Forever & Always

Hi there ~
Just a quick post today ~ I created another card for this week’s challenges:
Addicted to CAS - Code Word is ‘One Layer Card’
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge - ‘Clean and Simple’
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - ‘Anything Goes’ with a focus on using exclusive SSS products 

This is my very first attempt at using Wendy Vecchi’s Embossing Paste. I die cut a bunch of hearts from my SSS dies using a piece of clear acetate, taped it down with Washi and applied the paste...easy-peasy for sure, and I love the dimension! I’m sure I’ll be using this paste again very soon!

Here is a close up of the texture from the embossing paste:

I hope everyone is having a great day...Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by ~
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Always & Forever
Ink: Versamark; Hero Arts - Unicorn Pigment Ink
Paper: Neena - Desert Storm
Dies: Simon Says Stamp - Large Holiday Shapes (hearts)
Embossing Paste: Wendy Vecchi - White
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - White

You're the Apple of My Eye

Hello Blog Friends ~
I created this card for my sweet little granddaughter, Desi...because she IS the “Apple of my Eye”! I like to send her surprise packages with a hand made card, it’s fun! And, I miss her terribly :-( My DD, her DH and Desi live in Florida, and we don’t get to visit nearly enough, so I like to do little things to make her smile!

So, I am entering this card into 2 challenges: 
Addicted to CAS - Code Word is ‘One Layer Card’ 
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge - 'Clean and Simple'

I stamped the apple and masked it off, then created a stencil using my banner die with masking tape and colored it in with Hero Arts Soft Pool ink. 

I hope everyone is having a great day...Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by ~
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Fruit Fusion Apple
Ink: Hero Arts - Soft Pool; Versafine - Onyx Black
Paper: Papertrey Ink - Select White
Dies: Lifestyle Crafts - Banners and Arrows

From Our Home to Yours

Hello Blog Friends ~
I created this card for 3 challenges: Less is More Week 143. Our recipe is to use string or twine, for the SSS Monday Challenge "Anything Goes" and for the Muse Card Club Challenge. This week, our inspiration card was created by the amazing Janet Ribet.

I’m having a hard time capturing details using my light box when I use Embossing Folders/Impression Plates, so once again I took this photo in the natural light in my kitchen...hopefully, you can see the embossed detail on the white panel. 

Here is my card:

And, since I'll be making cards for my family and friends a bit later, I will be donating this card to the 2013 Caring Hearts Card Drive.

I hope everyone is well...Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by ~
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Polka Dot Parade #9
Ink: Hero Arts - Soft Pool, Pale Tomato, Mint Julep, Soft Granite, Butter Bar, Soft Sky; Versafine - Smokey Gray
Paper: Papertrey Ink - Select White, Harvest Gold; Hero Arts - Pine Layering Papers
Die: Papertrey Ink - Polka Dot Parade #9
Impression Plate: Papertrey Ink - Picnic Plaid
Misc: Twine, Sequins, Clear Rock Candy Stickles

Winter Wonderland

Hello Blog Friends ~
Last week, I won a gift voucher from the Mama Elephant Blog Hop and redeemed it for the Winter Wonderland Stamp Set. I love the deer and the beautiful sentiments in this set, and since I’m diligently working on my cards for the 2013 Caring Hearts Card Drive, I thought I would create another Christmas card. I was also inspired by Tami Hartley’s card here, and used the same shadow inks on my card to create the background:

I hope everyone is well, and that you have all been able to get in  some crafty time over the weekend...Thanks so much for stopping by!
Take care,
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant - Winter Wonderland
Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black, Smokey Gray; Versamark; Hero Arts - Soft Pool, Mint Julep
Cardstock: PTI - Select White
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - White, Clear
Glitter: Tim Holtz - Clear Rock Candy
Gem: Hero Arts - Clear Gems

More Cards for 'Caring Hearts Card Drive'

Hello Blog Friends ~
Gosh, I’m seeing so many gorgeous holiday cards lately, and since I keep using the same new Christmas stamps that I have, I think it’s time for me to get shopping :-)

Meanwhile, I created 2 more cards for the 2013 Caring Hearts Card Drive, which I am also submitting to this week’s Less is More Challenge. Our theme is ‘Trees’, so on the first card I used my Memory Box Die as a silhouette, and on the 2nd card I used my Hero Arts ‘Shari’s Tree #2’ stamp. I am also entering the '2nd’ card into the current Hero Arts Holiday Challenge.

Here is my 1st card:

and, here is my 2nd card:

The deadline for the card drive is November 28th, so if you would like more information, please go to Jennifer McGuire's Blog

Well, that’s it for me today ~ Until next time...take care, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Barb

Supplies:
1st Card:
Stamps: Hero Arts - Merry Christmas Writing
Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Tim Holtz - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers
Cardstock: PTI - Stamper’s Select White, Smokey Shadow
Dies: Memory Box - Cottage in the Woods

2nd Card:
Stamps: Hero Arts - Shari’s Tree #2, Merry Christmas Writing
Ink: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black;
Cardstock: PTI - Stamper’s Select White
Pencils: Inktense
Die: Lil’ Inkers – Stitched Rectangle
Glitter: Tim Holtz - Distress Stickles ‘Clear Rock Candy’ (Thanks, Barb!)
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts - Clear

Hello Everyone ~

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for your concern and sweet comments about my injury...my thumb is healing well, thank heaven!

I wasn’t thrilled with my first submission for this week’s challenge at Addicted to CAS, so I decided to take out my vellum, and play some more. Our  code word is 'Transparent’, so I used a technique I learned from Kristina Werner called Copic Vellum Gradient demonstrated in This Video
I also put score lines in the feathers, then colored a small piece of plain white cardstock to mimic the pattern and die cut the word “Be”. 

Here is my card:

Supplies:
Stamps:Simon Says Stamp - ‘Be’ sentiments
Ink: Versafine - Smokey Gray
Cardstock: Neenah - Solar White
Dies: MFT - Feathers
Sequins: Gift from Bettijo

Until next time...take care, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Barb

Caring Hearts

Hello Everyone ~
Last night, I cut my thumb (badly) opening a can of green beans (another reason not to buy canned veggies), so it’s a bit awkward to use the space bar with this huge bandage on my finger...Ouch! Thank heaven I typed up most of my blog post in advance!

This card is for this week's challenge at ATCAS and for  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with the theme Christmas/Holiday. I wanted to create a window card with my Lawn Fawn owl, so I placed a transparency sheet between the front card panel and the red panel (difficult to see on screen). The other ‘transparent’ element is the acrylic cabachon. I stamped the holly and berries, punched it out with my 1/2“ circle punch and placed the cabachon on top. I also used my Copic Colorless Blender to create subtle stripes in the scarf.

I’m donating this card to the “Caring Hearts Card Drive” for the elderly that live in nursing homes, which is sponsored by Jennifer McGuire and Vera Yates. The deadline is November 28th, so I’m hoping to make several more by then.

Here is my card:

 

If you would like more information about the card drive, details are on  Jennifer's Blog

       

Supplies:
Stamps:Lawn Fawn - Winter Owl, Making Frosty Friends (snowflakes); Hero Arts - Holiday Sayings (sentiment, holly) 
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Soft Sky; Versafine - Onyx Black
Cardstock: PTI - Soft Stone; Hero Arts Layering Papers - Punch, Acetate Card; Neenah - Solar White
Markers: Copics; Spica - Clear Glitter Pen; Memento - Cottage Ivy, Rhubarb Stalk
Impression Plate: PTI - Linen and Canvas
Acrylic Cabachon: Bottle Cap, Inc. - 1/2“

Until next time...take care, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Barb

A New Challenge

Hello all, and thanks for stopping by ~

This week’s challenge at  Less is More is to create a one layer card, and to include the theme of Witches & Wizards. I had this cute ‘Witch’ digi stamp, and couldn’t resist getting out my Copics and coloring her up! Unfortunately, I only have 2 Copics in the ‘purple family’, so I had to do some creative blending on her cape (or is that a dress?)...either way, right? It’s funny, how anything to do with witches reminds me of the 60‘s song by Donovan, “Season of the Witch”. So, now I’m dating myself (wink) and of course, I won’t be able to get this song out of my head for the next few days...yikes!

So, here is my card:

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful autumn weather like we’re having on the east coast of the U.S. - The air is crisp and cool, and it’s such a pleasure after a long hot summer!

Supplies:
Stamps: Tiddly Inks Digital Image - Too Cute to Spook Witchy Wryn; Lawn Fawn - Claire’s ABC’s; SSS - Like Your Style (Swirly line)
Ink: Ranger Archival - Jet Black
Cardstock: Xpress It Blending Card
Markers: Copics

Less is More Challenge:   

Until next time, take care,
Barb

Hi everyone ~
So, after a lot of encouragement and support from my blog friends, I decided it was high time I start a blog for myself. I mean, hey, it might be nice to have my own little corner in "Cyber-Land" to call my own, right?

My purpose is to connect with family and friends, and to have a place to share my handmade cards and ideas. I hope everyone will feel welcome here, and want to stop by often...please don't hesitate to ask questions or make suggestions. I am brand new at this, and I welcome everyone's comments!

Before I move on to my card, I want to thank my sweet blog friends for encouraging me to take this step...Hugs to all!!!

I created this card for 3 challenges CAS(E) This Sketch. This is sketch #49 by the super talented Karolyn Loncon; Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge Blog  (http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/) with the theme 'Anything Goes’, and for   Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where we are to use either a rubber or clear stamp.

Usually, I take my photos in a light box, but it's often difficult to see certain details on a card. So, this time, I used natural light (note the shadows on the right), but at last I can see the texture from my Impression Plate on the front panel...Yay! I also used Simon Says Stamp "Be" stamp set and die with their cloud dies, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Until I figure out how to add the appropriate link, here is a list of supplies I used on this card:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Be
Ink: Stampin’ Up - Night of Navy
Cardstock: PTI - Stamper’s Select White; Bazzill Card Shoppe - Icy Mint; Stash - Dark Blue and Pink
Dies: Simon Says Stamp - Be, Cloud Speech Bubble; Memory Box - Butterfly Delights
Impression Plate: PTI - Linen and Canvas
Gem: Prima - Mini Pearl

I hope everyone is having a fun and crafty weekend...or at least getting outside to enjoy some of the beautiful autumn weather we are having in the U.S.!

Also, I would like to wish all of our friends in Canada a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Well, that's it for me...Thank you all so, very much for stopping by!

Barb