Keep on Swimming

I love Lawn Fawn. Their images are so stinkin' adorable that I can't help myself. Recently one of our kitty cats, Calvin, had to have dental surgery. It was rough because his immune system attacked his teeth. They only left the canine teeth (the fang ones). And he's had antibiotics and probiotics twice a day for weeks. He's so much better now and he isn't in pain anymore. I won't go into the cost because that part was just as frightening as the surgery. 😅💸💸💸

Here is a simple CAS thank you card for our vet. I put a thank you sentiment on it but didn't get that picture. Using a shimmer pen all over the water and fish gives it some sparkle. Inside there is a clam shell with a pearl in it, a puffer fish and some other sweet die cuts I colored using Copics..Calvin is a gray and white tabby. This scene reminds me that Calvin is better and back on duty watching the fish 🐱🐡🦪

The base is embossed with a beautiful flower design by GKD and an old diagonal stripe folder that I can't recall who made it. 

Masculine Card Designs

Aloha,

What outdoorsy kind of people wouldn't enjoy a tactile feeling fishing card? I used oxide inks for the distress, aged look on most of the die cuts. Metallic foil cardstock is great for hardware on the tackle box and the reel of the fishing pole and fish hook. I added gold metallic paste and gold perfect pearl powder to the fish. There's plain cord that ties the bundle of caught fish. And adding some shimmer pen to fish and other parts adds gentle sheen.

Honey Bee-Lovely Layers Rod.and Reel cutting dies

Simon Says Stamp-Good Greetings sentiments and matching dies (included in the Techniques and Textures class w/JM earlier this year)

Mahalo nui for stopping by 🤙

 

 

Small Post It Note Gifts

Hello, everyone, 

Recently I had the pleasure of making about 75 small appreciation gifts. I wanted something cute but also usable, both for women and men. I ordered the small pencils, Velcro dots, little post it notes in subdued colors and white duct tape from Amazon. I will include a link to the YouTube videos for creating the covers as well as the video of how to make simple, custom sized, stylish pencil or pen holders. This is a fabulous way to use your cardstock and pattern paper scraps. By changing the pattern paper, you can make these gifts for children, too.

Link to video and basic measurements for making note covers: YouTube post it gifts

Link to video for making pen/pencil holders: Pen or pencil holder 

Little pencils: Short pencils

Duct tape (lots of colors, patterns): White glossy duct tape

Earthtone color post it notes: Soft, earthy color post it notes

Mini, clear Velcro dots: Easy Velcro dots

I used Altenew Tape Runner as well as Aileen's Tacky Liquid Glue for putting these cute post it note gifts together. I also used a variety of sticky back gems, gold shimmer border stickers and flowers to decorate the fronts. Both the insides and outside are decorated with pattern paper on top of the cardstock. You can use a corner rounder or other decorative punch on your corners to add interest. The pencils come with a small presharpened tip and carefully packaged in boxes inside ziplock bags. 

Thank you for stopping by. 🙏

Hello Hollyhocks

 Aloha, 

Two kits arrived from SU today. They've recently had a sale. Since my mojo has hit a pot hole, it feels really good to kick out all 9 cards in the Hollyhocks kit. Don't you love how bright and cheerful the flowers are? I miss growing hollyhocks. 

The cards are simple, pretty and already assigned to recipients. I'll just decorate the insides a bit to finish them. 

The bling, double sided tape, dimensional adhesive foam, the die cuts, 9 card bases and 9 matching envelopes are all included in the kit.

 

Thank you for visiting! 

Purple Bellflowers

 Hi, friends,

I'm still learning how to piece together layered flowers. Boy, these can be tricky. I like that Altenew puts these little keys and arrows in each petal so we know better how to line each one on top of each other. But I still find it difficult, especially if my hands start shaking.

Altenew is having a challenge this month using the colors Purple, Orange and Olive. Here is a LINK to see the samples as well as the entries. I love deep purple and periwinkle (heh heh heh, look at my blog name) but combing it with orange is a hard one so I kept mine more of a golden yellow orange. I hope lots of my old cardmaking buddies are still actively making cards. Take very good care and thank you for stopping by! 

Card Ingredients:

Altenew Craft a Flower Bellflower Die Set

Altenew Bougainvillea Outline Stamp Set & Dies (sentiment)

Altenew Foam Tape

Altenew and Gina K. Designs dye inks

Altenew Tape Runner (my all-time new favoritist ever tape runner - never gets stuck & rolls like butter)

Versafine Black Onyx with Simon Says Stamp clear embossing powder for sentiment

Gina K. Designs Masking Magic 1/2" strips

Neenah White 120# cardstock

Spellbinders Gold Mirror cardstock (layer behind flowers)

My Favorite Things Boysenberry cardstock

Trinity crystal gems "Unicorn Tears"

Tombow Mono Glue

Martha Stewart bright gold glitter

Stash purple butterfly

Bird Houses

Hello, friends,

When I saw this bird house die set by Stampin' Up, I felt the need to have it --- deep down in my bones 🦴😂 

It was not hard to cut all the smaller pieces out and then use a jewel pick tool to put this together. This isn't the usual card technique for me but it still isn't as daunting as die cut inlay. Boy, die cut inlay - that tests my personality flaws. 

Here are just a couple bird house cards I made for local friends that show me much love. Hope you like these, too.

Card Ingredients:

• Country Bird House Die Set by Stampin' Up
• Various small flowers and leaves by Spellbinders & Sizzix 
• All coloring done with Copic markers
• Color Cardstock by GKD
• Silver Metallic cardstock by Spellbinders
• Pattern paper from stash
• Ink Versafine Onyx Black
• Sentiment Thanks a Million by GKD
• Stamps of Life (banner, You are Amazing and banner die)
• Infinity Arch Dies by Hero Arts
• Gems from stash
• Butterfly cut out Couture Creations colored with Copics
• Adhesive Foam under many of the little pieces 

Thank you for stopping by.

Rose Watercolor for Pinkfresh Studios Challenge

 Aloha again!

I don't have much time to type because this needs to be linked asap. But it's also for the Pinkfresh Studios Patterns & Colors August Challenge ending in about 5 minutes :( (Update: I had one whole minute to spare after getting this linked up. 😉

I gold heat embossed, then watercolored the roses. I tried to keep this card simple, just adding a few black pearls and splatter with the watercolor. I want to give this to our daughter to thank her for doing so much yard work to help Bruce and me. 

This and the previous card are entered as my first time for Pinkfresh challenges. I've been getting some of their products over the last 3 months or so. I guess that makes me a newbie to their company. I really do enjoy watching their videos and in particular, Carissa Wiley. Some day I would like to try their blending brushes.

Card Ingredients:

• Fancy Rose Bunch by Pinkfresh Studios (the stamp and the sentiment)
• Ranger Gold Embossing Powder
• Versafine Embossing Ink
• Versafine Black Ink
• Arches watercolor paper
• Cardstock by Gina K. Designs
• Adhesive Foam 
• Double sided tape
• Liquid Glue
• Kuratake Watercolors
• Black adhesive backed pearls from stash

Here is a link to see Pinkfresh August Challenges:

Pinkfresh Challenge for August

Patterns & colors, 5 x 7 easel card, Pinkfresh Studios August Challenge

 Aloha, friends,

Pinkfresh Studios has a challenge right now about utilizing patterns as well as several colors they chose. I used lots of patterns: Swiss dot, strips, arches, ombre coloring, rectangles and diagonal scoring. I used 3 of the 5 color choices. The challenge is over tonight at midnight.

I started by blending an ombre aqua to create a teal to aqua color background. I die cut this with strip dies, then die cut the strips with an arch die. Carefully, I adhered the arch cut strips into a spaced arch shape over a peach color layer. The peach color panel was previously embossed with a Swiss dot folder. I put the rectangle outline die cut leftover piece, also ombre blended, around the strips design. All of this went onto a diagonal hand-scored white panel, then onto an aqua panel, and again onto another soft peach color layer. This went onto a 5' x 7" white easel card base. 

I die cut a long leafy branch and adhered it to the right side of the strip panel. After stenciling color onto a floral bouquet with a lemon, I adhered this with foam over the branch and strip cut background. I added the "friend" sentiment on adhesive foam, and used double sided tape to add a gold heat embossed butterfly onto vellum also backed with a butterfly white die cut. I finally added aqua and peach color panels to the bottom of the easel card with another stacked sentiment "just because" to act as the stopper for the top portion of the easel card. For the final step, I added some iridescent sequins in a semi circle along the right side of the design. 

I took this one outside since it was such a pretty day.

Click for Pinkfresh Studios August 2025 Challenge

Card Ingredients

Products by Pinkfresh Studios

• Citrus Bloom Stamps/Dies/Stencils (small bouquet)
• Color Block Strip Dies (strips and mini rectangle frame)
• Phrase Builder Stamps/Dies "Hello" set (main sentiment)
• Curvy Foliage Die (leafy branch in background)
• Happy Blooms Frame (border for stopper sentiment)
• Dahlia Bunch (just because sentiment on bottom)
• Inks (peach colors)

Products also used

• Infinity Arch Dies by Hero Arts
• Color Cardstock by Stampin' Up
• White Cardstock by Hammermill and Neenah Classic Crest 110#
• Sizzix 49th & Market Engraved Wings Stamps & Framlit Dies (butterfly)
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dot Embossing Folder
• Ranger Fine Detailed God Embossing Powder
• Simon Says Stamp Premium Vellum
• Inks VersaFine Black and Stampin' Up Teals to Aquas
• Stampin' Up iridescent sequins

Mahalo for stopping by 🫶

Koko, a friend dog

A dear friend lost her pet dog, so heartbreaking. It really hurts deeply when we lose our fur babies. I found a coloring page online and it looked just like her Koko. I used color pencils and filled the card with our love and hugs. 

And big hugs to each of you, too! ❤️ 

Rosy

A "Z" Fold Anniversay Card

Fun folds are just that, FUN! And this one is fairly simple, especially if you have a see- through ruler to make precision cuts in your cardstock. I finally purchased the Stampin' Up Paper Trimmer. It has a very nice blade, ruled table, clear ruler and double raised edges at the top and bottom of the cutting areas to help keep your cardstock in place as you cut. You can see exactly where you want to cut. 

At first I purchased this trimmer to cut wedge or triangular shapes of pattern paper to roll into beads. Boy, is that ever fun and I'll post that at another time. 

However, I finally gave in and bought this trimmer after I sliced my thumb, deeply, trying to cut thin strips of paper for the beads. With the SU paper trimmer I don't have any more surgical accidents, 😬 yet.

You know who has endless fun fold videos? Lisa Curcio. She's been with Stampin' Up for many years. You will find about a zillion videos over on her YouTube channel,  https://youtube.com/@lisasstampstudio?si=7c6sHtSZc5Rfamqd You won't run out of inspiration there. 

I used pieces from a Stampin' Up card kit for this. Sorry I haven't been keeping track of card details. I'll try to do better at that. I lose all the post it notes I stick on the images as I go. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Lots of love, 

Rosy

The Heavenly Hibiscus

Aloha, 

Using color pencils feels relaxing to me. They can get into the tiniest of cracks and do not bleed out compared to alcohol markers. Markers are faster for big images but I wanted to take my time on this hibiscus. There are lots of little spaces. The friend that I sent this to said that her favorite color is red. Doom. I heard the strings on Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 because red markers are the most likely to bleed. I went the way that took the longest - color pencils. So when I need to fix my mind on something relaxing, coloring pencil projects always helps. 

What is your most restful coloring technique? I would love to know! 

Rosy

Box of fruit

 

Hi dear friends,

This card is a year old. I'm going to try and post the cards I'm making but I will keep it brief. I can't rememberwhich stamp set I used, maybe Stampin' Up? 🤥

I just love interactive cards, don't you? I miss all the fruit that is harvested this time of year. I haven't had concord grapes in about 20 years. Our father had a big vine in our yard, along with deep black purple plums. Sure was fun picking and eating them. Once in a while  we get deep red, sweet bing cherries flown over. You can imagine the price. This week in the local grocers it is $20/pound. I just inhaled the advertisement.

Much love to you all. 

Rosy

Cat Fish

 Aloha dear ones!

When I first saw this stamp set at Simon Says Stamp, it made me laugh! A cat-fish mermaid! What a sense of humor! 

Have you ever heard the Catfish Song by Jonny Boston? It incorporates a lot of song titles by Elvis. It's adorable and goes along "purrr-fectly" with this stamp image!

It's simple using a brushed background, a little stamping, paper piecing (umbrella) and die cutting. We have a sketch by Dirty Dozen gal Lisa using the monthly Jukebox theme at Splitcoaststampers. I used the colors and sketch to create the spliced umbrella. The edge of the sentiment oval is edged with Copic marker.

Thank you for your visit!

Stamp Set: "Cuddly Summer Critters" by SSS

Cardstock: Accent Opaque White 120#

Ink: Distress Oxide - Broken China, Evergreen Bough, Speckled Egg, Vintage Paper; Memento Rich Cocoa

Spellbinders Oval Die

Copic Markers

Adhesive Foam Tape

Stickles Diamond, Wink of Stella, Pearl for accent

Here is a little addition - "I wish I had."

I wish I had used a few brown dots for sand, a darker blue

sky, and some white ripples in the water 🎨 

Jukeboxes and Elvis?

 Aloha friends,

The theme this month at Splitcoaststampers is Jukebox. Jukeboxes remind me of the 50s-70s when we had to pay a nickel (or more) to hear our favorite songs at restaurants or other public establishments. At home we would listen to the radio or play a record that we bought. I was happy when they replaced 8 tracks with cassette tapes. Music CDs came and went. Now people just stream from somewhere out there? That's a song, too.

The number one song ever played on a jukebox was Elvis Presley's Hound Dog. I had no idea. 

When we used to live in central Oregon, we often drove over the Santiam Pass or over Highway 2 next to Mount Hood. It's so breathtaking! The Santiam Highway runs along the river with trees and mountains on both sides of the road. I have a lot of fond memories of the Cascade Mountains. Although we didn't have a diner along the road there, I do remember eating at diners on the east coast. 

After sketching the background, I stamped the dog and used Copic markers to color the scene. His giant bone is popped up with the little red bow. The sentiment is printed and popped up. Thank you for coming by. PS I'm now a Dirty Girl at SCS. 

Stamp: "Doggie Kisses" by Art Impressions (the doggie)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (for the doggie)

Cardstock: Accent White Opaque 120#, SMS Black 80#, GKD Cherry Red 80#

Rounded Rectangle die from SMS (sentiment)

Pencil & Copic Markers

Adhesive Foam Tape

Red Twine

Stickles Diamond & Wink of Stella

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your visits and comments!

A Quiet Bay

 Aloha!

I made this for my sweet hubby, Bruce, for our anniversary this year. He loves to fish and to be on the ocean. Each year I try and include a poem about the ocean and faith. Nope, not going to share 😂

It's very simple and quiet - I didn't add bling or anything just to let the ship be the focus. I hope each one of you is doing well!

Stamp Set: The Boatyard by Art Impressions

Cardstock: Accent Opaque White Cardstock; Sizzix Opulent - Greys

Ink: Memento Desert Sand

Watercolors: Koi; Tombow markers (dark contrast and sea gulls)

Stitched Rectangle and Oval dies: Gina Marie

ScorTape and Wink of Stella clear

Thank you for visiting!