Hey everyone!  Sorry for the long time between updates.  Life is just crazy busy right now.  This card is just a little something I whipped up playing with a new technique I learned at a Copics class.  You color on the stamp with your Copic markers and then mist with blending solution and stamp.  Kinda reminds me of a watercolored look a bit. 

Anyway, mostly SU materials, cardstock, ribbon, stamps, etc.  And some new Nesties that I ordered.  Abstract rectangles I think they are called.  I apologize for the bad picture.  I was just too lazy to drag out the DSLR today, LOL.  I obviously need a new P&S. 

More later, amigos!

Is is spring yet?

This winter has been a tough one.  Record breaking snow falls, bitter cold for weeks, $400 electric bills, etc.  But it finally feels like spring might show up after all.  It was 74 degrees today and the sun was shining.  My daffodils are bustin' out all over and the tulips are sprouting too.  Redbuds are budding and my eyes are itching.  All good signs of better weather to come. 

So I couldn't wait to dig into bright, cheerful colors.  And what better to signify spring than flowers?  Lily of the Valley have nothing to do with this card, but they are my favorite flower, so I decided to use them to set the stage for my blog hop entry. 

All supplies are PTI.

Cardstock:  Stamper Select white, Lemon Tart, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shore, Vellum

Ink:  New Leaf and Hibiscus Burst

Ribbon:  Lemon Tart Dots

Buttons:  Lemon Tart and Hibiscus Burst

Dies:  Beautiful Blooms II and Picnic Plaid Embossing Plate

Felt:  Hawaiian Shores

I feel like spring has sprung.  At least until tomorrow when they claim we have a chance of snow showers, LOL. 

Later gators!  I'm off to make dinner and arrange a playdate. 

Inspiration

I am not a very creative person.  I am very analytical and linear in my thought processes.  I guess that's part of what makes me a successful engineer.  Not a good idea to "wing it" when you are building a bridge, LOL.  But those same qualities often lead to a loss of creative energy.  So that's why I love to blog hop.  I get so many good ideas and fantastic presentations.  And since I see so many of them, they all meld together in my mind and combine to form ideas somewhat like what I saw but not exactly the same. 

So it is with this card.  I got the idea to use the word stamps as a background from Dawn's card here.  http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2009/12/say-it-with-style-day-3.html  Fortunately for her and unfortunately for us, the image is out for publication.  However, you can see bits and pieces of how she did it on the link.  She used pinks and reds for Valentine's Day, however, I used a more generic Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush to make a birthday card. 

I think I'll repeat this technique with blues and greens and a less "frilly" nestability for a good masculine birthday card.  Thanks Dawn for all the color, technique and inky ideas!!!!!!

And thanks to everyone for looking! 

V-day Card #14: A Colorful Finish

So this is how I started my last card of my Valentine's Day project.  Just like the card that Nichole did with some Scarlet Jewel added for contrast.  I was making a play off the "Love" birds theme. 

I even found this adorable button that has stripes on it that mimic the trees in the stamp.  And it's a very nice winter theme.  Very much appropriate given that today my backyard looks like this. 

But it just didn't seem right to finish off my project.  Not enough of "us" in it for it to be meaningful, KWIM? 

Hubby and I used to work together which meant that we carpooled together too.  Sunrise and sunset became very special times for us.  Even after hubster got a new job and we no longer rode to work together, we made a deal that we would always think of each other at sunrise and sunset.  And we could know that the other was always thinking of us.  My sweet man even calls me on his way to work when there is a beautiful sunrise.  In fact, he called me on Thursday.  (Worry not, his car is Bluetooth enabled and his Blackberry links to it, so he's calling hands-free)   So this is what I came up with.  I think it captures us perfectly.  And I *LOVE* the color combo.  I would never in a million years have put them together, but nature did on Thursday and who was I to argue?  LOL~

Thank you for joining me on this amazing journey.  It has stretched my creativity in ways I could not have dreamed of.  It's not as easy as it seems to come up with 14 cards that you think are worthy of your soul mate.  And hubby is loving it.  He's been so sweet and romantic all week.  You reap what you sow and I really need to put something back into my marriage.  This was just the ticket.  I can't wait to give him this card on the 14th.  Right now I need to go dig out from under the 30" of snow that we've gotten since yesterday afternoon. 

Later y'all. 

V-day Card #13: Sweet Confetti

Okay, so I originally planned to fill the cup with red M&Ms.  I had a 2 pound bag of them from Christmas and I was going to cull out the red ones to use here.  However, the mysterious and sneaky creature named Not Me appears to have made off with my bag.  Hmmmm......3 children and a chocoholic husband......I wonder which one or ones made off with the goods. 

So my valentine isn't as sweet as I wanted it to be.  Confetti is cute but not very good to eat, LOL.  This is a take off from Becky's challenge only slightly modified in proportions.  I might add a strip of red glitter right above the border punch.  What do you think? 

Stampin Up Sweet Treats stamp stamp set and treat cup, SU Real Red cardstock and ink, SU Pink Pirouette cardstock, SU Black cardstock, SU Modern Window punch, Martha Stewart scalloped heart border punch, random hearts confetti plus some MS tiny heart confetti, Bazzill pink brads, PTI fresh snow ink, and random red satin ribbon from the Offray ribbon outlet. 

Only one more to go.  I need to make #14 uber special.  Any ideas you'd like to share???

Thanks for looking.  I love to read all your comments; they make my day.

V-day Card #12: CASE'd

Day #12 of my Valentines and my creativity is running low.  So I decided to do what any good card maker would......CASE a card from someone much more talented than me.  :-)  In this case, this came from Becky's challenge on her blog.  I changed the color from Melon Berry to Raspberry Fizz and then rest is exactly the same.  Surprise, surprise, I really like how it turned out.

 I tried it with the pail and shovel from this set, but it was smaller than the puppy and it looked lost on the heart.  I also tried a scalloped heart punch I have but it was too big.  I guess the image that Becky chose is like Baby Bear.....just right. 

PTI Kraft, Vintage Cream and Raspberry Fizz cardstock, Raspberry Fizz saddle stitched ribbon and button, EK Success heart punch, Momento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers, and Stampin Up Dimensionals. 

In the home stretch now.  Only 2 more to go. 

V-day Card #11: Embossed Simplicity

I've been itching to use this embossed frame since I bought it last year.  And the Scarlet Jewel/Sweet Blush/Smokey Shadow combo has been calling my name. 

So this is what happened on a snowy Saturday afternoon when I combined the two.  I thought that the frame with the bling was ornate enough to carry the front without much else. 

PTI cardstocks, Simple Valentine stamp set, embossed frame by Sizzix, and Kaiser rhinestones. 

Taking a note from much more accomplished designers, I also decided to decorate the inside of the card.  The embossed frame cuts out this heart in the center of the frame.  I wanted a sentiment in the middle on the front, but waste not, want not so I used it on the inside. 










On a side note, we are expecting about 6 inches of snow here in DC today.  We were only supposed to get a dusting, but the forecast changed overnight and now we are getting dumped on.  It's been snowing since about 9 am here with no signs of stopping; we have 3"+ already.  Winter has been harder here than it has been in years.  The kids are loving it and it reminds me of home (near Pittsburgh, PA).  I think we're off to go sledding.  Ciao!!!