Hello and Thinking of You - More Notecards from the Stash

I had previously white heat embossed using my Simon Says Stamp Floral Bliss stamp set onto watercolor paper.  Using my Mission Gold watercolors, I colored in the flowers and fussy cut the image out.  These colored images were left in the stash for quite some time - I didn't exactly know what to do with them.  When going through the stash recently, I pulled them out to see what I could make with them.  This card is the example.  I used a stencil and Distress Oxide inks in Spiced Marmalade and Worn Lipstick to create the background.  Then, I created my own coordinating cardstock with the same inks, ultimately white heat embossing the sentiment to keep with the theme.

The image is too wide for a standard A2 sized card so I trimmed the leaves on the edges and tucked them behind the image.  It worked well and I really like the card design.  I've set up an assembly line and will spend a couple of nights making coordinating elements for other versions of this same card as I have quite a few of these in the stash.  Fun and I get something used in the stash.  Win, Win!

A Flowery Birthday Card

I'm still working my way through the card bases I stamped using my Studio Katia Blooming Bunch stamp set.  I didn't vary the card layout much - keeping with the birthday greetings on some vellum and using the Studio Katia crystals to decorate the card front.  I did use three different Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to color the flowers.  I think I did a better job getting some depth to the flowers, though I'm not sure my pictures show this off very well.









On the inside, a simple sentiment, keeping it simple so that this card can be used for a variety of different birthday occasions.  I think both Brandy and I would have to say that the simple, but effective design of this stamp makes card fronts a quick, simple and delightfully beautiful result.

Grateful for Friends!

I had mentioned that I created a few masked images for coloring when I made Brandy's birthday card.  These two cards use up those last masked images.  I decided to head in a different color direction - aqua.  I'm not sure how this works with the grass green leaves and the aqua flowers.  I hesitated, but went forward with it anyway.  I think they look better in person than these photos allow, but  that's easy to say when all you get to see is these photos!

Once again, I colored the images with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a Nuvo Aqua Shimmer glitter pen to blend out the color.  The grey stripes were also colored using my Zig marker - marked with a pencil which blended right in to the ink of the marker.

All in all, I'm real pleased with these cards and intend to keep them in the stash for special occasions and encouragement.  This makes me start thinking about all the other stamp sets I have and how easy it is to create a masked flower bundle such as this.  A measure of how the crafty mojo is flowing I guess..

Sending you crafty mojo so that your creativity gets flowing.

An Artsy Thankfulness!

Brandy texted me this picture this week.  Apparently, the "check your stash for gems" bug has hit us both at the same time.  All the supplies for this card are at least 2 years old if not significantly older - sitting in the stash looking pretty but not very useful.  In this case, Brandy used an old yellow, diagonal striped card base rather than a black cardstock base - because the yellow, diagonal striped card base needed some love.  A very artistic card and ever so beautiful.

Happy March, ladies and gentlemen!  Spring is here!

Andie for 

P.S.  We're not going to say that when Brandy realized she did not have any black striped,vintage looking card bases left that she didn't almost have a panic attack and instead stayed home using up a rather lovely and equally delightful yellow striped card base.  I also wouldn't say I could relate in any way.

Young Love - Celebrating 72 Years of Marriage

I am so very blessed to have both my grandparents alive today.  They are celebrating 72 years of wedded bliss.  This is no small feat as both of them will tell you that marriage is HARD!  Still, they are a testament to perseverance, patience and forgiveness along with love, dedication and faithfulness.  When I saw the Penny Black Young Love stamp I knew I found their wedding anniversary card.

I colored the card using my colored pencils (Crayola - nothing special here) and used Gamsol to blend the colors together and make a finished look.

Some Heartfelt Creations die cut Vintage Floret/Classic Rose flowers shaped and filled with pink prills to adorn the side and dress up the image adds a nice finish.  The sentiment is a very old stamp, but perfectly sized for this card.

On the inside - a sentiment that speaks to their love...

I colored this image first - my grandma loves navy blue.  I felt that the change in hat color (along with a few other improvements) in my second attempt created a bit nicer finish so I ultimately went with that one.  However, this image was nice enough to make it into a similar card that will go into the stash for another of such occasions. 

A much simpler sentiment on the inside - not sure who will receive this one.

Today is a joyous occasion.  Happy Anniversary, Bob and Mabel!  Your love is still a young love...