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

Gentle Blossom

 Hi there!  Today's card is one I made just to increase my stash bucket, which is pretty much depleted. I really need to get ahead of the game, much easier to pull a card out of your stash when you need one rather than have to make it.

Using products from Memory Box - Gentle Blossom Watercolour Floral, SSS Flickering Butterflies & SSS Positively saturated inks, Pinkfresh Studio - Essentials Mini Slimline dies and Penny Black - Not older, better (sentiment)

I started with some heavy weight white card stock and cut it down to a mini slimline using PinkFresh Studio die.

I then sponged some inks from yellow to pink over lapping in the middle to get the pinky colour, then spritzed with a bit of water and used a piece of paper towel to soak the excess as I didn't want large water spots.

Next, cut the die out of the white c/s, then sponged the same colours on the blossom. I stamped the sentiment first before adhere the blossom to make sure I had enough room.  Added the butterflies which were cut from gold mirror cardstock.

I was going to add some bling, but decided to leave as is.

I really love how this turned out.  I want to try some more but make the blossom in different colours.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Enjoy the rest of your day. Beautiful day here in SW Ontario only a high of 64F, but sunny and very windy.  I'll take this over the 116F days last week!

Keep well,

Pauline

Warm Christmas Wishes

Today, I have a cute Christmas card to share, but I must confess, I cased this card off of Memory Box website.  I fell in love with the wreath, snowman, well the whole thing.  Sometimes I find I need to Case when I loose my mojo!

I did change it somewhat but went with the general idea of the layout.

Very little stamping, almost all dies.

I started by sponging some distress oxide speckled egg onto some white cardstock, then used my snowflake stencil and added some clear glitter paste for the snowfall.

For the greenery I sponged various colours of green, brown, and a bit of yellow onto some white c/s, then a little spritz of water.  I then cut out the leaves.  For the brown wreath (circle) I cut from kraft then sponged some oxide frayed burlap and oxide ground espresso to darken it up.  The WARM letters were cut and then sponged with the espresso that I had left on my sponge.  Christmas wishes was stamped in black versafine onto some kraft. To dress up the berries I added red stickles, used scraps of paper for the snowman's hat, ear muffs, scarf and coloured his arms (twigs) using a dark brown copic marker.

Below are the dies I used to create this:

Memory Box - Precious snowflakes, Harvest Double Arch, Stylish Frame Trio, Poetic Uppercase Alphabet, Snowman Circle collage, and MB clear stamp set - Merry and Bright Mistletoe (for the christmas wishes sentiment).

I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit today.  I've been working on some more Christmas cards, so I'll be back shortly.

Have a wonderful day!

Pauline

Winter Landscapes

 Hello friends, hope you all had a great weekend! This weekend was beautiful weather wise.  Mid 70's lots of sun and warmth and very breezy on Sunday.  Today looks like the last day of this warmer weather as tomorrow for the 2 weeks temperatures in the upper 60's.  But then again it is fall!

Sorry I never posted in a while, last week was just crazy busy at work since I had Monday and Tuesday off, trying to play catch up the rest of the week.  I'm still working on my Christmas card stash, so today I'm back to share a couple more with you.

I'm using Memory Box Single Pine Landscape Frame. Love making these types of cards the die cut does it all for you.  Just a little bit of ink blending, stenciling, embossing and a sentiment!

Both cards were done the same I just changed the oxide inks I used for the background.

Oxide inks used for this one:  Speckled egg, Stormy Sky and a bit of Blue Print Sketch. A light blend of each, the used the snowflake stencil from The Greetery and applied Stormy Sky through the stencil.

I embossed the card base using a snowflake embossing folder.

I cut two frames and glued together for some stability, then stamped the sentiment.  I then put this piece into my splatter box and sprayed it with Imagine Sheer Shimmer craft spray Sparkle, and boy is it sparkly.  I tried to get a picture of it, but my camera just wouldn't pick it up, but it's there.

Second card done same way except I used these oxide inks: speckled egg and tumbled glass.

I plan on making more of these, some with a winter pinkish sky, some with a bit of yellow.  These do work up fast once you get going on them.

So happy you stopped by today.  Keep well, enjoy your day!

Pauline

Brilliant Butterfly

Hello! I'm finally back, last week has been  busy but I did manage to work on some cards. I finally got around to taking pictures of them yesterday.

My card today is one of my favourites.  I'm using MFT Dandelion Greenery and Brilliant Butterlies, I'm in love with both sets.  Love the whimsical feeling to the butterflies, and there are a variety of shapes and sizes, and for the greenery, I"m just a sucker for such things, so basically anything nature related I love.

I started off by stamping the greenery using PTI  spring moss, simply chartreuse and a bit of hawaiian shores, then stamped a few times and filled in where needed.  I used the tiny floral stamp and stamped using first and second generation stamping here and there.

For the butterfly, I used my distress inks - I actually only used the ink that was on the daubers, so not quite sure of the exact colours, but if guessing I would think worn lipstick pick raspberry and mustard seed.  I then over stamped it with the black wing overlay. So pretty isn't it? Can you see that bit of script in the background?.  I used a Magenta Company script stamped, add some spring moss very lightly to the stamp then took a rag and removed some of the ink in places then stamped very lightly, I just wanted a very loosely stamped script for a bit of interest.

The sentiment I from Simon Says Stamps - Tiny words, stamped in black versafine (using my misti). To finish off I added some tiny bubblegum pearls and iridescent butterflies, both from Studio Katia. Also added some clear glitter using my Nuvo clear glitter pen to the coloured portion of the butterfly.

MFT stitched rectangle to cut out the image, and background paper is from Memory Box.

So glad you stopped by today.  I"m off today as this is Canada's Civic Holiday, I"m hoping to get a bit more stamping done.

Have yourself a fabulous day! 💗

Pauline

Peace

Hello everyone!  I'm a happy camper as I have all my Christmas card orders completed, and all my Christmas cards in the mail as of last week! Woohoot!!!! Such a good feeling. I massed produced some of my cards that I shared in Oct & Nov which help speed things up, as well as I had a few left from last year that I made.

Today's card is one I made using Memory Box dies - Ruffled Poinsettia #94296 and Petite Leaf Frame #94318.  The 'peace' is from IO # DIE226-A.

I die cut the poinsettia and frame from white linen c/s.  I layered it onto some smooth white c/s, then onto some gold mirri c/s.  Love the look between the two different whites.

The 'peace' was also cut 3 times - 2 from white and then from the gold mirri, and adhered together.
I popped the poinsettia up so I could tuck the leaves underneath.  I then used a Nuvo clear glitter pen and coloured the poinsettia to add sparkle, so pretty in real.

I adhered the Peace along the bottom and then added some prills to the center of the poinsettia.

I made 5 of these!

Thanks for stopping by, have yourself a wonderful day!

Pauline

Floral border

Hello! Sorry it's been a while since I posted, seems like forever.  Just been busy, and working overtime the last few weeks.  We are back to normal hours for a bit, so trying to catch up on things.

My card today is one that I had made a while ago.  Someone at work requested a Good Luck card for a co-worker who was moving to another job role.

I had the background already done, sitting in my spare parts basket just waiting to be used. I die cut the Memory Box Antilles Floral Border from white c/s and adhered to the coloured background.

I have a little package of labels, and there just happened to be a 'good luck' tag in there which worked perfectly for my card.  I added a green silk bow and some pretty rhinestones to the centers of the flowers.

Enjoy your weekend, see you again real soon!

Pauline

Birthday Greetings

Hello and happy Monday to all! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  It was sunny here for a change but cold north winds.  I was still wearing my winter jacket in the mornings as I was outside working in the gardens.

Today's card is one that I made for my card order for my friend.  I'm using Reverse Confetti Tall Blooms.

I started by embossing with white ep on some canson watercolour paper.  I then coloured the blooms using my Zigs.  I then cut them out by hand as I do not have the matching dies.

I also cut two different size tags from the Memory Box Pinpoint Mainstreet Tags - one from vellum and one from white c/s.  I smooshed some distress oxide inks onto my craft mat, spritz water and then tapped my paper in it. (sorry never wrote the colours down I used).

I used the greeting from the stamp set and stamped it onto some white c/s using Archival ink - vibrant fuchsia, then cut it out using the Simon Says stitched banner.  To make the flag banner at both ends, once I cut it the first time, I then removed the die, turned it around and placed the die close to the end of the sentiment - the stitching will line up from the precut stitching to the die, and then I ran it through again. If you don't have a die that fits your sentiments perfecting, this is a work-a-round, I do it all the time.

I adhered the flowers to the tag, then added some foam tape behind the sentiment for some dimension.  I made a double fushia bow from silk ribbon and adhered it to the top of the tags. The yellow gingham paper is some I had in my scrap basket.  I think it might be from Yellow Bicycle.

To finish off I added some clear sequins.

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping in today.

Pauline

Lily of the Valley

Well, hello everyone! Today's card I made with Easter in mind, as well as I made a few of these for Mother's day and birthdays.  I ended up making 3 of these and boy were they easy.  I love dies when  they do most of the work for you.

I'm using Memory Box "Lilly of the Valley Frame" for my card. I started by die cutting it from white cougar 100 lb c/s. There are 2 pieces to this die, the outside square frame and the lily circle.

I coloured the lily with copic markers, a few shades of green and a few shades of the lilac. I also sponged some distress oxide ink onto a piece of white c/s to put behind the lily's. I used spellbinders circle die to cut out the distress background to adhere behind the lily frame.

I find lilac/mauve/purple designer papers hard to match up with inks, but I found some MFT papers from the Tranquil textures paper pack that seems to match quite well with the mauve c/s and the lily's. I added some silk ribbon to cover the transition between c/s and deisnger paper, then added a small bow on the side.

For finishing touches I used my clear wink of stella pen for the lily's, clear sequins and some pearls for the corners of the square frame.

I'm off for 4 days, but it doesn't look too promising for Bill and I to get out for some spring migration birding.  It's been raining since last night and rain today and tomorrow and Monday, so looks like our only good day will be Easter Sunday.  On the bright side, maybe I'll be able to create a few more cards this weekend.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone! Wishing your a wonderful day!

Pauline

Dainty whispers

Hello!  I'm back today to share another Penny Black image. 

I started by applying distress oxide inks to some canson watercolour paper, using twisted citron, cracked pistachio, peakcock feathers & blueprint sketch.

I then stamped the image - dainty whispers, using memento black.  I was sure to put this in my Misti as I was afraid I might not get a good impression first time around, so this way I can re-stamp the image,

Next, I took a wet paintbrush and dotted each flower blossom to remove the oxide ink.  It only takes a few seconds and you can see the ink lifting.  You can dab it with some paper towel to soak it up.

For the corner leafy branch, I used a Penny Black stencil and some blueprint sketch oxide ink. I just love how it fills in the corner and completes the card.

along the bottom I used a Memory Box die cut - Valencia Border.

I added some TH distress glitter on each of the flower petals.

This worked up fast, a good card to mass produce if need be.  Well looks like I'll be back to working 12 hour days again next week, so won't have any time for carding.  I'm trying to squeeze in as much stamping as I can these week nights, and looks like I'll be working this saturday as well.

I do have a couple of cards ready for posting, just need to take some pictures.

See you back here real soon, thanks for your visit.

Pauline

Oxide ink backgrounds

Good morning everyone.  Hope your week is going well.  Although I'm knee deep with Christmas card making as I'm sure most of you are, I had to divert from that to complete one of my card orders.   I had a request for 5 sympathy cards.  I always find sympathy cards need to be soft and mellow.  I rummaged through some of my dies to see what I could use.

For my first card I used distress oxide ink work lipstick,  wild honey and inka gold platinum.  I added this to my teflon mat, spritzed with water, mixed slightly as not to get it too muddy looking, then smooshed some canson watercolour paper - gorgeous results.  I used Memory Box dragonfly stems left corner, cut from black c/s, the framed it with MFT pierced rectangle frames. The background is embossed with a ef - sorry not sure of the name.  To finished I added a peel off - with sympathy sticker, then added a couple of PTI clear dots.

For my second card, I used distress oxide ink - cracked pistachio and a bit of peacock feathers along with some nuvo embellishment mouse- spring green.  I used the same smooshing technique as above.
Memory box clara corner was used, then framed with MFT pierced oval frame. I used an ef for the background as well.  Following the same as my first card I used a peel off sticker for the sentiment and then added a couple of pearls.

I ended up making 2 of each of these cards as I had enough ink on my mat to do so.  A bit of ink goes a long way.

Now, I need to get back to working on my Christmas cards.  Thanks for visiting today, have yourself a wonderful day, whatever your day holds for you.
See you back her soon,

Pauline

Antilles for you

Happy Monday everyone!

I had a chance to play around yesterday with some of the Tim Holtz distress oxide inks.  I love that you can keep adding inks to your paper and they don't get muddy (of course you need to heat set between each colour).  This was the end result of my first piece.

I started with a piece of canson watercolour paper.  I smooshed the spiced marmalade onto my silicone mat, spritzed with some water, the put the paper to the ink, moved the paper around and added some more ink, then heat set.  I continued to do this with worn lipstick and fired brick.
I then took a stencil and laid it on top of my ink piece, spritzed water, let it set for a bit, then took a paper towel and laid it over top hoping to soak up the water and remove some of the ink.  Well it did just that but not very well.  You can see some lines of the vines but not very clearly.  But, hey that's okay it still gave the background a bit of texture.  I then splattered some watered down fired brick and flicked the paint brush.  I think I might of added too much water because when the droplets dried you can hardly see them.  I also flicked a bit of white paint, that too is kind of pale.

I then cut out the Antilles floral border using white c/s and adhered to my inked piece. 

I embossed the sentiment from Penny Black - snippets onto some black card stock using white embossing powder.  I cut it out using Simon Says stitched flag stax die.

To finish off I added both yellow and orange rhinestones in the centers of the flowers. 

Supplies:
stamp - Penny Black - snippets
ink - Tim Holtz distress oxide inks - spiced marmalade, fired brick & worn lipstick.
paper - canson watercolour 140 lb, cougar white, black, shimmer bazzill in burnt orange
die - Simon says - stitched flag stax, Memory Box - antilles floral border
misc - rhinestones, white embossing powder, versamagic

Thanks for your visit, greatly appreciated.  See you soon,

Pauline

Just for you

Hello everyone! Life has been hectic in every way this past week or so, hence the lack of posting.
I have something to share with you starting next week, as I've been working on that project as well.

This weekend starts our birding venture, which Bill and I do every spring.  Bird migration happens usually the first 3 weeks of May, at least that is when the big influx of birds come through our area. We spend lots of time at Pt. Pelee National Park and Rondeau Provincial Park, both along Lake Erie. Can't wait, so excited.  Beautiful day tomorrow, chance of rain Sunday and Monday, but then again when is the weather man every right!

So my card today is done with some back ground distress ink wash, stamping, die cutting and embellishing.  I will be doing a similar card for my card classes at Paper Pickle in May as well.

I started with some TH water colour paper, soaked it down with water and then added distress inks - peacock feathers, twisted citron and squeezed lemonade. I then cut it out using an MFT stitched rectangle die.

For my tag I stamped an image from Penny Black blooming tags using squeezed lemonade onto some white card stock. It is in the shape of a tag which made it easy to cut out, then sponged some ink around the edges. The black vine is a rub on which I pulled out of my stash- gosh I really need to use these more, just love that little bit of extra it gives. I punched the tag hole out and added a peel and stick enamel rain dot (another embellishment from my stash) - getting good at using stash items on this card!.  I also stamped a little flag tag with a sentiment from Penny Black - Snippits.  This is a beautiful set of lots of small font and small sayings- a great set for all card makers to have - just sayin!

For the top butterfly I used water colour paper and made a colour wash again- a bit more saturated in colour because I wanted it to stand out.  I then used MB moonlight butterfly die to cut it out.  I also used MB Lunette butterfly to cut the turquoise butterfly.

To put it all together, I adhered the doily to the background piece, added some fun foam to the back of the tag to give it some dimension off the card.  Adhered the two butterflies together and then adhered to the tag. Added some clear sequins and some gorgeous glitter dots from Prima. And there you have it! I will be making more of these - this was a fun card to do.

Thanks for the visit today. I hope you have a great weekend - I know I will.  I'm sure I will have lots of 'bird' photo's to share over the next couple of months.

Pauline

Cards for upcoming class

Hello everyone.  I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

I thought I would share with you today a couple of cards that I will be teaching at our local stamp store - The Paper Pickle   on Feb 24 & March 2.  If you are local and would love to take my class, please call the store to register, I believe the March 2 class is almost full.

The first card I started by stamping the image (Penny Black - charming) using black memento and then coloured the image using prismacolour pencils.  I also stamped off one of the flowers again (2nd from the right) coloured and popped it up.  Sponging was done around the edges,then I used a stencil for the top right corner, and applied more sponging to get the design to show.  To finish off I added some glitter and sequins.

For the second card I used a memory box flower die, cut it out of white cardsotck, sponged the stem and flower using distress inks.  On the layer (just before the card base) I sponged some distress inks, kept measuring how much I needed to extend the ink by placing my die cut scallop circle in place.  One I was happy with the sponged area I splatted some distress ink with a paint brush (love doing this, I need to do this more, love the look).  I punched some butterflies using Martha Stewart's butterfly punch, added colour with distress inks.  Finished this card off with a rhinestone in the center of the larger butterfly and popped the flower up.

Be sure to stop back here on Feb 18th, this coming Thursday.  I am helping Emily from Stamping Bella out on her big upcoming release, so I have sneak peak to show you.  Can't wait to share with you.

Enjoy your day, see you Thursday,

Pauline

Tree of Wonder

Hi Everyone, hope your weekend is going well.  

I thought I would share a card with you today, that I made using one of my new Memory Box dies.
Just when you thought the last release was the best, they come out with another one that is even better! This latest release from Memory Box just blew my mind.  Some of the intricacy of these dies  - just gorgeous.

Okay enough blabbing on, lets get on with my card.  The die I used for this card is called Tree of Wonder.  I guess you could use this for many occasions,  but again I think I will use this as a sympathy card.

I kept this in neutral tones, cream and smokey gray.  The cream c/s is actually a shimmer c/s - very pretty in real. It didn't need a lot of extra but thought it needed something, so I added an oval pearl on the trunk.

Well that's it, a very quick and easy card wouldn't you say? 
If your local and want this die, I purchased it through Kim at Paper Pickle.

Thanks for your visit, and enjoy the rest of your day! 

Memories

Happy Wednesday, we are half way through the week.

Just thought I would do a quick post today before heading off to work.  I've been playing with my new Memory Box dies - I just love these dies.  I bought this Orchard Tree die, as well as the Pippi Butterfly and Isabella Butterfly (one is solid the other is the overlay)from Paper Pickle.  If you would like to purchase these  and she doesn't have it in stock, Kim will gladly order it for you.

 

I cut the frame out using black c/s, then traced the outside of the frame on a piece of designer paper from a 6x6  Prima - Nature collection. Cut this out and then laid the frame over top of it and then stamped my sentiment.  Sentiment is from Verve from the set called Forever in our Hearts.  I pulled this all together using some Martha Stewart punches - butterflies and the leafy branch, also a Prima flower, and some tiny pearls.

I was really pleased with how this turned out. It sure makes a beautiful sympathy card.

Well, I'm off, enjoy your day!