"Stamping And Coloring For Fun"

Hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
It's a great Tuesday morning.  I'm back on schedule after having "Sunshine" (grandchild) from Saturday until Monday afternoon.   Her parents celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary without her.  She was our joy for their occasion.

I used three stamps, silver embossing powder, a die and some watercolor pencils to make my card for today.

My inspiration for the sentiment came from NationalDayCalendar.com for July 11, 2017: NATIONAL CHEER UP THE LONELY DAY
Each year on July 11, people across the United States are trying to make someone happy on National Cheer Up The Lonely Day.  If you know someone who is lonely or going through a difficult time due to health issues, financial reasons, grief due to loss or personal reasons, this was created as a day to reach out to them and try to cheer them up.  Your small act of kindness can make a big difference to them.

 This will be an entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

Challenge Weeks #290-#291 - Anything Goes

I started with Neenah white cardstock for my focal layer and stamped the image of the Altenew peony scrolls with Versa Mark ink and then used Ranger silver embossing powder .  The flowers were masked before using Penny Black petal power leaf stamp.  I used TH's moss green distress ink to stamp the leaves and a black pitt pen to fill in the veins on the leaves. Orange and yellow watercolor pencils were used to color the flowers. I used  one of the Hunulu rectangle metal cutting die and silver cardstock for my frame.  The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of vellum using black archival ink and adhered to the frame.  Black and yellow cardstock was used for layering before adhering to the Neenah white card base.

Items listed from left to right: Hunulu rectangle metal cutting die; Altenew peony scrolls stamp; Penny Black petal power stamp; Ranger silver embossing powder.

Here is what "Sunshine" did on July 10, 2017. 
We didn't have time to post it on yesterday.  I told her to be sure to check out Grandma's posting for today to see her card.  
She wanted to play in my Distress oxide inks, use the emoji die and to put glitter on her card.  She had specific directions for how she wanted her card.  
I cut out the cardstock pieces for the card, the layer, the base and for the frame and  assisted her in using the die cutting machine for the emoji.  Everything else was done without my assistance.  She placed her oxide inks on a piece of Bristol smooth cardstock (the way she wanted it).   She glued the emoji on top of the colored piece. She wanted the double stick tape to use for the frame.  She placed the tape on all four sides and sprinkle glitter on top of it, using her fingers to smooth it out. She glue these pieces to the black cardstock and then to her card base.
I wanted to know what did she intend to do with her card and she told me it was a secret.  

I hope you enjoy seeing both cards today.

Come again and leave a comment.  I always love hearing from you.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"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

Challenge #286-287 - Anything Goes

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

"Sharing With Friends"

Monday, December 19, 2016

Hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
This is a busy time of the year for so many people... the hustle and bustle of preparing for the holiday.  Yes, your tree is up.  The lights are hung.  The music is playing in the background...but wait...all of that was done the week during and after Thanksgiving.  Why are we so busy and feel that time is running out and you won't get everything done?
I have been prepared since last December (lol) .  Since my girls are grown and gone...we don't do all the decorations and the shopping we were accustomed to doing when they were home.  Yes, there is a grandchild, but she doesn't visit until after the holiday is over.  This year we are going to visit her on Christmas day.
I talked with several people at church yesterday.  We talked about the upcoming holiday and what their plans were for this time of the year.  Many of the older people just want to be at home to receive family while some of the younger generation want to be away sharing with friends.  One group of teens had already boarded a tour bus to spend the holiday in Florida  while others are driving north on Wednesday to do the same.
All in all, life is sweeter when shared with friends and family.  Here is the card that prompted this blog post for today:

While I was playing with some distress inks last week, I did the background for this card and set it aside (at the time I was not sure what I would use it for).  I came back to it this morning to stamp something on it for my post today.  

Stamps used:  Sentiment (from Hero Arts CL351)  Hummingbird ( from Inkadinkado "mindscapes") and the border on the right (from Recollections "crochet lace")

Five faux gems were added.  The focal layer was added to a piece  of black Recollections cardstock which was then added to the coral Recollections cardstock base.

This will be added to my collection for 2017  (cards to use when the time arrive).

Caution:  I may do like I did last week...pop in every now and then from now until the New Year.  I'm not "holiday" busy but I am sharing in helping others during this time of year.  

I hope and pray that this season of joy will be spreaded toward you and your famiy.  

May God continue to bless you now and well into the New Year!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Still A Novice At Stamping...But Moving Forward"

Good Day to my friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
I enjoyed working on stamping and had fun just laughing at myself with what I was doing.  Making mistakes, throwing the paper away and starting over.
I don't pretend to be an expert when it comes to stamping.  I've trashed many projects trying to get it to a view-able look.  I do have some, but not all, of those gadgets that helps with keeping the stamp straight, so forth and so on.  I've even tried to use the little bag to clean my surface before stamping.  Does any of this work for me?  Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.
 I have two projects (I had only intended to do one) using one Hampton Arts dogwood branch stamp. These two were the best of all the ones I did and they still have mistakes.  I will not point out to you where the mistakes are if you can't see them for yourself.  I know the experts will look hard to find them and it is okay.  Look back at the post title... I did say a novice at stamping.  I had fun and will continue to play around with stamping, just as I've played around with using distress inks, water coloring and etc.

 

Love, You Are A Gift
Enabler's List:
Neenah white cardstock; Recollection grey and black cardstock
stamp: Hampton Arts Dogwood branch
ink: Ranger Inkssentials Emboss it clear embossing pad; Ranger silver embossing powder; green embossing powder scenic (Joann)
foam dots

Be Happy

Enabler's List:

Neenah white cardstock, Recollection black cardstock and Designer paper from stash

stamp: Hampton Arts Dogwood branch

ink: Ranger Inkssentials clear Embossing ink; white embossing power scenic (Joann)

die: Fiskars corner die

gems: Recollection 

Did you look hard to find the mistakes.  Sometimes you have to practice until you get it just right.  I know I still need to work on this skill... that's why I can laugh at myself and keep moving forward.  Some people will throw up their hands and say, "this is not for me".  I'm going to keep practicing.  What do you think?

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"STAMPING"

Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening (wherever you are in the world at this moment)!
It was a quiet, cold weekend.  I love to go out but it was soooo cold I didn't even want to go out for Valentine's Day, yesterday.
 Today, I'm seeing snow and sleet outside my window.  It is dreary and cold but a good day to read, relax and have fun in the craft room (if only for a little while).
 Tomorrow will be better with the weather and the temperature.
I'm stamping and adding extra to the white areas to make  a scene.  Thanks to my stamping friends who have posted some fabulous cards...I ventured into this area to see what I could do.  Those cards that didn't come out so well went into the trash so I'm sharing one that is almost presentable:

The finished card:
In Quietness And Trust Is Your Strength ~ Isaiah 30:15

Cardstock that was used: Neenah white and black Recollection

Other supplies: 

The snow, sleet and rain makes for some quiet times.  I used the stillness of the morning to make this card.  We need to get quiet sometimes to hear God and be strengthen by HIM.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

P.S.  Don't forget to Google and read up on Zora Neale Hurston for Black History month celebration.
Known for: such books as Their Eyes Were Watching God