HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Sending Love and Hugs

💖💗💘💝 Happy Valentine's Day! 💝💘💗💖

One layer cards are not easy for me; I think my fear is a throwback to the old days when we had no choice but to use rubber stamps on wooden blocks.  You couldn't see exactly where you were stamping, and then if the image didn't come out, well, there were no MISTI's or Platforms, so unless you could use a stamp positioner, you got one chance at a good image and if that image missed a line, or an entire section, your one layer card now became a two layer card so you could cover your mistake.  Or, even more often for me, trash.  

I could never make them work. - I still can't understand them.  I have 2 of them; one is the good old L shape and the other is like a prototype of the platforms, but we had no magnets and you had to have set it up beforehand.  I think you use acetate somehow.  

Since it is possible to over stamp on an image now without all the fuss, I can actually make one layer cards like this one and not have to pray that I've inked the images perfectly!  Here is my card:    

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Flowers Stamp and Die set, #set330bf
Prismacolor Pencils
Studio Katia, Clear Round Dots, Mix 1, #SK2410
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Tim Holtz/Tonic Stamping Platform

I am very pleased with this card.  Making one layer cards is still something I struggle to do, even with all the help the new stamp positioners give you.  I stamp the image, color it, and then stamp my sentiment, often times to notice after it's stamped that the words are crooked.  Maybe that is because I'm crooked {I am literally crooked - I suffer from scoliosis, it reared it's ugly head very late in life and, while I had major surgery about 7 years ago, I've noticed that my upper torso, shoulders and such, are starting to get crooked again.  Guess it's time to go back to the doctor!} or maybe because I don't pay enough attention to the grid on the positioner.  Anyway, this card is fine!  I stamped the flowers, colored them with colored pencils, added some clear dots, then stamped the sentiment.  I didn't use any blender, I just kept coloring over and over and I am tickled by the flowers.  Not a lot of highlights but still very nice in my book!  

What do you think?  Were you stamping back when every stamp was wood mounted and you had to use one of those impossible old stamp positioners? What do you think of the new positioners? Do you have one and, if so, which one?  I'd love to hear your comments on how you insure everything is straight on your creations.  Have any tips?  Please leave your answers in the comments.  I do read each and every one of them and I thank you for taking the time.  Until I see you again, take care!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Creative Inspirations - M, Love
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Mod Squad - Floral
The Flower Challenge - #29, Use Your Latest {this is the latest floral stamp}
Crafting by Designs - Love is in the Air
DL Art - M,  Always Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers - #227, Love, Love, Love

Binge Together

Those who binge together, stay together!  When the Man and I first met, I would go to see him in Detroit and there was nothing to do {meaning I couldn't craft} so we'd binge watch TV.  We watched two seasons of Orange is the New Black, countless Law and Order marathons, and much more.  I think you learn a lot about a person by the television shows they watch!  The fact that he had the same sick sense of humor I have had a major impact on our relationship ~ this card is for him!  

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Stitched Wood Grain Backdrop, #LF1501
Lawn Fawn Screen Time stamps, #LF1684
Lawn Fawn Screen Time dies, #LF1685
Tutti Designs Cross Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-410
Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips
Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Kraft, Dark Brown, Dotted Red Cardstock {stash}

Once I embossed the kraft paper with the wood grain backdrop {this reminded me of the paneling we had in the living room in the house where I grew up but the wood grain on the die is much nicer than the fake wood grain we had}, I proceeded to design my room.  I've seen quite a few cards featuring this set and the artists have drawn sofas and chair for seating the people - nope.  You probably wouldn't be able to tell WHAT they were sitting on if I tried that, so I decided they were on a beanbag chair which I cut using the oval die and the red card with dots.  You can't really see the dots in the picture, but they are there.  Then I cut the TV stand out of the dark brown card using the rectangle die.  I thought about adding a side table to the bean bag chair but it looked too crowded. 

The figures, television, food, drinks and other accessories were stamped, colored, and cut.  I actually made the male figure holding a soda and a pepperoni pizza, as my Man has been known to do.  I prefer to snack on chips so I made myself a bag of PopCorners chips in the Kettle Corn flavor.  Have you tried these chips yet? They have literally changed my life!  As far as snacks go, they aren't terrible for you; the bag is biodegradable and there all sorts of good reasons to eat them.  I bought a small bag at the Dollar Tree and loved them SO much I began ordering them by the case via Amazon.  If you like Kettle Corn, or sweet and salty snacks, these chips have your name written all over them.  I'd be happy to send you a sample {seriously, they are THAT good.}  Just look on the right side of the blog, find my email and drop me a line. 

Close Up

Back to the card - I attached all the pieces of the scene to the main card and put the little heart bubble above the Man's head since he's thinking how much he loves me since I've gotten him hooked on all kinds of reality television; nothing too fake, no famous-because-they-made-an-x-rated-tape type shows, just competition shows like Hell's Kitchen and some of the Marriage Boot Camp shows so we can giggle.  Oh, and we like American Beauty Star, Project Runway, and he turned me on to Chopped which is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows.  For the record, we also watch lots of documentaries so we aren't complete bubble heads.  What shows do you watch? Anything you'd recommend that I should watch?  Leave me a comment, making sure your blog info is available so I can visit your blog and leave you some bloggy love in return!  Hope to see you soon!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Binge Together Card in the following challenges:
Creative with Stamps - M, #35, Love
The Male Room - #104, Love Your Men
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Non-traditional Valentines
Watercooler Wednesday - #208, All About Occasions
Die Cuttin' Diva's - #407, Love
Try it on Tuesday - Romance
Shopping our Stash - #389, Make Your Mark {use markers}

The Stamp Doctor's Accesor-DIES on SALE through 2/14!

Need a sale to get that crafty mojo going again?

If you love dies as much as I do, this sale is for you! I've begun a new adventure with The Stamp Doctor {more on that later} and I'd be grateful if you'd click this LINK to go shopping!

https://www.thestampdoctor.com/?ref1655

 {in the spirit of full disclosure I will get a commission on anything you buy using my link.  This will NOT effect your price at all!}

Sending You Love

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you have read about my next door neighbor, Helene, and her little dog, Lola.  Helene loves dogs about as much as I love cats!  I knew when I saw this stamp set it would make a fabulous Valentine's Day card for her, from Lola.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Red scrap cardstock
Heffy Doodle Yappy Happy Mail Stamps
Heffy Doodle Yappy Happy Mail Dies
Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, #30082
Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail White Embossing Powder

VersaMark Ink

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Dimensional Dots

How cute are these pups?  I have to say the dog using on the box to put the card in the mailbox is one of my favorite images.  I can literally picture Lola doing this {she'd need a taller box being part mutt with 'little dog' ancestors}. I stamped everything I wanted to use on watercolor paper, colored the images with my Zigs, and cut them with the coordinating dies.  Then I took some scrap, red, card stock and embossed my sentiment using white embossing powder.  There's just something about red and white that is just perfect for Valentine cards, don't you think?  I also mounted part of the sentiment, just stamped, not embossed, on red card stock as well.  They were cut with dies from a stitched rectangle set.  I've accumulated so many basic shape dies that it seems as if I have at least six sets of each shape; of course, that isn't true but I'm happy that

Dimension

I have my pick of which shape to use and I can pretty much cut out anything because I have the right sized die.  

The sentiment and mail box were attached directly to the card base while the dogs, box, and letters were stuck on with dimensional dots.  She is going to love this card!  I may not be able to wait until Valentine's Day!  I'm so grateful that I have a great neighbor; the people on the other side of us keep to themselves, which is fine, and the folks across the street are such a sweet couple I know if I needed any help they'd be happy to step in.  Many times in my life I've had neighbors to whom I didn't even talk, couldn't even tell you their names, and it's a treat to have someone so friendly.  She and I often

Another Look

remark how very lucky we are that we moved here.  It's like I have another mother {which is 98% fabulous and 2% not so fabulous.  I can't ever leave the house without Lola alerting Helene to the fact that I am going out in public, or that I've come home, and that can be a bit stifling but I wouldn't trade it for anything!}  Have you been blessed with a great neighbor? How about sharing who your worst neighbor was and why they were so bad?  I had one who was breaking up with his girlfriend and she proceeded to get drunk every night for at least six months, then would make her way to the apartment, and sit outside screaming for him.  I could go on and on!  I want to thank you for your visit and I do hope you'll consider following me on any of the social media platforms that can be found on the right side of this page.  Please make sure I have access to your info so I can return the favor!  Hope to see you soon, Christi  

I am entering my Sending you Love card in the following challenges:
Dies R Us - M, #114, Use Red {entry 2}
Cut it Up Challenges - #167, Inspired by a Love Song {Please, Mr. Postman, Puppy Love and many, many more}
Southern Girls - Animal Antics
Through the Purple Haze - #153, Puppy Love
The Cat's Pajamas - #354, Furry Friends
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #23, Anything Goes w/ a Critter
613 Avenue - #218, Anything Goes w/ Option: Use a Critter
Cardz TV - Anything Goes

Let's Float Away Together

Hello everyone!  While this isn't a typical Valentine's Day card, I think it would make a cute one!  I made this card for my Design Team commitment at Die Cut Diva's where the theme this month is Anything Goes with Love and we are sponsored by the ever generous, Hero Arts.  There is plenty of time to whip up a creation and you can make anything you want {as long as it fits the theme} and enter for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Hero Arts. What a fabulous prize and one I'd like to win myself!  But since I can't win, maybe YOU will!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
White, Aqua and Dark Blue Card
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You stamps, #CM170
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You dies, #DI395
Hero Arts Wave & Sea Confetti Die, #DI523
Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop, Portrait, #LF1424
Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX
Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Dimensional Dots

The first in making this card was die cutting the clouds and the water; then I glued them onto the card base and set them under the tile on my desk to dry.  I use a 12" x 12" tile left over from a kitchen floor that was installed in my old house; it's fabulous for helping paper dry without warping.  I keep some wax paper on my desk and wrap the cards with it so I can either add more creations under the tile and/or the wax paper ensures any glue that's seeped out won't catch on the tile or any other cards and I also use it when I'm heat embossing.  Any stuck powder just flakes right off like the nothing!

While my background was drying, I stamped, colored, and cut out the puffer fish and the balloon basket.  I also stamped the sentiment and used the stitched oval to cut that out.  I adhered all the fish, the balloon, and the sentiment to the card using dimensional dots and the card was done!

I hope you can enter this challenge; I'd love to see your cards!  I hope you think my card is as cute as I think it is.  It's fun to make something so colorful.  It looks so cheerful and since today is cloudy and overcast as it's been for a few days here in Colorado, I needed some color.  I hope to see you soon. ~Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Let's Float Away card in the following challenges:
Creative Friday - #223, Love is in the Air
Take It, Make it - M, Anything Goes
Happy Craft Challenge - M, Anything Goes
Moo-Mania - #184, Love is in the Air
Creative Inspirations - With Love!
TTCRD - Anything Goes {week of 2/5}
Cuttlebug Mania - Be my Valentine
A Blog Named Hero - M, Crafter's Choice {entry 2}
Brown Sugar - M, #287, Love

Celebrate You!

Nothing drives a point across like a clean and simple card.  A bold sentiment and rainbow ink really help to get that feeling across!  I made this card to send to my sister at her work.  I'm hoping she will keep it on her desk so when things get crazy, she'll remember how awesome she is!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Kaleidacolor Ink Pad in Spectrum, #KA-000-001
Neat & Tangled Celebrate You stamps
Neat & Tangled Celebrate You dies

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Dimensional Dots

The first step in making this card was stamping the focal sentiment onto some white card.  I used the rainbow ink pad.  Let me just tell you a bit about the Kaleidacolor pads; they are priced higher than your standard ink pad but you are getting so much more than you do from a regular ink pad.  They have been around for a long time and I think they have gotten lost in the plethora of new products that come out every other day.  I've had my pads for over 18 years and I am still using the ink that they came with.  Granted, I don't use them every day, but that's amazing to me that I have never had to re-ink them!  I've had so many ink pads dry out on me {I just had it happen to me with a mini ink pad that had shimmer ink in it.  The pad was about six months old {if even that old} and when I went to use it, it was dry as a bone.  Disappointing when the perfect ink can't be used but none of my K-pads have done that.  Now, if by chance they do need re-inking, the website has each color re-inker next to the pad so you don't have to search all over to get the color you need.  I just think that's fabulous and had to give them a shout out as well as encourage you to get one of these pads if you don't have one.  The color combinations they have are perfect and I guarantee you will use it more than you think you will.  

Back to the card; I stamped the two sentiments in black right onto the card base then attached the focal sentiment onto the card with dimensional dots.  There you have it - a clean and simple card with punch!  I hope my card made YOU realize how awesome YOU are {especially for visiting me} and I hope you have a great day!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Crafty Gals - #184, Clean & Simple
DL Art - M, Anything Goes
Cardz TV - #82, Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - #327, Make Your Mark
Happy Little Stampers - CAS - Friends {my sister is my friend}
CAS Mix it Up Card Challenge - Dimensional Die Cut, Stamping and Stamping

Have a Magical Winter Season

If you visit this blog regularly you know how I just adore Lawn Fawn.  I've had this set since it was introduced {last winter} but hadn't made anything with it until recently.  And I went a bit overboard; once I got started, I couldn't stop and ended up making three cards!  Instead of doing a separate post for each card, I decided to do just one.  So here is a picture of all 3 cards together:

Now in order to tell the cards apart, the first one is Landscape, the second is Portrait, and the third is Three Fairies.  I wanted to let you get a better look at each card.

What I Used to Make my Cards:
Each of the three cards uses the following:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Frosty Fairy Friends stamps, #LF1224
Lawn Fawn Frosty Fairy Friends dies, #LF1225
Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Wink of Stella in Clear {all of their wings sparkle}

Dimensional Dots

Gelly Roll Gel Pens, Stardust Pack

For the first card, Landscape, I also used the following:              

The Landscape Card

Distress Ink in Broken China

Petal Point Pad, Alchemy, the Silver Ink

Lawn Fawn Starry Skies die, #LF1377

Silver Glitter Paper

The first thing I did when making this card {after the fairies were all stamped, colored, and cut} was stamp the sentiment onto the card base using Broken China ink.  I cut some stars out of silver glitter paper and glued them in various places around the card and stamped the wand swirls in silver ink.  

I used dimensional dots to attach this fairy to the card, placing her appropriately so that the wand swirls and stars were in the correct areas.

The Portrait Card

For the second card, Portrait, I used the following products:

White Scrap {for embossing folder}
Darice Scroll Background Embossing Folder, #1216-62
Distress Ink in Broken China

For this little fairy, first I stamped the snowflakes and wand swirls in Broken China and stamped the sentiment in Jet Black ink, then I dry embossed the background.  I attached the background paper to the white card base and finished the card by using dimensional dots to adhere the fairy.  

Finally for the third card, Three Fairies, it was time to have some fairies hanging out together outside their home.  I picture them practicing flying and getting those wand swirls perfect.

For this last card I used these additional products to make my card: 

Three Fairies

Scrap White Card {for banner}
Spellbinders Shapeabilities Vintage Pierced Banners, #S4-820
Distress Ink in Broken China
Light Blue Cardstock
Darice Embossing Folder Snowflake Trim, #1219-135
Stickles Glitter Glue in Crystal

Step one in constructing this card was running the light blue card through my Big Shot to dry emboss the paper.  I glued the background paper to the white card base and made the banner out of scrap.  The sentiment was stamped onto the banner after it was cut, and then it was assembled.

The fairy house was water colored like the fairies and I added a bit of glitter glue to the roof and the tip of the front door.  I was trying to give the illusion of snow, but since I used a clear glitter glue you can't really see it, even in person.  So we will just say it's ice; works for me!  The fairy that carries a muff is now holding a star leftover from the first card and another star has been added to the top window of the house.  

I hope you enjoyed my cards; these fairies are adorable.  ~Christi

I am entering all of the cards in the following challenges:
Fashionable Stamping - #143, Anything Goes
The Fairy & the Unicorn - M, Anything Goes
The Crafters Cafe - Fairy Tale {hope my fairies count!}
Friendship Challenge - #38, Anything Goes with Snowflakes
Just for Fun - Use Blue & Silver {entry 2}
Sweet Stampers - #28, Winter/Snow
Alphabet Challenge - W is for Wings
Fab 'n Funky - #425, Fantasy Figures
Lil Red Wagon - #482, Winter Blues
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Frilly and Funkie - Winter Blues