Thursday, August 30, 2018

Traditional Christmas (Red & Green)

While I was cooking some food and had to be close by to check on it I decided to use my MISTI and stamp up a quick Christmas card design using traditional red and green colors. I always love the look of holly so I chose to use images from the Gina K. Designs Festive Foliage stamp set.



I stamped the holly and berries repeatedly using Gina K. Designs Lucky Clover, Christmas Pine and Red Velvet inks. When I had my holly all stamped I cut along the holly on the right edge leaving a slight white border. I also cut my card stock down by a 1/4 inch so that I had room to leave a bit of border showing from the red card base. But before I added it to the red card base I took some ribbon I bought from Reasonable Ribbon called Christmas Traditions as it fit in perfectly with the color combinations I was going for.


To finish the card off I added a white panel inside on which I stamped the words "peace, joy, be merry" with red ink. These words were from the same stamp set.

I am entering this in the Mod Squad Challenge for this week which is Anything Goes.

Well, I see I have a bunch of red ripe tomatoes that need my attention today. I think I am just going to place them in hot water for a bit, then slip the skins off and put them in a freezer bag and toss them in the freezer that way. Then when I want to make soup, chili, spaghetti or other types of tomato dishes I have them all ready to use.

I had not expected to do another post this week so I am quite surprised I managed it. At any rate, after the tomatoes are done I have to clean some more for the guests who will be arriving Friday I believe. I wish all of you  a great weekend and thanks for all the sweet comments you leave me.

God bless,
Verna

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Butterflies Love and Prayers

I made this card last night as I was having withdrawal so bad from not doing any stamping. So I pulled out a Gina K. Designs stamp set called Tropical Tidings and used this image from it to make this very simple card. And it was a NBUS stamp set so I am happy that I finally got to using part of it.


I stamped it with Amalgon black ink from Gina K. Designs and then colored it with Copic markers. Dies used were the single stitched rectangle one from Gina K. Designs and the double stitched rectangle die from Cottage Cutz. After assembling the blue and white layers I added it to a white card base. The final touch was a few rhinestone gems.

I am lucky that the Mod Squad Challenge this time is for Anything Goes so this will fit right in. The rest of the week will be spent getting ready for company over the long weekend. So no stamping for awhile again for me. I hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend too. Thanks for stopping in and for all the sweet comments you leave.

God bless,
Verna


Sunday, August 26, 2018

Cold Winter Night

I recently ran across this scene I made using Stampscapes that I had never made it into a card. So yesterday I finally got around to doing that.


I think the reason I never made it into a card was because I just could not think of parting with it since it reminded me so much of our farm yard and our old barn. In fact it reminds me of the aftermath of a storm we had when I was 4 1/2 months pregnant with our son. The snow was so deep and the only way we could get to the barn to feed and milk the cows was to trudge through it. We would think we were going to walk over it and then just like that we would break through the crust and be over knee deep in the stuff. I followed my husband's tracks going over that big snowbank and by the time I got to the top I was just so tired out and had terrible side aches. So I plopped down in the snow and rested. When I observed the view below the snowbank I saw where it sloped right down to the barn entrance so I took the easy way out and just laid down and rolled down the rest of the way. It must have been quite a sight as I remember my husband laughing when I got to the bottom of it.

Well, back to the card. I added a white sheet inside the card so I could write or stamp a message later on. And, I added the scene to a layer of white before placing it to a red card base. I used regular Tim Holtz Distress Inks and a white gel pen for more details. And, the colors were added with sponges. For the finer details I used a few make up applicators which had sponges on the ends. They work well for fine areas. The title of the painting was computer generated.


Anyway, I wanted to share this with you. I think it only appropriate that this will be my son's Christmas card this year. I am sure he will see the resemblance as well to our farm yard. And he seldom gets back to the USA in the winter time anymore.

Well, take care everyone and thanks so much for all the uplifting and wonderful messages you leave me. I love all of them.

God bless,
Verna

Saturday, August 25, 2018

August Rudolph Days

Wow! Time has flown by once again this month and  here we are to the August Rudolph Days Challenge. Anything goes as long as it is Christmas. And, I had won some digi files last year so I was determined I would make use of them for at least a few cards. I hope you like my endeavor using them. I got a new printer so I was all set up to make it happen.


The files are all from iralamija shop,  I used the Gingham No. 2 collage file and also the Christmas Carol file for this card. With a Tim Holtz Layering Stencil from Collection 19 I  added some holly in random colors to the gingham paper. The background paper was just printed on regular printer paper but the tags were printed on Gina K. Designs white layering weight card stock. I also used Gina K. Designs Cranberry Tart and Kraft card stock. The ribbon is some I recently acquired as I admired the colors of it so much for using on my Christmas cards. It is called Vintage Christmas and is from Reasonable Ribbon.  I finished the card by adding some ivory paper inside so that I can stamp or write a message.

Sorry I have not done much lately in the crafting department. The garden just keeps on producing and so therefore I keep on taking care of the food retrieved.  And, I managed to get a haircut in this week which in itself was a great accomplishment. I feel so light headed now. LOL And, I got good doctor reports as my leg and toe are both healed up and things were fine with my other medical and eye doctor appointments. Mammogram was normal too. So maybe with all of those behind me now I can get back to being more creative.

I need to bake this week too as hubby needs some one carb choice cup cakes again. That is the easiest way to make them so that a portion is just right for his diabetic diet.

Well, happy weekend to all. I thank you for your visits and for all the great comments you leave me. I read them all too.

God bless,
Verna

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Back To School

Hard to believe it is that time of year again! But most of the schools around here are starting their school year this next week. So for that occasion I wanted to make a card that would work for a teacher or for a student. I really was scratching my head as I knew I did not have any school related items that I could recall until I suddenly remembered that I had on a whim picked up a couple of stamps at a dollar store years ago. So with only those two stamps and a computer generated sentiment I have made a card. I think this will go to our little Anna who is four and so excited to start her pre-school  year.


The two stamps I picked up in the dollar store bin were a bus and four crayons images. They are made by Imaginsce Snag 'em Stamps and are from the Teacher's Pet Collection. I think they were made for teachers to put on their students papers for encouragement for doing a great job!

Since this card fits the theme for the Mod Squad Challenge I will be adding it to the challenge as my entry.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a great week. I love to read your comments too.

God bless,
Verna

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Moon and Stars

The Shine On stamp set and the Stacked Stars die which are both from Simon Says Stamp! are now officially no longer NBUS items. I used them to make this card design. And about time I would say as I have had them in my possession for several years. What a shame. And, I really like the die especially! I cut a few of the die cut stars off so I could have enough room for the sentiment.


The main panel was die cut also with a Memory Box border die. After I had the stars die cut I then added some Versamark ink to them and embossed them with Gina K. Designs Silver embossing powder. I also stamped and fussy cut out the moon before embossing it with Gina K. Designs clear embossing powder. I had stamped it on yellow card stock with black Versafine ink and used a Copic marker to add some shading. After I had all assembled on a white card base I then added the sentiment using black ink.

Dies used:
Stacked Stars-Simon Says Stamps!
Cross Stitched Frame Border-Memory Box

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Dies R Us Challenge#103-You Are a Star!
Double D's Challenge-Moon/Stars

I think this will be a good card to save for a graduation card or for someone trying out for a new job!

Well, thanks for the visit and I hope you have a great weekend. Tomorrow is another day to have a check up on the toe so my day will be once again interrupted. Hopefully, this might be the last visit for a long time. Until next time, take care.

God bless,
Verna

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

August Twofers

Darnell has announced the theme for the Twofers Card Challenge #8 so I had to join in once again. This time we are to use a geometric die or stamp two different ways.


On both cards I used stamps from the Catherine Pooler Beautiful World Collection using the Catherine Pooler Geo Builders stamp set.


For the Christmas design I used Gina K. Designs Season's Greeting set and also the Just a Little stamp set. The foliage is not really an evergreen frond but I decided it looked very much like it so I used it and made some ornaments to hang from them.


For the thank you card I made the geometric design as a border and then I added the sentiment from the Catherine Pooler Beautiful World Collection using the Sugar Pea Designs-Enchanted Garden stamp set. I decided to make my layers a little wonky and I really am happy with the way they look too.

Well, it has been a busy last two weeks. Maybe I will manage to get another blog post in this week but it seems that with hubby and I taking turns with doctor appointments it means for a lot less crafting time. I hope all is well with all of you and thanks for visiting and for the lovely comments.

God bless,
Verna

Monday, August 6, 2018

Hog Wild Birthday

This is a quick card I made this afternoon while resting from doing some cleaning. I was able to sit and color and then it was just a few panels die cut and a fussy cut pig image and I was done.


Images and sentiment used were from the Gina K. Designs Sophie Pig stamp set. It was the first time I had inked up this set so I have one more NBUS (never before used)  item off the list. I have had that stamp set quite a while too. I popped up the pig image. I also added a sun using a new stencil which makes for another NBUS item. It is a Gina K. Designs stencil called Nature's Elements.

The double stitched die used for the panels was from Cottage Cutz. I decided to add them in a wonky way to give a bit of different interest to the card.

I am entering this in the Penny Black and More Challenge-I Spy.  (Beach and Birthday)

Thanks for stopping in and for all your encouraging comments. I love them all.

God bless,
Verna

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Shaped Card

The challenge at the Mod Squad is to make a shaped card so I went with a round one using the stamps from the Gina K. Designs Just A Little set. I also used several different dies for all the layers and then I popped up the flowers on the card.


I used Copics to color in the flowers but the fronds behind were stamped directly to the white panel with Gina K. Designs ink as was the sentiment. After I had the flowers colored and cut out I placed them onto the fully layered card front. A few of them I popped up with pop dots.


 I used both the small and large sets of stitched dies from Gina K. Designs, a stitched die from Cottage Cutz and the main card base was die cut with a Cheery Lynn Designs die.

I am entering this in the Mod Squad Challenge and the Monthly Mix Challenge at Stamp TV.

I am not doing a lot these days as yesterday I had a toe nail edge removed and the doctor told me to take it easy so most of the time I will be in the recliner I guess. Well, now I am off to soak the toe and rebandage it but I wanted to get this card posted while I was up and about. I hope all of you have a great weekend.

God bless,
Verna

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

July Rudolph Days Challenge

This is my second post of  the day. I was lucky that I did a card ahead of time for this challenge but it is posted late because our host was on a wonderful vacation so she has a delayed time for entering. So check out the Rudolph Days Challenge to see the change.


My card uses three dies from Gina Marie Designs. They are Falling Snow Background die, Winter Village Border Die and Winter House Scene Die. I thought they all worked well together and I also stamped a sentiment from Stampin' Up! I used only Navy and White card stock and then stamped the sentiment in red.

Thanks for the visit and I hope if it is warm where you are that this winter card will help to cool you off. Hard to believe it is August already. Time is flying by so fast and before we know it this may be the type of scene we will be viewing instead. Until next time take care.

God bless,
Verna

Black and White

I always think that a black and white card has such a dramatic look to it. And, with these lovely stamps from the Gina K. Designs Just a Little stamp set I think that look is certainly prevalent. I also used a die from Crafter's Companion Die'sire Edge'ables line called Lattice Flourish to add even more drama to the look.


The white panel was added to a black card base and I also added a sheet of white card stock to the inside so that a sentiment or message can be added later on. Also on each butterfly I added some pearls to the bodies of the butterflies.

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Dies R Us Challenge #102-Black and White-No Other Color
Double D's Challenge-Don't Bug Me

I really am happy with this card and I hope you like it as well. Thanks for the visit and for your wonderful comments you leave me.

God bless,
Verna

Fluttering By

 First of all I want to wish all my Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day! I hope your day is extra special. This card I am showing uses an Al...