Amazing Grace Will Bring Us Through #StampinUp #TravelsAbroad #Verve #AmazingGrace #PlainJane

Had a bit of time to play this morning so whipped this one up using my long coveted SU set, Travels Abroad. Yes, it came out in 2003, and this is just the 2nd time I've used it.  The first time was on my Shenpa card made a month or two ago?  Lol, so yes, I'm still coveting this set since 2003!

I loved this alternating ink color in today's new Muse inspiration, so decided to replicate my repetitive stamped image design of the previous Shenpa card with the Venus de Milo image.

I decided to stay with just SU Real Red and Brilliant Blue to keep with the Viva La France theme of the Venus de Milo; My image only allowed a row of 3 images instead of the 5 in the original inspiration card.  I was playing around with my brand new bottle of Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine spritzer and decided to use that piece of "scrap" to play as background to my trio of Venus de Milo's.

Here is today's Muse Challenge #131 Inspiration by Carol Mane:

I wish I had feather stamps; That's one trend I missed out on during my 4 year hiatus.  I loved the colors she used...it's very reminiscent of Basic Grey colors.

P.S. If my Baker's Dozen Partner is reading this: Dawn, I used Glossy Accents this time to secure the sequins.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the sequins are truly secure! 





"Amazing Grace" Card
Paper: Recollections CS; SU Brilliant Blue CS
Stamps: SU Travels Abroad; Verve Plain Jane "Amazing Grace" 
Ink: SU Brilliant Blue; SU Real Red
Embellishments: Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine; Darice Sequins
Size: 4.25" x 5.5" rectangular 

"You're Fabulous" Dress

Using up nothing but scraps and partially completed projects for this card for my 8th challenge completion.

Challenge Title: Happy TogetherHostesses: annsforte3 (Ann), tessaduck (Brenda), Joan7356 (Joan or Sassy), berlycece (Kim), LuvLee (Lee), Shoe Girl (Lisa), Scraperwannabe (Misti), gregzgurl (Sue), JBgreendawn (Stacy)Keyword: JUN15VSNI

So glad you could join us tonight for Happy VSN! We are a very happy group of individuals here that host the VSN Challenges! We work together, give each other support, and love card challenges. Of course all of us have special interests that are our go to items or techniques when we are stamping. 

So for our Happy Together challenge each of us has an item that we love to do or add to our cards that you must incorporate into your card. Use all of the items happily together on your cards!

The challenge is to use or do all of the following items on your card in some form:

• annsforte3 aka Ann - use some kind of stencil on your card
• tessaduck aka Brenda - use sponging on your card
• Joan7356 aka Joan (Sassy) - a stamped image
• berlycece aka Kim - use ribbon
• LuvLee aka Lee - use the color, PINK!!!! (Total shock, right?)
• Shoe Girl aka Lisa - use some sparkle
• Scraperwannabe aka Misti - use some form of coloring
• gregzgurl aka Sue - Make the card square!
• JBgreendawn aka Stacy - use foam dimensionals

So here's my card using an already stamped dress image, colored in with watercolors which I had rejected at the time because my watercolors were muddy, then embellished with Stickles. I already had the back panel done from yet another class with the swirl punchies punched out with the green Stickles.

I highlighted in pink the "favorite" elements on my card. 

I simply paired these items together with some trimming, mounting dress on foam dimensionals onto a frame die cut from Spellbinders, and finished it off with the sentiment from Verve. 

Thanks for visiting! 



  

"You're Fabulous Spring Dress" Card
Paper: SU Whisper White; Bazzil CS 
Stamps: Uptown Designs Dress (?); Verve Uplifting Phrases (sentiment) 
Ink: SU Marvelous Magenta; Momento Tuxedo Black
Embellishments: Stickles Bronze, Green; Family Treasures Small Swirl Punch; Spellbinders Label 3Size: 6" x  6" square 

A Little Blue Birdie Told Me..."So Sorry You Hurt"

Going strong with the SCS VSN Challenges. This one is my 5th that I decided to combine with the current Verve Mojo Monday Sketch.  Verve is one of my favorite stamp companies and I'm so happy they're back after a long hiatus!

Here's my card featuring a little blue bird per The Bluebird of Happiness challenge at SCS.

I'm not a huge fan of these papers I used, but was trying to make do with all the scraps I had.  Gosh I miss getting DT monthly kits full of coordinated papers and items. Definitely made sitting down to create MUCH easier. I really need to start making my own kits by shopping out of my own stash more.  I think this - the searching all over the place for coordinating patterned papers and embellishments - is what is slowing me down.

Happy I got to do a little bit of paper piecing, but I'm looking forward to having the time to really do it properly. This is just adding color into a stamped image.

Challenges:

1. SCS VSN Challenge Title: The Bluebird of Happiness 
   Hostess: LuvLee (Lee)
   Keyword: JUN15VSNG


2. Verve Mojo Monday Sketch #402 

3.  Penny Black Wings & Things June 2015 Challenge

Thanks for visiting!






"So Sorry You Hurt"

Paper: Pink Paisley Bayberry Cottage PP, BG Sultry (?); (Blue background with brown dotted pp is unknown); Bazzil CS
Stamps: My Little Shoebox Home Tweet Home; Verve Heartfelt Stamps
Ink: Memories ArtPrint Brown; SU Ballet Blue; SU Bliss Blue 
Embellishments: Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities; Foam Pop Dots
Accessories: SU 2013-2015 In Color Sequins
Size: 5.5  x 4.25" rectangular 

Trio of Raffia Butterflies

Finally resolved to use up these hand made raffia butterflies that's also a swap return (created by Sheryl H from Colorado from the SBA forum) due to this week's inspiration at the Muse Challenge & Addicted to CAS Challenge sites.

I paired a sentiment from Verve with yet another of my water coloring attempts while spreading out the trio of butterflies.

It has a dated look due to the style and material of the butterflies, but they're still very well hand crafted.

I stamped the sentiment on top so that the butterflies could "hover" over the springy green water colored background.  And it's lighter and airier on the top?

Here's the Muse Inspiration of the week for Muse Challenge #120.

And here is the prompt over at the Addicted to CAS Challenge site for their Butterfly Challenge #65:

Thanks for visiting!





Trio of Raffia Butterflies Card
Paper: Canson Watercolor Paper
Stamps: Verve Nicest Thoughts  ("You are one of my nicest thoughts. - Georgia O'Keefe")
Ink: Versacolor Black; Canson Angora Water Colors
Embellishments: MM Buttons; Wire; Wire Tools; Glue Dots; Raffia
Size: 4.25" x 6.5" rectangular 

HaHa!! #Stamping #Alignment #Fail Shoulda Pulled Out the #Stamp-a-ma-jig Sooner #CardsforACause #RonaldMcDonaldHouse #Charity #Donation

It's been over 5 years since I've packed for a crop, so while I did pretty good packing for my 4 day extended weekend, my crafty brain is obviously a little rusty in not thinking of EVERYTHING I would have needed when drafting up my packing list.

These are cards I eyeballed stamping the text.  The Garden Green Lattice Window cards are pretty obvious as the text should have been a bit lower. The Lavendar Lace tag flower cards are blurry because I overstamped each twice using the Stamp-a-ma-jig twice.  Talk about shaky hands! I should have practiced a few more times.

Ah well.   The Garden Green Lattice Window cards were my first projects when unpacking because I had JUST relocated my Big Shot plates and wanted to christen my new to me SU Bigz Lattice and SU Window Frames Framelit Dies. These were always on my wishlist, so glad there were ladies on SCS who were willing to sell to me without charging ebay prices!

The pale yellow vellum was from my scraps pile - whoohoo! A sheet at a time, I WILL whittle the pile down!

The next two cards were salvaged using a set of identical hand drawn lilac flower tags using Zig brush pens waaaaay back when Zig brush techniques were the rage at the turn of the century.  Yup, these two tags were swap returns. Goes to show you how accurate the claims of acid free paper and ink are, eh, that they still look fresh and crisp nearly 15 years later?

I just added the Verve "knock your socks off" sentiment once I got home.  They turned out fuzzy because I should have practiced a few times with my Stamp-a-ma-jig once I finally admitted to myself that I did indeed needed the help. Else my alignment without this tool was a hot mess all weekend!

I obviously need more practice with my watercoloring techniques.  Lol, I was pretty happy to finally crack up my brand new set of Cansan watercolors that I purchased, probably 10 years ago, from my local stamp store.

These four cards will be going in my monthly donation to the ongoing Ronald McDonald House Cards for Cause effort that I'm both participating in and hostessing over at SCS.  I'd love it if you'd like to donate some of your cards to this cause.  

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE MISSION: To provide a community where children and their families embrace life and healing (from cancer) with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy. 

Pasadena Ronald McDonald House 

763 South Pasadena Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

I have chosen to adopt the location in Pasadena to donate cards that I create and collect from friends throughout the rest of this 2015.  

SEEKING THESE CARD THEMES:  Anything other than religious, make them uplifting, thinking of you, children themes, etc.  Cards with no sentiments are perfectly acceptable too. Examples of themes: Welcome Baby Card / Wedding / Sympathy Card / Birthday / Thinking of You/ Thank you / Missing you. 

WANT TO DONATE:  Please leave a comment here with your email, and I'll reply to you with my home address.  

By forwarding to me or any of our other monthly hostesses throughout the US, you'll allow our group of ladies over at the SCS community to tally the number of cards donated and lives impacted.  Check out our Call for Cards here. 

 DETAILS:
1. Cards need to use good quality cardstock- HEAVY WEIGHT--- (so the card can stand alone) and include a minimum of two layers and one embellishment.  

2. IF you use colorful / dark cardstock—please line the inside of the card with either white or vanilla paper so the guests can write in them using black/blue pen.

3. If you place a sentiment inside—repeat the sentiment and place on copy paper so that it can be added inside the back of the sleeve-so the individual can see if there is a “saying” on the inside or it is “blank” 

4. If you would like to include envelopes and sleeves it would be greatly appreciated - sleeve IS NOT necessary.  What's a sleeve?  Click here for example. 

Nevertheless, I'll be preparing each card by inserting them and a matching envelopes inside individual clear A2 sized sealable envelopes in to keep the card clean and in pristine shape to allow the RMH recipients to handle and make their selection. 

I definitely had a super fun creative weekend using just recently purchased and finally opening long ago purchased crafty items to play.  I'm pretty happy that I got to use swap returns and scraps as well to pay it forward towards such a great cause. 

  

"Just Wanted You to Know How Special You Are" Garden Green Lattice Window Card
Paper: SU Garden Green CS; Vellum 
Stamps: SU Versatile Verses ("Just Wanted You to Know How Special You Are")
Ink: SU Garden Green 
Embellishments: SU Bigz Lattice Die; SU Window Frames Framelits
Size: 4.25" x 5.25" rectangular 

"Hope Today Knocks Your Socks Off" Tag Cards
Paper: Canson Water Coloring Paper; SU Lovely Lilac CS, SU Tempting Turquoise CS  
Stamps: SU Mosaic Madness; Verve All About You ("Hope Today Knocks Your Socks Off")
Ink: SU Lavendar Lace; SU Tempting Turquoise; Versacolor Black; Canson Watercolors
Embellishments: SU Modern Mosaics EF; SU Mosaic Punch; SU Sizzix Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die; White Sheer Ribbon Scraps
Size: 4.25" x 5.25" rectangular 

From Our Hearts: Another 153 Cards Donation using up LOTS of SCRAPS

To my dismay, as I'm purging my parent's house recently, I found yet another stack of about 50ish SU card fronts. Additionally, while I was helping a good friend pack between her moves, she also had a stack of about 50ish SU card fronts as well.

Yup, I then was compelled to convert them into full cards to donate to From Our Hearts since I don't have the heart to throw away perfectly gorgeous handiwork.  I guess this was all good timing because From Our Hearts is closing shop due to the (finally!) drawback of our US troops overseas in May.   This meant I could no longer just set the just found stashes aside indefinitely!

Well, the two stacks of 50ish cards turned into a total of 153 cards that was finally shipped to From Our Hearts earlier this week!

I was able to crank out extra cards using paper piecing's I've been hoarding forever from swaps I participated in the early 2000's.  Hello? It's 2015!! My style and preferences have certainly changed. So it was time to incorporate those paper piecings into adorable children's themed cards.

Additionally, I finally went through a few more boxes in my stash that I've been putting off forever and sorted through tons of cardstock and patterned paper scraps.  Tossed out a lot and kept the pieces I could and would reasonably use.  I organized my scraps into a very simple ROYGBV system and their housed in the thinner CH 12x12 paper holders.  I'll share pics of my Scraps System in another post to keep the focus on my donation cards to From Our Hearts.

But this surge of a mini organization was a game changer for sure!! I was able to make an additional 50+ cards using handmade embellishments, left over pre-fab embellishments, i.e. titles, ribbons, etc along with tons of left over patterned paper and SU cardstock scraps.  There was also a few packets of already pre cut SU cardstock that just begged for me to apply an appropriate sized stamp to finish up as I did here with these masculine, clean and simple Father's Day Cards.

Here are a few my coveted paper piecings that were also shakers I received in a swap back in the early 2000's that I finally let go of.  I think they're better delighting a child missing his/her parent than sitting in my closet somewhere, no?

Here's an example of stamping scraps coming into play with swap goodies.  I had this swirly background from a long ago trial at learning how to apply the shaving cream with SU reinkers to make a marbleized background.   So I used the entire left over sheet and paired it with this super cute fishy paper piecing I received in return ( I think I made lots of teddy bears to exchange) and then added this "I Miss You" sentiment.  I'm classifying this as a Child's card, since From Our Hearts is specifically calling for more Children's themed cards.  

Lastly, here's a hand embellished "DAD" I received in yet another long ago swap in the early 2000's.  Yep, since there's a call for Father's Day cards, it's high time this beauty gets put to use.  The creator was detailed enough to have prepared these on Xyron self adhesive backing, so it was so simple to adhere on an arrangement of patterned paper scraps after adding a stamped sentiment from Verve.

They're not too complicated design layout wise, so all the spotlight is on the handiwork of the paper piecings as they should be.  As you can see, I added appropriate stamped sentiments from Verve, Stampin Up and an embellished Happy Birthday sentiment from Making Memories.  Always feels good to use up every single item in a pack of pre fab embellishments and I can finally throw away the packaging.

Here's the variety of 153 full cards, box ready combination of converted SU Card fronts and other swap goodies with my "scraps" pile.

This was an incredibly constructive exercise for me!! Bye bye my precious shaker kitties and puppy!! Hello much needed clean open space for me in my scrap area! With no waste.  My conscious feels good.

Here's my tally of my personal donations to From Our Hearts as of this posting:

• 2015 Donations = 153 Cards
• 2012 Donations = 150 Pens & 184 Cards
• 2011 Donations = 598 Card & Card Fronts
• 2010 Donations = 751 Card & Card Fronts + 4500 Envelopes

TOTAL = 1686 Card & Card Fronts; 150 Pens; 4500 Envelopes

From Our Hearts is shipping to our troops through May, so I may try to whip up one last batch to contribute.  I'm sure I have tons more pre made swap goodies I can donate to the fine young men and women.

#Masculine #CAS #CleanAndSimple Stamped Card for Father's Day

I have always enjoyed knowing that I could always donate handmade cards and card fronts from my mad SU Demo swapping days to the non profit From Our Hearts organization.  I just didn't have the heart to throw away perfectly gorgeous card fronts lovingly and diligently hand crafted by my group of SU Demo friends.  When I look at the total count of cards donated to FOH, I'm dumbfounded that I swapped that much! Those were some amazing fun days!!

Our country is finally drawing down our troops overseas so our men and women are coming home!! Thus there just aren't that many locations for FOH to send boxes to anymore. With their last deadline for cards approaching, I've been working feverishly to convert the stash of SU card fronts my good friend Eva found when she was moving at the end of last year, AND yet another stash of SU card fronts I found while purging my parent's house.  (I still have about a dozen or so boxes of scrapping stuff of my own that I've stubbornly put off sorting that probably comprise of half completed class kits, etc.)

Part of the stash my friend Eva gave me were boxes of supplies she no longer wanted because the pre fab stuff no longer fits her style.  I asked her for them since I figured I could use them to make cards for the troops or forward the supplies for FOH's card making events.  But, alas, FOH is closing down.....

In her stash, I found a few ziplock bags of pre-cut coordinating cardstock that just needed to be stamped and embellished.  I found some appropriately sized stamp images and this is what I came up with. Considering all of my scrapping stuff is packed up and I only had my tool bag, this card is pretty much the most basic and flat design I've ever come up with, and I'm pretty happy with it.

I figured the color scheme was masculine so I chose the father son image from the SU Seaside Sketches set. Then I arranged various sentiments from my Verve Father Figure clear stamp set on the base in lieu of background stamps, patterned paper, embossing folders, etc.  I had no embellishments and didn't feel like opening up a few boxes to search for appropriate ones.  Y'all know what an ordeal that is! So I just used the one long dotted border the embellishment by using a coordinating ink color to tie in with the contrasting cardstock color.

My card apparently falls along the lines of this week's CAS316 No Patterned Paper Clean and Simple Weekly Challenge over at Splitcoast. 

Lol, I further challenged myself because I forgot to dig out my stack of clear acrylic blocks so I just improvised and used the back of a very small SU clamp shell case.  While I was working on this project, I was really surprised that most all of my SU dye ink pads are still juicy.  I did have to re-ink my black ink pad to add greetings on some other cards I was putting together using paper pieced embellishments obtained again from my mad swap days.  

Unfortunately, there was only enough to make 8 cards in this set because that's how many pieces were pre-cut.

Conversely, I'm grateful my good friend Eva FORTUNATELY did already pre-cut these 8 blank card sets so that all I had to do was stamp and adhere them together.

These 8 cards go out to the women in our US forces overseas via From Our Hearts.  Your sacrifice is so very much appreciated by those of us back home.  Thank you for all you do!

FYI: From Our Hearts will be mailing off boxes of hand made cards through May 2015, so click on their logo below if you want to find out more info on how to contribute before they close down. :)

I'll update my tally in a few days as I'm trying to finish up with as many cards as I can manage to send in this last shipment.

"I'm So Glad You're My ... Husband (Father's Day)" Card
Paper: SU Naturals CS, SU Mellow Moss, SU Night of Navy
Stamps: SU Seaside Sketches (father son image); Verve Father Figure (sentiments)
Ink: SU Mellow Moss, SU Night of Navy
Embellishments: None
Size: 4.25" x 5.25" rectangular 

La-La Land Inspiration Monday {Lace, Pearls & Punches}

Monday, Monday........I'll admit, Monday's aren't my favorite days but it's Inspiration Monday over on the La-La Land Crafts Blog again. :)

This week, I decided to play with Dress Up Marci since our challenge was to use Lace, Pearls and Punches. Isn't she just perfect for this?

You can get Dress Up Marci as a rubber stamp or as a digi-stamp at the La-La Land Crafts Shop.

Copics Used:
Skin: E00, E11, R20
Hair: W25, E31, E50
Hat & Dress: R81, R83, R85
Flower on Hat: Purple Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for popping my blog and don't forget to check out the other DT creations over at the blog today and again on Friday.

Happy Monday Everyone!




"When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Just Like You"
Paper: Creative Imaginations IOX PP; Neenah Solar White 80# CS, Bazzil CS
Stamps: La-La Land Craft "Dress Up Marci"; Phrase is Verve
Accessories: Copic Markers, Spellbinders Labels 14; SU Pop Dots; Prima Ribbon & Lace, Kaiser Pearls; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch

La-La Land Sports Collection Release Party Blog Hop

Welcome to La-La Land Sports Collection Release Blog Hop for the release of another super cute series of SIX new Marci and Luka stamps.

If you didn't just arrive from Jeanette’s Blog then be sure to head on back to the La-La Land Crafts Blog for the full details.

You'll want to leave a comment on every blog you visit along the way to be eligible to win a $25 Gift Certificate to our store.

I got to play with the new Soccer Luka stamp here with some Pink Paisley Bayberry Cottage PP's.

Copics Used:
Skin: E00, E11, R20
Hair: E25, E31, E50
Uniform: Y17, C3, C5, C7
Shoes: C3, C5, C7 & White Paint Pen

I'm a fan of sketches and really loved this one from Splitcoast so based my card layout on this SCS Card Sketch #322

Yes, I took a small liberty with the sketch. :) Now keep on hopping to see what Cindy has for you today, and be sure to comment on ALL the blogs for a chance to win the $25 Gift Certificate!
Good luck and enjoy the hop everyone!



"So Proud of You Little Man"
Paper: Pink Paisley Bayberry Cottage PP, Bazzil CS & Neenah Solar White 80# CS
Stamps: La-La Land Crafts Soccer Luca; Verve Phrase Stamps
Accessories: Copic Markers, Spellbinders Mega Labels #8; MFT Cloud Die