Handmade card: Taken 2 soon

To be totally truthful sympathy cards are my biggest weakness when it comes to creating a quick card. The one I just finished was for the family of someone I work with since his daughter tragically passed away. 

 

I knew I wanted the card to be feminine and have butterflies, so off I went head first into my stash. I pulled out a new butterfly stencil, started coloring it in with inks, then step back....YUCK, I said that is not what I wanted at all....think! Think! think! Took out another stencil with frilly lace cut outs ....tap, tap with dark watered down Faber Castell gelatos, step back!..... Oh NO not again. I refused to start over with a new card blank though. I took a dark brown, almost Kraft colored gelato while resting the paper on a paper towel. I got that a-ha moment feeling inside. 

Added a little bit of water to spread the ink, then dabbed it with the paper towel. This helped just enough of the background to come through. In the end it looks like a walk through a garden with a full moon illuminating the feathery hydrangea I added. These flowers are from a favorite floral sticker line by PSX studio. The butterflies are from the same line, you know I had to get butterflies in there somehow, LOL!

Finishing it up had to include pearls (on the flowers and the title). To me pearls signify femininity and all things delicate. Some canvas ribbon from my latest Michaels trip, and I called it a night.

The funeral is being held today and I had a close friend from work deliver it for me. I hope my friend, Warden Moran, and his family will think it a fitting tribute during this difficult time.

Mini Album: Tags aplenty

Bling detail

I'll admit I have been guilty of not seeing creative opportunities everywhere. Incorporating past clothing tags was an idea I have been mulling over for awhile and just now set it to paper. 

 

The different colors and textures looked good together. They are the tags for some of my favorite clothes.

 

Distress stains are my go-to supply recently. You can apply them directly or paint with them. In this case I used them directly to paper.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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!

Mini Album: Worth every minute - Part 1

 This is a very special project dedicated to the newest addition to our family. The cover may look a little different just because I changed the red-dyed twine for ribbon.

I decided to define the love in this album with hearts on the cover. The word sticker I found was perfect for what I wanted to convey (Worth Every Minute).

My collection of Tim Holtz distress stains came in handy, especially the new metallic one in Bronze.

 The flower was from Amy Tangerine's line but I did embellish it with a gold pearl pen.

 The distressed look came out perfectly since I did not want it to look perfect. I want it to be like an heirloom that they can treasure for a long time.

The inside front cover is a vibrant heart behind the words 'It's all about YOU'. I used some Heidi Swapp calendar printables to make extra memorabilia pockets throughout the album.

I gesso'd the back of said heart and colored it with Dyan Reaveley's  Dylusions pure sunshine mist.

Many more pages follow, so stay tuned!

Handmade tag: Enjoy today

 This is the result of my texture play. I created a tribute to a co-worker whose mother is a strong breast cancer survivor. Her story inspired me to create this tag that she could display at her desk.

Many times I have been guilty of waiting for a special occasion to create something for someone. This friend has taught me how to do my job in a more efficient way. Even though thank you is something I can say in a card, I decided saying it through a tag would be more fitting. She was flattered and impressed when I incorporated her favorite color into this tag. The back of the tag reinforces how she inspired me.


It is a small tribute to all those strong women who battle breast cancer only to emerge as beautiful butterflies from a cocoon of pain. Thank you for inspiring me with your strength.

Sneak peek: You inspire me

Playing with textures is one of my favorite things. This sneak peek shows a detail of a recently created tag. 

Stay tuned for the remainder of the tag!

Handmade card: Aloha birthday

 

Hawaii was the inspiration for this one-of-a-kind birthday card. I was commissioned to create this card for a lady who loves to travel to Hawaii. She loves the history, look and feel of the place. I did not want to just get a hawaiian landscape and call it DONE. The vintage poster I found was the perfect image that screams Polynesian escape.

 

The fake palm frond was created by trimming a prima paper leaf from my stash. Heidi Swapp bling and Invisibles polka dot patterned paper completed the look. The color on the paper was from several shades of Tim Holtz distress ink.

Thanks 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: Vintage blessings for Aunt Shirley

This envelope was created to celebrate our dear Aunt Shirley's birthday recently.

 

Even though we live miles apart each of these envelopes have the ability to bridge that gap and touch Aunt Shirley's heart. Each year we have known her has been celebrated in such a unique way. I can only hope the cards we send her are as valuable to her as she is to us.

 

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Handmade card: Fishing for wishes

 

 This card was created for someone who loves to fish. Even though it is a masculine card I thought it was only fitting I add a few dimensional bling to the fishing lure. Some of my extensive stash of wood patterned paper came in handy.

  

The picture I had in mind, when creating this card, was that of an old comic book with the different frames inside each page. In the past I looked forward to fishing trips with my family and I believe I brought that across in this card. The recipient is a new co-worker, who told me he relaxes by going fishing in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

I look forward to your suggestions and comments, or you could always email me if you would like to see me create anything special for you and yours.

Mini Journal: Tread your own path

 

On a recent trip to Mount Bonnell, I found a piece of tread and a couple of stones. The hike up to the top was amazing and I was thoroughly inspired by nature. My mountain goat "hiking" skills may be rusty but the experience was unforgettable. The circle sheet (to be used as a mask) was left over from a package of dimensional pop dots.

 

The being of light is how I felt when I completed the hike. The heart was drawn like a vibrant patch for a bright effect. I also wrote some words to describe the feelings needed to endure such a hike. Some of these were: perseverance, passion, pleasure/pain, truth, faith, etc. I even found myself finger painting and remember how fun it felt to just CREATE without limits. It was invigorating, DIRTY but invigorating! LOL

 

This is the finished product and I admit looking at the completed work I feel victorious.  My calligraphy also looks right at home on this page. The hike was well worth waking up early on a Sunday for the great inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Handmade card: Mosaic

From time to time I enjoy working with patterns. In this card I wanted to create a mosaic look with a light grout effect in between. The lines may not be as perfect as I would want them to be but I am happy with the end result. 

 

Thank you for your continued patronage of my blog! I appreciate every one of you taking the time out of your busy day to visit me.

Canine card: Schnauzer

 

Where yesterday's card was ALL girl, this is an ALL boy card. He strikes me as a little pampered doggie who protects his house and humans. In his closet I bet he has a few spiffy outfits for every occasion. He loves going out on play dates but it may take awhile for him to share his toys. He's got a secret that I wish I could know.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I trust you enjoy this unique handmade card.

Handmade Tag: Discovering my style

I have this crazy love for wood patterned paper. It may be the distressed thing or just the realistic thing. This tag was a fun challenge to myself. The feather I added just for kicks (I found it in the backyard today!)

 When I saw these K&Co slide stickers in the store I knew they were the dimensional fanciful embellishments I needed on my cards. A little change of pace from all the canine cards. You know what they say about variety being the spice of life. Back to canine cards tomorrow! Any requests or challenges?! Please let me know and I will gladly oblige.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Enjoy the journey!

Mini Album: The key to love

This is the back cover of the canvas mini album I gifted to my sister and her husband. They just celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. Their love is a clear example of what it takes for love to remain solid. From college to AKC dog shows they remain together through thick and thin.

Thanks 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!