Card Maker/Avery Elle Blog Hop

I was so excited to play with some new stamps and dies for this blog hop, sponsored by Avery Elle and CardMaker Magazine.  I love stamps and dies which coordinate with each other.  Avery Elle is giving away a $30 gift certificate at the end of the hop, so be sure to check out their blog.  Hopefully, you have arrived at my blog from Melania's blog.  If not, and you'd like to start at the beginning -- it starts at the CardMaker Blog.

The stamp set I am highlighting today is called Bring on the Cake, which has three large images, three small images, and a ton of sentiments!  There are five dies in the die set.   I think my first card would be great for a guy -- what with all the browns and blues. I love the play on words in the sentiment. After coloring my bundt cake, I added some clear 3-D Lacquer on the icing to give it a little sheen.

I used some old retired Stampin' Up DSP on my second card, featuring the slice of cake.  I added the cherry to complement the design in the patterned paper background.

My third card is fun -- with the cupcakes and sprinkles.  (Who doesn't like cupcakes and sprinkles!)  I actually used some more of that same Stampin' Up DSP paper pack on this one, too.

Thanks for stopping by today.  The next stop on the hop is JJ's blog.   And don't forget to check out how you can win the $30 gift certificate at the Avery Elle Blog.

Card #1
Stamps:  Avery Elle Bring on the Cake
Paper:  SU Tempting Turquoise, MFP Stamp Shop Linen Cream, Snow Storm Smooth; DCWV Brown Fine Stripe DP
Ink:  Versafine Deep Lagoon, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Avery Elle Bring on the Cake die set, Copic markers, Spellbinders Labels 25 die, SU Word Window punch, Recollections Enamel Dot stickers, Sakura 3-D Crystal Lacquer, Recollections foam pop dots, Stampendous Clear embossing powder

Card #2
Stamps:  Avery Elle Bring on the Cake
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Deep Scarlet, Snow Storm Smooth; SU Summer Picnic DSP (retired)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Rhubarb Stalk
Accessories:  Avery Elle Bring on the Cake die set, Copic markers, Spellebinders Labels 21 die, Recollections Enamel Dot stickers, Recollections foam pop dots

Card #3
Stamps:  Avery Elle Bring on the Cake
Paper:  SU Mellow Moss, MFP Stamp Shop Snow Storm Smooth, SU Summer Picnic DSP (retired)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Versafine Habanero, Spanish Moss; SU Mellow Moss
Accessories:  Avery Elle Bring on the Cake die set, Copic markers, Spellbinders Petite Oval dies, SU Word Window punch, Recollections foam pop dots, Sponge dauber, Stampendous Clear embossing powder

Card Maker/Sizzix Blog Hop

I  am a big fan of using die cuts on cards, so I was happy to learn that CardMaker magazine and Sizzix were partnering for this blog hop.  Sizzix very generously provided all the blog team members with products for the hop.  My cards today were all made using a fun Triplits set, Hello, Sunshine -- as well as a couple of other Sizzix die sets.  That happy little sun is just too fun!

The first card I have for you today is a center-step card on which I used some cloud patterned paper as well as both the sun and the chevron cloud from the set along with the shadows for each one.  In addition, I also have some strips made with another Sizzix Thinlits die set -- Borders.

I didn't include the sun on my second card, but I put that cute little happy face into the cloud for this get-well card.  The words are part of another Sizzix set -- the Circle Flip-Its Card #4.

My last card was the most fun to make.  I think flip cards are so creative, and I watched a video on Stephanie Barnard's website on how to add a "hidden panel" to one.  Again I used the Circle Flip-Its Card #4 for the base of my card, and the "Happy Birthday" greeting is from the Regal Stand-Up Card die set.

And, when you open up the hidden panel, this is what you get!

As a “thank you” for taking the time to follow our little card-making thread, Sizzix will be giving ONE LUCKY WINNER a Sizzix Big Shot Machine, their choice of 3 Stephanie Barnard dies from her latest cardmaking Sizzix collection as well as a YEAR subscription to CardMaker magazine! All of the details for the giveaway and how you can enter for a chance to win can be found on Sizzix’s site.

Tomorrow Jennifer Priest will be presenting some creations using more Sizzix dies.  Be sure to check out her blog.  Here's the link.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I was so happy to share my creations with you.

My Stamping Space

Today on the CardMaker Blog I give you a tour of my stamping space -- or rather, spaces.  Here is a little sneak peek.

I hope you can stop over at the CardMaker Blog to get the whole tour.

Pretty Pink Posh/Card Maker Magazine Blog Hop

Hi, Friends.  Today I have a give-away to share with you.  Pretty Pink Posh is partnering with CardMaker Magazine in a blog hop and offering you a package of goodies.  Details of the giveaway are on the Pretty Pink Posh Blog.

Included in this giveaway package are the following items:

Stitched Borders 1 die cuts
Stitched Banner Duo 2 die cuts
6mm Sparkling Clear sequins
6mm Marigold sequins
6mm Espresso sequins
6mm Mossy Green sequins
6mm Pink Peonies sequins
Silver Confetti
Silver Star Confetti

Hopefully, you have come to my blog from Anita's blog.  If not, you may want to start at the beginning at the CardMaker Magazine Blog.

I've been playing with some wonderful toys from Pretty Pink Posh.  They make such pretty sequins, which seem to be the "trendy" embellishment of choice at the moment, as well as some unique dies.  I've used a bit of both on my cards today.  BTW, all of the images on my cards come from one stamp set, Lots of Words from MFP Stamp Shop.

My first card uses the pocket border die and some Sparkling Clear sequins.

With that pocket border die you don't have to add a tab to the card inserted into the pocket.  How clever is that!!!  Don't you love that stitched border across the top?

My second card is a relatively clean-and-simple get well card with some Watermelon sequins.

My third card is a shaker card.  The stitched banner die set includes both the banner and the square. You can cut them apart so that you can use them separately.   Or . . . if you don't want to have to do any measuring and plan always to use both of them, you can just leave them connected.   I used them both to make a shaker card, putting some 6mm Silver Confetti inside the shaker box.

The last stop of the hop is Pretty Pink Posh Blog.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Card Maker Blog - Cardmaking Tip

I have a post on the Card Maker Blog today demonstrating how I made this card.

I hope you'll stop by and check it out.

CCEE1516 - National Librarian Day

Frances advised the CCEE Stampers that today is National Librarian Day and challenged us to use a book as our inspiration.  In addition, today is my day to post a card to the CardMaker Blog, and as fate would have it, my theme was U Inspire Me.  I was to create a card inspired by a piece of art, fashion, home decor, photograph, etc.  So . . . I sort of combined my two tasks for today.  My inspiration for the CardMaker blog was a vase that my mom (who was a talented ceramicist, among other things) had made many years ago and now sits in my dining room.

So, for Frances' challenge, I had to come up with a book about sailing.  Aha!!! Moby Dick is definitely about sailing.

And here is my card:

If you'd like to see how I created this card, check out today's CardMaker Blog.  And if you'd like to play along with the CCEE Stampers, pick out a book and make a card.

Card Remake

I have a post over on the CardMaker Blog today.  My instructions were to make a card inspired by a card from an old issue of CardMaker magazine.    Here's my card:

If you'd like to see the original card, pop on over to the CardMaker Blog and see how I used the original card for inspiration and updated it with current supplies.  Thanks for looking.

Sakura of America/Card Maker Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sakura of America/Card Maker Blog Hop.  Hopefully you came to my blog from Patti's blog.  If you didn't and you'd like to start at the beginning, here's the link to the Card Maker blog.  Today we are featuring two fun tools from Sakura of America -- their white Gelly Roll Pens and their Quickie Glue Pens.  I've created cards using both of them.

My first card was made with the help of a Quickie Glue Pen and some Spellbinders dies.

I started by cutting two of the large die cuts from cream-colored cardstock.  On one of them, I scored a line just below the cut-out border.

I ran glue on the scrollwork and the area above the scoreline using the Quickie Glue Pen.  The point makes it so easy to get the glue in all the right places.

Then I glued the front to the back to form a "hinge" at the top of the card.

To finish the card I ran the glue pen around each of the borders and added glitter.  The sentiment in the smallest, center layer was hand-lettered with the pen and then sprinkled with glitter.

I've been trying my hand at Zentangle (or, as I call it, doodling on steroids).  To date, all of the cards I've made with this technique have been done with black pens; but I thought I might give the white Gelly Roll Pens a try.  I started by stamping my flower with Versamark and embossing with Detail White embossing powder.

I had bought a couple of books on Zentangle which contain many different patterns, so I started with one pattern on one of the petals .

I continued until I had the whole petal full . . .

. . . and then I started in another petal with a different pattern.

I continued until I had each petal and leaf filled.  I created the doodles around the edge of my card with the Gelly Roll pen also.   Here is my finished card.

I made another card using black cardstock.

As you can see, Sakura pens are quite useful in the card-making process.  I hope you will continue the blog hop by visiting Lisa's blog to see what she created using these very helpful "tools of the trade."

Card #1
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Linen Cream
Accessories:  Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles, Art Institute Glitter

Card #2
Stamps:  MFP Stamp Shop Camellia
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Razmataz Berry, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen, Detail White embossing powder, Sequins

Card #3
Stamps:  MFP Stamp Shop Roses
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Snow Storm Smooth, Black Linen
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen, Detail White embossing powder, Enamel Dot Stickers

CardMaker Blog - Starburst Background

Today is my first post on the CardMaker blog, in which I showed how I made this card:

If you'd like to see how I put this together, pop over to the CardMaker blog.

Exciting News

I've got some great news to share today.  I've been asked to join the Blog Team for CardMaker magazine for the next six months.  I've looked at CardMaker for many years and on several occasions thought, "Gee, I can do that."  So I started to submit cards for publication.  It took a while, but I finally was published last year, which was very exciting to say the least.  And when they asked me to join their blog team, I was over the moon!  If you don't yet follow the blog, you should.  You can get it delivered to your e-mail just by signing up here.

On another note, I thought I'd share a couple of cards I made for challenges over on Splitcoaststampers this weekend.  Friday's Free 4 All challenge was a true "free for all."  All we had to do was upload a card we were working on at the moment.  I was trying to catch up on a couple of other challenges and made this one, using some new stamps that I had just purchased from Our Daily Bread Designs.

I love stamps and dies that coordinate with each other, and this is a perfect example of that.

My second card uses my new favorite Stampin' Up set, Four Feathers.

This was for the Inspiration Challenge on Saturday.  As it turns out, this card also has stamps and dies that coordinate.  I didn't realize at the time, but the color palettes of both cards are very similar.

Yesterday's Featured Stamper, Torico, has a really fun gallery.  As I was looking through it, I actually found two cards I liked and tried a little experiment to see if I could CASE both of them into one card.  Here are links to her two cards:  Let It Snow and 'Tis the Season.  Here's my card:

Card #1
Stamps:  ODBD Shine On
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves, Bahama Blue
Paper:  Recollections Heavyweight White
Accessories:  ODBD Sparkling Stars dies, Enamel Dot stickers, Foam pop dots

Card #2
Stamps:  SU Four Feathers, Sincere Salutations
Ink:  SU Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore; Versafine Deep Lagoon
Paper:  SU Green Galore, retired DSP
Accessories:  Feathers Framelits dies, Brad, clear embossing powder

Card #3
Stamps:  MFP Stamp Shop Crisp Winter
Ink:  Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose, Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw; Versafine Onyx Black
Paper:  Recollections Heavyweight White, Black
Accessories:  Heidi Swapp birch trees stencil, Sponge applicators