A Wonderful Day

I am a big gnome fan so you can imagine how excited I was to see the new gnome and gnome related rubber that just came out at DRS Designs.

I started this card off stamping the new Tree Slice Woodgrain image a few times  on kraft paper and cutting them out.  Next, I stamped the new Tree Home Gnome and cut out the gnome and part of the tree and door.  I affixed the tree and door to the side of my card and then popped up the gnome. The new Wonderful Day Gnome Greeting was stamped and then cut out in banner strips.  For extra interest, I splattered some brown paint and stenciled on some diamonds using white acrylic paint.  Quick and easy and lots of fun!  Inside is another gnome and the rest of the greeting (gnome matter what).

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Hugz!

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Bible Journaling with the Flower Cross

I have been doing a lot of Bible Journaling lately. It has been very comforting.  Today, I used the Flower Cross Image to journal in Proverbs 24: 19-20 and in 1 Peter 4:7-8.  

Proverbs 24 19-20 are great verses when dealing with people who are not honest or do things underhandedly.  

I stamped the image, colored it with water color pencils, then I used a diamond stencil with several colors of blue and some white and black to make the background.  Then I traced over the image with a Micron pen to make it pop out more after the water colors blurred it a bit.  

Next, in 1 Peter 4:7-8, I focused on Peter's warning to make sure we are being watchful in our prayers and have fervent love for each other.  Making sure we are recognizing sin and asking God to help us.  Fervent love is an active, warm, and intense love and care for others. 

I stamped the cross and did a little different water coloring with a blue around the cross and more peach in the background.  I did a wonderful wreath with this same Flower Cross HERE.  I deconstructed it to do the flowers and leaves.  

Hope your week is going well!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Very, Very CAS Valentne

Getting busying making some Valentines Cards for the kids to give out.  This is one I thought would be sort of easy for the kids to do, but Lewis took one look at it and said he didn't want to make it. He wanted to do them with lips.  I have a few ideas for how to accomplish that, but I am not sure his Mom would go for them. LOL.

To do this card, I swiped some water colors in quick motions, splattered on some paint and drew in a few hearts.  After it dried, I stamped the Hugs, Kisses Valentine Wishes Greeting.  

Valentines is just around the corner - this year is already moving at light speed for me!

Hugz!!

Nancy

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Christmas Village Valentine Ideas

Hello friends!

The new All in 1 Christmas Village has really inspired me. 

I made two Valentine's cards using it.  The first one uses the All in 1 Christmas Village and the Hugs Kisses Valentine Wishes Greeting.  I drew in some hearts coming out of the fireplace on the little bottom cottage and I added some pine needles on the sides with a black pen and a white gel pen.

On the second card, I watercolored a black sky and a moon and added the Love You to the Moon Greeting. 

Many hugz,

Nancy

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Made Up Roses

Hello friends.

Isn't it fun when you have an idea and it works out?  When I was thinking about how to color up this card, I was watching my daughter put on her make-up.  She is a LimeLife consultant and has all the coolest make up colors.  The blush she was putting on looked like a perfect color for the roses.  Then a pretty eye-shadow seemed perfect for the "leaves."  She loves this card and is now able to add a new use for her make-up to her list!

To make this card, I stamped the Flower Cross 10 times.  Lewis, my 3 year old Grandson, and I colored the roses with our fingers.  We lightly touched the blushes (they are highly pigmented) and rubbed them on the roses.  Then we touched some eye-shadow and colored up the cross ends.  I then cut up the crosses and used the ends as the leaves on the wreath.  I lightly brushed the embossed white bg with one of her make-up brushes.  To finish it off, I stamped the Love You to the Moon Greeting, cut out the love word, and  added Stickles, gems, and a heart charm.

Hope your week is going well!

Many hugz,

Nancy

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Warm Thoughts and a Thank You

Hello friends.  Hope your week is going well and you had a wonderful New Year's celebration.  I read a good book and went to bed early.  Due to the rain around here, the fireworks didn't wake me.

Today, I have two cards done using the same image but different sentiments plus a quick Thank You card.

I used the new All in 1 Christmas Village image colored with alcohol markers.  I added a tree line in the background using markers and finished it off with the  Christmas Especially To You greeting and some Snowtex.

I took the same image and made it into a winter card by changing the sentiment to the Warm Thoughts 1 Line Greeting.

Lastly, I needed some quick Thank You cards so I used a SCS challenge to inspire me.  The Challenge was to use embossing folders to stamp backgrounds.

To make this background, I inked up an embossing folder with two different distress inks and then misted them with water.  Next, I closed the folder and pressed hard. This is so easy!  I stamped the Brush Thank You, added a bit of Snowtex, and it was done.  The Brush Thank You greeting is large enough to not get lost in this background.

Wishing you a wonderful 2019.

Hugz,

Nancy

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Wood, Snow and a Fishing Pole!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday.  I sure did!

Today I have three cards using the same base card, but I changed them all up by using a variety of different stamps.

I was inspired by THIS fun Snowman Sign at The Lakeside Collection.  I stamped the Wood Grain Background on Kraft using Memento Black and a MISTI.  Then I  heat embossed the Snow Better Friend Greeting with Versamark and white embossing powder.  I made a little snowman using a circle punch and a scrap of orange paper for his nose.  I dusted the whole thing with some SnowTex to finish it off, but it still needed something. I had made some snowflakes using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowflakes Die and one was mangled on my floor.  I cut it up and used parts of it to finish off the card.

I loved the wood look so I made two more card bases using the Wood Grain Background stamp.  On this card, I used the Three Wooded Crosses and the new The Way, The Truth and the Life Greeting. I added more Snowtex on the hill to make it look more like a Christmas card.

Then, my Grandson, Lewis, wanted to make a New Years card with some fishing poles - he picked them out.  We got a bit too much embossing powder on this one but it looks extra festive and is perfect for a fisherman!  We used the Fishing Pole and the Happy New Year Circle Greeting.  I was asked how I get such a thin coat of Snowtex on these cards.  I made sure that the brush I used was really wet all the way through but then removed any excess water.  I lightly dipped it in the wettest part of my Snowtex container and didn't pick up any big globs or a lot of the Snowtex.  I then flecked the snow on using my finger.

Wishing you a wonderful 2019!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Merry Christmas Door Knocker

I love a beautifully decorated door at Christmas.  They are so welcoming and set the mood for the holiday.  Today I have a card made with the new Christmas Door Knocker.  I layered part of the image so I could add in some extra greenery (made with Tim Holtz/Sizzix Holiday Greens dies), and then  I added a bit of Stickles to give it a bit more elegance.  Super quick and easy card.

Hope you are ready for the holidays!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Sparkly Beach-Themed Christmas Cards

I always think of colder weather when I do Christmas cards, but it is just as likely to be beach weather at Christmas where I live.  

My first card is a CAS card that is perfect for beach loving friends.  I made it with the new Seashell Christmas Tree image and the Seas and Greetings sentiment.  It was easy to color up and I added in some Stickles to make it sparkle. 

My second card is a wreath card using the shells off the Seashell Christmas Tree image.  I stamped the image three threes, colored up the shells, and fussy cut most of them.  Then I arranged one layer  on a wreath form (cut a rough circle then cut out another circle out of the middle so you have a wreath form).  Next,  I layered on some fun fibers and some foliage/coral (TH Holiday Greens Thinlets cut out of paint-splattered Kraft paper).  Lastly, I added on another layer of shells, a few half-pearls and some Stickles.

Behind the window is the Flamingo Palm Tree Scene and the sentiment is the new Seas and Greetings used in the first card.  The window die is from MFT and the wood grain embossing folder is SU!.  This card was a case of THIS fun card done by the Featured Stamper for this week at Splitcoaststampers. 

Hugz,

Nancy

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Christmas Plaid

I am lucky enough to have a live-in crafty buddy.  My Grandson, Lewis, is 3 years old and loves to "paint."  This weekend, I showed him a picture of a plaid stocking on Joss and Main and told him to paint it with some watercolors on some kraft paper.  He made me some great plaid backgrounds that I used on the cards today. 

On the first card, I used some of this special plaid on the background panel and embossed the new Tool Christmas Stocking in white on some of it. This new stocking image is so fun and so perfect for handy people on your Christmas list.  The sentiment is the new Fixin' Merry Christmas Greeting.  I cut it up and drew in some lines to make it stand out on the white. 

I used a lot of the Lewis made plaid on my next card.  I embossed the Large Script Merry Christmas on it.  Lewis also painted me some green on kraft and I die cut some foliage from it.  A few berries and some snow it it was done.  Lewis is going to send this one to his other Grandparents - they will love this since he helped to make it!

Hope you are having a great week!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Wreath Love

I love to make wreaths, so today I have three to share.

My first wreath card was actually colored up by two of my Grandsons.  I stamped the Potted Berry Tree image a bunch of times on some SU! Very Vanilla and let them color the trees up with their fingers dipped in ink.  They are 18 months and three years old so you know they loved it.  After I fussy cut the trees, I added some Stickles to some of the berries and then sprinkled on some gold micro beads.  The sentiment is my favorite Christmas greeting, Christmas Especially to You.

Next, I used the leaves off of the 4-in-1 Harvest Designs image to make two more wreaths - one for Fall and one for Christmas.  The first one has a stenciled background done by one of my 3 year old Grandsons and the new Thanks be to God greeting (perfect for Bible Art Journaling as well). The panel behind the wreath is a wooden embossing folder from SU!.

This next wreath card uses the same sentiment as my first card.  I added in some die cut silver stars and used a wooden embossing folder for the back panel.  The 4-in-1 Harvest Designs image is so versatile - it works for any season.  I flecked on some Snowtex to add a frosty feel. 

Hope your week is going very well.

Hugz,

Nancy

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Thanksgiving Wreath

Thanksgiving is tomorrow in the U.S., and it is always good to be thankful for blessings.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, I made a Thanksgiving wreath using the little images from the new 4-in-1 Harvest Designs.  I colored most of them up with my finger and then fussy cut them.  Next, I added in some Tim Holtz Holiday Greens die cuts.  The colors are all from last week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com.

The background was made with the Ink/Spray/Smash technique (my method:  swipe ink in various patterns on some aluminum foil, splash on some water with your fingers, dip in your paper, and dry with a heat tool).  The sentiment is the 1 line Happy Thanksgiving.

I also have a friend at work who is retiring so I made up a quick card using the same ink/spray/smash technique in my previous card.  I then stamped the World Map image on some kraft, cut it out, and then folded it up. I distressed the folds with some distress ink (vintage photo) and some scissors. I sprayed a paper with Dylussions Spray over a stencil and then stamped the Big Mouth Bass image three times. I added on some Stickles to the fish to give them a wet look. The sentiment is the As You Retire Greeting.

Many hugz,

Nancy

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Fall Sky Pumpkins

We have had some very cold weather for Alabama this week.  I had been wishing for cooler weather but it just came right on us with no chance to get use to it.  We had some very strange skies as well.  I tried to create one of them on this card, but it sort of took on a life of its own.  When it got too dark, I splashed on some water to remove the ink and got this very crazy sky. 

I started with an ink/spray/smash bg (for the pumpkins and the sky) and then sponged on some different colors in streaks. 

The pumpkin images are the Pumpkin Pile and the Give Thanks Pumpkin Stack.  I also added the tiny pumpkins, leaves, and flowers from the 4-in-1 Harvest Designs image.

Hope your weather is pretty wherever you live. 

Many hugz,

Nancy

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Pumpkin Flavored Projects

Happy Halloween! 

I have a great picture of my grandson, Patton, posing with his mother and the fun pumpkin he picked out at the pumpkin patch. I am busy making a scrapbook for Christmas with all the fun faces and events of the last few years - I think my daughter will love it. 

I made the bg paper using the Ink/Spray/Smash technique.  I cut a 7x7 piece and sponged on more ink using a plaid stencil.  I used the remaining paper to stamp the new Pumpkin Pile to embellish the page. 

I was actually inspired by THIS PUMPKIN fabric at Studio E Fabrics.  I felt so inspired that I made a card using the same techniques and pumpkins:

I added the Count Your Blessings Greeting to finish it off. 

I just couldn't stop so I did a Bible Art Journal page as well. 1 Peter 3:8-9 - a great verse on how to behave in life and receive blessings. 

Hope your Halloween is full of fun and sweet blessings (candy, friends, and family).

Hugz,

Nancy

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Fall Fun

One last fun Halloween card for me, plus a fun Fall card with a new image in the store.

For the Halloween card, I die cut a lot of different foliage and leaves using Tim Holtz Winter Foliage Dies and the In the Woods Framelets from SU!  I cut some from cardstock and sponged the others. Once I assembled the wreath, I used black glitter and splattered black acrylic paint to give it a spookier look.

I then stamped, colored and sponged the Drink Up Witches image and cut it up to place on the wreath.  My background was made swiping some orange and purple distress inks on some aluminum foil, misting it with water, and then dipping in my paper.

This next card shows the new Pie and Coffee image that just came out in the store.  I colored it up with Prisma Pencils and added some SnowTex and cinnamon for the whipped cream. The sentiment is the 1 Line Beauty of Autumn.  Ir is hard to beat the beauty of pumpkin pie!

Hope your week is going well.

Hugz,

Nancy

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Cute and Spooky

I love how this card came out.  I was super easy as the Silhouette Haunted House  image has so many details - it makes your card look like you stamped bunches of images.  Once I stamped it, I sponged the night sky, colored in the lights of the house and drew on some moonlight touches and stars with a gel pen.  Next I stamped the new Iron Fence & Gate and sponged a moonlit path.  A few ghosts from the Ghost Family Portrait takes down the scare factor a bit.

Hope your week is going well!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Ghost Portraits

Today, I have some fun ghostly pictures made with the new Ghost Boo! image and the Ghost Family Portrait images. 

This first card has the Boo cut out form the Ghost Boo and just a few of the Ghosts from the Ghost Family Portrait.  I also used the Magic Potion Shelf image.  Some embossing, a bit of Stickles and it was done. 

On my second card, I used the same images but did some fussy cutting of extra ghosts and doodled on the Boo words.  My background is inked up and then distressed with water spots. 

Hope your week is going reall well!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Glittery Skull

When I first saw the new Scary Skull image, one of my first thoughts was how I could do it it in glitter.  I realized I would just need to layer it up to do it.  Once I had the skull done, I was stuck on how to showcase it until I saw THIS belt at Orvis. 

I did the bg panel by dragging some TH Distress Ink in Vintage Photo on some aluminum foil and splashing on some water.  I dipped my paper in it.  This ink always dries like leather - I love it.  Then I did some stitching around the edges.  I used Spellbinders dies (the oval, a label and a little piece from a set) to make the middle panel.  Then I took the scare level down a bit with a Hugz sentiment from the Hugs 4-in-1 Wording Stamp.   Actually, hubby says the hugz word makes it even scarier as who would want a hug from a skull.  LOL! 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Hugz,

Nancy

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Halloween Flag

I have always loved Halloween.  Probably because my birthday is the day after, and my Mom was always very creative with out costumes (she could sew).  So, I love the new Halloween images we have in the store now. 

For this card, I used the new It's a Scream Halloween image on the front (inside I have the new Scary Skull and Deco Happy Halloween).  I used THIS fun flag as my inspiration - it was part of the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  I wanted my card to look like the flag was on the porch of one house looking over at a haunted house. 

Since my inspiration was a fun chalk skull flag with a black wood background, I white embossed our Wood Grain background image.  The inspiration flag had some scrolling flowers so I used the DRS Flower Scroll image on the side and bottom of the piece and embossed them too.  To make my background, I used the Silhouette Haunted House on my Ink, Spray, and Smash background (I used Tangerine ink from SU! mixed with a bit of Red Barn distress ink).  The skull is a Jolee's Sticker.  To get a spookier look, I sponged on some Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Black Soot. 

Hope you are starting to get a bit cooler weather.  It is still very hot here and hard to think about sweaters, pumpkins, and costumes.

Hugz,

Nancy

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Halloween in Pinks

Some awesome new Halloween stamps in the store this week.  Here is a peek at a few of them. 

I am in a pink and black mood right now after seeing some really pretty Christmas cards in those colors.  I thought they would be good Halloween colors as well. 

My first card is made with the new Scary Skull image and the Expect the Unexpected Greeting (I can see a bunch of cards for lots of occasions with this new greeting). I doodled on the skulls and made them into Sugar Skulls so they would look a bit more at home with my lace.  My bg and the skull paper were made by dipping some plain white cardstock in some ink mixed with water.  I painted up some cardboard and sponged on some black for the top panel.

I used that same base paper for my next card.  I stamped the new Iron Fence and Gate along with the Deco Happy Halloween Greeting.  I also used the Silhouette Cat on Moon image to add a bit of fun.

Some sponging added a spooky night feel. 

Hope your week is going well.

Hugz,

Nancy

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