Friday, June 30, 2017

"How Old Is Old?"

Happy Friday to you my friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
Let's have a grand ole' time this weekend.  Let's celebrate the upcoming Fourth of July with fun, food and family.

It's Friday and I usually see what I have in my stash to make a card. I call my post, "What's In My Stash?"
Today, I've been inspired by the June Hero Arts kit.  I don't have the kit but I thought I had some of the pictures of the stamps that were in the kit.  I went way, way down in my stash because I remember getting an African theme book at the beginning of my scrapbooking days and had not thrown it away (it still had a few pages left and the cardstock was really a heavy weight).
Yippee!, I found it but was not so happy to find that most of the animal pictures had been used or cut out of the book (DCWV Safari Chic stack).  I had two pages with the elephant on it so my card was made from those two pages, a Recollections stamp set and NUVO bronze and white crystal drops.
I'm going to enter this card over at Cropstop.com/blog   June Challenge Link Party #29
http://www.cropstop.com/blog/cards/ahoy-embossing-tutorial/
Come and join me.
Here is the card I made.  The focal is made out of one of the sheets of DCWV Safari Chic Stack cardstock.  With the second sheet, I fussy cut out the elephant and decoupage it on top of the first one.  I used the white NUVO drops and colored in the tusk and added bronze NUVO drops for the eyes and for embellishment.
Using the Recollections stamp set, Versa mark ink, gold embossing powder, and black Archival ink.  I stamped the sentiment with the Versa mark and heat embossed the gold powder.  I stamped the sentiment again with the black ink moving the paper less than an eighth of an inch to make the gold embossing a shadow effect.  Below are two of the items used in the making of this card.
Thanks for visiting today.
I always enjoy your view and your comments.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Thursday, June 29, 2017

"Happy Birthday To You"

Hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers on this June 29, 2017.   It's Thursday and we have one more day before the end of June and before the start of a long weekend.  When some of you finish your shift on Friday afternoon, you will not have to see your co-workers until next Wednesday, July 5, 2017.  How wonderful is that?  
For a good laugh, I'm my own boss at the moment, so I have to see myself every day....go ahead...laugh and laugh some more.  Let it out!!!  I just did.  Now, back to business.

Some birthdays are coming up for the month of July....I'm getting started with making some cards for those "special" people.   Today's card is using a color that I personally don't like for myself.  I have very few items in my closet using this color but with packages of paper that I get from my favorite store... some that I really like always include this color in it.  It's fine for making flowers and leaves but I seldom use it for a card.  Someone said that green was the color for 2017.  I haven't researched this information.  I remember from this past weekend, my grand daughter has changed her favorite color from pink to teal.  I'm not sure if she knew that green what the going color for this year.

Take a look at what I worked on this morning:

Above you see the "Birthday" card with two views.
Below you  see some of the items I used:
die: Spellbinders Cascading Grace
stamps: Bo Bunny floral stamp and Martha Stewart clear stamps
paper: Bazzill green and Colorbok Signature Novelty
embellishment: Recollections flowers and green Offray ribbon.
Thanks so much for using your time to view this page today.  I hope you enjoyed your view and will come back again.
Your comments are always welcome here.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

"Recollections, Hero Arts And A Quote"

Hello on this Wednesday...
Friends, followers, visitors and viewers, what a great day to get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather if you're in the part of the world that is having summer.
It is so beautiful and I enjoy taking a walk to get some of my steps in.  I haven't obtain my goal as of yet but I'm working on it.  If I don't get but fifteen minutes in it is better than not doing anything at all.  Now, don't you agree.

I shop at Michaels (most of you already know this).  I'm known to pick up paper when it is on sale...4 for a $1 or 5 for a $1.  Yesterday, while I was organizing my paper and paper pads, I  put all the sheets that came from Michaels in a bin by themselves.  I noticed that I've been buying paper and not using it.  This morning, I decided to use some for my project as well as a quote I received on Monday.  The quote  led me to get out a kit that I've not used since it was sent to me (the Hero Arts April Kit).
 

 I used the sketch from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ Sketch Challenge 651 {06/28/2017}
I often get inspired to do their sketch challenge.  This morning was one of those times.  I will submit this over at http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com  Challenge #288-#289 - Anything Goes also.


 Here are some of the inks I used:
Distress ink: shaded lilac and spun sugar (see the inside circle)
black Archival ink for stamping (images in the circle and on the sentiment)
glitter gel pens (color for lipstick)
 Stamps: Hero Arts April Kit and Hero Arts "you are fabulous" stamp set
Recollections paper:
Watercolor Cherry Blossom; Pink Gold Drops; Pink Glitter; and Damask and Dots


Thanks for viewing and thanks for commenting.
Your continued support is much appreciated.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

"Going Through Something"



Hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
Happy Tuesday to you and I hope all is going well.
Not everyone is the same at all times.  Some days are much better than others.  Some of us are all smiles while others are so depressed and sad that they wear this look on their faces as well as their body expression.  We may ask, "how are things going" and all we will get is "okay" or a blank look on their face.
Trials and tribulations are coming no matter how good or successful we are.  If you haven't had any, just wait...your time is coming.  "It'll all be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end. ~John Lennon.

Romans 8:28    “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  All things don’t just happen to work out for good on their own. Rather, God providentially works all things together for good for His people according to His purpose.  God is so supremely in charge of the world that all the things that happen to Christians are ordered in such a way that they serve our good. Tribulation and distress and persecution and famine and nakedness and peril and sword all work together for the good of those who love God.

Expressing my post for today by using this card:



To make the above card, I used basically two items, cardstock and stickers.  The stickers are called "dancing butterflies" from eksuccess Sticko and the paper came from Field Study paper pad.
This was a simple card to make just by using cardstock and a few stickers.  
I hope you enjoy this view and will come back to join me again.

Thanks so much for your time and comment.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Monday, June 26, 2017

"Ready To Celebrate"

Good Monday, June 26, 2017 to all.
It is almost that time to celebrate for the 4th of July.   We have about four more days left in June and next Tuesday there will be fireworks in every park.
Are you preparing for the red, white and blue?  
Today's card feature the colors, red white and black.  The closer we get to the 4th of July you may see the red, white and blue.  I don't make Fourth of July cards not unless I'm in a challenge and so far I haven't seen one with that theme.  I really had not seen one with the red, white and black theme either.  It was just my decision to use these colors today.


Cardstock: Neenah white; Bazzill red; DCWV the All Dressed Up matstack.
die cut: Spellbinders Floral Corner die cut in red and white;  bicycle cut from Cricut design space
embellishment: Textured elements red blossoms flowers from Petaloo
Sentiment: watercolor sticker from Vicki Boutin
entry: http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
entry: http://www.cropstop.com/blog

Items used from left to right:
DCWV the All Dressed Up matstack
Vicki Boutin watercolor stickers
Spellbinders Floral Corner One die
Petaloo Textured Red Blossoms elements


Thanks for visiting and thanks for your support.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Friday, June 23, 2017

"Peace Be With YOU"

Welcome to Friday, my friends, followers, visitors and viewers.

I'm ready for the weekend and I'm so excited.  Why?  "Sunshine" is spending the weekend with us starting today.  Expecting her any minute now.
I ask DH what did he have planned for her...I guess it is a secret because he wouldn't tell me...or, he doesn't know himself (lol).  We've known for about two weeks now that she was coming so it is not a surprise...I'm ready for... as my daughter calls it... "a handful".  What are grandmothers to do?  Have fun with their granddaughter, that's what they do.

It's Friday and you also know what that means...using items from my stash.  I saved some Sizzix "garden greens"die cuts  this week that were distressed using TH distress inks.  I found some frames from my die cuts bag and a sentiment from my bag of sentiments.  The only extra I used today were cardstock to layer and the NUVO drops.  I applied the drops and waited  to give them a little drying time before posting.   So easy and very simple card to put together.  Another card for my "Soldier Box of Cards".
 

As always, you will see this again at http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.
Challenge #288-#289 - Anything Goes

Thanks for viewing.  Thanks for the comments.
Go forth and have a fun-filled weekend.  If you don't have grandchildren to play with....have fun with  someone.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Thursday, June 22, 2017

"Two To Share"

Hello friends, followers, viewers and visitors.
What a gorgeous day we are having. 
It's a great time to get those steps in and move closer to being healthier.  Take a walk today and enjoy the fresh air.

Just before going out for a walk, I want to share two cards with you today.  I had a fantastic time using the distress inks and making a shaker card.

 

My first card:
  • Start with a piece of Ranger water color paper.  I used various colors of distress inks to color the paper.  I mixed black distress ink with water and spattered it over the card.
  • Die cut (Sizzix garden greens) using another sheet of Ranger water color paper that has been colored with distress inks.
  • Arrange a cluster of Recollections Boho paper flowers together and use the water colored greenery for fillers along with Martha Stewart gold leaves.
  • Take a finished sentiment from BO Bunny  "noteworthy"  pack and adhere to the focal image
  • entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
 

My second card:
  • paper and cardstock:DCWV the Mariposa Matstack, grey Recollections, Neenah white, mint green Bazzill  and Recollections Bright and Basic
  • stamp: Stampin' Up beautiful you and Hampton Art "believe" clear stamp
  • embossing folder: Sizzix Texture fades "lace"
  • ink: black archival ink
  • embellishment: Hand Made Modern sequins, pop up butterfly and square shape shaker
  • sketch: Splitcoaststampers #650
From left to right:
Sizzix garden greens
Boho paper flowers (Michaels)
Bo Bunny noteworthy

From left to right
DCWV the Mariposa Matstack
Recollections Bright and Basic
Sizzix texture fades "lace" embossing folder
Hampton Art "believe" clear stamps
Stampin' Up beautiful you stamp set

Thanks for viewing with me today.
Your presence is always welcome as well as your comment.

Please come back again!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

"Do You Have A Favorite Quote?"

Hello on this official 1st day of summer; hump day (middle of the week); Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
Yes, it became official today to say that it is finally summer.  If you're like me your outside temperature and your body should have announced to you several weeks ago that it was summer.  It has been hot, hot, hot.

How many of you love quotes for different occasions?  I have friends who will post something to me everyday using quotes or a biblical scripture.  Often times I will use them if that is where my inspiration comes from in the morning.  I often smile and say, "God is speaking to me through someone else and I should listen", especially if it happens more than once during the same morning on the same day.

Here is a quote that came loud and clear: "I May Not Be There Yet, But I'm Closer Than I Was Yesterday".Author: unknown
Okay, this speaks in so many different ways.  What if you're going through a sickness and each day you're getting better and better...not as strong as you want to be, but not as sick as you were?   You're in an exercise program to get rid of some extra weight...the pounds are falling but not as fast as you would like for them to leave...hence, you're closer to the desired weight than you were on January 1.
Taking a road trip that requires many hours of travel...you are a lot closer to your destination than sitting in your driveway waiting to leave.
 

 Entry will be made of this card at http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com for
Challenge #288-#289 - Anything Goes

I started with a piece of Recollections tan cardstock.
Using the TH Stampers Anonymous "THMM102"  stencil, distress inks (pumice stone and hickory smoke), I created the background for my focal layer.
With blue vellum and Recollections "mason jars" stamps, I stamped with black archival ink onto the vellum and fussy cut them out to use on the card.
Water colored paper that had been colored with distress inks was used for the die cuts (Sizzix garden greens).  The die cuts were placed behind the mason jars but not too far down.
Brown hemp cord was tied around the jars.  Glue dots were used to help adhere them in place.
Sentiment was copied from Google image and cut out to place on tag.
White NUVO crystal drops were used on the end of one die cut flower.
Items used from left to right:
Sizzix garden greens die
Recollections mason jars stamp set
Distress ink: pumice stone and hickory smoke
Tim Holtz stencil and stamp set

What's your favorite quote?  Are you able to make a card or LO using it?

Thanks for your time today.  I hope something written or the card made will inspire you in some way today.  Thanks everyone for the lovely comments you've made.  I enjoy your continued support.

Sending a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

"Paper Layers 2 And Some Extra"

Hello followers, visitors, friends and viewers.
It's Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
What's your interest today? 
I just inquired of my DH to see what was on his agenda.  For someone who loves the outside. He will be cutting grass once the sun dries the rain water from last night.  For me, I'm going to play in my craft space until I get tired.
I'm still layering paper from paper pads today.  I'm also using a product that was in a package I won a few weeks ago...NUVO crystal glaze.    Since the directions says to apply and let dry for 24 hours...I applied the glaze to the butterflies yesterday and finished the card this morning.
The glaze gives the same effect as glossy accent with a little dimensions.  I think I'm going to like using it on other projects.  It also inspired me to order some other NUVO products to try.  Stay tuned next month to find out what they are.
I used:
  • cardstock/paper: Neenah white cardstock; Recollections "Bright and Basic" paper pad; Ki "Vintage Charm " paper pad"; Recollections black cardstock
  • die cut: Cricut "Ornamental Iron 2" cartridge and Cricut Expression machine: Spellbinders circle die
  • sentiment: Pinterest
  • embellishment: NUVO "duck egg blue" crystal drops and NUVO crystal glaze; black archival ink to ink around the edge of the circle with the sentiment
 

 This sentiment fits me today.  When you watch the news and see/hear all the foolishness going on in this world and you know personally you can't do anything about it, you pray and  be all of these things: patient, gentle, humble and loving.  Throwing something at the TV will only break it and you will have to spend money to get another one.  Cursing at the TV doesn't help...those people can't hear you and why would you want the deviousness to get into your spirit .

Items used listed from left to right:
Ki "Vintage Charm" paper pad
Recollections "Bright and Basic" paper pad
Cricut Ornamental Iron 2 cartridge
NUVO duck egg blue crystal drops
NUVO crystal glaze

I hope something said or done will inspire you today.  Your support and continued viewing are appreciated very much.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois



Monday, June 19, 2017

"Paper Layers"

Hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers on this Monday, June 19, 2017.

We survived the Father's Day weekend.  It was lovely and very enjoyable. Today is another beautiful day in the neighborhood.  So far, all is going well without any complications.  We'll see how the remainder of the day will be.

My DH felt really blessed with the love he received from his children, grandchild, church friends and me for Father's Day.   As a matter of fact, I believe all fathers felt blessed on yesterday.

Today, I'm doing a very CAS card for my post.  I'm only using paper for the "main" event.  I saw this paper in Michael's about two months ago.  I purchased it and put it aside.  Actually, I forgot about it until I was moving some things around and came across it in my paper file.  The two pieces are: Recollections Succulents and Recollections Blue Wood Planks scrapbook paper.
I added a piece of lace for embellishment and stamp the sentiment using Penny Black's heartfelt thanks stamp.

I hope you enjoy the view today.   The sentiment I used today is for everyone because it is true: You Are Beautiful Inside and Out.

 

This is another entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
Challenge #286-287 - Anything Goes

From left to right:
Recollections succulent scrapbook paper
Recollections blue wood plank scrapbook paper
Penny Black heartfelt thanks stamp set


Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Friday, June 16, 2017

"What's In My Stash...Friday"

Hello visitors, viewers, followers and friends. 
It's Friday, June 16, 2017. 
We made it to this day and will be looking forward to the weekend.
Some of our weekends will extend beyond Sunday.  We will not know what to do with ourselves since there is no workday for Monday.  Go ahead, sleep late, but I know that is not possible until your body get adjusted to not having to jump up at a certain time.  Enjoy your time, you deserve it!

If you're here for the first time, my busiest day is on Friday doing some important things.  When I craft, it has to be quick and fast.  What I had started doing...pulling items out of my stash containers (cardstock, die cut-outs, sentiments, etc.) to make a card.  It's my way of challenging myself.

Today's card:
  1. I started with my die-cuts bag to see what image I wanted to use...I pulled out a tea kettle and cup that I had cut out using the Flower Market CTMH cartridge and Cricut Expression (I had to think where it came from).
  2. Searching through my regular cardstock, I found a piece of water color paper that had been distressed and also used for another die-cut.  It was almost enough to use for the focal base on my card.  I had to think how to make it longer.  I kept looking for another piece of cardstock to make it 4.25 x 5.50.    While pulling out cardstock, a little piece that matched the distressed cardstock fell on the floor.  It was the appropriate size and color.
  3. I needed a sentiment that would fit the cup and kettle so I pulled out my "coffee" stamp set by Fiskars called "Latte Love".  I didn't see any sentiment from this set that I wanted to use.  However, the steam from the coffee cup gave me an idea.. why not use something from the bible for a sentiment.  I had not completed this task during the week.
  4. I used my computer and printer to make the sentiment "May the LORD pour out His Blessings on you today!"  This didn't exactly come out the stash so let's say this is new. Also, I wanted to highlight the kettle a little more, so, I added NUVO white crystal drops.

I will enter this over at http://www.WordArtWednesday.blogspot.com.  If you visit that site, you may see some other inspiration.

Have a blessed weekend my  friends.  Thanks for viewing and come again!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Thursday, June 15, 2017

"Happy Birthday Wishes"

Good Thursday, June 15, 2017... to my friends, followers, viewers and visitors.
Schools in my area are closing today.  Graduation ceremonies will be held.  Congrats again to all the 2017 graduates....college and high school.
Congrats to all my fellow peers in the teaching field, elementary and community college.   I know today you can start to relax, reorganize, recoup, etc., until August.   I am hoping you will also enjoy your summer break. 
Someone, somewhere is celebrating a birthday today.  I have no one at the present time on my list.  The card I made will go in my  donation box for the soldiers for  someone else to enjoy.  It was just a pleasure to make it.
These are your enabler's supplies:
  • Cardstock: Paper and More Bronze metallic cardstock; DCWV the Mariposa matstack; Nicole Nostalgic Feelings paper pad and Recollections craft cardstock
  • Embossing Folder: Darice "henna" embossing folder
  • Stamp: Stamp in Up Avant-Garden stamp set
  • Ink : black Archival ink and NUVO copper penny crystal drops
  • Use the sketch SC649 from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/



 I could not photograph a great image of this card using my iPad.  I tried different placement of the card and light sources but none of these pictures really show the beauty of this card using the bronze metallic cardstock and the sparkle on the butterflies.  However, I hope you enjoy the views of this card.

From left to right:
Nicole "Nostalgic Feelings" paper pad; DCWV "the Mariposa Matstack paper pad; Darice "henna" embossing folder and Stampin Up Avant-Garden stamp set

Here are some other things from National Day Calendar you can celebrate today if it is not your birthday:  June 15, 2017 – NATIONAL DUMP THE PUMP DAY – NATIONAL SMILE POWER DAY – NATIONAL LOBSTER DAY – NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY

We are almost there...the weekend. 
Come back tomorrow and see what I can make with "stuff from my stash". 
Thanks for all the comments and the visits.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois


Wednesday, June 14, 2017

"Are You Sparkling"

Great news my friends, followers, visitors and viewers....
it is Wednesday (hump day), June 14, 2017.
We're in the middle of the week.  If you are a high school senior, you have either graduated or your day will be Thursday or Friday of this week.  If you are near Emporia, Virginia, you can have a good time at the annual "Pork Festival".   Today is also Flag Day.  I know most of us don't do anything special on this day but I'm just reminding you of what's on the calendar. 

Our focus is on getting through this week especially if you are a teacher and you are ready for the little ones to leave.  "Sunshine" (grand) finished yesterday and is headed to camp until school opens in August.   It is summer weather and most of us will be visiting the beaches and having picnics every weekend until the weather change.  Be careful and enjoy!

Here is the question for today:
Are you sparkling now or wherever you go? 
Do you leave a little shine behind?  Does sparkling make you feel as though you have something to offer this world.
I know that we are not the "life of the party" at all times but who wants to be around a "dull" person that will not smile or "let their hair down" for a minute. 
It's true that we all have different personalities.    It doesn’t matter what sort of personality you have, you can leave your own stamp on people. It’s what you do with your life and how you can enhance people’s lives that matter:

Here is the card that reflects today's post:
entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

 I started with a piece of music sheet cardstock taken from my paper stash.  I stamped one of the "runway" women using Tim Holt's Stamp set on it and colored her dress red.  Then, I cut a piece of cardstock from the Ki "Berry Blast paper pad.  From the center of this piece, I folded the edge back to show the other side of the paper and to give the card some contrast.  The dragonfly was cut using Tonic Studio's dragonfly brooch die and two pieces of cardstock (light beige and dark brown).  The dragonflies were adhered together and placed at the center of the folded piece of cardstock.  Faux pearls from Jolee's Boutique were placed on top of the dragonfly.
Using the Rectangle die and black Recollections cardstock, I cut out a frame and place it around the top portion of the image.  The final step was using a sentiment taken from Vicki Boutin's watercolor stickers.
Once the focal image was complete, I layered it on top of another piece of black Recollections cardstock before placing it onto the Neenah white card base.

Once again, thank you for your time and your viewing.  I hope something said or done will enlighten your day.  Most of all, I hope you can see or feel the "sparkle" I left behind.
Please come again, you're always welcome.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

"Can You Spot The Mistakes"

Hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers on this glorious Tuesday, June 13, 2017.
What's on your agenda for today? 
Let's skip the cleaning and go to the mall to get in our daily steps as well as do a little shopping for the "man" or "men" in our lives.  Wouldn't that be fun?  Just you and me. 
Maybe another day...I'll keep you informed.

DO  YOU  POST  YOUR  MISTAKES?
There are times when we "think" we've done the best we can while crafting.  It could be re-purposing an item, making a wall décor, painting an old table, or just making a greeting card.  Just when you've finished (or so you think), you see the mistake(s)  but don't want to throw the item away.  If it is paper, you may say..."I have nothing to lose, it's just paper". 
Wait!  You've spent some time coloring, stamping and coordinating paper for your layers. You've even photographed the so called "finished" results and then that's when you see the mistakes.  You begin to wonder if you post it, will the advanced crafters notice your mistakes also?

Today, I'm going to post these two cards (mistakes and all) for you to see.  I'm not sitting around moping.  I'm having my good laugh and moving forward.  I want you to notice the specific sentiment I placed on both cards...this is how I'm feeling and I wanted to express it even with the noticeable mistakes.
  • I did the first card using Sakura Koi water colors and a stamp from Penny Black "petal power".  Everything looked okay until I photographed the card.  It's amazing how my iPad shows every little  imperfection. 
  • The second card:  This time I used versa mark ink, white embossing powder, distress inks and colored markers for this card.  Two stamp sets were used: Heidi Swapp and Molly & Rex.  Once again, mistakes started happening.  I continued because by now, I've decided to post about the mistakes instead of trashing both cards.
1st Card
It will still be entered at http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

2nd Card
 While I still had Molly & Rex stamp set on my desk, I used the sentiment "Good Things Are Going To Happen".  This is my belief.  You have to go through something bad to enjoy the good.  We're not promised exceptional days where everything is perfect...mistakes happen for a reason.


Stamp Set used
Heidi Swapp
Molly & Rex
Penny Black
Do you make mistakes? 
Do you admit it when you've made a mistake? 
Have you learned anything from your mistakes? 
Bad things are going to happen but  good things are also on the horizon.

Thanks for viewing and before I forget, could you (the experts) find the mistakes in both of these cards?
Leave me your comments, you may have seen more than I did.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Monday, June 12, 2017

"A Masculine Card...Father's Day Or Birthday"

Good Monday, June 12, 2017 to you.
I'm glad you're back for another day of viewing.  Many of us are working on those last minute Father's Day cards for Sunday, June 18, 2017.   I had finish so today I made a card with a "male" in mind.  This card can be used for Father's Day or for a male's birthday. 
We love the men and it can be challenging sometimes to create a card for them.  Still, we try to do our best.
The stamp I used comes from Penny Black "T for Transparent heartfelt clear set and the paper for decoupage came from Hunkydory "The Second Little Book of Decoupage".

 From the Little Book of Decoupage, I took out three pages of the same image.  I used two of the pages to cut out individual parts of the picture for the decoupage.  If you cannot tell, take a closer look at the book with the seashells, the boat on the table, the red & black boat at the top as well as the lighthouse and the red wheel on the bottom right. (I'm sorry my photography doesn't do the card justice).

I tried to take a photo from the side view so you could see the layers.  It is still a little hard to tell but it was done.

These are just the two most important items used other than the designer paper that came from Recollections Bright and Basic paper pad.  On the far left is the stamp set from Penny Black and on the right is the book from Hunkydory.

I've given this card the sentiment, "enjoy your day".  As stated, it can be used for Father's Day or for a birthday.  I stopped short of adding something in the inside because I will not be using this at the moment.  When the occasion comes (for male birthday), I'll fix up the inside with a personal message.  Otherwise, I'll include some pretty paper and put in in my box for the soldiers.

Friday, June 9, 2017

"What's In My Stash, Friday"

Happy, happy Friday to my friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
It is going to be a great day!   The last work day for the week. The beginning of a beautiful weekend!  Beach weather today and this weekend (I will not be there...something else on my agenda). 

Today is "stash" day.  The first card was easy.  I had previously cut out all the pieces when I knew "Sunshine" was coming.  However, that weekend she wanted to spend more time with her grandfather.  I told my daughter that I specifically bought the Spellbinders emoji's die for "Sunshine".  She informed me to keep it because she was not going to get started in buying crafting supplies.  She spends so much on her lessons in gymnastics and swimming...die cutting machines would not be on the list anytime soon (lol).
So, today I took out all the pieces and put them together.  "Sunshine" will be finishing up her third grade on Tuesday.  I'll get this card in the mail today for her to enjoy.
The second card is really the challenge and it was really a challenge.  It seems that I couldn't get my paper and supplies to match.  I put something together anyway, using items in my stash.
 Everything was ready for "Sunshine" to put together including the cardstock.  The white embossed piece came from using Sizzix "Riveted Metal Set" embossing folder. I wanted her to make a Father's Day card for her father while she was visiting.  The sentiment was changed to one for her this morning.  Tuesday, she will be jumping for joy...last day of school until the last week in August.

Entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
 This card ....well, it was a challenge because I really had to find pieces that would work together and to help get rid of some items out of that "stash" box.  I picked the red, black, white color combination  and tried to stay within that family.  Those cut out flowers were giving me a "what did you  used them for" attitude.  I truly hope you like them.  Anyway, this is one of the cards that will go in the box for the soldiers.  I hope someone will appreciate it.
For the 1st card...Spellbinders emoji's die and Sizzix Diamond Plate & Riveted Metal Set embossing folders.

Thanks for viewing with me today.
Come again and you are welcome to leave a comment.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois


Thursday, June 8, 2017

"Nothing Fancy Except The Spellbinders Die"

Happy Thursday, June 8, 2017....friends, followers, visitors and viewers.

I'm "thinking of you" today in celebration of  NATIONAL BEST FRIENDS DAY .
You are my best friends when it comes to crafting and blogging.  I may not know you personally but I have met some really nice people from all over the world as we interact together.  We've shared projects.  We've shared family issues.  We've shared a love of God and being a Christian.  You are my best friends!
I agree with a statement from the National Day Calendar, "The relationship between best friends is often fierce and can withstand distance, storms and silence."  You fit into this statement very well.

Here is the card for today.  It is nothing fancy except the Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle die that I used along with paper from the Recollections Mix Media pad.  For embellishment, I added a crochet flower  topped  with a Recollections flower and then added a drop of berry red NUVO crystal drop in the center.  Very quick and simple.  The hardest part was cutting out the die cut and removing all the little small pieces.
an entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

Supplies Used...listed from left to right
Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle dies
Recollections Mix Media paper pad
Recollections flowers
NUVO berry red crystal drops

Thanks for viewing.  Come again and I hope this card met your expectation.
You are always welcome to leave a comment.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois