My Birth Stone

My SIL is having a birthday.  She is a wine sommelier, a wine professional, a wine connoisseur ... I think you get the idea.  We have shared in wine tasting only to discover that some $9 bottles of wine were as good if not better than a $50 bottle of wine.  In conclusion.... it's just a matter of your taste.  haha

If she could choose her birthstone, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be a "wine cork", even though it's not a stone. I saw this sentiment all over the web so there is no one particular person I can give credit.

This is JJ Wine from Bugaboo Stamps.  I'm entering the card into their Catch the Bug Challenge BINGO. I went with the middle row going horizontal: distressed, player's choice, and dies/punches.

A2, Lil' Inker rectangle stitched die, Gina Marie circled scalloped stitched die,
copic inks, I made cork and wine opener svg a long time ago, pop-up dots

Same card but at an angle to show dimension

same image but put in a scalloped card 5x5
I apologize for lighting, outside but a lot of blue

Happy Birthday Mary Hannah

I'm continuing with birthday cards for Mary Hannah since I won't be able to attend her 6th birthday festivities.  It will make a total of 4...reached my goal.

A simple balloon(s) die cut from Aliexpress called balloon die.  I made the clear round do-dahs.  I wish I had brought my bucket of them with me when I moved, but I just couldn't bring it ALL....LOL

A2, distress inks smudging, machine stitching, glitter pen

Shake your ba-donkey-donk!

My awesome blue-eyed, red-headed granddaughter is having a birthday soon.  I want to lavish her with several cards leading up to her birthday.  I won't be there for the celebration.

I bought this donkey svg some years back from SVG Cutting Files.  This time around I'm making 4 cards to have on hand for upcoming birthdays.  I just don't know why this donkey always makes me smile.  The little flower is a die cut also from years past. ( I may add google eyes for fun.)  I used a Spellbinder A2 Curved Borders One die cut.  This is my "go to" set I dearly love.

Cut It Up is having Challenge #182 with the theme being farm animals.  This little donkey is walking in the pasture celebrating birthdays. ( TIDBIT: Farmers say cows, goat, sheep, horses and other small farm animals in a pasture with donkeys are more protected from coyotes.)

A2 size. mschine stitching, rhinestone on flower die, Spellbinders
A2 Curved Borders One, copics for hooves

I did a total of 4 cards using donkey; here are two others. Sorry for background

I'm Late, I'm Late....

....for a very important date!

I'm also just getting under the wire publishing my card in the From the Hearts Weekly Challenge #162 with a twist: sketch and/or snow.  I had lost this little image Hamlet Pigwit Air Lift and so glad I found it.

I followed the Die Gate Fold at Splitcoasters Stamps after being influenced by Little Card Maker.  I used copics for coloring, bow die from Gina Marie and yellow enamel dots.

A2, front view

angle view

opened.  I'll probably put the note on the back.

Sketch #162

Take My Advice DOLL....

....pick an age and stick to it !

This is Bugaboo's JJ wine 2.  I was inspired by Billie and sorta cased her. The sentiment derived from Art Impressions.  One more card I'm adding to the Christmas Card sets! Nothing special about the template so I added dimension and an svg wine glass (free from internet) with an acetate base.

I'm joining the Catch the Bug Challenge - Make Us Laugh

A2, colored with copics
I hope you didn't notice my personal cork holder was full

pop-ups behind girls and wine glass
PS  Inside says "Happy Birthday"

Acetate base behind glass

Yup, I made 4
Going to make these again but change the sentiment

I'm a Little Behind....

The good news...I did an assembly line of these "belated" birthday cards.  The bad news....I'm a card maker and yet I catch myself being late sending birthday cards!!!

I bought this Inky Antics Bear Butt several years ago but just now using.  Stamping at the Lake caused me to fall in love with the image and the other day, Indiana Inking reminded me so I cased her.

An assembly line and keeping it CAS.

A2, copics for coloring, computer generated sentiment

free cloud background, Stitched rectangles, sun and hillside dies from Lawn Fawn

pop-ups for bear and sun, cut bear using Cameo 3

Hang on Tight....

...another birthday is about to fly by!

This is a continuation of the delightful Airplanes Set by Imagine That Digistamps.  This one is a definite Indiana Inking case.  The only difference is I added dimension to the image by using my Cameo to cut, then using pop-ups for it and the stitched clouds (Lawn Fawn).

Yup, they came together quickly.

A2, Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles, forgot where the background came from...if you know, I would love to go back and give credit.

angle view

free blue cloud and sky I found on the internet....pretty cool

just of few of them together and different sized clouds

Fall Blessings...Winter Wishes

There is this wonderful lady named Becky that I have known for many years.  She just had her 89th birthday.  She took care of my first son for several months when I had to return to teaching.  She was a regular babysitter on the very rare occasions my husband and I could steal away.  She is also the mother of my best friend.  My husband and I felt very honored to attend her birthday with all her family.  We were the only ones that weren't blood relatives or related by marriage.

She has downsized, so space for knick/knacks is limited.  I made her a decorative piece using a small 5x5 glass block.  What's different is that I put a FALL THEME on one side and a WINTER THEME on the other.  I will simply take off the Fall foliage and replace with the white wintery foliage as seen in the pic below.  I figured she could start displaying in mid-October and turn over in December which could carry her into February.

5x5, Fall Blessings, leaves from Silhouette Store, burlap ribbon which you can't see

lights off

other side of 5x5, warm winter wishes, "Winter" and snow flakes from Silhouette Store, lights off

I'll remove the Fall foliage and replace with winter leaves...this was just a quickie pic for you to get the idea

There were still about 10 family members who were unable to attend.  Don and I took the pics...haha  I could only hope that I would have this many loved ones surrounding me on my 89th birthday if I'm ever so lucky to reach that golden year.

Remember all the good times we had?

(inside); No, Seriously, do you remember any of that stuff?!

I wish I could lay claim to the sentiment, but alas, I saw this on a card on my last beach trip.  I thought it was funny .... especially since I'm getting to the stage of forgetting things...haha

Anyhow, I just bought this sweet Hello Birdhouse Easel card from My Scrap Chick while on sale for $.70.   I had these adorable Surprise Birdbrain Birthday images from From the Heart Stamps, so I married the two.  THIS one WAS easy to put together once I knew what papers to use and knowing I wanted to keep the Fall theme.

5x5, copics for birds, pop-ups for dimension

Lil Inker' Stitched Circle dies

better angle view to see the components

3rd Birthday - Elsa

Yup, I'm a grandmother of a 3 year old, red headed, blue eyed, little girl who is in love with Elsa.  I thought of so many cute cards to make, but knowing Elsa will thrill her the most.  I sorta cased Stamp Owl's Studio, but since I didn't have the exact card die, I improvised.  I could not bring myself to use the words "Let it Go"!

All the images were free on the web.  I cut the "3" with the Cameo and the rest were die cuts I had.  All the white paper is glittered...wish you could see it.

A2, Snow Border die, snow corner die, pop-ups for dimension

All dies, all glitter paper, images free on web, Lawn Fawn snow backdrop stamp set, copics for Oloft

Wanted to show at angle to see the tabs. I used a card tab die set by Stampendous I bought from Michaels.  I didn't think I would use very much, but use quite a bit.  $7 well spent

Happy Birthday ( trying a new technique...

I adore Doodle Pantry images and was a DT member for quite a while.  I wanted to join the Doodle Pantry Challenge #21 and Send a Smile 4 Kids: criteria (children, CAS, Fall colors,flat for shipping) Cute Fall/Halloween. I decided using the camouflaging die cuts technique would add some depth and interest. It's was my first time using the technique.  I can't wait to try again with much larger letters.

I used Doodle Pantry Balloon Ants set.  I masked off one ant, then I added the same image but smaller to help give dimension.  I used Doodle Pantry matching digital paper for the balloons.  I colored the larger ants with copics. There are 4 layers of the word "happy".

A2, cloud punch, "birthday" made in Design Studio, HAPPY cut using Cameo, white pen for accent marks,pop-ups for a little dimension, sewing 

Inside of card, ants stamp from Lawn Fawn

Challenges: Doodle Pantry - anything Goes

Send a Smile 4 Kids: Cute Fall or Halloween (use Fall colors)

Monday Greetings Challenge Fall Colours GCC090516

Best Fishes

Yes, my time blogging lately has been sporadic at best.  My craft room was out of control, so I took a week off to clean.  I'm halfway there, but found a good place to stop and do a quick card.  The card is a total "case" from Jennifer McQuire.  I find it hard to jump back into creating after being away for too long.

I used Fintastic Friends set from Lawn Fawn.  I used the dies along with copics, and pop-ups for dimension.

I've enjoyed checking my emails and catching up on so many blogs I loved to follow for smiles and inspiration.  Unfortunately, I haven't been leaving comments, but will try to catch up.  I know the time and love that goes into a card and I personally know that comments left "goes a long way" for encouragement.  So....I'm going to do better.

A2, embossing powder, think black pen, white pen

Happy Hour

Instant love for Chrissy's card.  I sorta cased her sketch, borrowed her sentiment, but changed the image. Image - digi 8503 Couch Potato.  I think it could pass as a pickle too..haha  I joining the QKR Stampede Challenge #195 - theme: guys.  Using copics, cord, and homemade dots, I call it done.  (This is SO my husband and brother!)

A2 - I can use as a birthday or "just because" theme card
PS....I just won this image last week!

Another pull card QKR birthday

One last entry to the QKR Challenge #193.  I'm enjoying the pull card die set.  I think everyone enjoys an action card.  I'm going to make another card but with a "thank you" theme.  My son and DIL surprised me with a new purse with my initials.  I think they knew something like that would cheer me up OR they thought my purse was starting to look a little ratty...haha  Both things are true!
This is Nature Discovery from QKR. I masked the butterfly.

A2, grass die, metal cupcake die, Elisabeth Craft Charm Pull Die Set, eyelet and ribbon, PS and copics for coloring, jewel and cut image with my Cameo Silhouette

opened

Pull Card Forgetful Elephant - QKR

I'm joining the Die Cuttin Diva's #268 Challenge ( Anything Goes) and it is my 2nd entry to the QKR Challenge #193: birthday theme.  I need to replenish my stack of birthday cards.  This cutie is Forgetful Birthday.  I used PS and copics for coloring, Pull Charm die set by Elizabeth Craft, brad, ribbon, eyelet, made my own balloon string on Cameo and Lil Inker balloon die.

A2, closed, metal cupcake brad

open

Never Forget Your Birthday

I pretty much cased Connie's card at QKR.  I think I will add a string bow on the tail as well.  This is CAS...as about CAS as you can get, but I think it turned out to be a fun card I would be happy to send to anyone.  I tried to keep it gender neutral. If I send to a girl, I'll paint the toes pink..haha

I'm joining QKR's Challenge #193 with theme being "birthday".  Boy, can never have too many of those cards stock piled. Elephant at QKR.

homemade dots, mirco pen and pop-ups for dimension

A2, this image mae me smile...hope it does for someone else as well, PSE and copics, Lil Inker Rectanagle Stitched dies and balloons

You can never have too much happy

I bought the Bath Tub die set from Elizabeth Crafts when I bought the adirondack chair die.  I've spend my wad for the month.  So many different sentiments and occasions this can be used. Lots of birthdays in the near future so I better get busy.  I used the crab since I had a few left over from my last card.  Love being able to use scraps.

A2, silver paper, CAS outside

3-D (inside)

Materials:

bath tub and pieces - Elizabeth Crafts

crab - Elizabeth Craft

inside sentiment - Riley and Company

happy birthday stamp - Paper Smooches

YOU die - I think Simon Says

Beer top saver shadow box

Trying to get my mojo back for making cards, I started with some vinyl projects using my Silhouette.  I had some birthday presents to make. I considered this inexpensive (under $12) to made.

Our much younger German friend loves beer; this is his present.  The German words say "I love a good beer".  The shadow box has a very strong magnet for opening and closing.  The beer tops should not fall out.  My husband drilled some holes in the top for the beer tops to slip though.  (The "D" design is from the Silhouette Store. I used Silhouette Design Studio for the Banker font.)

"I love a good beer"   11x14 shadow box from Hobby Lobby

Wishing....

...my DIL a Happy Birthday!  A quick card using a new die "wishing" from Simon Says Stamp.

Other news:  I'm stepping down from the Doodle Pantry design team.  I have had an awesome time with a wonderful team and creating for an awesome artist, Laurie.  I will be spending extra time with family members over the next 9 months.

Now in my craft room and creating when time and the mood strikes.  I will enjoy getting back into visiting blogs....so much inspiration and cyber friendships to enjoy.

A2, balloon dies from Lil Inker, pop ups for dimension, glitter pen on star areas

Ba - donkey - donk

I thought this donkey svg from Svg Cutting Files was so cute when I saw it at Paper Piecing by Steph.  I made several male and female versions.
I made a boo-boo on the female card.  See if you can find what I did to cover it up...haha  As it turned out, I think I like my cover-up...looks like it was suppose to be there!

A2 size  Amazing the color difference in the two cards yet I set up in the same exact location.  The background is a light cream.  Pop-ups for dimension, cloud punch, Lawn Fawn hillside die. Jewel on flower

masculine version