Another Give Away from Melanie

You really need to check out Melanie Muenchinger's blog post here. She is giving away one of her latest stamp sets, "Make a State-ment" and also gives a very unique way in which to use the butterfly in the set. Here is her card:

Isn't her card fantastic???  The butterfly on my card is from Stampin' Up but it has a similar shape to the one in Melanie's set so I was able to take Mel's idea and make a card of my own. (When I win this set, I'll be able to use Mel's butterfly instead!!  I'm thinking positively, you see!) The sentiment comes from Melanie's set "Inspiration Mosaic". On the inside of the card I have used the birthday sentiment from Gina K. Design's set "Inside and Out". It says "May your birthday be filled with yesterday's memories, today's joys, and tomorrow's dreams." -- I love that!

I have to confess that on my first draft of this post I put my card directly underneath Melanie's and her gorgeous Copic coloring really washed my card out, so.....I decided to put the written explanation of my card first!! What can I say, she's the famous designer and I'm not!!

Here is the card I made:

This will be a birthday card for someone in our church and believe me, there are a lot of folks here with a lot of life in their years. My DH plays tennis with a fellow who just had his 91st birthday! And DH's tennis coach is 87 years old, walks a mile every day, then rides his bicycle for another mile, gives tennis lessons and goes out dancing in the evenings!! There's a lot to be said for life in Chapala, Mexico!!

Adios,
Betty

Vintage Card

I've made a vintage card for the challenge over at Sugar Creek Hollow where they are asking us to make something for our card using toilet tissue, paper towels, or coffee filters. My flower was made with a coffee filter.

I have used the sketch from Just Us Girls 118. I did add a sentiment at the bottom which was not shown on the sketch -- hope that's okay. Here's the sketch in case you'd like to use it too.

7 Kids Challenge - Try Something New is asking us to use a new technique, a new style or a new product. I am trying to get more comfortable with the vintage style and although I've made a card and a tag lately in the vintage style, I'd still say that it's new for me. And I've never made a flower with a coffee filter before either!

The lovely image that I've used on my card comes from Digital Two for Tuesday; Cora has wonderful vintage images there and at Clearly Vintage.

I've used a beautiful ribbon that was a gift from my friend Melisa Waldorf. By the way, Melisa is in the process of making a video tutorial so keep an eye on her blog for that! Back to the ribbon, I sponged it with Antique Linen, a Distress Ink from Tim Holtz so it would coordinate with my color scheme. The edges of my card base were also sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Antique Photo (thought that was appropriate with the image I was using!).

Sentiment stamp is from Gina K. Designs' set Fanciful Tags. Cut it out with Spellbinders Fancy Tags die. You can't see that very well on the photo but I did want it to blend in with thebackground so I guess you'd say I accomplished what I set out to do!

Well, that's all for now. Come on back now, 'ya hear?
Betty

For A New Baby Boy

My card today is made with four different challenges in mind.

Flourishes New Year challenge -- I have chosen to make a card for a new baby.
StampTV Friday Free For All -- make a baby card
Our Craft Lounge / Lily Pad Cards Challenge -- color challenge -- Navy/Silver/Light Blue (card entered at both sites)

I found some light blue patterned paper with baby phrases and another piece with dots. Cut one piece with a Nestabilities die and traced around the outside of the die on the navy paper to make a mat which I then outlined with a silver pen. Added a little bow and some silver pearls for embellishments.

I will be giving this card to the owners of our favorite restaurant here in Chapala. This will be their third son and is to arrive some time this month. The restaurant is located at their home so I'm sure we'll enjoy watching the little fellow grow up!

Here's the inside of the card:

Punched the corners with a Martha Stewart punch and added another piece of the "baby phrases" paper which was matted the same as the outside. Congratulations sentiment in Spanish from a set from Stampin' Up.

Thanks for stopping by,
Betty

Another Make It Monday Technique

Okay, I'll admit it, it's a little hard to see in the photo, but this technique is for a vellum sentiment. I think it needs to be on a darker background to be seen better, but this is the way it was made! The "thanks" sentiment is from my new PTI set, Think Big Favorites #6 and the flower was stamped with PTI's Background Basics: Gingham, also a new set. The flower is a two stamp process from a Martha Stewart set and the flourish that is stamped in Versamark ink is from See D's.

The vellum is scored and Scor-Tape is added behind the score so you can adhere it to the cardstock without the tape showing. Of course, in the picture, you can't even see the score! Guess I really do need to do this again with a darker background!

It was driving me a little nuts, so I decided to make another card with a darker background but I think I figured out that the actual "problem" was the type of vellum I used. On this card, the vellum is more opaque so it can be seen much easier. What do you think about this one?

The nightingale is from the same set as the above flourish from See D's and the sentiment is from PTI's Gracious Vases. The metallic accent was purchased in the jewelry making section at Hobby Lobby.

Later,
Betty

Papertrey Ink Go-To Sentiment Card

This is my second card for the review of Papertrey Inks Make It Monday Video Series. This technique of using sentiments for your card was their very first video and presented by Erin Lincoln. The "take care Feel Better Soon " sentiment is from PTI Think Big Favorites #6 and the "hope you're feeling better" is from PTI Everyday Button Bits. The upper sentiment was purchased from Michael's. The little butterfly is from a Martha Stewart set and the leaves are from Stampin' Up. I made two of these flowers quite a while ago; one was used for a Roses challenge and I never used this little guy so now it's his turn to shine!!

Hope you enjoy my card and your day as well!

Betty

Make It Monday

Do you play over at Make It Monday with Papertrey Ink? This week they are showcasing the 46 videos that they did this past year, highlighting different techniques. The challenge is to pick one of your favorites or one that you may have missed to use on your card. I think that I am going to try several of them this week as there is no limit to the number of times you can enter.

This card uses a technique demonstrated by Nichole Heady -- Line Frame 101 (Make It Monday #12). I have used one of the new Papertrey Ink sets that I just received called Gracious Vases. The background is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and the image is double matted. I like the clean look of this card and will be pleased to send it out as a Thank You!

Click on the link above and check out some of these videos!

Betty

Caroline's Blog Candy

I "met" Caroline when she came from Olga's blog to see my Roses challenge card . She is offering blog candy to those who would become her followers; as her blog highlights some lovely creations that she has made with Heartfelt Creations, you will not be disappointed with her posts!! Click here to enter.

Caroline says.....
The candy includes: a Martha Stewart paper trimmer with both cutting and scoring blades, a Tim Holtz 6-sheet grunge paper pak, a Tim Holtz film strip ribbon (I love that stuff!), a package of Tim Holtz reinforcers, a package of red Recollections florals, a Martha Stewart 6.75 x 4.75 inches paper pad, a 3-pak of Inkssentials Mini Misters, a package of Recollections assorted metal brads, a package of Recollections adhesive pearls (you can color these with your Copics or alcohol inks), and a package of Martha Stewart butterfly embellishments. :o) All items are brand new and unopened from a smoke-free home.

Added a Treat ... the blog candy now includes this new limited edition 2011 Fall Colors 3-pak of Distress Inks. They are Seedless Preserves, Ripe Persimmon, and Gathered Twigs. Great colors that you can use all year long!

Also added the Tim Holtz Winter 2011 3-pad Distress Ink pack!! It includes Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough, and Festive Berries. They are fantabulous colors!!

So the sooner you spread the word, the faster I'll reach 75 followers and the faster the candy will be given out! Thanks in advance for your help!

Let's help Caroline give away this great package of candy -- it's even non-fattening!!

Betty