It's New Year's Eve

and the 5th anniversary of this blog was yesterday!  Wasn't sure I would ever start one let alone keep it up for 5 years with 700 posts to date.

I want to thank you for stopping by to see what I've been creating.  Please come back as you never know what you'll find.  It might be a card or it might be a 3-D project.  It might be clean and fairly simple or it might be dark and grungy.

It's been a typical year...full of ups and downs, curve balls and wild pitches.  But I'll carry with me all that I've learned and experienced into the new year.  I wish you much health and happiness in 2015!

Red, white, black card stock/Stampers Anonymous CMS156 Worn Text, CS154 Mini Blueprints 4/Jet Black Archival Ink/Krylon Gold Leafing Pen/Sakura Glitter Jelly Roll Pen/Sizzix mini movers &  shapers numbers

Another pair of altered playing cards

Time for week 15 of Claudine's challenge.  The theme is embossing paste and I have quite a bit so this was a fun challenge.  Claudine chose black and white with different sprays; the difference in the results was amazing!  The Adirondack spray is more splotchy in appearance while the Dylusions sprays are more subtle.

Studio 490: black, white embossing pastes

Stampers Anonymous stamps: Mini Blueprints 7 CMS203, Christmas Nostalgia CS207, Mini  Handwritten Holidays CMS211; stencils: Festive, Christmas

Ranger: archival inks (Jet Black, Watering Can, Red Geranium): Black Fude Ball Pen; distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany); Adirondack Sprays (Lettuce, Pesto); Dylusions Sprays (Calypso Teal, London Blue, After Midnight)

Sakura:  white, glitter gelly roll pens

I'm so glad there isn't a strict time frame to complete these mini works of art.  Because of holiday happenings it took me most of the week to even get time in my art room to play.

Merry Christmas!

 Bazzill card stock; Poinsettia Pattern embossing folder (Sizzix); Hero Arts sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink

White card stock; Sizzix (Karen Burniston) house dies; distress inks; Hero Arts sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink

Candlelight trio

These are much safer than real candles!  The entire display is approximately 9" across by 3 1/2" high.  I do have a small cardboard rectangular block behind the candles to allow them to stand upright.

Grungeboard, kraft core core'dinations, distress paints (antique linen, scattered straw, wild honey), brown distress ink, Sizzix dies (distressed doily, tattered pinecone, candlelight, holiday greens, mini poinsettia), Glossy Accents, butterscotch alcohol ink, pearls (flower centers)

Hope your Christmas is merry and bright!

Faux graniteware technique

Have you tried Wendy Vecchi's faux graniteware technique?  This was my first attempt on something metal and certainly won't be my last!  I found an old grungy muffin pan at the thrift store.  Cleaned it up and sanded the top just a bit.  I created masks to cover each muffin because I wanted a nice, clean rim around them.  I pounced Red Geranium Archival Ink over the top and masks then poured Red Geranium Embossing Powder over the wet ink.  After removing the excess I pulled off the masks so I could heat set the embossing powder.  Once the metal had cooled I overstamped it with the background stamp from Ticket To Art LCS001 (splatter) using Snow Cap White Pigment Ink.  Let dry.  Added my tea lights and this is now ready for one of our dining tables at Christmas.  I accent my kitchen with red so this can be left out year round.  Yay!!!

Before....

...after!









If you haven't tried this technique and love the look of granite ware but maybe can't afford to buy the vintage pieces, this is the answer!  Thank you, Wendy, for such a great idea!

My first gingerbread house

LOL!

I toasted the bread then let it air dry.  Had to use toothpicks to keep the roof on.  Not my idea but saw it on the internet.  Too fun to not share!

Reindeer

14 sets and counting!  It's time for another Altered Playing Card challenge hosted by Claudine.  The theme is reindeer or Christmas.  I chose reindeer.  While I follow along with the steps and note the images she used, it's amazing how similar they can look yet so different.

Sizzix: Snowflakes texture fade; mini movers & shapers reindeer & snowflake; Ranger:  clear embossing ink; Red Embossing Tinsel, Stormy Sky distress ink; JustRite Stamps; misc card scraps

Stamps:  Mini Holidays CMS066, Mini Holidays 2 CMS096, Christmas Nostalgia CMS207, Mini Handwritten Holidays CMS211; Ranger: distress paint (Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky); Adirondack pigment inks (Juniper, Bottle, Cranberry, Espresso), clear embossing ink and powder


Following along is so easy...no pressure, small enough you can make them in a short amount of time, you try new techniques or stashed items.  Hope you decide to join in the fun!

Happy Chanukah!

Bazzill card stock; Flurries embossing folder (TH); Hero Arts sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink

White card stock; Sizzix (Karen Burniston) dies; distress inks; Hero Arts sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink

Here we go a caroling....

If you've been following my blog for a while you'll know that I try hard NOT to duplicate Tim's tags (unless his idea is just so smashing and none of mine are!) so with that in mind, here's my rendition of his December tag.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the young lady in her crystal clear voice singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".   Do you hear the bells jingling in the background?  I love the sense of motion created by the swirls and stems at the bottom of the tag (could be snow flying around her feet).

#8 tag, kraft core, faux frosted (recycled packaging + Frosted film), distress specialty stamping paper, grungeboard; red ribbon

Ranger: distress ink (Brushed Corduroy); distress spray stains (Tarnished Brass, Festive Berries, Wild Honey); distress paint (Tarnished Brass, Festive Berries, Picket Fence); distress glitter (Rock Candy); archival ink (Potting Soil)

Advantus/Idea-ology: Industrious Stickers (Frames & Things); jump ring, token tag

Stamps: Mini Holidays 2 CMS096; Handwritten Holidays CMS211

Sizzix: Holiday Words (Block, Script); Festive Greenery; Victorian Carolers; texture fade (Sheet Music)

I, too, wish you a Merry Christmas!

A woodlands Merry Christmas

I went all out for the current CCC#3 (check here to see what you need to do to enter) challenge using Tim's Woodlands and Tinsel Twine.  I was determined to use as many holiday dies as possible.  It took 3 photos to capture all the elements.

Don't forget there's an awesome assortment of goodies awaiting one lucky winner chosen by the Curiosity Crew and a $50 gift certificate to The Inspiration Emporium to a randomly selected winner.  These challenges are such fun and make me use the products I've acquired instead of hoarding them.  Surely I'm not the only one guilty of this!  lol

Ranger:  distress inks, embossing powders, paints, stains; clear embossing ink & powder; archival inks

Sizzix:  Old Jalopy, Prancing Deer, Reindeer Flight, Sleigh Ride, Hanging Sign (Bigz dies); deer, cardinal, pine tree (mini mover & shaker dies); Holiday Words-Script (thinlits); recycled packaging

Stampers Anonymous:  Christmas Nostalgia CMS207, Wallpaper & Wood CMS126

Hero Arts Lower Case alpha stamps

Advantus (Idea-ology):  jump rings, hitch fasteners, Woodlands, Tinsel Twine-Winter

Misc:  white gesso, watercolor paper, ribbon, Epsom Salts (snow!!!), wood dowel and fence, twine

The base is a corrugated cardboard box lid cut to size.  Watercolor paper was cut to size.  Various white and blue distress inks and paints were used to color it.  Stamp snowflake background in Shaded Lilac distress ink.  Adhered to box with double-stick tape. 

Using Sizzix die packaging I cut a tray to fit the bottom.  Painted it with white gesso and left the front bumpy.  It was adhered using double-stick tape.  Fill with Epsom Salts to resemble snow.  Even the lumps were kept.

Cut all the dies multiple times out of chipboard or grunge board.  Multi Medium (Matte) was used to adhere the layers.  Color and sand the edges.

Completed size:  6"D x 12" W x 8" H

If you haven't purchased your tree or a wreath for the front door yet, maybe you'll go to this site and feed the reindeer while you're there!  Thank you for st(h)opping!

Make a quilt

When life throws you scraps, make a quilt!  A friend lost his mother this week.  She was a quilter so this Stampin' Up set (Quilt Quips) is perfect.  The inside says 'May your sorrows be patched and your joys quilted'.  She was a wonderful lady and will be missed by her large family and wide circle of friends.  Catherine, now you are free to quilt without hesitation.

Envelope corner

The blue background is faux denim.  The quilt blocks were stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink onto watercolor paper and colored with Derwent Watercolor pencils.  I put them on a small black square of card stock to frame them.  The sentiment was also stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.

Reindeer cards

Here's another holiday card using more Ranger, Tim Holtz and Sizzix products.

Sizzix Christmas Background embossing folder, Prancing Deer die, mini Bow mover & shaper die; distress inks

I pounced 3 red and 3 green distress inks pads onto the embossing folder before running it through my Big Shot.  Using whatever brown distress ink was on my applicator I ran it lightly over the embossed image to tone down the stark white of the card stock.  From Bazzill card stock I die cut the deer and bow.  The bow I then colored with red distress ink and glossy accents.

There was still distress ink left on the embossing folder that I hated to waste.  I spirtzed the folder with water and ran a second piece of card stock through the Big Shot.  Again, a light run of brown distress ink to soften the white card stock.

From the die cuts I used the negatives as stencils using brown and red archival inks (so they wouldn't smear) on the corners of the envelopes.


Why do I get simple ideas like this after I've made nearly 100 of a much more difficult and time-consuming Christmas card??????

Merry Christmas across the miles

This was such a fun card to create and make special since I noted the locations of the sender and recipient.

Studio 490 Happy Holidays stencil; TH Mini Holidays 2 CS096; TCW 410S Mini US Map; white card stock; Bazzill card stock; distress inks

The holly was stamped and colored on the corner of the envelope.  Love coordinating cards and envelopes!

What's the buzz?

What's the buzz?  It's all about bees for the Altered Playing Card challenge.

Studio 490 Art For You LCS093; TH  Tiny Things CMS164; Ranger: Jet Black Archival Ink, distress inks, distress paint, Glossy Accents; Hero Arts alpha; decorative papers; black, white card stock scraps; Sizzix honeycomb frameworks die

Studio 490 Busy Making Art LCS100; Ranger: Jet Black Archival Ink, distress inks, Glossy Accents; decorative papers; inside of security envelope; black card stock scrap; Sizzix honeycomb frameworks die; Sakura: Black Micron Pen, White Gelly Roll pen, Glitter Gelly Roll pen

December cards

Here are a few cards I made for birthdays and anniversaries this month.

Inspiration came from Pinterest (http://inkyfingeredcarol.blogspot.com/2013/07)

Unknown double-sided card stock; white card stock; sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink; Sizzix Retro Packages (660037)

White card stock; Bazzill card stocks; unknown black & white decorative paper; Wishes debossing folder + white pigment ink; Martha Stewart button punch; corner rounder; red fiber

Inspiration came from Pinterest.
http://hellostamper.blogspot.co.uk (10 Oct 2013)

Another Stamp Company sentiment in Red Geranium Archival Ink; white card stock; tan card stock; red Bazzill card stock; twine; brown card stock scraps and Sizzix Bird Branch die (657833); handheld heart hole punch





I love using Pinterest for ideas!  Some times I follow the cards rather closely, other times more for a springboard of my own ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

thanksgiving...an act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God.

I have so much to be thankful for...friends, family, health, wealth enough to satisfy our needs, a warm home, food on the table, my art.

Thank you for coming to visit my blog and see what I've been creating.  Many days I get a lot of lookers but no comments.  I've often wondered why but don't dwell on the question.  I hope that you still come away with inspiration of some sort and stop back in soon.  I try to mix up my art...clean, grungy, holiday, scrapbook, crafts, etc.  There are so many mediums...ATCs, wood, glass, plastic, paper, tags, grungebooks, etc.  The ideas are endless, thanks to places like Pinterest. 

Thank you, God, for all that you have given me!

Who are you?

As soon as I saw Linda Ledbetter's post about the newest CCC3 challenge I knew what layering stencils I wanted to use.  Whew!  Sometimes I overthink these challenges but this time my hands and heart just flew through the whole process.

Stampers Anonymous Phrases 2 HC006 and Jet Black Archival Ink; layering stencils (woodgrain, measured, speckles); distress inks; clear embossing ink and powder; copper embossing powder; leaves and acorn mini mover & shapers dies; token/jump ring/distress paint; ribbon; Botanical Remnant Rub

You'll have to check out Tim's latest book (see page 50) to learn more about the technique.  I used several older techniques on this tag (spritz & flick, distressed edges); they are always winners in my book.

And don't forget the big prize from Tim & Mario that you'll get if you're chosen by the Curiosity Crew.  Wowza!  And it gets better!  The Funkie Junkie is sponsoring the challenge and has a $25 gift certificate to their on-line store to a randomly chosen artist!  It's fun shopping with Linda Coughlin and she always includes some really neat freebies with your order.

Hope to see your art in the gallery!

Reflections

The twelfth Altered Playing Card challenge is all about reflections.  First I need to discover what I like about myself; secondly, things I am thankful for.  Wow, I think this is harder for me than it is to actually create some art.

On both cards:  decorative card stock, doodled around the edges, drawn journaling lines (brown Sharpie).  Sizzix/TH alpha die leftovers covered with Black Enamel Accents.  Martha Stewart maple leaf punch.  Black Sharpie to add my reflections.

Thank you, Claudine, for another push to make a piece of art!  They may be small but I do feel good when they're done and I can say I've accomplished something.

Wintry blast

Claudine is using another technique on this week's challenge for the Altered Playing Cards.  It's also about recycling.  She often uses paper towels under her work when she uses sprays.  So why not take those towels and create art?

 On this card I glued the towel directly to the gesso'd playing card.  Studio 490 embossing paste was used on Tim's Holiday Knits layering stencil and Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles Dry Glitter was sprinkled over the top; let dry.  The JustRite stamps are pre-inked.

I tried to get the sprayed towel to transfer to the card but it wasn't happening so I sprayed the same colors onto the card and let them dry.  Same effect, just darker.  The earlier effect was way too pale.  On watercolor paper I stamped the boy and snowman; colored with distress markers.  Cut out and applied texture paste to the snow at the bottom of the card.  The sentiment (My Sentiments Exactly M373-IO) was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.  The snowflakes (Mini Holidays 3 CS114) were stamped in Cornflower Blue Archival Ink.







We had snow flurries last week and more are on tap for this week.  I'm more than ready for the air to get clear and dry and watch the flakes pile high and glisten. 

Cabinet pocket cards

I have a lot of cabinet card photos in my family history collection so having Tim create pockets we could use with new photos was a great idea!  The current CCC3 challenge is to use a cabinet card in your art.  Tim has 2 sizes; I chose the smaller one for my project.

6x6 grungebook page (TH92879); Vintage Shabby Paper Stash; Mini Cabinet Cards (TH93118); distress paint (Antique Linen, Spun Sugar); archival inks (Jet Black, Fern Green, Watering Can); Nature Walk (CMS181); distress ink (Tattered Rose, Gathered Twigs, Shabby Shutters, Spun Sugar); clear embossing powder; Hero Arts alpha & numeric stamps; Studio 490 stencils (Classic Words, From The Garden); Studio 490 Metallic Silver Embossing Paste; Studio 490 stamp (Art Parts LCS014)silk ribbon; Remnant Rub (TH93120); EKSuccess Scrabble Crossword Stamps

Not only do I get a challenge project completed but I scrapbook a part of my life.  The entry also allows me the chance to win some goodies from Tim & Mario (as chosen by the Curiosity Crew) and a $50 gift certificate from The Inspiration Emporium, this week's sponsor.

The grungebook page was painted with a base coat of Antique Linen Distress paint; distressed the edges and rubbed Gathered Twigs Distress Ink along them.  Studio 490 Leaf Spray was stenciled in the two left corners; and a Studio 490 frill was stamped in Spun Sugar over the spray.

The decorative cardstock was trimmed to size, distressed the edges with the sanding block then added Tattered Rose and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks to the white edges. Stamped the date in Fern Leaf Archival Ink at the top; embossing paste the word at the bottom.  Added a photo of the bowl (same as in the photo) and a stamped and embossed image of a spoon.

Aged the cabinet card, added the photo, faux Scrabble tiles and Remnant Rub.  The bow is attached to a colored and distressed tag that tells the story behind the photo.   

This picture was taken in the kitchen of my maternal grandparents' home in northwestern Illinois.  I've eaten many a meal at that table..which is still in the family.  The bowl is part of a set that they acquired when going to the movies back in the '30s and '40s.  The flatware is Queen Bess Silver Plate.  When my grandparents died I was given the dishes and flatware.  The dishes only come out on special occasions because they are not dishwasher-safe.  The flatware requires silver polish periodically but we use it every day.  Thank you, grandpa and grandma, for giving me such wonderful, lasting memories!

Leaf

I tried to come up with a different theme for Tim's November tag but my mojo seemed to have jumped ship.  So I followed Tim's lead, had fun with it and was pleased with the results.  Why knock what works?

Here's my base tag...really  hated to cover it up.  Oh well.  I used Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door distress paints.

And here's the finished product.

#8 tag, corrugated cardboard
Burlap layering stencil
Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain distress inks
Melted Chocolate Dylusions Sprays
Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist
Tarnished Brass distress paint on alpha parts and arrow sticker
Industrious sticker, vial label, remnant rub, alpha parts, ribbon remnants, foil linen ribbon colored with watered down distress paints
Layered Leaf embossing folder and die set

I'd like to try this with the wings and do it in blues and silvers.  Make it more like in memory of a special someone who has left the physical world.

More altered playing cards

It's week 10 and the theme is quirky and whimsical.  I wouldn't say this is my style but it was rather fun to dabble in the process.

By the numbers...

Distress paints (Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Weathered Wood) over gesso

Paper Artsy stamp (Dolls-Plate 1); SA Clear Stamps (Phrases 2 HC006)

Jet Black Archival Ink

Black and white permanent pens

Get in touch...

Claudine Hellmuth paints (Landscape Green, Classic Teal) over gesso

Paper Artsy stamp (Dolls-Plate 1)

Jet Black Archival Ink

Black and white permanent pens

Martha Stewart Floral Lace Edge Punch

Sizzix Packages & Bows die #558768


All the details on how Claudine created her cards can be found on her blog.  Thanks for the push to go way outside my box, Claudine!

It's all about the eyes

Where would an artist be without their eyes?  One of my art friends has just had cataract surgery and I'm sending her this tag along with my good wishes for a successful outcome.  Having had the surgery twice myself, I know how much better I can see today and am so glad I had the procedures done when I did.

#8 tag; Tim Holtz: Eye Chart stencil, Oddities CMS083l; distress inks, Jet Black Archival Ink, Texture Paste, Remnant Rubs; Wendy Vecchi: Art Inspiration SCS030, Classic Words stencil

Colorful birthday wishes

Rusty brown Bazzill card stock was embossed with a border from the Thankful set and colored with smudges of metallic ink (gold, copper); peach Bazzill card stock layer; white card stock using the Layered Tree and Artful Words stencils by Studio 490.  Distress inks were used to color the tree and word.  A bit of ribbon finishes the front.

Coordinating envelope uses the same colors and stencil.  Because the distress inks are water-based I covered the tree with MicroGlaze...best waterproofing stuff out there!









Happy November birthday to special friends!

Thank you!

Our newspaper has a weekly column written by a local Amish woman.  It's such fun to read about her day's activities, family and friends. When I was growing up we had a young Amish lady stay with us during the week (for maybe a year or so) while our parents worked.  Reading her column reminds me of those days and brings back so many special memories.  I feel like the writer is a friend even though we've never met.  This week I thought it about time I wrote and told her what her column means to me.

Red card stock; watercolor paper; Artistic Outpost stamp 'Home'; Red Geranium/Jet Black Archival Inks, distress markers; Thank you debossing folder

MHS Sages...go, fight, WIN!!!

Last week was a bye (sports term...should be a clue!) for those participating in the Altered Playing Card challenge hosted by Claudine.  This week she chose to feature digistamps...of which I've never used nor had I thought I would ever use them.  But I went searching for some free images and found quite a few cutesy people but not really what I had in mind.  Then I found them.  Owls!  The light bulb came on.  Perfect!

Our high school's mascot is Sammy Sage. The football team won the first round of state playoffs so we'll be hosting the #1 team in our bracket this afternoon.  So I followed along with Claudine's tutorial but using our school colors and the 2 digistamps I found via Pinterest.

The first card was bright and bold and featured some lines that had been etched into the gesso before it dried.  Mine made me think of a scoreboard while Claudine's were circular and became flowers.

gesso'd playing card; Tsukineko Fireworks sprays in Dandelion and Grape Jelly; Black Fude Ball pen; Hero Art stamps; Prismacolor pencils










The second card was covered with distress paint, stenciled and spritzed.  It also has some snippets of tissue paper.

gesso'd playing card; distress paint and ink; Woodgrain stencil; TH tissue paper; rickrack, Prismacolor pencils; Hero Art stamps; Jet Black archival ink; Sizzix branch die

It will be a tough game but the team says its up for the challenge.

GO SAGES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Believe

Time's a wasting but my idea kept changing with the color palettes that weren't what I wanted.  But so glad I kept at it as this is perfect now for the CCC3 14th challenge hosted by Linda Ledbetter.  This challenge is sponsored by Linda Coughlin aka The Funkie Junkie.  There will be a winner of a $25 gift certificate to the FJ on-line store as well as a Curiosity Crew winner. 

This is just one of the many pages that come in Tim's GrungeBook.  It's been covered with distress paint, edged with distress ink, stenciled and stamped before I even got to the technique of Colored Crackle on the cameo frame.

The Festive stencil was used on the left hand side (both corners) then flipped over and used on the right hand side corners.  The images are subtle but just what I wanted.








6x6 Grungebook
distress paints:  Old Paper, Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter
distress inks: Brushed Corduroy, Pumice Stone, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Evergreen Bough
archival ink:  Red Geranium, Tree Branch
pigment ink:  Snow Cap
stamps:  Let Your Art Have Wings LCS022 (background stamp)
stencils:  Christmas, Festive, Schoolhouse
embossing paste:  Studio 490 metallic silver
Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint and Distress Stickles Dry Glitter, Meadow Alcohol Ink with Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles Dry Glitter
Sizzix:  Tattered Poinsettia Bigz & mini, Holiday Greens Thinlits, Cameo Frame, medium oval, Holiday Words - script
Chipboad, gems, red/green card stock

The photo was taken in the living room of my maternal grandparents' home and celebrates my 2nd Christmas.

Positively pears

We received a yummy gift box of Harry & David pears from friends this week.  What better way to say 'thank you' than with a pear image!  And I LOVE the ones from A Stamp In The Hand!  I think I have them all plus the coordinating text stamp.

Green Bazzill card stock; scrap of orange check decorative paper; watercolor paper; Tree Branch/Saffron/Fern Leaf/Orange Blossom Archival Inks, Watermark Resist Ink; A Stamp In The Hand stamps M-1740/C-1740/N1766

Halloween thank you

Our street is devoid of children except for the 7 month old across the street.  Our community sponsors quite a few Halloween gatherings for the trick-or-treaters so we don't bother to turn our porch light on any more.  Besides, it was extremely windy and the temperature was in the low 30s...not exactly the weather the little ones like because they had to wear coats over their costumes.  Despite all this, we received a treat!  The mom of the 7 month old brought us a bag of homemade snack mix and had left it between the doors.  We have to say 'thank you!' in the way we do it best...with paper and dies!

outside

inside

Black/white card stock; core'dinations Adirondack card stock; Sizzix dies: mini cat/spider, Alphanumeric Thinlits, Pumpkin Jack, Jack-O-Lantern face, Card-horizontal A2 base, 3D Label insert and  Halloween Background/Swirls embossing folders

I did have to finagle the orange card stock on the pumpkin die and cut it smaller so it would fit inside the card. 

Hope you had a great Halloween!

With caring thoughts

Inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest - heythererosigirl.com/2011/10/just-couple-of-cards.  It's the 2nd card on her blog page.

Kraft card stock; Snow Cap Pigment Ink, Jet Black Archival Ink, brown distress ink, Tattered Rose/Bundled Sage distress markers; Let Your Art Have Wings - background stamp - LCS022 (Studio 490); Spring Sprung - butterfly - CMS084; burlap scrap; Hero Arts sentiment; Budding Vine DN1038 Die-Namites die

A distant relative died suddenly in his sleep while his mother was recovering from colon surgery.  It was hard to find the words and images to convey my thoughts at this difficult time.

Time to sit a spell...

and enjoy a cup o' coffee with a good friend.

The card base is kraft card stock; a Bazzill brown card stock is next.  On it was stamped coffee stains (distress ink) and text (Snow Cap Pigment Ink).  Using a coffee filter I stamped the image of a burlap bag of coffee in archival ink then hit it with brown distress stain sprays; crumple; dry.  On watercolor paper I stamped the image in Jet Black Archival Ink and colored it with distress inks.  A Stardust Gelly Roll pen was used to color the word 'cafe'.  All stamps are by Just For Fun.

The coordinating kraft-colored envelope was stamped with coffee beans in Coffee Archival Ink and the words 'coffee break'.  I like to coordinate my cards and envelopes...sort of lets the recipient know what's coming...and is a bit of a treat for the postal service.

Stamp out boring envelopes!