365 Cards - Day 192 "So Sweet"

This challenge involved using the word "sweet" on a card. I made this card using a new stamp set I've been having fun with. The roses are embossed in white and then filled in using fine black glitter. This is hard to see except where it is coming off of the flower and onto the card! The leaves are stamped with white on black cs, and the white background is embossed using the swirls CB folder.

Card Details: CS - Recollections; Stamps - Artemio (rose set), Studio G (sentiment); Ink - Pamass (white), Memories (black); EB Powder - Ranger (Seafoam White).

Stamping 411 - SSC115

Here is my take on Saturday's Sketch Challenge at Stamping 411.

Card Details: Stamp - See D's; CS - Pink Pearl; Anna Griffin; MME - Behemia (Blossom Girlfriends Floral/Pink); Flowers - Forever in Time; Brads - Dollarama; Ink - Ranger Walnut Distress Ink.

MMSC17 - Using Bleach Technique

Talk about getting things done at the last minute! This card challenge for Midnight Madness needed to be done by tomorrow! Thankfully I've had a quiet and relaxing Labour Day and a chance to work on it. It was a fun card to do as I tried out the bleach technique for the first time. The bleach didn't take too much colour out of the cs I used, but it did take enough out to give a subtle difference. The flower is the bleached part.

I also tried out inking my CB folder for the first time. I used the Birds and Swirls folder with lavender ink and got a wonderful effect. These are both techniques that I will definitely try again! TFL

Card Details:
Stamp - Inkadinkado (Doodle Flowers); Ink - Versamark, Color Box Lavender; Clear EB Powder - Stamplicity; CS - Cricut Rainbow (light and dark purple); Recollections (white); Unknown (dark purple base); CB Folders - Swiss Dots, Birds & Swirls; Metal Corners - Dollarama; Ribbon - Offray.

Sad News

The Scrapping Nook

I was sad to hear this morning that my local scrapbooking store will be closed for awhile. They lease their space and some work was done recently on an electrical panel in the back of the building, and it turns out they had an electrical fire. A malfunction in the panel caused the flourescent lights in the store to blow and they ended up losing their entire "stash" to smoke damage. You can check out their blog here for more information.

The store is owned and operated by a very dedicated and fun group of ladies who don't deserve this kind of stress and loss. I'm just thankful to know that nobody was hurt and that things can be replaced. Hopefully the store will be repaired, restocked, and up & running again soon.

Stamping 411 Challenge Card

This is from an old challenge, but I had it half done so I decided to finish it. I guess I should pay more attention to the dates on my notes! It seems I just haven't had enough time to keep up with some of these challenges! Well, school will be starting in a few days and hopefully then I will have a bit more time to make cards.

I recently spent some time trying to find ways to take better photographs. I made my own photolight box and have taken a few pics using it, and so far I'm happy with the result. It's much easier to get a nice clear picture with it, especially if I stick it outside in the bright sunlight and don't have to rely on lamps!

Now I need to get busy ordering curriculum for my bible study which will be starting up in a couple of weeks, and for youth group which will be starting up also the same week. Doesn't it seem like there is always something happening to distract you from what you really want to do most (ie. make cards)! Don't get me wrong, I love leading both my groups, I just don't like having to make all the arrangements at the beginning of the year.

Card Details: CS - Coredinations Black Magic, Recollections, Crate Paper Blue Hill Collection (Cloud)
Sentiment - Computer Generated; Ink - Portfolia (Gifted Memories)
Nestie - Scallop Circle; CB Folder - Textile; Stamp - Inkadinkado (Birds Galore)

Day 185 - Feeling Blue

This card was made for a challenge at 365 Cards. The challenge was to use 3 different shades of blue on a card.

Card Details:
Stamps - Inkadinkado (Expressions & Frames, Doodle Flowers)
CS - Recollections, K&Company (Classic K)
Ink - Memories, Versamark; EB Powder - Ranger (Seafoam White)
Nestabilities - Label 1; Ribbon - Dollarama

Resist Techniques

Last night I attended my first SU workshop and learned how to do the resist technique 3 different ways. Each card was made using a different resist technique. It was fun and educational! I just love learning new ways to decorate my cards. I'm sure these techniques aren't knew for most of you, but for me it was the first time I had done this before.

The first card was stamped with versamark on glossy cs, and then embossed with clear powder. Then I sponged on the ink and wiped off the excess to smooth it out.

The second card was stamped with versamark on glossy cs and once dry, brayered with ink.

The third card was covered with pastel, and then versamark ink was stamped on it using a stamp roller.

Card Details: I don't know the names of everything, but I can tell you that they are all from SU!

Day 181 - White Space

Here is a card I made for a challenge at 365 Cards (Day 181 - White Space). The challenge was to keep all decorations (paper, embellies, sentiments) within the blacked out areas of the card. I thought this might be easier if I turned it on it's side and I was right! Maybe that's cheating, I don't know, but it helped me as I have a hard time with white space, thus the challenge! I was able to use a new stamp I received awhile ago for a rak at More Than Scrapbooking.

My niece is expecting her first baby so I've been in the mood to work on baby cards. I've been playing with some ideas for baby shower invitations, favours, and thank you cards for her, but can't finish them until I know if it's going to be pink or blue! (I have to wait about 4 more weeks!) So this card was just a little something to satisfy my need to make something with a baby theme!

Card Details:
Stamps: Sentiment - Clear Expressions, Flowers - Artemio
CS: Recollections (white), Bazill (pink); Punch: MS Butterfly
EB Folder: CB Swiss Dots; Ink - Colour Box (orchid); Pearls - Recollections.

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Stamping 411 - SSC113

This is my first Stamping 411 Challenge entry. It is the Saturday Sketch Challenge for this week and was fun to do. I'm definitely going to be doing others as time allows. I used bronze embossing powder for the image and I like the different look it gives. It has a bit of a copper look to it. I bought several different rolls of ribbon for invitations I made, but ended up not using ribbon at all. The ribbon on one of the rolls was perfect for this card. Ribbon is something that will never go to waste! The cs I used was all scraps which I was glad to make use of. I will add a sentiment when I decide what I want to use the card for.

Card Details: Ribbon - Modern Home; Stamp - HOTP Botanicals; CS - Bazill (green), Recollections (dark brown and ivory), pp - unknown; Bronze EB Powder - Wal-Mart; Ink - Versamark.

365 Cards - Super Sketchy Sunday Challenge

This is my first 365 Cards challenge. This sketch looked like a fun one so I decided to try it. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, although I think it would have looked okay without the ribbon and slide at the top. The card opens at the point where the flower is. I really like doing things a little different like that.

I hope you are having a good week. I've got another busy one ahead, but still have some more cards to post so check back in when you can.

Card Details:
Flowers: Forever In Time
Stamps: Happy Birthday - Rubber Stamp Tapestry; Flowers - Artemio
Ink: Versamark, Martha Stewart (teal), Colourbox (peony); Silver EB Powder - Wal-Mart
CS - Recollections (purple), Cricut Rainbow (teal)
Spellbinders Impressabilities - Flowers; Ribbon Slide - Cuttlebug Die Cut
Diamond Stickles; Bling & Ribbon - Dollarama

Caardvarks Challenge

I finally found a small smidgen of time to work on some challenges. This card is for the Caardvarks Challenge. The rule is to create a **NEW** card which incorporates the colors of their sponsor's logo - black, white, and hot pink! The sponsor is MyStampBox which is a Canadian company from Toronto, so being that it is pretty close to home I thought it would be fitting to do this challenge.

My hot pink ended up looking a little darker and almost looks red in the picture, but in reality it is a fuscia pink. I love how the white embossing looks on the roses against the pink and the black. The leaves were done by stamping with white ink on black CS, and then I cut them out.

Card Details:
CS: Black and white - Recollections; Pink - Cricut Rainbow
CB Folder: Swiss Dots
Ink: Versamark; Memories Black Dye, White Pigment
EB Powder: Ranger
Stamps: Sentiment - Heidi Grace; Scroll, Roses, Leaves - Artemio

The Last Thank You

So this is the last thank you card I should be posting for awhile! I've made so many that it's time to make something different. I might even try to make some Christmas cards if I can! This card though is one that I like, and enjoyed making. The mint green is vellum and I enjoy working with vellum! I love the crisp look of white on a card as well, don't you?! I curled the flower petals up for more of a 3-D effect.

Card Details:
Ink: Versamark, with clear EB powder.
Punches: Cuttlebug flowers; Curvy cutter (ovals).
CS: Bazill, Recollections, (shimmery white cs is unknown).
Vellum: Memories Forever.
Pearls: Recollections

Midnight Madness Blog Candy

Check out the awesome blog candy at Midnight Madness ! I would so love to win some stamps as I have such a limited selection and sure could use more. I have been wanting to get in on the sketch challenges for a long time as well, but haven't had the chance. I'm sure hoping that this week I will finally get to it now that graduations, vacation, back to school shopping and a few other things are behind me!

Wedding Thank You

I'm getting to the last of the Thank You cards that I'm going to post for awhile. I have one more after this, and it's one of my favourites so I saved it for the last. This one was made (using my friend's wedding colours) with a chocolate brown cs base, gold cs in the centre, and shimmery ivory paper for the front. Everything is embossed in gold.

Card Details: Brown CS - Recollections; Ivory and Gold CS - Unknown; Stamps: Sentiment & oval scroll - Inkadinkado, bells - unknown; Versamark and gold Ranger EB powder.

50th Anniversary Invitation

I have been very busy this past week making 54 invitations (5 1/2 x 8") for my in-laws upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. I used a shimmery gold cs for the base, ivory cs for the second layer, and then the top layer is 29 lb. vellum (parchment). The "50th" stamp at the top is embossed in gold, the edges are all inked with gold ink, and the ivory layer has a bouquet of roses stamped in gold so it would show through the parchment. I bought ivory coloured envies and will be printing them on the computer with the same font as the invitation. These were lots of fun to make and didn't take long at all.

Card Details: Gold CS - unknown; Ivory CS & Vellum - Recollections; Corner Punch - EK Success; Gold EB Powder - Ranger; Gold Ink - Colour Box; Stamps: Bouquet of Roses - Judikins, 50th - unknown.

White on Black

I love the look of white on black and recently invested in some white EB powder to give this a try. I made the image just to test out the technique, but then added it to a card. It looks clean and simple which I like, but I also struggle with the fact that there is some open space around the image. Almost feels too empty to me.

Card Details: CS - Recollections; Stamps - HOTP Botanicals, Dollarama; EB Powder - Ranger Seafoam White; Inks - Versamark, Memories Black.

Another Thank You!

I was in the mood to try making a monochromatic card in ivory - I just love a good excuse to use the pearls as accents! This card is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" and opens at the bottom. Sometimes I like to change things up a bit if you kwim!

Card Details: Stamps - Inkadinkado; EB Powder - Ranger; Ink - Versamark; CS - Recollections; Pearls - Recollections; Spellbinders Impressibilities - Flowers; Liquid Pearls - White Opal.

Thank You Thank You Thank You!

I'm on a Thank You card kick right now! I've been making all kinds of thank you cards for a friend to choose from, and I've been enjoying making several different types of cards. I've been having fun with vellum, different die cuts, and embossing techniques etc. So for the next several posts you will probably only see thank you cards, but at least they will all look drastically different because of the different styles I've been trying!

While I was away on vacation I was reading through some magazines, and although I didn't see anything like this I did see a card that triggered the thought to try something like this one. I really like working with vellum because I like the soft feel it gives. I placed the soft vellum flowers on shiny white paper that I embossed with my swiss dots CB folder. The sentiment is also a CB die cut out of vellum. Of course you always need to add the bling!

Card Details: McGill Flowers Punch - Petite Petals; MS Leaf Punch; Marvy Flower Punch; Fiskars Flower and Border Punches; Swiss Dots CB Folder; CB With Gratitude Die Cut; Vellum - Memories Forever; Bazill CS; Shimmery White CS - unknown; Bling - Recollections and Dollar Store; Pearls - Kaiser Craft.

Baby Card

Friends of mine just had their 3rd child a few weeks ago before I went on vacation. He is sooo cute! I just love newborns!! I made this card to go with a gift I gave them. TFL

Card Details: CS - Recollections; Vellum - unknown (from Michaels); Stamps - rattle (Dollar Store), Bundle of Joy (Clear Expressions); Ribbon and ink - Dollar Store; Punch - Marvy Uchida; and Eyelets - Making Memories.

My Favourite Card!

I finally had some free time to take some pics of my favourite card and post them. I made this card for a good friend who just got married. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I spent lots of time tweaking it to get it just right. It was really hard to get a decent picture of it - low batteries and cloudy skies did not help! However, I've finally done it and here it is.
I found this verse on the internet. It is so fitting for the special couple! If you go to www.imag-e-nation.com you will find a wonderful variety of free verses. I love this site!
This close-up shows the silver embossing on the bells and outside edge of the ribbon slide. TFL!

Card Details: Punches (Fiskars - small flower, border; Marvy - flower; Martha Stewart - leaf)
Vellum - Hot Off The Press; CS - Bazill
CB - ribbon slide; Spellbinders - Labels One Die; Ribbon - dollar store
Pearls - Recollections; Stamp and silver border stickers - unknown.

Camping Pics

My DH and I just spent 2 weeks with our kids camping at Arrowhead Provincial Park in Huntsville, Ontario. This is one of our favourite parks. Hopefully these pictures will give you a glimpse of what we saw and why we like it so much.

The next few pictures show views of Lake Arrowhead. I just love the birch trees along the beaches.


This snapping turtle hangs out at the dock and has been there for years (at least 15 years that I've seen him). He is about 20" from tip of the nose to the tip of his tail. He knows that if he hangs out around the dock where people fish, he will manage to get the occasional free meal by someone who will toss him a worm! There is an even larger snapping turtle that lives at the other end of the lake. We saw him each morning that we fished in the canoe, but he was camera shy and wouldn't come close enough to get a picture.
This dragonfly landed on my daughters beach bag. It was quite large - about 4-5" long. I thought it was very interesting to see it up so close. Gotta love those big green eyes!

My son is helping me show you a visitor we had on our site. This tree frog decided to get out of the rain (yes we had lots and lots and lots of rain!) by climbing up under the flap of our dining shelter. My son is on the inside and the frog is on the outside of the screen.

The river circling around the trees is a picture of Big Bend taken from a lookout we walked to which is pretty close to our campsite. The river meanders for miles creating several "oxbows" like this. This is one of the biggest oxbows with the best view from the campground. We actually canoed to this spot once before, and wrote our names in the sandy shore. It is only a short walk, but an all day canoe ride because of the long meandering river and portages around a falls and beaver dam. You can't tell but there is quite a current to paddle against as well.

I decided to try making another small sheet of handstamped patterned paper. Again, I added a bit of shine using my jelly roll glitter pen and liquid pearls stickles. What do you think of this one? It is sooo much fun to do!

I recently was challenged on a forum to make my own patterned paper by stamping images in different colours. This was lots of fun so the other day I tried making a couple more. I added a bit of shine using my jelly roll glitter pen and liquid pearls stickles. Next I'll have to see how they look after I've used them on cards! I don't think I'll ever get stuck without matching pp now because I can just make my own! Not only is it cheap it is fun to do too!

Anniversary Card

I made this card for my DH for our anniversary, and although I liked it, felt it wasn't fancy enough for 20 years. So I have decided to save it for some other time.

Favourite Card

Do you ever finish a card and think this just didn't turn out how I'd hoped? Or do you ever think, wow I like this one? Well I recently started working on a wedding card for a good friend and I took my time because I wanted it to turn out just right. Certain parts just didn't go as I'd hoped so I took my time trying lots of different things. Well after 2 or 3 days of going back to it I finally finished it! I have to say it turned out well and is one of my favourite cards! Problem is I can't post it yet because her wedding isn't until next week! After spending so much time on it I don't want to risk her seeing it before the wedding now would I? So please stay in touch and I will post it as soon as I can!

Unfortunately things have been rather busy at home lately, especially with 4 kids out of school so I haven't had as much time to make cards (other than the wedding card which took awhile) and post them lately. I will try to do so as time allows. It should get better in a couple of weeks as one of my kids will be in camp and another should be working more.

My Son is Turning 18!!!

Wow! Time sure does fly. It seems only yesterday, but it was actually 18 years ago tomorrow that I spent a good portion of the day in labour with my first child. I remember feeling like he was never going to come out!! He was already 11 days overdue and it was very exciting to think he could be born on his father's birthday! But, it turns out that he wanted his own birthday because he didn't come out until 2:04 am the next day! So on Saturday I will give this card to my son for his 18th birthday! The top pic shows the front view and the bottom shows the back. I used Black Magic Coredinations cs with the Happy Birthday Cuddlebug embossing folder. I sanded the raised edges to let the brown show through. The ribbon slide is also a CB die cut. I used versamark and bronze embossing powder to give it the faux metal look and stamped the number 18 into it while it was still hot. I also used the same technique on the back to make some faux metal screws. I learned how to make this stand-up card on a Splitcoast Stampers challenge. TLC228 It fits into an A2 envelope when it's folded up.

Card Details: Cuddlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, ribbon slide die cut; Wal-Mart bronze embossing powder; Reflections cardstock; Versamark clear ink; and Offray ribbon.

Stamping 411 Challenge - SSC106

Tomorrow is my DH's birthday (shhh!) so I made this card for him using a challenge sketch from Stamping 411. This is the first time I have used one of their sketches, and I was happy with the way it turned out. The 3 squares are popped off the page.

Card Details: Blue CS and Striped pp - unknown; Stamps - unknown; everything else is from the dollar store!

Sue Krafty Kards Blogoversary - 99 Things

Sue at Sue's Krafty Kards has put together a list of 99 things that you need to answer to be entered in her #2 year blogaversary and a chance to win some blog candy.

So here’s the list.
My ‘Haves’ are in Red - I have done 49.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world/Disneyland Paris
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (no, but I've seen the Last Supper in Milan!)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Made a Snow Angel
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Stood in the rim of the Grand Canyon (I hiked the Canyon on the south rim)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (I live only 20 minutes away!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an erupting volcano in person.
36. Taught yourself a new language (a little bit of sign language and spanish)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (drawn, not painted)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (a very small cardmaking business!)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Cookies for charity
62. Gone whale watching
63. Been given flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy
70. Visited Buckenham Palace
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt or blanket
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (only in Ottawa)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Been to the top of the Empier State Building
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (I'm over halfway through again too!)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox (twice!)
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (John Travolta, saw Kelly Preston too, but didn't meet her)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Birthday Card

Have you ever started making a card, and before long realized that it isn't the kind of card you originally set out to make? This is one of those cards! I started out planning on making a birthday card for either my DH or DS so I picked the brown and blue combo of cardstock. But, then I saw a punch I just bought at a garage sale for 50 cents and have been wanting to try, and before I knew it I was making a very feminine birthday card! Although I think my hubby might like it, I don't think he would like to be the recipient of it!

Card Details: CS - Colormates choc. brown, Reflections - Off white & light blue; Emagination punch; Scrappy Cat stamp; StazOn Timber Brown ink.

More Than Scrapbooking July Challenge

The More Than Scrapbooking forum gave us a challenge this month to find an advertisement in a magazine and make a layout or card with it. The top picture is my card, and the bottom picture shows you the ad I used to come up with it. This is a fun challenge and good to try as it helps you learn how to find inspiration all around you!

Card Details: Black CS - Reflections; All other CS - Cricut; Nestabilities scallop circle die cut; CB swiss dots; Memories black ink; Stampcraft Thank You Stamp.

Larger Pictures

I'm slowly learning more about what I can do with my blog, and recently discovered that some of my pictures needed to be bigger. So when you scroll down, some of the pictures that were harder to view because they were so small, are now larger and easier to see.

I've also recently downloaded a program that helps me crop my pictures better. So hopefully the pictures will continue to get even better. My next step is finding better ways to display my cards when I take the pictures. I've been experimenting with different ideas, but I'm open to suggestions if you have any. Feel free to leave me some comments if you have any ideas that would help. Thanks.

Another Thank You Card

This is the second thank you card I made the other night. I seemed to be on a bit of a roll and got two done in a short time. I just cranked up the mp3 and had some fun! It was very relaxing too. The "Thank You" is a die cut that I embossed with 3 layers of Versamark and silver embossing powder. I really like the raised and faux metal look it gives!

Card Details: CB "With Gratitude" die cut; Spellbinders Impressibilities embossing template; Bazill CS; silver and shiny white cs are unknown.

Wedding Thank You

I've been making some sample wedding thank you cards for a friend to choose from. I had some fun the other night making a bunch of faux metal embellishments as well, so I used one on this card. I covered the section with the raised dots with a thin layer of Liquid Peals to give it a shimmery look, although I'm not sure it shows up so well in the picture. The sentiment is embossed with silver embossing powder.

Card Details: CB swiss dots folder and ribbon slide; Dollar store ribbon, wedding stamp, and bling; Heidi Grace Thank You stamp; Liquid Pearls.

Thank You Card

Don't you just love a good garage sale find? The Scrapping Nook which is my lss held a garage sale last week in which people could sell their craft supplies in return for store credits. I lucked out and picked up some great deals. The Emagination punch I used for this card is one of them! I bought it for 50 cents!! So I had to try it out and made this card with it.

Card Details: Emagination punch; Bitsy Stamp; Recollections CS; Whispers Stamp (Thank You); and Kaiser Crafts pink rhinestones.