Flowers and butterflies...

It's always nice to think about flowers and butterflies when the temperature is below 0 degrees outside. We're warming up a bit now, but last week was a bonified Minnesota cold spell. To get my mind off of it, I made a few cards with flowers and butterflies.

This slimline card was made with a special slimline frame die. After cutting it out in a green patterned DSP, I also cut the flowers from pink and blue CS. 

The sentiment was stamped directly onto the card base. I made sure it fit perfectly between the two flowers.

I adhered each flower around the center and then popped up each petal with a piece of double-sided foam tape.

I have a few very nice thank you stamps now, and this is one of them.

This card features another slimline frame die with butterflies. This card is a little bigger than the first one because I already had the card base cut and folded and I didn't want to cut it down anymore.

To add color to my butterflies, I slipped a piece of copy paper underneath each wing and used my blending brushes to add color.

Each butterfly did have an attached body, but I cut off the top (head) and bottom (tail) and then adhered a separate body cut from silver metallic CS. This also helped secure the butterflies in place.

Once again, just a simple stamped sentiment on the inside.

For this card, I stamped, colored and die-cut a cluster of flowers. I first used the coordinating stencils to color the flowers, but I wasn't satisfied with the result, so I used my watercolor pencils to add more depth and detail.

The embossed panel underneath the flowers is vellum. I love the look of embossed vellum! I have some 1" wide double-sided tape, and I used that to adhere the vellum. I just made sure that I not only covered the entire back side of the vellum with the tape, but that I also overlapped the pieces. That way it doesn't show at all.

The sentiment was popped up on foam tape.

Here is the stamped sentiment I added to the inside.

I made this card because I was tired of seeing the striped piece of DSP laying on my desk. I used an angled scalloped border die for the bottom. I cut the edge again out of white and glued it on top of the striped edge and finished it off with a couple narrow stitched strips of yellow CS.

The "thank you" sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with blue EP.

These butterfly dies are some of my favorites. I love the stitched detail on them.

I added some double-sided foam tape underneath their wings and an enamel dot in the center of each.

Keepting with the blue and yellow theme, I stamped the inside sentiment with blue ink.

*****

This weekend is shaping up to be a busy one. We're going to a dance performance at the University of Minnesota on Thursday and out for a special dinner on Saturday. Then, of course, we'll go to church on Sunday.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Using some rub-ons and a masculine card...

 I was given some rub-ons and thought I'd put them to good use on some cards to donate to the thrift store.

The flowers and butterflies on this card are all rub-ons. They were so colorful and really dressed up the front of the card. I added the die-cut sentiment, which was cut multiple times and stacked for dimension. I also added some gems to the centers of the flowers.

On the inside of this card I stamped a simple sentiment (I added the ellipsis with a pen) at the top so that the sender had lots of room to write a lengthy note.

I used some floral DSP for this card that coordinated nicely with another rub-on butterfly. "Hello" and its shadow were die-cut and adhered directly onto the card front.

The little "stars" were also rub-ons. I added a gem to the center of each.

On the inside of this card I added a stamped sentiment and one more tiny rub-on.

I recently bought some vertical sentiment dies. I used one of them on this masculine card and really like them for applications like this. 

All the printed papers on this card came from the same (very old) paper stack. The center panel on the card front was a small piece that I cut from one of the sheets, matted and popped up on foam tape. 

A sentiment was stamped on the inside. I did my best to center it under the front of the card, which was about an inch narrower than the back.

*****

The intensely cold weather that we have had lately prompted me to buy a new winter jacket. My old one was really getting worn looking and had a missing button and a hole in one of the pockets. I certainly could have sewn a button on and mended the pocket, but the wool was wearing so thin in areas that a couple of little holes had developed. It was time for a new one! I received it in the mail this week and wore it for the first time yesterday.

It's a down-filled 3/4 length jacket that has both snaps and a zipper closure. It is so warm and I really love it. But now, of course, the weather is warming up and is supposed to be above freezing next week. Go figure! Oh well, I'm certain there is more cold weather yet to come.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Pretty Gingko leaves on a card...

 

This die that cuts a cluster of Gingko leaves is one of my favorites, especially for making sympathy and get well cards. I've showcased it here in a couple of different ways.

This card is quite simply designed. I glued the die-cut to a textured piece of paper, which was glued to a card base.

I stamped a sentiment, cut it out and popped it up on some foam tape. The only embellishement was a few turquoise gems.

This second card used up a scrap of striped paper that was sitting in my stash, begging to be used.

The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Once again, I added some gems for embellishment.

I stamped a sentiment on the inside of both cards.

I did a little research on Gingko leaves, as I knew there was a history of their use in medicine. I found that the medicinal uses of Gingko can be traced back to the Chinese herbal database known as the Materia Medica, which was written about 2800 B.C. The leaves were used for brain disorders, circulatory disorders and respiratory diseases. 

They must have a pretty powerful effect on the human body. I only want the sight of them on my get well cards to help someone feel better!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Stack, cut and shuffle...

 In trying to use up some of my old 6" X 6" paper pads, I decided to use the stack, cut and shuffle technique to create some cards.

First, I cut a 3 3/4" X 5" panel from three different, but coordinating, patterned sheets. I stacked these panels and then cut them--all at once-- into three polygons. Once that was done, I shuffled the patterns and adhered them to three mats.

After gluing the matted pieces to a card base, I cut a large sentiment and its shadow and popped them up in the center. As a final touch, I added three tiny flowers that I had in my stash.

I made the second card into a birthday card, once again popping up the die-cut sentiment. This time, I embellished the card front with three enamel dots.

My third card was a get well card. This time I used the card base in the portrait orientation, popped up the sentiment and added some Nuvo Drops for embellishment.

After I had completed these three cards, I had some pieces left of each pattern, so I die-cut the pieces into strips of different widths, glued them at an angle onto a piece of copy paper, cut it to size and made this card:

This became another birthday card with a large sentiment that was stamped, matted and popped up with a couple of leafy sprigs beneath it.

In order to get the right color of ink for my sentiment, I had to use two different ink colors, blue and green, stamping them one at a time on top of each other until I had the right shade. Thank goodness for my stamp positioner, which enables me to stamp in exactly the same spot every time!

I used the same process to get the right color of ink for my inside sentiment, too. And I added the last of my strips here, along with a tiny sprig, for a little embellishment.

This was a fun process for using up some paper and creating some cards. Have you ever tried it? If you haven't, I definitely recommend giving it a go.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Playing with AI images...

 This is a Christmas card I created using a friend's AI (artificial intelligence) image. I sized the image, then printed it out. 

After matting the image with some red cardsstock, I adhered it to my cardbase.

For finishing touches, I added some glitter to the snow and I die-cut and glued on a sentiment.

On the inside I stamped a Christmas sentiment.  

     

I was impressed with my friend's AI image, so I decided to try to create one myself. I used the Bing Create program and here's what I came up with:

This is my first card for Christmas 2024. The snowy tree background is the AI image I created. I added the die-cut sentiment and deer.

I also added a tiny bit of glitter to this image by dotting on some glue and then sprinkling glitter over it and allowing it to dry.

It's actually very pretty IRL.

Once again, I added a stamped sentiment on the inside.

I've printed out eight more of the AI background image and will make more Christmas cards with them for next year.                                                                                                                                          

As I was writing this post, I decided to quickly create another AI image just for fun. My request to the program was a "messy craft room with a frazzled 70-year-old crafting lady at work." Here's the image that the program came up with:

Want to give it a try? Go to www.bing.com/create and type in your insstructions for the image you desire. Or find another AI program that works with your computer. It's fun to see how AI interprets your instructions.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #203: Anything Goes or A Penny for your Thoughts (use a sentiment)...

 

Wow, it's 2024! When I was a child, I couldn't even imagine living in that faraway year. Yet, here we are, and it's time for another challenge at Let's Craft and Create.

This month we are giving you the inspiration of using a sentiment. I have a favorite sentiment stamp and die set, and I've used it on these cards:

I've opted to use the "Sending" die and its shadow and popped it up with foam tape at a slight angle at the top of each card. Underneath, I have stamped, die-cut and popped up a secondary sentiment from the set.

I chose colors that were in the background DSP. Although you can't really see it in the photos, there is a bit of metallic gold in the pattern.

I die-cut several flowers in graduated sizes and layered them. Before doing that, I inked the ends of the petals with a very pale pink oxide ink. Normally, I will ink the centers of flowers, but in this case, I decided to ink the petal edges.

The flower layers are held together with a tiny green brad and attached to the card with a glue dot.

I die-cut a couple green, leafy sprigs and a couple of metallic gold sprigs and arranged them around my flowers.

On the inside of the card, I have stamped a simple birthday sentiment.

This card was made using the same process as I used on the first one.

You may be able to see evidence of the lighter inking on the edge of the petals in this photo.

The gold sprigs are a little easier to see, as well.

Once again, a sentiment was stamped on the inside of the card.

Check out all of the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team on the Let's Craft and Create site. They have some wonderful creations on display.

I hope you'll take this chance to join in the fun and post your creation on the site. It's so much fun to see what you create, and to make it even more fun, there is a prize being offered.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Using a book-themed die set...

I continue to stop in Dollar Tree when I can and look for any book stickers they might have. I haven't found any  since I got the ones I shared in this post.

I'm a reader and I've been an active member of the same book club for about 25 years, so I loved their book stickers. Since DT doesn't seem to offer them anymore, I decided to get a book-themed die set. 

Here's a card I made with it:

I cut the books out of some kraft cardstock and colored them. I cut the pages out of off-white cardstock and inked it a little. I even added what I hope looks like book titles with a black fine-point felt pen.

I will definitely be making more of this card for the male members of my family!

Here's what I stamped on the inside.

I am linking this card to the NBUS Challenge Blog, Challenge #58, since this is the first time I have used this die set.                                              

And since I'm on the topic of masculine cards, here are a couple more:

This one used one of the papers from a marble-like paper pack. I thought it looked a bit like ocean water. I used a couple of dimensional seashell stickers and a netting die-cut that I got from my sister quite a long time ago. I die-cut the birthday sentiment three times and stacked it for some dimension.

I used the left-over piece of DSP on the inside along with a lone seahorse sticker that was in my stash.

My sentiment on the inside of this card was computer-generated.

This card features an old Model T? car. I believe it's an old die from Cottage Cutz, but I'm not certain, as it was given to me by a neighbor. I popped the white panel up on foam tape and added an enamel dot at each end of my birthday banner.

And here's the stamped sentiment I added to the inside.

I hope you had a celebratory New Year's Eve. We stayed home and had some homemade soup. We're big soup fans! As we neared the witching hour, my husband insisted we sit on the floor in front of the television (they were showing fireworks) and smooch at the stroke of midnight!

So here we are, smooching away. You'd think we were a couple of teenagers. LOL

I hope that 2024 brings you more happiness than your heart can hold--and some quality crafting time.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl