Sympathy

 A card making friend in my stamp group lost her father just before Christmas.  I lost my own Father on Christmas day night, so I understand how hard it is to lose a parent at this time of year.

I cut everything out with watercolor paper and used my distress inks and spectrum aqua pens to watercolor them.

• Tim Holtz, Sizzix - Wildflower stems #1, colored with distress ink and spectrum aqua markers
• Paper Studio - Antiquity paper
• Taylored Expressions -  Care & Comfort sentiment stamp
• jute

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Birthday Fox

 Time to break out another image from my coloring calendar, a fox in the snow for a winter birthday, she loves foxes and she actually received the card already, some of mine have not made it so I send out a little early and they make it ahead of schedule, who knows.

• Coloring for calm 2017 calendar image - colored w/markers
• Lilybeedesigns - Head over heels paper
• Spellbinders - Classic ovals lg. due
• Hot off the press - Black think line dazzles
• Papertrey ink - Happy die
• Stickles - Diamond

I am hoping to show some presents I made this year soon but I pulled my ankle or sprained it or something and it is quite painful for me to sit at my desktop computer that has all my pictures on it for too long.  

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Trees

 The Memory Box Challenge for this month is trees, my nephews birthday comes up in January and he just got his first deer on his property the other day so that was my inspiration for this card.

I started out by sponging in the my background, had to have snow as Michigan just had a snowfall on Christmas. Then I used some distress inks in 3 shades of brown and smooshed my woodgrain cardstock, I dried the paper in between adding the inks. I cut the tree dies out from those papers and the deer and owl were cut from scraps of shades of brown cardstock.  I glued the trees in the background directly to my paper and then popped up the frame to give it more dimension.

Memory Box - Grand Forest Archway, Small forest Archway, Valley Deer Trio and Forest Neighbors dies (Distress inks in brown shades for trees)
Tim Holtz - Wood Grain Cardstock
Background sponged with Distress inks

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Hope you have a great week ahead!

Connie

Embossing

 I have many embossing folders and some I have never used yet, so I think I will be doing a few of the challenges over at Let's Squash it Challenge blog .  This months challenge was to use dies or fussy cutting with your embossing folder.  I went with fussy cutting my flowers from the embossing folder.

I want to say that I had not tried this embossing folder yet, I found it at Michaels and many embossing folders came in the set together, well as you can see it didn't emboss well in parts, I even ran it through my machine several times adding shims so that it would give more pressure, not sure if it is a defect or just cheap production, just thought I would let you know in case you thought to try out their brand of embossing folders.

While the cardstock was in the folder I did a little sanding of the raised areas.  The sentiment was a couple of stamps and dies that I had in my Gemini advent calendar this year.

• Recollections - Embossing folder, sanded cardstock while still in the embossing folder
• 7 Gypsies - Conservatory paper
• Pizzazz Aplenty - Butterfly die
• Gemini - Stamp and die sentiment
• Mark Richards - Gems

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Hope you all enjoyed a lovely Christmas,

Connie

Merry Christmas

 Wishing you all Peace and Joy as we arrive at the birth of our Lord and Savior. It has been one very hard year for us all, some much harder than others as so many have lost so much, jobs, homes, and worse of all family members.  Praying for a year ahead that we can show our love to our fellow man by being caring and thoughtful of their needs and their health.

I am sharing my last Christmas card for this year.  I found this magazine with this fun stamp set at JoAnn Fabrics, I just had to pick it up, especially now that I am making my cards all year long, and I am thankful I started doing that, it made for a lot less stress this time of year.

The tree comes in different stamps, I just used the outline of the tree on this one, added the tiny ornaments in different colors, some are gold and silver the others are colors.  Then I colored the tree in with my marker, added the gold star and then I stamped out many presents, colored them and fussy cut them out, popping some up for more dimension.  Cut the whole scene out with my die.  At the last minute I decided to add some glaze to my ornaments to make them look more like glass.

Crafts Beautiful Xmas2020 magazine- Tree, star, ornaments and present stamps
PPD - Stitched Postage die
Wild Rose - Annabelle's Christmas paper
Nuvo Crystal Glaze on ornaments

Merry Christmas!!

Hugs,

Connie

Nature

 My hubby and I like to go hiking, our favorite places are in the woods and near water, a great bonus is if we see some wildlife,  so for his birthday I broke out this stamp set and try to make a scene with the stamps of what a perfect day out for us would be.

I tried the technique of using water based markers directly onto the stamp, then spritzed with water and then stamped onto my watercolor paper. I needed a touch of land for the corner for the guy taking pictures (that's another hobby of my hubby's) so I just used my markers to add that piece, not part of the stamp set.

GinaK designs - Framescape Winter Trees stamp set - Direct to stamp color w/Spectrum noir Aqua markers and Zig clean markers
Memento - Paris dark ink (person)
Archival Coffee and Momento - rich cocoa inks for the deer

Hope your week has been off to a good start.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Bight Christmas

 I am usually not a bright person, I like naturals soft tones and the such but this is a time of Celebration, so why not go with fun bright colors.  I haven't done much with this card making kit from another magazine, so I decided it needed some time to shine :)

Make Special cards, Issue 5 Christmas 2016 - Papers and tags
PPD - Stitched Mini Scalloped borders
Brad

Make Special cards, Issue 5 Christmas 2016 - Papers and tags
Pinkfresh - Classic edgers die
Spellbinders - A2 distressed edges die

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today, it is hard to believe how fast Christmas is approaching.  Hope you are all well. 

Connie

Sparkle

 I was looking for something in my craft room the other day and came across some card kits from Martha Stewart I had bought on clearance many years ago, I think I had made one card shortly after buying but never did them again, well I thought that a silver glittered bird would be pretty for a winter birthday so I left it out and used it on my next birthday card, I have a few winter birthdays coming up.

The 5x7 cards come in the kit with a taped border, you just pull up the release tape and add your glitter. Then the birds come in the kit too and you peel apart the different layers as you add your different colored glitter.  Before applying the bird to my card base, I used my new cloud stencil, I had made my own but I liked the sizes and style of this stencil so I bought it.  I cut a branch and I just had to add some berries to the branch :) I thought this sentiment stamp was perfect for this glittered card.

• Martha Stewart - Glittered Bird kit
• Spellbinders - Cherry Blossom die (branch)
• My Favorite things - Cloud stencil
• Penny Black - Sprinkles & Smiles sentiment stamp
• Starform stickers (berries)

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Cupcake

 I am running out of ideas for teen cards, I had noticed there have been a few cupcake stamps out there lately and it reminded me I had some cupcake images in my coloring calendar, so I looked and found this one I thought would work for a teen boy card I needed.

I colored it with markers and I love the little flag sticking out of the icing, it was blank and my sentiment stamp fit in there perfectly.  I had these white shapes left over after die cutting something and I put them in a little jar for those times I would like some confetti and I thought now was the perfect time to use them.

Coloring for calm 2017 calendar image, colored w/markers
Raspberry Road designs - Love lives here paper
ODBD - Mini tag sentiment stamp
Spellbinders - Classic inverted scalloped squares die
confetti

Hope everyone has made it through the storm ok, I hear that some had a lot of snow and some are without power, hope they can get it back soon as the temperatures are quite low in spots.

Take care and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Fox

 A little bit ago I shared a kit that came in a magazine I bought for masculine cards and said you would probably be seeing more out of me and this is it.  I love how everything coordinates so well and the gold foiling around the images brings that extra special touch. The only thing I added from my goodies are the die cut leaves with the sentiment.

Papercraft Essentials, issue 190 - Highland collection, papers and diecuts toppers
Tim Holtz - Funky Florals #3 die

Well today we have our first snowfall that actually stuck to the ground, I don't think it was quite and inch, but it was enough that the news was reporting on all the accidents in the area, I know it is now heading to the east coast so I hope you all out there stay safe, especially those of you that will be getting more ice.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Joy

 Our card making group had a challenge to make a Joy card.  I had just received my order that I had made on the Black Friday sales that Sizzix was having so I decided to cut some of the pieces out for this challenge. I started with the poinsettia, the base of the flower I cut from some Alcohol ink background I had made earlier, the outline of the flower was from cardstock as well as the other pieces. The joy sentiment was cut from the same background piece as the poinsettia.

Sizzix, Tim Holtz - Large Funky Festive dies
Taylored Expressions - Joy die
Spellbinders - Labels 29 die

We went to a new park over in Missouri yesterday, so I am a bit behind on things around here so I am off to get some work done and hopefully fit in some blogs in between :)

Have a great week and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today!!

Connie

95th

 My friends Aunt is turning 95 and she is in a nursing home and won't be able to have a party so she asked if I could make a card for her, you know I had to, that is a special birthday, not that they all aren't special!

PowerPoppy - Black-eyed Susan digital stamp, colored w/markers
Teresa Collins - He said She said papers
Spellbinders - Lg. Deckled Rectangle dies
Impressions Obsessions - Sentiments II stamp
Liquid pearls
#'s dies

Circle punch

I am sharing this card today with the Flower Challenge blog were the challenge is to use embellishments with your flowers.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Wish or two

 I hope this doesn't look like a card for someone older it is for one of my great nephews around 10 years old.  I started with the image and after coloring it I thought I should use some of the papers my sister gifted me a couple months ago and then I wanted something to base it on and went with this die cut and after it was all done I thought it might look like something for an older person so I am hoping he liked it.

Coloring for calm 2017 calendar - colored w/markers and Spectrum noir clear sparkle on stars
Hot off the press - Metallic Gold paper
Grafix - Metallic foil for die cut
Spellbinders - Symmetry in space and Labels trio dies
My Favorite things - More Essentials sentiment stamp

In the picture below you can see all the gold in the paper and the sparkle I added to the stars

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Birthday Hugs

 I am so glad that I have done most of my Christmas cards over the year because I have many birthdays in December, and I have a few that are at the first part of January so December is pretty busy just getting those made.  So some cards have to be faster to make than others and todays card took a little more time, coloring and a bit of die cutting.

I tried to look up the name of this stamp, the Northwoods stamps that come on the wood blocks just have the year stamped on them with no name of the stamp, I colored with markers and then added some white gel pen dots to the center for the stamens after coloring they didn't show up very well. I also colored the centers of the die cut flowers and leaves. I know this looks springy but I am sure my friend doesn't mind :)

Northwoods rubber stamps - 2010 colored w/markers and white gel pen
Carta Bella - Metropolitan girl paper
Memory Box - Stitched Layers die
Spellbinders - A2 matting basics A, Blossom, Foliage Flourish and Cherry Blossom dies
Papercraft & inspiration magazine - Greetings tag stamp and die set
Brad

We have one more beautiful day before it turns winter temps again, high in the mid 60's, loving this, need to get out for another walk today :)  Hope you are enjoying some nice weather.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today,

Connie

Smile

 A friend in my cardmaking group has a sister who caught Covid and she was in the hospital for awhile but has now been sent home to continue her recovery, she is still needing assist on breathing and has other health problems, she asked if we could send some cards to cheer her up through her recovery.  I had been praying for her recovery while she was in the hospital, so you know I had to make a card and let her know and hopefully bring a smile.

The flower sentiment is part of a 3D sticker pack I bought many years ago at the $ store, I just mounted it on a piece of watercolor background I had made, and the sentiment tag is cut from the same piece, trying to bring a bit of brightness to the background paper I used.

Spellbinder - Classic scalloped square and Back to basics tag dies
Miss Elizabeth - Scrapbook 3D stickers
Mama Elephant - Butterfly kisses stamp for sentiment
Corner stickers

In the close up below you can see the gold in the sticker so I added a some gold corner stickers to go with that.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today and say Hi,

Connie

Pop up box

 I wanted to do something special for my daughters birthday card and I realized I never used this pop up box die for her.  I wanted to make a little scene for this and I have used a few different stamp set and dies to create it.

When you mail this it is all folded up flat, she said when she first opened it she thought she was supposed to look down into the card, she said it took her a little while to figure out how to open it.  I forgot to take a picture of it all folded up.

I can't tell you for sure what it is the little bunny is carrying but my daughter loves books, so we are going to imagine that is what she is carrying, and finding this nice tree stump to sit down and enjoy reading it.  The tree in the background and the clouds are dies, the rocks and grass behind her is stamps that come with a die to cut them and the bunny and the tree stump are stamps that I fussy (hand cut). The grass in front of her is a border punch and the sentiment and the other flaps are also die cuts.

Here is a closeup of the bunny, I added some glossy to her glasses!

My daughter loved it and said she put it on her desk, and it didn't take long for her cat to think it needed to be knocked down and plaid with :)

Spellbinders - Scalloped Pop up box and captivating squares dies
Mama Elephant - Pix's Favorites stamps, colored w/markers and fussy cut (bunny and tree stump)
Taylored Expressions - Spooky clouds die
Frantic Stamper - Small Oregon fir die
Heartfelt Creations - Woodsy wonderland stamp & die set, colored w/markers
Yvonne Creations - Happy Birthday die
Fiskars - Grass border punch

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Connie

Fairy Dreams

 My Great niece just turned 8, I thought these fairy images, sentiments and papers, from yes once again a cardmaking magazine would be nice for her. I love these toppers and paper kits that come in the magazine, it is fun trying to figure out how you want to use them together. All I added from my stash was the liquid pearls.

Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine - Dovecrafts - Fairy Tales, card toppers and papers
Liquid Pearls

It is supposed to reach the 50's today and we have SUNSHINE, so today will be a nice day.

Hope you enjoy a lovely and creative weekend,

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and say hi,

Connie

Birthday Wishes

 I am using some stamps from another cardmaking magazine today.  I have colored it with markers.  Getting low on this paper pack, and have a lot of strips left our of the 6x6 pad, so  I used them for this card. It is hard to see the little gems I added to the background.

I really liked how this turned out, I just matted the flowers onto a die cut and left the sentiment stamp I colored as is with no matting.

Cardmaking and Papercraft - Stained glass collection, colored w/markers
My Mind's Eye - The Sweetest thing papers
Spellbinders - Decorative Labels One die
Diamond Dazzlers

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today, love hearing from you,

Connie

Christmas borders

 I always try to watch Home shopping Network (HSN) when they have craft day because it is usually mostly card making goodies, while ago they had these border dies and for Christmas I usually need something that is quick and easy to do for most of my cards, so I bought these for those times I need to be quick, and it is getting down to these need to get in the mail so here we go :)

On this first card I used one of the backgrounds we did in our zoom meeting using the Gelli plate and paints.

Gelli plate background using acrylic paints
Gemini - Ornate baubles die
Spellbinders - Holiday sentiment die
Tim Holtz - Metallic collection cardstock

Gemini - Holly berries die

Paper studio - Have a cozy Christmas paper

Gemini - Torn edge circles die

Starform stickers (berries)

This paper pack has a page of nothing but sentiments on these circles so I cut them apart to use as sentiments on some of these. This one is the same as above I just used some gems my sister had given me.

As you can see I did these both horizontally and vertically on A2 size cards. These dies are 6 inches long so you can use them on bigger cards, I just cut mine down to use on the size cards I use most often.

Gemini - Mistletoe & Pine die
Paper studio - Have a cozy Christmas paper
Gemini - Torn edge circles die
Stampendous stickers

Well I am off to get more cards addressed and ready for the mail :)

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by again today,

Connie