Count Your Blessings

Hello, friends, Mindy here today with a card for this week's challenge at the Classy Cards 'N Such blog, #42 Buttons and Bows!

I started this card by embossing an A2 size sheet of card stock with the Daisy Flourish embossing folder sending it through my Cuttlebug machine. I then took the Memory Box designer Stencil Garden Stems and added Embossing paste to use as stems for my button and bow flowers.

To give the background some definition, I highlighted the embossing with a white pen, a touch of gold glitter and some Cantaloupe colored Liquid Pearls. It was then set aside to let dry.  I then took some ribbon, and made three small single bow flowers and adhered a single gold colored small Medallion Sparklers button in the centers. The bows were then adhered to the background at the ends of the stems to look like a bouquet of flowers, with a double loop bow tied at the bottom of the bouquet.

I also stamped a saying, Count Your Buttons (. . . and Blessings) on a banner strip and used  Joy! Foam Pads Large to give the banner some dimension and adhered it to the front of the card.

The whole time I was working on this card, the song "Button and Bows" sung by Doris Day was going through my head.  It was a little before my time, but parts of the song were familiar to me, and those parts kept repeating over and over all day.

I hope you will join us at Classy Cards 'N Such, by creating a card or two for our weekly challenge. They are so much fun, and you can possibly win a wonderful item sold in our online store. Be sure to visit our online store, and when you are ready to check out, use the coupon code MINDY-10 (all caps-no spaces) to get your 10% discount off your entire purchase. See you again soon!

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.

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

You're the Best - #1 Dad

Today is a terrific Tuesday, and I hope everyone is having a great day!  Today's card is a masculine card that I am using for a masculine birthday, or it could also be used for Father's Day. (I know that was this past Sunday!) Anyway, this card is very masculine with lots of layers and texture, and here is how I made it.

First of all, I had this wonderful image stamp from B Line Designs, Button Card duo.  I stamped it out on Neenah white card stock in Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I then inked around the outside edges with Sepia Archival ink and shaded his shirt with a little lightest blue PanPastel chalk. (it's hard to see in the picture, sorry)  I then hit my button stash, and adhered some mother-of-pearl shirt buttons to the card. While this was drying, I started to build the layers of the card.

Using a base card of kraft colored stock, I cut an A2 size card  5 1/2" X 8 1/2", and scored it down the middle for a side opening card. I then found some Skeleton dried leaves in both rust and ivory, and picked out one of each that would fit on my card. I then picked an antique writing paper strip from the Engraver Collection of papers from Prima. I started layering first a background sheet of brown card stock, and then glued the ivory skeleton leaf to the left of the card using my Tombow Mono liquid glue. Next came the layer of patterned paper attached to the right side with double sided adhesive. The I attached the button card on top, and slightly to the left, overlapping the patterned paper and leaf.  Using the Mono glue again, I attached the other rust colored skeleton leaf on the top of the button card and to the right. 

For the messages, I stamped the #1 Dad stamp from Fiskars on white stock in the Sepia ink, and cut a remaining strip of the brown stock in a straight banner length and used rub-on letters, (style: "all mixed up" by Doodlebug Designs) to apply the phrase "You're the Best!"  I used a BoBunny Bodacious Brad to attach the banner to the front of the card.

 I will be entering this card in the DL Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #111 for Father's Day.

And there you have it! One masculine card, for one super-terrific guy! I hope you all have a great week. See you again soon.

Mindy

Time to Celebrate Mothers



Greetings fellow bloggers! It's time to celebrate our Mothers.  Mother's Day is just two weeks away, and depending on how many Mom's you send cards to, you'd better get started creating so you can get yours in the mail in time for the holiday.  I have this problem, getting cards in the mail in time for the holidays. Even though I think I know how long it takes to get mail to my friends and relatives, something always happens to throw a monkey wrench into my plans. So lets get started on today's card.

This card was made on a 5" X 7" ivory card base. For the background black, I used an A2 card and cut it in half and rounded the corners with my Corner Chomper.  The next layer, the printed paper, was cut to 3" X 41/2" from the Sunshine paper collection by My Minds Eye. It had the beautiful scrolling background with the antique sewing machine and music already printed on it.(I also chomped the corners of this!)  The little girl stamp is from the Pure Innocence "Freckles" stamp set from My Favorite Things. She was stamped on white card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored in with my Copic markers. The "Happy Mother's Day" stamp is from the Fiskars Holiday Collection, and was also stamped with Tuxedo Black to match the antique coloring of the sewing machine on the paper.  The scallop border and the "she looked oh so French" border were from the Mixed Media Border Stamp Set from Prima. I attached the scallop border to the top of the black background with a gold 1/8" grosgrain ribbon glued on top. To complete the card, I stamped the phrase on each side of the landscape placement, attached the little freckled girl with foam tape to pop her up just a bit, and used glue dots to adhere three Blu Raspberry buttons from My Favorite Things to the right hand side of the card.

So whether you are sending or giving that "one special lady" a card for Mother's Day, or you have a whole list of  "stand-in Mother's" hand make a beautiful card for them, to show you really care.  They will appreciate it more than you will ever know! And until next time, "Happy Stamping!"

Just Buzzin' By. . . . .

Just Buzzin' by to say Hi, fellow stampers and Card Makers.

Today's card creation uses the Doodle Garden Sweet as Can Be stamp set from My Favorite Things. I started off using a black card stock base card and rounded off the corners with my 1/4" Corner Chomper, and then chomped the corners off my background paper, "Sunshine" from My Mind's Eye.  I then stamped the little bee girl and the sayings on white Blending card stock with Tuxedo Black ink from Memento before coloring in with my Copic markers.  After coloring the image and shading with my Copics, I used the matching Spica Glitter pen to add sparkle to her wings. Then I fussy cut around the image, and added foam tape to the back to make her pop off the card.
I used my ink applicator tool and Wild Honey Distress Ink to shade around the white background where the sayings were, and just barely touched the edges with Rusty Hinge to darken the edges. the "just buzzin' by" saying is part of the MFT stamp set, and the BZZZZZZ! is part of a different set. I can't remember right off who makes that set, but if you will drop me a line, I will look it up for you.

To assemble the card, I used double sided adhesive to adhere the dotted background to the base card, then adhered the sayings with double sided tape. Next, I had a scrap strip of the yellow dotted background paper that I attached just below the edge of the white square, and then attached my little "Bee" to that strip, along with a pretty yellow button.(also from MFT)
At the top left hand corner I attached a BZZZZ! phrase with foam tape also, to give dimension.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, wherever you are. Stay safe and bee-happy and I will see you again soon.

Mindy

Thank YOU!

A BIG thank you goes out to all the well wishers on this beautiful Christmas morning!

The weather is predicted to be a nasty and cold afternoon, after the cold front blows through, but right now it is simply beautiful! It is a little windy, but the sun is shining, so enjoy it while you can!

Today's card is my fashionista stamp, colored with copic markers, with the background stamped in the Hero Arts background stamp "Chevrons." I covered half of the card base in retro dot scrapbook paper, before attaching the fashionista and her dog with foam tape to pop out the figure. I then attached the "thanks" banner with a button, tied with Caribbean blue twine which matches the background.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful happy day, spending quality time with your family. Enjoy this time, and do a little crafting if you can. It's one of those moments you will treasure for a lifetime!  See you again soon.

Happy Birthday Card with Paper Wings Productions Stamps

Hello friends,
Happy Tuesday!  By the time you read this it may be Wednesday though. I want to share with you the rest of the cards I made on World Card Making Day this year.

I used a set of cling mounted rubber stamps from Paper Wings Productions.
www.paperwingsproductions.com
called Melange Women. I have just found out that they are also selling the individual women stamps,  and this is Heather.

First I stamped Heather on white card stock with potter's clay Memento ink. I then colored her with Copic Markers or you could use colored pencils if you don't have the markers. I then cut out around the image and put aside. I had a small piece of scrapbook paper that had fruit on it in soft colors. Apples, peaches, and pears, along with some flowers and leaves and three flourish squares. I fussy cut all of the images and matted the squares. I cut a piece of printed cardstock for the background of the card and positioned the face and fruit around it before I glued it all down. I tried to adhere it in different layers so it would have some depth in it. For my ribbon embellishment I took the three matted squares and attached them to a double length of ribbon using my Tiny Attacher from Tim Holtz. Then I used foam tape to adhere the sections to the card front.

The Birthday medallion was punched from a 3" scalloped oval, and 2 1/2" solid oval, then stamped with a birthday greeting from Hot Off the Press.

I Love this Melange of Women and made a card with each stamp. I will show the other three women this week, so stay tuned.  "Same Bat Channel" as they say on ME TV! See you soon.

Two More Halloween Cards

Greetings, Cardmakers!
I have two more Halloween cards for you today, that I made yesterday for World Cardmaking Day, using Graphic 45 papers.

They are both collaged, using bits and pieces from the 8" X 8" Halloween paper pad from Graphic 45, plus foam tape, and adhesive gemstones along with a few flower petals and buttons.  I didn't do any stamping for these cards, just cut out the bits, arranged them on the blank cards, them glued and taped down the layers to give them some interest.  I also added a little bling here and there to give a little sparkle, and the cards were done.

I also didn't participate in a group card making for World Cardmaking Day, just worked on them at home, while staying in touch with a couple of groups that were holding hops and card making sessions on their blogs. I got about 5 cards done, these three Halloween and two birthday cards that I will feature tomorrow!

The weather here was so nice today. Our first "breath of fall" or what little fall we get here in south Texas.   It was down in the fifties this morning, and mid-sixties this afternoon, just right for opening the doors and windows to let a little fresh air in.  I hope you all had a great day, until tomorrow!

A Button Mermaid Angel

Something a little different for you today, a Button Mermaid Angel, inspired by a project seen in the Winter 2009 issue of Somerset Studios Gallery Magazine.

One of my other passions in the crafting world is Jewelry making, and I just love making vintage style jewelry from old broken pieces, buttons, old lace and the such.

Of course, in this piece I used a rubber stamp of the mermaid's body, and then added the strung together buttons as her fish tail. I started out by stamping the body on light pink card stock and then used prismacolor pencils to color in the hair, the swimsuit bodice, and the bubbles. I then used some Dazzles by Hot off the Press for the wings. They are an airy type of sticker that you can adhere to vellum and then cut around the entire wing unit and glue to the shoulders of the rubber stamped image.

Next, I began the button fish tail by tying gold cord through each of the button's eyes. I then glued each button to card stock to give it some stability and beginning at the bottom strung the beads and then the buttons on to a heavy gauge wire, with the buttons getting larger as I worked towards the top. When the body section matched the size of the button, I then taped the stamped piece with wings attached to the wire, and made a finished loop at the top of the head to hang it from.  Finally, give the entire tail section a soft curve of the wire for motion, and your piece is finished. This can be used as a suncatcher in a window, a charm hanging from a ceiling fan chain, or as an embellishment for a necklace. However you want to display it, it is a delicate and aquatic symbol to add to your collection.

Have a wonderful day, and try something different. You may find an art field you really enjoy!