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Monday, April 20, 2020

We Were Mermaid for Each Other

While this is an older Lawn Fawn set, it's brand new to me and what better time to break out an adorable mermaid couple than when we are all stuck together and maybe not feeling so loving towards those we are stuck with?  I dearly love my family, but things are starting to feel a bit. . . crowded.  I just keep telling myself this too shall pass :) 



What I used to Make my Card:
Navy Blue Card Base
Lawn Fawn Mermaid for You stamps, #LF1167
Lawn Fawn Mermaid for You dies, #LF1168
Pre-made Distress Oxides Ink Background {I always have a bunch of these around}
Various Hero Arts Inks
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Light Blue Card
Sakura Gelly Roll Silver Pen, Stardust
Scrap White Card

I had already made the background of the card; I find it very helpful to have a bunch of these backgrounds in various colors ready to make into a card at any time.  I find it very relaxing to play with the Distress Oxides.  I love the fact that you really can do no wrong with them.  If you don't like the way the colors blended or thought it would look different, you can always add more Oxides to the watercolor paper or use any number of shimmer sprays to liven it up.  I also keep all the scraps from my backgrounds {at least the ones that are 1/4" or bigger.}  You'd be surprised at how many uses come up between stamping a sentiment or weaving bits together.

Since my background was done, I moved on to the elements of the card.  I stamped, colored, and cut all the pieces, some on watercolor paper and some on plain scrap white.  For the images I stamped on the white scrap that didn't need to be colored, I used various Hero Arts inks.  The Oxide Ink background was
Another Look
glued onto a navy blue card, another scrap of white was glued inside so the giver would be able to write inside the card, and then all of the pieces were glued onto the front of the card.  I am by no means a talented color-er but looking back at my earlier creations, say last year and the year before, I'm happy to say I've gotten better, at least with water coloring.  I look at my cards from way back and I just cringe, but I try to look at how I've grown rather than focus on how bad I was.  I'm talking cards so bad they will never see the light of this blog.  I've also lost my irrational fear of alcohol ink markers which is handy since I am watching videos and reading tutorials on how to use them {one of my on going goals.}  How are you doing with your crafty goals?  Do you go back to your older cards and marvel at your progress?  You should!  Maybe I should make a page {or start a challenge!} for "The Cards We Made Way Back Then!"  Hope you enjoyed my post and I hope you come back and visit me soon!  Fondly, Christi


I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make a Scene 
Little Patch of Crafty Friends, #130 - Anything Goes
Three Muses - Something Fishy
Through the Purple Haze, #166 - Anything Goes
Cardz TV, #112 - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge Blog - A is for Anything Goes

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Something a little different. . .

Hi all! I hope everyone is doing well & keeping busy.  I'm happy to say all the people in my life are doing well and I am crafting up a storm!  This card is a little different than what I normally create; I didn't use any ink or coloring on it.  I'd love to know what you think! Also, if you'd like to see the photos bigger, just click on it ~ thanks!


What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Pink, Lavender and Light Green Scrap Paper
Memory Box Springtime Tulips Die, #94216
Spellbinders Nestabilities Fancy Edges Circles, #S4-903 {available online}
Various Small Half Pearls in Green, Pink and Yellow


The very first thing I did for this card was I cut the Springtime Tulips out of
heavy duty white card. I had gotten a large bag of mixed colors of half backed pears and used the second to the smallest size on this {I repackaged the pearls and neglected to write down the sizes.} I started to stick the half pearls with a wax holder pencil; the type that has a small metal tube in the front and you pick up a bit of the wax and then your item and then place it on your substrate.  Well, I got SO frustrated that I could not continue and I searched for a solution. I even tried the actual "wax pencils," that you sharpen as a real pencil, that supposedly
work the same way but the "lead" is a sticky substance with no luck. I found all of those items while searching and most of them were in the Nail Art section - perhaps they'd work better if you were placing a gem onto wet nail polish?  Finally, I had read about the Marvy Uchida Jewel Picker - this thing is GREAT! I was never good using tweezers and I have no trouble using this product! You can buy the Jewel Picker with one tip or two tips {the one I used}.  I breezed through the rest of the design in no time!

Close Up of the Tulips
When the die was covered with the pearls I cut the background circle out of lavender paper, the leaves out of light green paper and the pink strip.  I assembled the card as you see in the pictures.  I honestly wasn't expecting the project to come out as well as it did; fighting with embellishments is one of my least favorite things to do! But I really liked how the half pearls fit perfectly on the tulip die and I am glad I persevered and finished the card.  I hope you enjoyed my small write up; I'd love to hear what you do with your embellishments that might be a little different.  Feel free to leave me a message letting me know you were here as well as a link back to your blog so I can leave you some love.  Fondly, Christi
Another Look

Outside The Box - Memory Box Die Challenge, April, Spring Fling
Crafty Gals Corner, #206 - Easter/Spring
Double D Challenges - Showers & Flowers 
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies 
Not Just Cards - April, Anything Goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes 
Shopping Our Stash, #418 - Happy Spring, Easter and/or Passover 
Make My Monday, #120 - Spring Flowers 
The Paper Girls, #197 - Florals 
Dragonfly Dreams - Add a Flower