Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Fun & Fancy Free(ks)!


It's that time again; time for the monthly Control Freaks Tour de Freaks! This month's theme is Fun & Fancy Free, which means anything goes! Should be an interesting tour this month (not that they aren't always, but you know what I mean).

If you started at the beginning, you just landed here from Wickedly Wonderful Creations. Wendy always has something special to share! I'm number two on the tour, and there are fourteen of us this month, so be sure you click the "next" button at the bottom of each page so you don't miss anything!

Hoo boy, my mind went in about a million different directions since we didn't have a theme, but I finally settled on using the gorgeous Serene Scenery DSP stack, and seeing where it would take me. First up is a cute little Bluebird sitting on a twine "wire." We have tons of birds flitting in the trees and shrubs here, so the leaves on this sheet inspired me. I used the Fine-Tip Glue Pen to add some shine to the bird's eyes. (Those leaves look a lot like my poor sapling cherry tree's leaves since the darn Japanese beetles have been at them. Grrr!)

STAMPS: Best Birds  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Serene Scenery DSP  INK: Basic Black Archival, Pacific Point, Flirty Flamingo  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Birds & Blooms Framelits, Black Baker's Twine, Fine-Tip Glue Pen

Next I wanted to use the sheet that had the rustic painted paneling, and immediately thought "country chic" which led me to the cowboy boots in Country Livin'. This card is going to a friend tomorrow, as part of the #imbringingbackhappymail challenge!

STAMPS: Country Livin', Love & Affection  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Kraft, Soft Suede, Serene Scenery DSP  INK: Basic Black Archival, Soft Suede, Smoky Slate, So Saffron  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Layering Circles Framelits, Blender Pen, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, 3/8" Very Vanilla Stitched Satin Ribbon

Lastly, I went in a whole 'nother direction with the paper stack. As soon as I saw the dotted Crumb Cake (on the back of what I call the Amber Waves of Grain, lol), I knew it had to be snow! And yes, it is July and hotter'n Hades, but I'm dreaming about cooler seasons just ahead! This card uses the AWESOME limited-release Thoughtful Branches bundle that will be available to customers from August 2nd-31st. The tree was die-cut in Soft Suede and Whisper White. The WW was glued to the back a little offset, so it looks like snow on the branches. Cool, huh? (See what I did there? Heh heh)

STAMPS: Thoughtful Branches, Snow Place  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Serene Scenery DSP  INK: Real Red, VersaMark  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Seaside T.I.E.F., Heat Tool, Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush, Metallics Sequin Assortment, Fine-Tip Glue Pen

A bit of clear Wink of Stella was added to the ridges of the Seaside T.I.E.F.-embossed cardstock. It looks like snowdrifts, to me!

That's all I have to share this month, so hop on over to Debbie Henderson's blog, Debbie's Designs for more Fun & Fancy inspiration!

http://debbiesdesignsblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/controlfreaksjul2016.html

Monday, July 18, 2016

I'm Bringing Back Happy Mail


Another batch of happy mail cards were sent out today! It does my heart good to know that in a few days, some special people will be opening their mail boxes and finding something fun, instead of bills and junk mail. And it also makes my heart happy that I am using some Designer Series Paper and embellishments that I have been hoarding collecting for a few years. I can't think of a better use for it!

This is a one-off card, but most of the others were variations of this in different colors and with different stamps. I hope it brings a smile to the recipient!

Here's the "How To" Image panel: Shimmery White 2-3/4" x 4" Mat: Dapper Denim 2-7/8" x 4-1/8"
Embossed panel: Whisper White 4" x 5-1/4"
DSP: Marina Mist (Subtles DSP Stack) 1-1/2" x 4" Card base: Whisper White 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded
  1. Emboss Whisper White panel with Petal Burst embossing folder and adhere to card base.
  2. Add DSP to bottom of embossed panel, and a strip of Washi Tape to cover seam. (I used the retired Metallics Glitter Tape.)
  3. Stamp flower outline in Dapper Denim, filler in Marina Mist, and stem in Garden Green on shimmery white. Paint leaves with Aqua Painter or Blender Pen. 
  4. Stamp greeting from Flourishing Phrases.
  5. Adhere image to mat, and mat to card base.
  6. Tie a bow with silver twine (also retired) and adhere with Glue Dot.
NOTE: I used the Cross-Stitched Rectangles die from Lawn Fawn on the image panel.

Product List



Friday, July 15, 2016

Best Birdie


A very special friend was the recipient of this card, which I forgot to sign! As soon as it went out, I thought, "Hmmmm, I don't think I signed that card....or maybe I just forgot that I did." Nope, I forgot to sign it. Oh well, I'm sure she got a good laugh out of it.

Have you ever done that? Or put the wrong card, meant for one person, into an envelope for another person? It can get confusing, when you're sending a lot of cards!

I don't know if it shows up very well, but I put a little drop from the Fine-Tip Glue Pen on the bird's eye, so it looks like the shiny little eyes I see every day here. It is so much fun watching them hop around and interact. And that's one of the reasons Pumpkin will remain an indoor cat; not only for his safety, but for the birds as well!


I didn't notice until just now that the flourish coming out of the top of the bird's head looks like the topknot on a quail!

And, *big sigh*...oh how I miss Lost Lagoon. It went so well with Pool Party. (And the Illuminate Ink, too, which is what I used on the Whisper White at the top of the card.) I'm hoarding what I have left, and will only use it for special cards for the extra special people in my life.

Product List

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

You Are AWESOME!


No, really, you are! And so is my downline, Maria, who I sent this to. She just promoted to Silver, and I'm so stinkin' proud of her! She's determined to make her business work, and is taking the steps to make it happen. I'd like to think I had some part in that, but truth be told, she is the one who is setting goals and working to reach them; I can't do it for her. So I'll answer her questions when I can, find the answers when I don't know them, and give her some well-deserved "atta girls."

Product List

Monday, July 11, 2016

WHAT Have I Done???


I accepted the 30 day #imbringingbackhappymail challenge by Lyssa Zwolanek, is what I "done." She wants to bring happy mail back, like Shannon West is bringing birthdays back. Who wouldn't love to find a handcrafted card in their mailbox, when most of the time it's bills and junk mail? Well, I took Lyssa up on it and posted on Facebook that, for the next thirty days, I would send a happy mail card to anyone who wants one. Well, after a slow start the count is now up to 36 cards! Yikes!!! I guess I really can't say I'm overwhelmed though, since Shannon's birthday card list is at about 2,000!

So this is one of eight cards that went out today. And I'm going to keep this post short, because I have a lot of card-making to do!

Here's the "How To"
Image panel: Shimmery White 2-3/4" x 4"
Mat: Flirty Flamingo 2-7/8" x 4-1/8"
Card base: Whisper White 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded
  1. Stamp background from Touches of Texture in Flirty Flamingo ink on card base.
  2. Add a strip of Flirty Flamingo striped Washi Tape 3/4" from bottom of card base.
  3. Stamp flower bunch on shimmery white and color with Aqua Painter and ink pad. Stamp greeting from Bunch of Blossoms.
  4. Adhere image to mat, and cut doily in half, fastening to back of mat.
  5. Use adhesive to adhere matted image/doily to card base.
  6. Use Fine-Tip Glue Pen to add sequins and white baker's twine bow.
NOTE: I used the Cross-Stitched Rectangles die from Lawn Fawn on the image panel.

Product List