Header Mine

Header Mine

Thursday 29 January 2015

Hoppy Birthday

We are getting some snow where I live in Ontario. Temperatures are a "balmy" -4 feeling like -11. Sorry but that is warm considering our wind chills have been in the -30's! 

All this cold got me thinking about sunshine, spring and warmer temperatures. What says spring better then frogs and flowers! 

My nephews birthday is months away, but I had him in mind when I started putting this card together for the challenge at High Hopes stamps - stripes. 

He will find humour in this card, I can hear him giggling now when he sees the frog stack. It will be one of those giggles that comes right from his toes. I can't wait to give it to him!




Card Recipe
Stamp: Foggy Stack - High Hopes Stamps
Patterned Paper: A Perfect Summer, Ice Cream - Echo Park
Balloons Stamp (fussy cut): Forever In Time 
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Markers
Gumdrops - Your Next Stamp
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Spotted Paper: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Seeing Spots
Miscellaneous Items: embroidery floss, cardstock, Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black

I am entering this card into High Hopes Challenge #251 - Stripes


Thanks for stopping by. I hope my froggy stack brings a smile :) 
Comments and thoughts are welcome. 


Sunday 25 January 2015

Valentine Ombre Card

For my card today, I tried to create the "Ombre" technique using alcohol markers. For my first attempt at it, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. 

I also created my own heart background paper using a background stamp and ink. 






Card Recipe
Hello: Scripty Word Die - Your Next Stamp
Hearts: Birthday set - Your Next Stamp
Sentiment: Happy Day Sentiments - Your Next Stamp
Cardstock: Recollections, Bazzill
Ink: Ink Dot, Stampin' Up!, Memento
Gumdrops: Clear, Red, White - Your Next Stamp
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Markers: DR2, DR1, DR6, DR7

I am entering this card into Your Next Stamp Sketch Challenge #6

Here is the sketch

Thanks for stopping by! Thoughts and comments are appreciated. 


Saturday 24 January 2015

Marker and Stamp Storage

I have a very small cardmaking/scrapbooking room so I have to be come up with creative storage solutions. 

I wanted to share this post today because I'm sure I'm not alone in trying to find storage solutions that work and hope it helps bring some ideas for your own space. 

I had two challenges: 
1. An ever growing stamp collection and 
2. how to store my alcohol markers. The stamps were being stored in 12x12 plastic containers and it took forever to find the stamp I was looking for! So frustrating!!!

Once I found the stamp and was ready to colour - I had my markers in plastic bins and looking for the colours I wanted took longer then colouring! Grrrr!

I also have to admit - I like things organized. My blood pressure goes through the roof if things are not clean and neat - in most areas of my life that is - my "play" space is one of those places, my office at work is the other. 

So, I went on a storage solution finding mission for the space I had to work with and my budget which is not alot. 

Here is what I started with for stamp storage: I had two of these cases full and my collection continues to grow...........


I searched the internet and crafting world over and came up with a solution that works for me and gives me a chance to continue adding more stamps - that's the best part!

The bottom drawer of my wicker unit is quite large. I found some bins at a dollar store and can fit three of them into this drawer and there is still room left over. 


For my stamps, I found some Double Sided Disc Sleeves at Staples. Two pockets means I can put two stamps in one sleeve. I cut the picture of the stamp out of the original packaging and slid it in the front of the envelope and put a label in the top with the names of the stamps (this sleeve only has one stamp in it so far).


Here is a close up of one of the bins. Each bin includes different stamps by different companies (thanks to the label at the top) and they are all grouped together in the bin. 

The only exception to this is the larger sets I have that are in the side of the bin oh, and the Christmas bin - yup, Christmas has it's own bin! 

The best part is, this stand is right beside my desk so I'm no longer pacing back and forth from the stamps in a box on a shelf to my desk. 


For my marker storage I went from small plastic bins tucked away on a shelf  to this: 


I found plastic baking soda  box holders at a dollar store. I put them together with double sided foam tape ("borrowed"  from hubby's tool box tee hee)  to keep them from moving around. They were very unsturdy so I had to find a way to corral them. Thankfully, my dad is good with woodworking and after I sent him the measurements of what I needed - voila! All my markers are at my fingertips on my desk and I even have one spot where I keep my Memento Ink and my medium sized acrylic block for easy access. 

Thanks for stopping by. I know this post isn't about a card I made but I wanted to share a couple of my storage solutions. Now.........off to try to figure out how to corral my ribbon..............







Mother's Day 2

I know, Mother's Day seems like a long time away, but it is almost the end of January already! Where is the time going!?

The challenge this week at High Hopes Rubber Stamps is "For A Girl" which gave me another reason to make another Mother's Day card :) 

I am blessed to still have my mom in my life - she is one of my best friends. I also have my mother in law, and my mom will often ask me to make a card for her to give to my Grandmother. My Grandmother LOVES flowers and animals so I have a feeling this one just may go to her but you never know.......

For this card I added some diamond folds - I love this look and there are quite a few options on the template to use.  

They are kind of time consuming to do but in the end, with a little bit of patience, a metal ruler and a sharp Exacto knife it can be done. 





Card Recipe 
Stamp: Patty's Posies by High Hopes Rubber Stamps
Patterned Paper: Carta Bella and Recollections 
Fishtail Banner Die: Your Next Stamp
Diamond Folds Template: Paper Pizzazz - Hot Off The Presses
Sentiment: Happy Day Sentiments - Your Next Stamp
Tag: Journalled Weekly 3X4 Die - Your Next Stamp
Crystals: Crystazzi
Ribbon: From my stash 
Ink: Certainly Celery - Stampin Up! 
Stickles: in flower centres but hard to see in the picture
Spectrum Noir Makers: PP1, PP2, PP3, PP4, TB1, TB2, TB4, FS2, FS3, TN2, FS8, 1G1, CT1, CT2, CT4, GB11, TN3, TN6, TN7, CG2, CG4, EB6, EB3, EB5, 1G2, 1G4


I am entering this card in the following challenges: 

Thanks for stopping by! Your thoughts and comments are appreciated. Have a super day!

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Get Well Soon

The temperatures in Ontario has been a challenge to say the least. One day the temperature with the windchill is -30 the next day it is a high of zero or one degree. 

How is a person supposed to stay healthy!?! This get well card is for my next friend or family member who isn't feeling well. '

It has a couple plays on words that make me giggle - but so does "Dr. Funny Farm" as I have decided to call him. 

I fussy cut him out and used pop dots to make him stand out a little with his stethoscope.




                                              Card Recipe  
               Stamp: So Sorry and The Funny Farm Crew - Your Next Stamp
                         Patterned Paper: Recollections - Garden Florals 
             Letter Edge Border: Creative Time Dies, Stethoscope - Quickutz
                 Memento Ink: black and London Fog, Pop Dots, coloured with                                                 Spectrum Noir Markers 
                         Sentiment: Computer generated

I am entering this card into YNS Sketch Challenge #5 - I chose to follow the sketch



and I am also entering Not Just Cards Challenges #11


Stay well my friends. Thanks for stopping by. Thoughts and comments are appreciated.  







Saturday 17 January 2015

I Heart You

So, since my unfortunate incident of yesterday (see post below) I have been told to just relax today so I immediately retreated to my craft room. 

Nothing more relaxing in my world- other then horseback riding - then escaping to my craft haven.

This is actually the second version of this card because the first time didn't translate what has been bouncing around in my head. 

The colour palette came from the ShowCASe Your Style Challenge at Whimsy Stamps. It is a colour challenge - turquoise, lime green, black & white. 

The stamps I chose to use (hearts) are part of the Scandi Christmas set - I love how this set gives you not only "borders" but the individual stamps that make up the border as well. I am including a link to Whimsy Stamps here so you can take a look. 

It is hard to see but there is glitter on the "x's".


Card Recipe

Stamp: Scandi Christmas - Whimsy Stamps
Sentiment: Scandi Christmas & Skinny Font - YNS
Ink: Studio G, Memento, Spectrum Noir Marker (lime green) 
Glitter: Hero Arts
Cardstock: from my stash
Ranger Perfect Medium and Pop Dots


Thanks for stopping by. Thoughts and comments are appreciated.

My Therapist

I had a bit of an unfortunate incident yesterday. I got caught in a sudden down burst of snow and wind and ended up in a complete white out. I couldn't see the front half of my hood! 

I ended up in the ditch - on the wrong side of the road! Thankfully, myself and my truck are fine although I do have a few sore spots today. I needed my "therapist" when I got home last night. He  noticed I'm moving a little slow, he was the biggest cuddle bug ever last night - best! therapy in the world!

This stamp just makes me want to grab this squishy face!

For this card, I knew I wanted to use the plaid paper but didn't have another patterned paper to match - sigh. So I grabbed a paw print stamp, some ink and some cardstock and voila! 

It's hard to tell in the picture but his tag is done with Perfect Pearls to give it a bit of a shine. 



Card Recipe 

Stamp: Brutus - High Hopes Rubber Stamps
Patterned Paper: Cloud 9 and hand made by me
Cardstock, Perfect Pears by Ranger, Pop Dots
Fence die - YNS
Wood Bone: The Stockade
Clear Dots: YNS Gum Drops
Paw print stamp: Bouji
Ink: Color Box, Versa Color
White Marker: Recollections
Sentiment: from my brain and computer generated
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers 


Thanks for stopping bY! Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated.

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Happy Mother's Day - Easel Card

It is VERY cold again here in my little part of Ontario - a perfect evening to finish off a card I started on the weekend.

I will end up making two, three or more Mother's Day cards - one for my mom, my mother in-law and my mom always asks me to make a card for my grandmother that she can give her. I like to give her a couple different choices. 

This is my first ever easel card - I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. It will be interesting to see who ends up receiving this one............

It's hard to tell but my build a banner butterfly in the top left corner is actually a coral pink paper - not red as it appears. It matches the flowers perfectly in real life. Need to work on my lighting I see......


Side View


Card Recipe
Stamp: Emily - Wee Stamps from Whimsy Stamps
Patterned Paper: Hello Baby - Simple Stories 
Ink: Distress Ink - Old Paper
Butterflies: Butterfly Border Die - Whimsy Stamps
Flowers: from my stash
Other dies: Build A Banner Die & Vines Die - both from Whimsy Stamps
Sentiment: Happy Day Sentiments - Your Next Stamp
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers: CG1, DG2, DG4, FS8, PP4, PP6, TN3, TN6, TN7, BT1, BT4, BT3, BT5, BT7, FS2, FS3, TN2, GG1, GG2, GG3, 1G1, 1G2, 1G4

Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm! 

Saturday 10 January 2015

Howdy

The weather in southern Ontario has been FRIGID to say the least this week. My poor puppy won't walk far before he is lifting his feet and wanting to go back in the house where it is warm! 

I know others have it worse, but when we had a green Christmas and warm temperatures, it is a bit of a shock to the system when it feels like -30 degrees. 

Since it's too cold to "play" outside, I'm playing in my craft room - yay! 

For today's card, I tried to challenge myself to go out of my comfort zone when it comes to the colours. I have go to colours of cardstock and patterned paper but I wanted to try to use more of a pastel colour palette today. 

I did sneak one of my go to colours on this card - I inked all of the paper edges with a dark brown ink although it's hard to see on the picture.



Card Recipe
Stamp: Cowgirl Candice - High Hopes Rubber Stamps
Patterned Paper: Hello Baby - Simple Stories
Ink: Chocolate Chip - Stampin' Up
File Folder: Fabulous Finds - Cricut
Fish Tail Banner Dies: YNS
Sentiment: Skinny Font stamps - YNS
Horseshoe: Quickutz
Flowers: Quickutz
Bling & leather piece: from my stash
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Markers: BT2, BT4, BT5, IG2, IG4, IG7, FS2, FS3, TN2, FS8, IGI, PP1, PP3, PP5, EB3, EB5, EB7, GB11, CT2, CT4


Thanks for stopping by! Your visit and comments are appreciated. 


Thursday 1 January 2015

Seize The Day - Candle

Happy New Year! 

I personally don't make New Year's Resolutions but I have decided there are a few things I would like "to do" in 2015 with card making. 

One of the things I want to do is challenge myself to try new things - new ideas, new techniques and whatever else I can come up with. 

I have wanted to try making a "customized" candle for awhile now. Although today wasn't a day I thought I would be doing any crafting, I had some time free up so decided to give it a whirl. 

The number one thing I learned is that using a white candle is better - this one is a very pale yellow. I would also try to find one that isn't as tall, but these two things give me a reason to do another one! 

It is for a friend who built a new house and the "sentiment" on it is her favourite saying. I hope she likes it. 



Recipe
Candle - Dollarama
Ribbon - from my stash
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Markers
White Tissue paper
Sentiment - Skinny Font - Your Next Stamp
Horseshoe stamp - unknown

I am entering this Not Just Cards Challenge Blog - Challenge #9

Happy 2015! Thanks for stopping by!