Follow Your Bliss…

Good Morning!

Thank you all for your warm congratulations yesterday with regards to my Paper Crafts publication! I’m glad that you are as excited as I am!! And thanks to Megan for commenting and telling me that she didn’t think I was a nut on the phone, LOL!

I wanted to dive in to some of my Ellen H goodies last night, so I pulled out my pearls, and a buttercream Arturo note card. I wanted to do a simple and elegant design, since these notecards are SO plush! So I said “simple”, right? Ummmm…yeah….read on to see how “simple” it was, LOL!

I have loved this SU! flower dress stamp from the first moment I saw it. I thought it would be the perfect image to stand alone on this beautiful paper. I stamped it using Memories black ink, then watercolored it using so saffron and lovely lilac reinkers. Since I have the patience of an *ant*, I dried it with my heat gun, then added the tiny self adhesive pearls to the dress. I used the medium sized ones along the bottom, and the smallest ones all over the rest of the skirt. Then I sat there and stared at it for 15 minutes. LOL! I pulled out several different ribbons from my stash and played around trying to figure out how I wanted to attach it to the card. I found this purple plaid ribbon that I bought at Michael’s months ago. It seemed to coordinate nicely, so I snipped off a piece, and was going to just tie it in a knot and glue-dot it to the card under the dress. Well, another 15 minutes later, and plenty of cursing (LOL!) I decided that I could not tie a knot that looked acceptable *eyes rolling*. Hmmmm what to do, what to do…..*lightbulb*. I know!! I’ll use my handy dandy anywhere hole punch, and punch 2 holes on either side of the bodice where it meets the skirt, then do the “no tie bow”!!! OK I was diggin’ that.

So the final step was to stamp the sentiment. With the PaperTrey clear sentiment that should be a piece of cake, right? WRONG!!!! LOL!! I stamped it on the cardfront, and the stinkin’ thing was crooked!! (Insert more cussing here, LOL!) Gawd, what was I gonna do now?! Hmmmm how about if I stamp the sentiment on a piece of barely banana cardstock and mat it with lavender lace? So I trimmed the cardstock, and stamped the sentiment again. Guess what? IT WAS CROOKED AGAIN!!! Flipped the cardstock over, stamped it again. CROOKED!! Cut another piece of banana cardstock. Stamped it again. CROOKED AGAIN!! OK I was seriously ready to fling the card across the room, LOL. So, I took a deep breath, flipped the cardstock over, and then looked at the sentiment on the block. It had clung to the block *slightly* crooked, and while it wasn’t so obvious on the block, it was when I stamped it. Sooooo I fixed it on the block, stamped it *one more time* and HOORAY!! it was straight!! LOL! I mounted it to the lavender panel, then added just a bit of piercing to give it a little visual interest. Adhered it to the cardfront (on top of the first crooked sentiment!) and called it done.

So there you have it! A SIMPLE card, LOLOLOLOL!! I hope you have a great day today! Hugs!!

Stamps: butterfly kisses,(paper trey ink) blooming with happiness (SU!)

Paper: Arturo buttercream note card, barely banana, lavender lace

Ink: so saffron, lovely lilac, memories black

Accessories: self adhesive pearls, michaels ribbon, aquapainter, SU! tool kit.

OK, so I am just a *wee bit* excited to share this with you!! I got the “thumbs up” from Paper Crafts to use their image. This is the NEW special issue from Paper Crafts that is now available for pre-order on their website HERE.

But Trudee, why are you so excited about this issue?

WELLLLL LEMME TELL YA!!

This issue marks my very first Paper Crafts publication!!

I can remember the day as if it was yesterday, answering the phone and hearing a sweet voice say “Hi, is this Trudee? This is Megan with Paper Crafts!” I am pretty sure I blew her eardrum when I squealed on top of my lungs “OH MY GOSH HIIIIIII MEGAN!!!” Lord only knows what she thought when she hung up that phone, LOL!

I absolutely *adore* Paper Crafts magazine, and to be among one of the designers featured on their pages is really a dream come true for me. This issue promises to be a ton of fun, so be sure to order yours TODAY!! If you are interested in knowing about other magazines where you can see my work, please click on “My Publication Resume” link in my sidebar over there——>

I am working on something special for all of YOU, so stay tuned my friends!! Make today a great day!!

Good Morning, and Happy Monday! I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone, LOL! It’s very windy and cold here, and we had snow flurries again yesterday. Sheesh! This crazy weather has me longing for warm Spring days, so I decided to make a card that reminds me of Spring.

I just received this gorgeous Samantha Crate Paper and Primas from Jacksonbelle. I *love* the colors in this paper! The card measures 5 1/4″ square. I machine stitched the floral paper to an almost amethyst card base using white thread. Next, I cut a narrow panel of naturals white cardstock, and stamped the Green Thumb flower blossoms using VersaMagic inks (see colors below). Then, I stamped the stems, leaves, and little swirlies using VersaMagic tea leaves ink. The sentiment was stamped with Memories black ink, and then was matted with an elegant eggplant panel. I knotted a piece of wisteria grosgrain ribbon around the focal image, then attached it to the cardfront with dimensionals.

Have you noticed that I am addicted to all things sparkly? Well, this card is no exception, LOL! I adhered a Swarovski light purple crystal to the purple flower, and used clear, self-adhesive crystals on the red flower. As a final touch, I inserted light purple brads into the purple primas, then adhered them to the cardfront with dimensionals.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Hugs!

Stamps: green thumb, paper tray (papertrey ink)

Ink: memories black (stewart superior), versamagic: tea leaves, spring pansy, purple hydrangea, turquoise gem. brilliance pearlescent poppy

Paper: almost amethyst, elegant eggplant, naturals white (SU), Samantha (crate paper)

Accessories: primas, brads, swarovski crystal, hero arts self adhesive crystals, wisteria grosgrain, dimensionals, sewing machine, white thread.

Hello there! I hope you are all having a great weekend! I made this card last night for a swap at my downline meeting. I usually try to keep my swaps fairly simple. This will also be Mom’s Mother’s Day card, so Mom, if you’re reading this, you have to wait a little while to get this!

(All supplies Stampin’ UP! unless noted)

All of the colors used were pulled from the Rebecca designer paper from SU! ~ close to cocoa, and pixie pink. I stamped the Sassy Stems flower vase on shimmery white cardstock using Memories black ink. I watercolored the water using cool caribbean ink, then colored the flowers with pixie pink and certainly celery markers. Using the SAMJ, I stamped the sentiment, then I took the color spritzer tool and sahara sand marker, and spritzed some color randomly around the image. I punched the corners using the ticket corner punch, then layered it on a panel of pixie pink.

For the card base, I chose pixie pink, then layered the Rebecca designer paper on a panel of close to cocoa. I knotted a piece of taupe grosgrain across the panel, then attached it to the pixie card base. I mounted the focal image on dimensionals, and thought it looked a little “blah”. So, I added a word window punch tab and silver brad with the Rebecca striped paper. To finish off the card, I added Stickles to the flower centers, and outlined the vase with crystal effects.

So, who’s hangin’ out ’till midnight with me tonight to get their new Faux Ribbon set from PaperTrey Ink?!

Tomorrow is gonna be a rainy day, so I am hoping to work on some design publication schtuff, and make a card for you, as well! I want to thank all of you for visiting! I can’t believe I have just under 100 subscribers, and almost 12,000 hits in only 3 weeks! WOW!! Y’all are awesome!! I am thinking that I will need to show you my appreciation SOON with a little TREAT. Don’t you agree?

Hugs!

Stamps: sassy stems, all year cheer 3

Ink: cool caribbean, pixie pink, certainly celery, sahara sand, memories black

Paper: close to cocoa, pixie pink, shimmery white, rebecca designer series paper

Accessories: ticket corner punch, aquapainter, silver brad, word window punch, taupe grosgrain, dimensionals, stickles, crystal effects, color spritzer tool, Stamp-a-majig

Well hello there, and happy Friday!! YIPPEE!!! TGIF!! I don’t know about you, but after a long work week, I am LOVING Friday! LOL!

This is a rather simple card that’s being sent to Val’s neighbor. She’s a young gal who’s going through something that is just so sad. So…I am sending her Happy Thoughts. Val said she likes flowers, pink, and purple. I hope it makes her smile…

I *love* this Kelly Panacci paper that I got from my LSS a couple weeks ago! It’s so fresh and fun. I adhered a narrow strip of the striped pattern to the bottom of the pretty in pink card base. Then I cut a piece of the cute floral print, and tore the bottom off. I attached that to the top of the cardfront, then machine stitched around it using pink thread. I then highlighted the flowers on the paper with Stickles.

I wanted a big ol’ flower, so I dug through my stash of Primas and found my box of St. Martin flowers! I chose a pink and a purple, layered them and attached them together with this cool Making Memories decorative brad. I made two loops of celery grosgrain ribbon for the “leaves” and attached to the cardfront with fabri-tac, then attached the flower with a giant pop-up glue dot. Finally, I stamped the Paper Tray sentiment using Memories black ink.

Two reminders for you:

• Today is the last day to enter for Lindsey’s giveaway!
  
• Today in Ellen’s store, it’s 13% off for 13 hours!

I wish you a wonderful weekend!! Any special plans?

Stamps: Paper Tray (PaperTrey Ink)

Paper: pretty in pink, Sandylion Kelly Panacci stripes and floral

Ink: Memories Black (Stewart Superior)

Accessories: Prima St. Martin flowers, Making Memories brad, pink thread, sewing machine, fabri-tac, celery grosgrain, pop-up glue dot, Stickles.

Here’s my card for our “Take Two” challenge with Julia and Lindsey! Our challenge this week was to use Basic Grey Stella Ruby paper (drooooooooool), and Paper Trey’s Butterfly Kisses stamp set! Be sure to check out Julia’s and Lindsey’s cards, too!

I needed to make a card for Val’s mom, who fell and shattered her wrist She is a very talented watercolor artist, so I wanted to make something really special. I think this floral pattern is my favorite of the Stella pack, along with the stripes. I had the idea to make a card with the butterfly flitting around the flowers. I decided to make this a 5 1/4″ square card to accommodate the large florals in the pattern. I trimmed the paper, then looked at it for a few minutes, trying to get an idea. I wanted to highlight those gorgeous flowers, so I outlined the flowers and the leaves with crystal effects, then sprinkled dazzling diamonds on it. OOOOOOOOH sparklyyyyyyyy I set that aside to dry, and worked on the butterfly.

I used a piece of the distressed blue paper from the Stella pack, and stamped the paisley butterfly with VersaMagic agean blue ink. While the ink was still wet, I brushed on a little micro pearl PearlEx. I cut out the butterfly, then ran the bordering blue marker around the edges, because I don’t like the raw white edge to show. (yes, I am slightly psychotic that way). Next, I needed to make some antennae for the butterfly, so I grabbed my pack of wire and blew off the 4 inches of dust. *eyes rolling* I just snipped a small piece of gold wire, folded it in half, then used the pliers from the SU! tool kit to make the loops. I attached the antennae to the back of a dimensional, then attached it to the center of the butterfly.

By then, the crystal effects was dry, so I attached my sparkly floral paper to a panel of close to cocoa cardstock. Then, I machine stitched it using a caramel colored thread. I took my butterfly, and was moving it around, deciding on a place for her to sit. Once I found a place, I pierced a flight trail. Next, I stamped the sentiment using the Paper Tray set and VersaMagic gingerbread ink. I *love* these clear sentiments!! It makes it so easy to perfectly position them on your card.

I was thinking this card needed a little bit of ribbon, so I punched a tab of the striped paper with the SU! word window punch and attached it to the top right corner with a gold brad. Then, I slid a piece of this gorgeous green and blue iridescent ribbon under, and knotted it. I chose regal rose for the card base, and attached the main panel to the cardfront. Lastly, I attached the butterfly at the end of the pierced flight trail, folded the wings up slightly, and added Stickles for some *more* sparkle. (you can NEVER have too much sparkle!)

I hope you like my challenge card, and I hope it brings a smile to Val’s mom’s face. Have a great day! Hugs!!

STAMPS: Butterfly Kisses, Paper Tray (Paper Trey Ink)

INK: VersaMagic agean blue and gingerbread

PAPER: Basic Grey Stella Ruby, close to cocoa, regal rose

ACCESSORIES: crystal effects, dazzling diamonds, word window punch, may arts ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals, sewing machine, thread, micro pearl pearlex, gold wire, crafters tool kit, papersnips, bordering blue marker, stickles

When admiring my new Green Thumb set, I thought the dandelion image looked like a snowflake. It got me thinking…hmmmm…how can I use this Springy flower set with a snowflake? Then the idea just sorta hit me like a ton of bricks! Have you ever had a time in your life when things were pretty low? You felt sad, or someone did something to hurt you, or you just weren’t having a good day? Now, have you ever been blessed with an amazing friend? The kind of friend that you can tell *everything* to and she/he sticks by your side and helps you through the rough patches? I hope you do.

That is the inspiration for this card. When life feels like it’s the coldest of winters, there is that special friend that is the sweetest flower~ blooming just for you.

This card is all very simple stamping. I needed a color of cardstock that was light enough to show colors, but dark enough to show the snow. So, I chose kraft. Everytime I use kraft paper and white craft ink I think of Heather (Pinefeather)~she’s the queen

I inked the flowerpot with brilliance pearlescent rust ink, then shaded the edges with brilliance coffee bean ink. I stamped the image slightly higher than the bottom of the panel, so I could sponge some snow when it was time. Next, I masked the pot, and stamped a few stems, (versamagic hint of pesto) bending one slightly. I added the leaves, and then the tiny flower. (versamagic red brick) I stamped the small “snowflake” using craft white ink. Then I sponged some white on the bottom for snow. I heat set the image with my heat gun, because it takes that white a long time to dry~and I am impatient

After it was dry, I mounted the panel to cranberry crisp, and then always artichoke. I added a clear rhinestone twinkle sticker to the center of the flower, and set that aside. I thought rust would be a good color for the card base, as it worked well with the color of the flowerpot. I stamped it using the larger “snowflake”, then heat set. I wanted to somehow highlight the sentiment, so I dug through my stash looking for hardware or punches that fit. I found this chipboard label holder by SU! and decided to color it with the same ink I used on the flowerpot. Heat set it, then added a bit of the coffee bean ink to the edges and heat set again. Next, I stamped the sentiment on kraft cardstock, and glued the chipboard over it. Then, I trimmed it, and attached it to the cardfront with dimensionals, ribbon, and brads. Finally, I attached the focal image to the cardfront with dimensionals.

So, there ya go. A Spring stamp set that can be used with a wintery theme. I hope you are inspired to think “out of the box” with one of your sets, too!

This card is also for Jen’s Challenge. If you have a PaperTrey set, join the challenge!!

Stamps: Green Thumb (PaperTrey Ink)

Ink: Brilliance pearlescent rust, coffee bean. Versamagic hint of pesto, red brick. craft white (SU!)

Paper: really rust, cranberry crisp, always artichoke, kraft (all SU!)

Accessories: rhinestone sticker (hero arts), dimensionals, chipboard, brads, may arts ribbon, sponge

Good morning, and Hoppy Easter!

I made this card for a very dear friend of mine. These bunnies make me smile.

I watercolored them using Derwent watercolor pencils, then trimmed it using scalloped scissors. I sponged a bit of bashful blue around the edges, and a bit of celery on the bottom. Then, I added a bit of banana around the bunnies to give the look of sun behind them. I set them aside, then decided on a color for my card base. I wanted to use this plaid Daisy D’s paper, so I chose gable green as the base. The card measures 5 1/4″ square. I attached the plaid paper to the cardfront, then sewed it on using the zigzag stitch. The reverse side of the paper is lavender, so I decided to mount a square of that to the center and stitch that as well. Before mounting the bunnies on dimensionals, I adhered a strip of lavender rickrack using fabri-tac glue.

I wanted to bring out the rosy red color of the tulips, so I chose similar color buttons and knotted some lavender embroidery floss. I attached the 3 buttons to the card using glue dots. I added the sentiment to the bottom using Snap-Stamps, and added some Stickles to the tulips.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter! Don’t eat too much chocolate! Hugs!

Stamps: InkyAntics bunnies, Karen Foster snap stamps

Ink: bashful blue, barely banana, memories black

Paper: Daisy D’s, white, gable green

Accessories: buttons, embriodery floss, dimensionals, watercolor pencils, aquapainter, stickles, sewing machine and thread, sponge daubers, scallop scissors, glue dots, rickrack.

This card was made for Color Challenge108 on Splitcoast. It’s also going in the mail to a really sweet gal named Beate Johns. Do you know her? OF COURSE you do! If you have ever spent *any* time on SCS, you know her. She is a sweet, funny, uber-talented gal! Her Birthday is Monday the 9th, so be sure to post here and wish her a Happy Birthday, OK? I’ll make sure she sees it And guess who’s Birthday is TODAY?! Julia S!!! Yup my good buddy Julia is celebrating her special day today. So while you are leaving a wish for Beate, be sure and leave one for Julia, too, OK? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEYS!!!!!

OK!! on with the card. I just had to use 2 of my new PaperTrey Ink sets. (Is this polka-dot boot not the cutest thing you have ever SEEN?!) I started by stamping the pink card base with the Paisley background stamp by SU! using pretty in pink dye ink, then set it aside. I had a piece of scrap shimmery white cardstock that looked like it would be the right size, so I stamped the boot using craft bravo burgundy, then stamped the toe and the loop using craft pretty in pink. Next, I stamped 5 stems using craft always artichoke ink. I used a post-it note to mask the boot when I stamped the stems. I stamped the 3 larger flowers using craft pink, (the flower centers with burgundy) and the smaller flowers in craft burgundy. Then, I stamped the little swirlies as leaves and the sentiment using craft artichoke. I heat set the ink with my heat tool, then mounted it on an artichoke panel, and a burgundy panel.

I was looking through my stash and found this polka-dot paper by Paper Salon . I punched out 3 flowers from the paper, and I also used 2 die-cut photo corners of the same print. I layered the 3 flowers on top of each other, then punched the center using the 1/8″ punch. Layering them on top of each other before punching ensures that they are all punched in the same place. (Another option would be to punch the center hole first, then punch the flower–aligning the punch in the center) Then, using my handy dandy crop-o-dile, I added silver snaps to the flower centers.

I mounted the focal image on the cardfront with dimensionals, then added my 3 punched flowers with mini glue dots. Since I am addicted to glitter, I highlighted the flower centers with Stickles, and called it done.

It’s 18 degrees on my back porch this morning, and I have an inch of SNOW!!! Ummm…I just mowed the lawn 2 days ago, how can there be SNOW?! LOL! Crazy weather for sure.

Have a wonderful Saturday! I’ll be back tomorrow with an Easter card! HUGS!!!

Stamps: Green Thumb & Paper Tray (PaperTrey Ink), Paisley (copyright Stampin’ UP!)

Ink: pretty in pink classic and craft, bravo burgundy and always artichoke craft

Paper: pink, burgundy, shimmery white, artichoke, Paper Salon

Accessories: stickles, cropodile, making memories silver snaps, glue dots, dimensionals, spring flowers punch

Oh my gosh I got my PaperTrey Stamps yesterday!!! **happy dance** If you haven’t purchased them yet, you MUST! The images are fabulous, extremely high quality, and OMG the packaging! It’s bliss, I tell ya

When I first saw this watering can, I knew I wanted to emboss it with the now retired (SU!)Vintage Verdigris embossing powder. I had a piece of this gorgeous “Calm” paper by MyMind’sEye that I thought would work nicely with the verdigris color.

I stamped the watering can on vanilla and brushed copper cardstock using Brilliance Cosmic Copper ink. Then I heat embossed both of them with the verdigris embossing powder. I cut the center portion of the watering can from the copper cardstock, and set it aside.

Next, I created a mask for the watering can by stamping it on the sticky edge of a post-it note and cutting it out. I masked the can, and then stamped the stems and leaves using VersaMagic tea leaves ink. I stamped the flowers next, shading the edges with slightly darker ink. (see colors below) Next, I trimmed the image to allow part of the handle and spout to stick “out of the box”. I wanted the focal image to have a shabby, distressed feel to match the background paper, so I overstamped it with the SU! Linen background stamp using creamy caramel ink (stamped off once). Then, I sponged the edges using Ranger antique linen ink.

I mounted this to a piece of brushed copper cardstock, then mounted the center of the watering can on dimensionals. I stamped the sentiment using VersaMagic gingerbread ink. I thought it needed to stand out a little more, so I used the paper piercing template and pierced 3 evenly spaced holes under the sentiment, and attached 3 antique copper brads. I attached the patterned paper to a brushed copper card base, and finally attached the focal image to the right side using dimensionals. As a final touch, I added a bit of shadow under the watering can with an aquapainter and caramel ink, then I accented the flower centers with Stickles glitter glue.

These stamps make me smile. Thanks, Nichole for the awesome images!

Is it freezing cold where you are today? EEK!! the wind is whippin’ out there. Better stay inside and stamp today–Trudee’s orders!

Stamps: Green Thumb (PaperTreyInk), Linen (copyright Stampin’ UP)

Paper: vanilla, brushed copper, Signature Suite by MyMind’sEye

Ink: VersaMagic–gingerbread, pink grapefruit, pixie dust, spring pansy, purple hydrangea, tea leaves. Ranger antique linen, SU creamy caramel, Brilliance cosmic copper

Accessories: antique copper brads, stickles, sponge, vintage verdigris embossing powder, paper piercing template