CardMaker Hop with Ellison/Sizzix

Hello, and welcome to your next stop on the CardMaker and Sizzix Blog Hop!

I hope you've been following along.   The CardMaker  and Sizzix blog teams have joined up for more than a week of cardmaking fun.   Sizzix is hosting an incredible giveaway on their blog, so you won't want to miss a stop along the way. 

I couldn't believe it when this huge box of goodies from Ellison/Sizzix arrived at my door.  Thank you, thank you!!!  I've been saying those words every day as I use my new Big Shot.   And I LOVE that Extended Mulitpurpose Platform.  No more hunting around for something to add a little extra thickness to my "sandwich."   Everything glides though so easily, I think there's no way it could have cut, but there it is--all the perfect little pieces I need, trimmed beautifully.  

We were given our choice of Stephanie Barnard designs to work with.  I picked Triplits Spring Birds.

http://www.ellison.com/product/660136/sizzix-triplits-die-set-15pk-spring-birds

Dusty Pink Card Duo

I made these two cards with basically the same supplies, just switching out the base card color, using a different branch (cut at the same time!) from the Spring Greenery set, etc.

Supplies:  brown cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle; white cardstock from Bazzil Basics; Botanical stack from Prima Marketing Inc.; pink patterned paper from My Mind's Eye; Single Iris stamp from Penny Black; Chestnut Roan chalk ink from Clearsnap: Quickie glue pen from Sakura; calligraphy pen, fine nib and brown ink from Sheaffer: deckle scissors from Fiskars; Nestabilities classic large ovals and scalloped ovals from Spellbinders; Triplits Spring Birds die set #660136 (die 1) and Jim Holtz Spring Greenery die set from Sizzix

Hello, Birdie
When I opened up this set of dies, first thing I pictured was somehow making a tree with my bird.  I tried several different methods, but none of them pleased me.  Then suddenly this came to me.  I covered the whole card front with the brown patterned paper from my favorite Tattered and Worn stack, and then I cut this Apron Dots paper slightly smaller with an angle on the left side.  Pairing it with a die cut branch from the same patterned brown, it looks like the tree I wanted!

Supplies:  cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle; Paper Studio patterned paper from Hobby Lobby; Apron Dots patterned paper from My Mind's Eye; Triplits Spring Birds die set #660136 (die 2) and Jim Holtz Spring Greenery die set from Sizzix; chocolate Zig pen from Kuretake

Barn Door Bouquet
You know me.  I can't resist doing one of these with my watercolor pencils.

Supplies:  cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle; Paper studio patterned paper and brads from Hobby Lobby; agapanthus cluster stamp from Stampendous;  yellow, orange, red and olive green watercolor pencils from Derwent; watercolor paper from Strathmore; Triplits Spring Birds die set #660136 (die 2) and Jim Holtz Spring Greenery die set from Sizzix

Tweet, Tweet!

I woke up yesterday morning with this idea in my head.  I love polka dots!  

Supplies: Paper Studio white cardstock and foam adhesive squares from Hobby Lobby;  polka dot cardstock and white grosgrain ribbon from American Crafts;  Triplits Springs Birds die set #660136  (dies 2,12 and 13) from Sizzix;  Stitched Banner duo die set from Pretty Pink Posh

June 7th, hop on over to Aida Haron's blog.  Her designs are absolutely mouth-watering!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Reverse Stamping 102

Have you given reverse stamping a try yet? 

 I enjoyed this card so much, I made it in two new colors.

Thanks for visiting!  

I read a appreciate all comments!

Reverse Stamping

Hello!

Look for me on the CardMaker blog today

http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/

then come back tomorrow

for two new looks for this same card.

Pretty Pink Posh Blog Hop

Hello!

The CardMaker design team is hopping with Pretty Pink Posh today.  If you're following along, you've just seen AJ Otto's beautiful creations.  If you're just joining in, feel free to start at the beginning with CardMaker.

Paulina at Pretty Pink Posh sent out "happy mail" a few weeks ago, with fabulous dies and many colors of sequins ready to give our cards some sparkle.   I'd love to share some ideas I came up with.

 DOGWOOD--a special birthday card for my cousin

Supplies Used:  Cardstock from My Little Yellow Bicycle; Dogwood stamp from Hero Arts; Greeting stamp set from TPC Studio; Pearlescent Ivy and Orchid ink from Tsukineko; brown stamp marker from American Crafts; Stitched Labels die set and Springtime Mix sequins from Pretty Pink Posh; foam adhesive squares from The Paper Studio

TODAY--using one of my favorite mediums, watercolor!

Supplies Used:  Patterned cardstock from Momenta; Cardstock from The Paper Studio; Cherish Yesterday stamp set from Hero Arts; Weeds and More stamp set from Stacy Stamps; London Fog dye ink from Tsukineko; watercolor pencils from Derwent; Sparkling Clear sequins and Stitched Banner Duo die set from Pretty Pink Posh

WISHING YOU WELL--watercolor again, with sparkles of rain

Supplies Used:  Watercolor card from Strathmore; watercolor pencils from Derwent; fine calligraphy nib and black ink from Sheaffer; Dandelion G4917 from Hero Arts; Watermelon and Sugarplum Mix sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

THIS LITTLE BIRD

Supplies Used:  Cardstock and patterned paper from The Paper Studio; Bird stamp 97893 from Inkadinkado; brown dye ink from Tsukineko; Stitched Banner Duo die set from Pretty Pink Posh; 3-D flower from K & Company; brown organza ribbon from American Crafts

HAPPY FOR YOU--a pocket card

Supplies used:  Cardstock from The Paper Studio; Patterned cardstock and 3-D flower from K & Company; Embossed cardstock from Bazzill Basics; Petals From Scratch stamp set from Fiskars; brown dye ink from Tsukineko; Stitched Labels and Pocket Border dies from Pretty Pink Posh

I've only scratched the surface here.  There are so many things you can do with these dies and sequins.  I have plenty more ideas in store!

 Pretty Pink Posh is also hosting a giveaway on their blog.   Included are:

Stitched Borders 1 die cuts

Stitched Banner Duo 2 die cuts

6mm Sparkling Clear sequins

6mm Marigold sequins

6mm Espresso sequins

6mm Mossy Green sequins

6mm Pink Peonies sequins

Silver Confetti

Silver Star Confetti 

So be sure to visit their website 

http://prettypinkposh.com/blog

Now hop on over to see what the talented Anita Mulcahey has in store for you!

Thanks for stopping by!

More Scraps

Find me on the CardMaker blog today with another Scrap Treasure.

CardMaker--Sakura of America Blog Hop

Hello and welcome!  Thanks for joining me for my first blog hop with CardMaker. 

  A big thank you goes to Sakura for supplies us with Quickie Glue pens and White Gelly Roll pens to experiment with. 

 I'd tried some of the many knock-off brands of gel pens and been burned before.  All those colors looked so tantalizing in the store, but when I brought them home, they'd only write a few lines and then...nothing.  I gave up on gel pens...until now.

This Gelly Roll pen wrote a drew like a dream.  (And it's still working after several projects!)  For this first card, I wanted something pink and white for a little girl.  I fussy-cut these flowers, made the insides pop with some white and even used the glue pen to add some gold glitter to the center of the flowers, but that didn't show up very well in photos.

For this next card, I did my first REAL glitter card,  using the Sakura's glue pen to really highlight this zinnia stamp from Stampendous.  

Okay.  I know this one's very simple, but I like it anyway.  I'd been wanting to do these little flowers ever since I found this "Blooming Garden" stamp set from Penny Black.  I colored the flowers with the white gel pen and then used the glue pen to add gold leaf to the center of each flower.  

I love the way it sparkles!

I put this one together from some scraps that were staring up at me from my drawer, crying out to be used.  I'd used this Hero Arts cupcake stamp before, but I was never pleased with the results.  This time I decided to tint it with watercolor pencils and then add some sparkle.

With the glue pen, I touched up the candy hearts and sprinkles with pink, orange and aqua glitter.  Now it looks good enough to eat...and good enough to send to my little niece, Sierra!  I hope she'll like it, too!

I thought I was through for the day.  I'd even half-finished cleaning up, when I glanced at what I'd thought was a mistake earlier in the day.  I'd stamped this cluster of flowers with watercolors and added touches of chunky orange glitter, hoping it might look dewy.   I'd been disappointed in the results and threw it aside.  

But now...at the end of a busy day, I actually loved it.  I didn't want to spoil it with too much going on, so I just added a bit of calligraphy.  This ended up being one of my favorite cards. No wonder.  It combines my two favorite things...watercolors and calligraphy.

Thanks again, CardMaker and Sakura!

Keep on hopping with us today.  Next up is my friend and teammate Patti Gilliam, and she's sure to have created something to make you smile.

Have a great day!

U Inspire Me

I'm back on the CardMaker blog today with a creation inspired by "a piece of art, fashion, home decor, photograph, etc."

I'd been looking forward to this blog, but suddenly it was very hard.  One of my closest cousins, Kenneth Andrew Osburn, died suddenly of a heart attack February 25th.  He was only 57. 

 I was stunned.   Still am.  I couldn't even think of creating anything for several days, but I knew I had to get back to work.  

He loved cards and letters we sent.  I know.  Everybody loves getting cards and letters.  But Kenny always seemed so extra-appreciative.  He always made a point of calling to thank us for the birthday cards.  I got a big kick out of making them special for him.  One year I found a sticker set with a golf bag/ball, etc., and I used that to make one birthday card have a golfing scene.  A couple of years ago I got an airplane stamp.  I loved it anyway, but it was perfect for him.  Sometimes I’d see special paper with airplanes or something on it, and I’d say, “This would make a good card for Kenny.”  Last December, I found this die-cut set I really liked.  Among other things, it had a couple of patterns for airplanes, and I planned to use one on this year’s birthday card in July.  It doesn’t bear thinking…I can’t send them to him any more. 

Kenny was always giving to me--giving of himself, giving laughter, comfort and so much more.  He made this blog and so much more possible with the gift of his own old laptop almost four years ago.  I was thinking of Kenny, wondering what I could use for my "U Inspire Me" blog, when I saw the answer right in front of me.  

 Kenny brought this little magnet back to me when he went to Cozumel in 2009.  I keep it on the side of my little metal scrap box, right here on my desk.  

So I dedicate this blog...and all those to come... to my dear, funny, wonderful cousin Kenny.

https://soundcloud.com/denny-osburn/nyd93kenden

.......With love.......