More Coloring

Used a lot of Hero Arts stamps on this one.  This Hydrangea (K5376) is another image I like to color with copics because it's easy to tell where the shading should go :)  The butterfly from CG130 Butterflies was partly colored and partly paper pieced (love this tiny gingham check paper from A Muse!).  CG211 Magical Background was stamped in white on the pink cs and S5208 Designer Woodgrain was stamped in pink on the kraft Nestie label.  Sentiment is from CL342 Everyday Sayings.  I don't have any twine so I had to use some hemp instead - a little bulkier but I think it works here.

I plan to give this card to a former co-worker who recently met her weight loss goal of 92 lbs - so proud of her accomplishment!  We are getting together next week and it's been awhile since I've seen her.  Wonder if I'll even recognize her!

Something Old, Something Newer

I was really in the mood to color today so I pulled out this bouquet of roses stamp from PSX that I've had forever (it's dated 1997!).  When I checked on-line it appears this company is no longer in existence.  Too bad - I really like coloring stamps that pretty much tell you where the shading needs to go :)  I used a combination of copics and Stampin' Up markers to color both the roses and the butterfly (from Hero Arts CL383 Antique Engravings).  I've just recently gotten my feet wet with copics so my current supply is limited.  I thought the base card needed something so I stamped Hero Arts CG119 Flourish Background using ink to match the cs - I like this subtle tone-on-tone look.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts CL266 Mix & Match Elements.  I can't seem to stop using this Nestie ribbon slide tag.  Do you ever do that too?  Fixate on your most recent stamping purchase?  Hmmmm, wonder if there's a support group for that.....
Other Materials Used: Michael's ribbon and rhinestones, Stampin' Up cs, Ranger antique linen distress ink (to soften the edges)

Thanks for stopping by and for all your sweet comments!

Thinking of Lisa

Hope everyone's had a great week :)  Mine included a get together with some girlfriends I've had since high school.  Our dissimilar lives prevent us from seeing each other more frequently so I really appreciate these times together.  There's just something about staying connected with people who "knew you back when" don't you think?  When I think about what our conversations used to revolve around (i.e. boys - LOL!) and now include topics such as where to find the most stylish "cheater" glasses it makes me smile!
Anyway, the card I'm sharing today is for one of the girls who couldn't make it to our get together.  What I admire most about Lisa is her ability to maintain an incredible sense of humor despite her circumstances.  She has a debilitating nerve disease and on top of having yet another surgery recently she just lost her beloved dog.
Hero Arts K5376 Hydrangea image was stamped and colored with copics.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts CL342 Everyday Sayings.
Other Materials Used:  Nestabilities, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Stampin' Up cardstock, patterned paper and butterfly dies

Thank you for stopping by and for all your comments!  Have a great weekend!

Birthday Butterflies

Finally finished the last of the birthday cards I need for this month.  I thought this patterned paper from My Mind's Eye would make the perfect background for the butterflies.  Hero Arts H5426 Artist Butterfly was embossed and then sponged with Ranger peeled paint and spiced marmalade distress inks (love this color combo!).  The sentiment from MSE was embossed on a Nestie ribbon slide tag.
Other Materials Used:  Michael's satin ribbon, Queen & Co rhinestones, Stampin' Up cs

After enjoying some springy days Winter has returned with a vengeance :(  It was literally snowing sideways all day long yesterday and there were several times last night when I wondered if the wind was going to carry our house away!  Hope it's better tomorrow - my stampin' sister is coming over to craft, eat and shop(gotta take advantage of 55% off at AC Moore!).  I've got a pan of Peaches & Cream French Toast in the fridge just waiting to be baked in the morning - yum!  

Thanks for stopping by and for your comments! 

A Little Kissin'!

One of this month's contest challenges at Hero Arts is stamp kissing and this sweet little silhouette stamp (Hero Arts F5468 Musical Walk) practically begged to be kissed!  I inked it up with Tsukineko VersaMagic Tea Leaves chalk ink and "kissed" it against an uninked portion of HA S5216 Grid Pattern then stamped the silhouette on white cardstock.  I really like the added interest this technique gave to the image - great way to get more mileage out of your stamps too:)  The Nestie shape behind the focal image was stamped and clear embossed with HA S5433 Large Canvas Stripes then sponged with Ranger spun sugar distress ink. 

Other Materials Used:  Stampin' Up cs, butterfly die and designer paper, Martha Stewart photo corners, Cricut Mother's Day Bouquet flower die cut

We're finally having warmer temps here and I was actually able to leave the house today without being bundled up like an eskimo!  My dh and I are going with friends to a Boat Show in a nearby city tomorrow.  We're not in the market to buy a boat (we're happy with our kayaks!) but our friends want to have dinner afterwards at a popular BBQ place. They had me at "pulled pork" - LOL!  I'll probably be dreaming about it tonight :)

Thanks for stopping by and for your comments!

Valentine's Day Recap

Thought I would share the Valentine I made for my dh.  I love this Hero Arts clear set CL439 Kiss From the Sun!  I "personalized" the shirt and dress with some Heidi Grace rub-on letters as believe it or not I don't own any alphabet stamps! (I think I need to do something about that!)  HA S5215 Clouds were stamped with Ranger tumbled glass distress ink.  The little birdie is from an old HA clear set called CL064 Tiny Bird Messages.

The best part of the card is the sentiment :) When my dh and I were dating it was loooong before cell phones and texting were the norm (yeah, I know I'm dating myself!) so we weren't so "connected" 24/7.  I can't tell you how many times we used to leave messages on each others home phones that included the "You are My Sunshine" song!  Just one of the many reasons I fell in love with the guy :) 

Other Materials Used:
Bo Bunny pp
JoAnn's heart buttons
Stampin' Up cs and border punch
Papertrey ink cloud dies
CB swiss dots embossing folder
MSE sentiment
Hemp

TFL and for all your sweet comments!  Tomorrow I plan to spend some time learning more about all this blogging stuff :) 

My First Post!

Welcome to my first blog post!  For some reason I suddenly feel a little tongue-tied.  I've looked at so many blogs over the past several weeks that I feel as overwhelmed as I did when I first started making cards so I'm just going to jump right in!................................................
Phew!  That feels better!  The first card I'm sharing with you is a birthday card I created for my brother-in-law.  I really struggle with "man" cards as let's face it - they really aren't as much fun to make as girly ones!  And although this card contains a butterfly I think the colors and layout make it suitable for a guy.  My BIL is definitely a "man's man" but one of the things I love about him is his capacity to appreciate his daughter's interests (how many guys do you know who would attend a dance recital in a non-airconditioned auditorium without complaint?).  So I don't think he'll mind the butterfly at all :)
Materials Used:
S5316 Hero Arts Silhouette Grass
CL428 Hero Arts Earth Flowers
CG275 Hero Arts Birthday (Sentiment)
Ranger peeled paint, wild honey and walnut stain distress inks
Martha Stewart butterfly punch
Queen & Co. pearls
Fiskars border punch
Stampin' Up cs and pp
Your comments really make my day!