Saturday, August 29, 2009

Thanks and Wish...

I got a package in the mail yesterday and said something about an order I'd placed. Um...I hadn't placed any orders and I didn't even recognize the company! I carefully opened the box, just in case I was going to have to return what I didn't order and when I peeked inside, I started doing the giddy girly dance. You know the one where you jump from foot to foot on your tippy toes and clap your hands in glee? Well, that was me. You see, this was from two very special young boys named Bjorn and Mathias, who have a very, very special grandma named Kathi. I have a birthday coming up on Monday and Kathi, I mean the boys, got me the Hero Arts Dots and Flowers background stamp! I've mentioned it in a previous post (I think I said I was too cheap to buy it) and have had serious stamp envy when Kathi's posted cards using her Dots and Flowers background stamp.

It was just the ticket to get me to go out into my craft room and break it in! Wanna see?
I used one of Kathi's cards as the starting off point for my card. Because I don't have that adorable owl, I took things in a different direction. I recently discovered a blog called Scrap a Little! Erin, of Inky Smiles, told me about these lovely cardstock roses she found and there was a tutorial on how to make them! I knew I had to try them out. And decided to make one for my card today. I used my Cricut and George cartridge to cut the hearts needed, only mine is the original Cricut and it doesn't cut all the same sizes. So I had to adjust a smidge with the sizes I have available. But it was easy peasy to put the rose together. When I finished though, I thought the rose was WAY too big to fit the card well, so I took off the largest hearts layer. I think it still looks nice and the size works better. I don't know if you can see it well, but I sprayed some Glimmer Mist (Iridescent Gold) on the rose as well. Oh and you'll have to look closely, but I added a dot with my Desert Sand marker, then I went over it with a Sakura glitter pen. I used the same pen to draw lines on the Colonial White piece.
Supplies:
Stamps: Dots and Flowers (Hero Arts), For Every Occasion (CTMH)
Ink: Desert Sand ink pad and marker (CTMH)
Cardstock: Bamboo, Desert Sand, Colonial White, Topiary
Accessories: Sakura Clear Star glitter pen, glittered brad (Hobby Lobby), Martha Stewart punch, Glimmer Mist

I then got to work making another card. This one was inspired this one created by Sarah of Sarah's Paper Tray. I came across some glittery clear embossing powder by Stampendous and decided to try it and see how it would look. I like it, although it's hard to photograph. LOL I've long admired the cards I've seen where the dandilion fluff image is used. Earlier this summer or maybe late spring, I found a clear stamp set called Fine and Dandy (by Autumn Leaves) at Michaels (the concept store in Brighton) and thought it would work great.

I like how this one came out, too. I guess I am in a glittery mood today as I used the same Sakura glitter pen on this card (on the scalloped piece and in the focal image dandilion). A month or so ago, I discovered Michaels was carrying those teeny tiny mini brads and I picked up a couple of packages. It's the Recollections brand. I finally broke open the package today. I used a ruler to try to get my holes all lined up straight, but it must have slipped a tad. Oh well. The wish sentiment seemed to fit just perfectly. I didn't want to use the whole swirl on the image, so I inked the stamp up and then scotch taped off the area of the image I didnt' want to use. Had I been thinking ahead, I might have stamped the entire image first, then the dandilions and you could see it peek through, but that would be too clever on my part. LOL
Hindsight is 20/20, right?

Supplies:
Stamps: Fine and Dandy (Autumn Leaves), Card Commentary (CTMH)
Cardstock: Kraft (Archivers), Bamboo, Topiary (CTMH)
Inks: Desert Sand, Topiary {used a Topiary marker to draw a line, too} (CTMH)
Accessories: itty bitty mini brads (Recollections at Michaels) Sakura glitter pen, EK Success border punch, Nestabilities circle and scallop circle dies, glittered clear embossing powder (Stampendous)

And that does it from me today. Thanks for your support and encouragement about the things I am working on these days. It sure means a lot! Thanks, too, for visiting!

Photobucket

15 comments:

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Oh My Goodness Jeanne! Well, first of all, Happy Birthday on Monday!!! Would you e-mail me your address???

I, too, have been drooling over Kathi's cards made with this stamp - I'm going to be at the store later today and will look for it!

Your details are just amazing - the colors are so elegant, and there's that bit of shine in the middle of the pattern and the golden touches on the rose. It's a beautiful rose! (deep sigh!) it's a perfect card.

Alanna said...

Gorgeous cards Jeanne. What a neat surprise you had for you. I'm sure you were over the moon.

I love that paper flower. I'm going to have to try that.

Kathi Carlson said...

Gorgeous cards, Jeanne! I just knew you'd do great things with that background stamp! And, I'm going to have to check out the instructions for that rose and dust off (literally) my Cricut. Thanks for sharing the link.

Your dandelion card is lovely, too! Like always, I love the colors you chose and all the detail. You're lucky that you can stay out of the craft area for a few days and then just jump right back into it. Me? It's like I don't know what to do. Must be my advanced age or somethin'. LOL.

Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful!

Erica said...

happy birthday! i saw your post on google reader...and did a double take...cuz i knew that was NOT a ctmh stamp...and I KNEW cuz i envy it too! LOVE YOUR CARDS!

Kim Burmeister said...

Wow! That is a special surprise! Love your cards! Happy Birthday a little early. I will try to remember Monday too. Birthday HUG!

Carol said...

Wow you are very lucky and you have made some gorgeous cards with them.
Have a happy birthday on Monday (I hope you are spoilt by your gorgeous family)

Laurel said...

Oh my goodness, what beautiful cards!

Sparkplug17 said...

Such pretty cards! Happy early birthday!

stampmonkey said...

Jeanne, Jeanne, Jeanne!!! Both of these cards are absolutely GORGEOUS! It's so nice to see you making cards again. ;D First off, the cardstock roses are over-the-top beautiful (thanks sooo much for sharing the link to the tutorial!), and you did a wonderful job on the background (I remember you looking at that image at Archiver's...looks like it was meant to be yours after all --how very sweet of Kathi to send it to you!). The second card is so pretty too --all the shimmer, the colors, the scalloped border, and the mini brads-- you nailed it! LOL about your sentiment comment...you really are funny!

As for your birthday...I feel so bad that your card is going to be late. I've been planning to get it made and even started it on Friday night and continued on Saturday, but could only work on it in little blocks of time so it's not quite finished. ;( One of these days I'll get my act together and not only be on time, but maybe even a little early! That's my goal anyway...lofty as it may be. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow and that you know your friends are thinking of you (even if they're running a bit behind schedule).

BIG hugs, my friend!

Jackie said...

you made the flower??? wow...cool
was thinking about you tonight as i was knitting baby leg warmers...why i thot of you i have no idea :)
you need to join facebook so i can keep up with you :)

Carolyn said...

Happy Birthday Jeanne! Have a wonderful day! Gorgeous cards you got there! :) I treasure the ones i get from my blogging friends.

Unknown said...

so cool! I'm going to make one of the roses and send it to my mom. she's gonna love it!!!!!

it was great talking today, I miss that! Happy Birthday!!!!

Sarah said...

Awwww I wish I had known..I would have sent a card !!!! Happy Birthday Jeanne. How wonderful of Kathi to send that stamp!!!! Your card is totally gorgeous!!!
Thanks so much for the link to the roses..they are darling.
Ohhhh and you were inspired by me!!!???? for your other card! I am so honored. You card is beautiful.
Have a wonderful day Jeanne.

Maricar said...

What a special day! Gotta love suprise treats from a friend!

Happy birthday!

Inna D. said...

Happy birthday Jeanne! I'm sorry I've missed it, but better late than never, right?
Best wishes,
Inna