Nostalgia - Trip Down Memory Lane

Good Afternoon,

It's been a little over two years since I started blogging and about 10 years since I started making cards. Oh that fateful day!

I thought today I would share with you pictures of the first cards I made. You can tell it was around Easter time. Decorative scissors were very popular and most images were embossed. To color in the images I had a little set of kids paints. You know, the kind you dip your brush into water and then into the hard paint pallet. You know what...it worked pretty good, price was right, and they lasted forever. lol

Only a handful of stamps to choose from and a very limited supply of cardstock and pattern paper. Oh yeah, those were the days I could fit it in one rolly container in my hall closet. Those days are gone forever. lol

Just a reality check that we all started our crafting with limited supplies and knowledge.

I'll see all of you tomorrow as I have a more uptodate card to share.

Yvonne

Believe! - Lacey Circles

Good Morning,
Did a little crafting on the week-end and a little touring around. Thought Saturday was supposed to be a little cooler so thought it might be a good day for a drive with the top down. Wrong ... it was still too warm but we did drive through a few new small towns.

Friday night we went out for our usual beverage and snack food. We went to an establishment called "Tailgators". You guessed it...I thought I should try alligator. Of course it was breaded and deep fried but it was very good. What did it taste like? Chicken. Pretty bland actually.

Onto my card. This is one of four stamps in the Vintage Christmas set from Just-Rite Stamps.For cutting all the circles I used Nestabilities Classic, Scalloped, and the new Lacey Circles. Santa has a vintage feel to him so the image was stamped on vanilla cardstock and the edges sponged with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink and the edges on the red cardstock distressed with Pumice Stone.
Gold embossed the outer circle of the stamp on black cardstock. Background paper is Basic Grey - Jovial and the narrow strip on the front is the reverse side of the large piece.

The beard and the hat fur were both colored with Copic C-1 but on the fur I added Diamond Stickles. Like the effect. These aren't up in Deborah's shop yet but I know she has some in stock. Diamond is one of my favorites cause it goes on smoother and is less chunky.

Dew Drops - Christmas Drop Collection (border)

Tear Drops - Christmas Favorites (bottom right hand of card)

Copics Used

C1 & C3 (C1 for hat and beard - C3 for shading beard)

E21 (Baby Skin Pink) E51 (Milky White)

Colored face first with E51 and shadowed with E21

R11 (Pale Cherry Pink - lip)

B00 (Frost Blue - eyes)

R46 (Strong Red for shadows)

R17 (Lipstick Orange - for coloring hat and suit)

My paper had an orangy tint to it if your paper is more red try R27 (Cadmium Red)

Last night I was organizing photos and found some of the very first cards I ever did. I post some pics of those tomorrow. 

Yvonne

Mouse Day & Product Review & a Happy Birthday Bobby!

Good Morning All,

Today I have a card to share and a product review that I mentioned last week I was working on.

So for the product review I was trying out the Glue Runner Pro. This is an adhesive gun. It is also the smaller version. There are some out there that look as big as a packing tape gun. If you know what one of those looks like from moving ....I do! It seems as though anybody who had one of these tape guns was very satisfied. They basically said they couldn't live with out them. I wasn't so convinced cause the ones I had seen were all so big.

So I've tried out my Glue Runner Pro and here are the findings. It worked very well. Not cumbersome to use. The pink and green color is really pretty (just thought I would throw that in there!) But the part that did really IMPRESS me was how well the tape dispensed. I've used tape runners produced by a variety of companies (don't want to get into naming names but I've tried many) and the biggest complaint I had was the tape never dispensed completely. The opening on some would gum up or clog, on others a lot of the tape didn't end up on your paper but stayed on the tape and ended up wasted as it fed itself around the winding mechanism. I tried it on both my scrapbooking page and a couple of cards and on both it worked well. One tip I would give is as you pull the tape head across the paper before you lift if up just give a gently push down and then that way the tape seems to finish off nicer. By that I mean you don't waste any glue strips and dispense the amount you meant to. I would give this product the "Thumbs Up".

Now onto my card. Haven't colored a House Mouse stamp for a while or played much with my copics so I had to have a fix of both. I did use an assortment of product from Fargocat Shops to design this card. The two different oranges of cardstock are Bazzill Bling, the green embossed cardstock, Half the Edge Strips.

The Half the Edge Strip I used a border embossing folder from ProvoCraft to jazz it up. Placed two buttons on the sentiment and one on the border to tie things together. Labels nestabilities used to cut the shapes. The green shape and the orange shape are the same size. Stitching in black around everything removed the plain look from the pieces.

Copic Colors Used

YR04 (chrome orange), Y38 (honey), E31 (brick beige), E33 (sand), E21 (baby skin pink),

Y06 (yellow), G07 (nite green), G14 (apple green), RV10 (pale pink)

Happy Birthday Bobby ( I think I have the day right)!

They're calling for cooler temperatures here this week-end. Only the high 80's. lol

Yvonne

My Boyz

Good Day,

Here's my scrapbook page I've been working on for the last couple days. The picture was taken in PEI when we were on vacation visiting Xavier and his parents - lol (Adam & Stephanie) The boys were just sitting on the blacket and everyone else was off to the beach (of course Nana had the camera).

The pattern paper is from Fancy Pants Design called Oh Boy! The flourish on the left side is cut from Cindy Loo cartridge at 3". Also "my boyz" is cut from Cindy Lou at 1 1/2" using Font Layer. The remainder of the title is from Opposites Attract cartridge at 1 1/2".

The journalling tage is from Gypsy Wanderings and cut at 3 1/2" and 3 3/4" in order to layer it. Rub-ons was used for the journalling. Random stars are punched and then stitched with a black copic liner.

Working on a few other projects and will have a card for tomorrow.

Enjoy the sun.

Yvonne

Tutorial for Nestabilities & Just-Rite Stamps

Good Morning,

Hope you all had a great week-end. We had a nice one...very warm...and we had a few friends over on Saturday night which made for a sleepy Sunday. lol

Today I want to show you how to use your Nestabilities with stamped images.

Start with the size of nestability that you think will accomodate the size of your stamped image.

Tape one side of it to scrap cardstock.

 Stamped image.

Remove the centre after you have cut it.

Open the nestability like a window and position your stamped image under the opening. 

Close and cut.

The technique works great with the Just Rite Stamps. You can see in the top corner I've used the circle to cut out the stamps ring on a Just Rite Stamp

Onto today's card. You can see how nicely I was able to cut out all the circles. The snowman was cut around and popped up with dimensionals.

Isn't the background paper cute? That is the new Basic Grey Christmas Line called Jovail. FargoCat Shops will have this in stock soon if it hasn't already arrived.

See the scalloped border strip and the square under the snowman. Those were made using SU's punches. The border punch was used for the long strip and I just punched one strip in red and one in black. Layered those together and then put another 1/4" strip of black over top and added a black grosgrain bow. The square was 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 and I punch just the corners with the corner scallop punch. It is designed to work with the border punch so you can have a scalloped square. Good in theory but you are very limited to the size of square scallop that you can make. I'm waiting on my order of Scalloped Square Nestabilities to arrive and that will make it much easier. (They should be here tomorrow- - hehe). Anyway it did make a fancy square so you might want to try some of those corner punches that are sitting in a drawer and see what you can come up with.

A few Christmas colored dew drops down the side for balance and Christmas Red Stickles on the holly.

For those of you who want to make this the base card is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", red cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 and pattern paper is 3 3/4" x 5"

Copic Markers used

YR68 (orange)

E37 (sepia)

Y38 (honey)

R27 (cadmuim red)

R29 (lipstick red)

G99 (olive)

C5 (cool grey)

This has been a long post and if you're still with me "Have a great day." Lots of parents here in Houston are especially having a great day as it was the "First" day back to school! lol

Yvonne

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

Good Morning,

We were lucky enough to get to see my niece Trina and her hubby Sheldon for a few hours. Not nearly long enough but hopefully next time we can organize it so they can stay a little longer.

You will want to visit my blog on Monday as I'll have a special tutorial done. A little hint - making it easier to position your spellbinder dies when cutting out an image that has already been stamped.

Stamps used are Just-Rite Stamps - Something Sweet Set. This would be a good set if you did up small packages of candy, jams, cookies but they also make for good cards. lol

The card base is standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". Pattern paper is 4 x 5 1/4". After adhering the paper to the base I cut a slit in the top of the card to feed the ribbon through. Behind the image I adhered the ribbon to the card with tacky tape. The bow was made separately and attached with a large glue do.

Image stamped with black Momento ink and colored with copics - R46 - strong red, B93 Light Crockery Blue, and B97 Night blue. White liquid applique for the foam on the cup (apply let dry and then heat with a heat tool so it will puff up), snowflakes have Dazzling Diamond Glitter and the swirly steam is Diamond Stickles.  Out of all the stickles Diamond is my favorite. I know FargoCat Shops  has some in stock (cause I delivered it - lol)Of course I used the nestabilities and  pop dots between layers for dimension. A simple card to make and the layers add the pizazz.

Don't forget to come and see me on Monday for my tip.

The project will be Christmas and I'll tell you about Glue Glider Pro. I got one at CHA but haven't really tested it so I guess I need to make some more cards so I can give you the scoop.

Have a good week-end......I might see you before then though....I do have a couple more cards completed.

Yvonne

August Card Sketch

Good Morning,

I told you I would be back today!

What did I do yesterday...I went to the dentist...apparently one tooth I had a root canal on doesn't have a crown? I thought I had crowns put on all teeth that had root canals. Need to check on that. Other than that a good check-up.

Got most of the housework done...just a little more vacuuming!

I didn't get any crafting done though...maybe today.

The sketch below is from Sketches{by tamara}. Be sure to check out the link to see the rest of the design teams take on the sketch.

The flower stamp was a set I had received free at CHA and I can't remember who made it. It was stamped on white paper and colored in with my copics. The flourishes in the background were embossed with black Embossing Powder (detail). Do you like how I got the saying to go around the corner. Used my printer and the Graftix Rub-ons. I think FargoCat Shops still has a package left for sale. It works so slick. Sometimes I get tired of using the same stamps for the sentiment. Cardstock is from Stampin' Up and the pattern paper is some I had on hand.

Remember anytime your dealing with flowers and want a little extra dimension be sure to gently curl the edges before adhering to your card.

That's a wrap for today. I'll see you Thursday.

Yvonne

Home...Home...Home

Hi There In Blog Land!

Good to be home. Had a great trip and got to see family and friends. Arrived home Friday night and just vegged on Saturday and Sunday. I'll share a few tidbits over the next couple of weeks about what we did.

I will tell you I didn't pack the right kind of clothes. Weather was a little cool in PEI, Toronto was pretty warm and Nova Scotia had a mix of warm & cool. However, upon returning to Houston it has been hot. I think it has been the hottest days we've seen yet. At one point yesterday with the humidex it was at 117 F.
I swam a lot!

I did come home to packages that had arrived while I was away. It was like Christmas checking them all out. No....they're not all mine....they're Deborah's. Deborah did some ordering while she was at CHA in July and some of the goodies are coming here first so I can start playing designing with them. lol The order is from Just-Rite Stamps and there are lots of Christmas sets and some all occassion. If you haven't had a chance to see any of their sets click here. Most of their stamp sets are designed so you can use Spellbinders dies with them. A real plus. I have some of the new Spellbinders coming too. Can hardly wait. Check out Fargocat Shops for more info.

I've had this scrapbook page done for a couple months but haven't posted it yet. This was Kristen and Scoobee Doo at one of her road races she's been doing this year.Used the cricut to cut out the flower, the words and the bracket. I promise to be better at writing down which cartridges I used and maybe even the size. I create them and if I don't post right away I forget. Must be getting old or maybe just forgetful.

I do need to get some housework done today. I have family coming tomorrow from Alberta. My neice and her husband are in town for a convention and will be able to come for supper tomorrow night so I'm looking forward to that.

I'm not looking forward to my dentist appointment this afternoon.

I'll be back tomorrow...will you?

Yvonne

Peace On Earth

Good Morning,

I have a little extra time today to blog. Kevin and Adam have gone golfing for the day so I'm relaxing at the B & B and catching up on a few tasks.
Vacation is winding down...Friday we head back home. It's been great having a chance to see everybody and especially seeing Xavier.

This is another card I made with the Just-Rite Stamps. Background paper is retired Stampin' Up. The image was colored in with copics. I don't try to shade on these smaller stamps, just color. For bling, dew drops adhered to the background paper overtop of some of the existing dots. Nestabilities or punches used for layering the image. I actually stamped the word image first then cut with the Nestability followed by embossing. Created what looks like a tab under the image just for variation.

This might be the last post I can squeeze in before I head back home. I'm probably starting to go through crafty withdrawal! lol

Deborah has a few orders of product on their way to my house so it will be exciting to get those and open them. I will keep you informed with all the new goodies that will be arriving. I know some of those new spellbinder dies are coming my way. I can hardly wait to try those babies out. hehe If you're looking for any of those you selves send Deborah and e-mail regarding pricing etc.Her prices are calculated tax in and are very good.

I think she has some card classes going on right now with the Just-Rite Stamps too!

Time for me to get on with my vacation....see you soon.

Yvonne

Recipe Challenge

Good Morning,

Quick update. In PEI playing with Xavier. Weather is cool and cloudy and windy. lol

Challenge today is a recipe challenge. Had to use green, bling and a pennant or flag.

Stop by Sketches!by tamara to see all the different ideas.

Check out Fargocat Designs for the latest additions to Deborahs shop.

Only  three more days of vacation.

Yvonne

Time Flies

Hi

I'm into my final month being a designer for Sketches!{by tamara}. This week is a layout sketch. To see how well I followed the sketch please pop on over to Sketches!{by tamara} . I don't have my copy of the sketch handy and I'm uploading this a day early!

This picture is of my Goddaughter Jenna. It was taken when she was eight - twelve years ago. So hard to believe that she just graduated high school and will turn eighteen in a couple more days.
This page is a reminder for all of us to stop and enjoy or cherish the moments cause time flies. The paper and the butterflies are sparkly. I think the cartridge I used is Home Accents for the butterflies. Co-ordination paper for the layers in the centre. Embossed the first layer with a cuttlebug folder and sanded. The second layer I just sanded the paper and where the writing is I sanded the paper and used the Graphix rub-ons to do the journalling.

I plan on doing the co-ordinating page of her in her grad dress which was gorgeous!

Heading out early tomorrow morning from Toronto and flying onto Nova Scotia.

Had a wonderful time with Kristen and Joel.

I'll be back in a couple of days.

Yvonne

Another Just-Rite Christmas

Hi There,

Here I am in Toronto. Having a great time!

I bring you another different Just-Rite Stamps Christmas Set. I don't have the name of the set handy but you can contact Deborah at FargoCat Shops for more information. This is another of the stamp sets I do have in my suitcase to be delivered on Wednesday. lol

I'm on my lap top so I'm going to keep this short.There are six different centers and corresponding centres to this set. I used a punch for the centre - "Have a Merry Christmas" and also for the layer behind that. Stamped the christmas lights, colored in with stickles and cut out with the spellbinders square scallopped followed by another layer of red. A square in each corner gave it added dimension. A dew drops on each of the tabs.

The outer frame on this care says "Merry Christmas'. A little pearl in each corner. Not my best photograph to show the coloring. The images were colored with copic markers.

Don't like not working with a mouse but I didn't want to excite Patches and Grizzley. lol A very little bit of humor if you know who Patches and Grizzley are.

Sounds like Deborah had a great trip to CHA and we should be seeing some knew merchandise in her online store soon.

Yvonne