Sparkly Anniversary and an adventure with the Gemini Jr.

Aloha!!!

You know how you really want something to work?

Recently, I gave in and bought the Gemini Jr. My wrists are pretty bad. The first machine tore up the die and plates when I tried to use it. The instructions are very simple but yikes. Exchanged it. The second one cut really well so I kept the pieces and made an anniversary card (below). But when I tried to emboss, the machine sucked in the sandwich, the lights flickered on and off, there was a loud clunk and it turned off. I couldn't get it turned back on for a while. When it did come on, it shot the whole sandwich out through the other end like a shotgun. Good thing no one was standing over there. I held my breath to try it again but while it seemed a very tight squeeze, it wasn't terrifying like the previous attempt.  👀

Trying to problem-solve the super tight squeeze of this machine, I saw a YouTube video using a glass mat someone cut into 6"X9" pieces to substitute for using the plates. Bruce cut the mat up and I will try that next time. Maybe the sandwich won't be so tight when cutting and embossing. I've been holding my hands over both openings when sending a sandwich through because I am fearful this machine is going to hurt something.

Here is the card I made from the trial pieces of the second machine. The sentiment is black on the bottom, then three layers of white on top of that. I love using a white gel pen to write on black cardstock.

No Stamp Set :D   I can seldom say that!
Couture Creations "Opulent Swirls" Dies
Hammerhill White, SMS Black
Tonic Dies "Happy Anniversary"
SU gems
Connect Glue

“The love we give away is the only love we keep.”
 Elbert Hubbard

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Antarctic Anniversary

Aloha!

It's nearly a miracle - I was able to finish a card for World Cardmaking Day! Yay!! I usually miss this. How about 2 sweet penguins on a heart-shaped ice sheet, floating at night in the Antarctic?

Did you know penguins live in the southern hemisphere, mostly in the Antarctic? They are not up in Alaska or other northern areas. And they only eat meat. Because of their shape, they can swim up to 15 mph!!!

Your Next Stamp is having a challenge to create an extra long card. I love making Anniversary cards for friends and for us. I also love starry night skies and penguins, so this brought me a lot of happiness to make! This is also going to be uploaded to the Simon Says Stamp Worldcardmaking Day Challenge!


Stamp Set: Penguin in Love by Your Next Stamp
Cardstock: Hammerhill Color Card 110#
Color Pencils
Distress Inks
Adhesive foam
Masking
Crystal gems from Honey Bee
White Gel Pen
Wink of Stella Clear Sparkles

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Mahalo for stopping by!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Arctic Anniversary

Aloha!

Still trying to catch up on anniversary cards here. This one gives me shivers lol! I used a silver thread to tie all the fish catch together and onto his fishing pole for their anniversary dinner. They are having extra hot lattes to warm them up. I used two embossing folders on a piece of shimmer vellum for the background: snow flakes for the top part and ocean waves for the bottom. Lots of fussy cutting, sketching the iceberg, edging all the pieces with Memento black marker.

To be entered into the Paper Smooches Winter Card Challenge for December. 

It's also Day 4 (but I'm on Day 3) of the Coffee Loving Cardmaker Winter Blog Hop and this will be entered into that, too. #winter2016clh

Stamp Sets: "Chilly Chums (penguins)," "Sentiment Sampler," and "Surf 'n Turf (all the fish and sea horse)" both by Paper Smooches; "Kelly's Seattle" by Hero Arts (for the coffee cups)

Cardstock: GKD 120# base white, Neenah 80# white, Shimmer Vellum, SU silver
Inks: /GKD Black Onyx (for the solid blacks of the penguins); Memento Bahama Blue, Summer Sky, Sweet Plum and Angel Pink blended (1st layer behind the vellum), Memento markers and Sakura Metallic Gel Pens for coloring images, Copic Marker B000 for the ice berg shadow; E35 fishing pole
Embossing Folders: Darice Snowflakes, SB Waves
Silver Metallic Thread (fishing line)
Diamond Stickles (for the sparkly ice, water, snowflakes)
Glossy Accents (over everyone's eyeballs and penguin feet)
PPP clear sequins 4 and 6 mm
Fiskar's Star Punch; DMC Silver Thread (fishing pole and fish)
Liquid Applique on puff hat ball with Stickles over that
Pink Rhinestone; Adhesive Foam in black, Dries Clear Adhesive, Scor Tape
Oh, and a cut off toothpick (un-used) colored with a Copic E35 for his fishing pole :D

Mahalo for stopping by!

With Aloha ♥

Pineapple Anniversary

Aloha!

Hero Arts is having a GEOMETRIC Challenge for the month of October. Geometric. All I could think of is to use an image over and over into a symmetrical design. When I saw the pineapple stamp in a set, it felt like me :D

I didn't create stripes or triangles or anything like that. But I did use a ruler to mark off squares because you don't want to see the first attempt LOL. It's so funny! The back side still looks usable and that's why paper has two sides. Without further ado...

Stamp Sets: "Enjoy the Journey" (pineapple) and "Everyday Sayings" (sentiment)
Cardstock: GKD White and Asparagus; Pearl Vellum (sentiment)
Inks: Hero Arr Minis "Buttercup" and "Field Greens" and VersaFine Black (sentiment)
Memento Markers (on the pineapple embellie)
VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder over the Pineapple embellie
Gold Cord GKD
Light Yellow Pearls by Want2Scrap
Wink of Stella (on the pineapple crowns)


How to make your own stamped embellishments:  (see the highlighted pineapple on the card?)

Stamp and color/ink any way you wish. Fussy cut or die cut. Ink the edges (I used black here). Get some tweezers. Press your color sided image onto VersaMark pad really well. Place it on a piece of scrap paper, creased in middle. You will pour clear embossing powder all over this and using the tweezers to barely hold a spot of the image, heat with your heat tool - possibly repeating two or three layers of powder and heat until you get a nice, shiny, plastic or glass finish. You can also use UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder in clear) but I use that for larger images. You will be amazed how this turns out. 

Presents? Punch a small hole through the tops of your images prior to heat embossing. When you are done with the process, use a needle or pokey tool to ensure the hole is patent after all that embossing. let it cool off. You can even finish the backside if you wish. Thread metallic cording, thin leather cording, tiny chains - even French hook earrings to create specific, handmade gifts for friends and family. Or you can glue magnets to the back for some frig love reminders. Write a message on your image before embossing, using your loved one's name, a tiny poem - anything. Any image or drawing you use can become a handmade, beautiful gift. Just do it!!! (sorry Nike)

You can even make little rear view mirror charms, phone charms, bookmark charms. Let your imagination go wild. Somehow I stumbled across this idea way back so I don't know if it was serendipity or if I should credit a tutorial I saw years back and tweaked it just for my own use. 

Mahalo for stopping by dear ones!

With aloha ♥

Pineapple Anniversary

Aloha!

Hero Arts is having a GEOMETRIC Challenge for the month of October. Geometric. All I could think of is to use an image over and over into a symmetrical design. When I saw the pineapple stamp in a set, it felt like me :D

I didn't create stripes or triangles or anything like that. But I did use a ruler to mark off squares because you don't want to see the first attempt LOL. It's so funny! The back side still looks usable and that's why paper has two sides. Without further ado...

Stamp Sets: "Enjoy the Journey" (pineapple) and "Everyday Sayings" (sentiment)
Cardstock: GKD White and Asparagus; Pearl Vellum (sentiment)
Inks: Hero Arr Minis "Buttercup" and "Field Greens" and VersaFine Black (sentiment)
Memento Markers (on the pineapple embellie)
VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder over the Pineapple embellie
Gold Cord GKD
Light Yellow Pearls by Want2Scrap
Wink of Stella (on the pineapple crowns)

Mahalo for stopping by dear ones!

With aloha ♥

A Special Anniversary

It's the 45th wedding anniversary for Verna and Arlin. I'm late with my card, but just had to keep going to get'er done! My very best wishes for Arlin to feel better soon, and may they have many more years of good health and happiness together!

Stamp Set: "With This Ring" by Rupa Shevde for Gina K. Designs
Cardstock: GKD Pure Luxury white; SU Blushing Bride
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Techniques: Bokeh, dry embossing the tablecloth into little squares
Silk Ribbon by Maya Roads; Pearls by KaiserCraft
Corner Rounder punch
Butterflies and hearts embossed using Anna Griffin brass stencils

A Blessed and Happy Anniversary to the Angerhofers!

Thank you for stopping by ♥

October Anniversaries

This sure is a popular month for our friends to have anniversaries! I'm so behind, have no idea if I can catch up. But here are two:

First one is Always and Forever, a stamp duo from Gina K. Designs. I use the technique of embossing with a Spellbinder die on both these cards. Both pattern papers by Anna Griffin. Here is a link to Gina's video tutorial:

How to emboss with a Spellbinder Die

(This was card #300 uploaded to STV :)

And this is very similar, but using Because of You, another stamp set duo by Gina K. Designs.

Sparkles over both dresses, hair and flowers by Wink of Stella clear glitter pen. 

Thank you very much for taking a look!!! ♥