Elegant

Good Morning,

Sorry I've been away for a couple of days. Kristen left yesterday morning so I worked on housework and laundry yesterday. It kinda got away from me when she was here. It was more fun to go and do stuff than think about housework. lol Any excuse is better than no excuse!

I did this card up last week. It was so quick and perty...no I didn't spell it wrong...it was intentional.

I'll start with the flowers. These were made using the stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations. Fargocat Designs should have their entire order arriving this week. Customs delayed them but they are travelling again. They are awesome. Stamped six flowers the same size in two different colors and then die cut them out. No cutting...just ran then through my Cuttlebug. You know, my Cuttlebug gets a lot of use. Probably one of my most usefull tools. The centres are some brads I had picked up some time ago from Recollections.

Next up the oval. Used the Lacey oval die from Spellbinders. Cut it, embossed it and while it was still in the die I stenciled it with Tim Holtz Weathered Wood Ink. Comes out pretty gorgeous. The other two ovals were also Spellbinders from their classic oval sets. Stamped and sponged the edges of that one with the same Weathered Wood ink. I didn't have an oval large enough to fit bind the Lacey oval so I free hand cut one so brown cardstock would show through the little trianges in the Lacey oval. A nice satin bow on the right side. Lastly the paper is from Basic Grey - Pyrus. Fargocat Designs has received in her order of Basic Grey Wander and Jovial. While you're over there check out her Martha Stewart punches and there are some upcoming classes as well.

So for me today I'm going to finish up a little bit more housework and go tot he dreaded post office but I've got a package to send to my Xavier. I made some Halloween decorations so I really do need to get the package out.  It's all boxed just need to take pictures of the decorations and I'll be all set.

I'll be back tomorrow to share those.

Yvonne

Just a Note

Happy Friday,

Just a quick post. Came back late last night from San Antonio. Will give you more details later but I'll definitely be going back.

Stamp sets used are Elegant Cheer (sentiment) and Office Ephemera, both from Stampin' Up.

The background pattern paper is from Basic Grey - Pyrus. It's quite gorgeous. The edges of the paper and the cardstock were distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. Vintage Photo, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint.
Just as a side note if you haven't tried the blending foams or the mat that keeps your tabletop clean - can't remember the exact name right now - you should give both of them a try. They work great!

I used vanilla cardstock and stamped a collage of images on the paper before I stamped the pen.

Used a labels die from Spellbinders for the stamped sentiment. I cut the same size out twice and layered them. Also cut out one of the smaller dies and used that for a mask so I could spritz "Log Cabin" smooch around the edges to create a border. ( I've recently purchased the red and silver smooch so stayed tuned for some samples using them.)

Stamped and cut out the ink well. Raised up with dimensionals. The ribbon was vanilla colored and altered with the Distress Inks.

That's all I've got for today.

Yvonne

Advent Calendar - Jovial & Sea Dragons!

Good Morning,

Made it back from my day at the aquarium. It was pretty cool. I think my favorite thing I saw was the Sea Dragons.

A couple of weeks ago I finally completed my advent calendar. I had bought it "new" in package for $5.00 at a garage sale and the sticker price was still on the packaging which was $22.99. It is a Karen Foster product.

I used all different designs of Basic Grey's Christmas line - Jovial.

I glued each little piece to the front, sanded and then sponged with Tim Holtz - Vintage Photo ink. Decided not to add any color or paper to the outside edge of the box. I figure I can decorate the other side of each little drawer with a non-Christmas theme and then it can be an calendar for any event.

When the box is pulled out it looks just like this side complete with the little hole for your finger.

This will be Xavier's calendar. Don't know whether he will get it this year cause he's still pretty little to know what is going on but next year for sure.

Did you every have those Christmas calendars for your kids...the ones with the little chocolates behind each drawer. I always bought them for my kids right up till they left home. I can remember Kristen being about 3 or 4, so old enough that she knew she was only supposed to get one each night, hiding out under her bed with her calendar eating chocolates. I think she got about five or six ahead before I found her. lol

We've got some rain happening here today. We are supposed to be going canoeing ...will have to see if that happens.

If you're looking for some card making classes I see some new ones posted at Fargocat Designs.

Have a good Tuesday.

Yvonne

Flower Power

 Good Morning,

Did you have a good week-end? I did. Played a little mini golf - indoors - I won!

Getting ready to go to Galveston this morning and visit the Aquarium.

For todays share I used the Heartfelt Creation stamps and dies. If you're not familiar with them check out my post of Thursday and it will explain in more detail. Fargocat Shops order is at customs so she should have it soon.

Couple things I did differently on this card from the last one. Instead of curling the petals downward I curled them upward and it gives a totally different look. A nice little pearl for the centre.

 The lacey square is from Spellbinders. One of their new ones. The centre of the white square isn't a separate piece of cardstock but I sponged the centre with ink before I took it out of the die. Do you ever remember to do that with the spellbinders. Really is quite a neat feature that I haven't really used but you will be seeing more samples incorporating that idea.

A close up of the sponged centre.

I even added pearls on the ribbon. Pattern paper is again from Basic Grey - Pyrus.

Off on an adventure so I better go and get ready.

I will have an advent calendar to show tomorrow.

Yvonne

Heartfelt Creations

Good Morning,

Going to be a busy day going here and there with DD! so I thought I would get a post up early.

Today I'm showcasing a new line of stamps and dies that Fargo Cat Shops has enroute.  They are by Heartfelt Creations.

There are some of you out there that know from taking my classes how much I love to cut things out. Well you will love this if you like the look of cut out things but just don't have the patience to do the intricate cutting. It is so simple...you STAMP the image and then you use a spellbinders die and CUT out the image. Way cool.

They have various stamp sets that are designed to co-ordinate with die sets that they partnered with Spellbinders to create to match their stamps. I have the stamp set called Daisy Patch Flowers #3318 which has five different sizes of flowers so you can layer or simple stamp with. These are red rubber with foam mount and then you use a clear arcylic stamp block to stamp with. The etching on the stamps is very good. Your options are you can stamp with colored ink on colored cardstock or you could stamp on white paper and use a coloring medium to fill in.

Once you have stamped the image use the co-ordinating die set which in this case is #703 Daisy Patch Die Cut. For each die cut set there seems to be at least two or three stamp sets that specifically co-ordinate.
How do you get the image lined up with the die? If you check back here I had posted a tutorial on how to do this. By the way, they line up perfectly!

So for this card I cut out various sizes as you can see...I think I covered all five sizes. I used Tim Holtz Vintage Brown ink for stamping with. I curved the petals with a round wooden skewer. Worked quite well actually cause it was thin. For the centres I put a dallop of glue and then applied brown fuzzy stuff that you sometimes find in boxes. I can't remember the name of it right now. Flower Soft would work great too but I didn't have any that was suitable.If the glue had spread out farther than I wanted it too I simply used my exacto knife and pushed it back into a round circle. The glue I did use was a Flower Soft product so it was thick and white.

Look at all those little diamonds. I made my own flourish lines freehand.

The pattern paper is Basic Grey - Pyrus.

I'm off to do some travelling.

See you on Monday.

Yvonne

Christmas Ornaments

Morning,

Look at the Christmas ornaments I made this week-end. I think they are soooo cute.

I bought the plastic snowflakes, 10 to a package at Michaels. $1.99 less my 40% off coupon. Gotta love those coupons. Actually come to think of it you can probably find them at the Dollar store too!

On all the ornaments I decorated both sides so it doesn't matter which way the ornament swings. Now I can have Xavy's cute little face on my Christmas tree or hanging in my craft room.

This one I altered a little more...yes, all the snowflakes were white but I used my Smooch and spritzed it. Now it is blue.White liquid applique on the hat, diamond stickles on the snowflakes and tiara glitter on the buttons. Stamp set from Just-Rite Stamps - Vintage Christmas.

This snowflake has been altered in color as well but I used Glimmer Mist - sand on this one. Sponged around the outside edge with Tim Holtz Distress Inks Antique Linen. Copics to color in the images on both snowflakes. The ornaments are also from the Vintage Christmas set.

If you find the snowflakes at the Dollar store let me know and I'll post the info here so someone else might get a good deal.

Just a reminder to check the links on the right side of my blog if you're interested in some papercrafting retreats in Nova Scotia.

Kristen arrives tonight and I received  my brochure for San Antonio in the mail yesterday. her and I are going on a little road trip. I'm excited...I don't get out much with female companionship. We will be taking Tom Tom with us too. Maybe I'll change the voice on the GPS to a female voice so it's an all-girl roadtrip. lol

I'll post a card - non Christmas on Thursday.

Yvonne

Another Zig Zag Christmas

Hi There!

Off to another work week. It's going to be a busy week for me. I did all my housework this morning. Floors are even washed. Kristen arrives tomorrow night so I'm already for fun!

I made another Zig Zag card (I think it was last Thursday's post that has the directions). The only thing I did different with this one is I added what looks like a little flap to the top edge of the card.. I actually cut a scalloped oval nestability in half and it worked perfectly.

Stamp set is another Just Rite Stamps (Whimsical Christmas). Lots of dew drops on this card and some burgundy organdy ribbon. Sponged the edges of the image and the outer words.

Pattern paper is Basic Grey - Jovail.

If you give one of these cards a try leave me a comment with a link to your card or e-mail me a picture. Would love to see your creations.

I have something neat and nifty for tomorrow's share. Hope to see you again.

Yvonne