Faves from 2013

Hello all my blog friends ~

2013 has been a banner year for me! I've made so many wonderful friends, came 'Into my own' in terms of my paper crafting style, started my blog, and even won several challenges! I've spent the last several weeks considering my goals for 2014, both personal and craft related, and I'm really looking forward to achieving my goals.

Looking back, I realized that I actually have several cards that I would consider my favorites, and since this is my first year as a blogger, I wanted to start a tradition of sharing them here on New Year's Eve ~

While I consider myself a 'Clean & Simple' cardmaker, this is the first card I ever made using the chalkboard technique, and it 'killed me' to add smudges to it! But I finally did, and in the end, I thought it turned out pretty well...in fact, I won the Hero Arts Contest for trying a new technique:

It's no secret that I 'Love' Lawn Fawn stamps and dies, and here are a few of my faves using them:

I guess I'm a big lover of their birds, too! 

I created this next card as Guest Designer at CASology:

Hero Arts background stamps just make me smile...well, actually all of their products have that effect on me. For this one, I used a technique I learned from Jen McGuire:

Here's another Hero Arts card using their gorgeous Painted Flower Stamp:

Here's a fun Christmas card I made using Mama Elephant stamps...Mr. & Mrs. Claus are just too cute!

This is a card I created after numerous tries at Origami: 

And this one playing with my Copic markers on the flowers and stems:

Last but not least, there's nothing like a little sunshine to brighten your day:

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me on this long post! I also want to thank you all for stopping by my blog to leave me words of encouragement all the time...it means the world to me!

Sending you all my very best wishes for a safe, healthy and happy New Year!

Barb

Let's "Party"

Hello everyone!

I created 2 cards for the current challenge at CASology. This is a 2 week challenge, and the Cue Card is ‘Party’, so on my first card, I went with the theme for a birthday party. 

On this first card, I die cut the Landscape Trio die with vellum to create clouds. I added mini stars and balloons, a silver embossed sentiment, then the balloon holder with foiled cardstock to give it some flair.

My next card is for a New Year’s Eve celebration, and for this one, I die cut the wine glass and added faux bubbles to create more like a ‘champagne’ effect with embossing paste colored pink. I also stamped some confetti along the bottom of the card.

Well, that’s it for me ~ I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and that hopefully you're enjoying some time off from work! 
Barb

First Card
Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps - Everyday Expressions
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White, Vellum; Memory Box - Dove Gray; DCWV - Foiled Cardstock
Patterned Paper: Amy Tangerine - Sketchbook
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Balloons; Mama Elephant - Landscape Trio
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - Silver

2nd Card
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Free Spirits
Ink: Memento Luxe - Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Pear Tart; Ranger Archival - Jet Black
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White
Patterned Paper: Papertrey Ink - Smokey Shadow Bitty Dot
Dies: Paper Smooches - Free Spirits
Embossing Paste: Wendy Vecchi - White
Paint: Making Memories - Lipstick
Other: Wink of Stella Pen; Glossy Accents

'Apple of My Eye'

Hello everyone! One last card before Santa gets here :-)

I created this card for the current challenge at Less is More. Our challenge is to create something based on a past challenge, and I chose challenge #26 “Feeling Fruity”. 

 

While on Pinterest last night, I was inspired by a project using twine to fill in the shape of an apple, so I thought I would try to do something like that. I die cut my apple, loop-de-looped my red and white twine, then added 2 solid colors for the stem and leaf...I stamped my sentiment, and that was it! I thought this would be a fun card to send off with our 'care packages’ to my step-granddaughter at college.  

Here is a close up of the twine:

Well, that’s it for me ~ We celebrate on Christmas Eve, so I will probably not have time to blog again for a few days. I would like to take this time to thank all of my blog followers for your loyalty and friendship, and to wish everyone a very Christmas!
Barb


Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Fruit Fusion 'Apple’
Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White; MFT - Wild Cherry
Dies: Mama Elephant - Femme Frames
Gems: Kaisercraft - Red

 

Thanks!

Hello everyone! 

I have 2 cards to share today that I created for a few different challenges. I used N@ Ali’s beautiful  sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch  and would also like to submit this card to the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More for the theme 'Anything Goes'. 

 

I couldn’t wait to play with my new stamp and die set from Lawn Fawn, so I colored this fun little guy with my Copics and added some ‘Wink of Stella’ glitter to him, and glossy accents to his glasses!

My next card is for the current Muse Challenge. Marion Vagg created the most beautiful card to inspire us, and I wanted to channel her feminine details and window on the front panel...a rather literal interpretation of her card.

Well, that’s it for me ~ I hope everyone is doing well!  I also wish all my blog friends who celebrate Christmas a very happy holiday!  Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

Thanks
Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Science of Love
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White, Aqua Mist
Impression Plate - Linen & Canvas
Dies: Simon Says Stamp - Thanks; Lawn Fawn - Science of Love 

Markers: Copics - R24, R27, C0
Sequins: Neat & Tangled - Crystal Clear

Misc: Wink of Stella - Clear Pen; Glossy Accents

Make a Wish
Stamps: Wplus9 - Fresh Cut Florals; Papertrey Ink - Think Big Favorites #1
Ink: Memento Luxe - Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Pear Tart; Ranger Archival - Jet Black
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White; MFT - Cotton Candy
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Mat Circles
Gems: Hero Arts - Small Pearl Gems

A New Look

Hello there Blog Friends!

Firstly, did you notice anything new? I have a new look on my blog! (If you are reading on a reader you might want to click on over to my site to check it out). As an early Christmas gift, my sweet hubby treated me to a new blog design, and I am really happy with it! Cindy, from Blessed Design Studio put the whole thing together for me...so, if you’re interested in a 'New Look’ too, check out Her Store

So, I’m just about finished with my Christmas cards but this week’s Cue Card at CASology is ‘Knit’, and the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More is 'Anything Goes'. So, I was more than happy to pull out my SSS holiday stamps with these adorable mittens and play along! I also used my current favorite impression plate to add some texture, my Wink of Stella pen on the mittens and some sequins to add sparkle.

 

Here is a close up of the sparkle on the mittens and texture on the background:

Well, that’s it for me ~ I hope everyone is doing well and ready for Christmas! I have some baking to do tomorrow, and with any luck I will also have them packed up to ship to Florida in time for Christmas Eve. Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

Supplies:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Big Holiday Wishes
Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento Luxe - Love Letter
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White, Pure Poppy

Die: Lil Inker Designs: Stitched Mat Rectangles

Impression Plate: Papertrey Ink - Linen & Canvas
Sequins: Kelly Purkey - Red

Pen: Wink of Stella - Clear

Paint Chip Tag

Hello Blog Friends ~
I received my new Layered Tree die from SSS yesterday, and can't seem to put it down! In fact, at one point, I thought about creating an ombre effect and remembered that I have several paint chips from Home Depot, and they would be perfect for this tree...and I could enter my tag into Virginia Lu's Challenge  ~ Card Inspiration with Paint Chips!

I used 2 paint chips in graduated colors/shades of pink and burgundy, then added the star, sentiment and accents. I think it's really fun to use paint chips on a card or tag, and I'm really impressed with the quality! 

Virginia's challenge is running until January 31st, so if you're interested, please go check out her Blog and join in the fun!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts - Holiday Sayings
Ink: Versafine - Smokey Gray
Cardstock: Home Depot - Paint Chips; Papertrey Ink - Select White
Dies: Simon Says Stamp - Layered Trees; Paper Smooches - Quote Tag
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh - Gold Stars; SSS - Clear (from Dec. card kit)
Twine: Doodlebug - Gray

More Christmas Cards

Hello everyone! 
I have 2 cards to share today. The first one is for this week’s challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. 

 

  

Our challenge is to create a card based on the photo inspiration, which is like a beautiful scene from ‘Home for the Holidays’. I’ve been wanting to do some offset stamping, so I used white pigment ink on the poinsettia’s, then shifted my block and stamped them again in blue ink. When I try techniques like this, I often wonder how Laura Bassen and Jen McGuire can eyeball a project and stamp images without a stamp-a-ma-jig...not me! If I need perfect placement, then I need that tool :-) I added a few gems, some twine and popped the blue panel up on a white card base...all set!

Here is a close up: 

My 2nd card is for this week’s challenge at Less is More. Our challenge is to create a one layer card, based on the theme 'The 12 Days of Christmas’. Well, that is a challenge for me, but I did find a digi image of a pear tree by Beccy Muir.  

I printed the pear tree image on Copic X-press cardstock, and colored everything with my copics. Then, I used my Wink of Stella glitter pen on the pears and red bow. The sentiment is computer generated. And, that’s when a one layer card gets difficult...you have to ‘stop’!



EDITED***Thank you so much, Chrissie and Jen, for Showcasing my card this week at Less is More!!

Well, that’s it for me ~ I hope everyone is doing well and is off to a great week! Thank you all so much for stopping by...I really appreciate it!
Barb

Joy to the World (A2 size card)
Stamps: Clearly Besotted
Ink: Memories - Unicorn; Memento Luxe - Teal Zeal; Versafine - Smokey Gray
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White, Spring Rain
Gems: Hero Arts - Clear
Twine: Doodlebug - Gray


Partridge in a Pear Tree (card size - 3 3/4 x 5)
Digital Stamp: Beccy Muir
Sentiment: Computer Generated Font - Two Peas in a Bucket - Peanut Butter
Cardstock: Copic X-Press It
Markers: Copics

Ho-Ho-Ho

Hello everyone! I have a card to share today for this week’s challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch. Our sketch for this week was provided by Joni Andaya, and I love it ~ Perfect for a fun Christmas card!

I die cut my stitched circles, and added some texture to the alphas with the canvas impression plate. Then, I embossed the snowflakes in white so it would read as ‘ho-ho-ho’ and stamped ‘Merry Christmas...ya know, like something Santa would say! Finally, I added patterned paper and a few enamel dots.


Well, that’s it for me ~ I hope everyone is doing well and having a great weekend! Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

 Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Holiday Envelope Set (snowflakes); Hero Arts - Holiday Sayings
Ink: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White, Smokey Shadow, Berry Sorbet
Patterned Paper: Papertrey Ink - Soft Stone Bitty Dot
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - White
Dies: Papertrey Ink - Modern Alphabet; MFT Stitched Circles
Impression Plate: PTI - Linen and Canvas

Hello

Hello everyone! I have another card to share and this one is for the Muse Challenge #47. Our Muse this week is the talented and sweet Therese Calvird...I always enjoy CASEing her cards!

I recently bought Paper Smooches ‘Free Spirits’ stamp set and dies. I masked off the puny sentiment that said ‘Merlot’ and used my ‘Hello’ die...ya know, like from the movie Jerry Maguire! Anyway, I thought it would also be fun to use the champagne glass in the set and silver foiled cardstock for the negative portion of the die. Then, I added my brand new sequins (another addiction of mine) that I purchased from Paulina’s (Pretty Pink Posh) Etsy’s Store.

 

I'm not sure why the silver foiled cardstock and sequins don't look silver in this photo...could be my pc, or my poor editing skills, so here is a close up:

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and that your holiday shopping is going well! Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

Stamps: Paper Smooches - Free Spirits
Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento Luxe - Love Letter
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Soft Stone, Select White
Dies: Paper Smooches - Free Spirits; PTI - Wonderful Words Hello
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh - Silver

 

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone! I have 2 cards to share today.

My first card is for 3 challenges ~
- Addicted to CAS - Code Word is Snowflakes 
- CASology  The Cue Card for this week is also ‘Snowflake’!
- Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge  The theme is ‘Let it Snow’

I created a mask with my snowflakes, then added embossing paste, and since I was trying to create something elegant, I used gold embossing powder, placed gold foil cardstock along the edge and added a few gold sequins.
 

 

It’s difficult to see the snowflakes on screen - there are 2 on top and one on the bottom. Here is a close up of the bottom snowflake.

My 2nd card is for the Merry Monday Challenge  , and the theme is 'Make it With Mittens’. I just bought the SSS stamp set Big Holiday Wishes, which has a cute pair of mittens, so I thought I would join in! 

                                                                        

Here is a close up of the snowflakes I created with the stencil:

 

 

I hope everyone is having a great week, and that your holiday shopping is going well! Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

Merry Christmas
Stamps: Hero Arts - Merry Christmas Trees
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Neenah - Solar White; DCWV - Foiled Cardstock
Embossing Powder: Zing - Gold
Embossing Paste: Studio 490 - White
Sequins: RAK from Betty

 

Merry Kissmas
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Big Holiday Wishes; Lawn Fawn - Sunny Skies (bird)
Ink: Versamark; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Peacock Feathers
Cardstock: Simon Says Stamp - Woodgrain Cardstock; Neenah Solar White; PTI - Pure Poppy
Die: PTI - Mat Stack #3; SSS - Curved Labels
Stencil: Simon Says Stamp - Falling Snow
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - White
Embossing Paste: Studio 490 - White
Markers: Copics - R24, R27

 

Hello everyone! 
I’ve been crafting for a few days and waiting for some bright sun, so I can take some decent pics of my cards...but, alas we’re having dark gray skies with a few inches of snow. So, I finally gave up and used my light box to take photos of my cards!

My first card is for 2 challenges ~ Addicted to CAS - Code Word: Snowflakes  and CASology. The Cue Card for this week is also ‘Snowflake’! I created a mask with my snowflakes, then inked them with white pigment ink. I used the border from the SSS envelope sentiments to ‘hang’ the snowflakes, then added clear sequins from the SSS December Card Kit to give the card some sparkle.

 

My 2nd card is for this week’s challenge at Less is More . Our challenge is to use a metallic element and one other color, so I die cut the tree with green foiled cardstock, and stamped my sentiment in red with my favorite Hero Arts sentiment! I also added a silver star with foiled cardstock. CAS goodness, and another Christmas card done! 

I hope everyone is having a great week! Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

Peace, Love & Joy
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Holiday Envelope Sentiments; Papertrey Ink - Think Big Favorites #9 (sentiment)
Ink: Memories - Unicorn
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Aqua Mist
Dies: Memory Box - Snowflakes
Embossing Powder: Ranger - Fine Silver

Merry Christmas
Stamps: Hero Arts - Merry Christmas Trees
Ink: Stampin Up - Real Red
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Select White; DCWV Foiled CS - Green, Silver (star)
Die: Memory Box - Snowflake Tree

Cheers

Hello everyone!
It’s official ~ I’m addicted to embossing paste! So, this morning when I saw Laura Bassen’s Video where she mixed 2 shades of pink paint with embossing paste to create an ombre effect with falling hearts, I just had to try it on a card. On this card, I used white embossing paste on the diagonal stencil, then after coloring the glass (that’s supposed to be pink champagne, by the way), I mixed up some paste with pink paint to give the effect of 'bubbles’.

I used Chrissy Larson's sketch for this week’s challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch #56 and I would also like to enter this card into the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. Our theme for this week is to create a Clean & Simple card.

     
I hope everyone has a great weekend! Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Barb

Stamps: Paper Smooches - Free Spirits
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Stamper’s Select White; MFT - Berrylicious
Dies: Paper Smooches - Drink Glasses
Embossing Powder: Ranger - Fine Silver
Stencils: Simon Says Stamp - Falling Snow, Diagonal Stripe
Embossing Paste: Studio 490 - White
Paint: Making Memories - Rose Petal
Markers: Copics - R81, R83, C1, C0

Twelve Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Hello everyone ~ Just a quick post...

As you may know, I am a huge fan of Julie Ebersole. On Monday, Julie created a tag for Ellen Hutson’s Blog - 'The Classroom' for the Twelve Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist, which inspired me to create this tag and enter the challenge. If you’re interested, check it out, as Julie also has a video sharing how she created her tag.

Here is mine:

 

I used several dies to create this tag ~ My new Paper Smooches Quote Tag die, which I love, because it's much larger than an ordinary tag. I also used Lil' Inkers stitched rectangle to cut out the opening, a Memory Box banner die, and tree dies! The sentiment and snowflakes stamps are Lawn Fawn.

Well, that's it for me! Thanks so much for stopping by ~

Barb

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Let it Snow
Ink: Versamark; Hero Arts - Soft Pool
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - Stamper’s Select White, Aqua Mist, Vellum
Dies: Memory Box - Pine Border Background, Pine Border Outline; Paper Smooches - Quote Tag; Simon Says Stamp - Small Folded Banners; Mama Elephant - Embellished Tag (re-inforcer)
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - White; Ranger - Fine Silver
Twine: Doodlebug - Gray