One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #22: Thanks

Hello, friends!  Today I'm sharing a one-layer thank you card I made for the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #22: A Multitude of Gratitude.

Now that November has arrived, I like to focus on the many blessings I have in my life and take on an "attitude of gratitude."  Here in the US we will be celebrating Thanksgiving later this month, and despite all the stores around us getting ready for Christmas now, I am not ready for that just yet.  I love Thanksgiving and the time to focus on the blessings and riches we have been afforded.

I am also a firm believer in sending thank you notes, and I am teaching my children to do the same.  Therefore, this card will not remain in my stash for too long!

For my card, I watercolored the background, then stamped the sentiment and flowers in black ink.  I filled in the centers of the flowers with black Enamel Accents and spritzed some Perfect Pearls mist for a little shine.

Stamps by Precious Remembrance Shop: Blossom and School Days

Thank you so much for stopping by...I am grateful for each and every visit!

Take good care,

Judy

Precious Remembrance Shop - New Release Day!

Hello, friends!  I am so excited to share the newest release from Precious Remembrance Shop with you today!  If you have been hopping along with us, you should have arrived here from the lovely and talented Kim Bell's blog.  If you want to hop along from the beginning, you can start at Rosemary's blog HERE.

So?  Have you seen it?  Feast your eyes on this awesome new Christmas stamp set called "Sketchy Christmas."  I'm in love!!!

I am having so much fun with these sketchy trees, they are so on trend right now!  My first thought was to layer them and make a soft, one-layer Christmas card.  I used two different shades of green distress inks, and made the center tree the darkest.  I thought it would be fun to decorate it like a Christmas tree!

I also used a Sakura jelly roll glitter pen to add some sparkly garland around the tree!

I am really excited to share more projects with you using this versatile set.  Stay tuned!

The next stop on the blog hop is the super talented Lisa Elton.  Here is the order of the blog hop for your reference:

• Rosemary Dennis
• Melissa Chipperfield
• Sue Lelli
• Kim Bell
• Judy Marino -- that's me!!
• Lisa Elton
• Precious Remembrance Shop

Guess what?  There is a giveaway, too!   For your chance to win "Sketchy Christmas" stamp set, leave a comment on the shop's blog post and on each designer's blog and show us some love! :) 

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• One lucky winner of the stamp set will be chosen randomly. 
• To keep updated with our projects, join us on our Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram if you haven't done so already.
• Giveaway will end on Saturday October 31, 2015.

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Happy hopping and thanks for stopping!

Judy

CASology #170: HEART

Hello, friends!  I think we may have stumped a few of our friends last week with our "zombie" cue card at CASology...so let's see what you think of this week's cue!  (I have a feeling this one will be popular!)

I have to make some thank you notes for my son, who just celebrated his birthday.  I immediately thought of the "Thanks" stamp set by Precious Remembrance Shop...almost every sentiment in this stamp set includes a heart!

I embossed one of the thank you sentiments in white on black card stock, die cut with a Lil' Inkers stitched rectangle die, and paired two strips of washi tape on a red card base. Before adhering the thanks sentiment, I dry embossed the card base (washi tape included).  I find that helps the washi tape really stick!

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The embossing folder (Darice's "Diamond Plate") has a masculine feel, so I thought this color combination with the embossed card base would be good for a boy's thank you note.

I guess I went outside the box a little bit with this cue ...not a love card, no big hearts, etc.  I really need some thank you notes, so that's what I made!

Be sure to link up your HEART card by noon on Monday (Central time).  Be sure to visit our Design Team and Guest Designer blogs for more inspiration!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener
Kymona Tracey
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Anita

Our Sponsor This Week:  So Suzy Stamps

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

Seize the Birthday - A Real Card!

Hello, friends!  I'm stopping by today with a fun one-layer birthday card I made for the current Seize the Birthday challenge.  I'm opting for "Anything Goes" this time around!

I recently purchased this retired Hero Arts stamp in an online "crafters purge" group, and I think it is really fun.  In a world where most people now text you on your birthday rather than send a good old fashioned card, I think this is quite appropriate!

I stamped the image in black ink, then masked it and sponged on distress ink.  Then, I spritzed it with Perfect Pearls "heirloom gold" spray for some shine and interest.  I removed the mask and added some subtle yellow color to the banner and lines.  

A simple, one-layer birthday card.  And, yes...it is a real card!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Judy

CASology: Show Off Your Craft Space!

Hello, friends!  It's my turn to share pictures of my humble crafting space as part of a feature at CASology.  Every Thursday & Friday through mid-November, we're going to let you take a peek into our craft spaces.  Kimberly and Kimona have already shared their spaces with us, and now it's my turn!

I hope you are not too disappointed...I do not have an entire room dedicated to my stamping supplies, but rather a corner of my laundry room!  

I converted the back of my laundry room into an office space several years ago.  On one side of that section, there was a large storage closet that my husband and I knocked out, and then after we wallpapered, I added a desk and he put up shelves for me. The way I see it, my limited space forces me to keep my supplies in check.

So, here is a photo tour of my little "card corner!"  (Yes, that is what inspired the name I chose for my blog!)

So, this is my corner.  As you can see, I don't keep a chair at this desk because I actually prefer to stand while I stamp!

So, to put this space into perspective...this is what you begin to see as you walk through the laundry room.  It is a long room, with a washer and dryer on the right. Can you see where the room extends to the right (just past the million uniforms my kids have hanging the right)?  That is where the closet used to be and we built my "card corner."

To the left is my "office" area.  If I ever do feel like sitting, I can wheel the desk chair wherever I need it.  That radio?  Always ON when I craft!

The large printer is also a scanner and fax machine and the whole family uses it.  On either side is my paper cutter and my Cuttlebug.  I used to keep my paper cutter up high on a shelf out of reach of my children, but now that they are older I keep it on my desk for easy access.  (I rubber band the blade shut so no one can come in and play with it -- just in case.)

I mount my ink pads on the wall just below a framed photo of my first published card!  

Here is the view of my craft desk.  You can see that I have lots of plastic drawers -- they mainly hold my wood block stamps. (I also have several scrapbooks and School Days books for my kids.)

The drawers below my desk hold my papers, ribbons, punches, distress inks, and other craft supplies.

Here are a few of my favorite supplies on my desk.

My clear stamps are arranged (alphabetically, of course) in a refrigerator drawer from Bed Bath & Beyond. The blotter on my desk is the bottom of an old desk calendar...can you tell it has been there a long time?  I have stamped all over it!

 My markers, glues, and other essentials are in a utensil caddy from Pampered Chef.

My embossing folders are in a plastic bin that I trash picked when my neighbor moved.  (Is that bad?)

My cards are mainly stored in clear plastic envelopes in a spinning card rack that my husband bought for me on eBay.  One of the best presents he has ever given me!

I store other essentials on these IKEA shelves -- Glossy Accents, corner rounder, acrylic blocks, Stickles, and large wood block stamps.  Below the shelves I hung removable hooks with gems on a big ring, ink swatches, and my heat gun.

My small Copic marker collection is stored in this Copic marker cube.  The cubes are stackable and if my collection grows I may need to buy another one.  I store my buttons in a Yankee candle jar that I cleaned out once the candle was finished.  (I love those jars!)

So that's it!  Thanks for sticking with me through a tour of my humble card corner.  It was pleasure showing you around!  Be sure to stop by the CASology blog tomorrow to see the next Design Team Member craft space tour.

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

CASology #169: ZOMBIE

Hello, friends!  Welcome back to another cue card at CASology!

This week we have a new sponsor...please welcome Concord & 9th!  We are grateful for their sponsorship...be sure to check out their shop.

So, many of you know I like to make and send Halloween cards to my young nieces and nephews.  This is another one to add to the bunch, using a $1 Studio G stamp and a sentiment from Hero Arts.  I'm not sure if this fella is  an official "zombie," but a little paper-piecing helps (I think)! The background was watercolored with distress inks...I thought it looked spooky.  Glossy Accents on the eyes adds some fun shine, too.

This is a CAS design even though the white space isn't white -- one main image, only one extra layer as a frame, no embellishments.    East to mail...flat and no bulk!

I'm also linking up this monster to the current Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: The Monster Mash.  And, thanks to Barb's suggestion, I'm adding it to the Happy Little Stamper October CAS Challenge: Paper Piecing.

Be sure to link up your ZOMBIE card by noon on Monday (Central time). You will also be inspired by the many ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Hannelie Bester -- taking a break
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener
Kymona Tracey
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Valerie

Our Sponsor This Week:  Concord & 9th

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

This made my day...

Hello, friends!

I am just popping in to share a card that I received in the mail today.

It truly made my day!

I am always amazed at how wonderful our crafting community is...supportive, caring, thoughtful.  I hope you have all had the experience of receiving a handmade card from a fellow crafter in the mail.  And when it is an unexpected surprise? Priceless!

After communicating via e-mail recently with one of my crafting friends across the country...the lovely Barb from love2colour...I was so pleasantly surprised to receive this note of encouragement and friendship from her in the mail.  It truly warmed my heart to read her note and realize she took the time to think of me, sit down and write me a note on one of her gorgeous hand-made cards, and mail it across the country.  

That is the definition of thoughtfulness, my friends.

I had to run and take a picture before the sun set...it is getting dark earlier each day here on the east coast.  This card is a beauty!

And so I thank you, Barb -- or Babs or Barbara ;) 

This card did make me smile and will continue to bring me smiles for days to come. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, your positive words, and your kindness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy