More Fabric

I started another card this weekend and just finished it up this morning...using more fabric! Did you see all of the great ideas for stamping on fabric in the Blog Hop? Check out my last post if you missed it...

Last week I saw a wonderful fabric flower on Artistic Avenger's blog and I thought about stamping my own piece of muslin instead of using a patterned fabric. I didn't even know the colors of my card yet but I grabbed Boudoir Blush because I thought it would look nice with one of the Victorian Elements stamps. The rest came together quite quickly and easily - especially since I CASED the layout from that same card.



Card Materials: all stamps and papers from The Angel Company
Stamps: Victorian Elements, Chair-ished, Hope Perches, Fanciful Vintage and Love you
Accessories: Caboodle paper pack, text paper, manilla tag, muslin, brown button, MS border punch, Boudior Blush and Burnt Umber palette ink

I didn't hear back from my winner for my last blog candy so the next person in line was Holly! I'll be sending you your prize this week. :)

Retiform Blog Hop

I remember teaching the Retiform technique over 8 years ago at an AC Moore in North Carolina - yikes, that's a long time ago! I haven't really favored the technique and was unsure about today's blog hop...until I saw a video tutorial by Heather Scott about a "Modified Retiform" technique. And that's what I did here - which I love!

Every once in a while there is a card you come across that will knock your socks off and you just have to go back and visit the blog to relook at it. That is the case with Mischelle's card at the start of The Angel Company's blog hop: Savvy Projects Blog. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT MISS this card!! :) Here's a sneak peek...



You have 5 days to play along and there will be some prizes awarded at the end! I tell you, I am having so much fun this week! I know it's going to be a great month and I hope you will find time to play along...If you are unsure of how to do this Retiform technique, there are some great tutorials online at the Savvy Projects Blog to help you get started!

Card Supplies:
Victorian Elements T-3029, Give Praise to Him T-3338, Love you TB-3362, Angelee Collection V-843, Kraft cardstock -244, Flourishes Impressionabilities K-304
Palette inks: Landscape, Raw Sienna and Lavender

Victorian Elements (aka damask!)

I love the Victorian Elements set because the pieces are so large in it...they make a great focal point as well as backgrounds. Honestly though, I own every single damask stamp set The Angel Company carries because I love them all. I still have to cut out my ginormous one and get it inky...sigh...one of these days!

This idea I borrowed from the super talented Risa. She makes the most beautifully detailed cards and I loved how she stamped this pattern in two colors...I would've never thought of it, sad to say! But now I can pass along this super idea to you.



Card Materials: all stamps from The Angel Company
Stamps: Victorian Elements, Damask Backgrounder
Accessories: Corner rounder, Nestabilities

The bottom small flower and leaves is covering up where I accidently smudged my "f" in the saying. Anything (well, almost!) can be fixed. This would be a quick card to reproduce and give as a set to a mom, sister or female friend...it's a win-win situation. You get to craft and do what you love and they get the benefit of sending out a lovely card without having to run out to Hallmark.

Have a super week! Blessings...

Deep Cleaning

I know most people get to a good house cleaning in the Spring - but I tend to work backwards, or at least when my mood strikes! This weekend we did a little remodeling project in our family room and it made me take a good look at the sad condition things had become. I had stored and stockpiled things in many corners. This house is sadly lacking in closet space and there is no attic to hide things in...worse yet, without having a military move every four years, I haven't been forced to do my routine purge. I now have the den, playroom (aka huge dump pile), the kids' bedrooms and the office all torn apart as I desperately get rid of things and find new storage places for things I want to keep!

I did do a nice clean up of my craft/laundry room a few months ago so thankfully things are still looking good there! This cleaning up frenzy did remind me of a mini album project I taught last month and I have 4 kits left - if anyone is interested. This kit features the Sydney Circle album, has four main pages, runs $5 and includes shipping to you...you just get to decorate it the way you see fit.

All supplies from The Angel Company

Drop me a line if you are interested. This mini album is easy to make and will be easy to reproduce...and now back to more organizing my home!

Oh, and don't forget to take advantage of the grab bag specials this month if you are interested! I hear the $5 stamp bags are flying off the shelf and I can't wait to see what comes in my $10 accessory grab bag. I love surprises - good surprises, that is!!

{: Embellish Magazine :} Blog Hop - check it out!

I have been waiting for this day with some anticipation...okay, I'm giddy!

Today I am sponsoring the blog hop and talented design team over at Ashley Newell Cannon's spectacular blog, {: Embellish Magazine :}, which goes with her online magazine (same name, coincidentally!). Both are so professionally and beautifully created. The challenge theme is birds and if you go over there and play along, you have a chance to win a gift certificate from me to anything in The Angel Company catalogs. Each design team member worked with a different bird set from The Angel Company and they are featuring different papers from our collections...I think you will be thrilled!

I decided to play along too, and I thought this bird from the All Things of Nature set would go perfectly with my Tim Holtz bird cage die. This card features the new double sided paper collection, Emma, and I was tickled to see that not only is the cardstock double sided, but that the tags are too - and with a different pattern! It's wonderful that the Soar With it Collections come with matching Bazzill cardstock, ribbon and hardware...

Card Materials: all stamps and papers from The Angel Company

Stamps: All Things of Nature, Blossoms and Blessings, Victorian Elements

Accessories: Emma Soar with it Collection and cardstock, prismacolored pencils and gamsol, Tim Holtz die, sponges, pearls from Michaels

On my blog I will have a second prize available...owls are birds too, right?! Of sorts!

You have a chance to win this sweet sayings set plus a variety of owls from our two sets, Artsy Owls and Be Square. You'll also get this package of Angelee papers that will make a cute little tag book or be perfect for a card or two.

Simply leave me a comment before August 12, that's when the other contest closes, for a chance to win! So...are you a bird fan or not?!?

Getting Ready for Father's Day

I love pocket cards and haven't made one in a LONG time. I saw a beautiful card on MJ Albright's blog awhile back that inspired me for this Father's Day card. This was the project for my Hostess Club this month. It's our last get together and we won't restart until September. If you live in the area and would like to join us, we have some space!

The brown flourish paper is something I scored at Big Lots; can't beat those $2 paper packs! And I loved how Lois made her insert so that she could tuck in a gift card inside that bottom brown strip of paper by not gluing it down on the top edge. I think I learn as much from my group of hostess club ladies as they get out of me!!

Card Materials: all stamps from The Angel Company

Stamps: Good Timber, Victorian Elements, Celebrate Dad special set

Accessories: Assorted DCWV papers, button, twine, MS punch

Don't miss out on the special sets for The Angel Company's latest celebration!

More Birthday cards

Today is another wet and dreary day here in Northern Virginia! I started working on card last night and I can't wait to make some "me time" and finish it up this morning. I find most of my cards are made like that - a little bit here, put it aside, come back and do a little bit more, put it aside, and then the big finish! I guess I do it out of necessity because I do love to sit and make a whole card (or two!) at once.

Anyways, here are two more of the birthday cards we made at my class last week. A huge shout out of thanks to Juliet. Once again she helped me out with her computer skills. I found a wonderful bingo card template at Sharon Harnist' blog here...but I wanted some changes and Juliet came through for me.

Stamps: English Everyday Cuties, Little Cupcake from The Angel Company

And we made two masculine cards that day as well...unfortunately I stamped "happy" upside down on the other card so I won't show it here but we all got a good laugh because I left it was as a sample of "what not to do"...This card looks quite nice in real life because I white embossed the Victorian Elements on the dark brown texture of the Bazzill cardstock.

Stamps: Victorian Elements, Savvy Sayings, Fabulous Frames from The Angel Company

Have a great day - I hope your week is going well!

Inspiration - Pass it on!

I'm so sore today! I haven't run in months after I fell on my hip and have had quite a bit of pain but I finally did a cardio DVD workout that my husband has been urging me to try - I hung in there for the whole time (with a few modifications and extra rests here and there!) and was so proud of myself. And boy oh boy, I feel it today! But swim suit weather is just around the corner - as I look out the window at four foot piles of snow. Sure!

Heather from Oz-somestamps has been using chalks recently and that really inspired me to pull out my sets... The Angel Company has a nice selection and I had forgotten how shimmery and beautiful these chalk sets are!

I stamped Victorian Elements in the Versamark Dazzle pad and then rubbed a red and green chalk from the Jewel Tones family. Between the sparkle of the Versamark pad and the chalks, this card is so shimmery in real life!

Card Materials: all stamps and papers from The Angel Company

Stamps: Victorian Elements, Savvy Sayings

Accessories: lace, plastic pearls, sizzix flower punch, Brown bazzill, red DCWV, Noir palette ink, Versamark Dazzle, Jewel Tone chalks

When I was gluing the pearls in place, I dropped a bit of glue on the brown panel and hoped that it would dry well and not show. No such luck...sigh, and of course the rest of the card was all glued down. In the end it turned out well I think, to add this strip of lace - it added to the whole card and subdued that brown a bit. Phew! I wish it had been sunny today to take a better picture but this was the best I could get, even fiddling with the photo. Take care - I hope you are having a great week and I appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog!

I can do that!

A few weeks ago I was in my local craft store and I saw some beautiful, flocked paper. I picked it up and touched it, just gorgeous. But then I put it right back because I thought to myself..."Hey, I can do that at home!"

I had a Palette glue pad at home, and some creamy, beige designer paper from the Reece Soar with it Collection. I added Black Fun Flock to my order going into The Angel Company and patiently waited for it to arrive...

So what do you think?!

You probably can't tell that it's fuzzy in the picture, but you can actually "pet" these papers!

I used different stamps from the Victorian Elements set - they are big and bold. Here are some tips:

1) Refresh your glue pad before using it the first time, each time you go to stamp.

2) Really pour on the fun flock and then cover it all with a clean sheet of paper and press down.

3) Shake of the extra flock and then reapply it once more, and press down just like in step 2.

4) I used a craft sheet for easier clean up...

I haven't made these into cards yet but I think a nice verse is all they need...I want the beauty of the paper to be the main attraction.

I hope you are finding peace and joy as you prepare for Christmas - it's a hustling and bustling time of year. Blessings!

All Wrapped Up! Blog Hop

Thanks for joining me on this gift wrapping extravaganza! I was so excited to participate in this blog hop that I ended up making 3 projects to share with you...

I've had this Homespun Holiday set for over a year and finally cut into it for this little gift bag - I bought the set just for the tree! I'm sure you can understand...tee hee. I used my Nestabilities to cut cardboard for the front and back panels of my gift bag...a simple lunch bag cut down with scallop scissors creates the bag. It came together quite easily!

Stamps: Ornamental Snowflakes, Homespun Holidays, Joyful Ornaments, Victorian Elements

My next project is a store bought gift bag from Michaels...but jazzed up a bit!

and a close up of my main image. I had wanted the frame to be crackled but I think my paint was too old (okay, I'll admit I had 7 years before I finally decided to try it!) and it just ended up shiny! I did some random gold embossing and painted on red stickles to make it look vintage.

Stamps: Vintage Santa

and now my last gift wrapped creation! I had the inside piece left from cutting the frame on my santa bag that I couldn't let go to waste! Perhaps you've seen the homemade bow tutorial on SCS? I was inspired by Pia to make this set...

Stamps: Victorian Elements

I used the same Victorian Elements stamp from the first project to stamp repeatedly on a lunch bag before I cut it apart and made a bow. Repeated the image on the tag...this is now proudly sitting under the tree, all wrapped up for me!

I hope you'll join the rest of these talented Angels on our hop!

Jen: http://jensinkspot.blogspot.com/
Shirley: http://glitteredpaws.blogspot.com/
Laine http://www.inkypawprints-laine.blogspot.com/
Diana http://www.dianasdesignsonline.blogspot.com/
Angela http://www.angelakelley.blogspot.com/
stacy: http://stacy.typepad.com/angel2389

Now get busy wrapping! tee hee...

Mind if I share?

I was tickled last week to find that Mischelle, the owner of The Angel Company had featured two of my cards on her blog...check it out here! It made me giggle too how she talked about my doilies in the photo. I don't usually set a "scene" per se when I take a photo of my cards - I'm more about finding a spot of sun where I can. Now that spring/summer is here the path of the sun has changed on me and I may be looking for a new spot - but during the winter this is where I've been taking my photos. The little angels are a gift from my first boyfriend (high school era), the bird is a carving from when we were stationed in Panama, the aloe vera plant is perfect for when I burn myself on the oven and the table/lamp are from my in laws. Just like my plants in my garden, everything has a memory attached to it. Oh, and the doilie is from a grandmother! :)

And now for an actual card! I've been playing some more with my Victorian Elements! It took me about 2 months to cut into them but now that I've started playing with them, I just can't stop. For this card I made a background paper with them by first clear embossing them on a cream cardstock. I then stippled haystack and raw sienna palette inks all over the paper. Wiped away the extra ink and then removed the embossing with a hot iron because I wanted to stamp on the paper. This card came together quickly and worked perfectly for the CPS 115 challenge this week!

Card Materials:

Stamps: Victorian Elements, Be Still

Materials: Bazzill Monochromatic pack (blue), In Bloom and Sophia Blossoms and Buttons, palette inks

I love cream and blue together, how about you?!

Going off on a tangent...

Ask my husband, when I'm talking (or thinking!) my mind often goes off on a tangent. The other day, my card making had the same experience! Now don't get me wrong, I actually really like this card, but wait until you see the "inspiration" piece -- you are going to say, "huh??"

Card Materials:

Stamps: Victorian Elements

Other: Hemingway Soar with it Collection and cardstock, Burnt Sienna Palette ink, Amelia hardware

And here is the card from Melissa Phillips that originally caught my eye! tee hee.

Once I stamped the flourish, I gravitated to the Hemingway paper pack because of the colors. I had some scraps leftover and I guess I just fell into a trap of using them.

So yesterday I went back to the drawing board. I mean I really like this piece by Melissa and I was determined to make it work! I had some white flowers that I edged in Claret palette ink and this time I was determined to cut paper! I used the Genevive paper pack that is now retired from The Angel Company.

Card Materials:

Stamps: Victorian Elements

Materials: Genevive, DCWV Robin #1, Button from In Bloom collection, Beaux Arts & Claret palette inks, scallop scissors

Closer but still not "perfect". oh well, now I have to figure out how to mail this!

I'm obsessed...

with damask styled stamps! I already had Aged Ornaments from The Angel Company but when I got my copy of the Serendipity magalogue, I fell in love with Victorian Elements. These run a bit larger, 2.5 to 3 inches in length, so they are great for creating a background page and also look fabulous as a main image.

I wanted to use brilliance ink for that special sheen, and then used the rock 'n roll technique to just roll the edge of stamp around a black ink pad. Each one came out a snitch different. I debated stamping just a saying in black on the top blue panel but in the end, used a sheer black ribbon. That way I'll have a card ready for any occasion! In case you didn't know, The Angel Company does carry reinkers for the Brilliance Ink pads.

Card Materials:

Stamps: Victorian Elements

Materials: cloud scissors, Noir palette ink, Brilliance ink, DCWV

Um...if you read my last post you saw me grumbling about my daughter (I appreciate the reassuring thoughts by the way!). Well yesterday I was feeling really, really guilty when I read the Mother's Day card that she wrote on behalf of the family. Here's an excerpt:

We love you! We probably don't say it enough, but, we do! ... We're really thankful to have you as a mom/wife...

I'm so lucky! Hope you had a wonderful weekend...and have a great week ahead of you!