Garden House and AI Sailboat Cards

Good morning! 

I’ve been MIA for quite a while lately, but it’s not for lack of creating. 

August is a particularly busy month for us this year as we have a funeral (my sweet father in law), a 65th birthday, a wedding and a new baby!! Life tends to be like that doesn’t it? It’s all or nothing. lol. 

I’m sharing some more notecards. I give them out as thank you’s, just because, etc. These ones are made with Stamperia Garden House papers. 

These are AI images that I got off a site on FB. These are incredibly easy cards to make and lend themselves so easily to notecards. Sometimes I’ll put a smaller picture on the inside. That’s the beauty of these images —- you can resize them. I embellished these with knots made of a thin hemp cord (illustration of how-to below).

More AI images. I embellished these with starfish and brads.

Stay positive and appreciate the good things in life! 

Blessings,

Carmen

Quick Cards: Perfume and Roses

Good morning,

Just a quickie post. I used Stamperia papers for these. When making quick cards, the type of papers you use are key.

Each are embellished a little differently. From Nuvo drops, to jute cord, mesh, brads and adding other paper elements. The choices are fun and varied. You can add a sentiment, or like me, leave them off so they can be used for any occasion. 

I rarely show the inside of my cards, but I always usually do something with it. For these quick cards I matched up the outside with the insides, fussy cutting some smaller paper elements and taping them on. The right side is left blank for writing. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Blessings,

C~

Guy Cards

Hello, 

I don’t know where you live, but here in the interior of BC, Canada we’re looking at temperatures of about 40C (104F), so guess where I’m staying? That’s right, inside where it’s cool. I have quite a few birthdays coming up (why are there so many between fall and Christmas?) so I’ve been spending some time making cards.

The first one is for my husband whose birthday is today! He’s 64 and still younger than me. Mmm hmmmm, I robbed the cradle. 

I love the stamps and stickers that come with this collection. It’s Graphic 45’s Catch of the Day. It’s one set I’ve used over and over again. I love it. Great for guy cards. 

I also made a card for my son who plays guitar and loves music

 

These are Stamperia papers from their Music collection. Another great set. 

That’s all for today. I’ll be writing a blog post for my bubbling springs blog soon. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamperia Leftovers Cards

Hello all!

Today I have some Stamperia cards, watercolor bookmarks (in progress) and a little idea. 

A while back I bought a bunch of Stamperia pads and they didn’t disappoint. In fact, the cards I’m about to show you were made from mostly bits and pieces that were left over. I usually make larger cards, but these are smaller cards, which are nice to give too. 

I cut out the little teacups, the birds, the heart and the love sign and applied them with foam tape.

This one was super simple. It’s just two flat layers with a popped up flower.

This one was embellished with a metal music note clip. I did have to use two different background papers for the background. Super easy though! This is what I love about these papers. They’re incredibly easy to work with; the cards seem to make themselves.

I also made some watercolor bookmarks. I’ve already given some away, so these are ones I’m still working on. Once I’ve done the initial painting, I go back and add details, usually with golds and iridescent colors. In fact, I want to share a couple of really nice paints below. First the bookmarks. 

You can see the gold splatters on the center bookmark. I’ll be adding writing and some shimmer to the other two before they’re completed. 

The reason I am making these bookmarks is because they make such a great addition to cards. I add a packet of fancy tea and a cute little saying, and it’s a little bit of a gift. 

This is the front of the bookmark, and the back of the bookmark is behind the tea in its package below.

Note also the writing on the sticker that seals it. 

“You time! A book, a sip of tea and solitude!”

You see, everyone seems to be stressed and depressed these days. People are worn out, feeling helpless and hopeless because of the things happening in the world. On top of that are the every day issues that come up in their personal lives, plus unusual sicknesses and outside pressures and it’s all just too much. I feel it too. 

I believe the best way to fight these feelings is to come together in unity.  Do what we can to encourage, lift people up and let them know someone out there still cares. It’s a small gesture, I know, but it’s a start. A handmade (or store bought) card with a bookmark and tea. Or maybe hot chocolate. Whatever. 

Just something to tell them you care, and to take time for themselves to relax, heal and get rejuvenated. So that’s my little idea. Super easy to do but thoughtful.

So about the shimmery paints. When I was going through my rock painting phase a while back (so short I never shared it), I was introduced to a couple of acrylics that are just lovely. A picture is probably best. Sorry about the yellow background…it’s watercolor paper. Anyway, if you want a little shimmer, these are awesome! I used the dragonfly glaze on the dragonfly bookmark above.

I have a fabric card ready, but I’ll wait until the next post. Hope you enjoyed these. Have a great week! 

Blessings,

Carmen

Alchemy Cards

Hello,

These were made a few weeks ago but I’m only just getting to them now. This paper pad is Alchemy, by Stamperia. You’d think I was representing them, but I’m not. I came across their papers and just loved them. My card stash is really growing quite happily. 

Note the metal globe embellishment.

This one just has brads and some flags

There’s a metal keyhole, a metal gear and metal brads.

Note the wooden key

Last, but not least, some sparkly accents and a turned over corner with a rub-on underneath and a metal brad holding it in place. 

Many of my cards have raised elements as well, and the insides are completed, but without stamps or sentiments, which can be added. 

That’s it for today. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Blessings,

Carmen

BRUTALLY HONEST SLOGANS

Loving the Music

It’s fun to combine different art forms into one. I’ve been working on more fabric cards and just loving it, I’m looking at trying some felting techniques to incorporate into my card making soon. In the meantime I made up some music themed cards. 

These are made using Stamperia papers. I love these papers so much, and no, I don’t make money to promote them, I just decided to buy a few of their pads and play!

These were so fun to make. The features on this card are the turned over corner on the raised main panel. A metal bracket brad and metal gears. 

A fairly simple card, with metal brads on the raised main panel and a wooden butterfly. 

I had a little portfolio file folder in my stash that I filled with random bits and pieces. Stuck a tag in behind it and added a metal clock in the corner and a metal note brad above. Also some corner punching.

I raised the main plate on this card and added a wooden key, some metal brads and a bow. There were bits of paper added here and there and some corner punching. 

And here’s all four of them

With these paper pads I made the easiest and most obvious panels into cards, however, I have lots of useable paper left in all these pads. I will just have to be a bit more creative in putting these together. All in good time. There’s so much I want to do and there are so many ideas floating through my head lately. 

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a great day!

Carmen

BRUTALLY HONEST SLOGANS

Stamperia Patchwork cards

I’ve been working hard on building up my card stash this fall. Today I’m featuring another Stamperia paper pad called Patchwork. Unlike the Orchids and Cats paper pad which came in pastel colors, this one was right up my alley. I got quite a few cards out of this pad and I could make more. 

Features: wooden key, butterfly, clock hand. Sentiment is popped up.

Features: wooden key, hemp cord with bow, foam backed main plate. 

Features: metal brads, hemp cord, foam backed main plate. 

Features: foam backed bird, added hearts, foam backed coffee cup with wispy cotton for steam, stitch doodles.

All the cards above are 6.5” x 5” , two black cards, two white cards

All the cards below are 4” x 5.5”, they are all white cards

Features:wooden flower with dew drop

Features: metal brads, 

Features: red metal brads, silver star brad, stitch doodles 

Features: matte silver brads, foam backed main plate, stitch doodles

I’m honestly amazed how many cards I got out of this pad. It was a 12” pad, but often the pictures are too large to use for cards as the larger pads are made with scrapbooking in mind. I love the fun whymsical look of these.

I’ll be sharing more cards soon. 

Till next time! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Carmen

BRUTALLY HONEST SLOGANS

Orchids and Cats Cards

Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with my blog! Although I love talking to you, I love spending my time creating, cutting, sewing and just making. However, I’m a bit behind, so I’m here to post some more cards. 

These cards were hard for me. I rarely work with subdued pinks and greens. I love earth tones and brights, so these were completely out of my comfort zone! I do like cats, so I guess that’s something. 

These were all made using Stamperia, Orchids and Cats papers.

The clock was fussy-cut from the papers and had an old watch hand added to it set with a dew drop. The cat was also cut from the papers and attached with foam tape. Then a flower was attached with a pearl brad.

On this one dew drops were used on the corners. A charm was attached with a silver brad top center. The focal photo was raised with foam tape and since it looked lacking, I attached a prima flower. Not great for mailing, but cute. 

This cards’ center was raised with foam tape to which I added a cardstock butterfly and a flower which was attached with a pearl brad. Tucked under the main picture are some flower stamens.

Here I used metal brads in all corners, raised the main plate and added wood embellishments. 

All the cards are nicely done on the inside as well but have no greetings stamped in them. 

I’ll be back soon with more cards as I have quite a few more ready to go. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Carmen

Todays BRUTALLY HONEST SLOGAN brought to you by Starbucks!

Booklets of Hope for Today

Good morning! 

I’ve finally made a few more mini booklets. I had made three initially, but I was giving them away faster than I could make them. One for a friend who got sick, one for a birthday (we try to keep it small) and one for someone who was upset. To my surprise, all of them really appreciated them.  So, I told them all, enjoy them and if you find someone who you feel needs it more than you, then please pass it on! 

That’s how my little lights in the darkness were born. My little books of hope!

Here’s three more I made. I’m only going to show you a couple of pages in each one, but will include some quotes and scriptures for you. Also some choruses from songs I found encouraging.  Using sticker paper rather than adhering each one down with double-sided tape was much easier and less time consuming. 

I’ve made the pictures large so you can see the writing better. The only challenge was keeping the quotes small enough to fit into the 3”x 4” spot. They’re all encouraging, hopeful, or make you feel better about yourself or life in general. 

I cannot set these up as a pdf file as I'm currently using Open Office which doesn't support the correct file types.  I can write them out for you and you can make your own in Word using a table. 

For fonts, I used "Times New Roman," "Priscilla," and "Ink Free." 

Quotes and sayings:

It's hard to hear God's voice when you've already decided what you want Him to say. Sanctification and Spitup	I have given God countless reasons not to love me. None of them changed His mind. Lysa Terkeurst
Remember... Fear and Faith Cannot co-exist. Elsie Welc	Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but gets you Nowhere.
The devil wants you to worry about what's next, so you can't enjoy what's now. The devil is a liar! Sanctification and Spitup You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy. Nightbird	Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25 Let your Smile Change the world But don't let the world Change your Smile
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! Isaiah 43:1	Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.  Ps. 55:22
Hard now Doesn't mean Hard forever	If today was heavy Put it down And give it to God

Songs I've incorporated: When peace like a river attendeth my way when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say It is well, It is well, with my soul!	Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face!! And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand all other ground is sinking sand! Scriptures I've used:	Jesus take the wheel Take it from my hands Because I can't do it on my own! Carrie Underwood
Isaiah 35:4 Jeremiah 29:11 Romans 8:31 Hebrews 13:5,6 Psalm 27:1 Deuteronomy 31:6 Isaiah 40:31 Romans 8:28 Isaiah 41:10 Psalm 55:22 Proverbs 12:25 Jeremiah 29:11 Psalm 46:1 Isaiah 43:1 Proverbs 1:33 Luke 12:25 Matthew 11:28 Psalm 46;10 Psalm 23:4 Eph 6: 10, 11 Isaiah 40:31 Psalm 91: 1,2 John 14:27 Joshua 1:9 2 Tim. 1:7 I had a lot of trouble with the formatting on this post. I guess this is the best I can get for now. My apologies! Well, that's all Folks!  Blessings, Carmen