Hummingbird For You Mom!

Another Mother's Day card that is fun and easy to make, that any Mother would be happy to receive this Sunday. I started with a natural card stock base folded to an A2 size card.  I then took a handwriting stamp from Oriental Trading Co.and stamped it twice on the card front with London Fog grey Memento ink.  I then took three colors of Gelatos, (Lemon, Tangerine, and Buttercream) and smeared them on in vertical stripes. I then took a baby wipe and gently blended the colors, rubbing in a circular motion. (lightest color to darkest) Let the card dry completely. 

While the card is drying, I got my papers and flower die, leaves, and hummingbird die together with my Cuttlebug machine. The dies are from Dee's Distinctively- A Cut Above, and I used Stardream Metallic Papers from the Classy Cards 'N Such online store. For the hummingbird, I used Neenah Metallic White Gold card stock and Stardream Fuse Azalea. The Bell Flowers and Leaves were cut from Stardream Azalea and Stardream Emerald. The Stardream papers are so beautiful with a lovely metallic sheen that doesn't show up well on film. But the cards, in person, are stunning! The flowers and birds feathers are shaped with a ball stylus so that they appear 3D on the card. The sentiment words came from the Parentville stamp set from Winnie & Walter, llc. 

I am submitting this card to the Classy Cards 'N Such Weekly Challenge #31, Mother's Day

I hope you have enjoyed this card, you still have time to make your Mother a beautiful handmade card and gift, if you so wish. Have a great weekend, and don't forget to celebrate Mother's Day with your Mother!

Mindy

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.

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

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!

Be Wise, Kind, and True Fall Tag

Happy Friday, friends. Today's post is another tag using the Witch's Brew Paint System from Tattered Angels.

I started out by using one of the Prima Tags as my background, and I stamped the Owl Panel Clear Stamp from Paper Wings Productions on the tag with Rich Cocoa Memento ink. I also stamped the single flying owl and word stamp from the same set.  I then spritzed the entire tag with Pumpkin Spice Glimmer Mist, and let it dry.  When dry, I colored the image with my Wink of Stella Glitter markers from Kuretake and let them dry also.

To add a little shadow, I drew around the entire tag edges with my Licorice Black Gelato from Faber-Castell. If you are not familiar with Gelatos, they are a chap-stick like crayon coloring tool that can be used with a sponge or even your finger to blend color on your project.  I used my finger to blend the dark color around the edges and around the words, "Be Wise, Be Kind, Be True!"

I also punched a small black cat from black card stock and the Cats Galore die from Impression Obsession. I used flowers and leaves from Prima Marketing and the September Nesting Components Kit from Paper Wings Productions, matching the color scheme used to color the stamp, also included in the September Kit.

Paper Wings Productions creates these Nesting Component Kits on a monthly basis, and sells them in their online store. Click HERE to visit their web store and check out the wonderful stamps, kits, and supplies that they carry there!

I have really enjoyed bringing you these tags using the Witch's Brew Paint System.  The next post will be using the Lagoon Colors Paint System that coordinates with several Prima Marketing products. See you then!

"Don't Be Afraid to Sparkle" Art Journal Pages

Don't be afraid to Sparkle!

I love that phrase! I think everyone should be allowed to sparkle if they want. This is the left side page of a double page spread in my art journal. If you have visited my blog before, you have  probably noticed that I just love the Doll Stamps from Prima and designer, Julie Nuttingl. When I get an idea for a project using my stamps, I usually like to try them out, before stamping on my project.  That is one reason I purchased my art journal.

This page was started shortly after I purchased my PanPastel artist chalks and Faber-Castell Gelatos. I started making circles with the Gelatos and then blending them with a little water and my finger. I filled both sides of the double-page with circles of various sizes and colors. Then using the PanPastel chalks I shaded around the edges of the pages and in between the circles.  Several weeks later, I purchased a couple of clear stamp sets from Paper Wings Productions; Sparkle Sayings and the Stars and Sparkles.  Using Majestic Blue Versafine Ink I stamped the stars and sparkles around the pages, and the word phrases in the empty areas. When the ink was dry, I used the multi-sparkle Gel Pen to highlight the stars and sparkles. The larger sparkles were highlighted with Starry Night Stickles and Mermaid Glitz Stickles. I stamped a tiara and colored with Silver stickles on one of the large circles.

 Several days later I found a sheet of scrapbook paper in my stash, that had the giant Gerbera Daisies printed on it, and the centers were glittered. I cut out a few of them and used Gel Medium to adhere them to the page. I let that dry for several days, with weight on the book to keep the pages from warping. When I was chosen to participate in the Prima Doll Blog Hop, I stamped one of the Doll Stamps on the left page, with the Gelato circle masked, so it would look like the doll was standing behind it.

Stay tuned for page two (2) blog post to follow. Thank you for stopping by today!

Relax, Take It Easy, Let Yourself Go!

Happy Friday Everyone!  I posted on Wednesday that today's post was going to be special, something that has been a long time in the making, and I wasn't kidding!

Several months ago I broke down and purchased one of the Art Journals that Ranger makes, just like the one Dyan Reaveley uses with her Dylusions Ink. I thought this would help me in journaling my thoughts, and help me try out products to see what they can do.  I stared at the blank book for weeks and weeks, before finally jumping right in and smearing some ink on a page.  I worked on one double page layout for weeks, letting the various layers of paint, gesso, and glue dry well.

Then it finally hit me!  You don't have to concentrate on one single page until it is done!  Now I have 6 or 7 pages started with backgrounds, and each day I have time to work in it, I add a little something to the pages I have started.  Wednesday I finally completed one page, and here it is in all it's glory!  Taa Daa!

I know it may not be exactly what I had in mind when I began, but I have to remember that " I am still a work in progress!"  I learn something new everyday, and that is really all that life is about.  AND, that is what this journal is all about! 

Learning new things, trying out new products, and creating something that speaks to me.

Sharing it on my blog will also give me the opportunity to receive constructive criticism from my bloggie friends and help me produce pages that I know will speak to others, too.  So feel free to share your comments with me, but just remember I am NOT a professional artist, I do this for fun and my own personal enjoyment. I hope everyone has a wonderful and productive weekend.  Stay safe, and if you get the chance, "Create a  little something that makes you HAPPY!"

Mindy

Let Your Dreams FLY!

Happy Friday Everyone!
Today's card is the last in the series of Melange Women that I made on World Card Making Day last weekend. This is Cassandra.

Cassandra is one of four Melange Women cling mounted rubber stamps from Paper Wings Productions. To check out these and other wonderful stamps, click here.

I started the background for this card as a 4" X6" piece of watercolor paper. I then edged the paper with grape and peach Gelato pigment sticks from Faber Castell. These Gelatos are so much fun to work with, they are like an oil pastel stick in a chap-stick tube, that are water-based instead of oil-based. You just draw with them like a crayon and then either blend them with your fingers, a baby wipe, or a water brush like watercolors. I just scribbled through the middle of the watercolor paper, and then blended it together somewhat. When it was dry, I used purple Smooch ink to swirl over the top and make more swirls and squiggles. I then put the background aside to completely dry before moving on.

Next I stamped Cassandra in Wild Honey Distressed Ink and colored her with my Copic markers. I had a saying in my computer about "catching a star that lets your dreams fly" so I printed it out and trimmed around its edges. Before putting the card together, I assembled a felt flower with three layers and adhered a pearl embellishment in it's center.

I trimmed the background to fit an A2 size card blank and adhered all the layers to the card front. Cassandra was adhered with foam tape to give the card dimension. The felt flower is very soft, so it will smash down when mailing the card.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am attending a Halloween Card Making class, given by a friend of mine, and we will be using stamps from the House Mouse line of stamps. I think they are one of my favorite categories of stamps.  So, have a stampin' good time this weekend, I know I will be.