Home Sweet Home and a Vintage Country Home freebie

"True friends are never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart."

I'm so happy to see you, my dear blogging friends! 

Paula has moved into a new home, so a card was in order! 

QUESTION: This is the first Altenew Pigment Ink I've purchased, and the first time used. It already requires reinking. Are you familiar with this brand? Does it mix well with other brand pigment reinkers? "Back in the Day..." pigment inks used pretty much the same formulas and reinkers could be interchanged. But nowadays, I hesitate doing that with all the special formulas. Do you absolutely need to use their reinkers with their pads? Altenew's seem to be a bit more expensive. I appreciate the feedback!

After running old, old, old designer paper through the embossing folder, white pigment ink was swiped across the top, dredged with clear detail EP and heat set:

Using the die as a stencil, Pumice Stone was applied in the openings and scenic background. VFC Morning Mist was applied to the lace punch for dimension, before layering.

Using the same die on the inside sentiment, and more stenciling in the same color made for a pretty card. The house was originally colored with Copic Markers and scanned:

By cutting 3 more "blank" die pieces, and adhering them together, a dimensional centerpiece was created.

Finally, white cardstock was adhered to the back of the embossed designer paper, cut with deckle scissors, with lacy trim attached.

Small sentiment was added before adhering to kraft cardstock:

On the inside, the original designer paper, layered with the stenciled sentiment:

A gift for you: 

If you would like a freebie set featuring this Vintage Country Home digital, please email me, and a ZIP file will be sent your way. It includes colored versions and black and white. For your use as a gift, not for resale/sale. Please refer to set #911.

Products: Images: My Digital Set Vintage Country Home (free to you if you wish to email me), Inks: Altenew Cloud White Pigment ink, VersaFine Clair Morning Mist, Distress Pummice Stone, Copic Markers, Embossing: folder Anna Griffin Baroque Vine Frame, Clear Detail EP, Paper: 20 years old pattern paper, white, and craft, Dies: Spellbinders 5x7 Elegant Labels 4, Martha Stewart Doily Lace Deep Trim Punch

Grateful to be playing in the following challenges (thank you, design teams, for hosting challenges):

1. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #8 AG 08/28 (entry #2)
2. Ally's Angels #97 AG (entry #2) 9/12
3. Crafter's Cafe #322 AG with Patterned Papers 9/12 (entry #2)
4. FarmQuest General Store Challenge #31 AG Farm and/or Country (my digi set is titled Vintage Country Home - be sure to email me if you would like the set for free) 9/5
5. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2533 AG (entry 2) 8/25
6. CD Sunday Plus Challenge #165 AG using a CD, USB, or digital [using My Digital Set Vintage Country Home (free to you, my blog visitor, if you wish to email me) 8/31
7. Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #138 AG 8/31

Stamping Hugs,

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

Fat Snowmen Last Longer

Hello, dear friends! Just a moment to thank you for visiting and leaving encouragement. We're coming to terms with my "new" limitations. Your kindnesses help me more than you know... so THANK YOU!

Here is another fat snowman, reminding why sometimes being fat might be beneficial - LOL - we all know THAT'S not true, but it's a good story!

This happy little guy was stamped and snail mailed by a friend for me to color and assemble. Cute stenciling for the background.

He is colored with Copic Markers and Distress Inks. A stenciled background was done with Iced Spruce ink. The dies (listed below) and papers are all from my ancient stash (giggle).

To create the sparkling snow, I applied VersaMark ink and clear EP. After that was melted, a VersaMarker was applied atop the melted clear EP. I dumped a ton of clear glitter on it, and re-melted the EP from the underside of the image. After putting a little more glitter on top of the melted EP+Glitter combo, I reheated it from the under side again. It's really sparkly and the embossing powder holds the extra glitter so it won't rub off!

Products: Cute Snowman from a friend, Clear Glitter, Clear Embossing Powder, Copic Markers, Distress Inks, VersaMark Ink, VersaMarker, Stencil for background, K&Co designer paper, Marianne Creatables Anja's Large Ovals die, Spellbinders Labels 23 Grand die, MS Starlight Punch

I'd like to play in the following challenge please (and thank you to the DTs who make the challenges possible):

1. 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Technique Challenge 8-24 EMBOSSING (To create the sparkling snow, I applied VersaMark ink and clear EP. After that was melted, a VersaMarker was applied atop the melted clear EP. I dumped a ton of clear glitter on it, and re-melted the EP from the underside of the image. After putting a little more glitter on top of the melted EP+Glitter combo, I reheated it from the under side again. It's really sparkly and the embossing powder holds the extra glitter so it won't rub off!) 09-07

Stamping hugs,

The Last Triangle Cards

 Happy July to you! Hoping the summer temperatures are not being too cruel to you, and that you have escaped some of the weather hardships assaulting so many countries.

Today I'm sharing the last of some designer-papers-cut-into-triangles stuff from my unfinished box. These were papers cut into triangles years ago, and then hidden away in a box for... why? I reasoned lasst month they would be good backgrounds to showcase some sentiments on card fronts, using an assortment of embossing powders and images. I also employed some of my oldest Spellbinders die shapes, a Sizzix branch, little round Prills (for flower centers) and an old Martha Stewart flower punch.

First are three sympathy cards. Is it appropriate to use Wink of Stella on serious cards?

Such a sweet sentiment "Embrace a Memory" by Verses Rubber Stamps - it says so much.

Textures are created with punches, Prills, inks and Wink of Stella:

You're Never More Than a Thought Away (Old SNS stamp):

Two thinking of you cards:

(sentiments from Biblical Creations and Stampin' Up!)

It was fun mixing and matching shapes to accommodate the sentiments. And OH-SO-GLAD to have six more cards completed from the now (gratefully) depleted triangle stash!

Wishing you a beautiful week-end!

Playing in the following challenges please:

1. **brand new** Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge Blog 7/31
2. Word Power Challenge - Words must be dominant feature of card 7/25

stamping hugs,

LOST AND FOUND - MORE "unfinished stuff" from my old stash - freebie

I've been plugging away in my craft room, a little at a time and using more "stuff" discovered in my "unfinished projects" box. I love using my old stamps and papers from long ago. Do you?  Today, I am using previously cut out triangles of papers in the backgrounds of these cards.

I especially enjoy this Fred She Said stamp because it works for people from our past or present - still present in our lives, and/or having moved away until we next talk. I love hearing the stories about my friends' relatives and family stories. Those kinds of memories come alive when retold, and give us inspiration to live in a way that inspires others, too. On this occasion, the card was sent to a friend's husband who has been chronically ill, and fighting a terminal illness, for decades. His strength and influence have encouraged me. In the card, I shared that he and I are "aged to a perfection" only the two of us can appreciate (giggle).

Aged to Perfection - Fred She Said Old Trucks

Using the backgrounds from my unfinished box, with a little help from Fred She Said Old Trucks, I utilized an ancient (dare I say "vintage") technique. Some call it "Cracked Glass" and others call it "Cracked Ice". 

Using Sepia tones to further the vintage look, I die cut the images, inked them up, coated with several layers of clear EP, and put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Then the images were "cracked" before the EP could thaw:

I liberally smooshed Black Soot DI on top of the images, so the ink could get into the crevices. The rest comes off easily with paper towel. These cracked really well -- kinda like me! (giggle)

I tried to capture more detail in the photograph by removing the overhead light on my desk:

Products: Stamps: Fred She Said Old Trucks, Freebie Digital Sentiment below Dies: Surprise Creations Pierced Decorative Ovals, Sue Wilson Double Pierced Ovals, Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Inks: Distress Oxides Vintage Photo & Brushed Corduroy, Distress inks Black Soot, Old Paper, VersaMark, Clear EP, other: Charcoal colored Vellum, FREEZER TECHNIQUE

FREEBIE SENTIMENT

My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

Playing in the following challenges please:

1. Perfect Time to Craft (June 1) #6 AG 7/1
2. Classic Design Challenge #5 AG with masculine 6/15
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #231 AG 6/16
4. The Alphabet Challenge (May 31) E is for Embossing 6/13 (one of the background triangles is dry embossed with dots - the main image has several coats of Clear Embossing Powder - wet embossing - was placed in the freezer, then cracked and distressed as mentioned above)
5. Aloha Friday #11 Masculine 7/3

Stamping Hugs,

Butterflies and Snowflakes and a freebie

 Hello, blogging friends! It's the beginning of a new year, and I sincerely hope 2024 is good to you.

My cards today were inspired by a card from the very talented by Shwu-Miin Tang

She created a lovely gatefold card with monochrome leanings, borders and beautiful butterflies! Having been awarded this card at the recent TSA auction, organized by Lori Kobular, I showed it to some friends in November. Gasping at the beauty, they declared they most certainly could not make anything that pretty. But they did, when they came over in December, and I did a surprise class using die cuts. Apologies that the photos are not very clear.

The cards are 5"x7". We started out with plain white-on-white (monochrome will hide any mistakes). The card base is cut 7" x 10" and scored at 2.5" and 7.5". Each card then required 2 white pieces 6.75" x 5". We used Martha Stewart punch-around-the-page punches after dry embossing them, but any appropriately sized die or punch would work. One whole embossed piece is adhered on the interior and the other cut vertically for the 2 sides in front. 

Using white glitter card stock, solid butterflies were die cut. With white card stock, the filagree butterflies were attached in the centers of the glitter pieces. Butterfly "bodies" were also die cut with glitter card stock, and adhered. 

Recycling the tin seal from the inside of Whey Protein Powder, lots of delicate snowflakes were cut. Using a Japanese Screw Punch two snowflakes were hole punched. Then the butterflies' center of the 3 layers was punched. A brad was looped into the snowflake center, and then through the butterfly center. One butterfly was adhered to each side of the gate fold.

Pale Pink Copic Markers (any alcohol markers will do) changed the white glitter to pale pink.

While it is easier to open and close the cards where the butterflies were adhered "straight", we found it more forgiving and whimsical to place the butterflies on angles. Some of the cards were inked around the edges, while others only slightly tinted the butterflies. Here are a few color options:

Lavender and Pink (inked around the edges):

Blue and Pale Gray without any other ink:

The interior has a heat set stamped sentiment embossed in silver to coordinate with the snowflakes. I made up another sentiment we printed on vellum, which is now available to you as my gift at the bottom of this post:

I am deeply, humbly, gratefully blessed by dear friends such as yourselves. Your cards, IMs and phone calls helped me through a very difficult 2023; though the sentiment seems "sappy or corny", it is the truth, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you, Shwu-Miin Tang, for the inspiration. And many thanks to dear friends such as yourselves for lifting my spirits on many a difficult day.

These are going to a few friends. Wish I could send at least 50!

My gift to you - 

For use on the inside or outside of your projects: Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope you enjoy! 

Products: Dies (Die-Versions Wee Petites WP-004 Snowflakes, Memory Box Lydia Butterfly, MB Sorona Butterfly, MB Delia Butterfly, Spellbinders Labels 23-for the decorated interior-- Martha Stewart Punch-Around-the-Page Lace Flowers), Coloring (Copic Markers atop glitter cardstock, Oxide ink, Distress ink), Papers (110lb white, clear and silver glitter, recycled silver metal foil from Whey Protein Powder, white and pearl vellums, ) Embossing Folder: Couture Creations "Flamingos & Hedgehogs"

I would like to play in the following challenges please:

1. Crafty Animals AG with Animals or Insects  2/1 
2. Triple B Challenge with Mood Board 2/2  (see the pretty frosty mood board below)
3. Craft Rocket Challenges  #10 Use Embossing (background is an embossing folder and interior background is an EF. The die cut butterflies are also dry embossed. On the interior, the top sentiment is heat embossed. 1/28  2/1
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies Anything Goes 1/18
5. Creative Inspirations #9 Anything Goes 1/25 (2-1)

Stamping Hugs,