This Card Drove me C-R-A-Z-Y!

 

Hello! Boy, have I got a card to share with you...a real humdinger and not in a good way. When I reached for this cute Lili of the Valley stamp, I envisioned a fun, cute card that would give me much joy to create. NOT. I colored the little girl, had all my papers cut and trimmed and embossed the exterior white background...all was going famously well. Things started going south when I started sewing on this humdinger. The inside sentiment panel shifted while sewing and the stitching at the top of the panel almost ran off the panel...Grrr...But! I had a fix for that. A punched flower would cover that just fine...tee hee. So after solving that problem, I proceeded with embellishment...that ribbon bow...gave me a fit! I don't know why but I had a personal wrestling match with it. I won!

Continuing the headache of the making of this card...I cut out a 4.25"x11" piece of white cardstock for the card base and after I glued the card interior to the base, I realized that the card interior was wider than the card base. Grrr...I thought, "Hmm...I'll just trim that edge when I'm done." So, I glued the card front to the card base and that was a little larger, as well. You'd think, I'd check all that before gluing, wouldn't you? So, then I try peeling the whole card base away from the card front & card interior and the thing starts ripping. DRIVE ME CRAZY! Did I mention that yet? So, I got it peeled away and cut a new card base a little larger than the first one and then I saw that the card front was too long, so I proceeded to trim the bottom white area (which was below the green scalloped bottom on the front of the card). It finally fit the dang card base and I was so over this card by the time that I photographed it, that I'm only blogging it out of principle.  AAAUUUUGGGHHH! - As Charlie Brown said. I'm so glad this card is DONE.

Below, is a photo of the Copic colors

used in the main image.

The card interior, photographed below

with coordinating design and papers.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Lili of the Valley "Blossom", Inkadinkado "Hello, Girlfriend", "There She Goes "Blossom By Blossom" Interior Sentiment

Papers: Lili of the Valley NitWit Collection "Pastel Dreams" Designer Paper Pad, Paper Trey White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Tools/Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebud Argyle Embossing Folder, Spellbinders' Circle Die, Martha Stewart Scalloped Border Punch, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Copic Sketch Markers, Sewing Machine, Thread.

Embellishments: Paper Trey Ink Aqua Mist Ribbon, Teresa Collins, Doodleug & Queen & Co. Enamel Dots

Techniques: Machine Stitching & Copic Coloring

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

A Little Out of the Zone...

Hello! Today, I'm sharing a card that definitely put me in the no-comfort zone. I typically make cards along the cutesy flavor and rarely do cards that are romantic or femininely girlie. I purchased this cute Taylored Expressions Tea Stamp and wanted to make something feminine. So, after 2 or 3 days of doing and undoing the main layout and design, I finally said to myself, "Let it go....it will be fine." I'm not sure how I feel about the finished card, but hey, it's finished, lol.

The photo below is of the Copic Sketch Marker
colors used in the image.

Pictured below is the card interior with coordinating design & layout.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Taylored Expressions "In Other Words - Tea", Paper Trey Ink "Autumn Abundance" Sentiment

Papers: Basic Grey "Mint Julip" Designer Paper Collection, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss Embossing Folder, Spellbinders' Large Scalloped Border Die, Spellbinders' Circle Die, My Favorite Things Fishtail Die, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Copic Sketch Markers

Embellishments: Paper Trey Ink Polka Dotted Satin Ribbon, Flower Brad, Doodlebug Sprinkles Enamel Dots

Techniquies: Copic Coloring, Machine Stitching

Thank you for visiting!

I always love to hear your thoughts & comments...

A Birthday Stash

Hello! I'm trying to increase my birthday card stash, so I have a simple birthday card to share. I used a Lili of the Valley stamp but I don't know the name of the stamp, as it now is retired...sorry. I colored the little girl and balloons with Copic Sketch Markers, popped her up on Stampin' Up! Dimensionals and added a few embellies and Voila! Below are the Copic Sketch Markers that I used for the image.

Below, is a photo of the card interior with matching designer papers, layout and design.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Lili of the Valley Girl and Sentiments

Papers: Pebbies "Family Ties" Designer Paper Collection, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Circle Die, Paper Trey Ink Cloud Die, EK Success Border Punch & Corner Rounder Punch, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zots, Millinneum Fine Point Marker

Embellishments: Really Reasonable Ribbon Polka Dotted Sheer Ribbon, Doodlebug Buttons, Doodlebug Sprinkles Enamel Dots

Techniques: Machine Stitching, Copic Coloring

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

A Hug & A Squeeze From Me

Hello! I have another card made with another Lili of the Valley stamp! Am I hooked or what? This stamp is called "Kitten Cuddles". I just love that sweet kitty face! Lots of die cuts (clouds, grass, oval opening) made this card come together fast. The slowest part of making this card was the fussy cutting of the girl in the swing...I had to leave 2 small white areas uncut, as I didn't want to make the image too vulnerable to tearing. Below is a close-up photo of the popped up clouds behind the popped up girl in the swing.

Below, are the Copic Sketch Markers used in this image.

I also used a few Prismacolor Colored Pencils

to highlight and deepen the overall image.

Below, is a photo of the card interior

with coordinating papers, layout & design.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Lili of the Valley "Kitten Cuddles", Stampi' Up! Exterior Sentiment, Stampendous "Squeeze from Me" Interior Sentiment

Papers: Lili of the Valley Nitwit Collection "Promises" Designer Paper Pad, Docrafts Papermania "Capsule Collection" Designer Paper Pack, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Oval Die, Lawn Fawn Grassy Border Die, Paper Trey Ink Cloud Dies, EK Success Scalloped Border Punch, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zots, Adhesives, Copic Sketch Markers, Prismacolor Colored Pencils

Embellishments: The Twinery Baker's Twine, Doodlebug Button, Jolee's Boutqiue Flowers

Thank you for visiting!

I always love to hear your thoughts & comments...

So in Love with Annabel

Hello! I have another card that I made with a Lili of the Valley (United Kingdom) stamp set, called "Posey Trio". I am so in love with Annabel Spenceley's illustrative style...she is the illustrator of so many of the Lili of the Valley stamps. I'm convinced that you cannot make an ugly card with Annabel's stamps! I am also in love with the NitWit Collection of designer papers that Lili of the Valley sells, as well. I have grown so tired of the dark, dreart and large print designer papers that have been on the market for the last couple of years. So, when I found the NitWit Collections of designer papers with the sweet dainty floral papers and coordinating solids, I was sold! Below is a photo of the card interior with coordinating papers, layout and design.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Lili of the Valley Posey Trio, Lili of the Valley Scroll Sentiments

Papers: Lili of the Valley NitWit Collection "Country Meadow" Designer Paper Pad, Michael's Pink Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Tools/Accessories: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders' Circle & Scalloped Circle Dies, Spellbinders' Large Scallop Border Die, My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 Dies, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Adhesives, Copic Sketch Markers, Prismacolors, Zig Millienium Fine Tip Marker

Embellishments: Doodlebug Buttons, The Twinery Pink/White Baker's Twine

Techniques: Machine Stitching, Copic & Prismacolor Coloring & Blending

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

Frustrated, So I took a Photo...

Hello! I am very frustrated today, trying to Copic Color 3 Bears, in an attempt to try a new technique to make them look dimensionals, fuzzy & furry and this girl is not having much success. So after 2 days of coloring, waiting for the layers to dry in order to add more depth, only to screw things up, I put it down slowly and walked away from the table. LOL! So, I decided to share one of my Christmas presents with you. I have been wanting to complete my Copic Marker Refill supply and find a suitable storage container for them, since they are uniquely shaped refill bottles and after searching high and low for the perfect storage container, I found this great polystyrene bin, which is part of the Like-It Bricks System from The Container Store. I purchased the 11" Wide Tall Tote with 4 flexible polystyrene turquoise dividers.There are various products available and they can stack to create flexible organization for storage. You can slide stacked bins for easy access and use repositionable dividers and labels to further organize your goodies. The dividers come in different colors and the only reason that I purchased turquoise ones, is because my craft nook color theme is lime and turquoise and white. But that's more information than you want or needed. Here's a link if you're interested in purchasing the Like-It Brick Tote for your Copic Marker Refills. It's not exactly rough and tumble for travel but I don't travel with my refill bottles so it worked out perfectly for me...and there is still room to enable me to buy more marker colors and refills!

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

A Spotlight on a Fantastic Designer

Hello! Today, I am sharing a card that I made that is a close replica of the supercute card that Mary J, a designer for Lili of the Valley stamps made with this cute Annabelle stamp. Check out Mary J's blog here...she is fantastic! I fell in love with Mary's design, layout and had to buy this Annabelle stamp from Lili of the Valley. So my card is not my original design, although the card interior is, but rather a spotlight on the fantastic creativity of Mary J.

Below, is a close-up of the image that I colored

with Copic Sketch Markers and Prismacolor Pencils.

The card interior, below, is my original design,

carrying over the card front design and coordinating papers.

Pictured, below, are the Copic Sketch Marker colors

used to color the main image.

Okay, Here's the Deets:

Stamps: Lili of the Valley Annabelle Stamp, Paper Trey Ink "Everyday Button Bits" Front Sentiment, Kolette Hall "Joy" Interior Sentiment

Papers: Lili of the Valley Nitwit Collections "Petal Fresh" Designer Paper Collection, ColorMates Spring Green Cardstock, Bazzill Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Lawn Fawn Grassy Border Die, Paper Trey Ink Cloud Dies, Spellbinder's Circle Dies, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Adhesives, Copic Sketch Markers, Prismacolor Pencils.

Embellishments: Jolees' Boutique Bees & Interior Flower, Paper Trey Ink Polka Dotted Satin Ribbon

Techniques: Copic Coloring & Machine Stitching

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