It’s a Man Thing…

Hello there! So nice that you looked me up today. 

This is one of my busiest card-making times of the year. Within the next 6 days, we have 4 family related birthdays…2 gentlemen (today’s post) and both of our daughters (I’ll show their cards later this month as we will be celebrating later than normal). I’m so excited to share these first two cards with you. Each card characterizes the life-long passions of each man.

Our first friend has had a great life-long love of the woods. He is semi-retired now but was a lumberman for more than 25 years. The picture offers you a chance to see the size of the trees that were being cut about a century ago.

The second gentleman is an avid golfer. The theme around and in their home is Golf. He recently set up the living room with one of those new big screens that you actually hit a golf ball into and can play at most any major course without leaving home! (Today’s technology is just so beyond my husband and me. We cannot comprehend any of it!)

Well, that is it for today. Hope this might inspire you for creating a masculine type card. My best advice is just have fun and let your creative imagination flow!

Till next time – May God Bless You and Yours.

The artwork for both was found on Pinterest. (Amazing what you can find there.)

The letters are a double-cut die.

Everyone is Special…

Thank you for looking in today. As you know, creating cards for special occasions is a fantastic hobby. It can become very addictive in a real short time. 

With the invention of the internet, the world of creativeness has become a rather close-knit large family. We have started sharing our talents, and our “trade-secretes,” with other crafters around the world.

Each of us has our own reasons why we “create.” For me, it’s because "Everyone is Special". We share something unique with each person we come into contact with. But there is one thing that I guarantee we will agree with…we think enough of others to remember their special life events. With each card I create I hope that person knows how truly special they really are.

Today’s card is for my beloved sister-in-law and dear friend. Her birthday was a few days ago, so it is safe to post this now.

This card uses both name brand products as well as “unbranded.” The 0.6mm Foamiran used for the flowers were cut using the Lily Flower die set by Whimsy Stamps. I also used Prills from USArtQuest for the centers. The leaves, corner and base dies are unbranded dies.

Technique: Bev Rochester did a beautiful video regarding the making of foam flowers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue_gedV5u04. Hope you will take a few minutes to watch.

I’m so pleased you dropped by today and hope you will click on my blog again.

Till later,

May God Bless You And Yours.

Just Having Fun…

Thank you for stopping by today. I am just starting to get back in the swing of things and wanted to share this latest birthday card with you.

Towards the end of December, a friend mentioned a site that encourages the making of Christmas cards all year. Perpetual Christmas Card Club. After looking into this group, I signed up with the hopes of getting into a real card-making regimen.  

Recently they posted a clean and simple sketch that looked interesting. It offered a layered look with a few different shapes. The timing was great as I had just received a much needed new group of one-line sentiment stamps that offered both Christmas and Birthday wishes.

I was pleased with the results of my Christmas card and we posted it on their site. I liked the clean design so much that I decided to do a birthday card using Kim Witziers’ sketch. The lady this is intended for loves purple. I also decided to add one of my foam flowers with a surprise center. Hope you like it.

 

If you want some great ideas for your cards, stop by Perpetual Christmas Card Club. Some really great ideas can found there.

 

Again, thank you for your visit and I hope you will return again soon.

 

May God Bless You and Yours.

 

All Aboard…

  

About a year ago, I gave my husband a unique collection of video train journals from around the world. He has always wanted to take a scenic trip by train but time has never permitted. 

When I spotted this fantastic stamp on line, I knew Jim would love it.

To add to my hopes of a surprise, I started a search for scenic day trips within our area. I discovered the Agawa Canyon Tour Train which departs from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, just over the bridge/border from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. 

(I think I surprised him.)We are now considering a fall tour trip near our 51st anniversary.

The stamp used was purchased through Buddly Crafts, Viva Dec A5 - Old Timer #100. 

To achieve the coloration for this fantastic stamp, I used Prismacolor Pencils and did a lot of blending and burnishing. There are at least 3 shades of grey tones for the engine and 3-4 shades of red-orange for the cab. I added a touch of silver in the wheels and bell.

Thank you for stopping by today. Hope you are having a fantastic day and creating wonderfully exciting cards yourself...

Till next time…

God Bless You and Yours

Helping New Crafters… Stamp Positioning Tools

Thank you for dropping in today. This is really going to be a very different article for me but I wanted to share some of this with you.

Before I start – I think it is important for you to understand that I am totally independent. No one pays me for mentioning their products. I am not reimbursed by anyone. These are totally my ideas and findings. I may be influenced by what I see on line, but when I present a project, the work is mine and not a copy of someone else’s.

During the past few weeks, I have meet several ladies who are hoping to find an affordable hobby for their leisure hours and hopeful retirement.  One lady wants to do projects like mine with unique backgrounds and stamped verses. She purchased some used wood block stamps just before she retired but is now looking to expand. When she looked at my collection, she was amazed that I have basically clear stamps and that they are flexible. I then showed her how to use them with a clear block. We talked a little about how to correct an under-inked image and how the image might not be a perfect match with the blocks. Then I showed her MISTI and the advantages of this type of tool. She is a gifted crafter and loves the idea of creating her own cards but is overwhelmed by the cost factors for the tools that so many of us more seasoned crafters have.

Most of you reading this are familiar with the MISTI and their wonderful new accessories. If not, you may want to view this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN_EWtyKLTQ. I have owned mine for the past few years and would be lost without it. 

I decided to see if there are any other similar devices that might help get a new crafter started before purchasing a more expensive unit. Before suggesting anything, I ordered a LeCrea Stamping Tool, Art.nr. 55.3226 for $13.99 from Ecstasy Crafts. It resembles an embossing flat folder with a 3/8” square grid printed pattern on one side and impressed ¾” grid on the other. No magnetic back to hold paper in place but recommends using removable tape. I think this would work with the most of clear stamps. The package offers decent directions.

There is also from Ecstasy Crafts a device called Nelle’s Choice Stamping Buddy for $25.75. It is similar to MISTI in design with only 2 ruler sides marked in both cm and inches.  It has the magnetic base to aid with holding the paper in place. 

Tim Holtz has introduced his Tonic Craft Stamp Platform #1707E for a suggested $34.99 which can be purchased at Simon Says. I do not own one but from what I have been seeing and reading on other sites, it is a great product at a decent price. Thought you might like to view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbaVgnp3LaM. Seems like an honest review.

Stampin’ Up will be releasing a very unique product later this year called a Stamparatus. It is designed for multiple uses using two reversible plates– again I thought you might like this preview video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpi4aW8FBLo. I am looking forward to getting mine – hopefully it will arrive by my birthday.

If you are aware of other devices, would you mind posting it in the comments section below. Our new crafters may be interested as it might fit their personal craft needs.

Thank you again for visiting today. Hope you return soon.

May God Bless You and Yours

For a New Adventure…

It was with mixed emotions that this card came about. Dear friends of ours have decided to relocate to what sounds like their perfect dream farm in another state. We are so excited for them and their new adventure but extremely saddened to see them leave their beautiful home and all of us here. Of course, we only wish them the best for the years to come.

For this card, we wanted to symbolically express our feelings without a lot of sentimental phrases. So, since the white rose is the symbol of love and purity, that would become the focal point.

Gold is usually considered the color of life and wisdom, Therefore, the combination of gold and white became the color theme. However, wanting to know more about the meanings associated with gold, we discovered an interesting site. According to “Symbolic Means Blog by Avia Venefica,” it stated that “in Christian symbolism, gold is considered an attribute of virtue and golden hues are used quite often in Christian art to convey divine love.”

Well, let’s hope that message will be conveyed with this card.

Materials used:

Stamp – God Bless You – from Stampin’ Up’s Trust God collection.

Dies – flower from Heartfelt Creations – Vintage Floret

Dies – leaves and frame – Unbranded

Paper – 2 shades of gold pearlescent cardstock for frame and leaves

Flower – White 0.6mm Foamiran

Flower centers - shaded with Memento’s Pistachio and USArtQuest’s Express-O-Yourself Prills

Thank you for stopping by today. I have enjoyed this visit and hope to you have too.

Till later,

May God Bless You and Yours

W. I. P.

Hello and welcome to Cards, My Way.

I’m very excited to share with you today, a card that is a “work in progress.” Years ago, when first starting into this fantastic hobby of cardmaking, we attended a Scrapbook/Cardmaking trade show in Livonia, Michigan. Being new to the hobby, I just wanted to get some idea what was available besides what the hobby stores offered. That was when we discovered Rubber Stamp Tapestry and their concept of creating with peg stamps.

If you are not familiar with peg stamps, they allow you to create your own unique designs. Each peg offers a small impression with which you can creative beautiful arrangements, backgrounds and use as accents with other stamps in your collection.

The card front, when finished, will grace an easel-based card format.

Well, I need to get back and finish up. This card needs to be delivered in a few days and I do not want to be late! 

PS: Here is the finished card, ready to deliver!  

Products:

Rubber Stamp Tapestry: SFL34068 Cherry Blossoms. WOR38122B Perfectly Happy

Inks: Versa Color: 16 Peony, 26 Boysenberry, 174 Charcoal, 184 Misty Mauve

Ink: Memento: Lulu Lavender

Ink: Brilliance: Pearlescent Ivy

Papers: Elizabeth Crafts: White

Paper: Metallic Gunmetal

   

  

Till next time … God Bless You and Yours