Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a very and blessed Thanksgiving Day. We have been thankful that even though with continue in pandemic we all have been healthy thankfully to the vaccines and being extremely careful those that do go out either to work or for necessary things otherwise we stay home. We have our family and extended adopted family, our chosen family

I have been enjoying making backgrounds with my ergonomic blending brushes as it’s not too hard on my hard. I have two sets one I have from Amazon because I love the colors so I don’t have to read the labels to know which color I’m grabbing but they only have 6 colors so do still need some extras for those colors that don't sell, these I have dedicated to my regular distress inks and my original black from Altenew for my oxide inks since I already have been using for them and those are the ones that have labels blue, red, purple, etc. just so I don’t contaminate my ink pads as they say you shouldn't use dye ink with pigment or oxide same as my blending brushes the Picket Fence Studios life changing blender brushes are for oxide as they were my original brushes and the Erin Lee Creative blending brushes are for regular distress that way I don’t have to mix my brushes and these are colored brushes. Black handles oxide inks color handles regular distress ink for OCD makes it easy. Anyway, for this card I used both the ergonomic brush and life changing blender brushes. I started by stamping pumpkin from the recent HA release color layering pumpkin stamp set with Altenew crisp dye inks golden sunset collection snapdragon, marigold, green valley collection grass field and mountain pine then die cut it with matching frame cuts, plus 3 more partial die cuts. The wagon it’s from classic editions dies by Heartfelt Creations & Spellbinders and I die cut 3 the top one I slit on the top so I could slide the stamped pumpkin then I mounted the other 2 and the partial 3 and aside. Then grabbed a piece of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock die cut it with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness stamped one of the images from big world stamp set by Altenew with Altenew crisp ink fall harvest collection butternut then masked with a 2.5” EK Success circle and then started blending with Tim Holtz distress oxide fossilized amber, spiced marmalade and candied apple with ergonomic brush then removed masked and with regular blending brush I added ink to the moon/sun and with a bit of fossilized amber and ground with peeled paint. I mounted my elements and then stamped my message with VersaFine Clair pinecone from the same color layering pumpkin set

Fall birthday

After making the other cards I had some leftover pieces that I didn't want to throw away and at first wasn't sure what I was going to do but then decided they were perfect for a gatefold slimline some I had to cut a little to make it fit but since my cards don't have to be specific size as long as they fit a #10 envelope they work and these did. I used the HA release from last month for the focal point.

The card base is Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock, layer of Park Lane 110 lb. smooth black solid core cardstock on the first and brown on the second. The circles were also scraps. Die is autumn leaves fancy die, I used 3 layers on the acorn.

Happy Veteran's Day

 Happy Veteran's Day to those men & women that have served our military. Thank you for your service

I made this card in their honor. Started with a piece of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock then using camo layering stencil from Erin Lee Creative with their blending brushes and Tim Holtz distress inks frayed burlap, ground espresso and crushed olive but didn’t like this last ink so I added forest moss. Then I cut the layer with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness then I layered it to a precut of brown cardstock with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and then mounted to a base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock. I stamped the message from Altenew’s Land of the Free stamp set with VersaFine Clair fallen leaves and the soldiers are from Military strong stamp set by Colorado Craft & Company with same ink 

Thanksgiving

Still using up my fall background papers and for this I decided to make it Thanksgiving cards.

I started by cutting my background then a layer of brown cardstock mounted on Park Lane white core Ivory 110 lb. cardstock using scraps I stamped my messages using partial part of a stamp from the open falling leaves precut stamp set by Heartfelt Creations with VersaFine Clair pinecone mounted on another scrap and then added some rhinestones from stash

Fall thinking of you

I wanted to use up some of my fall background papers so decided to make some slimline card which is a great way to use a lot of paper with less waste. Started by cutting my background paper then cut a layer of brownish cardstock giving 1/16” border and mounted to a base of Park Lane white core Ivory 110 lb. cardstock and using scraps I stamped my message with blockandscriptsentiments2stamp set by The Stamps of Life with VersaFine Clair fallen leaves and then added some Jot Pop-up enamel dots stickers from Dollar Tree

for this last one, instead of the enamel dots I used Nuvo Crystal Drops bottle green because I ran out

With Sympathy

I needed a sympathy card to give to Bret and I had all a bunch of leftover pieces from 2 different fall cards I made and since a sympathy card pretty much can be anything I decided to use those pieces for his card. I started by grabbing a piece of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock to create my background with Tim Holtz distress oxide inks wasn’t sure which one between scattered straw or antique linen was lighter so I used both then fossilized amber with my ergonomic brush from Altenew and then with Picket Fence Studios life changing blender brushes added some wild honey on top edge and on bottom added some peeled paint and vintage photo. Let it dry for a few minutes then I die cut it with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness and mounted to a precut piece of brown cardstock with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and mounted to a card base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock then added my elements. The leaves and acorn are from September 2021 released from HA autumn leaves fancy dies, the acorn has 3 layers, the wheelbarrow is from wheelbarrow2stamp die set from the club of the month April 2018, I did a little coloring to pretend it had shading with Copic markers and they were 3 layers. The message was a surgery message from Strawberry Jude Stamps as it was too long for my space watercolor roses with VersaFine Clair pinecone. For the inside I use a computer message since I wanted a personal message for losing a dad and my sympathy messages are general sympathy

Happy 5th birthday

Our youngest granddaughter is turning 5, since we had no theme this year I we had not heard what she was into this year and I wanted to have the card ready before Halloween which could have given me an idea LOL anyway I know she likes ice cream and chocolate so this is the card I made her

I started with a layer of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock stamped my images from bananasplit2stamp club of the month set March 2019 by The Stamps of Life with W plus 9 Design Studio pure color dye black ink. I masked the 2 individual top scoops then stamped the bottom 3 scoops that is one image, then stamped the messages from number of years stamp set by SU with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink and then I color my images with Copic markers. Added Glossy accents by Ranger on the chocolate. I let it dry. Mounted on a scrap of lavender cardstock and then on a base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock 

Since a friend wasn’t totally sure granddaughter will get the 5 scoops meant 5 years old, then did the inside by following the same as the front by adding another layer of the same scrap lavender cardstock and a layer of Neenah exact index premium 110 lb. cardstock and stamped from the same number of years stamp set by SU with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink and Memento grape jelly dew drop ink the happy 5th birthday and the other message is by Make An Impression with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink

Survivor

After I created this card my new stamp set arrived so I was able to make the other card I wanted to make for the lab technician at my doctor's office that although technically is not a survivor yet as she has to wait 5 years to be cancer free but she survived her treatment and so far she is doing well and as long as all continues the same will be cancer free for good so I wanted to give her a card.

I started by grabbing a layer of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock and I stenciled with Tim Holtz distress ink worn lipstick and ergonomic brush from Amazon the texture diamond designer stencil by MB leaving a white area on the center for the ribbon which I stamped with the same worn lipstick ink with SU's set ribbon of courage then I did some highlights with Copic marker then stamped again and did again the highlights then I die cut my layer with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness and then mounted on a layer cut with a scrap of pink with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers B and then mounted to the card base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock. I stamped the words from the set Operation: Save 2^nd Base by Color Play with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink and then decided to add some enamel dots from my stash

Happy Anniversary

Today a dear friend and her hubby are celebrating 47 years of marriage if my math isn't wrong and being fall time I sent them a fall fun card using one of the new releases by HA.

Started by grabbing a piece of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock then stamped my pumpkin from the color layering pumpkin stamp set with Altenew crisp dye inks: warm and cozy collection orange cream & firebrick for the pumpkin, green valley collection shadow creek & green meadows collection hunter green for the stem then I masked the image using the matching die and stamped the background also a new release by HA leaves in the wind bold prints with SU classic stampin ink Sahara sand, then used a Copic Marker to ground the pumpkin. Die cut the layer with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness and mounted it to an orange cardstock from Core’dinations from their vintage collection which I die cut with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and finally mounted to a card base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock which I had already had folder into a "s" fold I know you all call it "z" fold but who sees a card upside down to see the z? we all see the card upright or at least I do, I have never seen a card in a way other than flat or upright so always see the straight s never a z anyway.

For my messages I use Rose peonies stamp set from the sunshine & love stampTV kit with VersaFine Clair pinecone ink on the front and anniversary2celebrate stamp set by The Stamps of Life with VersaFine Clair fallen leaves ink on the inside.

Happy Tumorversary

 Recently a great lady celebrated a big accomplishment with help and support of her doctors and family and she has helped others in return during this time so I wanted to make her a card to celebrate her anniversary. Looking through my breast cancer sets saw that there was only images for support but not about surviving did check online found one that was forcing to order with dies so didn't want to it and the other wasn't going to get here soon enough but did get in the meantime went for plan B. I was surprised actually that only two sets that survivor on them, very disappointing as we are hoping they survive the fight for those that do fight and not just breast cancer but any cancer our cards are suppose to encourage everyone during and after I would assume but maybe they're just for the during and not expecting to send if they survive? just a rhetorical as like me I used you did it so that's what most people are doing 

Started with a layer of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock then I used my large oval dies by Spellbinders to make a mask then I used a stencil by Gina K Design square mandala with my ergonomic brush from Amazon and Tim Holtz distress ink wilted violet, shaded lilac and dusty concord then I cut my layer with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness and used a blending brush from Erin Lee Creative and more dusty concord to darken the edges. Then I removed my mask and stamped the image from ribbon of courage by SU with Altenew crisp dye ink rock gray collection industrial diamond adding some shading with Copic Markers then stamped again with industrial diamond and colored with Copic Markers. The backup plan was using a message from a HA set congrats stamp & cut with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink and the 23 years was typed with the computer.

Mounted on a piece of lavender cardstock that was die cut with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and then mounted to a card base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock. Finally I added the Happy Tumorversary that was punch with SU large oval and lavender piece that was punched with scallop oval also by SU

Feliz Día de Muertos

 Today is Day of the death a day to honor our loved ones that had passed on. In Mexico is a big celebration, here in the States is more of a way to party but thanks to that I was able to find things to have an Altar this year as you are able to find lots of things to decorate for your parties 😀 My altar was a little different as I didn't add any photos for one as I believe you have to let the death rest after they are gone so I was not inviting them to come I was just honoring them. I had some paper skulls since they don't sell sugar skulls to add names of our loved one we were honoring. And also I didn't put fresh or real food as I'm not expecting visitors 😀 I would plan this better next year so Bret will do some steps and will have another area but in the meantime this is what I did

Now for the card I sent to my family, I started by using a layer of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock then I added Tim Holtz distress ink picked raspberry, Victorian velvet, carved pumpkin, crackling campfire, festive berries, ripe persimmon with Erin Lee Creative blending brushes; I let it dry for a few minutes and then I die cut it with Double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness then I stamped my images from Día de los Muertos stamp set by Inkadinkado with VersaFine Clair nocturne then decided it needed a bit more so I sprayed with my mixed of I believe Nuvo mica mist midnight horizon and maybe Imagine Sheer shimmer craft spray sparkle I forgot to label my mini mist spray, then I let it dry completely before I mounted on a layer of Park Lane 110 lb. smooth black solid core cardstock which I die cut with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A then stamped my word Feliz from Feliz stamp set by Elena Guillen-K & Sizzix/Ellison also with VersaFine Clair nocturne and finally mounted to my card base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. Cover Smooth white cardstock

My sister also found some pan de muerto, I'm not supposed to eat this but not something we eat all the time, it's a once a year tradition so I will be having some since we found it and we were not able to have it last year 😂