Aloha Hibiscus

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well with each one of you. Thank you everyone for your kind words, cards and sympathy for the loss of our son in law. For those of you who are not on Facebook, Doug Morrison, age 34, passed away unexpectedly and suddenly during a planned cardiac surgery to repair a valve in Seattle. Our daughter is still visiting with her father in southern California. His mother and daughter should be back here on Big Island now or shortly. It's been a very hard time for us.

This is a card set for friends to say thank you for all of their hard work for our island congregations. I have not been up to making cards lately, but today was the last day of their current visit. I put these together today, a lightening speed for my usual snail pace.

The flowers and sentiments are colored with Copic markers, the easiest and fastest way for me to color and blend. Not sure if you can see but there is a bit of clear Wink of Stella brushed onto the flower petals and some leaves. The "Aloha" sentiment is a die cut by Avery Elle. It's the only Aloha die cut I have, really! I just colored a gradient of the same markers over white cardstock, die cut it and glued it to each card. I did not add any embellishments other than a touch of Liquid Pearls for the hibiscus centers.

Just to make them a little more interesting, down in the left corners I fussy cut some of the flower or stem and leaves out. I used simple sketching to add the leaves and stems onto them because the "Aloha" stamp set by GKD only has flowers.

There is a set of four colors in this card set, an extra envelope (stamped with a medium size flower on the back), some stamps and a pen all grouped into a clear box with silver cording. The inside of the cards have a mini hibiscus colored in the same as the front flower. I just love this stamp set designed by Theresa Momber. It has three sizes and styles of hibiscus :)


Stamp Set: "Aloha" by GKD, designed by Theresa Momber
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black pad and marker
Wink of Stella in clear
"Aloha" sentiment die is from Avery Elle, "Stay Fresh" stamps and dies
Copic Markers
Liquid Pearls
Multi Matte Medium
Corner Chomper Crop-a-dile 1/2" side

Thank you for your visit, your lovely

comments & encouragement ♥

Flamingo Toes & Last Day for Chance to Win

Aloha everyone!!!

I hope your day was absolutely fantastic, or at least very close to it!

Today is the last day to comment (by midnight Hawai'i time, 10 pm Pacific time, 7 pm Eastern time). I will draw winners and post them tomorrow! Excited? I am!

The thing is this -- When I visit stamp companies, blog hops, or other stamping giveaways, the chances to win anything is so very small. They usually pick one winner out of hundreds or over a thousand entries. And the winner sometimes gets something nice and small or a giant giveaway. Most everyone else has little to no chance of winning. And if it is a creation entry prize, well MY chances go down even more LOL!!! That is why I have few entries here but three prizes given away. Isn't that waaaay funner? Ok. Moving on :)

Today's card is for a friend who absolutely loves pink flamingos!!! I mean she LOVES pink flamingos! The more the merrier.

Remember VersaMark "Dazzles?" Most of us use regular VersaMark but don't know what to do with the Dazzles, at least for me. I thought of a "tone on tone" look for white cardstock (the background here). I sprinkled some glitter onto it but it only stuck to a small area because it dried fast while I was distracted by the chickens. Yes. They scream for me under the lanai until I throw some seeds down - like right now. BRB.

Now I love Dazzles and look forward to creating different backgrounds for a tone-on-tone look. If you've pushed it into the back of your stash, I hope this gives you reason to bring it out and start stamping with it for a soft image or a soft background!

Stamp Set: "Aloha" by Theresa Momber for GKD; and "Leafy Background" by JustRite Stamps
Cardstock: GKD White and SU Pirouette Pink
Inks: "Dazzle" VersaMark, Memento "Angel Pink" and "London Fog"
Copic Markers in RV group, Grays and B00
"Cherry Blossom" embossing folder by Darice
"Raindrops" in clear and silver by The Robin's Nest
Multi Medium Matte adhesive, Sakura "Clear Stardust" pen, Wink of Stella Clear and Platinum embossing powder by Ranger

The "Dazzles" VersaMark Background

Thank you sweet ones!

I'm very happy to be drawing prizes later tonight

to say "Mahalo" for encouraging me to keep trying!

Names will be posted tomorrow ♥

With Aloha 

It's been too long and I miss you all {hugs} !!!

Hello dear friends,

I've been away from my blog and crafting too long now. I've been wondering what to get on here and update you about, such as: cast still on arm/hand... trying to color with one hand... can't turn the Big Shot with one hand.. and things like that but it sounds too silly!

So, here I am. Hoping cast comes off in two more weeks. Nope, didn't break anything. The two main wrist bones were a rubbin' against each other until I cried my eyes out. We can't have that ♥ Steroid shots no helpey. So I just waited. and waited. and so on.

I managed to put together a couple cards which are not that good and took for-e-ver.

First one a simple Happy Anniversary to our Daughter and her Hubby, their 10th. They came here from California and spent two full hot sweaty yucky mosquito stung days ripping up our back yard. It no longer looks like an abandoned jungle (color me grinning in gratitude).

Simple sponging a la Theresa Momber style ~
Stamp Set: "Aloha" by Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs

I wanted them to remember their hard working, beach going,

old friend seeing Hawai'ian Anniversary ♥

See? Just a Simple Something for our dear ones.

Thank you for looking!

Aloha Flamingo

Aloha again,

Hope you are doing well. This is another card based on variations of one color (monochrome). This is CAS (for me, it is LOL) in all pinks. I will enter this into this week's MIUM challenge at StampTV - for Cat who wants us to use one color.

Stamp Set: "Aloha" by Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs
Inks: Memento Angel Pink (sponging), Stampin' Up Strawberry Slush, Regal Rose and Blushing Bride
Sequins: Verve Pastels
Pearls and rhinestones from stash
Pink Twine, Diamond Stickles, Signo White Gel Pen
Copic Markers

Mahalo to each of you for stopping by!!!

An Oval Sea

Hi friends. Hoping your day has been good, and if not, let's hope for a better tomorrow.

This is a Three-Paged Card! It has a sea view through an oval aperture window. The third page has the sentiment and room for message. This is the tenth of ten cards to give to the doctor who will get these to the shop who sells them for me. We give them 10 at a time, and they've been patiently waiting for months for this group of ten.

Recipe:

Stamp set Aloha by Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs
Cardstock 120# white by GKD; Blue shimmer paper that was on sale and not in original pkg; Neenah     Solar White for the sponged ocean scene.
Light Lime half backed pearls by Kaiser Craft
Spellbinder dies: Petite Ovals, Opulent Ovals (embossed the blue layer with this)
Fiskars corner punch/embosser
Memory Box turtle die (covered w/Versamark and then heat embossed 2-3 coats UTEE)
Martha Stewart score board (scored around the scenery)
Gold cord bow by GKD
Inks Gkd and Memento, Versamark, Delicatta Gold
Masking tape (masked the ocean horizon)
Wink of Stella clear (on ocean)
Scor Tape (for adhering the second page only to the top end of the third page of the card, and for attached the sponged scene onto GKD cardstock)
Glue dots (to hold turtle on), Monoadhesive (to adhere blue layer to front), Aileene's Clear Tacky Glue (also holds the turtle on, as well as behind the lime pearls for extra hold)
White gel pen (Signo) to draw on the waves
Black #2 micron pen to draw on the birds


I used mini sponge daubers to sponge the scene with Memento inks, using a piece of masking tape to create the horizon line.

The turtle was die cut, sponged with colors of green, touched up with Gliteratta Gold ink for sparkle, then Versamarked both sides, and heat embossed with 2 or 3 coats of UTEE. It's how I make charms for cards :D

The Opulent Oval was used as an embossing plate of sorts through the Big Shot.

Below is Page 2, adhered to the top of the back page with Scor Tape, scored to create the 

EZ fold up crease. Can you see the sparkles from Wink of Stella clear on the ocean? 

And finally, the 3rd and last page of this card. The envelope matches this third page.

Thank you sweet friends, for stopping by and checking out this latest card ♥

Silver Moon Ocean

I can't get enough of the ocean, or flowers, or animals :) But I do need to make a lot of ocean theme cards. This one is simple, black and white. I used water and Perfect Pearl (pearl) as a water paint and painted the moon through a negative die cut circle. I used the same Perfect pearls across the ocean for a silvery sheen on top of the blues of the ocean. White gel pen helped me make the waves. There are lots of aurora borealis color rhinestones, tiny rhinestones in the sky for stars, and rhinestone flourishes - lots of bling. I used some Crystal Lacquer on the palm branches for texture as well as on top of the breaking waves.

Thank you friends -- I appreciate you coming by!!!

Aqua Seas

It took a long time to get these next few cards completed.

First up is a colorful scene built on yellows and aquas, touches of purples and pinks, lots of pearls (hand colored each one as they used to be ivory), tiny rhinestones and Crystal Laquer for stars. I colored the tropical bird, covered it with VersaMark and heat embossed 3 coats of UTEE on it. Yes, you could probably use it as a pendant on a necklace, but I wanted to bring something special to the scene. It's flying over the beach.

Stamp Sets: "Aloha" and "Tropical Nature," both by Theresa Momber at Gink K. Designs
Inks by Memento; used sponge daubers to create the scene, and a negative from a label die cut to keep the scenery in.

I found an embossing folder that has the same shape as the die cut shape for the scene and it had embossing around the edges. I sanded the color off so you can see scroll work on the embossed layer.

I made the simple pin with pearls that is set into the triple bow. I cut and bent the end of the pin so that it won't poke anyone. Questions? Feel free to send them to me :)

This is a 5x7 card. The envelope took me all day to make. s-l-o-w.

3 coats of UTEE on the tropical bird, Crystal Lacquer on the boat, palm branches, coconuts. 

Wink of Stella all over the ocean. Mini rhinestones as stars, and some more Crystal Laquer, too.

Thank you, dear friends, for coming over and taking a look!!

Aloha ♥

And e komo mai! (welcome)

Isn't this little hula girl by My Favorite Things adorable? I thought so, too! The little stamp set is called "Aloha." I am still trying to build a stash of Island Style cards to provide to a local store :) hurray!

I love the gentle pattern paper and used Divine Swirls EF by Cuttlebug to emboss it. I tore a piece of paper, ran it through the corrugator and sponged it tan and gold. I covered it with glue, sprinkled Prisma Glitter all over to be a sandy hill.

I used Copic markers on the little girl, hand sketched a leaf around the sentiment, colored and cut out. Both are popped up with adhesive pop dots. I REALLY enjoyed using the pale blue silk ribbon and tied it into a double bow. Add very pink rhinestones and Wink of Stella clear micro glitter all over and ta da! Pau! (done in Hawai'ian). The inside and envelope are decorated but I forgot to take a picture of those, sorry!

Thank you dear friends for stopping by!!!!

Crossing the Bar

This is a sponged sunset scene with a poem tucked in with the poem Crossing the Bar. Remember that one? It's so touching -- here it is, by Tennyson ~

Crossing the Bar
BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

Sunset and evening star,

      And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

      When I put out to sea,

   But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

      Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

      Turns again home.

   Twilight and evening bell,

      And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

      When I embark;

   For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

      The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

      When I have crost the bar.

It's for a dear friend's husband who lost his best friend recently. Most of us know what that feels like.

Stamp Set: Aloha by Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs

Inks: Memento (black ink by Gina K. Designs)

Thank you for coming by !!!!

Almost at the finish line

Pant pant pant...

We are nearing the end of a month long challenges run at SCS Hope You Can Cling To journey. I will upload the last few I've made, just to save us time and typing :)

1. Blue Suede (shoes) Slingback Pumps!

Yes, this was for a challenge based on any of Elvis' songs. Used the Sakura glitter pen on the heels and shoe lining. Thank you to Kyra Scrapycat at STV for sending me her gifts of GKD Ocean Mist Ink and Ribbon which matches my GKD Ocean Mist buttons perfectly. Ahhh. Matchy matchy.
I also touched the glitter pen to all the smallest circles on the dp, and along the borders of the wonky rectangle and sentiment. It's really sparkly IRL. {Stamp Set: You've Got Style by GKD}

2. Sparkles in my heart in this Floral. Stamps by GKD, a la Theresa Momber with "Aloha" stamp set. I colored the flowers with Copics, then dusted the tops of everything with Stickles Diamond glitter and on the leaf, Lime Glitter. I simply embossed the card with Sizzix Birds (and Wreath) EF. Finally, I dotted the stamen with Viva Gold Pen dots. I do love sparkles! So I gave the birdie a little blue rhinestone eye :* {Stamp Set: Aloha by GKD}

3. While this is not for the SCS HYCCT challenges, it is for a friend living in Indonesia. She is superbly artistic and I sent her some PSX, Northwoods, and D. Morgan scenic stamps to play with. Hope you like them Dina!  ♥ {I think this stamp by is Precious Moments, sorry I can't remember for sure} Doesn't she remind you of the Little House on the Prairie Show?

4. Who doesn't like Winnie the Pooh? Esp Classic Pooh? I thought this could cheer up someone coping with the treatment for breast cancer, bring back memories from long ago.

It's very simply colored, sponged in clouds, used a tree stamp from a recent GKD set, and added dry embossing to the background dp. I had some dark chocolate brown pearls and the silk blue Maya Arts ribbon as embellies. HANG ON POOH AND PIGLET! {Stamp Set: Touch the Sky by All Night Media}

5. Riley Riley Riley. You daredevil you. Isn't he fun? I colored with Copics and added Stickles diamonds as big, snowball size snow flakes dumping onto him. He is a beginner skier but took the Black Diamond Lifts... This can't end well. I love the inside sentiment -- "Yeah, I don't have one of those." {Stamp Set: Ski Riley by Riley & Co.} Handtyped and printed the sentiments.

6. Finally, there is a mixed media card to share. Throwing caution to the wind, I reached for whatever was close and not used much. So this is the first time breaking open both the natural Mica flakes and the A/C duct tape from Home Depot (thanks honey). I embossed the sentiment (Darice Border Sentiments) onto AC tape, and after adhering the AC tape to cardstock, I cut it with Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterfly #3 Medium (whew) die cut. Then I rubbed on paste in dark green and gold to the dp and both the sentiment and to the butterfly, added a few turquoise gems for color. Lastly, I sprayed fixative over the top to hopefully adhere the mica flakes permanently. The flakes went on top of Glossy Accents. The butterfly is popped on foam.

I know this is a lot to look at and try to absorb.

Thank you ever so much for

stopping by and leaving your tender comments!!!

Aloha ♥

Moon Rise

I love Theresa Momber's tutorials on sponging a variety of scenery. She can blend colors like nobody's business.

This is for Ann's "I Spy" VSN Challenge over at SplitcoastStampers Website. The VSN this month is about opposites. So I spied a dark sky with a bright moon rising. Using Theresa's sponging technique in my humble way, I tried to recreate an ocean scene with stars twinkling above. Yes, I have a long, long way to go but the more steps we put forth forward, the closer  to the goals we get, Yes? Sitting still doesn't get us any closer to achieving :*

Stamp Sets by Theresa Momber, "Aloha" and "Tropical Nature." Both available at GKD.
Pure Luxury cardstock available at GKD.
Memento inks and markers used, as well as Signo White gel pen for stars and waves.
Cuttlebug Twig embossing folder
Pop dots to lift the panel from the card.

Moon Rise

Thank you dear ones for looking!