A Fathers Day card for my Husband an avid woodworker and tool collector! This is a mini-slimline card, one of my favorite sizes!

For this card, I used:

• Gina K Designs - Black Onyx, Soft Stone, Kraft, Warm Cocoa, Charcoal Brown Ink
• Gina K Designs - Fizzy Stencil
• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 15 and associated stencil
• Gina K Designs - Mr. Fit-It stamp set and associated dies
• Various Copic Markers - Reds and Grays

To make the card, I stamped the images from Mr. Fix-It, cut them with the associated dies and colored them with Copic markers.  I then cut the stamp panel from ML 15 along with the black mat.  The Fizzy Stencil was used on top of the ML 15 stencil to create a background for the tools. I added the tools to the stamp strip.  The background which looks like wood was created by scoring a piece of white card stock, and adding color directly from ink pads.  This piece was added to a card base with the stamp strip added on top.  A sentiment was added to complete the card.

I'm Stuck on You

Its been a while since I posted!  Figured it was time to get in the habit again.  This card is one that I made for my husband for Valentines Day.

I used the following for the card: 

• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 7, Stuck On You stamp set, Black Onyx Ink
• Copic Markers - Various Colors

To make the card, I cut white card stock with the stitched die from Master Layouts 7.  The images were stamped with Black Onyx Ink, and then colored using Copic Markers. The sentiment was stamped in the corner. I picked out a color for the mat that worked with the colored images, and cut that using Master Layouts 7.  The mat was added to the card base, followed by the image panel to complete the card.

Happy Pi Day!

Here is a card I made for my Dad.  He loves Pies and always tries to get my Mom to make him one on Pi day.  Since I don't live close by, I can't make him a pie, so I thought I would make him a card instead!  

I used the following for the card:

• Creek Bank Creations - Eat Pie stamp set
• Creek Bank Creations - Angel Side Circle Card Die
• Gina K Designs - Chocolate Truffle Ink
• Copic Markers - E33, E35, E37, R20, R22, R24, R39
• Patterned Paper

To make the card, I cut white card stock with the die, and assembled the base card.  I cut the patterned paper using the included stitched rectangle and circle die.  These were added to the front portions of the card.  Patterned paper was also added to the inside of the card and this was hand cut to fit.  The pie was stamped on white card stock using the Gina K ink.  It was then colored using Copic markers.  I fussy cut the pie and added it to the front of the card using foam squares.  I added a stamped phrase to the next layer of the card, making sure it was hidden by the pie.  For the inside, I used my Cricut to cut the sentiment.  The sentiment was added to white card stock and added to the inside to complete the card.

Lighthouse Birthday Card

Northwoods Rubber Stamps has many nature based stamps that make great masculine cards.  This lighthouse is one of those images.  I used the Color Cube again to pick colors.  This time I chose an image that was mainly green, and another that was a beach scene containing trees.  Once again, using the Color Cube made selecting colors that go together well so easy! 

This card is a 5 x 7, which is a size I don't use that often.  I needed the extra space for the mats around the image. It is nice having that extra space, and I can see making cards this size more often!

For the card I used:

• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 8
• Gina K Designs - Black Onyx Ink
• Northwoods Rubber Stamps - Spring Lighthouse
• Hero Arts - Infinity Dies - Oval
• Close To My Heart - Joyful Birthday Occasions
• A LARGE variety of Copic Markers

To make the cards I stamped the image on white card stock and colored with Copic markers.  The mats were cut first with Master Layouts 8.  Then the ovals were cut into those mats.  The mats were added to the image, and the image to the card base.  The sentiment was stamped to complete the card.

Mallard Pair Birthday Card

This was my husbands birthday card.  He loves the outdoors, so this card fit him perfectly. I used a stamp from Northwoods Rubber Stamps, which has great outdoorsy stamps.

For this card, I used:

• Northwoods Rubber Stamps - Mallard Pair In Notched Square
• My Favorite Things - Old Things
• Gina K - Master Layouts 3
• Copic Markers - Various Colors
• Wink Of Stella - Clear
• Gina K - Jet Black Amalgam Ink

To make the card, I stamped the image with Jet Black Amalgam ink on Copic friendly paper.  The image was then colored with various Copic markers.  Wink of Stella was added to the water to give it a sheen, which unfortunately can't bee seen in the photo.  The image was fussy cut and added to a blue mat, cut using one of the square dies from Master Layouts 3.  The image with its mat was added to a green card base, and the sentiment added to complete the card. 

Glittery Birthday Balloons

This card was fun to put together!  Its based on a technique seen on one of Jennifer McGuire's videos - Sparkled Glass Technique.  Luckily, I have so much glitter that I was able to create the glitter background as well.

For the card I used:

• Heat resistant acetate
• Sugar Pea Designs - Birthday Balloons
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings
• Sookwang Double Sided tape
• Glitter Ritz - Silver
• Copic Markers - Red, Green, Blue
• Gina K Ink - Blue Denim, Lucky Clover, Red Velvet
• Versamark
• Stampendous - Detail White Embossing Powder
• Rectangle dies

To make the card, I cut a piece of acetate to 4.25x5.5.  The balloons were stamped on the acetate with Versamark, embossing powder added and heat set.  On the back side of the embossed acetate, the balloons were colored with Copic markers. The acetate was added to a white frame cut with rectangle dies.  I created the silver glitter background by adding Sookwang tape to a piece of white card stock. The liner sheet was removed, glitter added to the tape and burnished in.  The glitter piece was trimmed to the same size as the frame.  Using foam tape, the acetate piece was attached to the glitter piece, and then the entire piece added to the card base.  The sentiment was stamped using similar colors of ink to the Copic markers, trimmed to size and added to the acetate to complete the card.

Valentines Day card

I have no small heart stamps and no heart background papers!  I needed one or the other for the Valentines day card I was creating.  So what was  I going to do?  I decided to create my own!  So, using my computer, I created the hearts, printed it on Hamilco paper using a laser printer, and foiled it using my Minc machine.  It ended up perfect for this card.

To make this card, I used:

• Gina K - Master Layouts 1 and 2, Small and Large Circle Dies
• Art Impressions - Valentines Critters
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder
• Various Copic Markers
• Heidi Swapp - Red Minc Foil
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

To make the card, I first created the background, (creating the hearts, printing on a laser printer and foiling).  The foiled heart background was then cut with one of the dies from Master Layouts 2, and the black mat from the same set.  This was then added on the card base.  The porcupine was stamped with Memento ink on Neenah solar white paper, and colored with various colors of Copic Markers.  The image was then cut using one of the small circle dies.  The black mat was cut with the associated large circle die. Using foam tape this was then attached to the card base.  The sentiment was stamped using Versamark, Embossing Powder added and heat set.  This was then added to the card with foam tape as well, to complete the card. 

Vanilla Arts Nevermore Manor Halloween Cards

 I took another fun Vanilla Arts class, Nevermore Manor.  And here is my completed image:

I thought that the image would make great Halloween cards, so I scanned the image, cropped it, and lightened it (the original was too dark when printed). These were matted and added to the card bases to complete the cards.  

Ghostly Halloween

Its become tradition that I make Halloween cards for the Grandkids.  For these cards, I am using my favorite Halloween sets from Mama Elephant and Lawn Fawn:

For the Purple card, I used the following:

• Gina K - Wild Lilac Ink and Card Stock
• Mama Elephant - Boo-tastic Stamp Set
• Lawn Fawn - Spooktacular Stamp Set 
• A Colorful Life - Ghosties Stencil
• Gina K - Small Circle Dies

For the Orange card, I used the following:

• Gina K - Sweet Mango Ink
• Mama Elephant - Boo-tastic Stamp Set
• Lawn Fawn - Spooktacular Stamp Set and Matching Dies
• Copic Markers - C5, C7, C9, Y15, YR12, YR14, YR18, R01
• Wink Of Stella Clear
• A Colorful Life - Ghosties Stencil
• Gina K - Small and Large Circle Dies

To make the cards I first created the background by stenciling the Ghosts. The background was then trimmed to size and matted with black card stock and added to the card base.  The sentiment was added.  The 3 ghosts were stamped and die cut.  These were added to a black circle and added to the purple card with foam squares to complete the card.  The witches hat was stamped, and then masked to add the ghost.  The hat was colored with Copic markers.  The image was cut with a small circle die, and matted with black.  This was added to the orange card with foam squares to complete the card.  

The Purple card was entered in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Spooky. 

More Flowers from the Elements of Nature Class

Here are more flowers from the Kit and Clowder class Elements of Nature.  Throughout the class I am doing both Copic and colored pencil.  For this set of flowers, I am used Polychromos colored pencils.  In the pictures below, the Copic version is on the right, and the colored pencil version on the left. (I should probably re-do the Copic version of the Tulips - since I had a Copic "explosion" of green ink!)

Snowman Christmas Card

When I made Christmas cards last year, I had a lot of extra parts.  I decided to use some of them this year.  This is one of the cards made with the leftovers (the snowman and the background).  Making this card was easy, since the hardest parts were done last year!

I used the following to make the card:

• Tim Holtz - Holiday Knits Stamp
• Distress Oxide Ink - Lucky Clover and Cracked Pistachio
• Zing - Clear Embossing Power
• Versmark
• Stampendous - Detail White Embossing Powder
• Copic Markers
• Gina K - Snowone Like You Stamp Set
• Lawn Fawn - Merry Messages Stamp Set

To make the card,  I stamped the background image with Versamark, added the clear embossing powder and heat set it.  The two green Distress Oxide inks were then added with the lighter color at the top of the panel, blending to the darker color.  The snowman was stamped and colored with various Copic markers, and then cut out with a circle die.  The background panel and snowman were both matted with green card stock.  The sentiment was stamped with Versmark, white embossing added and heat set.  The strip was cut to size and added to the panel along with the snowman to complete the card. 

Vanilla Arts - Flutterby

I really like how this one came out!  I can see doing this with other colors, perhaps to match the butterflies in my yard!

The size of this one is 8x11.5 - a full sheet. I'll be printing this at a small size to see how it would work as a card.

Elements of Nature Class - Kit and Clowder

A while back I signed up for the Elements of Nature class through Kit and Clowder.  Now that I am retired, I have time to work on this class.  I had originally planned on doing the class in colored pencil, but now that I have more time, I am doing the class in both Copic and colored pencil.  I'm currently using Prismacolor Pencils, but will be doing some of the future lessons with Polychromos.  In the pictures below, the Copic version is on the right, and the colored pencil version on the left.

Vanilla Arts - Sakura Blossoms

After struggling with the Jelly Beans, I needed to try something that I was more comfortable with, and that was the Sakura Blossoms class from Vanilla Arts.  This one came out great!

I was very pleased with the result, and plan on using the scanned copy of the image on cards.  I think that it will make a great birthday or anniversary card.

Vanilla Arts - Scarlet Geranium and a card!

My grandparents grew geraniums in window boxes.  When I saw this class, it immediately reminded me of the geraniums they grew.  I knew I had to tackle at least one more Vanilla Arts class.

This was an interesting one to photograph/scan.  The flowers actually changed color depending on the lighting and the photos were different than the scan!  I am still trying to get an accurate picture! The third picture is the most accurate. The first,  taken with additional indoor lighting.  The second picture has no additional lighting (very orange), the third is a photo taken outside, the fourth picture is a scan of the original (which I used to make a card).

I had planned on spending time with my dad on his 80th birthday, the plane tickets were bought, the suitcases packed, and then my husband ended up in the hospital, so I had to re-schedule my trip, and have been calling it his "unbirthday".   So a card was in order!  I used a scanned copy to make an his  "unbirthday" card.  (and yes it was his parents the grew the geraniums)

Vanilla Arts - Jelly Beans

When I first saw this class from Vanilla Arts, I had to take it, since I love Jelly Belly jelly beans, and it reminded me of a great big pile of Jelly Belly's!  I didn't realize how hard this one would be, since they are jelly beans.  This one was a real stretch for me, and one which I will need to do again, once I have some more experience.  Here is how it came out for me:

A Tool Wreath for Fathers Day

So, I like using the Wreath Builder system from Gina K, and I needed Fathers Day Cards.  I found some tool stamps that worked perfectly to build a Tool Wreath!

For the card, I used the following:

• Gina K Wreath Builder (3.75" template)
• Gina K Black Amalgam Ink
• Hero Arts - Fathers Day Stamp Set (I cut apart the set of tools stamp)
• Copic Markers
• Sentiment is from an old stamp set - unknown manufacturer
• Ranger Dye Ink - Blue Ribbon, Classic Cherry

To make the card, I first cut apart the set of tools stamp, since I needed the individual ones.  Using the 3.75 inch Wreath Builder Template,  I stamped the images with the Gina K ink.  There were then colored with Copic markers.  I then cut the wreath in half! A silver mat was added to a card base, and the top and bottom of the wreath added.  A strip of white card stock was matted with silver, and then added between the top and bottom parts of the wreath..  The sentiment was added to the complete the card.

Northwoods Rubber Stamps Flower Cards

Quite a while back I stamped and colored several Flowers from Northwoods Rubber Stamps.  I had struggled to figure out how to use them, and they were on my desk for a while.  I finally decided how to use them, and here are the cards I made:

I used the following to make the cards:

• Northwoods Rubber Stamps - Cosmos, Gerber and Bachelor Button Stamps
• Various Copic Markers
• Various Prismacolor Pencils

Cool Peppermint (Vanilla Arts)

I really like the classes from Amy Shulke at Vanilla Arts.  I like using both Copic markers and colored pencils together.  Here is the latest one I've completed Cool Peppermint:

Another Lawn Fawn Halloween Card

Here is another card, made with the Candy Corn add-on stamp set.  For this card, I just used the stamps.

I used the following for the card:

• Lawn Fawn - Candy Corn add on stamps
• Martha Stewart - Halloween stamps (old set!)
• Copic - C0, C1, C3, Y6, YG07
• Distress Oxide Ink - Carved Pumpkin, Wilted Violet and Black Soot
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detailed White Embossing Powder
• Memento London Fog

To make the card, I stamped the candy corn cluster on white cardstock with Memento London Fog ink.  I masked the image, and continued stamping the lenght of the card base, masking as I went. The masks removed, and the candy corn colored with Copic markers.  The masks were then re-applied and the backgound added with the distress oixde inks.  Once dry, the sentiment was added with Versamark, embossing powder added and heat set.  The panel was then cut to 4 x 5.25 and added to the card base o complete the card.