Openings in Heaven

Oh my Gosh! I was shocked to see that I haven't posted in 2 weeks! This summer is just flying by. And, as usual lately, I'm short on time, so this will be brief.

Our community recently lost a young man in a tragic accident. Cody owned the lawn company that has been maintaining our yard, as well our neighborhood's common areas for the past five or six years. I literally never saw him without a big smile on his face. The day he told us about his new fiance, he was practically walking on air, he was so happy. He was also kind, honest, fair, and hardworking, and he has left behind his young wife of just 3 years and a six-month old baby girl. Such a sad, sad loss. I made this card for our neighborhood to send to the family.
The dark purple die cut is cut from a piece of purple foil. It was about the thickness of an aluminum can (maybe even thicker), and it was difficult to cut, but after embossing, it was really pretty. I stamped the sentiment twice--first in lavender, then over that, offset just a bit, in a dark purple, achieving a shadow effect. The crystals are Swarovski.

The green color inside the die cuts on the front and inside of the card was airbrushed with a Copic. I took the Copic Airbrushing class last weekend, and it has made a world of difference in my airbrushing skills. I highly recommend that class to anyone who wants to airbrush with their Copics.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create Challenge #77: Anything Goes w/optional Pink
Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Sweet Pea
Sugar Pea Designs SPD06 Challenge: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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It's No Fun :(

I don't usually make scenes on my cards, but I couldn't resist this sweet stamp and die set from My Favorite Things. And, it was perfect for my daughter's friend, who just had her tonsils removed, and is feeling a little puny today. :(

The background is Bo Bunny paper. I don't have a grass die, so I used a punch and some fun green chevron paper to make a grassy border. The images, from the Let's Hang Out stamp set, are colored with Copics and cut with the coordinating dies. You can't tell in the picture, but I embossed the tire with a stylus from the back and glued it with 3D glue, giving it a rounded look and feel. The shoes are scuffed with a white gel pen, I gave her overalls a denim look with colorless blender and a piece of denim, and added texture to her hat with terry cloth.

I used a cloud stencil from Inky Antics to sponge the clouds on the inside of the card, added another punched border, and stamped the sentiment and smiley face with stamps from a Hero Arts sentiment set.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

Get well, Jayden!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
TCP Tuesday #267: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle
613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes/Best Friends Day
Sentimental Sundays Challenge 210: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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Top Hat Days

Last month, I made a Mother's Day card with a vintage feel to it. With Father's Day around the corner, I used that design and made a more masculine version. Even though they are very much alike, they look completely different! The only major differences between this and the previous card are the backgrounds (embossed vs. stamped), and an added element (the doily die cut).

On this card, I embossed the background, then added some Inka Gold to the embossed areas. The doily was cut from kraft cs, colored with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink, then spritzed with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist. The image is colored with Copics, and I add some highlights with a white gel pen. The round "metallic" embellie, just to the left of the hat is made from clay, then I used Inka Gold to give it a nice finish.

The inside is the same as the Mother's Day card, just in a different color palette.

Slowly, but surely, I'm getting caught up, posting my cards! :D

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Father's Day/Masculine
TCP Tuesday #267: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #66: Embossing
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge R#179: For the Boys
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 23: Men On Our Minds
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #96: Masculine with Ribbon or Trims

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Happy, Happy

I've been seeing some really pretty Serendipity word dies lately, and finally got the chance to buy a few for myself. Wow! I just love this one. Cuts like a dream, and what a beautiful font! 

The card design is based on the Viva la Verve June 2014 Week 1 sketch, and that cute paper showing through the window, is from the Bo Bunny, Lemonade Stand, collection. I glitterized the word die cut by running the die cut through my Xyron, then coating it in glitter. After burnishing the glitter on the die cut, it really does stay put.

The sentiment and candle stamp are from Penny Black, and the candle is colored with Copics.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Happy, Happy week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #32: Create a Window Card
Viva la Verve June 2014 Week 1 Sketch Challenge
TCP Tuesday #267: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle
The Corrosive Challenge Blog Challenge Celebration!: Anything Goes

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Chubby Chums Boxed Card Set

I don't know about you, but I think my days are getting shorter! I have been so busy lately, I can barely keep up. Soooo, I'm making this post extra short! Good for you and for me. ;D

This is a boxed card set made using a Paper Smooches stamp set. It's colored with Copics. You can see it at Impressive Ideas, in Roswell, Georgia. I'm teaching it there this month. :-)

It has 3 adorable cards in it. I think this set would make a great gift for a tween girl!

Matching envelopes, too!

I counted...under 100 words! 8~) Short and sweet!

Thanks for stopping by, "Chums," and enjoy the rest of your week! ;D

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Smooches Sparks June Challenge: Wk1-Anything Goes
Verve June 2014 Inspiration Challenge: Winged Whimsy
TCP Tuesday Challenge #267: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle
The Corrosive Challenge #200: Celebration! - Anything Goes
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #214: Anything Goes

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Stars and Stripes

Have you see the Graphic Greetings line of stamps at Taylored Expressions? I love chalkboard/subway art style stamps, and Taylor has come up with some great ones. I think she may have one for just about every holiday! Independence Day is not a holiday that I would necessarily send out cards for, but I would definitely write a note to someone inside this card. Actually, I'm thinking it would be pretty cool to have a set of blank notecards designed around each of the holidays. Hmmm...maybe that should be my next card set. :-)

The design is another Viva la Verve sketch (my last one for this month's challenge--WooHoo! I got them all done!), and the paper is from Bo Bunny's Anthem Collection. The patterns mix really well. I used a retired Verve stamp set called Super Dad for the blue stars behind the Patriotic Graphic Greetings stamp, which is embossed in Red Tinsel--very glittery IRL. After die cutting some stars, I ran them through my Xyron then coated them in a coppery glitter. I love that they look so much like brown sugar. ;`) I left the inside completely clean--room for a nice, long personal note.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 3 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter Challenge #160: Make it Manly

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