TWO PAPER DIVAS / Happy for a ride in a Balloon / 2015

Grab your ticket and hop in for a fun ride in a Hot Air Balloon.  This is something I admire nearly every day here in Pagosa Springs, Colorado BUT the closest I have ever done this was once when we lived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada back in the '70's!!  I climbed into a balloon which was 'tethered' and only went up so high (not very) above the ground.  That was it for me!!!  I will go for a walk to enjoy watching them up by our house.  Every once in a while, we will hear the "wooooosh" and one is coming down around us.

Base Card Stock:  Solar white
Trim Paper (Outside and Inside):  Fresh Asparagus from Gina K. Designs
Sky Paper:  Here it is again ..... repeating some that I had laying around my work area from the last card
Printed Paper:  From a wonderful Paper Pad - not sure of the name
Basket:  A trimmed piece of Jute Ribbon
Stamps:  The Balloon & the Sentiment from a January 2015 set by TWO PAPER DIVAS
              The Ticket from the TWO PAPER DIVAS SET called "Tickets"
Window Plastic:  From Judikins
Embellishments:  Silver Sequins and Rhinestones to cover the hole in the Sequins

What is hard to see is the fact that the first covering on the card is actually the Window Plastic.  I cut a base card 8.50 x 5.50 and scored it at 4.25.  On one side I trimmed it down leaving 1" from the scored line.  This is the fold over white that you see.  The window plastic is attached to this fold over piece.  The plastic then can be lifted to reveal the Balloon which has been stamped on the sky piece.  I then stamped the balloon onto a small piece of the printed paper and cut it out and instead of paper piecing, I popped it up to give it some interest.  I could have colored in the basket but I remembered that I had some jute ribbon left on a roll and thought it might add some fun texture.  I colored in the ties from the basket to the balloon.  The ticket was a fun after thought for "me" to go along for the ride and "match" the sentiment!!!  When the sky paper is lifted it reveals a matching piece of sky on the back side of the sky piece of the card.  I will be able to write my words on the inside of the white card base.

I had wanted to use an Acetate Card to make this card but it was bulking up ...... so the Window Plastic created the look that I wanted.  Sometimes our first creations in our head do not actually work out in reality.

WATCH FOR ALL THE NEW RELEASES FROM MELISSA AND GAYLA THE CREATORS OF TWO PAPER DIVAS.  Hint, Hint ......I understand there are some awesome stamps to come for 2015!!!
Sure am glad that I am a DIVA!!!

TWO PAPER DIVAS - The first card of the year 2015

Here is my first card for TWO PAPER DIVAS for 2015.  The Kite and its tail, which is really just a curvy line are from a wonderful new set which is ready to makes its Debut.  It is so full of fun stamps which Melissa and Gayla have created ..... one could work all days and create just from this one set!!!  You cannot say that about all the stamp sets that are available.

Products Used:

Card Base:  Solar White which I purchased from Ellen Hutson
Sky Paper:  A fun friend gave me and others in my classes some from her stash
Pink Printed Paper:  My Mind's Eye current valentine pink combination paper pad
Heart Sequins:  Purchased from Impress Rubber Stamps online store in two shades of pink.  (I glued them on and followed the line which I stamped from TWO PAPER DIVAS
Sentiment:  From the TWO PAPER DIVAS set called "Sending Love"

Thank you for joining me today.  Happy New Year and happy creating!!!

CHRISTMAS WISHES / HAPPY NEW YEAR

We had a wonderful Christmas and hope that all of you did as well.  Hard to believe that we are about to say goodbye to 2014 and hello to what 2015 will bring us.  Roger and I spent Christmas week in Denver with all of our family.  We are so thankful for our precious family and are so lucky to have my Mother, at nearly 92, celebrating with us.  She is living in a gorgeous Assisted Living facility but she enjoyed time with all of our family at our Daughter and Son-in-Law's home.  

New Years Eve will be spent with some of our favorite people in Pagosa.  We will celebrate it at one of our local Restaurants with a nice dinner and whatever the evening will bring.  

I am once again so thankful to my students who attend my classes once a week or whenever they are able to.  In January it will be four years since I started these formal weekly classes and it makes me so happy to see their smiling faces.  They come to hang with each other and giggle and just enjoy what the day brings to their lives ....... and in the middle they work on cards each week.  They keep me on my toes to create for them each week.  

To each of you who read my BLOG, thank you for stopping by when you can.  Let us all see what 2015 is going to be like for each of us.  Happy Creating!!!!

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card - Sending Love Valentine

Today is TWO PAPER DIVAS last New Stamp Release for 2014.  Didn't we just start this year?  WOW!! But, how exciting for Melissa Rodgers and Gayla O'Dell, owners of TWO PAPER DIVAS,   They have both worked so hard to give all of us DIVAS on the Design Team and all of the Paper Crafters around the world the product that we have today to choose from their online store.  WAY TO GO LADIES!!

Readers of my BLOG, if you have not done it yet ....... go to www.twopaperdivas.com and check out the "new" design team members that are coming aboard for 2015.  This is additional new growth for TPD and what an exciting year ahead for all of us.  WELCOME TO Elina Pereira, Irit Shalom, Jenny Stucky and Rita Wright.  Let the creative juices flow!!  But, while you are on the website, do not forget to also check out the stamps (new and older) that are awaiting to be in your collection.

The card today is designed with the "Sending Love" set of stamps from TWO PAPER DIVAS.  Even with emails, texts and all the rest ...... I do not know about you ..... there is something special about going to the mail box.  I say that because we have a cluster box but at my age I can remember when the mail went "plop" onto the floor through the wall slot or the slot in your front door.  But living here in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, we are pretty rural but I can see my cluster box through the trees.  In fact there is a funny connection that I have with Melissa Rodgers, one of the owners of TPD.  When she and Tim first lived here in Pagosa, we shared the same cluster boxes.  But, I still love the fact that I was your BEST and well ONLY employee in your "awesome" store here.  Miss you my friend ..... but I love the creative fun we share now!!

Here are the particulars of this card:

Stamps:  Mailbox, lips and the Sentiment  -  TWO PAPER DIVAS

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Rose Bud (for the lips)

Paper:  Solar White 110 lb. from Ellen Hutson;  Bubble Gum from Gina K. Designs and Melon Mambo       

from Stampin'Up.  The Designer heart paper is an old piece from a 6 x 6 pad which I no longer have the cover, just a few pieces left and they are in my Valentine Box.  I used the Fiskar's crimper on it to give the card some more texture.

Embellishments:  Ribbon from Gina K. Designs and Mayarts;  Mylar hearts in two shades of pink from  
Impress Rubber Stamps; and the envelope 3-D sticker from Martha Stewart.
Punches:  Martha Stewart Corner and Straight - All over punch set.

I also did a tiny paper piecing for the flag on the mailbox.  Now, we do not have a flag ....... I just watch for Randy, our mailman, in his car!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  I will be doing a few more postings before the end of the year!!

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card - Frosty Fun!!

When I was thinking about designing with this sweet set of stamps from TWO PAPER DIVAS,  I decided to do a grouping instead of doing a single focus.  As a 10 year old and up until I was 18 (off and on), I loved to go skating.  I would gather my "white" skates and play on a makeshift ice arena which was built outside or once in a while had the luxury of trying to skate on ice indoors.  When I was 11, we lived in Munich, Germany and the school had built an outdoor rink by the athletic building.  I would get to school early and skate in the morning before school started; skip lunch sometimes and skate and if I could I would skate after school.  No lessons but I thought it was fun anyway!!  When we went on vacation to Garmisch, Germany, instead of skiing like the rest of the family did, I headed to the outdoor ice arena and waved at the family as they came down the hill on ski's.  Finally when I was 17, I took figure skating lessons and so enjoyed each and everyone of them.  So this card brings back some terrific memories!!

I love to use the wood veneer pieces of paper that I have in my stash and thought that the sled was calling for it on this card.  So I cut it out and paper pieced it onto the sled which was stamped.  I colored the cap and gloves with my Prismacolor Premier pencils.  I used stroking in both directions on the gloves to hopefully result in a Chenille look (soft).  The pom poms on the skates were "flocked" .... so they are soft to the touch too!!  The glistening on the runners of the sled and the blades of the skates were achieved with Wink of Stella clear glitter pen (love it).  I used a white gel pen (Uni-ball) to go over the outline of the skate to give it a more "used" look.  Happy Winter to all of you.  No SNOW here and it is the weekend after Thanksgiving.  A little unusual!!

Stamps including the Sentiment:  Two Paper Diva's  "Warm Winter Wishes"  Set
Ink:   Momento Tuxedo Black
Wood Veneer:   Mixed Media (101) Ultra Thin Cherry Sheet by Splash of Color
Card Stock:  Base card from Bazzill "Gummy Bear"  (Purchased from Ellen Hutson)
White Card Stock:  Ellen Hutson 110 lb. Solar White
Silver Sparkle Ribbon 1/4" from Gina K Designs  (Great Ribbon - have it in gold as well)  The Ribbon has a woven look in between the edges.  It is giving off a glitter look in the picture but it does not have any glitter.

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Cards /Christmas 2014

I love cards with windows (on the inside or on the outside) because it is such fun to put up wall paper and the ever popular wainscoting.  My Two Paper Divas stamp embellishments are the Wreath from the "Happy Holidays" stamp and the Sentiment from the grouping of stamps on the "Holiday Sentiments".
I stamped and then colored the wreath with three different Copic markers and then the bow as well.  I then cut out the wreath.  To embellish it I used an assortment of small red, green and gold sequins.  I also added these sequins on the Greeting.  The ribbon under the greeting is a red satin ribbon from Stamping Up.  I love the look of the gold metallic thread in this area.  This is a look that Julie Ebersole loves to do on her cards.  I used the Small Madison Arched Window die from Poppystamps.  I placed a blue card stock behind this window to represent sky and next to the window on that side I have a piece of snowflake vellum which was embossed.  I purchased it this way.  Using another piece of the 6 x 6 pad of paper from Fancy Pants "Oh Deer" I made the wall paper.  In a recent previous posting, I said I would be back into this pad of paper.  They are all so cute.  The wainscoting is with glossy card stock and I also used it when I die cut the window. The final touch to this card is the glossy accents on the bow!!   The card base is card stock from Ellen Hutson in Easter Green. Nothing like mixing Holidays!!  HA!

This is is a Gatefold card, hence the reason for my finger to hold it together.  I loved making Gatefold cards.  It always if nice when you have a good grouping of paper to highlight.  The small picture above shows the inside.  This card was designed with the Two Paper Divas stamp sets called "Holiday Greetings"  (Candle, Holly & Berries) and "Warm Winter Wishes" for the Sentiment.  I used the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter pen on the candle and for the candle flowing I used the white Enamel Accents by Ranger.  The coloring was with Copics and I used Mowed Lawn Distress Ink when I stamped the Holly Leaves.  Once again I used glossy accents on the Berries around the Candle and by the Holly Leaves.  The card base is from Ellen Hutson and it is called Galvanized (Silver) and the red is also from EH and it is called Peppermint.  Both of the diagonal.stripe papers are also from the Fancy Pants 6 x 6 pad "Oh Deer".  The ribbon is the red satin ribbon from Stampin' Up.  Enjoy the cards and happy Christmas Card making!!!  I still have many to make from Roger and I.

MY WEEKLY CARD CLASSES

I keep promising that I will post some more of the cards which I teach in my weekly card classes.  So I figured if I write this note to you.... my Blog readers,  that I have to work on publishing them for you.  So beware ...... they will be here soon!!

I have been editing my pictures and discovered that I still have not taken some pictures of some of the cards which I have taught in the last few months.  Maybe SOON!!

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card - Harvest "Enjoy the Journey"

Fall is all about THE Pumpkins and here they are making their way to your home.  So, what came from TWO PAPER DIVAS this time:

Sentiment:   Enjoy the Journey
Wagon:    Little Red Wagon
Pumpkins:   Fall is in the Air

The acorns are a wonderful die that I am not sure where I got it but I do love it!!  HA!  All the paper came from a harvest grouping of 6 x 6 papers which I have had.  I used the glitter pen to highlight areas of the wagon to make it pop.

I will pick up on this and finish it up and add the picture tomorrow.  See ya then.......

Well, here I am almost at the end of January, 2015 and guess what..... I sold that card .... so no pic!!  Oop's!

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card ... A Happy Red Bird!

Oh my...... how all of us love these Red Birds.  They bring such JOY to our hearts and it shows, I am sure, on our faces when we see them.  This special Bird Stamp, "Sing Like A Bird" & the Sentiment, "Happy Winter" ("From our House to Yours" stamp set) are from Two Paper Diva's website and both can be duplicated for so many different cards.  Check out my posting on June 1, 2014 on my Blog and you will see a Blue Bird on a different card.  But, now with the Holidays so close on our doorsteps,  I felt it was good time to feature this Christmas Bird.

To color the bird it was such a natural to use my Copics.  The colors ..... awwww gee they are already mixed up in my box of all I own!!  Melissa and Gayla of Two Paper Divas did lovely shading on this bird and the branch.  You just get color near and it is beautiful.  I first stamped the bird and then did an embossing with a small snowflake folder at the top.  I wanted a banding of more snow fall and felt I would get the affect with it and then using the Simon Says stencil, "Falling Snow" (one of my favorites), to create the touches of snow with the Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste and a popsicle stick.  I use the stick instead of one of my palette knives because when I teach my students,  they each can have a stick.  I love how the snow fall happens all over the bird so you need to position the stencil so this will happen that way.  He won't get cold....I promise .....HA!

Like I said above, I used the sentiment from Two Paper Divas.  It is my favorite and I use it on many of my cards through the winter months when I am teaching the weekly classes.  Our winter is long here in
Colorado and it is perfect...... it totally is not just a Christmas sentiment.

The base card is the wood grain card stock that I love from Ellen Hutson, misc. papers and the tiny red and white stripe twine finish out my card.  Very simple and sweet and I hope that you enjoyed it.  Those of you who visit my Blog, I also hope that you will spend time with the Two Paper Divas website and enjoy what a beautiful array of cards are being created by all the Diva Design Team.  BUT, also take a peak at the different wonderful stamps the design creators of TP Divas have for sale.  Thanks to Melissa and Gayla the creators of this fine product.  No, I am not buttering them up....I really care about these two ladies.  This collection is growing rapidly and you need to subscribe if you are not already so you can be on top of the new releases when they happen.  I am so happy to be a part of such creative friends!!  Happy Holidays to ALL!

P. S.  Forgot to say that I added a final touch to the Red Bird card and that was the all important glitter mist!!  It does make the card "in person" really pretty special!!!

TWO PAPER DIVA DESIGN TEAM RECENT CARDS - Penguin and Birdie friend Merry Christmas

I have a great deal of CATCHING UP to do with my Blog .......so here I go and just bear with me.  There has been a lot of time since my last posting.  I will report on that later but first things first .......this card!!

First I decided to pick a paper with trees.  This paper set my color palette and the base card stock was pulled from Gina K Designs "turquoise sea".  The trees and the stripe companion paper came from a 6 x 6 paper pad from Fancy Pants called "Oh Deer".  Really fun pad.  This grouping will make another appearance this season.  So then what from my grouping of  Two Paper Diva stamps will bring life to this card ........?  TPD has an adorable set of stamps from the "Brrrr! Friends" grouping.  The Polar Bear was not a fit with this card, so I got out my scissors and surgery once again was performed.  The Penguin and his little friend, the Bird, were to be used.  Love them!!  I colored the Penguin and used  Clear Wink of Stella for all the white parts of him (or Her?) and colored the rest in Copics.  The little bird has some of these colors on it's (him or her?) hat.  I applied glue/teal colored glitter around the edge of the bird circle.  The Sentiment is of course from Two Paper Divas and I embossed it in white embossing powder.  The Bling is a Jolees embellishment and they have a real iridescence to them.....hard to show that in the picture.  Finally a very favorite embossing folder was used ....... the swiss dot.

I will be back with previous TPDiva card postings and also the promised cards from my weekly card classes.  There are some cuties.  Happy Holidays to each of you.  

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Card - Fall is in the Air

Isn't it getting exciting - Fall is coming and the colors are beginning to change just ever so slightly here in Colorado.  This is such a favorite time of the year when you live where the colors are so vibrant when it is time.  This week for my classes, I had to do these adorable Pumpkins from TWO PAPER DIVAS from the set "The Fall is in the Air".

First, I started with a heavy weight (120 lb) Gina K Designs card stock for my base card and the piece I layered with.  It was important to use this heavier weight because of the background design which I stenciled a thin layer of the embossing paste.  I used only a portion of the stencil to get this result that you see.  AND by the way, even though I do have a number of palette knives to layer this paste through the stencil, I used a Popsicle Stick. It works very well for this purpose.  Because of the wetness of the paste, it would have the tendency to warp a much lighter piece of card stock.  Love this technique and so do my students but the drying time is important.  It does take a good hour before continuing with the other features of the card.  I also like it to dry naturally instead of using the heat gun.  It can change the appearance of the embossing paste.  But, while it is drying, it is time to take care of the pumpkins.

I used the Tim Holtz Watercolor paper for these pumpkins because after I stamped the TWO PAPER DIVAS pumpkins using Stazon Black Ink (one of the best inks when watercoloring) I then had fun using my Gelatos to color these cuties.  On my Craft Sheet, I laid down small areas with each of these Gelatos (2 shades of orange; 2 shades of yellow and 2 shades of green-for the stems) and then using a water brush I began to lay on the lightest colors and then followed up with blending the oranges.  Oh, I forgot to say that I used the textured side of the Tim Holtz paper.  I wanted my pumpkins to have a dimpled affect.

While the pumpkins were drying and before I cut them out,  I next spritzed some gold Shimmer Mist on the card letting some areas get a little more spray than others.  I then stamped my greeting and put the first piece of ribbon down but not all the way around the piece of card stock.  I saved ribbon by just putting the ribbon around to the backside of the two edges of the paper and taping it in place.  Next I took two short strips of the two different sizes and tied them (together) around the first piece of ribbon on the card.  Love this ribbon from Gina K Designs.

Like everyone else these days, I love to add sequins to my cards on occasion for some interest after I popped up the two pumpkins.

So there you have it ...... lots of texture and a cutie for our Harvest time which is approaching.  Be sure to check out the stamp selections on TWO PAPER DIVAS website.  Their website has developed into a wonderful site and I think that you might get inspired by all of us Divas.   Thanks for joining me.  I loved sharing this card with you.

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team card - Fall is in the Air - Week of August 25, 2014

Is it really almost Pumpkin Time .........we have had such a beautiful Summer here in Pagosa Springs!!!  I kept looking at my Pumpkin Cookbook sitting on our Baker's Rack in the solarium in the Kitchen.  So that was all it took when I was chasing down the idea for this week's card.  I love doing "masking" and decided that I needed two pumpkins on this card.  So after that with the "glitter pen" in hand,  I began to glitter a few things on the card.  Then I pulled out a piece of glossy paper and used some of my Alcohol Inks to bring in some color BUT instead of using the glossy side, guess what .......I liked the back side and stamped (using my Peeled Paint Distress Ink) one of the leave's (twice) from TWO PAPER DIVAS "Fall is in the Air" set.  Oh Dear....I just looked and that set is SOLD OUT.  I sure hope you have this darling set!!!!  I cut the two leaves out and used Crackle Accents on the face of the leaves.  A different look than Glossy Accents.  I also used another leaf from the set as doilies under the pumpkins.  The orange pumpkin was pieced over the stamped one on the yellow card stock.  Love this darling birdie and he had to have a spot as well.  DONE!!

Tootles to all of you and enjoy your card making for Fall.  I am sure that I will be back with more before we get to the rest of the Holidays!!!

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card for Week of August 18, 2014 (Bokeh Technique)

This card is an attempt at doing what is called the "Bokeh" technique!!  I have watched a number of people out there in our crafting space do this kind of card and have wanted to try it.  First of all the word Bokeh is known in the photography world as a "filtering" concept.  Using Watercolor paper to start is a must.   I used painters tape and doing a border that you can see by taping it to a piece of stiff cardboard.  I then brushed on water (a lot) to get the piece pretty wet so the color would move as I painted each one that you see.  In the CASE above, I used a metallic watercolor paint (love this stuff - such a shine) and I painted one row at a time and took the second color and placed it right next to the first and so on.  As you are doing it, if more water is necessary, go ahead and put more water on the paper.  Using the brush, I also added water to the "disc" of paint.  Using a paper towel, I dabbed around any areas that were puddling with water and paint.  I also dabbed the whole surface.  Then I removed the painter's tape.  Using my heat gun, I helped dry the piece of paper.

Once I finished this process, I began the "Bokeh" technique ...... I gathered two different size circle templates and sponged on with a large sponge dauber white pigment ink in several different places.   It really makes a fun diffused look on the card.  Then I laid down a random dot stencil by Simon Says and using a white gel pen, I enjoyed adding dots of different sizes on the card.  After choosing the two stamps I wanted to use from TWO PAPER DIVAS (two different sets), I stamped them using Memento Black Ink.  It is fun to see the color which comes through the stamped image.

The rest of the card is pretty straight forward.  Now this week I will teach the Bokeh to my students and enjoy seeing what other attempts I will do in the future.  Cute technique!!  Thanks to Julie Ebersole for putting this on her Blog and showing the concept.  See ya next time!!! 

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card for the week of August 11, 2014 - "Simply The Best"

It is so interesting that Melissa and Gayla, owners of Two Paper Divas, created this Sentiment.  Back in the 90's when my husband and I worked for The LaQuinta Corporation as General Managers (a second career for each of us),  we helped our Regional Manager develop a training program for the other Managers and their Staff.  In order to have fun with this, I came up with the idea of creating it around Tina Turner's song "Simply the Best".  It turned out to be very special and some of the other Regional Managers asked us to show it to them and they used this concept to assist their managers/staff in their regions.  It help "pump up" all of the Staff at the Inns that we trained.  Great SONG!!  Wish that we had a video of it but it is in our memories!!

I was reminded of something today while watching a video on the computer on Gina K Designs.  It was using a die with the rubber mat to create the embossing effect without cutting.  Have not done that in a long time.  So what you see as the outline around the scene is not a layered piece which I have cut and applied to the face of the card.  It is actually the embossed part of the front of the card.  I used a die cut of this die as a mask and did the background green shading.  Once this was done, I stamped the Sentiment and placed the die cut leaves (which I cut apart) onto the card.  The flowers are popped up (just the actual flowers - not the stems) and then I stamped the Butterfly.  I chose not to color the Butterfly to leave the simplicity of the outline to coordinate with the Sentiment.  Sometimes it is not necessary to do the obvious coloring of outline stamps on our card.  Step back and you might just say, "enough is enough"!  See you next posting........

P. S.  This is an ADD ON after reading this again today (8/25/14) and Melissa and Gayla posting my card.  I decided that I would give you the Big Shot formula for building your "sandwich" to produce the concept which is used on this card.  Embossing with a Die:  

• No Tabs on the platform
• Acrylic Plate
• Piece of Card stock for a SHIM
• Rubber Embossing Pad (1) by Spellbinders
• "Die" of choice - normally placed on the non cutting side against the rubber to achieve the embossed look - I decided on the pointed look (sharp edge) so I put the die cut side down on the rubber
• Acrylic Plate
• Piece of copy paper

By the way, I keep a sticky note of this "sandwich" in the original plastic which holds my rubber embossing pads.  I do not know about you but my memory would not remember all of these strange concepts of doing the right "sandwich"!!  Just a hint!!!

Products used on this card:

STAMPS:   Two Paper Divas Stamp Sets:  Simply the Best;  Mason Jar Accessories 1;  Seed Packet Accessories #1.

INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Pear Pizzazz by SU; and Copic Markers.

MISC.:  Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush;  Rhinestones; Enamel Dot;  the leafy die; & the largest die in that set to do the embossed effect.

 

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card for the week of August 4, 2014 - "Life's a Picnic"

It is August and TWO PAPER DIVAS is announcing their NEW stamp sets.  I have used two sets from them for this card.  When "my" surprise sets came and I saw the Picnic Bench AND the Picnic Basket from the second set.......I knew what paper I was going to use for these two stamps.  Anytime that I can, I will pull from my stash the thin wood veneer sheets because it gives an authenticity to the stamp representing a wooden finish.  Also with the picnic basket were 7 different stamps that were all about Summertime FUN at a picnic (Hamburger - which you see here; Glass of Lemonade - also what I used on the card; THE ANT - a little out of proportion in my scene but way too cute; a pie; the basket and two Sentiments - one of which I used on my card).  I could not help going to my "stash" again of my wooden "things" and pulled out the wooden apples (wish that I had the smaller apples but they have been used on previous cards - having Granddaughters in school, I used them on cards for their teachers - Oh Well - these get the point across) and colored them with Copics & also I love the wooden word bubbles and it just seemed appropriate to stamp the Sentiment on it.

SUPPLIES USED:

All Stamps - TWO PAPER DIVAS  - Brand New Sets being announced on August 8th.
Paper -  Mixed Media 101 Ultra Thin Cherry Sheets; Neenah Solar White card stock - card base;  Sheet    of 12 x 12 printed paper for Scrapbooking; Checkered card stock - source unknown.
Ink - Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo to ink the bench & basket; Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Soft Granite to ink the glass of lemonade & the hamburger - black is too dark;  Memento Tuxedo Black for the               Sentiment and the ants;  I also used the Vintage Photo to distress some of the edges.
Embellishments  -  Love, Love, Love all of my wooden pieces in my "stash"; a very thin red and white       twine; & one last thing - I used my small grass die & cut the little grass under the picnic bench & the basket!!

Ahhhhh gee........now that the picnic is over it is time to get back to work.  I know I have been promising you photos of cards that I have been doing and THEY WILL BE COMING.  But, first I must get ready to go have lunch with my girlfriend, Robyn.  Friends come first and they are a necessity in our lives.  Hugs to all of you and HAPPY CARD MAKING!!!

P. S.  Had a wonderful visit with my friend, Robyn.  We had lunch for four hours and what a treat that was to put everything aside and just talk......like us girls like to do.  Thanks Robyn for our "Happy" time!!
  

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card for the Week of July 28, 2014 - "Caught A Bug"!!

Do you remember as a child running into the house to ask Mom or Dad for a container to catch butterflies, bugs (like fireflies) or worms or something in a special container that was ONLY YOURS!!??  Well, here on this card, I pretended to ask my friend, Melissa, Co-Owner of TWO PAPER DIVAS for this special jar, HER Two Paper Divas "Jelly Jar"!!!  Don't tell her........HA!  This jar was just the right size to catch the darling "bug" from one of her creative sets of bugs stamp set!!  So, I needed some flowers because where do you catch bugs but in the garden ..... RIGHT?  And captured some flowers from my collection of Two Paper Divas stamps and wallah......the card was beginning.

So first after all of that,  I decided on the colors of card stock, pens to color with, the ribbon was obvious, found a piece of card stock for the paper piecing to coordinate the concept and then found some other embellishments AND a card was "born"!! 

PRODUCTS USED FOR THIS CARD:

All Stamps - TWO PAPER DIVAS

• Jelly Jar Set  -  One of the newest stamp sets
• Seed Packet Accessories #1 Set - Flowers
• Mason Jar Accessories 1 - Bugs & Sentiment  (*) See below for Sentiment explanation

Card Stock

• Lemon (Card Base) - Ellen Hutson.com
• Jelly Bean Green - Gina K. Designs
• Green Wag Pattern - Recollections 12 x 12 - for Paper Piecing
• Neenah Solar White

Embellishments

Pens - SU colors;  Inks - Memento Tuedo Black & Hero Arts Shadow - Soft Granite;  Wink of Stella Clear Brush;  Quickie Glue Pen;  Black & White ribbon by Gina K Designs & Eclipse Tape (**)

(*)  Because I wanted to curve part of the Sentiment and place part of the same Sentiment in another location, I cut apart the full Sentiment.  The pieces can be placed on the block and used in its intended order in the future.  Performing "surgery" on the clear stamps does not hurt the stamps - just be careful when cutting and always store the stamps together when finished using.  This can give your stamps double usage!!  Another way you can look at your stamps is to see if there is a word within the original stamp and cut it out and try and form a new sentence with your stamps set.  This is easily done with "larger" stamps.  

(**)  I used the eclipse tape to "mask" off the area where I stamped the flowers.

I used the Wink of Stella on the flowers & the bugs ...... that is the glistening that is seen in the photo - Cute in person!!

See you next time when I post some of the current cards from my classes.  Never got to that last week......oops!!

                  

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card - Week of July 21, 2014

Like the Sentiment says......"Relax & Enjoy" your day in your "Flip Flops".  That is what summer time is all about.  Gotta LOVE those darling shoes.  Those of us who live in snow country, we love trading our boots for these wonderful little shoes.  Only issue for us women.......we have to keep our toes painted!!!

I was sitting today and thinking about what I was going to create for TWO PAPER DIVAS Team Card this week and it occurred to me that I needed to get out my huge storage bin and dig through the "baggies".....this is how I store my 6 x 6 Designer Paper Pads.  I went looking for a special paper pad that I knew that I had from Echo Park.  It is called Paradise Beach!!  I know why does a Mountain Girl need "Beachie" paper?  Well for times like this.....silly!!!!  In this pad of paper (and I have two pads ...... never know when one needs more and I always buy at least two) ......but anyway there are so many fun papers and what I have used here is just a small sampling.  So let's GO TO THE BEACH or at least shopping with these cute Flip Flops on and do not forget a beautiful polish on those toes!!!

Products that were used on this card:

• Two Paper Divas stamp set ......"Life in Flip Flops"
• Echo Park 6 x 6 Paper Pad .....Paradise Beach
• Card Base - Bazzill Card Stock ...... Banana Split
• White Paper Rope by Recollections
•  Prima Marketing flowers on the Flip Flops - Limeade
• Tiny Lime Green sequins
• Lime Green Glitter on the Flip Flops (used Quickie Glue Stick)
• Fresh Ink Pigment Stamp Pad - Grass
• Inside Die from the Femme Frame set from Mama Elephant (My favorite Die right now)
• Label Punch

TWO PAPER DIVAS DESIGN TEAM CARD - Week of July 14, 2014

I have loved the "stair step cards" since my friend, Melissa Rodgers one of the Co-Owners of TWO PAPER DIVAS, came out here to Pagosa and did a special class in March of 2013 with my ladies who attend my weekly classes. One of the cards which she taught was an Easter card done in the stair step fashion.  After that the ladies said that they wanted to do more.  So, I began to create more designs and one that I created is what you see here using  the TWO PAPER DIVAS set of clear stamps called "Loads of Fun".  Besides the Sentiment which I show on this card, "Just droppin' you a line", there are three more that work so well with this darling set.  You must pop over to the TWO PAPER DIVAS website/store and check it out. AND while you are there be sure to see ALL of their latest sets.

SUPPLIES/TECHNIQUES USED ON THIS CARD:

TWO PAPER DIVAS stamp set "Loads of Fun"
Memory Box "Resting Birds" Die (love these birds whether you use one or all five included in the set)
Poppystamps Mini Picket Border Die    
Fiskars "cloud" Punch
Glossy Accents for the rain coming out of the clouds & butterflies
Various card stock (unknown) for the "Paper Piecing Technique" used on the card
Small Butterfly punch purchased from Paper Wishes (two set punch/embossing)
Tiny Grass stamp from Rosies Roadshow
Copic Makers
SU Whisper White Card stock

Next up on my Blog will be a batch of some of the cards which I have been teaching lately in my weekly classes.  Stay tuned and thank you for stopping by and "hanging with me"!!

TWO PAPER DIVA'S Design Team Card - Week of July 7, 2014

Have you ever just gotten a little excited about your mail arriving.......well I did today!!  I knew that sometime this week, and I hoped that it would be today, that I would receive some NEW stamps from Melissa and Gayla, owners of TWO PAPER DIVA'S.  AND......Yes there they were .....thanks Randy, our mailman!!  So I tore into the envelope and got so excited because the stamp that I have featured on this card was what I was hoping for......YAY!!!!  I still love color, especially being a designer in my career that I had for so many wonderful years.  Isn't that a part of the enjoyment of cardmaking as well??   This saying is so beautiful and should be my mantra!!!!

SUPPLIES THAT I USED FOR THIS CARD:

Card base:  Woodgrain Embossed Cardstock by Ellen Hutson

Vellum:  Bazzill Basics Paper

Designer papers:  "Here Comes the Sun" by Gina K. Designs

Multi colored card stock:  By Gina K. Designs

Embossing Powder:  Zing in "leaf" color

Washi Tape (Actually from a pack of 6 x 6)

White Seam Binding

Enamel Dots   

Hope that your 4th of July, America's Holiday, was delightful.  Hugs to all and I will see you soon for more postings.  Been busy with classes this week!! 

TWO PAPER DIVA DESIGN TEAM CARD - Week of July 1, 2014

A little "friendly" card in honor of such a beautiful day today in Pagosa.  When the late afternoon was occurring it was already 73 degrees outside and a gorgeous evening.  This is why we moved here in 2003.

The floral on this card is from Two Paper Diva" stamp set "Seed Packet Flowers"; the Butterfly and the Sentiment are from the stamp set "Mason Jar Fillers 1".  Both of these sets are gotta have sets in your collection.  There are so many ideas on each.  Please go to the Two Paper Diva's site and enjoy shopping!!

The green, the blue and the printed papers are from Gina K Design.  The leaf pattern is from her new 6 x 6 series called "Here comes the sun".   The black and white check ribbon is from Gina K Design.  The blue card stock was dry embossed.

See ya next time!!  :-)

Cards from Card Classes during part of the month of June, 2014

Yes, we live in Pagosa Springs, CO. which is truly a place in Paradise.  So many of my gals in my card classes now have the P.S., CO. stamp so they wanted me to produce some cards using the stamp. We were so lucky to have Two Paper Divas design this stamp for us.  You will see another card below using the stamp again.  In the first card, it was so appropriate for me to use the Balloon/Mt. stamp which I have had for a number of years.  We live in this type of beautiful scenery with Mts., the River and the Balloons flying overhead!  In the second example, we are "picture perfect"!!


                         
My "Thinking of You" card was very nicely received by my ladies in class this past Tuesday.  I took an online "Stencil Class" earlier this year and just recently purchased this tiny butterfly stencil by Magenta.  Just way tooooo cheery!!!  I am so in love with Stencils and I have been for years.  I have a drawer full that I used on children's clothing when I use to design on them.  But, I am new to using the Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste and get such a thrill out of the outcome.  Worth the experience if you have not tried it!!  This card will be going to my Mother in a few days.....Shhhh do not tell her!!

Just a card because I wanted to use the Simon Says "Oh Happy Day" die.  The leaf paper is from Gina K Designs and a beautiful 6 x 6 paper pack called "Here Comes The Sun".  Cannot wait to use some more of these papers.





I am so in love with this Woodgrain Embossed card stock which I discovered sometime ago through Ellen Hutson.com.  I never want to run out of it!!  The Happy Birthday is a die by "Dee's Distinctively" and I used glitter paper to use with this die......it is a happy card in person!  I do not know what I am more obsessed with.....wooden embellishments or anything feathers!!  So, I used both on this card......

 This "Sunshine" card inspiration came from online and a Julie Ebersole creation.  When I watched her do this shaker card, I knew that it was on my agenda to do SOON.  This sweet sentiment is the song (one of the two Sunshine songs) that we have sung to our first two Granddaughters at night when we put them to bed.  So, it will be going to #2 Granddaughter for her Birthday this summer. Thanks to you, Julie, for this creation.  It is made and ready to go in the mail in a few weeks.  The precious stamp set is from Mama Elephant......you gotta love their stamps.  And....then there is that "wooden" bird!!!  It had to be red because that is #2's favorite color.  I must say this card was pushing my A.M. ladies but they got it and had a ball making it!!  Now shhhhhh and do not tell #2!!

All I can say about this one is thank goodness for the Simon Says "Partial Cut Flower" die and Distress Inks by Ranger (even in these soft colors).  If you have not purchased the "Partial" Die.....you are missing something delightful for cards these days!!

Some years ago my dear friend, Hope, gave me boxes of stamps because she was done with them.  Her passion for stamping was waning.  From these stamps I picked a few that excited me and then I gave the rest back to her to pass on to someone else lucky to go through them as well.  Thanks HOPE!  So when you slide the real wood veneer band off this cute card.......check out the inside!!  There is our Pagosa Springs, Colorado stamp again.  AND appropriately after seeing that beautiful scene on the front.  Then ladies there are Mts. inside as well and I am so lucky to see the Mts. around us in Pagosa out my huge kitchen window 365 days a year.  Enough said!!

So last but not least a favorite old set of sentiments that I love to pull out from time-to-time and have fun with.  But, this time I decided to use this darling stamp of the lady in her hat and it looks like she is definitely speaking these words.  The "Poof" part is on one of those "Wobbles".  To all who have Birthdays in June, I send this greeting to you.  Both of our children are celebrating their Birthdays today and tomorrow!  Happiness and Hugs!!

TWO PAPER DIVAS DESIGN TEAM card for the week of June 23, 2014

SUNFLOWERS are always a favorite flower with a lot of card makers.  Thank you to Melissa and Gayla, owners of TPD,  for giving Two Paper Divas a beautiful example of such a stunning flower.  Ladies go to the Two Paper Divas website and go shopping for your clear stamp needs and then grab your copic's and color away!!

I wanted some interest behind the "Taylored Expressions" Quatrefoil Die which I used on this card and I went to one of my favorite Black/White (or slightly cream) printed "toile" card stock from Recollections to add that difference instead of using just black.  It tied the ribbon from Gina K Designs that I knew that I wanted to use and the color of the centers of the flowers.  In order to not interrupt the visual but enhance it, the Interior Designer in me decided to use the Wild Orchid card stock by Gina K. Designs for the Quatrefoil layer.  A final touch is the "diamond" in the middle of the bow.  A girls just gotta have those diamonds!!

Happy Crafting this summer to all of you!!

TWO PAPER DIVA'S design card for week of 6/16/14

                                                                                 

With the beginning of Summer upon us this Saturday,  it seems appropriate to do this special card using the "Life in Flip Flops" stamp set by TWO PAPER DIVAS which also included the sentiment.  Check out their website and you will find this darling set in their store.  It is a great one with all the sentiments relating to these wonderful foot gear that we all wear in the summer time.

To make this card I decided to use the Label Card Thinlits Die from Stampin' Up to help show off the Flip Flops in a special way.  The following are the additional products that I used:

Card stock:  Stampin' Up and 6 x 6 Designer Paper Pad Six by Six by My Minds Eye
Dies:  Simple Banner by Poppystamps;  Tessatina Border by Memory Box
Ink:  "Coffee" Archival Ink by Ranger
Enamel Dots (Teal) for decoration on the Flip Flops
Glitter Paper - Unknown - Just to add some sparkle to the card
Twine

A handwritten note can easily be written on the back of the card.  Happy Summer to ALL!

           

Two Paper Diva's Design Card "Tea Time"

So, how many of you out there in "Blogger land" have taken on a new computer system but do not have it all figured out yet and I have had to resort to using my old system in the meantime to do this posting?!!  You know what I would like to say.......but I will be kind!!  I have two keyboards and two "mice" sitting here on my desk with the Old CPU under the desk and a darling, tiny Chrome Box on top of the desk.  There is a brand new monitor and a beautiful brand new Brother printer (plus everything else) and here I am operating out of the old system.  #XW##!!!!!

Okay.......on with business at hand!!  My posting for Two Paper Divas this week was an absolute ball.  I wanted to use this flower grouping from the Two Paper Diva Stamp Set "Seed Packet Fillers", but I did not want to put it in one of TPD's other set "Mason Jars" (new set will be arriving at the store soon).  So, I decided to get creative and did the following:

• Using versamark ink,  I stamped the teapot with the attached lid (from the "Tea Time" set of TPD) on vellum twice and then using a Turquoise Zing Embossing Powder by American Crafts, I used a tiny stiff brush and wiped away the embossing powder from the lid of the teapot on one and the base of the teapot from the other piece of vellum.  This left me with an open base and a separate lid.  Then I heat set these two different pieces of vellum.  Once done, I closely cut out the lid and the base leaving a small edge of the vellum to the outside edge of the embossed pieces. Now I had what appears like an open top to the base of the teapot allowing it to look like the flowers are sitting in the base.  I placed these pieces on top of the lower section of the layered raised white piece of cardstock which I had dry embossed the lower section only. The enamel dots which I used on the lid and the base allowed me to glue the two pieces to the white cardstock.  I then embossed two of the teacups from this same set from Two Paper Divas in two different colors and applied them to the front of the card after heat setting them. This time I was able to use glue within the design on each of the cups.  The flowers were stamped and colored using colored pencils prior to placing the vellum teapot base at this point of the card.  I used a yellow and white twine at the top of the card layered piece and used a sentiment stamp from the "Tea Time" TPD set to finish off the front of my card.  Before finishing this layer of the card, I round all four of the corners.  

So, with a modification of the one stamp and without cutting it as some would have done, I was able to create a fun look!!!

Thank you for stopping by to see a different technique.........

May 2014 Cards - Continued

Various Cards Created and Taught during the Month of May, 2014

TWO PAPER DIVAS Design Team Card - Melissa's Birdie!