That Time of Year!

Hi everyone, it's that time of year again, yes, you guessed it----tax season! Well, not quite yet, but I am back to work and that means less time to craft cards. I will still be creating some cards but not on a week-to-week basis. I know I don't do a lot right now and this back to work thing will really reduce my time to make cards, but on the bright side I will be making some money to purchase more supplies! Yeah!

Okay, so that isn't the greatest thing that could happen. To my family though, it is pretty good, they get to maybe uhm....eat a treat every once in a while, and I get to be able to pay my bills. Nowadays that is something not everyone can do. Anyway, I am going to try to keep posting every week at least once. Hopefully you'll keep coming back to look...

Happy Holidays!
Shari

3 Flowers Yeah!

These are the three flower cards I made. I call them pink, red, and purple!

This is a close up of the purple one.

Here is a close up of the pink flower which also shows you the layers of paper. I die cut four flowers with the Big Shot and wet them with water. I crumpled them up and then unfolded them and layered them. Then I pinched them together to dry. After they dried I had to glue each layer together so they would stay together. They turn out really stiff and keep their shape real nice. I learned that is because the paper has glue already in it. It is really fun to make these flowers. I also made some other types that I will post later.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recipe:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Inks: Early Espresso

Papers: designer paper (SU and non-SU), crumb cake, pink, purple, white

Accessories: buttons, paper-piercing tool



Flowers!

3x3 card



4.25 x 5.5 card

I love the colors in this card! I cased it from the Stampin' Up! Idea and Catalog 2011-2012. It isn't quite the same but it is close. I love the poppy parade red. It is bright and perfect for a flowery happy birthday card. I also like the stamping and embossing done on the crumb cake paper. I love the crumb cake paper with practically anything. Okay, I stamped then embossed the flowers in white embossing powder. I did a couple of extra ones so I could cut some out after I sponged some poppy parade ink onto them. I then stuck these extra ones on the cards. I made a 3x3 and a 4.25 x 5.5. After I post these cards I see some areas where I could have improved upon. I should have cut the white scalloped part a little better instead I just plow on through! Maybe the recipient won't even notice....

Here is the recipe:

Stamps: fifth avenue floral, create a cupcake (greeting on 3x3 card), well scripted

Inks: versamark

Paper: poppy parade, crumb cake, garden green, white

Accessories: embossing powder, twine

Two Butterflies

These are 3x3 cards. I made them to be birthday cards. There isn't much to say about them. They are pretty simple. I'm not sure about the colors but I thought I would try something a little different. Let me know what you think...should I have used a yellow base?...should I have used a different color for the butterflies?...let me know, thanks!

Recipe:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Inks: night of navy

Paper: designer paper, white, night of navy

Accessories: flower punch, brads, big shot butterfly die, dots embossing folder

With Gratitude

With Gratitude

I stamped then embossed this card with the copper embossing powder from SU. This was discontinued years ago, but I still had some left over and thought this cards would be a good candidate for it. So, in the card above you can see the embossing. The card below was put flat so it does look different but it is the same card. I used the SU watercolor crayons to "paint" the picture, and an aquapainter. The watercolor crayons are very easy to use and I like them better than using the ink pad for coloring.

I used many colors here so I am not going to list them all. I did stamp the "With Gratitude" saying under the picture, and I also stamped a saying inside. Just to let you know if you don't already, I use what I have on hand for the most part. So, I have a lot of retired sets and colors that I still use. If you ever wonder what I have used for something, just ask and I'll get back to you.

 Here is the recipe:

Stamps: Gifts of the Earth, With Gratitude
Ink: Various Watercolor crayons
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Vanilla, a couple of printed papers
Accessories: Button, Twine
Techniques: Tearing, Sponging, Embossing, Watercoloring

Happy Thanksgiving

In Everything Give Thanks

I like this saying, simple and to the point. This is what I want these 3x3 cards to be; simple and to the point. I watercolored the turkey and hoped that it would look better than it does.

Overall, I think it came out okay.

I used ink pads and a blender pen to color.

Recipe:

Stamps: Gifts of the Earth (SU Holiday Mini 09-10), Happy Harmony

Inks: Dusty Durango, Creamy Caramel, Soft Sky, Black

Paper: Black, Vanilla, Dusty Durango, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Red Twine, Circle Punches, Scallop Punch

Another birthday

Another pinwheel birthday card.

I got the idea of using the doily stamp for the background and I like this one much better. The only other change is no thread bow in the center of the pinwheel. I have to keep it simple. (KISS)

Recipe:

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Petite Pairs

Ink: Rose red, pink

Paper: Pink, white, designer paper

Accessories: silver cord, embossing folder, button brad, square punch

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Wishes

Here is another birthday card 3x3 inch, that I made using pinwheels. It is small so it has to be simple. I try to embellish with some elements to make it more cute, yet keep the cost down. I should work on the background more I think. I made the pinwheel out of DSP that is printed on both sides. I started with punching out a square and then cutting to the center from each corner. I didn't cut quite all the way to the center. I then folded the points to the center and anchored them with sticky tape or a glue dot and then put in the button brad. I also took some thread and made it into a bow and stuck it in the middle on the brad. The stick is made by rolling up some regular white printer paper.

Side view

These use different color schemes.

The recipe:

Stamps: Petite Pairs for greeting

Ink: Brilliant blue, Lucky Limeade

Paper: Orange, Yellow, Blue, white, Designer papers

Accessories: Non-SU brads, gold and silver (Sulky) thread, gold and silver cord, dots embossing folder

Aren't these cute? These were all made with Stampin' Up! stamps and papers. One of the stamp sets is called "Trendy Trees." The bird set was discontinued (and maybe the tree set, but I am not sure). One of the unfortunate things about Stampin' Up! is that sometimes I think they discontine a stamp set too early. I know they have to make room for new sets but some of the ones they discontinue are so cute! We can still use them though! It isn't the same though is it? Again, thanks for looking.

Picture Frame

This is a wooden picture frame that I painted. I probably should put a picture in it....uhm, it's so hard to choose. I have so many pictures. I will find one, I should put a picture of my grandchildren in there. I also like to paint. I think a lot of people like to paint they just don't know what to paint as a subject or feel that they have to be as good as Renoir or Michelangelo. That is not so! Everyone can paint. Art skills are learned just like anything else. It also takes practice to get really good at it, just like anything else! Oh, well, enjoy. Thanks for looking!

Bonjour

A card I made a little while ago and never posted. The stamps are from Stampin' Up! but they are discontinued. I should have used the same green for the base as I have for the vocal point. I think I have improved somewhat since I made this card, at least I hope so!