Get well

I've needed several get well cards lately so decided to do one with my class in June. This is a beautiful, simple card that could brighten the day of someone who is struggling with health issues.

More Mimi paper combined with the newly retired Good Timber and a little spellbinder/cuttlebug magic, brings this card to life. As you can see the image is popped up a bit to give it a little more focus. You might have to pay an extra 20 cents to mail this card but look what you've saved in making it yourself! And, the extra special home-made touch will add some healing powers to the recipient by bringing joy to their heart. ;)

Here's the inside. The full image of the tree was stamped on the inside of the card. Simple and yet it adds the perfect finishing touch and looks lovely by the written message. If you'd like, you can add stamped trees to the envelope to let the recipient know that they're about to get something really special. :)

Prop Swap for Seminar

I'm home from the annual seminar for The Angel Company. WOWZA!!! We had SOOOOOOOOOOOO much fun - got SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many new stamps AND got SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many fabulous ideas!

This year, for the first time, we had a prop swap. This is where you make something new or alter something to make it new again. I love hitting the clearance aisles at Hobby Lobby to find items to alter. There are always "beat up" shelves or frames or little boxes that once some paper, modge podge and stamps hit them - are once again FABULOUS!!

I forgot to take a pic of the "before" but here's the "after". I took a HL home decor clearance item that became new again after Maggie paper and cardstock, a Fabulous You stamped image and sentiment, Maggie ribbon and bling from the clear gem pack were added. There's also shimmer from the shimmer gel pen on the collar and dress. I wish my quick photo on the hotel bed turned out better as the colors aren't showing up as well as they should but you get the idea.

What do you think? Paula Kay received it and made my day when she came over to thank me. Paula Kay makes the most amazing cards and I'm always in awe of her talent! She was so very gracious in her thank you to me. I'm so pleased you like it as much as I do, Paula Kay!! Thank you for your kind words!

I got this fabulous magnetic board in the exchange made by Julie Robinson. Isn't it super cute!!! I love it!

 Thanks, Julie! It's so creative and useful and CUTE!!!

I need to make another special or two and need to take a pic of my swap card but that will be another day. Time to get back to cutting out some of the new stamps!!

Have a wonderfully creative day!

Paperwings Blog Hop: CAS (clean and simple) Cards

It's time for the monthly Paperwings Angel Art Blog Hop and tonight is featuring CAS - clean and simple - cards! How fun is that! It's great to have layers and layers but it's also great to have a simple card that goes through the mail easily that is clean and simple and celebrates the stamped image. :)

As you can see, I did add a layer but that was just to "frame" the image. The Angel Company's Wonder and Joy stamp set can be colored so many ways to bring joy and sunshine to the one receiving the card. Here's the inside:

Copic markers brought the image to life. I love that they make me feel like an artist. :) They are blendable and correctable with the "blender pen" which removes color. They're an investment but are worth the money. You can refill them and replace the nibs so they'll work for you for as long as you take care of the overall marker. I never thought I'd buy them but once you start, you just have to have more.  :)

I hope you'll continue hopping through these other blogs to check out more CAS cards!!
Shirley H.    http://glitteredpaws.blogspot.com/
Kim            http://angelatmydoor.blogspot.com/
Rita            http://handmadebits4u.blogspot.com/
Angela        http://www.angelakelley.blogspot.com/
Carol          http://stampincarol.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderfully creative day!

Dress Card and Gift Bag

Here is a super fun project that you can change up and make so many different ways and what can be better than that?!! I was inspired by a card featured on Papercrafts Magazine January issue and downloaded the template from their site. I submitted it to Papercrafts as one of the "inspired by" submissions but wasn't chosen. It's all good because now I can share it with you.

The original card involved sewing and gathering and while I can and have done that, I didn't want to. LOL! So, I started trying to figure out how I wanted to approach the project. While I was pondering, I wrapped a gift and the inspiration struck - use tissue paper!! So, I pulled a sheet out and folded it back up like it originally comes in the package and cut strips on the paper trimmer while it was already folded up (it's so thin that it's no problem sticking the folded up tissue in the trimmer). Then, I used Fiskars Cloud scissors to create a scalloped edge (tip: put a piece of cheap cardstock behind the folded up tissue and it will cut like a dream - without the cardstock - nightmare!). Then, I unfolded the strip and "gathered" the straight edge by pushing the straight edge of the tissue together to make a gathered look. I put strips of scor-tape every half to 3/4 inch or so on the card front skirt part and starting from the bottom (very important to start from the bottom so the tissue doesn't stick!), I peeled off the protective covering of the scor-tape strip, and pressed the gathered edge of the tissue into it (work from one side to the other so you can keep gathering as you go). I let the sides go over the edges and then when it was done, turned it over and trimmed the skirt to the card base. But, one of my friends, trimmed and then folded the edge of each layered tissue as she went ("hemmed it") and made it neat from the beginning. see - that's thinkin'! :)

To finish off the "skirt", I added some ribbon to the waist line. But, I felt like it needed more. I added a rhinestone necklace (love the gem embellishments that already have adhesive on them!) But, I still felt like it needed more so added a the big ole ribbon flower at the waistline. ahh - now I'm happy! :) I found these fabulous ribbon trim flowers in the sewing section at Hobby Lobby. Aren't they fun? They come on a roll and can be trimmed apart or used in a strip. So cheery and so many for the price!!! I thought a matching gift bag would be super fun so picked up some small ones at HL and followed the same plan to create the match. Isn't that super cute? What do you think?

The beauty is that you can make this project look so different depending on what background cardstock you start with and what tissue paper you use.

If you use white cardstock like what I've shown, you'll want to use a tissue paper that has a lot of color or pattern as I like the red polka dots but don't love it quite as much as the black/white patterned paper. And, how about mixing the colors - super fun!!!

You can use big rhinestones for chunky necklaces, colored gemstones for bright necklaces, pearls, etc. The options are endless. If you want to host a tea party or a bachelorette party or a birthday party or whatever girly event you might have coming up, use these for place cards. The ideas are endless.

One final note, when you download the pattern from the Papercrafts site. Cut it in half and place the front of the pattern on your already folded cardstock. Save yourself some cutting by doing both layers at once. And,  your front and back of the dress will match perfectly. Have fun playing and creating!!

And, thanks for popping by!

Just a Cat

Theo is a very sarcastic cat featured in several TAC stamp sets. This one is Just a Cat and it's a hoot. Here's the lovey dovey Theo:

and inside the card.

And here's the sarcastic Theo. OK - it's the same image but the sentiment gives it a totally different feel. The inside says "cats don't have middle fingers". Hee hee! so funny!

I keep thinking I'll get caught up so I can post more often. Sorry about that. Work has been crazy. I appreciate those of you who are sticking with me! I will try to do better!!!

Have a wonderful week!

Tickled Pink Thank You

Look. I'm tickled pink! Isn't that a cute saying? It fits perfectly for a thank you card and making a pink cow from the Funny Farm set is a fun touch. A little shimmer gel pen action, a pink marker and some pink/white bakers twine is all you need to finish this card off. It will definitely be a thank you card that brings a smile to the recipients face.

Swooping Sentiments is used on the inside for the "thank you". This set is retiring so get it before June 24th as then it will be gone for good.

Thanks for stopping by!