A little birdie told me it was Mother's Day

Ohh my goodness, so sorry for the late post today!! I'd like to blame it on Blogger because he's always messing things up but alas, this was ALL MY FAULT...sigh!!!


Today I pulled another pretty little Mother's Day card from the archives:

This card was super easy to make here's the original post if you'd like to visit it. I started out with a pretty little 6X6 paper pad as usual and let it do all the work for me! I cut a piece to the size of the card base and just accented the printed pattern by adding a piece of a doily, ribbon, lace a punched edge in matching paper, a little flower, pearls and a DeNami Design sentiment. 

Weather you use the patterned paper for a background, accent piece or like I did here, a focal point on your card, I hope this has you pulling out those little patterned paper pads and letting them do all the work for you! 

The Shabby Tea Room- challange #216 "Tic-Tac-Toe"

Hi everyone and welcome to another fun week at The Shabby Tea Room!! This week we have a fun little challenge that you're sure to enjoy...Tic-Tac-Toe!!!

select 3 squares in a row to use on your creation either diagonal, vertical or horizontal.  (May use more than one row of three, but has to be a complete row.  Example: if I use pennants, fabric and buttons it is 1 row.  If I then want to use gingham too, I must also use pearls to complete that row.

I decided to take the center row: Pearls, Ribbon & Polka Dots, :)  LOVE all 3 of those elements!!

This week we are brought to you by Papers By Janet on Etsy. I never get tired of visiting her site...just broker, lol, I LOVE her beautiful and fun papers!!! I used her "Bunnies Labels" collage. It's 6 bunnies in different poses, printed patterns & colors that can be easily cut out as I've done here for my card. I chose the little black one and made an elegant Mother's Day card by adding the Happy Mother's Day sentiment from DeNami Design. 

Prizes:

Tea Time Top Three first place winner will receive three collage files
Tea Time Top Three second place winner will receive two collage files

Tea Time Top Three third place winner will receive one collage file 

Please go to The Shabby Tea Room to link your creations by Sunday, June 1st to play along. Winner and Tea Time Terrific Top Three will be announced Monday, June 2nd. We will have an all-new challenge for you to play along with on the 2nd as well, so please come back and visit with us again for another chance to win!

Easy Mother's Day Card

Ohh my goodness, have you looked at the calendar lately...April is just about over!! Where did it go, it doesn't feel like we've had enough time in April...sigh! Today is the 24th and that means there's ONLY 2 weeks until Mother's Day!! (insert panic mode here! hehehe)

With thoughts of Mother's Day in mind i thought I'd dig through the archives and bring out a few cards I've made that I still LOVE to get us in the mood.

I'm still pretty happy with this little card. Something I'd do different...I'd make an additional white panel that I'd run through the embossing folder and pop it up with foam tape before adding my focal point. This was super simple, fairly fast to make and only used 3 stamps: Happy Mother's Day, elegant square frame and garden bunch.  My original post can be found here.

Hope you have a GREAT weekend :)

Pretty Lilacs

Hi everyone :) How is your week going so far, mine is slow!!! I'm hoping the second half picks up a bit!!


 Today's card is a little different for me, I decided to try and switch things up a little...does a girl good to get out of her box once and a while ;)  I've used this layout before, but I changed up how I laid out the colors. I started out with a light colored card base in lavender then built the darker / richer colors onto that. Usually I would do just the opposite by starting out with the darker color for my base and brightening the card with layers of lighter colors. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, I think the large area of eggplant cardstock lends a deep richness while the green adds just enough brightness and contrast balancing it all out.
 

I'm thinking I'll have to try this with a few more color palettes, I really like the overall result. See what stepping out of your comfort zone can achieve ;)

The Shabby Tea Room - Challenge #215

Hi everyone and welcome to another fun filled week! How was your Easter? Mine was pretty quiet, went to visit with Family and enjoy some fellowship. I made up baskets for my son & DIL as usual...I don't think kids ever get to old for an Easter basket. ;) Ohh, on Saturday I had a little fun creating cards for my next upcoming card class at The Stamp Pad (a small local stamping store), what fun...this month is focusing on the chalkboard technique! I can't wait to teach this fun technique to everyone :)

Well, enough of me rambling on, right? You're here to see a fun project that I created using a template from Creations By AR and play with us at The Shabby Tea Room, so let's get started because I have several pictures to show you!

This weeks rules: USE ONLY PASTELS AND INCLUDE FLOWERS AND POLKA DOTS!

I made this before but ended up giving it away to someone that wanted to use it for envelopes...what a great idea! So, I needed to remake another one for myself....

Template Used: Folder Organizer

FINISHED SIZE

Folder Box: 5-5/8" x 1" x 4-3/4"

Base: 4-1/8" x 3-3/8" x 4-15/16"

Now there are LOTS of options when you make this little template. First off, let me tell you that it not only comes in a cut file but in a PDF too. So if you don't have a machine that cuts things out you can hand cut it using the pattern in the PDF file. This template is perfect for hand cutting since it's all straight lines and a couple of curving lines. You can opt out of using the little cover part that I made with the patterned paper and it comes with a little banner to hang on the front if you choose. I added polkadots to the kraft using Versamark, lots of ribbon, flowers and a little band that I scalloped to dress it up even more. 

I need to make one more of these to match the Easel Top Box that I recently made. It was intended for pictures or recipes but I decided it would make great storage for my left over die cuts...

Won't a matching set look great together sitting on a little shelf in my craft area? Well that's it for me today. I hope you can join us over at The Shabby Tea Room for a chance to win 3 templates of your choice from Creations By AR!

Fluffy Easter Bunnies

Hi everyone :)  Today I have another easy to make card that I pulled out of my archives. This one was made for a blog hop February of last year, lol. If you don't care for the pink you could use just about any color. I'm thinking of remaking this card and coloring them all a different color like dyed Easter eggs!

 As you can see, I started off with a tall (A2 sized) white base. I then cut a white panel that I ran through a dry embossing folder then punched the edge on and layered that on the base. I made another white panel and stamped the bunny border once and the small happy easter sentiment then added twine and layered that onto my card base.

Since the card is all one color, I popped up both panels using foam tape for some dimension and contrast. This card would make a great baby card too. Just change out the sentiment and it could even be colored blue for a boy.

Well that's it for me today, I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

Sweet Bunnies

Hi everyone....are you ready for Easter this weekend? I. AM. NOT!!! I got caught up with life and Easter snuck up on me. I don't have hardly any Easter cards made!! I have 4 examples that I made for the class that I just taught at The Stamp Pad (a little local shop) and the very few I had here on the blog already...sigh. There's just not enough time for me to crank out a bunch of new cards so I think I'm going to pull a couple of easy to make cards out of my archives and remake them. Today and Friday I'll share them with you just in case you're in the same boat as me, lol!!

This little card couldn't have been easier or faster to come together. I used chocolate cardstock for the base then layered on a light pink panel. For the focal panel I simply cut a piece of cream cardstock and punched one edge then stamped the bunny border stamp making several rows. I stamped Happy Easter at the bottom then I added distress ink to the panel to tone down the brightness of the cream. I tied on a little twine before adhering the panel to the card with foam tape. Fast and easy...I should be able to make quite a few of these in no time at all :)

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge #214

Are you ready for a little Easter themed card today...have I ever got an easy to make cutie for you then!!

This week at The Shabby Tea Room we have a very pretty little inspiration picture

Rules: Use polka dots & stripes


I love me some cute polka dots and stripes so this week is a no brainer for me, lol!!! WOO-HOO ;)

This week we are brought to you by The Cutting Cafe. I have to say that I have soooo enjoyed working with their cut files since I started working with The Shabby Tea Room...always fun and easy to work with, this week is no exception!

I chose to play with the Easter Window card. You see the yellow part of my card...that's the actual card it makes. It cuts the frame and the words Happy Easter all out as a base card, then you have a bunch of little optional pieces like grass, eggs and an overlay for the sentiment. You can just leave it like that or change it up like I did, I cut the back off the card and layered it to my own (white) card base then used some of the options that are included along with a cute bunny from Paper Sweeties and some sheer striped ribbon to dress it up. 

Items:
Paper Sweeties - Hippity Hoppity

The Cutting Cafe - Easter Window Cards

I hope you can join us this week at The Shabby Tea Room and enter the challenge for your chance to win some goodies from The Cutting Cafe!!

Buttons & Bows - DeNami Design April blog hop

Hi everyone...guess what, it's time for another super fun blog hop brought to us by DeNami Design!! This month's theme is Buttons & Bows!! Ohhh how I puffy heart me some buttons and bows!

In my opinion everything is better if you have a button or bow ;) but adding both is sure to be uber cuteness!!
Deets:

When: The blog hop starts on April 13, 2014 at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until April 14, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).

Why: To be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website! We'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then we'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

You should have arrived here from the seriously talented Pattie Goldman's blog. I bet she had something seriously beautiful!!

All right, now that you have all the details, are you ready to see what I came up with? I really had a hard time deciding what to do. I use buttons quite a bit and ALWAYS seem to have a little bow on my cards, I'm a ribbon-a-holic, lol! I really wanted to do something different than just a normal old card for the hop and after a bit of thinking decided on a matching Easter gift set.

Mason jars are all the rage right now and what better use than for a little Easter treat? Added bonus is that your candy stays fresh, hehehehehe! ;) 

For my card I started out with a white base then layered on a piece of pink cardstock that I had stamped polka dots using the polka dot background stamp. I "colored" in a doily using Momento ink and added the patterned paper flags, tea stained seam binding bow (from Paper Sweeties) and a pretty button. For my focal image I used the darling Easter Chickie Circle (I just noticed that I forgot to color the center of my flowers...sigh!). I finished it all off with a few pieces of sequins (spring mix from Pretty Pink Posh) for a little pop. 

For my jar I used the same focal image, patterned papers and seam binding as on the card. Then added more Spring Mix sequins along with some buttons. Did you notice the little pink flowers inside my buttons and the larger white flower on my jar? That's all part of the Spring Mix...ADORABLE! 

I thought the top needed a little sumthin' sumthin' so I punched put a scallop circle and stamped a dot frame from DeNami along with the small Happy Easter sentiment (I masked the sentiment so it would stack).

Well that's all for me today...off you go now to visit with the talented Donna Bowman! I can't wait to see what she has for us!!

Thinking of you

Hi everyone! Once again I have pulled out some pretty patterned papers and yummy sequins! I can't tell you enough how fun those little 6 X 6 paper packs are...just so perfect for mixing and matching pattern challenged people like myself, lol! 

That little flowered paper makes me smile, I just love it! I added the iridescent white sequins and a light pink grosgrain bow to finish it all off. This layout make for a quick and easy card when you need one in a jiffy!!

That's all for me today, hope you have a great weekend!!

Playing with Gelatos

Have any of you ever played with Gelatos (linked to Simon Says Stamp), I have to admit that I never have. I've seen them around and even spied them in my local big box crafty stores. I've gone so far as to pick them up and read the package on multiple occasions just to end up feeling intimidated and then placed them back on the shelf for someone that was smarter and more talented than myself. 

Well, the other day I was at The Stamp Pad, where I teach card making classes and was talking to the owner about my ideas for upcoming class themes. I wanted to do a class on teaching a few techniques that many might not know how to do. She pulled out a brand new package of Gelatos (cringe!!!!!) and asked if I've ever used them. She had purchased them to play with but just doesn't have the time. I told her that I've toyed with the idea but have never tried it out due to the intimidation factor. She handed me the package and told me to "play away!". Well, I will have to say that in this instance, You Tube has been my friend and given me LOTS of pointers!! 

What do you think of my very first try using Gelatos? This was so easy and fun...I have NO clue why I was so intimidated!! I started off by stamping a pattern with Versa Mark onto white cardstock and heat embossing with clear embossing powder then chose 3 colors to work with...red, orange and a peachy pink. I started with the red and rubbed a little on near the bottom then used my finger to smoosh it around. I then rubbed the orange right above that and smooshed it around blending where the 2 colors meet. I added a little of the 3rd color to the top and again smooshed it around making sure to blend where the 2 colors meet. When I was happy with my blending and color saturation I used a baby wipe and wiped off the colors so that the colors smoothed out and embossing that acted as a resist could shine through. That's all there was to it...easy peasy!! I made a CAS layout for this card so that my handy work with the Gelatos could take center stage.

There are several more tricks I want to try when I get a chance. If they go as easily as this one I'll be over joyed!! As I said before, I found lots of inspiration on You Tube and would like to give credit to Laurel Beard from the Lawnscaping blog for the tutorial on the technique I used here. She has a ton of great videos and it's well worth checking out!!

Creations By AR - April 2014 blog hop: Easel Top Box

Hello everyone and welcome to the new release from Creations By AR! This months release is super cool in my opinion and very versatile.

WHEN:

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Post to go live:

Pacific:  3:00 AM

Central:  5:00 AM

Eastern:  6:00 AM

GB:  10:00 AM

Costa Rica:  4:00 AM

We are giving away the new Easel Top Box template to a randomly drawn lucky winner. To be eligible all you have to do is to follow the hop and leave a comment on everyone's blog and the Creations by AR Facebook page. Easy peasy, right? You have until Friday, April 11th at noon Eastern to leave your comments and the winner will be announced on the Creations by AR blog & Facebook page the following Monday, April 12th

Now that all of the deets are out of the way, let's get on with seeing what I created with this fun new template shall we? This little box was crated with it being able to hold and display photographs in mind but there are so many other uses also. What about a box to hold your finished A2 sized cards that you keep on hand or even recipe cards? It's be perfect for recipes since you can set the easel up to hold the recipe for you. I didn't make my little box for any of those uses, I had another use in mind. How many of you gals die cut/punch a shape/image for use on a card but then change your mind? What do you do with that die cut/punch, throw it away wasting it or do you save it? I tend to save mine, I throw them in a little basket and then never use them because there's no organization to my little basket of goodies, I might as well just had thrown them away in the first place...sigh. Well no more, look what I decided to do with my little easel top box....

closed box - tab on "easel" slips under the label keeping the lid secured

to make the "easel", lift the tab part only and slip it under the "bar" on the top of the box

 the box comes with dividers so it's easy to find pictures, recipes, or even die cuts

 Since I want to use my box to hold die cuts, I took it one step further and designed a little "envelope" to hold them. However, if  you wanted, you could easily use a regular envelope.

 Now I kept my box a little plain by using black & cream cardstocks since I'm using it for die cuts, but just think of the different things you could add to it...use pretty patterned papers, make little corner pieces, ribbons, flowers...ohhh my, the possibilities are endless!!

If you'd like the measurements / directions for my little envelopes just drop me an email and I'll get that to you. :) Do you remember the darling little dry embossing folder holder I made a while back? That's from Creations By AR also, I think I'm going to remake it in this color palette for a little matched set! Ready to see what my team mates have done with this versatile little box?

Adela

Lisa

Lyn

Monica

Patti J

Penny

Julia

Lisa E

Sue 

Tina <--- you are here

Don't forget to hop along and leave comments for your chance to win this fun template!! Have a great day :)

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge #213

Good morning :) How was your weekend? Hope you are all rested up and ready to play with us at The Shabby Tea Room!! This week we have a color challenge for you....

What beautiful colors! I think spring color palettes are my all time fave :)

This week we are to use:
                                colors from the inspiration picture
                                flowers
                                ribbon or lace

our sponsor this week is Paper Sweeties...swoon! Love those darling images :) and yummy seam binding! Did you know they are carrying other goodies now like twine, sequins and colored paper straws? FUN FUN FUN!

Are you ready to see what I came up with?

I actually made this little card with my sweet little niece in mind. She just had her 6th birthday and I thought the sweet little Emma doll would be perfect for her. I paired little Emma up with some fun patterned paper and made a cute little scene. 

Paper Sweeties items:

Emma
Emma sweet cuts die
Smile
Sending Sweet Thoughts
You Are Fabulous

Well that's it for me today, I hope you can join us this week. Don't forget, there's a Paper Sweeties gift certificate for the winner!

Elegant Cross

Hi everyone, today I have a card to share with you that I've had archived for quite a while. I didn't really want to show it until closer to Easter because it could be used for the reason I made it for or you could easily change up the sentiment for the Easter season. DeNami has several different ones that would be perfect... 

• He Is Risen
• He Is Risen!
• small Happy Easter
• large Happy Easter
• rejoice
• Easter Blessings

Well, that's just to name a couple, anyway, you get what I'm saying. This card used just 2 little stamps, the Cross and the sentiment. But really, if you wanted to omit the sentiment all together I think the card would still be very pretty.

Well, that's it for me today, I hope that you have a great weekend! I will see you back here on Monday with a fun new challenge for The Shabby tea Room. Bye!

summer butterflies...

Can you believe that sometimes I forget to show you a card that I've made? It's crazy isn't it? I found this little cutie in a draft in blogger while searching for something else. Normally I change the "post date" so that when I save something as a draft it's always at the very top of the list but for some reason I must have forgotten with this card. I actually made this card last summer and was excited to show it off because I accomplished something I can't do very well...make a one layer card! If y'all know me at all you know I'm all about the layers! Every once in a while I like to take a step out of my comfort zone and create a card using a technique or style that I'm not comfortable with. This card is one of those creations!

I pulled out a couple of border stamps and a few individual stamps to make some mock layers....

I started off by stamping the scallop border near the top of my card base then stamping the pretty border from the Spring Garden 1 set. Now that I had a "layer" made for the focal point of my card I filled in the "base layer" using the little Mini Butterfly stamp to make a faux patterned paper on both ends of the card. With that done it was time for my focal panel, I used one of the butterflies from the Fancy Flutters set to make it look like I had butterflies sweeping up the card. I then added a sentiment (one of my FAVES!) and one of the little accent stamps from the Spring Garden 1 set. To finish it all off I simply colored in my butterflies and added LOTS of glitter.

Well that's it for me today, I hope you like my little one layer card and I hope you challenge yourself to step out of your box and take on a technique or style that you struggle with too!