Holiday Collage

Here is a card using the full die cut from Tutti Designs called Holiday Collage. The other day I only used a portion of the die cut but today's card shows off the whole design of it. I used a shim to get it to cut all the little details.

I took the red card stock die cut and placed it on some Sparkle N Sprinkle Super Adhesive Sheet which is a sheet that has a sticky surface on both sides. But first I removed one side of the sticky paper before placing the red die cut onto it. Next I took some silver glitter and sprinkled that all over the surface and with my fingers burnished it into the die cut open areas.

Once I had the glitter burnished in well I then trimmed around the edges with my scissors and then removed the back piece of paper to reveal the sticky surface.  I carefully aligned this panel onto the white card base. I did not quite get it aligned perfectly and once you have it adhered it is stuck for good. So I just left it even if it does have a bit larger white margin showing on the right side.

I am entering this in the Scrapy Land Challenge #106-Anything Goes.

Well, we did get to 30 below zero last night and today we have a high of about 20 below. I am not minding it though as I am staying put inside. I hope all others who were in this deep freeze are faring okay too.

Thanks for the visit and as always the nice comments.

God bless,
Verna

Heads Up! Enabler Post!

Hi Everyone,
I took advantage of the Crafter's Companion Mega Warehouse Sale ongoing now. I got some really awesome bargains and I thought maybe some of you might be interested as well. Check it out and see. And I don't get any kick back for telling you about it. I just thought it was such wonderful deals that I should pass on the news about it.

Hope your day is going well.

God bless,
Verna

Christmas Holiday Card

How did something that went so wrong turn out so right? At least in my opinion it was a great save and I love it. I hope you do too!

I used the large A2 size die from Tutti Designs called Holiday Collage and when I proceeded to die cut it I apparently had not adjusted my machine correctly and only the center portion of the die cut. And, it had slipped away from the paper and my tape did not hold it for some reason so I was a bit bummed that it did not work out. But I looked at it a bit longer and decided I could cut away parts of it and still make a great looking card. So that is what I did.

 I placed the white die cut design against gold glitter paper and added that to a white card base. I also stamped a sentiment from the Gina K. Designs Dashing set in black and on each side I added some circles I had punched out from the leftover glitter paper. Voila! I had a card I could be proud of. So remember sometimes we can salvage those die cuts that go wrong by using only portions of them.

I am entering this in the Scrapy Land {Challenge #106} Anything Goes.

Well, we got through the blizzard and now the deep freeze is starting to come to our neck of the woods. It sounds like tomorrow we could see 30+ below temperatures. That certainly is a good time to stay inside where it is warm and I hope everyone's furnaces will work great too. We still have two options....gas furnace and also a wood one. So we should be okay.

Stay warm those in the cold blast and until next time everyone have a wonderful crafty time. I love your visits too.

Thanks and God bless,
Verna

Bleached Heart Valentine

I used bleach and a brush to create a heart on red card stock for a simple design for this special Valentine for my sweet hubby. I am so pleased as to how it turned out too. So I am feeling my mission today was accomplished and I hope he will like it too.

Once I had the heart bleached out and dry I then proceeded to add the sentiment from the Gina K. Designs Lettered and Lovely stamp set. I used  black ink to add it. I also took a Zig fine line black marker to add some faux stitching around the heart and the edge of the red panel. My next step was to add the Gina K. Design Natural Plaid ribbon before I placed the panel onto a black card base. I added a few black rhinestones to finish the outside. Inside I added a Ivory panel to which I also added some faux stitching and another sentiment,

Well, that's my latest Valentine design. I am entering this in the Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K. Designs Stamp TV. It is entitled My Sentiment Exactly which means no stamping allowed except for the sentiment. 

Thanks always for the visits and I so appreciate all the wonderful comments too.

God bless,

Verna

Spring Garden

Even with all the snowy weather I am starting to look forward to Spring. So with that in mind I used a new stamp set from Inkadinkado called Spring Gardener Inchie Bundle.

This stamp set included an acrylic block as well but I chose instead to add the images to my Misti before I stamped them on a rainbow blended strip that I had masked off on Ivory card stock. I used the Life Changing Blending brushes for that.

Once I had my images stamped onto the rainbow strip with black ink I then took a Creative Expressions die which is from the Sue Wilson line and die cut the edging on the Ivory panel.Next I added this panel to a black card base. The last things I did were to add some off white pearls to the side of the card and also an Ivory piece of card stock inside so that I can add a sentiment or write a message.

Normally I would not use black so much with a Spring card design but in this case I thought it worked out quite well. I hope you like it too.

I am entering it in the following challenges:
Dies R Us Challenge #13 Anything**NEW**
Mod Squad Challenge-Use Multiple Images (sentiments do not count)

Thanks for dropping in and I hope your day is going great.

God bless,
Verna

New Die.....Had to Try!

Today a beautiful Happy Birthday die from Elizabeth Craft Designs arrived in my mailbox with a prize I won and so I immediately had to try it out. So I made a quick and easy card with it. I love it! I am entering this in the Dies R Us Challenge #13-Anything **NEW**. So my new item is this pretty sentiment die.

This card was so quick and easy to make as I used a stencil from the Sheena Douglas Groovin' 60's collection called Just Groovy to make the background. I went with bright happy colors and then simply die cut the Happy Birthday and added it to the front of my card design. I think that stencil makes up into a very cheery and fun design which to me speaks of a celebration. One could use it for any age and for many celebratory occasions. I hope you like my easy design and it took only ten minutes to make.

Well we got through the last round of snow but more is coming Wednesday again so it seems Winter is going full blast this week. At least the sun is shining today yet. This morning when the sun hit that white snow it just make it sparkle and it was gorgeous. It was a pretty world indeed!

Thanks for visiting and for commenting. I love to hear from you.

God bless,
Verna

Vintage Birthday Card

I made a vintage style birthday card using a Crafter's Companon Vintage Decor embossing folder and an old vintage style phone stamp. This card will be entered into the Double D's Challenge which is entitled Looking Back in Time.

The embossing folder from Crafter's Companion was a freebie with an order quite some time ago so I decided that design looked very much like the old wall paper designs did when I was younger. So using some Gina K. Designs Prickly Pear ink I swiped some onto the embossing folder before I embossed the design. I also used Prickly Pear card stock for my card base. 

Next I took the Gina K. Designs Just Calling to Say stamp set and with Gina K. Designs Amalgam Jet Black ink I stamped the phone and the sentiment onto Ivory card stock. Both the embossed panel and this panel then were die cut using the Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Rectangle Die set. The next step was to layer them onto black before adding them to the card base.

I finished the card by adding some black gems and an Ivory card stock panel inside so I can write a special message or add a stamped one.

Well, the snow quit yesterday evening and so today we cleaned out the yard and drive way. So until the next round of snow we are good to go again. We only got about 4-5 inches this time too. I heard other places were getting quite a bit more so we were lucky. So if you were in those areas I hope you stayed safe inside and warm. Good card making or crafting weather I guess.

I thank you for the visits and comments and I hope your weekend is a great one.

God bless,

Verna

Stenciled Valentine

Today I got out one of my favorite stencils and made a background with it and then added a couple die cut hearts with a sentiment on one of them. A very simple card but I love the look of it anyway! This will be entered in the Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix Challenge which is entitled "My Sentiments Exactly". That means no pattern paper or stamping other then the sentiment can be used on the card. So that did make it a bit more challenging to do but still lots of fun!

I added a mix of pink and red shades to make the background of the card using a stencil from Color Box Art Screens called Lovely which I had purchased at Gina K. Designs a few years back.  The Life Changing Blending Brushes made it so easy to blend the colors.

The sentiment from the Gina K. Designs Geo Thanks set which was illustrated by Claire Brennan was stamped onto a white heart die that was included in the package of the Gina K. Designs Large Single Stitched Circle set. I also cut a red heart so that when I placed it on my card I could stagger them to give a more fun look. These hearts were popped up over a strip of white card stock which was layered to a strip of red card stock that I found laying next to my cutting board. The final step in finishing the card was to add a few red rhinestones to the white strip.

Thanks so much for the visit and for all the great comments you leave me. I appreciate all of them.

God bless,
Verna

Three Versions Floating Hearts

Yesterday I posted about the first version I did of the Floating Hearts Valentine which is pictured on the top. Today I finished the other two versions from the leftovers of the die cutting. I saved the panels I cut them from so that I could piece the puzzles together.

I like all of the ways it was used and those colors look great together I think. For the one with just the ribbon I thought maybe too much pink and lace might not be quite as masculine. And, some of my shut-ins are guys! Oh, and only one die was used and that was the Floating Hearts from Cheapo Dies. So any way, just for general principals I thought I would share how the other two looked.

Take care all and have a great rest of the day!

God bless,

Verna

Floating Hearts Valentine

Well, when I saw that the new Dies R Us Challenge #13 was Anything New, I knew I would have no problem joining in on the challenge as I got a whole bunch of new things recently. So on that note I am using two NBUS items...never before used schtuff which is a term my friend Darnell coined....which is the Floating Hearts die from Cheapo Dies and the Red Lace Washi tape from White Rose Crafts, LLC.

I die cut the Floating Hearts die three times. One in a white panel shown here, one in a red panel and one in a pink panel. And by mixing up the different colors I placed them back into the panels to create a multi-colored design. I also added some rhinestones to the flowers on the heart die. And, when I remembered I had that Washi tape I knew that was going to be something I wanted to add to the card as well. The sentiment is from Stampers Anonymous in the Tim Holtz Collection called Crazy Talk. I did surgery on the sentiment and cut the Happy from the Valentine's Day so that I could split it up. I can still use them as one complete stamp by placing them together again on a block or my Misti.

Well, that is my endeavor for the day besides normal household chores. And, I have two more panels ready to make into cards another day too. I hope you liked what I did. Adding all those negative pieces to each die is like putting together a puzzle. LOL A bit time consuming but I think well worth it.

You all have a great evening and I hope to see you again this week sometime. Thanks for the visits and comments too.

God bless,
Verna

Twofer Card Challenge #12

With a new year begins a new round of Darnell's Twofer Challenges. This No. 12 one has the theme of birds. I chose to go more traditional as I needed an anniversary card and also will be needing lots of birthday cards.

Both cards used the same bird image and the design of the cards was made two different ways as well.

The images on the Love Birds one which I thought would make a great anniversary card were all from the Inky Antics Swirly Birds stamp set. The sentiment is also from that set. I colored these in with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. I also brushed on some light blue around the birds design. They were die cut using the Gina Marie Designs Loopy Ovals and then placed onto a denim blue card base. I also added a white panel inside for a message.

For the birthday version using one of the birdies I took my Bic Markers and colored in the image. The gift image was taken from a Gina K. Designs stamp set called A Little Something. It was originally three presents but I masked off two of them before adding ink. Then I carefully removed the mask and proceeded to add the package to the card panel. I hand drew the string connecting it to the birds beak. And, the sentiment is from the Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection called Crazy Talk. Both the focal panel and the black panel were die cut using an Unbranded stitched scalloped die set. These were staggered onto the yellow card base to create the card design.

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you join in on Darnell's Twofer challenge too. I always enjoy making entries for it.

God bless,
Verna

Final Set for Cards for Little Hearts

I hope I am not boring you too much with the card sets I made for the Cards for Little Hearts drive going on now until January 31. But I had so much fun shopping for stamps that would work well and I just had to own all of the cuties I have used. And, this cutie is so darling as well. It did not have hearts with the image but I had all those negative die cut hearts from a previous card group so I grabbed some of the red ones to add to the cards as an extra accent. And, I am so happy with the way they look.

This is a stamp set from Your Next Stamp called Just a Note. Not only was it a cute bunny image but I liked the sentiments that went with it as well. Once I had them stamped I then colored them in using my Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. Next I die cut them with an Unbranded stitched scalloped die. After placing them on the pastel card stock  bases I then added the hearts using Gina K. Designs Connect Glue.

I thought about making the bunny in pastel colors too but once I had the first one done in the light gray I decided that was so cute that I would just go with that. Why take a chance of messing it up when it looked so great, right?

I hope some of my followers will make a few cards for the cause as well. You can go see the side bar for the logo which shows the website for it. And, please read all the information there as to what to do and what not to do. 

Well the next step is to find a box to fit all of them in. I think I have one in mind. So hopefully, I can get it to the mailbox in the morning so it will get to it's destination in plenty of time.

Have a great weekend everyone. Thanks for all the sweet comments too.

God bless,

Verna

Dog With Heart

While shopping at Wild Rose Crafts, LLC I also found this darling Wild Rose Studio stamp set called Dog With Heart. It is ever so darling as well and so with that image I made another set of cards for the Cards for Little Hearts drive ongoing now until January 31. I hope some of you will consider making cards for the cause too but be sure you read all the guidelines. We are doing heart themed cards but not Valentines. These will be given out to the children in February which is Heart Month.

The pattern paper is some older rainbow vellum which was put out years ago by Posh Impressions. I decided it had been in my drawer way too long so I took a background stamp from the Everyday Stamp Set by Precious Remembrance Shop and added all the hearts. Also the sentiment is from that stamp set.

I used the Life Changing Blending Brushes to add color besides using some Copics. And when it was all layered together and finished I ended up with a sweet card design.

Well, maybe later today I will do another post for this drive. I think that will be my last one as I need to get to other projects I have neglected this week. But I have had a great time doing these cards so I hope they will give the kids as much pleasure as I got from making them. You take care until next time.

God bless,
Verna

Daisy Dog for Little Hearts

Here is another of the series of cards made for the Cards for Little Hearts drive. For these cards I brought out an older wood mounted stamp from years back from Rubbernecker and I have no idea what the name of it is. But it is a cute puppy and one that has been a favorite of mine for years. So I felt with the proper heart elements added it would work great for cards for this cause. So I used a Papertrey Ink die set called Mix & Mat Hearts Die.

That was a die that was gifted to me and it was a perfect one to use for the kids. I used left over pieces on these cards and some I managed to add some glitter hearts by backing it behind the die. I love this die and know it will be used often. I am so grateful for the person who sent it to me. The sentiment is one I got from the Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection stamp set called Crazy Talk.

Well, that will do it for me today. I hope to get another set of cards uploaded again tomorrow. And, again, if  you want to join in on the Cards for Little Hearts Drive you can see the logo along my side bar which tells you the website for getting all the information.  Please be sure to read all the details and a reminder that the drive ends January 31st so the cards have to be mailed in soon.

Take care and have a great rest of the day. Thanks for your comments too.

God bless,
Verna

Heart Kitty

I showed you the first design I made with this stamp image of the cute Cat With a Heart in an earlier post but I wanted to share some of the other ones made with it for the Cards for Little Hearts Drive. I just think that is the cutest kitty. I got this stamp from Wild Rose Studios at Wild Rose Crafts LLC.

I first used some markers to make my kitties have some stripes on them. Then I took some blending brushes and added similar colored ink softly to the kitties. With the help of some pattern papers and some dies I got my layout made with the focal image on the top. It does not show up too well but I did do some blue ink blending around the kitty image too.

If you are interested in learning more about Cards for Little Hearts and how you can participate check the previous post where I have listed the website. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be back to share more cards for the drive. My internet is not always cooperative. LOL Thanks for visiting.

God bless,
Verna

Bella With Teddy

Today I am sharing one of the sets of cards I made for the Cards for Little Hearts Drive which is ongoing right now until January 31st. These are cards that are handmade so that the hospital staff can give them to children who have heart disease to sort of lift their spirits while in their care. They are to be heart-themed cards but not Valentine ones. And, you use a general sentiment. If you want to join in and help make some children have a more pleasant stay by making cards  please read all the guidelines.

To color the images I used my Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. It had been ages since I worked with that medium and I was glad I checked it out as it was so fun to see the magical way the Gamsol blended the pencil colors. I had some gingham paper in my stash and decided it was so perfect with the little cutie Bella. Bella With Teddy is a Wild Rose Studio design which I got from White Rose Crafts LLC.

Over the next few days I will be showing you more of the cards I made for this special cause. I really have been working hard and churning out some really nice cards for the children. Anyway, thanks for checking in and for the comments and I hope you have a great rest of the week.

God bless,
Verna

Cupcake Party

The Double D's Challenge is celebrating their third birthday so in honor of that occasion I made a card for their big day. The challenge theme is on the menu so I chose to include cupcakes on my menu offering.

The stamp set I used is from Crafter's Companion and is called Cupcake Party. I used my MISTI and placed my white panel in that and then I added ink to the background using the Hero Arts Omber Meadow ink pad and the Omber Spring Brights ink pad. I stamped the cupcake with Gina K. Designs Amalgam Jet Black ink and then colored it with Copics. I wanted sprinkles on my cupcake so adding the darker colors was no problem but in order to get lighter colors I first took a UniPosca white paint pen to add dots and then later I colored them in with lighter colors. I cut out the cupcake by hand and then popped it up on the stamped panel. I added this to a Wild Lilac card stock base and then inside I added another sheet of white card stock so I can add a sentiment or message there.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope your weekend will be a great one.

God bless,
Verna

Using Leftovers

Well the Mod Squad Blog Challenge called for using at least three different pattern papers on a card or entry. And, since I had some leftovers I once again am making a Christmas card using some I had die cut previously using the Gina K. Designs large stitched square dies. All the pattern papers and card stock are from Gina K. Designs as is the sentiment which is from the recently released Deck the Halls stamp set.

I layered each of the squares of pattern paper onto white card stock and then added it to a red card stock panel which in turn was placed on a white card base. I placed the sentiment panel over the top and then added some little sequin snowflakes. They were originally pink but I added some red Copic to them to color them up a bit more. I also added white sequin snowflakes in each corner. Again another easy to do card and that makes two for my 2019 Christmas supply now.

Well, I am so glad my new year is off to a good start in the Christmas cards. Hopefully, I can keep up that trend throughout the year. And, thanks so much for your visits. I love to hear from you.

God bless,
Verna

First Christmas Card for 2019

I decided that I want to make Christmas cards every month so that when December rolls around I have plenty on hand to work with. I did that this past year and it worked out great. So when the challenge at Stamp TV was to use a sentiment on one's card as the focal image I went with this design. No other stamping could be done but by making a great background it still looks fantastic I think.

I used blending brushes to take colors from my Kalaidacolor Fruitcake rainbow pad to make the background. Then I stamped the sentiment from Gina K. Designs A Very Merry Christmas set which is illustrated by Emily Loggans using Gina K. Designs Jet Black Amalgam ink. I layered the white panel with the design on it to black and then onto a teal card base. Before I added the layers to the card base though I used a gold cord to add a bit of accent to the design. The card was finished by adding some gems. Inside I added a panel of white card stock so that a message may be stamped or written. And, that is my card....easy to make but still looks great. At least I think so.

Thanks for the visit and for the wonderful comments you leave me.

God bless,
Verna

First Card of 2019

Since I was already working with a stamp from White Rose Crafts LLC I decided to enter it into their sketch challenge they have ongoing now. The information is on the White Rose Crafts LLC blog. The entry is to be added to their Facebook page gallery.

I just fell in love with this little kitty stamp when I visited their shop and had to own it. I figured it would be a perfect stamp for the Cards for Little Hearts drive which is going on now for the month of January. The stamp is called Cat With Heart. I also used some pattern papers from Gina K. Designs as well as card stock. The little heart stickers were in my stash and I have no idea where they came from.

Thanks for stopping in and I hope your first day in the new year is off to a great start.

God bless,
Verna

Happy New Year!

This is the scene we had after Christmas with a storm and again this New Year holiday lasting until into the first day of the New Year. But the winds are down now so we are blessed that while it was storming we were safe inside and able to hunker down. Now this morning it is time to blow out again. Winter keeps my hubby busy.

I want thank you for all the visits and comments you have left me this past year. I know I have been missing in action for a couple weeks but we had company for a week and some of them got stranded here due to the storm. But I am happy to report all reached their homes safely. So God is good!

Have a great week and a most wonderful 2019. And if the new year does throw a few glitches your way I pray that the Lord will help you cope with those as well.

God bless,
Verna