Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Sunshine and smiles

 Hello!  For my card today, I am using SSS sunflower die The leaves are die cut from The Greetery - Botanicuts Rose die set.  All the pieces were cut from white cardstock, then I added SSS positively inks to all, spritzed with water and viola!

After this was all layered together, I cut my panels down using Gina K Master Layouts 2.




I then adhered the sunflower to the  panel, and flicked black paint onto it. I then adhered to the card base.

For the sentiment, this is an oldie from "Verve".  I still have so many of their stamp sets, just can't part with them.  

To finish off I added some coppery gold rhinestones and some flat  glitter drops from PFS.

I also made an exact replica of this card, but added Anniversary Wishes to the front instead, - a request from a friend who wanted an Anniversary Sunflower card!

Wishing you a wonderful!  Thank you for your visit.

Pauline

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Spring Meadows


Hello friends! Sorry I haven't been around for a bit, just super busy lately, but I did manage to squeeze in some time for some card making.

I have a couple of cards to share today using products from The Greetery - stencil and die called Spring Meadows.

Inks used for both cards are from Pinkfresh Studio.

For the first card, I wanted fresh spring colours, so went with yellows and pinks.   I used the rectangle postal frame die for the behind the image layer, sponged some soft blue ink, then spritzed with some Tim Holtz harvest moon mica spray.  Once dried I adhered my floral bouquet on top, then added it to a yellow card base. 

Added a Happy Birthday sentiment and some pearls to finish this off.



For my second card. I stenciled directly onto some white card stock, again using PFS inks. I love how soft this turned out.  I decided to turn this into a sympathy card.  I also added a die cut from The Greetery using the Ribbon Maker -  petite scallop die, and adhered this directly to the bottom of the card, then attached this to my white card base.

To finish I added some pearls.



I thank you for stopping by. Till next time.....

Pauline

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Swing into Spring

 Hello friends!  Hope this finds you well.  

Today, I have a couple of cards to share for Easter.  I had this die from Spellbinders since last Spring, by the time I ordered it and it arrive from the USA,  Easter came and went. So... I pulled the die set out this year and made a few cards with it to fill my Easter card order.

These are basically the same, just changed the embossing folders and the glitter paper for the sentiments.



Not a lot of explaining on these as they are all die cuts.

Thank you for your visit today. It's been a very hectic 3 weeks at work.  Covering for my co-workers, one was off the 2nd week of March and then the other was off last week and this week.  I'll be so glad to see Friday night roll around! Not that I mind covering, but it seems my work gets pushed back, so next week will be catch up for me!

Have a wonderful day.

Pauline

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Sympathy Cards

Hi there.  I'm back today with a quick post to share a few more Sympathy cards I have made. 

The first card is using Spellbinders products, embossing folder and dies. This makes for elegant and simple cards, and who doesn't love that right?  These are already gone out  with an order, so I need to make some more to have on hand.



The second card, is using products from The Greetery, Stamps and arch dies.  The one thing I love about The Greetery, Betsy designs stamps and dies that go together, which makes stamping much easier.



Well that's it for me for today.  I hope you have a fabulous day!

Pauline


Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Hello Friend

 Hello friends, and happy Wednesday.  Wednesday and Friday's are my favourite days of the week as I get to work from home on those days.  It's really nice they still offer this work arrangement for our company.

I was going through my cards that I had made over the last month or so, and realized I have anumber of cards that I have not posted yet.

This one I made for a card order - for Valentines for one of her friends.

I already had parts of this die cut and stamped (just sitting my to use bin), so it was just a matter of putting it all together


I used Spellbinders 3D embossing folder- Leafy for the card base layer, the bow is from Memory Box and the floral spray, banner die is from The Greetery.

Finished off with some tiny gemstones and rhinestone heart and a simple sentiment - hello friend.

What inspired my first card was this card that I think I saw on Instagram, so I decided to basically case and added my own touch on it.


Same embossing folder as the first card as well as the banner die, the Botanicuts Rose die is from The Greetery as well, which I already had this in my 'to use bucket' as well.  The lace die cut along the top and the bow  is from PTI.

I always feel bad when I 'case' a card, but sometimes I find you need this to jump start your mojo when you have lost it. How do you feel about casing a card?

I wish you all a fabulous day, and appreciate your visit.

Pauline







Saturday, March 4, 2023

Shamrock blessings

Hello and happy Saturday.  I worked some overtime this morning, always nice when you can do it from home. We had another winter storm late yesterday and throughout the night, rain, freezing rain and snow.  The good side of this is that we did not get the accumulation of snow as they expected, only ended up with a couple of inches, and today the sun is out and pretty much everything has melted. 

Today, I have another St. Partick day card.  I made a couple of these for my friend. Just love when you can mass produce!

I used products from various companies -Sentiment - Verve, Gold leaves - die from  PFS, Shamrock - die from Gina K, background - Bold borders Prism Die -  Papertrey Ink.



After the Prism die was cut out, I sponged some SSS  Positively Field green ink on the corners.  For the shamrocks, I sponged the green ink onto some 110 lb white cardstock, then splattered with gold and white ink, once dry I die cut the shamrocks.  The leafy branch was die cut from shiny gold c/s.

I stamped the sentiment inside the frame opening in the center using black versafine.  I then arranged the shamrocks and leafy sprigs on the opposite corners from where I sponged the green ink 

To finish off I added some gold pearls to the centers of the shamrocks.

Okay, I think I am going to work on some Easter cards - I need 8 for a f riend!

Thank you for stopping by today, have a wonderful day!

Pauline


Monday, February 27, 2023

St. Patrick's Day

 Hello everyone! Well it's been a terrible week her in SW Ontario weatherwise.  Last Wednesday we were hit with an ice storm,  approx  7-8 hrs of freezing rain, lost power for 5 hours, went to go to work on Thurday, and was unable to get out of my street.  We live in a parkway (circle) and there were huge tree branches across the roadway, so no one was getting in or out! The City came around noon hour to remove them, so I was able to get into the office shortly after that.

Today, another ice storm, I just hope we don't loose any of our 35-40 ft cedars, I will be so sad if that happens.  Just looked out,  lots of ice on the ones on the far side of the yard, really bent from the east winds, fingers crossed they can hold up to the to the weight of the freezing rain!

I had an eye appt this morning, a follow up for some laser treatment I had a few weeks ago, so I took the day off.  So glad I did so I don't have to be out in this weather.

Today I have a couple of St. Partick Day cards I made for a friend.

I am using products from The Greetery & Flourishes & Gina K Designs.

For my main focal point I pulled out the matching stencil & die from The Greetery - Print Shop Spring Mix.  I used various inks from both  Pinkfresh studio & Simon Says Stamps.  Once all the stenciling was done, I used the matching stamp set to stamp the centers of the flowers, then the matching die to cut it out.

The first card is a very dark hunter green background, although it does look black in the picture.

I used a sentiment from Flourishes - called Irish Blessings, die cut it with a flag die from Gina K.  I also cut a glittery green shamrock, also from Gina K

To finish off I added some gold pearl, as well as a border strip of green cardstock along the bottom.  The die cut is not a straight cut, there are some little divots, so this just finishes it of nicely. 



For the second card, done the same, just a different sentiment and card base colour.



That's it for me for today, hoping to get a few more cards made for my friends order.  I need to take advantage of the days I'm off work, as I never feel like making cards once I get home from work and dinner is done throughout the week.

Hope everyone is keeping well.  I'll be back soon with another share.

Thanks for you visit today,

Pauline


Monday, January 30, 2023

Sending XOXO


 Hello friends, today I have a couple of Valentine cards I made for my friends order.  

I've always been inspired by cards made with paper strips, so I cut a bunch of strips, different widths, and a variety of pink, coral and red tones.

I started by adding some dot tape runner across some which cardstock, then laid the strips straight across until I had the length I wanted.  I then took my Spellbinders heart die and cut it out on an angel so I wouldn't have the strips going horizontal.



I cut a smaller panel using MFT cross stitch rectangle to lay my heart onto.  I also use a strip heart die from Papertrey Ink to cut a row of hearts.

Once the heart and strip of hearts were adhered to the cross stitch panel, I cut a couple more panels just slightly smaller than than the cross stitch panel and adhered to the back to give it some dimension.  I know I could of used foam for my layer but I find that can get to bulky by the time you get everything else on your card.  I cut the 'xoxo' die  - 2x from white card stock and once from Spellbinders white glittered foam and adhered together.

I know it looks like the 'XOXO' is not straight but it is.  I used my T-ruler to line it up.  I think it is because of the diagonal strips that makes it look a bit off.

To finish this one off,  I added some clear sequins, and punched 3 red hearts, adhered to the strip of hearts, then added some red art institute glitter for some sparkle. 

 For my second card, which is done basically the same, but I made the strips different widths and added some red rhinestones to finish off.



I was asked by one of my co-workers for 3 of these cards for her 3 children, one in blues (for her little boy), one in purples and the other like above.

I thank you for stopping in today, wishing you a wonderful day! See you again real soon,

Pauline

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Sympathy x 2

 Hello friends!  I've been busy over the last couple of weeks working on a card order for a friend.

Today, I have a couple of sympathy cards for you.  

For my first card, I used a stencil from Gina K.  I had this stenciled since last fall, but it just never made it into a card.  Since I was asked for Sympathy, I went through my partial done basket to see what I could use, and came across this.

Not sure of the inks I used but do believe they were Gina K inks.  Once the flower was stenciled, I left the stencil in place, then laid onto top a dotted stencil and taped it down.  I applied the inks using the same colours and once lifted it provided the dots onto the image.  Gives it a little more interest then just a plain stenciled flower.


I cut out the image using an MFT scalloped rectangle die, stamped the sentiment and then added some small pearls to finish it off.  I was going to add glitter, but decided to leave as is.


For my second card, a little more moodier in appearance, but like the depth of the blue inks. I sponged some Simon Says Positively inks for my gradient look.

I then took the SSS stamp set called Vintage Garden  and stamped the bottom and up the sides with a variety of stamps from this set. 

Stamped the sentiment in the middle also from the same Vintage Garden set.



To finish off I added some bluish sequins.

Thank you for you  visit today, have a wonderful day!

Pauline


Sunday, December 18, 2022

Rustic Wood Star

Hello friends.  Can you believe how close we are to Christmas? Can't believe how fast this season came upon us!  We have had no snow yet, just rain, but this morning we have a dusting of snow on the ground, maybe 1/8 of an inch if that. I know other parts of Ontario this week have had freezing rain and lots of snow.

Today, I have another Christmas card to share.  All products for this card are from Papertrey Ink.  This particular set is called Rustic Wood Star.  It's all dies - came together fairly quickly, well that is once I figured what I was doing lol.  The background die is also from PTI - Border Bling Joy Frame -I did not use the 'joy' on this card though.


I die cut the border frame, then sponged a variety of brown distress inks around the edges.  I continued to add until I was happy with the depth of the shading., I then adhered to the card base.

All the die pieces on my card were cut from white cardstock (except for the bow), then added distress inks for the colour.  I tried once with coloured cardstock, but felt I wasn't getting the variation and depth of colour, so switched to white c/s.

The wreath has 2 layers, once distressed, I adhered together just around the center ring, so the outside edges would lay freely.

For the bow I cut the bottom layer from cream c/s, then sponged the edges with distress ink, and top layer of the bow was cut from designer paper and the center cut from some gold glitter paper.

To finish off I added some chunky glitter to the wreath and leaves, and some gold pearls around the star.

I still have a couple of birthday cards to make before the end of the year as well, but Christmas cards are all done and all put in the mail.  Since I still have all my Christmas stamps, papers and dies still out, I think I will work on some more Christmas cards for next year.  

Wishing you all an amazing day, and thank you so much for stopping in today, I really do appreciate your visit. Keep warm, stay safe.

Pauline


Sunday, December 11, 2022

Warm Greetings

Hello everyone.  I'm back today to share one of very few Christmas cards I made this year.

When I saw this image released by Penny Black, well you know me, anything nature related I must have. Now I have had this coloured up just before we started our kitchen reno's, but I finally got around to finishing it up a couple of weeks ago, and popped it in the mail to a wonderful friend!

I used my Misti and tombow markers to colour this red rubber stamp, misting lightly before each impression and then continue until  I'm happy with the results.



Then came the hardest decision, how to finish the card.  I didn't want to take away from the image. I layered the image onto some gold mirror c/s, then  pulled out some kraft cardstock for the base, sponged around the edges with some distress oxide brown inks (sorry don't remember the exact colours) to darken it up.  I then used some Gansai Tambi  Starry Colours for the ink splatter.

I stamped the sentiment (Altenew) and then added some small rhinestones.  I love how this turned out!

That's it for me today, off to finish up a few more cards and get them in the mail.  

This coming week is my last week of working before Christmas break.  I took off the week of Dec 19, and don't return until Dec 28, going to be a nice long break :)

Enjoy your day, whatever you are up to. See you soon,

Pauline


Saturday, December 3, 2022

Update & PFS floral card

 Hello, it's certainly has been a while since I've posted anything!

We have been renovating our kitchen, just Bill and I.  So with working full time, and then at night and weekends we have been working in the kitchen, which has left not much time for card making.  And even if I did have some free time, I just couldn't get into making cards.

We have gutted the kitchen right down to the studs. We've had to have an electrican come in before we insulated and drywalled, as there were only a couple of  outlets in the kitchen, so we have added more as well as some electrical units for pot lights.  Dry walling is done and painted, ceiling is done, and the electrician is coming back this week, to finish up. We haven't ordered the cupboards as of yet, we did a preliminary drawing of what we want and we visited IKEA, - love their cupboards.  So after Christmas we will take final measurements since the walls are all done before finalizing our cupboard order.  We also have to rip up the old linoleum flooring, level that before laying new. So still lots of work ahead of us,. we are in no rush, but at least the worst of it is completed.

So that is what has kept me busy.  And besides with having a small house and not a lot of extra room as we have no basement, a lot of boxes and stuff are in my craft room, which again doesn't leave much space for crafting.

I was just looking through me pictures of cards that I have made a while ago and realized there are some that I have not posted.

Today's card is one I made for my sister for her birthday last month.

Using Pinkfresh Studio hot foil plate, matching die and stencils as well as a Spellbinders embossing folder.

For my ink blending I used SSS Positively inks - love these inks, they blend wonderfully.



To finish off I used a premade sentiment that came in a pkg from Pinkfresh Studio some pearls and a rhinestone heart.  Very pleased on how this turned out.

Well that's it for me, need to get working on some Christmas cards.  See you soon!

Have a wonderful day.

Pauline

Friday, September 2, 2022

Tall Leaf Spray

 Hello, and Happy Friday.  

Today's card is one I made in which I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  I have had this leaf die for a while but just never got around to using it.  My card is done with SSS Etched Tall Leaf Spray die, oxide and spray stains, and gold foil embossing



I started by cutting out my leaf using canson watercolour 140lb paper.  I sprayed a variety of distress inks onto my glass mat, then dabbed my leaf into it, picking up various colours, leaving a few of them with the natural colour of the watercolour paper.  

I also spritzed down my slim line watercolour paper, and just spritzed a bit of distress ink and then spritzed with water again, held up right and side to side to have the inks flow across the card.

After everything was dried, I flicked on some gold and copper paints.

For my sentiment I gold foiled a Spellbinders sentiment and cut it out with an Altenew sentiment label die, which was then layered onto the rusty colour c/s.

To finish I added some Bronze mix jewels from Little Things by Lucy.  I also matched up a brown paper bag envelope to go with it.

My second card was basically cased from the one I saw on Pinterest.  I made this one first, and then I created my first card in a different colour.




Well that's it for me today. Happy Labour Day weekend! See you again real soon,

Pauline


Monday, August 29, 2022

Curiosity Moth

Hi!  I have another card to share today  featuring  products from The Greetery.  I am using the Jumbo Curiosity Moth die & stencil as well as Leaves all around die & stencil set.  

I started by using the Leaves all around stencil and applied my inks.  Once completed I used  the matching die to cut it out.  What you see below on my card is only half of the  Leaves all around stencil.  You have the option of using the full die cutout or you can snip in half which is what I did.



I then used the Moth die cut out the pieces.  For each piece I used the matching stencil and applied the inks.  I made this card about a month ago and never noted the inks, but I believe they are SSS Positively inks.

I laid the leaf cut out onto my blue cardstock and traced around the leaves, so I could cut away the blue c/s and leave the white card base showing through.

I adhered the blue cardstock to the base as well as the leaves.  I popped up the Moth for dimension.

I silver foiled one of my Spellbinder glimmer sentiments, then cut it out using a sentiment flag end die.

I applied  wink of stellar clear glitter to the moth and added a navy pearl .

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.  See you again real soon.  Have a wonderful day,

Pauline




Saturday, August 20, 2022

Sympathy cards

 Hello there.  I'm back today with a couple more Sympathy cards to share.  It seems like I have made a ton of sympathy this year, but I always like to have them on hand, as I always get asked for them.

These two worked up fairly quickly, as I already had the backgrounds done from a while ago, just sitting in my basket waiting to be used.

My first card, I used a stamp from Stampendous, which was stamped using versafine gray.  I didn't want to use black, as that can be very harsh.  I stamped the sentiment also in gray and used one of my Altenew label dies to cut it out.  Added a layer of thin foam behind the panel to pop it up on my card base.  Finished off with some rhinestones under the sentiment.



My second card features a die from Memory Box - Sweet Bay Collage.  After the panel was die cut with sweet bay collage, I layered it onto a dark green base.  With Sympathy (Creative Expressions) was die cut a couple of times, then adhered together for dimension.  Added some gold rhinestones to finish off. 


I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Pauline