True Love - Operation Smile

This was inspired by someone on one of the CTMH Consultant sites - and I've forgotten who!  I changed just a couple of things - top piece, white ribbon, and black/dot piece and the shirt on the boy - otherwise it was just like the card I saw.  If it was your design, please speak up!

I am really enjoying this Operation Smile stamp set!  It's so cute, and one of the sentiments ("This Card is a Paper Hug") really is what my hand-made cards are all about, after all!  Anyway - This one I can post before 1/1 without giving anything away, so enjoy!!

ps - used my birthday/Christmas gift flesh-tone pencils and markers on this one, too.  I am so glad to finally have a variety of flesh tones!

More Thanks

This card is an imitation of the one on the front of the new Seasonal Expressions Catalog that is available 1/1/17.  I used a thin cut sentiment from my stash (not CTMH) and cut it from one of the design papers, and rose gold foil tape from CTMH instead of the ribbon shown on the new catalog.  See me if you NEED a copy of the catalog!  Same paper pack - "Hello Lovely".  It seems to be designed for weddings - but I need thank you notes more than anything!  LOL

I learned an awesome trick making this card.  The design paper (in Whisper) on the card front is the reverse side of the pink scallop design of the circle.  Since I was adding a White Daisy cardstock piece between the two, there was no reason to waste all that paper under the white piece - so I cut my circle from there.  (I bet you all knew that!   I'm still trying to catch up here!)

New Seasonal Expressions sneaky peak

There isn't enough of the new "Hello Lovely" paper pack from the Seasonal Expressions 1 - 2017 launching 1/1/17 to qualify as a more than a sneaky peak, is there?  I didn't think so either!

The little lamb and sentiment are from Stamping Bella - I got them at least 6 years ago; I loved them at first sight and haven't used them very much.  My darling daughter gave me flesh tone pencils and dye-markers for Christmas/Birthday and I had to play immediately!  One of the first images I thought of was this sweet lamb!  Finally, a card with my sweet lamb!  Both doilies are from my stash, rose gold sequins from somewhere - not CTMH. The circle is cut with stitched circles from My Favorite Things.  Everything else is CTMH: Sorbet, Sea Glass, Fern, New England Ivy, Whisper, White Daisy, Colonial White, and Desert Sand.

Cats (real one)

I'm interrupting our regularly scheduled posts of cards for two very important reasons!  1st, I have made two things to share and am supposed to wait, wait, wait until the new year to post them.  I dislike rules!  2nd, I have the cutest kitty in the world and doesn't everyone want to see photos of him?  

Presenting, Mr. Bilbo Baggins and his new toy!

This kitty weighs over 25 pounds.  He has been on a diet for three years - because he has to be 25 pounds or less to fly on the airplane.  His response to receiving smaller portions of food?  He is now sleeping 23 1/2 hours a day and play involves laying down and batting at the toy for a moment.  I love this guy!  Wish I could take him for a walk or something!

Exploring in the Studio - Retired CTMH design papers!

This card was made with a retired paper pack, some smokey plum (dusty plum?) cardstock (also a retired color, I believe), and a small piece of vellum with a diagonal stripe.  The bouquet is a "sneaky peak" at a new stamp (shhhh!) and the ribbon is seam binding in a teal-ish color.  I added a beige dot pattern to the inside with a stripe of the design paper from the front.  I thought the vellum helped tone down the  busy-ness of the pattern paper.  It could be a sympathy, thinking of you, or even a valentine card?!

Hugs!  

Old and New

Last year I did a card workshop where we made the card on the right hand side "Twinkle Twinkle".  I thought it was really cute with possibilities for a baby card!  Today while fiddling around in the studio I found one left-over card packet with the elements and rather than let them go to waste, I decided to make the card!  Do you think I could find the SOTM set that had "twinkle twinkle"?  Nope.  (I did find it - just now as I was sitting down to write this post!) So, I improvised with the cute little "M" stamp that was recently available that had birthday wishes with a few tiny stars.  I added some more stars in from a set called All is Calm, All is bright, and I found a black star puffy to use instead of stamping the star.  The Glacier thick twine was also missing in action so I used black grosgrain (love it!).  The cards are "same" but "different".  Fun!

Well - great news is that I'm 10 days post-spinal fusion surgery and I've turned the corner!  All it took was more chemicals (ahem, drugs).  But seriously, I am truly doing great!  What an awesome Christmas gift!

Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, hope you are finding time to relax with loved ones.

R&D from Nancy Ball

I was very inspired by Nancy Ball a few weeks ago when she created several different colors of cards using the Close to My Heart Lovely Leaves.  Check out her awesome work here. I think the only change I might have made to her stunning design was to use a sentiment from the December Stamp of The Month set.  Thank you Nancy for the idea!  *ps - I use the term "R&D" to mean "rip-off and duplicate". 

Playing with Embossing Paste

The technique we learned at the most recent Open Stamping involved Embossing Paste.  I was thrilled at how easy this technique is to use!  I had a Tim Holtz stencil of Holly & Berries on my desk and wondered what could be done to color embossing paste after it was dry?!  This example used a water brush and the Close to My Heart dye inks.  The berries were colored with Stickles (remember them?!).  I'm not sure it was worth all the effort - but it did turn out looking pretty cool.  Nice to know it does work!

I made this one before I went in for spinal surgery.  I'm home now but not allowed to sit for very long - so it may be a few more days before I get back into the studio!  All in all, I'm thrilled with the surgery results.

Swan Lake paper pack - only available until Dec. 31st

The "mask" on this kitty's face reminded me of Robin Hood or "Cat Man" (giggle) so I decided to have the kitty with a little fishy friend. Still loving Swan Lake papers!

CTMH Swan Lake Papers - with yet another kitty!

I am still LOVING the Swan Lake paper pack. It's funny, but I love everything in this pack except the paper with swans on it. Go figure. I'm glad CTMH makes a variety of types in each paper pack. The pile of hearts in the bowl was made with the Charming Cascades and a couple of pieces of post-it notes for masking. Poppy red ink.

The sentiment shows up better in real life - it says "I hope you're in every one of my nine lives". Cute!

More Swan Lake with Kitties

I wasn't sure what to do with these kitties so I attempted calico!  I love the sentiment (Simon Says Stamps) Happy Purr-thday.  Purr-fect!  

Swan Lake paper pack - continued

While I was still in the mood to play with these papers, I finally got ink on a Simon Says stamp set that I got simply because of this kitty image!  This looks like my Mr. Bilbo Baggins!  I used this sentiment because of who the card is being sent to - not because "baby cakes" ever hisses at anyone!  I colored the kitty with my Derwent Inktense pencils.  (oh, and the kitty and his cat bed are two separate images so I did a wee bit of masking.) 

True Love and Swan Lake

This is a special stamp set from Close to My Heart that helps raise funds for Operation Smile (D1711 - $17.95). It's on the back cover of the current Annual Inspirations book.  Unfortunately, everyone I know has not realized that the images in this set are so adorable because the size  is shown at 50% of what the real stamp sizes are.  I copied the card example, changing the color palette and paper to the "Swan Lake" pack.  I like mine better - but that's because these are more in my favorite color season.  

I think that CTMH probably used real stitching on their card - but I just used the journaling pen and drew in stitch lines.  I put the hearts down with just a strip of adhesive in the center and pulled up the sides so it would look like they were loose - and just stitched.  I paper pieced the shirt on the child (it stamps with a bold stripe) and was really, really happy with how the flower placement turned out.  Very fun!