Card - Coffee To Go Cup

I was seeing so many of these wonderful cups on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Spring and Summer Blog Hop that I wanted to make one.

I tried several ideas but this one worked the best. I found a cup graphic on line and printed it several times on different papers.  I then fussy cut the cup, the wrapper and the lid into separate pieces.  I printed a circle coffee graphic.  I then chalked these pieces with deep blue.

I then assembled the cup pieces and adhered the circle onto the wrapper with 3D foam tape. 

I chose a pea green card base.  I found a piece of deep blue textured card stock and wrapped a piece of blue seam binding around it.  It was then adhered to the front of the card.  I adhered the cup focal point to the blue layer with 3D foam tape. 

I am really happy with this card. 

Card - Library Tea Break

Another card for the Coffee Loving Cardmaker Spring and Summer Blog Hop.
 

I printed the Tea and Book graphic on white card stock.  I trimmed it to 3.75x5.00 inches.

I chose a blue purple card base in the A2 size in the portrait orientation.

I chose a piece of warm caramel card stock to accent the main element.  I placed 2 pieces  - one in the top left and one in the bottom right corner leaving a small border. They were adhered with double sided tape.

The tea cup layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape leaving a small border.

I added a photo corner punchie in the top right hand corner made from the same warm caramel card stock.

I spattered the front with a bit of denim blue watercolor. 

Card - Japanese Tea

I made this card for the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Spring and Summer Blog Hop.

I started with the Japanese Tea Set graphic in gorgeous grey and deep red colors.

I trimmed it to 3.75" x 5".   I found a deep red A2 card base and a coordinating grey layer to go with the tea image.

I adhered the grey layer to the card front.

I added 3 red mini brads in the upper left hand corner and the kanji for TEA in the right hand upper corner.

This layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I am happy with this card.

This was a prize winner in the blog hop! #794
 

Card - Coffee Time

I made this card for the 2021 Spring and Summer Coffee Loving Card Makers Blog Hop.

I started with a digi of a hand drawn pastel image of a beautiful coffee pot and cup.

I just love the soft muted tones of this image.

 I printed the image on a quarter sheet of white card stock and trimmed it to 3.75 x 5 inches.

I added a warm caramel piece of card stock layered behind it and adhered these layers to the front of a pea green card base.

I added a greeting above the image with a ripped layer of the same caramel card stock and the greeting printed on a taupe card stock.

I added 3 mini brads to the left of the greeting.

This greeting layer was adhered with 3D foam tape. 

Card - Angled Rectangle

This was the second set of card supplies which lay in a box for a year after COVID cancelled my classes at Compassion House.

A warm Soft Suede A2 card base with a piece of designer paper adhered on an angle and then trimmed to the card edge with scissors.

I created the accent with 3 leaf die cuts made with Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die.  I adhered them to each as an accent then mounted them to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 

 

 

 

 

A taupe card base with hexagonal pattern on the angled rectangle designer paper. 

I added a Tim Holtz Mover Shaper Vintage Alarm Clock die cut from gold glitter card stock.

I decided to send the rest of the unmade card kits to Compassion House with a couple of samples so the ladies can make them up during their free time.

I don't anticipate being able to teach classes for a long while yet but I will put together more kits and drop them off.

Cards - All Occasion for my box

From the kits prepared for Compassion House a year ago I made a few cards for my upcoming family birthdays.

This is beautiful deep teal card base with a half circle of decorative paper, caramel seam binding tied on the fold, with a butterfly accent.  

The butterfly cut from deep teal with the Sizzix Winged Beauties thinlit set mounted on a ivory circle to highlight it's shape.

 

 

On this card it is a true blue A2 card base with polka dot designer paper in the half circle with the navy seam binding tied on the fold. 

Same Sizzix Winged Beauties thinlits set diecut on a white circle. 

 

 

 

Same supplies of the first just arranged in the portrait orientation.

On this true blue card base I added a circle greeting above the butterfly accent.

 

 

 

A bright orange card base with a geometric patterned half circle with a Hampton Arts tree diecut and a circle greeting. 

 A couple of nice male themed birthday cards with the same supplies as those above. 

The greetings are color printed and punched with the Modern Label punch by Stampin Up.

 

Cards - 4x4 set 2 - Thanks

A few more 4x4 photograph cards.  More photos from my calendars.

Great Black Capped Chickadee on a purple card base.

I have added a Modern Label punchie greetings adhered with 3D foam tape.

 

 

A Yellow Warbler on a textured yellow card base. I added a circle greeting which I mounted under the 4x4 photograph.

 

 A Koy Fish in the pond at the Japanese Gardens.  

I selected a terra cotta card base.

I added a Word Window greeting mounted onto a Modern Label punchie.

These will be donated to Compassion House.

Cards - 4x4 Photos - Thanks

A few more thank you cards.

This Don Juan Cricut "thanks" die cut is perfect for my 4x4 inch photo cards made with recycling my calendar images.

A wonderful Black Capped Chickadee perched on a branch on navy card stock.  The greeting was cut from white pearl card stock and adhered with double sided tape.

A rain soaked pink rose at the park for this card on a magenta card base.  The greeting is diecut with the Cricut in white pearl card stock.

 

 

 

This owl is one of my paper piecing creations.  I designed 12 owls for my calendar in 2016. 

I mounted it to a navy card base. 

A Don Juan Cricut die cut as the greeting.  Adhered with Quick Dry adhesive.

Really like these.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Spring is here. 

There are frozen puddles in the morning on my walk.  These have so much texture in the old leaves and the thin layer of ice with the water underneath.

Last year's aspen leaf awaits to provide energy to the soil to allow new growth to start.

I love the colors in this leaf - yellows, dark browns, even a hint of deep green.

The ice has crinkles, bubbles, and crackles.

            

 

 

Over the last few years I have learned with an east exposure I don't get enough hours of sunlight to grow what I would like.  I  have managed to keep my Dracaena Marginata and Devil's Ivy alive.  I have added an Asparagus Fern to the mix.

I am working on growing my own herbs, especially basil.  On my one visit to the green house last week there were no basil plants ready so I decided to try to start one from seed.  I have purchased a grow light in hopes of being able to supplement the natural light available.

I have put the bulb in this yellow lamp and have placed it about 4 inches from the pot.  I will adjust as the plants grow. I  put 5 seeds in the pot.  It is recommended 8 hours of light a day.

I really like dill as well so on my next trip to the greenhouse I will pick up one of those and I should know how my basil is doing by then.  The girl said the basil plants should be in by sometime in April.

I finished this book on Sunday, given to my by my sister.  

It is the first in a series of 14 by Jan Karon so will be on the hunt for the rest and I hope to read them in order.

The main character is Father Tim, an Episcopalian rector shepherding a parish in Mitford, NC.  Things are going well but he is feeling a little directionless after being there 12 years. He will be turning 60 in a few months.

What's next?  As they say don't ask the question if you don't want the answer.  A dog, a boy. diabetes and a female neighbour all come into play in the next few months of his life.

It was a great book.  A bit of parish life, scripture references, prayer requests, and wholesome values are all in this great story.

I would recommend this book. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon.

I bought some tulips on my one day out last week.  I chose the red with orange edges because they were the nicest but not necessarily my favorite color.

I did enjoy them on my table for a week. This week most of the petals have made it to the the table top.  

Tulips are a sign of spring as well with Easter coming around the corner.

The challenge at Flickr Macro Monday was bells.  A few Christmas ornament were taken out of the closets for this one in order to stay within the 3 inch limit.  You can check out my Flicker Photostream (SMDPics) to see the one I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #122 and

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens.

Cards - Acrylic Ink Backgrounds - Thanks

Another few cards with those acrylic ink backgrounds.  

This one is deep burgundy with yellow spots.

I printed the greeting from the Stampin Up You're Lovely Stamp set and cut with the Stampin up Sizzix Deco Labels Framelits Dies.  I colored with flowers with brush markers. 

This was mounted on a black card base with 3D foam tape behind the greeting.

 

 

A similar background with a flower accent.

I chose a magenta card base. 

I cut the greeting with the Cricut and the Don Juan cartridge from terracotta textured card stock.   

I punched a Stampin Up Five Petal flower from the same card stock.   I layered this with a salmon color handmade paper flower with an ivory silk flower.  It is held in place with a magenta brad layered with a flower sequin.

I chose a yellow card base for the green acrylic ink background. 

I punched 3 SU Five Petal flowers from pearl white card stock. I added pale yellow handmade paper flowers and small flower sequins.  The flowers are held in place with tiny green brads. 

The greeting is cut with the Don Juan Cricut cartridge at 1" Tall.  It is mounted with 3D foam tape.   All of these have a blank white insert.

St. Pats Birthday Card

My friend requested a St. Patrick's Birthday card for her aunt again this year. You can check the ones I have made in past year!

I found a vintage St. Patrick's image of this lovely lass with a gorgeous green dress and a fan in hand.

I added the sentiment in the top left hand corner and printed it in color.

It was trimmed leaving a white border then adhered to a layer of green with 4 tiny lavender brads in each corner.

This was mounted onto a layer of lavender card stock then onto a white card base. I ripped the right hand side of this layer to be highlighted against the white. 

This lady is celebrating her 90th birthday.

Cards - Thanks - Cricut

I wanted to use the rest of the acrylic ink backgrounds I made for these cards so I did not have leftovers hanging about. 

I searched my Cricut cartridges to see which had "thank you" greetings.   I found this one in the Don Juan cartridge. The size of the letters were wide enough for me to put 3D foam tape behind them so I went for it. 

This was cut at 1.5" tall and 4.75" wide. I trimmed the background to fit leaving an even border all the way around on a true blue A2 card base.

Adhered the background and added a bling heart in the top left hand corner.

I chose a yellow A2 (4.25" x 5.5") card base for this card.   

I chose five small handmade paper flowers held in place with green tiny brads. 

I adhered the greeting with 3D foam tape.

It was spattered with the Chartreuse Leaf green ink.

Again, a medium blue card base in A2 size. 

Trimmed the acrylic ink background and adhered it to the card front.

I placed a small silver butterfly in the top left hand corner with a Bling Zot.

Spattered with Prussian Blue ink.

I will have to find a place to donate these. Maybe Compassion House.  Done!

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I captured this Nuthatch near the bird feeder which is along the stairs that lead to the river valley.

As you can see in the photo there was a bit of snow coming down.

I have been busy with family commitments that last few weeks and it was so cold I was hibernating.

It has warmed up amazingly in the last week and I have been able to have a couple of outside visits with folks I have not seen in months.

I finished this book a couple weeks ago. Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan.

It is a story of reinvention of one's self after what as thought to be permanent is not.  She handled the challenges with grace and poise and won out in the end.

I found it encouraging that we can all turn a corner and see what is up ahead if we don't get too bogged down in the stuff of today.

I'm changing up my exercise routine a little bit to ensure I don't get too bored.  I have an MP3 player that I have used for pace when I walked on the thread mill.  I chose music with good rhythm and that I loved. 

I have started using that music instead of the music on the DVD.  I just mute the TV and do the movements which I have pretty much memorized the last few months.  I have been able to push myself into more than 1 mile with this music! 

The CD that I used are under the MP3 player.

I visited my sister this week.  We cooked hotdogs outside on the fire.  Love those!

She shared a cool find with me in these cones of polyester thread.  She found them second hand for a wonderful price.  I have been using cones with the holder I got for Christmas and it makes it less tedious to always be changing thread from spools. It ensures you have enough to finish a project.

This is the book I finished most recently.  Another reinventing your life book - Rise and Shine - Anna Quindlen. 

An early morning TV show host says something after an interview but is not aware that her mike is still live.   This ruins her career and she escaped to a hot tropical clime to recharge and make plans to move forward. 

Her sister is worried about her, her son is wondering where she is but he is away at college so a bit out of touch, and her husband told her that he is leaving her. 

With a break from the rat race pace of life in New York she finds a way to recover.  She is called back to New York when her son suffers an injury and she needs to step in to heal the relationship and the wrong that has been done.

 

A few goodies for the car.
 

 The USB stick holds all my favorite music which I can play in the car.

I added a wrap to the car blanket so it stays small and contained. 

I got some floor liners to protect the carpet in my car.  The are nice plastic and easily cleaned.

It was late last night when I was photographing my entry for Flickr Macro Monday.  The challenge is "Motion Blur" which means capturing movement during a long exposure.  You can see in the image on the right that I was able to capture the movement of the second hand. You can find my submission on my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics). 

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #121 and

Mersad who hosts Through Me Lens #280.

Have a good week!

Christmas Card Challenge - March - Large Greetings Small Cards

I continued my large greeting Christmas Cards making with the aim to create A2 (4.25"x5.5") sized cards. 

I continued to use the Winter Frolic Cricut Cartridge. This greeting is 3.5" T x 3.5" W. I cut it from Champagne pearl card stock and paired it with an ivory card base.   

The acrylic ink background features royal purple color with some bright spots.

I used copper accents layers with the crown is part of the shift layer of the greeting then I cut stars with the Sizzix Star#2 die.  

These were adhered to the acrylic ink background and the large greeting was adhered with 3D foam tape.

I spattered it with copper acrylic color, a toothbrush and straight edge.

 

 This next card I chose a blue green piece of acrylic ink background on glossy photo paper.  It was trimmed from 4x6 to 3.75 x 5 inches.

It was adhered to a white card base.

The pearl white large greeting was mounted aligned to the bottom of the background with 3D foam tape.  

I added a silver star in the upper left hand corner.  It was cut with the Sizzix die.

It was spattered with an iridescent liquid acrylic.

 

 

Another ivory card with the champagne large greeting.  

I cut the crown from gold card stock and adhered with double sided tape. 

I added sequins in gold and copper adhered with Bling Zots. 

Since the copper was out this one was spattered at the same time as the other.

I added seasonal quarter inserts and white envelopes and they are ready for December 1st.

Christmas Card Challenge - March - Large Greetings

I decided to make Christmas cards with large greetings for my March cards.

It was easy to find some greetings on some of my Cricut cartridges.  They are easily sized and cut.  I chose the Winter Frolic cartridge.  It's hard to tell how large they will be on the first cut so I ended up with some larger die cuts than I planned so I used 5x7 cards (A7). 

The large greeting was cut from white pearl card stock at 3.5" T.  

Of course, the fun part was making acrylic ink background with photo paper.  These are 4x6 sheets and I used my Nick Bantock liquid acrylic colors for these. The colors were: Deep Turquoise, Cerulean Azure, Prussian Blue, Chrome Yellow, Chartreuse Leaf, Vermillion Lacquer, and Sapmoss Green.

I added colored sequins to the card fronts adhered with Bling Zots. For the first one the sequins were Christmas green, the red one was gold,  and the other was red and green.

I used a bit of color watered down to spatter the card fronts once I was done which helps to marry all the elements.

For the 5x7 cards I needed a clean pull of color across the 4x6 as I could not trim it.  Sometimes I end up with white edges or finger prints in the corners as I turn them over.

I see that I ended up with some pink sequins as well as red on this card. Not my intention but that's how it goes.

I have documented these in my Cricut manual so I can get smaller die cuts next time.

Always nice to have a few larger cards in my Christmas card box.

Super happy with these.