Give Thanks

 

Hi y'all!

I can hardly believe that it is already the end of August and that the holiday season is just around the corner, but schools around here started a week or so ago and the Fall season of chorale has started, so time is flying by!  

If you have been here during previous Falls, you might remember that this is one of my very most favorite stamp sets!  It is so simply elegant and imho can become a show stopper with very little effort. Here I stamped the image on watercolor card stock and painted it with distress inks using them water color style, urging the colors to blend together.    

And here is the inside...more of that beautiful CC Ink Drops Sunset designer paper and a beautiful verse.  I love this paper, couldn't stand to cover it up so I kept this card as CAS as possible, inside and out! 

Stamp Simply

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Give Thanks Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Sunset 6x6
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock - 4.25 x 5.5"
• Seam Binding Sampler - Rich Pastels - 40 yards
• distress oxides used as "watercolor"
• white acrylic paint spatters
• gold cord

Autumn Blessings

Hi y'all!

It is still hotter than heck here (yesterday we reached 100 degrees with a heat index of 115 F!) so you can imagine that we are truly yearning for Fall and the cooler temperatures it will bring!  

I was flipping through paper pads and came across this beautiful sheet from CC Ink Drops Midnight, so warm and rich and elegant!  I decided that it would be lovely for a JOY fold/tri-fold card.  

This is essentially a smaller card tucked inside a larger card with the folds opposite one another.  In this view you can see that about an inch is trimmed off the bottom of the larger card front to accommodate the placement of the smaller card inside.  

And full disclosure:  I had not intended to cut an oval out of the smaller card until the sentiment I stamped on the card front (light ink on dark paper) did not show up as well as I had envisioned it would...OOPSIE!  So this design was a "save" that ended up working out ok!  Whew!  I love it when cards "evolve" on their own that way!  

The dark distress oxide inks framing the focal image/sentiment also help to emphasize the rich, midnight mood of the designer paper.

Stamp Simply

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Autumn Blessings Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Midnight 6x6
• Seam Binding Sampler - Rich Pastels - 40 yards
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Champagne
• Spellbinders oval dies
• various distress oxide inks
• button and gold cord from stash

Deepest Sympathy

Hello friends!  

It seems that the older we get, the more often we need sympathy cards.  I really prefer making them before they're needed and having some stashed and ready in advance.  Occasionally I will make one specifically for a particular person and their loved ones but I find that emotionally much more difficult.  Either way, the process is always a thoughtful, prayer-filled one.  

For this week's project I used both of our Silhouette stamp sets (current product of the week)...the sea oats/wheat image from Autumn Silhouettes, and the sentiments from Eucalyptus Silhouettes.  I love how "Florida" the result turned out to be.    

I used an assortment of distress oxide inks to make a colorful focal image background that would harmonize with this beachy designer paper from Craft Consortium's Test of Time.  For many people, images of the ocean are timeless and soothing, bringing peace, calm and clarity to a troubled heart.  That makes them seem especially appropriate for acknowledging the loss of a loved one, especially here in Florida.  

The inside is another inked background with a beautiful, comforting verse.    

Supplies:

• Autumn & Eucalyptus Silhouettes
• Craft Consortium Test of Time 6x6
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Champagne
• May Arts Baker's Twine - 110 Yard Spool - Kraft
• various distress oxide inks
• white acrylic paint
• mother of pearl button

Autumn, warm & cozy!

Hi y'all!  Another busy week here in the Felts household!  There was a brief pause between Tour de Fleece and Tour de Fleece Femmes, but I'm still spinning and knitting and of course, stamping!  

This week's project is a 5.5 inch square card that uses BOTH of the sets in our  current Product of the Week.  These sets are a lot of fun because they feature stamps that are a little larger than usual, which makes them super quick and easy to use.  They take front & center as thē focal point and therefore do not require a lot of fuss with layouts or embellishments, etc.  There's also a great variety of sentiments (as either stamps or dies) to coordinate with the beautiful images.  Easy peasy!

For today's card I used a stamp positioner to stamp the leaf image onto the corners of a 5 inch square of card stock, then colored in the images with Copic markers in a variety of Fall colors.  I stamped, colored and die cut the pumpkins and placed them atop a square of card stock turned on the diagonal.  

On the inside, there's a die cut "Autumn" and stamped "Warm & Cozy."  Everything inside and out was spattered generously with distress oxide inks and white acrylic paint for a warm rustic, harvest/garden feel.  It definitely has apple cider/pumpkin pie kinda vibes!    

Supplies:

• Boho Leaves and Pumpkins
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Squares SM
• Seam Binding
• Melissa Frances Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Cream
• Copic markers
• various distress inks
• gold cording

You crossed my mind today...

Hi everyone!

We have got stamp sets from our Great Lakes Series on sale this week!  Since my husband is from Michigan (specifically the U.P.) I have especially enjoyed using these particular sets along with the rest of our Michigan series.    

The Great Lakes series includes two Lighthouse sets, the Edmund Fitzgerald set, and the Mackinac Bridge set.  

My project for today is a "Dutch door" card, shown here from an aerial view.  I've never been over the Mackinac Bridge but I thought that this designer paper made for a lovely snowy evening sky background where the lines between sky and water merge and seem to magically disappear.

I cut away the top half of the card front, adhered that beautiful Ombre designer paper to the card base inside and out, then die cut two bridges and sandwiched the top edge of the card front between them.  Since the card stock I used is not heavy duty I opted to cut a narrow brace to reinforce the piece right where the die and the card base come together on the inside (see the two photos below).    

The top left sentiment is visible from the front whether the card is opened or closed, but the card must be opened for the bottom right sentiment to be revealed.   

The verse stamped on the inside of the Dutch door is from the Edmund Fitzgerald set and fits the "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" theme perfectly.  🎶  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Mackinac Bridge Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Great Lakes Freighter - The Edmund Fitz...
• Craft Consortium Ombre 6x6
• Dritz Cheesecloth - 36" x 3 yards
• Seam Binding Sampler - Rich Pastels - 40 yards
• Melissa Frances Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Cream
• Copic markers
• white acrylic paint "snow"

Socks and Stockings!

 

Hi everyone!  It's July and I have been having a blast with all the crafty things!  I'm participating in several "Christmas in July" challenges and there is also "Tour de Fleece" so it has been extremely busy around here!  

Stamp Simply has an amazing Christmas in July promotion going on through July 25th, and when I was deciding upon what to stamp, my current Swan City Yarns self-striping socks pair-in-progress was obviously an influence!  

I die cut the stocking in white and used a ruler with some Copic markers to color the stocking in the same color way as my socks.  (If you decide to try it, I'd recommend that you have a baby wipe handy to clean the color from your ruler so that the colors stay pure and clean without muddying).  The cuff, heel, and toe are in a contrast color just as my socks IRL will be.  

The mats behind the stocking were die cut with Spellbinders rectangles.  I used the fishtail banner die for the sentiment which fit absolutely perfectly.  Embellishments include jeweled snowflakes, some white acrylic paint "snow" and a big ole turquoise bow!  These colors just make me so happy!  Definitely one of my favorite Christmas color combos!   

Here's the inside.  All of the stamps and sentiments are part of one stamp set bundle.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Christmas Stockings & Mittens Bundle
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Rectangles SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Rectangles LG
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• May Arts 1" Grosgrain w/Satin Edge - 30 Yard Spool - Turquoise
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Rhinestones - Aqua
• Copic markers
• white acrylic paint "snow"

Magic Seeds Card

I heard an interview on PBS the other day as I was driving to ukulele class...the guy was a magician and he spoke of how he'd had magic in his heart and mind from the time he was about four years old.  I think most of us love that little bit of magic even as adults, so today's project is a magic card.  

The front of the card is rather plain until the tab at the top is pulled up...

...and there's the magic!  I followed Beate's video tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.  (It's a little different than the pictorial tutorial on that same page, so be sure to check both methods out!)

While this card requires some careful aligning of the various layers, it is not hard to make.  It's easiest to stamp the transparency and then trim it to match the colorful layer underneath so that the images line up properly.  Also, one needs to be mindful to keep the mechanism freely moving in the step during which the adhesive is applied around the edges of the slider.  Those little tabbed edges at the bottom need room to glide without getting caught up in any glue or tape.    

I stamped a bee next to the flower to cover up an ink smudge on the paper.  It made it a little harder to align everything just so, but in the end it all worked out!  

Here's the inside.  

There's still time to grab these two sets before our current POTW special expires!  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Vintage Peony Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Vintage Seed Packet Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Organic 6x6
• May Arts 1.25" Variegated Silk - 32 yard spools - Pink/Champagne
• Melissa Frances Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Cream
• Distress oxide, Stazon and Memento inks
• transparency sheet
• tab punch
• Copic markers

Popping by to say hi!

Hello everyone!

If you've been here for a while you know that I am of Scottish heritage and that I took two trips to Scotland within the last several years.  Since then I've been into exploring Scottish knitwear designers and Scottish yarn/fiber.  One of the designers whose work I admire is Kate Davies.  I'm participating in one of her knit-alongs, knitting a sweater design of hers using yarn that I dyed myself.  (I shared a photo of my dyeing process in this post about a month ago.)

Kate has been sending us weekly "essays" in her newsletter and one of the most recent ones had a photo of a sweater knitter/model standing in a field of poppies.  I've never seen so many flowers! It was so beautiful!  (Scroll toward the bottom of Kate's post if you wanna see the photo).  I've never seen a real field of poppies, but this photo really inspired me.  

Hopefully you can see how that field of poppies and my pink yarn come together in this project.  The card is a standard 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card, with an extra scoreline on the front at 2 1/8 inches.  It makes a nice stand-up, display-able card which allows for both hidden and visible sentiments.    

All of the images and sentiments here are from one stamp and die set combo.  I also used my favorite Fishtail Banners die.    

The flowers were colored with Copic markers, and embellished simply with ribbons and pearls.  Very quick and easy and who can resist a red, pink, black and white color scheme?!  

This set is part of our current Product of the Week promotion!  Check it out!

Stamp Simply

Supplies:  

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Pretty Poppies Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Vivid 6x6
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• Seam Binding Sampler - Christmas - 30 yards
• Melissa Frances Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Cream
• Copic markers
• white acrylic paint for spattering

Happy Independence Day!

 

Hi y'all!  Here in America the birthday party is ON!  I hope that wherever you are, you'll celebrate with us!    

I have had this coffee carrier from our favorite local coffee shop for quite a while, just waiting for the right  timing and inspiration to use it.  Well, today is the day!  For now it's empty, but on the 4th it will hold a cup of utensils or maybe some sparklers and matches on one side and a jar of flowers and ivy on the other. 

And just as a funny "George Washington" kinda side note:  I'm gonna have to get out there and scrub that table top because the wild cherry tree keeps dropping ripened little cherries on it!  It keeps things a mess at this time of year and I teasingly say that I'm tempted to go chop the thing down!  But the squirrels and the birds love it!  Seriously though, we will need to do some trimming and maintenance on that tree because it is quite laden with Spanish moss and during hurricane season that can mean trouble.  And I'll be out there to clean that table top before Saturday!  Fingers crossed that it will be cooler than it has been lately!   

Stamp Simply

I used stamps from several of our various patriotic sets for this project.  I included "The Colors" and the Pledge in remembrance and honor our American history, legacy, and values.  The 4th of July has always been special but this year with America 250 it is exceptionally so.  

I used distress oxide inks to stamp some images directly onto the carrier.  The flag was stamped on white card stock and colored with Copic markers so that the colors would be vibrant and stand out against the kraft background.   

There's just a touch of tea-dye ink on all the edges, and lots of splashes of ink and white acrylic paint to lend to the "fireworks/party" vibe.    

Lots of patriotic words and phrases (stamped with distress oxides and die cut with our fishtail banners dies) dangle from a pretty red bow/gold cording at the top. 

You've got until July 5th to grab these sets at a discount!  Enjoy!  

Have a safe and glorious Independence Day holiday!  God Bless America!  

Supplies:

• cup carrier from the local coffee shop
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Full Patriotic Series Stamp Bundle
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• May Arts 1.5" Wrinkled Ribbon - 50 yard spool - Red
• various distress oxide inks, white acrylic paint
• Copic markers
• gold cord

Coneflowers!

 

My husband and I go for morning walks at least five days a week, and lately I have been admiring one particular corner in our neighborhood. It's a profusion of color with clusters of various blossoms, and this morning (knowing our current POTW!) I was inspired by these beautiful coneflowers. I should have taken a wider shot to show more of this delightful colorful corner. The butterflies and I love it!

Coneflowers belong to the daisy Asteraceae family but the various types could belong to one of five different genera – Dracopis, Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Ratibida, and Isopogon which are further subdivided into numerous species.  These Black Eyed Susans belong to the Rudbeckia genus, whereas the traditional purple coneflower is of the genus Echinacea. They definitely have similarities in appearance but there are subtle differences when one decides to dig deeper. Some are annual, others perennial, and others biennial.  

I love it when a craft project becomes an accidental, spontaneous unit study!  

 

This stamp set has always been a favorite, but I think this is the first time I've colored them anything other than the traditional Echinacea coneflower pink or purple (examples here).  

We've had a few real "scorcher" days already and we just passed Summer Solstice, so maybe that is what helped to inspire this hot Summer color scheme with designer paper from the Craft Consortium Ink Drops Sunset paper pad.  

Here's the inside.    

Stamp Simply

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Thank You for Caring Coneflower Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Vintage Seed Packet Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Sunset 6x6
• Gems
• Ribbon
• various distress oxide inks and white acrylic paint
• Copic markers