There She Goes Challenge-stair step card

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hello everyone! i'm back with another fun challenge card! this time, it's for TSG60-a Stair Step card! this is another type of card that i'd never tried before! 2 in one week- WooHoo- how i love learning new things!

some of my very favorite clear stamp sets are from There She Goes- you HAVE to check them out (some faves are Loads of Fun, A Woman's Place, Domestic Goddess, Tastes Like Chicken- betcha totally burst out laughing) this time, i'm using the lovely What's Up Buttercup set


Beate at Splitcoast has another amazing tutorial on how to construct the stair step card base and her tutorials are so awesome with full photos & a complete video too- like she's in the room making it with you- just love 'em!

anyway- i kept it pretty simple & straightforward since this was my first attempt at this card and i really enjoyed it. these would be awesome at any dinner party- they can go from whimsical & funny to wedding elegant and i love anything someone can stand up on their desk for a bit and think of you for a bit after you send it- way cool!

deets:
STAMPS: What's Up Buttercup by There She Goes
PAPER: Banana Split and Snocone cardstocks by MFT, Brown and kraft cardstocks by Bazzill, MFT creme perfect paper panels, patterned paper by October Afternoon (Fly a Kite)
INK: Memento rich cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Canary Dauber by Tsukineko, 1 1/8" circle punch, nesties, EK Success daisy chain slim edge punch, Copic markers, Gold Copic spica, Clear star gelly roll pen by Sakura, dimensionals, heavy twine (hardware store)

other info:
images were all stamped in rich cocoa onto MFT creme paper panels & cut or punched out and adhered with dimensionals.

more pics:
close up of the glittery shine from the glitter pens:
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the card opened from the side:
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the csrd folded up ready for an envelope:
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this is another card that i encourage you to try- it's fun and makes a very cool presentation!
thanks for looking!

in other news the hubs has successfully passed his blue belt test for jiu jitsu- he rolled for 3 hours with over 20 dudes straight! he is covered in brusies and mat burns & sore as heck, but we couldn't be prouder of him!!! he rocks the mat!

hope you're having a great weekend!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

summertime & the livin's eas(el)y!

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hello again friends! hope this finds you well. there's lots of info & pics on this one, so please grab a beverage and hang out a bit!

today i made my first ever easel card. it was prompted & inspired by this adorable creation by Cindy Haffner a few days ago (while you're visiting her blog take some time & enjoy it- there are tons of things to inspire & amaze you!)
from Cindy's blog, i went to check out Beate's amazing reference tutorial on creating easel cards in all sizes.

i just so happened to have some super-cute, new, summery stamps from Kraftin'Kimmie and her blog has a fun color challenge up for this week too (BLUE, YELLOW & TAN)-so i knew it was a perfect opportunity to ink up these cuties & try something new! YAY! of course i used lots of MFT goodies too!

here's supply info:
STAMPS: Florence and her shell accessory, Sandcastle accessory is from the Jack stamp- all from Kraftin' Kimmie-Moonlight Whispers line, sentiments are from Kimmie's Beachy Sentiments set

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa

PAPER: half of an MFT fossil notecard, MFT perfect paper panels, MFT cardstocks (banana split & berrylicious), Bazzill kraft cardstock.

ACCESSORIES: MFT die-namics (jumbo scallop), MFT cork, copic markers, heavy twine, MFT earth girl wooden button, misc. beachy charms from my stash, Fiskar's threading water punch, hot glue gun (to ensure button will never fall off), dimensionals, 1/2" scor-tape

THE DEETS:
1. prep:
i stamped Florence, her shell and the sandcastle images onto MFT paper panels in black ink. The images were colored with copic markers & cut out.
i stamped some additional shells in cocoa ink on a scrap strip of kraft cardstock.
per Beate's awesome instructions, i made a horizontal, standard card sized easel base (5.5"x8.5" cardstock piece scored at 4.25" and 6.375" longways)

2. main panel:
i took half of an MFT fossil, scalloped notecard and used it as my front panel base. i added a blue mat, and a strip of yellow cardstock. i cut out my cork scallops using my MFT jumbo scallop die-namic steel die in my cuttlebug. this is a standard size, horizontal card base so the measurements are simple & it comes together quickly!
once the paper layers were created, i stamped the sentiment onto the main panel, added my little shell and sandcastle accents, and popped up Florence into a comfy spot using dimensionals.
this whole front panel was then attached to the easel card base using 1/2" scor-tape.
next i wound the twine around the entire card front, added a big wooden button and some fun summer charms (a flip flop & a sun) to a jump ring that i then threaded onto the twine. a simple knot tied it all into place. i was worried over time the charms & button might get too heavy so i hot glued the button down to ensure a good hold. the twine also adds a nice texture to the inside of the card since it wraps all the way around.

3.the inside of the card:
is a simple blue mat with a sweet sentiment added in black ink.
the bottom of the inside panel is the section of kraft paper stamped with the brown shells. to the kraft, i added a layer of yellow cardstock that i edge punched using my fiskar's punch.
a thin strip of cork above the shells, provided just the right amount of height in order to help prop the card open when it's standing up- you could do this with a larger embellishment or even a few more layers of cardstock- anything that helps to keep it open will work great.

these pics will make this more clear:


here's the card closed & ready to go into an envelope:
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here's the card open, showing the full inside:
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here's a side view of the card standing open, propped up on the bottom inner layer:
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whew! it's much easier to show you than tell you LOL!
thanks for hanging in there with my long winded explanations.

this card is really way cool and if you've never made one- do yourself a favor and try it- it's sure to make you feel good and i can't wait to see how my sis-in-law likes it when she gets it in the mail...though i'm a little worried she's going to request a bunch of them for her friends ;)

thanks for looking!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
xo
-g
^o^

clownin' around

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we're still feeling silly from the circus clowns this weekend so we broke out the face paints & had some fun today! i think i need to find more summer activities for us to do- this stuff is hard to wash off ;) but it sure was fun!

some tags, a card & barnum's funundrum (lots-o-pics)

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i have several things to share with you today!
one of my favorite crafty things to do is take a small little gift, wrap it, and add a quick tag. i especially like to surprise the little people in my life with these gifties, but it makes kids of all ages so happy to unwrap a little something- even if it's a .50c candy bar or a new box of crayons. people seem to enjoy the tags too. i always add enough ribbon so the tags can hang somewhere- a doorknob, a dresser drawer pull, over a chair back, etc. they are fun to make, and a great way to use up scraps, practice new techniques and coloring ideas- so everyone wins!
these are some tags i made the other day to surprise 2 special little boys i know- and what little boy (or girl) doesn't love some cute robots?!

Stamps: MFT Bunch of Bots and the teeny weeny heart on the top tag is from MFT's Love Machine sentiments from these sets too
Paper: Creative Cafe tags, MFT cream paper panels, MFT Robot digi paper
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories copic markers, MFT dienamics (cloud trio die) nesties, pop dots, ribbon (michael's)
Other: wrapping paper is from target



up next is a card for a dear friend's daughter who recently graduated from high school. it's a 'girlie' version of the recent graduation card i had made for our little brother.
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it's almost identical, except i used lots of bright yellow (her school color) a thicker twine and a big flower that i custom colored to match with copic markers. you NEED this set if you have any graduation events in your life- now or later! in fact, you NEED all 3 Fred Bear sets- 'cause he's so adorable!!
STAMPS: MFT Fred Bear Graduates
PAPERS: MFT paper panels, cardstocks (MFT banana split, bazzill), basic grey patterned paper (from june bug paper pad)
INK: memento tuxedo black
ACCESSORIES: copics, nesties, MFT dienamics large scallop, pop dots, MFT cork, MFT earth girl button, thick twine (home depot)
here's a look at the inside too:
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the circus is in town this weekend too! here's a few pics from Barnum's Funundrum:
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finally- sending very happy father's day wishes to all the awesome dad's out there! hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
thanks for visiting!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

For Taylor

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two posts so close together? that hardly EVER happens around this blog!

my good friend Taylor is pregnant with her first daughter (due very soon- YAY!) she's a wonderful Mom to two other little boys (ages 5 and 2.5!) i made this cute card for her today to go along with a jumbo box of diapers, wipes and some other newborn items. even though it's very simple & straightforward,i really had fun making this one! i guess it's just anytime you think about a friend having a new baby, you just have to smile, ya know?!

stamps: MFT Baby Bump

paper: MFT fossil note cards, MFT perfect paper panels, pink, black and cream cardstocks, basic grey dp (basics white, and kioshi 6x6"paper pads), scrap of scenic route paper (black polka dot)

inks: memento tuxedo black, spun sugar distress ink

accessories: MFT dienamics (scallop scallop and jumbo scallop), MFT cork, MFT felt, copic markers, polka dot cuttlebug embossing folder, MFT ribbon, MFT mini pink safety pin (adornment), pink plastic pacifier charm (unknown manufacturer, was in my stash), dimenstional boosters (from Jody-these rock!)

some interesting notes:
the image was stamped several times. i altered the white dp with pink distress ink to color it, then i stamped the main image right onto it. WTG's legs & sidewalk were stamped onto a paper panel, colored with copics, cut out and pieced onto the dp image.
Her shirt and shopping bags were pieced from the other patterned papers.
i just love how cute it turned out- it's colorful and artsy & i dig it!
i fed the mini safety pin through the tiny pink plastic pacificer charm and pinned it right to the ribbon. it is such a cute touch- you should try pinning something on your next card!
i LOVE MFT's cork, felt & dienamics and i can't say it enough- i LOVE LOVE LOVE 'em!

the inside is very simple and has lots of room for me to write a note

to accompany the card, i packed a jumbo baby gift bag with a sweet, pink travel swing, a super soft teddy bear rattle blanket, some one piece pj's and onesies, a big box of diapers & a case of wipes too.
i can't wait until baby Gwen is here!!
thanks for looking!

if you're looking for my Yo-Heave-Ho pirate card post- please click here- i'm having some issues with Blogger today!
{{BIG HUGS}}
-g
^o^

Yo-Heave-Ho

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this card was made for one of my daughter's good friends & preschool classmates, Seamus. he turned 5 a few weeks ago and had one of the most amazing pool parties i've ever attended- over the top awesome! Seamus LOVES pirates, so how could i not use this super cute set!

the card layout is a recent sketch from Mojo Monday i couldn't refuse the round one because i totally LOVE to make round cards!

stamps: Aargh! Piratey from The Cat's Pajamas
paper: MFT perfect paper panels, red (MFT), kraft, orange peel texture white, black cardstocks (Bazzill)
inks: embossing ink, memento tuxedo black, CTMH goldrush (used on little skulls on kraft cardstock), stazon (used to stamp on the twill)
accessories: MFT scalloped scallop Dienamic,twill ribbon (MFT), black embossing powder, heat tool, nesties, cropodile, Jody's dimensionals

here's the inside (click image to enlarge):


to go along with our theme, we packed a cardboard treasure box full of loot including some cute pirate swim trunks, a felt pirate hat, a pirate card game, pirate pencils and some Pirate's Booty- one of our fave snacks! he loved it!
thanks for looking!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
xo
^o^