It is labor day weekend and that means fall is right around the corner. Where in the world did summer go? August wasn't very summerlike here in RI, more like Sept.
I have slowed down a bit on crafting to get ready for the holiday swaps that will be coming up on the Cricut MB.
So while I am in between swaps, I continue making  cards for Cards for Soldiers. We can make everyday cards any time and then do specialty ones when they post a new themes. We just finished up Christmas in July and have moved on to Fall cards.
I am not a fancy card maker especially if I want to make quite a few. I tend to go simple with most of my cards and my layouts also. (Once in awhile I do amaze myself)
I sometimes like to use photos on cards so I decided to print some out and use a grid.  I found a grid in the new Artbooking Cartridge and printed it out at 5". I had to trim it once I  had it glued  to the picture but that worked out well. Just a little stamped sentiment and the cards are good to go. I used different cardstock from a fall colored stack that I had.

 

 

 I also tried out a masking technique. First you use markers to ink up your stamp. Doesn't matter where you put the colors really. They will all come out a bit different!!!! Stamp on the center of your cardstock. Take a cut out of the leaf and tape it over where you stamped. (I use removable scotch tape.) I then take some 1/4" tape and put it in a pattern around the edges. Once I have that done, I stamp over the whole thing with a script stamp. Before removing any of the tape or leaf pattern, I ink it up using my TH distress ink. Then I remove all the tape and the leaf. Not bad for my first try but next time I'll try to add a bit more  orange, green, yellow to the leaf as it looks too read to me.

Finally I took some of my scraps and punched out some circles and hearts to make these cards. Hearts are supposed took like a bunch of balloons!!!! The circles were punched from embossed papers I had stashed away.

So that is my card making for the last few days. I have a few more hearts and circles so I'll make a few more

 

Happy crafting everyone!!!!! 

 

Cards

The weather has cooled of a little today but it is still in the 80's. I know it is summer and it's supposed to be hot, but this humidity is terrible.

In between making frames, I have been doing "Cards for Soldiers" on the Cricut message board.
I am finishing up some everyday cards and then we get to do Christmas in July cards!!!
I went thru some of my scraps and came up with this basic design. (I still have lots more scraps I can use). I punched out some scalloped squares, popped them up on the card front and heat embossed various sayings.  Simple but nice and I get rid of scraps which I can never seem to throw away. I just might use up some holiday scraps the same way.

 

 

My partner received her ticket strips so I can post pictures of them now. The top strip has Aruba sand and shells!!!The bottom strip was an experiment using metal tape and alcohol inks. Not great but I sent it anyway. LOL

Thanks for looking.

I Can't Believe.....

that I haven't been on my blog is 6 months!!!!!! Wow!!!
Christmas went by and I have been to Jamaica and Aruba since I posted last!!!
I guess I should post a few layouts and cards that I have finished.

I am also in a few swaps on the Cricut message board so I can post a few teasers.
If anyone wants a more detail description on how I made something, please ask and I will be happy to share. Lets try a couple cards first.
This was my first easel card!!! It was basically beige and black with some lace and a fuzzy flower. After looking at it for a bit, I think the colors might have been better for a Sympathy card.

This card was also for a swap and the theme was Summer. I recently bought this cute stamp and wanted to try it with my copics. While it is a little hard to see she did come out pretty well for a "learner"! I used some paper that looked like water, added a strip across the bottom that looked like sand. I used my cricut to cut the palm tree and coconuts. I added some lines on the palm fronds,  popped up "Honey" and added my sentiment.  You will see when I post some ATCs, that I used this card to make one of them. I  printed out the picture of this card and made it into a ATC!!

cards

Are you sick of Christmas cards yet??  I just finished the last couple groups and wanted to share.
The Non- traditional color is purple but it didn't come out very well !! I printed the image from  an online vintage clip art page. I used nesties on the image and it's mat. I used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on the beige background paper and attached it to a purple mat.  Don't you just LOVE the puppy.

My last Vintage card is with an image of a pair of cardinals. I went around the edge with red marker, mounted the image on gold and then on green. I attached this to some vellum which I pierced  and also marked the edges with red. I do need to get some new piercing patterns as I like the look. The background mat is green with a matching print on top. I got this idea from my friend CraftyRCC. Thanks Rachel!!

cards, cards, cards!!!!

Here are a few more Christmas cards to share. I used George(circles) and Snow Friends(arms) on the  snowman. I torn the white and added stickles for some sparkle on the snow. I stickled his nose also!!! For the falling snow, I dabbed with a grey marker. I almost added a scarf (yarn) but decided to wait and see what color card I will put this on and then match the scarf color. I think red will be perfect!!!
The angel just happened. I was looking thru my cars and found this frame and welded the angel inside. It cut very nice from Crayola sparkle paper. I guess the sentiment will have to go inside as I love it the way it is.

Christmas in July

I don't know about any of you but it has been HOT here on the east coast.
I joined a card front swap and it is Christmas themed. Although I have made 3 sets of cards so far, it certainly hasn't cooled me off!!!!!

The Tree card was stamped and embossed in gold. I used a SU stamp set called Lovely as a Tree.
The other 2 cards are Vintage Christmas. I used images from the internet and inked them up. I used some Jute Ribbon and a snowflake brad on the Santa card.
If anyone wants particulars, just let me know. I have started keeping all my card ideas along with paper sizes, etc.

Here are a couple cards I finished for a swap. The themes were Birds or Animals and Fall Colors. The owl is from Happilly Ever After Disney Cartridge. I think he is so cute!!!

More vintage cards

Here are the other 3 vintage cards for the KOA silent auction. I will do them up as a set of 12. Hopefully they get a nice amount of money for them.

Vintage cards

I made another set of cards for the KOA silent auction. Here are some of them. I am still in Vintage mode so I made some vintage cards. I still have to add some sentiments on the inside but I think they came out pretty good. Simple as usual, but hey I think that is my style!!!

Challenge card

Because it is National Scrapbooking Day today, over at the PinkStamper blog, she is doing hourly challenges. I found one that said you needed to make something with your least used or least liked cartridge.

Mine is Garden of Words. When I bought it, I thought you could make all words but that is not the case. Here is a card I made using this cartridge. I'm really not loving this card and I may not even post it for the challenge.

Cards for KOA

This year I am making up sets of cards to donate to the local KOA Kampground.(I worked there for 9 years before it was sold to KOA) These will be for the silent auction they will be having in May. Proceeds from this and other activities help raise money for children with cancer to be able to go camping.
Here are a few of the cards I have made so far. I used a basic design for the cards in the group shot. I will be doing 3 or 4 different sets and will post some here when I finish them up. Some will be colored with markers and others will be black & white. I also plan on doing a set using Vintage flowers. Enjoy!!!!

A few cards

I made these for a couple swaps I am in on the Cricut MB.
They all have individual themes. I have been trying to experiment with different techniques also and really like the Vintage look. This was also my first try at Iris folding.

Here are a few more cards that I finished up today. Again very simple cards but I am pleased with them all.

Work in progress

Here is a card that I made today. I have never tried a vintage card so I thought I would see what I could come up with. I am pleased with how it turned out even if it is pretty simple.