CATEPILLAR'S DREAM

Another simple card for beginners or anyone who needs a card in a hurry...............

This very pretty dp is from a paper pad I purchased.  If you click on the card and enlarge it, you can see the sparkle in the paper.   The stamp I used is from Penny Black and actually has two butterflies on the design but I didn't ink them up.  Because the paper had some glitter on it, I stamped the sentiment portion of the stamp with VersaMark ink and then heat embossed it with Egyptian Gold embossing powder.

I have several packages of very pretty dimensional butterflies and these seemed to go very nicely where the stamped ones would have appeared.

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.  Thank you for stopping by!

CARD FOR BEGINNERS

If there are any of you out there who are beginners at making cards, here is a sample of a card that can be made very quickly and easily.  Even those who are experienced sometimes need a quick card.

Today's post shows how you can take a beautiful piece of designer paper and cover the front of the card. Then just take a piece of coordinating paper, use a punch to one of the edges and then attach it to the top.  Stamp a simple sentiment and you are finished!  If I want to add a little pizzaz to the card, I can add a little glitter to the center of the flowers.

Comments are always welcome and any suggestions are as well.  Thank you for coming by.

SU Asian Artistry - Version #4

I'm taking a break from the variety of cards made from the card kit which I have been showing you.  However, this is another version of a card I made with this stamp from the SU Asian Artistry stamp set.

I had stamped three of this image for the earlier cards and at the time I stamped off another one without reinking the design.  It is very light but I hated to waste it so I made this card.  I mounted it on the Pretty in Pink card stock and then popped it onto the front of the card base which had been embossed with the tulip embossing folder.   Sentiment is from Inkadinkado "Expressions" clear stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by!

CARD #5

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.  This is just another example of what the same basic supplies can make.

I might have a couple more I will be showing you.  I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks for stopping by! 

CARD #4

I'm finding it difficult to keep up with my blog these days.  Summer activities are taking so much time I don't seem to have those minutes I need to post on my blog daily. 

This card is the 4th one from the kit we received in Des Moines two weeks ago.  I'm having a hard time deciding whether I'm going to be able to use these cards.  The paper is just so pretty!

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I always appreciate it when you leave comments.  Thank you for visiting!

(P.S.  Anyone who enjoys working with Lasting Impressions and wants to get a good deal on stencils I have in stock, send me a message.  I'm clearing out all inventory.)

CARD #3

Continuing on with the cards we made as a group in Des Moines, this is Card #3.  The designer paper and dimensional stickers are from Punch Studio.

Keep watching for more cards made with these supplies.  Thanks for stopping by!

CARD #1 & #2

This past Sunday nine of the ladies in our Yahoo Group met in Des Moines, IA for 2 1/2 fun filled days of making cards, sharing supplies and most of all so much laughter or should I say outright giggling like little girls at times!  We had lunch and then shopped at Outstamping Designs.  The ladies there are thrilled when we come each year and buy "a few" of their wonderful supplies.  Prior arrangements were made for them to have kits of 9 cards for each of us to make. Instructions were given so we could make them on our own.  You will be seeing them here on my blog over the next few days. They are BEAUTIFUL!  If you are ever in Historical Valley Junction you have to check out their store.

These are the first two cards we made with the kit from Outstamping Designs.  The flowered paper is just so pretty and really makes the card.  The window shows off a beautiful butterfly dimensional sticker.  

The second card was supposed to be the very same except for the dimensional sticker. I noticed that on the right hand side of the flowered paper I had a butterfly and I didn't want to cover it up so I attached the strip with the hole off to the left side a bit.  The hole for the window was punched through the card base, dp, and two layers of the panel with the sentiment all at the same time so it was possible for me to attach the strip where I wanted it.

There are more beautiful cards to come but they will be posted a day at a time.  :)  I can't take credit for the choices because they were kits but I did put them together and wanted to share them with everyone.  You may see some of these cards on some other blogs since several of our ladies have blogs.

The first evening we had a wonderful meal at The Machine Shed and then returned to the motel next door and made three cards from a kit that group member Andrea and prepared for us.  You will also be seeing those as well.  On Monday the Archivers at Valley Junction Mall had the large room reserved for us to work all day and Tuesday.  While we are there we get to use their equipment and of course buy more supplies.  We share our own supplies with each other and get stamp offs that we can use throughout the year.  Of course there was more laughter and snacking on great things some of the members bring.

It is always hard to part ways, but we already have our rooms reserved for next year.  Thanks for coming by!

QUICK AND EASY

Between my mother and my mother-in-law I need lots of cards and many times they are on a moment's notice.  This card WAS quick and easy!  After the post I had yesterday, it was a relief that this one went together smoothly.  The papers are from the same paper pad that I used for yesterday's post.

Recently I was the lucky winner of blog candy on Ann Schach's blog, The Stampin' Schach.  Ann and I became acquainted last summer when we sat next to each other at Michelle Zindorf's brayering class.  I've been following her blog ever since.  The pearls on this card are from the blog candy I received.  Thank you again, Ann!!!  I LOVE using pearls on cards.

The Martha Stewart punched edge was a perfect way to use pearls to dress up an otherwise pretty plain card, but it was quick and easy!

Thank you for coming by!

BLOSSOMS AND BUTTERFLIES

This was supposed to be a quick and easy card but it ended up being plagued with problems and too MUCH longer than I had planned!  These paper are from a paper pad.  The flowered piece was attached to the card front and then I wanted to add the plain pink piece with punched edges on the top and bottom edges.  

 

There was just enough space to stamp "Happy Birthday" in between.  Trying to do things exactly right I pulled out my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and lined up the image from the clear sheet onto the pink dp.  I don't know what happened but it must have slipped because the stamped image ran completely into the punched edge.  NOT acceptable.

I cut a new pink dp and punched just the bottom edge - stamped the "Happy Birthday".  I thought I knew how much space I needed to allow so that it would be the right space above the sentiment because I had measured so carefully.  That didn't work.  There was too much space so I cut it off!!!

 

OK, so now I attached that piece and added a couple of  lines between the two papers with my Scor-Pal.  Now I'm feeling like it's going to happen.  The plan was to add some pink butterflies on the flowered dp but then the next problem......I notice a small smudge of black ink next to the"H".  I made it even worse by trying to use an eraser.  My favorite way to cover mistakes is using butterflies so now I'm having to change the color of butterflies to blue from the paper pad.  (Thank goodness for coordinating papers!)

Some glitter was added to the butterflies and they were attached to the card.  Card is finished...........WRONG!  Just when I'm feeling like this "easy peasy project" is finally finished, what do I see?  Somehow there is a big black smudge on the back of the card!!!  I'm ready to throw the card away because there is no way I can cover up this ugly smudge.  

 

Take a deep breath and chill......cut the front off and mount it on a new card base and quickly lay it aside before something else happens.  LOL   

Lesson learned?  Never give up on a project when you think it is ruined!  Thanks for coming by!

SU ASIAN ARTISTRY - Version #3

Although this is the third card I'm showing you, it was actually the first one I made with this stamp. This particular card was inspired by one I saw on someone's blog a while ago.  I'm sorry to say I didn't record whose it was.  (If the person who made a very similar card to this sees my post, please let me know as I would like to recognize you here.)

The card I cased used SU Pretty in Pink and Green Galore on the design but layered with brown and used a pretty brown ribbon.  I decided to just stick to the pink and green through the entire card.  The embossing folders I used are different and I added the pearls to the dots.  My card also includes the dragonfly design which comes from that same stamp set.

Hope you like what you see.   If you have any questions, just let me know.  Thanks for coming by!

SU ASIAN ARTISTRY - Version #2

My nephew and his wife both have birthday's this weekend.  I haven't made an easel card in quite a while and thought my second stamped image would be a fun one to use for this style. 

The checked dp is from PapertreyInk.  A Martha Stewart "Botanical Scallop" punch was used on the edges of the white card stock and I happened to have pink brad that matched the paper very nicely.

Since all the pink was a bit "girly", I used the card below (which I had posted here last month) for my nephew.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a great weekend!!!

SU ASIAN ARTISTRY - Version #1

Yesterday three of the cards I made were using the same stamp from the SU Asian Atistry set but all three cards are different.  I'm showing you the simplest one first.  The image was colored with SU markers and mounted on the pink SU card stock.

Thank you for stopping by!

PTI BLOOMING BUTTONS BITS

I have a supply of buttons that tend to get forgotten, but PapertreyInk has stamp sets that are so fun to use with buttons as part of the designs.  The stems with leaves are from one of those sets.  I'm not sure but I believe the buttons are from PTI as well.  A Martha Stewart punch was uesd for the grass.  The checked paper is from a PTI paper pad.

Hope you are managing to stay cool. It's been very HOT here the last three days.

Thank you for stopping by!

TWO CARDS

A year ago or so my sister gave me some papers that she was no longer going to use. She has gone from paper crafting to quilting. I hadn't used any of the papers yet. The large butterfly was in my container of "pieces" and I decided it would look great on this dp.

I don't think the card needs a lot of explanation so I will just tell you that the Butterfly die can be purchased here:Rev-0166-D Butterfly
The squares can be purchased here: (Rev-0013) "Squares" Die
The small butterfly shown on the right hand card is from a Martha Stewart punch and the flower design is from an SU stamp set.

If you have questions you can always contact me. Thank you for stopping by.

JUNE CALENDAR

As I have mentioned on here several times, I belong to a group on Yahoo consisting of only 16 members but our members are probably one of the very most active groups.  We have become very close friends and have an annual get together.  

As I was trying to decide what to put on my June calendar, I finally resorted to going through my stash of stickers for a quick fix.  The really pretty flower ones were too big and then I ran across these Precious Moments sheets.  As soon as I saw the "Girlfriends Forever " and the to girls sharing something I knew this was the design I needed to use this month.  It is very fitting because our annual gathering is coming up this month.   I can't wait.  

Most of our time is spent at an Archivers and they give us one of their rooms to use for an entire day.  Even the second day the room is still available for us to use.  All of us bring things that the other members want to use and we share each other's stamps and supplies.  There is a lot of sharing ideas, not just laughs but giggles, and enjoying each other's company.  Of course there are always some great snacks and meals together.  

I hope all of you have such great friends as I do.  Thanks for stopping by!