Vintage Seed Packet

Good morning blog friends! We are getting ready to drive down to our family reunion in North Carolina this Sunday, we'll be spending a week on the Outer Banks with many, many of our relatives from near and far. It's an exciting time that we've been looking forward to for over a year! It will be wonderful spending time with cousins, aunts and uncles that I haven't seen in ages. We used to be a very close extended family as children, but as everyone grew older, married and moved all over the country and even overseas. 

So there will be no crafting for me next week, and this will be my last card for a while. Maybe I'll post pictures of the beach while I'm there though. 

Also, a little while ago I posted that I was going to be relocating to North Carolina sometime this summer, however, plans have changed again. We're not moving unfortunately. It's a bittersweet decision, I was looking forward to being closer to my brothers as well as my parents who just recently moved there but it just wasn't meant to be I guess. I'm relieved that there won't be a long, tiresome move, new job hunting, etc., etc. but a little sad as well.

Oh well, enough personal news... here's a card I made a couple of weeks ago. I was sorely tempted again to buy the new companion set that was released to this seed packet stamp set from PTI recently, but I thought to myself- I haven't even used the old set! How could I justify buying another if I haven't even used the one I have! I have really tried to curtail how many stamps I buy, especially if I already have one that is similar. So, I cracked open a couple of stamps I've never used.

Now that I've created a card using the seed packet set, I sort of don't feel the urge to get the new one, because it is so similar. I'm happy with this one. I did a simple window for the seed packet layer, and water colored the sweet peas for the bottom layer. 

Well, I'm off to start packing, lots to do before we leave! Thanks for peeking in, be back in a week with some exciting news!


Most supplies from PTI.

Hip hop hooray!

Ok, I'm sure some of you will be wondering why in the heck I have a strange frog card to show you today, and the truth is, I couldn't resist. I get bored doing the same type of thing over and over, and needed to do something different. This whimsical froggie from Purple Onion Designs is just what the Dr. ordered. 

He's colored entirely in colored pencils on Kraft paper, with NO OMS blending. This is the way I used to color in High School art class, lol. There are a lot more layers of color this way, which provides a beautiful depth to the image. 

I am really happy with the way this card came out, it took me a lot of time, but well worth it. The gorgeous lily pad flowers are a Silhouette Store cut file that I shrunk down quite a bit. I hand cut the tall grasses with my trusty sharp little scissors. 


Hope you like it as much as I do, thanks for stopping by!


Stamps: Purple Onion Designs, PTI
Ink: Memento, Distress
Papers: Cloud digital pattern paper from Shery K Designs; Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket
Tools & Accessories: colored pencils, Souffle pen, embroidery floss, ball pin, bugle bead, PTI banner die

Groovy Chick

Hello everyone, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that many of you liked my CAS card! I was a bit hesitant to even ask (in fear of the dreaded silence when people are too polite, lol) but apparently I had nothing to worry about! Thank you so much for all the kind words, they are very much appreciated.

Well, considering I much prefer lots of layers and embellishments on my usual cards, we're back to my comfort zone with this one. I thought this groovy little chick from Wee Stamps was calling out to be colored, so here's what I came up with...

I really wanted to do a hippie style card, but I didn't have any tie dye patterns, and really didn't feel searching for some, so I went some really colorful papers with very organic patterns instead. I skipped the whole peace, love thing and just went with the flow. 

I had to add a computer generated groovy sentiment though, complete with a Flower Power font, lol! And maybe the retro felt daisies...


Oh well, it is what it is... thanks for stopping by!


Stamps: Wee Stamps
Papers: Basic Grey, PTI, Hammermill for image
Tools & Accessories: PTI ribbon/button/banner/flower dies, Spellbinders Lacey circles/Nestabilities, wool felt, baker's twine, Copics, Stickles, EK Success lace edge punch

Like a Rainbow

I've never, ever made a LOTV card using only one layer, and no patterned paper. Like a CAS (clean and simple) card almost. So I had to give it a shot. Actually I did this one a while ago, I just wasn't sure I wanted to share it here, lol. But, I figured what the hey? This is why I blog, to share my paper crafting hobby, good and sometimes, meh.

So here it is, one layer, a pretty rainbow of felt flowers as an embellishment and a sentiment. Does it work? I kind of like it. 

So there it is, tell me what you think?


Thanks for visiting!


Stamps: Lili of the Valley, PTI sentiment
Ink: Memento
Paper: PTI
Tools & Accessories: PTI flower dies, wool felt, Memory Box Cherry Blossom die (for flower centers), pearls, Copics, Stickles, PTI ribbon

Room with a View

Good morning everyone, how would you like to wake up every morning to a view like this out your window? I wish... but I may never leave my room if that were the case, lol! This is a gate (or window) die from Heartfelt Creations and I am nuts about it. I love the way you can open and close the shutters. I'd leave it closed when mailing, but what a nice surprise for the recipient when the shutters open up to reveal the pretty vista inside. 

I used a digital landscape from Just Inklined that I got a long time ago, unfortunately I don't see any more digital stamps in their web store anymore! I don't know what happened, maybe I'm just missing it. Anyway, I colored it with some Copics and mounted it behind the window.

Here's a closer look with the shutters partly closed. 

The gorgeous papers are from a Prima paper pad. I custom colored some of the smaller rosebuds from Wild Orchid Crafts with Copics too, I didn't have the right color to match the paper. It's why I bought a bunch of white roses, because I knew I would have this problem! Copics work really nicely because they kind of bleed along the soft paper giving them a more natural, softer looking color.


Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!


Stamps: Digital image from Just Inklined
Papers: Prima, Hammermill, white cardstock, Memory Box
Tools & Accessories: Heartfelt Creations die, Spellbinders Label & border dies, silk ribbon, WOC roses, Copics

Spring Ride

Happy Monday (ok, maybe not happy)! Thank you so much for all the sweet comments on my Strawberry Card post, made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! 

I had a nice quiet crafty weekend, catching up on tons of stuff. I got to play with Flora the Cyclist from Stamping Bella and make a pretty spring card with her. I am not normally into characters with exaggerated body parts (Flora's got some looooong legs, lol!), but these Uptown girls are just so cute and pretty at the same time. 

So, cute and pretty Flora was colored with Copics. I cut an extra layer of her skirt and popped it up to give it some fullness.

Thanks for looking, have a great week.


Stamps: Stamping Bella
Ink: Adirondack
Paper: Prima, Hammermill, PTI
Tools & Accessories: Copics, Stickles, colored pencils, OMS, hand dyed seam binding, Cheery Lynn doily die, Spellbinders Label die, Perfect Layers ruler

Now that's a strawberry stamp!

Hello everyone! I recently saw a new strawberry stamp set soon to be released from a popular co. , and was tempted to give in and buy it. But I am trying to wean myself away from purchasing more stamps that I don't need so I decided to try and find an alternative. As it happens, I already had a digital stamp from Beccy's Place, and the best part.... it was free! I love this strawberry cluster so much better than the one I was contemplating buying, so why waste the money? I love fruit stamps, berries being one of my favorites, so I'm always on the lookout for pretty ones to add to my collection. I'm not picky when it comes to stamps, digital, clear, rubber - I love 'em all.

I remembered that Raspberry Road Designs had a strawberry themed paper set, and they had an awesome sale for Easter last weekend, so I stocked up on some of my favorite collections. This one is called 'Strawberry Farms' and it is to-die-for. 

I added a white cherry blossom (can't remember where I got it) because it resembled Strawberry blossoms and some pretty flourishes for vines. The sentiment seal is from Catslife Press. I may be sending this one off to my Mom for Mother's Day this year, or I might change the sentiment to a general 'Mom' one because her birthday is right around Mother's Day. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. 


Hope you like it, thanks for taking a peek!


Stamps: Digital image from Beccy's Place, Catslife Press
Ink: Memento, Distress
Paper: Hammermill CCC for all digital printing, kraft, SU
Tools & Accessories: Spellbinders Labels/Nestabilities, Marianne Creatables flourish dies, Copics, Stickles, Spica pens, gingham ribbon, Viva Decor pearl pen, paper flower from unknown source, EK Success doily edge punch

By the River

We're continuing our Boy/Circle theme this month over at the Lili of the Valley Inspire blog, head on over to see more of the card I created this week.

Seahorse Bay

Hello everyone! I couldn't resist adding this gorgeous Seahorse stamp set from Justrite to my stash, I love the ocean and this one just called to me. Some day, when I hit the lottery ;-) one of my homes will be on the ocean, maybe on a bluff overlooking a rocky shore. It's good to dream, but in the meantime, I can make beautiful cards that remind me of the sea. 

I stamped the seahorse image in brown embossing powder on hot press water color paper. I pulled out a couple of my Tombow markers and added some color to the background with a water brush. I let three colors just bleed into each other to give it that soft watery look.


The papers are from one of my favorite collections from Kaisercraft, 'Devonshire'. It's got the perfect blue-greens and sand colors that remind me of the ocean. I stitched some seed beads around the border of the card, which is very time consuming, but adds such a beautiful touch to any card. 

So now I can keep this card on my desk and dream about my ocean front home, lol! Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by.


Stamps: JustRite
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Kaisercraft, Core'dinations, hot press w/c paper
Tools & Accessories: Martha Stewart seashell PATP set, Spellbinders Labels 22, twill ribbon, Tombow Markers, brown EP, Koi water brush, Stickles, seed beads, Kaisercraft pearls

Yee-haw!

Good morning blog friends! I think I may have figured out the best way for making faux wood look really, really close the the real thing. I've done this before, but never with the awesome results I got here. I added an extra step to a popular technique I see used all over the paper crafting world and love the result.

That wood looks pretty darn real, doesn't it?! Here's how I did it:
I stamped PTI's woodgrain background in Antique Linen Distress Ink on Rustic Cream cardstock. Stamped again (slightly off from the original) in Corduroy. Sponged Antique Linen, Corduroy and Walnut over the whole thing, making sure to leave some areas light.
Stamped again with Cream pigment ink, let it dry.
THEN, the real magic happened when I ran it through my Big Kick with the woodgrain impression plate. Yee-haww! Love the result! 
Anyway, it made the perfect frame for this adorable cowgirl Wryn, I love this little girl to pieces! She's colored with Copics.

The papers are from Raspberry Road Designs, 'Cowgirl Cool', how cool is that cowhide print? I stamped the sentiment with a Just Rite custom stamper. Remember those tiny little letters that you have to be super careful with popping them into the round stamper thingy? Well, I haven't figured out how to do computer generated sentiments in a circle (well I have, but they printed out really poorly) so I had to dig the classic stamper out. 


This card goes into the favorites pile! Hope you like it too, thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Digital image from Tiddly Inks, Just Rite, PTI
Ink: Distress, Memento, Perfect Match
Paper: Hammermill (for digital image and PP), Bazzill, Core'dinations
Tools & Accessories: Nestabilities, Spellbinders Labels, PTI ribbon/woodgrain impression plate, silver brad, SU scallop punch

Sparkling Spring

Hello friends! As I grow to love using my Cameo more, I try to find more and more ways to use it on my cards. I spend hours searching the Silhouette Store and the internet for inspiration from all the digital cut files available. The SS is jam packed with the best selection of all sorts of cut files on the web IMO. I spied a bunch of these very ornate frames last week and knew I had to use it on a card. There were three layers so I cut them from three different colors of Memory Box paper. This is where the beauty of the layering comes through. 

I stamped a simple branch of leaves on the oval inset panel and cut out a pretty little bird silhouette to perch on it. 

A few little pearl embellishments with a Viva Decor pen to add some dimension to the flourishes and what a beauty of a focal point for a Mother's Day card. 
The papers are from Prima's Sparkling Spring paper pad.


Thanks for visiting , have a good weekend!


Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Fresh Ink, A|Muse Studios, Fluid Chalk
Paper: Prima, Memory Box
Tools & Accessories: Silhouette Cameo, Viva Decor Pen, twill ribbon, Spellbinders Fancy Labels die

Boys Love Cookies

Good morning friends! This month we're making stuff for the boys with circles as an optional addition to the theme. I know a lot of you have a hard time making cards for the boys/men in our lives, but I love making cards for boys! I think it's the cool patterns/textures and masculine colors. It's good to use different things than I usually do. So here's a little card and cookie tower box I came up with. The milk carton template is from the Silhouette store which I modified a bit with an oval opening so you can see the stack of cookies. I love how the Cameo not only cuts this box template out, but scores all the fold lines too! Super easy to put together.

The stamp I chose for the card is an oldie but goody, 'Milk and Biscuits' which I colored with Copics, and some colored pencils as well. I dug deep into the paper stash and came across this old SU collection with colors that were perfect for a little boy. 

I added some banners to the card and the box that I cut with dies. I don't use these nearly enough, so it was perfect for this project. 


I hope this helps you get some ideas for those sweet little boys in your life, they're so much fun. I'll have some more masculine themed cards later on this month, including the perfect card for Dad!


Thanks for visiting, have a great day!


Stamps: Lili of the Valley 'Milk and Biscuits' and 'For Him Sentiments'
Ink: SU
Paper: SU, Hammermill for stamped image
Tools & Accessories: Nestabilities, SU ribbon, pinking edge rotary cutter, Copics, banner dies, baker's twine, Silhouette Cameo

Dropping a line....

Hello everyone, hope your weekend was good. Mine is just about over as I write this, nice to have a three day weekend once in a while! I did get quite a few cards done, just for fun cards with no obligations. Love those days...

This one is using a Stamping Bella stamp, the new line of Ramona girls. I just couldn't resist this sweetie. 

I love the papers from the Prima Songbird collection, lots of oranges that I almost never use outside of Halloween. It helps that they're not bold in-your-face oranges, just really pretty soft, muted shades. I'm very proud of myself, first purple, now orange! 

Hope you like it, thanks for visiting!


Stamps: Stamping Bella
Ink: Memento, Perfect Match
Paper: Prima, Bazzill, Hammermill
Tools & Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, Copics, Stickles, colored pencils, OMS, embroidery floss, PTI ribbon, MFT waves die, EK Success doily edge punch, PTI banner die