Beautiful Bees Stamp Set

 This card is made with the awesome stamp set designed by Melanie Muenchinger for Gina K Designs called Beautiful Bees.  My sister is a bee keeper so I just had to have it.  This is the first card I made with this set and while I am not happy enough with it to give it away (the honeycomb is lined up very messily) I am very happy with the design of it.  I would like to try this again.  It may work better to stamp the honeycomb hexagons individually then cut them out.  That would allow me to space them more evenly.

I had a few very sloppy areas in the honeycomb-one of which is hidden by a sequin, then I decided to add 2 more sequins.  I tried covering up the other messy spot of the honeycomb with a sequin but it was too close to the other one and didn't look right.

I used Hero Arts Ombre dye ink in the color "Butter Bar to Orange Soda" as well as my trusty Gina K Designs Black Onyx dye ink.  The layers were cut with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 1 dies.

I will try to remember to post a picture when I finally get around to making a better version of this card.

Just Add Color, the Current Free Gina K Incentive Stamp Set

 

I had fun playing with the Gina K Designs free incentive stamp set that came with the order my husband got me for Christmas.  The stamp sets change and you need to spend a minimal amount before you qualify for them but hey-free is free correct?  

I honestly didn't know if I would like this stamp set because I like clean and simple, one layer, elegant floral cards.  I thought about making the rainbow "brush strokes" like in the first card and then adding a black floral silhouette through the strokes but when I looked through my stamps I didn't have anything that I thought would work.  The third card pictured is actually the first of the three that I made.  I got a smudge in the white space where I wanted to put the sentiment so I decided to put the rainbow in the air and add the layered sentiment that you see.  It fit better in that arrangement. The last card I made is the middle one in the picture.  This type of card doesn't appeal to me but I know many people appreciate colorful cards and I like to use my stamps as much as possible so I did experiment with the "rings".  I figure I can still add a birthday sentiment to the inside or perhaps a different sentiment at a later date making it so that it can fit many occasions.

I send many cards per year to nursing homes and people that request card showers so the card that says you are beautiful like a rainbow is going to be perfect for that purpose.

I also used the Master Layouts 1 dies that was part of the gift my husband bought from Gina K Designs to cut the card layers and the ovals.  My paper cutting leaves a lot to be desired.  These dies are a game changer for me.

The Versatile Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry Stamp Set

I recently posted some embossed Christmas Cards I made (and 2 Birthday Cards) using this awesome Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry Stamp set.  I wanted to make some cards that were not embossed so I gave it another try.  I used Gina K Designs Card stock in Blue Raspberry and Christmas Pine.  The green and blue inks are memento and the multi colored one is the multi-colored Tsukineko Kaleidacolor in the Spectrum Colors variety.  I am not sure if this is available any more but there are videos of how to make your own multi-colored temporary ink pads using baby wipes on You Tube.

The cards seemed a little bit boring so I added pearl embellishments to the flowers and I used Wink Of Stella to the leaf designs in the center of the designs at the top and the bottom of the cards.  You cannot see the sparkle in the photos but it really make the design seem special in real life.  

The Stamping Village Happy Birthday Collaboration Stamp Set

I love this collaboration stamp set that has images provided from multiple stamp companies.  I purchased it several months ago but finally got the chance to play with it.  

I had an old 6 x 6 paper pack (birthday themed) that I paired with it.  I cut the larger layer 3.5 inches by 5 inches.  I then cut down the biggest left over piece of the same patterned paper to 1 1/2 inches by 5 inches.  That allowed me to utilize most of the paper on 2 separate cards.  I mixed and matched several of the papers throughout all of these cards.  I also took several more of the left over pieces and made my own background design on one of them. I really like to get as much use from my papers as possible.

I picked out 2 copic marker colors that coordinated with the multicolored papers and used them throughout all of the cards.  I stamped one image in each of the smaller rectangles then minimally colored them.  One of the stamps was a "And Many More" stamp which is stamped inside the 3 cards that say Happy (or Hoppy) birthday.  I used the "Sending Birthday Wishes" stamp inside the other cards.  The only stamp I did not use on these juvenile type cards was the "Happy Birthday with love" one by Gina K Designs.  It has hearts all over it and just reads more mature to me.  I will make an adult card with that one.

The cards seemed a little "flat" in design to me so I added wink of stella to all the colored images and I also added a line of gemstones to the cake image card.  It seemed more teenage in design to me and definitely for a girl.  Now they all look good.  I have 11 nieces and nephews that are baby to high school age.  I also have 4 adult nieces and nephews but that's another story.  These cards can go to the family with 5 children and I don't have to worry that I sent the same card to more than one child in the family.  That is a relief.

 

Embossed Christmas and Birthday Cards

 

I am in love with the Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry stamp set.  It works equally well for Christmas as for Birthdays or other occasions.  I made 2 Birthday cards using the set along with the Gina K Designs wreath builder template and one of the cards used some of the stamps from the original Wreath Builder stamp set.  I used the analagous colors of blue and green card stock (specifically Blue Denim and Fresh Asparagus Gina K Designs card stock) for the birthday cards.

For the Christmas cards I made 12.  3 are red and gold while 9 are blue and silver.  They are specifically made with the Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry stamp set, Blue Denim Gina K card stock, Red Velvet Gina K card stock and Stampendous detail gold embossing powder plus Hero Arts silver embossing powder.  I had an unknown brand of silver and gold glitter papers for the background card stock and the black frame is also from an unknown brand.

As always, these are A2 sized cards (4 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches).

I do believe that the Holiday Tapestry stamp set with be my all time favorite set!

The Impossible Card

     I recently learned how to make the Impossible Card after watching a YouTube video about them from the MayMay Made It Crafts channel.  I researched it online and found a few examples to change it up a little bit.  I'm not sure who this card is going to but I like it and when I need to send someone a card, I will have this one ready.

     I made this card for my young nephew who adores cars.  His world is all about cars.  You had better not get him something other than a car for his birthday or Christmas unless you don't want him to be excited about your gift..  I am only half joking about that one.  MayMay had examples where she just used stickers to make one of her cards so I decided to do that with this card.  I will write his Happy Birthday sentiment and a personalized note on the back of the flap with the  police car on it.  The stickers are from "The Paper Studio".

     I made this card for my Sister-in-Law.  She is a decorative artist and paints flowers, birds and etc.  I think she will like it.  I used a vertical format for this card as opposed to the horizontal placement used on the previous two cards.  (Those cards were longer from side to side than from front to back.)  I needed to change the format of this one or else the entire bird would not fit on the panel.

Birthday Balloon card using 2 different stamp sets

     For this card I had fun making a background "designer paper" using the Simon Says Stamp Favorite Puperoni stamp set which was a free birthday stamp last year with purchase.  I used Papertrey Ink paper and matching ink in Aqua Mist.
     Then I used the Balloons Stamp set and matching Dies from Avery Elle, gluing about 4 sets of die cut balloons together for dimension.  I typically have difficulty getting these stamps to stamp evenly even in my Misti, but I lucked out this time.  I used Memento inks, then added glitter dots from the Dollar Tree for embellishments. 
     I really like the background paper I made.

Gina K Designs Wreath Builder Stamp and Template-A Winner in my Book!

   Gina K was demonstrating her amazing wreath builder kit at a stamping meet I was at.  It had been sold out online and  I was giddy as a child when I learned she brought some for sale. 
     This card was made using only the stamps and template from the Wreath Builder set. 
     I used the Altenew  mini ink pad sets of 4 in the Tropical Forest collection for the Greens and in the Red Cosmos collection for the pink/red colors plus Gina K Designs Black Onyx for the sentiment. 
     I used Nuvo clear drops for the centers of the large flowers and Wink of Stella glimmer pen on the large flowers.  Then I added buttons to the bottom.  I used an old designer paper from JoAnns on the card base too. 

     This card again used only the Wreath Builder stamp set and template.  I used Wink of Stella glimmer pen on the thistles and Nuvo crystal drops for embellishing.  Then I added buttons. 
     I used memento inks for the purple and blues along with Gina K Designs Onxy Black for the sentiment.
     Buttons are my thing this year but I have noticed that it varies by year.  I like ribbons one year then sequins the next, then buttons, etc.
     This is the only wreath where I intentionally made the floral design slip inside the sentiment circle.  I think I like it done both ways.

     I simply cannot put this stamp/template set away.  It is addictive.  For this card I again used the Altenew  mini cube sets in the greens and pinks plus Gina K Designs Onyx Black for the sentiment.
     I added Wink of Stella glimmer pen to the large flowers and pearl embellishments. 
     It really is just a simple wreath with a sentiment but it speaks volumes.  I was never "into" wreaths before but I am SOLD now!

     This card also only uses the Gina K Designs Wreath Builder stamp set and template.  I embellished it with pearls and Wink of Stella glimmer pen for the large flowers and the red hearts.
     I intentionally used two different colors on the large flowers and for some reason this blend of colors if very striking to me.  I used memento inks for the purple, plus the Altenew mini cubes for the green and the pink/reds plus Gina K Designs Onxy Black Ink for the sentiment.

     This card has a more masculine feel from the colors and the deer.  Again I used only the Wreath Builder stamps and template, memento ink plus Gina K Designs Black Onxy for the sentiment.  I embellished with clear crystal Nuvo drops in the center of each flower and added the deer die cut from Gina Marie Designs.
     I decided to leave the banner the deer is on blank so as not to be overwhelming.  This card needed space to rest the eyes.

     I think this is my favorite wreath card so far.  I love the vintage feel to the colors and the pearl accents.  I did not use a central circle stamp around the sentiment and even though I love the ones that have it, I think I like this one better with the pale flowers inside. 
     I used the Altenew mini ink cube set for the greens  then memento ink for the pink and purple.  I also used Gina K Designs Black Onxy ink for the sentiments. 
     In addition to the pearl accents I used Wink of Stella glimmer pen on the large flowers. 

Last lesson for Copic Jumpstart

     For our last lesson we were given kid's drawings (Thank you Penny-they are so cute!) to color along with a few other things to do.  I really want to get my Nieces and Nephews to send drawings to me now.  They would make excellent cards to send to them.  All I did was add the grass to "ground" the images.

High School Graduation Card

     My youngest daughter is attending her commencement ceremony today for graduating from high school.  I decided to do a red and black themed card in honor of her school colors.  I even spruced up her envelope a little.

Fiskars Monumental Moments

     I colored some clear rhinestones red for my bling.  I foam mounted the focal piece and put it on a black card covered with a scrap of red and white striped paper.  I colored part of the stamped rectangular "box" with a red copic marker and it actually makes it look as if there is a red layer and two white layers.  The inside sentiment says "Follow Your Dream".

     I am in process of finishing her cake and the side dish for dinner.  I bought her some roses, candy, and a balloon.  She is very shy and doesn't want a graduation party so there will be two times this summer when we visit relatives and bring a graduation cake with us as well as her senior photos.  Pretty low key this summer.

How Many Cards can you Make with a Mini Stamp Set?

     In January I ordered a mini stamp set from Gina K Designs called "Love is Friendship".  It had one image and one sentiment.

1

   

     I have heard stampers discuss the fact that you should think of three ways to use a stamp set before purchasing it so that you get your money's worth.  That sounds like sound advice because the stamp sets I never use do not inspire me to create different types of cards.

     The first card was inspired by a floral card created by Melanie Muenchinger.  It isn't as pretty as hers, but the inside front of the card is also stamped with the guitar so that it looks like it lines up with the front of the card.

2

     For my second card, I wanted to use some wood tone paper for the guitar.  It didn't turn out as I had hoped because the wood tone was on too big of a scale.  A smaller scale would have worked nicely.  I used Washi tape stripes.

3

     For the third one I did some simple masking of the guitar to make the hearts go behind it.  The stamp had three hearts in a row so I used my MISTI to line them up evenly.  I also performed "stamp surgery" on the sentiment because the entire sentiment wouldn't fit on one line where I wanted it to fit.

4

.
     I put even more work into the 4th card.  I used a script stamp on a panel behind the red and cut out a heart near the center.  I stamped the sentiment and guitar on black card stock and used versamark and silver embossing powder for the detail, plus I stamped a swirl near the bottom with the versamark and used the same silver embossing powder.  I then took my versamark pen and "drew" a line along the two edges of the panel behind the guitar and also applied silver embossing powder.  It makes it look like there is a third layer of card stock but it is the same layer the script stamp is applied to.  Then I took the entire panel and attached it to an A2 card base.  The right side of the photo has glare but the panel is centered on the card.

Repeat Stamping - Wishing you a Speedy Recovery

     I don't have anyone to send this card to currently but things do come up suddenly don't they?  It is helpful to be prepared.

Clearly Whimsy Stamps "Get Well Soon"

30 day Coloring Challenge day 25 - Thank you Star Ribbon Card

     I am calling this a Star Ribbon Card because it reminds me of those "First Place, Second Place" etc. ribbons that are awarded.

Papertrey Ink Background Basics - Gingham

30 Day Coloring Challenge Day 22 Pirate Treasure Map Card

     Hello there.  I am excited to finally try to make the pirate treasure map card posted by Sandy Allnock.

     

     I downloaded the path outline.  I tried three times to trace it and failed miserably so I just printed it out and cut it.  It wasted the other 3/4 sheet of cardstock but thankfully it was just Georgia Pacific card stock from Walmart.  I had these dimensional pirate stickers left over from another project (purchased several years ago at the Dollar Tree) and I knew they would be perfect for the treasure map.  I then adhered the card front to a #110 Neenah Solar White card base.  

     My nephew turns 5 next month so I thought this would be perfect for him.  I almost wish I had more pirate stickers for my other nephew who will be 4 this summer (different relative's child), but he loves cars so I think I will turn his into a road or race track instead.

     I had to create the background map but I did it just like Sandy so it was easy.  The map was my coloring for the day.  I may have to get the same stamp set she used though because I like this idea so much.

Creating Snow

Hello All,

     Today I was inspired by this video made by Korin Sutherland from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Her card is gorgeous.
     I decided to use the products I had on hand for a similar card.

Tree stamps are Avery Elle Winter Woodland, and Rubber Stampede Winter Woods
Sentiment is My Favorite Things Clearly Sentimental about Sympathy

My Top Ten Favorite Cards of 2015

     Here are my favorite 2015 cards from previous posts.  They are in order of my top favorite to my least favorite-yet still a favorite.  You can compare them to my Favorite cards from 2012.  I didn't list my favorites for years 2013 and 2014.  I definitely see a difference in my abilities from 2012 and it's a good difference.  I hope to improve as much over the next few years.

1.  Thank You Card

2  All Occasion Card (It's white but looks light blue in this photo.)

3.     Graduation Card

   4.  Belated Birthday Card

5.  All Occasion Card

6.  Christmas Card

7.  Inspirational Card

8.  Birthday Card

9.  Child's Birthday Card

Whimsy Stamps Free Gift

 

Flowers for You

      I've ordered digital stamps from Whimsy Stamps before but when I ordered physical stamps from them they came with a free gift.  Oh how it makes my heart sing when I get a gift.

 Fistful of Flowers

  

        There were 4 images from Crissy Armstrong which she had hand colored then reproduced on glossy card stock and die cut in different shapes.  There were 3 of each design.  It is called the Summer Friends Collection.  Normally I enjoy the coloring process but it was really nice to be able to make such fast cards.

Follow Me

Joys Life Barnyard Puns

My Stampafaire 2015 Results

     I have finished my submissions for Papertrey Inks Stampafaire 2015 and have a photo of everything I made.

     I have SOOOO many ideas for more cards to make.  I will definitely participate again next year.  
    Apparently there is a kit you can purchase ahead of time to have the specific supplies they recommend.  That would have been very cool but it isn't in my budget.  Thankfully they allow you to "make it your own" and even give suggestions as to how you can use what you have at home.
     I had a lot of fun and that card in the upper left is one of my all time favorites.  I never would have made it had I not taken the challenge.

Stampafaire 2015 Make it Work Challenge

 
 For the Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire  2015 Make It Work challenge we were suppose to take apart an early "Fail" card and make it work.  For  my "Fail" card I initially tried to use some embossing paste with a stencil to make a unique pattern, leaving the center available for a sentiment.  It was for my bridal challenge and was too shabby chic when it was finished to work for an elegant card.

I added flowers and gems, then cut it down on a diagonal and added it to a new card. It seems a little contrived to me but much better that my initial idea.

TPC Studios Faith Greetings (Discontinued)

Sizzix Swiss Dots embossing folder

Stampafaire 2015 Runway Challenge

     For the Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2015  Runway Challenge I chose this as my inspiriation piece.

 
 I liked the pink floral centerpiece surrounded by gold scrolls then framed in blue with a gold border.  Here is my take on it.

Elegant Flourishes by Autumn Leaves by Rhonna Farrer

 I had a major fail on my embossing.  I've been very disappointed in my embossing buddy and EK success powder tool but I am convinced I can get the hang of it.  I'm not pleased with my results, however, I am convinced it would have been awesome if I had managed to make it work.