Left Over Pieces + New Pieces = Finally-Finished Cards

Welcome, Blogging friends! I have missed you!

Still plugging along in my "unfinished stuff" boxes, these creations have been in the works for the last 6 weeks. I came across some pink and white Spellbinders decorative squares elements already cut out - probably 15 years ago - they were crying out to put put on a project! So I added some Impression Obsession butterflies and Tattered Lace flowers, enjoying designing The Old dies with The Virginal dies. The designing was fun, too - especially with the addition of sparkle in one of my favorite colors PINK!

Here are some of the pieces I started with before adding the whimsy:

Because the bottom layers overlapped in some places, shims were needed:

With the shims prepared and glued in place, the diagonal square in the middle could be added:

Next... to adhere the fun die cuts:

To shade some of the pink areas (included the pink glitter paper), Worn Lipstick DI was applied. See the difference?

The vellum "butterfly shadow" is pearly, so it picked up the pink tones without coloring. The other butterflies with pink frames around them were "inked" with Worn Lipstick atop pale pink cardstock. The die cut sentiments were cut from pink glitter paper, darkened with Copic Marker RV32, and shadowed with a pale slate blue cardstock:

Two more cards, one using Ana Griffin's sentiment set:

Upon finishing the cards, I decided some pop up elements on the inside would be fun. It sure would have been easier had that been done before adhering all the layers! Front facing:

Top facing - notice the notched element under the butterfly to minimize the popup feature:

Thanks for visiting my little blog! Your encouragement and friendship means so much. I am permanently homebound, leaving only for medical appointments. Each excursion takes tremendous toll on my body, but I'm still able to do "small things with great love".  I'm so grateful to still be living in this wonderful world, surrounded by beautiful people!

Products: Anna Griffin "You Are" sentiment stamps (set of 9), Inks: VersaFine Clair Nocturne, Distress Worn Lipstick, Dies: Tattered Lace Michaelmas Daisy, Imp Obs Butterfly DIE059-N, SB Marvelous Squares, SB Adorning Squares, LifeStyle Nesting Frames 7, MS Floral Crochet PAP, MS lace heart edge punch, Die-Versions Express Banners "Happy Day" and "Make a Wish", Cardstock: pink glitter, pink, white, white glitter, slate blue (shadow on sentiment) Other: Gold Detail EP, Copic RV32, 

May I please play in the following challenges?

1. Seize the Birthday #303 Layer it Up Birthday 4/2 (each card has multiple layers inside and out)
2. Triple B Challenge (April 3) inspiration board for birds butterflies blooms 5-1
3. Crafting A Cut Above (April 7) Spring Time with Dies 5/1 (Dies used: Tattered Lace Michaelmas Daisy, Imp Obs Butterfly DIE059-N, SB Marvelous Squares, SB Adorning Squares, LifeStyle Nesting Frames 7, MS Floral Crochet PAP, MS lace heart edge punch, Die-Versions Express Banners "Happy Day" and "Make a Wish")
4. Colorful Options (April 1) choose color(s) from the inspiration photo. I chose pink. 5/1
5. The Four Seasons Challenge (April 1) Anything Goes Spring 5/1
6. Craft Rocket Challenges #124 "Layer it Up" 4/28 (each card has multiple layers inside and out)
7. As You Like It Challenge (April 17) Fussy & Fancy and Why 4/30 (while CAS are amazing, I have trouble keeping it simple. It's always satisfying to add more layers, more sparkle, unexpected details, and products to cards, and see the faces of the recipients - or to hear their sweet voices - exclaiming "how did you do that?" giggle)

Thanks for stopping by!

You OTTER love this set! {Dare 2B Artzy)

Surprise! A post from me! (giggle)

Even though I cannot leave many comments, or post to my own blog, it doesn't mean I'm not thinking fondly of my blogging buddies. I hope you are all well! Today's card share is a Valentine for my Jacky, AND using stuff from my unfinished box. Five or Six years ago, my friend Ana brought her Otterly Awesome set to share. I did manage to color these cuties in with Prismacolor Pencils, but was unable to finish in the allotted time. I like how it came out all these years later, and was the perfect sweetheart card from my Most Favorite Person in the whole wide world.

Using LifeStyle QuicKutz heart dies, a frame was created to complement the Martha Stewart lacy heart punch. Papers and dies are older than 2015.

The interior was customized a bit to match the Valentine theme:

Products: Quickutz Nesting Lacy Hearts and Plain Hearts dies, Martha Stewart Lacy Heart border, Walnut & Spun Sugar distress inks, Prismacolor Pencils,

featuring this cute Otterly Awesome set from Dare 2B Artzy

May I please play in the following fine challenges?

1. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2506 AG 02-16
2. Crafty Animals #91 AG with animals 3/1
3. Coloring With Pencils Kleuren met Potloden (Feb 10) AG with pencils 3-6
4. Unicorn Challenge #106 Dots and/or Stripes 2/26
5. **NEW** Neglected Stuff Challenge #1 3/1 (stamped images were in my unfinished by from at least 5 years ago, papers, dies, punches from past life - giggle - at least 10 years old. D&D, thank you for establishing another fun challenge! 
6. Christmas or NOT Bingo #11 Used Column "I" with Square, Layers, Free, Stamped Images 3/1
7. Halloween Crafts (and Valentine's Day in February) #23 3/1
8. Critter Crazy Challenges #95 AG with a Critter (SOB! LAST CHALLENGE!) 3/1
9. Sunday Stamps SSC353 Pretty Frames Sketch Challenge 2/15

Stamping Hugs,

de

Non-Traditionally Colored Valentine for my Sweetie

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! My bestie is also the love of my life, so it was fun making a card for him.

 Actually, my time creating the card felt like I was in Leslie Miller's craft room. We both enjoy Bugaboo's fun, quirky images (so sad Jodie is no longer on-line). We both are married to wonderful guys who love the outdoors (Leslie with Rich, I with Jack) and who prefer comical to mushy. 

Will share my major boo-boo at the bottom of this post.

Valentine Bird is colored with Copic Markers, and distressed with the inks shown at left.

The brads were also colored with Copic Markers.

Being inspired by many of my dear crafting friends, I attempt to use "old stuff" from my stash on each card. Here three yellow star brads were utilized - each was altered with a different color yellow alcohol marker for visual interest.  OLD OLD OLD burlap is a "break" between two designer papers, which are also at least 7 years old.

At the very end of assembling this card, I picked up a "love" stamp, inked it up and promptly dropped its wet, inky self onto the image, picked the stamp up again and dropped it again, so TWO "love" images ruined the main element. Then I pondered stamping "love" multiple times, thinking it might look intentional. THAT DID NOT WORK. So here is the boo-boo scene:

Fortunately, a quickie home-made sentiment die cut with a tag, covered up most of the mess.

Because the message was exceedingly corny, and personal, I blurred out the bottom message in Photos, but thought you might enjoy seeing the finished product:

Who could possibly resist this love-struck little birdie full of happiness?

Products: Image: Bugaboo Valentine Bird #2,  Dies: La-La Land - Flag Banner,  Surprise Creations Double Stitched Tags, LifeStyle Quickutz Nesting Hearts,   Papers: Studio G designer & SU "turquoise", Colored with Copics, Inks: DI Speckled Egg, D Oxide Stormy Sky and Iced Spruce, Other: Star Brads, Burlap

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Try It On Tuesday - Feb 6 - Hearts and/or Flowers (heart balloon, die cuts, heart eyes, little flowers) 2/20 (check 2/27)
2. Dragonfly Dreams Challenges Feb 4 - Hearts (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 3/3 (check 3/10)
3. Allsorts Challenges #767  Feb 10 Hearts- (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 2/16
4. Inkspirational Challenge #309 Feb 10 Hearts (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 2/20 (sep post)
5. Cut it Up Challenge #297 Feb 9 - Have a Heart (LifeStyle Quickutz nesting heart dies) 2/21
6. Pearly Sparkles Challenges Feb 1 #92 - Love/Have a Heart 2/28 (check 3/1)
7. Moving Along With the Times #163 Feb 1 - Love/Hearts 3/1 (scroll down in post)
8. Crafty Gals Corner #252 Feb 14  Add a Heart (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 3/13 (sep post) 
9. Critter Crazy Challenge #83 Feb 1 - AG with a Featured Critter (bird here) 3/1 (sep post)

Sending Friendship your way,

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,

A Heart Full of Valentine Wishes - Jan's Digi Stamps

Hello, and thanks for stopping by today! Hoping this finds all our Pacific West Coast friends doing well despite the very turbulent weather in the past several weeks. It goes without saying that I'm always thinking fondly of my blogging friends.

Today's card is for January's mid-month reminder at 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 newest sets are 25% off, and the Sweetheart Sale includes three sets shown below plus her "romantic/friendship/anniversary/wedding/Valentine" cards!

To create my scene, three sets were used (just click on them to enlarge):

Friendship Flowers on sale for $3 (butterfly)

Valentine Wishes 3380 on sale for $3.75 (heart & sentiment)

Botanical Orchids 874 on sale for $3 (Love You sentiment)

To make this card, I cropped out 4 flowers from the heart wreath to create a "swag". This will become the stop for my easel card. The Heart Wreath was flipped horizontally, and slightly tilted for symmetry, using free Pages software that came with my iMac. The symmetry allows the heart die cut to be placed in a straight manner if you are not using a die cut for shaping:

The butterfly was added the the heart wreath via my word processor. Using the "out of the box" die cutting technique, the heart wreath was then "shaped".

This was a fun wreath to color because of the many pink and lavender hues. The easel "stop" is also covered with matching flowers. 

The three Copic colors in the background were used for depth around the images. Squeezed Lemonade DI was used around some of the edges.

I realize that Monarch Butterflies are not the same color as the butterfly in my project, but I couldn't color around the white dots very well, so I changed them to orange.

 (always a way to cover up our mistakes, right?)

In the middle of the wreath, one layer of heart is adhered. The little heart itself (in the glitter) is actually 4 layers. I glued one heart layer before the glittered layers so I'd know exactly where the tiny heart should go. Otherwise, even though the glitter is adhered well, some of the glitter might come loose in the adhering process:

After die cutting the background, I dry embossed it. The die then became a stencil. Using Squeezed Lemon & Kitsch Flamingo DI, and Twisted Citron DO and a dauber, the tiny diamond shapes were inked to bring out a Spring theme.

Then it was adhered to happy yellow card stock!

Don't forget to play in the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!

Products Used: Stamps  Jan's Digi Images:  Valentine Wishes 3380, Friendship Flowers 702 (butterfly image), Botanical Orchids 874 (Lovely You in middle of heart) LifeStyle-Quickutz Nesting Heart Dies, Spellbinders "Lovin' Diamonds" Die Set, Spellbinders Mega Nestabilities Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles die set, Martha Stewart Garden Trellis Punch, Copic Markers, Copic Multiliner, Express-it white cardstock, Squeezed Lemon & Kitsch Flamingo DI, Twisted Citron DO, Yellow Glitter

I'd like to play in the following fine challenges please:

1. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #1 AG DT 2/12
2. Crafts Galore Encore #107 AG 2/1
3. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #663 Something New (2nd entry) The Valentine Wishes stamp set is new to me, the yellow card stock had been in my stash but had never been used before) 1/18
4. Crafters Cafe Challenge #293 AG with Colors of the Rainbow and more 2/11
5. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #1 AG 2/1
6. The Outlawz Challenges Twisted Thursday (Jan 12) The Valentine Wishes stamp set is new to me, the yellow card stock had been in my stash but had never been used before) Feb 1.
7. Classic Design Challenge #1 AG 2/1
8. Ally's Angels #66 AG 2/10
9. Sweet Stampin (Jan 7) theme "New" 1/20 (listed week after sep post) (The Valentine Wishes stamp set is new to me, the yellow card stock had been in my stash but had never been used before)
10. CD Sunday PLUS #101 AG Downloaded 1/22 (in this case, I cropped four flowers individually from the heart wreath, and then arranged them into a swag for the easel "stop". The butterfly was added from another set. The two sentiments are from different sets (three sets used to create this card)
11. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #192 see below middle row 1/19 Yellow glitter around small heart and flowers

Sending Early Valentine Hugs to you!