April Showers

Hi everyone! I've been getting used to my new job and then I got hit with some sort of sinus thing, so I haven't been as creative as usual!  THEN my Blogger account got hacked - nothing vicious, no one stealing my identity {the joke would be on them anyway, I'm poor!}, but they added an email address to my account and deleted my real email.  It has been a HUGE struggle to try to get my email back as the email for this blog; in fact, it still isn't correct, but I'm working on it - I suspect an April Fool's "joke" as it was compromised on 4/1/19 - ha ha ha - NOT!  However, this card is perfect for the Die Cut Diva's April challenge!  The theme this month is WATER and you can interpret that however you see fit.  We have the fabulous Altenew sponsoring us and I'll be sharing a card made with their products later in the month.  In the meantime, here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
MFT BB Rain or Shine Stamps
Die-Namics BB Rain or Shine Dies
Hero Arts Ink in Soft Granite
Dimensional Dots

I began this card by adding the rain all over the card, leaving a space for the sentiment.  I literally laid the sentiment on the card and stamped the rain and the raindrops all around it so I'd be sure to leave enough room.  I also added the puddle in which my sweet girl seems to be dancing. 

Another Peek

Then I stamped the girl onto watercolor paper and colored her in.  I also stamped some clouds on a piece of white scrap, then cut out everything.  I used my Tim Holtz Platform to add the sentiment, using black ink so it would stand out.  Lastly, I added the clouds and the girl, attaching them with dimensional dots.  I am thrilled with how this card came out - I am happy with everything about this card!  I love that it's just a "thinking of you" type of card; I never have enough of them!  I hope you get your water elements out and join us for the Die Cut Diva's April Challenge - see you there! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Emerald Creek - M, Inspired by water, rain, etc. 
Country View Challenges - M, Easter and/or Spring
Cute Card Thursday - #576, Anything Goes
Crafty Catz Challenge - Use Your Dies

Hello

Hello, crafty people!  Today I am sharing a card I made using a layering color set by Hero Arts.  They have so many new sets out now with the new catalog; I'm just waiting to get my new goodies!  Have you seen the new catalog yet? You can check it out by clicking this link HERE.  For this card I used a set that's been around for a bit, read on for more information. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Purple Panel
White Card {panel and scrap}
Hero Arts Color Layering Nasturtium stamp set, # CM266
Hero Arts Color Layering Nasturtium die set, # DI472
Hero Arts Inks in Passion Flower, Amethyst, Mint Julep, Moss and Lavender
Hero Arts Hello Stamp & Cut set, #DC151
Dimensional Dots

For this type of set having a stamp positioner is invaluable, regardless of the type.  I used my Tim Holtz platform and stamped the flower onto white card using passion flower ink and then filled in the details using amethyst.  Then I stamped the leaves beginning with mint julep ink and detailing with moss ink.  One of the wonderful things about this particular set is you don't have to align the stamps perfectly. I can never seem to get them lined up properly, even though the stamps are clear and I use my platform.  But it sure beats when I used to stamp using Stampin' Up! two step stamping!  Those stamps were wood mounted and it was literally a hit or miss if I got them even close!  Do you have any tricks that you use when layering stamps?  I'd love to hear them!  All of the inks I've used I've gotten from the My Monthly Hero kits; I've checked out a LOT of subscription services and I think that My Monthly Hero is by far the best deal out there! {I get no compensation from saying this; I just think it's true!}

I then stamped "hello" right onto the white card panel, stamped the butterfly using lavender and amethyst inks, and cut it out.  I wasn't going to use the butterfly but I got a spot on the card that needed to be covered up and the butterfly ended up being handy!  Just to add a bit of interest, I mounted the butterfly on a dimensional dot.  Lastly, the white panel was adhered to the purple card, then the purple card was trimmed and mounted onto the white card base.  To me this card just screams spring and, since we have had more snow now than in years, I am longing for some warmer weather!  I hope you enjoyed my card and I'd love it if you'd become a follower - I am on almost every social media except YouTube {I just can't make a good video yet!} and which ever you choose, let me know in the comments so I can follow you back.  Have a GREAT day. ~Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Shopping our Stash - #391, Celebrating Friendship
Unicorn Challenge - M, #41, Spring
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Feminine/Girly
Creativ Fusion Arts & Crafts - M, Spring
Crazy4Challenges - #474, Flowers
CARDZ TV - #84, Anything Goes
Cut it Up! - #169, Hello Spring!
Craft Rocket Challenges - #57, Flowers
The Flower Challenge -#30, Anything Goes

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

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

Deer Love

This card was so easy to make; the perfect clean and simple card for Valentine's Day, or any occasion really.  A sweet card just to let the recipient know you are thinking of them.  I am planning on making a bunch more to have on hand for those times when someone needs a little pick me up or you just want to say hello.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Die-Namics Deer Love die set

Kraft, red and dark brown cardstock

The pieces were cut from coordinating cardstock and adhered to the card base.  You can't get much simpler than that!  I think variations of this card would be so cute for a wedding, any holiday, even a masculine birthday, if you only use one {or none} of the hearts.  I think these deer are just so charming and they make a marvelous clean and simple card.  I've actually had this set for a while but just now found time to use it; so for all the "new" challenges, this set is new to me and it is the first time I've used it.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you are having a great day! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Deer Love card in the following challenges:
The Cutie Pie Challenge - M, #131, Cute, Clean and Simple 
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #22, Anything Goes w/ a Critter
Kraft Plus - M, Inspired by Indigenous Art {these look like cavemen drawings to me!}
CARDZ TV - #81, Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - New! {new die set}
Dies R Us - #113, Anything New {new die set}
Moving Along with the Times - Have a Heart
City Crafter - #445, CAS 
Crazy for CAS - #13, Animal
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - CAS
The Cat's Pajamas - M, #353, Love

Create a Smile - M, Use Kraft

Blue Skies are Ahead!

Hi all - I hope you are having a fabulous summer! For my Dies R Us post today I am sharing an encouragement card today.  I hope you like it!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Blue Skies Stamp Set, #LF511
Lawn Fawn Blue Skies Dies Set, #LF519
Watercolor Paper
White Card
Oxide Distress Inks in Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio & Broken China
Distress Ink in Mermaid Lagoon
Pop Dots
Distress Markers in Brushed Corduroy and Pumice Stone 
Detail Water Brush

I first made the background of the card using watercolor paper and Oxide ink in Broken China.  I smooshed some ink on my craft mat, spritzed it with my Distress Sprayer and rubbed the watercolor paper all around the mat until I was pleased with the color.  I set the paper aside to dry.
                                                                                   

I then stamped the balloon and basket onto more watercolor paper and die cut it  I colored the balloon with Oxide Ink using Wilted Violet, Cracked 
Pistachio and Broken China; I patted the ink pad onto my craft sheet and picked up the color using my detail water brush.  I love how the colors just pop! I then used Brushed Corduroy to color in the basket   and Pumice Stone to color in the bottom of the balloon. Then I die cut the clouds using white card and set all the die cuts aside.

Once the background was dry, I stamped the sentiment in Mermaid Lagoon directly onto the card. I attached the balloon to the card and Pop Dotted the clouds. I even used the clouds to hide some of the background that didn't quite come out the way I wanted it! I like the simplicity of the card and how soft and soothing the colors are.  I hope you have a fun-filled Fourth of July! 

Small PSA: Please be safe and keep an eye on your four legged critters - keep them inside during the fireworks; the Fourth of July is when most animals run away from home and go missing due to the noise. Keep your furbabies safe and inside (also, some animals need to be tranquilized due to the noise.  If your dog is fearful of thunderstorms, he's going to be scared of the fireworks; be sure to ask your vet for medication early!)  Just a little reminder because I know you love your animals as much as I love mine (and cats can run away just like dogs!)

 If you have time in between the festivities, be sure to come back to the Inspiration Blog daily, use that Inspiration to put together your own project and enter it on the Challenge Blog for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!  

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too. 

click below for:
STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my "Blue Skies Ahead" card in the following Challenges:

Lawn Fawnatics - #8, Summertime Fun

Crafting with Dragonflies - #84, Punches and/or Dies

CardMania - #94, Summer Fun

Art Impressions - #211, Create a Background

Simon Says Stamp, Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

A Little Fruity Fun

I got the inspiration for making this card from doing my Tuesday list at Challenges for Days.  For those who aren’t familiar with Challenges for Days it's a blog that lists challenges you can enter and my day is Tuesday.  Volunteering at the blog has really inspired me and I work with a fabulous crew of people.  If you think you may be able to spare an hour or so (usually less) please see the blog for details on how you can help us expand and get inspired as well. 

My Fruity Fun Card

I typically do a list detailing the items I used to make a project, but this one is self-explanatory, so I am just going to talk about the card.  I had gotten the very first Sizzix that came out on the market. The old machine was SO heavy (I still have it after all these years!) and could do nothing but make die

Close Up of the Die Cuts

cuts but the idea that you could actually cut out your own shapes was SO exciting! One of the dies that came with the machine was a little one called simply “Fruits” (and they don’t make the old Sizzix machine or this die anymore; they must be at least 15 years old).  I used the “Fruit” die to cut out my apples, pears and grapes, but I used my Big Shot to do the cutting.  I also used various punches, some small circles to make cherries and plums, as well as a few different leaf punches.  Piecing together the fruit was so fun; I used nothing but scrap cardstock on this entire card since the fruit is tiny.

 

Pic of LCS103 cropped

I also used one of my very favorite Wendy Vecchi stamp sets called “Heirloom Art”, LSC103, for the sentiment.  Again, I just used a coordinating scrap of cardstock and stamped the sentiment on it using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black, I left the inside blank so I could use the card for any number of occasions. I chose this sentiment because I felt the whimsical font Wendy used on it was perfect for this card – after all, how serious can it be with all these cute little cardstock fruits on it?  So there you have it.  A fruity fun little card to brighten someone’s day!  Thanks for stopping by and please don’t forget to subscribe to Challenges for Days for your daily dose of challenging inspiration ~ Christi

Another picture of the card.  I think this one has truer color than the top one.

**You can find the Heirloom Art stamp set online.  To see the set in its entirety, go to Stampers Anonymous, choose the first "drawer", scroll down using the side menu, go to Spring 2013 releases under Studio490/Wendy Vecchi, then to page 5.  I had to crop the image of the set significantly so it would fit.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Stuck On U Sketches - Die Cut Food/Drink
The Crafting Cafe - Feeling Fruity
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Mid Summer Challenge
The Crazy Challenge - Die Cuts and Punches
Shopping Our Stash - #161, Eat 5 a Day (fruits and/or veggies)
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Fruits & Veg
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Word Art Wednesday - #142, Use Uplifting Sentiment

Thanks for stopping by & I would love to hear from you :)

I Love You shaker card ~

 Shaker cards are one of the things that used to amaze me when I first started to rubber stamp.  I thought they looked so amazingly cool and complicated!  I still love them and I enjoy making them.  I knew when I saw that some of Globecraft & Piccolo’s Accent sets included adorable little frames that many a shaker card would be born! And again, I created a card showing my love of using the nontraditional for holiday cards - you could make this for any holiday or just because! 

To make this card I used: 

• 4 ¼ x 5 ½ Matte Gold Cardstock
• Piece of acetate
• I Love You rubber stamp from Great Impressions, #C230
• Ranger Archival ink in Jet Black
• Piece of scrap white cardstock (to stamp sentiment on)
• Frame from Fine Flower Vines Flourish Accents, A105 
• 2 pcs. From Medium Flourishes Accents, A139 
• 2 pcs. From Steampunk Airship Accents, A100 
• Enamel & Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid 
• Aged White Embossing Enamel 
• Vintage Gold Embossing Enamel 
• E600 Adhesive 
• Crafters Pick The Ultimate Glue 
• Foam Tape
• Filler for shaker, I used gold heart sequins and glitter
• Krylon Leafing Pen in 14k Gold 

 

The frame I used - check out all the others!!

First thing I did was stamp my sentiment on a piece of scrap white cardstock, then I cut it a bit smaller than an ATC – yes, the frames are ATC sized! – and made sure it fit the frame properly.  Set that aside.

Take your frame and cover with Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid and emboss with Aged White Embossing Enamel, I embossed my frame twice and left it a bit bumpy, covering the frame with the embossing powder adhesive in between layers. If you prefer a smooth finish just keep repeating the embossing steps and heating until it becomes smooth – it shouldn’t take any more than 3 or 4 times to make the finish smooth.  I then edged the frame with my Krylon Leafing Pen in 14k gold, both the inside and the outside of the frame. 

The frame and the acetate

Next, I glued the acetate window into the frame.  For me this is a tricky part because you really don’t want any fingerprints, or glue, to show on the acetate – luckily the piece I used had some tissue paper on one side and it was already cut to fit an ATC so it worked fine.  I used Crafters Pick to attach the acetate to the frame.  Set this aside so it can dry thoroughly, I typically wait until the next day (because I do most of my crafting in the week hours). 

Once your frame is dry it’s time to build the walls that are going to stop your filler from spilling all over the place.  I have some old foam tape that I use and I always use 2 layers so I can ensure the frame will be deep enough and I can sill in all the spots that may be an opening.  Since my tape is old, I use glue in between my 2 layers just to make sure it sticks to the frame and to each other.  

 

The start of my "walls"

Once my walls are built I put the frame under something medium weight, a book for example, and leave it there for a few hours to ensure I have a good bond.  Keep in mind how deep (high) your walls are when selecting filler – you can’t loose with sequins or glitter.  Because my color theme is gold and it’s a “love” card I chose some gold heart shaped sequins and some prisma glitter for my filler, I have had the glitter and sequins for ages & it's nice to use up some of that stash!  I put them in the center of my scrap where I stamped my sentiment.  This way you can see where you are attaching the frame. A few dabs of glue and attach your back to your frame. 

  

I glued my completed shaker onto my card that I made from the matte gold cardstock.  Then I took the accents I had chosen (both sets of Accents I used have a bunch of cute flourishes to choose from) and embossed those with the Vintage Gold embossing enamel, again embossing both twice.  After I was done, I used E600 glue to attach the Accents to the card because the cardstock was a bit slick.  I finished by edging the card with the Krylon Leafing Pen, again in the 14k gold, and I was done!

   

Another view of the card - it's difficult to photograph shiny things!!

I hope this inspires you to create your own shaker cards – they are so much fun! Enjoy! Christi   

 
PS: Don’t forget to take a look at our sister store, Sweet Stamps, for some breathtaking images!

I would like to enter this stunning card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Have a Heart
Shopping Our Stash - Shiny!
Eureka Stamps - #76 Love is in The Air

Card Makin' Mama's - Make It Sparkle!
Creative Moments - #36 Anything Goes/Love

I'm Falling For You. . .

This is my second post of the day (yes, I am on a roll!) so if you are looking for the most recent Happy Halloween card I've made, please scroll down (but, before you go, please consider taking a look at this card & leaving me some blog love ~ thanks!)

Fall is in the air! Autumn is my favorite time of year and I love all the colors that surround me.

I have made versions of this card before as I made a HUGE pile of punch out leaves, in fall colors,  years ago using a McGill Creativity punch of a maple leaf.  It was so long ago that I made these leaves that I can’t even remember why I made so many of them.  But I did, and so I am using them when I can.  The card base is another pre-made card I got and it is a deep red.  The first thing I did was make the sentiment “I’m falling for You” in Microsoft Publisher – in the past I have used tiny alphabet stamps for the words, but this time I wanted to make a quick card and using the computer is MUCH quicker for me than trying to ensure all those letters stamp out correctly (all the alphabet stamps I have are old – red rubber on cushion mounted to wood, so there is no seeing where they land).  So I made my letters to form the sentiment in a few fonts, printed them out on vanilla cardstock and chose the one I liked the best.  I just hand cut the letters & words out because I wanted it to look wonky and flawed (which is much easier than perfect!) I didn’t have to worry about crooked lines.  After the letters were cut, the first thing I did was practice where I wanted them – to me, in regards to this card, the “falling” was the most important part as the letters had to be placed like they were literally falling.  After I glued the letters to the base, I began to sort out where I want the leaves.  Next, I chose a few of the leaves to pop out and I used pop-up stickers on those.  Then I glued down the rest of the leaves, again in no particular order, only paying attention to the colors as I didn’t want 2 of the same color next to each other. 

Another fun, easy to make card, and it’s perfect to send to someone as a secret admirer or someone you love.  I also think this is easy enough (if you place the letters) for the kids to help with (but as much as I try, I can’t get the furbabies to help, they only want to play! Just as well, I can’t imagine cleaning glue off their paws).  Hope you enjoyed the card & have a sparkling day ~

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Use Your Stuff - Color Challenge (use orange, brown & green) 

Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Anything Goes

Inky Impressions - Fall/Autumn 

Crafting With Dragonflies - Nature/Leaves/Trees

Redd & Rosie's Challenge Blog - Shades of Autumn

How did I find all these awesome challenges to enter?? Just take a look at Challenges for Days, where you can find a challenge to enter for almost any type of paper craft!