Lavinia Stamps "Zemira".

 Although I have used the Lavinia stamp, "Zemira" before, this is the first time I have used her to create a card like this one.  I watched one of Tracy's videos on how to make this card, yesterday.  I immediately had to try to re create her card, and here it is!  I am super happy how well it turned out, and have another similar card on the way!  I had so much fun making this card, and it measures 6 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.  I used Neemah 80lb card stock, which was really lovely to stamp on and took the inks really well.  I used Catherine Pooler inks and added some water drops because the CP inks are water reactive.  Omg I love this card! 

Thanks for dropping in, have a SUNSHINE day!  Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

The Snarky's Are Back!

Here's "Queenie" (above) and he's been caught with his back leg in the air.  I can't comment on what he may or may not have been doing because that information is censored because this blog is "family friendly". And yes, HIS name is Queenie.  No comment on that.  He's a cat.

He's mortified that he has been caught in a 'compromising' pose.  He is also bewildered that he's now being carried away by a bunch of feral ants. Oh well, a cat's gotta do what a cat's gotta do.

Above is "Bob".  Unfortunately he has somehow spilled ink all over himself. He has no idea how this happened. He says it wasn't because he climbed up the shelves in his craft room trying to reach the cat biscuits.  Maybe it was because he didn't want to be a Tabby cat and wanted to be a Tortoiseshell instead. We'll never know.  He's just a 'colourful cat. Let's leave it at that.

Above and below are two photos of the same tree I took early this morning.  I see this view from my kitchen window every day.  These tree's stand out amongst the rest of the green trees and when the sun is just up, the tree's just glow.  Sadly it doesn't show in photos.

I made the Butterfly card below, using a Tim Holtz "Tattered Butterfly" die.  It die cuts 2 different sized Butterflies at the same time.  I used some hand made paper I had purchased years ago.  It is blue and silver, although it looks white on here. I also used a TH die for the diamond cut out behind the Butterfly.  The top layer of white card stock is raised on sponge tape and then added to a folded white card.  I added two punched flowers and lastly glued a tiny clear glass drop in the center of each flower.  The white card stock I used is Neenah 80lb Solar White.  I am in love with that white card, it is so smooth and stamps so cleanly.   have yet to add words inside the card, this will be done when I am ready to send it to someone. 

 

This post has taken me ages to publish this morning.  I have a blocked ear and it is also somewhat painful:-( Anything that could go wrong, did!  From spelling mistakes, to forgetting a photo and everything in between!  I was distracted by my blocked painful ear! 

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day!  Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and ever day!

Stampin' Up! Tip.

 I used the Stampin' Up! Hello Ladybug punch to make some Bumlebees on the card below! So much fun and a good way to get more from the punch other than making Ladybugs!

e card below is not quite finished.  I need to add some "Autumn" words.  The leaves are made with Tim Holtz Leaf Fragments dies. I had used sprays and inks on some card and the die cut the leaves.  The black card has been embossed using and Altenew embossing folder called Organic Linen. To get a nice crisp embossed look, I always lightly spray the card stock before I emboss it.  By the way these photos uploaded back to front.  The last photo was supposed to be first.  I was too lazy to change it! Oh, and I embossed the leaves with clear embossing powder.

The card above uses Stampin' Up! Artistically Inked stamp set.  Below is another tip I have for you! Because the stamps have sticky labels on, they are hard to remove from my acrylic block.  I have put a tiny piece of washi tape on one side of the stamp.  This makes it so much easier to remove the stamp. It doesn't interfere with the stamp sticking to the block, it just makes it easier to remove.

Below is a photo I took on March 1st, the first official day of Autumn.  The tree in the center of the photo has jus started to get some red tinges to it, the first sign of Autumn. As the seasons change, so the leaves change colours.  As the days go by the leaves will become more colourful, until they finally drop off and the tree becomes what I call, a ghost tree with no leaves, just bare.

 

I am still not feeling like doing much crafting at the moment.  Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day!  Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

Stampin' Up! Flowing Flowers Card & Gift Basket.

This is the first card I have made with my new "Flowing Flowers" SU stamp set. I used a layout my friend Nancy had used on her blog.  Please visit her blog here.  I met Nancy when I was in Illinois several years ago, and I purchased some (ok, quite a lot!) of SU stamp sets from her!  Nancy is an SU demo and believe me, she LOVES Stampin' Up!  Ok, so I made his card for two wonderful friends of mine, (husband and wife) who happen to also be my neighbours.  I was sad to hear recently, that they both have Covid and are not feeling the best right now.  They are isolating at home at the moment.

Here is the gift basket I put together for them, and left it at their front door.  It has some mini chocolate biscuits, a bar of chocolate, some tea bags and two packs of tissues.  The tissue paper is actually yellow, a similar colour the basket, but it looks white on here!  Just a little something to let them know I am thinking of them, and hoping they feel better soon.  They were blown away by my  "unbelievable kindness", as my friend said.  So glad it lifted their spirits, feeling so unwell is not fun, I know that only too well.

So that was my crafting project or today! It is still extremely humid here - the highest humidity we have ever had on record.  While I love the heat, I have to admit, the humidity is a bit over the top and knocks me out at times.

Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

Two's Day.

 Just a bit of silliness from me! 

Today's date is Tuesday 22-02-2022.  

So therefore, it's "twos-day"!  And it reads the same way either way you read it!

Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day!  Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

How To Keep Your Cutting Mats FREE of Cutting Marks!!

Ok, I apologize there is no photo for this post.  

I had purchased some new bedding awhile ago, and kept the clear vinyl bag they came in. Vinyl, not plastic, that's important.  I had no idea why I had kept the bag but I am glad I did!  I was looking through some craft stuff yesterday and came across the bag.  I decided to cut the vinyl off to use under my gel plate to catch splashes of water/ink when I use the gel plate. I ended up with two 12x12 inch sheets of vinyl. It would be easy to clean afterwards.  

Then 'POOF' I had a brain wave!!

I folded one sheet of vinyl in half and placed it on my cutting mat, then placed a sheet of cardstock on top, then the die, then lastly the second cutting mat.  I run it through my Big Shot Plus and it cut the die shape perfectly.  BUT!  It didn't leave a cutting mark on my mat, and it did not cut through the vinyl!  So if  you have brand new cutting pads, this method will stop your mats from getting marked, and also stop your cardstock from getting marks on from the cutting marks on your mats!

The vinyl I used just seems to bounce back after you have used it, it doesn't leave any cut marks  through the vinyl at all!  

And the vinyl is free if you already have some!  I can't tell you how thick it is, but it's just from the bag some bedding came in.

I hope this tip works for you as well as it works for me!  Let me know in the comments how it went!

Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day!  Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

Mack is Back!

 This is "Mack". He's riding the waves on his surf board.  He can't swim, so he's a bit worried about falling off and ending up in the water.  I think he's feeling a bit sea-sick too.  With one hand holding a red flower, he's leaning heavily on his umbrella with his other hand. Life really is a balancing act.

He's doesn't look very happy.  The things we do for love.

Thanks for dropping by!  Have a SUNSHINE day!  Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each every day!