Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Another Butterfly Card

Yes, I'm still trying out my new butterfly stamps and dies! Here is the 3rd card I made yesterday. This time I've used several Fun Stampers Journey products: 
Stamps: "Enjoy the Journey" (butterfly) and "Pretty Label" (behind the butterfly)
Card stock: "Whip Cream"
Fine glitter: "Sparkle Dust"
Twine: "Natural"


I also used TH Distress inks: antique linen, tea dye, walnut stain
and Spellbinders die: Labels 20,
JustRite "Elegant Fronds Background Stamp",
colored pencils to color the butterfly,
and cotton crocheted lace from my stash.
FSJ products are completely compatible with all of your own crafting supplies!


On the inside I used the same background stamp with a mask in the center for the sentiment to be stamped in. That stamp is called "May Your Birthday be Filled..." by Stampabilities. The sentiment on the front is by PSX, #F-318.
Challenges:
http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com - #120 Use Some Glitter
http://mojomonday.blogspot.com - #377 Sketch (see below)


So far I am thoroughly enjoying my JOURNEY with Fun Stampers Journey! Wonderful, creative  people to work with and fabulous products! Come join the journey with me! If you've wanted to start a home-based business, make that your New Year's resolution and come along!

Thank you!

If you are like me there is always a need for Thank You notes! Especially at Christmas time with so many people giving gifts, having parties and doing special favors...sending Thank You notes is such a nice touch, don't you think? I need to make some Christmas ones or some wintery ones but yesterday I wanted to try my new Butterfly stamps and dies so here is my kinda spring-looking one!


The stamp, one of a set of 6 called "Enjoy the Journey", and die, one of a set of 4 called "Butterflies", are from Fun Stampers Journey. If you like them you can order them through me at FSJ.


Inks used: FSJ Blue Lagoon, and Black Licorice
The smooth, white card stock is also FSJ...perfect for stamping!
I colored the butterfly layers with alcohol markers.
Challenges:
www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #163 Anything Goes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com - Pick a Fave, "Take Your Pick" Nov 25, blues & greens

Right now, through the end of the year Fun Stampers Journey is looking for Founding Coaches. For more infomation go to their website! They are also offering a winter special with a Free pack of lovely card stock called "Festive Patterns" with every $50 order. I just got mine in the mail! Gorgeous!
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas!

Artful Owl...Guys' Card?

Its Christmas Eve already! December just flew right by and tomorrow is Christmas Day! The Sunday School kids at my church have been practicing their Christmas program...its going to be wonderful this year!
At my house we are already done with the parties and gatherings. Our family Christmas get-together was Saturday (more about that later!) and the extended family gathering was Sunday after church...44+ people  here at our house! Lots of noise, lots of good food, lots of excited conversation! Good times!
So Monday was clean-up day and I rearranged my craft room! So yesterday I actually spent some time in there using some of my newest products from Fun Stampers Journey! I made 3 cards; here is the first:


A fairly simple guys' card...for any occasion. I just love the owl stamp! So artsy! Another new favorite! The stamp is called "Artful Owl" from Fun Stampers Journey. I am a Coach at FSJ now, which means that you can buy their products through me or better yet, you can sign on and become a Coach too! That way you get lots of discounts, first access to the new product lines, help with workshops and your very own company web page. Here's mine if you want to take a look (and you can access the catalog there too!). Right now FSJ is looking for Founding Coaches and the start up fee is as low as it will ever be, only $149.95 (for a Coaches' kit valued at over $500).Another way to join in fun at FSJ every month is to join the Fun Stampers Journey "Kit of the Month Club". Each kit is only $24.95 + tax & shipping.
Members receive enough materials to complete four pre-designed cards, including paper, embellishments and an exclusive stamp set. All materials are pre-cut and include complete instructions, ready for you to assemble and enjoy! In purchasing the Kit of the Month, you are agreeing to a six month subscription service whereby you will receive the initial kit at the time of purchase, and then one kit each month for the next five months. Here is the FSJ stock photo of the cards made from this month's kit:


I am entering my owl card in just a few challenges:
http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com - #131 Holiday Blitz Anything Goes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com - Pick a Fave, "2 or 4 Legs" Nov. 11
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com - Anything Goes, Dec 23-30

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you are having special festivities tonight I hope you have a wonderful time! And a very merry and blessed Christmas to you all!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Christmas Tags...for a Treat!

I made some cookies a couple days ago to give to the ladies in my Bible study group ( I'm a Group Leader in BSF). We were having our last class before Christmas break, and a luncheon, so I wanted to do something instead of a card. So I baked a batch of  Peanut Butter Blossoms, put 2 in little snack-size baggies and stapled a cute tag on each.


I used my new FunStampers Journey stamp and glitter again on these. I "drew" the swirls of glue to hold the glitter with the fine point of the Tombo Mono Aqua liquid glue...worked great! The glitter is even more sparkley than these pictures show! Its like fairy dust! The ink I used: FSJ "Sweet Berry", stamp: "Damask Print", cardstock: generic kraft.

Challenge entered:





Other stamps used on the back of the tag for the greeting: 
"May the love" by Annette Allen Watkins, "Merry Christmas" by Stampin' Up
Other stuff:
FSJ "Sparkle Dust"
"Natural" FSJourney Twine
Ribbon and print cardstock are from my stash

This month at Fun Stampers Journey they have a "special" going on! If you place an order for $50 or more you will receive a FREE packet of holiday cardstock called "Festive Patterns". An easy way to earn discounts and get some amazing craft products is to host an online "party". You can invite all your online friends, they order through the website and you receive incentives and discounts! There is an extensive online catalog (and a paper copy too!) that shows off the wonderful crafting products FSJ has to offer...but they also have 100's of creative ideas for how to use them! These are for any skill level too! I can do workshops for those who like step-by-step instructions...or for those who just like to have a fun time out with others who enjoy creating hand-made items and getting their fingers a little inky! (I live just SE of Grand Rapids, MI)
And just to let you know, Fun Stampers Journey is a home-based business that is still looking for more Founding Coaches. They are offering the original Coaches' Kit for only $149 (over $500 value) to get started and amazing support/helps from headquarters! Such creative, fun and caring people!
Questions? Interested? Please contact me!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Fun Stampers Journey...My Newest Endeavor!

Announcing.....something NEW! A new product, a new endeavor, and a whole new group of wonderful people that I will get to meet and get to know through Fun Stampers Journey. Just before my husband and I left for a 2 week trip to Arizona and California I decided to join the team at FSJ and become one of their "coaches"! I sent in my ridiculously small payment for the coach's kit and had to wait until AFTER the trip to get a look at it! It came just a few days after we left! But once back home it was like opening a giant Christmas present! The kit includes stamps, dies, inks, fine glitter, glaze, twine, adhesive, lots of paper/card stock, a lovely set of bags (like luggage) for packing all your crafty stuff in for workshops, parties, etc. ...AND a die-cutting/embossing machine (exactly like a Spellbinders Grand Caliber)!!


So today I spent a couple hours in my craft room using as many of these new products as possible! And I came up with 3 cards in a short time! A Birthday card for my son-in-law, a Celebrate card for my daughter who just got a job, and a Best Wishes card for ...someone! So here they are:


Simple. Cute. But still masculine. The cupcake paper is paper-pieced and fine glitter was added to the frosting...yummy! Stamp sets: "Birthday Sketch" & "Greet & Shout", Ink: Black Licorice & Sweet Berry.


Pennant stamps and matching dies make this an easy "do"! The little symbols and patterns on the flags are all part of the set! Stamp sets: "Banner Party" & "Greet & Shout", Dies: "Pennants", Ink: Blue Lagoon, Black Licorice, Sweet Berry, Pineapple Smoothie.


Elegant. Sparkley. And SO easy! The little torn rolled rose made from matching card stock adds another touch of "pretty" to the already elegant "Damask Print" stamp! My picture doesn't show it very well but there is lots of fine glitter on the damask design and the rose. Ink: FSJ "Blue Lagoon" & "Black Licorice".

All 3 cards are made almost entirely of FSJ products! Everything is high quality and nicely packaged (with reusable packaging...stores well!). The only items I added were the die cut leaves and the ribbon on the last card and alcohol markers to color the cupcake on the first card.

Now, if these cards and products have got you interested you should check the website at Fun Stampers Journey! They have a whole online catalog with hundreds of items and more information about becoming a Coach on the FSJ team. If you have questions, please leave me a message in the 'comments' area. Or you can even email me at Fivensandie@aol.com. 
For me, this is a way to be part of a new, creative endeavor, joining lots of other creative people, using quality craft supplies to make cards and other paper projects...ALL things that I already like to do! And I hope to even earn a little extra money to help feed my crafting addiction and start a "travel" fund!
How about coming along on this special Journey?

Challenges:
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com - Dots (3rd card, leaves)
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com - #179 Something you got Free (3rd card, ribbon)
http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #161 Anything Goes (2nd card)


Monday, October 13, 2014

An Autumn Get Well Card

My good friend's mother recently fell and broke a hip, had surgery and is now in rehab at a nursing home so it is definitely time for a Get Well card! I remember when my own mom fell and broke her hip several years ago, it really frightened and depressed her for the first few days. But she bounced back quickly after alot of encouragement, prayers, therapy and her own determination...along with her special sense of humor! So here is the card I made:


It is a "swing" card...the first I've ever made! I found a tutorial online and decided to give it a try. I think it could be easier if you didn't use double layers but that was what the directions called for.


The base is a kraft card stock and the designer paper is thinner but worked nicely with the die cutting.


I was hoping the Stickles on the teacups and green oak leaves would show up in this photo....oh well, it does show in the photo above. 
How do teacups go with leaves? A hot cup of tea on a cold, rainy fall day is perfect!


The sentiment on inside of the card is really on the back of the swing part...makes a nice space to place either a sentiment or a good-sized image. I'll try to get a list of ingredients together later. If you are curious about what I used just message me in the "comment" section. 
Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:
http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com - #193 All That Glitters
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com - #237 Show your shape

Saturday, September 13, 2014

A Simple & Quick Step Card

 One more quick card this evening. A "Center-Step Card", otherwise known as a "Double-Side Step Card", this one has a larger area in the center and two smaller side pieces that are also lower because of the "step". Scoring these correctly is always a challenge for me!


Ingredients
Dies: Spellbinders "Fleur de Lis Squares"
Sentiment: Bible verse artwork from Word Art Wednesday
Adhesive border: K&Company "Spring Blossoms"
Rhinestones: KaiserCraft "Ice Blue"
Card stock: print- Little Yellow Bicycle "Vintage Summer", solids- from my stash

Challenges
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - August/September Monthly Challenge: Double-Side Step Card

An Autumn Wedding Card

Well, the past 6 weeks got even busier than I anticipated...so my break from blogging and card-making was a bit longer too! I'm back now, but will not be doing as much as I have in the past...too many commitments.
Today I actually spent a few hours in my new craft area (I'll explain some other day!) and produced a pretty little wedding card for an October wedding.

 Wedding cards are so fun to make 'cause I get to go a little crazy with extra "frills"! I used some of my favorite dies for this one...and the butterfly is a favorite stamp too! It is colored with colored pencils.

The inside is much plainer but simply "needed" to match the front. The vellum in the "window" with the pearly embossed stamp has been floating around my desk for almost a year now and I finally figured out what to do with it. I don't very often use kraft card stock for a wedding card...but this seems to work.

Ingredients
Stamps: "Medallion de Fleur" by CDS, "Butterfly" by Sky Kids, "Sunflower" from Michaels
Inks: TH Distress Ink in "walnut stain" and "antique linen"
Embossing powder: "Pearlustre" by Stampendous
Embossing folder: "Birds & Swirls" by Provo Craft
Dies: "Anglaise Lace Circles" by Spellbinders, "Catalina Wreath" by Memory Box, "Vintage Flourishes" by Joycraft
Card stock, velum and ribbon are from my stash
Sentiments are computer-generated

Challenges
http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com - #182 "Picture Challenge"
www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #149 "Anything Goes"
http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com - #188 "Anything Goes"

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you all have a blessed Sunday!

Saturday, August 2, 2014

SweetStamps Parchment Challenge


The monthly challenge going on at SweetStamps right now is "Parchment Crafting" which is something I don't have the tools for so I just used vellum with embossing (which they said was okay to do). I used 3 of their stamps: "Just a Note", "Love Birds Collage", and "Pretty Parchment Frame". The last two are what I embossed on the vellum using Stampendous "Pearlustre" embossing powder. The flowers I added in the corner are from StampingScrapping.com; the leaves are Spellbinders "Foliage". Card stock and ribbon...from my stash. Rhinestones= KaiserCraft; glitterdots= EK Success.
Challenges:
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - Parchment Crafting/Monthly
http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #143 Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

Monday, July 14, 2014

Christmas in July


Today it got up to almost 80 degrees and here I am working on a Christmas card! The challenge this week at SweetStamps is to use gold and/or silver...so I used both. The frame stamp called "Elegant Scrollwork" is one of my favorites from SweetStamps. It is so beautiful when embossed! I used vellum and colored in the corners just a bit by inking the back side of the vellum with TH Distress Ink "Antique Linen"


I used 2 different brands of embossing powder: Rubber Stampede (silver) and PSX (gold). They melt differently...the silver gets smoother, but I prefer the texture of the gold. The embossing "ink" is Top Boss "Tinted". The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up. It is mounted on gold foil paper and popped up a bit using Scrapbook Adhesives squares.


To stamp the 2 silver trees I first cut a mask of the tree then held it carefully in place while stamping both side trees. I don't usually use gold and silver together...but this time I like it!

I'm entering this in the challenges at
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - #177 Gold and/or Silver
http://timbroscrapmania.blogspot.it - #98 Christmas in July

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Painters' Tape Technique

I tried a new technique this evening...using painters' tape to make a textured background in wide undefined bands. I also wanted to try some clear embossing as part of the background, but I used the wrong kind of embossing powder...I grabbed the one for bonding materials not just the plain clear. So I added some very fine glitter to take care of the stickiness. Now I'm glad it worked out that way!


The sparkle and the tape texture show up a bit better in the photo below.
The butterflies are colored with a variety of alcohol markers and have a bit of glitter glue along the wing edges.


Ingredients:
Stamps - Stampabilities "All things are possible", Sky Kids "Butterfly"
Inks - TH Distress Inks, Memento "Tuxedo Black", Top Boss "Embossing"
Embossing Powder - Stampendous "Stamp N' Bond"

Challenges:
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - July "Painters' Tape Technique"

Friday, June 20, 2014

A Fancy Birthday Bag


My granddaughter Lilly is 4 1/2 (almost!) and since her birthday is December 25, her parents are thinking of going to a "half-year" birthday celebration for her. That would be June 25. So I made a pretty little birthday bag for one of her gifts. She is a little princess...complete with shimmery gown, wand, crown and shoes! So I know she'll love the bling and lace and PINK!


Here is a compilation of supplies I thought I'd use...but that changed of course! Didn't use some of the cs and added more/different dies and stamps.


A close-up shows the intricate butterfly better...and the hand-made flowers.


The back of the bag is decorated more simply. To be honest, I think I like the back better!

Ingredients:
Paper bag of  kraft paper
DIES- Cheery Lynn Designs "Small Lace Faerie Queen", "Olive Branches", "Small Lollipop Cutie Fringe"; 
Spellbinders "Standard Circles Lg.", "Beaded Ovals", "Anglaise Lace"
Sizzix TH "Tattered Flower Garland"
BORDER PUNCH- Martha Stewart "Doily Lace"
STAMPS- Stampin Up "Happy Birthday"; StampingScrapping "Lacey Circles"
BOW- Craft-deebowz bowmaker; ribbon from stash
CARD STOCK - American Crafts "Soho Garden"; Paper Studio; my stash
INK- Memento "Bamboo Leaves", "Tuxedo Black"
BLING- Ranger Liquid Pearls "Platinum Pearl"; Pizzazz Aplenty "Frosted Pearls"
ADHESIVES- Aleene's "Tacky Spray", Glue Dots, 3M Tape
Flowers, lace, markers...from my stash

Challenges:
http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com - #170 Things with Wings
http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - June: Anything Goes
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com - #223 Pretty Gifts & Packaging

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a great weekend!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Masculine Thank You

Happy Monday morning to you all! 
I'm getting a slow start today...got up late! And now its getting really hot outdoors already...gardening may have to wait another day! (Good excuse to be in my craftroom, don't you think?)
Here is my simple offering for today:


I was going for a CAS "Thank You" card with a masculine look. I love the mechanical drawing of the train...a new stamp I just got last week! And the die cut edge is an adhesive-backed piece...so easy to use!


The old watch is part of the same set of stamps as the train. The black & white color theme is probably one of my very favorites. SO very CAS!

Ingredients:
Ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
Die cuts - K&Company "Elegance" adhesive borders
Stamps - Prima "Time Travelers Memories"; Inkadinkadoo "So Thoughtful"

Challenges:
http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com - #169 Black + One Other Color



Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Happy Father's Day

It will soon be Father's Day so I made a card for my hubby...the father of my six children!
This card has a Bible verse on it that speaks of grandchildren too. We now have 9 grandkids!
They are so fun and so precious!


Here is my small list of ingredients:
Spellbinders "Classic Bracket Edge"
SweetStamps " Singing Children" 
colored with colored pencils
Bible verse is from the Word Art Wednesday blog, printed from my computer,
as is the sentiment
Cardstock and buttons - from my stash

Challenges:
http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca - #111 "Photo of Dad & girl"
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #135 "Anything Goes"

Monday, June 2, 2014

A Gentleman's Birthday Card

Guys' birthday cards are always kinda hard for me to make...don't know why. I guess they just seem blah compared to the girly ones with frills, flowers, and bling. So here is one I made for a few challenges and after I got it done I realized I do need one for an older gentleman whose birthday I missed recently.


Ingredients:
Spellbinders die - 'Fleur de Lis Squares"
SweetStamps stamps - "Gentleman Joe" & "Italian Handwriting"
Sandylion stamp - "Are we there yet?" (old car)
Inkadinkadoo stamp - "Happy Birthday"
Tim Holtz Distress Inks - "Vintage Photo", "Antique Linen" and "Walnut Stain"
Cream color card stock is a heavy weight matt finish from Pizzazz Aplenty
Rust paper and buttons are from my stash

Challenges:
SweetStampsblog.blogspot.com - #171 NO Designer Paper
DieCuttinDivas.blogspot.com - #167 For the Boys
Crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk - #178 TicTacToe (die cuts, male theme, buttons)
craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com -#78 Boys will be Boys

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Using Kraft Card Stock

I'm still making more "Thank You" cards for my daughter!
Here's a really quick CAS one I did this afternoon.
It even has a matching kraft envelope!


Ingredients:
"Tall Stem" die by Poppystamps
flowers by KaiserCraft
Frosted Red Pearls by Pizzazz Aplenty

Challenge:

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Textured Background


A quick 'Thank You' note!
I had the butterfly already colored (with colored pencils) and just waiting to be made the center of attention!
I textured the background with a Sizzix embossing folder ( TH Gridlock), tore the edge and added a bit of aqua ink and Stickles "Star Dust"...just for interest and depth. Then I stamped the simple "Thanks" (Stampin' Up) on a scrap of yellow cs, tore the edge....put it all together with 3M adhesive tape...all done!


The Stickles really sparkles alot more than it shows in the pictures...quite pretty!
And the butterfly is part of a set called "Tab Basics 1" by StampimgScrapping.com (who really is Cindy Echtinaw...the one who designed the new Spellbinders tool called "Tool N' One"...clever gal!)

Challenges:
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com - #208 Things with wings

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Thank You Cards

Finally finished making baby announcements for my new granddaughter and got a good start on the Thank You notes my daughter asked for. Trying to keep them very simple so they are quick to make! So far, so good! Here is one with a little HouseMouse. She is colored with colored pencils and has a little extra pink on her, plus a flower on her tail so you know she's a SHE.


Ingredients:
Stamps - Stampabilities "Contented Mudpie", & "Thank You"
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, TH Distress Vintage Photo
Card stock - Imaginesce "Baby Powder"
Border punch - Martha Stewart "Doily Lace"

Challenges:
http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #131 Anything Goes

HMFMC Team Blog CANDY - Enter to WIN 2 ADORABLE HMD STAMPS!! Hurry, this Candy ends May 18th
And here is some HouseMouse Candy being offered on their blog with the instructions:
Simply BECOME A FOLLOWER of the HMFMC BLOG, post this CANDY pic to your Blog linking it back  to HMFMC, and leave a comment THERE.  That's it! 
So that's what I'm going to do!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Pink, Pink and MORE Pink!

Good morning, Friends!
Our news today: we have a brand new granddaughter!!
Yes, my daughter had a girl...after 3 boys, this is SO special! Of course, we LOVE our grandsons but my daughter, Chris, really needed a little female companionship in that house of males! Now there are pink and ruffles everywhere! And I DID get to give them the girly baby card I made a few weeks ago! 
Here is Alicia Joy:


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Going to a Wedding!

Hubby and I are going to a wedding in Wisconsin this weekend and will visit my family while there too. The wedding is in Waupun Friday afternoon. My son's best friend is marrying a lovely girl there and has made Wisconsin his new home, instead of Michigan...sad for us but wonderful for him! Praying for God's blessing on the marriage!
And, of course, I had to make a card to give them...



Here is the sketch I used to create this one...I just turned it on its side, and then had to reposition the sentiment too. You can hardly see it but the inside does have diecut shapes too, to continue the white-on-white elegance.


This was a combination challenge...I liked the splashy flowers on the model's shirt (runway inspired)...went with that.

Challenges:
http://casethissketch.blogspot.com - #73 Sketch + Runway Inspired Challenge
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com - #215 Pastel Goodness + flowers and dots
 (dots are in the doily)

Ingredients:
Sentiments inside and out are computer generated
Bible verse - JustRite "Cast All Your Cares"
Ink - TH Distress "Vintage Photo"
Layered flowers - K&Co "Watercolor Bouquet"
Card stock is Cryogen ivory
Pearls - Pizzazz Aplenty "Ivory"
Doily - thrift store find

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great week!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Happy Easter Everyone!

Hello, to my online friends!
Tomorrow is Easter, when we once again celebrate the resurrection of the Savior of sinners, Jesus Christ. Looking forward to singing “Hallelujah” in church tomorrow morning! I attend Bible Study Fellowship and that is the exact part of Matthew we are studying right now! Amazing!
So I’m wishing you all a very blessed Easter.
Below is another “Thank You” card…part of the set of 22 of them…that I made for my soon-to-be daughter-in-law for one of her bridal showers. They are all different! I really should take pictures of the whole set…or at least of my favorites. If I have time.



Ingredients:
kraft note card – DMD, Inc.
border punch – Martha Stewart “doily lace”
stamps – Stampabilities “Thank You”, CDS “Little Lamb”
glitter glue – Stickles “Star Dust”
other card stock and bling – from my stash

Challenge:
http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com -#167 Bunnies or Lambs