Congratulations to the newest college grad in our family!

My youngest niece has graduated from SIU-C with a B.A. in Applied Linguistics and a minor in French!!!  Not sure what she's going to do yet but I know it will be fun and interesting.

My friend, Wanda, (artbywanda.blogspot.com) made this card (shared on her blog Sept. 1, 2017) and I pretty much copied it but made a few changes along the way. 

Stampers Anonymous:  CMS332 Composition & Lined (envelope). CMS230 Schoolhouse Blueprint, CMS163 Artful Tools; stencil (THMS011)

Idea-ology:  Small Talk Stickers; Flash Cards - Elementary; paper doll; tiny stapler

Ranger:  archival ink (Jet Black, Ground Espresso); clear embossing ink; clear embossing powder; distress markers (Stormy Sky, Aged Mahogany, Tea Dye): distress ink (Pumice Stone)

Cardstock:  Distress, white

Dymo label maker with black tape

Masculine birthday greetings

Stampers Anonymous:  CMS371 Distinguished; stencils THS118, THMS119

Ranger:  archival inks (Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso); distress inks (Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen); distress oxide ink (Bundled Sage, Weathered Wood)

Cardstock:  watercolor, white, decorative paper

Plastic packaging (for label)

Staz-On Black

Idea-ology:  tiny fasteners, washers

Nursing Week - recognizing a school nurse

My sister is a school nurse and her husband always asks me to make her a card recognizing her not just as a nurse but as a school nurse.  It's hard to come by nursing stamps so a few years back I started making a card that was just pretty and my brother-in-law can write what he wants on the inside.  This year is extra special because she was chosen (through a local newspaper) as one of the top 10 nurses in the area!!!

Christy Tomlinson:  rub-on border

Idea-ology:  Life Quotes remnant rubs

Stampers Anonymous:  dragonfly

Ranger:  distress inks (Tea Dye, Shabby Shutters, Broken China); Glossy Accents

Cardstock:  watercolor, Bazzill (blue and green)



I used the card Paula Whitaker made (found on Pinterest) as my inspiration piece - I pretty much just copied it.

'Pitcher' perfect birthday

Cardstock:  white, watercolor, rust

Spellbinders dies (Oval, Scalloped Oval)

Art Impressions stamps (also followed along with a recent Watercolor Wednesday video)

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink; distress inks (Wild Honey, Tea Dye); glitter duster/dust; Mustard Seed distress marker

Stampers Anonymous: Entomology CMS 328; Hex Gradient Stencil THS117

Sizzix: Entomology 663068

Messy stitches

Stampers Anonymous:  Theories CMS329, Stitches CMS365; stencils (gradient hex, gradient circles)

Ranger:  distress/oxide inks (Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Squeezed Lemonade); Jet Black archival ink

Cardstock:  watercolor, white

Distresser

30th birthday

My niece/god-daughter turns 30!  Gasp - that just doesn't seem possible.

Ranger:  distress oxide inks (Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed); distress inks (Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed); Wendy Vecchi blendable ink (Prickly Pear)

Hero Arts white pigment ink

Simon Says Stamp Abstract Triangles stamp SSS101638

Stacy Stamp 105B (corner clock)

Stampers Anonymous:  Mini Media Marks CMS364, Theories CMS329; Arrow Stencil THMS025, number stencil THMS001; Mini Bird & Crazy Things CMS250

Sizzix: Mini Bird & Crazy Things 660949

Black micron pen; orange marker

1st time aunt

A young friend just became an aunt for the first time - another way to celebrate the new arrival in her family!

Ranger:  Wendy Vecchi enamel accents (Sunflower, Potting Soil); Jet Black archival ink; Wendy Vecchi blendable inks (Cornflower Blue, Sky Blue, Peat Moss, Fern Green)

Stampers Anonymous/Studio 490: Delightful Art SCS164, Plaid Flannel WVBG054, Flowers Say It All WVZ65975

White pigment innk

Cardstock: white, green

Oh hoppy day!

Two friends became 1st time grandmas - what a special event that definitely needs to be recognized!

Stampers Anonymous: Funny Farm CS361; gradient circle stencil
Oval and scalloped oval punches
Ranger:  Watering Can archival ink; unknown blue, green and pink distress inks
Studio 490 open circles stencil

You're engaged!

When young friends posted their engagement photo on Facebook, I knew I wanted to recreate it best I could.  He proposed to her on a Florida beach on Valentine's Day.  I've known both of them since they were very young and his mother is a childhood friend of mine. 

Sizzix: Stacked Deckle 662694

Stampin' Up: Summer By The Sea; Beautiful You

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink

Stampers Anonymous:  Glitter Dust

Derwent Inktense pencils

Watercolor, white and Bazzill (blue) cardstocks

Waiting for spring

Stencil Girl L709

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock

Sizzix: Wildflower Stems 2 664164

Ranger distress inks (Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Cracked Pistachio, Evergreen Bough); Studio 490 blendable inks (Sunflower, Prickly Pear)

White gel pen; black, white cardstock; black polka dot ribbon

Stampers Anonymous: washi tape

Age, it's not just a number

Stencil Girl M243 - Prairie Style Window

Ranger: distress inks (Brushed Corduroy, another version used Wilted Violet and Worn Lipstick); Jet Black archival ink

Rubber Moon stamp

Stampers Anonymous: THS054 stencil (card base)

Washi tape; black pen

Leap year road trip

One of my friends has a leap year birthday.  Poor fella, he's not as old as he thinks!  lol

Stampers Anonymous: CMS128 Road Trip

Ranger: Jet Black archival ink, distress ink (Hickory Smoke, Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood, Gathered Twigs)

cardstock: white, brown

A birthday is just the 1st day of another 365 day road trip around the sun. 

Bunches of art

All these cards use pretty much the same ingredients:

Stampers Anonymous: SCS163 A Bunch of Art/coordinating stencil (Studio 490 - Wendy Vecchi)

Sizzix: Stitched Ovals 661188

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink, Jet Black distress marker, Studio 490 blendable inks (Watering Can, Acorn, Orange Blossom, Sunflower, Red Geranium, Poppy), distress ink (Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Twisted Citron)

Micron black pen, white/black cardstock

It's rough getting a year older

Stampers Anonymous: CMS271 Crazy Dogs

Sizzix: 661593 Crazy Dogs

Sakura: white gelly roll pen

washi tape

Ranger:  archival ink (Jet Black, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Stormy Sky), Stickles (gold, gunmetal), watercolor markers

Dina Wakley stencil - leaf

white cardstock, orange vellum

Tim Holtz retro grunge double-sided cardstock

Don't know why I bought this pack of paper because I really don't care for it.  However, when you stencil over it I was pretty happy to see that I could enjoy using it. 

Love Letter

Sizzix: movers & shapers (Cupid, heart), Valentine sidekick 662710

Ranger: Jet Black archival ink, distress ink (Antique, Linen, Fired Brick)

cardstock: red, black, white

Stampers Anonymous: THS109 shifter stencil, CMS143 Valentine Blueprint

Hey there...

Stampers Anonymous:  Studio 490/Wendy Vecchi LCS009 Nature's Art, mat minis mug art, SCS162 Mug Art, coordinating stencil

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink, Studio 490/Wendy Vecchi blendable inks (Acorn, Bluebird, Sunflower), enamel accents (Potting Soil)

cardstock: white, black

You're 21!

A number of servers at my local brew pub are turning 21 this month.  I thought it only fitting that I use this image to celebrate their special days.

The base card is white, brown decorative cardstock is the mat and another white layer is the top.  A strip of reddish-brown cardstock was added to the side.

Stampers Anonymous:  Hipster CMS288, Beer Blueprint CMS334

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink; distress markers (Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Tea Dye, Dried Marigold, Pumice Stone); Glossy Accents

Winsor & Newton modeling paste mixed with Nuvo Embellishment Mousse (Mother of Pearl) for the beer foam

Copper marker (stitching lines)

Merry Christmas to my nieces and nephews!

All the tags use pretty much the same things except for the frame and obviously the paper dolls chosen for each one.  Sorry that my photography and photo editing skills leave a lot to be desired.

Sizzix embossing folder: Holiday Words (656941); Ornate Frame 2;

Idea-ology: metallic foil kraft cardstock; Tidings Design Tape; Christmas paper stash; Christmas Clippings stickers

Ranger:  distress crayons; jet black archival ink; clear embossing ink; distress inks; distress oxide inks

Stampers Anonymous: December Doodles CMS355, Brushstrokes CS293

Strathmore watercolor cardstock

unknown:  black/white cardstocks

My favorite bartenders

I frequent our local brew pub.  A lot.  The two bartenders are super and I wanted to show my appreciation for all they do.  I enjoyed creating the cards to match their personalities; ditto for the envelopes.  The snowman sacks were for their holiday tip.

Sizzix embossing folder: Holiday Words (656941); Ornate Frame 2; sack die; snowman

Idea-ology: metallic foil kraft cardstock; Tidings Design Tape; Christmas paper stash; Christmas Clippings stickers

Ranger:  distress crayons; jet black archival ink; clear embossing ink; distress inks; distress oxide inks

Stampers Anonymous: December Doodles CMS355, Brushstrokes CS293; snowman

Strathmore watercolor cardstock

unknown:  alphabet (leftovers from previous projects); black/white cardstocks; foam tape

Mini snow globe tags

Aren't these just the cutest???

These are #5 tags using Sizzix's Tiny Snowglobes (663119) by Tim Holtz and the coordinating Dimensional Domes (663559).  All pieces were cut from watercolor cardstock and colored accordingly using distress inks (too numerous to mention) and a watercolor brush.

Before I attached each image to the round back of the snowglobe I tapped on Molotow Art Masking Liquid (Grafx) to represent snowflakes then let dry.  The sky portion was colored with dark distress inks.  The masking liquid was rubbed off and voila!  Snowflakes!  I left the bottom white since it would be covered with the Distress Clear Rock Candy Glitter.

The tags were stamped with CMS126/Wallpaper & Woodgrain stamp in archival inks (coffee and ground espresso).  The edges were distressed with brown distress inks.  The top layer was stamped using Seasons Greetings (660064) and was colored with various distress markers (thank goodness for the stamp platform!!!).  I used a 1.25" round punch and the domes fit perfectly through the hole.  Again, more brown distress ink was used around the edges of the top layer.

I used Ranger Multi Medium/Matte to adhere the snowglobes to the base tag and the top layer to the base.  That stuff is awesome!

The backs of the tags got a bit messy so I looked around for a complimentary piece of cardstock.  Well, what do my wandering eyes spy?  How about this beauty?  The colors were perfect; as if I had preplanned the whole thing.  And I had just enough for all 8 tags!!!