TWO Graduation/money cards- Nephew

Hello again.  Thanks for stopping.  Today I had to make graduation cards for a nephew and a niece who are graduating this year, both from high school.  I want something unique for both so here is what I did....

For my nephew I started out using the design from Jills Ink.   But with a few changes.  I put the entire card on a card base to give it stability.  I used my CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge to cut CONGRATS, JAMES, 2016.  I stamped inside the card and around the sentiment (Congrats, James, 2016) using my tiny confetti  stamp from the KALEIDOSCOPE Cardmaking Workshop with Canary, Black and Sunset inks.  I also added a button brad that is so adorable.  Here is his card.

James Graduation card sitting on table

Graduation card with top open

Graduation card flat open to see card base

Graduation card money pocket

Close up of his initials and the diploma

Inside card base/ place for personal note

 I decided to post this card and when I am finished with the one for my niece I will post that one too. 

If you need any help making a card like this, please let me know in your comment.  Thanks for GRADUATING yourself to my graduation card and hope you PROMOTE my card to your friends, heehee.

INKYFINGERS..... a great way 

to start your day!

Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs

TANKS alot SHAPE card- to our car dealer (read the whole thing)

Last few months we have been trying to 'squeeze in' buying another vehicle.  Shopping and making deals at many places- even 4 hours away from home.  I am soooo glad to say, we are done shopping!  Yahoo.  We decided to go with a dealer close to home and purchased a 2015 Impala.  Here is the car sitting next to my 2002 Honda that I purchased brand new 14 years ago!

Ok, now your are wondering what the TANKS and INKYFINGERS has to do with our car??  Well because being a card maker, I cant pass up a chance to make a cool card, right?  So here is my card.

Vrrrm vrrrm. This card was as much fun to make as this car is to drive!  Well I do like to make cards!  I used a template for the basic car from Lynn Pratt at www.stampndesing.blogspot.com where she has a free template. (I added side mirrors, plates, headlights and velum windshield that were not on template) Some of the details I had to add myself and if I did not have to finish this card today, I might have spent some time matching up some details to our Impala but no time!
Thanks for WHEELING yourself over to see my card.  I have been lucky the last few days to spend time in my craftroom but I know tomorrow I will be gone and it might be rough to see you again till next week.  So keep CRANKING out your designs, keep me on YOUR RADAR and SPIN OVER again to see what creative WHEELS have been turning.  Thanks so much for your kind comments and off to the track to pop some pistons! (get some things done!)  And remember its a great day if you have INKYFINGERS!  (just wash them before you get into my new car!) heehee


 I will enter this card in...
Always Playing with Paper #74 Masculine Challenge
 

National Scrapbooing Month- Happy Times Paper Pack and stampset- Get yours FREE

  Hurry- ONLY Available until May 31st - Great papers

One great thing about CTMH papers.... 

THEY PLAY GREAT TOGETHER.   

You wont have to study come color wheel or spend any time wondering if they will look ok together.  They are always FRIENDS in on the color wheel.  Use our imagination and a little glue and you make AMAZING card or layouts.

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month with the Happy Times paper packet and stamp set. Featuring gold foil and gorgeous patterned papers, this paper packet is sure to brighten up your scrapbooking.
 FIND OUT HOW TO GET IT FREE!-

 Happy times can be yours during the month of May thanks to National Scrapbooking Month! With a qualifying purchase of $60, you can get the exclusive Happy Times paper packet for FREE! This fun paper packet, which is available for one month only, features floral designs, gold foil details, and more! You can also purchase this exclusive paper packet at full retail for $14.95 with no purchase requirement. Get the coordinating D-size stamp set, My Acrylix^® Happy Times, for $17.95. Together with the Happy Times paper packet, this stamp set will help keep your precious memories vivid and bright in the pages of your scrapbook.
                                           

Contact me for more information
Place your order here.

Always Playing with Paper-#74 Masculine

This card is totally done with ink and embossing powder.  I created the entire background: NORTHERN LIGHTS, TREE LINE AND WATER with layer and layers of ink using the techniques shown at the website STAMPSCAPES.com.
My picture does not do it justice.
If you love beautiful scenes you must check out the artwork at STAMPSCAPES!  Maybe even give it a try.     Here is my card.

I was inspired by two challenges to create this card:   

• Always Playing with Paper - #74 Masculine

• My Favorite Things- Color Challenge (I used the blue and green)

 Please leave a comment and if you have any questions on this technique, please mention in your comment.  It is fun, but a lot of work and since I am new at this technique, I hope to master more of the skills involved.  Please let me know in your comment if you visited the site and watched any of the videos. THEY ARE AMAZING.

Kaleidoscope Butterfly

Hello there again!  So glad you flapped your wings my way!  Today I have a butterfly card that was a true joy to create.
First I created the background.  To make this beautiful background, I taped the Spellbinders Impressabilities FLOWERS stencil down to my paper and stamped each of three colors (Pixie, Pear and Canary- CTMH).
Then I used vellum to create the butterfly- using my favorite die (again) Vivienne.  This set is incredibly versatile.  First I used the solid die for the back of the butterfly and then I used the intricate die to cut the colorful part of the butterfly using the new paper from CTMH called Kaleidescope.  Totally love this paper.  I bought the card kit which made 15 cards.  Use the materials and instructions included in this kit to create 15 beautiful cards with envelopes!

These are the cards you can make in the kit.

Make 15 cards using Kaleidoscope Card Making Kit

 Here are my cards:
I have been using the left over materials on many of my projects lately because I love the patters and colors of the Kaleidescope paper.  I added a ribbon and few more details and "MORPH" (instead of POOF) the card was complete.

Bunny Birthday Love- Happy Little Stampers Challenge- Anything goes dies

My beautiful mother-in-law was over for a visit.  She joined me in my craftroom to make a card.  Here is what she made.  Cute little chick right?  We used a die to cut out the circle for the chick to show through.

This image is from a CTMH set called Spring Critters and has coordinating THIN CUT DIES but the dies sold out faster than I could order.  Shucks!  But I loved the stampset enough to know that I could use it without the dies, this time.  Now I make sure I order any that I really like ASAP.  We have 4 new sets of stamps and matching dies.  Check them out on my website if you are interested.

After we stamped the image, she colored it using CTMH coloring pencils.  We then used yellow Stickles to add some sparkle.  The paper and ribbon are older CTMH products but obviously still loved!

Thanks for CHICKEN us out!  Take a peck at my website and it would be eggcellant if you would give me a chirp or two on how you enjoyed this card.  Off to make dinner now.  Have to feed the rooster!  Thanks Theresa

Presenting the mother chick

Make It Monday #249- Money Fold Card

Just a quick post to show you the card I made and will enter in the Make It Monday Challenge.  This week, Lexi shows several fun ideas for incorporating money gifts on your handmade cards!   Here is my card....

Its really sad because I dont have a lot of Papertrey Ink items....YET!  But if I win this contest (and if you have lots of PTI stuff maybe you can cheer me on...) then I will be able to buy a few things and enter more contests!

Off to link this card up.  Thanks for fluttering over to see my card.  I look forward to getting all fluttered by your comments! 

My money can fly!

Well it is true that it flies into my account and back out faster than  most jets!  heehee  But today I am going to show you two card that fly!  One made with MONEY.  Patti from stationerystyles did a challenge and it inspired me to get out my MONEY FOLDING book, original designs by Suzanne Mc Neill.  Here is my card

Thanks for fluttering by and if you would like to know how I made this card, please mention your request in your comment.  Thanks, Theresa

I would like to introduce you to Becca Cruger from Damsel of Distressed Cards. 
She is one of my newer followers!  And she is a cousin to my adopted (step) children and is very creative.  She is a follower of INKYFINGERS1 and is very talented. She has a lot of work with Mix Media cards, framed artwork that is adorable and has very exciting news.... she has just remodeled a room in her new home into a craftspace that is amazing.  Hope over ....             HERE    .... to see her blog!

Here is one of her latest projects...



psss she was at the retreat when I made the Angry Bird Card.

ANGRY BIRD flashback!

Hello there!  Here to see the Angry Bird that I made at a retreat last year?  I loved this card so much I cant possibly give it away!  I am posting this card because Di from Pixies Crafty Workshop posted an Angry Bird card today and wanted to play along with the same bird but from another mother (bird) heehee.  Pop over to her blog if you dont already go there!

Here it is....

On the sentiment it said.... BAD HAIR DAY...  I just had to say something about his hair!!  I think he is cute.  Now that you like him, I will let you know what it says inside. I know its not very nice but he almost looks like he is feeling discussed with his wings on his "hips"  Do birds have hips??  Ok it says........ WHATS YOUR EXCUSE on the inside.  I know.  Not a very nice card but that is what I felt he was saying to me.  If you think he is saying something else to you, please include that in your comment!  Which I love your comments and opinions so leave one for me.
How he was created.  Th image was from an Angry Bird stampset that I do not have so I cant give you more info on that.  The background is an overlay from one of the CTMH cricut Cartridges with just some spot B&T (background and texture) papers from CTMH called Laughing Lola (now retired).  An oldie but goodie.  I cut out both wings and beak, covered them with LIQUID GLASS for strength and for texture.  I cut out and stuck his eyes on so they too had a little depth.  The sentiment is hand written.
I hope you have enjoyed and even got a little giggle out of this card.

Thanks for fluttering by and remember its a good day if you have INKYFINGERS (or wings if that is your style)  Loved seeing you and see you again real soon!  Theresa

Hope you're feeling BUTTER soon SPINNER card

Welcome back and I have a fun SPINNER card to share with you today.

I made this card using a spinner base and the NEW THIN CUT DIES and matching STAMPSET - CARNIVAL FUN, all from CTMH (Close To My Heart).  We have 4 new and adorable sets in our newest Idea Book: Seasonal Expressions (May-Aug 2016)  Click here to see them for yourselves. (click left on and turn to page 8,9,21,30)  Dont tell my husband but I want need them all!
I love this stampset and dies.  I cant wait to make more cards using this set.  I love pretzels and my husband loves popcorn (ok I like it too).

Here is my first card.

 I sprayed some color (honey and Sweet Leaf re-inkers) using the spray pen found on page 147 of the ANNUAL IDEA BOOK.
I then colored the circles on the spinner card (now retired) using CTMH WATERCOLOR PENCILS found on page 146 of the ANNUAL IDEA BOOK.

The sentiment was printed from my computer and the STITCHED SPEECH BUBBLE is from LIL INKERS. 
The word BUTTER was stamped using Honey ink and the stampset THE WORKS ALPHABET (D1195) both from CTMH.  Some of these products are retired but you can still create this card by creating your own spinner cards and I CAN TEACH YOU HOW!  The ink is THIN CUTS dies, matching STAMPSET and HONEY ink pad are available on my website.
I am always here to help you create using CTMH products OR help you create using YOUR STASH.

This card was totally fun and I was inspired by a few sites.






First I was inspired by the colors (light pink and soft green) and food in this challenge by ALWAYS PLAYING WITH PAPER.  Since I just ordered the stamps and die set I used in this card (CARNIVAL FUN), I figured it would work since it is food.  I needed a get well card but feeling BUTTER works better!  heehee
Next, my cards will almost ALWAYS have snippets in it since I am all about finding the SMALLEST PIECE OF PAPER or cardstock to use BEFORE I cut into a new full size sheet.  I always have lots of snippets in my cards so I will able to play on the playground at Pixies Craft Workshop.

Thank you very much for viewing my artwork, whether it is Derby Hats, cards or layouts, its great to have you visit. Please comment.  It helps me know you have been here, what you have enjoyed and how to keep bringing you projects that have left an impression and by my very own INKYFINGERS!  See you again next time.

My Creations™ Mini Mix Album and Mini Folio

My card won!! My first win!! Cuttlebug Mania chose my card!

I am excited and surprised and excited.(yes I said that twice)  My first win!  Here is the card that won.






And a fellow playground friend Di from Pixies Crafty Workshop has not only welcomed me to her wonderful play ground but has introduced me to the "club", encouraged the lovely ladies to stop over to say hi and.... she alerted me this morning to my win.  What a wonderful friend.  She has been a super encouragement to me and my first days on the playground.  Please pop over and say hi to Di.  She would love to let you have a twirl on her favorite swing!  

All the girls have been kind and I feel the warm welcome and value of a "game player" thats not typical on a regular playground.  If you are feeling like you need new friends, start at Pixies Crafty Workshop.  You will be very glad you did.

Now I made a new card this morning and will post it tomorrow since I want this post to have its time in the center circle!  Thanks to all the people who have been supportive and helpful.  See you tomorrow, maybe in the lunch room?? (hint hint)

Beautiful Savior Card

This card was inspired by several people.  Patti posted her card and her inspiration that came from Lizzie Jones' video on Ink Blending Through Die cuts. Check out her video HERE.
I too was inspired and decided to try it out.  Here is my card.

 I used a mask like in the video using several different color inks to sponge on color. (see color list below)  Then I cut the butterfly frames out in fun colors to really bring out the colors.  I wanted the middle butterfly to stand out so I cut two frames and attached the second one only in the middle so the wings "can fly".

The SAVIOR die was a gift from Patti and I totally love it.  I cut it in the same color as the butterfly frame (Sunset) and then cut the lower portion of SAVIOR in the pretty blue (Lagoon)  I wanted the demention that Patti was able to get on her cards by die cutting another layer of SAVIOR out of foam.  I love this effect.  I stamped Beautiful in Lagoon and added a sparkle for the "i".

This card was a blast to make.  I think I will enter it in a few challenges.... Lets see I used SNIPPETS for all the butterflies and SAVIOR so I can enter it in Pixies Crafty Workshop Challenge and because I used butterflys and Tulip (use color red in challenge)  I can enter it in the Butterfly Spot Challenge.

I used dies, so I will enter in the HLS May Anything Goes with Dies Challenge.

And since the whole event was inspired by ... Make It Monday #248: Ink Blending Through Die Cut Masks 

Be sure to check out the video.

Thanks for stopping by and know that I had a blast making this card and my INKYFINGERS happy!  Might have to focus a little on layouts since I am behind on my scrapbooking!  Anyone out there do layouts as well as cards???  Let me know in your comment.  Thanks again!

     

All of the inks and cardstock colors are CTMH.

• Tulip (red)
• Sunset
• Pink Carnation
• Lagoon
• Sweet Leaf
• Honey
• Gypsy
• card base is Colonial White (off white)

The butterfly is from Memory Box and it is style No. 98265 (Vivienne Butterfly)

Derby Hats for Bridal Shower this weekend- with new pictures

My mother in law, Anita and I needed hats for a bridal shower this weekend.  Both of us already had a hat we wanted to use, but needed to pick out some supplies to decorate our hats so we stopped in to BARGAIN BILLS of Rice Lake Wi.  Stacy was very helpful.
Here is how they turned out!

Here is my mother-in-law's hat.  The flowers were a few of her favorite she had just laying around her house. (She loves to decorate and does a super job) I helped finish off her hat with a few things from Bargain Bills.

Gorgeous right!?!

Here is my hat.  I had a little more to add to mine.  I dont wear hats.  Never really liked them.  Never owned one but now.... I am IN LOVE!  Yes I love this hat.  I am addicted!  Looks great. Saturday I will be wearing it to a bridal shower and I will post pictures after showing the whole outfit.  Thanks for stopping by and please let me know what you think of my hat!

Before the party started, we were able to mingle.  I was complimented several times on our hats and they were excited that they were homemade.  I explained how easy it was for me and it was suggested that I might "have a new talent and start a business."  Anyone interested in a custom designed hat ??  Just let me know.

Here are a few pictures of the other hats (and guests) at the party.

 Anita in her dress and the hat we made.  One beautiful lady here.

 Thats me in the red and pink dress.  Anita is wearing the hat I helped her make.  She is in the long white dress with roses. (next to the bride)  All the ladies looked beautiful and we had a really great time.

One of the guests brought a box of hats for the ladies to wear.  Here is the bride after she picked out her hat.

 And the winning hat is....  my hat came in second. 

Here I am with the two grand daughters.  I got them each a charm bracelet. After each big event in their lives, they will receive a new charm.  This event fell the day after the younger ones birthday so she got an extra charm- a birthday cake to add to her bracelet.  I sure do love these girls.  Then we went to see Jungle Book.
Thanks for checking out my derby hats.

wedding shower card

I need to have several wedding cards for this year, both for our daughters.  Here is my first card.  Hope you enjoy it.

 The paper is CTMH from looooong ago.  There is a silver shimmer under the red and for the tux and brides dress.  It is hard to see in the photo but it shimmers nicely in person.  Leave message if you want any more details on the supplies.  I think it turned out cute.

 I have two wedding showers, two weddings, two graduations, family reunion, garage sale and putting our house up for sale all before fall!  I have a full time schedule working on these things and THEN, ADD craft and bunny business and you can see how busy I am.  All of this on top of two moms and a husband who like to spend quality time NOT working on the house or tending to daily tasks.  Please visit again next week when I have a bit more time to skip rope or play kickball with you wonderful girls.   Thanks for visiting.  See you next week.

I have several more cards to make before the weekend.  So have to "skip" my way back to work.  Hope to join you all on the playground next week when things are just a little lighter.

PS.  I am going to post this on Pixies Crafty Workshop because most of the card was created using snippets.  Even the band around the card was a left over- re-purposed!  

Close To My Heart: Life is worth...

Happy Birthday Honey!

Yesterday was my hubbies Birthday.  I dont have any smart remarks or jokes to tell.  Only that his kids have had a ball with this birthday!  He got teased enough from them so I will take it easy on him. 
Here is the card I made for him.  I was so blessed by Patti when she agreed to stamp this image for me and send it in time for his birthday!
I did not do much special for this card.  Its hard to make cards for guys.  Anyone else have that as a challenge?  My husband let me know when I started making cards that he does not think a guys card should have flowers, girly colors or even too many embellishments.  That makes it a little tough.  So I used my CTMH watercolor pencils and kept it simple.  What I wrote inside really touched his heart and that really make me feel better about the card being simple.

I addressed the envelope in a funny way and left it on the table thinking he would assume it went in the mail.  When he spotted it, he said "Oh I thought it said "MOM" in my life".  Funny how he almost missed that!  I always have a hard time just writing someone's name on the envelop and having it tore open and then thrown away.  So this time, atleast there was something special on the envelope.  Oma is what our grandchildren call me for grandma and his is Opa.
My husband really loves to fish so that is what he is doing right now while I am here updating my blog, visiting with all the nice people I have met on the playground. 
I have some exciting die cuts to share with you next time.  And fun paper, layouts and cards that I want to make next week.  See you next time and INKYFINGERS means you had a fun time creating something from the heart.  Until next time, keep those fingers inked!

SOMB (Share On My Blog) Time!!

 I have so much to share on my blog I dont know where to start.  I think we need an index to navigate to where it might interest you most so here goes:

1. Mother's Day Cards I made this year
2. Grand daughter Bday card
3. What I got for mothers day

1. MOTHERS DAY CARDS

I was a little short on my favorite Mother's Days cards so I had to make a few new ones.  Here is the first.

My mother in law is one of the sweetest lady I have ever met.  I made this card for her.  She will love these colors. 

• The paper is from CTMH Perfect Day (X7100B, retired) paper pack and the focal flower is Perfect Day My Stickease (X7100C, retired) sticker) that I cut so it would let the petals curl up.  Behind the flower is a piece of white cs that I ran my ink over to create streaks which highlight the flower.  I never get tired of the left overs from my paper packs.  Easy to store in original bags and easy to file and find.
• The stampset used are Card Word Puzzle (C1494) and A Little Everything (D1408)
• The butterflies are SU butterfly punch. 
• The pearls are a pack from the local craft store in Rice Lake, Bargain Bills.

This card is so beautiful I will have a hard time giving it away.  But that is why we take pictures right girls?  So we can repeat another day.

Here is card two for my mother.  She loves the color purple and this is exactly what she said when I gave it to her today.

• The paper is from CTMH paper pack called Whoops-a-Daisy (X7009) back from 2008.  Yes I keep all my favorite papers to use in the future.  They are so easy to keep, why not.  They come in a 12x12 closable bag with all the matching colors and pattern to make any project fall together in a snap.  I store them in a milk crate in alphabetical order.   When I am finished with a project, I put all the patterned paper back in the bag and the next time I need that group of colors, I pull out the bag and tada, all the matching is done for me.
• The butterfly and pearls are the same as the first card.  Ribbon came in a bag with a variety of colors. I picked up somewhere while shopping.
• The stitched ovals are dies fro Lil Inkers.  Really love these and hope to get some square ones someday.

2. Grand daughters Birthday Card

This card was lots of fun.   I have two grand daughters and I have been saving these stickers just for their cards. 

• I got these great finds at our local dollar store.  YES THE STORE WHERE EVERYTHING IS A $1.00.  A whole sheet of these cute stickers for only $1.00.  Cant go wrong!
• I used the Cloudy Sky embossing folder from Darcie for the sky and the Brickyard  from Provo Craft for the grass.  I puffed both sections up with foam.
• I used CTMH watercolor pencils to add a touch of blue and green and shaped them to show a little sky between
• I then added my stickers.  Bright and cheerful critters and some flowers.  Simple and fun.

3. Mothers Day gifts.

 The first gift came from my son Shawn and my daughter in law, Kristina.  I was very excited because I have never attempted this kind of artwork yet, but have wanted to try it.  She sent me the whole set: book filled with dozen and dozens of designs and patterns.  It even has pages with a design you continue in the space that is empty.  This will be a new challenge for me and I will for sure have to show some off when I get a chance to work on it.

Next are some flowers I was surprised to have at my front door last night when I came home.  Dakota and Danielle sent me flowers!  Yahoo.  I believe they are a Lilly and then were just buds last night.  Today, they are already starting to open.  There are a variety of colors and I cant wait to see them all open.

Center of a lilly

 I have more to share but you will have to come back later.  Thanks for stopping by and make sure to comment and leave your blog address so I can come visit you!  Thanks, Theresa