A birthday card

Hey look! It turns out I DID make a card :)

It was my niece's birthday last week, & since it was her first since we met I bought her a Target gift card & made a card to put the gift card into. I couldn't just hand her a gift card now, could I? 

I dug deep for this stamp, lol.... I think I bought every Fluffles stamp there ever was & I will never get rid of them. The papers are oooold Basic Grey ... Sugar Rush, I think? Some flowers ... dies ....ribbon .... & I finished the whole thing off with some Glimmer Mist. Nope, it hadn't evaporated hahaaa .... still enough in the bottle to make another card or two :)

I even used Copics! I never really did master the art of using those ... but I figured there wasn't much to color so I was probably safe. 

Ohhhhhh & the fluffly stuff!! Darn it, can't think of what it's called & I'm not walking all the way down to look at the jar lol.  You can also see the Glimmer Mist a bit in this photo. 

I'm actually enjoying making cards for her, she appreciates it so much. Every time I give her one I get a big ole hug. Of course this time I'm sure most of the hug was for the gift card, hahaaa!

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Hope you all have a spectacular weekend!

Blast from the past

I was staring at my stamps sitting on my shelf the other day & noticed a case marked "Fluffles". Wow ---now there's a cutie who hadn't seen daylight in a while!




I love all the Fluffles stamps --- have they come out with any new ones in the last couple of years?? I love this one with all the itty bitty ladybugs. The layout ended up being quite simple --every time I tried adding something more it didn't look right so I left it. Fluffles doesn't need "stuff" -- he's a cool cat all on his own!

The image is colored with pencils & Goo Gone -- papers are Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, both layers embossed using Cuttlebug folders (Swiss Dots & Swirls -- 2 folders I used to use all the time but neither of which have seen daylight in a while either!!). A few flowers ..... a few pearls .... a bit of lace ....




I colored the background a bit using Distress Inks .....something you all know I do not do too often OR too well (which is why I don't do it too often, lol)




I used Glossy Accents on the ladybugs. I don't know if ladybugs are really glossy, but it seems I have to gloss them every time I see them!



I added just a wee bit of bling to the flowers...and OH what's that peeking out from the inside? It looks like matching paper! Yes, I managed to finish the inside AT THE SAME TIME I did the front!





Here's something else I don't use often -- my cute little personalized stamp on the back. THAT'S because I dropped my inked up sponge on it. Happens every time I sponge edges --I drop my sponge usually on my already-colored image. I've become very creative in covering up errors. It happened on the back of the card this time & boy was I cursing -- until I remembered my whole collection of "handmade by" stamps. AND it has a ladybug on it!! Actually come to think of it, I also have a Fluffles "handmade by" stamp -- that would have made more sense!!

I hope you have a terrific weekend & a very fruitful Easter. We are going to my mom's ---it's all about the food for us!! Actually, ALL holidays are all about food for us! I am making dessert as I usually do (I *love* to bake! Cooking, not so much). And since I couldn't choose, I am making more than one. If they turn out well (I've never made either recipe before) I will share some photos & recipes :)

Sugar Bowl sketch

Quick post today....hubby just left for an entire week Up North & I have GOBS to do!! But I wanted to share this card I just finished.....



I *heart* Fluffles & just yesterday dug out all my Xmas stamps with the devious little furball. I colored him with Prismas.....& used the sketch from this week's Sugar Bowl challenge. The papers are SU's Riding Hood Red (yes, again!!) & Basic Grey's Figgy. The option for the challenge was to use zig zags somewhere on your card.....so I used my Martha Stewart Zig Zag border punch. Added lots of glitter.....some clear embossing on the ornaments....& made my own Dew Drops since I didn't have the right color. When I need to customize....I use the clear baubles from Michael's .....HUGE bag for a couple of bucks.....punch CS with my 1/4" hole punch....& glue it on. In this case I used Stickles to glue them for some added sparkle!





Hopefully you can see all the sparkle & shiny ornaments in this picture.....but it's that dreaded red color again....we just don't get along!!




My sparkly faux Dew Drops.....


OK, I'm off to bake some banana bread before the boys get home .....& I have GOT to take down my Halloween stuff, lol!!! I always figure it's fall-ish.....& it IS still fall, right?? But my kids see Christmas lights & decorations in our neighborhood, & think we are way behind. I may as well leave all my Xmas stuff up next year....that way I will be ahead :)

Boo!!

OK, I know I've mentioned it sometimes takes me a few days to make one card. You wanna know the problem with this? On Day 1 I have a *great* idea for a card, or for an element of the card, & by the time I get around to actually putting it together, I've forgotten about it!!



When I had this card in my head, I had wanted to use the Drippy Goo punch for the orange strip. I haven't gotten to use that baby yet!! When I put the card together today, I automatically reached for my Web punch instead. Apparently, I'm playing favorites with my punches. Of course, I had it all glued together & finished when I slapped my forehead & thought "Doh!!!! I used the wrong punch!" Sheesh!! Well, I'm sure there are many more Halloween cards in my future, so everyone will get a chance to play!

I had a few other problems with this card as well, but I won't go into them. I do love this Fluffles image & in the end it turned out ok! His ghost costume is cut out & popped up.....the image is colored with Copics....the papers are SU's Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore, & heck, the pattern papers are so old I have no idea who makes them! LOL!! These are the last scraps I have of these......I've used just about all the Halloween papers in my possession!! The image was cut out with my Labels 4 Nestabilities. The ribbon was giving me fits as I was trying to tie the bow.....so I ended up simply sticking a pumpkin brad in the middle of it, lol!




Here's a close up.....that little mouse is just too cute!!

ETA: You can now buy this image in cling form at 7 Kids College Fund.....HERE IS THE LINK!

Well tomorrow is the first day of school. I'm having serious anxiety & I don't know why. My kids are fine.....but I'm breaking out in hives. I'm sure once they're on the bus, & I'm back home in a silent house I will be just fine :) I just received my Magnolia Fall Kit today (which, if you missed out, you can preorder from 7 Kids College Fund HERE) so I'm going to play with those a bit tomorrow, plus start a little project I've wanted to do for a while, but haven't found the time to actually start! So all will be good :)

Witchy Fluffles

Clearly I am done with summer, at least as far as crafting, because all I seem to be capable of making lately are fall & Halloween cards!! Can't help it....I just love the colors....& all the fun images.....like this one!!



I just adore Fluffles....I think I have all of them, lol. I colored this cutie with my Prismas & gamsol & used lots of oval Nesties to cut it out. The papers are SU's Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore & the pattern papers are Doodlebug. I bought them a couple of years ago & these were my last little schnibblies. I'm sure they are long discontinued, & the wonderful scrap store I bought them at closed earlier this year. I will miss them.....**sniff*..... I used my Martha punches....the web border, the web corner (under the flowers), & last year's bat. I added Harvest Orange Glimmer Mist to everything. At first I just sprayed the image, but then the background papers looked too white so I just spritzed them too! Can't have too much Glimmer Mist in my opinion!




A close up of the impish Fluffles...





A pic of the inside....nothing special....just used the same papers, Nesties & I stitched the edges.


And lastly, for your enjoyment, a picture of a little visitor we had on our patio door.......




It was really hard to get a good picture because of the glare of the door. He was actually more green. We usually get a lot of walking sticks during the summer, but this was the first one I saw this year. We usually get tree toads clinging to our door too, but I haven't seen any of those this year. It's been a crazy summer as far as the weather goes, so maybe that has something to do with the lack of critter visits!

Thanks for all the congrats yesterday regarding my dt position for 7 Kids College Fund! Tab has an amazing store & I'm so completely honored that she asked me!! I've been walking around with a silly grin on my face ever since, lol!!

Enjoy the rest of your week!! We have our Open House at school tonight, when we meet the teachers, drop off supplies & get pictures taken. School starts next Tuesday. I am so ready & despite what they say, I'm pretty sure my kids are too!!

Eat dessert first!

Ha!! If you know me at all, you'll know that could be my life motto!!! I found this Fluffles stamp in my bin.....can you believe I've never used him?? I love Fluffles & used to make a TON of Fluffles cards! Shame on me for not using this one sooner!!



Yes, this one is reallllly bright!! I wanted to make a fun, bright, happy card. Because it's Monday. And Mondays are icky. I rarely make A2 sized cards anymore, & I rarely use JUST a couple of flowers for my embellishments!! Guess I felt a little crazy today.....lol!! The image is colored with Copic markers & Prismas/gamsol. I clear embossed the balloon, added Stickles to the tiny flames, & I colored the pink icing with my Spica clear glitter pen. The papers are DCWV Nana's Kids & Summer Glitter stack. The flowers in the corner are punched from that same glitter paper, using my EK Success flower punch. The pink plastic flowers were in my stash.




Here's a close up of the cutie......I love that one eye open.....lol.....




Here's a pic of the inside.....used the same papers & colored another Fluffles.....cut it out with my oval Nesties......





And how cute is this "hand stamped" stamp?? I always forget to stamp the backs of my cards.....I have a customer on Ebay who HATES stamps on the back of her cards.....it's a huge issue in the Ebay world......but I have to always remember to do it, or the angel policy police will come & take me away!!

Speaking of Ebay.....that's where this card is headed right now. I actually got the card, the inside, AND the envelope all finished so instead of putting it in the ever-growing pile.....I am listing it now! Usually I put cards aside to finish "later"....even if it's just the envelope, which I usually make, it takes me forever & a day to finish & list it.

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!! It was very rainy & windy here......much different from the 80 degree day we had on Friday!! Today is so-so.....cloudy & about 60. I'm off to list this card, then run some errands......hope you all have a great Monday!!

Scaredy cat

Oh, how I love Fluffles!! I about died when I saw the new Halloween & Christmas images ~~ but I just couldn't afford to buy them all. Tammi to the rescue!!! She sent me all kinds of images recently, & this was one of them.

This card is a 5.5" square ~~ my favorite size lately. It's so much easier for me to balance everything with a square card. I recently invested in the Enveloper, so I'm finally able to make envelo-boxes to go with my cards. I use a lot of layers & embellishments, & the boxes are 1/4" thick so nothing gets mooshed.

Anyway ~~ I colored the image with my Prismas & gamsol, making a purplish "glow" around him. Because he's trick-or-treating. At night. Of course. I did a lot of distressing to the papers, which really stresses me out. I hate the feel of using that tool, & I hate the sound it makes. But I do it, usually because I can't cut straight so everything comes out crooked, lol. The bat paper behind the image is from the Debbie Mumm Harvest & Holiday pack, the striped paper.....ummm.....I've used almost my whole sheet so I don't know who made it. All that's left is the name of the paper, Cat Stripes, but that probably won't do you much good. I used my Martha bat punch for the 3 bats in the corner ~~ punched out of Bazzill Bling cardstock. They still needed a little something, though, so I outlined them with my Sakura glitter pen for a subtle shimmer. I added Stickles to the pumpkin, clear glaze to the candy, added some brads & some ribbon......& I love how it turned out!!


I also decorated the inside with some of the same paper, a spider web (also a Martha punch) & some faux stitching. Because I have yet to break down & purchase a machine. I'm very afraid of sewing machines. I guess *I'm* the scaredy cat!!!!

Finally, a Halloween card!!

I've been seeing tons of fun Halloween cards over on SCS & on the many blogs I peruse. I *finally* had time to create one, using my brand spankin' new Fluffles stamp I got from Eclectic Paperie, one of my favorite places to shop!


For this card I stamped the image onto watercolor paper with Colorbox black pigment ink, then added clear embossing powder & heated it. I usually do this when I'm planning to color the image with markers, as I did here. I used my SU markers & my blender pen (*still* can't get the hang of that darn aquapen!), coloring the hat & the cauldron twice. I then cut those out & popped them on dimensionals, after adding Crystal Effects to the cauldron & some purple Stickles to the dots on the hat. The oval layers were made with my Nestabilities (first time using those ovals!!). I used a lot of Bazzill Bling paper on this card ~~ my very favorite paper. It's heavy & textured & ....well.....blingy!! Some patterned paper from last year's stash adds to the Halloween-y theme. I used my Fiskars threading water punch on the orange layer, added 4 orange brads to the corners & made a puff of ribbon & VOILA ~~ my first Halloween card of the year!! I should have used bigger brads, these kind of get lost in all the dots on the paper, but I did add some Stickles to them to make them stand out a bit more.


I also decorated the inside ~~ very popular with the buyers. I again stamped the saying & the little kitty (a Michael's 2/$1 set a year or two ago) with pigment ink, then added clear EP & heated. The faux stitching is done with a black glaze pen so it, too, is raised a bit. I'm still working up the nerve (& saving my pennies) to buy a Janome sew mini, the little sewing machine everyone raves about. Problem is, I haven't sewn in about 25 years, so it will be a challenge figuring out how to use it!! For now, faux sew is the way to go!!!


Today, on my second day of freedom, I am going to Joann & Michael's ~~ I have coupons for both. I'm hoping to stock up on Bling at Michael's (how fun that they carry this paper now!!) since my coupon is for 20% your whole purchase. I will probably be checking out the new DCWV stacks at Joann ~~ I think they're even on sale. And who knows.....maybe I'll take a gander at the sewing machines. Maybe if I look wistful enough, someone will sit down with me & show me how they work :)

Have a great Friday!!!