1st Watercolor Card Ever!

I've been reluctant to get on the watercolor trend. It's been intimidating to me and I just didn't think I would enjoy it. BUT...I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos lately that use watercolor...so I took the plunge and bought the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor markers. It was a bit of an investment, but I did it!

So, I've been playing a little bit and nothing too fancy, but here's my first card. I think the sentiment kind of gets lost on this first attempt, so I'll have to try something else, maybe in black? Or maybe it's the color that it's embossed on, I'm not sure. I used the watercolor markers and blended out with a water pen. Then I sprayed some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist over it. Then I embossed with Ranger Silver Fine Detail embossing powder and then mounted the panel on a black card base. It's a starting point...I need lots more practice, but I was pretty pleased with the overall result!

I Swear I've Still Been Crafting!

It's been awhile since I posted, but I really have been doing some crafty things. Not as much as I would like, but a few things I've been working on. I'm not ready to show some of them, but I did want to share the Mother's Day cards I made before I forgot. This year I made cards for my mom, my mother-in-law, my stepmother-in-law and my husband's granny. They were actually really fun and pretty simple once I figured out the size I wanted to make them. They were all hand delivered so I didn't worry about the thickness of them and they all fit in 5x7 envelopes. I put a small charm on each card that says "love" and the flowers pull out of the flower pot to reveal a message. I didn't take any of those pics though! Enjoy!

This one used CTMH "Blossom" paper and some CTMH retired paper flowers. 

I believe this paper is CTMH "Bella" and I used a variety of silk, paper and knitted flowers from my stash. 

This paper is CTMH "Mayberry" and again a variety of flowers.

This card uses CTMH "Sophia" paper and again a variety of flowers.

Homespun 6x6 Paper Pad by Simple Stories - Part 2

I'm still working on this first 6x6 paper pad...but I think I'm finally down to just scraps...but I think I can get a few more cards out of it, so I'm not done yet!!! Here's what I've done since Part 1. (These 7 cards bring my total to 15 so far...I think).

I love this layout...and will use it again real soon! (Maybe with every paper pack I make in the future...LOL) I used Outdoor Denim cardstock to matte everything and Outdoor Denim ink to distress the edges and for the stamped sentiment. The sentiment stamp is from PTI. I used a little bit of red shimmer trim behind the small punched heart for a little sparkle...just the right touch!

Here's a close up of the shimmer trim...love!

These next three cards are all the same sketch...all matted with Outdoor Denim and stamped with a sentiment from CTMH also in Outdoor Denim. I used embossing folders from CTMH on the 2nd and 3rd card for some interest. The little metal embellishments are from the Honey and Smoothie Mini-Medleys. (I stocked up on those when they were on clearance...love the look!)

This next card was a struggle for me...I didn't really think it out ahead of time, but I'm pleased with the outcome. I used some red shimmer trim on the inside of the card which you can see in the 2nd picture. I used Honey cardstock from CTMH for the card base and matting.

These two cards use the same sketch and I loved the mix of pattern papers. Both cards are matted with kraft paper too...which I LOVE to use! In the close up pictures, you'll see the bling I used in the stamped images. I'm not sure if I love the Honey cardstock behind the sewing machine...still contemplating changing it to red.

Assortment of Goofy Cards

I had precut the patterned paper and Goofy faces for these cards quite some time ago, but never finished them. One of my goals this year is to get my "in progress" box under control, so I decided to tackle these this past week. I decided to keep the layouts basically the same, but do an assortment of sentiments. They are pretty flat, so easy for mailing as well. Pretty simple & kid friendly.

Here's what I started out with. I'm not sure what brand the orange card base is, but it's REALLY bright, so I wanted to cover up most of it. I matted the patterned paper on black cardstock (Recollections brand from Michael's). The Goofy squares were cut from a page of Disney characters, some are matte, some are glossy.

I cut all the frames for Goofy on my Cricut. 

I used different hardware on each of these cards. One is colorful brads, one has rhinestones and then the 3rd has small black brads.

There are 3 each of these sentiments as well. 

Homespun 6x6 Paper Pad by Simple Stories - Part 1

I have recently purchased several (ok...A LOT) of 6x6 paper pads in hopes of making sets of cards that match or coordinate, but have various themes. I have studied this blog: http://eponinekc.blogspot.com and this blog: http://airbornewifestamping.blogspot.com as inspiration on how they use up the 6x6 paper pads completely. I used some of their sketches (thankfully they posted some measurements too!) to help get me moving in the right direction.

I know I have TONS of 12x12 papers I could be using, but I love the scale of the 6x6 packs for cards. Smaller prints and a variety of papers that all match are GLORIOUS! I didn't really have a goal of how many cards I wanted to get out of this one paper pad, I just wanted to use it all up and have fabulous cards. I also didn't know how long it would take me to finish up this set...I made the first 8 cards pretty easily, then needed a break from the paper. 

I started with Simple Stories Homespun papers...and here's how this first group of cards went.

I made 2 of these cards. I added some glitter shimmer trim in bronze (CTMH). I used Honey and Colonial White cardstock (CTMH) for the base, matting, and stamping. The ink is Outdoor Denim (CTMH) and I added a few button brads in Honey (CTMH). Stamp is also CTMH.

I made two of these as well. I used Outdoor Denim cardstock (CTMH) for the card base and matting. The green cardstock is DCWV. I also used some twine (Hobby Lobby) and bling (CTMH & Want2Scrap) for a little extra flair. I believe the butterfly punch is EK Success.

These two cards used the same layout on the front, but I wanted to do a little something special for the birthday card. It's for my mom, so I wanted to do an easel card. The picture is a little blurry...oops. The turquoise cardstock used for matting is DCWV. I used Colonial White cardstock (CTMH) for the base of the easel card and for all the stamping. I added a little bit of red shimmer trim (CTMH) to both cards and teh flower, brad, and all the itty bling are also CTMH. I used a border punch on both cards as well. All stamps & ink are CTMH.

AS you can see from this angle, I used another strip of red shimmer trim and then two glittery turquoise brads on the inside of the card, which helps keep it standing for display. There's enough room above the brads for me to write a message. All stamps and ink are CTMH.

I used Outdoor Denim cardstock (CTMH) for the card base and matting on both of these cards. The card on the left I used a scrap of gold cardstock (DCWV) and a border punch under the sentiment. On the 2nd card I used some twine (CTMH) tied around the card for a little something extra. Stamp & Ink also CTMH.

After these first 8, I had to take a break from this paper. We also hung some shelving above my desk area and I needed to get myself re-organized. Once I finish the whole pad, I'll take a group shot of all the cards and post a "Part 2".

Thanks for taking a look!

Bowl Of Cherries

I started these cards about 2 years ago...EEK!! I saw the layout somewhere and thought it would be cute and easy (it was) and then I selected some paper I thought for sure would be easy to embellish (it was not). I don't know why I struggled so long...I had the cherry stamp set this whole time! Anyways, this weekend I started going through a box of "In Progress" cards and I was determined to finish SOMETHING.

I chose a green glitter paper for the scallop circle, stamped the focal point and then used some foam tape to pop it up. I love how it turned out. The inside is stamped with a pretty versatile sentiment, so I can use these cards for a variety of things. 

Card base & Patterned Paper, Recollections. Glitter Paper, DCWV. White Daisy Cardstock & All Stamps & Inks, CTMH.

Close up so you can see the glitter paper.

Again, all stamps and ink, CTMH.

Baby Girl & Birthday Cards

Here's another baby girl card. I'm not really sure how many cards my MIL is going to need (she isn't sure what the sex of one of the babies will be) so I'm just trying to make a few and she can pick what she likes. It won't hurt to have a few baby cards in my box for future use.

I used CTMH Grey Wool and White Daisy cardstock. The inks used were CTMH Grey Wool and Cotton Candy. I know the polka dot and grey washi tapes are CTMH, not sure about the yellow chevron. The stamps are both CTMH as well.

I also made a few birthday cards using this pattern. The first one I used pretty much like the inspiration card I found, but I didn't really care for it. The 2nd card I added some layering and loved how it turned out. What do you think?