Easter Fold-Out and Taxes Are DONE!

Before I get started with today's card, I just wanted to take a deep breath and say "thank you, Lord" my income taxes are DONE! I mentioned last week that I was going to be taking a few days off to do my taxes, and thank goodness I completed them today, e Filed the return, and received notice from the IRS that my return was "accepted"!  YAY!  Enough of that, now back to card making FUN.

This is made from a New Art Impression stamp set called Garden.  The card itself is a tri-fold, and there are step-by-step directions in the package that are very easy to follow. You start out by cutting your white card stock  to the specified size, and then score it in thirds. In the center section you stamp the bench and tree stamp in the center 1/2 inch down from the top of the card stock.

 

You then flip the card over and on the right side next to the fold, you stamp the coach light and bunny stamp 1" from the top. On the left side, you stamp the birdbath and birds next to the other score line 1 1/2" from the top. You then trim the extra card stock from the cut-out sides close to the stamped images.

There is also a sentiment to stamp wherever you like, and I chose to stamp it on the second panel. You then color your images with any medium you prefer, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, markers or Copics. I used my Copics, which of course bled through the card. Next time I will probably use the blending card stock especially made for Copic markers to prevent the bleed through.  I also chalked around the edges of all the folds, and of the base card stock I mounted the picture on.

I purchased this stamp from Paper Wishes.com, and they carry three different designs. You can check out their web site to see the different images. I hope you have enjoyed this card as much as I enjoyed coloring it.  I learned so many things from coloring and stamping this image, the next time I stamp it I'm sure I will really be pleased with it. Have a nice new week ahead, and I will visit again with you soon.

Mindy

Happiest of Birthdays

Hello, one and all!  Today's post in a test for me. . . I purchased a new laptop, and am still getting to know the layout and the systems on it. Basically, the Blogger Site and posting are the same, but it has taken me a whole day to find out how to get here. (I am a bit technically challenged!)  So, without further ado, lets get started.

 

This Cosmos stamp from Impression Obsession may look familiar to you, I just did a card with it a few days ago.  It was still laying on my desk, so I picked it up and stamped it again.  The dark brown background piece is from the 3X4 ATC Pad- Stationer's Desk from Prima. These little pads are so cute, and fit nicely on an A2 card front. I have also read where they are the perfect size for the Project Life pages, but I haven't gotten into that style of scrapbooking.  After stamping the Cosmos stamp on white card stock with Tuxedo black Memento ink, I colored them in with some Spectrum Noir alcohol based markers.  I purchased a few to get a feel of how they work compared to Copic markers.  The Copics are selling for around $6.50 per marker at the moment, and the Spectrum Noir sell for around $2.00 per marker. So far, that is the only difference I have found.  

 

After coloring my image, I fussy cut it out and adhered it to the card front with foam tape. I also stamped a greeting from Hero Arts (I believe) on white card and edged it in Garden Grass chalk ink from Prima. Foam tape was also used to pop it up above the bouquet of flowers.

 

I hope you have enjoyed this card, and I thank you for allowing me to use it again to make a quick card to try out my new laptop.  I now have to get busy and do my income tax before the deadline, so if you wonder where I have disappeared to, I am still here, just concentrating on a different subject.

Have a wonderful day!

Gifts For You!

Greetings one and all! Welcome to another wonderful week of cards and projects from my studio.

Today's card is a new stamp I just received from Classy Cards 'N Such; an Impression Obsession cling stamp called Flower Gift Boxes. I fell in love with this stamp, and knew I had to order it.

I had so many decisions to make before stamping it, what media I wanted to use to color it, and then what type of paper to stamp it on.  I decided to used my Inktense Watercolor pencils from Derwent and so I stamped it on watercolor paper with Ranger Archival Jet Black waterproof ink.

I then started coloring in the image, and used a water brush to blend the various colors.  When dry, I fussy cut around the image, leaving a thin white border. This helps the image POP from the background.  I used a very pale aqua print music paper for the background, and used foam tape to attached the stack of boxes. Using my Winnie & Walter, The Big, The Bold, and You clear stamp set, I stamped the large word "You" and the smaller word "for" in Danube Blue Memento Ink.  I then punched four hearts with my Fiskars heart punch, and glued one to each corner and highlighting them with the clear Wink of Stella glitter pen.

With no specific gift giving holiday stamped on the front, it can be used any time a gift is given. For a birthday, anniversary, get-well, or "just because"!  I hope you will all have a wonderful week, filled with many happy, crafty days. See you again soon.

Mindy  

Hang in There!

Welcome to the weekend, my friends. It is feeling so much like spring here in Texas, I am just so enjoying making these beautiful  "springy" cards.  The challenge this week at the Classy Cards 'N Such blog, is all about Flutterbys-butterflies and birds. This butterfly card fits the bill, and showcases some of the wonderful products available at the Classy Cards online store.

I started this card with a sheet of Stardream Rose Quartz metallic paper, cut in half to form two A2 size card bases. I then used one of the Darice Stripe Background embossing folders and my Cuttlebug machine to emboss the front of the A2 card. With the fold of the card on the left side, I highlighted the left and right of the card base with Dark Bark chalk ink from Prima.

I then stamped the Coneflower cling stamp from Impression Obsession on some Neehnah white card stock and colored it in with my copic markers. I then trimmed around the image leaving a very small white border, and used 3-D Zot Dots to adhere it to the front of the card.  I cut one of the Ecstasy Crafts Sm. Faerie Queen Butterflies from some Stardream Fuse Azalea metallic paper and backed it with a sheet of Heavyweight Velllum. When the glue was dry I trimmed around the die-cut with my scissors, and highlighted several of the openings with my Wink of Stella Brush Pens with Clear & Gold glitter.

To finish off the card front, I stamped a sentiment from My Craft Spot's "Feeling Better Soon" clear set on a banner tag, and tied it to the front of the card with Maya Road Twine Cording in the Sweet Candy color.

The following products used, are from the Classy Cards "N Such Online Store:

Stardream Rose Quartz metallic paper TPC-120:403

Stardream Fuse Azalea metallic paper XP-730177976

Heavyweight Vellum paper TPC-189

Darice Stripe Background Embossing Folder DA-1217-64

Coneflowers cling stamp from Impression Obsession IO-H16010

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and will visit with me again soon.

Mindy

The Caged Bird Sings

Greetings, and Happy Friday to one and all!  Today's post is a mixed-media canvas celebrating Spring and the Weekly Challenge at Classy Cards N' Such blog.  

The topic this week is "Flutterbys" celebrating birds or butterflies, or both!  

I started with my Bird Sanctuary die set from Spellbinders SB-S5-033, also available in the Classy Cards N' Such Online shop.  I have had this die set for quite awhile, but haven't had the chance to try it out yet. After cutting it all out with my Cuttlebug machine, I started arranging pieces to fit my 8" X 8" canvas.  I dug through some of my "scraps" of die cut images I keep from when I try out my dies, and found a frame from the Romantic Rectangles Spellbinders die. So after smearing out some of my favorite colors of Golden Acrylic paints on my canvas, I stamped my Music All Over Background Stamp from Impression Obsession, on the canvas in brown Memento ink. I then attached my rectangular frame in the top left corner with a little adhesive and two turquoise brads. I then adhered a strip of the Spring Market printed paper from Websters Pages to the rectangle with foam tape to give a little more dimension.

I then started attaching my Bird Sanctuary die-cuts on top of the frame.  There was a beautiful bird cage, some greenery leaves, two small birds - one with dimensional wings, and a decorative greenery border.  I also added a 3-D Mini Daisy from Sizzix and Susan Tierney-Cockburn, left on my desk from the "Flower Garden Challenge" a few weeks ago. A decorative button topped off the bird cage after attaching the leaves and bird.  After my "arrangement" was complete, the lyrics from a poem by Maya Angelou kept repeating over and over in my mind; "I know why the Caged Bird Sings."

After adding the phrase, I still needed something decorative in the top right, and bottom left corners of the canvas.  I dug out one of my Prima Stencils and applied a little molding paste to the corners. I let everything dry overnight, and when dry, I colored the molding paste with Dark Bark chalk ink to antique it just a bit and tone down the "whiteness".

I hope you enjoy my canvas as much as I enjoyed making it. I love all types of winged creatures, from butterflies and birds to dragonflies, ladybugs, and bee's.  I guess that is another reason I enjoy Spring so much. It is an awakening of sorts, a new beginning of life, both in plants and creatures, after the cold bleakness of winter.

Chill Out, Take It Easy

Chill Out Folks, Take It Easy! Spring officially starts today, and I am looking forward to warm sunny days and evenings so nice you can sit outdoors and "Take It Easy"!  

This is a card I submitted in the Texas Independence Day Card Challenge at Deadbeat Design Stamps the first of March. I started by cutting a piece of lavender card stock 4" X 5 1/4", and using the Relax Background Stamp from Deadbeat, stamped an all-over background using Versamark clear embossing ink and Lindy's Stamp Gang Two-toned embossing powder to cover the card.  I then took a large heart shaped Spellbinders die and cut-out the heart shape in the middle.  Using another white card stock piece, I used my Gelatos to add sunset colors and then with a baby wipe blended the colors to make the evening sky. Then, by stamping the adirondack chairs stamp from Deadbeat Designs, I colored them with my copic markers and fussy cut them out. Using 3-D pop dots, I adhered them right inside the heart cut-out. I also added a few flourish swirl die cuts from Memory Box in a purple translucent paper, and added the banner on which I stamped one of the phrases from the background stamp, "take it easy".

I saw this card base done on YouTube, listed as a File Folder Card.  Using my We R Memory Keepers Envelope board, the indention's cut at the top of the card make it look like a triple-cut file folder. Something different to send your friends and family.

Have a great day, and enjoy the weather, if it is nice where you are.

Friend, you are Amazing!

Hello, friends! It is a New week, and Spring is just one day away. I am so happy that the weather has been sunny and warm for the last few days, it makes me want to get outdoors and work in the yard, planting flowers that will draw butterflies and birds into "my space"! But, according to the weatherman this evening, there is more cold weather and rain ahead in the forecast.

The Classy Cards N' Such Challenge of the Week this week is "Flutterbys", and I just love butterflies! I started this card with a piece of printed paper from the Spring Market Collection from Websters Pages, that has small butterflies on it. I cut two larger butterfly dies from Mandarin Curious Metallic and Onyx Stardream Metallic card stock, available in the Classy Cards N' Such Online Store.  I used my Copic markers and Wink of Stella glitter pens to color in various areas of the dies to make them seem more realistic.  I then cut the word "Friend" die from a scrap of the Mandarin Metallic paper and stamped "you are amazing" below it.  I tied a length of twine three times around the card spine before tying a square knot, which finished off the card front. 

The supplies used from the Classy Cards online store were:

WP-WPK-31 Webster Pages Spring Market Collection Combo Pack,

TPC-577 Pluto-Onyx Stardream Metallic,

TPC-772 Mandarin Curious Metallic Card Stock

I hope you enjoy the final days of Winter, it has been such a long, cold, and devastating time, the hot, dry, 100 degree days of drought cannot be far behind.  

Mindy

Count Your Blessings

Greetings All! Enjoying the bright sunshine this afternoon, after a few days of cold and dreary weather. Wishing for rainbows and flowers that show in the spring.

Today's post is a bright and cheery tag, reminding you to "Count Your Buttons (. . .and Blessings) everyday!
The base tag is from one of Julie Nutting's Tag Pad. I used my Gelato's from Faber Castell to draw circles on the tag.  Then using a moistened baby wipe, I blended the colors together to make a colorful background. As I blended the colors, the background started to look like a rainbow, so I decided to enter it into the Classy Cards N' Such blog weekly challenge #23 Rainbow colors.  I started embellishing my tag with the French Lattice small die from Cheery Lynn Designs, sold in the Classy Cards N' Such online store. I cut it from Neenah white card stock, and also ran a piece of the same card stock through my Cuttlebug machine with several Cuttlebug embossing dies.

The little girl image and sentiment is from the Pure Innocence line of stamps from My Favorite Things, titled "Cute as a Button".  If you have ever ordered from My Favorite Things, you probably know that most of their embellishments, buttons, papers, and felt are all color-coordinated so they blend well together. I colored the girl with my Copic markers and then adhered the corresponding color of buttons on the lattice work to match the rainbow.  I then cut the embossed paper into strips and attached them to the tag.  The sentiment and large button at the bottom was attached with foam tape to give the tag some dimension. To complete the tag I added a decorative ribbon bow to the top.

Bright and cheery colors always put a smile on my face, and help me feel much better. I hope you all have a nice weekend and can enjoy a few days of warmth, before the next COLD BLAST comes through.
Mindy

I Love Texas Bluebonnets

Card #2 of my entries in the Classy Cards N' Such blog Weekly Challenge : Rainbows (or colors thereof). I used one of my New dies just received from Deadbeat Designs, the I Love Texas die, and two of my bluebonnet stamps.(Texas State Flower-starting to bloom now!)also from Deadbeat Designs.

I saw this technique done last week, and fell in love with it, and knew I must give it a try. I started by cutting an A2 size card front from Neenah white card stock.  I centered the Texas shaped die on the white card, and ran it through my Cuttlebug machine. I shook out the "innies" and set them aside. I then stamped the bluebonnet flowers on the card front, using colors the flowers are grown in;  blue(most common), burgundy, and white Memento inks. To highlight them, I used my twinkling H2O's and gave them a darker shade, and a little sparkle.  While the H2O's were out, I used the rainbow colors of  ROY G BIV (described in a previous post) to color each of the letters punched out by the die. Again, I put these aside to dry. I drew three lines of barbed wire through the images to look like fencing, and added some light blue dots across the top of the card to represent clouds in the sky.  I also used my white Posca paint marker to highlight several of the bluebonnet flowers.  

I trimmed 1/4" off two sides of the white card, so a small border of the Lapis Metallic base card would show, and attached the white panel to the dark blue metallic card. I then adhered the multi-colored letters back into the die cut image, as you would place pieces in a puzzle. To complete the card, I stamped the phrase "Mosey on over, friend!" to the lower right corner.

The following supplies, available in the Classy Cards N' Such online store were used to make this card:

TPC Stardream Lapis Pearlized Metallic Paper

Twinkling H2O- Basic Rainbow Set #H2kit13-28412

I hope you will pop on over to the challenge blog, and check out the inspiration, and maybe even submit a card or two of your own.  Enjoy, and I will visit again with you soon.

Mindy

Love is in the Air!

Today's card is one of my entries in the Classy Cards N' Such blog Challenge of the Week; Rainbows (and colors thereof).  I have combined the challenge with St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated early next week.

I have titled it "Love is in the Air" so after I painted my rainbow on the front of my card, with my PanPastel chalks, I stamped tiny hearts in coordinating colors on each stripe using Memento inks.  I didn't have a shamrock stamp, so I pulled out my heart shaped Fiskars hand punch, and punched out six hearts from white card stock.  I colored them green with Copic markers and then stamped a decorative heart design on each punched heart shape.  To assemble the shamrock, I glued the three hearts  to a stem shape using white glue from Art Glitter. Of course, it dries perfectly clear in 15 minutes or so.  I also stamped one of my favorite cloud stamps from Deadbeat Designs around the rainbow, then added a little white from my Posca paint marker.

For the sentiment banner, I stamped a saying from My Favorite Things on white stock, and then adhered to a stripped label.  Using foam tape, I adhered it to the front of the card and overlapped the shamrock shapes using foam tape and a 3D Zot Dot.

The following supplies used are available in the Classy Cards N' Such Online store:
PanPastels Flower Coloring Kit- #PP30115
Art Glitter Clear Adhesive-NM-DDCA

I used the color code phrase that most artists use when organizing and coordinating their colors to "build" my rainbow. It is: ROY G BIV. (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) Early on, I was instructed to make a sign for my studio with that phrase, so that I could use it as a reminder when using color on my projects. I did as I was told, and it is amazing how many times a day I glance at my sign when creating.  Give it a try, and enjoy your Art!

New Sherrif in Town

Greetings Friends!  Or should I say, Howdy?  Here is another A2 size card using my "Howdy" die from Die-Versions. This time I lined it up on the folded edge of the card and punched through both layers of the card. (both front and back, see inside picture below) Here is how I made this card.

I placed the top edge of the letters of the die right off the edge of the fold, before running the die and card through the Cuttlebug machine. I then cut 1 1/4" off the front flap of the turquoise card.  I then cut a piece of floral scrap book paper 3 5/8"X 5 1/2" to cover the back of the card.  I also stamped "Becky" the cowgirl, one of Julie Nutting's new Doll Stamps from Prima on Neenah white card stock. I then colored her with my Copic markers and fussy cut around her.  The wood block and sentiment stamps are from My Favorite Things "Howdy" clear stamp set. I stamped the phrase first on a manila tag, masked it with a post-it note, and the over stamped the wood block stamp in Sepia brown Archival ink from Ranger. I trimmed around the stamping, and placed foam tape on the back to pop it up.  I also used foam tape to attach Becky to the front of the card.  You can't see it well, but I used several star stamps from the MFT Howdy set to stamp a background on the card flap, before attaching the doll and the sentiment block.

To complete this card, I stamped the sentiment "Yee Haw" on the printed paper inside, and used Dark Bark chalk ink to add a distressed edge to the letters "H*O*W*D*Y" on the outside of the card. Thanks for visiting my blog, and be sure to leave me a comment below. See you all again soon.

Mindy

Hello, My Friend!

My friends over at Winnie & Walter, are announcing their Second stamp and cut-files Release, March 15, 2014. This card was made from two stamp sets from their First Release, The Big, the Bold, and the Happy, and You've Got Love Mail. Their clear stamp sets are made in the USA, and are very good grade polymer.

Also, using a new die I recently ordered, "Howdy" from Die-Versions, I die cut along the folded edge of the card, so when the card was closed, the word Howdy pops up along the spine. When the card is open, it does not show.

By placing the sheet of orange card stock over the punching, I had room to add a strip of pink/brown dotted rick-rack along the edge of the card.  While the card was closed (pictured above) I stamped the heart line right below the flap.  I also stamped the words along the flap edge.  The dove was stamped with Tuxedo black Memento ink, masked, and then stamped the heart image in Love Letters Red Memento ink over the top.  When the mask was removed, it looks as if the dove is carrying the heart.  To bling up the card a little, I used my clear glitter pen to edge each of the letters in Howdy, and along the embossed edge of the front flap. I also outlined the dove and heart with the glitter pen.

Winnie & Walter's Second Release is all about Family, so go check out their blog to see the teasers, and register for their Big Giveaway! Happy Stampin' and have a great week!

Mindy

Card using Susan's Garden Flower Dies

My next project is a A2 size greeting card, using some scrapbook paper from the Introspection 6 X 6 paper pad by Prima, #PR-845742 sold in the Classy Cards n' Such shop. The flower is a Dahlia from Susan's Garden #SZ-658859 also from the Classy Cards n' Such shop.  I added extra petals to the flower so it would be nice and full, and also used an oak leaf punch edged with Dark Bark chalk ink from Prima. I adhered them to a manila tag, also edged in the Dark Bark chalk ink. I also used a grid background clear stamp from the Prima Finnabair Collection to add a little depth and dimension to the manila tag. To finish off the tag, I added a quote from Langston Hughes, and a bow tied from thin brown ribbon to the tag, and my card was completed. 

I really enjoy making these dimensional flowers, and hope they interest you, too!  The dies from Sizzix are much easier to use now, if you own a die cut machine. Before the dies came out, we had to use single punches to punch each petal when making the flowers. Now, just a pass or two of the die cut machine, and you are on your way to creating beautiful flowers for your garden. Be sure to click HERE to see more entries in the Classy Cards Challenge, and maybe you will want to start your gardening soon.

Mindy

Scrapbook Page using Susan's Garden Flowers

My last project using Flowers from Susan's Garden, is a scrapbook page with more paper from the Introspection 6 X 6 paper pad from Prima, and Classy Cards N' Such.  This paper is so beautiful with all it's colorful flowers, it really gives your projects a touch of spring and summer. 

The arrangement of flowers are all from Susan's Garden. I was lucky enough to take a flower making class from Susan Tierney-Cockburn years ago, when she was still making her flowers from single metal paper punches. Of course, I had to buy many of them, and still have them in my stash. The violets, and the clay pot, along with the oak leaves are from the previous paper punches. The Dahlias are made from the smaller dahlia petals from the die set #SZ-658859 sold in the Classy Cards N' Such shop. I also used a sheet of Plum Iridescent- Curious Translucents paper #XP-37017950 sold in the CCNS shop, to accent the background of the flower arrangement against the floral scrapbook paper. To give the plum paper a little texture, I used the "Howdy" word die from Die-Versions, and a pair of deckled edged scissors to trim the paper edges and make the whole scrapbook page POP!

I submitted this project in the Classy Cards N' Such Challenge, click HERE to visit their challenge page to see other entries, and have a nice weekend.

Projects using Flowers from Susan Tierney-Cockburn and Sizzix Dies

Today's post will be a jumbo post, jam packed with flowers galore from Susan Tierney-Cockburn and her Sizzix dies.  My friends at Classy Cards n' Such had a challenge this week on their blog, and the theme was projects made using the flower dies from Susan' Garden.  Here are the projects I submitted.

This is a tiny wicker tote bag decorated with two of the Mini Petal Roses from Susan's Garden, #SX-658409 sold in the Classy Cards n' Such shop. I needed a small gift bag to enclose a pair of delicate earrings in that I am giving a friend for her birthday.  This friend is also an avid gardener, and loves roses, so I knew I had to decorate the tiny bag with some tiny roses. 

The next two posts are also projects I submitted to theClassy Cards n' Such blog challenge, and hope you will visit the link to see more entries in this weeks challenge. Enjoy your weekend, and I will visit with you again soon.

Mindy

Celebrate Mardi Gras!

It's Fat Tuesday!  Do you celebrate Mardi Gras?  It's Party Time in New Orleans, or anywhere else you happen to celebrate. Here in Texas, we party anytime we can find an occasion. Mardi Gras is as good a time as any! We have parades, wear masks and beads, eat King's Cake and party just like they do in  Louisiana.  

I started this card by cutting two background papers from the Color Me Collections carried at Paper Wishes/Hot Off the Press. Color Me pages are scrapbook sized pages that have designs pre-embossed on them in various colors of embossing powders. You can then color the images or backgrounds using various mediums and coloring agents, including ink pads, chalks, markers, mists, or watercolors.  I used different shades of Gelatos from Faber Castell to color my backgrounds. I scribbled the Gelatos on the paper, and then used a moistened baby wipe to distribute and blend the various colors. By using the baby wipes, the moisture in them removes the Gelatos color from the raised embossed image.

I then stamped my "Skulls About Town"stamp from Impression Obsession, using black Memento Ink on Neenah white card stock. I colored in sections of the images with Copic markers and metallic markers,  and attached my sentiment "Celebrate" colored with my red Le Plume pigmented marker. The images were fussy cut around and mounted to the card front with foam tape, to give it depth and dimension.

I hope you all have a festive week, and if you can't find some occasion to celebrate, party with the hearty in New Orleans, and Celebrate Mardi Gras!

To Be Fond of Dancing. . .

Happy Saturday! Today's post is another entry in the Classy Cards n' Such challenge #21- Vintage Hues, using three colors from their posted image, and the 6X6 Elementals Doily stencil available in their shop.

I started out by spritzing the doily stencil on a sheet of silver gray card stock using the Tattered Angels- Patina spritz.  I then fussy cut around the doily shape and adhered it to the card front using a permanent adhesive. I then attached a strip of sheer pink two-toned ribbon and a strip of lace ribbon vertically on the card front.  The sentiment label was pre-printed on a sheet of  12X12 scrapbook paper from the Dear Jane collection from Die Cuts With a View.

I popped up the sentiment label with foam tape to give the card dimension, then attached a piece of silk ribbon tied in a bow to the top of the label. A butterfly die from Hot Off the Press was then cut from metallic white Neenah card stock and a background of pink.  It was then attached to the sentiment label with pop dots.  I left the wings loose so they would wiggle in the breeze.

 I hope you all had a wonderful day. The weather was wonderful here in So. Texas. Spring is on it's way, but at least one more shot of winter is expected tomorrow.  Stay happy!
Mindy