Heart Smile

Enjoying this fun day of crafting! Stinks to miss work but, hey, couldn't wouldn't want extra crafty time right?  I love this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. This card came together pretty fast since I used all the inks and papers I already had on my table from my last project.

I kept my card pretty simple. Since I wanted to use this large heart stamp and die set from Concord and 9th I turned the sketch horizontal instead.

Love Balloons & a few challenges

Hi everyone! I'm taking advantage of the -21 degree weather and stayed home.  I love extra days to craft!!  I found some great challenges to get my juices flowing today.

The first is the Double Dare Paper crafting blog challenge "Love, Peace and Kindess". So much fun.  They also partnered up with The Paper Girls for their "Sparkle and Shine" challenge.

I then added a sketch challenge from CAS(E) this Sketch!

Here is my finished card.  I used hot air balloons and hearts for love and added some glitter to the XOXO sentiment as well as the glitter tape down the length of the card.  I used an ink pad to create the purple strip and after die cutting out the love on white cardstock I took the blue and pink and sponged. I love how they combine to make a pretty purple in the center.

Here's a close up of the glittered balloon

Hooray! It's Your Day

Spending the day today making more birthday cards to have on hand.  I'm sitting here for the third Saturday in a row watching the snow fall as I craft.  Crazy!

I am playing along today with Seize the Birthday challenge. I love these challenges because it's always birthday with a little something added if you want.  This challenges toppings is "Stamping Only" This is hard for me lol.  I love layers and little embellishments. I did do one layer (I couldn't help myself).

Here is my card. I love this circle stamp set.  So many different things you can do with this! I did use my stamp positioner tool to help get the circles just right.  I love using it as I can get a deeper inked image. 

Love You TSOT #392

Another wonderful day for a sketch challenge at Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  Today's sketch is a square card.  I'm not usually one to make other size cards so this was a great challenge for me.

This sketch also has a optional theme: Metallic Madness

Here is my finished card. I used a couple of different "metallic" elements. My Base is a shimmer grey, then I added a mirrored red and the love you is embossed is silver.  I had a lot of fun with this card.

Ink blending birthday

I love using inks to create blended backgrounds.  Sometimes I forget how easy it is to create a quick card by just blending a few ink colors together.

I made two cards using the same three colors, stamp set and embossing folder.  I just changed the sentiment and the orientation of the sentiment.

For this card I left the base of the cardstock bright white. I love how the sentiment piece really pops off the card.

For this one I sponged a lite amount of the blue onto the base piece to give a bit more dimension.  I went with a light hand so I didn't get a dark area.  I let it taper off as it got to the right side to give a fade look to it.

Thinking of You

Hello again! I'm back with another fun card I just had to make after seeing it demo'd. It's a really cool technique using a gel press, Catherine Pooler inks and tissue paper.

I used my Aquatini ink pad and "stamped it on the shorter end of my gel press. I then took my Party Dress ink pad and added it next to and slightly on top of the other color.  I took my brayer and rolled over the colors to blend and then took my tissue paper and rubbed the ink into it.

I did the above steps a second time to get a more saturated color on the paper.  I attached it to a piece of white cardstock using liquid glue and let it dry.  Once it dried I added some other images on top and then die cut it with a dotted rectangle die.

I'm loving the way this card turned out and this is the first card EVER that I got a perfect knotted bow!! I fussy cut out the flower image after I water colored them.  I used the same colors as the background and added in Pixie Dust to have a bit of the purple that is blended on the background

So, you really want to use plain white tissue paper if you have it.  The only white tissue paper the dollar store carries as sparkles on it.  I like the way it turned out but they do stick to the gel press and brayer.

Love Notes

Hi everyone! Welcome to another Sketch~N~Scrap sketch challenge.  I am loving all the Valentine's products that have been coming out and I can't get enough of making "love" cards.  The colors are so pretty this time of year and really get you in the mood for the upcoming spring time.

Here is the sketch for today

Here is my finished card.  I was originally going to have a die cut heart circle but just couldn't get it to look right.  Then I remembered I had this cute envelope die from Spellbinders. It worked great for this card.

I also die cut the love die twice just to get a little extra dimension.  The little hearts also come in the die set.  There are three different sizes but these little one's worked out great.

Congratulations Gift Card Holder

I have a co-worker whose wife is expecting any day now.  We wanted to give him a little gift for the baby so we decided on a gift card and I have some baby announcements I made a while ago that I'm going to give them.

I used the same YouTube video that I used for the last gift card holder.  The biggest difference is that I added it to a card base so everyone could sign the inside.

Here is the completed card.  I inked all the edges to create a softer look.  I'm loving how this turned out.

 I wanted to give a bit of a closer look at the embellishments and embossing as the above picture doesn't show it to well.

Here is the gift card holder pulled out a bit.  I adhered the band with sticky strip to give it extra hold.

Here is the gift card holder. I put my business card inside to show how the gift card would go. 

Birthday Gift Card Holder

This gift card holder is so easy to put together. I found the tutorial over on YouTube.  You can click this LINK and get making your own.  I made a birthday one but am now going to start work on a baby one for a guy at work who will soon have a new baby!

Here is my finished project.  I did slip a business card into the slot to show how the card would go in.
I didn't use ribbon as the video showed.  I just added some ink to the belly band and then layered black cardstock and die cut my sentiment.  I added a few rhinestones to give a little "bling" to it.

This is what the inside looks like.  I did have to go back with my punch and make the opening bigger like she mentioned in the video.  The card wouldn't fit otherwise.

I'm planning on doing some craft shows this year and these will definitely be a part of my items.  Easy to make and everyone is always looking for gift card holders. 

Level Complete

Back at it today.  My goal is to get a nice supply of birthday cards made so when I need them I can just pull from my stash.  My problem is that I always make "girly" cards so I never have enough for the guys.

Today I'm working on getting some masculine cards done.  Here is my first card.  I used the a set that I just had to have Game On by Fun Stamper's Journey.  This is such a fun stamp set!!

I needed an added element for the bottom of my card and I just couldn't figure out what to do. So, I asked my hubby and he said put level up in something shiny. Thankfully the stamp set came with level complete. Once I added it, it felt finished.  

I told him he needs to start crafting with me.  He shook his head, in all seriousness, and said no lol. Oh well, at least he'll go to the expos with me!!

Disclaimer: Below are affiliate links. I do get a percentage when you purchase after clicking the link. There is no charge for clicking the link.

• Journey Silver- Embossing Powder
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• Game On ATS
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• Limeade Splash True Color Fusion Ink Pad
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• Candy Apple True Color Fusion Ink Pad
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• Whip Cream 8.5 x 11 Cardstock
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• Beach Ball True Color Fusion Ink Pad
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• Black Licorice True Color Fusion Ink Pad
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• Black Licorice Paper 8.5 x 11 Cardstock
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• Confetti Fun ATS
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Valentine Swiper Card

I found this great new technique and I couldn't wait to give it a try.  Sometimes I have a hard time do new things because they freak me out a bit.  This was super simple to put together and a lot of fun!!

The technique is called a swiper card and it's super cute!! Here is the card closed.

And here it is once it's opened.  I love the little wings that fly out when you pull it up/down.

Oh What Fun

I am having some fun using products that I've had for way to long.  I have a big problem with buying because I love it and have to have it and then I won't use it for fear or running out of it. I seem to forget that there's always something new coming out.

For this layout I used my Kiwi Lane templates and the Merry & Bright paper kit I bought, I believe, in 2017. The papers seem to fit with the fun loving pics of my kids on Christmas Eve at my in-laws.  I love that my little guy just can't help but bust up laughing.

I used my Cricut to cut out the title. It's a bit bigger than I thought it would be but I just couldn't seem to get a good cut otherwise.

I decided to add a second title at the bottom of the second page so that I would remember when they were taken. I didn't journal on this layout as I feel the pictures tell a pretty good story on their own. 

Together Is the Best Place to Be

I have been cleaning my craft room up over the past two weeks to help get me back into the mood to craft.  While doing this I found an album just full of old photos.  I found these cute pics of my mother-in-law holding my youngest at his christening party.

This was almost 17 years ago and she has been gone for a year now.  It was such a blessing to find these beautiful photos.  She always used to "pop" the baby cheeks. She loved the chubs that he had lol.

I used the I Love Family paper pack, embellishments, and background papers to create this layout. I've had these for quite a while and it was time to get using them.

Make A Wish

Today I tried a new technique and loved it.  I used my gel press, acrylic paint and my brayer to create the background for my card.

I started with adding drops of color to the press and then rolling it out.  I did have a bit to much paint so I got one sheet of solid painted color to work with (can't wait to craft with it)!! I then took a background stamp and laid it down on the gel press and pressed it in.

 I stamped the background off each time on a separate piece of paper. Once done I took another piece of paper onto the gel press and rubbed the image into it.  I now have three different backgrounds to use on future projects from just one use of the gel press.

I used the sketch for week one of the 8th Birthday celebration going on over at Stampnation.  I am loving the inspiration I'm getting and making this card to no time at all.

Here is the birthday card I made today using a bit of the stamped background.

Love Builds TSOT #390

Hi everyone! Welcome to another sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  The sketch this week has an optional theme that you can add to make your project really pop.

Optional Theme: Bold and Bright

I used scraps that were on my table to create my card for this challenge.  I usually don't remember I have these sentiment cards until after I have created something.

Coffee Helps AHSC #298

Happy New Year! Welcome to a new year of Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges! Hard to believe it's already time for 2019!!

I used a new coffee set that I got. I thought it's perfect for a new year.  Who doesn't need a boost of caffeine to start the new year!!

Make My Heart

So much stamping going on today.  Makes my heart happy to be crafting away and getting things done. 

I did challenge #298 over at Stampnation.  I love being apart of this online community.  So much inspiration and the ladies are amazing. 

This challenge was to case a card the design team did.  These are the cards we had to choose from

My card is based off the hexagon card.  I got some great new products from Concord and 9th and couldn't wait to use them!  I like that even though it came out for Valentine's Day it can be used for almost anything. 

Supplies:

Concord and 9th Heart Smile stamp set

White cardstock

Nuvo mica mist violet lustre

Nuvo glitter drops yellow bird

Echo Park you and me scattered heart stencil

gold washi tape

Catherine Pooler inks-midnight, garden party, sweet sixteen, it's a girl, it's a boy

Day of Birthday Cards

I've been enjoying a fun day crafting in my newly "cleaned" craft room.  I've been having such a hard time crafting and getting my mojo up and going, so I figured cleaning would help.  Well, that turned into taking out two bookshelves and one storage unit, moving my table to face the windows so I can look out side and moving my calendar stand (holds all my 12x12 papers) to the middle of the room.

I found that once done I couldn't wait to start crafting.  I'm starting off by making some birthday cards. Over at Stampnation it's their 8th birthday and there's always a big party to celebrate.  Making birthday cards is just the beginning.

I created the first card using the challenge #299 over at Stampnation for inspiration.  Such a great way to get the juices flowing

I decided to keep them pretty simple and quick to make.  I stamped a sentiment on each white cardstock first and then went back with different images to add some color.

I love the look of white card bases with one layer of color and "popping" up the top piece of white. It adds just a tad bit dimension.

so happy, NOT!

Hi everyone. Welcome to another sketch challenge at Sketch~N~Scrap! Today I decided to use my son's first day of school pictures.  I could not find one where he was smiling. When did this young man go from smiling to frowning? I just don't know where the time went...

I sat and thought about the title I wanted on this layout.  I waited until I got it completely assembled and then the title just came to me.  I showed it to my son and he couldn't stop laughing at himself.  Guess it's a winner lol.

I used the sketch to create a two page layout.  For the second page I turned the sketch on it's side. I'm loving how it turned out.