So Thankful for You - An Autumn Card Set

I bought The Greetery Autumn sketches last year.  It was late in the fall and I didn't get around to using the stamps until this year.  I'm kicking myself, because I ultimately really love how the cards turned out.  This set, I think, is by far my favorite. This previous post is a good set of cards, but this set is so bright and colorful.  

I used my Distress Oxides on these cards.  The result is so beautiful and crisp.  Then I die cut a frame out of the card fronts and overlayed a gold frame to create the accent.  It is a pefect match.

I'm so pleased.  It is not yet fall-like here in the Phoenix area as we are still well above 100 degrees F each day as a high temperature. However, these cards bring a little fall to my house and to those that I send these cards.

Sending Best Wishes - A Bridal Shower Card

 My husband's nephew is getting married and they are having a co-ed bridal shower (wedding shower?!?!).  I took inspiration from their invitation which was dark wood background with very classy information in a country way.  I think this card pops which is what I meant.  I decided to include a photo of my re-set wedding ring and my husband's wedding band (which I sometimes get to wear because he wants to give his finger a rest1).  His band more closely matches my re-set ring than my original band which is becoming thinner over the years.  

So looking forward to this virtual event.  Gotta get this baby in the mail!

Just Saying Hello

I decided to play around with my The Ton Amazing Gardenia stamp set.  I had previously clear, sparkle heat embossed this image onto watercolor paper.  It is really hard to see, but the "white" lines in the image are just a bit sparkly which adds a touch of lovely softness to the finished product.  The floral was watercolored using my Misson Gold watercolors, I love how it turned out.

I decided to mount my gardenia onto a watercolored paper doily on top of a watercolor splatter background.  There are gold sparkle watercolor drops there too - more sparkles!  This card was crying out to use one of The Ton Easy Expressions stamped and die cut sentiments.  So sweet and lovely, this card will go in the stash for just the right occasion.

Autumn Sketches Card Set

I finally inked up my The Greetery Autumn Sketches stamps.  This is a fun layering stamp and I decided to use Kraft cardstock as the card front and base and I'm so pleased with you this card set turned out.  I played with Distress Oxide Inks including Crackling Campfire, Fossilized Amber, Milled Lavender, Aged Mahogany, Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs.   

 On this last card I even played with gold heat embossing on the accents.  In the end, I liked the brown branches as they created more contrast.  So happy with this card set.

My Blessings Continue to Abound - Using The Greetery Mimosas Musing Stamps and Dies

I picked up The Greetery Mimosas Musings stamps and dies as an afterthought.  Brandy and I discussed that we didn't need those "sticky things" because we told ourselves that the flowers were one we could do without (they looked a lot like the stickler weeds of my youth, so I branded them in an effort to resist...resistance is futile).  Then came the release barrage of beautiful cards and... the "sticky things" came home with both of us.  I decided I needed to get my stamp on and used my Distress Oxides to create some of these pretty florals.  I am so very pleased with how these cards turned out.  I used pieces from my stamp and die session with The Greetery Blessed Blooms stamps and dies to accent and create sentiments.  All the backgrounds are patterned papers - they fit perfectly with the theme and the style.

Oh my, more cards for the ever growing stash.  I'll be gifting some of these to friends in the coming weeks.  Always a good idea.

Some More Inspired Fall Notecards using The Greetery All Blessings Flow Stamps and Dies

I had a few leftover backgrounds created using The Greetery Square Dance stencils and a few of the stamped and die cut florals from the All Blessings Flow stamps and dies.  What could be easier than to die cut a solid oval and make these cards?  They are beautiful to boot, so I'm considering this a win.  All inks are Distress Oxides that bent toward fall colors.

This last card used a floral made using The Greetery Pitcher-esque stamps and dies.  Different, but no less satisfying. These cards will go in the stash and be used when the need arises.

Blessed to Call You Friend - A Notecard Set Using The Greetery

No secret - I love the products by The Greetery.  They are in my "wheelhouse" so to speak.  I did pick up a few stamps and dies in their latest release and will be sharing the results of my stamping in the weeks ahead.  This first set includes backgrounds using the Square Dance stencils and the Blessed Blooms and All Blessings Flow stamps and dies.  I really enjoyed the color combinations using Victorian Velvet, Rusty Hinge, and Aged Mahogany Distress inks used in one of the examples posted to The Greetery blog.  I then branched out to a variety of color combinations, but sticking to the fall colors with a strong streak of pink.

 I so enjoyed making these cards.  It was such a fun think to do.  Now, off to get these into the mail.

A Simple Notecard Set Using The Ton Floral Bits Stamps and Dies

I recently picked up the super easy, patent pending layered stamps and coordinating dies from The Ton in the Floral Bits.  These are some of the easiest layering stamps to use and the results.... I'll let these cards speak for themselves.  

I used my Distress Oxides to layer color - some of the combinations are more successful than others.

I'm so pleased with how this card set turned out.  It was a ton of fun and the cards have already been put to good use!

Happy 111th Birthday - That's a Milestone Birthday Card!

My grandfather (who is preparing to celebrate his 96th birthday at the beginning of October, Lord willing) recently heard about Lawrence Brooks who will celebrate his 111th birthday soon.  Both my grandfather and Mr. Brooks are World War II vets and my grandfather wanted to send him a birthday card as requested in this news article.  My grandfather wondered if I had a special card? 

I, of course, did not have a card specifically to celebrate 111 years or the birthday of one with such a history.  So, I decided (with a little inspiration from my bestie, Brandy) to get out my Spellbinders May 2019 Large Die of the Month and make this special card for my grandfather to send to Mr. Brooks.  The background was created with my Brusho watercolor crystals and I think it simply makes this card!  I handmade the flag (forgive my wobbly hand, but I thought it made the card a little special) and the sentiment at the bottom was using my Simon Says Stamp Tilted Banners stamps and dies.  I hope Mr. Brooks knows how special he is! I definitely know how special my grandfather is to me.

Cards From the Stash - What?!

I guess the quarantine has made me rifle through my stash of stuff and I actually found these two cards - well the pieces to these two cards.  I think they must have been a card class or freebie giveaways at some point, but I didn't put them together.  So I decide - hey why waste perfectly good cards.

I can see from a design standpoint how card making has changed and how card making has stayed the same over the years.  I'm guessing this stuff is about a decade old.

 

Still, pretty enough to share and so, there you go.  Two cards from the stash making a flashback post.

Difficult Times and Making a Sympathy Card

I know that sympathy cards are difficult to make when the need arises.  So, I made this card using my The Greetery Caring Cross stamp and die accented with the Pretty Postmarks leaves stamp and die.  The Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxides create a somber pallette.  I'm pleased with how the card turned out and will hope that it can bless whomever ultimately receives this card.

A Real Secret and Swinking

It is no secret that I adore the digital images by Ann Corbiere Scott Designs.  They have a style that fits well with my own.  These florals are from the Debbie printable that I resized to make multiples for a card front.  The images were fussy cut out after coloring with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I decided to use the swinking technique from Laurel Beard as a backdrop and I'll have to agree with her - it is addictive! I even swinked the sentiment on these first two cards... addictive.  I think I may need someone to restrain me...

This last card was made using florals from the Lucinda digital print.  I also resized these and fussy cut out after coloring with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  What do you think of my swinking?