Open Stamping - Technique Sneaky Peak

This is the prototype for the Open Stamping technique next weekend.  Come and learn how to make this different kind of card.  When it's closed, the front piece matches up with the inside piece, hiding it.  And it stands by itself.  There are several tricks to learn while making this one!  It was inspired by this card by Lisa Stenz, and I used Pear & Partridge papers and Close to My Heart stamps.  Ink colors were Champagne, Olive, Ruby and Cocoa.  

It's been a wonderful weekend!  The antibiotics are kicking in and I feel human again!  The weather is holding under 100 - so it was fun to putter in the yard and I planted new flowers (luscious geraniums in various colors!) and nearly stepped on a toad trying to cut my way-too-tall grass!  I screamed like a girl - but I'm not afraid of the toad, he just startled me!  

I wish every weekend could be so relaxing!

Hope your's was awesome, too!

Namaste. 

Hopelessly lost in love

My darling husband has a compass in his car and one on his watchband, so he always knows which direction is North!  When I first spied this stamp set, I immediately thought of Steve!  The card is very straight-forward.  I used the wood-design paper from CTMH Dakota, and the stamps were from Market Street Stamps.  I colored the center of the compass with the new alcohol markers from CTMH.  

My beloved went back North yesterday (to his summer home) for a few more weeks of work up there.  I have been so worn out with the knee aggravating me and a tiresome cold!  My plans are to baby myself and feel better soon!  

Just for fun - I'm going to brag a little about his artistic abilities!  Steve created this tile floor pattern in his house in Mesa (that he's renting).

 AND here's the close up view . . .

Awesome - Possum!

Hugs!

Welcome Sweet Baby Kennadie

 

Some of my friends watched the "creative process" for this card during Open Stamping.  It was rather painful, huh!  LOL  Well, I had a vision and it took me some searching to figure out how to execute the plan. 

In my humble opinion, nothing is sweeter than a baby girl, all perfect from her head to toes and smiling as she sleeps.  I loved the recessed circles created by the punched, lifted panel.  The assortment of parent and baby images are all from a retired CTMH set - and they were so fun to color with my water brush and a few touches of alcohol markers.  On the owls, I used the Signo white pen.  After photographing the card, Steve and I both wrote our love into it and mailed it off to Minnesota. 

 

The baby girl is Steve's new foster Granddaughter, Kennadie.  Love and congratulations to Mike and Deb!  

Hugs!! 

Just a couple more . . .

This ribbon treatment is pretty cool in real life - I wasn't as happy with the candle - I used the white pigment ink on the black doily but it wasn't bright enough to suit me.  After it was good and dry I went over it with the Signo white pen.  What you can't see is that the flame is sparkly.  

This one has NO stamping at all, just a little ink on the edges of things . . . no wonder these cards were so fast to create! 

Steve and I are enjoying the time together - we've made progress on the barn door and have enjoyed loads of football and baseball games.  Steve is working on getting his house ready to rent out this winter . . . I'm hoping he'll have a photo of the tile floor when it's done.  Here's a  shot of the barn door just before the 3rd section was added . . .

Golly, I'm ready to see this thing hanging up!
Hugs!

Halloween continues . . .

Yes, another Halloween card!  I spied this orange burlap at Joanne's and immediately thought of Halloween . . . then as I wandered through the store (do you do that, too?) I saw a pack of BLACK doilies in the baking section!  WOW - how fun!!  They aren't perfectly symmetrical but I love that, too.  The bat is one of the velvety items I was yacking about on my last post . . . the frame was another one of the velvety pieces with adhesive backing that came with the kit. 

Steve comes home tomorrow!!!!  I hope I can sleep tonight - I am so excited to see him!  He has THE sweetest kisses!  {blushing}

Since I may not post tomorrow or over the weekend, I'll put up one more to hold you *wink*

    Hugs!!

A dark, haunted mansion . . .

What you can't tell from the photo is that the candlestick is velvety.  Also the cat and some other objects (a bat, a witchy hat, and maybe there was a spider, too) on that patterned paper - wish I could remember who made that pack!  It was from 2010, I'm pretty sure.  2011 was a blur of wedding preparations - so Halloween was pretty much non-existent for me last year!  LOL

Only 2 sleeps until my darling is here!  I am excited to see him . . .

Hugs! 
 

What a cute monster!

I received this card in a consultant swap last year (someone else made it but they failed to sign it!).  I modified it just a little bit . . . I do believe I have a package of these cute monsters tucked away - that might be just the thing this year for some fun (and quick) Halloween cards!  

Did I mention that I got an I-Pad?  I'm a "PC" girl - so I've got a lot to learn (everything works differently!).  But it's fun, and I've already downloaded a book to read (that's w-a-a-a-y cool!) and my shoulders are already feeling the relief just thinking about my next plane trip!  ;-)

Hugs!

It's October!!

Time for some fun and spooky cards!  I was on a roll the other night so you will be seeing some Halloween cards this week ;-)

I used all sorts of different things - papers, scraps, cardstock, some Close-to-My-Heart but some not.  I was just grabbing and going!  I have had a punch to make slots for ribbon but I don't think I've ever used it - so finally I gave it some love!  The effect is very neat - especially with the ribbon having horizontal lines that are uneven!  Houndstooth and Damask - the rage - but together, Ghastly!!  Boo!

Happy Monday, dear friends!