Halloweens-a-comin day 4 - wait - it's here!

Happy Halloween kids!
 
Last 3 cards to show you today. All three cards use the Happy Spooky Halloween stamp set and die from Papertrey Ink. The patterned papers are all from the Halloween Prints paper pack from PTI as well.
On the first card, I cut the speech bubble using my Silhouette Portrait. I added some ric rac I had in my stash as well as some tape from K&Co.












The second car uses one of the Tremendous tag dies from Papertrey Ink and some black Bakers Twine. I cut the cat using some glitter paper (like the Doodlebug sugar coated cardstock). I decided I'd add the kitty's face in using a white gel pen.









And the last card is very similar to a card I posted on day 1 - just a slightly different layout.

So that's it for Halloween cards. It was fun but now I need to move on to get caught up on my Year of Cards gifts for Christmas not to mention a whole lotta Christmas cards.

Have a wonderful Halloween! Candy for everyone :-) (I don't know about you but it's the only day of the year I don't feel too guilty about eating some candy... well not tooo guilty.) Enjoy!

Halloweens-a-comin day 3

 So here's another few Halloween cards for my dear ones featuring that adorable cat (who looks just like my little Westley) from Papertrey Ink's Happy Spooky Halloween set. In the first card I used some patterned paper (PTI's Halloween prints - the dotted orange/black paper) along with a background I made using one of the stamps from the set stamped in Versamark. I cut the speech bubble with my Silhouette Portrait and stamped a sentiment from PTI's Keep it Simple: Halloween. I also added some black ric rac from my stash.










The second card - more stamping to create a background but this time with PTI's Orange Zest ink. I matted the main image with some patterned paper from the Halloween Prints paper pack. I used the same sentiment as the previous card. And finally, I added a little Orange Zest Bakers twine to finish it off.
Okay that's all for today. I'll be back tomorrow with more! Thanks for stopping by.

Halloweens-a-comin day 2

Back for day 2
Here are two more Halloween cards I sent to my
Dear Ones. Those cats are from Papertrey Ink's Happy Spooky Halloween and  Cat's Meow sets.
(They are representing my two crazy kitties, Westley & Willie.)
The sentiment is from PTI's Keep It Simple: Halloween and stamped on the Double Ended Banner die from PTI. Patterned paper is from the Halloween Prints paper pad (yes... also PTI!)

The 2nd card is also using the Happy Spooky Halloween set as well as the Text Block: Halloween die. I stamped the ghosts two different ways. I stamped the white ones you see using PTI's Fresh Snow ink. Then I went back and stamped more ghosts in Versamark. My intent was to clear emboss those and I did - but you're wondering what are those white specs? Well.... long story short: a while back I hadn't been careful and some white embossing powder got into my clear EP. I thought I marked the top of the jar - I should have thrown it away. And when I was making this card I used the wrong jar of clear embossing powder. But strangely enough - I kinda love it. Serendipitous wouldn't  you say?

Alrighty that's all for today - see you tomorrow for day 3

Halloweens-a-comin day 1

 Yes I have not been posting much. Ahhhh- but I have been making things (when I am not in my pre-Thanksgiving rip-the-house-apart-we've-got-company-coming frenzy. Yes I'm already thinking Thanksgiving - you can't start the cleaning too soon - and it is not yet Halloween. Heck I'm already doing some Christmas crafts... but more on that soon.).
So I have made a bunch of Halloween cards for my "dear ones" (i'm gonna make a category for them for heavensake) and figured I'd post them over the next few days.

For the first card I used Papertrey Ink's Happy Spooky Halloween stamp set and die as well as a circle Nestabilities die. The background paper is also Papertrey. So cute and makes the card come together so quickly - this was a less than 10 minute card. I am positively in love with the little cat - he's a replica of my little Westley (my mostly companion, ever-present shadow, and best buddy).

This card was another quick one. I used a few dies from Papertrey Ink: Text Block: Halloween die as well as one of the dies from the Shakers & Sprinkles kit to make that stitched frame. I also used some polka dotted tape from K&Co Smash book line.
I think it's a nice masculine card (for someone I'm not sure would appreciate the cute cats :-)).

Okay that's all for today. I'll be back with more all week!

Sprinkled with Sunshine Birthday Shaker Card

I'm back today to show you a birthday card I made for one of my sisters-in-law. Her birthday is coming up next week (I know... getting ahead here! yay!). I know from my own sister that just because your birthday is in October you don't want it to be about Halloween. You want it to be about your birthday right? Balloons, cupcakes, cake, streamers: yes! Pumpkins, witches, ghosts: NO!
I'd already decided I'd wanted to make it bright and happy and use those PTI Shakers & Sprinkles stamps and dies and sprinkles - a shaker card was in order. I'd chosen some Doodlebug Sugar Coated Cardstock in Tangerine (the color is gorgeous - I swear you could squeeze a glass of juice from it) for the die cut word on the front of the shaker. I cut that word out but added several diecuts cut from white cardstock to give it a little heft and make it stand on its own.  The background sunburst inside the shaker is patterned paper that came with the Shakers & Sprinkles kit. I added the stamped words ("I hope your day is" and "with sunshine" in Hawaiian Shores Ink. I decided using black ink would give it that Halloween look I was trying to avoid). I cut out the shaker frames and put it together using some of the "sprinkles" that came with the kit and also added some clear sequins I had in my stash. Finally, I tried a few different combos for that background the whole thing sits upon. I had been working on some scrapbooking and had a 6x6 pad of Hip Hip Hooray Doodlebug paper on my drawing table. There was one piece of paper that had orange polka dots I thought would work and I really liked the look - done.  I've made a lotta shaker cards in my time and I have to say this was probably the easiest one I ever made. The dies with the adhesive foam sheets (also PTI) really made it so much simpler. One last thing - I stamped the inside of the card as well as the envelope. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Keep it Simple: Birthday set and the sunburst and twinkling stars are from the Shakers & Sprinkles kit. I often am in such a hurry I don't stamp the inside so it was nice to do it for this card. And I love stamping the envelopes for my cards - kinda bumps up the anticipation for the recipient yaknow? They know something special is inside right? I think she's going to like her card.
Thanks for stopping by!

Year of Cards: May

Well I'm finally getting to post May's edition of my Year of Cards Christmas gifts.
When I'm making these cards I try to remember what season they're for so I can use seasonal colors. I think these colors work well for spring. I used two stamp sets from Papertrey Ink: Birthday Classics: May for the sentiment and Birthday Style for the balloons. I drew in the strings using a Pilot G-Tec-C4 pen. I love this pen (and its refillable - love that!)
I decided make 4 cards each of 2 different background cardstocks (from PTI - Berry Sorbet and Limeade Ice) - just a little variety for me - and I think both work. It will be random who gets what - they'll all be together when they receive their set of cards so if they want they can trade if they like one better than the other right?
Okay - I've got October, November, December and January to go! Thanks for stopping by - have a good one!

With Deepest Sympathy

Unfortunately, we all need to send sympathy cards now and again. Last week I needed to send one. Not my favorite card to make, but necessary. I made this one quickly and made a second to put in my stash. The image is from Papertrey Ink's Leave it Be set and the sentiment is from Words of Comfort. It's simple but for sympathy cards, simple seems best sometimes. The cardstock and ink are also both from Papertrey - Spring Moss.
That's it for today kids - have a good one.

More Fall Y'all 2 (Happy Autumn)

Back again with my Happy Autumn card.
I used my Silhouette Portrait to cut out the main image and the rest of the card is papers from Doodlebug Friendly Forest Collection along with the Mini Doodle Pop cardstock leaf sticker.
And a little twine.
And my sewing machine.
I used to sew on my cards all the time and I'd gotten out of the habit. I really love the look of stitching on paper. I started stitching on paper probably 15 years ago. At the time I was sure I'd wreck my sewing machine but I didn't - well not right away at least. I think this is my 3rd machine. As much as I'd love one of those fabulous computerized ones I don't sew quite as much as I used to. Back in the day I was sewing drapes and Halloween costumes - various and sundry things. But these days I pull it out for cards and the occasional project that I gotta make (I have a few that are coming up - stay tuned!)
Okay - that's all for today kids. Thanks for stopping by!

More Fall y'all

Hey there. I just wanted to show a few more "fall" cards using that Doodlebug Friendly Forest patterned paper and some Mini Doodle Pop cardstock stickers.

On this first card I used the Nuts for You stamp set from Papertrey Ink again. I've had a lot of fun coloring these little squirrels! I cut out the "hello Autumn" using my Silhouette Portrait. And then there is of course these adorable Doodlebug papers and that cute little leaf sticker. Oh and the rick rack border was cut using a die from PTI.
Since Blogger is being uncooperative at the moment I think I'll do the other card in a separate post!

It's Fall Y'all

I don't know if I've mentioned over the years - probably have - that I was born and raised in New York and New Jersey. The beginning of my migration south started in college. I went to school in Maryland. At the time my family
thought I was going way far South - at least it felt like that to them. (Northerners feel anything past Delaware is the South LOL!  I guess you gotta be from NY or NJ to make such distinctions. Heck if you are from New Jersey you definitely distinguish if you're from Northern Jersey or South Jersey. It's a fact - ask anyone from NJ) And if your parents and family are all New Yorkers - well, going to Maryland for school - it was almost like going to a foreign country.

Now I live in the great state of Virginia - Northern Virginia to be exact. And while there are a few folks who are actually from NoVA - its quite a conglomeration of people from all points on the map - or at least that's the way it seems to me. It is rare to meet someone who was born here!

The reason I'm talking about North & South - well it's the "y'all". Never said y'all growing up. These little expressions started creeping in to the vocabulary - heck I don't know when it happened. But it is there. And you'll hear a lot of y'all-ing going on round here. And I kinda like it.

(Tracy - where are the cards? Can we get to the cards please?) Yes. There are cards - you know there will be cards.

I recently purchased some adorable papers and a few embellishments from Doodlebug. ( yes Doodlebug of the sugar-coated cardstock fame here on my blog).  I needed to make some cards to send to some family. I've got a list of people I try to card monthly - the dear ones I don't always get to see - some I rarely get to see (they're back up North ;-)). I wanted to use a cute little Papertrey Ink set  called Nuts for You. The set has this darling squirrel, acorn, and leaf.







I thought the papers Doodlebug came out with recently, called Friendly Forest, would be perfect.  I've got a few more cards to make but thought I'd share a couple I've got made here.

The "hello" on the first card was made using my Silhouette Portrait. I thought the big sentiment would look cute with those adorable Mini Doodle-Pop cardstock stickers. Oh they are cute. (can you see the plaid on the leaf - sooo cute. I love plaid in all of its shapes and forms) That little fox is so precious I'm going to have trouble mailing him off. (musn't hoard, musn't hoard...)

On the second card I used Papertrey Ink's Stenciled Alphabet Blocks Die to create the banner. I used some more of the patterned papers behind each letter. And the squirrel is sitting on sort of a crazy quilt of patterned paper but I love it. There are so many pretty papers in the pad I wanted to use them all.

 One last card - I used some more of the papers to create the last card. I used a sentiment and tree trunk die from Papertrey Ink's Trendy Tree Tops. (I haven't pulled that set out for a while - yay for using some older stuff). I did use a circle punch for the tree top and made my own little banner for the sentiment (I inked that cardstock up with some Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink so it would work better with the cream background in the papers).

Alrighty. That's all for today. Y'all have a good one!

Year of Cards: September

 Hey there - I'm trying to catch up and post things but there doesn't seem to be enough time in the day.

Anyway...

I have been stamping like crazy for my Year of Cards gifts for Christmas. I came up with September's edition maybe a week or two ago but just sat down yesterday to get them all stamped and assembled.

When I was making September I thought I'd use some burlap I had on hand but it just wasn't working. So I went to Michael's where I found this lovely burlap wired ribbon which I think worked perfectly.

I wish the picture accurately reflected the shine of the ink. I used a Colorbox Copper ink. It's pretty. Really pretty stamped on this Enchanted Evening (PTI) cardstock. The combo is very "autumn" to me. I was worried I wouldn't get through all the cards as the ink pad seemed like it was drying up and (gasp) I have no reinker for it.

(For the record, I pretty much make it a rule to buy a reinker when I purchase ink pads. Getting reinkers later is often problematic - which is why I made that little rule in the first place! LOL But I think this Copper Ink pad purchase was pre-rule ;-)) But I made it through 9 cards and there may just be life in that ink pad yet! (and the reinker is in my Amazon cart as we speak)

The leaf stamps and die are from Papertrey Ink's Leaf Prints set (oh how I love this stamp set!)

and the sentiment (3 different stamps) is from Birthday Classics: September (is that not the prettiest font for the word September? - yes, it is.).

I edged the diecut leaf in the copper ink as well.

If you're keeping track - yes, I still have the months of May and October to do (and of course November, December and January). May is on the drawing table half-stamped. October is sort of sketched out.  And I've got ideas floating around in my head for packaging. But hey it's only October right? I've got a little bit of time.

Thanks for stopping by!

30th Anniversary

I wish I could've gotten a better pic of this card but - suffice it to say it looks really beautiful in real life. Anywho...
It's that time again folks to share a card I made for my wonderful husband of 30 years. Really - 30 years - as of today. It is really hard to believe. On the one hand, it seems like yesterday. I can remember events in sortofa dream like way. Like a flashback on tv. Little snippets: getting pictures taken in the morning, the church wedding, taking more photos outside of church and again at the reception venue (missing the cocktail hour because of it ;-(), the reception - feeling almost in a daze and not being able to eat much, wonderful friends and family; going to see my grandmother in the nursing home - because she wasn't able to come, my husband and I drove over to the nursing home- me in my dress and my husband in his morning coat and all the inhabitants of the nursing home coming alive to see a "bride & groom" visiting - my grandmother so happy to see us all dressed up. It was a magical day. Thank goodness we have a lot of pictures to help us fill in the blanks :-)
And on the other hand - yes - it's been 30 years. A lot going on over 30 years.
30 years later - 2 children and life and death happenings filling in the intervening years.. I'm still feeling pretty darned lucky to have found this wonderful man to have spent my life with and hopefully grow old with.
Okay - that's enough reminiscing - on to the card.
This wonderful man loves travel and maps. And given that we spent 3 weeks travelling abroad this spring it seemed appropriate to pull out the travel and map stamps (Papertrey Ink Pack Your Bags and World Map; the Happy Anniversary sentiment is from Keep It Simple: Anniversary while the other sentiment is from Pack Your Bags ). I stamped and also heat embossed (gold suitcase hardware there) the suitcases. You'll also see some machine stitching on this card. And some foam tape to pop up those suitcases. And if you look really close you can see the wee little luggage tag from the set - I wrote in "30 years".
I know he will like it - there's a map! :-)
Alrighty, that's all for today. I need to get some things done today cos this girl is being taken out for dinner this evening and there's lots to do between now and then. Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for Petsitting

I mentioned we were away last weekend - went to a nephew wedding. It was a really lovely weekend (except for the travelling part - 10-1/2 hours in the car each way. I guess we could've flown but there were 4 of us and that would've been a little cost prohibitive dontchaknow). Anyway - of course we engaged our favorite neighbor to kitty-sit. She is the best kid around - seriously. Wonderful girl, loves our two silly furballs (the feeling is mutual - they love her too.) When we returned I quick made this card for her. Using Papertrey Ink's Pack Your Bags stamp set and Herringbone Impression Plate. Not only does the stamp set have those adorable suitcases and luggage tag but it has an assortment of wonderful sentiments like the one here. Actually that sentiment is three sentiments put together so you've got a million options (well... maybe not a million but a whole bunch o'cute ones!). Okay... I think I've got a few more cards to share in the upcoming days - come on back k?

Happy Birthday Sprinkle

Yes I've been busy and too busy to blog. But I have been making things whilst having new appliances installed, taking extensive car trips to weddings in far off states, and various and sundry other adventures. I've also been taking an online card class - playing with Copic markers. All very fun but occupying every spare moment. I thought I'd jump on here to share a card I made recently using that Papertrey Ink Shakers & Sprinkles kit. I'm a little in love with the stamps and the dies and the wonderful papers in the kit. For this card I combined it with the PTI Cupcake Collection. I decorated the cupcake with some "sprinkles" (glue pen with glitter) and cut out the word "Sprinkles" using some of my beloved Doodlebug sugar coated cardstock. It certainly adds a wonderful bit of sparkle - so "birthday" dontcha think?
I'll be back with a few more cards soon.