stamped with tlc

I was watching this Gina K tutorial when my 10 yo niece started watching with me. She said, "I would like to make a card like that." So, she did. I helped with the masking and matting, but she did all of the ink blending and stamping on her own.  (Pretty sure she is better at blending inks that I am!) The ink colours are CTMH Ruby, Tangerine, Green Apple, and Lagoon. She used a couple retired CTMH stamp sets: Love so Sweet (a stamp of the month from 2019) and Little Dreamer Scrapbooking stamp set. The "Love You" sentiment is a die from Sizzix Stephanie Barnard Framelits Step-Ups. I'm happy that she wants to create pretty things, just like her aunt! :)  I hope we get to create together again soon.

Not real ones, thankfully! I've been watching some of Gina K's Lives for the past couple of weeks. On Friday, she showed some masculine cards, and I was just blown away by her woodgrain technique that she showcased in her video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYiy54o2YC8&t=18s ).  It might be an old technique, but I hadn't seen it before so I was amazed and quickly completed some backgrounds on the weekend.  If you haven't seen the technique, watch the video - seriously, it's awesome AND easy. I also watched her Merry Monday Live, on well...Monday. She showed a "carved wood" technique.  MIND BLOWN AGAIN. (See it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MwvaMa7Zc0&t=15s ) So, I thought I would try my hand at making "carved wood."  Now, I don't have many stencils, and I did try one, but couldn't get an impression. I used an embossing folder from SU! called Winter Wonder.  Apparently this is an old technique that she used to d...

I'm participating in the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop .  My card is does not have a Spring/Summer theme - but it's never too early for Christmas, right? Last year, I started my Christmas cards in January - this year, I waited until yesterday to make my first Christmas card.  I just haven't been feeling the Christmas vibe so far this year. But I am pleased with how this one turned out! Supplies used: Caffeinated Christmas stamp set (sentiment) by Becca Cruger SU! Hang your Stocking (holly leaves) SU! Coffee Café (thinlits) Tim Holtz Alterations Coffee Embossing Folder SU! Merry Music and Be of Good Cheer DSP Cardstock: black, SU! Real Red and Gumball Green, CTMH White Daisy Other: CTMH Red Enamel Gems, white detail embossing powder, SU! Gumball Green ink I have been making more "other" cards - Birthday, Thinking of You, Sympathy - to compensate for the lack of Christmas card-making - so I haven't totally lost my card-ma...

I'm participating in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge .  Here's the sketch for this week: And here is my interpretation: I cut the pieces for my CTMH Aurora Card-Making kit on Monday, then I peeked at the AHSC for this week.  I used the pieces I had leftover from the card kit (with the exception of the Sapphire card base - that was extra!) I added some Bitty Sparkles to some of the stars, and layered some acetate between the Juniper globe Thin Cut and the Sapphire circle- which I think looks kinda cool. I popped up the banner and globe with some foam tape - and voila! I can think of so many people who need this message right now - or any message, just to let them know that someone is thinking of them. This pandemic is so tough on families and friends.  Hang in there, everyone!

In Nova Scotia, we are working on week 8 under a provincial state of emergency (since March 22).  The state of emergency is in place until May 17, unless it is extended.  I've been working from home the entire time. I don't mind working from home (and the dog definitely enjoys it) but I'm missing the social connections that working from the office brings. I'm also missing my family so much. I usually go and spend Easter weekend with my sister and her family.  My niece's birthday is tomorrow as well - I'm missing that. It just makes me sad. I've been trying to keep busy with paper crafting. I put together a 6x8 album kit from Close to My Heart, an old CTMH card kit (that I actually forgot I had!), and some other assorted cards. This is a retirement card I made using the Through Thick and Thin stamp set from Close to My Heart. This set was one of the card-making bundles for National Scrapbooking Day.  One of my friends from work retired at the end ...

I worked on a couple of birthday cards in the recent past.  This one: I used the CTMH Hawthorn paper pack, and card-making stamp set and the CTMH You're Not Old stamp set (all retired). It always seems like I don't get a chance to make anything while the products are still current!  I used a sponge dauber on the faux corrugated cardboard paper to colour the edges so they weren't so white. I feel like it needs a little something else. I made this card a week and a half ago, and I haven't decided yet what it "needs." :) I also made this one on the weekend, using a shell stencil from Dollarama to make my own patterned paper.  I used CTMH Peacock, Lagoon and Glacier inks and a blender brush with the stencil.  I used the Little Dreamer stamp set (for the banner and Thin Cut), Friendly Wishes (for the sentiment) and Swirly Seashells (all retired!) for the seashell in the middle. If I had to do it over again, I might emboss the shell to make it stand o...

Yesterday was a gorgeous, sunny day for February...so I thought I'd make a gorgeous, sunny-themed birthday card.  I'm putting a birthday sentiment on the inside. I used the retired No Worries paper pack from CTMH. I had some leftover pieces from scrapbooking my vacation to the DR a few years ago. I love the flip flop die (no name). I also used the CTMH white Burlap Ribbon, wood grain sequins that coordinated with the paper, and glacier, colonial white, cashmere and sapphire card stock. I'll have to look up what stamp set the "sending warm thoughts" sentiment comes from (I didn't write it down). Just wanted to share this card real quick, because it makes me happy! :)

Twelve years ago, my life changed on January 28th. My mom, my best friend, passed away from lung cancer at the age of 51.  I miss her so much everyday but yesterday was hard.  I always think of what my Mom meant to me - but yesterday I thought about what she is missing.  She's missing being a Nan to my sister's children and a Great Nan to my niece's baby boy.  I cried a lot for everyone who is missing her. January 28th is a hard day...even harder 12 years later. So, I created this card in memory of my Mom, using the CTMH stamp set called Angel Hugs.  It reminds me of the Willow Tree figurines that my mom used to buy for me. The sentiment is from a retired CTMH stamp set called Take Heart. The angel wings are cut from vellum and covered with the clear shimmer brush. I used CTMH's Spruced Up paper collection - which is my favourite collection in a long time.   I based my card on the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge  sketch #353 below:...