Flower Cart - Jan's Digi Stamps

 Hello! I'm so glad to see you!

Reminder Time for the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!  If you use a JDS image in your card, please mention it. There is a 2nd draw specifically for those who use one of Jan's fun images.

Jan's Digi's now has a freebie section. Freebies will be left up for a short time, and new ones will be added periodically. Jan's newest sets are 25% off and this month's Father's Day sale, includes 10 sets.

I admit it! These were in my "to be finished" box, and it was fun to finish them up and send them to people who will love them. Each card uses: Flower Cart 798, Showers of Tulips 923, clear glitter and Copic Markers:

Flower Cart 798 10 images

Showers of Tulips 923

Like lots of bloggers, I am trying to use as many of my favorite (or unused) older products as possible in my creations. There is something happy and satisfying in doing that (at least for me!) 

Cherry & Ivory Colored Card:  Dies- Spellbinders Cascading Grace 5x7, Marianne Design Creatables Anja's Large Ovals LR0236, EK Success corner punch, SU Scallop Punch, Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar), Ivory Neenah Cardstock, DLArt Ivory Ribbon, My Favorite Things cloud stencil, green and blue colored pencils, Freebie interior sentiments here.

Green & Ivory Card:  Dies: Grand Labels Four Nestabilities, SB 5x7 Elegant Labels Four, SB Fancy Tags One S4-235, Ivory Neenah Cardstock, Peeled Paint Distress Ink

I find using pale gray and/or pale ivory as a card base is difficult to photograph without appearing rather dingy and dark. But like other supplies in my stash, crying out to be used, so is my Neenah Ivory for Copics asking to be used!

But I DID allow myself to color one with traditional white Express-It:

Pink & Green Card: Dies: LifeStyle Nesting Lace Ovals, Embossalicious Rose Vine embossing folder by Die'sire, EK Success Oval Punch, Distress Inks (Bundled Sage, Kitsch Flamingo, Spun Sugar) DLArt Pink Ribbon,

The interior is a freebie gift from me. You can download it here (scroll to the bottom of the post)

Don't forget to head on over and share your pretty projects with us at Jan's Digi Stamps!

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Crafting Happiness Challenges # 142 Flowers 6/1
2. Classic Design Challenge #5 AG 6/1
3. A Perfect Time to Craft #5 AG (check 7/1)

Stamping Hugs,

Good Morning Magnolias

Good Morning, my friends! It's taken over a month, but I have completed a card to share! (I did have four lumbar injections last month which have taken care of a good 50% of pain, and I am beginning to be able to walk in the house again. The resulting "flares" from my other diseases from the trauma of the procedure are also beginning to abate. FINGERS CROSSED!)

I hope this finds you doing well, and not being too adversely affected by the recent flooding and heat wave. You, my blogging friends, are always in my thoughts with deep gratitude.

Today's card is the result of an image stamped eons ago at a friend's house. It's from my "unfinished box" of stash, and is colored with Copic Markers. The pretty rectangular lace die was much too long, so I snipped a portion out of it and taped it together in a shorter version:

The sentiments are from a virginal Penny Black set that is at least 5 years old. I'm so happy to finally ink it with Forest Green Versafine Clair and heat set with clear detail EP! A little of my Great Aunt Agnes' pink lace shows (from the 1940s), and an inked Die'sire EF called Regency Swirls adorns the side:

The right side of the pearl green card base has been stripe embossed with a bone folder, but the photos don't reflect the deep grooves very well with the shine from the cardstock finish:

This card is for a dear friend who has the most amazingly generous spirit of kindness. Through no fault of her own, she has found herself victim to Florida's double-digit inflation, and skyrocketing home costs. It's no where near as pretty as her creations, but with my current situation of just being able to do things a little at time, she will treasure the card.

Products: Dies: Spellbinders S5-357 Chantilly Paper Lace, Grands (Ovals, and Scalloped Ovals); Stamps: Stampin' Up Good Morning Magnolias, Penny Black Heartfelt Clear Set 30-286, MISC: Great Aunt Agnes' Antique Lace, Copic Markers, Distress Inks, Versafine Clair Forest Green, Clear EP

Please scroll on down for some personal photos.

Challenges I would like to play in:

1. Craft Rocket Challenges #95 Flowers 8/28
2. Paper Funday Challenges #44 Friendship 9/4 (This card is for a dear friend who has the most amazingly generous spirit of kindness. Through no fault of her own, she has found herself victim to Florida's double-digit inflation, and skyrocketing home costs. It's no where near as pretty as her creations, but with my current situation of just being able to do things a little at time, she will treasure the card.)
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2232 AG 8/15
4. A Perfect Time to Craft #8 AG 9/1
5. Classic Design Challenge #8 AG 9/1
6. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #187 AG 8/20
7. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #174 Use the graph (I used diagonal right to left pink, pattern paper (in oval die cut), and 3 die cuts 8/18

May I share a few other interesting things from central rural Florida?

Just down the drive, Jack found this rattle snake. It is about 2.5 feet long. Age is determined by the number of rattles on its tail. This one has 11 rattles. Rattles are formed as the snake sheds its skin, which takes place 2-3 times a year. We have friendly black snakes in our "yard" which help keep venomous snakes away:

For those of you who enjoy the Monstera Philodendron plants, this is one commonly called "Swiss Cheese" for obvious reasons. I rooted this plant from another that is at least 35 years old. This spring it sported an unopened bloom:

Then there were three flowers! Since they are in the pool cage (lanai), I hope they can pollinate one another:

The plant is so large, I've had to severely prune it two more times, and it is still larger than this:

Wishing you a beautiful day!

hugs,

ONE WEEK LEFT for Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop and Challenge!

  Hello, Blogging Friends!

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT - for the Third Annual 

"It's A Girl Thing: Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop". 

This  year we have added a Card Challenge so that crafters can help spread the word, and enjoy opportunities of winning more prizes!

To view my prizes, please visit my blog post.

For more information, please see Lori's TS home page. 

Turner Syndrome is a genetic disorder where a female is born missing part or all of her second X chromosome leaving her with life-long medical issues and learning disabilities.  This condition occurs one in every 2,000 female births worldwide, but is more common among pregnancies that do not survive to full term.  That is why Turner Syndrome Females are considered MIRACLES!

DID YOU KNOW:

Living with Turner Syndrome: Linda Hunt

I am an appreciative fan of movie star
Linda Hunt
whose roles are always character-rich.

My favorite programs Linda has starred in:

NCIS Los Angeles
Kindergarten Cop

Linda was born with Turner Syndrome.

One thing I have learned regarding Turner Syndrome is that there are many chromosomal deviations that cause humans to be born with "interesting outcomes".

Our inspiration board:

My brand new Kitsch Flamingo ink pad was perfect for this project. Being a Pink Fanatic, it was love at first sight with this color. I used a pale pink cardstock, dry embossed it, and smooshed the ink on top. The card base was distressed with the same pink, to color coordinate. A layer of glittery goodness separates the shapes. 

To achieve the butterfly layers, I scanned a butterfly definition from the Random House Dictionary from 1950, and distressed it slightly both with the scanner's settings, and with Distress Ink. The edges of the print layer are adhered, with a bulge on either side of the body:

To achieve the "bulge", single layer of dimensional tape was used on the glitter layer, and a double layer of dimensional tape as used on the printed layer. This formed a "cavity" for the butterfly body.

A Pencil was used to depress the area where the butterfly layers are adhered, so the body would sink into that space. Two little hearts were punched out and distressed for the body as well:

The green vellum dry embossed well, and was also used for the heat embossed sentiment. The silver brads were heated up and dipped into the embossing powder to match the sentiment.

Hope to see your card in the challenge!

Products: Dies: SB Grand Labels One, SB Grand Decorative Labels One, Memory Box Sorona Butterfly, Lydia Butterfly, Fin Butterfly, Delia Butterfly - MS Heart Lace Punch - Embossalicious Die'Sire Rose Vine Embossing Folder - Paper: White, Glitter White, Green Vellum, Pale Pink - Inks: Old Paper, Mowed Lawn & Kitsch Flamingo Distress, Green Oasis Versafine Clair - Green Embossing Powder mixed with Green mica powder - Brads.

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Pammies Inky Pinkies #2108 Anything Goes 3/1
2. Get Creative Challenges #98 AG with Twist use pink or red 3/1
3. My Turner Syndrome Journey #3 Inspiration Board shown above 3/13
4. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #152 Anything Goes 3/1
5. Avenue613 #2 AG with opt twist "heart and sole" 3/1
6. Simply Create Too #167 Use Hearts 3/1
7. Creations in Pink #31 AG Mainly Pink 3/15 (sep post)

Happy Hugs,

Have A Heart - Moving Along With The Times Challenge

Greetings my wonderful blogging friends!
Hoping this finds you well and enjoying yourself.
The inspiration for this project came from Sue Dree's Card.

And now... 

It's time to share a Project for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge!

Challenge #89's theme is HAVE A HEART - for the next 2 weeks upload your creations that feature hearts in one way or the other!

Applying EP after dry embossing:

After dry embossing the blue pearlescent cardstock, 

VersaFine Clair Blue Belle ink was "swiped" on top because it so easily covers fine surfaces. Then it was dredged with a semi-transparent embossing power called "Pearl". It looked like an opaque silver until it was heat set, allowing the blue to show through on the pearly finish.

VersaFine Clair Blue Belle ink was "swiped" on top of a piece of plain white die cut heart which had been embossed with the same EF. The same Pearl EP was heat set, which makes it coordinate beautifully with the pearlescent blue cardstock.

I repeated the same technique on the white interior cardstock, using VersaMark. It was more difficult to control because it required firmer "pressure" to apply the ink. So it's distressed (giggle).

Shaping the Leaves:

Spellbinders Foliage die set was used. I cut apart the leaves in Navy cardstock, wet the cuts, pinched the center together, and added a drop of glue.

After the leaves were dry, I coated them with a VersaMarker, dredged with Sparkle Embossing Powder, and heat set. The flourish and cherish dies were done in the same manner.



Tonic Studios "Follow Your Heart" dies is a two piece set. I sprayed adhesive on the back of the white die and laid it atop the navy pearlescent cardstock. Then applied Starfire Glitter. That 3M spray adhesive is strong!

Dies: Cheery Lynn "Cherish" and "Fanciful Flourish" dies, Quickutz "Nesting Hearts" and "Nesting Lace Hearts" dies, Spellbinders Foliage die, Tonic Studios "With Love" and "Follow Your Heart" dies Embossing Folder: Die'sire Embossalicious EF Rose Vine 8x8, Inks: VersaFine Clair Blue Belle, VersaMark Ink and VersaMarker Pen, EP: Sparkle Embossing Powder, Glitter: Starfire Glitter

(for an extra 10% off the linked items use code DonnaDT10 during checkout)

On a personal note:

Here in central Florida, we are thin-blooded wimps when it comes to cold weather. We made it into the 50s today (about 12C), but night-time 30s with frost. So this is how we enjoy the cold weather:



(let's hear it for the wimps! - giggle)

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. Scrapyland Challenges #106 AG with SL dies (Cheery Lynn, Quickutz, SB, Tonic listed above) 1/30 sep post
2. Cardz 4 Galz #88 Dimensional Elements (dry embossing & wet embossing on top of dry embossing, dimensional leaves which have been shaped and wet embossed, and a dimensional flower - with more on the inside) 2/1
3. Crafting with an Attitude #47 AG 2/1 sep post
4. Shopping Our Stash #386 Hearts on Fire 1/22 (C13) T3 Sat sep post
5. Sparkles Forum Monthly Challenges #112 "New Year New Stash" (both Tonic die sets are new) 2/15
6. World Wide Open DT Challenge #1 AG DT 2/16 sep post
7. DRU #113 Anything New (both Tonic die sets are new) 2/1 sep post
8. Try It On Tuesday (Jan 8) Something Old Something New (both Tonic die sets are new, The SB die and Nesting Hearts are old old old) 1/22 sep post

Stamping Hugs,

A Contemporary Christmas

YAYYYY! You're here! And just in time!
(I hope you're enjoying a week that is holding promise and anticipation.)

Double YAYYYY! Autumn has finally arrived to our neck of the woods!

Pssst! I'd like to remind you not to forget to sign up on my blog for my blog candy! 

It is for my regular bloggy visitors such as yourself.

And...

Oh yes! It's time for a new Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

The theme is A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS - 
so get crafting and show us your modern take on Christmas!

There are many traditional elements incorporated into my modern take of Christmas, 
including snow, presents, a tree, snowflakes and ribbon!

It's been years since I played with acetate, so I stamped some modern presents with VersaMark and heat set with some SNS white detail EP. Painting the back side of the embossed presents with SNS Brushable Glue, I then applied some SNS microfine glitters:  Jasper Blue Velvet GM2012, Orchid Rose Velvet GM2016.

Backside:

Front side:

Little dancing present popped up on card:

A little Mediterranean Star EP to pretty-up my round frame:

BOO BOO REVELATION TIME!

I love sharing my BOO-BOOs with you!

I VersaMarked my "modern" IO Swirly Christmas tree, and stamped onto some inexpensive watercolor paper. Because I wanted a sparkly tree, SNS Sparkle EP was heated. It is a semi-transparent powder with semi-transparent glitters. 
It worked pretty well
EXCEPT
a white EP with glitters would have worked better...
or perhaps a clear EP with white mica powder and glitter.
OR
A white pigment ink UNDER the Sparkle EP instead of VersaMark.

Why?

Because a tiny bit of the color seeped UNDER the heated EP. Since the EP is not opaque, some of the color bled through the paper under the image, dulling the embossed image.

I've only used my Color Burst Powder colors one other time.
WHAT? WHY?

I forgot about them LOL

See how dull the white image appears?

Brilliance Sky Blue ink was used on the dry embossed white area and the sky around the tree:

Here is my clean-and-simple version.
Is this considered CAS?

See the difference in the bright white embossing powder for the sentiment compared to the semi-transparent powder used for the tree?

Thanks for stopping by today!

On a Personal Note:

We gratefully receive the Gentleness of Autumn here in central, rural Florida.
Our mornings have dipped into the 50s - 60s (15-20C), while our afternoons glide into the low 80s (27C).
Before the sun rises, I open the sliding glass doors to the screened lanai, breathing in the dewey freshness.
All is quiet, undisturbed - SILENT.  Our Barred Owl community has apparently retired for the day.
Barely hearing the highway traffic a few miles away, I hear ripened acorns drop from the oak trees, on the barn's metal roof, for some hungry squirrel to discover and hide as their winter reserve.
But then, a single Barred Owl tentatively shares his greeting, erupting into bold cackling, making me giggle at heart. If you have ever heard the guffaws of these incredible birds, you know what I mean.


During the evening, he and his mate have been quite vocal with their neighbors.
There are several owls in the area. Frequently they are right outside the house.
Their conversations are incredibly lively, from softly muffled background singing, to something that resembles outright laughter! I wish this sound bit picked up how lively they become! (wait about 15 seconds into the sound bite)

Everything smells fresh as the dew sets, and a neighbor's rooster begins to rouse the neighborhood.

Slowly, one by one, other birds awaken.

Some resent the intrusion on their last hour of sleep,

others quickly awaken to get an early start.

Before long, it sounds like an orchestra deafeningly tuning all their instruments simultaneously!

And now, the Sun finally animatedly reveals her multi-color glory.

This is Autumn in my Florida.

Products Used:

• Images: Great Impressions G245 Presents, Impression Obsession Swirl Tree J2004 Leigh Hannan, Hero Arts Christmas C1722
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Embossing Powders (White Detail EP298, Sparkle EP107, Mediterranean Star EP429), Embossable Acetate, Brushable Glue, Microfine Velvet Glitter (Jasper Blue GM2012, Orchid Rose GM2016), VersaMark Ink
• Die Cuts: Spellbinders Grand Stately Circles, Spellbinders Grand Circles
• Inks: VersaMark (for embossing powder, Brilliance Sky Blue (for falling snow), 
• Embossing Folders: Crafter's Comp Elegant Snowfall, Regency Swirls by Die'sire, Craftwell Delicate Dots
• Watercolor: Color Burst Powder Watercolors

Challenges I'm supporting with these cards:

1. Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge (Wed Nov 9) "Anything Goes Christmas" 12/7
2. Crafty Gals Corner Challenges #97 "Use a Sentiment" (my 2nd card) 11/16
3. Inspiration Destination #111 "Anything Goes" 11/16
4. The Crafty Addicts #28 "Anything Goes with the Winter Blues"11/23
5. A Snowflakes Promise #32 "Seasons" (Christmas) 11/14
6. Cardz4Guyz #145 "Oh Christmas Tree!" 11/14
7. Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge #84 "Trees or Christmas Trees" 11/13  (10)
8. Craft-Dee BowZ (Nov) Anything Goes with a hand-made bow 12/1 
9. Crimbo Crackers #119 Shaped Christmas Cards 11/17 (sep post end of month? several challenges announced at once)
10. Sweet Stampers Challenge #1 "Christmas" 12/10

Happy Hugs,