Torn Edge

Another year almost gone and this is our last post this year for Group of Seven. Our technique this month is torn edge. I hope you will visit the blog and see all the great cards the group made this month.

I added a torn panel to the bottom of the tree paper and enhanced it with glitter drops in aquatic frost Nuvo Drops. The second card is a piece of cardstock torn in half and used at the top and bottom of the panel. I used a stencil by Lavinia called Feather Leaf in green ink between the two torn papers. Using a Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz die Tattered Florals I cut the flower three times, stacked them and inked a bit with brown ink around the centers. The center is filled with The Robin's Nest embellishments. Both cards have Penny Black sentiments. 

Life without music would b flat.

Be kind to one another.

Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a wonderful day today and hope you have a day filled with love and laughter. Let us remember all the blessings in our lives and be thankful.

When I was young I was poor. After years of hard work and perseverance, I am no longer young.

Be kind to one another.

Getting caught up

I am working hard to get caught up with posting and commenting along with catching up with everything else I let go. Clean underwear is a big thing so laundry comes first! Priorities, you know. My cards did turn out to be simple but I'm okay with that since I am thinking of the friends I send them to and that's what counts.

This is pattern paper is from Basic Grey, a die cut frame from Penny Black and a rub-on from 49 and Market. I will say this has helped me use a lot of the pattern paper I have that I've had for a long time (as you can tell from using Basic Grey). There are so many ways to make beautiful backgrounds now that I quit using pattern paper and it's time to bring it back.

I am a person who wants to do a lot of things in a body that doesn't.

Be kind to one another.

Christmas cards

Hello to my sweet friends,

I have hit a bump in the road with my breathing. I now have to wear my oxygen 24/7. Before, I only had to wear it if I went out. I woke up one day several weeks ago and suddenly needed it all the time. That threw me for a loop since I thought it would be a very gradual thing and I would realize I was getting worse. It completely paralyzed  me and for two and a half weeks I did nothing. That was when I was planning to start my Christmas cards, late as always! So now they may be real late and they are very simple. Pattern paper and a die cut or stamped greeting. I am so sorry. I have come to terms with it and now moving on with life. I just wanted to tell you where I've been.

Here is a card made with pattern paper and a die cut tree.

I have my first date lined up for January. I mean it's a court date, but still it's a date and I am dressing up for it.

Be kind to one another.

Smooshing with cling wrap

This months Group of Seven Card Makers are smooshing with cling wrap. I invite you to visit and check out all the beautiful cards they have shown. 

For my cards I chose to use acrylic paints applied with a paint brush. The paper used is Strathmore Mixed Media and the paint went on so smoothly. Then using a piece of cling wrap larger than the cardstock, I smooshed it and crumpled it up in the wet paint to add the texture. Let it dry completely, then remove the cling wrap. The cardstock did curl a bit when it dried. The snowflake is from a friend that I cut in silver mirror cardstock. The tag is from Lexi-Design. I did add ribbon from Stampin' Up and glossy accents to the flame.  The sentiments on both cards are from Penny Black. 

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you. 

Be kind to one another.

Belated Thanksgiving wishes

I'm late saying Happy Thanksgiving but it is no less sincere. I am so far behind with everything due to some health issues. I'm okay but things are moving very slowly for me so I may not always post but I'm always grateful for all of you wonderful blog friends.

Next Sunday there is a shower for my new great grandson due in March. This is the card I made. I don't have many baby stamps so I got this one when my great granddaughter was born. It is from La-La Land Crafts with some adorable images. I colored the baby with Copics, cut out with a Spellbinders die and adhered to a blue checked pattern paper. The sentiment is from the same set.

I heard someone is suing Smart Water for not making them smart. I would like to announce my lawsuit against Thin Mints.

Be kind to one another.

Fall Birthday

This is a birthday card I made for a wonderful friend who lives in an area where leaves change each year like mine do here in my state. I cut two leaves from white cardstock and inked with brushes. Then cut two leaves from gold cardstock and glued them all to a fall embossing folder on a green panel. A few gold sequins finished it. The greeting is inside because I didn't want to squish it on the front.

Welcome to the Karma Cafe. Please be seated. There are no menus. You will be served what you deserve.

Be kind to one another.

Sunflowers #3

I told you I was on a roll with sunflowers. This is the last one. This is a Momenta die I picked up at JoAnn's quite a while back. I cut it from white cardstock,  pale yellow cardstock, then green, inlaid it and fussy cut around the die. I added a bit of brown on the petals and adhered it to a pattern paper from Crafter's Companion. 

I just read about the dangers of drinking that really scared me. That's it. After today there is no more reading.

Be kind to one another.

More sunflowers

Our leaves have turned and I am sharing all the beauty right in my backyard. This is the field to the right of our addition that a policeman owns and he leaves it as a wildlife refuge for foxes, deer and coyotes. We, (the neighbors) believe the coyotes have moved on since they started building on the other side of the field and it was noisy. But, I did see some eyes shining back at me last week when I took Daisy out late at night. I still shine the flashlight all around since we had to check for coyotes.

This card was made with one of the papers from the SSS kit I mentioned in my last post that I die cut with a Lil' Inker rectangle die. I added a sentiment from Penny Black and adhered it to a yellow card base and that was it. Isn't the paper beautiful?

Never yell into a colander. You'll strain your voice.

Be kind to one another.

On a roll with sunflowers

I want to thank all of you for your great suggestions to get back in the groove. Sometimes we just need a little push. I went back to basics by simple stamping. I used a Cuttlebug embossing autumn folder with yellow cardstock and stamped a greeting on a die cut element from my first ever Simon Says card kit. It was so simple and I love the card. I colored in the pumpkin and leaves with Copics. It got me started and hopefully I'm back on track. I went through a lot of my pattern paper while I was doing nothing and I will be using a lot of it in the future.

I hope the time change hasn't bothered anyone but Daisy is having a hard time with it. She usually eats at five fifteen in the evening and by four fifteen she is jumping up and down for her dinner! I hope she gets adjusted soon or I'll have to give her nerve pills (of course I'm kidding). Here she is taking her predinner nap.

Instructor - "Welcome to salsa class! Who's ready to dance?"

Me - hiding a bag of tortilla chips as I back off. There has been a misunderstanding on my part.

Be kind to one another.

The color purple

I've been in a mood lately and it's not a crafty mood. Now that I feel good I can't seem to get back on track with my normal life routine. No mojo for much and I hope this passes soon. I sit at my desk and try this and try that and it's like I forgot how to make a card. Has this happened to anyone else? 

This card I made yesterday to help me get started again. The paper pad from Paper Rose was a free gift with my last order from Scrapbook.com. As a kid my favorite color was purple but I've gotten away from it and hardly ever use it. This paper called to me and at least got me to make a card. Very simple, used the paper and a cut apart and added some sequins. Maybe simple is what I needed. 

If you have pumpkins still out keep alcohol away from them or they'll get smashed.

Be kind to one another.

Stenciling over Heat Embossing

This card took me a month to make for Group of Seven! I couldn't seem to get the background stamps I have and stencils that looked right with them to connect. I agonized over it for so long. You should see all the products I had out trying to get it right. I finally decided to go with a script background since that was working. I made several cards that ended up in the trash. After I put the Versamark ink on the stamp and stamped it I couldn't tell if the embossing powder was melted since it was hard to see white on white. Then I couldn't tell if the words were right side up! Inking over the embossing with the Picket Fence stencil was a piece of cake by then. I added a die cut deer from Poppy Stamps inked with a blending brush. The sentiment is Simon Says. I made this much harder than it was and now that I've made a card, I feel better.

This really wasn't hard at all. I think it was a combination of having bronchitis twice in a month and running around so much with little rest. The prednisone I'm taking keeps me up at night so I'm not sleeping much and am still tired. I only have a short time to take the remaining pills then I hope to be back to normal sleeping and crafting. 

Be sure to check out the great cards the group of seven made without screaming. They are all terrific.

When does hibernation start? I want to participate this year.

Be kind to one another.

My first one

This has been the busiest month of this year for me. A lot of activities that I'm not used to. I'm really a homebody but it has been good to get out for lunches with family and friends before the cold sets in. It has not left a lot of crafting time since I have to have a nap when I get home! So, I missed posting on Sunday like I normally do since I met my granddaughter for lunch to celebrate her birthday. 

I finally got my first Christmas card made yesterday. I needed a kick start to get it done so I used a 49 and Market rub-on. The mat is a Pinkfresh that surprised me when I die cut it. I thought it was going to be a scalloped frame. The mat is the inside of that die. The sentiment is from a $1 stamp I picked up somewhere. But hey, it's a card and I'm started. I wish I could take pictures with my card straight but it never looks right in the camera.

I just released a new fragrance. No one else in the car seemed to appreciate it.

Be kind to one another.

Fuzzies

I didn't get into Halloween this year like I usually do. Do you ever get your seasonal stamps out and realize you don't like them anymore or you've used them so many times you're sick of them? I pulled out some older Halloween cards I've made and sent them to family. Only made a few new ones that I needed. This is one I made with a DeNami Designs stamp. I didn't have it stored with my Halloween stuff so it hasn't been used as much. I just colored the fuzzies and matted it with pattern paper. Easy peasy, done. I can't justify buying more since I have so much. Maybe next year the stamps will look better!

Dove chocolate tastes way better than their soap.

Be kind to one another.

It's pumpkin time

It is pumpkin time and you can't ignore it because it's everywhere. In our food, in our stores, in front lawns and on our cards. I love pumpkin anything so this is a fun month for me and I hope, you. I don't know where this stamp is from but I do love the toothless happy smile pumpkins always have.

Nothing makes me feel so old as having to scroll down to find the year of my birth.

Be kind to one another.

Cherish

Just a reminder to cherish your friends. After seeing so many of my friends this week I know how special they are, as well as my neighbors and all the precious friends I've made online. Just because we haven't all met in person doesn't mean you aren't as loved, So many people have moved to Instragram and that's okay too but I miss the personal stories we tell in blog land. Each and every person is special to me and the fact that you took time to comment or say hello is awesome. 

This is a card to honor special friends. It is an older stamp from Great Impressions and pattern paper.

I knew I'd get older. I am just so surprised how fast it happened.

Be kind to one another.

What a wonderful surprise

My sons gave me a surprise 80th birthday party Saturday. I was completely surprised and overwhelmed. They pulled out all the stops and there were people there I haven't seen in a long time. All the family and cousins, friends from when my sons were little and some since before they were born. Lots of food, presents and they even sang!  I am so blessed.

Good news - I made it to my golden years. Bad news - there is no gold.

Be kind to one another.

Pumpkin kitty

I'm feeling so much better and took my last dose of antibotics this morning for the bronchitis. I still have an occasional cough but not like it was. Whew, I don't want to do that again! I'm going to lunch with a friend today so I'm so glad to feel like going.

I used a Simon Says Stamp for this pumpkin card today. The pattern paper is from an old pad with no cover and the black cat is an IO die. I added some Doodlebug gems to the eyes and nose.

Today is my birthday and they say "act your age". I've never been this age before so I don't know how to act.

Be kind to one another.

Welcome to October

Only three more months of 2023. How can that be? This is such a beautiful time of year and my favorite season. I have been missing this week with bronchitis. The cough is getting better now but it really laid me low the first week. My poor, comprised lungs have a hard time dealing with this and it completely saps my energy. So, a lost week for me.

I know this card is strange but it fits right in with my family. Tomorrow is my son's birthday and he lives on a lake with lots of turtles. You see one every time you walk out on the dock. I had to make this card for him! This is KaiserCraft paper and a Sunny Studio sentiment. I know he will love it. I made it a few months ago after seeing Patty Dolan make it on YouTube.

Never drink with a ghost. They can't handle their boos.

Be kind to one another.

Dry Embossing with re-inker watercoloring

This month our Group of Seven Cardmakers  has a fun technique for us to try. The results are so pretty and good for any type of card. Instructions can be found on the blog with samples.

I chose to use Halloween embossing folders and colors for these cards. I randomly added re-inkers all over my cardstock with a damp paintbrush in what looked to me like where the pumpkins were on the embossing folder. I like how the colors over lapped and made them two shades. I used yellow, orange and green re-inkers on the first card. I used VersaFine Clair nocturne ink to go over both embossing folders. When the inks were dry I ran the panel through the embossing folder. I did not add embossing powder to either card and just let the colors show through.

The second card used pale yellow, light orange and darker orange re-inkers to make the spider web and added the color all over the panel. I did the same thing, let the colors dry, inked the embossing folder and ran the panel through the embossing folder. I added the spiders in black cardstock with a Martha Stewart punch from many years ago. Both embossing folders are Cuttlebug that I've had a long time.

I hope you try this and add your cards to the blog.

I bought some skinny jeans. Be aware they don't work.

Be kind to one another.

A quick card

I now have two bins of NBUS but I want to use up the old too. This is a sticker card that was quick but I like it. A textured bat and a sticker moon were used for this card. The bat paper is from a treat bag I never used. 

Expresso may not be the answer, but it's worth a shot.

Be kind to one another.

Rainy days

I had borrowed some Penny Black dies from my SIL, Sharon. One of the dies was boots so I used them to make this card. I had to cut them down a bit to go with the umbrella from a Pure Innocence stamp from My Favorite Things. The clouds are from an old set but stored on a magnetic mat so I don't know where they are from. I just sponged some black ink around them to make them rain clouds. The rain is Stampin' Up. 

Being an adult - 1 Star

I don't recommend it.

Be kind to one another.