Dance of the Butterflies

AlOha!!!

Did you think I might be able to play along with the STV weekly challenge? Cause I was sure wondering that myself. You see, Mr. Migraine has come back and brought some old friends, tonsillitis, sore throat, aching teeth and eyeball. But color me Super Woman, hunched over and with a cane. I can STILL COLOR!!! Take THAT Mr. Migraine.

Each day is precious. Today I was able to be the listening ear to three friends online as they cope with serious and sometimes tragic challenges. It feels good to let them pour their hearts out, just quietly listening. And afterward, I felt like perhaps I accomplished something special just by being here, on my electronic devices, willing to listen. Remember when we would go to each other's homes or meet for coffee and just talk? Times have changed. Now we have electronic devices. Seldom do I get a phone call, which is great for me because calls where me out faster than going to the mailbox. But a long time ago, getting together as friends was far more intimate and rewarding that this internet thing.

The challenge this week at StampTV is to Color Color Color!

Stamp Sets: Stately Flowers #4 by Melanie Muenchinger for Gina K. Designs
Cardstock: GKD
Inks: Memento Black, London Gray
Markers: Copic
Signo Gel Gold Pen
Glossy Accents
Liquid Pearls Gold
Vellum, VersaMark and Gold Emb Powder by Ranger for accent butterfly
GKD white emb powder for sentiment
Turquoise pearls Doodle Bug Designs
Dries Clear
Wink of Stella Clear all over butterflies and flowers

Mahalo nui loa for your kind comments!

With Aloha ♥

Peony Wedding & Anniversary Set

Aloha ♥

Have you tried the layering stamp sets? Boy, are they tricky! It was trying to figure out how to set one stamp image onto another, you know, lining them up as close as possible. Then the ink colors - I don't have a lot to pick from that are contrasting enough to layer. But I did want to learn and spent yesterday afternoon messing up and practicing :) The backs have a beautiful silver pearl embossed background on the white cardstock.  The centers of the flowers have clear seed beads and a few sequins. Each flower has gold berries stamped as an accent.

I will be sending these out with either Congratulations/Wedding or Happy Anniversary sentiments on them!

Altenew July Wedding Inspiration Challenge

Stamp Set: "Peony Bouquet" by Altenew
Inks: Stampin' Up, Simon Says Stamp, Delicata Gold
Cardstock: GKD
Embossing Powder Wow! Silver Pearl
Background Stamp "Elegant Frond" by JustRight
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins & Seed Beads
Dries Clear, Stamp Runner

Island Music Kitty

Aloha!

I've been coloring a bit while the winds have blown outside. It did not cool it off. The temp in our bedroom with the AC on was in the upper 80s and extremely muggy. Ugh!

This is also for the Inky Paws Challenge #34 - Summer!

I used watercolors on this one. Remind me to wait a bit longer after stamping with Memento black ink because the water still managed to smear the ink a bit (sad face).


Stamp Set: Aloha Newton by Newton's Nook; "Elegant Fronds" by JustRight
Cardstock: GKD white and turquoise sea; Neenah white
Inks: Zig Clean Color Real Brush; Memento Tuxedo Black & a Pigma Graphic Black #2 marker (the swirl under "aloha")
Wow! Embossing Powder Silver Pearl
Embossing Folder by Darice "Floral"
SB dies Labels 16
Pretty Pink Posh sequins Peacock Feathers, Ocean Spray, Clear
Perfect Pearls Buttercup and Rose Bud
3D Crystal Lacquer, Dries Clear, Adhesive Tape Runner, Signo White Gel pen

Mahalo for stopping by!!! 

♥

Tropical Kitty

Aloha friends,

How is your summer, besides very hot? I know. It's very hot here, too. We had a tropical storm push through with some strong gusts. Now we have to clean up and cut up at least one tree that came down. And on to the card :)

I couldn't wait to get my paws on this new stamp set by Newton's Nook and will enter it into their Inky Paws Challenge 34 - Summer! 

Using color pencils, I gently applied color to the image, then blended with a bit of Gamsol. If you look really closely, I've heat embossed the backgrounds of this card, as well as the next 6 cards or so with pearl embossing powder and a flourish-y background stamp for added interest and texture. It used up almost half the jar of embossing powder doing all the backgrounds!


Stamp Set: Aloha Newton by Newton's Nook; background stamp "Elegant Fronds" by JustRight
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and London Gray Fog
Prismacolor Color Pencils & Gamsol
Wow! Embossing Powder "Silver Pearl"
Cardstock: GKD white and AC pale yellow
SB dies Circle and Teardrop Circle
Embossing Folder: Darice Fall Leaf
Ranger Enamel Accents "White"
Pretty Pink Posh Clear Sequins
Dries Clear adhesive, 3D Crystal Lacquer, Adhesive Tape Runner

Thank you for coming by!

Wishing you lots of aloha ♥

Krafty Pooch

Aloha again!

My Favorite Things, Camp Create Color On Kraft is another challenge which I have officially missed the cutoff time, but at least I have one made. I stamped the images in VersaMark, then heat embossed with Gina. K. Designs white embossing powder. Take a VersaMark marker and you can doodle little dots for the background or on images.
Using Koh-i-noor and Derwent Color Pencils, blend the images and then use white pencils to highlight different portions. The white pencil also helps to blend colors. I'm sorry I don't know how to work my camera well enough to catch the embossed white card behind the kraft layer, but it's a paisley dry emboss.

Also entered into MSC Using Kraft (Mod Squade Challenge)


Stamp Set: "You Have My Heart" by Birdie Brown for My Favorite Things (isn't she wildly talented?)
Ink: VersaMark
Cardstock: Ranger Kraft; GKD 120# white base
Pencils: Koh-i-noor and Derwent
3D Crystal Lacquer (on the heart)
Ranger Black Enamel Accents (for the little girl's and doggie eyes & his nose)
Fun Foam (cut into layer to pop the kraft)
Tape Runner (I ♥ Scrapbook Adhesive EZ Runner)

Many mahalos for stopping by!

With aloha ♥ !!

Tropical Thanks

Aloha everyone!

My Favorite Things had a "Camp Create!" and out of five cards due by tonight, I have uno!!!! Hurrah! Better than nada!

This particular entry is for using Foil. I haven't used it enough to remember how to die cut with it. Boy, what a fiasco lol!


Stamp Set: "Polynesian Paradise" and "Diagonal Stripes Background" both by My Favorite Things
Cardstock: GKD 120# white and turquoise sea; Neenah 80# white
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Delicata Gold (stripes), Copic Markers, Ranger White Enamel Accents (white dots); Perfect Pearls buttercup
Dies: "Many Thanks," "Blueprints #8 (hearts)" and "Polynesian Paradise" (I have quite a bit of trouble lining those up with images, even with a light box)
Pretty Pink Posh sequins (peacock feathers and crystal clear)
Minc Gold Foil
Elizabeth Crafts double stick tape sheets
Adhesive Pop Dots and Dries Clear; Tape Runner

Thank you for visiting and sharing your comments!

With aloha ♥

Review - Stamp Set Replacement Bags

Aloha dear friends,

Several have asked which bags I referred to when I mentioned replacing torn stamp set bags with stronger, large bags. This is what I found on Amazon. The company name is: "A-Plus Shopping (USA Seller)." The size of the bags states: 10.50 inches x 7.75 inches. I'll list the actual dimensions below with pictures.

The bags I have been searching for I hoped would meet three criteria:  1) has to be a minimal to moderate cost because of our lower income, 2) more pliable than the easily - torn acetate bags that some stamp sets come in, 3) sturdy for longer storage and frequent use. (((note - I also use the wonderfully thick, flap top Avery Elle bags for small sets. But Gina's stamps are too large to fit into those. Note #2 Gina's older enormous stamps, $34.95 size, can fit into these bags EASILY, with both white slick stamp storage boards, the red rubber stamps, the cover sheet - all nicely into one of these bags. SWEET! For the "extra super large" stamp sets I did have to cut down the image sheet but you can still see the GKD logo on the top, and all of the images.)))

If you want completely clear, front and back of the bags, you will need to pay higher price. I am merely sharing what I purchased. These are completely clear on one side, opaque shiny white on the backs. These bags will fit larger stamp sets with either red rubber or clear stamps, the enclosed cover sheet, the white slick stamp boards that Gina includes in her sets, and both the "regular size sets" and the "extra large sets." You will even have extra room on all four sides, not too much-not too little, jusssst right!

Many people store their stamp sets in cases or other systems. I just want simple, STURDY bags. I can store much more this way, and placed alphabetized into a box for easy access.

Actual Dimensions--
Outside bag size: 10-1/4 inches by 7-3/4 inches
Inside usable inner space, within the zip lock area: 9-1/4 inches by 7-1/4 inches. The seams on all four sides are substantial, heat sealed.

Front (clear, pliable, heat seams x 4 sides --

Back (opaque, shiny, smooth pliable) --

Link to purchase on Amazon: 100 sturdy stamp storage bags with hangar hole, ziplock

PRICE (July 20, 2016) $17.49, free shipping for Prime members

You can read my review on the link. It is review #3 today. I hope this helps you to picture what I am using for storing the larger stamps in. I cannot afford the cost or extra space it would take to use clear DVD cases. Plus that size would not fit all of GKD stamps, esp the larger red rubber sets.

With best wishes!!!

Thank you for looking - aloha ♥

Rainbow Happy Mail

Aloha dear friends,

I hope each of you are well. Headache is officially gone :D  I spent all of yesterday sorting and entering information into my GKD stamp database/inventory. Whew, was I behind. I also threw away the torn bags and put sets into new zip bags I purchased online at a discount. They are big enough for the sets and a little room besides. Looks so much better. The whole day... That made me look forward to coloring today!

This is an attempt to lean towards the CAS style. Lawnscaping Challenge is to incorporate a rainbow element into your creation. Put my thinking cap on, and well, this popped out.

It's all colored with Copic Markers except for the stenciled sun which I just dotted some Memento inks around the edge of the center and the rays.

Stamp Sets: "You've Got Mail" and "Sweet Smiles" (just for the face on the sun) both by Lawn Fawn
Cardstock/Paper: GKD 120# white base, AC pink (bldgs); Lawn Fawn "Perfectly Plaid" paper pad
Inks: VersaFine Black for the sentiment and the sun's face; Memento Cantaloupe for the sun rays and around the sun; Copic Markers for the rest
Dies: MFT "Solid Skyline" border die; SU circle punch (sun face)
Stencil: Simon Says Stamp "Build a Scene" (sun)
Wink of Stella Clear and Adhesive Pop Dots

The last envelope on the right is deep purple but looks kind of black.

Thank you very much for stopping by!!!

With aloha, Rosy ♥

Summer Kitty Scene

Aloha friends!

It's so hot here, just like where most of you are. Ugh. July in Hawai'i - I can imagine laying on the snow someplace in the mountains of South America about now!

I have two stamp sets from Newton's Nook, so really had to think about this. The peas and curly vine border are from one set and the kitty cat is from another. And YAY for Action Wobblers! The kitty cat wobbles all over if you flick a corner :D  For the tall vine, I just bent the wiggly border from one set.

This is for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge to create a scene using Newton's Nook Stamps. I'll be sending this to another grandson (squeee) !!!

Stamp Sets: "Love a la Carte" and "Newton's Antics" both by Newton's Nook Designs
Cardstock: Gina K. Designs white base; Neenah 80# white; AC black
Colored with Copic Markers & Memento Markers
Scene is a couple of homemade acetate masks and Memento and Stampin' Up Inks
Action Wobbler
Wink of Stella Clear
Clear Rhinestone
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Bee Hive
Stampin' Up circle and hexagon punches
Sakura Glitter Pen, Green

Mahalo for stopping by!!!

Hoping your week will be filled with happy crafting ♥

Summer Flower

Aloha dear ones,

This is a card for the current StampTV MIUM Challenge to use "a single flower" (gulp). Boy, restrictions give me hives lol.

I stamped the flower onto watercolor paper, then used watercolor pencils and lots of wet on wet to paint the flower and background. Then using a black marker I added all the little doodles. I can't get my mind wrapped around this camera so you can't see the polka dot embossing on the blue layer. Will keep trying to figure settings out. Even autofocus is challenging for me!

The clear dots are Crystal Lacquer. Diamond Stickles is on top of the sequins in the middle of the flower.

Stamp Set: "True Love" by Gina K. Designs (an oldie but goodie)

Inks: Derwent Watercolor Pencils; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Multiliner 0.8 Black (doodles); Signo White Gel Pen (highlights on flower and leaves)
Cardstock: GKD white; AC Blue & Yellow
Embossing Folder "Quik Cutz/Lifestyle Crafts" Polka Dots
Miscellaneous Sequins
3D Crystal Lacquer
Ranger "Diamond" Stickles
Corner Rounder
Dries Clear, Fun Foam, Scor Tape, Tape Runner

Mahalo for stopping by! I love your visits and

thank you for your sweet

comments ~ Aloha ♥

Peek A Boo

Aloha friends,

I hope each one of you is well, safe and well. It seems so trivial that I am posting about a card in the midst of a world more violent and perilous, but here goes. And, this is day #8 of a migraine, sinus infection and more. Sometimes a hug from friends can really go a long way -- sending each of you a giant one and looking forward to receiving some in the near future.

My Favorite Things has some very adorable images and the Pure Innocence line definitely makes my heart smile. Let's get into this very simple card -- and LOOKY -- it's CAS (definitely hard for me)!

I used Copic markers to color the image, then added white dots along the bottom of her dress with a white gel pen. If you look REALLY close, she is wearing red glittered shoes!!! Yes, I was thinking Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as I colored this, as if I could click my shoes and instantly visit some of you :)

I sponged some light blue behind the fussy cut image, added sequins and silver thread with a little sentiment.

MFT Color Challenge 49

Stamp Set: MFT, Pure Innocence "Peek a Boo"
Cardstock: GKD "Red Velvet" Neenah "Solar White" and AC Black
Inks: Copic Markers and Sky Blue Memento Ink; Tuxedo Black Marker
DMC Silver Metallic Thread
Dries Clear; Scrapbooking Adhesive Tape Runner; Adhesive Foam Squares
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins "Classic Winter Mix" and "Ocean Mist"
Signo White Gel Pen
Vintage Sparkle Glitter in "Rosebud"

With lots of aloha, love and hugs to each one!!!

Thank you for visiting ♥

Rabbit Ears

Aloha friends!


This is a card for one of our grandsons who is a high achiever in school and after school fun activities. Remember tv's with old rabbit ear antennas? You had to move them every which way to get a few channels between 1-13 and maybe some UHFs if you had any? Well, our grandson is only in 7th grade and he is not going to have a clue what this card means -- lol!!!!

The inside says "For this very important message!" Remember how the commercials would follow before you could watch the rest of you show? Then I wrote about how proud we are of him.

The whole image took me back to the early 70s and that is why I drew in some quirky patterned wall paper and yes, SHAG CARPET LOL! The tv dials are Perfect Pearls, the screen is covered with Crystal Lacquer, I drew in an electrical cord and then crisscrossed metallic gel pen for the sound cover under the dials. Finally I drew in some static electricity up above his ears!


Stamp Sets: "Boob Tubes" and "A Little Lovin'" both by Paper Smooches
Cardstock: GKD 120# white, Neenah 80# white, and AC light yellow
Dies: MFT stitched rectangles; Gina Marie Inverted Scallop Rectangles; SB Conversation Stitched Bubbles #2
Inks: Memento markers and pads; Copic Markers; Sakura Metallic Clear Gel Pen
Fun foam, Scor Tape, 3D Crystal Lacquer, Perfect Pearls "Baby Blue," KaiserCraft Olive rhinestones, Ranger Clear embossing powder, Dries Clear, Signo White Gel Pen

Many thanks for stopping in & sharing some love!

With aloha ♥

Con-CRAB-ulations!!!

Aloha! Yes, I'm making up words again.

This is for our youngest grandson who will be entering first grade. If the grandkids are getting older, why is it we aren't?

I thought this would be entered into the Lawnfawn challenge, but the colors are wrong. Will try again for next grandchild's card 😃

As you can see, I added too many sequins. Last time I didn't add enough. There has to be a happy middle ground somewhere?

I'm working on the phone again, at least for several days. Forgive all the additional errors.

Stamp Sets: "Life is Good" by Lawn Fawn
Dies: Stitched Squares by Lawn Fawn, Small Squares and Scalloped Squares by SB
Acetate from Grafix
Copic Markers
Memento inks for sponging sky
Sequins and seed beads by Pretty Pink Posh
Signing White Gel Pen, Dries Clear, Scor Tape, Adheshive Foam

With aloha ❤️

Thank you for visiting! 

A Parrot Hello!

Ahoy! I mean Aloha!

I'm on a coloring/painting spree. Yup, it's still hot.

You know how you start to notice and LIKE some images from a new stamp company? Eeek! You fight it, and fight it, you don't need it, you don't want another company's images, and after the months roll by, you look for a set or two you can "afford." Because, after all, you wind up NEEDING it. Know what I mean?

So anyway... LOL... Your Next Stamp "got me!" I couldn't take it anymore. They are having a challenge that is one or both a sketch (Benadryl, please) and/or color inspiration. I did the color. If you know me, sketches strike a deep fear within me. It goes entirely against the "I Gotta Be Me" lyrics that Frank Sinatra sang. Sketches are NOT me.

YNS Color (or Sketch) Challenge!

Driven by guilt, I reached for the little set of Kuratake Zig Clean Brush Watercolors (I think that's close enough to the name?) and used the yellow, pink and green to meet the color challenge. You know how I managed to heat emboss some vellum yesterday until it bubbled and burst into a flame? Yes, another talent. Today (my first mistake of day) I did a similar thing to 3D Crystal Lacquer. Another note to self: Wait until next day to send anything with 3D Crystal Lacquer through the BigShot. Or better yet, apply the 3D Crystal Lacquer AFTER you run your image through a die cutting machine.

I managed to "squish" all the Crystal Lacquer. Boy, was it ever UGLIness. Sooo, I "thought" (second mistake) "Surely a little heat will smooth it right back out." LOLOLOLOL. No. It created a giant opaque snow globe where it was applied, over the parrot's beak. So I covered it with a simply colored nose, fussy cut, foam adhered over the snow globe beak. After all, a little 3D embellie is always acceptable.

Then I stamped some clouds across the background, glued some sequins, and called it a day. Headaches.

Stamp Set: "Soaring By" Your Next Stamp
Inks: Memento pads and markers; Kuratake Zig Clean Color Brush Watercolors (or close to that)
Cardstock: Strathmore 140#; GKD 120# white; AC Fuschia; Neenah 80# white
Dies: Inverted Scalloped Rectangles by Gina Marie (Hey, check out her dies - super cute, super reasonable prices & shipping); SB Distressed Rectangles
Pretty Pink Posh sequins
Dries Clear & Tape Runner, and of course, 3D Crystal Lacquer (not heat proof, sigh)

Always a giant mahalo for your stopping by!

With aloha ♥

I Love Your Moose-stash

Aloha!

I'll betcha it's hot wherever you are! It's hot here, ugh. Summers in Hawai'i is a real test. Most islanders go waaaay up north to Alaska or Yukon, other countries they are from, to escape the intense heat and humidity from July - September here. I don't blame them. I had hoped to grow up and be a snow bird, but we just don't fit into that financial planetary system. Just ain't happening. So this little bedroom ac has to do its best. Bruce is doing his best to fix up our house, too. Onward!!!

Thought it would be fun to create a manly, man card. First thing I thought of was a moose. Then I searched around and saw A Blog Named Hero is having a "Masculine" challenge this month.

This is pretty basic: plain card base, layered pattern paper, used color pencils to color, then fussy cut a moose, cut slit under his nose, adhere a black embossed mustache under his nose. The sentiment is a strip of white with two stitched dies embossed across the borders. Finished it with some Perfect Pearls to look like black pearls and 3D Crystal Lacquer (his eye balls).

Stamp Sets: Hero Arts "Heydey Sentiments" and "Missing You"
Dies: Paper Smooches Stitched
Cardstock: GKD 120# white (my fav of all card base cardstock); AC Black; Neenah 80# white
(I don't remember which company this plaid paper comes from-just in my stash)
VersaFine Black ink; Clear Embossing Powder by Ranger
3D Crystal Lacquer, Perfect Pearls Onyx Black

Many Mahalos for stopping by and leaving your love ♥

PS  Bruce pretty much laughs at everything I make.

He understands my kind of humor.

Aloha!!!

Color Inspiration Weddings

Aloha!

We have clouds (cheering for lower heat)!!!

Yana is hostessing a challenge at AltaNew that is both "Wedding Cards and Color Inspiration."  

She even has a video out showing her basic "card recipe" when she is lacking some mojo and it is phenomenal. You can see it here: Elegant, Basic Layout by Yana Smakula

While I can't think of a wedding coming up, sometimes people can surprise you out of the blue LOL. The colors for the challenge are: yellow, pink and green. That makes it easy for a wedding flower card, right? 

I heat embossed the images using gold onto vellum. I sponged both Brilliant Pearl and Memento inks onto the backs. There used to be embellishments of flourishes and little berries until I caught the vellum on fire - YES! I did. So I tried to save this by fussy cutting out the main image because of all the masking involved. Minus the flourishes and dots, this is what is left.

Then I ran the card base through a Darice Damask embossing folder and used SB Ribbon Banners Tags for the sentiment. I'm done and just exhausted. Every night or the last couple of weeks, one of our kitties, Juliette, has been wanting food because our other kitty, Ninja is sleeping/guarding the food dish. Even if I put out another dish, Juliette had to start laying a paw on my face, claws barely out. If I don't wake up right then and feed her, the claws get longer and longer until, "OK! I'm awake, I'm up!" This happens between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. I am so tired I can barely think straight.


Stamp Set: AltaNew "Henna Elements"
Inks: Brilliant and Memento
Cardstock: GKD 120 and 80# White; Vellum by Grafix
Judikins Detailed Gold Embossing Powder
Perfect Pearls "pearl" powder dusted over the images
SB Ribbon Banner Dies; Corner Rounder
Darice Embossing Folder "Damask" 
Clear Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh
Dries Clear adheres the sequins and Glue Dot backing for vellum worked GREAT for the flower image. (I've never used it before so I kinda held my breath - works like double stick paper, but much thinner and sort of see-through.)

Big Mahalo for stopping by and leaving some love!!

With aloha ♥