No act of kindness is ever wasted

Hello my creative friends.  I'm posting more than usual and am having too much fun.  I have another Quietfire card to share with you today using the sentiment No Act of Kindness...  I decided to go vintage again and used a few "new dies to me".  The background was diecut and popped up with dimensional tape, as well as the sentiment panel and Vintage Parasol.  The sentiment was stamped onto Kraft cardstock with Whisper White (SU!) pigment ink and embossed with White ep.  I also added some Whisper White to the border.  Lastly, I added a vintage rhinestone button, some seam binding ribbon, pearls and rhinestones.  Oh, and I sanded the background with a sanding block, after diecutting and embossing, for some more texture.

That's it y'all!  Thanks for dropping by!

   Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  No Act of Kindness (Quietfire)

Paper:  Stampington, Kraft (PTI)

Ink: Whisper White (SU!), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress)

Dies:  Greek Island Collection - Background (Creative Expressions-Sue Wilson), Labels 38 (Spellbinders), Primitive Hearts #3 (Sizzix), Vintage Parasol (Marianne Designs)

Accessories:  Library Clip (SU!), Seam Binding Ribbon (PrairieBirdBoutique-etsy), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Sanding Block, Dimensional Tape, White Embossing Powder, Clear Rock Candy Glitter (Tim Holtz)

The smallest things...

Hello friends!  I had some fun stepping out of my box a bit for today's card.  I really appreciate the beauty of Calligraphy.  And, when you combine it with a quote that is really touching, as this one is by Quietfire Designs, I believe it's a perfect match. 

I'm not one who gravitates towards an expensive gift or accessories with name brands.  Shoot, the only name brands I know are what I glean from television shows.  So, when I saw this quote, it "spoke" to me.

I'm more about "time".  Time spent with a friend or loved one.  Time spent with God.  Time spent with a good book, or even time spent in nature.  Living in a fast paced environment (California is well known for that. ;), I've learned "over time", that time is one of the most precious gifts.  What I wouldn't give for more time with my mom, who passed away over 20 years ago.  I also treasure my time with my kids (who both live about 2000 miles away).

So, when I saw this beautifully written quote by Suzanne,  (Sometimes, said Pooh) I just had to have it.  Because I so treasure the little things; a phone call from my kids, feeding my calf, playing with our dog, working with our horses, talking with my husband after a long day, spending time with friends.  Oh, and of course I have to mention the precious time I get to create with paper, ink and stamps.

Well, it's time get to how I made my card.  I am a huge admirer of designers who work with stencils and mixed media tools, so I thought I'd give it a try.  I've used stencils, pastes, gelatos, etc., but I'm not very comfortable with it, and it's a struggle to make something I'm happy with.  But I thought it would be fun to put this sentiment with a stenciled heart.  So, I used the Hearts Primitive die by Sizzix to make a stencil for my heart, and sponged some Pink Petunia (VersaMagic) ink into the negative heart space.  I then took the diecut heart, laid it over the inked up heart and proceeded to add some stencil patterns with a variety of inks.  Lastly, I wanted my heart to look like it's glowing a bit, so I brushed some Whisper White (SU!) pigmented ink away from the heart and added the perfect Quietfire Sentiment "Sometimes, said Pooh, the smallest things take up the most room in our hearts." A.A. Milne

Oh, and I added a keyhole at the top just because I thought it fit and looked right.  :)

That about sums it all up.
Thanks so much for dropping by.
I will have another Quietfire creation to share with you tomorrow, so I hope you'll stop in.

    Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Sometimes, Said Pooh (Quietfire)

Paper:  Kraft and Black (PTI)

Ink:  Pink Petunia, Wheat (VersaMagic), Whisper White (SU!), Black Onyx (Versafine)

Accessories:  Hearts Primitive die (Sizzix), Treads and Bubbles Stencils (Tim Holtz), Postage Stencil (Fab Stencils), Keyhole (Tim Holtz), Distrezz-it-All (Zutter) 

Penciled Poppies ~ Power Poppy

Hello everyone!!  Are you enjoying the summer?  It's crazy hot here this week (106 degrees today), but at least it's dry.  If you're in the shade it's comfortable.  No humidity.  But boy, what I wouldn't do for a low 80's upper 70's kind of day.  

Enough about the weather, I'm sure you're here for some Power Poppy inspiration since it's Friday.  Well, Christine challenged us earlier this month (Power & Spark Challenge) to use pencils.  So, being inspired by the ever creative and talented Dina Kowal (and enabled I might add), I used Luminance Lightfast pencils on some Canson Pastel paper.  I stamped the Poppies image with Onyx Black Versafine and embossed it with Black embossing powder. Then I just colored it with the pencils and diecut it with a Classic Oval die (Spellbinders).  I inked the edges with Whisper White pigment ink (SU!), and using the Classic Oval die as a guide, I added some faux stitching with a 0.1 Copic Multiliner.  Sewing around an oval is challenging, and I wasn't in the mood to go slow.    I also diecut the frame and sanded the edges for some distressing, and added some metal dots along with Crystals (Prima), and a seam binding bow.

That sums up my project for today.  Be sure to drop by the following Bloom Brigade Blogs for some more inspiration:

• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for dropping by!  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

   Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Poppies (Power Poppy)

Paper:  Home Sweet Home Patterns and Solids (Graphic 45), Black (PTI), Pastel (Canson)

Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine), Whisper White (SU!)

Dies:  Classic and Elegant Ovals (Spellbinders), Madison Square New York Collection (Sue Wilson ~ Creative Expressions),

Accessories:  Luminance Permanent Pencils, Seam Binding Ribbon, Say it with Crystals (Prima), Metal Dots (Walmart) 

Send a Smile ~ Quietfire Guest Designer

I have the honor of being a guest designer over at Quietfire Designs today.  I'd love it if you dropped by there for a visit.

    

Happy Stamping!

Catch up over coffee...

 

Hello creative friends!  I have a Waltzingmouse Stamps card to share with you today.  Claire recently released a few new stamp sets, along with coordinating and accessory dies that are just beyond fabulous!    I actually used a few for today's card.  First of all, I started by stamping two of the sweet little mugs from the new Coffee Set, and diecutting them using WMS's new Coffee Set Dies.  The tag was diecut using the largest tag from the Stitched Tag Die set.  

The borders edging the striped paper were made using one of the dies from the new Brogues Die set.  Doesn't the bottom look like a sweet little strip of lace?  For the top, I just carefully cut right under the stitching portion eliminating the bottom, holey part.

Lastly, I added some sequins , ribbon, and a fun little glittered heart.

That about sums it all up.  Thank you for dropping by.  Be sure to check out all the new goodies at Waltzingmouse Stamps.  Claire has a beautiful new website that's fun to look around. 

  Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Coffee Set (Waltzingmouse)

Paper:  I Am (Simple Stories), Enchanted Garden (BoBunny),  Retro Gold Glossy (Paper Temptress). White (PTI)

Ink:  Teal Zeal and Morocco (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)

Dies:  Stitched Tag, Coffee Set, Brogues (Waltzingmouse)

Accessories:  Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Glitter Heart (Studio Calico), Peach String (Olive Manna), 1" Corner Rounder (EK Success), Burlap Ribbon, Dimensional Tape

Garden Fireworks ~ Power Poppy

Hello crafty friends!!  I have a Power Poppy card to share with you today using the newest released digital image called Garden Fireworks.  Did you get an opportunity to see what the Instant Gardeners shared on the 15th?  Oh my goodness...what creative beauty.  And Marcy always paints such a beautiful picture with her words.  She guides you right through her creative process.  It's always a treat to read about how her images came to life.  

Now, for my card, I think I must have channeled Cheryl's card because after I finished coloring mine, I felt like I had seen it before.  So I looked at all the Instant Gardeners again, and low and behold, I used a very similar color palette as Cheryl did.  I had fallen in love with her card the instant I had seen it earlier this week, and it must have stuck in my brain.  Thanks for the inspiration Cheryl. :)

Now, about my card. 

I started by using my magic eraser in Photoshop and left only the flowers along the left side of the image.  I tried to incorporate the sentiment with them, but was struggling with adding it and not having it blur.  I am very tech challenged.  So, I just resized the sentiment and added it as a tag.  I also added some white dots to the Allium centers with a White Sharpie pen.

If you haven't already, check out what the rest of the Bloom Brigaders have to share today:

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Julie Koerber
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker---you are here

Copics:  Poppies: R29, R27, R24, R22 Allium: BG49, BG15, BG13, BG11 Catnip:  V17, V15, V01 Leaves: YG09, YG06, YG01, G00 Pointillism: E55, E43, E41, E40

Thanks for dropping by!  
   Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Garden Fireworks-digital (Power Poppy)

Paper:  X-Press It, Penny Emporium (BoBunny)

Ink:  Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)

Dies:  A2 Divine Eloquence, Labels 28, and Square Petal Top Box tag (Spellbinders)

Accessories:  Copics, Burlap String, Button (PTI), White Sharpie Paint Pen, Sewing Machine

Waltzingmouse Stamps Pajama Party ~ June

Hello creative friends!! Waltzingmouse Stamps is hosting it's monthly Pajama Party today and I have two cards to share with you for two of the challenges. Click HERE for all the details. 

I made my first card for the Bedtime Story Sketch.  I stamped the Bitty Banners (Waltzingmouse), with VersaMagic pigment inks, onto white cardstock, cut them out free-hand, and added some enamel dots.  

 


The Congratulations sentiment and frame are from the Fancy Phrases (Waltzingmouse) set.  The Turquoise background was made by just running a strip of white cardstock of the Turquoise Gem (VersaMagic) ink pad.

I made my second card for the Old Pajamas challenge to use the USA 1776 (Waltzingmouse) set.  I created the background using the "kite" stars and stripes images, and made my collage using a variety of images from the set.  The combinations in this set are endless and fun.  7 images were used in the making of this card.

That's it for me today.  I hope you get a chance to participate.  There will be a random draw for credit at the Waltzingmouse store!!  So head on over to Claire's Blog to join in.

Check this out:  Have you seen WMS's new digs, stamp sets and dies?  There are a lot of exciting changes going on.  You might want to drop by so you don't miss out on anything.  Click HERE.

Thanks for dropping by!
   Happy Stamping!

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Banner Congrats

Stamps:  Bitty Banners and Fancy Phrases (Waltzingmouse)

Paper:  White (PTI)

Ink:  Turquoise Gem, Pink Grapefruit, Persimmon, Tea Leaves (VersaMagic), Onyx Black (Versafine)

Dies:  Grate Effect (Spellbinders)

Accessories:  Enamel Dots (Teresa Collins), Wooden Flower (Prima), Burlap String (May Arts), Dimensional Tape

4th of July

Stamps:  USA 1776 (Waltzingmouse)

Paper:  Kraft, Smokey Shadow (PTI)

Ink:  Nautical Blue, Love Letter (Memento), Smokey Gray (Versafine)

Accessories:  1" and 1 1/8" Circle Punches (SU!), Red Burlap String, Rhinestone (Pizzazz Aplenty)

Power Poppy June Release Hop

I can't believe it's finally here!!  Power Poppy is now "in the house" people!!  All the gorgeous Power Poppy sets, that we've been previewing the past few days, are now available for purchase.  

I saved my favorite for last.  I LOVE poppies, and being from California, each Spring we are treated to quite a show of the California Poppies mixed in with Mustard, or Fiddleneck (both weeds from what I've learned, but they're pretty when all bunched on a hillside.  And also you'll see an abundance of Purple Lupine.  I never get tired of it. (If you Google California Poppy Fields, you'll see what I mean.  There's nothing like it.)

And in the summer, the ornamental Poppies can be seen in many a landscape.  We are definitely spoiled here.

I colored my Poppies using the pink family today.  That is so out of my box.  I rarely use pink.  The closest I usually get is Salmon or maybe a soft pink.  But a bold hot pink?  NEVAH!!  Until today that is.  I even wore a hot pink top to church today.  I'm almost scaring myself.  :)  Anyway, I used the new Poppies set, colored it with Copics, fussy-cut it all out and laid it around an Ornate Oval Frame (Xcut).  I used some Shabby White Embossing Enamel to coat the frame (it's white with gold sparkles...hard to see in photos, but brilliant irl), and added a few Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh).  For the base, I used some Prima Decorative Paper and laid it over some torn Corrugated Cardboard that I added a bit of Gesso too.  Lastly, I attached it to a canvas background in a shadowbox frame that I painted with Chalk Paint and Distressed.

Below, you can see it outside of the frame.  The details are a bit more visible.  

I made this for my Cousin (who is more like a sister).  Her youngest is getting married this coming weekend on the other side of the US, and I'm unable to attend because my In-laws are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary this week also.  60 years...I can hardly imagine.   I wanted her to know how precious she is to me, even though I won't be there.  So a lot of "heart" went into this project.  :)

If you haven't already, check out the projects the rest of the Bloom Brigaders have to share.

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Julie Koerber
• Kathy Jones
• Katie Sims
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker---you are here
• Marcella Hawley 

Copics:  RV29, RV25, RV23, RV10, G28, G24, G20, YG21, YG95, W7, W5, W3

Well, that's it for me.  I hope you've enjoyed all the peeks I've shared the last few days.  Some very CAS, and others full of detail.  Thank you so much for visiting, and for your kind comments.  Both are very much appreciated.

    Happy Stamping my friends!!

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Stamps:  Poppies (Power Poppy)

Paper:  X-Press It, Nature Garden (Prima), Corrugated cardboard (Canvas Corp)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark, Pumice Stone and Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)

Dies:  A5 Ornate Frame Oval (Docrafts Xcut)

Accessories:  Copics, Shabby White Embossing Enamel (Stampendous), Gesso, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Butterfly (littlescrapshop.etsy), Shadowbox Frame (Michaels), Chalk Paint (Annie Sloan)

Best Day Ever ~ Power Poppy June Preview

Hello again my friends!!  Today Power Poppy is featuring the new set Best Day Ever, and it has the sweetest variety of images and coordinating sentiments.  I don't know how Marcella comes up with these image collages, but I'm glad she does and I get the privilege of working with them.  Of course I had to start with the Camera...I love taking pictures so much, that you will often hear a groan from my husband because I've stopped wherever we are, or whatever we're doing to "capture a moment".  I think he secretly hopes I'll forget my camera on trips.  ;)

And, I had to use turquoise again.  *sigh*...I just can't help myself.  But doesn't that camera look so cute in that color?  I'd color my own if I could.  The entire image was colored with Copics, fussy cut and hung on an embossed wall with beadboard underneath.  I added some sequins and a negative circle space for the fun sentiment, and that's it.

Here's a list of the Bloom Brigaders participating today:

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Julie Koerber
• Katie Sims
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker---you are here
• Marcella Hawley 

Copics:  BG07, BG05, BG02, R27, R24, R20, E49, E47, E43, E41, C8, C6, C4, C2

Tomorrow is release day and hop y'all!!  You won't want to miss it. I'm excited to share my favorite project of this release with you using the new Poppies set, and I know the other gals have some incredible projects to share too.  So, I hope you'll stop in for another visit.

   Happy Stamping!!

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Stamps:  Best Day Ever (Power Poppy)

Paper:  X-Press It, White (PTI), Turquoise (Bazzill)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Smokey Gray (Versafine), Barn Red (VersaMagig)

Dies: Classic Circle (Spellbinders)

Accessories:  Copics, Embossing Folder, Scor-Pal, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Rhinestone (Pizzazz Aplenty) 

Move the Soul ~ Power Poppy June Preview and a "Tire Frame" Tutorial

It's all about the "Masculine" feel today.  Marcy has created a fantastic set, called Move the Soul, that will appeal to the young men, or the "young-men-at-heart".  I colored the super cool biker with Copics, and matted it with a "tire" shape I created using three different Circle Dies.

Did you notice the "grunge" around the border?  That was made using two stamps from this set also.  A tire tread and what I call an "oil spill".

Here's a close up of the "tire" matting and the grunge border.

I've included a quick photo tutorial of how I made the "tire" using a "Stitched" Circle die (instead of the "Hole Punch" Circle die I used on my card).  I just received the Stitched Circle Frame (Die-namics) in the mail today and had already finished my card.  My first one used a Hole Punched Circle die from Little B.

1.  Diecut using the largest Classic Scallop Circle die (Spellbinders)

2.  Line up a Circle die that will cut off just the tip of the scallops. (Spellbinders Classic Circle works too, but the die is thick and you can't see the edge of the scallop when diecutting.  The Little B Circle die is thin so you can get an exact cut.)

3.  Take your Stitched Circle Frame (Die-Namics), or the Hole Punch Circle Frame (Little B) and place your "tire" inside it to emboss a frame.

4.  Here's what it looks like when placed inside the Stitched Circle Frame.

5.  Turn it over and place it on an Embossing Mat.  You want the impression of the stitches or holes.  You don't want them to be diecut.

6.  Run the die through your diecut machine, and voila!!  You get a "textured tire" frame.

Whew...that's it for this long post y'all.  Now, you'll want to head on over to the rest of the Bloom Brigade blogs if you haven't already.  They're always quite the inspiration!

• Katie Sims
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker---you are here
• Marcella Hawley 

Copics:  B39, B37, B34, C10, C8, C6, C4, C2, C0, E53, E51, E50

Thanks for visiting!!

   Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Move the Soul (Power Poppy)

Paper:  Attitude (Kaisercraft), American Vintage (7Gypsies), Black and Kraft (PTI), X-Press It

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine), Tumbled Glass and Black Soot (Ranger Distress)

Dies:  Classic Circle, Scalloped Classic Circle (Spellbinders), Stitched Circle Frame (Die-namics), Hole Punch Circle (Little B

Accessories:  Copics, Vintage Trinkets (Prima), Mini-Staples (Tim Holtz)