Happy Poppy Fields

Poppies are one of my favorite flowers, and according to Wikipedia poppy flowers are a symbol of remembrance. Hello, friends, Mindy here to share with you a special card of remembrance and thoughts of you from Classy Cards 'n Such.

One of the New Stacy Stamps Poppies has a single flower stamp, and a cluster of flowers corner edge stamp in the same package. Here where I live in So. Texas the bright red poppies are one of our wildflowers that start to bloom in late April in fields and along the roadways.  I stamped the single flower on a sheet of Neenah white card stock, and using my Copic markers, colored in the flower and leaves.  I fussy cut around the image, and highlighted the edges with a Wink of Stella Gold glitter marker.

To prepare the background, I stamped the Wood Texture Cover-a-Card Stamp on a sheet of white card stock using Antique Linen Distress Ink. I then took the frame die, Claudette Frame from Poppy Stamps and ran the die and stamped paper through my Cuttlebug machine to get my wood look frame.  I adhered it to the card front with double stick tape, and used Joy! Foam Pads Large to add dimension to the poppy flower.

I the tied a strip of twine around the card twice, and tied the ends in a square knot. Then using one of the Spellbinder's Matting Basics die I stamped the Thinking of You sentiment in the strip and colored it in with the Wink of Stella Gold glitter pen. I added some of the black Pearl Pen from Viva in the center of the flower, and Baby Pearls-white around the frame and sentiment strip for a little more bling.

Why not remember a friend by making them a hand-stamped card and sending it today.  They will really appreciate the thought. Thanks for visiting.

Holiday JOY!

Greetings, my friends.  Mindy here to share with you a holiday card using the negative space left over when using a die cut system. This is a sample of our weekly challenge at the Classy Cards 'n Such Blog. This was a new challenge for me, because I am fairly new at collecting and  using wafer thin dies in my Cuttlebug machine.  I have so many friends here in bloggie-land that use layers upon layers of dies to create the most beautiful dimensional cards I have ever seen.

The challenge this week is #44- Using the Negative of a die cut, I started out by using an A2 size piece of stock, and die cut the Fancy Ornament Die by Impression Obsession from the center. I then moved the die just a little to the right and down about 1" and cut the circle ornament again.

I then took a lighter piece of A2 stock and embossed the Vintage Flowers Embossing folder from Crafts Too!, and placed it behind the cut out of the ornaments. There was too much open area to show the negative space, so I adhered the positive image ornament in the lower opening and added some glitter. I also added a silver bow and some glitter thread to each ornament to look as if it were hanging from the tree.

To add a little more bling to the card, I added some of the Allure Swirl- Silver Rhinestones down the left side, and die cut the word JOY for the sentiment.

There are so many new products available in the Classy Cards 'n Such Online Store, I hope you will stop by, and don't forget to use my 10% off coupon, details above in right column.  Just add MINDY-10 as coupon code in the box on the checkout page, and you get a 10% discount on your complete purchase.

I hope you will all try something new when creating your cards. It is so much fun to try a new technique when being creative! Have fun, and see you again soon.

Summer On the Water

Happy Summer Friends!  I hope you are all having a wonderful time with friends and family.  I have returned from a very short vacation, and now have to try and catch up with my card- making duties.

This is a card that I thought gave the feeling of the seashore in summer. The background was cut from a die-cut frame titled "French Lattice Small" from Cheery Lynn Designs. I cut it from a scrap from the  Graphic 45 By The Sea paper pad and attached it to the A2 size card base with clear glue.  I then used the Prima Marketing Seashore cling stamp set to stamp the lighthouse, sea plant, and ships wheel on a scrap of XPress blending stock with black Memento ink, and colored the items with copic markers and chalk.  I added a bow tied from dotted swiss grosgrain ribbon, and three tiny baby pearls to give the card a little bling.

I was so busy before vacation making sure I had my cards complete for my first Design Team duties with Classy Cards 'N Such, that I didn't get many others made. I think I finally have gotten into the swing of things and will be able to post more cards between my design team duties. I hope you will visit with me again soon, I really enjoy hearing from and sharing new things with you all!  Stay cool and safe this summer!

Mindy

Welcome Friends! My first card with my design team duties at Classy Cards 'n Such will be showcased on Wednesday of this week, challenge #42 Buttons and Bows.  To see more about how the card was made, check out the blog at Classy Cards, and while there, be sure to check out all of the NEW items available in the Classy Cards 'n Such Online Store. 

The card pictured here, is from last week's challenge #41- Day at the Beach.

You can also use my coupon code MINDY-10 (all caps-no spaces) on all of your purchases at the Classy Cards Store!  Just enter it in the "apply coupon code" box before checking out, and you will receive a  welcome discount on your order.  You may also click the design team box in the top right column of this blog, and that will take you directly to the store.

In the right column of the Classy Cards 'n Such Blog, there is also a link to the Challenge Calendar.

Click on it to get a list of the upcoming challenges, along with lots of inspirational photos.  Maybe you will wish to submit a card or two, and join our Challenge fun! There is a super prize available weekly, each prize usually corresponds with the theme of the challenge and is from the Classy Cards 'n Such online store. Be sure and let me know, if you have any questions about the challenges. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful Summer!  The temperatures have been hot, but luckily no 100's yet here.  Stay cool and comfortable, and I will see you again soon.

Mindy

Happy Thursday Friends!

What a Great Day, friends!  It is cloudy and dreary here in So. Texas, which to some may sound terribly boring.  But we have been in a drought lately, and really do need some rain. There is 50% in the forecast today and tomorrow, so I am riding high in the hopes we get some rain.

My card today is a happy card, celebrating a Friend.  The stamped image is one of Janie's Girls stamps from Hot Off the Press, and is stamped in Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers. When dry, I fussy cut around the image, leaving a thin white border around the entire image. 

The background is a piece of glossy white card stock with Alcohol Inks from Ranger marbled on.  I played with a full 8 1/2" X 11" piece of glossy paper, and then trimmed it down to four A2 size backgrounds when done. The doily die is from Cheery Lynn Designs and makes a wonderful background for the image. The word Friend is also a Cheery Lynn Design, and was cut from black card stock, then glued to the bottom of the card. 

This card was just pieces put together to form a pleasing image.  When I have spare time, I like to color stamped images, and play with making background papers. I then cut them into usable sizes and file them for when I don't have so much time, and need to make a quick card.  I hope you will try this when you have a few spare minutes.  Play with your dies, stamps, and backgrounds, trying new products and papers.  Then when you need a quick card, you will have many pieces to choose from.  Happy Stamping!

Mindy

Blossom Beauty

Welcome Friends! Today's post is a page from my Art Journal, using the New Stampendous Stamp Set, "Blossom Beauty!" I was so excited when a friend, Diane Hover, brought it to my attention, that I knew I had to order it at once! (she is one of my enabler's)  It is a two stamp set, with a large face, and a large flower. Since the images were larger than normal, I knew I would need help in shading and coloring this image. I searched the Internet, and found a class coloring just this set at My Creative Classroom, with the renown artist, Jennie Black.  She is a wonder with Watercolors and most markers, including Copic Markers (my favorite!). I am in the process of taking this class, and have many practice images to play with, that don't look half bad. This is my first attempt at coloring the face and flowers. Please enjoy!

I'm sorry I won't be able to give a step-by-step tutorial on how I colored the stamps, but there are classes available if you are interested.  Once your coloring is complete, there are other videos available on You

Tube, that will help you add hair, dresses, etc. to your stamped images from Stampendous.

To create the journal page I made, I first applied a layer of fluid Cream acrylic and fluid Ultramarine Violet acrylic paint from Golden Products to the blank page in dots.  I then blended the two colors somewhat with my brush, and then let them dry.  I die cut my large flowers from the Blossom Die set that is also available through Stampendous.  There are three dies in the set that cut the full flower, the small center area (like her necklace) and the center with the next layer of petals, to give you a stacked set of petals in case you want to give your flower more dimension. I fussy cut around the face, and the dress (downloaded from one of the YouTube videos).  When the background was dry, I stamped on it with a texture stamp and Love Letter Memento ink, and a small Hibiscus stamp from Deadbeat Designs stamped in Grape Jelly Memento ink. The single Hibiscus stamp from Deadbeat Designs was stamped on her dress in Grape Jelly ink also. 

I then attached them to my page with Regular Gel Medium from Golden Products. I love the Golden Mediums because their water content is low, and they don't leave the paper images or pages warped or wrinkled. I first attached the face, and then layered on the dress, and then the two large flowers. I set this all aside to dry, and then came back with the small center of the large flower and used foam tape to attach it to the page.  I used it to cover a smudge of ink on her chin that I couldn't remove or erase. 

Each time I color the face, I get a different look, which I really enjoy. There are so many ways to use these stamps, and I have several ideas already on projects I want to use them on. I hope you will enjoy, and leave me a comment on ideas you think would look good with this stamp. I also hope you had a wonderful National Scrapbooking Day on Saturday!  I don't do much scrapbooking, but I do enjoy working in my Art Journal, which is what I did on NSD this year.  Have a great week, and I will see you again soon.

Mindy

Hey Neighbor!

Howdy, Friends! Welcome to May 2014.  The start to another new month, boy how these months fly by!  I have a fun card to share with you today.  A scene stealer if I have ever seen one. i started out with a piece of watercolor paper that I had spritzed with several different Dylusions  Inks.  I cut it into smaller pieces to fit on the A2 size card base, so I have several different ones to pick from.

I then stamped out my parts of my scenery on Express Blended Card stock suitable for Copic coloring. I used the Thelma standing stamp from Deadbeat Designs, the Garden fence and bucket from Art Impressions, and the Bloodhound dog stamp from Art Impressions. I stamped the dog stamp first, and then masked it off, using a post-it note, before stamping the gate with bucket  Garden stamp. After coloring in the pieces with my Copic markers, I fussy cut around the dog and gate images leaving a small white border around the images. I also cut around Thelma after coloring her with the Copics, and then set the pieces aside to dry.  I then used my Cloud Stencil from Memory Box to stencil Golden Light Molding Paste in several of the cloud cut outs. As the clouds were drying, some of the Dylusion Inks bled up through the molding paste. I learned through my Art Journaling class I have been taking, that if you will be stenciling on your background, do that first, then apply the water based ink colors. 

This is what happened on this card. I applied the paste over the inks, and they re-activated with the wet paste and bled into the cloud shapes. So, to repair the clouds, I applied a layer of white Posca acrylic paint pen over the top of the stenciled cloud to make them whiter.

To complete the card, I die-cut a banner die, and then stamped it with a sentiment from the Howdy clear stamp set from My Favorite Things. I attached the fence and dog section with foam dots on the background to give it dimension.  I then placed Thelma behind the fence to look as if she was leaning on the other side of the fence. I attached the banner with foam tape to the right of the image, and glued a tiny gold star sequin for accent.

This card makes a great Friendship card, Thinking of You, or Welcome Neighbor card. I hope you all have a great weekend, and enjoy the beginning of May!

Taylor Made Tag . . . . . Take Time!

I'm still playing with my New Julie Nutting Doll Stamps by Prima. Today's tag/card uses the doll named "Taylor". I started by making a card from two tags, using the Julie Nutting Tag Pad. I adhered the tags together at the top of the tag, and then started to decorate them.  I adhered printed scrap book paper to the front, and then stamped flowers and clock faces over the front of the tag using Ranger Archival ink in Sepia. While the papers were drying, I stamped Taylor on the Julie Nutting "Buff" paper pad and colored in her clothes and hair with Copic markers.  After fussy cutting around the doll, I adhered her to the left side of the tag using foam tape for dimension.

On the right hand side of the tag I die cut some leaf shapes  from a Tim Holtz Alterations die, and shaded them with my Copic markers. I combined them with flowers and leaves from the Prima Cartographer Collection and some covered wire springs.  The flowers have a little glitter on them, so I added a piece of sparkly gold trim across the bottom of the tag, some Maya Road Ginger Twine tied around the tag, and a crinkly rust bow tied at the top of the tag/card.

To complete the tag, I stamped a few open circles from the Scenery: Big Bang Confetti clear stamp set from Winnie & Walter set, to fill in between elements.

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and come to visit with me again soon.

Sailing, Sailing. . . . . . .

Sailing, sailing over the bounding Maine. . .  A song that sprang forth in my brain while making this card.

I am so in love with die cuts, that lately I have been trying to use at least one on each card I make. I enjoy how they give dimension to cards without having to fussy cut the image. To begin today's card, I recently purchased this sailboat die from Die-Versions Universally Crafty. I won a gift certificate to their online store, and found three dies to purchase with my "winnings"!  I already had this awesome 6X6" background paper pad from Websters Pages Petite Papers, that I purchased at the Classy Cards "N Such online store .

The Yacht Club paper seemed to match my card theme perfectly, so I cut the background to fit my A2 size card front, and then chalked around it with Prima chalk ink.

I then die cut my sailboat in white, red and brown print card stock. I started with the boat in white, then paper pieced the sails from the red, and the body from the brown printed paper. I adhered the layers with Tombow Mono Multi liquid white glue, and then used foam tape to adhere it to the card front. I stamped the 

"wanted" and "No.4" with rich cocoa Memento ink, and my card was completed.

I am entering this card in the weekly challenge at the Classy Cards 'N Such blog: Challenge- Die Cuts .

I hope you will join in the challenges at Classy Cards 'N Such. Check out their calendar for a listing of their weekly challenges, and start creating and sharing your talents with others. 

Mindy

Spring Cottage Try-Fold Card

Today's card is the Try-Fold card featuring the Art Impressions "Cottage" Try-Fold stamps. I hope you enjoy it.

This is the outside of the card, with all of the flaps folded to form the A2 card. The card itself is made following the instructions on the stamp set, stamped on Blending card stock especially made for Copic coloring, and tuxedo black Memento ink.  The entire card was colored with Copic markers. 

This is with the first fold opened, I printed the sentiment stamp enclosed in the set on this flap.

And this is the card with the two folds open, to show the interior of the card.  I stamped the message "Welcome" with this view to welcome all to the cottage.

As you can see, the stamp set includes 4 stamps, the cottage, the garden gate with foliage, the garden chair and bird houses with a white cat in the chair, and the sentiment "The road to a friend's house is never long."

I added the "black cat" die-cut to cover a mistake on the card.  When I stamped the sentiment on the gate panel originally, I stamped it upside down.  (We all make mistakes, sometimes!) So, to remedy the problem I stamped the phrase again, right side up this time, on another scrap of card stock. I inked the edges, and then to cover my mistake, I adhered it over the boo-boo.  Then when the card was closed, some of the edging showed, so I placed the die-cut cat on the front, looking into the flower pot.

These cards are so much fun to "create" and color, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. Visit with me again, soon.

Mindy

My Price is. . . Chocolate!

Happy Tuesday one and All!  Today's card celebrates my favorite . . . . . CHOCOLATE!

Of course, this stamp came out at Valentine's Day, but in my opinion, chocolate can be celebrated everyday!

The stamp is the "Love Chocolate Set" from Art Impressions. I stamped it on the blending card stock especially made for Copic markers with tuxedo black Memento ink. After coloring in the image with my Copic markers, I fussy cut around the image with a small white border around it.  I then cut the  image,"Turkish Lace Doily" from Cheery Lynn Designs from magenta colored card stock. I cut it in half, and adhered half to the front and half inside the card. I also took two pieces of the fall-out and attached them to opposite corners. Using my Posca paint pen in brown, I doodled a dot border around the card, and then stamped the saying from AMuse Artstamps on the side. My Wink of Stella Brush pen in dark pink highlighted the saying and the lady's earrings.

I am entering this in the Classy Cards N' Such Weekly Challenge , Die-Cuts.  The Lace doily is one of the many Cheery Lynn Design Die Cuts sold in the Classy Cards "N Such store . Plus, there is a coupon available on the web site for a discount on the Cheery Lynn Dies.

Thanks for joining me today, and enjoy a little chocolate, too!

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

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

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

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

Delightful Flower Vine

Happy Thursday Everyone! Today's post is a special card I made today, using the New Anna Griffin die called Flower Vine. I fell in love with it recently, when a friend of mine, Diane Hover, featured it in three cards on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog.  I immediately had to order it because of the many different mediums Diane used on hers, all of which I have on hand as usual.  

I began my card by cutting the die from off white card stock, and embossing it at the same time with my Cuttlebug machine.  Then using my Copic Markers, I colored and shaded the flowers and leaves with Blush Pink and Lipstick Natural on the flowers and Pistachio green on the leaves. I mounted the die on a piece of peachy pink card stock, along with a Ocean Blue printed tag from the Prima Hancock Park Tag Pad.  I added the sentiment, "Delight in the Little Things" banner in the top left hand corner, and a Hero Arts "Blossom" in the lower right corner before attaching on a silver gray A2 card base. 

I have entered this card in the Classy Cards n' Such Challenge #21, Vintage Hues, using three colors found in their inspiration photo provided, and the #AG-2002206 Anna Griffin Flower Vine die found in the Classy Cards n' Such shop.

I hope you will click on over to Beverly's shop and check out all the wonderful supplies she has to offer.  She is a Texas neighbor, and has a wonderful online shop full of tons and tons of goodies for paper crafters everywhere! And she is one of the nicest ladies around, if you don't see something in her shop that you need, drop her a line, and I bet she will do her best to get it for you.

Have a wonderful evening, and enjoy your stamping and crafting projects. The time you spend creating, will be most rewarding in the long run.  Enjoy!

Mindy

Love You!

Greetings, it's Friday! The weekend is here!  Another fun Valentine's Day card filled with hearts, lace, and lacy butterflies. Enjoy!

I began this card with a delightful dimensional background paper. The white areas of the paper are flocked, and very fuzzy. I accented the background paper with a strip of chevron stripe washi tape across the card.  I then got out my Cuttlebug die cut machine and cut out the lace heart die from Paper Artsy- Hot Off the Press from metallic white card stock. Then using the Paper Artsy Butterfly dies, cut out two butterflies and colored them with my pink Wink of Stella Glitter pen. Since the metallic stock has a glossy finish, I brushed on a layer of the glitter, and then dabbed it with a paper towel, giving it a mottled finish.  I used the same technique on the chipboard words from Maya Road. These chipboard letters are porous though, and after the first layer of Wink of Stella marker, I decided to add another layer of color on top of the chipboard. All of the elements were glued down with Ranger Glossy Accents. When adhering the butterflies, I only glued down the bodies of them, that way the wings are loose, and could be curled and crimped to give dimension.  I also added a tiny bow die cut, again colored with the Wink of Stella marker.

I hope you have enjoyed my Valentine's Day cards this year. They will be sent out to my Valentines next week. I love you all, and hope you will send and receive handmade cards this year.

Mindy

A Special Gift

Your friendship is a Special Gift!  Hello Friends! Today's card is an easel card whose design aspect was found on the Splitcoast Stampers tutorial blog from YouTube.

I just received this wonderful stamp collage from Art Gone Wild Stamps, and the title is "Your Friendship." I stamped out the entire image on white cardstock with Tuxedo black Memento ink, and then colored it in with my Tim Holts Distressed Markers. The entire image consists of 5 squares, 4 flower images and the one sentiment word rectangle. Since the card measures 4 1/2"X 4 1/2", I trimmed off 2 floral squares, and adhered them to the inside of the card.  I matted the image for the front of the card with an irridescent sparkly silver paper, and then another layer of white stock.  For the snowflakes, I cut two from white stock and two from the sparkly silver stock. I then added a clear rhinestone in the center for bling.

Inside, I cut a band of the silver stock and placed it on the base, and then added the Asian Accent Border from Spellbinders cut in avocado green as the stop guage for the front of the easel card.

You tuck the front of the card, as you open it, under the edge of the loopy border and that holds the card open to set on your table or desk. I'm sorry I cannot show the card in dimension, but my digital camera is hiding from me at the moment, and I haven't had time to go "seek" it.   To see the card in 3-D, please search YouTube for video on Easel Cards or the Splitcoast Stampers tutorials to get more ideas on these cards.

Have a wonderful week, and stay safe in your travels for the holidays.