All Abuzz

I've been playing with the Vintage Bee 

Calm collage sheet from My Artistic Adventures all week. I made a simple card by layering a tea colored doily over kraft card stock, then added two images from the Collage sheet along with some black paper. I added Liquid Pearl drops around the edge of the tag shape and called it done! Not every card has to have half a dozen techniques or layers. 

I was buzzing along having so much fun in my scrap room that I also made a tag...

See the cute bumblebee button? I've been saving this bee ribbon I found at Michael's and it was perfect for these collage sheet projects!

...and then I decorated an envelope to go with the card I made a few days ago. I didn't have enough of the yellow striped paper to line the inside of the envelope, so I wasn't quite sure how I was going to make it coordinate with the card. Then it came to me - what if I ran the envelope flap through the Cuttlebug and embossed it with the honeycomb design? 

I used my oval scallop punch on what little bit of yellow striped paper I had remaining, used a small round punch on a bee image, and voila! Now the envelope flap has the same honeycomb texture as the card.

I usually don't decorate the envelope other than 
to stamp a coordinating image onto the front upper or lower corner. This adds a bit of panache and also helps me to remember what the card's theme/design is when I have them stored and waiting to be mailed out for the right occasion. 

I had so much fun decorating the flap for this
 Bee Happy card that I think I'm going to 
emboss others!

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Monday Funday
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What To Do Weekends

Hope Your Birthday Is A Hoot

I talk with the moon, said the owl
While she lingers over my tree
I talk with the moon, said the owl
And the night belongs to me.

Oh my goodness, the days are flying by as the school year winds down! Seems the busier College Girl is the busier I am. She was initiated into her school's chapter of Delta Kappa Alpha last weekend, and there was a pinning ceremony this week that parents were invited to attend. We were thrilled to go, and I took my camera along for lots of candid photos. When the kids are young we get to attend class parties and field trips, but once they are in college it is a rare thing to be able to participate - and take photos!- of our 'baby. 

The wise old owl
Sat in an oak.
The more he saw,
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke,
The more he heard.
Why can't we be like
That wise old bird?

Back at home I've been making a few cards for upcoming events. I used my Cricut to cut out this layered owl and branch. I fussy cut the cloud, then ran it through my Cuttlebug for the swirly texture. I decorated the envelope by placing a strip of navy washi tape down one side to coordinate with the card. The finishing touch was the little sparkly cupcake! 

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Favorite Things
Share Your Cup
Time Travel Thursday
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What To DO Weekends
Twirl and Take a Bow

Thinking of Spring

 The modest, lowly violet 

 In leaves of tender green is set; 

So rich she cannot hide from view, 

But covers all the bank with blue.

Photo by Replacements, LTD.

Last week flew by with practically everyone here under the weather in some way or another. My Mom is still in the hospital and I've been fighting something for days. A nice hot cuppa has been a comfort every evening.

 There is something so cheery, friendly and welcoming about violas. The cup pictured above is a bone china Wentworth made in Japan. I don't own this cup but I think it would be a lovely addition to the Spring tea table, don't you? We are less than three weeks from the official start of Spring, the Vernal Equinox on March 20th. Thinking ahead, I dug out my Viola stamp and made a Springtime card.

I first stamped the post mark, grid and text in grey ink. Next, I stamped the Viola image in black then colored the flowers and leaves with my Zig Water Pen  and Ranger Distress Ink.

The purple checked paper behind the stamped piece was embossed using my Cuttlebug.

 Fun fact: March fourth is a date and a sentence.

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Martha's Favorites 

Artful Affirmations 

Antiques and Teacups

You're Going To Love It

Clever Chicks
Freedom Fridays 
Bernideen's Tea Time 

June

 

Happy June, everybody! The last couple of weeks have flown. I've enjoyed doing lots of 'nothing,' which means I've slept late, had some pajama days, did housework, kept the bird feeders filled and watched lots of silly television - episodes of Duck Dynasty and Deadliest Catch with Handyman, and The Vampire Diaries with College Girl! Yesterday I made Minestrone Soup from scratch and tomorrow I plan to try a new dish called Poffertjes, which are mini Dutch pancakes served with powdered sugar. I'll let you know how they come out. 

Here is a card I made the other day~

I used:

• Cuttlebug Hugs and Kisses embossing folder
• Spellbinders Nestabilities dies
• paper doily
• Bazzill card stock
• paper roses
• sticker for the sentiment
• Martha Stewart edge punch

We know it's June here in Southern California when we see harmless June Bugs buzzing around at night...

and wake up to June Gloom each morning~

photo is from laobserved.com

  Not to worry, the 'gloom' burns off by noon and the happy, unscheduled days fill our hearts with sunshine no matter the forecast!

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Time Travel Thursday 

The Twelve Tags Of 2013- January

If you need any inspiration for stamping and card making look no further than Tim Holtz's blog. I took a peek at his 12 Tags of January today and ended up making a tag because I just couldn't stop myself, even though I had planned to make something completely different when I walked into my scrap room! Click on the link above for Tims' complete photo tutorial. I also took a few pictures, as I worked, to share with you. I started with a blank tag (2.6 x 5.25), Ranger Distress Ink, and my Cuttlebug Clockworks folder (5 x 7).

Next, I sprinkled water drops on my inked tag

 

 

 and dried it with my Ranger Heat It Tool

 

 Then I cut a clock die cut into two pieces; I painted one segment with gold metallic paint and embossed the other piece with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress Powder. I glued them to the tag and trimmed off the overhang. I adhered a piece of Film Strip Ribbon to the left side with Glossy Accents.

I cut a smaller tag from off-white card stock and stamped a sentiment on it, then inked the edges of it. 

 

Here is the completed tag. I used a grunge board number '3' which I misted with Perfect Pearls Biscotti Mist, then finished with a light coat of Platinum Liquid Pearls. The three represents my family. I stamped the bias tape ribbon with a calendar and the word 'January'. There are metal sprockets attached with brads and a game spinner inside the bottle cap. I am going to share this with Tim's blog. It is really fun to see the variety of January tags people have made after seeing Tim's version!

I did not have the grunge board gears Tim used on his tag, so I substituted the die cut clock.

I had so much fun I can't wait to see what inspiration Tim has in store for February~

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Tim Holtz blog, 12 Tags of 2013 
Time Travel Thursday The Brambleberry Cottage 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop 
Share Your Cup 

 

Craft On~

I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July celebration with some fun, food and sun...but no sunburns! College Girl baked a batch of homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies while Handyman watched a bit of the annual Twilight Zone marathon on television. I had a chance to use my new Spellbinder Lacey Circle die and Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder to make a fun card.

The sentiment was stamped with We R Memory Keepers Keep Calm clear stamps. I have a Cricut and love what it can do, but my little Cuttlebug is such a joy because it is quiet, easy to use and produces satisfying results! After I layered the damask design with the embossed dots and black and white print, I adhered the Lacey Circle with foam adhesive and added a bow and Bazzill gems~ Aren't these stamps great? Can't wait to make up more cards with them!

 

 I found out today that Jann at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson featured my Yankee Doodle Afternoon  post on her blog! That was a fun surprise~ Thank you, Jann.

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Jann at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Pink and Yellow~

I made a card last night using a color I do not usually gravitate toward, since I wanted to push myself a bit out of my comfort zone. I used yellow!  It's not that I don't like it exactly, it is just that it is a color that does not look good on me and can oftentimes be too overpowering. I tend to like 'clean' colors as opposed to 'dusty', and jewel tones as opposed to warm tones. I do appreciate, however, yellow mixed with pink, navy or with black and white. 

•  diamonds and dots embossing folder, Cuttlebug
•  Distress Ink, Straw
•  Prima clear stamps, item #551056
•  yellow ribbon, foam dots, blank card
•  Me and My Big Ideas black stripe paper
•  Ranger Archival black ink

 I think I will make another card and use a bit of pink this time instead of black. The two look lovely together. I spotted this appealing color combo in this cute bird feeder~

Annies Annuals

 You can purchase this adorable bird feeder at Annies Annuals.  I have never seen a feeder quite like this. Fun! Speaking of pink and yellow, Casey's Cupcakes is featuring a Raspberry Lemonade cupcake for the month of June. See them on the top shelf, left side?

 I think a Raspberry Lemonade cupcake would be delicious with tea sipped from this stunning teacup, don't you?

The set features a cheerful lemon yellow base color on the outside of the cup and saucer with large bright pink and burgundy cabbage roses around the inside of the cup. A small mimic of the pattern is in the center of the saucer. The cup style is the wide, attractive Avon. It is available at Ruby Lane.

A while ago I shared a couple of my tiny Madame Alexander dolls with you. This little sweetie, called "It's Raining" fits in perfectly with today's color theme, yellow. She is ready for a summer downpour, like the one I experienced when we traveled to Albuquerque two summers ago! Suddenly, we were bombarded by hail and thunder. No worries, this blue-eyed cutie even has matching rain booties and the perfect hat to keep her curly pigtails dry.

Well, I am off to water my pink Hydrangeas and get dinner started. Hope your day was sunny and rosy! 

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Marthas Favorites 

Artful Affirmations 

Rose Chintz Cottage 

Uncommon Designs online

Renewing my Card Stash~

I made a couple of cards last night using a new DCWV  paper stack I bought at JoAnn Fabrics...gotta love the 50% off coupons they offer! The pad is called Tattered Time.

The designs are 'Tim Holtz-ish', with subdued colors, vintage images and grungy effects. With typewriters on the brain,  I knew this pad was going home with me when I saw it. I had a lucky scrapbooking week because I also found a cool 7 Gypsies 6" x 6" paper pad at Tuesday Morning(below,right)~

I made the first card using 7 Gypsies 'Paddington' paper & 'Victoria' stamps, my Cuttlebug and my Stamps Happen 'Camelot' alphabet.

 I used Stickles on the monogram (B is for Bird) and a bit of Liquid Pearls on the stamped branch. To highlight the embossed areas, I softly rubbed blue ink across the surface.

The bird is mounted on adhesive foam and is wearing a little crown. I used Ranger Black Enamel Accents to make his eye. (see 3rd photo from top) On the next card, I upcycled a small canvas tote and used it to stamp a bicycle! Then I sewed the canvas to the DCWV card stock. I printed out the small journaling frame and put two eyelets in it through which I planned to thread black ribbon. 

  
I also stitched on the lighter green paper, then finished the card by using the Black enamel again for small dots on opposite corners. I like them both, but my favorite is the French themed bike. I think I may make another like it~

Water, Paint and Ink~

There are such fun freebies out there, like this set from Kalie at The Pink Doodle....go to her site to get the download~ She also has a masculine blue choice!

 I have been thinking about Valentines and playing with my new Cuttlebug.  But, first I needed to make a couple of thank you notes for some birthday gifts I received the other day. I punched a strip of cardstock with one of my favorite Martha Stewart edge punches and placed it along the top of the card; I also punched the bottom of the card.

  I used~

 

as well as Quick Quotes 'Pink Cheeks' Powder Puff ink, ribbon, Recollections pink striped paper and a tag dredged through Spun Sugar Distress Ink and white paint mixed with water.

I really liked the combo of ink, water and paint! Just place a few dabs of paint on your craft mat, or use a sheet of wax paper. I smeared some Distress Ink on the mat and spritzed the area with water. (toward the center of the sheet)

Next, I dragged the tag (yes! this is the technically correct past tense of drag. My daughter looked it up for me. You can remember it by the phrase, "just say no to drugs"~ lol) through the water, ink and paint on the mat. 

You can use the mixture for more than one piece, but it quickly mixes and becomes the dominant color, at which point you loose the fun marbeling effect. I used the same technique on this heart card-

When the cardstock heart dried I ran it through the Cuttlebug, then pinked the edges. I used~

• Tim Holtz Crowded Attic cardstock
• Cuttlebug
• Sizzix Ornate Frames A2 folder
• ribbon, crystal, heart charm, gems
• Cavallini French stamps
• Distress Ink, antique linen & vintage photo

I host an inking/stamping group called Voila, Ink! at Bella Creations. I am having an Ink & Paint Challenge for February with a fun RAK for one random-chosen recipient. Get out some ink and paint, create something and come share it with us at Voila, Ink!