stamped with tlc

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 ...