Gothic Arches

A new challenge this week from Gothic Arches after a brief hiatus. Glad they are back because I really enjoy making these. Their theme this week was "Guardian Angels."

I stamped flourishes (Rhonna Farrer) and this scripture verse (Stampabilities) in the background. I embossed the top flourish (Technique Tuesday) and the faux fibers (Hero Arts) on the bottom. The image is from Crafty Secrets and I gold embossed the edges of that too. Instead of brads in the center of my flowers I just added a little embossing powder to those.

Valentine Tree

I warned you here you'd be seeing more of this little tree stamp, so here is my Valentine's Day interpretation.

I resisted the urge to put heart buttons all over the tree this time and just let the one stand alone. But it was blue so I had to emboss it with red embossing powder (used the red distress EP by Tim Holtz). I outlined the stitching and tree with a brown watercolor pencil and then went over it with my blending pen. I then added some white with my Marvy opaque pen for snow and snowdrops. Finally, I outlined some of the branches and the bottom with my Zig glue pen so I could add a bit of glitter.

I'm probably the last person on earth to do this, but I was so thrilled with my corner buttons. I circled punched them and then punched two smaller circles in the center to create paper buttons! I was going to thread them with some gold cord, but the cord was too big for the holes and the gold outer layer came off as I was trying to thread it. Turns out I like the twine that was underneath it better anyway, so I threaded the buttons with that.

Well, shamrocks or Easter eggs will be hanging from this tree next!

Other stamps used: Stitching border (Hero Arts); I Love You (Studio G/Clear Stamps).

My Treasure Box

When I saw that the challenge over at SALT this week was to use this scripture verse from Matthew, I knew I wanted to participate in some way. It's always been a favorite of mine. When I first started cardmaking, I put this verse on everything!
I created this little treasure box from a matchbox I altered (the matches were wooden, a little larger in size). I had a sticker of this verse, so that was easy enough. Now what to put inside?Well, the perfect thing: Scripture verse cards! Found them sitting in a draw with a rubber band around them and knew this would be perfect for my treasure box!

Over the years, I think I've read this verse many different ways. But I think what I've enclosed in this box best illustrates what my treasure is and where my heart is.

A Couple More Winter Cards

This card didn't photograph real well (maybe because of the sparkle in the paper), but I really like this stamp from StampinUp. The snowflake border is from Hero Arts. Again, you can't tell from the picture but I stamped the border with Brilliance inks and it adds nicely to the sparkle in the card.

I wanted to use this snowman at least once this winter -- he's from Art Impressions. He's my second favorite snowman stamp. Used to be first, but he recently got replaced by this guy. Also used my paper lace from Mary.

I made this card just to prove I can make a winter card that is not blue and white! I silver embossed the background with a snowflake stamp from Stampington. The image is from Crafty Secrets. I applied the snowflake rub-on to a metal tag. The sentiment at the bottom is a PSX stamp which I like -- actually think I can use it for any season.

Christmas Clearance Fun and an RAK

Found these matchboxes (full of wooden matches) in the Christmas clearance aisle at Target. Thought they'd be perfect to add votives to -- along with a couple of matches -- as a Valentine's Day gift. The box is pretty as is, but can also be altered. I also stamped "Now and Forever" on a strip of paper to wrap around the votives. Lots of possibilities here.

Was I ever thrilled to get an e-mail from fellow Gingerwoodie, Mary O, asking me if I could use some self-adhesive paper lace she had gotten from the Dollar Store. Since I've been in total withdrawal since I used mine all up, I readily said, "YES!" I received it yesterday and have already used it. Thank you, Mary!

Want to share few odds and ends I found at after-Christmas sales. Like this package of gold photo frames from Wal-Mart which cost a whopping 45 cents. All kinds of ideas for these (which include using the picture of this darling boy in the frame).

One of my ideas included using these as a frame for the Holy Tryptich set from StampinUp that I struggled with so much. The gold is a great frame for them although the picture does not do it justice.

I figured these can be used as ornaments or as mini cards.

I used one of them to make this card. The border stamp on top is by Hero Arts.

I picked these book ornaments up at Wal-Mart as well for 35 cents each. They are darling! They are complete hardcover notebooks. Not exactly sure how I'll use these yet. Any ideas anyone?

These mini gift tags from Target were too good to pass up. I knew I could easily use them for cards. They came in package of 12 for less than $2. Lovely winter scenes. I made the simple card below with one of the designs.

Arch Card for Wednesday Stamper

Wednesday Stamper started off the new year with a gothic arch challenge -- which is good because the challenges from Gothic Arches have been on hiatus for two weeks and I've really missed them.

For my arch I used stamps from Studio G (background flowers), Treasure (Heidi Swapp), mother and child (Artistic Outpost), and Time to Remember (Rubber Stampede).

Winter Cards

We woke up to the first day of 2008 and found a winter wonderland. What a beautiful sight it was outside. Felt very inspired by it to create these winter cards.

Just love this little skater from Magenta. I attached her to some speciality paper I had which looks just like snowflakes and then also attached that to some silver embossed snowflakes (Art Impressions). The sentiment is from Studio G clear stamps. This card was made from a woods scene stamp from Northwoods. After coloring it I decided it would have more "punch" if I punched it into three pieces for this card. I colored it using watercolor pencils and a silver glitter gel pen for some sparkle.

Happy New Year!

There's only about eight hours left in this year and so I wanted to post my ATC for Think Monday, Think ATC before the year is out. Their theme was color -- what colors represented the new year. I have to admit that had me stumped. My thoughts were more on the passage of time. So I brought some different colors into my "time" ATC through an alcohol ink background.

This year will be a big one for me in many ways which is why the passing of time is so much on my mind. Next month I'll turn 50; in May my only child will graduate college; in July I'll celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary; and August will mark 30 years I have been at my job. 2008 is looking to be quite the year!

Happy New Year to all of you! May the year bring us all hope, joy, and peace in our hearts.

Inchies Swap

I've been participating in an inchies swap for the last couple of months that has been hosted by Joanne over at Made by Joanne. This month's theme was just posted, but as I had lots of time yesterday, I got mine done. The theme this month is love.

In lieu of sending postage Joanne asks we send her an ATC or something like that, so I tried to make a coordinating ATC. After working with the inchies, the ATC seemed like an enormous area to work on!

For my inchies and ATC I used a love text background stamp by Hampton Art. With the inchies I punched it so that the phrase "blew her a kiss" would stand out at the top. I also wanted to incorporate in part of the inchies these paper roses I've been hanging onto for years now that I found in an antique shop. Time to use them up! The female images come from Paperbag Studios.

This is a variation of a card I made for a challenge over at Stampin D'Amour. I've used a stamp by Stampland called Alice Reading. The background harlequin stamp is a Studio G stamp. The open book is from See-D's.