Birthday Post

Today I wanted to share with you a card I made for a birthday. 

 

For this birthday card I wanted to keep it simple and not bling it up.  I used one of the decorative pieces of paper for the front and layered it with black and tan paper.  Added a bit of a chain to hold the birthday wish and anchored the sign with a bit of black paper as well.



Wedding Memories

Today my husband and I are heading out to celebrate our 16 years of marriage.  I believe that we have been able to stay committed to each other because of all the wonderful examples we have had of true love around us.  Back in October I lost my grandfather and as we were shuffling thru pics we came across a very distressed looking wedding photo of him and my grandmother, I believe it is the only one they have so I took it home, scanned it and went to work "fixing it"  Recently I decided to do a bit more with it....this is what I came up with

First off I just have to ask....Are they not the cutest looking couple?  My grandfather looks like a handsome, bad boy while my grandmother looks flawless.

I started off making this 5x7 card using dark brown cardstock and added a lavendar layer.  For the edges I took decorative scissors and trimmed the corners.  I did that as well for the 4x6 picture.  I really like the way it gives it a bit of an art deco look.  To carry on with the era, I put a bit of netting along the edges (resemble her veil) and held it down using a pearl (honor of her necklace and bracelet) and a small metal tag that says adore.  I wanted a bit more dimension so I used foam tape on the picture as well as the beautiful heartfelt creations flower.

To create the flower,

Stamp flower images one time each in vintage photo ink, line up with the flower template, tape die on and run thru cuttlebug. Color flower with lavender ink. Spritz with water and "distress" to give a crinkled aged look. Once dry build your flower. You may add a bit of brown ink to age it more. Attach pearl to the middle.

As I sign off, I just want to say without these two individuals showing me that love is not always easy, a marriage does take work at times and if you remember to care for each other you will have many years of happiness.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for always being there and to my wonderful husband...

Happy Anniversary, I look forward to the next 16 years!

 



Sunshine Blessing

For this card I wanted to do something a bit different

 

 This is the front of the Pocket card.  I love how the flowers really pop agains the kraft background.

Here is the tag actually pulled out of the pocket card. It is simple yet elegant with the flower stamped in the corner of the card, don't ya think?

 

So what did I use to make this card, Heartfelt Creations stamps and diecuts, some kraft paper cardstock a bit of left over dark brown, cream and a lighter shade of tan cardstock, some trim a decorative brad and brown pearl, some flower fluff, left over ribbons walnut stain distress ink, and a clear star gelly pen.

For this project you will need to cut your paper to 10 1/2 x 5 paper, score at 5 &10. Attach the 5x5 onto the 1/2 seam.  If you want decorate outer flaps with embossed cardstock. Cut decorative paper 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 in 1/2 creating two triangles. Using your background cardstock 4 3/4 x 5 glue that down to the middle section. Using strong adhesive, glue the bottom of the middle and fold over one triangle flap, do the same and fold over the next flap. You have just created a pocket. Attach some trim to the edges of the flaps and a decorative pearl and of course your Heartfelt Creations flowers.

For your tag.

Mine measures 4 x 4 1/2 for the base and 3 3/4 x 4 1/4 for the cream main section. I stamped Happy Birthday and a flower using Vintage Photo ink, punched a hole to thread the ribbon thru and attached a brad to finish it. With a few outlines with the gelly pen in clear star I think it finishes it.

 

 



Trash to Treasure

For today's post I wanted to share with you a creation that I made using the following supplies

 

As you can see the items are Hearfelt Creations stamps along with coordinating dies, some left over corrugated cardboard from an egg crate, my favorite quote, some distress crackle paint and of course a bit of trim.

The first thing I did was cover the cardboard with paint, while that dried I stamped the flowers and inked them with my distress inks, then I used the dies to cut them out on the cuttlebug.  A bit of "aging" with the music sheet along with  positioning the quote and the trim and I was done.

Here is the finished project!

I love how the background turned out and the flowers and leaves really anchor the project.

to create more texture, I took some wired mesh ribbon cut away the the wire section and stretched it a bit creating some distress look.  I then took the wire sections and wrapped them around a pen to create some swirls.  It was anchored with a decorative brad.

Here is a view of the flowers in the lower corner.  I love how the leaves swirl around them as well adding just a bit of color.

Music, it never fails it always can get an emotion of of you.  I love this quote from Billy Joel and the instrument is near and dear to me as well as my son plays the viola currently.



Butterfly Message

For this card I wanted to keep it simple.

This card is done using the DCWC Mariposa paper as a layer a bit of black ribbon done up in a bow finish the front of the card.

For the inside:

 

I used a bit of the left over paper and a 3D sticker of a butterfly. 

I have yet to decide what saying I want on the card so currently its blank.

This card is entered in the following challenges.

Anything Goes Challenge

Lady Annes Challenges

Butterfly Blessing

I love how peaceful this card turned out.

I started out with the mariposa paper pad from dcwc.  I used the distress ink in walnut stain for the edges, the other two layers of paper are just left over scrap paper. 

The quote "A special something for a special someone" is done in walnut ink

and attached with a few brads. 

For a bit of bling, I found a few pearl sprays, along with a large mauve flower, some brown gathered ribbon and a photo corner t help to pull it all together.

 

 

For the inside of the card I attached some brown carstock for the layers,

inked the edges of the top layer with walnut stain distress ink

and using some victorian velvet distress ink I colored the butterfly tape. 

A few brads anchor it to the card base.

The picture doesn't show it but the tape, edges, and message all are shimmer due to soem glitter pen.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge

Lady Annes Challenge

 

 

 

 



Coffee Break

For todays post I wanted to share with you a card I made for a coworker who is in love with Starbucks.

The picture does not do it justice. 

For the cup I freehanded the shape and inked the edges with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain. 

The "warmer" is just a piece of kraft paper ran thru my crimper

and inked with a bit of Distress ink in Vintage Photo. 

The green circle is a left over piece that I ran thru the cuttlebug using a spellbinder,

same thing or the white circle.

The cover for the top I freehanded it, cut out and then cut out another one for the edge and used foam tape to give it dimension.



Challenge Card

I know its been awhile since I last posted, and honestly I have no excuses just been busy with life.  BUT I'm back and ready to get into the game again!

For today's card I am entering it in the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge.

 

For this card I started off with glossy paper and alcohol inks to give it that stainglass look. 

The white frame was made with CLD Cathedral Lace dl148. 

The butterfly is also from CLD exotic butterfly dl113

and the flower in middle was cut on the cricut and rolled up. 

 I love how they all work together and really put the

attention on the beautiful scroll work of the frame.



Quick and Simple

For today's post I'm showing you a card that I created in a matter of minutes!

To create this card I began with a light blue cardstock base, added a dark brown layer and using one of those decorative mat stacks I found this beautiful gold/butterfly one.  I am planning on stamping in the white section at a later date (waiting for just the right event).  The ribbon is just gathered and the butterfly is a punched out butterfly that I backed with sticky tape that I sprinkled with glitter to give it some sparkle.

Like I said quick and simple and a card.



Journal Page 24... You only live once

I have finished up my journal.... well for the time being

Here is my last page until I decide to add more quotes!  LOL

This turned out to be my favorite page.

I used a variety of blues/greens and brown distress inks for the background as well as a mask in the upper corner.  The text stamp I embossed in walnut stain to make it stand out a bit.  The lock and hinges are from Tim Holtz die cuts that I stained using the distress stains and embossed them.  For the lock I chose not to emboss it but to do the rusty technique instead.  The brads I textured a bit with my hammer.  For the saying a it of twill tape, stamped it with the quote and cut the edges.

Onto the Quote...

"You only live once, but if you do it right once is enough."

For me this means to live your life with no regrets, to take changes so you can look back on your life and never have to wonder "what if"



Journal page 23... never too late

Here is another page that I did in my journal

For this page, I took metal tape (heat tape found in our local hardware store, much cheaper than the metal sheets that are being sold out there these days) and stuck it to some cardstock then ran it thru my cuttlebug with the gear,clock, and diamond plate embossing folders.  I then used my alcohol inks to give it a bit of "rusted" look. A few gears were placed in the corners as well as a metal photo corner.  For the hand, a leftover piece that was cut on the cuttlebug I chose to bring in the blue from the other page and added a bit of vintage photo distress ink on it as well.

Onto the Quote...

"It's never to late to find out who you want to be."

For me this reminds me that it doesn't matter how old I get,

I can still be what ever it is that interest me. 

I may have a 8-5 job that helps pay the bills,

but my dream of being a well known crafter, I haven't given up on. 

SOooooo I will continue to create things on my time off

that delight me and hopefully will inspire others as well.

On that note, may my other crafty friends continue to inspire and follow their dreams because

"its never too late"



Journal Page 22...Imagination

Here is another page of my Quote Journal

For this page I used distress inks in peeled paint, broken china and chipped sapphire for the background.  A bit of blending and some flicks of water was all that was needed.

Using the top note die from stampin up, I stamped the quote in black archival and did the same techn. using distress ink in spiced marmalade on the die.  The tickets are from Tim Holtz and I used vintage photo distress ink along the edges.  Foam tape added here and there gives it just the right dimension.

 

Onto the quote...

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.  For while Knowledge defines all we currently know and understand.  Imagination leads us to all we might yet discover and create.

 

For me this quote means to think outside of the box,

to not forget to have fun even when you are busy using your "knowledge"

 

Journal Page 21.... In dreams

Here is another journal page that I finished up.

For this page I used distress inks in the blue/purple color families.  I picked a variety of stamps and inked them with the clear distress ink and heat set them using stampendous frantage shabby white, it has bits of gold in it.  For the stamp I inked it in archival ink (black) and stamped it onto a silver/clear fragment.  The bird, I think adds to the silver edging of the quote and carries with it some movement with left over ribbon/fibers.

For the Quote....

"In dreams we catch glimpses of life larger than our own."

For me the images help to reinforce this quote. 



Journal Page 20...No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted

Here is another page in my Journal of Quotes.

To create this look, I did a variety of techniques.  I did some marble staining, a bit of blending with distress inks on the background. and dusted it with a bit of glimmer spray.  For the butterflies they are done on glossy paper withalcohol inks using a blender pen.  For the swirls I stained them and then heat embossed some vintage photo embossing powder on them, misted them with some glimmer mist in green and once the powder was dry I brushed off the crystals, created a really cool rusted green enamel look.  The swirls really do look cool but my camera just couldn't quite capture it. :(

I used some thick utee on the cage that I cut out from my cricut.

 

Now onto the quote.....

"No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted."

For me this means to take time to remember the little things, holding the door for the person behind you, giving a smile to a passing stranger, or letting that very anxious person pass you on the highway.

 

Yesterday I was shown kindness by many unexpecting individuals...

it made me smile and help lighten the day. 

As they say you never know what weighs on others minds

so knowing that you may beable to brighten their day in some small way is worth it.....

isn't it?



Journal page 19....The Journey

For this journal page I wanted to keep it simple

 

I inked the background using frayed burlap and antique linen distress ink.  I then stamped various images in walnut stain to give it a collage look and I added a bit of weathered wood ink to spots along the page.  For the final touches a few cutouts "tossed" on  with a couple feathers and a faded flower that helps to pick up the color from the birds.

For the quote I stamped it on to the postcard.

 

My take on the quote.....

When you encounter a journey you may not realize all that happens, the discovery process,

the learning part, you taking the time to explore, and lastly the inspiration. 

For me "The Journey" can be soo many different things...

an adventure to an area you have never been, a new job, or even meeting someone. 

The most important part of "the Journey" is to take time to notice the whole process.

Journal Page 18~ Learn from yesterday..

For my next journal page I went all out vintage.

 

I wanted to create a page that resembled old wallpaper, but with a bit of color.  Using this Damask stamp I inked it in chipped sapphire and did the background in frayed burlap ink then clear embossed the whole page.  It adds a lot of texture to the page.  For the vintage part, I added some crochet trim, a photo corner, old safety pin, a metal flower that has a silk rose inside and a bit of frayed canvas.

Here is a close up of the canvas with the quote on it. 

Now onto the quote:

"learn form yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."

Simple words that are at times quite hard to follow....I'm hoping with this reminder I can live by this.

 

Journal Page 17....Beauty Seen

For Todays journal page I wanted to create something bright and colorful

 

To create this bright background I took tattered angels sprays, sprayed it on my paper and wiped it with a paper towel, giving it more of a colorwash look. 

I also added in some of my homemade shimmer mists in a variety of colors

and finished it off with added a bit of Tim Holtz distress inks for added depth. 

For the butterfly I used a tattered angels mask that I inked in embossing ink,

sprinkled it with a shimmer embossing powder and heat set. 

I also applied a bit of stickles onto it for just a "ghost" of a sparkle.

 

Now onto the quote:

"Beauty seen is never lost"

Translation for me: When you see something beautiful it is bright and vivid, but as time goes on the image may fade away (the fading ink, the words a bit faded in areas)

BUT

the image or memory never truly goes away (the ghost of the butterfly) its always there.

Journal Page 16- Art Washes away

This weekend we are celebrating Mother's Day, with that comes Mother's Day projects. 

My two youngest sons both answered questions about me. 

Needless to say my love of crafting came up on both of them!

I had to laugh as one commented on the best gift he could give me

would be buying me the last craft item that I need........ silly boy he has yet to realize that they are always creating something new that us crafters need!  LOL

So the journal page is a reflection of what my "crafting" does for me........

For this page I did alot of layering with inks.  I also swiped a bit of white paint on it and added a bit of silver mica flakes.  For the tag I grunged it up a bit and also the ribbon. 

 

The quote "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.  ~Picasso

For me that translates to wiping away the stresses of everyday life.  We all have them rather it be work, family, or finances. If left unattended they can clutter the soul. Everyone has their "stress buster"  for me it is creating art. 

The "messy" background represents the stress,

the white paint represents the wind or act of "dusting"

and the mica flakes are bits of the stress flying away.

So for this Mother's Day I sent to you a happy well deserved break from all your stresses.  May you enjoy your day.





Alcohol Inks as Watercolor

So today I worked on creating my alcohol ink pallate. 

I finally have the whole set, needless to say this is only one section of them....

Poor hubby is gonna have to hang the other wire tray so I can get the rest of them up!

Here is a video of how I went about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogbo1Blx2zk

 

 

Thanks for watching the video, as promised here is the finished project.



Love of Chocolate

Today I decided to show you a card that I recently made

This card is simple yet cute.  I love how the chocolate, pink and tan play off of each other.



Journal Page 15

Here is another journal page that I worked on over the weekend

I created this page by using a variety of techniques.  First I put some distress stain in weathered wood and walnut stain on a kraft mat, spritz it and swiped the page thru.  Dried it then did the same process but used my distress inks in weathered wood, stormy skies, and walnut stain.  I then blended the weathered wood in spots and also the walnut stain in areas.    The umbrella is a stamp from stampin up, I stamped it in chipped sapphire and embossed it.  The quote is from Tim Holtz, stamped in walnut stain, for the center quote I used a bit of clear star gelly pen to make it pop and then attached a fragment on it. The ribbon is dyed using distress stain in weathered wood and walnut stain.  rolled up in a ball and dried, then attached to fragment with a brad.  To make the rain drops I flicked water onto the page let it sit a bit then soaked up the droplets with a towel.

 

I love the way this turned out its looks like an old worn stone.  There is sooo many layers to it. 

The quote reminds me that we have to celebrate all times of our lives. 

 Don't look at the "storm" and just see all the puddles its making in your life....

instead look at the storm an figure out how it can work for you.



Journal Page 14

So this is my next journal page.  I took inspiration from the flapper era.

I used an old page of sheet music and decoupaged it after I had distressed it a bit with tim holtz distress ink in frayed burlap.  After decoupage, I spritz it with some tattered angels glimmer mist to give it a bit of sparkle.  The music player came from a dicut from the cricut.  The "music" was created by using diamonds and lace.

 

For the Quote I chose a tim holtz word band that says "live in the moment"

The quote says it all. 





Exciting News!

Exciting News about my Journal Page 9

 

 

You all have seen this already, but I just had to share the good news with you.

This journal page made it in the

Favorites for the week ending April 14th at

Splitcoast Stampers!



Journal Page 13

Today I wanted to share with you another journal page that I created.

For this page I used vintage photo, tumbled glass and bit of frayed burlap distress inks.  A few of some metal clock cogs and a 3D pocket watch sticker.  The stamps are of clocks that I just stamped around the edge and then made the focus be on the quote.

 

The quote for this

"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth."

~Bonnie Friedman

 

This is another one of my favorites, so many times we hurry from one place to another trying to squeeze in 48 hours worth of stuff in a 24 hour day.  Do you ever just live in the moment or are you just thinking of the next thing that you need to cross of your list?

Journal Page 12

For this page I wanted to really add depth to the page.

I used some cardboard, cloud scrapbook paper along with vintage stationary scrapbook paper. 

The window was created by using scraps of cardstock and some Tim Holtz wings. 

I stamped the quote in walnut stain and distressed the paper with it as well. 

For the cardboard I dusted it with some acrylic white paint. 

The quote

"The soul should always stand ajar."

~Emily Dickinson

 

To me this page resembles our past experiences and memories.  

Throughout the years we experience so many memories some great ones others not so good. 

To protect ourselves sometimes we just push through those not so good memories and "bury them" (like the lost letter) without realizing that we are closing off a part of our soul.  Our body, the home for our soul (cardboard) begins to break down.  If we can keep our soul ajar we will realize that opportunities (window), brighter days (sky), and loved ones (the wings), will always be with us.

 

My wish for you is to always keep your soul ajar, and if by chance you close it off you have someone there watching over you to help you open it back up.



Journal Page 10 & 11

Here is another page for you to enjoy

This page does not really have a quote,

but instead it has a lot of symbolism.

The tree is full of strength and therefore it has all the things that I want to include in my life.

The sky that is full of grey clouds and rain is full of negativity and things that I do not want in my life.  The man is from the Tim Holtz line and for the umbrella I used some honeycomb paper to give it a bit of dimension.

In life we need to root ourselves in the positive soil, from there all good things come.

We need to try to shield ourselves from the negative items and if my chance we get stuck in the rain, we are prepared or learn from our mistakes.

May you have a positive inspiring day!

 



Journal Page 9

Today I'd like to share with you another Journal page that I created.

 

For this page, I took an old dictionary page, inked it in walnut stain and vintage photo distress ink to get that old worn dirtylook.  I then used the heartfelt creations stamps to stamp flowers onto the page using archival ink in black.  Once the ink dried I took a waterbrush and used peeled paint for the leaves and victorian velvet for the flowers.  The quote is actually on the metal word band, another Tim Holtz product.  To make the quote stand out I rubbed some pink paint on it and buffed off.

Now onto the quote:

"Capture life's moments"

To me this is a reminder to not forget the little things. 

Take time to notice,

the warmth on your skin as the sun beats down, the breeze in your hair as the wind blows,

and the smell of nature as you toil in the garden. 

Each second of your life is a moment waiting to happen.......

will you take the time to "capture" it?

Journal Page 8

Here is another Journal page.....

"Happiness held is the seed,

Happiness shared is the flower"

 

This is page is another favorite of mine. 

I love the vintage feel that it has along with the "spotlight" in the center.

To create this look, I used Distress ink in vintage photo/walnut stain, and adirondack wild plum ink.  The flowers were created by using the Tim Holtz tattered florals die,

the stems I used the Tim Holtz swirl die.

 

For the quote I chose it because it is sooo true. 

I feel so much more happiness when I do something nice for someone.  It can be as simply as holding a door open for them, complimenting them on a job well done or just giving them a friendly smile.

It only takes a moment to share the happiness.



Journal Pages 6 & 7

This journal page means alot to me.

 

For this page I did a rainbow background using the Tim Holtz distress ink pads and the flick technique for the water marks.  The rainbow represents the joy that my boys bring into my life.

 

The hands are from my boys. 

I had them go through all my stamps and pick the ones that they liked the best, then they picked the inks and even the placement of where we placed them.

 

As you can see my oldest is really into the clocks, nature, and music.

My middle son (left) likes nature,writing/drawing and the color gold.

With my youngest (right), he loves cars, birds and acorns. 

 

The quote for these pages, are

"You never know when you are making a memory" 

This is so true, as I was shown when I did this project with them. 

My boys recited different adventures that we had went on,

memories that we had made

and moments shared.

 



Top of the Morn to ya

I thought I had scheduled this card to be published, but for some reason it never went through.

 

I made this card using a cheery lynn die, tim holtz banner die, flower from michaels, some brads from stampin up, and some gorgeous paper from Graphic 45.

This card was quick and simple to make, I love how everything plays off on each other.

The brads go with the flowers in the tag, the banner pulls the green from the tag and the cream from the flower, and the glittery doily pulls the gold from the tag as well.



Journal Page 5

Today I thought I would share with you another journal page that I created. 

 

For this one I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in tumbled glass, faded denim, peeled paint, vintage photo, and walnut stain. The branch is one of his dies along with the bird that I cut out of grunge paper, inked and embossed with the tree bark folder. The bird I embossed with another folder.

 

I love the quote!

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

~William Shakespeare

 

So many times when I find myself stressed, I take a walk. 

What is it about nature that it helps calm the mind?

Could it be the amazing songs the birds chirp out,

the stories of strength and perseverance that those old trees tell with their gnarled branches,

the feeling of new beginnings that the flowers share as they sprout out through the snow,

or the sense of hope that the sun gives us on those dreary cloudy days?

 

This page I think has it all, the lovely bird, the gnarled branch, the flowers pushing their way up, and those dreary clouds with a hint of sunshine coming through.

Nature soothes my soul,

what ever it may be for you,

I hope you take the time to rejoice in it.



Heartfelt Creations

With Spring just around the corner I've been busy creating a spring garden inspired by

Heartfelt Creations!

 

This is right up my alley, vintage all the way!

I wish you could see the texture on this card.  I used the rusted enamel technique from Tim Holtz. 

To me this represents Pre-Spring.  You know what I mean, its that time when everything is melting and everything is a bit grungy...... like the background of this card, but there is

"HOPE"

and if you put a bit of time and effort (the trim)

you can see thru the dirt and grime (tulle)

a beautiful bit of nature (flower)

 

My next creation is full of Spring blooms

This is the front of a tri shutter card that has one of my favorite quotes on it

My camera and late night shooting doesn't bring the best of results but I couldn't wait to post this. 

The coloring of these flower are a beautiful dusty concord, with just a hint of brown on the ends.

Now onto the middle.  Isn't this just lovely? 

I love how the garden comes to bloom when you open it. 

The middle saying says you can only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

This is how the back of the card looks. 

The saying:  discovering, learning, exploring, inspiring.... The Journey

That is the definition of so many things in life isn't it.

 

My last creation is a bit on the Girly side

What did I say a bit on the girly side isn't it?

I think this would be perfect for a little girls room.

It is so soft with the light pink colors, and dainty pearls, lace and feather but...

all the females that I know also have a tough side to them

which brings in the black accents and metal details.

 

May you be inspired to see the Hope that the changing seasons bring,

May you enjoy the Journey and show Kindness in all matters,

and always remember that everyone needs a "Once Upon A Time"

 

All flowers and leaves were created using Heartfelt Creations Stamps

 

 

 



Journal Page 4

Yes I know two pages in the same weekend..........

I finally had a few extra minutes to load them.  I actually have about 12 pages done! 

For this next page I chose another favorite quote of mine.

"It is not the destination but the journey."

What can I say, I love vintage.  This page screams just that. 

I inked it up with broken china and vintage photo distress ink ,

after masking off some compasses, and gears. 

The nex step was stamping walnut stain distress ink using an old stamp that has lots of little dots all over it, I really like the look this gives it.

Finally I stamped the saying in walnut stain and attached an old button, chain and pocket watch to it.

 



Journal Page 2 & 3

My favorite quote is Live, Laugh,Love

I came across this stamp that is close Live, love,laugh and be happy...

 

I wanted the colors to be very soothing so I chose to go with greens, blues, and purples. 

A bit of embossed white swirls gives it a bit of freshness.

I wanted the words to stand out so I took some pages from an old book,

inked them with bright purple, bright yellow and a bit of blue. 

Pulling out one of my old stencils I traced the letters and filled them in with a sharpie,

then covered them with glossy accents to give them a bit of shine.

My favorite part of these is the fact that the background is soo soothing and then you have these billboards pop out at you with the true statement.