stamped with tlc

I did another card from this week's  Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge  (sketch #469). This time, I did a Christmas card! I used Gina K's woodgraining technique (you can find a tutorial here ). I also used Distress Frosted Crystal embossing powder; here's a close-up of the effect: For the snowflakes and the sentiment, I cut the shapes out twice and glued them together to make them thicker. Very happy with how this one turned out! :) Supplies : Dies: Merry Christmas sentiment (unbranded), Tim Holtz Sizzix Holiday Greens Mini, Pink & Main Stitched Slimline, SU! Snowfall Thinlits Paper: SU! Mossy Meadow, Real Red and Very Vanilla cardstock, Recollections Gold Foil cardstock Ink: Distress Oxide Vintage Photo, SU! Crumb Cake Embellishments: Distress Frosted Crystal embossing powder, CTMH Gold Bling Gems

It has been awhile since I participated in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge , so yesterday I popped on to see what the sketch was this week. I need a graduation card for my niece who is graduating from elementary school this June, so I thought I'd allow this sketch to give me inspiration! This is what I came up with:  I made it in the school colours (red and gray).  This is also (I think) the first time I've ever made a slimline card. I like how it turned out! Supplies: Cardstock: Recollections Black and Gold Foil; SU! Real Red, Smokey Slate, and Whisper White; and Gina K Wild Dandelion Stamps: CTMH You Did It, Just a Little Something, and Time to Celebrate Dies: SU! Stitched Circles and unbranded slimline scalloped rectangle 

I was watching crafty YouTube videos before work one morning this past week and came across this simple gift box tutorial by PootlesPapercraft: How To Make a Gorgeous Be Dazzling Box using Stampin' Up! Supplies - YouTube I never try gift boxes, because they all look so complicated and I need things that look "easy" - I fully admit to being a lazy papercrafter some (most?) days.  But I had the SU! Be Dazzling specialty paper, so I thought, hey, why not try this out? I needed a birthday gift box for a little trinket and a gift card, so this was the perfect size. This box was super easy.  I switched out the cardstock that Sam used for Melon Mambo (my favourite pink!) Hot tip : Like Sam, I always have clothespins kicking around my craft area, but I think this is the first time I've actually had to use them for pinning something together until the glue dries. Very useful!!  I just used a glue runner on the cardstock base, because it was strong enough to hold together. On t...

Happy Wednesday! I have been meaning to post this card for the past week or so, but just didn't get around to it. This was my first attempt at playing with the Distress Frosted Crystal embossing powder and I love, love, love the effect. It's hard to get a good picture, but I tried! Here's a close-up: (PS - The best part about using Distress Oxide inks is that they stay wet long enough to emboss!) I've been playing with a lot of Tim Holtz products lately and I have no idea what took me so long to get on Tim's band wagon.  There's so much to learn about his products and he's always releasing something new. Here's the finished card. I think it looks lovely, and even better in person! Supplies: - Paper: SU! Very Vanilla and Mossy Meadow cardstock; This Christmas DSP - Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz Christmas Ribbon and Poinsettia Pieces - Inks: Distress Oxide Fired Brick and Spiced Marmalade - Embossing powder: Tim Holtz Distress ...

It's been awhile, friends! I haven't stopped creating, I just haven't been posting.  I thought I'd kick off my first blog post in awhile with a funny story. You know...I have a lot of crafty things. Stamps, dies, embossing folders, inks, patterned paper, cardstock... I think ANY type of crafter can relate.  I buy things when they are on sale, or just in case I think I will use them.   Well, this story starts out with a new purchase... one of the new Tim Holtz Sizzix releases called " Cozy Winter ." I watched Tim's live release on YouTube and hemmed and hawed about getting it. I held out about 2 months before I got it. The dies allowed me to create these cute lil gems: The fact that the bear was holding a coffee cup was actually the part of the die collection that sold me.  The collection also came with some snowflakes and a woodpecker sitting on a limb - but the bear with the coffee cup - THAT did it. It honestly took awhile for me to put together all four...

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:...

These are most of the Christmas card-styles I made for 2019. I created 234 to use and to sell - I may not be done either! Lots of these cards are inspired by cards I've seen on Facebook or Pinterest, but there are some that are my own designs. I love Christmas, and enjoy creating Christmas cards year-round. In fact, I almost exclusively make Christmas cards!

I need to be a better blogger - seems I say that every year. In any event, here are some Valentine's Day cards I made for my friends and fam. My fave is the card with the poop emojis.  I made this for my niece, because poop emojis are our 'thing.' When she was little, before she could read or write, she used to text me using emojis. When she found the poop emoji, she was so tickled. Everytime I received a text from my sister,  I always knew when it was Ems. Sweet memory.

Happy sunshine-y Thursday everyone! It's a gorgeous day here in NS, and I'd much rather be outside on my deck drinking coffee, than at work, sitting at my desk, drinking coffee. But I digress... This is my entry into the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge  this week. I didn't want to do a traditional floral wreath, as depicted in the sketch, so I thought I'd branch out and try a coffee cup wreath? :) This card is also my entry in the Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop ! I discovered this blog hop just a few days ago, and I thought I'd create a coffee-themed card - because I am, in fact, a Coffee Lover! Supplies : SU! Coffee Break Suite including: Coffee Cafe stamp set, Coffee Cups dies and Coffee Break DSP and coordinating card stock (Chocolate Chip and Pear Pizzazz) SU! French Foliage stamp set Paper Pumpkin March 2018 "May Good Things Grow" stamp set (for the Happy Birthday) CTMH Gold Pearls Forever in Time natural burlap tape

Happy 2018! I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. Yikes!  Hopefully 2018 will be a better blog year for me. I created these cards with the retired CTMH Zoe paper pack and several current and retired CTMH products.  I am donating them to an annual online auction we have at work. I'm a paper hoarder (like many paper crafters i know!) so I am trying to use up some of my older papers. I loved doing this set of cards and decorated tin.  Super cute and easy - and I still have some leftover Zoe paper for other projects.

Good Tuesday morning to you all!  I'm participating in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this week, and this is the sketch. When I saw the sketch on Monday morning, I just knew I had to participate and I knew JUST the paper pack I was going to use. CTMH's No Worries was a no-brainer; it is by far my FAVOURITE paper pack in Seasonal Expressions 2 and I will be sad to see it go at the end of this month.  I may have stocked up... I also ordered some banner dies online, and they arrived a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't ask for a more perfect sketch on which to try them out!  Then I remembered my beachy dies that arrived around the same time - and my idea for the sketch was born. (I may have been going a little crazy lately, ordering dies from overseas - SO cheap and SO cute. They take some time to get here, but it's so exciting when I go to the mail box and see those white plastic envelopes addressed to ME!! :) But, I digress...) I am so excited to share my f...

Just popping in to show off a card for my mother-in-law's birthday next week. I used the No Worries paper pack, Cashmere and White Daisy cardstock, white burlap ribbon, and No Worries sequins (all CTMH). I also used CTMH Keyboard Uppercase Alpha stamp set. I used some SU! products too - notably the Large Numbers Framelits, Chocolate Chip ink, and Glimmer Paper Assortment pack - Bermuda Bay (thank you, Sale-a-bration!) I added some Liquid Glass to my glimmer paper 39 - to give it an extra layer. I'd always wanted to try adding LG to a die cut, but I was unsure how messy it would be plus, I just don't like to ruin things. But I gave it a try and absolutely LOVE how it came out! It was super easy to apply the LG, I just traced around the numbers (not particularly close to the edges) and used the applicator tip to move the LG around. The glimmer paper is somewhat forgiving, because it's glittery and beautiful as is, so I'm not sure how I would do on a plain old ...

I'm so in love with CTMH's No Worries patterned paper. I completed the scrapbooking Workshop Your Way (my first one ever!) - just have to get the pictures printed for the layouts. I've also been making some cards using this paper pack (and coordinating stamp sets and embellies). I used this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge sketch as inspiration for my latest card. This is the sketch: This is my interpretation of the sketch: Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at my card! :) Supplies : Paper: No Worries patterned paper, White Daisy and Cashmere cardstock (all CTMH) Ink: Cashmere, Sapphire, Seaglass, Black and Saffron (all CTMH) Stamps: No Worries Card-Making stamp set, My Anchor, Little Dreamer Card-Making stamp set (All CTMH) Embellishments: CTMH White Burlap ribbon, 3D foam tape