Back from a long hiatus!

Wow, have I been absent a long time or what? I have contemplated a few times over the last few months how to go about bringing this blog of mine back to life, and was just at a loss. I got somewhat behind with my blog in mid-2011 with my traveling. From my son, who was supposed to leave for Air Force basic training ending up in a motorcycle accident days before leaving, to my mom being diagnosed with cancer and spending 3 weeks with her back home, to our oldest son coming home to stay with us for 6 months and my Venezuelan nephew coming for a 3 month visit, then family from Venezuela coming for a week at Christmas, last year was quite a year. Now I babysit a 7 month old (since she was 2 months) and am finally finding a little time to catch up.

What I'm sharing today is a card I recently made for my sister for a late birthday wish. I started with a stamp I've had for a long time but never used and wanted to emboss it in a copper color I had never used. Trying to think of a color I thought would go good with copper, I found a dark blue cardstock, but finding a second color to coordinate was a little more of a challenge. I chose a peach color that I thought matched the copper, and located a design paper that matched the peach cardstock...and so went my design progression. I don't always have all the colors of supplies I wish I had, but can usually improvise with something.

I've made many of my past cards for challenges, so it was nice to create wholly my own design, although it can take me hours longer.

Thank you so much for your visit here today, and I would love for you to check back soon. If you like what you see, I would love to hear from you. Have a great day!

Mojo Monday 198

I'm finally back! I know I've been absent for a few weeks. I guess summer just snuck up on me with all that's been going on in our family. We finished a gargage sale, went to see friends in another state for the 4th of July, and I'm finally caught up on my emails. Well, I got back into the card swing with the Mojo Monday 198 challenge you see above. You can check out the details here.

I can't believe I was able to get a card done in less than 2 hours. That doesn't happen too often, but you really can't lose with half the work done for you already. Designing can be the longest process for me. I couldn't get to my sewing machine to stitch on the card, so I used ric rac that looked like the zig-zag stitch. I placed a cut-out from a doily behind the metal brad flower that gave it just the right touch. I stamped the paper strips behind the sentiment panel since my supply of design paper is small. The center square panel is popped up for some dimension. I just wish my pictures were truer to color...you can't see the light teal in the background paper too well.We try to make up for lost time in summer since we're pretty much shut in in winter here, so I may not get to post as often as I'd like but will try as much as I can. I have cards to show, if I can just find time to get pictures taken and get them posted. Hope you have a great day and check back soon...I welcome comments or questions!

Pretty in Pink

The card I'm sharing today is for the Flourishes-Pretty in Pink Challenge. I followed the Flourishes sketch from their Get Sketchy Challenge, but realized I could only enter it in one. The sketch sure made it easy, though, for me to create a quick card, since I've been known to take a REALLY long time.

The sentiment and butterfly are from the Flourishes-Butterfly Moments stamp set. I created the faux ribbon using a border punch and punched both sides of the cardstock strip that was dry embossed.

I added pink stickles to the butterfly body, and glued the body directly to the cardstock. Cutting apart the wings and bending up from the body gives it some dimension. Just a simple flower pleased me more than the larger butterfly I had prepared for that spot, and with just a few touches of jewels, it gives a more feminine elegant finish (if you can get more feminine than all pink, lol).

Thank you for joining me today! I hope you'll check in again soon!

Card recipe:
Paper-AC cardstock-pastel, basic white

Stamps-Flourishes-Butterfly Moments

Ink-Stampin-up-Rose Romance

Accessories-jewels, ribbon rose, stickles, Cuttlebug-Birds & Swirls embossing folder, Martha Stewart-Doily Lace punch

Birthday Wishes-ODBDSLC63

I mentioned recently about the long absence from my blog. I had gone back home to help take care of my mom, who has cancer and is undergoing treatment. This card goes out to that very special lady. I thank the Lord for each & every birthday of her's that I can celebrate. He has done such wonders with her care and treatment. I know that she is in the best hands possible when I pray and give everything to my Lord. As Jesus said "...for with God, all things are possible." (Mark 10:27-KJV).
Now, for the details of this card. I created this with the "Our Daily Bread Designs-Shine the Light Challenge" in mind, which was to "use only a sentiment...no image". The frame was created using Spellbinders-Circles & Scalloped Circles. I really wanted to use ovals, but was missing one of my sets, so circles it was. Well, sometimes you just have to get resourceful, ha! I inked around the sentiment and the little ribbon flower above.

The ribbon is 3 layers-first the gold sheer you saw on my last 2 cards (what can I say...I just LOVE it! don't know what I'll do when it's gone...cry I guess), it just tied in well with the warm brown tones. Second is a pink sheer, so as not to cover up too much of the pretty design paper, and on top a pink satin ribbon.

The pink top half is dry embossed. A loopy, pink-satin bow topped with a pretty pink flower balances the card.

I stamped the design paper since I didn't have one with the look I wanted. I first stamped with a flourishy rose design in the double stamp method (stamping once on scrap paper and then again on my cardstock) to get the light background tone I wanted. Then, diagonal lines were scored to make diamond shapes and rubbed with pearlescent chalk along the lines to make them stand out a bit (which you may be able to see better if you click on the photo for a closer-up look). I stamped a rose in the center of some of the diamond shapes and then colored them with those same pearly chalks that gave a very soft shimmery look. Adding a few pearls and a punched border finished it off. I wanted something girly and pretty for my lovely mom, and I'm quite pleased with the turnout (I can tend to overdo, I think, sometimes).

I'm happy you visited me today, and hope you come back soon. I would love comments and/or questions (just let's me know someone out there may be checkin in). Have a great day!

Card recipe:

Paper: AC Cardstock-green, Coordinations-pink, Homemade-design paper

Ink: Stampin-up-rose romance, close to cocoa, creamy caramel

Stamps: Hero Arts-sentiment, Inkadinkado-floral flourishes; Rubber Stampede-romantic rose

Accessories: Spellbinders-circles & scalloped circles; Cuttlebug-birds & swirls; Pebbles, Inc.-I kan' dee pearlescent chalks

Shabby Tea Room Challenge - Week #64 - '2 - 4 - 6'

Tonight, I'm bringing you another card. This one I made for "The Shabby Tea Room Challenge - week #64 - '2 - 4 - 6'. The challenge was to make a card with 2-designer papers, 4-buttons, & 6-layers using the photo at the top of this post for inspiration. Well, I got a little confused with the card I posted previously, so it also had this recipe, hehe!

I started by inking a white doily with a rainbow of colors for my first design paper, and mounted it on top of a background paper I made with JustRite stamps and glitter embossing power. The background and the sentiment panel are popped up for dimension.The buttons are, again vintage, the two clear ones being glass, which I found out when I tried to cut off the shank on the bottom. A pearl was added to the center of the blue one. And, with a big ribbon bow, I call it done.

Card recipe:

Paper-AC Cardstock-pastels

Ink-Stampabilities-Lavender pigment, Kaleidacolor-Baby Powder

Stamps-JustRite-Kaleidascope, Stampabilities-(sentiment)

Accessories-Spellbinders-petite ovals & petite scalloped ovals, Paper Studio-Lace multi-punch, Stampin-up-rainbow crystals EP, pearls, satin ribbon, vintage buttons

I hope you enjoy your visit here and will check in again soon!