Handmade card: thank you Tasha

The most amazing gift is the gift of life. In this case my brother's girlfriend is carrying my new niece until May. Creating this card was so much fun!

Handmade tag: Merry and Bright

Happy Saturday All!!!

My latest handmade tag was inspired by the wintry temperatures we have been experiencing here in Central Texas. The sheer real estate on the #12 tag was perfect for the extra large glittery MAMBI chipboard snowman.

Even though I had no snowflake stamps to use, I substituted a flower stamp I got in my Faber Castell gelatos set. The distress stain directly on the stamp worked like a charm.

I trust you enjoy this tag as much as I did making it.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!

snowflake and stamp detail

Sneak peek: Chill in the air

In the past few weeks there has been a noticeable CHILL in the air. That has inspired to create something with a little winter feel to it.

I could hardly wait to use Tim Holtz' new winter/christmas embellishments. This snowflake had such gorgeous scrollwork detail I used my gesso and picket fence distress stain to go to town.

Stay tuned for some  more goodies in the coming days!

Handmade envelope: Home away from home

 

 The stitched brad I used on this envelope was almost tailor made. I don't think any other brad could echo the look of a hibiscus flower the same way. The jewel brad was my attempt at adding a little more decadence.

 

The recipient of this envelope considers Hawaii her home away from home so I wanted to allude to that. The alphabet letter I used is actually a combination of an "L" and an "I" to represent a Tiki motif. Again I used a Prima paper leaf cut up to look like a palm frond.

 

Thank you for stopping by my blog!!

Handmade envelope: Mexican souvenir

This envelope is one of my favorites that I've created, not just because of who it was going to, but because it has a little bit of everything on it. Excusing the run on sentences that I am famous for. I have collected a wide variety of Tim Holtz paper that I like to use A LOT!!!

 

I brought back the love of all things MEXICO with this vivid sticker... Don't worry the stones were just props!

 

The brads reminded of things I saw in Mexico. The red is a bright color you see everywhere there. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Handmade envelope: Auntie Marie's b-day

 Yoshi's Auntie Marie is a very special lady, so that required a very special envelope. The closure was made up of some of my favorite brads (wood flower and corduroy). The patterned paper may look like the previous ones, but I chose this one because of the doilies embellishing the edges.

 

I echoed the wildflowers from the card and added a little gingham ribbon to a Jenni Bowlin milk cap chipboard button. Heidi Swapp's mistable letter and label matched the look perfectly. Where there are flowers here in Texas you will undoubtedly find butterflies, so Martha Stewart's butterfly punch came in handy.

Thanks for following my blog!

 

Handmade envelope: Dream Big & Laugh Hard

Some cards/envelopes I try to downplay the celebration and bling, but let's just say this envelope was not one of them. The recipient is a BIG character inside and out. The idea for this envelope fit her to a "T".

 

The brads that make up the closure are super blingy and the baker's twine is a perfectly vivid color. I loved the contrast between the turquoise baker's twine against the lavender patterned paper. The circles in the paper echoed by the circular brads.

 

This envelope was just a measure of decadence I wanted to project to the birthday girl. She repeatedly thanked my sister for the beautiful card and envelope. She proudly showed it off on her desk for days.

Thank you for following my blog!

Handmade envelope:Freshly caught

 

The envelope for yesterday's highlighted handmade card had to be as masculine as I could make it. The above closure brad was a plain brown mega brad when I decided to add a star sticker in the middle of it. The recipient is a proud retired veteran and (current) correctional officer/mentor. He is a proud member of the unit where I work.

 

Despite not knowing him for a long time I could tell he is a PROUD American who is making the most of his beautiful life. He enjoys  every aspect of fishing, from enjoying the outdoors to bringing back that perfect catch.

Looking forward to your comments and/or suggestions... Thank you for following my blog!

Handmade envelope: Vintage homemade

 

This envelope was created for yesterday's handmade card.  Heidi Swapp's Color Magic paper is an amazing product. I love the subtleties I can achieve with inks.

 

I was looking to make it appear vintagey and dimensional. I love Amy Tangerine's thickers and the little stitch marks on them. 

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Handmade envelope: Gracias envelope to Kathi

 

I wanted to share this envelope which I created to accompany yesterday's Yoshi card. Heidi Swapp's Color Magic paper is so much fun to work with that I strongly recommend it. You can customize it to any project. I used chalk inks and distress inks, as I have yet to purchase any mists. 

 

It has been forever since I worked with buttons but I had a blast adding these to my envelope label. The black and white twine was tuxedo black by the Twinery (recent purchase on yardsellr), I love the richness of the color!

 

...and the final product is one I am immensely proud of to say the least. I trust Kathi will love it as much as I did creating it!

Thanks for stopping by my blog

Handmade card: Paradise found

 

Where my last creation sprang from paint chips, this card sprang from a tropical paradise calendar I was given. Each page is more breathtaking than the next so it took me a little time to choose the image I wanted to work with today. I knew I wanted to incorporate wood patterned paper. Using white wood patterned paper would have felt too matchy matchy so I resisted that temptation. I like it much better with the wood patterns and chevron pattern I selected.

 

Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Canine card: German memories

 

These doberman puppies remind me of my time in Germany. Some people may consider them scary or vicious but their protective streak can be mistaken for being aggressive. They are loyal and playful dogs! This card is a tribute to their strong, gentle spirit.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Handmade envelope: Thanx

 

This is the envelope I created for yesterday's Yoshi thank you card.  Each envelope is like another page in a page-turner. It beckons you to relax in a comfy chair and open it. The recipient will enjoy adding it to her collection.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Handmade envelope: Husky companion

 

So proud of how this envelope came out! It was created to compliment the Siberian Husky card my cousin Gabriela fell in love with. She has loving memories of their family dog, a Siberian husky named Robin that passed away not too long ago. This envelope is a tribute to his memory and her love of the breed.

The Tim Holtz paper I used was distressed with some picket fence stain and some of his new (limited edition spring set) peacock feathers distress ink. It is an incredible product and one I can hardly wait to use in so many ways. I trust she will fall in love with the envelope like she did with the card.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Handmade envelopes: Special Mother's Day

This handmade envelope was created for my mother. She likes oriental decorations (buddhas, elephants and chinese coins). They are a sign of good fortune and I wish her nothing but the best in the rest of her year. I am blessed to be able to celebrate this day in person with her this year.

Yoshi requested I use bright colors on his Mommie's envelope... and yes, again he wanted his paw print over it. He loves to chase after butterflies when he is out in the backyard. Texas in the springtime has an endless number of multi-colored butterflies flitting about. It is my first experience with them and I am thrilled to see so many varieties.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!!! Happy Mother's Day to all those beautiful angels that give us life and carry us when we are too weary to walk on our own!

Handmade envelope: French bulldog

 

 This envelope just makes me smile and it reminded me of the stripes on the French Bulldog's sweater. The closure features a Marah Johnson heart brads with some Martha Stewart Crafts baker's twine.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Happy happy FRIDAY

Canine card: Siberian Husky

Once I saw this image of a Siberian Husky I knew I wanted to use it on this card. The eyes are so clear and expressive. The fur is so fluffy that you almost feel like you could reach out and pet him. I wanted to echo that softness on the embellishments so I used some blue velvet ribbon and baker's twine wrapped around a soft blue jeweled brad.

If you see that there is a dog breed I have not featured that you would like to see, drop me a comment or email. Thank you for stopping by my blog!