My Computer is Sooooooooooo Slow

For those of you that are wondering, yes I am still making cards but having a hard time wanting to be on my computer because of our slow connection. Needless to say we'll have to figure something, lol. I think a new computer is in order, and a different internet connector.

I have three cards to post today, two of which are Christmas cards and the other one was one we made at a class. The first one is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's made using the Bella Bleu dsp, not even Christmas pp but I saw it in the new Mini and loved how Christmasy it looked. I used my white craft ink to stamp snowflakes on the blue dsp and I used the new shimmer paint on the snowflakes. I cannot say enough about this stuff! Normally the Not Quite navy is a little to stark next to this dsp but after dabbing white shimmer paint on the snowflakes, it became the perfect colour! I also added silver brads to the centres just because it felt like something was missing, but you could make it without. After the card was all finished I kept looking at the big very vanilla piece thinking it looked too bare. So I grabbed my paper piercer and then went on to destroy my card, lol. I have learned that it is very hard piercing pp when you have that many layers, hence the really crooked piercing job! Live and learn...


This next card is from a sketch I saw somewhere on the www. I wasn't too keen on this particular sheet of dsp from the Christmas Cocoa pack so I thought why not force myself to use it and now I like it. Isn't it funny how sometimes it doesn't take much to change one's mind? lol. Once again I punched the snowflake with SU!'s new snowflake punch (love it) and dabbed on the champagne mist shimmer paint. IRL it actually makes the Soft Suede pp look bronze after you've dabbed the paint on.


And this last card is one that we made at one of my stamp classes. We used SU!'s chalk to give the tree some life, I have this stuff and should use it way more often. One container and you get all of SU!'s colours, very good way of colouring if you don't have all of their inks. I also used the dsp from the Hostess Level 1 paper pack, so nice to have for card making!


Well that's it for me and my cards today. Thanks for stopping by!!
Tina

I Love Christmas

And I love making Christmas cards! I am especially in love with this year's designer pp that Stampin' Up! is offering. Add the new shimmer paint and it gives you such pretty Christmas cards.

Today's card is a case from one of the talented ladies over at SCS, you'll find her original in the Serene Snowflakes gallery. I first stamped the snowflakes in soft suede and then using the stampamajig and stamped over them again using the new shimmer paint. Adds just the right ammount of sparkle for subtle elegant look. I then added antique gold brads to the centers and adhered the layers.

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Shimmer Paint, Soft Suede Ribbon, Antique Brads

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

I'm back, finally

Well we're all moved into our new place and I hope I don't have to move for at least another 10 years! Luckily this move was just across the street instead of 12 hours like our last two moves were, waaaaaaaaaay easier, lol.

And wouldn't you know it, in the midst of moving I got the Delightful Decorations set that was back ordered. This set was taunting me every time I walked by it. Finally today I went and grabbed what I needed and made today's card. It doesn't feel finished yet so I'm sure I'll brainstorm all day until I figure out something to make this card feel finished.

Today's card is a Christmas card using non traditional colours and some of the new stuff out of the Holiday mini that will be available Sept 1. As soon as I saw the designer paper I knew I wanted to make a card using this combination. Although I want to make this card again and throw in some red, I think maybe that's what this card needs. I first stamped the ornaments in Soft Suede and then lightly dabbed the new shimmer paint on top using a sponge. Wow, I LOVE this stuff. It's going to be so perfect for making Christmas cards, it adds just the right amount of sparkle.

Stamps: Delightful Decorations
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Gold Cording, Shimmer Paint

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Sweet Treats Preview

Wow this set has so many possibilities! You get a Valentine's stamp, Halloween, Christmas, Hot Air Balloon, and flower petals. I'll try to make the various ones and post them to give you an idea of what this set all has.

This set would be perfect to make little favors for kids Birthday parties or school treats. Love them! And you really only need such a small ammount of candy to fill the cups, a tbsp at the most, so making these wouldn't cost a lot either.

Stamps: Sweet Treats, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Old olive, DSP- Orchid Opulence
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon, Candy

I Should be Packing...

But this is way more fun, lol. I love stamping after you get new supplies, your creative juices just seem to flow better. This is another card using Rich Razzleberry, one of my favourite of the new in colours. Once again I used my white gel pen to create the faux stitching, so easy and it beats hauling out the sewing machine!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White, Old Olive, DSP- Cottage Wall
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence
Other: Rhinestone Brads, Gel Pen, Bigshot sizzlets (Little Leaves)

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

More Beary Friends

I love this set! I was on the fence when I ordered it but it's proving to be a great stamp set. Here's the same card I posted yesterday, just in different colours. The watercolouring looks very blotchy on here but IRL it looks much better.



Have a great day!
Tina

I probably sound like a broken record lately but sorry for the lack of postings! We are one week away from getting possesion of our house, but that still couldn't stop me from stamping with some of my new stuff from the SU Mini coming into effect on September 1. Wow, there is so much in there that I want, ok probably everything. So I held back and ordered a number of stamp sets and some wonderful accessories.

I'm so excited for my Techniques class coming September 1 because we'll use some of the new mini stuff, should be a really good time again. If you're in the area and want to join us, please give me a shout at btdyck@gmail.com. We'll be making an Autumn card,a Christmas card, and a card using the new Sweet Treats stamp set with the coordinating treat cups, seriously excited about those things. As soon as I can get to the store to buy some candy I'll post a card, possibly tonight yet.

Well on to the card. This card is made using the Beary Best Friends set that's in the new mini. The most exciting part is that SU's created matching dies for your bigshot that you can do your own Build a Bear with, something that every little girl will love! I chose this set because I've got a lot of nieces and nephews that I make Birthday cards for and I got kind of sick of my other stamp sets for children. You can kind of see it on the card that I added crystal effects to the balloon, it really adds a little extra oomph to the card.

Stamps: Beary Best Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White, DSP-Cottage Wall
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Apricot Appeal
Other: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Effects, White Gel Pen

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

I Love my Bigshot

I especially love the top note that came with the starter kit, so versatile. Today's card is one that I saw a while ago while blog surfing, problem is I don't remember who I need to give credit to. So if it's yours give me a shout because it's almost identical, other then a slight change of color.
Another thing that I love but don't use often enough, is the pretties kit, well more so the flowers from the pretties kit. I also love that I can tint them so easily with my brayer and ink pad.

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness
Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, DSP- Fifth Ave ?
Ink: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa
Other: Rhinestone brads, Flowers from the Pretties Kit, Sizzlets Little Leaves

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Butterflies

What a fun summer it's been so far! So many fun things to do in the summer, camping, fairs, zoos, etc. Too much to do, too little time, lol.

One of my favorite things to do is to cook. I love finding that perfect recipe that you want to try over and over again. So my sister and I thought why not start a food blog. It'll be a blog where we share dinner ideas, and all other testing done in the kitchen. If you like food blogs, why not check ours out. You'll find the link on the left hand side called "Better Than Takeout".

Ok, on to the card. It's been a little difficult creating this summer, partly to the fact that my mind is on the move to our house (even though it's only across the street), and also partly to the fact that I'm really concentrating on getting my SU! business going over here. Hopefully once schools back on I'll get my mojo back.

Todays card is one that we made at our last stamp class, I had loads of fun with these ladies, can't wait for the next one. We use teh two step stamping technique and also used my bigshot and the texturz plates to give the card some more dimension.

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow, DSP-To the Nines
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke
Other: Grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

Good morning, well for some of you it will be good afternoon already. Today is shaping up to be a good day, my laundry is almost done, I've made a card, countertops are clean... life is great.

Today's card is a step away from what I normally do, it's more of a shabby chic look. I also used non SU designer paper (gasp), I have so much of it stashed away, feeling neglected so today I decided to use it in conjunction with my Stampin' Up cardstock. I have to say that Soft Suede is very quickly becoming my favorite of the new In Colors, it goes so well with so many colors. Love it! I also used the top note die with my bigshot, lovin that as well. I love how easy it is to create a great layer on a card and with so little effort. Boy can you feel the love today?! lol.
My only complaint about this card is that the piece with the sentiment on it is driving me crazy, I feel like it looks out of place. I think I'll pry it off and round the corners, maybe that'll help it blend better with the top note.

Stamps: Refuge & Strength
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, DSP-?
Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze (used to dye the flowers)
Other: Halfback Pearls, Soft Suede Ribbon

Have a Great Day!

I Think I Should be Embarrassed...

This card took me over an hour to make, yikes. And the result isn't even that spectacular, lol. Oh well, sometimes I guess we need to slow down a little and enjoy life a little more, although I don't know if this would fit the bill.

I got the inspiration for this card somewhere in the web, I think it might have been SCS, but I did change a few things to make it my own. I love vellum but so often forget to use it on my cards.

Stamps: Seaside, Kind & Caring Thoughts
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, DSP-Parisian Breeze
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Other: Jumbo brads, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping by.

What a wonderful Day!

We just had a nice thunderstorm roll through, and I love thunderstorms! There's something so beautiful about them. It also makes for a great stamping day, well who am I kidding, any day is a good stamping day, lol.

Well I'm very excited to start offering classes in Mitchell. I love stamping with friends or soon to be friends so this is something I'm really looking forward to. I had a table at our flea market and was able to fill a class, it should be a lot of fun. If you live in the area and are interested in coming please give me a call.

Today's card is one that we'll probably make at the techniques class, it's called thh wax paper resist technique. Very easy and nice to do when you don't have any Designer paper in the color that you'd like. I did see this card on Splitcoaststampers so it's definitely not my original idea.

Stamps: Embrace Life, Kind & Caring Thoughts
Paper: Basic Black, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, Glossy White
Ink: Basic Black, Sage Shadow
Other: Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Effects (on the flower)

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Happy Canada Day!

Sorry I don't have a card today, I just wanted to wish everyone a good Canada Day. We spent the day watching Ice Age with the kids, spent time with family and finished the day with some awesome fireworks. It was such a nice day.

Before I go I want to let everyone know that Stampin' Up's new catalogue has officially gone live! Wohoo, more reason to shop, lol. So if you have a minute, check it out on the left side of my blog.

I Love Summer Holidays

I know that by the end of the summer I'll probably be pulling my hair out but right now I'm enjoying the fact that I don't have to get kids ready for school everyday and that our days start off nice and slow. This makes for perfect stamping time, and that can't be a bad thing, lol.

Today's card is a remake of yesterday's card just in different colors and I decided to add some ribbon. This card is for the color challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. I haven't done one of their callenges in such a long time, it felt really good.

Stamps: Refuge & Strength
Paper: Night Of Navy, So Saffron, Kraft, Vellum CS, DSP
Ink: Night of Navy
Other: Pretties Kit, So Saffron Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

I'm Such a Bad Blogger

What a busy life we lead, I've been neglecting my blog lately and I'm hoping to get back into it. Blogging really is my therapy and I hate to let it slide. We've had a number of things to do lately in our lives and before you know it, a week's gone by and still no posts.

As some of you probably read in some earlier posts, we've been house hunting. And I'm happy to say that the search is over. We bought a house that is literally across the street from where we're living now, this should be a relatively easy move, lol. It's a fairly new house and the previous owners never finished the basement, so we'll have a good sized project to tackle this winter. But when it's all done, I will once again have my very own craft room, yeah! I am so excited that I'll be able to sit down any time I want and create a card, it's amzing what that does for your mojo!

Well onto my cards. I've been in such a creative rut lately and I think I finally broke out of it today. Don't you hate it when you make a card and you're just not satisfied with it?! I finally had a day where I ended up liking both cards. Both of my cards today are made using the Echos of Kindness set, this is one of the hostess sets that will be retiring by the end of this month.

Stamps: Echos of Kindness, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, DSP-Bella Bleu
Ink: Basic Black, NQN, Mellow Moss
Other: Kraft Ribbon, Pretties Kit

This next card was a lot of fun to make. It is using my "comfort" colors but I feel like it's different then my usual. The flowers are from the pretties kit and I used my brayer to color them in kiwi kiss, such an easy way to tint your flowers. The picture doesn't really show it well, but I did run the background kraft cs through one of SU's texture plates. I love adding texture to my cards, which I'm sure most people have guessed already since almost every card has some sort of embossing on it, lol.

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness
Paper: Basic Black, Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Vellum Cardstock, DSP-Urban Garden
Ink: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss
Other: Black Brads

Thanks for stopping by!!