Happy (belated) Mother's Day...

Only a day late in getting this to her, but she always appreciates the results. We cooked a very nice 3 course dinner for Mom which included an appetizer of scallops with a side of asparagus, a main of lamb and riced cauliflower, and a funky diy dessert of cut up fruit, honey and rice paper wrappers where you could wrap your own "salad rolls".

It was a hit. Inspiration for her card was from here: Case Study 185 : Catherine Pooler

I apologize for the lack of editing on photos -  my life has been absolutely crazy lately. I used paper piecing and masking on this card: I first stamped the orchids on the original cardstock, then I stamped again and cut out 3 other orchids that if you look closely you can see it. The center orchid and stem is raised up on this card. I also used Copics to color in the orchid.

The masking was to protect the Smoothie border from being stamped on.

There was more masking to do to protect the same border on the inside. I tilted the stamp so that there were no words from the stamp set showing.

Other:
* Cream cardstock

CTMH
* Eclectic Edges
* Island Greetings
* Mother's Day
* Ruby Ink
* Smoothie Ink
* Gypsy Ink

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful sunshine today!

Summer workshop!!

Wow, what a crazy life so far between work, gardening, and trying to get all my ducks in a row for a summer workshop that was requested by my ladies :) The running theme for these cards were all layouts from Sketchbook Saturday Challenges! What can I say, I'm a huge fan of Chupa's work and her layouts were fantastic.

This time, I also wanted to showcase some of the beautiful paper packs that CTMH has in their catalog. The three paper packs featured are Ivy Lane (girl birthday cards), Timberline (boy birthday cards), and Skylark (baby congratulation cards)

Card #1 - Girl Birthday
Inspiration: Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #80

 

 Inks used: Smoothie, Cotton Candy, Gypsy

Stamp: Inspiration Flourishes, Dreamer

Card #2 - Girl Birthday

Inspiration: Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #67 

 

Inks used: Gypsy, Cocoa

Stamp Set: Quick Cards - Island Greeting, Banner Wishes

Card #3 - Boy Birthday

Inspiration: Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #92

Inks Used: Twilight, Cocoa, Ponderosa Pine

Stamp Set: Robot Family

 

Card #4 : Boy Birthday

Inspiration: Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #59

 

Inks Used: Outdoor Denim

Stamp Set:  Country-Born

 

Card #5: Baby Congratulations #1

Inspiration: Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #76

Inks Used: Goldrush, Autumn Teracotta, Ponderosa Pine,Cocoa

Stamp Set: Give a Lift, Banner Wishes

Card #6: Baby Congratulations

Inspiration: Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #67

 

Inks Used: Ruby, Cocoa, Whimsy Pigment Ink Set, Basic Pigment Ink Set

Stamp Set: Buggy Love, Give a Lift

My go-to accessory is foam tape above everything else. What`s your go-to accessory for card making or scrapbooking? 

The workshop dates are 

• Sunday, June 29th 
• Saturday, July 26th. 

Cards are priced at $2.00 each and come with envelopes. As well, I can also create card kits with pre-stamped pieces for the same price per card. Finally, cards assembled from previous workshops are also available for sale at the Summer 2014 workshop for $3.00 each.

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!

 

 

Two Year Work Anniversary

My boss made it to his two year anniversary on Thursday last week. My coworkers were talking about buying a card until they remembered the work that I do and I volunteered my card making skills.

Today's inspiration is from Case Study #117 : Maureen Merrit

I always find boy cards a challenge because a lot of the images I have are more female centered than male centered. However, by using boy-colors: blue and brown it helped to give it a more boy-type feel.

My favorite technique is to bring the colors and images to the inside of the card to tie it all together.

Other:
* Solid cardstock

CTMH:
* Dreamin' Level 2 Paper Pack
* Blue & Green Adhesive Rhinestones
* Silver embossing powder
* Hello Blooms
* Jardin
* Scrapbook Statements - Poets
* Card Word Puzzle
* Artiste Cricut Cartridge
* Cocoa Ink
* Outdoor Denim Ink

As always...

... it's Valentine's Day around the corner as well as my Dad's upcoming birthday.

So, I had to put together a Valentine's card for the husband who supports all my cardmaking and other random hobbies. And he does love my cards :)

Today's inspiration: http://www.ewenstyle.com/2013/01/case-study-valentine.html

This was the perfect opportunity to use the Jan 2013 stamp of the month which is a beautiful set of roses. It is just asking to be colored with the Copic markers that I have been slowly collecting over time: R22, R24, R29, YG67, YG63, BG75.

When you color with Copics, you do run the risk of running your ink as they are alcohol based markers. You should either stamp with pigment inks and let them dry, or emboss your image as I decided to do with black embossing powder.

Other:
* Solid cardstock
* Copic markers
* Ribbon

CTMH:
* Happy Valentine's - January 2013 SOTM
* Love Life
* Black embossing powder
* La Belle Vie Level 2 Paper Pack
* Red/Pink Sparkles

Happy Valentine's Day everyone - hope you find love in everything you do today.

I can never turn down a contest...

When I made this card, I didn't have a recipient in mind this time, but most of my female family members' birthdays have come and gone. I'm considering making cards for sale, however.

I had a fantastic time in Vancouver and Seattle! We visited Summerhill and Quail's Gate winery, our friends in Vancouver, Granville Island, our friends in Seattle, Pike Place Market and even took a hammer to our dinner.

This is the view from our table at Quail's Gate Old Vines Restauraunt in Kelowna, overlooking the mountains, the lake, and their vineyard is to the right.

I can't resist a Mojo Monday contest, and last Monday's contest was no exception! I came home to my order waiting for me which included two stamp sets from the latest catalogue - Jardin and Magic Potions. I have grand plans for Magic Potions later!

Today's inspiration is Mojo Monday : MOJO257

I broke out my embossing gun which I haven't for some time now! The silver powder is from somewhere in Vancouver Island that my grandmother bought me years ago before she passed away. However, she's probably grinning from Heaven - like me, she absolutely adored crafting of all kinds. I decided to blend a few paper packs again; Florentine, Stella, and Avonlea. They match so beautifully.

As I didn't have an event to make this for, I decided to add some elements from the front and leave it blank. In case you're wondering where the butterfly is from - I stamped it out of Jardin and cut out the butterfly. I've got a serious weakness for beautiful butterflies.

Last but never least, it's a new month which means there's a new SOTM available! It's really cute to use for Fall, Thanksgiving, or even possibly Halloween cards and decor. It's called Fall Favorites and I know I will definitely have to get one for myself.  This set is only 5$ with a 50$ minimum purchase.

And of course don't forget... it's National Stamping Month! See this post - http://stamped-by-hand.blogspot.ca/2012/08/just-couldnt-resist.html for details. Spend $35 and get a double-sided set for only 5$ more. It's quite versatile!

Michaels, etc:

* Ribbon

* Solid cardstock

* Silver embossing powder

* Rhinestones

CTMH:

* Avonlea Level 2 Paper Pack

* Stella Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)

* Florentine Level 2 Paper Pack

* Jardin

* Smokey Plum

* Topiary

I'm out to enjoy the last weekend of summer!