A Hug & A Squeeze from Me

Hello! Today's card features a digital image from Mo Manning's Digital Pencil, called "You're My Best". I love her hair and ponytail elastic bands, lol. I kept the card front simple as I wanted the image to be the main focus. After coloring the image with Copic Sketch Markers, I "fussy cut" the image out and popped up on foam dots. Below is a close-up of the detail of the image coloring.

The card interior features a stamp that I found on Ebay months ago but was waiting for just the right artwork/image and if this isn't it, I don't know what it? Coordinating papers, design and embellishments were added to the interior, pictured below.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Mo Manning's Digital Pencil Image "You're My Best", Stampendous Sentiment

Papers: Pebbles "Garden Party" Designer Paper Pad, ColorMates Light Awesome Aqua Cardstock,, Sassafras "Vintage Yummy" Designer Paper, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Summer Sun & Baja Breeze

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Label Die, EK Success Border, Corner & Small Flower Punches, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Songe Dauber, Crochet Thread

Copic Sketch Markers: RV000 Pale Purple, RV11 Pink, RV12 Tender Pink, Y11 Pale Yellow, Y15 Cadmium Yellow, Y26 Mustard, BG11 Moon White, BG15 Aqua, E00 Skin White, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E33 Sand, E34 Orientale, 0 Colorless Blender

Embellishments: Jolee's Boutique Flowers, KaiserCraft Adhesive Sequins, Queen & CO. Jellies Enamel Dots, Paper Trey Ink "Hawaiian Shores" Polka Dotted Satin Ribbon, Doodlebug Boutique Button

Techniques: Digi Printing, Stamping, Sponging, Machine Stitching, "Fussy Cutting"

Thank you for visiting! I always love to hear your thoughts & comments...

Look Ma, No Stitching!

Hello! This was my first attempt at a rolled flower die from My Favorite Things. I used the Sno Cone Blue Felt from My Favorite Things and although it's not "perfect", it resembles a rose well enough, lol. I was out of my comfort zone with this card as I did not do any machine stitching. I kept feeling like the card wasn't finished without the machine stitching...nevertheless, I restrained myself for the discipline of not getting into a rut. Still, I missed the sewing on the card part...

Not much involved in this other than die cutting and paper punching. The upper right blue flower was cut from a coordinating piece of Pebble's "Family Ties" DP. The small yellow flowers were punched and popped up as was the bird and medium blue flower. Pictured below, is a close-up of the flowers, leaves, etc.

The card interior sentiment was computer-generated, written by yours truly. Matching papers and flowers were added to coordinate with the card front.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Verve Psalm 3:3, Computer-Generated Sentiment

Papers: Pebbles "Family Ties" Designer Paper Collection, Clear Dollar Stamps "Rustic Fall" Cardstock Collection (Blue), Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Label Dies & Foliage Two Dies, My Favorite Things Layered Leaves & Rolled Rose Die, My Favorite Things Sno Cone Felt, EK Success Small Flower Punch, EK Success Border Punch, EK Success Small Scalloped Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Adhesives, Sponge Dauber

Embellishments: KaiserCraft Self-Adhesive Pearls, Jolee's Boutique Bird

Techniques: Stamping, Digital Printing, Sponging, Paper Piercing

Thanks for visiting...I always love to hear your thoughts & comments.

A Windmill for My Daddy

Hello! Today, I'm sharing the Father's Day card that I made for my 88-year-old Daddy. I wanted to make sure that I had plenty of time to make it extra nice for him. I purchased this PSX Windmill stamp on Ebay and it had never been inked before. As a PSX stamp, it is retired but also very rare and hard-to-find, so I was thrilled to find it on Ebay. I envisioned giving the card a Netherland's blue-Delft feel and as best as I had it visually in my mind, it didn't quite turn out as planned (isn't that usually the case?). I tried not to make it too feminine and in lieu of a bow, I just tacked a polka-dotted sheer ribbon at the base of the image to define the bottom of the border around the image a little more. Below, is a close-up of the image coloring:

Below, is the card interior with coordinating papers and design. I confess, that the pearly embelishment is to cover up a little crooked sewing on the top of the sentiment panel. The paper slipped as I was sewing and I was not going to start over, lol. Ah, the secrets of a cardmaker.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: PSX Windmill, Taylored Expressions "Shade Tree Sentiments"

Paper: Docrafts Papermania Capsule Collection- Burleigh Blue, ColorMates Dark Tanzanite Blue, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Tools: EK Success Border Punch, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives

Copic Sketch Markers: R14 Light Route, R59 Cardinal, B14 Light Blue, B24 Sky, B29 Ultramarine, B32 Pale Blue, B41 Powder Blue, YR21 Cream, G21 Lime Green, G28 Ocean Green, G40 Dim Green, G94 Grayish Olive, YG67 Moss, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E34 Orientale, 0 Colorless Blender

Embellishment: Michael's 3/8" Polka-Dotted Shear Ribbon, Prima Adhesive Pearls

Techniques: Stamping, Machine Stitching, Copic Coloring

Thank you for visiting! I always enjoy your thoughts & comments...

A Mouse, A Cottage & A "Hello!"

Hello! I have a Mouse, a cottage and a "Hello". Believe it or not, the whole concept for this card came from the supercute designer papers by Pebbles "From Me to You". I loved the "Hello" handwriting across the paper and thought the Stampavie Tina Wenke "Cottage Mouse" would be a nice compliment. I love, love this designer paper..it just brings out the cuteness factor, doesn't it. Below is a close-up of the colored image.

The Copic coloring was a little layered with this. I had to let it dry overnight several nights because of the color saturation of the blending involved. Below is a photo of the card interior with computer-generated sentiment and coordinating design.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Stampavie Tina Wenke "Cottage Mouse", Computer-Generated Sentiment

Paper: Pebbles "From Me to You" Designer Collection, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Oval and Scalloped Oval Dies, EK Success Scalloped Border Punch, Sewing Machine, Thread, Crochet Thread, Adhesives

Copic Sketch Markers: R02 Flesh, R08 Vermillion, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, R29 Lipstick Red, Y11 Pale Yellow, Y21 Buttercup Yellow, YR21 Cream, G17 Forest Green, G40 Dim Green, RV000 Pale Purple, BV01 Viola, BV13 Hyndragea Blue, YG63 Pea Green, BG000 Pale Aqua, BG11 Moon White, BG18 Teal Blue, BG72 Ice Ocean, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E34 Orientale, 0 Colorless Blender

Embellishments: Paper Trey Ink "Melon Berry" Satin Ribbon, Doodlebug Boutique Flower Button

Techniques: Stampin, Copic Coloring, Machine Stitching

Thank you for visiting! I always love to hear your thoughts & comments...

How Are Ewe Doing?

Good Morning! Happy Mother's Day, everyone!!! This card was inspired by Kaitlyn Traxler's always adorable illustrations...I've been a fan of Kaitlyn's "Kolar" dog illustrations for years and was delighted to learn that you can now purchase Kaitlyn's digis on Diane Noble's webstore, Diane's Daydream Designs. This one is called "Spring Sheep"...isn't he sweet? Love, love, love this digi.

I challenged myself to make a CAS (Clean and Simple) card because I wanted the sheep to be the main focus of the card without alot of clutter. It was a challenge, as I tend to grab decorative border punches, ribbons, bling, buttons, multi-layers of paper and such, so just using a circle die and scalloped border die...I let this alone from my incessant embellishing...but I did ink-doodle around the circle die-cut opening and scalloped bottom border.

Below is a close-up of the colored image

I printed out a smaller version of the front digi image to use for the card interior, and colored him likewise, shown below. I created the computer-sentiments for the exterior and interior and highlighted the word "better" on the interior sentiment with a Copic pen for emphasis.

I've learned that a Clean and Simple card is not always so time-saving, lol!

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamp: Diane's Daydreams, Kaitlyn Traxler's "Spring Sheep", Computer-Generated Sentiments

Paper: Bazill & Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Circle and Scalloped Border Dies

Copic Sketch Markers: RV000 Pale Purple, RV11 Pink, BV01 Viola, BV11 Soft Violet, Y11 Pale Yellow, YG000 Lily White, YG03 Yellow Green, G24 Willow, BG000 Pale Aqua, C1 Cool Grey, 0 Colorless Blender

Techniques: Digi Printing, Copic Coloring

Thank you for visiting! I always love to hear your thoughts & comments...

He Is Mighty to Save

If you haven't noticed by now, yellow is my favorite color. I tend to make a lots of card with yellow dominating, so when I reached for this Gerbera Daisy Die from My Favorite Things, I just pictured it white against a sunny yellow background. The card may be a little "bright" for some tastes, but bright = happy to me. The wonderful scripture is a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs and so encouraging isn't it? Below is a close-up of the texture & dimension of the gerbera daisy and leaves.

I layered this daisy die several times to create the extra dimension. KaiserCraft self-adhesive pearls were added for the vine buds/seeds. Below is the card interior with computer-generated sentiment and coordinating design.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamp: Our Daily Bread "Scripture Series I", Conputer-Generated Interior Sentiment

Paper: K&Co. Recycled Remake "Grass Greens" Paper Pad, K&Co. Susan Winget "Spring Blossom" Mat Pad, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Barely Banana & Green Galore

Tools: Cuttlebug, Paper Trey Ink Mat Die, Spellbinders "Foliage Two" Die, My Favorite Things Gerbera Daisy Die & Layered Leaves Dies, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Cuttlebug Swss Dots Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up! Mat Pad, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber

Embelishment: KaiserCraft Self-Adhesive Pearls

Techniques: Stamping, Sponging, Paper Piercing

Thank you for visiting...I always love to hear your thoughts & comments.

Rainy Day Friend

I've got a different kind of design to share today. This card was born from a scrap of designer paper that I have had for 2 or more years. I only had one piece of it left so, how I cut it to fit this 5"x5" card was critical. After thinking through several layout options for the image, I decided to trim the paper as shown above...when done, I was not happy! I had my colored image cut out and ready to go and it just seemed off balance with a huge "white space" area in the left lower left. I toyed with different ideas to put in that space and after an hour or two, gave up and went to bed. The next day after a good night's sleep I decided to use a cloud die to fill that space and I had a few self-adhesive raindrops that I could use for embellishment. So I proceeded to stamp the sentiment (oh so carefully straight, which was stressful in itself...remember this was my last piece of this paper) and then after I placed the die-cut cloud in the corner along with the raindrop, I decided it needed a little pink bird to draw the eye into the sentiment. Can we say frustration with this card??? LOL

Below is a close-up of the colored image by Phindy's Place called "Rainy Day Friend". I masked the main image to sponge the background clouds using a cloud template.

Below, is the card interior. I used a Clear Dollar Stamps' set to stamp matching, coordinating umbrellas on the computer-generated sentiment. All-in-all, I think it came together, finally.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Phindy's Place "Rainy Day Friend" Digi, Paper Trey Ink "Everyday Classics", Clear Dollar Stamps "Blooming with Blessings", Computer-Generated Interior Sentiment

Papers & Cardstock: Making Memories "Umbrella Flutter", Doodlebug "Snips & Snails", Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky, Stampin' Up! Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Circle & Decorative Circle Dies, Paper Trey Ink Cloud Die, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Cloud Template

Copic Sketch Markers: RV000 Pale Purple, RV11 Pink, V05 Marigold, YR01 Peach Puff, YR04 Chrome Orange, YR12 Loquat, YR21 Cream, YG03 Yellow Green, YG67 Moss, BG14 Aqua, BG41 Powder Blue, E31 Brick Beige, E34 Orientale, 0 Colorless Blender

Embellishments: Doodlebug Button, Baker's Twine, Self-Adhesive Raindrop

Techniques: Stamping, Digi Printing, Machine Stitching, Sponging, Masking

Thanks for visiting...I always love to hear your thoughts and comments.