Vintage-y Love

First off, I have to share a little story about this image. I've gotten to the point where I avoid purchasing wood-mounted stamps, simply because I don't want to store 'em. Guess I'm a bit of a snob now? :) Well, last month I went to Tuesday Morning to purchase a gift - and I just happened to go down their crafty aisle. They generally have a nice variety of items, but they're just not my style (or I already have it - sheesh!). Well, they had a small stack of Inkadinkado stamps for 99¢ each - and I ended up purchasing THREE. But seriously, who could resist this adorable couple?! I love the comfortable companionship that their pose conveys, and I decided to keep the card pretty simple so as not to detract from that. I colored them in with prismacolor pencils, then added a grungeboard flourish, prima flower (stamped and inked up), and a big epoxy brad with the word "loved." Definitely sweet.

Getting Lovey-Dovey

I know that Christmas is looming large on the horizon, but Valentine's isn't all that far off, right? Anyway, that's the excuse I'm offering for this card :)

I used this week's layout from Card Patterns - fun layout to combine patterned papers. The images are from smARTworks' Happy Silhouettes and the paper is from Memory Box. Everything is pretty straightforward - I made the card base from dark purple cardstock, which you see right below the ribbon. I really love the sentiment: Forever. For always. No matter what. Definitely going to use that for my hubby's card this year (he won't be receiving this particular one!)

Hope you're having a great week!

Everything's coming up roses!

I had a lot of fun with the Rose Trio #2 set, playing around with inks to see what emerged...

I'm "in the pink" with this first one :) Inks used: palette doudoir blush (stamped off once), palette toile pink, then versamagic pink petunia. I stamped the leaves (Stem Duo) with versamagic tea leaves; this set also has two layers, but I only used one here. I finished off the card by adding the sentiment (Grow Friends), adding some rick rack, and layering with BasicGrey Sultry paper. I generally am not a big fan of pink, but pair it up with brown and you've got me (plus I love the touches of yellow in the paper...)






For this second card, I wanted to use the sentiment that accompanies the set, so I pulled out my reds. The final rose is SU Rose Red, Palette Moulin Rouge & L'Amour Red, then versamagic hint of pesto for the leaves. After I'd stamped it all, I sprayed it down with latte & snowfall glimmer mists just to soften the bright white plus add shimmer. I tied on black grosgrain ribbon (I cut an opening with my x-acto knife), then matted with black and finished it out with a red base. Clean and sophisticated!

Back with another "trio" tomorrow!

Sharing some love

I needed to make an anniversary card for some friends, and when I saw Mercy's sketch, I knew I'd found my starting point. This went together quickly using some retired SU designer papers, and the Love stamp (Brenda Walton - Inkadinkado). It needed something more, though, so I die cut a heart from some heavy plastic packaging I'd saved, then went around the edges with palette ink. I embellished it with a prima and a bit of ribbon, and then used a brad to hold it all down (thereby taking care of the interminable question of how to attach a clear element). Beauteous!

More Mojo-ness

Well, here I am doing yet another challenge (perhaps I need to seek help? Nah, it's an excuse to stamp more!! :) This card is based on Julee's Mojo Monday sketch, and I used this darling little girl (Paperbag Studios) as the focal image. (After looking at the sketch again, I think I was supposed to have my focal point in the front square. Oops.) I added just a hint of color with chalks, and then layered some paper and other embellishments. Don't you just love that epoxy sticker? I also added three eyelets before mounting it to the brown base. She's such a cutie...



This was my first attempt. It has all the elements, but they just didn't look right when I lined them up according to the sketch. I took my color cues from a K-ology paper pad - love those purple tones! The heart image is embossed, and the gate (both images Paperbag Studios) was done with the castaway pad. (That was one of those purchases that had been "lost" in the crazy craft heap, but was recently rediscovered). I added a layered flower, and the final touch was the row of faux brads created with Liquid Pearls. I swear they were straight initially, but as I tapped the cardstock to make them settle (and get rid of the unsightly lift-off lump) they shifted a bit. Anyone know of a better way to handle that issue?

Well, I'm off to straighten up and then oversee bath time. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Lovebirds

I'm still trying working my way through the ChatterBox scrap kit, plus when I was cleaning off my workspace I found this one, lonely shipping tag. So yesterday's "Ways to Use it" challenge of a tag was perfect. I stamped the cute little lovebirds (Inkadinkado), clear embossed, spritzed the tag with denim blue glimmer mist, and scalloped the edge with decorative scissors. It still needed more, though, so I added the word (Stampington), a flower, and some ribbon. I layered it onto a burgundy card base, accented with some paper and lace. I'm really happy with the final result, and it will be perfect to give some friends who are celebrating their anniversary soon.


Tomorrow I'll be sharing two simple thank you cards that I made using this same kit. Hopefully you're not getting too sick of it yet :)

Lovey-Dovey Tea Party

Well, Donna was the hostess of our tea party this time around, and challenged us to make valentines. I can do that! I'd made "lovey" cards the last two times around (trying to actually plan ahead for once!) so I decided to take a different approach and make a valentine for one of my good friends (who has been going through a lot lately). I pulled out some patterned paper from Making Memories (Boho Chic Olivia collection) and used that as my springboard. I cut a heart (Sizzlit Primitive Heart #2 die), and then stamped the script (from One Smile) in gray. Subtle, but perfect way to add some texture. I stamped the sentiment (My Heart) onto another pattern, grunged up the edges, and glued some ivory trim onto the bottom. I used yet another print as the base, which I misted with latte glimmer mist to soften the color and add some shine. I added a pin to the sentiment, as well as prima flower and button, and all done!

We're currently experiencing some very dreary weather (snow/ice last night, and now just steady rain) so I took that as a sign to do some more stamping :) I picked up this black frame with white mat last year, planning to make something for my craft space. Well, this is the time! I've been flipping through a lot of Somerset publications lately, so thought I'd play around with some artsy collage. The matted area is only 3x3, so I figured even I could handle such a small working space. I started off with plain old white cardstock, and started stamping. I think everything is pretty self-explanatory - the pink heart is actually mulberry paper, so quite sheer. The accents on the clock hands are tiny little hearts (from Junkitz Bag of Blingz) - what better way to illustrate time for love? I used a LOT of different stamp sets on this one: Bits of Time #1 and #2, Plant Love, One Smile, and Soar.

Feeling inspired yet? Be sure to check out what the other cookies have done, too!
In the Works, Mama Dini's Stamperia, Dee's Studio, Sweet Somethings, Susiestampalot

All lovey dovey

Needed to make an anniversary card - I'm not feeling so hot (first cold of the season!) so I pulled out the BasicGrey Blush card kit. No stamping here - just adhering a few shapes, tying on some ribbon, and adding a small charm. (I'll be hand delivering this, so bulk wasn't an issue...)

Heartfelt Thanks - Anniversary Card

Heartfelt Thanks is one of my favorite sets - those watercolor type flowers are just gorgeous, aren't they? I needed to make an anniversary card, so this is what I came up with. Very simple color scheme - white, saffron, and gold. Love the elegance it conveys! I stamped the flowers onto a piece of white scrap, then added some narrow white organdy and gold cord. I layered that onto saffron, which I also edged with a gold paint pen. I then attached the flower panel to the card base, which I stamped with Paisley. For the final touch, I stamped this verse from Elegant Inspirations and embossed it with gold detail EP. I must admit, I'm quite happy with the results!