Pocket Cards

I just love the look of pockets on cards.  I often use them on my scrapbook pages, but don't think about them for cards.  This Hero Arts Technique article by Shari Carroll gives directions on how to make these three fabulous cards with pockets.  I know what I'm doing the rest of this week!

Here's the link to the article with directions and pictures:
http://www.heroarts.com/learning/technique.cfm?techID=54&catID=3

 

Thanks to Shari Carroll for these wonderful pocket cards.  And thanks to Hero Arts for always providing lots and lots of inspiration.  Be sure to check out the Hero Blog for more ideas and fun.

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Challenge Entry

Thought I'd share this layout I just finished for a challenge over on My Mind's Eye blog, using one of their sketches.  This paper is from their Wild Asparagus paper pad.

Wish me luck!

lynda

Lotsa Layers!

I had soooo much fun with this collection by My Mind's Eye!  These papers are from the Be Loved Collection, and I just love, love, love the colors.  I purchased it at Stop and Scrap online, and couldn't wait for it to arrive.  It came just last week, and I had to dive right in and make a card for the Hero Arts Hearts and Friendship challenge on their blog.  Here's my entry:

Here's how I made it:

• Cut four different papers into various width strips and adhere to ivory card front.  Distress edges with Ranger Brush Corduroy Distress Ink.
• Cut, round corners, distress, and adhere green panel.  Add striped strip from edge of card to about 2" in.
• Cut, round corners, distress, pierce around edge, and adhere rust panel.
• Cut, round corners, distress, adhere flowers and brads, and adhere teal hears strip near bottom.
• Stamp Hero Arts CL012 image with ColorBox chalk ink onto peach cardstock panel made with Spellbinders die.  Distress edges and adhere to card with foam mounting tape. Stamp image again, and cut out flower head and attach over original with foam tape.  Add highlights with clear Stardust gel pen.
  
• Stamp Hero Arts K4913 lots of love, cut out, and adhere with foam tape over image.  Add teal knotted ribbon with glue dots.
• Add flowers and gem on left side with glue dots.

Here's the inside (I didn't add the sentiment yet, as I don't know what occasion I want to use it for).....

I had lots of fun with this line, and can't wait to do more with it.  Now I'm hopping over to Hero Arts blog.  Hope you enjoyed this card!

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Paper Piecing

Paper piecing is one of those fun and easy techniques that really makes an image "pop" on your card.  It's as easy as stamping an image onto patterned paper, cutting it out, and attaching the cut out portion over the stamped image on your card.  This link brings you to the Hero Arts blog where Sheri Carroll walks us through, step by step, how to do this technique.  I love her card, and know you will, too.  Think of all the open design stamps you have and how fun it would be to use this technique with them!

Here's the link to the paper piecing technique by Shari Carroll:
http://heroarts.com/cardmaking/cardIdea.cfm?cardID=4233

Here's the card Shari made:

I love the simplicity of this, and the great paper designs she chose!  I hope you'll check out this blog posting on Hero Arts, and leave Shari a comment.

Also, if you haven't signed up for the Hero Arts Club, be sure to sign up while you're there.  They have so many ideas and so much inspiration there, each and every day!! 

Hope you're enjoying our balmy temperatures this week!  I, personally, think snow is highly over-rated! 

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Three Boutique Gifts for $1 Each - REALLY!!

Sad to say, I got NO takers on last week's blog challenge.  Too bad, cuz I had some really pretty blog candy to give away.  Maybe I'll try again in a few weeks.

This week, I'm going to show you three gifts I made for my good friend, Sylvia. Normally, I don't brag about how much I spend on someone's gift, but you just won't believe what this pretty gift set trio cost. Here are the items:

This pretty frame...... just $1!!!!!

This gratitude journal.......just $1

And this candle......yep, just $1!!!!!!

The secret?  The Dollar Store! Yes, I bought a plain, kind of ugly, wooden frame, a top-spiral hard covered lined notebook, and a plain blue candle. I took them home, selected papers and embellishments from my stash in colors that would match Sylvia's bedroom, and simply covered each piece. I had the wonderful buttons from a tin of buttons and findings I picked up at a garage sale this summer.  All three pieces took just three 12 x 12 pieces of decorative cardstock!! 

Here's how it's done:

Frame:  Sand frame so that paper will stick easier. Paint inside and outside edges with blue acrylic paint, let dry. Trim decorative cardstock paper to size of frame (trace frame onto back of cardstock - make sure to trace inside opening, then cut out). Adhere paper to frame with good glue. I used Perfect Paper Adhesive. Or you can use bookbinding glue, as well. From coordinating cardstock, I cut out the paisley shapes, and adhered to covered frame. Distress inside and outside edges of paper with brown distress ink on a piece of Cut n' Dry.  Line inside of frame with coordinating plain cardstock. This is where the picture will go. Add buttons and flower embellishments with glue dots.

Gratitude Journal: Remove plastic spiral binding by twirling it out of the holes. Set aside. Sand notebook if it is glossy, as this one was. I chose to paint the outside edges of the covers, but you could also wrap the paper into the inside. Apply cardstock (striped on bottom, star design on top); apply small strip of cardstock between the two panels. Distress edges. Use small 1/8" paper punch to punch the holes through the cardstock. Do this from the back, aligning the punch with the holes in the notebook. Adhere panel 1/8" smaller all around the the inside cover of the front.  Repeat for back covers. I used the coordinating paisley cardstock for the back cover.  Stamp "gratitude" on brown panel, mount onto blue scrap, adhere to cover.  Add buttons and flowers with glue dots.  Rewind the spiral binding back onto the covers and pages.   Tie coordinating ribbons and fibers to binding.  

For more information about gratitude journals, including how to use them, see my article on HubPages here http://hubpages.com/_quhng16s2trb/hub/-Journaling-About-Gratitude-Changed-My-Life .

Candle:  Cut decorative cardstock (striped) size of candle and circumference plus 1". Wrap around candle and adhere by overlapping the piece and attaching with tape runner.  Cut second piece (paisley) a little more narrow that first piece and adhere as above.  Distress edges.  Add ribbon and tie bow. Add buttons and flowers with glue dots.

That's it!!! A pretty little gift set which looks like it came from an artsy boutique, for a fraction of the cost. Just an investment of your time. But you won't even mind spending the time....it's so much fun making something pretty from something plain!

Ciao!  Peace and blessings,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Pastel Chalk Resist

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of my wonderful friends, fans, readers, followers, fellow bloggers, fellow stampers, well, everyone!

I'm enjoying a day off.  I love mid-week days off, and usually plan my trips (doctors, shopping, visiting, errands) for this day, but as I looked out the window this morning and saw the winter wonderland scene, I thought it would be a perfect day for staying in!  I don't have to don boots, gloves, hat, etc. and no shoveling or scraping.

Be sure to check read this whole post, as there is a  BLOG CHALLENGE after the technique, and you just could win a prize!!!!

So, now that I have my hot chocolate, it's time for today's Technique Tuesday technique.

Last week I did a chalk ink resist technique.  Many people get confused when we talk about chalks.  For this post, I will be using pastel chalks, the kind that come in little palettes or stick form - in other words, actual chalk.  Chalk INK, on the other hand, is ink that is formulated to look like chalk when it dries. That is what I used on last week's post.  Now that I have that cleared up, let's move along.

Pastel Chalk Resist

This is a card I made for a stamp camp at The Paper Garden in 2008.  Here's how the technique is done:

• Start with a card stock panel.  Ink panel with VersaMark clear ink pad, using stamp images of your choice. For this card, I used Hero Arts Winter's Butterfly set of clear stamps.
• Be sure to let the ink dry a minute or two - DO NOT RUSH THIS.  If you apply the chalk while the ink is too wet, it will smear. Take your time.
• Using an alligator clip with piece of cotton or pom pom, or sponge applicators made for chalks, apply color to the stamped images. Use different applicator for each color. In this card, I used light, medium, and dark blue chalks. This is the exciting step, as you will see the images "pop" out, right before your eyes! 
• Use a soft tissue to gently wipe the card front to remove any extra chalk particles.  You will not remove the smudges around the images....that adds to the charm of the technique, and gives your images a soft glow.
• Finish panel as desired.  In this card, I added some stamped snow flakes with blue Marvy Matchable ink. Then I drew over some of the design with the white Signo gel pen, to break up all the blue a little, and add some interest.
• TIPS:  Again, be sure to let the ink dry a bit before applying chalk.  If desired, you may spray your panel with a fixative, or aerosol hair spray. It shouldn't be necessary, but some people like to add this step.

To finish my card, I attached a white snowflake brad through the panel, then attached my panel to a white layer, then to the blue card. I added the stamped sentiment, and with the white Signo gel pen, added fake "brads" to the corners of the panel. I attached the panel with foam tape.

Here is the inside of the card:  

                                                                                                                       

I hope you enjoyed this technique. I use this a lot, as I like the soft, smudgy look.

Blog Challenge:   If you try this, let me know.

*If you post your card on Flickr, and send me the link, I'll post it on my blog this week for everyone to enjoy. I'd love to see what you do with this.

*BE SURE TO LABEL YOUR CARD PaperArtsCafe Blog Challenge # 1.

*Also, be sure to leave a message on this post, and send me an email at keeleysgram@yahoo.com to let me know you're playing, and that you posted your card on Flickr, along with your link, and your mailing address in case you are the winner!

*Send me your card link by NOON  Sunday, January 10th. I will choose one card, and the artist will win some BLOG CANDY! If you are not familiar with blog lingo, blog candy is goodies that stampers and scrap bookers like....a little prize. No fat, no calories, but yummy goodies to use on your next project.  I will send the winner of this challenge a Colorbok Christmas Mini Scrapbook Kit (hey, you can get an early start for next year). If you are not a scrap booker, don't worry. There are plenty of papers and embellishments for card makers in this package.

So get busy. You have until Sunday NOON to post your images and send me the link.

*Be sure to send me your name and address, so I know who and where to send the blog candy to. I will post all the entries on Monday, January 11th, and will announce the winner of the blog candy.

So check Monday's post, and come back often for more fun "blog stuff" on PaperArtsCafe! (Don't forget, if you don't want to miss a post, sign up to follow me on the blog site). This is my first blog challenge, and I hope you will participate. I look forward to seeing your cards!

Happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings, joy, and peace,

lynda

IR-RESIST-ABLE

It's Tuesday already, and I'm back with a resist technique using embossing and chalk inks.  On this card, the panel of flowers is the "technique" part.  So, let's get started with how to do it!

Start by embossing the image (in this instance, the row of flowers) with clear pigment ink.  I used VersaMark clear ink on white cardstock.  Apply clear embossing powder and heat until fully embossed. 
Next, begin applying ColorBox Chalk ink to the embossed strip, starting with the lightest color and working up to the darkest color.  I used the Chalk ink Queue (Cat's eye shaped pads) in graduated colors of pinks and deep burgundy. 

The last step is to buff the inked strip with a tissue or paper towel.  This will blend the colors, and clean the ink off the embossed image.  I usually use the tissue after each color, so the blending is smoother.  So, after I applied the lightest, then the next deeper color, I buffed with a tissue.  Then, when I added the third color, I buffed again, repeating this process until I applied the final color.  After all finished, I went back and "touched up" areas where the transition between some colors wasn't as smooth as I would have liked.  I just applied more of the two colors that were next to each other, and blended right away.

That's it.  Once you have your piece inked and buffed, you can use it on a card, scrapbook page, or any paper crafts project.  Here is the card assembly for the card I made with my strip:
-Prepare strip using the above method
-Emboss dot background with VersaMark and clear embossing powder on tan cardstock. Round corners.
-Stamp scalloped border on pink cardstock, attach to prepared (above) strip.  Attach to tan piece as shown. Tie ribbon at seam.  Attach piece to brown card.
 -Stamp For You scalloped circle and attach with foam tape to circle (punch or die cut circle).  Attach to card slightly overlapping strip.
-Stamp graduated dolls and apply to card. Use foam tape on medium and small doll.
That's it!  Easy, peasy!  And fun to do.

Stamps by Hero Arts:  S1583 Dot Background,  CL045 Flower Border (clear set), CL289 Dolls and scalloped border, and For you circle (clear set).

Blessings,
lynda
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Merry Christmas!!

It's time for Technique Tuesday, and I'm still trying to get my Christmas decorating, shopping, baking, cards, and wrapping done!!  Christmas is three days away, and I'm nowhere near done.  But, I have decided I'm NOT going to stress about it.  I had a most wonderful month, celebrating my daughter and son-in-law's wedding, am blessed with a loving husband, a beautiful, lively and delightful granddaughter, and a family and friends I adore.  What more is there, really, when you come right down to it?! 

The lights are on the tree, the decorations will go up tonight, most of the gifts are at least purchased, and if I don't get to cookies, oh well.  Don't need the cholesterol anyways!   We are going to Buffalo on Thursday afternoon, to spend the evening with the kids and Keeley, go to Mass with them, and be there on Christmas morning to watch Keeley open her Santa gifts.  After brunch with the kids, we'll come home Christmas afternoon and spend the afternoon and evening at Dan's mom's, with his brothers and sister.

We're hoping to get together with some friends on Saturday, if our schedules all cooperate, and maybe get to spend a day just to ourselves on Sunday! 

As time seems to have gotten away from me, my Technique Tuesday posting this week is my Christmas card for this year.  I wish you, and yours, a very, very Merry Christmas, and a New Year of blessings!

Peace,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Money holder cards

I know, I know.  I'm a day late with my Technique Tuesday.   You have to remember, I have had NO Christmas preparations done, as my whole focus these past couple of months has been the big wedding.  Now that it's over, and I've had a little time to recouperate, I have been getting down to the business of Christmas.  You have to understand, Christmas at our house is a BIG DEAL.  I LOVE Christmas.  I love everything about it.  The decorating, the baking, the tree, the songs, the joyful spirit of most folks.  We usually get things kicked off on Thanksgiving afternoon, when the kids come in and help us decorate our tree, then I putz with the rest during the following week.  So, imagine my distress at having NO Christmas decorations, tree, or anything in sight here until this week!!  I have been scrambling to get it all done, and still have LOTS to do, but need to get this post on the blog.

I love this project which is on the Hero Arts Club Blog.  There are directions, and a video, on how to make these cards, which each hold money.  If you are giving money as a gift, these cards are sure to bring a smile to the recipients' faces!  What unique ideas.  Here are a couple of the cards.  Check out the blog http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/12/16/who-said-money-doesnt-grow-on-trees/ for detailed directions and video.

I trust you are enjoying your holiday preparations.  I looked out the window a few moments ago, and it's snowing very heavily here right now, and it looks so pretty.  Yes, we are going to have a white Christmas.

Thanks for all your good wishes for my daughter, Faith, and her husband, Dan, and Keeley.  They are doing great, and love being Mr. & Mrs.  

Blessings and peace to you.

lynda

Wedding Accessories

I know, I promised some pics of the wedding accessories I made for my daughter, Faith's, wedding last week.  I'm finally back down on the ground, and enjoying a lovely Saturday at home, NOT making wedding things for the first time in a loooooong time.  But, I have to say, I loved every minute of it!

So, here goes.  Can't figure out this spacing thing....It looked good when I typed it, but when I pressed publish, all this spacing happened, and I don't know how to fix it.....so you need to scroll down a lot to see all the pictures...just keep scrolling to the very end.  There are nine pictures, then a final paragraph.  First, there were the shower invitations:

Our Rochester shower:                 

 

 Faith and me at Buffalo shower


Shower favors

Card box for wedding - poor picture, black satin and velvet flocking, flowers and feathers on top, with slot in front for inserting cards.  Thinking of going on Etsy to sell my card boxes and garters....by encouragement and "pushing" from said daughter....

the garter le elegance....

Oh, and one last picture....Faith in her dress on the day she bought it....BEFORE the wedding...stay tuned for actual wedding pictures FROM the wedding...to be posted when they are available.  She had some alterations made on the dress, which was gorgeous to start with....but made it even more "Faith-like" when done, and just stunning.  I think she was a stunning, gorgeous, and radiant bride....but then, I'm the mom!  They made such a perfect couple....and everything was so fun, so gorgeous, and so THEM!  

 

Well, that's it for this post.  As I said, I will post a link to pictures from the wedding as they become available.  You really have to see the alterations to this dress.

Thanks for bearing with me these past few weeks.  NOW, I really need to get some Christmas decorating done, not to mention cards to make!!!!!

Joy and blessings,

lynda

Today was a busy day, with a dental cleaning at 8 AM, Prayer Shawl Group from 10 until noon, then a tea party at my friend, Sylvia's.  I just sat down after dinner to check my emails, etc. from the weekend away (yesterday I went to bed shortly after work, catching up from all the partying), and thought about Technique Tuesday.  I'm making it easy on myself again this week, with this adorable card purse I found on Split Coast Stampers site.  It is a set of note cards and envelopes inside a sweet card purse, and is a creation of Jodi Collins.  I thought it was just so sweet, and just in time for holiday gift giving. Who couldn't use a few cards for sending out quick notes or thank you notes, especially this time of year.  What a thoughtful and perfect gift to make and give.  The directions are very clear, with pictures, and even a video, so you can see step by step how this is constructed.  I was thinking of all the occasions I would like to make these for....birthdays, Easter, even favors for a small party, and, of course, Christmas.  I know you will enjoy making some of these.  Here is the link to the tutorial with full directions by Jodi:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/cardpurse

I survived my daughter's wedding Saturday, and am home enjoying the relative quiet and stress-free environment until the next big event!  It was an absolutely beautiful wedding, and Faith made a radiant bride, and Dan a very handsome groom.  We had so much fun, and enjoyed every moment.  It just ended too soon after all those preparations.  It seemed like a fairy tale that I didn't want to end!  I will post some pictures when they become available.  I posted the picture of the card box and garter that I made on my Flicker stream, and you can click on it to take you there (scroll down until you see my Flicker stream on the right).  I did notice some wedding pictures on Facebook, so if you look on my Facebook page, you can see what some of the girls have posted there.  Everyone was commenting how lovely everything was, and what a great time they all had.

I think it's going to take me a few days to catch up on the sleep I missed Saturday night from all the partying (can't handle it like I used to), but it was so worth it.

I will be back into the swing of things soon, and posting more often now that the wedding is over.  Now I have to start thinking Christmas!!!!!  I'm so far behind.  I know what I'll be doing this weekend!!

Ciao,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Photo Tags

OK, so I'm making my blog posting easy on myself this week, as I can't seem to focus on much else but the wedding at this point.  Only four more days!!!!

So, today's blog post is about gift tags....more specifically, photo gift tags.  They are featured on today's Hero Arts blog, and they are just fabulous.  And, just in time for Christmas gift wrapping.  I will definitely be making some of these (after the wedding).  They are charming, pretty, and look easy to make.  Here's the link to the Hero Arts blog and the posting about these awesome gift tags:

http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/12/01/picture-perfect-tags-plus-giveaway/

I've included some of the pictures here on my blog, but there are more on the Hero Arts blog, along with directions.                                                                                          And, be sure to sign up for the drawing for a free set of Hero Arts stamps while you are there.  It's free to sign up, and you just might win!                                                                                                That's it for today.  I hope you enjoy the Hero blog with the tags.  There is more coming in their blog tomorrow....more tags and ideas, so be sure to go back.  Better yet, if you haven't signed up yet, sign up for the Hero Arts blog.  You will be notified when they post each time.  There are some great ideas there, and every week there are giveaways, and a challenge each week.  Very inspirational!

I'll be back on my blog after the wedding Saturday, and hope to post before Tuesday.  But, if I don't get to it, I will be back with Technique Tuesday next week.

Enjoy your week!

Blessings,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Embossing With Wet Watercolor

This is a technique I use often, as I love the soft, muted look of the watercolor with the embossed images. Unlike detailed watercoloring, this wet watercolor technique is fast, and very freeing. It calls for a very relaxed approach.  The thing is, this technique is very addictive.  Once you make one, you will want to paint all of your images this way.  It works especially well on large images, as you will see by the cards below. Here's how it is done:   (CLICK ON IMAGES TO VIEW LARGER)                                                           

• Emboss the image on watercolor paper, or good quality cardstock.  I usually use white, so the colors will be true.
• Use a waterbrush (a tool that has a barrel that holds water, with a brush on the end), or a watercolor brush. Dip the brush in water, and "paint" the image with clear water first. Your brush should be wet, but not dripping. Practice this for a while to get a feel for how much water to use.
• Dab your damp brush into the first color of watercolor paint. Rub the brush around in the color until the brush has plenty of pigment on it. Bring this loaded brush to a palette and roll the brush around, depositing the color onto the palette.  Add water with the brush, a little at a time.  I usually add water, then bring some of the mixture to        another spot on the palette, and dilute this area even more. 
• With the most diluted puddle that you just made, paint the first color onto your image. Because you have prepared your surface, the color should just feather out when you brush it on. The embossing acts as a block to keep the color inside the image.
• Using a stronger part of the mixture you made, add more color to parts of the areas you just painted. When you add this stronger, or darker, hue, it will fade softly into the lighter hue that you previously painted, creating an automatic shading.
• Repeat with the other colors you will use in your image.

That's it!  It really is that easy, but it may take a few practice runs.  I especially like this technique with white embossing, as in the poinsettia card. The embossing just pops out of the watercolor when you are finished. If any color stays on the embossing, just dab with a paper towel.
Tips:  *If you put too much color and want to lighten it, just dab with a paper towel.  *Don't overwork with the brush, as eventually the paper will "pill" and/or warp.  *After the image is dry, place under something heavy to straighten it if it is warped.  *If you are cutting out the image to mount onto another background (as in the butterfly card), be sure to cut just outside the embossing, so the embossed edge does not chip. *Practice, practice, practice - you will get it. *No need to invest in expensive, professional watercolors - a mid-quality palette of 12 to 24 colors will be fine. *You will get best results with watercolor paper. Some of the watercolor papers have a semi-smooth nap, so your images will emboss nicely. *Keep relaxed, and don't overthink or overwork your painting. Let the colors flow and blend into each other.
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May you enjoy the blessings of family and friends this Thanksgiving, and may you be mindful of the many riches we enjoy each day.

Joyfully,
lynda

Trading Card Swap Cards Received

I had a really happy mail day today!!  In with the usual mail (bills, junk, propaganda) there were not one, but two envelopes that I couldn't wait to tear in to.  One was my card kit package from my winning last week (see last week's post - THANK YOU Deborah), and the other was from PICATSO, (J. Bartels).  Picatso is a resident cat at Magenta Rubber Stamps.  She hosted a Colors of Fall trading card swap, and I participated.  We had to make ten cards, and got nine back.  The cards I received are below.  As you can see, they are each individual works of art. There was also a little chipboard snowflake with sticky material so I could add glitter and use it as an ornament. Picatso always adds some little goodies in with the cards....thanks Picatso, and Magenta!

I love Magenta stamps.  They're different, and very individual. If you'd like to join or check out the Magenta forum, it's here:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roxanelecat/ .

These are the ATC's I received today:

 Happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - CD Case Shaker Card

CD Case Shaker Card

I first learned how to make these from The Stamping Studio website (www.stampingstudio.com). That was about three years ago, and I have made several since then. They are very easy to make, and are fun to give, and even more fun to receive.  Unfortunately, they do not scan well, as they are not flat, so the scanner blurred them a bit, but you will get the idea.

They start with an empty plastic cd case.  I was fortunate enough to find a couple of dozen of empty cd cases at a garage sale, so scooped them up. I have seen them at lots of different stores, usually in packages of six or so. Be sure to get the older kind, not the really slim ones, as you need room for the filling to shake around.

BASIC ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:

• Snap cd case apart at hinges and put top aside.

• Cut decorative paper for background to cover bottom (inside the case) - 5 1/4” x 4 3/4” on most cd cases (measure your case to be sure you cut the right size).

• Glue background to case using glue stick.

• Add any further papers, stamping or embellishing as you desire.

• Snap top back on and feed “filling” (beads, stones, charms, punched shapes, etc) through the gap (there is an open space) on the left side of the case.

• Fill gap with fun foam, using a tape runner to adhere.

• Wrap case with 7 3/4” x 4 3/4” cardstock or decorative paper, creasing at the sides with your fingers.  Secure with glue stick on the back, and tape runner on the front.  Be sure the left side is long enough to cover the opening and foam.

• Embellish outside as desired.

Specific directions for card at right:  (stamps by Hero Arts)   
Prepare case as above. 
Glue in red word background with glue stick, trimming slightly to fit if necessary.
Tear dotted cardstock (cs) and distress with sponge and green ink.  Stamp Friend or other word on bottom right side as in sample.  Adhere to red word piece in case on left side.
Stamp F4323 Doodle Leaf Flower with markers in colors desired.  Sponge with green ink, then cut out and adhere over red and dotted piece in cd case, as shown on sample.
Thread button with embroidery floss and tie knot.  Adhere to flower with glue dot.
Stamp You Are Special (from LL206 set) with green marker onto white scrap, sponge with light green, and trim close to words.  Adhere to striped scrap, slightly off to the top and right, as shown in sample.  Adhere to inside of case with foam mounting tape.
Attach top to case, then pour in fillings through gap.  Run Diamond Glaze or any clear drying glue along bottom and sides to secure shut.
Fill opening with fun foam, securing with tape runner.
Glue pink cardstock piece around to wrap and cover seams along sides.  Use tape runner on top of case to secure strongly.
Cover pink “wrapper” with red and striped strips provided.
Stamp F4323 Doodle Leaf Flower again with markers, sponge with green, then cut out petals and use along left side seam.
                                                                                                                                                                                    
That's it. They're easy, and they're fun to make. Think about all the occasions these would be good for. There's so much you could do for Christmas....use sequins and snow filling, punch out stars, use all your Christmas paper scraps!
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Wedding plans are shaping up.  Still so much to do, and so little time.  Less than three weeks to go!  It's hard when Faith is in Buffalo, and I'm here.  Lots of traveling these past few weeks.  I'm off to the bachelorette party Saturday, then there's Thanksgiving, then back to Buffalo the weekend after Thanksgiving to decorate and finish up loose ends.  Whew.  I'll be looking forward to just enjoying the day when it gets here!  Here's the link to Faith and Dan's wedding website if you would like to take a peek:  http://www.ewedding.com/sites/faithie1122/
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Now it's off to work on the card box for the wedding.  I hope you are enjoying these late fall days, and preparing for a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. May you be surrounded by family and friends, and enjoy your loved ones.

Blessings,
lynda

Pop Up-Pull Up Card               

Here's a blast from the past!  I made these cards a couple of years ago, and just found the pictures in my photo gallery.  I gave the giraffe card to Keeley, and she loved pulling on the tab and seeing the giraffe pop up!                                                             I loved the technique so much that I made and sent several cards from the "pattern" that was on the Hero Arts website then.  Jennifer McGuire had a tutorial on the website on how to make these cards, and I tried it. They are much easier to make than they look, and come together in just a few minutes.

I have added Jennifer's link from Hero Arts here, which has full instructions with pictures:

                                                                  

Pull Up, Pop Up Card - by Jennifer McGuire, Hero Arts

 I hope you will try these.  They're so fun, and really easy. You can make them cute and playful, like the one I made for Keeley, or elegant like the pretty flower one I made here.

                                                                               
These pictures show the cards in their open position.  The pictures on the link show both open and closed, and the directions are concise and easy to follow.
Have fun with this, and if you try it, send me a link to your card.  I'd love to see what you do.

On a personal note, the Buffalo shower for Faith was wonderful. There were about 40 of us there, and I must say, her bridesmaids handled everything very well. There was lots of food, fun, and laughs!
This weekend we're getting Keeley from Friday to Sunday, then the following weekend it's a wild and crazy night out for the bachelorette party!
I can hardly believe the wedding is in just 24 days!!  Lots to do yet....card box to make, garter to make, and a special book I'm making for Faith.  Whew.

Enjoy your week, and have fun with this Technique Tuesday project!

Blessings,

lynda

I won some blog candy!!

Autumn - Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by ScrapyCrafter

It was a glorious 70 degree day here, and I got out of work early and got to enjoy this little gift of sunshine and warm breeze. I took Nelson (my neighbor's Boston terrior who we are dog sitting for two weeks) for a nice long walk, hung out some sheets on the line to dry, and just enjoyed a couple of hours of solitude.


When I came in to check my emails, there was another surprise waiting for me. I won some blog morsels!!! I nominated this card by  Yaneri Rodrigues (ScrappyCrafter)  as my inspiration for this blog challenge, and we both won an awesome package of goodies from Deborah of Deborah of Society of Stamp and Scrap-aholics
Deborah has so many fun things going on on her blog each week. Stop by and check it out, you'll be glad you did.  Here's what Yaneri and I won:  A card kit including (picture of kit on Deborah's blog (link above):

• 1 Hero Arts card base and envelope (not shown)
• 8 pieces of My Mind's Eye 5.75" x 5.75" patterned paper (2 of each pattern)
• 2 Nestibility paper shapes
• 5 stamped Inkadinkado images (not shown - it's a surprise!)
• 2 yards of ribbon (Martha Stewart)
• 3 decorative brads (Makign Memories)
• 3 buttons (Autumn Leaves)
• 6 sequin flowers 
• 3 glitter flowers with 3 mini brads (Heidi Grace)
• 1 large flower (Prima)
• 1 large gem (Creative Imaginations)
• 1 scoop Martha Stewart fine glitter in Carnelian
• 1 surprise element!

Thanks, Deborah.

Be sure to stop by Yaneri's blog (link above).

Tomorrow's Technique Tuesday on my blog. Be sure to stop back, and leave some love!!

Blessings,

lynda

I thought I'd share this layout I did for a sketch challenge on Treasured Scrapbooking.  They provide a monthly sketch, then issue a challenge for members to submit entries for.  I love participating in their challenges and calls. One of my cards was recently the layout of the day.  It really is a terrific community, and everyone there is very encouraging.  Check it out if you like to participate in challenges, swaps, etc: www.treasuredscrapbooking.com . My name there is Joyfulstamper.

Here's my entry for the November sketch (click if you'd like to see it larger):

I'm playing catch up on some old photos.  This is when our granddaughter, Keeley, was just four months old.  As she's now four YEARS old, I've got a lot of scrapping to do.  I have done some, but have lots of pics around waiting to be scrapped.

Tomorrow's the Buffalo bridal shower for Faith.  I get to relax at this one...lol!  Should be fun, and the weather is supposed to be lovely. Yay.

Hope you enjoyed the gorgeous day today, and get to enjoy tomorrow!

Blessings,

lynda

Swap Card - Thanksgiving

I just have to share this cute, cute, cute card I received from a swap I was in through the Hero Arts Flicker Group.  The card is from Kelly Booth, in California.  The turkey was colored with Copic markers.  Don't you just love him?  The google eyes are so adorable.  I know I just have to get me some of those Copic markers.  I have been avoiding them, and trying not to think about them, but I'm not doing so well with that.  Especially when I see something like this little turkey guy!!  Gotta get 'em!

                                Swap card from Kelly Booth
If you like to get ideas, inspiration, and sometimes chat online, and enjoy challenges and swaps, think about joining this Hero Arts Group on Flicker.  Just sign up for an account on Flicker (it's free), and then sign up for the Hero Arts Group.  That's it!  You can post your cards and layouts on Flicker if you like, and you can view literally thousands of galleries.  It's fun, fun, fun.  I really enjoy it there.  If you'd like to see my gallery on Flicker, my name there is Joyfulstamper.  And be sure to check the Hero Arts Blog whenever you can, it's chock full of inspiration and great ideas!!

Looooong day at work today.  I disassembled and re-arranged two full book displays, adding some new selections and weeding out the old.  Lots of Christmas books coming into Weggies!!  My book department looks so good now!!  I'm very tired, and hitting the hay early tonight.  But not till after Glee!!  lol.

That's it for now.  If you haven't checked this week's Technique Tuesday, scroll down and check it out. It's all about the details!!

Joy,

lynda