I Only Have Eyes For You

This card is my favorite!  I saw the saying on a t-shirt and thought that would be perfect for a Valentine's Day card.  So I set up the card using Publisher on my computer and printed the front of the card on white and added a few little red hearts.

The picture is blurry, but I didn't retake it -- seemed to fit the card.  Don't you think it is funny!   










Take care,
Kathy

retro sketches challenge

The outside temperature is 14 degrees and it is in the middle of the afternoon.  brrrrrr.   We live in Northern Virginia -- some consider this the South.  Not this week!

So, I've spent lots of time in the cave and not venturing outside.  And found another interesting card challenge:  Retro Sketches. 

And this is the card I created.  I wanted the colors to be bright and cheery while I sit here in layers of clothing!

Keep warm,
Kathy

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge

Gosh, another challenge!   If we have more snow days, I'll be able to keep up this pace -- doubtful, but we are expecting more snow this weekend.   Don't know if that is good or bad....

The One-Layer Simplicity Challenge is just that - one layer.  The card stock is folded in half with no other layers of paper.  Sounds easy and simple, but not really.    No other requirements for this one except to make a card to restock my card stash.  

A couple days ago I posted another challenge card using this same stamp and sponging.  However, I changed it a little.  I stamped and sponged within an oval shape on an off-white card with black ink and used my watercolor pen to fill in the flowers and leaves with Versa Magic inks.  Then I covered the flowers with the flower mask and sponged within the oval mask. 

I did not add a sentiment -- hope that is okay.  I use a lot of blank cards.

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1



Happy Weekend!
Kathy

Christmas Cards

Before we get too far into the new year, I thought I would post a couple Christmas cards. 


The first card is the old-fashioned bicycle from Stampin Up's Feeling Sentimental set.    The bicycle looked kind of dull when stamped in one color, so I tried two colors.  I like it.  What do you think?

This second is the wonderful Stampin Up tree stamp (Lovely As A Tree set).  I've used this stamp for so many cards.  I love the white embossing on the red card.  This card is probably one of the simplest cards I have made and yet it looks so elegant.  

Take care,
Kathy

Snow Day!

We have about eight inches of snow outside and most of the roads are already clear in our area, but I don't 'do' snow even though I grew up in Wisconsin.  I'd rather stay inside and especially work in my cave!

So, I've been busy.  While hopping around on card making blogs and sites, I came across a new challenge:  Runway Inspired Challenge.    I love this picture.  Great inspiration.



So I sat looking at this picture of a lovely flowing dress with colors just swishing about and sponging came to mind along with a stamp I haven't used yet.

I stamped a white card with Versa Magic inks and then used my watercolor pen to fill in the flowers and leaves.  Then I stamped the flowers again on another piece of card stock and cut out the design to use as a mask when I sponged the base card.

I ended up making two cards and will enter the orange flowered card after playing eenie, meenie, minee, mo.  Which do you like best?


Take care,
Kathy

Best Wishes

One of my Christmas gifts was an egift card to Paper Smooches -- yay!   I picked out a couple die sets:  Poinsettias and the Big Bloom die set.   I've been anxious to get up to my cave and try the dies.

The lacy circle in this card is the Sizzix Scallop Circle.  The center flower and the little tag were made with the Big Bloom set.  The sentiment (best Wishes) is from Stampin Up's Petite Pairs. 

 

 I will be entering this card in two challenges:  Sweet Sunday and Paper Smooches SPARKS

  

We received a bit of snow yesterday, so I'll be in my cave today.  Sad, I know....   ;')

Kathy

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 203

Paper Smooches Anything Goes Challenge

Happy New Year, Part 4

Ah!  The last new year card.

Remember the black and white paper used in the paper quilting card in the last posting?  Well, I cut a block of paper from one sheet and added red 'jewels' to give the card some bling.  Very basic and easy to make, but I like it.  It looks complicated....

 

Hope you new year is off to a great start,

Kathy

Festive Friday

A couple weeks ago I cleaned up my 'cave' which had gotten rather messy and out of control.  I thought I would not need the Christmas items till maybe June or July so I neatly stacked everything in a closet.


Then I saw the new Festive Friday Challenge.  Oh my ...  well laid plans....

Last year I followed the Festive Friday Challenge, but did not participate.   Oh, I think I may have once.  But this year I really am going to try to be more active -- the challenge looks like a lot of fun and has great inspiring ideas, too!   So, here is the first entry.

The inspiring photo for this week's challenge is below.   I looked at this wonderful red barn and loved the scene.  (What a great Christmas card as is!)  Well, I started thinking colors and going through my Christmas paper and card stock.  When I saw the red and white polka dots, a light bulb lit up.   The big snow covered branch brought a white ribbon to mind.  The snow made me think of a white card and white flowers.  Finding the right stamp was the real challenge!  Nothing really fit except the little Verve banner which was the perfect size for my Happy Holidays stamp from Stampin Up.





    Festive Friday Challenge (FFC23)

So I played around with the papers and flowers, found the gold mesh and came up with this card.  Fun!
 

A note about the gold mesh.  This was part of the wrapping on a Christmas poinsettia I received as a gift, and I saved the mesh thinking I could recycle it at some point.

Have a great week!
Kathy

Happy New Year, Part 3 Paper Quilting

When I look at my picture file, I realized I made quite a few New Year's cards.  So I  will post a couple today and then have one more for you.


I love paper quilting cards.  In my younger and more patient days, I made quilts (sewn by hand and machine), but nowadays I prefer making paper quilt cards!

The most time consuming part of making paper quilt cards is coordinating colors for the quilt and then making sure you have a basic card to match.  I made a lovely --  really it was beautiful -- birthday card with peach, blue and cream colored papers.  But...realized after the quilt part was completed, that I did not have a card stock to match those papers.   Initially I did not want a wide border as in the card shown below, but that is what I decided I needed to do to finish the card.  In the end, the card turned out to be very nice, but I went through some frustration before the end.

So -- preparation is key for this card and probably for any card you make.  Get all your materials together before starting the project.

The black and white papers used in this card are from a set that I found at AC Moore last year. Certainly made selection easy!

Take care,
Kathy

Happy New Year, Part 2

Another Happy New Year card.   Cards for the new year are so enjoyable to make as they are always bright, happy and full of happiness and hope.


I love this stamp from Stampin Up.  It is their Christmas star, but I think it is perfect for this card.

The star is stamped in a grey/silver ink (Studio G, I think).  Then I stamped a splatter stamp with VersaMark and added gold embossing.    It is really much more impressive in person!

Take care,
Kathy

Happy New Year!

Let's start 2014 with a few Happy New Cards! 


When I think of New Year's Eve, I think of stars and glitter so this first card is covered with both!    

This second card took very little time as I cut the center panel from card stock, added glitter, a few stars and the sentiment.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!