I had tried to make a 50th Wedding Anniversary card for some dear friends and really, really didn't like what came out.  So, while on the retreat, I tried again and this is what happened.  I used a "picture my life" type card from the paper pack for the focal piece on the front of the card.  In fact - the gray scallops are also one of those awesome cards!  With a couple of mats, and a piece of patterned vellum from the Home Fundamental paper pack, the front was looking classy.  

For the inside I actually got to stamp something!  I used stamps from the "I Do" set - Close-to-My-Heart and still current, I believe!  I love this set and know I'll be using it for a long time.  Instead of a wedding cake topper, I used numbers from one of the alphabet stamp sets (retired) and Saffron ink to resemble gold.  All this was stamped onto a piece of design paper from the Hello Lovely paper pack that looks like linen.  The card base is Glacier cardstock.  So - I am much happier and it's just in the nick of time!

Sea Shells (Revisited)

A week ago I posted a card design that looked a lot like these.  You can see them here.  To make these, I used the White Embossing Paste and a single drop of Lagoon re-inker.  I mixed them well, and smoothed them into a 6x6" stencil of swirls.  After it was completely dried I trimmed the pieces into halves so I could make multiple cards (I actually made 4).  To save paper (the saddle color) I flipped the piece that was torn so the white edge would show for both of them.  The shells were stamped with Desert Sand ink and cut out.  I used Dew Drops to imitate the bubbles you sometimes see in the water near the shore and on the sand.

Both of these sentiments are from a Verve set that I have that is called Carpe Diem.  I love this set - and am finally allowing myself to USE them!  The CTMH card stocks and dyes don't mind sharing space with Verve sentiments.  *giggle*

With Gratitude

I saw an inspiration card on Pinterest that had a sunset, silhouette of wildflowers and a sentiment stamped up in the sky.  I had saved it to try to imitate.  The rays of light were done with a stencil, the "grass" was Olive ink sponged on, and the line of trees is from a retired CTMH stamp set called Life is Good.  The sentiments (the one inside says With Gratitude) were from another retired CTMH stamp set.  Colors used were Canary, Saffron, Sorbet, Poppy, Olive and Black.  I liked this card enough to make three more to use as birthday cards!  

Zig Markers!

This card was one of the creations from the recent scrapping retreat with friends up in the mountains of AZ.  We had an adventure; it was beginning to snow as we pulled into town on Friday evening, and we were at the house for only a few of hours before the power went out!  The power came back on (briefly) - so we decided to call it a night and get into our warm beds!  Luckily.  It went out again about 11 pm and was out until early afternoon Saturday.  This home has lovely windows with loads of natural light so we were not at a loss for light - only heat! Even the hot water tanks were very cold so we weren't able to warm our hands in warm water.  LOL  But - considering all the on-and-off-again power issues, we had a blast and enjoyed each other's company!  I think I managed to make about 11 cards, so that's pretty good!  

This one uses ZIG markers.  I just was given a set by the fabulous Karen Baker.  I had never used them and the brush tips are just so easy to use!  You can blend the colors even after letting them sit for awhile (unlike most water based dye inks).  I love them and am guessing that I'll get better with practice.  

I'm Here for You

This card was totally stamp lifted from Becca - here.  In fact, I loved her card so much, I ran to my CTMH catalog and looked up the stamp set (card workshop) she used and ordered it immediately!  I didn't have gold glitter paper - so white will have to do.  I think she might have layered colors onto her roses for a rich look - but I kept it simple as we will be creating these at Open Stamping.  Thanks Becca for the beautiful inspiration!

Sea Horse

Golly, I love this sea horse!  We saw some at the aquarium in Honolulu when we were there on our honeymoon.  I haven't thought about them in a long while, but now I'm hoping we'll get to see them again when our family comes to visit Oahu while we are there. I know the Aquarium is on our list to visit!

This card was Lagoon stamped over Lagoon cardstock.  Then one seahorse was stamped on White cardstock and cut out to be popped up over one of the shadow images.  I had a couple of these curved card borders still laying around on the desk so I put one to use!  The card base is Whisper cardstock.  The sentiment is from a recently retired CTMH stamp set called Wavy Blooms.

Sea Shells

I must have a "thing" for seashells - I seem to have several different stamp sets with them!  I was imitating a Stampin'Up card with their new shells (they look like they have text on them).  I liked the watercolored sand and sequins.  Of course, my shells fit a little differently and I used different sentiments, but these turned out pretty good!  It is so much fun to watercolor!  Cardstocks and stamps are all Close-to-My-Heart.  The ink colors used were Goldrush, Saddle, Champagne and Cocoa.  The sequins are rose gold - not CTMH but something I found at Simon Says Stamps.  On the second card, the one with the smaller clam shell, I used wink-of-Stella to give the shell sparkle. 

Sorry for the delay in posts.  I dropped my cell phone one too many times.  It was out of it's protective case because it had been calling people in the middle of the night, and someone on an Apple i-phone blog suggested the case might be contributing to the problem.  The 2 am calls stopped with the case off, but the silly thing was so slick - nearly impossible to hold onto!  LOL  The last drop separated the front from the rest of it (about 1/8") and the camera quit working properly.  Well, I am about to go to Hawaii and I definitely will need a good working camera!  Geezsh!  So I now have a new-ish phone.  ;-)

House Mouse image

Does anyone remember Curtis OBrien from Curt's World?  I miss his amazing posts - such beauty in his art and in his look on life.  Last I had heard from him (May 2014) he was going through tough times and had stopped being creative.  I hope that some how he will see this post and smile.

Curt gave me this stamped image; in fact - he gave me about a dozen images all stamped on to heavy cardstock with the intention that I could learn to color them with my Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  I used a mixture of approaches on this one, and these are not nearly as lovely as Curt would have accomplished (he is the Master)!  But it was very fun to try and I have to confess that it was stressful coloring one of the few images that I have left from his gift to me.  I have been thinking of him a lot lately.

So, what a sweet little image of these mice using flowers for umbrellas! Hope you like it.  I used CTMH design papers, cardstock, and ribbons that are just from my stash. 

  

Hello Lovely - another card!

This Fern color design paper is lovely - but doesn't seem to really go with the other papers in the pack.  I copied a card in the catalog - changing only the sentiment (using the Big Hugs set mentioned yesterday) and my rose gold color sequins from my stash.  

Hello Lovely - wonderful paper!

I know I haven't mentioned much about this paper (because it's been such a big secret!).  I actually love this one piece more than anything else in the pack (the bottom 2/3rds of the card).  The others patterns are kinda art-deco or Greco-Roman looking to me.  But this floral pattern just knocks my socks off!  I can use up the other stuff as background if I get to use this page for cards like this one!  The sentiment came from another CTMH stamp set in my stash called Big Hug, D1584 that is apparently retired.  The paper, and stamps that are associated with it in the catalog, are all wedding types.  I had more of a need for thank you notes, love notes, that kinda stuff.  Hope you like it!

Hello Lovely and True Love - Operation Smile

I don't know if I love the little people in this stamp set or the saying "This Card is a Paper Hug" the best!  Thankfully, I don't have to choose!

Colors are from the Hello Lovely paper pack just released!  I added the little pieces of black design paper from another new paper pack called Some Kinda Wonderful.  There are excellent papers in that pack - not just this awesome black pattern.  When coloring the little person, the dress was the last thing - hmm, what color should I use?  Well, Fern came to mind (those that know me are smiling now because they know that green is my favorite color!).  I've actually had "fights" with my beloved because I wanted a green hat and he didn't want to look at my green hat!  Guess what color my new hat is?!  Of course!  I got the green one!  LOL

Hello Lovely! Seasonal Expressions 1 - 2017 is available!!

The newest mini-catalog is available now!  Let me know when we can get together so you can have your own mini-catalog in your hands!  Otherwise, you can shop on-line at my on-line business address (OBA).  

This is Hello Lovely! paper pack and card-making stamps with thin cuts. I added "happy anniversary" from another stamp set because I don't actually need any wedding cards right now.  The card is a rough copy of one in the SE1 mini-catalog with the exception of the sentiment and the ribbon.  (same color and placement, just a different style ribbon).  

Quick update on my back:  I seem to be getting better each day.  I am now walking consistently, and taking less and less pain medication.  I see my surgeon on the 4th and on the 10th I start with the pain clinic.  (maybe I won't even need them?). I'm feeling hopeful.

A shaker card!

I think I've made one other shaker card in 15+ years of card making.  This one was "challenging" because I didn't use a foam adhesive that was thick enough - so my shaker items were all stuck!  

So, I can be taught.  The second attempt was better, with a double-thick foam tape.  I turned the card sideways (just because) and stamped some birdies escaped from the birdcage inside the shaker.  It's kinda fun to shake and find them.  Anyway - the stamps are the new kitty ones I got recently (not CTMH, sorry!) but the papers are all CTMH.  (sneaky peak!).  The birdcage and birds are really, really old CTMH stamps!  Nice to get ink on them finally!  (oops)