Gold Poinsettia

 

Do you ever have a day when you have an idea in your head but it just doesn't work on out paper.  Well that was the kind of day I had with this card.  I wasn't sure I should post it, but in case I don't get another one made today, thought I'd go ahead and post it.

I started off by double embossing the background.  The left side is embossed with the Sizzix "Winter Botanicals (657261) and the right side embossed using only a small portion of the Sizzix "Winter Words" (65738) embossing folder.  I really like these two embossing folders used side by side.   I had a piece of gold colored vellum and thought it would make a beautiful poinsettia.  I used VersaMark ink to stamp the Penny Black "Christmas Pride" poinsettia and embossed it with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  This embossing powder has glitter in it.  The poinsettia was stamped three times and cut out so I could layer it.  I usually like to spritz vellum flowers to give them some dimension, but this particular vellum really wanted to curl up tight and I don't feel like I got a very well shaped flower. First time that has happened to me -- the vellum didn't come from Joan's Gardens, maybe that is why it didn't work as well, hee hee. For fillers behind the flower I used Cheery Lynn "Pine Branches" (B146) and Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish" (B148); also pieces from the Sizzix "Festive Greenery" die.  The center of the flower has some small beads added.  To complete the card I added a silk bow. 

All the products in "bold" can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

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Christmas Pop Up Thank You Card

Today I wanted to create another card with the Poppystamps "Small Madison Window" (816).  I think there are going to be so many fun things to do with this die. My card is 5.5" x 6".  I used two pieces of design paper from the KaiserCraft "December 25th paper pad.  The background for the window was cut from a piece of white card stock, with the next to largest, Spellbinders "Label Twenty-Two" and I used the same die to cut a piece of design paper from the Kaiser Craft paper pad to layer on top of it.  Next I traced around the outside that same Spellbinders die, using white card stock, to create a mat for the die cut label.  I traced around the die again for a second mat.  Both mats were cut out with scissors.  The window die was also die cut using white card stock.  All the white pieces were sponged with Distress Inks. 

I used the Penny Black "Enjoy Life" stamp set which includes these cute little birds.  The holly is die cut using the Cheery Lynn "Holly Flourish" (B148).  This is such a great die to use with your Christmas cards because the holly is small and fits really well around either flowers or other images.  I die cut the flourish several times and cut it apart to fit in and around the birds.  The corners are from Spellbinders "Lace Doily Accents".  The berries were added with some really old red "Crystal Lacquer".  

Now I need to tell you what I did with the second Label Twenty-Two I cut out with scissors.  I used it for the inside of  this window image. 

As I told you, this is a thank you card.  I used that second image to die cut the  Memory Box "Pop Up Thanks".  This is a small pop up and works really great on the inside of the card.  This picture shows the top lifted up so you can see the "Pop Up Thanks".  A small piece of the Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish was added.  You can see I also used Distress Ink to sponge around the edges of the inside of the card. 

As you know, you can purchase all the products I use from Joan's Gardens.   I hope you enjoyed seeing another way to use this Poppystamps Small Madison Window Die and the Memory Box Pop Up Thanks..

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Amaryllis

 

Have you ever had an amaryllis at Christmas time?  I never have but I think they are so pretty.  Joan sent me this pretty Penny Black "Amaryllis" (40-078) stamp and I thought it would be very pretty with the new Cheery Lynn "Large Sunflower Doily" (DL181).  The dark green background was embossed with the Sizzix "Botanicals" (657137) embossing folder.  The sentiment is from an older JustRite stamp set "Simple Blessings" and was die cut with one of the Spellbinders "Fancy Tags Two" dies.  The sentiment reads "Live Simply, Love Generously, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Leave the rest to God".  The amaryllis was stamped with Memento Black ink and colored with Copic markers.  It was "fussy" cut and then attached with dimensional dots.  Gold Stickles was added to the stamens and potting soil.  A green bow was added to complete the card.

All the items shown in "bold" can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.  She does have a good supply of the Penny Black Amaryllis and the new Cheery Lynn Large Sunflower Doily.

Tomorrow it will be time for a new Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge.  See you then.

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Beautiful Poinsettia

 

Today I am back to doing what I love -- creating cards with flowers!  This is a beautiful poinsettia stamp by Penny Black "Christmas Pride".  Joan, at Joan's Gardens, has these stamps in stock.  It is a large stamp so it needs to be the focal point of the card.  I stamped it using VersaMark "Dazzle Frost" ink and clear embossed it.  The image was stamped twice so I could create layers.  One whole flower was cut out then the second one was cut out leaving off all the large outer leaves.  Several colors of Distressed Inks were sponged onto the flowers using a darker brown ink in the center.  Next it was sprayed with a fine mist of water to blend the colors, then dried with the heat gun.  Using scissors, I cut between all the petals up toward the center of each flower.  Next I sprayed the flowers with Perfect Pearls Mists "Cappuccino" and shaped the petals while damp.  This was set aside to dry while workiing on the rest of the card.

There is a piece of design paper in the Kaiser Craft "December 25th" paper pad that I have been dying to use.  It is a tan paper with a glossy design and works great with this flower.  The ivory frame I die cut is the Cheery Lynn "Polynesian Sails Oval".  It was lightly sponged with Distress ink.  The Flourishes are both from the Marianne Designs (LR0157) die set.  They were sponged with a dark brown Distress Ink.  To complete the card a pretty silk bow and a few pearls were added.  The sentiment is from the JustRite "Deck the Halls" stamp set.  

I was very pleased with the way this card turned out and hope you like it too.  If you would like to duplicate this card, you can purchase all the products from Joan's Gardens.  Remember, Joan usually charges a dollar less than retail and also has the cheapest shipping you will find anywhere - she only charges you exactly what it costs her to mail.

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Another "Joy" Popup Card

 

After posting the last popup card I created using the "Joy" Memory Box Dies, Joan, Joan's Gardens, had an overwhelming number of you order the dies used on that card. Here is the link to that card.   I loved working with those dies and thought I would create another popup card for you today.  This time I die cut the "Joy" popup on the lower portion of the card then die cut the letters again on sparkly striped paper and attached them over the "Joy" attached to the card.  

Here is a list of the products l used from Joan's Gardens:  BoBunny "Father Christmas Collection" design paper; Memory Box "Pop Up Joy" (98192);  "Winterland Tree" (98168); "Country House" (98165); "Frosty Border" (98171); "Twigs & Berries" (98161); Cheery Lynn Anastasia Border" (B136), and the Martha Stewart "Aspen Snowflake" border punches. 

It is a little hard to see so I want to tell you what is written on the design paper "In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there".  It appears Santa will be landing any moment on some child's roof top!

 

 

From this view you can see the "Joy" popup really well.  All the die cut pieces were arranged as shown.  As with the other Joy Popup card, I cut a piece of yellow card stock to place behind the house so I could add yellow glitter in the windows.  Some glitter was also added to the tree.  Along the bottom I added "Diamond Dust" which is a "chunky" glitter and makes perfect snow.  

This is the front of the card.  I used another piece of design paper from the same BoBunny paper pack.  Two of the Memory Box "Twigs & Berries" dies were cut for placement above the sentiment.  This is going to be another die I know you will use all year long.  This die comes with three pieces - the branch, leaves and the berry.  I can see using this branch and leaves in the Spring and adding small flowers.  The sentiment is from the Penny Black "Friends and Family" stamp.  It was cut out with a Spellbinders "Label Eight" die and sponged with Distress Ink.  The Cheery Lynn Anastasia  Border was added along the bottom and also sponged.

As you know, all the products I use can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.  

Thanks for stopping by - Enjoy your weekend.  We did get a light dusting of snow last night so I do believe Winter has arrived.

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Snowman Popup

This is a Christmas card with a popup center.  It is similar to the one Joan (Joan's Gardens) did for her workshop.  You can see her card here as well as the other projects completed in her workshop this past weekend.  The products I used for this card include:  Sizzix Scallop Circle 3-D popup die; Snowman & Stocking die;  Layered Christmas Tree die; and Holiday Lamppost.  The Christmas Tree was embossed using the Sizzix "Beaded Ribbons" embossing folder.   Cherry Lynn  Victorian Picket Fence (B123); Christmas Light Swag (B131) and Pine Branches (B146) dies were also used.  The sentiment is from JustRite "Deck the Halls".  The embossing folder used for the background is the Sizzix Triad Leaves.  VersaMark Ink was rubbed on the inside of the embossing folder, on the raised side, then run through embossing machine.  Clear embossing powder was sprinkled over the background then heat set.  Distressed stains were used to color it.  Below the edge of the scallop popup, the Memory Box "Frosty Border" was added.

The Penny Black "Village Christmas" stamp was used for the front of the card.  The Marianne Designs "Ice cycles" (LR0135) border was used at the top.

Tomorrow is the weekly challenge at Joan's Gardens.  We have a fun little project for you and I hope you will come back and join us in the challenge.

All the products used on this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Sunset

 

I have this new Penny Black stamp from Joan's Gardens that I just love.  It is called "Winter Sky" but I made it an "autumn" sky.   I stamped the image using Archival Black Ink on glossy card stock then used Distress Inks and the Blending Tool to create a sunset over the lake.  To frame the scene, I die cut one of Cheery Lynn's square doily frames "Dainty Dutch Deco Frame" (DL141).  The framed scene was attached to a piece of design paper from the Kaiser Craft "Velvet Ensemble" paper pad.  The flourish on the left side was die cut using the Spellbinders "Twisted Metal Tags and Accents" dies.  The leaves were die cut using the Cheery Lynn Leaves dies (D133 and D134).  They were die cut using bright yellow card stock then sponged using autumn colors.  A Tim Holtz button was added as well as a twine bow over the leaves.  The sentiment is from the JustRight "Autumn Blessings" stamp set.  It was black embossed on bronze textured card stock.  

Joan has a supply of these beautiful Penny Black  "Winter Sky" stamps.  As you know, all the products I use can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Thanks for stopping by.  Tomorrow Joan and I each have designed a card for tomorrow's Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge.  Hope you will come back and see what we have designed for this challenge. 

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Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #4

It is time for another challenge at Joan's Gardens.    Here is the challenge Joan gave us this week:

■ Create a Card using something from nature
■ Create a card using several layers
■ Create a card using glitter
■ Created a card using a border around the card

This is a 5 1/2" square card.  For the layers on my card I used the Martha Stewart "Doulbe Arches" border punches for the bottom layer. I started with a 6" square then punched around the edges and layered it on top of the white card.  On top of that is the Cheery Lynn Dainty Dutch Deco Frame (DL141).  This is the perfect size frame to layer on top of the Doulbe Arches punched border to give it an even more dainty look.  Behind the Dainty Dutch Deco Frame I have attached a piece of design paper from the Kaiser Craft "December 25th" paper pad.   The beautiful image is the Penny Black "Nature's Best" stamp.  It was colored using colored pencils and OMS.  I stamped just the bird a second time and attached it over the one in the design for additional dimension.  For the top I die cut the beautiful new snowflakes from Marianne Design (LR0123). There are three snowflakes in this set; they can be used separately, but I chose to layer them.  The three different flakes were attached with dimensional tape.  I wanted to add glitter,  so I used a new product you can get from Joan's Gardens called "Glue n' Seal".  Wow!  this glue is fabulous.  You can use it for many things such as when you paper piece, add paper to boxes, etc.  I used a brush and applied the glue all over the dimensional snowflake then poured glitter over it.  What an easy way to accomplish that.   Below is a picture of this glue. I still had some of the glue left on my brush so lightly brushed it over the holly around the bird and lightly sprinkled glitter on it. The sentiment is from the JustRite "A Merry Little Christmas".  It was gold embossed and placed slightly under the holly. 

Here is a picture of the Glue n' Seal I used to hold the glitter:

Please go over to Joan's Gardens to get all the details about this week's challenge.

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Joan's Challenge #1 with Mini Tutorial

 

Joan and I are excited to be back creating Challenges for you each Thursday.   To kick things off, we have a fun challenge, with a mini tutorial below, and a couple of extra  chances for you to win some new products.   Joan has been receiving a lot of new items and is interested in finding out what is on the top of your Wish List for new products.

Here is what you need to do for extra chances to win a prize, in addition to the prize for this week's challenge:

Leave a comment below on my blog telling me what embossing folder is at the top of your Wish List.  This is to be one you don't currently have but would like to own next.  Is it a Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Marianne or something else?   What is the name of the embossing folder?   Important:  You must leave your comment below in my comment section because Joan will do a random drawing from all comments left on this post. 

For another chance to win a prize, you need to go to Joan's Gardens and leave a comment on her blog telling her what die you don't own, but have it at the top of your Wish List.  Is it a Cheery Lynn, Marianne or Spellbinder die?  Be sure to leave the name of the die.

 Above is a picture of the card for this week's challenge.  We want you to create a background using two embossing folders on one piece of card stock,  use two or more die cut items, plus add a sentiment.  All the details about the challenge are at Joan's Gardens.

First create a card base measuring 5 1/2" x 6" -- cut an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of card stock down the 11" side at 6" and fold in half.  Second you are going to need to cut a piece of card stock 5 1/2" x 6" and place an embossing folder on the right side then run it through your die cutting machine.  Next place another embossing folder along the left side, facing the opposite direction, and run it through your machine.  You will lay your embossing folders sideways to run them through the machine  - there are pictures below to show you how to do this.  

Steps for double embossing on one piece of card stock:

First, this is a picture of the embossing folders that I used.  They come two to a package and I used both folders. This set is called Sizzix "Flourish, Dots & Ribbon Set" (#656980)

Place your 5 1/2" x 6" piece of card stock on the left side of the embossing folder.  If it is sticking out from the bottom, you need to turn the card stock around so you are embossing on the short side.  Run it through your die cutting machine.

Once it is embossed it should look something like this. My embossing folder only had embossing on the bottom portion of the the folder.  Yours might have embossing all the way up - depends on which embossing folder you use.

Next you are going to lay a different embossing folder, such as Swiss Dots or any other embossing folder you want to use, and it will be going the opposite direction. You will need to run it through your machine with the folder laying sideways.  You can see in the picture below how it will look.  I am using a Vegabond die cutting machine.

This picture shows the embossing folder laying sideways with just the left side of the card stock on one edge. 

When you take it out, this is how your embossing will look.  I have the entire folder embossed on the right side, and just a small portion of a different embossing folder on the left side.  You can now trim it down to fit the front of your card, if necessary.

I trimmed my embossed piece down to fit over a plum background.  The beautiful sentiment is the Penny Black "A Wonderful Christmas" stamp.  It was stamped just above the embossed area.  I wanted to have the same swirls, that are right below the sentiment, also right above it.  In order to do this, I embossed another piece of card stock with that same embossing folder and cut out the swirls, then glued them to the top of the card.  

The dies used for the poinsettia are the Marianne Designs (LR0122 and LR0142) dies.  I love that the petals are embossed when you run it back through with the embossing rubber mat. The leaves are the largest poinsettia die cut out in green.  The tree is the Marianne (LR0136) die and the "town" is (LR0173).  To bring the tree to life, I used Tim Holtz "Bundled Sage" Distress Ink and the blending tool to sponge around the edges.  I then used a glue with a dauber on the end to lightly apply glue on it and sprinkled it with diamond glitter.  For the "town", I glued it to light yellow card stock then cut out around it so the yellow only showed through the window openings.  I used the "Quickie Glue" pen to add glue to the windows then sprinkled on  super fine yellow glitter.  Both the tree and town were attached with dimensional dots. 

Don't forget to leave me a comment below to let me know what embossing folder is on your Wish List plus if you want, I would love to read any comments you have about my card.  Next you need to go over to Joan's Gardens to leave her a comment about which Die is on your Wish List.  You will find all the information about this week's challenge at Joan's Gardens.  We hope you will join us in our challenge and add your card to the Link on Joan's Blog.  Remember the winner will receive a gift plus be eligible for the $100 gift certificate for Joan's Gardens that will be given away at the end of the year.

I'm looking forward to your entry in the challenge.  Good Luck in the drawing for extra prizes.

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Letters and Flowers

 

Here is the card I tried to post several days ago but could not get a good picture.  It still isn't the best because there is a big reflection on the black glossy card stock, but this is better than what I had then.  It is a beautiful card in real life.

This is a 5" x 7" card.  The Penny Black "Letters & Flowers" stamp was used.  Drops of Mica Gloss were placed on the Teflon Craft Sheet and rolled out with a brayer to be used as my stamp pad.  Once the stamp was covered with Mica Gloss, it was stamped on black glossy card stock.  Once the gloss was dried, it was placed in the Sizzix "Birds & Wreath" embossing folder to give the image a pretty embossed frame.  Scissors were used to cut around the outside edge of the  embossed frame then it was placed on a Spellbinder's Labels Ten die cut.  The largest die in this set was used.  The background is a sheet of design paper from a K&Company paper pad.  Three large Dew Drops were added to the top of the frame and a butterfly from Pink Paislee added to give it some dimension.  The butterfly matches the butterflies in the design paper. 

Trying to get a descent picture of this card was much harder than creating it.  I love working with the Mica Glosses on glossy black card stock.  You can purchase all these products from Joan's Gardens.

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Nature's Day Spring Card

This card was created using another Penny Black stamp you can purchase from Joan's Gardens.  This style card is called a "Spring Card".  Here is a a tutorial at SCS for this type card.

Everything really fell into place for creating this card.  The pretty Nature's Day stamp fits perfectly on the Spring Card.  It was stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers.  I wanted to cut the image out so I could layer different elements behind it.  On the very bottom layer is a Spellbinders scalloped square.  Then a piece of the pink card stock was cut with a square Nestie with a slightly smaller white Nesties square on top.  The Spellbinders "Lotus" die was cut and placed on top of all the other layering.  The stamped image was attached in the middle using large pop dots.  

For embellishments behind the stamped image, I cut out two Marianne Design "Decorative Elegance" dies (LR0157).  The top of one of the dies is used at the top behind the flowers and part of the second die was used below the bird.  Two Marianne Design corners from the "Corners 2" (LR0144) package were die cut for the bottom of the card.  A few Kaiser Craft pearls were added to complete the card.

If you would like to order this pretty Penny Black "Nature's Day" stamp, Joan's Gardens has a good supply in stock.  There are a lot of things you can do with this beautiful stamp.  I also created a shadow box with this same stamp and you can see that post here.

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Letters and Flowers

 

Today I have had a very frustrating day with photography.  I wanted to use this pretty Penny Black "Letters and Flowers" stamp from Joan's Gardens and wanted to use glossy card stock and Mica Gloss.  The first card I made this morning is beautiful but even after about 75 photo's (not kidding) it did not show the richness of the card, so started over. I was working with black glossy card stock on the first card and then decided I wanted a brayered background and used white glossy card stock. Glossy card stock always produces such rich beautiful colors on your cards, but they sure are hard to photograph.  Well neither card photographed very well because of the glare.  Oh well, I am posting the second card because I don't have time to create something different just to get a good picture.  

I started by using a "Late November" Kaleidacolor Spectrum ink pad and brayered the color at an angle.  The Letters and Flowers were stamped using black ink.  When it was dry it was cut out with a Spellbinders "Large Deckled Meca Rectangle" die. Using black card stock, a one size larger mat was cut.  Three yellow pearls were added at the bottom of the image.  A piece of Basic Grey background paper was placed on this 5.5" square card.  A navy blue "Cheery Lynn "Italian Flourish (DL103) was die cut then a Spellbinder circle die cut, the same color, and placed in the center.  A black Marianne Designs "Forest Branch (LR0150) was die cut.  It matches the leaves in the stamped design very well.  A yellow Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs" was die cut and one of the sentiments from the JustRite "You Inspire Me" set was stamped in the center.  A pretty Cheery Lynn "Mini Butterfly" was die cut using Spellbinders premium craft foil.  All the pieces were layered as shown then a little bow added to complete the card.

This is a beautiful stamp. It is the same stamp Joan used in her last workshop using it with the Mica Gloss.    Joan's Gardens has a good supply in stock so there will be no waiting if you order one.

As you know, all products I use are from Joan's Gardens.

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Joan's Challenge

 Under the flowers is the  Cheery Lynn Designs "Italian Flourish" Doily and Marianne "Accents". The pretty sentiment on the box is a Penny Black stamp called "Friendship".

 

Have you started your project yet for the challenge this week at Joan's Gardens.   This is one you won't want to miss out on because it is really fun.  We have a guest designer, Glenda Brooks who has prepared a tutorial for us to create a beautiful project.  I just completed my box and am so excited to learn these techniques.  Be sure to go over to Glenda's blog to see her beautiful box and read her tutorial.   THANK YOU GLENDA FOR BEING OUR FIRST GUEST DESIGNER FOR OUR SUMMER CHALLENGES.     

 

This project is very easy to do.  First you create beautiful paper to cover your box.  Glenda has all the instructions for you.  I used three colors of Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint; Dusty Concord; and Broken China.  

 The box I chose to cover is one I had by Cosmo Cricket.  This box has an opening in the top so I got a piece of card board and cut it down to the size of the lid on the box.  The glue I used is "Crafter's Pick"   It adheres to metals, plastics, glass and more.  You can get this great glue from Joan's Gardens.  I also use it when assembling my flowers.

 I placed the cardboard down in the back of the paper I created and cut around it leaving a small margin to tuck under. A narrow line of glue was placed around the edge of the cardboard then the paper pulled up to glue it down.  I didn't have to put glue under the paper that covered the top.  The glue is fast drying so it was really easy to do this. 

Isn't that a beautiful texture!  Once I covered the cardboard, it was glued to the lid of the box.  When you read Glenda's tutorial, you will see how easy it is to create this pretty paper.

 

My flowers and leaves were die cut from the Cheery Lynn Designs "Judy's Blooms" C184, die.  This is one of the new flower and leaf dies that Joan's Gardens now carries.  Since the flowers and leaves are on one die, I cut strips of purple card stock just as wide as the flowers, and then strips just as wide as the leaves.  This way I wasn't cutting out purple leaves or green flowers.  In Glenda's tutorial she embossed the flowers prior to creating them but I decided to emboss only the leaves.  Some of you have been asking me to use the Cheery Lynn flower dies.  This is the only one I have right now, but more are on their way and I will be using them soon.

 

 After die cutting the leaves I sponged them with a darker green ink.  The flowers and leaves in this set are so pretty -- they even have little cuts for the veins, which make them looks so realistic.  Both the leaves and flowers were shaped with the tools from the "Flower Tool Kit".  For the texture on the leaves I used the Tim Holtz texture stamps.  The one I used in the picture above is the one on the bottom.  I hope you can see the pretty texture it gave to the leaf on the left side in the photo above.  The leaves were gold embossed.   

Please go over to Joan's Gardens to see all the details about our first Summer Challenge.  I really hope you will join us because Glenda has prepared a wonderful tutorial I know you will love to use over and over.  Please add your completed project to the link at the bottom of the challenge on Joan's Gardens.  Remember your project does not have to look exactly like Glenda's -- we are looking for projects using the techniques and I'm sure all projects entered will be different.  Someone will win a nice prize this week and also be entered in the $100 drawing for a gift certificate from  Joan's Gardens.  Wouldn't you love to win that certificate and spend it on all those extra things you love at Joan's Gardens!

Products from Joan's Gardens used on this box:  Distress Inks: Peeled Paint, Dusty Concord; Broken China; Cheery Lynn Designs "Italian Flourish" doily die; Marianne "Accents"; Cheery Lynn Designs "Judy's Blooms" 4"x4" dies; Penny Black "Friendship" stamp; Large and Medium Sun Punches for stamens; Tim Holtz Texture stamp; Flower Tool Kit; Crafter's Pick adhesive; Spellbinders "Labels Four".

Nature's Day

 

Have you seen the new Penny Black stamps posted in Joan's Gardens store.  This one is called "Nature's Day".  I decided to create a shadow box and put this pretty image inside.  The shadow box was created by cutting two 6" squares and scoring at 1/2" and 1" on both the left and right sides.  A piece of design paper was placed on the inside of the shadow box.  For the opening on the top, I decided to show you another way to use this beautiful Sizzix "Birds & Wreath" embossing folder.  There are two embossing folders in this package.  After scoring the lines on the side of the shadow box, I centered the embossing folder right in the middle and ran it through the Vegabond.  I love this embossing folder because it gives you a very deep embossed design.  I need an opening for my shadow box so I cut out the center of the embossed area out with scissors.  The image was stamped on white card stock and colored with colored pencils and oms (orderless mineral spirits).  I wanted to "pop" the design up a little in the shadow box, so cut the design out.  A few Sizzix leaves were die cut and placed under the image.  

For the embellishments on the top of the card, I used the medium "Blossom" punch and created flowers similar to the ones in the stamped image.  I don't know why, but the color of the punched flowers match the color in the stamped image perfectly, but they don't look that way in the photo. The flowers were placed over the embossed leaves of the embossed oval.  Stamens were created with the medium "Sparkle" punch and placed in the center of all the flowers, including the stamped flowers.  A small purple rhinestone was added to the center of each.  Additional rhinestones were added to the top of the shadow box.  A Martha Stewart "Swirling Lace" border was attached on each side of the shadow box.  

All the products used to create this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

A Masculine Card

From time to time we need to create a masculine card.  Joan sent me a set from "Our Craft Lounge" called "Fishing With Dad".  I don't feel I am very good at creating cards where I need to do a lot of sponging but felt that is what this card needed.  The trees and fisherman were stamped using VersaFine Ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  Using a stamp from Heartfelt Creations, the clouds were stamped with VersaMark Ink and clear embossed.  Using sponge daubers, the different colors were sponged around the images.  I used both large and small sponge daubers.  The larger sponge daubers give a smoother coverage for larger areas. The detail in the clouds does not show up well in the photo but they do look very realistic. 

A Penny Black stamp set I received from Joan's Gardens last year, called "Enjoy Life", was used for the bushes down on the bottom corners.   The sentiment is from the JustRite "You Inspire Me" stamp set and the tag is also from JustRite called "Grommet Tags".  There are three pretty tags in this set.   The fish from the "Fishing With Dad" set was stamped, colored with Copic markers, cut out with scissors and attached on the tag with dimensionals.

This stamp set from Our Craft Lounge has six image stamps and six sentiments and will be perfect for some of those masculine cards you need to make.

All these products can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.