Useless Night

Don't know if was the time change, the cold temperatures, the new quarter at school, but last night I was useless.

A long nap, the tv, wanting to go to bed at about 7.

Oh no, I have slipped into hibernation mode.

And I wait all day to go play in the studio and then I got home and

didn't care whether I went in or not.

Watched some more of Game of Thrones though.

Is there such thing as a wasted night?

A couple of cards I made the other day-

neither ended up being very quick makes.

This kitty card has an oval cut out in the front so you get a little sneak peek of the inside.

I decorated it up with some doodling, dots, a die cut (cat from Frantic Stamper) and this little strip of scrap paper.

This was the inside-

which I fixed up the cup.

Stamped image is from Magenta.

You can see I changed up the cup  a bit.

Then I decided I didn't like the plain background.

A little dark.

So I did this.

Can you tell?

I painted the background lighter orange- makes it all pop more I think!

The hello is also a die cut.

And then I made this card-

The owl is a Cottage Cutz die cut made on plain black paper which I then glued down onto a white oval die cut. Then all that went down onto this rosy colored scalloped oval die cut. I colored in the owl with some Copics and I think he looks awful fun.

Finally I stamped the hoots-using this older Hero Arts alphabet set.

The letters for the word Hello are the inserts from the hello I used in the top card.

That's what I have for today.

Not too exciting but just me playing.

Playing is always a good thing I think.

Hope you get a lot of play in your day!

Quick and Simple Cards-Halloween Style

1.

How about a bunch of quick and simple Halloween cards?

I'm also adding one of these on this week's Blogger's Challenge.

I know, last week was Halloween but this week is black and white with a splash of color.

Work for Halloween- right?

I don't see myself as a card making queen-

but I go for basic and simple.

They go off to the college daughter-

I send several each week.

Its great to get mail when you're in school,

I remember eons ago loving something in my mailbox-

hey wait-

I still love something in my mailbox.

And its great for me since my daughter Katie keeps all my cards

Since freshman year-

and now she's a senior!

That's a HUGE complement.

So card 1-up above-

This is just a Sizzix embossing folder which I inked directly on the folder to get the black background. 

Then I added a die cut voice bubble that I stamped.

2.

Too bad this photo isn't so great.

I embossed the spiders (Sizzix) and embossed the black strip (Anna Griffin) and I sprayed the strip with Perfect pearls to make it a bit glossy.

Then I used 2 Hero Arts stamps- the ghose and underneath a cat which I embossed in orange.

I wanted the figure to be like our cat in a ghost costume.

Then I added the word bubble which was stamped-like on the other card.

3.

I die cut the black arch and added it to the card.I outlined it in white to looked like stitches (ok, messy stitches but stitches are stitches.) The cute little goblin (Stampotique) was stamped twice-once on the card and once on paper. On the card it was a white image and on paper, black. Then I cut out everything except the arms and legs and popped it up on the card.

The moon is a circle die cut, sprayed yellow,  a little black paint added to look like clouds, and then I added the Impression Obsession witch die cut out. Saying is Stamp Francisco.

4. Super simple stenciled background, die cut gravestone-a bit sprayed and then stamped (IMpression Obessession) and a bit of added tape.

5. And below here-

Layered cardstockwith a bit of spray, stamped skull (Inkadinkado), stamped and cut spider web cut into 2 pieces to make the banner, die cut tombstones (Sizzix/Tim Holtz) and 2 plastic spiders and a wood tombstone.

6.

For this card I started by layering some gelli printed deli wrap (say that 5 times fast-ha-ha). Then I stamped, colored and cut out this fun spooky cat (Hero Arts), and die cut the words (Tim Holtz/Sizzix). Over the words I put some black Viva paintPen and then outlined them in white.

7. I used a Sizzix Framelit die to make the base of this card, and added a Spellbinder's cut witches cauldron.

The ghost is a cut I made with my new Scan and Cut.

Silly ghost trying to scare someone.

Ha!

And I've posted these before, but just in case you missed them.

8. Love this card. I used my scan and cut to cut the web which I designed.

and

9.

and finally, making it a nice even 10

And finally, this fun batty lady from Oxford Impressions.

I am so excited it is the weekend. Didn't realize how exhausting last week was until I got home last night and collapsed. Things to deal with with National Honor Society (my extra-curricular advisoring job at school), 8th grade open house, kids needing help, grading, prepping, getting exams ready...all part of the job but sometimes, man, it is a lot.

So hope you enjoyed all these cards. Probably kind of late for any Halloween inspiration but always fun to see what other people were thinking and created right when you're feeling the most full of holiday cheer-or should I say chills and spookiness.

Thanks for visiting.

Blogger's Challenge-Backgrounds!

Here's my card for Blogger's Challenge this week. Backgrounds! Nothing too complex here, but I used some of Tim Holtz's Stamper's Anonymous stamps- small autumn leaves. I overlapped them to cover the background and I happen to like this brown on this green.

The owl is from Impression Obsession. He is stamped and embossed in dark bark colored powder. I gave him a snip of color, and then added a little glue to his eyes to make them pop. Words are from Northwoods. They are part of a bigger image and I snipped them out.

No crazy techniques for me this week. But I still love how the owl image seems to blend right into the paper.

Thanks for visiting!

Blogger's Challenge- Wedding or Anniversary

Here's a card I made for a co-worker's wedding shower just last week.

Haven't posted it yet.

Her favorite thing to say is Best thing ever so I used this Paper Smooches stamp-

from their Slang Gang set.

The die cuts are from Memory Box and Sizzix (little flowers only).

The tree layer is slightly altered- I removed part of the branch because I thought it looked better.

For the falling flowers I was thinking of how sometimes at weddings they throw rose petals.

Anyhow, this friend is getting married in Connecticut tomorrow and I hope they aren't getting the grey and wet weather we are suppose to have, just more of the same.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blogger's Challenge

This week- to die for. Using die cuts.

Here's my addition.

I used my embossing and die cuts to create this sew stylish (ha-ha) card.

I really like the thread spool- die cuts are all from Sizzix.

Saying is from Flourishes.

Thanks for stopping by for a better view.

Collage Card

Here's a springy collage card. I found this tag that I had made and decided to turn it into a card.

(Yes, I am a day early for Blogger's Challenge. Hope that isn't considered a back post!)

Love this tag. The background is spray inks, some Stickles glitter glue that I squeezed onto the card and then brushed out over the card, and a checkerboard image I stamped in black.

I added a strip of old book page. Then I added the big butterfly, which is stamped on some glossy paper that I had colored with alcohol inks.

The little butterflies are stamped directly onto the tag and then colored with markers.The tulips were stamped, embossed and then cut out before I added them to this tag. The same with the start word. Finally a Diane Reavely saying. I also used some blue striped paper tape.

To tie it all together, I added some more of that paper tape  and this Sizzix/Tim Holtz die cut on some bronze metallic paper.

So Thursday.Rainy but warm today-it is already 61 degrees. And humid! I am ready for the weekend. That will be busy too because we need to move the boat home and also we need to go get Katie's big items from her dorm room. She's done next Tuesday but I will just stop by after work to go get her and the rest of her things. The futon, mini-frig and a few other things won't fit in my car. Hopefully we can do all this this Saturday so Sunday I can have a much needed down day.

Thanks for visiting my blog. See you again soon.

Blogger's Challenge-Touch of Feminine

This week the theme is a touch of feminine.

Guess this card is girly-I don't make  a lot of girly cards.

Since it it cherry blossom season, think this is a good choice.

Simple too, my kind of card.

Images are from Flourishes Rubber Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek.

Blogger's Challenge- or a Gelli Plate Negative Background

This week's Blogger's Challenge is backgrounds. Here is my addition. While playing with my Gelli plate recently I created this negative effect using a flower foam stamp. I did it by rolling layers of color on the Gelli plate and then removing color with a foam stamp. I stamped that image onto another piece of white paper. That created this fun flowery background which I then die cut a piece and made this card.

Quite simple, didn't need to do much to this. 

I die cut the banner (Paper Smooches) and stamped the word ({Paper Smooches). Then I used some bronze Viva Paint pen dots on the corners.

That's it.

Thanks for checking this out and please, feel free to say hi.

Blogger's Challenge-Easter

This week's Blogger's Challenge is Easter- which is perfect since I just made this card the other day with these cute little bunnies and hadn't posted it yet- I bought this new cute bunny die from Impression Obsession which is fun.  I die cut them and then sprayed them pink using some October Afternoon spray ink I happened to have on hand. I colored their tails in white with a white pen. I attached them to this white card-I like a simple back ground but this one is really really simple- and then used a black Sharpie to make the little hopping dots. 

I stamped the bottom with an image from Paper Smooches Tri-balation set- and then I trimmed it down to get this pennant shape along the bottom. Then I used Paper Smooches A Magical Spring set to stamp the words. 

Here's the links to these 2 sets in case you're interested.

http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/A_Magical_Spring_p/fbs-13-136.htm

http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/Tri_balation_p/kqes-13-140.htm

Thanks for stopping by and have a "hoppy" day!

Saturday Part 2

Part 2

So since it is Saturday-and I have time to chat, how about a book update?

All these books have something to do with my trip-even if only a vague connection.

My latest read:

Had this on the plane with me, a good little paperback. This is book 3 of this series, am enjoying them.

While in New Mexico, my friend Vicky mentioned this book to me. Can't wait to get a copy and read it.

It is a scrapbook novel.

Love that.

And since I am missing that New Mexican food- I ordered myself a couple of used cookbooks off of Amazon. Not that my home cooking in New Hampshire will be the same, but maybe I can catch a small whisper of that southwestern flavor here in the snowy (but hopefully soon very spring like) Northeast.

and

and finally, another Southwestern flavored book that I borrowed from my friend Vicky.

Vicky is a weaver and she has a bunch of books to inspire her. I borrowed this one because I am going to design some scarves using the patterns in this book.  I bought a bunch of assorted colored skeins of hand dyed yarn while in Taos- the colors were just bright and fabulous. If I really get into this project I will get a used copy of the book, it is a very cool one. I'll show you my projects once I get to them.

This week went fast but it was busy and I have still been adjusting to end of trip.

Finally for you, how  about another card?

Hopefully this weekend I will get my journal photographed for you.

It is a pretty basic card. The BIG postmarks are from Ma Vinci- don't even know if she is still in business, but she has a great sheet of giant postmarks.

The envelope and words are from Unity Stamp of the Week.

But for such a simple card it is fun.

I love the envelope image and saying.

You can't see the sparkley effect of the butterflies in the light of this photo either.

Well, think I have added enough to this post.

Have a great Saturday- and go MAINE-

another big hockey game this afternoon.

We need a win-

will fill you in later.

Thanks for visiting- I appreciate when you stop by.

Blogger's Challenge

So this week's Blogger's Challenge is Cut it Out. So I did that by first die cutting the background and the bubblely frame for that. Both of those are Memory Box dies. The background die cut was done on plain white paper and then I colored it using box Dylusions spray ink and and some green ink on a Hero Arts polka dot stamp. 

The froggie is an image from Rubber Moon. He was stamped twice, once directly on the card and then once on white paper. I colored the one on the white paper and cut it out. When I did this I cut off the head. (Sounds gruesome!) I did that so I could glue the body flat and then use a foam pop up stickie so the head would be a bit higher than the rest of the body. I attached all of these into the uncolored stamped image directly on the card.

The flowers are also a Memory Box die- only I trimmed away a few flowers and added those after using some Distress stain to color them.

I trimmed down the outside of the card to mimic the shape of my background cut out. Then I added some Viva paint pen dots on the bubblely frame and also on the center of the flowers. Finally I added the little Hero Arts hello stamp.

Here's the die cuts I used.

And a close up of Mr. Froggy.!

Thanks for visiting!

Steamy

Another simple card for the 21 year old who's off at college.

This card is super simple, nothing very complex- a quick 10 minute card.

 I really like simple plainer cards-

think I said that yesterday too.

This is an especially good thing when you send any where from 3-5 cards a week of to the college daughter.

She likes getting mail.

I remember loving it when I had mail in my college mailbox too.

Now I love getting packages in the mail.

Rubber stamps, die cuts, books from Amazon.

Naughty me!

Anyhow, back to this simple fun card.

I used 

Card stock, a die cut on white-I added the little red dots around the edge.

The coffee cup is one Unity's Stamp of the week. I colored the heart and added some red Stickles.

I also added a little fuzzy grey marker on the heart steamy release from this cup to make it look like it was releasing real steam.

I stamped the saying-cut it out and then outlined the cut out with marker.

Not much else to day.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Holiday cheer today

Here's something cheery and holiday-ish on this late November Tuesday. 

Do you feel like me, that it isn't very Christmasy for right after Thanksgiving? Must be the fact that turkey day came so early this year and December doesn't even start until the end of the week.

Here's instructions for my card.

I embossed the frame (Sizzix) with this new stamping/embossing set I picked up earlier this fall. I actually used white pigment ink on the folder so when it embossed the frame stayed green and the card got this white grungy look. Then I took some green Twinkling H2O's and painted the frame-though you miss the sparkle here.

Inside the frame I punched a circle on silver sparkley paper and I also die cut the snowflake (Cheery Lynn). I went onto the card and added some red Viva paint pen dots and some red Stickles to the bow on the embossed frame.

Then I added the snowman-(Paper Smooches) and the words are from Technique Tuesday/Allie Edwards.

Here's a close up.

Not much else new to report today

so have a great Tuesday and

thanks for visiting my blog.

A couple of challenges

I am posting this card for a couple of challenges. One of them is going on at Paper Smooches and the other one is Blogger's Challenge.

And since next week is Thanksgiving, my bird is this silly turkey from Paper Smooches.

This silly guy is from the Jive Turkey set of stamps.

The saying is from a set from Stamper's Anonymous and Dyan Reavely.

On the inside, instead of finishing the saying, I added a little note how a turkey's life without dreams would let them end up as someone's Thanksgiving dinner.

HA-HA-HA!

This card was for my daughter in college and she got a kick out of it.

This photograph some how ended up being a bit faded out -the pink especially a bit washed out.

here's a close up that came out a lot better.

I mounted Mr. Tom Turkey on the inside of this frame that I die cut (Sizzix) and then inked the inside and doodled some white dots onto the outer frame.

The proper place for this silly guy.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Blogger's Challenge

This week's Blogger's Challenge is Witches and Goblins.

Perfect with Halloween next week.

Here's my card.

I made these fun legs and feet with a Quickutz/LifeStyle Crafts die. I used white paper so I could colors and decorate these witch legs. The spider and saying are from a Hallowen Jillian Vance stamp set. The background is made with the back side of a stencil that had lots of black paint all over it from a page I did stencil. I just took the messy stencil and flipped it over and then rubbed it down right on my card stock. Not too bad of a Halloween background.

Thanks for popping over to take a better peek at my card.

Halloween Cards Flying onto this Blog

Here's not only some Halloween cards but this week's Blogger's Challenge cards. OK, the tree is a little weird. Didn't quite emboss the way I thought. It is a stamp from Paper Artsy and I was trying to emboss several times with a few different colors to make it look really like old and ragged. But I love love love this owl stamp from Rubber Stamps of America.  And I like the way the card stock came out...I stenciled the black circle explosion on another piece of paper with black acrylic paint and then use the negative image from the stencil to make this background.  Then I brushed on some black ink.

and

These birdies are  from Inkadinkado. Silly birdies. I die cut the little card and then stamped and colored. I stenciled the card stock with black acrylic paint. I used this great black and white chevron Wash tape and a sticker on an old sheet of Hallowen stickers from Making Memories.

Pretty quick and easy.

And finally, free broom rides here. Still flying in.

This card started with orange card stock. Then is used a Crafter's Workshop stencil and some black acrylic paint.  Then I die cut the giant circle with yellow check paper and sprayed it with some yellow Dylusions spray ink.

The witch is Tim Holtz' Sizzix witch in black. So is the bat, but I dressed him up in black Stickles.

Then a bit of orange paper tape and some black Viva paint pen dots.

The saying is from Jillian Vance rubber stamps.

So had a fun day out yesterday. Picked up Katie in the morning and first we drove 2+ hours down to Mom's-visited and had lunch and this yummy restaurant near her house. Then Katie and I went off and went to Wrentham, Massachusetts to go shopping at the outlets there. It was fun and too successful, but I did get some birthday and Christmas shopping out of the way.

Love that.

 (Not that I am one of those super early shoppers- but if I can get something, then I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.)

And right now, I am watching last night's Maine/Notre Dame hockey game (in  Nebraska or Kansas or some place far far away from New England) we recorded since I wasn't home until way after the game started and after it ended...granted it is all over and in the books this morning but we've been avoiding checking on-line to see who won. So I am sitting here in my hockey shirt rubbing it for luck. GO MAINE!!!!!

OK, besides a biology geek I am a hockey geek too! Just many facets of me...ha-ha-ha.

It is very exciting  hockey season has started and in 2 weeks I am off to Providence for the first live game of the year.

Anyhow, back here at home-

Cold here in New Hampshire-had to turn on the heat is was only 63 in the house...think this will be a great inside studio day for me.

Have an excellent day!

And

Thanks for visiting.

Blogger's Challenge

Fall "love" cards. Mine is pretty playful.

Not too romantic of hearty.

Simple and sweet too.

All stamps are Kim Hughes from Cornish Heritage Farms.

Blogger's Challenge

I don't know why making Halloween art is so much fun for me. I suspect it might have to do

with the fact that you can really let go and get weird. Not that this card is weird. In fact it looks quite finished and traditional.

What you can't tell from this photo is that there is a black design on the background card stock. See I had been stenciling some black images and then took the stencil, turned it over, and rubbed off the extra paint onto a few cards. Before I decorated them of course.

On this card I first added this polka dot frame sticker from Making Memories that has been sitting in my stash. I then stamped the Witches Brew Recipe (Stamp Francisco) on white and rubbed a terra cota ink pad to color it. The kitty (Paper Artsy) was also stamped in that ink, and then cut out.  The hat and the brown are both die cuts from Life Style Crafts/Quickutz which is colored and glued down. Finally I added the sticker (also Making Memories) of the cauldren and added some bright glow green Stickles to make the drippy, bubbly brew.

Last year I decided to make 31 Halloween cards for the 31 days of the month. I actually went over the 31. This year I am well on my way too. Not that I am trying to make 31 cards this year. As I said, I am just having a bunch of fun creating.

Enjoy your Tuesday and hope to see you again soon.

Blogger's Challenge

I haven't done any kind of challenge in a LONG time. Just haven't had the time.

But this week I decided to join into Blogger's Challenge.

Here's the card I made.

All images are from Artistic Outpost.

I really like how the tag came out. I stamped my images and then used a Sizzix nested die to cut the tag.

Will be using that technique again.

Thanks for visiting.

Here's the link to the other cards in this week's Blogger's Challenge.

Blogger's Challenge-

This week Blogger's Challenge is a baby card.

I am cheating just a bit since I posted this card about a week ago.

I just never make baby cards since I am not in the grandmother mode yet and past the age when my friends are having babies.

But I made this card for a baby shower my daughter was going to.

All images are from Kim Hughes, and I used a a Martha Stewart punch to make the lace edge.

Thanks for stopping by!