March 2011 CardMaker Pubs

Hiya chickies! How are you today? I didn't have anything new to share, so I thought I would share some cards that were picked up for publication recently. I was fortunate enough to have four cards published in the March issue of CardMaker Magazine.

For this beauty, I used the largest egg image from Nestie Eggs, embossed in gold and colored with Copic markers. This image is so elegant!

Adding color to an image like this is a great way to tie everything together. I love the combination of yellow and purple for spring. Here is another Easter card using Spring Baskets. This one is very bright and cheerful.

The eggs were stamped on Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper and then run through my Xyron and glittered. How do you like to add glitter to images like this? I think I might start using spray adhesive.

Glad you could stop by today, hope you have a great day!

Anya

Supply information can be found in the March 2011 issue of CardMaker Magazine.

Happy Spring

I know, I keep talking about this 'spring' thing. It is still very much winter here in Pittsburgh, despite the daffodils and tulips trying their best to get started. I am hopeful that things will warm up soon, though! Today I am sharing another card made with stamps from the Lizzie Anne Spring Mix, Follow Your Dreams. I stamped my image and colored it with Copics, choosing some colors to match this happy patterned paper from October Afternoon. Then after a light application of glue, I dusted my butterflies with glitter. Aren't they pretty? Short and sweet, that's it for me today. I have been busy, busy! Lots of stuff going on over here... later this week Waltzingmouse will be having a little fun for our first non-release month.. more about that later, but I promise you it will be a great time! See you soon!

Anya

Recipe Stamps: Follow Your Dreams - Lizzie Anne Cardstock: So Saffron, Kraft - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink Patterned Paper: Fly a Kite - October Afternoon Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink - Tsukineko Other: Copic Markers (R20, R22, YR02, Y21, BG11, BG34) - Imagination International; Dazzling Diamonds glitter - Stampin' Up!; Button; Sewing machine

Easter Banner

Hi there!

Here to bring you this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.


So - lots of ways you could do this one. I went for obvious :)

The base for my banner is the gingham-patterned pennant from Vintage Banners. I love this one. I stamped it in some yummy pastel springy happy colors.

Then I stamped one of the medium-sized eggs from Nestie Eggs in those same colors and cut them out. I stamped a second of each so I could mix up the colors.

Then I covered them in glitter - they are so pretty, they look sugared!

Before adhering my eggs, I put down some Scor-Tape and adhered some silver tinsel easter basket stuff. Now my eggs look like they're sitting on a little bed of (silver) grass :)

Cute! Please make sure you take a look at what the Mischief Makers created! Very creative and inspiring stuff! If you'd like to join us (and I hope you will!), you can link up your creation over on the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog. Top Mice will be announced along with the week's random winner and the new sketch on Saturday! Have a great day, I'm headed out today for some stampy shopping goodness with some special ladies!!

Take care!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Vintage Banners, Nestie Eggs - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Barely Banana, Groovy Guava, Sage Shadow, Pale Plum - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Crystal Fine Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Silver easter grass - Target; Pinking Shears

Happy Mother's Day, PDCC74

Hi there! Thursday is quickly becoming one of my favorite days of the week, when the new Play Date Cafe Challenge is announced! I look forward to seeing what the new colors will be. This week is doubly fun, as Lizzie Anne is sponsoring the challenge.

I even got a bit of a sneak peek for this week's color story. Here it is:

I used the gorgeous cameo image from Follow Your Dreams for my card.

I stamped the image twice, once in purple and once in gray. I cut just the gray silhouette out and adhered it inside the purple frame, then I cut that out. It is matted with a shape die-cut from Label Five Nestabilities. To add a little interest to my monochrome background, I cut strips of cardstock and inked the edges in white.

To help tie the colors together, I added a row of purple buttons. I wasn't sure about this at first, but its growing on me!

This is a challenging color combination, I hope you'll give it a try! And while you're at it, head over to the Lizzie Anne store, where they have just announced an Overstock Sale! The sale runs through Sunday with 40% off select products! Woo!

Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams - Lizzie Anne Designs
Cardstock: White, Spring Rain - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Pretty Petunia VersaMagic - Tsukineko; Going Gray, Whisper White - Stampin' Up!
Other: Plum Pudding buttons - Papertrey Ink; Labels Five Nestabilities - Spellbinders

Quick Quotes

Hi there! This week's Serendipity Stamps DT challenge was to make a simple card using any of the many quote or verse stamps in Serendipity's line. This is one thing I love about Serendipity - there are a plethora of Bible verses and quotations that are just lovely.

We were also given a sketch to use this time around. Here is this week's sketch, which I flipped for my card.

Here is what I made using the What Lies Behind Us (1104F) stamp.

I stamped the Nest In Tree (222F) image on my card as well, overlapping the image with my sentiment panel.

My sentiment was embossed and then die cut using an oval nestabilities. A good inspirational quote, no?

I thought I'd also share another project that I made recently that also happened to use a quotation. I've used this one before, and I really like it - not only is it thought-provoking but the font is just so pretty.

This uses More Things (027D), embossed in silver and mounted in a little desktop frame.

I embossed my sentiment and stitched around the outside, then matted it with some pretty patterned paper. I finished it off with a little punched butterfly. This turned into a quick and simple gift that is now adorning a co-workers desk.

Please be sure to visit the other Design Team members to see their take on this challenge!

Amy
Kathie
Lynda
Jenny

So before I go, I have a few quick announcements :) Mary has overhauled Serendipity's website and it is just awesome! It is easy to browse and very user-friendly: you can find it here! She is also running a free shipping special with a minimum $10 purchase. Some other things are also on sale, but you can find that info out on the website (under current promotions) or by subscribing to the newsletter. The customer challenges are going to start up again soon, so be sure to sign up for more information.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Anya

Recipe:
What Lies Behind Us Card
Stamps: What Lies Behind Us (1104F), Nest In Tree (222F) - Serendipity Stamps
Cardstock: Rustic White, Kraft - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Tally (Basics Collection) - Basic Grey
Ink: Crumb Cake, Whisper White - Stampin' Up!
Other: Classic Oval Large Nestabilities - Spellbinders; White embossing powder; Crocheted lace

More Things Frame
Stamps: More Things (027D) - Serendipity Stamps
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Baja Breeze - Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Everafter Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Filigree Silver embossing powder - Stewart Superior; 3 in 1 Classic Butterfly punch - Martha Stewart Crafts; Silver pearl - Recollections; desktop frame

Fifty and Fabulous!

Hi sweeties! How are you?

I have a friend at work that is turning the big 5-0 this Thursday. She's a real cutie, and I wanted to make something special for her.

My starting point was this week's color challenge in The Play Date Cafe. Scrumptious, I tell you.

I started by stamping the Circle Lace stamp from Hero Arts for my pop of yellow - not too much, but definitely part of the design. Then I stamped one of the backgrounds from Text It, a favorite of mine when I want a little something.

I used Tim Holtz's Paper Rosette die as the base for my little award ribbon and then dusted off my Slice (Vintage Findings design card) to cut the numbers out. Then I glittered those babies up, because its a 50th birthday card, and glitter makes everything more special! The little polka dot banners are from the Bitty Banners set.

I pieced some words to finish my phrase - 'Fabulous' is from PTI's Say It With Style. I like to attach things like this a little wonky.. I think it adds a little whimsy.

So there you have it! A card for my fifty and fabulous friend!

Nice to see you here today, tomorrow it is challenge day for Serendipity. Have a great one!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Circle Lace - Hero Arts; Bitty Banners, Text It - Waltzingmouse Stamps; Say It With Style - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Marigold Morning, Rich Razzleberry - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Jasper Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Paper Rosette die - Tim Holtz for Sizzix; Vintage Findings Design Card and Slice - Making Memories; sewing machine

So Fabby, Take Two

Hola chicas!

A week or so ago, I posted this card that I had made using some new Hero Arts stamps, remember? I made an off-hand comment about how pretty I thought it would be in some other colors, and, well.. here you go!


Buttery yellow.. so pretty with gray.

And a nice springy green.

Conveniently, there are three different silhouettes in the Three Silhouettes stamp set (go figure!) so I used each. Here are all three cards together, lined up soooo pretty. They really are lovely!

So glad to see you today. Hope your day is great!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Three Silhouettes, Circle Lace - Hero Arts; Very Vintage Labels No. 18, Frame It - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Barely Banana, Certainly Celery - Stampin' Up!; White - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Going Gray, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi - Stampin' Up!; Old Paper Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Oval Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Perfect Pearl Perfect Pearls - Ranger Industries; Adhesive pearls - Recollections

Round Up the Posse

Hey cowgirls! Round up the posse, its Waltzingmouse Sketch Saturday!

A fun sketch today, featuring a banner element!

I felt the tug of the Western sets, Back in the Saddle and Way Out West, so I brought these out for this week's sketch challenge.

I created a sentiment background and then stamped over it with the woodgrain pattern.

I used Bitty Banners for my banner base and then added the cowboy boots. I knotted each flag together with button twine and adhered it to my card with dimensional foam tape.

I hope you will play along - please don't feel intimidated if you don't have a banner stamp! I know some of the other ladies are sharing some really inspired ideas today! If you'd like to join us, you can link up your creation over on the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog. Top Mice will be announced along with the week's random winner and the new sketch on Saturday! Have a great day, we're headed out to celebrate our niece's first birthday!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Bitty Banners, Back in the Saddle, Way Out West - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Rustic Cream - Papertrey Ink; Dusty Durango - Stampin' Up!
Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Rustic Cream button twine - Papertrey Ink

LAD March DT Challenge

Good morning!

I am here today to share the March Design Team Challenge from Lizzie Anne Designs. This month we were challenged to choose a photograph from the Pottery Barn Kids website and use it as inspiration for a baby card. There is certainly lots to be found there!

This is the photo I chose of the Harlington Nursery:

Three things that jumped out at me when looking at this picture were the bold color combination of red and white, the three framed pictures on the wall, and the outlined shape around them. So this is the card I created with inspiration from the photo.

The little baby shoes are another of the new images included in the new Spring Mix, Follow Your Dreams. I stamped the image three times and cut them out. I added a bit of shading with my Copic markers and an adhesive pearl 'button.'

Thanks for stopping to visit me today, be sure to head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see what the other DT members created for this challenge. Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams - Lizzie Anne Designs
Cardstock: Ruby Red - Stampin' Up!; Kraft, Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Be Mine (Hey Sugar) - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Ruby Red - Stampin' Up!; Coffee Archival Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Copic Markers (W1, W3) - Imagination International; Ticket Corner Punch - Stampin' Up!; Adhesive pearls

March WMS Blog Waltz

Good morning and Happy St. Patrick's Day, waltzers! Welcome to the March Friends of WMS Blog Waltz - today everyone is Irish!

Here are the details: if you want to waltz along with us and you haven't yet linked up your project, head to the link list thread in the WMS Forum to link up your creation and view the other participants. There is also a thread for chatting about what you've seen. This month a random commenter will be chosen from the Waltz chat to receive a prize.

I've got lots to share today, so I'll keep the chit chat to a minimum and just share the eye candy! :)

For this card I used the free shamrock image offered in the WMS store. I missed out coloring this one last year (and now I have a printer!)

I colored my image and cut it out then tucked a bit of doily behind it before adhering it to my card. This sentiment, from Irish Blessings, is my favorite.

Here is another simple card featuring elements from Celtic Heritage and Irish Blessings.

And finally, I made another pennant pocket using Vintage Banners. This time, instead of using cardstock for the back, I stitched my banner to some muslin fabric. This gives me a larger, more flexible pocket for stuffing goodies. Because *everyone* needs Kiss Me I'm Irish socks for today!!

Thanks for stopping by today, have fun waltzing! Don't forget to head back to the WMS Forum to chat and join the contest. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Don't drink too much green beer!!

Anya

Recipe:
Irish Blessing Card
Stamps: Irish Blessings, Shamrock Digital Stamp - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Mellow Moss - Stampin' Up!
Ink: Mellow Moss - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Copic Markers - Imagination International; Doily - Wilton

Single Shamrock Card
Stamps: Irish Blessings, Celtic Heritage - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: New Leaf, Spring Moss, Kraft, Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Linen Impression Plate - Papertrey Ink

Lucky You Pennant Pocket
Stamps: Vintage Banners, Celtic Heritage - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Pear Pizzazz - Stampin' Up!
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke - Stampin' Up!
Other: Adhesive rhinestones - Recollections; Muslin fabric; sewing machine

First Birthday Wishes

Gooood morning you! How are things?

This weekend my family is celebrating my niece Tessa's first birthday. I needed a card, and - let's be honest here - I wanted it to be a showstopper. I remembered this incredibly adorable card that Claire had made for one of the WMS Blog Waltzes. As luck would have it, she also created a free template for it. Free is good!

Is this not the cutest thing? A watering can card!

I printed the watering can template onto cardstock and cut it out. I stamped the dotted flower pattern from Picnic Patterns onto my card base and inked the edges with Distress Ink.

I used the flowers from Sewing Box - Hugs (per Claire's recommendations :) and stamped them onto coordinating patterned paper. Using a combination of paper adhesive and dimensional foam tape, I built my bouquet.

I wanted to make sure to call out the first birthday, and remembered that Vintage Banners had just what I needed! Love how this turned out!

This watering can card is just one of a handful of adorable and useful templates that WMS offers for free, here under the 'Freebies' section of the store. Check them out! You could also download one of the free digital St. Patrick's Day images available and then you could join our blog waltz tomorrow! I'd love to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by today - have a super day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Picnic Patterns, Sewing Box - Hugs, Very Vintage Labels No. 18, Bountiful Baskets Additions, Vintage Banners - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Rustic White, Simply Chartreuse - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Girl Friday - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink, Jet Black Archival Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Watering Can Card Template - Waltzingmouse Stamps

LAD Spring Mix Preview

Hi there!

Today I am sharing a preview of the new Lizzie Anne Designs Spring Mix Set, called Follow Your Dreams. All the details about the Mix Club can be found here on the LAD website. This Mix set is fantastic! It is just full of some wonderful images and sentiments. I went on a creating spree when I received it!

This first card features one of the Easter egg images - I love this fancy pattern. I put some springy colors together to create my stamped background. Wouldn't this egg image be so pretty embossed?

I added a strip of stitched felt to ground my sentiment. A pretty pastel button was the perfect pop to finish it off.

My second card features this eclectic line drawn image. I love the collage effect it has.

I stamped the image and paper pieced her dress, then matted the image with some green cardstock. I stitched around the outside edge with black thread to mimic the doodled border around the image. The background was stamped with the curly border image from Timeless Textures. This background image goes so well with so many different things, I love to use it.

I tied some baker's twine around my card and added a black button. I love this image!

Thanks for stopping in today. I hope you like what you've seen so far! Head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs Blog to see what the other DT members have created for the Spring Mix and to find out how you can get your own set!

Anya

Recipe:
Happy Easter Card
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams - Lizzie Anne Designs
Cardstock: White, Melon Berry - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Groovy Guava, Sage Shadow, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Pale Plum - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink, Coffee Archival Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Fine Linen felt, Eyelet Lace die, Melon Berry button - Papertrey Ink; sewing machine

Beauty Within Card
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams, Timeless Textures - Lizzie Anne Designs
Cardstock: Sweet Blush, Spring Moss, Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Restoration Collection - Crate Paper
Ink: Blushing Bride - Stampin' Up!; Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko
Other: Fruit Punch Stickles - Ranger Industries; Honeydew Baker's Twine - The Twinery; Copic markers; Black button; Sewing machine

Thinking of You

Hi there, friends!

Thank you all for such sweet words on Saturday's WMS Sketch card. I enjoyed creating that one. I have another card today that also started with inspiration from this week's WMS sketch.

I made this card for The Play Date Cafe Challenge #72, which was to use the colors orange, navy blue, and pink - ouch! The colors are beautiful together, but this was a tough one!

This is a favorite motif of mine, groups of flowers like these, and the cherry blossoms from Asian Gardens are perfect for this.

I used the small and medium-sized blossoms and stamped them in my pink and orange. I adhered some directly to my card base while others were adhere with dimensional tape. A few were accented with adhesive rhinestones. I love this look.

I brought some more blue into the design by adding the bird and cage, as well as the sentiment. A challenging color combination, but I love the end result!

Thank you for taking the time to stop in today and say hello, I've got a full schedule this week with lots of stuff going on, so come back tomorrow for more!

Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Asian Gardens - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Night of Navy - Stampin' Up!; Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Night of Navy, Regal Rose, Peach Parfait, Pink Pirouette - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Large Circle, Big Scalloped Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Adhesive rhinestones - Recollections

Spring has Sprung

Good morning! Unfortunately, spring hasn't sprung here yet! We just had more snow! But wishful thinking it will be here soon.

Today's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge is a circle card, which are always so fun! Here is the sketch:
And my card:

I used the little speckled egg from the Nestie Eggs set to make a little bird's nest. It makes me smile :)

I used a circle punch to make all the little slivers and adhered them to a circle I had punched and trimmed to resemble a nest.

The sentiment is from Spring Baskets and was adhered to cardstock I embossed and distressed.

I hope you find this sketch as inspiring as I did. If you'd like to join us, you can link up your creation over on the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog. Top Mice will be announced along with the week's random winner and the new sketch on Saturday! Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Nestie Eggs, Spring Baskets - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Aqua Mist, Kraft - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Sea Breeze VersaMagic - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Coffee Archival Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Regal Flourishes Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz for Sizzix; Swiss Dots Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft; Circle, Big Scalloped Circles Nestabilities - Spellbinders; 2.5" circle punch - EK Success