May 26, 2011

Gosh, it's been a long time since I posted!  I've been busy making cards, and I just haven't taken the time to take pictures and upload them.

I've colored all but one of my cards with Prismacolors and gamsol.  I've tried to use a variety of embellishments, attempted machine-stitching for the first time ever, and used a variety of different stamps.  It seems like it takes me forever to get an idea right in my head before I attempt to create a card!  I color almost every day, but then the images all sit waiting for me to figure out exactly how I want the card to look.  Right now I have 4 more images waiting to go on a card!

Thanks for taking a look at what I've been working on!

Graduation card for a former student ~ I used a Die-namics die for this one.

Gilli

                                                                         Another Gilli

Inky Impressions stamp

I used a digital stamp for this one.

I used another digital stamp for this card.

I made this card with my new Cricut Expression 2 and the Florals Embelllished cartridge.

I also made this with the Cricut E2 ~ I forget which cartridge I used (maybe Nate's ABC's???).

May 16, 2011

Just wanted to let everyone know that Paola has a great candy giveaway going on at her blog because she reached her 500th follower.  Check it out at http://www.paolaspaperhaven.blogspot.com/!

April 25, 2011

Just a quick post today ~ Have you heard about the giveaway over at Everyday Cricut???  To celebrate Cricut's anniversary, they're giving away one of the new E2 Cricut machines, plus some cartridges to use in your Cricut.  You should check it out ~ what an awesome giveaway!!!

April 21, 2011

Well, it's taken me a long time but I've finally finished another card!  I don't know how some of you finish a card every day ~ it takes me that long just to get my thoughts organized and get started!!!  I went to a rubber stamping expo last weekend and got quite a few new supplies, stamps, etc., so I was really excited to use a few of them on this card.  I think I'm getting better at shading, but I still have a loooooooong way to go!  I bought a set of Prismacolor pencils, but I haven't sharpened/tried them yet ~ I'm such a slow-poke!!

Hope you like my newest card!

I used a Tilda stamp I got on sale ~ I think it's called Tilda with cherries or Tilda with berries???  This was my first attempt at using detail scissors to cut out the image ~ that was tedious!  The doily circle, flower, and lace on the shelf she's sitting on were made with Marianne dies.  I used colored pencils/gamsol to color Tilda, the flowers on the circle, and the flower ~ I think the brank is Koh-I-Noor???  I really like those pencils, but the colors are limited.  The DP is from MME (Stella and Rose collection), cardstock is Bazzill.  The pearls are MS, the center flower is Prima, and the ribbon and brad are just some things I had in my stash.  I inked the edges of everything with Chestnut Roan chalk ink.  I used pop-dots to make Tilda and one of the layers stand out a bit and give the card some dimension.

Here's a close-up of Tilda.

The inside of my card is pretty plain ~ used the same papers/ribbon that were used on the front.  I haven't decided what I'll use the card for, so I thought I'd just leave the inside blank for now until I find the right occasion for giving it to someone.  (I'm finding it hard to part with these first few cards I've made!  Guess I'm possessive because they're my "babies" in cardmaking!  LOL)

Hope you've enjoyed peeking at my card!  I sure enjoyed making it!

Hope your day is a sunny one!!!



Friday, April 8, 2011

Back with a couple more cards I've made!  I colored two more of the same image as I used on yesterday's card ~ just practicing my shading with a variety of colors.  This is a slow learning process for me ~ I've never done any shading before, so I've been spending tons of time just looking at everyone's cards and studying the coloring/shading/design elements on each one.

Here's the first card:

I used Bazzill cardstock for the base of the card.  The pattern paper is from a DCWV stack for guys, and the balloons are made from a Colorboks stack I got at WalMart.  Tilda was colored using pencils and Gamsol.  The twine is from Pink By Design, and the button was in my stash.  I sparkled the edges of the balloons, the outer edge of the Nestabilities diecut, the lace on her dress, and the button twine with Diamond Stickles.  I used a yellow Stardust gelly roll pen to accent the pattern on her dress.  Also used Glossy Accents to give the toes of her shoes some shine.  I finished off the right side and added some interest by using a strip of the pattern paper punched with an MS border punch.



I also created a coordinating envelope for the card using my MS scoring board.

The inside of my card is pretty busy, huh?!  I cut the balloons using my Cricut Expression (sorry, I forget what cart I used).  Then I glittered the edges to give them some sparkle.  Used strips of the pattern paper to create a weaving to use as a background for some of the balloons ~ that was a tedious little job!!  I grouped 3 of the balloons together so I could stamp "Happy Birthday" on them ~ not sure if I like how that turned out, but I guess it's OK.  Made a strip to finish off the right side using and MS border punch.

All in all, I like how this card turned out ~ it certainly is bright and cheery!!

This is the last of my Tildas made with this stamp.

This time I chose to use orange, green, yellow as my colors.  I again colored Tilda with colored pencils and Gamsol, then chalked the edges of the Nestabilities diecut.  I added Diamond Stickles to the lace on her dress, used the copper Stardust gelly roll pen to accent the pattern on her dress, and added Glossy Accents to the toes of her shoes to give them a little shine.  I used an MS punch for the border on the solid paper.  The pattern papers are from one of the new MME 6X6 pads of small prints ~ perfect for cards!  I wove in some ribbon and a bow using ribbon from WalMart.  The buttons came from my stash.

Again, I made a coordinating envelope for my card.

I used the same materials to complete the inside of my card and tie it all together.

This last card is not a Maggie, but I thought I'd throw it in anyway!  I've been working on Easter cards for about 6 weeks now, and I finally got all the pieces and parts put together last night.
I can't take any credit whatsoever for the design ~ came straight from my local Archiver's store.  But I thought it was a cute card, so I decided to attempt it.

I colored the image with watercolor pencils and a water brush ~ my first try at this technique, but it turned out pretty well, I think.  I heat embossed the sentiment on the front of the card, embossed the green layer with a Cuttlebug folder, and added sugar glitter to most of the eggs and tree blossoms (it's hard to see the glitter in the pictures).  Also made an envelope for the card.

I  printed the inside verse on my printer, then used a corner punch and chalked the edges to give it some depth.

I like how these cards turned out, and I'm anxious to send them out for the holiday!!

Thanks for stopping by today ~ Happy scrapping!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Welcome to my blog!  This is my first post, so I'm excited to be here sharing with you!

A little about me:
I am a retired teacher who has just recently found the world of scrapbooking and cardmaking.  I'd have to say cardmaking is my favorite of the two.  I'm slowly collecting all the supplies that I need ~ gosh, this can be an expensive hobby!!
I have been married to the same wonderful guy for 30 years, and he's learned to tolerate my passion for crafting over the years.
I have two sons, both grown and out on their own now.  I'm also "Mom" to five miniature dachshunds!

I wanted to post pictures of my first official card, so here goes!

                                        This is the front of my card.  I used a Magnolia Tilda stamp and
                                    colored her with colored pencils and Gamsol (also my first
                                    attempt with these tools).  I used my Cuttlebug and a Nestabilities
                                    die to create the space for Tilda, then I chalked the edges in
                                    yellow and used Diamond Stickles to accent the edge.  You
                                    can't tell  from the picture, but I used Glossy Accents, to give the
                                    toes of her shoes a little shine.  Added a few tiny buttons and a
                                    bow to finish it off.  I used a Stampendous stamp for the
                                    sentiment.  All papers were from my stash, so I'm not sure what
                                    company they're from. I also used my MS scoring tool to make a
                                    coordinating envelope for my card.

                                        Here's a close-up of Tilda.  I need LOTS of practice to get
                                     the hang of this shading!!!  But I had fun with my first attempt!
                                     When I can afford to buy some Copics, I'd love to learn how
                                     to use those!

                                    Here's the inside of my card.  I made the flower using a punch ~
                                   punched it twice, colored it to match Tilda's dress, and used a
                                   brad to fasten it to the paper, then added some Stickles for some
                                   sparkle.  The butterfly is a brad I had in my stash.  I used two
                                   stamps from my collection (sorry, I don't remember where I got
                                   them) for the sentiment.

Hope you enjoyed your visit!  Happy scrapping!!