My Remodeled Home

Last Saturday's card here on my blog was a "house" that I made. The wreath on the door was made with Eyelet Outlet products - Washi Tape and Brads. When the owner of Eyelet Outlet saw my card, her comment was: I'm thinking the house could have been made with our brick Washi Tape.

Well. of. course. it. could. DUH! Why didn't I think of that???

From that brief conversation, I decided to take my original thought for a card and make it even better. I think I was successful, but you can be the judge of that after you see today's card. 

To see last week's card - the original - go HERE. You'll also see the tutorial on how I made the wreath on the door on that blog post.

Here's my remodeled home:

Suzanne was right! The brick wall looks fabulous!

I switched the door to a wooden door (Eyelet Outlet Washi Tape) instead of the panel door (card stock) on the original card. And for a more balanced look, I placed a flower pot and mailbox beside the door, along with one rabbit. 

Now, here's a test:

How many different Eyelet Outlet products did I use on this card?

More specifically, how many different Washi Tapes?

How many different types of Brads?

Eyelet Outlet Washi Tape - 6 of them:

Brick

Hardwood Floor

Red (I doubled it and cut it to make the flower pot)

Skinny (I colored a strip of the yellow one with a brown Copic for the mailbox post)

Twig (to wrap the wreath)

Wide Flower

Eyelet Outlet Brads - 6 of them:

Mail

Mini Bee

Mini Ladybug

Rabbit

Round

Round Black with Silver 

What remodeling tips do you have that would make my house even better?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only thing I used on my card besides the Eyelet Outlet products listed in the blog post was some cardstock - Recollections 110# White (to which I adhered the Washi Tape) and SU Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand.

DDD Gets Punny

If you follow the Dueling Darlings group (on my blog or the other DDD members), you know that we normally post on the 15th of each month. Not so this month. This month we're posting on the 22nd... Today!

If we are anything, we are flexible.

First, one of our members decided to leave the group, leaving a hostess void that couldn't be filled in time... so this round is hosted by the awesome but partnerless Heather of the Divas. To make it work, she shared with me (a Dazzler) what theme she'd chosen and the Dazzlers agreed to use their own stuff to make their cards this month - sans kits. I did offer to provide an image/sentiment set for them if they chose to use it, but they were also able to use their own stamps to make their cards... so don't be surprised if you see some variety.

Then, there was a mailing problem (one has to love the PO, right) so the mail didn't arrive in its normal timely fashion. No problem. We are flexible, remember? So posting day was postponed a week, bringing us to today.

Heather's theme is...

Punny Foods

Isn't that fun?

The image/sentiment I used (and shared with the Dazzlers, too - so you may see more of this set) is from Whipper Snapper Designs: The Big Cheese and Age Doesn't Matter.

Be sure to head over to the Dazzler and Diva blogs to see their Punny Foods cards. You'll find links to them in the left sidebar.

And, as always, Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper The Big Cheese and Age Doesn't Matter stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU So Saffron CS and AMuse Studio DP

Embellishments: Gina Marie Enamel Dots and SU Ribbon

A TEA-riffic Cup of Tea

I'm part of the Creative Card Chicks group on SCS. Each month one of the members sends goodies to the other members and we all make cards with the same things. This month Roxie sent us a TEA-riffic kit of goodies... and even a tea bag so we could enjoy a delicious cup of tea while making our cards. Thanks Roxie!

Here's what Roxie sent:

Images/Sentiments/Framelits - SU Tea Together stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on SU Very Vanilla CS

DP - SU Share What You Love

CS - SU Night of Navy

Embellishments - SU Ribbon and Faceted Dots 

My card reminds me of my Grandma... her home was filled with a variety of prints and designs (almost to the point of distraction). That's the way this card turned out. In hindsight, I wish I'd put some solid cardstock behind the gorgeous teapot... but too late now. 

Tea's ready!

I kind of like the inside of my card - 

it's soothing after the busy-ness of the front.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

The only thing I used to make my card in addition to what Roxie sent was some cardstock - Recollections Black and SU Blush Blossom.

Spring Brings Beautiful Things

It's official. Spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere.... now if we can just convince the weather, at least that's what the calendar tells me.

I have seen Robins in the yard, and our daffodil plants are about 6" tall, so yes... I believe!

To celebrate this wonderful season I've used the beautiful tulips and sweet sentiment from The Project Bin's Spring Zen stamp set to make this card...

To create the color around the tulips, I colored with a Copic Marker, leaving the edges of the coloring a bit ragged and not going completely to the edge, so a bit of white still shows.

The stamp set includes not only the tulip, but also a gorgeous egg, cross and several sentiments. I absolutely love this stamp set!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Spring Zen stamped with Memento Cottage Ivy and Tuxedo Black Inks and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Cucumber Crush CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Your Next Stamp Gum Drops

Spring Has Arrived!

Were you ready? I know I was. In fact, I've been wishing for Spring since December 26th. 

Not only is today the first day of Spring, it is also the day that Kelly (who came up with this idea), Barb and I post the cards we've made with this month's theme for...

Ready? Set? Go!

The premise behind the Ready? Set? Go! Challenge themes is that they need to be a wee bit (or a lot) more extreme than the average challenge theme. We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Barb's turn. Here are her instructions...

We post on March 20^th and that is the first day of spring in 2019.  My challenge for you is to design a card or project that shows an obscure sign of spring—not the typical rain boots, birds, umbrellas, etc.  It can be something that you remember from being young or something from school that you recall. Or, do some research on the web to see how spring is celebrated in other countries or any uncommon sign of spring!

Now I'll admit... I thought on this quite a while before I came up with an idea, but once the idea was formed, I was quite excited about it. It is definitely what I think of when I think of spring -

Allergy Season!

This Whipper Snapper bug is too cute!

I continued the blocks of DP on the left side of the inside of my card, leaving the right side white so there is room to write a message.

I sure hope Barb and Kelly like my card. Be sure to head over to their blogs to see what they made. 

Barb

Kelly

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Caught a Bug and coordinating sentiment stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Lemon Lime Twist CS and DP from the Authentique Micro Basics Paper Pad

Embellishments: Jot Puff Dots from the Dollar Tree

Travel the World - Week 11

This is the eleventh week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

El Salvador

El Salvador is known as the “Land of the Volcanoes”. It has some of the most active volcanoes in the world.

El Salvador is also the only country in Central America not to have a Caribbean coastline.

If we compare areas, it is smaller than the state of Massachusetts.

The majority of El Salvador’s poor population lives in the countryside. These people face challenges related to the availability of running water and electricity in their homes. However, the wealthy people of the country live in apartments and houses.

El Salvador has only two seasons, unlike other countries that have four. The wet season runs from May to October, and the dry season runs from November to April.

El Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America.

Four species of sea turtles make the coasts of El Salvador their home

As part of El Salvador’s culture, it is polite for guests to try some of every dish that is served.

Food is always eaten with utensils. They use forks for eating fruits, too!

The country shares its land borders with only two other countries: Guatemala and Honduras.

El Salvador is known for the production of Anil, the plant producing the prized blue dye known as indigo. The extraction of the dye is done by pressing the plant with bare feet. 

It is a tradition in El Salvador for women to often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder instead of shaking hands.  Men always shake hands with other men and with women, although they wait for the woman to extend her hand when greeting others as a sign of respect.

In El Salvador, only close friends may hug and kiss on the right cheek as a sign of respect in greeting others.

The use of first names is usually reserved for family and friends.

Never arrive on time when invited to a home. Although it may sound strange you should arrive a little later than invited.

The country is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the world. Many surfing competitions are hosted there every year.

National Park Cerro Verde in El Salvador is the home to 500 different species of birds and a rare species of black hawk-eagle. In the 505-hectare area of the national park, you can explore three volcanoes.

The country’s minimum wage is US $100-250 a month.

The U.S. dollar replaced the “colón” as the official currency of El Salvador in 2001.

San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, has the biggest shopping center in all of Central America. It is also famous for its many museums and cultural sites.

El Salvador is one of the countries with the highest murder rate in the world. It is almost 20 times deadlier than the US and 90 times deadlier than the UK. A record-breaking 4,246 homicides were recorded in El Salvador during the first eight months of 2015.

I decided to let this El Salvador fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Even though the country has tropical weather, snow has been spotted at the top of Cerro El Pital (the highest mountain in the country).

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Whipper Snapper Snow Showers stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Orchid Opulence CS and Paper Studio Holiday Magic Polka DP

Embellishments: Foof-a-La Button, JoAnn's Holiday Ribbon, Recollections Rhinestones, and Towels from an unknown vendor

Lots and Lots of Candles

It is almost unbelievable, but we are currently completing the 51st round of the Mystery Image card swap. The members take turns hosting, providing stamped images (and sometimes sentiments). We all create cards to swap. Because of our individual styles and supplies, each person's cards are unique, which makes this especially fun.

Terry L is the host this round and she chose a delightfully fun image (with lots of coloring) and coordinating sentiment for us. Thank you, Terry!

Art Impressions "Chocolate Therapy" 

I stamped Happy Birthday 

and added it to the inside of my card:

I hope Terry and the other Mystery swappers like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment (provided by Terry): Art Impressions Chocolate Therapy (I colored with Copic Markers)
Sentiment (inside card): SU All That You Are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and punched with SU punches
Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Lavender Lace CS and DP from the CraftSmith Working on Fitness Paper Pad
Embellishments: Gina Marie Enamel Dots