another yak card...

A good friend of mine has recently started a card/stamping blog as well.  I keep checking in on her blog for new posts and have found none.  So, when I last saw her, I told her she needed to post something new; to which she retorted, "I will, when you do!"

So here's my "something new" and I encourage you all to check out her blog; I'm sure there will be something new anytime now ; )

For those of you looking at this card and saying, "that's a bison...!?" you can read the whole story behind my lovingly referring to the pictured animal as a yak, here. 

I made this card for a very special lady who recently had a graduation from a school who's mascot is the bison.  

Here's my card; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

basic black cardstock

pacific point cardstock

whisper white cardstock

ink:

basic black classic

pacific point stampin' write marker

bling and things:

silver glimmer paper

silver foil smooch spritz

tools and toys:

big shot

timeless type dies

rotary paper cutter

stamp-a-ma-jig

simply scored

snail adhesive

two way glue pen

colour spritzer

stamp sets:

in wilderness

well scripted

{heart},

 

a special birthday...

I know, I know!  It' been so long!  My poor little blog is feeling unloved.  In fact, my blog-iversary came and went without so much as a hi from me.  It's hard to believe that it's been a year already!  I would have popped in, but it's been pretty busy around here with all the family activities (both fun and everyday ho-hum) that I haven't had time to post.  However, this week I will have two posts for you!  

Today's post is of the card that I made for a very special lady in my life who recently turned 60.  I put a lot of time and energy into this one, but I wanted to make sure she could tell just by looking at this card that she is SO loved, appreciated and valued.  She is the one who introduced me to card making; I have no doubt that she appreciates and understands all that went into this.  (Love ya', Momma!)

Here's my card; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

crumb cake cardstock

pool party cardstock

very vanilla cardstock

primrose petals cardstock

early espresso cardstock


ink:

versamark

primrose petals classic

pool party classic

midnight muse classic

pacific point classic

tempting turquoise classic

pool party stampin' marker

primrose petals stampin' marker


bling and things:

large pearl brads

early espresso embossing powder


tools and toys:

heat tool

big shot

lacy brocade embossing folder

designer frame embossing folder

little leaves die

timeless type dies

large oval punch

rotary paper cutter

hobby blade

ruler

simply scored

paper snips

stamping sponges

two way glue pen

snail adhesive

stampin' dimensionals

stamp-a-ma-jig

embossing buddy


stamp sets:

well scripted

swallowtail

yummy

oh, hello

{heart},

 

SUOC #67- spring (and My Paper Pumpkin) is in the air

This is my first time playing in the Stampin' Up! Only Challenge.  I definitely have to admit that I haven't participated before because I never seem to be able to stick straight to only Stampin' Up! products in my cards.

This has changed recently, since I received "My Paper Pumpkin" last week.  I am absolutely in love with the contents of that little red box which came in the mail, and would suggest that EVERYONE get one!  If you don't know what "My Paper Pumpkin" is, I would strongly advise you find a Stampin' Up! demonstrator near you and find out ASAP : )

I deviated from the recipe for the suggested projects that came in the box, but I adore the color combo they came up with and stuck to that.  After all was said and done, I managed to use all of the items in my box (along with a few added extras from my stash) to make 14 paper pumpkin inspired birthday cards (2 each of 7 designs).  I will share them all in a later post : )

The card bases in "My Paper Pumpkin" are Basic Grey colored white cores.  As soon as I saw this I knew that I wanted to dry emboss every inch of that beautiful cardstock, sand off the grey on the raised  parts and ink up the exposed white.  This is how I achieved the Lucky Limeade coloring on the basic grey chevron banner in the background.

The SUOC #67 is titled "Spring is in the Air!".  The lady holding an umbrella in the "Million Dollar Moments" hostess set from the 2013 Spring Catalogue is a new favorite of mine.  I love spring showers and full out thunderstorms that the new season promises; that's exactly what I think of when I see her holding her hand out to catch the first drops that will breathe new life into the earth.

Here is my card; I hope you enjoy:

paper:

basic grey cardstock

basic grey paper pumpkin cardstock

tempting turquoise cardstock

whisper white cardstock

ink:

lucky limeade classic

basic grey classic

daffodil delight classic

tempting turquoise classic

bling and things:

paper pumpkin lucky limeade scallop edge die cut leftovers

tools and toys:

paper snips

snail adhesive

stampin' dimensionals

big shot

chevron embossing folder

ovals collection framelits

two-way glue pen

paper cutter

simply scored

ruler

pencil

stamp-a-ma-jig

stamping sponges

designer sanding block


stamp sets:

million dollar moments

up, up & away

{heart},

 

four star birthday...

My share for today is (surprise-surprise) a birthday card.  I told you I make a lot of them; so naturally that is what I have to share : )

I made this card to stand in a portrait position, but several people, when looking at it, placed it in the landscape position.  I like it both ways and was surprised by how much the orientation 'changes' the card.  I photographed it both ways and am posting both.  Let me know what you think!

Here is my card; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

river rock cardstock

cherry cobbler cardstock

whisper white cardstock

night of navy designer series paper


ink:

more mustard classic

cherry cobbler classic


bling and things:

cherry cobbler brads


tools and toys:

merry minis punch pack

finishing touches edglits

big shot

stamp-a-ma-jig

snail adhesive

stampin' dimensionals

paper snips

pencil

ruler

rotary paper cutter

simply scored

paper piercer

stampin' pierce mat


stamp sets:

merry minis

party this way

{heart},

 

feline sympathy...

Hi everyone!  I shared my canine "go-to" sympathy card last time; I thought I'd share my cat themed one this time.

This card is not a standard A2 sized card and I actually had to make an envelope for it.  The card measures 6 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Over all I really like how it turned out.  I do wish I had grounded the cat a little better; the floating cat is a bit  of a flaw in my opinion, but we'll get it right next time : )

The cat image was a random cat stamp I found (sorry don't have the information on who makes it or what set it might be from).  It has a sort of zendoodle pattern through it; which wasn't at all appropriate for the card design.  I just colored it all in to make it into a silhouette.

Here's my card; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

basic black cardstock

wisteria wonder cardstock

concord crush cardstock

whisper white cardstock


ink:

wisteria wonder classic

concord crush classic

basic black classic

basic black stampin' write marker


bling and things:

styled silver hodge podge hardware


tools and toys:

rotary paper cutter

simply scored

paper piercer

stampin' pierce mat

small oval punch

stamp-a-ma-jig

stamping sponges

glossy accents

snail adhesive

stampin' dimensionals


stamp sets:

clear silicon cat stamp (I think it came from Michaels...)

inspired by nature

solid stripes

 teeny tiny wishes

{heart},

 

with sympathy for the loss of a furry friend...

I am asked to make sympathy cards periodically and sometimes the loss is of a four legged companion.  I made this card for a client who's friend lost her dog.  I made it to be very mailable so it's made with simple layers and no embellishments.

The dog silhouette was made using a clip art image of a dog laying down.  I printed it off, cut it out, traced it, and colored it in.

Here is my card; I hope you enjoy...

 

paper:

basic black cardstock

cherry cobbler cardstock

whisper white cardstock

ink:

basic black stampin' write marker

basic black classic

more mustard classic

pumpkin pie classsic

cherry cobbler classic

night of navy classic

tools and toys:

2 1/2" circle punch

post-it note

stamping sponges

brayer

stamp-a-ma-jig

paper snips

rotary paper cutter

simply scored

stamp sets:

inspired by nature

teeny tiny wishes

{heart},

 

a bald eagle birthday...

I make a lot of birthday cards; I mean A LOT.  So surprise, surprise I have another birthday card to share with you.

This is one I put together with a masculine feel to it.  It came together quickly and I was so pleased with it when it was finished.  I like to think of it as proof that you can add lots of embellishments - even some sparkle ; ) - and still come up with something manly.

The little silver brads were too shiny; so I distressed them a bit with black and grey sharpies.  I kind of wish I had made them a distressed copper to go with that gorgeous copper sparkle from the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (yes, you can even make a manly card using something called "Smooch Spritz", but I think it's because the name "Log Cabin" cancels out the 'smooch' and 'spritz').  All in all I think that the distressed mini brads ended up pulling the copper shimmer and the vintage metal tag edge together; you be the judge.

Here's my card; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

early espresso cardstock

very vanilla cardstock

autumn meadows designer series paper

ink:

early espresso classic

early espresso stampin' write marker

bling and things:

early espresso quilted satin ribbon

log cabin smooch spritz

mini vintage tags

silver mini brads

linen thread

tools and toys:

big shot 

designer frames embossing folder

framed tulips embossing folder

paper snips

stamp-a-ma-jig

paper piercer

stampin' pierce mat

snail adhesive

stampin' dimensionals

rotary paper cutter

grey sharpie

black sharpie

simply scored

stamp sets:

in wilderness

happiest birthday wishes

{heart},

 

I used to be a rainbow butterfly...

I have a special little lady in my life who just turned five.  Of all the special little people in my life, she is the only one who plays along with my silliness.  During a recent conversation with her, I had teasingly said that I used to be a butterfly.  Without batting an eye or missing a beat she said, "well I used to be a rainbow butterfly!"

Here is the birthday card that I made for my special, little, rainbow-butterfly; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

perfect plum

basic black


ink:

whisper white craft


bling and things

basic rhinestones

white embossing powder


tools and toys:

heat tool

embossing buddy

white watercolor pencil crayon

stamp-a-ma-jig

stampin' pastels

stamping sponge

cotton swabs


stamp sets:

bold butterfly

grunge rock

{heart},

 

a pink pony...

Wow!  I am not doing a very good job of blogging these days!  So sorry... hopefully life will slow down soon : )

I do have a card to share with you.  This is one that I made for the first birthday, of a little lady in my life.  I think it tuned out super cute and was worth the effort of attaching each gold thread side-by-side on sticky strip to make the mane.

Here is my card; I hope you enjoy...

paper:

pretty in pink cardstock

barely banana cardstock

whisper white cardstock

brushed gold cardstock

crumb cake cardstock

ink:

pretty in pink classic

krylon 18kt gold leafing pen

bling and things:

silver mini brad

1/8" gold ribbon

gold thread

tools and toys:

big shot

cuttlebug happy birthday embossing folder

perfect polka dots embossing folder

scallop circles #2 die

timeless type dies

stocking builder punch

sticky strip

snail adhesive

stampin' dimensionals

two-way glue pen

paper snips

corner chomper

rotary cutter

simply scored

paper piercer


stamp sets:

stitched stockings

{heart},