Make a (Recycled) Wish!

My oldest son and I were talking about recycling one day and about all the things that we recycle in our house.  We take the papers to the library every week for their paper fundraiser, we reuse as much as possible and our recycling can has more in it every week than our garbage can.  I'd like to think we're pretty good at recycling.  Then he asked me if I could recycle a card.  I said that since they are paper they could be recycled.  He corrected me and said "No, can you make a recycled card?"  That little stinker challenged me!  So, it was ON!

After a bit of brainstorming, I remembered that I had a small stash of paint chips that I had picked up at Menard's some time ago.  I first trimmed them  to remove all the writing that appeared on the front - although I don't think that was necessary, I just liked the narrower size better for my layout.  I chose Agapanthus Thank You for the stamped image because the long, graceful blooms were the perfect size for the paint chips.  Plus, I think this stamp looks great when it is embossed in white. 

I had so much fun making the first card, that I decided to make a set using a variety of colors.  I think I need to go back to the home improvement store and get more paint chips!

Hope all is well in your corner of the world and that you take time today to get inky!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous! Agapanthus Thank You, Dandelion Wish; Tuskineko Ink: VersaMark, Tuxedo Black; The Paper Co; Stampendous! Detail White Embossing Powder; Pittsburgh Paints Paint Chips

Cross Place Cards

(Sorry this picture isn't the greatest, it's a cloudy, gloomy day here.  I think I need to look into buying or making a light box.  Any suggestions or recommendations?)

I'm in a "funk" today and this gloomy weather just isn't helping.  So, I thought I'd get inky to see if that would lift my spirits.  I wanted to make something simple so I made these Cross Place Cards.  Tonight at church our Preschool Board of Directors (of which I am a member) is hosting Lenten Supper, so I thought placecards may come in handy.  I just got this Calligraphy Cross and was anxious to get it inky.  I think this cross is so elegant.  I used the Merlot Embossing Kit because I thought the colors (Lettuce, Pomegranate, Grape, and Wild Plum) were perfect for this Lenten season.  This was a quick and easy project to make and got my mind off matters for awhile.

Speaking of "matters", our family would appreciate prayers and healing thoughts for my cousin.  She's been battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma for the past two years.  We got word last night that the stem cell transplant she received in December failed and that the cancer has spread.  At 47 years old and with a beautiful 9 year old little girl this is just unthinkable.  She will soon begin yet another round of chemotherapy, and is looking into a clinical trial and a donor stem cell transplant.  Sometimes life just isn't fair!

Tomorrow, when I'm in a better mood, I'll make cards to send to her and her daughter.  I hope you'll all take time today to send a card to someone special to let them know that you are thinking of them.  It's a small gesture that means so much!

Take time to get inky today....

recipe:  stamp:  Calligraphy Cross;  embossing powder: Merlot Embossing Kit; Tsukineko VersaMark ink;  paper: The Paper Co.



Just A Little Note

This morning I awoke to the sweet sounds of singing birds....could this mean Spring is coming?  I sure hope so!  I, for one, am ready!  You too? 

This card was inspired by the birds I heard this morning.  I love this cute little Chickadee and couldn't wait to get him inky!  I've always loved the look of Musical Score, so this stamp had to find it's way to my stamp table - I have a feeling I'll give it a good workout!  My new favorite ink color is Tsukineko London Fog - I think it's perfect for a muted background.  I was able to fit the Just a Note sentiment onto the bird image using my Stamp-a-ma-jig. (an invaluable tool!)  Add a ribbon and a few dots of Diamond Glaze and....VOILA!

I colored this image with my watercolor crayons.  It's the first time I've used them in FOREVER and I forgot how much fun it is to just kind of wash color over your image.  I'll be playing with them again soon!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous! Chickadee, Music Score, Just a Note;  paper: The Paper Co.;  ink: Tsukinkeo Tuxedo Black, London Fog; watercolor crayons; H2O pen/brush; Diamond Glaze; JoAnn's ribbon; Stamp-a-ma-jig

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Being a redhead, I've spent years listening to people tell me that St. Patrick's Day must be MY holiday.....nope....not a drop of Irish blood in me.  People are always shocked on St. Patrick's Day to learn that I am not an Irish redhead, but a Swedish/English/German redhead....sorry to disappoint them!  So, as a kid I always kind of dreaded this holiday.  However, my husband and kids have Irish blood running through their veins, so it's much more fun for me now.  Last year, when my oldest was in Kindergarten, we learned that leprechauns are very mischievious little blokes.  When he arrived at school that morning, the kids found that the little fellows had gotten into their classroom and wreaked all kinds of havoc!  They turned over the tables and chairs, doodled all over the whiteboard, turned over baskets of books....those little stinkers!  So, this year he's excited to see what trouble they cause in first grade.

Anyway, I almost forgot why I was here today!  I wanted to share with you this St. Paddy's Day card I made.  Everyone knows Changito is my little stamping buddy.  I love this little monkey!  I thought it would be fun to incorporate the Irish flag on the background of my card and highlight Changito with a scalloped circle.  I couldn't resist using this really cute shamrock ribbon I found at JoAnn's.  Unfortunately, this little "Changito Shamrock" stamp set has been discontinued, but I have seen it at a few stores recently, if you run out right away, maybe you can still find him!  Don't wait one more minute!  If you can't find Changito, get Irish Shorty by Stampendous, he would look really cute on this card, too!

Ok stamping friends, my time is up.  I hope you all have a wonderful day - watch out for those leprechauns!  Take time to get inky!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Changito Shamrock; paper:  The Paper Co, Core'dinations cardstock Orange, Bright White, Asparagus;  ink:  Tsukineko Tuxedo Black, Gingerbread, Coffee Bean;  Prismacolor Pencils, Goo Gone, Tortillons; Marvy Scalloped Circle Punch; CM Circle Cutting System; JoAnn's ribbon; Misc. button

Ruffled Blooms

This was one of my submissions for the Stampendous! BlogStars Guest Design Team.  This card was difficult for two reasons....I find it tough to make "clean and simple" cards since I like to layer on the ribbon and buttons and patterned paper and bling.  Plus, it's always hard to make sympathy cards, especially when you're making them for a specific person.  This one was for my friend, Larry, who recently lost his Mom.  Larry was a really close childhood friend of mine and his Mom was a really special lady, who always had great advice to share.  They live in Texas, so this was my version of "The Yellow Rose of Texas". 

Inside I stamped "Comfort", "Strength" and "Peace" from the Encouraging Words stamp set.  The flower is Ruffled Bloom - I love this flower and reach for it often.  Here's another version of the same card made for a friend of the family that is battling breast cancer.

I'll have more to share with you next week, I've been brainstorming and sketching today, and have a few ideas to get inky.  I also went to JoAnn's and Archiver's today and got a few new stamps to get inky.  Can't wait to play with my new goodies!

It's raining here, I hope it's brighter in your corner of the world.  Take time this weekend to get inky!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Ruffled Bloom,  Stampendous Encouraging Words;  paper: The Paper Co.; Prismascolor Pencils, Goo Gone, Tortillons; ink:  Tsukineko Tuxedo Black; Crystal Stickles

I'm SO Excited!

I've been out of commission lately with a nasty cold, but I just had to stop by and tell you all that I was chosen to be a Stampendous Blog Star.  I am so honored and thrilled beyond belief!  This is my first attempt at applying for a Design Team, and to have been chosen as a Guest Design Team Member by my favorite stamp company has me simply giddy!

So, tomorrow I will get busy creating with my favorite Stampendous stamps and will be posting more often now.  I'm so excited I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight!

Hope you'll take time to get inky.....