Rubber Stamping on Suede

If you read yesterday's blog...this one will make more sense....

As promised....here it is....I must tell you I did cheat a bit. I placed the stamped suede on a card I'd made previously....it's just laying there. I will make a card or use this on a scrapbook page later. Now for my friends that know about butterflies in my projects....yup....there are two little reasons to use the butterflies! so now you know....stamping on suede....works and it's beautiful!

I played a bit more with the suede paper and tried to heat emboss on it. It was not successful. I could make the embossing powder stick on the pigment ink, however, it also stuck on the suede and didn't make a very clean image. Dry embossing using the Cuttlebug folders, and the Sizzix plates works very well. I've not tried any other machine, I would imagine dry embossing will work on most all machines. Enough playing, have a wonderful Saturday.

50th. Anniversary

Good Morning......

Yesterday was one busy day....to begin I met Carolyn at Weight Watchers. I had a good weigh in. The pound I found....I lost and it took another one with it! Yippee! Then I met with a scrapbook group at Elise's home and we worked on a Christmas page. I think the weight I lost was in my brain, as I really messed up. In the end, it turned out well. I'm not finished with the pages, but hopefully by Christmas I will be!

Then in the evening....I went to Paradise Scrapbook Boutique for the Thursday Night Card Class. Karen and her sis outdid themselves once again. The cards were fun to make and challenging too. I'm still working on one of the cards....it is beautiful! We made a card that my brother will be getting for his BD....he's going to think I'm such a talent! Again....someone else did the thinking and it's very, very cute. And we made a Just Beecause card....it could be used for any occasion! If I get the lead out....I may actually put some photos up.

Carolyn and Karen were teasing me about buying paper at the Thursday night class and having a project on my blog in the morning....I'm going to disappoint you today. I came home and went to bed! But....I am putting up photos of an anniversary card I made for a dear friend.

The envelope is a box that I made from suede paper....I love the suede paper and it's easy to work with. It cuts well, folds well and looks so rich.

I just ran to my craft room and rubber stamped on a piece of red suede. It worked! I used Brilliance - Moonlight White. I think I would use a brighter white ink in the future....I'll try it and let you know. I just ran back to the craft room and stamped on the red suede with black Staz On....It worked well, dried quickly looks beautiful....I'll try to get a photo up later.

Back to my project. On the envelope box...I used the Spellbinder die Fleur de Lis die, cutting it in gold and brown suede. I made a band for the box using gold patterned paper (unknown source), solid gold card stock and suede paper. A Dew Drop is in the center. The inside of the box has handmade paper as a wrap and the embellishment is made from the Fleur de Lis die.

The card uses the Spellbinder heart, both scalloped and plain. I used my computer to type the names of the couple. The photo was originally colored, however, I changed it to Sepia to match the project. Ribbon is from my stash!

To close.....I didn't do a new project but for Carolyn and Karen.....I did learn you can rubber stamp on suede paper.....and to make Karen and Carolyn happy.....I'll post it tomorrow!

Have a wonderful day!

Iris Fold

My card buddies have been discussing the Iris Fold cards. I've done them in the past and thought it might just be time to attempt another. I went on-line and found a pattern for a hexagon. The pattern was designed by Judy Headrick - www.cardsandcrafts.freeservers.com She did a great job on this template. She shows it in 3 sizes and also gives directions for making it using 6 papers or 3 papers. I chose six. I don't know what I was thinking when I picked my papers, I think I am trying to use up scraps and keep the patterns in Fall colors or themes. After I completed the iris, I wondered how it could be used. See below..

I cut the card in the shape of a hexagon and I liked it....My title was printed on my computer and I used the Spellbinder hexagon die cut to cut and mount the frame. Dew Drops were used for embellishment and I added ribbon. The pumpkin is a Cuttlebug cut and emboss...one of my very favorite dies.

The inside was a challenge. I wanted to cut the shape of a hexagon and mount to another that was a 1/4 inch larger hexagon. After several attempts and much grumbling....I decided to do what you see....and I liked it!

Yesterday Carolyn, Virginia and I worked on the 3D Halloween card. The girls did a great job! Today it was a trip to Chico to play. Being the giving women that we are....we went to Harbor Freight and our husbands are the proud owners of electronic fly swatters....Don't tell them, but we actually went and looked at storage containers for small things. Who would have thought about Harbor Freight for girl things? I didn't....thankfully Carolyn did!

Tomorrow will be a day without crafts. Richard and I will be helping out at a benefit for the Christopher family. Please keep them in your prayers...they are a wonderful family!

Until we meet again....take care and God Bless!

Is It Fall Yet?

Happy Sunday.....I'm happy when my honey and the kids (3-Doxies) go back to bed. It gives me a chance to read blogs and it never fails....I feel creativity sneaking in. Today, Paper Craft Planet had a Sketch Challenge (SK082209). What could I do? I just had to try it!

Here is what I made. I think Fall must be one of my favorite times of the year. I love the colors, I love the changes in landscape and I even love the thought of winter arriving, after all, who could feel guilty about crafting when it's raining or snowing?

I'm not fond of my handwriting, so when I make the inside to my cards, I always attach the sentiment area with re-positionable tape. That way, I can remove the area from the card and do my sentiment using my computer. I know...scrapbook folk like hand written, and I agree (sometimes).

Here's to a wonderful Sunday. May your day be special.

Fall Is Coming

Here's the card I made from the "quilted" paper I made yesterday. I have plenty left to make more fall cards. I hope you try making the quilted paper....it's a great way to use left overs.

Have a wonderful day.....

From This To This

There are days that I have too much time on my hands, or rather I should say....there are days that playing is much more fun than cleaning....today was one of those days. I'd like to say it's all Holly's fault, but that wouldn't be totally true! So....above were my inspiration papers. They were pretty good size scraps. The rubber stamp is from a company named, "Love You To Bits". I've had the stamp for a long time, when I purchased the stamp the company was located in Redwood City CA.

Ok....so here's what I did. I cut strips of card stock 1/4 inch wide. then I arranged them by laying them out in yellow, brown and orange (repeat often). I ran a piece of card stock through my Zyron machine and put the strips onto the Zyron'd 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. then I randomly rubber stamped the leaves onto the glued down strips. Here's a big hint....Make sure the card stock you are gluing your strips to does not have a white core...I know this because...guess who used white core. I had to ink the edges of all the strips, cause the white was pretty distracting.

Now for the fun part.....cut 1/4 strips in the opposite direction.....Run another sheet of card stock through the Zyron and place the strips onto the card stock. You create the pattern by the way you put the strips down. You will have 3 layers of card stock glued together when you finish.

I'm liking this.....So, not wanting to quit playing....I wanted to see what would happen if I placed my "Quilt" piece on different colored backgrounds....First on Orange......

The orange squares really popped! Then on Yellow......

Wow....that's different! Then I thought I was putting my "quilt" onto brown, but the photos made the background look blue.....so here's another version.....

Now what? I guess I will have to make something.....

A Treat....Not A Trick

One of my very favorite Blogs is created by Holly's Hobbies on the blog page Today's Creations. I found this pattern on her page and fell in love. Above is the card I created using the pattern on Holly's blog page.

Holly's card and pattern: http://todayscreations.blogspot.com/2009/08/trick-or-treat-trifold-card.html I hope you'll try making the card. It's really quite easy and her directions are very easy to follow. I also hope you'll become a follower of her site and mine.

For my card I used papers from the Debbie Mumm's Holiday Collection 2008 and 2009. I used both the 12x12 card stock and the 8x8 card stock. My BossKut Gazelle cut the stencil wording and I mounted the words on Making Memories Black Spellbound Glitter Dot Card Stock. the base is made from a black card stock of unknown maker.

Just think of all the possibilities. Every holiday, every celebration. I'm looking forward to making many more of these cards. I hope you'll share your creations with me.

Off to clean house and straighten up my craft room. Have a great day!

Let Someone Else Do The Thinking

Have you ever had a week where you just didn't want to think about what papers to use and how to use them? I'm having one of those weeks. It's not that I'm not inspired, because I am. It's just this has been an emotional week for me and I need to craft, but I also need to leave the thinking to someone else. Yesterday I went of my first ever crop at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. (check out her blog: http://paradisescrapbookboutique.typepad.com/ ) That sounds odd for someone who has been making cards and scrapbook pages for years. Well, I'm just never organized enough to have a project ready to take out of my craft room and assemble it at a crop. Yesterday was no exception. Carolyn told me that she purchases kits. That's just what I did. During my crop time, I assembled a scrapbook set of 2 pages. It turned out really, really nice. (Because it's not my creation and I don't have Karen's permission yet...so I won't post it) I also made a card from a kit.

As I was leaving, I thought maybe I should purchase another kit and work on it at home. This kit was different than the first two. This kit consisted of papers and embellishments. I had to create whatever layout I wanted. I decided to make a card. Actually, this kit turned out to be pretty cost effective. I think I can get a minimum of 5 cards out of the papers. So... for $6.99 that's a great deal!


I got up early this morning (the dogs find it necessary to get up at 5:00 AM to bark at whatever is going bump in the dark...usually a raccoon. I decided to get started on a card. I used Mojo Monday's Week 94 Sketch. There I go, not thinking again....I'm beginning to like this! I used the Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles for the background on the brown paper. I also used the Cuttlebug Maple Leaf. The papers and embellishments all came from a kit Karen put together. Notice, there is no sentiment! Sometimes it's nice to have a card you can use for what ever you'd like. This is one of those cards. I can always add a sentiment later...or just write a quick note inside.

I guess to make a long blog short.....Let Someone Else Do The Thinking. I can't say I'll do it all the time, but for those times that you want to make a card or a scrapbook page...turn the thinking over to someone else. You are still adding your creative mind to the finished project.

I'm off to Weight Watchers....I'm feeling good about my progress in the weight area. Have a wonderful week!

Halloween Friendly Ghosts

I should be cleaning my craft room, but I wanted to share a card I made yesterday, during an inspirational moment, while cleaning house!

I haven't played with my BossKut Gazelle (personal die cut machine) in awhile. I love the machine, I use it mostly when scrapbooking. Lately I've been in card mode. Getting back on track....I used the Gazelle to cut the background shapes on my card. Then I covered them with Ghosts....now how smart was that? It does give depth to the card. The Ghosts are a Sizzix die that I added some Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique linen to the edges. "Have A Boo-Tee-Ful Day was created on my computer, using the PrintShop 22 Program. The shinnies are Dew Drops and the ribbon....is a silk ribbon that I tied using my Bow Easy (I'm not the best at tying a bow - especially the small ones). I chalked the edges using Color Box Fluid chalk in charcoal and alabaster. The decorative paper used inside and out is from the new Debbie Mumm Harvest and Holiday collection. I, again, printed the inside sentiment using the PrintShop 22 Program. I punched the edges with the EK Success Swiss Cheese border punch....becoming a favorite of mine...Thank you Carolyn for introducing me to this punch.

Off I go. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Child Abuse Awareness

My daughter took these photos of the Capitol in Madison WI. The dome of the capitol is lit with blue lights to help make people aware of child abuse. The dome is also lit in pink for breast cancer awarness and red for healthy heart awareness. I'm a proud mom, but as an independent thinker....I believe she truly is a great photographer. If you want to see more of her work, check out: http://www.amylynnschereck.com/

Inspired by a Punch and Foil Paper

My buddy Brenda came for a day of playing. We decided to start the day with our coupons and headed to Michaels and to JoAnn's. My purpose for shopping was to purchase an EK Success punch that Carolyn showed me. With punch in hand, and foil paper (you know shiny ALWAYS attracts my attention), we headed home.

Brenda was having a very productive day....I, on the other hand, was sitting with supplies and nothing was working. Finally, after trying many, many combinations.....the above card was born.

Here's what I used: The foil card stock was an impulse purchase (not my first I must say!). It is manufactured by American Crafts Speciality Papers. The pack of card stock has 30 - 12x12 sheets in 10 colors. You can't see it in the photo, but the foil card stock is ridged. Very Nice!

The border punch is EK Success and is named Swiss Cheese. It was easy to use this punch to create a frame for the ornament, which is a Sizzix Sizzlit. - Holiday Set. The red paper is by Pizazz and is from their Suede collection, one of my favorite papers to use as background or trim, especially on holiday cards.

I hope you like the card. After hours (and I'm not kidding...hours) of thinking....the finished project came to be...and I am pleased! Moral of the story: Don't give up!

Have a great day....I'm off to Weight Watchers. I'm not expecting great things this week, I must say....I have sinned and I will be paying the piper! Later!

More Seeds

Have you ever had a day that you think all is going well, and you are sitting back enjoying your finished project....when someone (this time my husband) arrives and says, " I like your card. I think Gerry will like it too, but (and now the pregnant pause.....) you misspelled his name!" Argh! Back to the computer I go....I reprint the inside, spelling Jerry...Gerry!

To make a long story short.....While cleaning my craft room...My mind is deep in thought.... I go to my display board and look inside one of the cards Brenda made for me and she signed "Brenda and Jerry! Back to the computer I go....another print, cut and paste! Lesson learned...trust yourself :-)

This card is intended to be very similar to the one in the post from earlier in the week. I wanted to show how different paper, from the same line of papers, can look so different.

Bragging Mom

My daughter is a professional photographer....I am SOOOOO proud of the work she does. Amy, my son Dan and I recently went to visit my son Aaron, lovely wife Rebecca and beautiful grandchildren Lachlan and Bridget. Amy took many photos, which will be displayed for the month of August at Yola's Cafe in Madison Wisconsin. I won't be able to attend, but she did promise photos. If anyone reading this blog lives in the Madison area....this is your invitation to visit the exhibit. Amy has a great website: http://www.amylynnschereck.com/ hope you visit the site.

I'm off to craft with friends. I do hope I accomplish a finished project....I do know I will have a great time with great people.

Making Memories

I've been following the sketches for MoJoMonday for quite some time. I've toyed with the idea of creating and then posting one of my cards. Now that I have this blog page....I guess it's time to put thought to action. Last night, while my honey was watching TV I created this card. I love the House Mouse stamps and this one makes me think of my kids and grandkids and how I enjoy reading to them. The tan paper was created using water color paper and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen. The red pattern paper was a scrap, and I believe it is from Making Memories. The sentiment was created on my computer, and both frames were cut with my Spellbinder dies. I've used all the elements shown in the sketch....however, I've changed them around a bit....I do like the finished card and following the sketch sure made making it much easier.

Welcome to August

Welcome to August! Can you believe summer is almost over! Yesterday our neighborhood deer came by for a visit. I took this photo of her standing in the neighbor's yard. Although she eats anything she chooses...we have all grown fond of her.

Today I will be creatively cleaning my house. I must say I'd rather slip into my craft room and play...but alas, the dust bunnies are turning into rabbits and I need to catch a few!

Have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to visiting with my craft buddies next week!