Thoughtful Thursday 12/24/15

Merry Christmas!  I hope you are spending today or tomorrow with family or friends.  If you can't, may you think of them and smile!

Hugs!

A Little When It's Needed

Sunday Ray went to find Belle.  He told me it was time when he won't take the meds (or food) that might help him.  I listened even though it was hard...

Yesterday was hard for me, especially when the doorbell rang.  After 11 years (at this house - I had an additional 11 years at our other house) of hearing a dog bark, it was silent.

I had shopping to do, but I stopped by the decoration section.  I needed something to make me a little happier.  I found and bought this.  Putting him out was the second thing I did when I got home (peeing was the first -- I  know, tmi).

It made me happier to know there's a dog around, and there always will be.








The third thing I did when I got home was go check on my Snowbell bulbs.  I'd been really good about not checking on them, but it was time.




I found six plants just breaking ground!  Some of them aren't even this high so it was hard to find them all.  In fact, this one was under the bark that I pushed aside to find!

I was as happy as I could be!





I'm trusting that Ray found Belle who introduced him to Benny (who lived with Belle) who in turn introduced him to Rex, Rosie (first dogs), Cujo, Prairie (sister's dogs), and Camille (another sister's dog).  Cujo and Prairie introduced Lily to Ray too.  And just maybe, they found my childhood dog, Missy.  Gosh, I hope so!  And they are one big family running around and healthy.

This is the first time since 1993 that a dog has not lived in my house.  I need a couple of months before I start looking for our next two...  Thanks Ray and Belle, my wonderful babies, for these chapters of my life.  You will be missed, and through my tears, I'll smile at all the good times.

6th Grade Camp Card: 5 of 5

Whew!  So I decided on, cut, and assembled (oh, and wrote) all five of the camp cards in about 2 hours (okay, maybe 2.5 hours - it was a late night).

This last card is Middle Ground (page 19) of Wishes.  Words from Finding the Words and butterfly from Your Own Kind of Wonderful (D1627).

First off, I made my card to determine the colors I was going to paint my butterfly.  The background is Gypsy cardstock.  There is also Pixie ("Special" is stamped on that) and Cotton Candy (one step darker than Pixie) to back the butterfly.  The polka dot strip is the zip strip from one of the B&T papers.

Once I knew the colors of the card, I took a rectangular piece of Watercolor paper and my watercolors.  I painted horizontally across the rectangle.  Once it was dry (I assembled the card and others while I waited), I stamped with Black ink (you can use the Stazon on Archival Ink, but since I stamped after the paper was dry, I wasn't worried about bleedage (yes that is a word I just made up)).

There was too much white space after I adhered the butterfly on so I added some Black Sparkles (retired).  The butterfly may look like it's taking off the card (it is if you were holding the card), because it is.  I added thin foam to the middle of the lower wings and regular 3D foam to the top of the top wings.  I glued the bottom of the bottom wings directly to the paper.  Fun!

I should probably start on my summer camp cards now and put them aside so I can get some sleep before the girls leave!  Wait, I can't do that... I don't know what wonderful paper there is going to be in the Seasonal Expressions 2 supplemental.  Somethings are better to wait...

6th Grade Camp Card 4 of 5

Today's camp card was inspired by the color Pacifica.  It is one of the colors from the Kaleidoscope paper packet, but I wasn't happy with what I had in my mind with any of the background and texture papers.  Finding the Words ( D1646) was the only stamp set used for this card.

Bandwidth is the pattern, came from Originals, and is on page 31.

The Pacifica cardstock background was distressed by lightly rubbing (in a circular motion) the Pacifica ink pad on the cardstock.  In fact, all of the distressing was done with Pacifica ink.  The Lagoon band with "Love" and the two squares (Sweet Leaf and White Daisy)  are sponge distressed.

The hearts were stamped in the three colors of the card - Sweet Leaf, Lagoon, and Pacifica.  They are placed on the card to stand out.  It wouldn't have looked as good if I put the Pacifica heart on top because it wouldn't stand out as much, just like the Lagoon heart wouldn't being on top of the Lagoon  band.

6th Grade Camp Card #3 of 5

I have so much to share this week, I'm doing it twice today!

This card made me smile!  The butterfly is from Your Own Kind of Wonderful (D1627).  The words are again from Finding the Words (D1646).  And the paper is from the Kaleidoscope paper packet.

"MAKE ME SMILE" is a straight stamp that I curved (I love acrylic stamps!!!).  The butterly is stamped in Gypsy.

This card was originally a 6" x 6" card found in Wishes.  It's called Keep it Level and is home on page 107.  Since I wanted to make a 3" x 3" card, I just halved each of the measurements from the book.  Simple.  : )

Hopefully Amber smiled when she opened this one.

6th Grade Camp Card #2

This card is what Amber opened today.  I explained inside that this is the best day ever for us because we get our baby back (insert sigh)! - in a couple of hours as a matter of fact!

This is from Originals and is called Squares and Overlay (found on page 65).  The Background and Texture paper is from the Kaleidoscope paper packet.  The Thistle cardstock is not part of that paper packet, but coordinates.  I edge distressed that paper with the direct to paper technique (I swiped the ink pad directly to the paper).

I used a flower from Blossoming Expressions (D1665).  I have found that I use that set a bunch.  : )  Oh, the flower color isn't part of the Kaleidoscope scheme either.  That flower is stamped in Sorbet with a Smoothie outline.  The leaves are Sweet Leaf with Pear outline.

Thoughtful Thursday 12/10/15

Since my furry baby boy isn't feeling well, I thought I'd go with this...

Adopting any animal gives all those involved enjoyment. The time we spend with our "baby" is never enough time.

6th Grade Camp Cards: 1 of 5

Amber went to 6th grade camp this week.  The fact that my youngest is in 6th grade is amazing!  Unfortunately, I'd been busy with other things and forgot, until Sunday evening - about 10pm - that I hadn't prepared any of her "letters".  Mental panic was not too far behind.

Whenever the girls go away to camp, I make some cards so they can have a taste of home while away.  I shared with you the cards from Girl Scout camp this past summer.  I needed to make 5 cards in a matter of hours (Amber was leaving the next morning).

I pulled out my trusty pattern books - Originals and Wishes - and started looking through the quick reference section.  I know I was making 3" x 3" cards.  I found three patterns from Wishes that I would use, and another two from Originals.  Check.

Next was the paper.  I decided to use Kaleidoscope paper because of the bright colors.  Check.

Stamps... I thought I'd go with little sayings on the front with butterflies.  That meant taking out Finding the Words (D1646) and Your Own Kind of Wonderful (C1627).  I like Finding the Words stamp set because it has one word larger than the accompanying words.  And there are several butterflies to choose from from Your Own Kind of Wonderful.




This first card is from Wishes, is called Right Away, and can be found on page 84.  I only needed to use Finding the Words for this card.  The flowers around "Cherish" are a single stamp from the stamp set (you can see below that there are 5 images to go along with the set).  I thought the flower went better with the card than the butterfly.  Finally, I set the flowers with some shine with the Bitty Sparkles (love these).  The saying is mounted with 3D Foam.

Here is the Finding the Words stamp set.  The banner can be cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge Collection, and then stamped.  Why not eliminate having to cut it out?!


Plug:  I don't know if you realize it or not, but each of the Cricut Collection now comes with a Cardstock Combo Pack (instead of the dimensional chipboard shapes), as well as three stamp sets.  That's on top of the cartridge that includes 700 images to cut from!  I only use my Close to my Heart Cricut Cartridges.  I haven't found a need for any other one.

Penguin Family with White Pines

Here's another card using the Season's Greetings stamp set (B1483), and Simple Expressions from Wishes.  This time I stamped the large Penguin to the left of the focal White Daisy, and stamped the smaller penguin (and the large one too for the scarf) onto scratch White Daisy, both in black ink.  For the small penguin, I cleaned the stamp and then stamped in Fern ink for the scarf and hat.

I colored the large penguin's scarf to mimic Fern (there isn't an exact match), so I colored it with the Shin Ham markers in three layers: Warm Grey 4, followed by Leaf Green, followed again by Warm Grey 4.  The small penguin's hat and scarf are colored to match Glacier: Warm Grey 4, Turquoise Blue and blended with the blender marker.

The scarves and hat were cut out, as was the small penguin.  The scarves and hat were directly adhered to the respective penguin.  And the small penguin was mounted with 3D Foam tape.



Now, if you look at the stamp set again, you'll notice "from our family to yours" is attached (it is) to the "WARM CHRISTMAS WISHES" saying.  This might be scary for some of you... cut those two phrases apart, like I did.  I was able to then stamp the saying below "SEASON'S GREETINGS".  If you don't want to cut your image, you can put paper over the part you don't want to ink, remove the paper, and then stamp.  I made too may of these cards to make that worth my while.



This card can also be made as a thank you card at the end of the season.  Just replace "Season's Greetings" with "Thank You"

Red Penguin with White Pines Card

Now that Thanksgiving was enjoyed, I thought I'd share one of my Holiday cards.  I'm more of a winter person than Christmas, so I look for snowflakes, deer, penguin, and the such.  I found a wonderful stamp set called "Seasons Greetings" (B1483) that checks off a bunch from my list... here, let me show it to you.  : )

How cute are those penguins!! Their scarf and the smaller one with the matching hat.

Okay, so now that you've seen how cool the stamp set is, let me show you the first card I made...

To create this card, I took the colors from White Pines paper packet.  I stamped tone on tone with the snowflakes in Champagne on Champagne.  Because the three stamps were being inked the same color, I put all three snowflakes onto one block in a triangular pattern.  The I rotated the stamp each time I inked it.  Quick and easy.

The penguin is stamped onto scrap White Daisy cardstock and then stamped again, making sure to re-ink.  I colored in the scarf with Shin Ham Marker, and then cut it out.  I then glued the scarf directly over the stamped image of the penguin (as you should be able to see, I didn't glue the ends of the scarf down to give more of a 3D look.

Side-note:  to make the color of the scarf match the Cranberry in the paper, I did three layers of colors.  The bottom layer is Mahogany, the middle layer is Light Orange, and the top is Carmine.  It took a little more work, but for my type Aness, I'm very glad I did.  In living color, the scarf matches the paper really well.

Season's Greetings was stamped in Black ink on the Glacier paper.  The pattern for this card?  Simple Expressions (page 40) from Wishes.  I moved the 1/4" strip of Fern cardstock to go below the zigzag B&T paper.  I also opted to stamp the saying on the 3/4" Glacier cardstock instead of creating the saying piece in the pattern.

Thoughtful Thursday 12/3/15

I know I'm a California wimp, especially since I'm whining about the cold nights we've been having (low 40s, high 30s).  I miss this weather already!  And even though it reached 80 degrees during the day this week, it's only 68 in the house.  My hands are freezing!!

I did say wimp, right!?

Not Cyber Monday, but Cyber Week! 2015

It's not to late to join in with the savings!  Close to my Heart discounted 39 items by 25%!  A few items are one's I've eyed but passed on.  However, I'm taking advantage of the sale to buy some of the items and fall in love with them - for instance, the ice cream container and the journaling cards box.

ARTFULLY SENT Cricut Collection is one of those items (I already have that one, but you may not).

Go check it out now, because they sale will be over before you know it (December 4, 2015)!

Thoughtful Thursday 11/26/15

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I'm glad to say some stores have decided to wait until tomorrow to start with Christmas sales.  They are taking the time to enjoy Thanksgiving, rather than bypassing it. To me, it's important to think about what we're thankful for.

Have a wonderful day, month, and year!

Lola Artbooking Happy Birthday

This older card - just a year- is a good one.  If you use Design Studio or Craft Room, you can save your template and then use any paper to cut it out again.

Artbooking was the Cricut Collection used here.  The solid stars are from the center of the streaked stars.  The colored/patterned paper on the bottom is Lola background paper.  The total background is simple Black cardstock.  The "celebrate" and the stars are specialty cardstock that came with Lola.

"Celebrate" is a Cricut cut that has been raised with 3D foam.  Everything else is mounted directly on top of each other.  The card is finished off with Clear Sparkles.  You could use a different stamp instead of "happy birthday" too.  A cupcake, candles, "good job", balloons... just to name a few suggestive alternatives.  :)

Fun, fun!

Thoughtful Thursday 11/19/15

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought this an appropriate quote to share.

We must want change to happen before it can happen, and we must be open to the change that will happen. Change isn't always easy... but good usually comes from it.

Open, Open, Open...

Do you remember that commercial?  I believe the woman was standing outside a Marshall's [correction: it was Mervyn's - thanks Bethany!] store, waiting for it to open.

I'm ready for my bulbs to start growing, and I'm not being very patient about it.  It's a good thing I don't have a choice!  Why am I being impatient?

When Belle passed away in July, my neighbor touched me by giving me some Snowbell bulbs to plant in her honor.  The instructions said to wait until November to plant them.  I waited, very nicely, I might add, until the second week of November!  Now that I planted them, I want them to grow - NOW.

Today I told myself that I wouldn't check on them again until the 29th.  I hope I can last that long. I hope to see a change - a hint of growth.  I know they won't be in bloom or anything...

Belle was a beautifully sweet dog, and I'm ready to smile whenever I see the plant.  I still think about my baby everyday.  I know she barked a lot, but she was always by the door when I got home.  It's uncanny to me how much I still miss her presence...

Anyway, Amanda gave me a wonderful gift when she delivered the bulbs to me.  I will think of her and her thoughtfulness along with Belle, whenever I see the plant and flowers.  Thank you, Amanda!   Hugs.

Now, if the bulbs would just open...

Changing the Stamp Set but Keeping the Paper

I've shown you the overall picture of this updated workshop from September 2015, but let me show you a side by side look at the cards.

Similarly to my last post, you can also change the stamp sets out and keep the paper the same.  It's just another way paper and stamps are versatile!

Not much can be added to the pictures.  The stamp sets I used are in the first post which you can find by clicking on "updated workshop" in the first sentence.  To me, the cards look very different, but the papers are the same!

Small circles are Flaxen, large flower is Glacier and Cricut cut.  Modified A Cut Above (and rotated 90 degrees on pg 49) of Wishes.

The leaves were stamped with Ponderosa on Sweet Leaf paper.  The horizontal and vertical lines were made from the stem in the stamp set.  The flower and leaves are Cricut cuts.  From Wishes - Gallery (rotated) pg 119.

With this one, the leaves are tone on tone - Sweet Leaf stamped on Sweet Leaf.  The "Happy" banner is a Cricut cut that was trimmed to only have the banner on one side.  You could tuck it under the flower if you'd prefer.  From Make it From Your Heart Volume #1 - Pattern #20.

The flowers are masked for the leaves.  I stamped the back side of the stamp to fill in the outline!  The Butterflies are part of the Finding the Words stamp set.  Expanded Midpoint (pg 77) from Wishes.




This last picture is after I dolled up the cards with accessories.  Even a little can make an impact.  : )

Kaleidoscope Workshop on the Go Cards Gets a Makeover!

I know I've told you this in the past, and now I'm going to show you another example.  What am I babbling about?!  Using stamp sets and ideas again with different paper.  If you think/thought Kaleidoscope is too feminine, turn the Kaleidoscope Card Workshop on the Go (G1101) into a more masculine set of cards.  The stamp set that comes with the kit is a great birthday stamp set.  Go ahead and make the cards as the kit calls for.  Then cut another set with another paper packet.  I used Urban (X7204B) for my second set.

I used colors that coordinate with Urban paper - Sapphire, Saffron, Peacock, Slate, and Champagne.  The accessories I used were the Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799) and Enamel & Glitter Duos Blue Dots (Z3122). Everything else I followed the instructions within the Kaleidoscope Workshop on the Go (WOTG).

Here are the Urban cards followed by the side by side cards from that kit:

Please don't forget to mask the bottom 1" like the instructions say to do for this card!!  If not, you'll have balloon strings hanging lower than the shimmer trim and it will look odd.  Trust me, I remembered the hard way!  Now I have scrap paper.

Okay, I lied about following everything within the WOTG.  Instead of making a banner for this card, I just used our Corner Rounder (Z1912) for the focal paper.

One trick I learned with this card, for placement, was to stamp "Party Time" first.  Then I stamped the candle and worked my way down.  That way my saying was centered on my focal paper.


If you want to make the Kaleidoscope card a little more masculine (which in my opinion, this card can be given to a male), you could use Gypsy ink in place of the Pixie and then use Grey Enamel Gems (Z3089) or Silver Assortment Sequins (Z2013) in place of the Pink Enamel Gems (comes with the kit).



So when you are looking through the Annual Inspirations Idea Book or either of Seasonal Expressions, look at the stamp set.  If you like the set, buy it!  The stamp sets can last a really long time (or until you fall in love with another one), and can be used with lots of different paper.  : )

Thoughtful "Thursday" on Wednesday 11/11/15

Armistice - the end of hostilities in World War I - came at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.  Armistice Day, as it was known then, was celebrated in 1919.  It became a legal holiday in 1938, and in 1954 was renamed to Veterans Day.

There are 21 MILLION veterans whom we can thank for our freedom (unfortunately we can't thank the millions who are no longer with us, but  I think of them too)!  I cannot thank enough of them to make a dent in how thankful I am.  Sometimes it's too overwhelming a thought for me.  I say it in my head if it doesn't make it out of my mouth to every veteran I see.  I am truly thankful for all of you.

Not only the men and women who have put his/her life on the line, near the line, or supported the line, but also to the families of the servicemen.  The families whose wife/mother/daughter/aunt/grandmother/husband/father/son/uncle/grandfather have served.  Those who have been gone.  I can't imagine the struggles and joys the single parent/spouse went through while their loved on was deployed.  The sacrifices everyone has made for the rest of us to be safe.

THANK YOU!!!!

November 2015 Constant Campaign

If you are a scrapbooker, or want to become one, this month is a GREAT time to start.

Experience the beautiful Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking workshop—available only during November! This workshop has been created using all the items featured in our campaign exclusive My Legacy™ album bundles, available during November for $71.80 each! Along with the album style and design of your choice, each bundle includes

• One Paper Fundamentals Enchantment pack
• One Fundamental stickers Enchantment pack
• One Peacock Fundamental assortment, and
• Three sheets of White Daisy cardstock
• Qualify to receive a value pack of side load or top load Memory Protectors™ FREE—a savings of $19.95

You will then be set to turn these beautiful products into fabulous layouts using the new Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking workshop featuring FIVE layouts you can make using all the supplies in your bundle.

Ready to see the layouts?!

How simply elegant and easy are these layouts?  Of course you are also going to the have the patterns for these five layouts to replicate with any paper and stickers or stamps.
For what you get, the price is fantastic! Only $71.80 for everything?!  Still can't handle the price?  Ask for it as a gift.  Receiving/giving one of these bundles makes a great gift because it gives back too!  Add more pages to the album by rotating the layout pages.  It's amazing how many combinations you can make with the cutting guide you'll get with this workshop bundle.  Just have it ordered by November 30, 2015 or sooner.  Once they're gone, the deal is gone.

One More Fallen Leaves Example

By changing the colors, your card can look very different, even when the same stamp set is being used.  Take this card as an example.  The Poppy ink and background color takes on a truer fall feeling than this card as Fern is the focal, and even this card with Saffron accents.

The rolling technique was used with Saffron and Poppy ink.  Ink the leaf with Saffron ink, then roll the stamp's edges in Poppy ink, inking just the outside of the image.  Then stamp the image on the paper.  Make sure you stamp off the image before returning it to Saffron for another image so that the Poppy doesn't "stain" your Saffron ink pad.

Don't worry if it does, just grab a tissue and wipe the Poppy ink off of the Saffron inkpad.








Sapphire and Fern ink round out the colors used for this card.  The saying is highlighted by mounting it with 3D Foam Tape and the Gold Sequins.






I could continue making these cards in different color combinations, but I have other projects to get to.  Hopefully you see the versatility of your stamp sets, and that you can use them over and over - never getting bored by making the "same" thing again and again.  : )

Thoughtful Thursday 11/5/15

Unfortunately bad things happen to good people.  Monday, a high school acquaintance passed away after fighting brain cancer for the past 20 years.  She was only 46.  Johanna never gave up on the fight, and was always positive, sharing with friends her battles and triumphs.

Thank you, Johanna, for making a difference in many people's lives by showing us how to fight and why it's important to fight.  Not everyone is able to win the battle.  There is now a large void where her smile used to be.  Thankfully she is not really gone because of the memories that remain.  After some time we'll be able to smile again, too, once the hurt subsides.

Johanna was her own person throughout.  She will be missed.

Fallen Leaves Stamp set with Saffron

How about the saying in another color?!  I made a few other tweaks to the card too.

I added some second generation Saffron leaves so that the saying would make more sense (to answer the question, "Why did she add another color?  That Saffron doen't show up anywhere else!").  The base background paper is from Sangria Paper Packet (X7199B).  Just like the other day's card, the leaves are layered on Black cardstock.  Here the Saffron saying is mounted with 3D Foam Tape and the Fern Thick Twine (Z3093) anchors the saying.  So that the ribbon doesn't move, I used a few drops of Liquid Glass to position the twine.

Happy fall!  Now if the weather would get with the program!  I'm tired of 90 degrees days.  I'll be happy if the temperature stays in the 70s.  - I know, those darn Californians!!

Pumpkin Cupcakes and Peanut Butter Eyeballs

Aren't these cute?!  I made them for a kid friendly party we went to last night.

The cupcake faces were made from melting candy melts.  I outlined the feature with black candy and then filled the feature in with yellow for the light shining inside the pumpkin.  The stem is an almond.

The idea and template for the faces came from one of my favorite cupcake decorating books -- What's New, Cupcake? by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson.  I made some modifications from the original recipe.

• My girls don't like Tootsie Rolls (the features), which is why I used the candy melts.  I did struggle with that at first because the candy wasn't smooth like I'd like (and like the picture).  Then I realized it would be flat because I'd be using the the other side!  I relaxed after that.    : )
• The almond was a substitute for the wheat twist pretzel (the stem) because I had almonds on hand.
• I made the cupcakes regular sized rather than jumbo sized as called for.
• Finally, I didn't make the picket fences called for.  No need to feed some softball players pretzel fences when they just want the cupcakes!

The second dessert we took to the party is one of my favorite peanut butter recipes.  The recipe dates back to Amber's second year playing soccer - 2009.  A mother brought them to our end of year party and I thought I'd died and went to heaven!  I made them as listed below, but I coated them with White Almond Bark (vanilla flavor) and then piped Chocolate Almond Bark (both found at WalMart) for the iris and veins.  I know they'd be more realistic with red veins, but they are done!

  Here's how I make them....

Peanut Butter Balls

3 C Rice Krispies

4 C Powdered Sugar

1 stick butter ‐ softened

2¼ C Crunchy Peanut Butter (more is okay)

½+ bar Chocolate Flavored Coating (Almond Bark is the brand – can be found at WalMart)

Crush the Rice Krispies (I use a potato masher).

Mix together the softened butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and crushed Krispies. Roll between hands to make balls about the size of a walnut (lately I’ve been making them smaller so you can eat more), put in fridge for about 15 minutes (you’ll want the balls to set a little).  Dip balls into chocolate coating. Depending on how large you make the balls will determine how much coating you’ll need.  I melt in batches and adjust the amount of coating I need. Put on cookie sheet and let set in fridge (about ½ hour). 

PS.  These freeze well.  I pulled mine out after a year, and they were just as yummy!

Thoughtful Thursday 10/29/15

This past Sunday I was a JoAnn's for 1.5 hours!  It was CRAZY busy there - everyone buying fabric to make their own costumes.  I was there to buy fabric and tulle to make a lion's mane.  Then I found this quote...

I just hope the vision in my mind gets out of there and the mane looks okay!

More Fallen Leaves Stamp Set Cards (Eggplant)

Now that Halloween is practically behind us, I thought I'd share another fall card featuring the Fallen Leaves stamp set (B1492).

 The colors here are Fern, Eggplant, and Sapphire.  The leaves are randomly stamped on the White Daisy cardstock and matted with Black cardstock.  Fern ink was used for the saying which was raised with Thin 3D Foam as the focal point.

Interest was added with the addition of the Enamel & Glitter Duos (Z3122 - 3 shades of blue) and the Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Z1996) with the Eggplant cardstock as the base of the card.

When stamping multiply images, you'll want to stamp with the largest image first.  Here it's the Eggplant Maple leaf.  Next comes the smaller sized leaf.  In this case it's the Sapphire elm(?) leaf.  Finally, work with the smallest stamp and fill in the gaps.  I didn't worry about overlapping the images - even if they were solid stamps - because it adds interest to the card.

I did sponge the edges of the base of card with Eggplant ink.

The saying comes from the Artistry Cricut Collection.  There are three D-sized stamp sets in collection, so don't forget to use them (with or without cutting it out on the Cricut first).  : )

Thoughtful Thursday 10/22/15

Things aren't always as they seem.  Take this photo for example.  I came across this scene while walking my dogs a few months back.

Not that big of a deal, right?  It's a snail making its way across the road.

I was amazed by what the snail was actually making its way across...

Of course all sorts of questions popped into my mind... How did this snail make its way up the car?  Did he really travel up the car?  Did someone put him on the roof?  What is he going to do when he reaches this side of the car?

Just had to laugh and share with you!

Boo to You Two Ways

Today I want to share another Pinterest inspired card.  Halloween is just around the corner, and these two cards were made from the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge.

This first card resembles the pinned card more due to design.  It's a lot "darker" than the pinned card, though - more like Halloween.  The pattern is from Make it from Your Heart Volume 1, Pattern #25.

And before you say something, I know the  black widow wouldn't be coming down on a thread.  But like I said above, this is Halloween.  And Halloween brings out the fearful things - thus the widow.  If you don't want your spider to be a black widow, use the "hide contour" feature in the Design Space or Cricut Craft Room to hide that element on the spider.  (BTW, I LOVE the "hide contour" feature!!)

I sponged some black ink on top of the Slate spider web that is covering some Nevermore background and texture paper.  "Boo" is cut from Eggplant cardstock.  Everything is layered on Fern cardstock.  Boo is raised with Thin 3D foam tape while the spider gets the double height of 3D foam tape (Non-stick Micro-tipped Scissors are the perfect tool to cut very thin pieces of the foam tape). Purple Glitter paper makes the spiders diamond shimmer, and black floss becomes the thread the spider is descending from.




My second Boo card is, again, from the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge.  I hid some extra cuts from "BOO" so that the word is thicker (and cut from Eggplant cardstock).  Boo is outlined to further focus on the word.  The spider web's ratio was unlocked so that I could make the web into a square shape. Just click on the lock next to the height and width fields on the computer to allow individual alterations.  Pear cardstock adds to the brightness of this 4.25" x 4.25"card as the base.  Finally, Boo and the spider are once again mounted with foam tape.



I hope either of these cards inspire you to make some Halloween magic yourself.  With the Cricut, these cards can be made up quickly.  So break out your machine and create - there is still time to send Halloween wishes!

A Closer Look at Watercolor Pencil and Watercolor Paint

I forgot to share with you a close up picture of the watercolor paint and pencil.  So here you go...

I also want to call to your attention that there are times were markers DON'T work.  This is one example!  The embossed lines do not allow the colors to blend well - or at all!  The leaf looked pitiful in real life too.

But on the brighter note, you can see that the watercolor pencils don't look that good before adding water.  The problem with the pencil was the same as the markers.  The embossed lines didn't allow the best to come out with the tool (pencil and marker).  However, you can see what a difference the water makes with the watercolor pencils.  If you felt the colors are too dark with the watered pencils, you could add more water to lighten the look.

Markers are a much better when used in open areas of coloring.  If I hadn't embossed the leaf, the marker would be a viable tool.

Look back at the cards the leaves were used in.  Here is the watercolor paint and here is the watercolor pencils.

Watercolor Pencils with Fallen Leaves

Want to see the difference between the watercolor paint and watercolor pencils?  I wanted to see the difference with my latest card -- I talked about it the other day.

Here is the watercolor pencil version of the Three is a Charm (modified from Originals) card...

After I embossed the leaves with Gold embossing powder, I took my watercolor pencils and colored the leaves.  Purples and Greens for the one on the left.  Yellows, Oranges, and a little Red for the middle leaf.  And Purples and Pinks for the leaf on the right.  Then I took a paint brush with a little water on it, and blended the pencil marks together!

Did you go look at the other card yet?  Can you tell the difference between the two?  Here, look at them side by side (I'll even make the picture bigger)...

You can't really tell the difference, can you?  I even had a hard time telling them apart!  The back card is the watercolor PENCIL card.

So why am I showing you this?  Because you may want to give those pencils another try.  The thing I like about the pencils is that I put the color exactly where I want it.  If I want more color, I layer the pencil more.  Then I blend it with water, and I get beautiful colors.

However, the watercolor PAINT colors can be more natural because there is more color variation as the brush dries and I'm applying the color.

Will I give up one for the other?  NO WAY!  Both methods have their advantage.  For this card, I love the look either way!