Saturday, May 11, 2013

Hello! Welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by. I design and create handcrafted greeting cards. I like to call this passion of mine "visual poetry" ....imagery on paper. Please feel free to browse the photos of my cards and leave a comment.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Christmas Tree Pop-Up Card



Merry Christmas!  Here is a Christmas card I made for my daughter. It is a pop-up card. The front of  the card is a door that I created in silver mirror paper. I added a black brad for the door knob. The wreath was created in white card stock and turquoise Stickles were added to decorate it. A turquoise bow was attached to the wreath.



The inside of the card shows a Christmas tree that pops up when opened. This tree was created using Karen Burniston's Christmas Tree Pop-Up dies. The background (or floor) of the inside was made with designer paper. I added some dark turquoise die-cut snow flake images to the designer paper.  The tree was decorated with dark turquoise and silver glitter circles and a tree-top star (all dies included in the tree die set).

This card took time and patience but the end result was most satisfying. If interested, here is a link to Karen's video on assembling the pop-up tree.

Til next time...........have a Merry Christmas and make it a great one!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Christmas Cards 2017

Merry Christmas, friends!  I have finally finished my Christmas Card project and would like to share my creations with you.  Unfortunately, I couldn't capture the fine beautiful details with my camera. The cards are  so much more vivid in real life. 































Hope you enjoyed viewing my 2017 Christmas Card project!  Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Saturday, November 25, 2017

70th Birthday Shirt Card


Hello, everyone!  Hope everyone here in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.  Has anyone decorated their home with Christmas decorations yet?  I have seen several homes in my neighborhood decked out for Christmas. Me, I wait until around Dec. 15 to do that. I have to get through one holiday at a time. 

Here is a card I made for a dear friend who turned 70 this month. There are many videos tutorials out there on how to create shirts. Here is a link to a shirt video you might want to view. This video also demonstrates how to make the tie.

For my base card I used GKD Pure Luxury white card stock. This was layered with GKD In the Navy card stock. 

The shirt was created with some patterned paper in my stash. I added a pocket in which to insert my sentiment.  The ties was created using white layering weight card stock. After making the tie, it was embossed with a Taylored Experssions Bead Board embossing folder. I added navy brads to the tie and shirt collar. The "70" was die cut with some old Provo Craft numeric dies. The shirt was then adhered to my base card and my project was complete.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you'll visit often. Until then, make it a great day!



Monday, October 9, 2017

Pink Poppies on Lattice


Hello everyone!  I have a friend who is in the burn unit of our trauma hospital. I made this card to send to her in hopes that she knows she is being prayed for and thought of.

Here are the supplies/materials used in this project:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury White, Innocent Pink, Grass Green
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Dies:  Cheery Lynn French Lattice, Memory Box Prim Poppy, Poppy Stamps Pointed Oval Frame (used the middle cut out)
Other:  adhesive, dimensional tape


Thanks for stopping by and please come again!  Until then, happy stamping!

Friday, October 6, 2017

Stained Glass Window Birthday


Hello crafters!   I made this card for my old OSU college friend and roommate. The technique is called "stained glass window," by the person who inspired me to create this.....the fabulous Jennifer McGuire.  Here is a link to her video tutorial:  Stained Glass Window Technique.

Here are the products/supplies used in this project:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, GKD Honey Mustard
Stamps:  GKD Stitched Leaves Mini Stamp Kit
Dies: GKD Stitched Leaves, Cheery Lynn Happy Birthday
Inks:  Versamark, Memento Dandelion, Tangelo, Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves
Other:  Gold EP, Acetate, Adhesive

I love how this card turned out. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't do it justice. The stamp set is a beautiful one and has so many possibilities.  Hope you try the stained glass  tchnique. I know you will be pleased with the results.

Thank you for visiting!  Until next time, happy crafting!


Autumn Leaves Birthday



Hello!  This card was made for a friend/former co-worker. I was disappointed in  how the photo came out. The focal background is gold linen card stock and is soooo pretty and the leaf veins were embossed in gold. However, the camera didn't catch the sheen no matter how I positioned it. This photo seemed to be the best of the lot.

The supplies/products used in this project:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, SU Mossy Meadow, Classic Linen Gold Pearl, Various (for leaves)
Ink:  Versamark
Dies:  Sue Wilson Double Pierced Rectangle, SU Leaflets Framelits, Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Ovals
Other:  Gold EP,  Adhesives, Gold Sparkle Hemp Cord


Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave any comments.  They are always appreciated.
And remember to make it a great day!




Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Western Birthday




Hello!  Today I have a card to share that I made for one of my nephew's birthdays.  It's always a challenge to come up with a masculine card. So...while surfing the web I came across one of Theresa Momber's cards and was inspired to create this birthday card for my nephew. Theresa is an illustrator for Gina K. Designs and extremely talented. I love her creations! Thank you, Theresa!

I began by creating my main focal panel using various inks to sponge my background:  GKD Sweet Corn, Memento Cantaloupe, Desert Sand and Rich Cocoa. Various grass images were stamped at the bottom of this panel in Memento Rich Cocoa

Next, I created the fence posts by swiping Memento Rich Cocoa on some narrow cut strips of white card stock and then adding bronze brads to connect them. The fence post was positioned on the panel in order to determine where I would be placing my birthday greeting, which was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then embossed with clear EP.  Some birds in flight were stamped and embossed above the birthday greeting using the same ink and EP. The fence post was then adhered to the panel using dimensionals.

Jute was used to create the lasso hanging on the fence post and adhered lightly. The cowboy hat and boots were cut with Tessler Crafts using PTI Dark Chocolate card stock and  then matted with GKD Kraft card stock. These were then positioned and adhered to the card with dimensionals.

My base card was created using GKD Warm Cocoa. It was layered with GKD Sweet Corn. Another layer of PTI Dark Chocolate was added. Finally the focal panel was adhered and my project was complete.

Hope you were inspired to create!  Until next time, have a great day!

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Birthday Flower Pot Pop-Up

Inside of card
Front of card

Hello crafters!  It's my favorite daughter's (and my ONLY daughter's) birthday this month. I decided to get out of my comfort zone and create a pop-up card for her.  It was a tedious challenge and required lots of patience. Here's the end result.

Without going into lengthy detail on how the inside pop-up was created I have provided a link to a Karen Burniston video on how to assemble and create the pop-up.  Karen has a several pop-up dies which can be purchased at various craft sites. She does a great job in her video tutorial with step by step instructions.

For the front of the card, I first computer generated my sentiment on ivory card stock.  Next I die cut butterflies on ivory card stock using Memory Box Reverse Butterfly Collage. Then I embossed a border/frame around the panel using a die from Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles.  Glitter was added to the center of the butterflies for accent. Dimensionals were added to the back of this panel and then it was matted with pink card stock. Finally it was adhered to the base card.

As I mentioned, it was a tedious task creating the pop-up flower pot and then arranging flowers in it but it was worth the time spent. I'm looking forward to making more of these pop-up cards. 

Thanks for paying a visit!  Come back again soon for more card projects and inspiration.


Thursday, July 27, 2017

100th Birthday Card



Hello!  I received a request to create a Happy 100th Birthday card. Although I don't know the centarian for whom this card was made, it was an honor to do so.

Here are the supplies used:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury White, Black Onyx
Stamps:   GKD Stately Flowers 1
Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black
Dies:   Sue Wilson Petite Vinery, Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Ovals,
Other:  Swiss Dots EF, Copic markers, adhesive, dimensionals
Sentiment:  Computer generated

First and foremost I cut a layer of white card stock and computer generated my sentiment. Next I created a "window" by using an oval die, then embossed that layer with a swiss dot EF. An oval frame was created for the "window" by using a larger and smaller double stitched oval die.This layer was made to create the "window" for the poppy image. I put this aside to work on the rest of my card.

I created the base (5x7) in white card stock and layered it with black. Next, another layer was cut in white card stock, slightly smaller than the black layer. The poppy image was stamped on this layer, positioning it so that it would line up with the "window",  and colored with Copics. Then it was adhered to the black layer.

The last part of the assembly was to use dimensionals and adhere the swiss dot layer over the base card, showcasing the red poppy image.  For an accent and final touch, some vines were added in black card stock and adhered around the window frame. This completed the project.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope to see you again soon.





Friday, July 21, 2017

Shadow Box Cupcakes & Balloons Birthday


Hello everyone! I've been busy redoing and organizing my basement. I had a new floor put in as well as added some cabinets and shelving to organize everything that I didn't end up throwing out. One room is done and looks great. Now I need to work on the other room.  So I haven't had much time to create

But I did find time to make another shadow box birthday card, this one for my sister-in-law. I just love making these. Following are the supplies/products used in this project:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury White, Ocean Mist, Various for cupcakes, balloons and gift
Dies:  Sue Wilson Shadow Box, Shadow Box Accessories, Poppy Stamps Pinpoint Balloons, Cottage Cutz Cross Stitched Squares, Frantic Stamper Bow
Embossing Folder:  Sizzix Square Lattice
Other:  Adhesive, dimensionals
Greeting:  Computer generated

I absolutely lave making these and there are so many different accessories that could be used in the windows. I've got another one in mind that I plan to make at some point.

Hope you enjoyed this post and come back again and again. 
Thanks for stopping by!


Monday, May 8, 2017

Poppy Easel Cards



Hello! I received a request to make 2 easel cards for Mother's Day, one showcasing an orange poppy and the other a red poppy.  These were going to be sent to daughters of the person requesting them.

If you've never made an easel card but would like to try to make one, here is a link. Since I'm providing a link to a video tutorial, I won't go into detail on how to create these. It'll be a lot easier to watch a video. There are many video tutorials to choose from on line if you'd care to look into them.

Here are the supplies used in making these cards:

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury White, Black Onyx, Neenah Bright White
Stamps:  GKD Stately Flowers 1
Dies:  Spellbinders Elegant Ovals, Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Ovals, Tattered Lace Butterflies
Other: adhesive, black half pearls, Copics, Stickles
Inside sentiment was composed and computer generated 

I hope you try your hand at creating some easel cards. I'm sure you'll love the end result.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to make it a great day!


Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Nautical Birthday


Hello, everyone!  Today's card is one I made for my brother for his birthday. He and his wife have traveled extensively all over the world. So I thought it befitting that I create a birthday card with that in mind. 

I began with creating a panel that would set the stage for my focal point. I wanted to create the look of old wood so I scored a piece of kraft card stock every inch or so. Next, I used a Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad and swiped down on the scored panel. This gave it the look of weathered wood. A circle was cut in the center where a port hole would be created.

In my next step, I die cut the port hole using Sue Wilson's Porthole die in GKD Silver card stock. A piece of acetate was adhered to the back of the porthole and then positioned over the cut out circle using dimensionials.

On GKD Pure Luxury White card stock I created clouds using a template and Memento Summer Sky ink. Flying birds (stamp unknown) were stamped on the sky background in Memento Tuxedo Back ink. The boat was die cut twice, once in white and again in brown card stock, with a die from Sue Wilson's Nautical Accessories set. The sails on the brown boat die cut were snipped off and then the brown boat was paper pieced over the white. This was then adhered with deminsionals to the sky background panel. Waves in GKD Little Boy Blue card stock were cut from the same accessories die set and adhered to the panel.

Next, it was time to put the porthole together.  The sky background was positioned behind the porthole and attached with dimensionals.  This was then matted with white card stock and adhered to a panel of Little Boy Blue card stock and then afixed to my white base card.

As my final step I die cut some nautical accessories (anchor, telescope, wheel) in silver and brown card stock, respectively, using Nellie Snellen's Nautical Accessories die set. My sentiment was computer generated and cut with a die from Spellbinders Lacey Pennants. All were then adhered to my card front with dimensionals.

This completed my project and I was so pleased at the way it turned out, especially the weathered wood panel. It actually looked like real wood, although the photo doesn't do it justice.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks so much for stopping by and do come back.




Sunday, April 30, 2017

Owl on Cherry Blossom Branch Birthday


Hello fellow crafters!  This card was made for a friend who I've never met in person. When I was working I had telephone contact on a business level with this person (who lives out of state) quite often and over time we became telephone friends. After retiring we continued to keep in touch via phone calls and birthday cards. 

I began my project with first creating my base card in GKD Pure Luxury White card stock.  This was put aside and I worked on my front panel.

A piece of PTI Spring Rain card stock was cut slightly smaller than my base card with a die from Sue Wilsons Double Pierced Rectangles.  Using a die from Poppy Stamps Fancy Clouds, a cloud was cut out to leave a negative space.  Another smaller cloud was cut from the same die set and adhered slightly over the negative space.

Next, a tree branch was created using a die from Spellbinders Cherry Blossom set in PTI Dark Chocolate card stock. Another duplicate branch was cut but partially snipped off and the two branches were attached at one end.

Using the flower dies from the Spellbinders Cherry Blossom set, several flowers were cut in various sizes in white card stock and then the edges sponged with GKD Innocent Pink ink. The centers were filled with Nuvo Crystal Drops. Also, Wink of Stella was applied to the tips of the flower petals. The flowers were put aside to allow the crystal drops to dry. In the meantime, the owl parts were cut using Elizabeth Craft Poppy the Owl die and assembled using PTI Dark Chocolate, Kraft and GKD Pumpkin Spice card stock.

Next, the tree branches were adhered to the blue focal panel using dimensionals. The flowers, the centers now dry with the crystal drops, were randomly adhered to the tree branches. Fern leaves from MS Fern punch were also added to give fullness to the flowering branches. The owl was then attached using dimensionals.

The sentiment was computer generated on white card stock which had been cut with a Cottage Cutz Pierced Rectangle die, and popped on under the tree branch with dimensionals.  My focal panel was then attached to the base card with dimensionals and my project was complete.

This was a fun project to work on. I hope my telephone friend will enjoy this card as much as I enjoyed making it.  Thanks for visiting my blog.  Hope you come back again soon.



This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #196 - April 2017 - AG - OT Anything Spring
Scrapy Land  -  Challenge #64 - Spring Blooms
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #280-281  -  AG

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Hang In There


Hello everyone! Spring is finally here which means cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning! There's so much to do that I actually have to make a list. However, if there are tasks that are NOT crossed off my list that means I had an excuse......I had to craft and that task goes on the back burner. 

So.....here's a card I made for my sister-in-law who has been going through therapy and has only a few days to go. Hope it lifted her spirits.

The products used in this project:

Stamp Set  -  HFC Sugar Hollow Hangout
Dies  -  HFC Sugar Hollow Hangout, Spellbinders Cherry Blossoms
Card Stock  -  GKD Pure Luxury White, SU Pink Pirouette
Ink  -  Memento Tuxedo Black, GKD Innocent Pink
Embossing Folder  -  SU Square Lattice
Other  -  Copic markers,  adhesive, dimensionals, Wink of Stella

The base card was created in white card stock and layered with a pink embossed panel. The tree, swing and owl images were stamped on white card stock, colored with Copics and then die cut with co-ordinating dies. The flowers were cut in white with the SB die and then the edges sponged with the pink ink and the centers touched up with Wink of Stella.  After coloring, the images were positioned and adhered with dimensionals. The flowers were adhered with adhesive. The sentiment was computer generated.


Hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for visiting and please stop by again.  Any comments are very much appreciated.


This card was submitted into the following challenge(s): 

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #196  -  AG
Aud Sentiments  -  Challenge #176 -  Any Sentiment Except Birthday
Brown Sugar  -  Challenge #244 - AG
Crafty Catz  -  Challenge #364  -  AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #114  -  AG
Great Impressions - April 2017 Theme Challenge  -  April Showers bring May Flowers
Inspiration Destination  -  Challenge #125  - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge for week of 3/28-4/4 -  AG
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #276-277  -  AG


Thursday, February 16, 2017

Coffee Slider Card







Hello, crafting friends!  Here's another slider card I made for a birthday project.  This one was for a coffee lover.

Here are the products I used:

Card Stock:  GKD pure luxurry white, GKD Cherry Red, SU Crumbcake, GKD Patterned Paper
Dies:   Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangles, MFT Coffee Cup
Other:  computer generated sentiment and coffee cup cover , digital image of coffee beans, pennies for slider, dimensionals and adhesive, pearls

Thanks for stopping by to have a look and have a wonderful day!



This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #194  -  AG
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #146 - AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #111  -  AG
Fun-Day Friday  -  Challenge #175  - AG
Inspiration Destination  -  Challenge #122  -  AG
The Sisterhood of Crafters  - Challenge 2/8/16 -  Red
TTCRD  -  Challenge 2/14 - 2/20  -  AG


Monday, February 6, 2017

Forever Valentine


Hello! Happy Super Bowl Day!  Hope the team you're rooting for wins!  

Today I created a card for a friend who wanted a Valentine's Day card for his wife. Below are listed  the products I used.

Card Stock:  GKD Pure Luxury White, GKD Cherry Red, red Vellum (for the flowers), red velvet (for the cupid)  
Stamps:  HC Striped Sun Kissed Fleur 
Ink:  GKD White
Dies:  Sizzix Framelits Scalloped Hearts, IO Cupids, Sue Wilson Petite Vinery, HC Sun Kissed Fleur, Martha Steward Branch Punch, Spellbinders Lacey Pennants
Other: Sentiment computer generated, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF,  adhesive, dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by. Come back often for more projects.



This card was submitted into the following challenge(s):

Crafting with Dragonflies -  Challenge #73 - Valentines Card
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #145 - AG
Crafty Cardmakers  -  Challenge #181  -  Love, Love, Love
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #10  -  AG
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #194  -  AG
Dies-R-Us  -  Challenge #66  -  Hearts
Mod Squad  -   Feb 1 Challenge  -  Hearts & Flowers
Scrapy Land  -  Challenge #59  -  AG
Simply Create Too  -  Challenge #124  -  Love
TTCRD  -  Jan 31 Challenge  -  AG
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #328  -  Love Notes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #268-269  -  AG
Fun-Day Friday  -  Challenge #175 - AG


Monday, January 30, 2017

Shadow Box Birthday


Hello! Today was a good day to stay cozy inside. It was a cold 27 degrees and snowy with more snow on the way.  A great day to stay cozy inside and work on cards for upcoming birthdays. And here is one I made for my dearest friend. It's a shadow box card and I was so happy with the way it turned out.

I began with the base card in PTI Sweet Blush card stock, layered it with GKD Black Onyx followed by GKD Pure Luxury White. This was put aside to work on my focal panel.

The shadow box was cut in PTI Sweet Blush card stock using Creative Expressions In the Garden Shadow Box die (a Sue Wilson die). Next, dimensional tape was adhered to the back of the shadow box and matted with a panel of white card stock which had been embossed with an SU Square Lattice EF.

I cut out some small accessories to put into the shadow box:  the chocolates were computer generated and cut out; the perfume bottle and 2 of the shoes were cut from Creative Expressions Retail Therapy dies; the cocktail glass was cut from IO Mixed Drink set; "Friend" was cut from the In the Garden Shadow Box set; and one other shoe was cut from IO Wedding Icons set.  The perfume bottle was paper pieced and colored with Copics and the cocktail glass was colored with Copics and covered with vellum.  The sentiment, from GKD Mountain Wilderness stamp set, was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and popped on with dimensionals.

All the accessories were positioned in the shadow box openings with dimensionals and the panel was adhered to my prepared base. This completed my card. 

Thank you for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed this post and were inspired to create. Until next time, make it a great day!




Saturday, January 28, 2017

Car Slider Birthday Card



Hello! Today I'd like to share a card I made for one of my nephews' birthdays. It's always a challenge to come up with an idea for a masculine card. However, I finally decided on making a slider card. I'll be making a couple more in the next few weeks for friends' birthdays. It takes a bit of work, but the end result is worth it.

I began with preparing my base card in GKD white card stock. A layer of  GKD Cherry Red was added. This was then put aside.

Next, I began working on my focal panel by determining where I need to cut the slot for the slider. Using a die from Lawn Fawn Slide-on-Over die set, the slot was created. (If you don't have a slider die, the slot can also be made using a ruler to draw the outline for the slot and a craft knife to cut out the slot. Or the slot can be created by using the longest die from Spellbinders Labels Trio, using it to create the slot and then extending it with the same die).  

At this point I took 4 pennies and adhered two together with a dimensional adhesive making sure the dimensional would be sized so as not to interfere with the pennies sliding in the slot. I did the same with the other two pennies. I put these aside to continue to work on the focal panel.

I created a "road" by taking GKD Black Onyx card stock and marking it with dashes using a white gel pen. This was adhered directly under the slider slot. 

In the next step I found a digital wavy racing flag on line and printed out two of them.  A pole was made from black card stock and one attached to each flag.  These were then adhered with dimensionals to my focal panel. I added 2 small gears (cut with a Cheery Lynn Gears die) on either side of the flags.

My sentiment was personally composed and computer generated and then cut with a die from Avery-Elle Dotted Elle-Ments. In order that it fit properly on my focal panel, I cut a bit off the end. This was then adhered with dimensionals to the card.

Finally, using a die from Mariane's Classic Cars set, a car was cut in red mirror paper. I used black and white card stock to create the white-wall tires and cut a small circle in silver mirror paper for the center of each wheel. Then the penny "sliders" were inserted into the slider slot on the focal panel and a dimensional was attached to the center of each one and the car then adhered to it in two places (front and rear). A layer of white card stock was added to the back of the focal panel with dimensionals in order that the car image could slide freely back and forth.

My finished panel was then adhered to my prepared base card and my project was complete. 

Hope you enjoyed this post.  No matter what the theme, "sliders" are fun to make and sure to be enjoyed by any recipient. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more posts to come.

Be sure to make it a great day!
 

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Because I Care




Hello fellow crafters! I've been away from posting for awhile because of other projects or commitments. Today I would like to share a card I made recently for my brother who underwent radiation therapy for early stage prostate cancer. He is doing well. 

The products used for this project are as follows:

Card Stock:  GKD Ivory, GKD Honey Mustard, PTI Dark Chocolate
Stamp:  SU Lovely as a Tree
Dies:  MFTR Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle
Inks:  SU Soft Suede, Memento Peanut Brittle, GKD Honey Mustard
Other:  adhesive, dimensional foam tape, sponge daubers, computer generated sentiment

After stamping the tree images, the edges were masked and the panel was sponged except for the bottom edge of the panel which is where my sentiment was computer generated and the leaf branch image stamped. A frame was created around the focal panel using Dark Chocolate card stock and dimensional tape. This was then adhered to the base card which had been layered with Honey Mustard card stock and the Ivory card stock.  

I hope you enjoyed this project and were inspired to create.  Thanks for stopping by and leaving any comments. I hope to be posting again soon.  Remember to make it a great day!