Baking Tags

 Ahem, it’s been quite some time since my last blog post.  I guess I got carried over to instagram for a stretch.  I feel like now is the time to do some more posting - for myself, I guess, but I hope you might enjoy some of my posts too.  

Today I’m displaying some sweet little cards I created over the holidays.  I am surrounded with lovely people in my life who enjoy time in the kitchen A LOT.  Not only that, they are super talented and their baking is like a ministry that goes out and spreads sugary and savoury happiness wherever it goes.  There are a lot of happy tummies out there because of their talent and generosity.  So, I decided to use my supplies (and scraps) to make these small tags.  Most are 2.75 x 2.75 inches if they are the square ones, but some are oddballs.  I had so much fun making them.  I also added self stick tape onto the backs so they would be easily able to adhere these to the containers they put their food-gifts into.  

Use up those scraps - they do make many pretty things.  

All Mine! (First challenge card in forever!!!)

 

It has been so very long since I’ve posted here I have pretty much had to relearn it.  So glad to pop back on here though.  I chose to jump in on a challenge at a site Paper Craft Crew I’ve not had the privilege to visit before, so a new start for me on a new site to me.  Love this sketch!   I used lots of texture with the Tim Holtz Sizzix embossing folder, the use of several die cuts and the sweet stamp from Elizabeth Crafts Designs - Love and Hearts Collection.  This card is for my sweet husband for our upcoming anniversary - sshhhh, don’t tell!  

Three Feather Birthday Card

A Very GOOD Day Card

Everyone needs to get a card like this - to focus us on the day-by-day blessings during all of the upheaval going on around us.  Not so that we ignore what is going on, but so that we encourage one another to keep us strong so that we are able to help out wherever we are able.  Often a “very good day” is the one where we are concentrating on helping others so deeply that we forget about our own problems.  Someone is always worse off than we are.

I chose to model my card after this challenge by Just Add Ink #507 as I like the angles and proportions.  I have an idea formed in my head which I can also enjoy breaking open a new kit I’ve been wanting to play with!  A huge Pink Paislee kit with all sorts of ephemera and bling to choose from.  

I layered things up - the floral is a “puffy” so it stands out above all.  My added “ink” is the sentiment, in bold black and white on a stitched die cut bit of white card stock.   

Hoping you are enjoying your day.

Coming Around Again...

Goodness me, this was certainly one of the longest hiccups in my blogging history.  Can’t explain why, just the want comes and wanes at will.  I go through periods of time where blog posts launch unasked in my thoughts and then there are the droughts where it feels like work.  I certainly always welcome a bit of effort, a bit of push to feed here, as I think of blogging as journaling of sorts.  I don’t want my posting to become something I feel obligated to do, or resent.  I’ve had this happen with art projects where I’ve turned something I love into an obligation - I will always allow it to inspire me.  I’m feeling inspired today.  I will start with a simple card I created using some scraps of paper gifted to me by a dear friend, and I’ll share a few photos of lovely things in my world.

I don’t know the identity of this paper, nor the die cut but I do believe the stamp is Simon Says Stamp.  Simple but bold, the paper being double-sided I cut 1 inch squares and embossed these with a tight chevron pattern.  I added gems for the flower centers.  

A bright and cheerful Sweet William which caught my eye today.

This little family of mushrooms, all pressing each other for space (no social distancing here!) were nestled underneath an evergreen tree.  

Just Smile Card

Just popping in to post a quick card today.  I am going with inspiration for the following challenge (#357) CAS(e) this Sketch 

I am a fan of Brian's cards - he has a keen eye for design and color, so I was thrilled he brought this sketch together.  

I chose to fill my card from top to bottom with the three sections rather than allow the strips at the top and bottom.  I used an embossed layer in deep purple.  I topped it with a subtle grey textured cardstock.  The feature of my card was a stitched circle cut of Authentique "Beauty Ten" designer paper.  I trimmed it to fit this suggested floral.  I faux embossed the blooms and added a tiny bit of bling with teeny gems.  Lastly I added the simple sentiment stamped from a Recollections set.  

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My husband and I took a little date day out yesterday, travelling just across the border into Washington State.  We drove down to Omak where we did some shopping and on the way home we stopped just north of Omak and enjoyed a 2 hour hike in the hills.  Perfect day for this as the sun was shining.  

Feels crazy to see buttercups blooming in the first few days of February - a snack for a hungry groundhog I'd say.  

Even the red ants also believe its time to emerge and get busy! 

Just little peeks of snow between the trees.  

How about YOUR little corner of the world - is your weather confusing too?  

Grow Good Memories Card

Jumping on the bandwagon to get a card in for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #418

I love the simplicity of this sketch.  I knew almost right off what I'd use.  I started with a Nina columns cardstock (I love to use this when I have white space in my background, its so crisp and sturdy.  I cut the dark oval shape out of an old file-folder, actually.  I loved the color of it and saved it from hitting the recycle pile as I saw projects unfolding in my head... 

Next, I cut this pretty botanical ephemera from a Birds and Botanicals Images and Journal Notes pad.  I wanted to bring more "oomph" to the image, so i faux embossed some of the petals by forcing the petals outward from the back of the paper using the rounded end of a paintbrush.  Then using a spellbinders stitched diecut and then another diecut from spellbinders for the scalloped edging too.  I layered these two items together and bumped them out with foam tape. 

I added some Gelly Roll star touches to the petals and glued some teeny tiny gems to the center of the blossom.  

I stamped the words "Grow" "Good" "Memories" from a Recollections acrylic stamp set onto white cardstock, trimmed them and tacked the words on.  Voila! 

I appreciate your stopping by!

Love and Prayers Card

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post - could it truly be since October of last year?   Yikes.  Happily here to kick of 2020 with a post with a card I'm happy with.  I'm modeling it for this challenge from the Cas(e) This Sketch challenge blog challenge #354

I use a scrap of paper which was given to me, no identity on what company, the Stamp is Gina K.  I chose to stamp onto vellum and then clear embossed a section over it so that the pretty paper pattern could still shine through. I used a whole lot of layering up and finished it off with some small gold beads to add some last minute pizzazz.  

Hopefully I'll be back sooner than several months.  Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Grateful and Blessed Card

I am MAKING myself post a card today - so many made in the past few months yet sadly only a few make here so today is THE DAY I'm going to feel happy I took a moment to blog.  I was inspired by this CAS(E) this sketch challenge #344 - I had it in my mind right off what I'd use.  I can't seem to get an active link back to the challenge site so here it is in longhand in case you would like to join in: http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2019/10/case-this-sketch-344.html

I used this lovely paisley embossing folder on white cardstock for a backdrop - by Darice.  Sentiment - Echo Park and some pretty natural wood maple leaves from our local dollar store.  

I'm hoping to blog a teeny bit more, just a bit of this and that - just for me!  I appreciate you stopping in today. 

Wow, has it really been 6 months since my last post?  My last challenge?   Yikes!

I confess I’ve ducked out of social media, pretty much, for quite a while.  Living a quiet life and taking loads of personal time.  Life is good, in general (Thank God - literally). Grabbing every chance to savour time with those I love in my life and doing things that make me happy.  There is value in slowing down and reassessing, pondering and choosing.  Glad to be back creating though and eyeing a few more new challenges too.  

I thought this simple CAS(E) this Sketch #339 appealed: 

I have been drawn to fall-ish colors and ideas now the weather is cooling so I brought together some fab designer paper along with some autumn elements and twinkles of glam and tossed in some texture as well. 

Sorry to say I don’t know who put out this gorgeous designer paper, but the stamps are Stampin’ Up, the jewels were salvaged from a makeup product I buy - they are encased in a cylinder of my eyebrow pencil!  The leaf purchased at a dollar store, a gift from a dear friend.  I ran some bronze soft metal sheeting through a WeR embossing folder.  

Thanks for stopping in if you took the time today. 

You're a STAR!

Twas such a dull day outdoors with more snow this morning so was quite content to stay indoors and fit a bit of creativeness in.  This simple sketch from CAS Colours & Sketches #312 grabbed me today: 

Now I can be a little stick in the mud when it comes to sketches, too timid to push the limits in interpretation of a sketch so today I forced myself to be liberal.  I took a discretion to use a beautiful star shape for the focal point - I mean whats an extra angle on a rectangle and then squished around a bit?  I had fun!  

I used a backdrop of kraft cardstock and added a layer of DP from DCWV atop.  I trimmed a bit of gold sparkly ribbon and fringed the bottom a bit.  I stamped this gorgeous star from Close to my Heart "Shining Star" using versamark embossing ink and then Ranger "Queens's Gold" embossing powder.  I layered it on top of white cardstock and trimmed an edge.  I stamped the "you're a star" from the same stamp set.  I twined some very fine gold thread around the star, added foam tape and tacked it onto my card.  My final touch are the three April Crystals from Studio Katina.  

I was pleased my card came together in the end - sometimes mid-card I get doubtful.  How about you, do you have a time your confidence falters while building cards?  

Masculine Birthday Black and Grey

Feels so nice to be creating again after a couple of trips away in this past three weeks.  Wonderful to find a simple straightforward sketch to base my card on and CAS(E) this sketch #311 is just perfect to work from.  

I used a basic black cardstock and layered it up with a base of a wallpaper sample a friend gave me recently.  The pattern and monochromatic theme are perfect for a manly greeting card.  I stamped a repeating pattern using a compass stamp from My Mind's Eye "indie" using versafine in black.  I chose a simple happy birthday from a Paper Smooches set I seem to go back to time and time again, onto a white cardstock.  After using layers and elevating some with foam tape I achieved lots of texture and height for interest.  

So glad you stopped in today!  

Always BE Amazing

Woo Hoo - fitting in a tiny flurry of cards while the fitting is possible - I seem to get derailed all over the place.  I think I enjoy the process even more being as its sporadic.  

I took incentive from this week's Tuesday Morning Sketches #489 -  I knew just what I wanted to do!

I used a natural cardstock and layered up some WeR Memory Keepers Chalkboard 6 x 6 DP trimmed into the slices.  I used a Simon Says Stamp "Be" stamp set for the sentiment in black Versafine.  I heat embossed in clear.  I blocked out sections and coloured the mid section using Tim Holtz Distress in Abandoned Coral. 

I die cut a spellbinders double layer butterfly using another DP scrap and an over-layer of transparent neutral vellum.  I finished this little beauty off with a gem from Studio Katia.  Last touch was some pretty very very fine embroidery foiled floss in a soft pink, swirled around the whole sweet butterfly.  \

I do indeed thank you for taking the time to visit today!  ♥ Wishing you creativity and happiness this week ♥

Love Deeply Card

I'm excited to create a card for a (new to me) card challenge: 

Crazy for CAS

#14

I had some very pretty wallpaper snippets given to me by a dear friend and the texture and pattern on this background paper grabbed my eye immediately.  I backed it with a black cardstock for even more visual impact.  I stamped a punched circle with "Love Deeply" a part sentiment from a Penny Black stamps set.  I added a scalloped circle die cut from Spellbinders. I punched a heart and cut a double notched ribbon from a fabric type paper.  I bumped the heart out using foam tape.  

Finishing touch are these three pretty opaque gems from Studio Katia

Sidenote: Its darn cold here today - not compared to the eastern provinces here in Canada, still, cold enough with a brisk wind chill factor happening that I was FORCED to stay inside and craft today ;) 

Wishing You Peace

Goodness, far too long to make a card, even sweeter now that I know I get to create and post the same challenges as my Sis (Nina) and SIL (Judy) 

This week’s Freshly Made Sketches 373 inspires and I decided to include a few items I’ve not had an opportunity to use yet.  I started with a nice solid Neenah columns card base – I save these for projects with a “white space” background as the paper is so pleasing.  First I stamped “Wishing You Peace” from Gina K ‘Peaceful Roses” clear stamps.   I diecut this Spellbinders Flower Box out of the leftovers of a sheet of Bo Bunny “a gift of love” designer paper.  I chose some pretty ribbons in pinks and glued them diagonally across the card.   I cut a plain panel for the bottom leaving it longer on each side, adding a double layer of foam tape in the middle, then folding each end under and neat to the edges of the flower box I tacked it to the card base over the ribbons -  (the double foam in the middle makes the flower box “wow” out in the center.  My final touch is a pretty crystal pinkish heart!  

Where Oh Where?

FINALLY - since last year even, I’m posting a card.  

I based my card on Tuesday Morning Sketches #485. Which you can find my visiting  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/2019/01/tuesday-morning-sketches-485.html This is a poignant sketch as it was created by a former design team member Jessi Fogan who sadly passed away in December.  My heartfelt prayers to everyone who was in her world.  

I chose to do a lot of layering up and taking advantages of double sided designer paper.  Oh and how I dearly dearly wish I’d marked down just which paper this was, though I suspect it was a BoBunny.  (This little aside: my husband can never get over how I can remember all the important details of life and survival but ask me where I bought something from a thrift store or something about my crafting and hallelujah its embedded loudly in my brain) So I’m pretty confident its BB.  At any rate, I also used a paisley embossing folder and a Spellbinders floral die cut and the sentiment is stamped in an Andrionak embossing powder in this lucious color.  

I’ve struggled with blogging these past few months.  Sometimes just too busy, sometimes not motivated and strangely I found myself often wanting to just nest and keep life simple and spend time quietly.  So I’m good, life is beautiful.  Just saying’. 

Just Because repeat butterfly card

I fell in love with this sketch right away and I believe it will be a ‘go to’ in the future.   This Repeat Impressions Sketch #03118 on The House That Stamps Built blog is so simple and attractive, just the right proportions to paper.  I chose to make this a “small” card measuring 3.75 x 5.5 inches.  I have some lovely little envelopes to fit a card this size.  Sometimes this is just a sweet “giving” (as opposed to mailing) size. 

I used some small DP scraps up, backing them both with black cardstock for extra body.  I used some lovely butterfly stamps from Flourishes on top of the DP with the tiny text.  I stamped in black Versafine and then embossed with black.  After this I stamped this “just because” from Hero Arts and notched the end for more interest.  I finished with three pretty pearly sequins from Lucy’s Cards 

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Brilliant Birthday Card

I’m still playing around with a set of Recollection Halloween stamps I picked up, some of the images, though intended to be creepy or scary actually inspire me for other cards so I may work my way through a few more before I retire them to focus on some festive ones (coz really, I’ve not even begun to think Christmas yet)  I had stamped this sentiment when I was visiting my sister Nina and I just knew it would be a hit for this Freshly Made Sketches #361 challenge.  I wanted to make it simple so I chose a basic palette.  Silver sparkle, black and yellow against white.  I stamped the lightbulb with black versafine then colored using both a Tim Holtz distress ink in Mustard and then a bit of Tombow marker to match the color true to the bright yellow cardstock strip.  I then fussycut the lightbulb and embossed it with clear.  After layering a bit, bumping the sentiment out with foam, I was happy this card came together so easily. 

Even though it rained today and everything was misty moisty outdoors I chose to go for a super speed walk in the orchard today.  I have to fling myself out the door mid afternoon or else I begin to flag and thats not a good thing.  Its ok if I can actually nap, but that does not always happen and then I’m just messed up for the rest of the day.  I love walking the long rows of the orchard, the leaves confettied in the grass and with mushrooms popping up here and there making little cups for birds to come drink out of.  I thought this little crab apple looked like the cherry on top! 

Besides this, I played with my brand new instant pot – I treated myself.  I admit I was intimidated to begin but after making my first ever beef stew, from scratch, from a frozen roast no less, in 90 minutes – I’m already imagining my next big batch of cooking!  I am truly impressed.   Do YOU have one?  What is your favorite recipe?  Any pointers for me? 

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Fixin’ Birthday Card

Woot – just so happens chance I needed to whip up a birthday card for a friend who is a true carpenter, has literally built custom furniture for our home and so when I saw The Male Room Challenge #97 and the theme being TOOLS well, I got quiet excited (imagine lots jumping up and down in this house…)  because I have two nice Forever in Time stamp sets which are totally tools!  A great fit.  I paired the stamps with a backdrop of Bo Bunny Back to Basics DP in woodgrain.  I built upon a black cardstock base.  I used a Stampin’ Up birthday sentiment, poofing it out in the middle with a triple layer of foam tape and tacking the ends down. (you can’t really see how the sentiment kind of “wows” out in the center, almost 3d)  I stamped and fussy cut the tools, colored them with Tombow Markers.  I bumped out the Hammer and glued the nails down. 

Lacking a stamped sentiment to say something to pull this card together I improvised my own! 

Have YOU ever hand written your own sentiment inside a card? 

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