Life Is Better

This is an anniversary card I made for my husband,

using Phrase Play #10. 

The panel was cut from Stamper's Select White 

and then stamped with a polka dot stamp from 

Waltzingmouse Stamps. 

The word portion of the die was cut again from 

Pure Poppy card stock and inserted into 

the corresponding negative space. 

The floral section was coloured with 

green and red copic markers and then added to the front.  

The sentiment was stamped with Pure Poppy ink. 

This panel was then matted with a Pure Poppy panel.

The card base (Fine Linen) was stamped with 

Simply Chartruese, Kraft and Pure Poppy inks 

using Plaid Builders stamps.

Supplies (PTI unless noted)

Stamps - Phrase Play #10, Plaid Builders; Waltzingmouse Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds

Inks - Pure Poppy, Kraft, Simply Chartreuse

Paper - Fine Linen, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse, Stamper's Select White

Dies - Phrase Play #10

Other - Copic markers; corner rounder

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C.

Happy Holidays Stitched Cottage

Merry Christmas

 

Are you ready for Christmas? 

I'm baking today and this evening we will be enjoying Christmas Eve 

with snacks and a favourite Christmas movie, before hanging our stockings. 

We have several family gatherings over the next few days with lots of food, fun and laughter!! 

I wish you all joy, love and peace this Christmas season.

I have one last group of cards to share for the holiday season. 

I made this mini album a few years ago to document the tradition of making gingerbread houses and cookies for Christmas and used it as inspiration for a group of four cards.

Mini Album: Front Cover

I used many of the same elements to complete 4 cards.

  Card Front

I used Tag Sale #3, cut from Vintage Cream card stock and stamped with Background Basics: Woodgrain and Fine Linen ink. A kraft coloured marker creates faux stitching along all sides of the tag. Vintage Tea Dye Duo was sponged along the edges. The tag was layered onto Pure Poppy patterned paper, Vintage cream and Veridian Green to give colour and dimension. 
The tag was applied to a card base that had been covered with Pure Poppy Gingham patterned paper.

The Vintage Cream border at the top of the card front was made with a scalloped punch and then a strip of green card stock accents this detail.

The gingerbread house (Waltzingmouse Stamps) was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder several times using Veridian Green and Kraft card stock, as well as Lemon Tart and Pure Poppy Polka Dot patterned papers (windows, door and roof).  
I wanted the windows a little brighter, so I coloured them with a copic marker. 

Each piece was fussy cut and then layered to create the final house design. 
Each house was attached to the tag with foam dimensional strips.

I cut lots of stars (Star Gaszer Die) from Harvest Gold card stock, 
layered them together and then added a gold glitter pen to the top on. 
Each card was accented with five of these stars, the sentiment 
(Holiday Lights and Dark Chocolate ink) and a green Baker's Twine bow.

Supplies (PTI, unless noted)

Stamps - Waltzingmouse Stamps: Sewing Box Hugs;  Holiday Lights,

Background Basics: Woodgrain,

Inks - Dark Chocolate, Fine Linen, Kraft; Memento Cottage Ivy; Versamark

Papers - Vintage Cream, Harvest Gold, Pure Poppy Patterned Paper; 
Recollections Kraft; The Paper Company: Veridian Green

Dies - Tag Sale #3; Star Gazer Die Collection;  

Punch - EK Success Dotted Scallop

Other - Red Sparkle Dots; copic markers; foam tape; Green Baker's Twine;

Recollections: Snow White Detail Embossing Powder;  Sakura Yellow Gelly roll pen 

A Little Birdie Told Me ...

I have been busy using Sewing Box Hugs (Waltzingmouse) for some of 
my cards this spring. I love the hand stitched effect of the images ...
they really speak to the sewer and quilter in me!!  Earlier I made 
this card - a watering can shaped card with flowers from the stamp set. 
I then decided to use the same idea to make a birdhouse for the little 
birdie from Sewing Box Hugs.

I created a template for the birdhouse using graph paper. 
This allowed me to cut various pieces for the card front.  

The card front was cut from Harvest Gold card stock and then the lower
portion was cut a second time from yellow patterned paper. A circle was punched into the paper to create an 'opening' for the bird house. An
orange piece of patterned paper was cut to create a frame for the opening.

 The gable end of the bird house was created by cutting lots of strips from the Heart Border die (Papertrey Ink). The paper strips were positioned to create a small scalloped effect (like shingles). Two pieces of orange paper were 'wrapped' around the edges of the roof line. A little copper coloured pearl was placed on the top point of the roof.

The bird, branch and flower were all stamped and hand cut using the Sewing Box Hugs set. Another little pearl was added to the center of the flower. A strip of Harvest Gold card stock was stamped with the sentient and attached to the lower edge of the card. All edges were sponged with Tea Dye Duo - Chamomile and Chai inks

A portion of one of the Photo Finishers die was cut from Harvest Gold card stock. The sentiment on this strip was created by combining "it's your" (Fillable Frames #8) and "birthday" (Tag-Its #10)  The second sentiment is from Flower Fusion #1.

Card Details

Stamps - WMS: Sewing Box Hugs; PTI: Flower Fusion #1; Fillable Frames #8, Tag-It's #10

Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI: Tea Dye Duo

Papers - My Mind's Eye Fine & Dandy: True Blue; PTI: Harvest Gold, Fine Linen; various blues and greens from my stash.

Dies - PTI: Photo Finishers die; Heart Border

Other Supplies -  Kaisercraft pearls; circle punches

A Decorated Envelope!

I decided to add some fun to the envelope, since I am going to hand deliver this to my niece on her birthday. I used a combination of stamps, inks and copic markers.

Waltzingmouse: Sewing Box Hugs;  Close to My Heart: Polka Dot Alphabet; Papertrey Ink: Postmarks.

 

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C.

Watering Can Card

I've finally had a chance to play with Sewing Box Hugs (Waltzingmouse Stamps.) When looking for inspiration, I found this free template  for a Watering Can card on the WMS site and decided to give it a try!!  There was lots of stamping and fussy cutting for the flowers and leaves and tracing and cutting of the watering can.

The flowers were stamped onto a variety of designer papers (see supplies list below) and some plain yellow and pink paper scraps that I stamped with one of the squares from Papertrey Ink's Bitty Background Basics. I love that I can create coordinating papers from ink, stamps and paper from my stash.

The watering can was hand cut from Aqua Mist card stock and then impressed with the Vineyard Impression Plate. (I  left the end of the spout flat, as the watering can template was wider than the impression plate - I actually like the way it turned out!)
I used a marker to outline the bottom of the spout to give it some definition.
Chamomile and Chai inks were swiped across the paper and around the edges to add a vintage feel to the watering can.

I used another piece of designer paper to die cut the butterfly and then added faux stitching with a black marker. Little black pearls create the butterfly's body.

The Angled Rectangle Die Collection (Label Basics) was used to make the sentiment panel - one from Aqua Mist and the other from white card stock that was liberally swiped with more of the Tea Dye Duo inks. Little metallic pearls were attached on either end to resemble rivets that hold the label onto the watering can.

The inside of the card uses a sentiment from Sending You (Papertrey Ink) and then a few little circles from Sewing Box Hugs that were stamped from the designer papers, fussy cut and then glued to the card. (After I finished the card, I got some ink on my finger which ended up on the card interior. My fix: little circles, randomly scattered around the sentiment!!)

Card Details:

Stamps -  Waltzingmouse Stamps: Sewing Box Hugs;   Papertrey Ink: Sending You, Bitty Background Basics

Inks - PTI Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise, Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo; Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers - PTI Aqua Mist, Stamper's Select White;   Basic Grey: Sweet Threads;   Sassafras: Count Me In; yellow & pink from stash.

Other Supplies - PTI Vineyard Impression Plate,  Label Basics- Angled Label Dies;  
Stampin'Up "Beautiful Wings" Embosslits;   markers; metallic pearls.

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C.

January Birthday Wishes!!

Happy 2012 !!

I've been absent from my blog for almost a month, but I'm finally back for another year of sharing cards and projects that I enjoy making for family and friends!!  We still have a Christmas wreath hanging over our fireplace, but all 
of the other festive decorations have been tucked away until next December!!

This month I haven't spent much time in my craft room at all.  I was 
diagnosed with Inflammatory Arthritis in November and it has affected my 

shoulders, wrists and hands, making paper crafting and sewing a challenge.

My doctor has prescribed medications, rehab and exercise, so  I'm hoping 

that I can enjoy some of the things that I love to do, as I start to feel better. 

It may be that it will take me longer to finish projects .... and I won't post as often, 

but I will continue to work on card making and sewing projects  whenever I can.

So ... without further ado ... here is my first post for the New Year ....
a birthday card for my sweet 3 year old grand niece. Little girls love dress up and  princesses, so Everyday Princess from Stamping Bella with lots of pink, was a fun place to start !!  

Papertrey Ink's Quatrefoil Cover Plate is such a great way to add interest and detail as the background. Add some sentiments in the spaces and the card is almost done!!  A small image from Mehndi Medallion was also used in the cut outs along the edge of the cover plate. Love it!!

The flower accent was coloured with a copic marker and the button was die cut with felt.

Card Front:

Stamps:  PTI Tiny Tags and Tiny Tags II. Mehndi Medallion;   Stamping Bella: Everyday Princess

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  CTMH Hollyhock

Papers:  PTI Stamper's Select White; Raspberry Fizz

Dies:  PTI Cover Plate Quatrefoil;   Button-Up #2; Nestabilites: Label #4

Other Supplies:  Copic markers; PTI Raspberry Fizz Felt; Prima flower and beige embroidery floss; 
Kaisercraft 'Lippy Red' rhinestone; Sakura Gelly Roll Silver glitter pen.

I always use PTI's Big Birthday Wishes stamp set and By the Numbers dies to celebrate children's birthdays.... little ones love to see their ages in print!!

Card Interior:

Stamps:  PTI Big Birthday Wishes;   Waltzingmouse: Off Beat Backgrounds

Inks:  CTMH Sweet Leaf, Hollyhock  
Dies:  PTI  By the Numbers

Thanks for visiting today. Have a great week-end.

I have a few more January birthday cards to share, so will try to be back soon!!

Karen C.

Happily Ever Challenged #15: St. Patrick's Day Tribute

      I have only entered a few challenges since I started my blog - mostly Papertrey Ink's Monthly Blog Hop Challenges and a few of their Make It Monday Challenges.

     But when I saw a St. Patrick's Day Tribute Challenge on a fellow PTI forum member's blog I knew I had to give it a try!!  You see, I think of myself as a wee bit Irish and I love St. Patrick's Day!!  For this challenge a shamrock (3 leaf clover) and the colours white, green and orange were to be incorporated on the card. You can find the details and a variety of cards for the challenge here: Happily Ever Challenged #15.

   I used a digi image I found at Waltzingmouse Stamps - Last year, this was offered as a free download, so it was the perfect image for this challenge. I resized it and then printed it on PTI white card stock so that I could colour it with my copic markers.  I added a little touch of glitter with Sukura Gelly Roll pens - silver on the safety pin and clear on the shamrocks. A light blue-green marker (BG10) highlights the edges of the image to create a shadow effect. I cut the image with a Nestabilities Label #4 die and then sponged the edge of the die cut with Autumn Terracotta ink.

     The sentiment is from PTI Friendship Jar, stamped in black ink.  I used my copic markers to colour the little rhinestones in an orange colour so they would complement the image.  The edges of PTI's Green Boutique patterned paper was stitched (by hand) with white embroidery floss and then mounted onto a white card base that was sponged with the same Autumn Terracotta ink.

     I also used a white ribbon that I edged with copic markers - green, (white) and orange to represent the Irish flag!! A larger rhinestone was attached to the center of the bow.

     I love how this turned out - and the sentiment means that I can use it for a variety of occasions this spring. 

Card Details:

Stamps: PTI Friendship Jar; Waltzingmouse Stamps Digi image.

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH Autumn Terracotta.

Papers: PTI Stamper's Select White cardstock, Green Boutique Patterned paper

Other Supplies: copic markers; Nestabilities Label #4 die; rhinestones;CTMH White Daisy ribbon; Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic pens - silver & clear.

Thanks for visiting and Have a Great Green Day!!