All Smiles

Hello again!  It's a simple card today, using the bicycle image from KOM July 2011.  I stamped the bicycle once on white cardstock and then a second time on the same cardstock without reinking.  The first stamped image was cut out using Spellbinders Classic Scallop Ovals die and the second image was fussy cut out just around the oval border.  The patterned papers are from Fancy Pants.

Just a short post today and linking it to the Unity Friends with Flair hop.  Hope you are keeping well.

Have a nice day!
Kary

Happy Wednesday!

How time flies, it is already mid week, and I feel I've not accomplished much this week.  I finally got round to making a card with some of my favourite colours, in the early hours of the morning when it feels like there's just me and my stamps (lol!). 
Here's the card:

I used my favourite Itty Bitty stamp, the cute strawberry from Unity, Jillibean Soup's Sweetest Day, and a sentiment from Unity's Faith set. The strawberry is coloured with copic markers and adhered with pop dots onto the large scallop ovals.  I hope the card will bring much cheer to your day!

With the card, I'm playing along with the Tooty Fruity challenge at Unity, Card Patterns Sketch 116 and Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge #90.  I love Grace Nywening's sharing, it's so true that the words we speak have power to hurt and, to build and encourage.  May we strive to live with a constant awareness of being kind and encouraging with our words.

Stamps : Unity Itty Bitty Jillibean Soup Sweetest Day, Faith

Papers : Lilybee Design Picket Fence, GKD PLC Bubblegum Pink

Ink : Memento, Copic markers

Other : MFT Die-namics Star Border, i-rock glam rocks

3x3" Notecard

Today's card is a 3x3 notecard, and I'm playing along with the ATU Trifecta Challenge.  I think it's a fun challenge with the following specs:

1. Must be 3" square
2. Use 3 types of Embellies
3. Theme: Birthday or Anniversary

The different embellishments used on the card are the twine, button and pearls.  I used the heart image from March KOM and the tag stamp from Jillibean Soup's Spotted Owl Soup, which is one of my favourite set. 

Have a good day!

 

Happy Chick Birthday

Today's card is made with another set of cute stamps from Unity.  The set is called Itty Bitty " Happy Chick Birthday".  There are two stamps in the set, and I love that the images are so fun.

Here's the card:

I made this card for my sister's birthday today - Happy Birthday!!!.  My sister is quite a cardmaker herself, so I had to find a way to add some details which I hope she will like.

First, I used the Scor-buddy to score along the edge of the card to give it a frame.  Then I added some faux stitches with a white gel pen.  I cut a strip of stripe paper, adhered a thin strip of patterned paper at the top and tied a jute string around it and adhered it to the cardbase.  The cute chicks image was stamped with Memento and coloured with copics.  Here, I've used Y21 and YR00 for the body of the little chicks, R20 & RV00 for the blush, YR17 & YR04 on the beaks.  For the hats, I used BG10, BG13, YG01, YR02 and RV21.  The little chicks image was cut using a Papertrey Ink die.  The sentiment was coloured using more copic markers (BG11, BG13, YR00, YR02, R27, BG10, RV00, V01, YR24).

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you'll have a wonderful day!

Stamps : Unity Itty Bitty Happy Chick Birthday

Paper : Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers

Others : PTI die, Spellbinders Scallop Rectangle, Jute string, Sakura White Gel Pen

Baby Card

I hardly make baby cards, because I really don't have friends with babies or babies on the way.  Unusual, isn't it?  Somehow all my girlfriends are career ladies ;-).

But, occasionally, I see really nice baby stamps and I just have to ink them up.  Maybe someday I could give the baby cards away.  Here's a closer look at the card:

I coloured the baby clothes with Copic markers and added some glitter dots on them.  It was quite some job trying the get the clothes to line up with the help of a Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I love the sentiment, just adorable.

Thanks for visiting today.

Stamps : Unity KOM April 2011

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, Distress Ink Tumbled Glass

Paper : October Afternoon, GKD PLC Ocean Mist & Ivory

Others : MFT scallop border die, Spellbinders Large Scalloped oval die, Scor-buddy, Sakura clear glitter pen, Sakura Pigma Micron 0.1 Sepia

Birthday Card

Today is my dad's birthday.  I know he loves chocolate cake, and I hope he'll like the cake I made.  In a little while, when my brother gets here, we'll be bringing out the cake.  My dad doesn't remember when his birthday is anymore, but he was so happy this morning when I wished him "Happy Birthday".  When I asked what he would love to have for dinner (we're taking him out tonight) he said anything will do, he's just happy that we are celebrating with him.  Sometimes, his simplicity really melts my heart.

Here's the card I made for him:

It's a simple card, and I hope he likes it.  I used the stamps from Unity-Jillibean's Spotted Owl Soup set with papers from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety.

Ok, I'm off to get the cake ready.

Have a lovely day!!

Stamps : Unity-Jillibean Spotted Owl Soup

Paper : Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety 6x6 pad, Hero Arts Latte card

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, copic markers

Flowers and Friends

Hi again.  So glad the weekend is here.   I've nothing planned except to meet some friends and spend some time catching up.  I've missed my friends, being away for almost 3 months.  Emails and online chats are not the same as meeting face to face.

So, thinking about friends and friendships, I made this card today:

Close up view of the flowers

I am so grateful for my friends...they stand by me and cheer me up through good and bad times, they seek the good in me and want what's best for me.  No matter how far apart and how long we've not seen each other, the bond we share can never be broken.  What a blessing!

The colour inspiration for the card today is from the Embellish Magazine challenge.  I always think Embellish Magazine has such interesting challenges - I'm glad to be able to play along today.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a lovely weekend!

Stamps : Unity KOM Jan 2011 (bracket frame) & March 2011 (sentiment)

Paper : October Afternoon Thrift Shop, Webster's Pages

Ink : Distress Ink Tea Dye & Versafine Vintage Sepia

Others : Sizzix Flower 3D die, PTI felt, ribbon (dyed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam - Rockin' on Sunshine), Hero Arts Crochet trim, Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Border punch, Pearls

A Class of Your Own

Hi, I'm about to head out the door to see the dentist.  Urgh...not my favourite thing to do, but well.  Last night I organised my Unity KOM kits from the past few months (which I haven't inked yet), and had to play a little with the stamps.

Here's what I did:

I tried the "thumping" method (my first time) of inking with a marker (darker coloured ink) over a lighter inked stamp image, and I rather like the results.  I must tell you though in 24 hours (since I got back) my desk is already cluttered, and the room looks so messy - just because I needed to find things that I had kept away.  I need to get better at organisation.

I'm submitting this to the Unity challenge - Fashion Forward & Unity's FWF.

Enjoy today!

Stamps : Unity KOM March 2011 (focal image), Unity KOM Jan 2011 (sentiment)

Paper : October Afternoon Home Maker 8x8 pad, GKD cardstock

Ink : Memento Desert Sand, and Memento Marker Rhubarb Stalk, Versafine Vintage Sepia (sentiment)

Others : Brad, Spellbinders Large scallop oval & Double Ended Tags dies, Lace trim, buttons

Playing with New Dies

Hello Everyone.  I hope you are having a great week so far.  I'm so tired helping my sister organise an event last weekend, but we're happy it turned out pretty well.

Today, I'm sharing some cards made recently with some new dies I got to play with.  These dies are awesome!!

Here's the first card - I used the new Bo Bunny Gabrielle 6x6 pad (so beautiful papers!) for this card.  I hope you can see all the gorgeous details in those die cut butterflies - they are the Dimensional dies by Cheery Lynn Designs.  On hindsight, I think I should have inked the die before embossing the butterflies for more dimension.

Here's the second card.. notice that beautiful doily behind the lampshade?  I love it!!  It's called Italian Flourish doily and it's just amazing.

The last card has a more detailed doily - Kiwi Doily.  I love the details in the doily and how beautiful it looks.  There's embossing and piercing all in just one die.  How awesome is that!

I guess you can tell how much fun I've had with the new Cheery Lynn Designs dies.  I think I'm going to have to collect more of the CLD dies. 

Till the next post... have a lovely day!

Stamps : My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose Gertie "Girly" Stamp set, Unity/Jillibean Blossom Soup

Papers : Bo Bunny Gabrielle 6x6 pad, Cosmo Cricket Social Club 6x6 pad

Inks : Memento Rich Cocoa, Bamboo Leaves, Tangelo

Dies : Cheery Lynn Designs Italian Flourish doily, Kiwi doily, Dimensional Butterflies, French Flair stackers

Others : Memento markers, Sakura White Gel pen, Hero Arts lace trim

Card Patterns Challenge

I really like the sketch at Card Patterns this week.  I've been meaning to make a card like that, so the challenge is a good one to play along.  Here's the sketch:

And, here's my card:

Can you recognise the patterned papers?  Yupe, it's Cosmo Cricket Circa again...  I've been trying hard to be a good girl to use up my 6x6 pad.  Haha...  The card measures 4.25x4.25".  I embossed the cardbase with an embossing folder, then assembled it with the patterned papers & stamped images.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your day is wonderful!

 

Stamps : Unity Itty Bitty Wonderful, Unity/Jillibean Dutch Mustard Soup
Ink : Memento Rich Cocoa & Cantaloupe, Copics R20
Paper : Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934, BasicGrey Basics, PTI Cardstock
Other : Flowers from Making Memories, Twine, MFT border lace die, Cuttlebug Embossing folder Caramelo

Sweetest Day Tag

How's your weekend going? 

It's already Sunday where I am, and I stayed up really late last night watching the news on Japan. It's so heart wrenching to see the devastation brought by the earthquake & tsunami - my thoughts and prayers go out to the people there.

Today, I've done something different.  My sister & I fell in love with this Jillibean Itty Bitty stamp, Sweetest Day.  We did a "make & take" at the Unity booth with Jill using these stamps, and we really adore the image & sentiment.  I love everything strawberries, i.e. the fruit, jam, biscuits, ice-cream...  Strawberries are so brightly coloured and they seem to bring so much cheer.

Here's my tag:

I hope the tag brings a smile and I do wish you the Sweetest day Ever!!

Stamps :  Unity's Itty Bitty "Sweetest Day", Unity/Jillibean Blossom Soup

Paper : PTI Kraft & White, BasicGrey Basics

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa, Versamark (the hearts) & Copic markers

Other : Hero Arts lace trim, PTI Jute twine, Sakura Pigma Micron sepia 0.5

Love Life

Hi again.  For today's card, I used a stamp set called Fairies 1 (borrowed this from my sister).  Athough the stamp is not the usual photopolymer ones I'm used to, they work pretty well, and I love the super sweet images.  I'll be posting a few more cards the next few days so you know why I love the images.

Here's the card:

 

I hope the card brings a smile.  Have a beautiful day!

p.s I'm submitting this card to the challenge (buttons on a card) at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. 

Stamps : Pergamano Fairies 1, Lawn Fawn Fly Free, Unity/Jillibean Dutch Mustard Soup

Paper : Papertrey Ink cardstock Orange Zest, Cosmo Cricket Circa, BasicGrey Basics

Ink : Memento Tangelo, Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa

Others : Buttons & twine, Cheery Lynn Designs Stacker die Inverted Scalloped Square

Sunny Happy Skies

There's something about hot air balloons - I think it gives one a sense of fun and bliss.  That's a little of how I was feeling when I put this card together.

I used the stamp sets from Unity/Bella Blvd's Sunny Happy Skies (the set comes with lots of clouds stamps to choose from) and Lawn Fawn's Bannerific & Sophie's Sentiments for the card.  Did some really basic copics colouring, and cut out the images & assembled the card.

Have a cheerful day!

Stamps : Unity/Bella Blvd Sunny Happy Skies, Lawn Fawn Bannerific & Sophie's Sentiments
Paper : LYB Twig, PTI Spring Rain cardstock
Ink : Memento Bahama Blue & Summer Sky & Rich Cocoa
Copic Markers : R27, R24, R22 (hot air balloon), E55, E53, E51 (basket), B00 & B02 (banner)
Others : Sakura white gel pen, Cuttlebug embossing folder Iron Works

Learning to be Thankful

Hi. I guess most of you would have heard about the massive earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand and the unrest in Libya this week.  Even though I'm not physically at these places, I have friends who are affected by the earthquake and the political unrest.  Thankfully they are all ok, and my friend in Libya has been evacuated to Rome two days ago. 

These events reminds me that life is really rather fragile.  I guess we have to learn to live every day to the fullest as we only have one chance to do it right.  To learn be so thankful, gracious to others and to really find joy in the little things.  For me, that also includes caring for my parents, to take time to talk and listen to them and so much more.  I guess you could say it's all about having one's priorities right.
Today, I have this card to share:

I love the sentiment because it's so true.  Life can be so wonderful!

Have a lovely weekend!







Stamps : Unity/Jillibean Dutch Mustard Soup & Unity Itty Bitty Wonderful
Paper : PTI Kraft cardstock, Nikki Sivils patterned paper
Ink : Memento Rich Cocoa
Others : Spellbinders Labels 15, Sakura White gel pen
p.s joining in CardPatterns' anniversary sketch.

Loving Doilies

I must tell you a little story about doilies and me.  When I was 15, my mum "challenged" (well, maybe persuaded strongly, is more accurate) me to make a doily for her during my end of year school holidays.  For years, she has been proudly displaying all the doilies my sister has created and I guess she thought she ought to have one from me too.  At 15, I was not a girly type of girl and I'd rather spend hours outdoors, playing under the sun. 

Not wanting to disappoint mum, I thought to myself how difficult can this be.  I asked my sis to teach me the basics of crocheting, got my mum to choose a pattern she liked and started off.  To my suprise, I discovered I was a perfectionist, and I kept undoing the doily because my tension wasn't even, etc.  Well, to cut a long story short, I finally finished the doily 2 years later!  It was my first and only doily to date.  

When Unity/Bella Blvd came out with the Doilies stamp set, I was "in love".  Even though crocheting is not my thing, I guess I can create stamped cards with doilies instead.

I'd love to hear what you think of the card :-)

Have a lovely day!

Stamps : Unity/Bella Blvd Bella Doilies, Lawn Fawn Hello Friend (sentiment)

Inks : Clearsnap colorbox pigment ink (Doilies), Memento Rich Cocoa (sentiment)

Paper : PTI White cardstock, Little Yellow Bicycle Twig

Other : Hero Arts blings, Twine

Almost a one layer card

Today, I got to play with two of the Unity/Bella Blvd stamp sets purchased before Christmas.  My inspiration today is to make a card with only white cardstock.  Here's what I came up with: 

I stamped all the images onto the white cardstock and coloured them with copic markers.  Added the stamped sentiment on the top left corner, and the card was done.  Really simple.

I love the sentiment on the card " A house is built with boards and beams.  A home is built with love and dreams."  I'm submitting this for the Unity Challenge, and I hope you will participate in the challenge too ;-)

Have a lovely weekend.

Stamps : Unity/Bella Blvd Honey, I'm Home! & Bella Trees
Paper : PTI White cardstock
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Rose Bud, copics
Other : Sakura Pigma Micron Sepia 0.5

A Fun Birthday Card

Hi, I hope your week is going great.  It's been nice & sunny where I am, but I've not been out much - bit snowed under with work.  But, I did find a bit of time to ink up some stamps purchased not too long ago.  Here's my quick and simple card:

I stamped the banners on white cardstock using red & yellow inks & cut them out.  Placed and adhered the banners on the top left hand corner of the card, and adhered the jute string with glossy accents.  Did some paper piecing for the cake and coloured the candles. Made some faux stitching around the cardbase. Stamped the sentiment & card is done!

Thanks for visiting today.  Have a great one!

Stamps : PTI Banner Builder, Unity/Bella Blvd Sweet Celebration Birthday 
Paper : BasicGrey Basics, Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934, PTI Scarlet Jewel Cardstock
Inks : Memento Lady Bug & Cantaloupe & Rich Cocoa
Other : Jute string, White gel pen & Memento Markers

Cards, Cards, Cards

On Thursday evening, I decided to participate on the Unity 23 Challenges at Splitcoaststampers.  How does one make 23 cards in less than 3 days??  I didn't think I could do it, but the challenges were rather fun although some were just not in my comfort zone.  I decided to try a few to see if I could get the creativity going... and I was hooked!!  I pulled out ALL my Unity stamps (I didn't realise I had SO many!) and started.

Here are some of my favourites (I'll try to share more in the next few days) :

This card was for the Ribbon (USCWCMD09) challenge.  I decided to keep the card in black and white and added the ribbons for a pop of colour.  I guess I wanted to tell a story with this card that we should dare to dream, in colours, and extraordinary dreams.  I hope you like this.

Stamp : Unity One Precious Life
Ink : Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock : GKD Ivory
Others : stitched ribbons, Sakura pigma micron Sepia (0.5) for the borders

This one's a really simple card.  The challenge was a card with photo in it.  This was a picture captured in Prague last year, and I loved it.  I added a simple stamped border at the bottom of the card and wrote "wish you were here" in white gel pen along the side of the photo.  I used Colorbox's Pigment Ink Frost White - I'm really pleased with it being really white against the dark cardstock, but it took a long time to dry and in the end, I used a heat gun.

Stamp : Unity KOM June 2010
Photo : Printed using HP semi-glossy paper
Cardstock : GKD Smoky Slate
Ink : Colorbox Pigment Ink Frost White, Sakura white gel pen

This card was for the Soar Challenge.  I used a background stamp with Versamark, then stamped the bird in Smokey Gray.  Then stamped the sentiment on the side in Black.  Coloured the hearts with a red marker.  Assembled the card and added a frame around the stamped images (that seems to be my favourite thing to do...lol).

Stamp : Unity Life Becoming (bird), Unity KOM April 2010 (background stamp) & Unity KOM June 2010 (sentiment)
Inks : Versafine Smoky Gray, Onyx Black, Versamark & Memento marker Lady Bug
Papers : Pink Paislee Queen Bee (6x6 pad), cardstock PTI Vintage Cream
Others : Corner Chomper (for the tabs), Sakura Pigma Micron Sepia (0.5)

Have an Amazing weekend!!