A heart full of gratitude

A really cool photographer here is blessing the public service community with free photoshoots as a way of saying thank you for all you do. 
We are thrilled with our pictures.  I wanted to so something special for her so I decided to get out my favorite character stamps, Newton's Nook, and make some cards for her.

Up first is the kitten, Newton, holding a ribbon of courage which I colored with tombow markers in the 'thin blue line'.  It says "Life is tough but so are you."

This playful kitten reminds us that "you're never too old to play".  I mimicked the ball of yarn with the  yellow string tied around the layer piece.  Some golden bling finished out the charm of this card.

This card makes me laugh every time. The front of the card reads the familiar saying 'a little birdie told me it was your birthday...' Inside Newton says "so I ate him" ! I used the twine that comes wrapped around the stamps.  The stamps come so neatly packaged! It makes you want to "get your Paws inky" which is their slogan for their stamps.  Cute, isn't it?

I love Coffee and when you combine it with cats....it's just too cute. This card has several layers one which I embossed in my texture machine.  I then 'roughed it up' with some sandpaper.  I love how the core makes it look shabby chic. I love using the Tombow markers especially the gray scale set. It's perfect for different shades of kitten color! "I need some coffee right MEOW"

"MEOW you doing?"  What a cuddly cat...and a simple card to  send to a friend to ask how they are doing today.

I had so much fun designing this card.   I cut out a small oval in the front panel of the card.  Then, I stamped around it making my own paper design.  On the inside panel I stamp the birthday bag with the perfect gift!  The caption says, "let the cat out of the bag".

Once again my favorite stamp set...Newton Loves Coffee. A simple card design enhanced by an embossed layer and some twine and bling.  A great card to let someone know you care.

And we all know that "Coffee is ALWAYS a good idea!".  I love to use the heat embossing technique and it looks so sleek in print.  Also, just rounding the opposite corners on a square or rectangle, make it stand out for a modern look.

Newton looks like he's so excited "it's your birthday" that he's taking a balloon ride through the air and his party hat is flying off! This feminine card has 'fancy' corners made with scissors bought years ago.  Do you try to reuse your 'old' tools in a new way?  I enjoy trying to brain storm new ideas.

 

Thanks for looking at my cards.  I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did making them.  Until next time,

Vicki

Train is coming down the track

My oldest boy loved trains.  I wish I would have had these stamps when he was little. :)  But he still fell in love with this card!  I love the dimensional of this card.  For the background I used the forest stamp on Lovely As A Tree, then I attached it behind the oval cutout.  On a separate paper I stamped the train and then fussy cut it out.  I stamped three pine trees and cut them out.  Using the foam tape I taped the train in the center of the oval.  Then I placed the trees around the train.  Super cute card and masculine at that!

Who doesn't love Santa's train? And that hat?  I've been crafting some Christmas cards. I used this sketch for the CYCI #136 Sketch Challenge at Can You Case It?  It's even prettier in real life....love this.

I used black card stock for the card base.  Then used SU! silver paper and embossing-large dots. The stamp is from the new CHRISTMAS MAGIC set. Add the frosting SU! paper die cut and Jolee's Santa's hat...it's finished! Quick and easy.

dreaming of a beach in England

Now that sounds different for me...right? Ever since going to London in 2012, I have fallen in love with England.  I was happy to find this challenge from the UK.  and the theme was beaches.
On this blog, CASology; week 214; beach, they like the clean and simple look.  I do also at times when making cards.  I guess I lean that way more than the other with lots of flowers and frills.  May have something to do with having boys.....

I chose a light sea blue, with a little darker blue for the squares. It was really easy to do this card if you use a 1 inch/ 1.5 inch punch. Then I stamped the images from a retired Close to My Heart  mini set called SPLASH.  I added the fibers, that made me think of seaweed.  The memories is stamped in SU! crumb cake ink.  The stamp itself is a old EK success stamp.  Before the M, I placed a sea green pearl reminding me of the pearl of great price.

Newton's Nook and Burlap and Lace....Lovely

I LOVE working with Newton's Nooks designs.  I'm not getting anything from them to say this :) It's just true. They have the cutest stamps. Of course, anything cat I love. I also love how the polymer stamps are so crisp and you can see through them which makes it e.a.s.y to stamp.

Now on with my card.  I'm doing this card for their Burlap and Lace Challenge.  I love entering the different challenges because it forces me to stretch my creative thinking. Kinda like blogging....it's been too many years ago since I've done this. :) Back to the burlap and lace.... 

 I found a 2 inch piece of burlap ribbon and trimmed the wire edges off with my dull scissors. I think stamped the frame from the set "Around the House" on paper and cut it with an exact-o knife.  I used tear and stick tape from SU! to adhere it very strongly.

I took lace, cut it in half horizontally, then using the sticky tape on the bottom part of the lamp, I adhered the lace so it looked like a doily.

I used Tombow and SU! markers along with a gel pen....cause it just needing some stitching and I don't sew! I tape!

 The sentiment reads "you light up my day!".....which reminds me of a song I loved to play on the piano..."and feel my heart with song..."

This guy is just too adorable to not be framed!  Hope you enjoyed it.  I did and it was a quick card to make.

Summer is ending...what better way than to spend it with family

This fun card was inspired by the upcoming holiday and http://sharejoychallenge.blogspot.com/2016/08/share-joy-challenge-50-sketch.html.

What fun to participate in challenges that make your mind think along different lines.  This challenge had a sketch and/or theme idea....which I decided to use both.

The cardstock used is from my stash.  The stickers are also but from two different lines.  The BBQ and definition is from Karen Foster while the others are from Bo Bunny.  The embossing on the orange cardstock is from sizzix luxurious A2 large.

What your plans for the weekend?  I plan to spend it with family with maybe a cookout thrown in there some where :).

Freshly made sketches

FMS251 this sketch inspired this lovely card.
http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.ca/2016/08/sketch-251-sketch-by-cindy.html?m=1