Wonderful Father

I know this is a challenge for many to what to do on a man's card.  I find this set to be my go to set for the cards I make for guys.  This is a very simple card.  I also noticed the guy cards I have been making the last few weeks I have been using the twine on instead of the ribbon.

Card Details:
Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, Inspired by Nature  (on tag),  Wonderful Favorites
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Espresso, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Big Shot,  Twine,  Top Note Die, Woodgrain Texture Plate,  Antique Brad

Grandpa and Grandma

I love working on this book.  I never got to meet my Dad's Mom as she died when he was just 15 yrs old.  I have been told by my Dad's siblings that we look very much alike.  This is the only picture we have of just the two of them. Doing this book makes me feel so much closer to her.  For those of you who have not seen my Heritage Room, take a look.  I love learning and teaching my kids about where they came from.  This was a fun page to do. If you have not yet learned how to put the picture into the punch shapes check out the Picture In Punches tutorial in the side bar under the MDS certified gadget.  I knew that I wanted a black black background for this page but when I clicked on black in the background paper it was more a gray than a black.  So I put a stamped image up and then used the color picker on the background paper which turned it a much richer, deeper black.  I used the Offset Stamping on the Life Happens stamp to give it a bit of dimension. I also used the Opacity bar to lighten the flourishes around the picture.

Digital Details:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Basic Black Brads

Ruffles Galore

I saw this idea in the new catalog.  If you have yours (my cases are scheduled to arrive today!) check out page 186. I love the ruffled look.  When I went to make the one I pictured I saw it with eyelet ruffles.  This was a super easy card.  I chose my colors, cut it all 4.25" wide, punched two edges and cut them in half.  I layered and glued it all together, did my piercing and then added my impressed, punched hearts with dimensionals cut in half.  Simple and Sweet!


Card Details:

Stamps: Heard from the Heart

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Pacific Point

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Piercing tool and mat pack, Big Shot, Small Heart Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Perfect Dot Impression Folder

Razzleberry Roses

Off this morning to do the Sketch Challenge...I knew right away right set I wanted to use.  I needed to make an anniversary card so I wanted it warm and romantic.I also knew that I wanted to use the impression folder that matched the set but I did not want to cover it up with the top 2 layers.  I then decided to use a transparency sheet as one of my layers.  I stamped the rose in White Stazon and sponged some around the layer of transparency and card front.  The focus rose was stamped in Versamark ink and embossed with Whisper White Embossing powder.  I then just painted over the whole thing with re-inker and an Aqua Pen.  I went back and filled in some of the areas with a deeper amount of re-inker. I added a flying butterfly in the upper corner to add just a bit more dimension and color.  To add the transparency on without being able to see the adhesive I stuck the focus rose where I wanted it on the transparency and they added the adhesive to the back of the transparency only where the focus rose would cover.  I guess I am still in my monochromatic mode...

Card Details:

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Old Olive, Regal Rose, Transparency Sheet

Ink: Versamark, White Stazon

Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Two-Step Bird Punch, Word Window Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

MDS Monday

Wow, I have not had a MDS Monday in quite a while but then I realized that I had been working on my family genealogy book in the evenings and since I have been working on it in MDS that it would qualify for MDS Monday (duh!).  I made my Dad a scrapbook a few years back and searched his family tree back to the 1500's.  After I got into digital scrap booking I decided that I wanted to make one of my own that his siblings would be able to get a copy of.  I had already scanned all of the pictures when I did his because his oldest sister had helped me find them.  So I was all set to go. (click to enlarge image in a new window/tab)  I do 8.5" x 11" so this is a 2 page spread.

Digital Details:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Enjoy Every Moment
Paper:Summer Home DSP, Whisper White for matting, Presto Pattern Overlay
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Pink Pirouette Button Bouquet, Whisper White Brads, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Graduation Thank You

I had a son graduate from 8th grade this year so I got a chance to make graduation thank you cards.  I just love the new colors!  I hope I can make it to the catalog release before I use up the colors I bought.  I will not place another pre-order!!!! Oodles of sponging! I love this little hat cut out and popped up.  The sentiment is layered and then popped up too.  Off to reproduce a bunch of these.....have a great weekend!!

Card Details:
Stamps: Sanded Background, Go Graduate
Paper: Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze
Ink: Cajun Craze
Accessories: Big Shot,  Twine, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border, Thanks Embossing Die, Magnetic Movers & Shapers

Father's Day Pheasant Card

I just realized I was behind on getting my father's Day cards in the mail...and I thought I was doing so good on keeping up. So I went straight to the Sketch Challenge for some help.  I did lots of sponging.  I double layered the images color on color.  I have been meaning to do this for a long time but I am not sure if I ever have.

Card Details:

Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, River Rock

Ink: Always Artichoke, River Rock

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Perfect Dots Impression Folder, Mat Pack & Piercing Tool for Piercing, Curly Label Punch, Twine, Large Oval Punch

Lattice Butterflies

When I saw this Lattice Die in the last Catalog I just had to have it but once I got it I was stumped with how to use it..until I saw this blog post.  I loved this idea for a pop-up card.  It was so quick and easy and a wow result.  Let's  see what else I can make pop-up?  I love, love, love the new colors!!!

Card Details:
Stamps: Woodgrain Background, Whimsical Words, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Concord Crush, Certainly Celery
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot,  Beautiful Wings Die, Lattice Die

Blog Set Up

I have been working on a new blog design. I have been wanting to give this checkerboard design a try. It was time consuming but I think it turned out great. The little envelope on the banner was very fun to make. If you have any questions or comments please let me know!  If there is something you need to know about designing blogs or working with MDS just ask. I LOVE to help!!

Colorful Butterfly

Here is another idea that I saw in the new catalog.  I have never used the large butterfly from this die and it was a lot easier to do than I had thought.  To do the butterfly I used a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  I then stamped the swirl with versamark ink and clear embossing powder.  After I folded the piece in half and lined it up on the die, ran it through the Big Shot I was ready to add some color.  I used my Sponge Daubers to rub the colors where I wanted them. I sprayed a spritz of the Smooch Spritz (my first try...boy was I nervous).  It is hard to tell but I punched the borders of both the designer paper and the Bashful Blue paper under it.  I offset them just a smidge.

Card Details:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Designer Paper printed from MDS, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bashful Blue, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron. Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Beautiful Wings Die, Clear Embossing Powder, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button

Button Flowers

I needed a card for an anniversary so I had to make time to stamp.  I plan on doing some major organization this week so hopefully I can get back in the swing of things again and be able to have more time to stamp.  I got my pre-order for the new catalog (love it!) and just had to try out this idea I saw in it.  I have had this button die since the beginning of last years catalog and just loved the idea of using them as flower heads. The stems are just thinly cut card stock with the leaves added on. Edited to add that it is on page 210 of the 2010 catalog.

Card Details:

Stamps: Tiny Tags, Woodgrain Background

Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Old Olive, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Marina Mist, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Impression Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Little Leaves Die, Buttons #5 Dies, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Jewelry Tag Medium Punch, Heart Small Punch, Sewing Thread