Post Tsunami afternoon

Well, Hawaii "dodged the bullet" and we are all relieved that the tsunami generated by the horrific earthquake in Chile turned into nothing more than a few small waves that washed over our reefs. It was a good lesson in preparedness and we're thankful that today wasn't a regular work/school day or it surely would have been chaotic.

Here's our two guests, Alex and Alex--how cute is that?--who had to evacuate their Waikiki hotel and spent half the day with us, 700 feet above sea level.

I did not let them start stamping and embossing, but the male Alex was intrigued by my finished cards and I gave them one to take home, all the way to New Jersey!

They were the perfect guests--chatty, yet polite--and I'm glad we were able to calm their parents' fears that they were in a safe environment.

My heartfelt thanks for your concern and your emails, too! We are safe and all is good.

Tsunami Day

Just a short post to thank you for your concern regarding the tsunami that will arrive in a few hours. I live in a higher elevation and we won't be evacuating.

We are currently hosting two people who were stranded in Waikiki and leave this evening for New Jersey. Hopefully, they'll be able to leave as scheduled.

I hope my local blogging friends are safe....Praying for everyone's safety.

ATS Wednesday challenge

The Wednesday challenge at All That Scraps is to use some type of text, either newsprint or from a book, and incorporate it into your card. I used some text papers from Jenni Bowlin and made a ruffled flower and punched out some butterflies, too.

This card turned out so different from what I first imagined. I was going for a sepia toned look and colored Darby and Bumbles with just two Copic colors. The card started to look too plain so I added some pinks and browns and then it took a vintage turn.

I didn't put a sentiment on the card because the text circle looks rather busy. This isn't exactly what I envisioned but I like the "fairy tale" feel to it.

Stamps: Sweet November Darby & Bumbles

Paper: Jenni Bowlin, DCWV Vintage, corrugated paper

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Memento Brown; Antique Linen, Tea Dye Distress inks

Other: Copic makers (E51 and E53), Nestabilities, Marvy scallop punch,

Sizzlits leaf die, Martha Stewart butterflies punch, pearls, buttons, pop dots

And I want to share what my mail carrier delivered today--new Distress inks! I just bought five for now and I think Wild Honey will be my favorite new color. Yay for new toys!

TE Dragonfly card drive

  

Followers of Taylored Expressions are familiar with the Dragonfly card drive. Check out the details here and see how you can make a difference by sharing some dragonfly cards and be eligible to win a $50 gift certificate, too.

Here's a card that I'll be sending in for the card drive. I made these beaded dragonflies over 10 years ago and I'm glad that they'll finally be used on some cards.

Stamps: Stampin Up quotation

Ink: Peeled Paint, Broken China distress inks; Versafine Onyx Black

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Other: Nestabilities, wire, beads, gemstones, pop dots, ribbon

Don't worry...bee happy

Here's my second card made with Darby and Bumbles. And I kept the flower that Darby is carrying intact this time.

I forgot to mention that this set comes in digi form, too. You can find it here at All That Scraps, along with Amy's other Sweet November images.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the deckle edge Nestabilities in my "goodies that I forgot about" box and used it as the base for the card. The sentiment was computer generated.

Hope you're having a great Wednesday!

Stamps: Sweet November Darby & Bumbles

Font: American Typewriter

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink white and olive

Ink: Memento; Versafne; Scattered Straw Distress ink

Other: Nestabilities, Sizzix embossing folder, Copic markers, ribbon, button, twine, pop dots

Darby and Bumbles

Here's one of Amy Young's newest Sweet November designs--Darby and Bumbles. Darby is one cute elf but Bumbles had me at "hello". He's the sweetest bee, ever!

I'm hoping that Amy designs more impish elves and sprites. I just love Darby's sweet face and expression.

This stamp set was given to me by my dear friend Kiara. I hope she got a set for herself because they make for a cheery card! Thank you so much, Kiara! Love this set and I'll be making more cards with them...

Stamps: Sweet November Darby & Bumbles, Hero Arts sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Ink: Versamark

Patterned paper: Basic Grey, Making Memories

Other: Copics, Nestabilities circle die, white embossing powder,

Martha Stewart butterfly punch, paper flowers,

Stickles, Inkssentials white pigment pen, buttons, pop dots

Bring on the cupcake!

Just a short post to share a card that I created for Hero Arts' month long challenge using ribbon. I used a cupcake cling stamp that Kelly gave me--thanks, Kelly!-- and traced the image onto felt.

I embellished with beads, some stitching, and I was so excited to find Hero Arts' sequins which I thought were long discontinued. The flower on the top was made with an 8" length of ribbon, stitched to form a circle and gathered to resemble a frosting flower.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Stamps: Hero Arts Large Cupcake, sentiment

Cardstock: Gina K cream, Bazzill

Ink: Colorbox

Other: Felt, floss, sequins, beads, pearls

Happy Bugg and a Tooth Fairy

Here are two cards made with Happy Bugg, one of the newer designs in Christy Croll's Tiddly Inks Etsy store. I printed out a small Bugg and made an easel card with a sentiment from Hero Arts.

The second Bugg is a little larger and I used another dotty background and Hero Arts' alphabet stamps for the sentiment. I also added some Stickles to the top of her cupcake.

And here's Faye, the Tooth Fairy, created by Christy for her daughter when she lost her first tooth. I made a simple card with a slot large enough to accommodate a quarter

...or folded currency.

Stamps: Tiddly Inks digital stamps, Hero Arts

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Patterned paper: Basic Grey

Ink: Versamark, Distress inks

Other: Nestabilities dies, Copic markers, clear and white embossing powder,

Stickles, gemstones, pearls, ribbon, pop dots

The Cheekies are here!

The Greeting Farm released their Cherry Cheeky Collection and I just received my set from Tamiko's! Love their sassy cuteness--a little "naughty but nice."

This is Cheeky Rockabilly--my fave--and I made my card with inspiration from Mercy Kerin, a former TGF gardener. I loved this card that she made with circles and distressing. I was even inspired to try paper piercing! I'm also planning to enter this card in Lucy's polka dot challenge.

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, My Sentiments Exactly, Hero Arts Dots

Ink: Tea Dye, Black Soot distress ink; StazOn Black; Versamark

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink white; Basic Grey kraft

Patterned paper: Fancy Pants

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities dies, clear embossing powder,

piercing tool, ribbon, stapler, pop dots, paper rose

Shaped cards and a winner

Because I struggle with card sketches, I like using Nestabilities dies to make quick cards. A few people have asked how they're constructed so this is a quick post to share how I make them.

Basically, you score the back Nestabilities shape about 1/2" down from the top, fold and attach to the front. For the Labels One die, I like to score about 3/8" to 1/2" from the top.

When using the circle scallop Nestabilities die, you have to count and score 4 or 6 scallops because there are an even number of scallops (22) and the card has to be able to stand on 2 scallops for viewing.

For the Nestabilities blossom die--which makes cute little cards--there are an odd number of scallops, so in order to make it stand, you have to score midway between three scallops in the back.

In the past, I've used a tape runner to attach the pieces together, but now I prefer a double stick tape.

I attach it to both sides of the card and it insures the card won't come apart with extra handling. It also helps to write your message inside the card before you attach the front and back pieces.

Hope this helps (Charlotte!) and here's a quick video by Lucy which shows how to make a card using the Labels One die.

***

WINNER--WINNER--WINNER

Using random.org, the winner of Jane's Bird Watching digi set is Suzanne C. Email me and the digis will be sent to you by Jane herself. Looking forward to seeing what you create with the digis!

Release Day at Squigglefly + Giveaway!

My dear friend Jane asked me to be a Guest Friend and help showcase her newest digital images from Squigglefly.

This owl is one of three images that was just released in a

set today. Isn't he too cute? I couldn't resist using google

eyes on him along with a Hero Arts' sentiment.

To celebrate the release, I will be giving away this set of adorable digis. Simply leave a comment here by tomorrow, February 14th at midnight HST (see the clock on my sidebar) and I will choose one lucky person.

Please visit the other members of Jane's Doodlers to see their inspiring work:

• Kelly
• Lysa
• Alice
• Sanne
• Jane M.

and Jane has added two more Doodlers to her team:

• Lucy
• Mariana

Visit their blogs for even more inspiration!

Stamps: Jane's Squigglefly digi, Hero Arts

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Versafine, Walnut Stain distress ink

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, google eyes, pop dots

Yes, I sewed!

Here are two cards that I took to the sewing machine! Sweet Lucy gave an excellent tutorial here on the basics of sewing on your cards. It really motivated me to pull out the Singer and start stitching.

I especially like her idea of sewing only on the patterned paper piece and not through the card. You attach it after stitching, and the card has a clean finish inside. Genius! Thank you, Lucy....you are such a great teacher! My next hurdle is zigzag stitching....

This card uses Sugarplum Paperie digital paper from The Hybrid Chick. I never thought I'd be using digital papers but I couldn't resist the distressed dot pattern, and this was a free digital download with super cute designs. Big hugs to Alice, who is now a Digi Chick, for introducing me

to their digi yumminess!

Here I was inspired by Jenn's card to bend the scallops and give the card some dimension. Next time I'll try a double layer like she did.

Stamps: Pure Innocence digis, Savvy stamps sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Patterned paper: Sugarplum Paperie digital, Making Memories

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, Marvy oval punch, sewing machine, distressing tool

An orangey Valentine

This week's Monday Mania at Club Anya and Friends is to not use any pinks or reds on a Valentine themed card. I thought about it, and seriously considered making a brown Valentine.

I decided to use Wild Sprout Stella that I won from Amy's blog and to go with orange, which just happens to be Amy's favorite color. I just substituted orange wherever I would normally use pink or red and it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be.

Here are the Copic colors that I used. Where's the green? It's the teeny tiny jade heart pendant that Stella is wearing.

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Savvy Stamps sentiment

Ink: Memento, Spiced Marmalade

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny, Fancy Pants

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities Labels One and circle dies,

Stampin Up hearts and oval scallop paper punches,

pop dots, puffy heart stickers

Mahalo, Christy!

A few days ago, Christy Croll, the artist of Tiddly Inks' HuggABuggs, sent me a sweet email.

She said she noticed an influx of stampers from Hawaii who bought her digis and attributed this to my referrals. So she graciously sent a couple of (new!) images that I was getting ready to purchase. Sweet!

The mermaid is carrying a large pearl, and I used Jennifer's technique in this video for making perfect dots with Liquid Pearls using her "flicking" technique.

And here's a shot of the Copics that I used on this card. Nope, not doing it all the time. Only when I remember!

Stamps: Tiddly Inks digital image, Hero Arts sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, Liquid Pearls, ribbon, pearls, pop dots

Easel Valentine

This week's Monday Mania challenge at Club Anya and Friends is to make an easel card and add a bit of ribbon.

I colored Wild Sprout Ebony a while ago, and worked with her outfit colors to put together this red and black easel card. Although you can't see it, I added Glossy Accents on the little skull on her shirt.

After I made the dotty background, I liked the sponged edge and used it behind Ebony. Can you see it? It's the first time I've used something that I usually throw away.

The sentiment is from a stamp set that my daughter bought for me from Oriental Trading Company. Who knew they had clear stamps?

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Hero Arts Dots, Oriental Trading Company

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Basic Grey, Gina K

Ink: Versamark, Black Soot distress ink

Other: Copic markers, Clear embossing powder, Nestabilities,

Glossy Accents, pop dots, sheer dot ribbon

My first CCC

I've been lurking Deborah's Card Chain Challenge for several months and finally decided to play along. After signing up, you create a card and send it to an assigned participant, and your "link" is doing the same. You have the choice of a card sketch, color palette, or a theme.

Dawn Turley of New Zealand, sent me a parcel full of goodies. Not only did she send a card, but she included a bookmark, tags, and some backgrounds made with alcohol inks. And she used some Pure Innocence images, too! Thanks so much, Dawn.... it felt like Christmas!

I decided to go with colors and sent this card off to Susan McRae in Canada. I used the Pure Innocence garden girl together with the new sentiment set from Hero Arts. Love that font! And you can't go wrong with Cosmo Cricket papers....

Check out Deborah's blog to see all of the "chains" in her January CCC. It's fun to see where a card came from and where it went. Thanks, Deborah! I'm looking forward to the next CCC!

Buttons and babushkas

My friend Jane is one talented lady. Besides being a gifted artist, she makes buttons out of Fimo! She has plans to sell them on Etsy but the demand is greater than her supply.

A few months back, she generously gave her buttons to the first 10 buyers of her Squigglefly digital images. Mine arrived last week--all the way from Croatia! They are so gorgeous and perfectly crafted.

Her latest digital stamps are a pair of babushka dolls--Olga and Sasha.

These are the Russian nesting Matryoshka dolls, but I just colored one Olga and made this quick card.

I know I'm supposed to use Jane's buttons but they are too precious to part with. For now, I'll keep them in a ceramic bowl on my desk and just admire their beauty. Thanks, Jane--I love them!

Stamps: Squigglefly digital stamp, Hero Arts

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Ink: Versamark

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities square and scallop dies,

white embossing powder, sheer dot ribbon