Keith's Birthday Shindig

      My oldest son Keith is having his 30th birthday on Sunday.  We won't be able to be with him on that day because he is a teacher who has a "Survival Class".  On Memorial weekend the class will go to an undisclosed location with nothing more than an Altoids can filled with whatever the students can put into them.  Certainly not my idea an a holiday, but his class has to turn people away.  Keith also loves horses so it was easy to pick a type of card. 

     The card was quick and easy to put together.  I had the most fun distressing the outside sentiment.  I tore my cardstock, ink it with a blending tool with Distress ink including the back in a couple spots.  That way I could roll the corner and still have the Distress ink showing.  I also used some twine to give it a more rustic look, and filling in the bottom of the card.  Hope you like it....

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  Waltzing Mouse "Happy Trails"; SU Bareback

Ink:  SU Basic Black; Distress Walnut Stain

Paper:  SU Very Vanilla & Basic Black; Flair Design Horsin' Around "Red Banit"

Accessories:  Twine

Father's Day Fishing

I'm back to Father's Day again.  This time he's out fishing.  This is a WYSIWYG card with no need to give details.  Just look at the supply list. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  Unknown (from Nora's-See Buck post)

Paper:  SU Marine Mist, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink:  Archivel Black, Tombow Markers

Accessories:  Stickles, Eyelet Outlet Brad

Tools:  Sizzix Ovals

Golden Wedding

       With June soon upon us, it's time to start thinking about weddings.  And what better stamp set than Stampin' Up Love & Laughter.  I gold embossed the gown on white cs.  I then die cut it with the image being near the top.  I gold embossed the sentiment and punched it out with the modern label punch.  I also punched a piece of gold mirror board, cut off the ends and attached them to the Congrats label so that the gold can peek out the ends.  I die cut the opening edge and put a line of mirror board on the inside.  The inside sentiment is done in Versa Fine Black Onyx. 

SUPPLIES:

Stamps:  SU Love and Laughter

Ink:  Versa Fine Onyx Black

Paper:  SU Whisper White; Gold Mirror Board

Accessories:  SU Gold Embossing Powder

Tools:  SU Finishing Touches Edgelits Die; Spellbinder Resplendent Rectangles

A Buck for Father's Day

Father's Day is just around the corner and I know that the guys in my family are all big hunters and fishermen.  So what better type of card than that.  I'm so sorry, but I didn't write down what I used as I was doing it, but I'll try to remember as much as I can.  

     I stamped the trees first and used my blender toop for the grass.  For the sky I also used a little scalloped mask I cut from a scrap of cardstock (when I say scrap, I mean I dug it from the trash).  I used a brown marker for a little extra on the trees.  I wanted it to look spring-like with the trees ready to bud.   

 

Next, I stamp a deer stamp unto this really cool suede ish cardstock I got from a cute little shop called Nora's, outside of Lewisburg, PA.  That's also where I got the deer stamp.  She has an AMAZING amount of stampin stuff in a little room off her home.   When it came to the "rack" I had to use my DH for creative advise.  After reviewing some different choices (of which he didn't think any were quite right) he walked down to the barn and brought me back a real buck antler.  Now that's helpful!!!!  So I fussy cut the parts of the deer and then used a white gel pen for some of the body parts (again, thanks Rick).  The rocks came from a stamp from Judith and Heather.  I was more whimical than I wanted, but they were my only rocks.  I'm sure if I had asked Rick, he would have gone outside to get me a handful of pebbles to adhere so I guess it was best I didn't go down that road.  
      I put it on a piece of distress black cs and put that on a Natural's White card base.

 Thanks for looking!

SUPPLIES (what I can remember)

Stamps:  SU Lovely as a Tree; Unknown Deer, Judith & Heather Stone Wall

Ink:  SU Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa & Early Espresso marker; Memento Tuxedo Black; White gel pen

Paper:  SU Basic Gray & Whisper White, Natual White & Basic Black; Scrap Cream; Cool Brown Suede stuff
Tools:  Tim Holtz Distresser

Wonderful Mother

OK!  I guess everyone has heard of "Triple Stamping", but have you heard of "Triple dsp"?  Well, me either.  I just kinda made it up.  But I'd LOVE to hear what you think. 

 I used the SU Well Scriped stamp set and sponged with SU Island Indigo Ink. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU "Well Scriped"; Verve "Wishing You"

Paper:  SU Summer Smooches & Island Indigo

Ink:   SU Island Indigo

Accessories:  SU Island Indigo

Tools:  SU Large Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch

Jeannette's Birthday

 Hi All!   Our April Giggler Birthday Dinner was for Jeannette.  Well, I've had this card for a few weeks and have not posted it because I kinda forgot how I did it.  So let's see.....................I had gotten the SU Card Base Pop 'n Cuts a few weeks ago and thought I would use that.  But I didn't have the form.  So I did my own thing and after die cutting the base in SU Pool Party I cut another piece 4" wide but not was long as the base (this is where having the card for measurements would have come in handy).  I scored the middle, folded it, and cut into it the width and lenght of SU Apothecary Accents Die. 

I then cut a couple of pieces of SU Sycamore Street dsp and put on the front and inside of the card.  Then I attached some lace for some cover.  But here's the cool part.  The balloons and inside sentiment.  First, I punched the balloons out with a Martha Stewert Punch.  I then wrapped linen thread around each one for the string.  My friend Diane (Zechman) aka Cookie Stamper made the cutest Halloween step card a few years ago and made her bat appear to fly with the use of acetate.  So, with that in my head, but no acetate in the stash, I cut up the packaging of one of my embossing folders.  I cut little slits and taped them behind the balloons and on the card. 

The other cool thing was that besides giving me the idea for the balloons, Diane is also a designer of stamps which are sold though Sweet & Sassy called Special Blend and I used one of the sentiments from that set to stamp on the inside. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU "Beautiful Birthday"; Sweet & Sassy "Special Blend"

Paper:  SU Pool Party & Sycamore Street dsp

Ink:  SU Basic Black

Accessories:  Clear plastic, SU Linen Thread, lace, SU Pool Party ribbon

Tools:  SU Apothecary Accents die and SU Card Base Pop n Cut;  Martha Stewert Balloon Punch

Mustache Father

     Here is another WYSIWYG card.  My inspiration for this was that adorable mustache brad.  Isn't that cute?  I was going through Hobby Lobby looking for.....(let's face it, do I need a reason?) and I found these little cuties.  I knew I had some paper at home with mustaches and after that the card just made itself.  I guess all I need is the supply list. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU Well Scripted

Paper:  SU Very Vanilla; Echo Park "Times  Seasons" dsp

Ink:  SU Basic Black; SEI Bark; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint

Accessories:  Spare Parts Mustache Bards; SU Natural Trim Ribbon

I Carried You

     I had some scrap paper (don't we all) that was just hanging around.  It was so pretty that I just had to use it for something.  I also had a stamp that I have never used (and who doesn't).  What got me to use these, oddly enough, was the free ribbon that Stampin' Up had for their Sale a Bration.  

     As I did this awhile ago, I have put back the supplies I used, so my supply list is pretty vauge.  Sorry. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  "Footprints" by unknown

Paper:  SU Island Indigo & Very Vanilla; Unknown dsp

Ink:  Tombow markers; SU Basic Black

Accessories:  Stickles

Tools:  Border punch

   

Meet the Gigglers

Ten of the Gigglers got together yesterday for a Stamp Camp where we made several fabulous cards and ate great food and had a great time.  Let me introduce you to our little "crafting cult"  From the left is Shannon, Elaine (Laney), Mary Ann, Lou Ann, Sally, Jeannette, Diane, Judy, me, and Susan.  As you can see, we are at the eating part of our day. 

After Stamp Camp we went to dinner followed by, you guessed it, a trip to ACMoore and Michaels.

Special Blend Birthday

  

    This card is another one done with the stamps designed by my friend and fellow giggler Diane Zeckman aka Cookie Stamper called "Special Blend" and sold by Sweet n Sassy Stamps. (see previous post for more info)    The image with the stacked cups gave me a chance to try out my new Derwent Inktense Pencils.  I sure had fun with that.  After coloring with the pencils I used an aquapainter to smooth the color around.  The lace on top was some I got from the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Whenever I make an order, she sends the coolest things in a little envelope as a Thank You.  After I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment I die cut it with SU Apothecary Accents, but it was too tall, so I trimmed it down. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  Sweet n Sassy "Special Blend"; Basketweave Background Stamp

Paper:  SU Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, XPress

Ink: SU Early Esprress; Tim Holtz Distress Old Paper & Vintage Photo

Pencils:  Derwent - Madder Brown 1920, Poppy Red 0400, Cadmium Yellow 0210, Sienna Gold 0240, Tan 1720, Dark Aquamarine 1210, Hooker's Green 1520, Red Violet 0610, Thistle 0720; Pen Touch White 
Accessories:  Lace;  Brads;

Friends Like Coffee

     This card is done with the stamps designed by my friend and fellow giggler Diane Zeckman aka Cookie Stamper called Special Blend and sold by Sweet n Sassy Stamps  It's such an adorable set with several images and loads of sentiments.

     This is a no reason card that I made while playing around with the set.  (Don't tell Diane, but I hate the taste of coffee.  I'm a Pepsi girl.)  But I love the sentiment. 

    

I started this with the coffee mug, stamped with Memento Ink on X-Press paper and colored with pencils and copics. I then die cut it with Spellbinders Label Three.  Next, I die cut a scrap piece of SU Crumb Cake with the same die, sponged it with SU Crumb Cake ink,  and turned it 1/4 turn to put behind my mug.   The center panel was from the same scrap of cs that a punched and sponged the ends.  I stamped the sentiments in SU Early Espresso with the COFFEE stamp I did on another scrap (man, do I have alot of Crumb Cake pieces) and pop-dotted that and the mug.  I tied a little SU ribbon and the bottom.  From that I did my background of those adorable coffee beans stamps in SU Crumb Cake on SU Very Vanilla cs that was cut 1/8 inch smaller that 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 (I hate fractions.  That's why I have measured cutters).  All was attached and put on a Crumb Cake base.  Hope you like it. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  Sweet n Sassy "Special Blend"

Paper:  SU Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla; X Press

Ink:  SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso; Unknown pencils; Copics B93, B95, B99

Accessories:  SU Ribbon, Pop Dots

Tools:  Spellbinders Label Three; SU Scalloped Eyelet Border Punch 



Rick's card

Hi all!  This was a card that I wanted to make using the tractor from the SU Harvest Blessings set.  I was just going to do a sepia print with  distressed edges.  But I decided I would check with a farming expert.  Who better to confer with than my farmer DH Rick. Well, he did have alot of ideas.   It took me four stamp sets and numerous types of colorants (is that a word?).  I used masking (for the tractor), inking a stamp with a marker (tree), using my blender pen with ink pads (I squeezed the top and bottom of the closed SU stamp pad together to put a little ink on the lid) for almost everything else. 

What Rick doesn't know is that he's getting this card for his birthday in June.  Won't he be surprised. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU Harvest Blessings, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Nature Silhouettes, Farm Life

Paper:  SU Basic Black, Very Vanilla,  Mystery Red dsp

Ink:  SU So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler, Garen Green; Tim Holtz Distress Mowed Lawn

Markers:  SU Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede; Tombow Blue #491, Gray #N65; White gel pen

Owen's 1st Birthday

     It doesn't seem possible, but my precious grandson Owen is turning one.  The theme of his party was - you guessed it - Mickey Mouse.  I bought a Mickey Mouse sticker pack, but wanted to do a little myself.  With birthday parties and the bright colors of the mouse I thought some balloons would be a nice touch, so out comes my Martha Stewart balloon punch, bright SU paper and some DMC floss and "ta da" Birthday Card!

     I only used pop dots on the red and yellow balloon to give it a better 3D look.  I also used pop dots on the sentiment. 

     I am sorry to report that he was more interested in his battery power 4X4 that he got from his uncle Donnie than he was my card.   Go figure a one year old!!!  LOL

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU Happiest Birthday Wishes

Paper:  SU Whisper White, YoYo Yellow, Real Red, Basic Black

Ink:  SU Real Red

Accessories:  EK Success Disney Dimensional Stickers; Black DMC floss

Tools:  Martha Stewart Ballon Punch; Pop Dots, SU Large Oval Punch

Penciled Flowers

     Hi all!  As I mentioned yesterday, I have been watching ALOT of Darlene's blog.  Her videos are so informative and easy to follow.  Although I have a long way to go before nearing her talent, I have improved so much in my coloring with but copics and pencils.  That's what my card is done with today. I stamped the Hero Arts floral stamp in Gray ink on Neenah Solor White Paper as a background.  I die cut it with Spellbinders Label 8.   I stamped to same stamp again and colors with pencils and a white gel pen for the centers and little lines on the petals.  Then I used pop-dots to pop it up.  I embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment in SU pewter, punched it out, pierced holes on both side and threaded gray floss through it.

     Well, I'm off to watch another of Darlene's videos.

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  Hero Arts/Sizzix  Floral; SU Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Hero Arts Soft Granite; Prismacolor Pencils PC929, PC924, PC916, PC908; SU pencils Green & Yellow; White gel pen

Accessories:  Gray floss

Tools:  SU Modern Punch; Spellbinder Label 8

March Birthday Card

     Well, it's that time of the month for the Monthly Gigglers Birthday dinner with Sally and Sheila being the guest of honor.  I wasn't able to make it, but I meet up with them at our Monthly Stampin Up party hosted by Lou Ann (Crooked Stamper).  It is also the month of my mothers birthday.  So I made the same card, but with different sentiments. 

     I've been watching alot of Darlene Designs and have really learned alot.  Many of the elements and techniques on this card are hers. 

     I used Dusty Concord Distress Ink on a 5 3/8 X 4 1/8 using my blender.  I then inked a block script stamp with the same ink and stamped it once on scrap paper and then on my inked panel.  I stamped the flower in Rich Cocoa I used copics and SU markers to color.  Then I had to cut it out (Boohoo, no die for that-I'm sssssssooooooo spoiled)and used SU Crumb Cake around the edges that showed a bit of white.  The stem is a piece of SU cardstock with a little copic coloring for shadow.  The sentiment is from SU and stamped in the same Dusty Concord.  This card has "Wonderful Mother" and the Gigglers cards had Happy Birthday.  I used the Pop-dots raised up the sentiment and the flower, and then it was ready for my 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 base.  

  SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU Fifth Ave. Floral & Well Scripted; Stampabilities Faded Text Background

Paper:  X-Press It, SU Certainly Celery

Ink:  Dusty Concord Distress Ink; Copic markers-V12, V15,YG03, 0; SU Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Perfect
                                                                        Plum
                                                                                 Tools:  Decrotive Label Punch



Feb Birthday Card

Well, this has been a couple weeks in coming.  I had made two of these for the Giggler's February Birthday Gals, Diane & Shirley.  I made them ahead of time, which as you know is not my style.  But anyway, I couldn't post them before the night, right?  So I've had my little basket that I put all my supplies in for a card (so I don't forget what I used) and it's been sitting by my chair for 3 weeks.  I did die cut another Madera Corner for the inside.  I also used my McGill pad and those little sticks with round balls on the end  (don't know the name of them) to curl up those teeny flowers. 

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  Crafty Secrets "Sweet Kids"

Paper:  SU Orchid Opulence, Whisper White; dsp Prima Meadow Lark

Ink:  SU Orchid Opulence

Accessories:  Paper Studio Clear Bling

Tools:  Spellbinder Decorative Labels Eight; McGill Flower Punch, Memory Box Madera Corner Die

Owen's Valentine

     This card is for my sweet little grandson Owen.  At 11 months, he really doesn't care about cards, but I couldn't not make him one when his sister got one.  Today was my playday with him and he was given a Mickey Mouse book for Valentines Day.  He was actually more interested in the wrapping paper, but that's a kid for you. 

     I only wanted to color the solid hearts in the image and leave the rest black and white.  I inked the stamp in black, used a Q-tip to clean the solid hearts and colored with with a red marker.  Then I used pop dots to pop it out.  (The better for Owen to pull it off with)

SUPPLIES:

Stamps:  SU Gift Givers

Paper:  SU Whisper White; Echo Park Yours Truly

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Real Red

Kenzie's Valentine

     Here's another of my Valentines for my granddaughter Kenzie.  Pink is her color, so that what I used for hers. 

    My glue got a little crazy on the ribbon, so the heart with the sentiment is over that.  I LOVE how you can fix a boo boo.

SUPPLIES

Stamps: SU Occasional Alphabet

Paper: SU Whisper White; Dooblebug Sweet Cakes

Ink:  TH Distress Picked Raspberry

Accessories:  White Ribbon

Tools:  Die-Memory Box Twirled Hearts; SU Heart Punch

Vintage Valentine

Twas the night before Valentines
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Except Lisa, who waited until and last minute to make valentine cards for her family.  Her DH told her she never did anything ahead of time and that it wasn't 12:01am on Valentines Day, so why would I worry.  He knows me too well.

     Anyway, enough of my new twist on a old poem.  I really had to hurry to make four Valentine Cards AFTER watching American Idol and still get to bed at a decent time because I'm watching Owen today.  He may only be 11 months, but he can best his gramma if she's sleepy.

     Oops!  Off the track again.  OK.  The card....I stamped the base with the flourish from Baroque Motifs.  The image is dsp from Graphic 45 with some distressing. 

     I also stamped the inside with the flourish.  Easy Peasy!  Done in a jiffy.  I also did another one for my other son and his girlfriend, Donnie & Jerika.  But since they live in Harrisburg I guess they won't get theirs until a couple days late.  Sorry!

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU Baroque Motifs

Paper:  SU Cherry Cobbler & Very Vanilla; Graphic 45 Place In Time dsp

Ink:  SU Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake

MOJO279 Valentine

Hi all.  I'm back with another card.  This one is a challenge and it seems that my challenge was to get it posted in time.  Well, I missed the MOJO deadline, but I did make the card.  This one is a Valentine card for my DH.  I was using scraps of black (in my "Black Scrap Ziplock") and since I'm getting low I didn't have one for the Gray Flourish dsp.  It seems that all my black scraps are long and skinny.  Anyay, I cut the middle out of the largest black piece and TaDa....I had my square of black.  It also made the card less bulky.  Have a great day!

SUPPLIES

Stamps:  SU P.S. I Love You

Paper:  SU Whisper White & Basic Black EP Yours Truly dsp

Ink:  SU Basic Black

Accessories:  SU Twine; Darice Heart

Tools:  SU Large Oval & Scallop Punches