. LOL. What do you need bling on your cell phone for anyway???
These cards were relatively simple to make by just layering the different colors of paper and the diecut shapes. The bottom strip I rounded off one side with my corner punch and added a gemmed brad. Nice effect I think. I remember just a couple months ago I was using my fiskars circle cutter to make circles, now I just run through them with my nestabilities and cuddlebug and voila!!! Sooooooo cool!
I am having fun.
Well, happy creating everyone! Thanks for stopping by.