Dies and Embossing Folders

As I mentioned in the last post, I finally bought my first diecutting machine.  A couple of days ago, I was fortunate to hit a sale at Joann's and bought a few more Tim Holtz dies and embossing folders at half price.  I have been having so much fun using the machine.  I've made a few quick projects just to test things out.

The card I'm sharing today is the very first one I made.  Just about everything I used is from Tim Holtz.  I used a Paris embossing folder on Tim Holtz cardstock.  The distressed flower was cut from Tim Holtz paper and the edges inked with Inka Gold Metallic Rub.  A bit of this was also applied to the edges of the card.  A TH charm was tied to the card with twine and also inked with the Gold Metallic Rub.  The leaves are Prima and the sentiment PTI.  I thought the card needed something more.  One of the dies I bought this week was a TH distressed doily die, so I added it to the side of the card after inking it a bit in antique linen.

As you can see on the card, the embossing created a sanded look on the cardstock.  I added a vintage button to the center of the flower to finish it off.

I'll have more to share later.  It is amazing to me how easy it is to use the Sizzix machine.  I don't know why I was so intimidated by it.

Well, that's it for me today.  We have been in and out of thunderstorms all day here.  I hope things are better where you are.  Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by!

Quick and Easy Birthday Card

Hi everyone!  Can hardly believe another week has gone by since my last post.  I've had my eye on a Sizzix Big Kick die-cutting machine for quite awhile.  Recently, it has been marked down to under $50 in my local Michaels.  I kept putting off buying one until a fellow blogger, Doris Widder, mentioned she just picked one up and loves it.  I believe there is a new model coming out, so I figured I better get this one now.  Well, let me tell you, it was not easy to find one.  In the midst of a heat wave, I began my search covering two states.  lol  Actually, I'm only less than a half hour from Delaware.  I thought I could save a bit on tax there, but Michaels did not have any left.  Back to Pennsylvania and two more stores, I finally found the last one in stock.  I also picked up a Tim Holtz die and embossing folder that I've been longing for and which are compatible with the Sizzix.  Needless to say, I am in heaven.  Love it!  Do not know why I waited so long to get one.  Hopefully, in my next post, I'll share what I've made.

Today's card was quick and easy to make.  The papers are from Carta Bella which I just cut out several strips for borders.  I created a layered frame for the sentiment and attached it with foam dots for dimension.  The flowers and leaves are Prima.  I love the polka dot brads used for the centers but I do not know where they are from.  A little twine bow finishes it off.

A co-worker has a birthday coming up in August, so I plan to give this card to her.  It really did come together so quickly.  That's it for me today.  Looks like we're getting ready to be hit with another thunderstorm here.  Have a wonderful week.  Thanks so much for your visit!

Birdhouse Tag

We have had so much rain this week, I thought we were going to have to build an ark!  Now, we're getting ready for a week of high temperatures and humidity.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!

Yesterday, I rescued a baby bird from our window well.  I kept hearing loud chirping and discovered the little thing in the well.  The momma bird was walking around nearby.  I got a shovel and scooped the baby out of the well.  It could only fly a few inches off the ground.  When I saw the momma and baby last, they were headed toward a bush.

Anyway, the tag I'm sharing today reminds me of the sweet birds.  I started with a kraft tag  that I had to cut part of the bottom off because of a mistake.  I covered it with K&Co paper after inking the edges.  Onto that, I put a piece of lace trim and a Wilton doily.  The flowers and leaves were in my stash.  Love my Martha Stewart frond punch and tucked in a few around the flowers.  The pearl flower swirl is from Basic Grey.  The little bird, which has a generous coating of Martha Stewart glitter, as well as the birdhouse are from Recollections.

The tag was finished with a piece of twill, Prima trim and an unknown trim.  The leaves were a bit bright, so I toned them down some with chalk ink.  (You can click on the photos for a closer view.)

A couple of people have said they don't know what to do with the tags.  I like to use mine for decoration.  I tuck them in a basket, put one on a pile of books, or displayed on a small easel.  And I rotate them for the seasons.

Well, that's it for me today.  My husband and son just left for a guy's night out, so I'm going to sit back and relax with my dog.  Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I do appreciate your sweet comments.

Faerie Tag

For those that celebrate the 4th of July, I hope you had a wonderful holiday break.  I am so excited to have received my first smart phone as an early birthday gift yesterday.  Now, I just need to learn to master it!  The weather has been hot, humid and rainy.  But, it is summer.  I did make a point, though, to squeeze in a bit of craft time.

The tag I'm sharing today was inspired by one made by Karen Shady that I saw in an issue of Australian Scrapbook Creations.  First, I punched out a scallop design (Martha Stewart) on the bottom of a kraft tag which I then inked with white chalk ink (Ingvild Bolme).  The polka dot paper (7 Dots Studio) was stamped with designs from Crafty Secrets.  The faerie image (Moonlight Journey) was in my prize package from Mandy Zimmerman.  I accented it with a couple of rhinestones and layered it onto a Wilton doily.  The clock, vine sticker, button, flower, leaves and butterfly are from Recollections.  The crocheted trim is Prima.

Here is a closer look from the side.  The branches were made with a McGill punch and Tim Holtz cardstock.      I like to tuck them in here and there to fill in spaces.

Well, we're off to starting a new week and I hope it is a wonderful one for you.  As always, thanks so much for taking the time to visit and for your very sweet comments.

Just Because...

Hi everyone!  Happy July!  Today is the day Google Reader is supposed to cease operating; but, so far, I am still getting my blog feeds.  However, I did sign up with Bloglovin about a month ago, so I was able to transfer all the blogs I followed with Google Reader to there.  There is a link on my sidebar for Bloglovin.  I hope you will follow me there.

Today's card is a simple Just Because card.  I used my 6x6 Teresa Collins paper pad here.  The papers are perfect for summer.  A Martha Stewart border punch was used on the orange print paper.  The Prima resist canvas banner was spritzed with Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Mist.  It was the first time I tried this on resist canvas and don't think I did it correctly.  Foam squares give the banner a bit of dimension.  I have since watched a video and now know what I should have done.  Once again, it does pay to look at a tutorial when unsure!  The flowers are from Recollections.  I love the touch of white that was already added to the edges of the larger flower.  A couple of fronds made from another Martha Stewart punch fills in the space around the flowers.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  The little gems scattered around the card are from Crafter's Square and were part of my prize package from Mandy Zimmerman (thanks, Mandy).  The butterfly charm is from Michaels, and the rhinestone swirl was snipped from a larger Prima swirl.

There certainly has been some crazy weather around the country so far this summer.  We have been having a great deal of rain with heat and humidity here.  I know the majority of people favor summer weather; but as far as I'm concerned, I'll take the other three seasons hands down.  Have a wonderful week!  Thanks so much for stopping by!