QUICKIE CARDS #5

These papers were from a 7 Gypsies 6 x 6 "Savanah" paper pad. Tag from Spellbinders "Fancy Tags" and the sentiment is from Penny Black.

It's hard to believe one month of 2010 is almost behind us. Thanks for stopping by. See you next month. :)

QUICKIE CARD #4

Since this cards really needs no explanation of "how to" make it, I am simply giving you the supplies I used to make it.

Papers used: Basic Grey "Wisteria"
Cuttlebug Folders: D'vine Swirls and Swiss Dots
Spellbinders: Fancy Tags
Stamp: Darcie's

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the cards you see and come back again soon.

QUICKIE CARD #3

Today's card is using paper from a 7 Gypsies "Savannah 6" x 6" paper pad. The papers in this pad all have sort of a distressed look which is very pretty.

This sheet had designs in the lower corners so I cut the paper in half and used the right hand portion of the sheet for this card. I then used a Cuttlebug border folder to do the embossing.

Two of the Labels 4 dies were used to make the off white frame and the layer for the sentiment which is from a retired set of Hero Arts stamps. The dies were #2 and #4 (going from smallest to largest) allowing the printed card stock to appear as another layer.

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SPECIAL NOTE

I just went to clean out my email SPAM folder and found several comments viewers had left about my cards. Not sure why they were sent to SPAM but they have now been posted to the cards you have viewed. Sure didn't want anyone to think I was deleting their kind words. :)

QUICKIE CARD #2

Very brief desciption needed. Paper is from Basic Grey "Wisteria" paper pad. This design made it really easy to just cut a 6 x 6 piece down to 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 to adhere to the front of the card. I then cut a Spellbinders Fancy Tag from a coordinating light green piece of paper and stamped the sentiment. The tag was run through my Xyron and adhered to the card. DONE!

I thought this card would make a nice get well card because the papers are so soft and calming.

Many more of these to come so please stop by again soon. Have a great day! (It's sure cold here in Iowa!!!)

QUICKIE CARD #1

Over the last few months I have had a basket of cards at the beauty shop where I get my hair cut. They were selling fairly well. As I began to put more time and expense into the cards I naturally had to increase my price but none of my cards were marked for more than $2.75.....and I don't think that is a bad price for a hand made card.

Well yesterday I talked to the lady who cuts my hair and she said the cards were selling a lot better when they were only $1.50 to $1.75. Duh!!! I suppose they did but the quality of the cards has improved a lot since I started taking them and prices on her hair cuts and perms have also certainly gone up. (I think she and one of her sons are actually the ones who buy the most cards.)

Anyway, I decided I would make "SIMPLE" cards to put up there again but I've found that "simple" and "cheap" doesn't have to necessarily mean unattractive cards. Over the next few day I will be adding pictures of the cards I've been coming up with. Today's card was SO easy. I cut three strips of paper. I adhered the two patterned papers to the front of the card base. I punched the design on the white strip and stuck it on. Finally I stamped a sentiment that coordinated with the flower punched border. Probably about 5 minutes involved.

I really like this card and plan on making quite a few more similar. The little 6 x 6 pads of paper that have coordinated patterns are perfect for what I will be doing. The papers on this card are from the Basic Grey "Wisteria" paper pad.

Thanks for stopping by...........make sure to stop by and see the others I have come up with that take VERY LITTLE TIME!

PENNY BLACK STICKER

So many times I get caught at the last minute where I need a card. I purchased several sheets of these Penny Black stickers and I just love them for quick and easy cards. This is one I made and sent to a friend, Nancy, for our group's color swap.

Card base is Paper Trey off white card stock which I ran through the Cuttlebug. I adhered the sticker to a piece of cardstock and then trimmed it down to give the sticker more body so that the embossing on the front of the card wouldn't come through. Three blue gems from Hero Arts were added and I was done.

I believe you can make some beautiful cards to send without having to go through a lot of work and embellishing. What are your thoughts?

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POPPED FLOWER

A LONG TIME ago I purchased some scrapbooking paper with these flowers as the design. Once I got it home I had no idea what to do with it. The other day I saw a video that was completely different and yet it somehow reminded me of this paper and gave me an idea.

I cut out all of the flowers on the sheet using my Classic Oval Nestabilities. There were about six whole flowers on each sheet. Each of the ovals were then run through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder. (If you double click the picture and enlarge it, you will be able to see the texture to the layer with the flower on it.) This layer was then mounted on a layer of Wild Wasabi SU card stock which had been cut with the Classic Scalloped Oval Nestabilities which was slightly larger than the plan oval.

There were a few partial designs with the flower itself in tact so I very carefully cut out the "blossom" of each one that was available. I popped those flowers onto the ovals.

The card base on both of these cards is Buttercup from Lasting Impressions (more of my discontinued papers). As you can see, the first oval was placed off to the side so I could stamp the vertical "Birthday" sentiment along side of the design. The second card has the oval centered on the card base.

Thanks for stopping by............please come back again soon. Your comments are always welcome!

NEW CUTTLEBUG 5 X 7 FOLDERS

Sorry that today's card is more than just simple! I bought the Romance Folder bundle of Cuttlebug folders and the one I used for this card is 5 x 7 . I am disappointed in the limitation of the 5 x 7 folders because I do the embossing with the Cuttlebug and it isn't wide enough to put the wide side of the folder through first since it is only 6 inches wide.

By needing to put the folder through with the 5 inch side first, it requires folding the back of the card around outside the back of the folder. This makes it too thick to go through the CB if using a nice paper such as Stampin' Up or PaperTrey cardstock.

For this card I used a single layer of the Real Red SU cardstock and then cut away the portion that I didn't want on the front of a standard A2 card. I cut it slightly smaller to mount on a white card base. Before mounting it on the card base, I added the white dotted swiss ribbon.

I wasn't sure I wanted to add a sentiment on the front because it would cover up part of the beautifully embossed hearts. If you have any suggestions, I would certainly welcome them.

Final note: I wish that if Provo Craft was going to start making 5 x 7 folders that they would have made the Cuttlebug wider to facilitate sending the folders through with the 7" side first.

Thanks for stopping by...........hope you are having a great weekend!

THIS WAS FUN..........

So much for wanting to post a card every day this month. Since I didn't show something yesterday I thought I'd show you something completely different today.

Our grandson, Tucker, is going to be 4 years old soon. My mother was staying with us during the ice storm we had yesterday so we decided I'd make a fun card for her to give him. I had seen this idea on a video and decided I had to give it a try. My initial attempt was "too girly" for a little boy so I changed the color scheme. I think this makes a really fun card to give a child. What do you think?

I had a hard time deciding how to do the front of the card but then remembered some die cut trees I had made using the same green cardstock from Lasting Impressions. So then I struggled with what to put with it. When I went to bed last night I remembered I had some Hedgehog stickers from Penny Black. I thought it was perfect to put one carrying a balloon to tie in with the inside of the card.

I am not even going to try to explain how I made it but here is a link to the video so you can make your own. YouTube - pop up Balloon card I did make another card using flowers instead and colored the acetate green with Copic markers so they would have a stem and not just floating like balloons. My stamp inside is "Hoping today blooms into something wonderful". I'd love to see what you come up with.

Thanks for stopping by...........please come back again soon.

MAKING A BOLD STATEMENT

Today I decided to choose another card from my files. I've been making some cards today but not quite ready to show them yet.

The card stock chosen here was Tempting Turquoise from SU and a Glossy Black card stock. I used a Hero Arts stamp with VersaMark to make the watermark design on the card base. Then I stamped one of my flower stamps three times on the glossy black using VersaMagic Ink.

I used my set of Plain Rectangle Nestabilities to cut the layers and adhered them to the card base. I think the color combination makes a really striking statement. What do you think?

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BIRTHDAY HEDGEHOG

The day is nearly gone and I realized I hadn't posted anything yet. Odds are pretty good that I'm not going to be able to keep this up posting something every day, but I'm going to try to keep this up at least a few more days.

This is another card I made with the Martha Stewart "Happy Birthday" punch. I started by punching one design on a white piece of cardstock and then trimming down the margins so as to leave a border on the top and sides of the design.

The Hedgehog from Penny Black had already been stamped and was one of my many "pieces" that needed to be used so I colored it with my Copic CIAO markers, and cut it with my Classic Circle Nestabilities. The next size up of the Scalloped Circles was used to cut the Wild Wasabi paper from SU.

After these pieces were assembled, I punched the corners with the ticket punch from SU and mounted the layers onto a slightly larger piece of Wild Wasabi cardstock and then onto the white card base which had been run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.

Thanks for coming to check out today's post. Come back again soon!

BASIC GREY PAPER

Basic Grey Papers have become one of my favorite papers to use. I love the little 6 x 6 pads that give such a nice variety which can be mixed and matched. All three of these papers are from the "Wisteria" collection. The leaves, however, were made from a Lasting Impressions card stock which has now been discontinued.

After adhering these papers to the front of the card base, I cut the leaves with the Sizzix Sizzlits Little Leaves which I had purchased from Stampin' Up.

If I decide to add a sentiment to the front it will just be a tiny one in the lower right hand corner of the card. I just don't want to cover any of the flowers at the top. Tell me what you think.

Thanks for looking................come back again soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today I was just playing around with some of my punches. I had this white piece of cardstock that was 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 cut from some other project. I had already used the Martha Stewart Fancy Deep Edge Punch along the long edge of the paper and put it aside a few days ago.

I had purchased the Happy Birthday Punch for the top edge of a card but not used it yet, so I just decided to experiment with it on the top edge but unsure as to whether I could get two punches on the paper for future use. It worked!

Now what to do with the middle section. I could stamp some flowers across it or some candles, but decided to take one of the Cuttlebug border folders and embossed the flower design.

The white piece was then adhered to a plain piece of Lasting Impressions "Cotton Candy" card stock. When needed, I will stamp an appropriate message inside or just write my own message.

The experimental piece of paper actually turned out OK and was usable. :) Thanks for stopping by...........please come back again soon.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT TODAY

No card today but I have a little critique here for you - my opinion on a new item:

Yesterday on one of the Yahoo groups I saw a link to a page that was evaluating the Scor-Pal vs. the new Martha Stewart Scoring Board. My first thought was "why do I need the MS one when I already have the Scor-Pal?"

Well, I was very intrigued by the evaluation that was given there; and when I found out that Martha's was only $19.99 retail, was available at Michael's and I was going to be near there yesterday naturally over-drive for new tool kicked in...........and I had a coupon. Well as luck would have it they were in stock but were already 30% off so I didn't get to use my coupon. For $2.00 difference I decided not to wait since I don't get there real often.

The first thing I did with it was to make an envelope. I've never made an envelope before because I didn't want to use a template to do it. The MS board made it SO easy! Then I decided to score a pattern onto the front of a card. I had always been a little disappointed with how the scores showed up when I did it with the Scor-Pal so I was thrilled with the results I got with my new MS tool.

There are directions with it for making various sizes of cards, envelopes and boxes. I also like the idea that there are grooves every 1/8". The triangle guide is the perfect aid for making the envelopes and it also makes it so much easier to make those angled designs on the front of a card.

The only slightly negative comment I have is that since the scoring tool is thinner to enable a better crease, it is slightly flexible which requires using a little more control.

I'm sure I'll still use my Scor-Pal some but I am very happy that I bought the new Martha Stewart Scoring Board. If you would like to see the site where I found the information you can click here: Scor-pal vs The Martha Stewart Scoring Board...

Thanks for stopping by today..................please come back again soon.

SPRING TULIP

It's a dreary day here in Iowa today so I needed something to think of Spring. Tulips are truly one of those flowers that symbolize Spring. I didn't have time to make a card today because my mother is needing me to drive her for a doctor's appointment since it is still a little slippery around parking lots. This card was actually made a long time ago but I had this picture in my files.

I took three colors of ink (turquoise, green and pink) and randomly smeared them onto a card front. Then I cut a rectangular piece - slightly larger than the one which I was using for the stamped image - and really inked it up good with the turquoise ink. The image is from a set from Stampin' Up.

The colors of this card are so soft and I really like the results. Thanks for coming by...........and please come back again soon.

MORE USE OF BUTTONS

I have such a supply of buttons that it was time to use some more of them with the "Everyday Button Bits" from Paper Trey. I saw a card similar to this somewhere on the Internet and decided to case it. I don't like mine quite as well as the one I used for a sample, but it will do.

The patterned paper is from Paper Trey "Everyday Blessings" pad. The ribbon is also from Paper Trey. I'm not sure about the buttons, but the color matched the paper so well that I may have gotten them from PT as well. I love the color. The colored layer is Wild Wasabi from SU.

The first thing I did was to cut the circles for the buttons to be added. One was with a punch and the two smaller ones were made using the smallest Classic Circle Nestabilities. Buttons were attached with glue dots. I then took a piece of off white paper and stamped the tree trunks and the "grass". I carefully measured the piece of paper and penciled marks where I wanted to cut the margins. The rest of the top of the card is pretty self-explanatory.

After mounting the pieces to the top of the card, I scored the bottom portion of the card in 1/2" increments horizonally and vertically.

Two things I would change:
1. I stamped the sentiment on the ribbon and adhered it to the center of those squares formed by scoring. I should have left a blank area for the ribbon because it made the ribbon appear to be scored too.
2. I think I would have used white as the background and card base. I was working at night and now that it is daytime I can see that the patterned paper has white in it - not off white.

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USING KALEIDACOLOR INKS

This isn't a card I made recently, but since I haven't stamped much lately, I thought I'd go to my files. The designs that were stamped with the Kaleidacolor ink (Creole Spice) were actually all on one stamp. I just cut them apart and mounted them on the Night of Navy card stock from SU and then mounted that piece onto the YoYo Yellow card stock from SU.

The design on the edge of the card looks like it could have been rolled on but I believe it is actually a stamp from a company in Canada. I can look into where the stamped images and design on the edge came from if anyone is interested. Since this card is long gone, I think I would like to make another one.

Thanks for stopping by.....................hope you come back again soon.

TWO VALENTINES

These cards were made using papers entirely from a Basic Grey paper pad "Bittersweet". The two largest hearts were cut with Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Heart set. The fancy heart in the center is a Martha Stewart punch as is the border punch. I love the papers from this pad and the contrast they give between the two cards.

Thanks for stopping by.............please come back again soon. And remember your comments are always welcome.

FUN WITH STICKERS

This card doesn't need a lot of explanation but it shows that cards for children's birthdays can be made simply, inexpensively and the kids can make the cards themselves if they wish.

The cardstock is from Lasting Impressions. The stickers are from Mrs. Grossman's.

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MAKE A WISH

This is a very easy card to make. The card base was embossed with the Cuttlebug birthday folder. Using a small Sizzix folder I embossed the "Make A Wish and very carefully colored the design. I inked the edge of that layer with Tempting Turquoise ink from Stampin' Up. There is a plain white layer and then a layer of Tempting Turquoise card stock. Very quick and easy!

Thanks for stopping by........come back again soon!

MORE BUTTON BITS

Yesterday I did this card using the Paper Trey "Everyday Button Bits" stamp set. The card base is pape that I picked up from Archivers and I believe it is Bazzill. The embossing folder I used is from Sizzix. I scored a couple of lines at the bottom of the card so I could add a sentiment between the lines. The "Happy Birthday to You" is from Hero Arts.

First I took a white piece of card stock and using Tim Holtz Distress Inks I sponged Broken China and Peeled Paint for the sky and grassy area. Then I stamped the stems of the flowers using SU Wild Wasabi ink. Before adhering the buttons, I cut the layer using one of the plain oval Nestabilities and a scalloped oval Nestabilities. The buttons were then arranged on the layer and the layers adhered to the card.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again soon.

BIRTHDAY BALLOONS

In an effort to continue using supplies that I have had for A LONG TIME, I pulled out this Lilac paper from Lasting Impressions for the card base. This variety package was mostly used up and the only patterned paper was the checked pattern and some solid.

I stamped the strings for the balloons with the image from Paper Trey "Everyday Button Bits" and then cut the image with the Nestabilities Classic Oval. Next I needed to chose three buttons for the balloons and adhered them with glue dots. The Scallop layer was cut from the plain Lilac card stock and the entire piece adhered with glue dots.

The card is very simple but I really am trying to use up some of my older supplies.......especially paper!!!

Your comments are always welcome! Thanks for stopping by.............come back again soon!

DREAMING OF VIOLETS

With the winter we are having this year, flowers seem to be a long way away here in Iowa. Stamping and coloring flowers is one of my very favorite things to do for making cards.

With New Years just a few days ago, many people are making resolutions...........not me! If I were to make resolutions, I should probably say I will not buy any more paper because of the "stash" I have here. I'm really going to try to stay away from adding to my inventory of paper but I know better than to make a "resolution" to that affect.

When Lasting Impressions discontinued a lot of their long-time colors, I bought A BUNCH!!! No play on the word "bunch" but this is paper is "Grape" from the 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 variety packs that were available.

I stamped the image on one of the white card stocks that I have here and colored it with my Copic makers and cut it out with one of the plain oval Nestabilities. I wanted to mount the piece on another piece of white so I edged the layer with the design on it by going around the outside of it with the lavender marker. I cut a second white layer with the next size up of the scalloped oval and adhered the two layers to the card.

Thanks for stopping by................hope you come back again soon!

QUICK AND EASY WEDDING CARD

The folder I used for this card is from Sizzix. I hadn't ever used it and in an attempt to use some of these things I "had to have" I chose this one. The folder is from Sizzix and I think it makes a nice simple wedding card. However, it could possibly have other uses as well.....maybe an anniversary card for a spouse or other couple.

The flowers are from the wedding section at Michael's. They were very reasonably priced and can be colored to match the paper. For this card I chose the Pretty In Pink SU marker and card stock. Tiny flat back pearls were adhered to the flowers.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again soon. Your comments are always welcome!

PINK FLOWERS

Today's card is another one like I made to give to my mother. The stamped design from Stampin' Up was stamped onto Paper Trey off white card stock. I cut it with Spellbinders Labels Two dies and mounted it on a piece of Wild Wasabi which had been cut and embossed with the next size up of the Labels Two. Card base is Paper Trey off white and run through the Cuttlebug using one of the Cuttlebug folders. I think this card could be used for various occasions so I left it blank for my mother to use as she chooses.

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CLEAN AND SIMPLE

This is one of the cards I gave my mother as a Christmas gift. It is a case of one made by a friend. I love using these flowers which come from Michael's in the wedding section. They can be colored to match the papers you use.

The card base was run through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder - probably my favorite of the many I have because it is so versatile. The flowers were colored with an SU marker to match the lavender layer of paper used. Tiny flat back pearls from Hero Arts were added to the centers of the flowers.

That's about it..........comments are always welcome. Thanks for stopping by and hope you come back again soon!

POTTED SUNFLOWERS

This is such an easy card to make. I used the Cuttlebug folder to do the embossing and then simply stamped this cute little design from Stampin' Up. The image is colored with my Copic Markers.

If you haven't tried Copic markers, they are wonderful to use for coloring.......allowing you to get into very tiny spaces with ease. I have a large inventory of the CIAO Copic markers available at this time and will hopefully be able to order the Sketch Copic markers very soon. I sell these markers on eBay but will sell them for only $3.25 plus the shipping by direct order. Just e-mail me at vboddicker@aol.com.

Comments of all kinds are appreciated........thanks for stopping by........hope you come back again soon!

A NEW DECADE BEGINS.........

When the best friends I've ever had met in June 2009, Lynette gave us each a set of calendars for 2010 but left them blank on top for each of us to decorate. I had procrastinated in getting started on them but first thing this morning decorated the one for January. Lynette also posts her calendars on her blog: LYNETTE'S MY STAMPING ADDICTION.

I saw Lynette's calendar before I started on mine and really liked the glittery background. I had some of this glimmery paper in several colors and chose the red to go along with the red coloring I had done with my Copic markers. These calendars are perfect to put in one of the 3 1/2 x 5 clear acrylic picture frames.

Hope you all had great celebrations of your choice last night and that this will be the beginning of a wonderful new year for all of us.Comments are always welcome...........thanks for coming by and hope you come back soon!