Another Birthday Card

Good day to you.  This weekend, I played with my new Sizzix Tim Holtz Mixed Media Dies.  Below is the first card that I created.  For the sentiment, I used the Simon Says Stamps Big Scripty Sayings stampset (it is becoming one of my favorites) and I used distress inks on Ranger Distress watercolor paper for the background.  Flowers were made using stamps and dies from The Ton.

I hope you enjoy it.

Honey Goes North! A composition in white.

Greeting fellow crafty friends.  Today, I present to you my latest brainstorm- "Honey goes north!".

Using The Elizabeth Craft Design (ECD) die Ring Accordion, I cut four rings.  I cut out the center from two and set them aside.  I then glued the second ring to the first to create a more stable ring.  I attached the two rings together.  Since this was a white on white challenge to myself, I needed to focus on textures and embellishments to help me.  I used Stickles in Icicle on the rings and let that dry(I hope this is not cheating since there is a slight pinkish tinge to the Stickles).  Using the ECD  All Seasons Tree snowflakes, I cut out many snowflakes.  Once the Stickles was dry, I glued the snowflakes on the ring for a wintery frame.

Next, I wanted to find the perfect white buddy for the card.  North, white, a fox maybe?  No, a polar bear!  I used the Honey the Bear die from ECD and cut him out in white.  I used a bit of Wink of Stella on the body for a highlight and to deal with the eyes, I cut out a pair of glasses from the Props 1 set using white glitter paper.  I cut another pair in regular white cardstock and covered the lenses with Glossy Accents.  Once all was dry, I assembled Honey the White and had him hold a snowflake that I cut out using the ECD Snowflakes set.

Now I took the two leftover circles and embossed them with a snowflake embossing folder from Crafter's Companion.  I glued the circles on the card and added Honey on the left side.  Lastly, I die cut Season's Greetings three times (once in Glitter White and twice in white cardstock) and glue them together for depth and mounted the sentiment on the right circle.  I attached the inner circles together and the card was completed.  I hope you enjoy it.

The closed card.

The open card.

Have a great day and keep on crafting.

Happy Birthday Sizzix Flourish Set

Good day to you.  I hope you are doing well.  Last evening, I needed to create a quick birthday card.  I recently acquired the Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with Stamp - Flourish Set and wanted to use it for the first time after being inspired by a Catherine Pooler video (love her videos!).  Using y Misti, I took out the foam and inserted the background stamp.  For the first card, I used Ranger Watercolor cardstock.  I used various Distress Ink colors randomly on the stamp and lightly sprayed the stamp with water and pressed it into the watercolor paper.  I thought the results were beautiful.

I repeated the process using regular Darice 110 lb Note paper.  This was beautiful also.  I embossed both pieces using the included embossing folder through my Sizzix Big Shot.  I trimmed a piece of vellum and stamped it using the Happy Birthday script stamp from Lawn Fawn with Versamark and then applied SSS White ultrafine Embossing Powder.   For the other card, I then cut out a Happy Birthday using the Elizabeth Craft Die set and black glitter paper.  I used a Distress Inkpad and colored the edges of the card stock and mounted the completed embossed piece.  I finished off with a couple strands of embroidery thread.  I hope you like the finished pieces.  I tried to keep the cards simple due to all the colors of the background.

Have a great day.
Mike

Crazy Birds Part Deux

The Sizzix Tim Holtz Bird Crazy love is still continuing.  I stamped and die cut the other five birds from the set and watercolored these ( I used Neenah paper which was not made for watercoloring).  To ensure I did not ruin the paper when I used the Akashiya Sai Watercolor Brush Pen set,  I placed a bit of the ink on an acrylic block and using an aquabrush, colored the stamp.  I used various sentiments and finished the eyes of each bird with Ranger Glossy Accents.  I am pleased with the blending from the Akashiya Sai pens.  Thank you.

Thanks.

Mike

Newton's Naptime Card

Happy Sunday crafty friends.  Today, I created a card using Newton Nook Stamps "Newton's Naptime".  I stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black ink and they used Spectrum Noir pens to color this awesome stamp.  I used the corresponding die set to cut out the stamp and cut out the thought balloon and stamped the dream sentiment. I really like that this card can be a birthday card, or a congratulations card by changing the sentiment inside.  I did finish up the kitty with Zig Wink of Stella clear and a couple sequins.  I hope you like it.

Have a great day.
Mike

Farewell Dear Friend

One of my work buddies is leaving for other pastures and I wanted to say good bye to her.  I used the Friggin Awesome stamps from The Ton Stamps for the greeting and the flowers are from Simple Florals also from The Ton.  Hope you enjoy.

Have a great Friday.
Mike

Happy Birthday to you!

Good morning to you.  I have a friend at work who has a birthday this weekend so I created the below card.  I used the large Butterfly Die from the Stampin Up butterfly die set and the Lawn Fawn Scripty Sayings stamp.  The butterfly was water colored using distress ink and an aqua brush.

Have a nice day!
Mike

The Ton Simple Florals and Sentiment Shaker Card

Good afternoon to all.

Shaker cards.  You love them or hate them.  Combined with these gorgeous watercolor floral cards that I see, I realized I have a steep learning curve to get to the level of my favorite card designers. So, as an intermediary step while learning to watercolor, I experimented with 'smooshing' the color onto Tim Holtz Ranger Watercolor Paper and let the cardstock dry.  I then selected a few stamps from The Ton's Simple Florals set, stamped using Versamark Clear and embossed using SSS Ultra Fine White Embossing Powder.  After drying, I used the dies from The Ton for the stamp set and cut them out.  I felt like a star and consequently cut one out of a piece of Stampin' Up Crisp Canteloupe cardstock.  I stamped and embossed a sentiment from the awesome Friggin' Fabulous stamp set and finished the card with seed beads and some uber cool flowers and leaves.

I hope you enjoy.

Mike

Lawn Fawn Get Well

I have a friend in Texas that has had better days and really needs cheering up so I whipped up this little old card using the Lawn Fawns Get Well stamp set.

Have a dry day.  LOL
Mike

Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After

Good morning to all.  This weekend, I had a lot of fun coloring and diecutting from the Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After collection and new Rainbow.  To save paper and time, I cut the rainbow on Neenah white and used my Spectrum Noir pens to color the separate bands.  Overall I am happy with the results (and saving paper).  I hope you enjoy.

Have a great day and 'may all your dreams come true".
Mike

Lilies from The Ton

Good evening to all.  This evening, I used the new dies for The Ton Simple Floral stamp set to cut out lilies and leaves I had stamped and colored.  Growing up in Ohio, we had lots of orange lilies with brown speckles and some yellow ones and I wanted to portray them with a touch of whimsey (orange speckles).  I arranged the lilies on a brown cardstock and then used the "You're Amazing" sentiment from the Friggin' Fabulous stamp collection.  I placed a touch of orange on the brown card stock and then shaded Spiced Marmalade on the edges of the white Neenah card stock.  I finished the card front with orange/copper and gold sequins. I hope you like it.

Have a wonderful evening.  Mike

Christmas Candy Shop Girl

Last night, as I started to drift off to sleep, I thought how candy and Christmas go together.  It is Christmas in July so another idea was born.  I tool the Lollipop Girl from the Candy Shop Girls stamp set and created a Christmas card.  The sentiment was from a Lawn Fawn set and it fit perfectly!  I made the background stamping in Distress Ink Festive Berry and Mowed Lawn.  Enjoy.

Candy Shop Girl- Virginia Turtle Stamps

Good evening to all.  This evening I had the opportunity to use the new Candy Shop Girls stamp set from Virginia Turtle Stamp Company.  I used 'Kimono Cupcake Girl' and the cupcake stamp.  Using the cupcake stamp, I created a background on the pink cardstock with VersaMark ink and clear embossing powder. I then stamped the cupcake girl with Momento Ink and used Spectrum Noir pens to color.  I stamped the sentiment on vellum and cut it in a banner shape.  I finished the card up with sequins, pink hemp twine, and a little Wink of Stella on the cupcake and kimono.  I hope you like the finished product.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Mike

Sizzix Tim Holtz Crazy Bird Frenzy

Greetings to all!  Most of you are aware of the current Crazy Bird frenzy that is gripping the stamping and card making community.  They are so darn cute, that sooner or later, you will succumb.  Alas, I did and I have no regrets.  Here is my first attempt at a crazy bird.  There is some spacing problems with the sentiment that I will work hard to resolve on the next card.  Please let me know what you think!

and the inside:

Have a wonderful day and be enabled!  Mike

Lawn Fawn You're a Star with Caulk Background

Good afternoon.  I finally completed my first caulk background card.  I used DAP caulk with Distress Mermaid Blue ink. When it was almost dry, using the round blending tool, I dabbed on Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves, and Worn Lipstick.  I then spritzed the card with plain water.  It was a treat to watch the colors move on the card background.  Once dry, I cut off 1/4" off the top and right sides to allow it to mat to a standard A2 card.  I created a frame to top the created background, and then placed two jellyfish and starfish from Lawn Fawn.  I used a few iridescent sequins for air bubbles for the jellyfish.  I hope you like it.

Keep inspiring each other!

Mike

To Caulk, or Not to Caulk

Yesterday, I found a video from Zed Squared Crafts entitled Hogs and Kisses... (blog located here https://zedsquaredcrafts.wordpress.com/ ) and in the video Julia used Caulk instead of Embossing Paste.  After watching the video, I had to go to my local Lowes and get some.  Here is the first card I completed using DAP caulk (the entire tube was $2.79).  I hope you like it.

Here is the first background I started.  I hope to have the card finished today.  It is for a very special young lady that might be celebrating her last birthday so I want it to be extra special.  :-)

Thanks and have a great day!  Be enabled!  

Mike

Altenew Stamps and Dies

Hello everyone. I hope you had a great 4th of July weekend.  I am back on track and just created some great (hope you think) cards using the Altenew Vintage Rose stamps and Dies and the new Altenew Wood background stamp.

The above card was done with the new Hickory Smoke Distress ink on the background stamp.  All other inks are from Altenew.

This was my 'Blue Period' card.  LOL.  I used the Mermaid Blue Distress ink for the background stamp.  All other inks are Altenew.

This is my Pink/Red Design card.  The background ink was Spun Sugar Distress ink. All other inks are from Altenew.

Last but not least I used a new tool I picked up at the Stampfest two weeks ago called Perfect Layers.  I got a bit carried away but really like it!

Have a great weekend and keep inspiring and being inspired.

Mike the Enabler.  :-)

Love Showers Card from Wplus9

Hi all.  Last evening, I also made a card using the new stamp and die combo called Love Showers made by Wplus9.  I was extremely pleased how smoothly this cut and the pieces just fell out of the die as if it were teflon coated!  I picked up  the die set at Simonsaystamp.com .  This was just a basic card and I used Spectrum Noir for coloring the hearts, frame and love and then coated some items  with Glossy Accents by Ranger.

Hope you enjoy.

Michael

Simon Says Time to Wake Up

Greetings to all.  Last evening, I created a shaker card using the awesome Clock Shaker die from SimonSaysStamp.  I used two layers of foam sheets to build up the card.  I am still working on the greeting but hope you like it.  This was cut from white cardstock and then I used Spectrum Noir pens to color the paper.

Have a great day!
Michael

Ocean Breezes

A Memorial Day weekend greeting to all.  May we salute those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Today I wanted to create a card using the new Impression Obsessions Mini Nautical Die Set.  I used some washi tape to create lines on a card blank and used Ranger Distress Ink Mermaid to cover the exposed area.  I then used the Anchor and Ship's Wheel dies and cut out 9 of each.  I removed the washi tape and then attached the die cuts to the card over the Mermaid Blue areas.

I used a Sizzix Scalloped Oval Edge die and die cut two pieces, one in white and one in blue that coordinated with the Ranger Distressed ink.  I created the background using a watercolor brush and Ranger Distressed inks.  While that dried, I die cut a light house and three dolphins from the die set.  I used Wink of Stella to color them and attached them to the scalloped oval.  I then attached all to the card and created an Ahoy greeting on vellum and embossed it.  Hope you enjoy.  Here is the link to Impression Obsessions.  http://www.iostamps.com/ 

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Michael

Stampin' Up Soft Sky cards

A wonderful new friend from the stamping group I recently joined sent me a couple of Stampin' Up inks and matching card stock.  I used the Soft Sky ink and card stock and was able to create three cards from it (could have made four if I was thinking ahead).  Below are the cards.  I am surprised how nice these turned out (I am not very skilled).  Please enjoy and feel free to let me know how I can make these better.  Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Take care.  Michael

Home made Balloon Stencil Card

Happy Friday to all you crafters out there.  Last evening, I used a left over piece of card stock that I had diecut balloon shapes using the new Simon Says Stamp  Celebration Time dies.  I placed the strip over card stock and using various Ranger Distress Inks, created a fun background.  I finished up the card with a simple Happy Birthday to you stamp using Lawn Fawn Scripty Sayings .  Since the background was so busy, I only added a diecut glittered balloon.  Please let me know your thoughts.

Have a great day!  Michael

Lawn Fawn Stuck on You

I got this new stencil of a sunburst and did it on watercolor paper with Distress Inks.  I had a left over circle I cut out for another card and all of the sudden, it hit me.  Use the Lawn Fawn Stuck on You stamps and dies.  I used the Ranger Distress Inks for the images and the background of the circle die cut. I attached it to the background paper and mounted it on a 6x12 scored piece of paper.  I added some ribbon for embellishment and used Yellow Wink of Stella on the sun.  I hope you like it.

Foil Card Challenge

Greetings to all.  I hope you are doing well.  I am participating in a Foil Card Challenge and wanted to show my results below.  The creation of the foil card was much easier than I could imagine.  It gives you the chance to cover up a seriously messed up card and start again, using a liberal application of glue stick, a fresh piece of aluminum foil (although crinkled might be very interesting) and some smoothing and then embossing the foil card.  Hope you enjoy.

Have a great day.

Mike

Happy Birthday Balloon Shaker Card

Good morning everyone.  Today I am showing a shaker card I made using the new SimonSaysStamp balloon die cut.  I used the negative image and propped it up with foam tape and filled the space with sequins.  Let me know your thoughts.

Have a great day!
Mike

First Shake Card- Shake Shake Shake

Greeting friends.  I have been very busy at work and went to New Orleans last week for a seminar.  I am back and was inspired to create a Shake Thank You card.   I used 6x12 card stock and some beautiful sequins.  I hope you like it.

Happy Spring and a special card for my brother

Happy Spring to everyone.  I hope you had a blessed holiday! Last evening, I made a card for my brother's birthday next week.  This is my first kraft paper card.  I used a Darice Dandelion embossing plate and tried to highlight the embossing with Unicorn ink (I really need to work on this skill set).

I then used the silver Wink of Stella for the stems and added some embellishments.  Hope you like it.

Blessed Passover and Happy Easter to everyone!

Hello everyone.  It has been a very trying week here.  I tripped over a bag last Sunday evening and have been in a very lot of pain but am getting better now.  Yesterday, I received the new April Stamps of Life stamps and dies and have created a tag for my dear sweet wife Donna.

I die-cut the birdcage and birds using Graphics 45 6x6 Artisan paper.  Then  colored the birdcage with Ranger Distressed Ink Wild Honey (a personal favorite of mine) and followed up by brushing the entire cage with Wink of Stella Gold.  I die-cut and colored the birds and mounted all with TomBow Mono ink.  Amber rhinestones and a brown polka dot ribbon completed the tag.  Hope you enjoy and have a great day!

Tim Holtz Easter Stamp Card

Hello everyone. Sorry I have not posted recently.  The wife and I participated in the Tampa Bay Shop Hop for the crafting community and it was a lot of driving around the Bay area but also a lot of fun meeting great people and visiting some really awesome shops!  A huge thanks to all the participating stores for making this happen.

Today, I want to show my newest card using the Tim Holtz Easter Blueprint stampset.  This is the Chocolate Bunny.  I stamped him three times using Moments Rich Cocoa ink and then colored using Spectrum Noir pens.  Still trying to find that right group of browns.  (if you have a favorite combination, please share it).

That is it for now.  I will have more to share this week!  Take care.  Michael

Happy Birthday Bicycle Card

Today, I made a simple but nice Birthday card using Stamps of Life Bicycle2Stamp set and the new Tags and Words Framelits set.  I also was inspired last evening by a suggestion to use my RedScore tape to create a glitter stripe.  I did but still need to work on that.  LOL.  Have a great day.  Michael

Lawn Fawn's new Eggstra Special Easter Stamp and Dies

Good morning.  I completed creating a couple  Springtime/Easter cards last evening using the new Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter stamps and die.  I also used the stitched rectangles to create the borders on the first card and a Spellbinders die to create the frame on the second card.

I hope you enjoy it.

Have a great day.
Michael

Bicycle2Stamp from Stamps of Life

Hello everyone.  Tonight I made a card for a friend at work who is feeling a touch under the weather.  I used the new Stamps of Life Bicycle2Stamp and die.

For the frame, I did use Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Rectangles.  I hope you enjoy it.

Donna's Birthday

Busy week in the household.  Today was our son's birthday and tomorrow is my wife's birthday.  I used the new Cats stamps and dies from Stamps of Life to create a card for my sweet Donna. She is a cat lover and I hope she likes it.  I realize my cards lack sophistication but they are made with love.  Feel free to give me tips to make the card better going forward.  I would appreciate it!

Have a great day!
Michael