HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY SISTER!

Today is my Sister's and her husband's 49th Anniversary.  One more year to a milestone anniversary!    The stamp is from Penny Black - Elegance in Motion.  I did not use the entire design on this card because it measures more than 5 1/2".  The "Wishing You" is from a Verves stamp set.  The set has a variety of additional stamps to use inside the card.  The design was colored with my Copic markers.

For this card I did use a larger portion of the design since I wasn't leaving room for a sentiment on the front.  First of all I pulled out one of my Impression Obsession large stamps that cover the entire front of a card.  I stamped it with Memento Rich Cocoa ink but stamped it off one time so it would be lighter.   I also stamped the flowers with the same ink.  Since I stamped the design with my MISTI, I was able to darken the outline of the design to make it show up more by reinking and stamping it more than one time.  (Love my MISTI!)

Using the same Copic markers I colored the flowers and then added Clear Wink of Stella to the centers of the flowers and to the bow.

I tried matching the blue from the flowers to some of my card stock and couldn't find one that matched so I made my own.  I took another layer of the vanilla card stock and colored the edges with the Copic blue marker that I used in the design.

Thank you for coming by today!

MEMORY BOX DIES

This is a card that was pretty easy.  I used two Memory Box dies and added them to a Stampin' Up! So Saffron card base.  A small sentiment like "HI" could still be stamped in the upper right hand corner.

Thank you for coming by today!

PENNY BLACK - Poppy Gems Stamp

The Color Swap for our Yahoo Group this month was red and lime.  I don't typically color leaves with a lime marker, but I thought that with the dominate color of red on my card, I could go with it.  The white space needed a little something so I added a strip of three black metal gems.

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ANOTHER PENNY BLACK POPPY

This is another version using a Penny Black sticker that we had used in Des Moines.  Once again the card we made in the class was larger so I scaled down my card to an A2 size.  It may not show but I added black glitter to the Poppies.

This is the card we made in class:

Although this card is a little more detailed, I didn't have the die yet for the fern leaves when I made my own version.  Since I have more of these designs, I can now add some of those to my cards as well.

Thank you for coming by!

PENNY BLACK POPPY STICKER

Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday my husband, one of our daughters and two granddaughter braved the heat (Heat Index of around 110 degrees) and traveled to the Iowa State Softball Tournament.  By the way, the team for our school district WON the tournament and our pitcher set two new records with her performance!  

I do not do well in the heat and was quite satisfied to have that time just for me to do what I wanted and when I wanted.  I got to eat some things that my husband doesn't like - or to be correct foods he won't try.....tacos and my favorite soup from Biaggi's..  A lot of time was spent making cards.  Those cards will be appearing on my blog a little later.

On June 23rd, I posted this card that was made at a card class in Des Moines.  

After coming home from Des Moines, I placed an order with Penny Black and purchased more sheets of the stickers we had used in the class.  When I was ready to use this beautiful design on another card, I realized that the one in class had a larger card based.  Also I didn't have red ribbon that would work so I made my own version with an A2 card base and like it just as much.  Without the ribbon it will be easier to mail.

I think this card is just as striking because of the red/black/white combination.  I was going to stamp the sentiment on the white space below the mats but was afraid I'd get it crooked, so I just added it to a separate piece of white card stock.

By the way, I do have more sheets of Penny Black stickers with several different designs.  If you are interested, I can email you pictures.  The sheets are $2.00 each.

Thank you so  much for coming by today!

SIMPLE USE OF YUPO

This card used a larger piece of the Yupo paper but made a nice background for the Memory Box "Bella Bouquet" die cut.  Both the floral die and sentiment were but from white card stock that had been added to "Stick It".  The "Stick It" is great for adding die cuts with delicate pieces.

NOTE:  I purchased a small can of a spray adhesive to use when I forget to use the "Stick  It" before cutting out a design.  It works fine, but I really don't care for it.  My reasons:  1) I placed a die cut into a card board box before spraying it.  The over spray makes it harder to use the same box a second time.  2)  I placed a piece of paper in the box and then held a die cut using a tweezers before spraying.  My tweezers got really sticky and I still got some on my fingers.  I found it a pain to get off.  I really need to remember to just keep a package of  "Stick It" on my craft table!!!!!

Thank you for coming by!

ONE MORE YUPO FEATHER

I started with a white piece of card stock measuring 4" x 5 1/4" and cut out a feather which I set aside.  The original piece was then embossed with the Swiss Dots folder.  I taped a piece of the colored Yupo paper behind the area which was cut out and added it to the white card base.  The white feather which had not been embossed was placed off to the side.  "Celebrate" was cut from a scrap of the Yupo that had been added to "Stick It" which made it easy to add to the card without using glue.  

The picture doesn't show the embossing very well, but if you double click on the picture you can see a larger version which shows it just fine.

Thank  you for coming by today!

YUPO PAPER FEATHERS

Yesterday's card showed the negative cut of the "Lucienne Tile" die.  Today's card is using the actual piece which I saved.  I added it to a card base that was not embossed.  It looked so plain that I decided to add a layer of white card stock which I had embossed with the Swiss Dots folder.   That left a narrow plain strip on the far left so I added a narrow strip of the leftover scrap that had been embossed.  When I had played with these colors I really thought the result would make great feathers so that's what I did using Spellbinders dies.  I was able to get pieces for several cards using that one 5 x 7 piece of Yupo.

This is one combination I wish I could repeat, but it is impossible to come up with the same look twice yet the possibilities are endless.  Remember -- you can contact me if you are interested in purchasing the paper, inks and/or tools.

Thank you for coming by today!

MORE YUPO WITH MEMORY BOX

I just can't stop playing with these inks on the Yupo paper.  The Memory dies are:   on the left is "Lucienne Tile" and the one on the right is "Caserta Bloom".  I save the "scraps" of the colors I have put together because they are perfect for cutting out small pieces such as the flowers.

I have more examples to show this week so I hope you don't get bored seeing what I have been doing.

Thank you for coming by today!

YUPO PAPER

The best way for me to reply to a comment on my blog is to make a special post.  There has been some interest in the Yupo Paper.  I have packages of Yupo Paper for sale and can get the alcohol inks and tools to use with them.  Contact me if  you are interested. My email address is vboddicker@aol.com.

JOY! CRAFTS DIE & YUPO PAPER

This card was made Monday and sent to my partner for the July Artist's Choice swap. I used a small portion of a piece using alcohol ink on Yupo paper that I showed a few days ago.   The "Joy! Crafts die from a company in the Netherlands is one I purchased in Des Moines

Yesterday, I made this card for a totally different look.  The alcohol inks really make a great background for die cut designs.

If you are interested in alcohol inks or Yupo paper as well as the tool to use them, let me know.  I can now get them too.  Thank you for coming by today!

ALCOHOL INK ON YUPO PAPER

While our granddaughter Taryn was here she REALLY loved playing with the alcohol inks and seeing what designs she would create.  She also wanted me to do some.  This is one of the pieces I made.  I thought it would make a great piece to put behind this Taylored Expressions die cut.  It sort of reminds me of a stained glass window.  The die cut is slightly smaller than an A2 card so I mounted the piece on a white card base.

Thank you for coming by today!

IDEA FROM PINTEREST

I saw this idea on Pinterest and decided I just had to make one close to what I saw.   I believe the one I saw used ribbon behind the piece with the die cut.  I added the cut out piece below the negative cut out to make the card my own version.

Thank you for stopping by today!

PENNY BLACK - "Dreamy"

This card turned out  differently than I had planned.  I had the card totally assembled when I felt the stamped image was a little plain.  My thought was to add a little sparkle to the bloom so I got out my Wink of Stella "Clear" pen and decided to add some sparkle.  OH NO!!!!  I had used Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler ink and when I brushed the Wink of Stella onto the flower it speared!!!  What else could I do but just keep adding more over most of the design. It's not quite the way I had envisioned it.  So what do you think?

Here is a close up of the bloom which shows the sparkle a little better.  It's hard to get a good picture of it.

Thank you for coming by today!

MAGENTA STAMP

I searched on the website for this company to see what the name of the stamp is but I couldn't find the stamp.  I saw a card like this in Des Moines and bought the stamp.  

First I stamped the image with VersaMark and then embossed it with JudiKins Black Opal Embossing Powder. The first mat is a gold glitter paper and then onto a black mat before adding it to the white card base.

This picture gives you a better idea of the sparkle in the embossing powder.

Below is a second card I made using a different color combination.

Thank you for coming by today!

TATTERED LACE DIE MEETS YUPO

While I was in Des Moines with my friends in June, Sheri introduced us to using Alcohol Inks on Yupo paper.  I had heard of the paper but had never used it.  I experimented with some of the colors she had there.  While I was there I purchased this Tattered Lace die and decided to use it in black on the alcohol ink background that I had made.  I added the scrolled piece from a Memory Box die.  The card base is ivory.

As I mentioned earlier this week, we had our youngest granddaughter here for a couple of days.  She left to stay with her other grandmother yesterday afternoon.  While she was here we managed play the games Sorry, Uno and Old Maid.  We whipped a batch of chocolate chip cookies for Grandpa, went to see "Finding Dori" (so cute) and naturally played at my craft table.

Taryn made a card.  SInce I had just received an order with some Yupo paper, I decided to show her what we are doing with alcohol inks.  She had a big smile on her face and wanted to give it a try herself.  I think she would have used all of my paper if I had let her.  I really hope she keeps her interest in doing these things because it is fun to spend time with her doing them.

Below you will see pictures of two sheets that I made while Taryn watched.  I let her choose the colors. She thought the one with the blues and greens (yes there is green in the first piece) looked like a peacock so I think I'll try cutting some feathers with it.  I may use strips of the other one.....just not sure.

I wish you could see the actual piece.  The colors are much more intense and look more like peacock colors.  I just could not get a picture of either piece that accurately showed the colors.

Thank you for coming by today!

  

STAMPIN' UP! - Butterfly Basics

I haven't used this stamp set as much as I should.  I really like it.  I colored the images with Copic markers and had a free piece of red ribbon that I used to finish off the stamped layer.

Thank you for coming by today!

GLITTER PAPER

When our group of ladies met in Des Moines, we had a card swap.  The one I received was very similar.........using this same flower design.  I cut the solid piece using glitter paper I purchased at Michael's a year ago and then added the outline die cut using black.  

This picture shows a closeup of the flower and may show a little more of the sparkle.

Our youngest granddaughter is here with us for a couple of days so I know I am going to be keeping busing with her.  We nearly always make chocolate chip cookies, play some games, make a card and watch some movies on Netflix.  The time always goes by way too fast!  If time permits we are wanting to take Taryn to see Finding Dory.

Thank you for coming by today.  I have a card in mind to post tomorrow so be sure to come back again.  

50th ANNIVERSARY CARD

We celebrated our 48th anniversary yesterday by going to the movie "State of Jones" with Matthew McConaughey.  Great movie!  Then we had a wonderful meal at Red Lobster.

Several of my high school classmates have celebrated their 50th Anniversary this year so this is what I sent to two of them.

Thank you for coming by today!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Today, I don't have a card for you because my husband and I are celebrating our 48th Wedding Anniversary.   Recently one of the sermons at church had to do with regrets that people have.  When we got home I told him that I didn't have any regret and that I would marry him all over again.

Tomorrow I will be picking up our granddaughter Taryn to come stay for a couple nights but I will try to have a card scheduled for you see.

I hope you are all having a fun but safe holiday weekend!!!!

THANK YOU

I don't think this card needs a lot of explanation.  I used a Memory Box die cut that I already had cut out.  The card stock pieces that I used were SU Night of Navy and Crushed Curry.  I used my MISTI to stamp the "Thank You" so I could get a good dark Navy finish to it.

When our group that meets in Des Moines prepares to each go our own way, we have a farewell lunch at Biaggi's in Des Moines.  They have a soup that I have gotten in the past but last year they didn't have it on the menu anymore.  The waiter told me that they make it "now and then" so this year I called ahead and inquired as to whether they would consider making it on the day that we would be going there.  They did and I brought some home along with the wonderful breads.  I just had to let them know how much I appreciated their thoughtfuness - afterall we will likely be back there again next year.

July 1st already????  I cannot believe half of the year is gone already.  Thank you for coming by today!