A Cute Little Bird in A Frame

Our weather is a bit gloomy here today, so let's brighten things up with a bright and cherry card.  I used punches AND dies for this one.  

I added a few punched flowers, along with a couple of sprigs for our bird to begin its nesting.  That's kind of a sore subject for me right now, actually.  We have a dove who chose to build her next on top our outdoor light... right beside our front door!  We knocked down the messy twigs day after day and then stopped when we realized she'd stayed up and worked on it all night (evidently) and by morning had 2 eggs nestled in it.  We're trying to give her a chance to raise her babies, but she's not the most welcome addition around here.

I decided to try something different inside my card this time.  I kind of like the contrast against the darker blue.  I love this Flower Pot DSP.  It's retired now, but you can always find a good substitute for stamps, dies, punches, and/or papers when you like a design and want to create your own version of it.  Always check the Clearance Rack, too, because you can find good stuff there all the time.

If you look very closely, you can (maybe) see that I traced the 'hi' letters with Crystal Effects to make them stand out more.  It's pretty difficult to get that to show up well in a photo.

I really like my little bird card and am glad to enjoy a bright and cheerful bit of color on this gloomy morning, until the sun is back. 

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

A Christmas Cardinal for World Card Making Day

Today's post is all about the bird --- a Christmas cardinal.  Since I used our Thinlits Label Card (swing card) die to make him, I guess you could say he's a swinging' bird.  Sorry; I couldn't resist.  I apologize for a tiny discoloration on my poor little birdie.  The wind blew just as I was ready to snap his photo and he went sailing.  I'll have to make a new birdie later.  We'll be making this card at my October cards classes.  (Oct. 11, noon to 3:00 / 6:00-9:00 OR Oct. 13, 2:00-5:00).

This card is another example of an extended version of the swing card / flip card you can make with the Thinlits dies.  You can do this with the Thinlits Circle Card die, as well.

I may change out the DSP panels (one or both) on the inside for white CS, so you can write a message inside the card.  You could still do a little stamping on it.

Click here to see a little tutorial on making this extended version of the Thinlits Label Card.  

Now, isn't it about time for you to go stamp something?  After all, it is World Card Making Day and a great day to celebrate the art of creating something that we love.  

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

A Best of Autumn Card

While on vacation and away from the net, I missed wishing you a happy first day of Fall!  So I'll continue with that thought today, now that I'm home.  I love this season, maybe best of all the seasons.  Fall, to me, is full of rich colors, rich textures and natural beauty --- key elements to my art work.  I tried to incorporate all those elements into this project.

My color story:

• Crushed Curry
• Chocolate Chip
• Tangerine Tango (a smidge, in the sponging)

I tried something new to give a little shimmer to the leaves.  Since our Frost White Shimmer Paint retired, I felt lost without my shimmer mist concoction.  I used all the time.  I turned to a new product and made up a new batch using the Illuminate Reinker.  The Illuminate ink pad and reinker were first introduced in our 2012 Holiday catalog and carried over to our new big catalog.  It gives a subtle shimmer when stamped on a project.

How to do it:

• Pour rubbing alcohol into an empty spray bottle or spritzer.
• Fill to at least 3/4 full with the alcohol.
• Add LOTS of Illuminate Reinker.  
• Shake well to mix.  The mixture should look super cloudy.

I can't say an exact amount because I had a brand new bottle and used it up down to the top of the label.  I poured, so I couldn't count drops.  The point is to add a bunch, try it and add more if you feel like you need more shimmer.  Keep testing it on scraps until you get it the way you like.  It works.   I will admit that I still like the Frost White Shimmer Paint mixture the best, but we have to use what is available to us.  The last time I looked, you can still get the Frost White Shimmer Paint on the Clearance Rack, but I wanted to use something that we can get once the old supplies run out.  Give it a try and see what you think.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

A Christmas Card With a Special Technique

Today, let's take a look at a really beautiful card --- with a special technique.  This is one of the cards for my Friday Night Cards (Sept. 13) / Sunday Afternoon Cards (Sept. 15) classes.  I love the color combo!  And look!!!  Dasher is back ... in a smaller version!

I thought the new Dasher would be perfect for this Label Thinlits card.  At the class, I'll share with you how I made the extra flap on the card.

I used the new envelope liners framelits for the coordinating envelope.  The gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous DSP is called Winter Frost.  Next time you're in my studio, you'll notice that I have an entire display created for Christmas that is based on the colors in these beautiful papers.

By the way, the Dasher stamp is from a new Hostess stamp set in the Holiday Catalog, called Warmth and Wonder.  The 'frame' on which I stamped Dasher is part of the Thinlits Label Card die set.  I love how it is sized to let a border from the card base show around it.  I just had to line the envelope, too, to make a perfect compliment to the card.

FYI:
This is the BONUS CARD for my September Card Classes so, if you want to make this one, get a friend to sign up for the class, too.  Pay to register at least 2 days prior to the class.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO FOR THINLITS CARD DIES.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Our New Thinlits Card Dies are Amazing!

The new Thinlits Card Dies are amazing.  We saw both of them at Convention.

Here's a video about them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CwdGSYeIn44

I'm sharing this with you because these are both available starting today!!!

Here are some of the many types of projects that you can make using the new thinlits.  I think this is going to be one of those products that will be limited only by our imagination.

#133480 / $32.95 / Thinlits Circle Card
#133479 / $32.95 / Thinlits Label Card

How would you like a FREE class on making cards with the new thinlits?  Order both of the dies and you can come to the class.  We'll make 2 projects with each die.  Class date TBA soon!!!  

Use this Hostess Code when you order online:
H62WYEE2 

If you cannot come to the class, I will send you the materials to make our 4 projects, along with instruction sheets.  Let's get creative with our new thinlits!!!