Power Poppy Card

 Were you able to see the eclipse where you live? It was a once in a life time event and I’m so glad we were able to see it - and that the clouds moved on just before lunch. Some areas were not so lucky and it was very cloudy. We returned our eclipse glasses to the library today. They will be donated to a group who sends them to poorer countries when they have an eclipse.

Today I’m posting a card using a stamp from Power Poppy. They have awesome flower stamps, including digital stamps. 

                                              

This tulip stamp is one of my favourites. I don’t usually colour them that dark but I rather like it….and I happened to have a card base the same colour. I like to make my own card bases so I have quite a variety of them.  Once this was stamped and coloured I trimmed it down to fit on the right side of the card and added that gold peel-off strip on the left. Then more gold peel-offs were used - the corners and the sentiment and even the gold strip under the sentiment. Then the gold gems were added. 

That’s all for a lovely warm spring day - got out and did some gardening this afternoon - but tomorrow is going to be a rainy day. Time to stay inside and make cards and quilt.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

Life and a Card

 It’s been quite a couple of weeks! Joe came down with a cold - the first he’s had in about 5 years - and it took almost two weeks to totally resolve itself….luckily he didn’t share it with me! I had a tooth that was extremely sensitive to cold so I went to the dentist. Of course my dentist was on holidays but I was able to be seen by a newly licensed dentist who advised me that I was either looking at having a root canal or a tooth extraction which had to be determined by a specialist in Windsor. Oh boy! 

Then I had an acupuncture appointment which went okay but I also had to go have my toe nails cut. My back is fused about 1/3 way up from my waist so bending is not easy. This time I had another apprentice cut them and she dug a little too deep in the sides of the big toe - yup, infected! And the weather has been its normal unpredictable self as well. Yesterday the sun was shining - 15 minutes later we had a snow shower which lasted about 5 minutes - back to sun again. So weird. 

Tomorrow is the big eclipse here in Ontario. I have our glasses ready to view it - unless we are under cloud cover! So, yeah, its been a weird couple of weeks! But I do have a card to share. Oh, by the way, my card on Scrapbook and Cards today did not make it to the second round. But I thank all of you who voted for it.

                                           
A friend gave me a bag of greeting card fronts that she had received. One of them had these pretty cupcakes on but they were spread out across the card. I decided to fussy cut each one and remake the entire card. I love doing this. The background is from a 6” pack and I think this is the last paper in it. So it was cut down to 5.25 inches to fit on a 5.5 card base. I added the strips and stamped the sentiment on the purple one. Then the two cupcakes on the outside were glued flat and the one in the middle was added with dimensional tape.

 That is all for a sunny but cool Sunday, April 7, 2024.4.7

 

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

Card Contest

 One of my cards was chosen to be in the Scrapbook and Cards contest on Facebook. If you are on Facebook you are welcome to vote for my card - its free but you have to sign up for it. I didn't think they displayed mine well...too dark...but that's okay. It was an honour to be nominated. 

Here is the link:  https://creativescrapbooker.ca/card-of-the-month-april-2024/

Here is the card they selected. It was posted on my blog last week. 

Thanks in advance for all who voted for me.

Violet

Cowboy Hat Card

 Happy Easter to all who celebrate - Happy Sunday for the others. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. It was pretty quiet here because Joe has a cold….almost better today but he’s very tired. I spent a lot of time either making cards or quilting for the last few days. He just pretty much wanted to sleep or lay on the couch and watch hockey or baseball. I bet its been five years since he’s had a cold and we have no idea where he picked up that germ - but likely from the grocery cart handle…even though I wipe them down first.

A couple of weeks ago a friend called and asked if I could make a card for her friend turning 80….and he collects hats, especially cowboy hats. Could I make a card for him about hats? I gave it a try and this is what I created.

 

I went to the Internet and searched free clip art for cowboy hats. Have you ever done that? I have found some great clip art that I’ve used on cards and scrapbook pages. All the hats were downloaded to a file and then I opened my Photoshop editing program and re-sized all the hats to fit on a 4x5.25 card panel so it would fit on an A2 size card with the border showing. Once printed on photo paper, each hat was carefully hand cut and the edges inked with brown ink. I hate white edges! Then I positioned them on the grey card front and once happy, glued them down. The long birthday sentiment was die cut twice out of brown cardstock and glued together before adhering down the right side. There is a darker grey strip along the bottom that hopefully gives the impression of a ledge for the hats to sit on and I added a rub on ‘80’ there. It was then glued to the grey card base. She liked it. Whew!

That’s all for Sunday, March 31, 20241. End of another month! April is predicted to uphold its title of April Showers….lots of rain predicted even on the day of the eclipse….hope they’re wrong about that one.

Take care everyone.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

 

 

 

 

Gate Fold Cards

 One day its spring, the next day its winter again. My two brain disorders do not like the abrupt changes in weather so I’ve had a few days when the creativity and concentration just isn’t there. Instead I’ve been trying to purge the craft supplies and reorganize the stamps and died - a taunting task for sure when I don’t have the proper storage units… and I really don’t want to invest in shelves so its make do here.

I did make some cards a couple of weeks ago and I must say, I’m loving these gate fold cards. Instead of a belly band which I find to be a bit of a nuisance, I’ve started doing them a little different.

Here’s one with a belly band.

 

It’s okay but once you take off the belly band you lose the circle, flowers and sentiment.

 Here’s two I made without the belly band.

 

You make them the same way - gate fold card. The sides meet in the middle and the card opens up.  This is one I made without anything holding it closed so it does open up a bit before you want it to but its still okay.

 

Now this one I die cut an small circle twice and glued them together to make them stronger and its glued on just enough off the main focal image to hold it closed. There is a fine line between close enough to keep it closed but still easy to latch and difficult to latch - this one falls on the latter but it works. Who ever receives probably won’t be opening and closing it all that much.

 That’s all for a damp, cool, blah Tuesday in Ontario.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Cards Today

 It’s the start of another week …of unpredictable weather! Last Monday we walked in the bush with just a light sweater on and then the temperatures dropped to the freezing mark. Today we had snow showers - short lived thank goodness! More snow predicted for tomorrow and Tuesday and the weather is going to stay just around the freezing mark.

 I made about 20 or so cards for our local hospice. A friend who is a Stampin’ Up dealer, The Pampered Stamper (who can sell in Canada and the Netherlands….. she flies back and forth every few months) left me with a box of paper, ribbon and a couple of stamps to use for the hospice last time she left for Holland. Some of the paper was pre-cut so I pulled out five pieces that were the same and decided to use them - but in different ways. I don’t know why I keep giving myself challenges….as if life itself is not enough of a challenge some days. But I did it. Here are the five cards…..pretty simple cards so I think it will be easy to figure out how I made them.   

                                              

That’s all for a weird-weather Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

 

 

Anniversary Card

 What a week, weather wise. We had those two gorgeous days that felt like it was late May: then rain for a couple of days but not as much as they predicted, thank goodness; and then we woke up to snow on the ground today: and tonight there is a very strong cold wind blowing. I made lemon pie today and took a piece over to our neighbour who is a recent widower and barely cooks let alone bake and I thought I was going to get blown away. It was definitely a winter day today!

Because of the nasty weather this weekend, I hustled down to the lower studio (aka the basement) and made a few cards. A friend requested a anniversary card for her hubby. No problem. Here’s one I made for her consideration.

                                          

 While looking for something in one of my many stashes, I found this package of pre-cut, stamped images and matching paper. I remember picking this up at the thrift store along with other goodies and forgot all about them. Time to use them.

I traced the stamped image onto a piece of black cardstock and hand cut it and rounded the corners so it matched the one from the pack. The designer paper was cut down to 5.25 x 5 to fit on the black card base I made. I tried laying it on a white card base but it looked better on the black. I really like putting one piece of cardstock on a slight angle and then the focal piece on top.  I really liked the saying “I love us” so I rummaged through a pack of ephemera and found that two birds on the flowery branch. It had another long branch between the birds but it covered the saying so I carefully hand cut out just the parts I wanted and glued it down. I decided it didn’t need anything else.

That’s all for a very cold wintery day on March 10, 2024.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

 

Fractured Cards

 It’s a rainy Friday! So rainy we are under a weather alert with possible flooding later on. Last Monday, it did indeed get to a high of 18C (65F) but by Tuesday night it dropped down to the freezing mark again. We did enjoy a lovely walk in the bush on Monday and saw a huge flock of robins - first of the year - a muskrat - first butterfly of the year - and a Downy Woodpecker. There were also dozens of large clumps of snowdrops along the first path. So pretty.

This week I felt like making some cards using a new technique - the fractured card technique. Man, this could be addictive. Loved making these. Here are the first three I made. Just go to YouTube or Pinterest and type in Fractured Card Technique and you will find many sources.

 This is the first one I made. Its okay but I didn’t like the white on white in the middle…but didn’t dislike it enough to toss it. I found that multicoloured flower in my flower stash and decided it would work well with the tiny purple flowers in the one designer paper. I do not own that die that cut out the flower. It was given to me from the seller I bought something from on Marketplace. The sentiment was stamped.

 

Then I made this card. I had one piece of that bunny paper and found the striped paper that had the same colours in it. Bonus. This time I used a light blue centre square on the white square and I liked it much better. The butterfly is again from the butterfly stash.  The sentiment was stamped using the same stamp as the other. I needed some get well cards so I thought it would suffice.

 

I had time to make one more. I had a couple pieces of that bright pink paper on the desk….I used the back for another project…and I found that sticker that also had pink in it. The centre square was cut from the bright pink as well knowing that the sticker would cover up most of it. Using this bright pink in small amounts works better for me so I just rummaged through the stash and found the other green paper with bright red/pink dots and decided it would work very well. This will be a nice card for someone who had surgery or an accident.

That’s all for a mild but very wet Friday, March 8, 2024.  Have a wonderful, creative and safe weekend everyone….and remember, where ever you go, try to sprinkle some kindness whenever you can.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

Scrapbook Page Layout

 We are supposed to get some very warm, very unusually warm, weather for the next few days. It could be close to 70F if it happens as predicted. I’m pretty much a wait and see person when it comes to weather this year. Mother Nature is having “one of those days” for months now...just throwing out temperatures at will.

Well, the quilt I made is on its way to New Brunswick. After quilting like crazy for days to get it finished, I decided to switch to card making over the weekend. I’ve made about 18 cards to be donated to the hospice but I usually make 24 at a time so I think I’ll keep making a few more before dropping them off.

 So, today I’m posting the complimentary page to the one I posted last week. They are only related because Finn ran in two different races so the theme is the same, but the dates are different. Works for me. If you notice the white splotch it is were I erased the name of the city for posting purposes only.

 

 After he ran the kid’s race, and won a medal, he wanted to climb on the podium where the winners of the adult marathon will stand. He has dreams I think! After the race he was happy to be home with his dogs. This boy loves his dogs.

 

And here are the two pages, side by side.

That’s all for a mild but damp Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Quilt and a Card

 I’m back and everything is fine! I’ve just been busy. I asked my granddaughter if she thought the elderly man they befriended when they moved to New Brunswick would like a quilt. He was pretty much a recluse until they moved there. No one can resist that girl’s charm. He now knows someone cares about him for no reason other than friendship. It turns out he was just recently diagnosed with cancer so he definitely needs a quilt. So, I was on overdrive getting the quilt finished for him. My granddaughter had requested a shiny, sparkly sun dress to wear to a Taylor Swift concert so that had to be made as well. So instead of posting the complimentary page to the last scrapbook layout I posted, I’m posting the quilt I just made. I made him a thinking of you card as well so it’s a double posting today.

Here’s the quilt.

                                          
He is a great outdoors man so I thought the deer panels would be a good choice. I had no pattern and just pulled some fabric from my stash and designed as I went. It didn’t photograph well but it was already mailed before I realized it. I hope he likes it.

Here is the card I made for him. I didn't have my proper Ott lighting when I took this photo so the colour is a bit off.  The sentiment was stamped with black ink on white cardstock and was premade and in my stash and as I was in a hurry, I used it. The sky is actually blue. My Ott light was upstairs and I didn't realize what a difference it would make using a standard light. Never again. 

                              
I thought this deer die would compliment the quilt so I die cut it from black cardstock, added a piece of blue paper from the blue stash behind it for the background. I liked it so much I made several more that I will be donating to the local Hospice. I always seem to struggle to get the masculine thinking of you cards for them.

Although this card had that sentiment the others I made for the hospice were a bit different. I had more time for them so the sentiment was stamped and embossed with white embossing powder right on the card.  Quick and easy.  

That’s all for a very mild Friday, March 1, 2024. March came in like a lamb and I hope it leaves the same way. Take care all and have a safe, happy and creative weekend.

 Cheers

Violet

Ps: To save a card to your Pinterest account, simply over over the image until the “Pin It” symbol appears and then click …. be patient, it sometimes takes a few seconds. This will take you to your own Pinterest account to save the card.