Wedding Card

I saw THIS card in the gallery on Splitcoast Stampers and knew it would be perfect for a wedding we are attending this weekend. Tanya, who made the original card, did such a beautiful job. I only have two flower punches, so I layered white cardstock with vellum and then used my mouse pad to curl the flowers up. I also used foam pop dots to raise some of the flowers too. The sentiment is from Studio G and I embossed the "&", but it doesn't come across too well in the photo.

Thanks for looking!!

National Volunteer Week - Stair Step Card

I received this awesome Stair Step Card from Cindy yesterday celebrating me (Maria) for National Volunteer Week! Isn't it too cute! I volunteer at our local Humane Society most every weekend walking, washing and just lovin' the doggies, until they are adopted!! She did such a great job with the card...I just love it! Thanks Cindy!

Magnolia Cards

I was in an image swap a few month's ago and received these great Magnolia stamped images and I finally got around to coloring them in. They were so much fun! Uh-oh...that means I might have to make some purchases!!!

Sky's The Limit

Here's my card for today's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast Stamper's. I used Hero Art's Owl and and Amuse sentiment. Colored w/ prisma pencils and gamsol. The paper is Making Memories "Simply Fabulous"

Three Pounds!!!!!

Tango's gained three pounds! Yippeee!! Still puking (anyone know a GOOD professional carpet cleaner?)...but we're happy about the 3 pounds!

Wine Tags

Well, two of my neighbors have done very nice things and I made the tags below to show our appreciation!!

Jeanne helped me out with Tango (our foster doggy) by coming over and feeding him when I've been busy at softball games and yesterday while we were out watching the Yankee's get creamed by the Indians. It doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're trying to fatten a doggy up, they need constant feedings, so by her coming over, it has REALLY helped us out! For that...we gave her a bottle of wine and I made the Thank You tag to go on the bottle. The image is from Inky Antics colored with prisma pencils and gamsol. I added some bling, ribbon and crystal effects on the wine glass.
Here's a view a little closer.
Chris, my other neighbor, has done something incredible! You can read about it here - but the short version is - he arranged for a few banks and loan officers to help our community's homeowners meet with counselor's to avoid foreclosures. This was held yesterday at the Yerwood Center and they had a wonderful turnout. We were so impressed by his initiative, that we wanted to let him know. I used the same image from Inky Antics. I can't locate who makes the sentiment that I used (sorry!)

Here is a close up again:

The tag was pretty easy to make. I know I saw these posted on Splitcoast Stampers, but I came up with my own measurements. The tag is 3 1/2" wide by 6" long. I scored at 4 1/2" inches and then found the center and used my 1 3/8" hole punch for the bottle neck. The paper is from My Mind's Eye - "Bohemia" Thanks for looking!!!

Order Take Out......

For this week's Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge I inked up my Too Much Fun Rubberstamps apron and sentiment. Personally, most times, I don't even attempt the "first" try before ordering out! But, back to the card....I used my prisma pencils and gamsol (again) and popped up the sentiment and added some bling. The papers I used were scraps (which makes me very happy). Thanks for looking!!

Yoga Gate Fold Card

I was asked to make a birthday card by my yoga instructor for one of her clients. I used MFT's Serenity Now set and paper pieced her top to match the patterned paper. The button keeps the gate fold closed. The outside panel pieces were cut to: 4 1/8" x 2 3/8" I also paper pieced the inside and colored the rest with prisma pencils and gamsol. I used Cuttlebug swiss dots on the side panels and an MFT sentiment and I "believe" a Hero Arts sentiment. I left the right side area open to be filled in by the gift-giver.

I changed the dimensions of the template that I had so it fit a little better in an A2 envelope. I cut the cardstock to 4 1/4" x 10" and scored each side at 2 1/2" The inside side panel pieces were cut to 4" x 2 1/4" and the middle inside panel was cut to 4" x 4 3/4". Thanks for looking!

Birthday Card

Here's a quick card I made (well, quick except for the coloring). I used a Taylored Expression card sketch and the image I received from an image swap - so I'm not sure who makes the stamp. The flower is a sizzix die cut. I really didn't find room for a sentiment on the outside, so I put it on the inside (but forgot to take a picture).

Stair Step Anniversary Card

I made this card for my friend's anniversary. It's called a Stair Step Card and directions can be found on Splitcoast Stampers TLC190 challenge card. I used a bunch of punches and die cuts plus some Studio G and Amuse stamps.

Flower Pot Card #2

I really enjoyed making my first flower pot card, so I decided to make another. I highlighted the tulips with while pencil and I think it adds dimension. This card is for a friend who just became a naturalized citizen of the United States - so I tried to stay with the Red, White and Blue theme (except for the obvious green leaves). I used swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder for the pot and Martha Stewart punch for the edges.
Instead of just having it as a pull out card, I turned it into a regular card on the pullout because I needed more room. The view below is the outside of the pullout.

This is the inside view of the pull out card. After taking the picture, I added a piece of white cardstock to the right side of the panel for my note. I couldn't read the manufacturer of the stamp image, but they were colored with prisma pencils and gamsol.
The tulips and leaves are a sizzix Red die.

Colorful Owls

Here's is the birthday card I made my cousin for this week's Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge I rec'd the stamp image in an image swap, so I'm not sure who makes it. I colored w/ prisma pencils and gamsol. I used glossy accents on the eyes and glitter pen on the balloon and around the word "celebrate" but I don't think the picture picks that up. I also used the cuttlebug embossing folder for the background. I punched orange circles and placed them around the empty areas. The owl in the upper left is also raised up with popdots. TFL !

Flower Pot Card

Today's Try a New Technique on Splitcoast Stampers was a Flower Pot Card. I had a lot of fun with this card, it just took me most of the afternoon (I made two of them).


I used the following: Sizzix Tulip Paper Sculpting die, Hero Arts Flourishes stamp for the flower pot, Hero Arts stamp for inside sentiments, Michael's Mother's Day stamp, dimensionals to elevate flower layers, misc. ribbon, scallop punches and basket filler to fill the flower pot.

Hopefully my mother and mother in law don't pop on the blog b/c this is their Mother's Day Card!!!

Temporary Household Addition

Well, we've taken on a foster dog! His name is Tango. He was found as a stray in Bridgeport and went to their Animal Control. The Humane Society in Westport pulled him from Bridgeport and brought him to their shelter. He's really underweight, so we decided to foster him and try to help him gain weight. Our house is a GREAT house to be in if you need to gain weight. We're hoping to get 10-15 lbs on him. Here he is:

Easter Card

Using the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge222, I created this Easter Card. Bunny is from Michael's $1.00 bin, sentiment is from Studio G's "April" set, grass is Outlines Rubber Stamp, the butterfly is from Penny Black and the paper is Making Memories Simply Fabulous. All colored with prisma pencils and gamsol.

Gone to the Dogs

This is MFT's Gone to the Dogs set. I paper pieced her skirt and used prisma pencils and gamsol for the rest. I even tried to make the dog brindled. Can you tell? The paper is from Flair Designs, which I've had for probably 3 years. These will become Mother's Day cards (I made 3 others) for my "doggy mom" friends.

Herd It's Your Birthday

I finally attempted some masking with MFT's Punny Farm stamps. Wasn't difficult at all, so I'll probably try and incorporate this more! I colored this card with prisma pencils and gamsol. Grass is handdrawn. The middle cows head is popped up, but not sure you can tell from the picture.