Clean and simple . . .

Clean and simple sketch for The Paper Players . . . .

Anyone who knows me, knows that "clean and simple" is NOT my style!! Copious amounts of lace, fabrics, ribbons, flowers, and anything vintage . .. THAT's "me"!!

However, it's good once in awhile to stretch outside our comfort zones and try something different . . .so every once in awhile I like to do a "clean and simple" (CAS) card. This week's sketch challenge from The Paper Players presented the perfect opportunity! I've been working with navy blue cardstock the last few days, doing final preparations for my monthly stamp clubs next week, so I grabbed yet another piece of navy, some pretty designer paper from Stampin' Up, and did this card. The beautiful flower stamp is one of my favorites; "Birthday Blooms" from Stampin' Up. I colored it with an aqua painter and Cherry Cobbler ink, with some Daffodil Yellow for the center, topped with some clear Stickles bling.

Now, I'm back to my club prepping . . . .hope you all have a chance to stamp this week! "Do something creative every day."

www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

thepaperplayers.blogspot.comwww.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

Watercolor Comfort

A two-word message . . . . no explanation needed!

I love some of the wonderful inspirational and spiritual stamps that companies are producing. Verve Stamps is one of my favorites . . .. along with others.

The Paper Players challenge this week was to use watercolor . . .a technique that I love. I used Stampin' Up's "tree" from the stamp set "In the Meadow" and watercolored with my ink pads and an aqua painter. I feel that aqua painters are the best way to get a real "wash" of color, as opposed to a more "contained" color you can get using a blender pen. . . all depends on the look you want. The metallic thread is old, from my stash . . believe it came from a sewing/embroidery shop! This sentiment is from an old, old stamp set and I no longer even know where I got it!

www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

Check out The Paper Players for all this weeks beautiful cards! www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

SAFARI ADVENTURE IN CALIFORNIA!

Nope . . . never been on safari! Imagine it would be totally exciting . . . altho' I think I might be a bit more comfortable not being quite so close to the amazing wildlife on safari!

Graphic 45's "Safari Adventure" is such FUN paper to work with! My next workshop at "It's All About the Scrapbook" in Dixon, CA, will be Saturday, August 27th and we'll be making this jungle themed keepsake box and a tag mini-album to go inside it. The box comes with three tags on a metal ring. I chose to use, instead of the ring, some gorgeous Hanna Silk ribbon. You'll get a set of the Safari Adventure 8 x 8 papers, and all the hardware and embellishments shown, to create your keepsake box. (the inside of the box is lined with papers, also).  You will also have the option of either the metal clawfeet (shown) or round painted wooden "ball" feet, for your box. (or, if you like, no feet at all!) You can do as much, or as little, "fussy cutting" as you like, to decorate your box.

Come "safari" with me and share some wild fun! See you there!

(Class is $35; call the store to register . . . (707) 676-5252. Call now! Seating is limited!

Botannicals Still Bloom

Botannicals Still Bloom . .. for The Paper Players

I wanted to play along with this week's challenge from The Paper Players, as the color challenge was such a nice color combo! Swet Sugarplum, Island Indigo, and Mint Macaroon are the colors we were to use. I hadn't had my "Botannical Blooms" dies out for awhile, so pulled them out and started die cutting away! I'm trying to do a little more along the lines of "clean and simple", so instead of continuing to add flowers upon flowers upon flowers to this card, I stopped!! Yeah, me!

Please check out The Paper Players blog to see all the wonderful cards this week!
www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com


www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

Help!  Send coffee!

There's a new July sketch challenge on "Viva La Verve" and I decided to pull out some of my fun Verve coffee stamps to make a card for this challenge. Yes, I am a "coffee-holic" . . . and judging by all the fun coffee stamps you can get now, I'm not alone! What's YOUR favorite? I'm a "Venti, skinny, hot, cinnamon dolce latte" gal . .. . I can nurse that Venti for 3-4 hours, at the least . . . and have a lot of fun analyzing myself as to what that all "means" about me!! Check out the FUN cards in this week's challenge!

vlvsketches.blogspot.com

Swappin' Sundays

Love these super cards from my May swap group . . . such amazing creative talent here! Enjoy!

Coffee Loving . . in the nick of time!

I really wanted to make another "coffee card" for the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Summer Blog Hop . . . but had to do it this afternoon, as the hop closes tonight! I made it!! I had gotten this beautiful new coffee cup stamp . . . just had to have it . . . and wanted to use it. Staying true to my vintage theme, I embossed the cup with Judikins' "Egyptian Gold" embossing powder . . . .Love it! It's gold embossing powder, but with flecks of gold glitter in it! It went onto a vanilla cardstock layer, diecut with a rectangle stitched die (from Pink & Main), then onto some "barnwood" patterned paper from an old Bo Bunny paper pad. I used Stampin' Up's new burlap ribbon, with another layer of an old Stampin' Up lace border on top of it. The paper rose was made with Donna Salazar's "Rose Creations" dies from Spellbinders .. . yes, I use these flowers on approximately every other card I make!! . . ..  from some old Stampin' Up patterned cardstock . .. and all mounted on a Stampin' Up "Soft Suede" card. 

OK . . . I'm tired . .. gotta go get a cuppa' coffee!!

Check it out . . . there are almost 800 cards on the summer hop!!! WOW!!

http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/2016/06/summer-coffee-lovers-blog-hop-2/

http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/2016/06/summer-coffee-lovers-blog-hop-2/

Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop

Time for the summer version of the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! Those of you who know me, know I LOVE LOVE LOVE me my coffee!! So, it's only natural that I'd love to participate in this hop.

Here's my card . . . . hoping I have time to make another one, too, but we'll see!

In keeping with my love of all things vintage, I used a vintage print of the coffee cup, from some vintage style paper I had. Mounted it onto some Soft Suede cardstock from Stampin' Up, the layered on top of a lovely brown doily I found at Hobby Lobby, and put it on a So Saffron card. The coffee beans are from an old Stampin' Up set, and the greeting (PERFECT for a summer theme, don't you think?!!) is from a coffee set of stamps I got from Stamplorations.

Hop on over to Coffee Lovers and check out all the FUN cards!!

http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/2016/06/summer-coffee-lovers-blog-hop-2/

Are you ready????

Finally got those "I'm in love" flowers made into a project!! I was going to make some cards first, but found some really cool "vintage style" frames using my 40% off coupon at Michaels, and created this idea first! I love the feel of these . . . and this stamp is such a wonderful saying. I will be selling some of these this fall at a "boutique" sale I'll be participating in, at Mercy Multiplied in Lincoln. Several of us who own our own direct sales businesses will be holding the boutique on September 17th and donating a portion of our profits to help the girls at Mercy, in Lincoln. (you'll all be notified, and getting invitations!!)

Now I've got to get making more flowers . .. I have some other wonderful scripture sayings that I want to use, with these same frames and flowers! Hope you get some crafting in this weekend . . . .and feed your creative soul!!

I'M IN LOVE!!!!!

OMG . . .  . I have started using some new products I "found" several months ago . . . and this is definitely my new "obsession"!! The company is "Heartfelt Creations" and the first products I've been playing with are the "Sunrise Lily" stamp set and coordinating dies. They also sell a "kit", and you can go online to their website (www.heartfeltcreations.com) to watch videos on how to do their particular technique of "flower shaping". It's really very easy . . .  the kit helps, but you can also use your own firm foam pad and a stylus (you really need a couple of different sizes). I now have a wholesale account with them, and will be selling their products on my website. (https://bellacosavintage.com). Only one stamper took advantage of my "pre-order offer" to purchase items at my wholesale price; however, I ALWAYS sell UNDER retail price . . .somewhere about halfway between wholesale and retail . . .so you will always get a "Deal"! Check out Hearfelt Creations and let me know if there's something you'd like. I have a limited supply from my first order, but I will keep a "waiting list" and when I have enough orders for another purchase, will do so.

And . . . . drumroll please . . .. are these flowers GORGEOUS, or what!!!???!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I'll show you a few more I made, soon . . . and then, stay tuned for what I plan to do with them!!

Sunday Swappin'!!

Sharing swaps from my group this Sunday. I'm waaaay behind on blogging . . . .definitely experiencing that phenomenon that the older you get, the faster time flies! I believe these swap cards were from April, but I'm not even sure of that, at this point! Nevertheless . . . enjoy the inspiration!

Graphic 45's "Cityscapes" Fun

Wow! What a long weekend of FUN I had! Tea with the girls at Linde Lane on Thursday; stampin' workshop with Jilli on Friday; our big annual "craft yard sale" on Saturday (thanks to all those who came!!); and the "frosting on the cake" . . . our last "Over the Top" Graphic 45 workshop with our frioend Anne, on Sunday! Anne is moving to Missouri and we are all going to miss her greatly . . .but so happy that she will be having a blessed life as mom and grandma there! These are the three cards we did Sunday, using Graphic 45's wonderful "Cityscapes" line . . . just love it! Cards can be masculine or feminine, depending on the embellishments you choose.  Then the fourth card is another I did with this line . . . I have to trim it down just a tad so it will fit in a 5.5" x 5.5" square envelope . . . but I love the format of this easel card. 

Hope you're "doing something creative every day"!!!

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY!

Today is Nat'l Scrapbook Day . . . and since I've just recently started doing a bit of scrapbooking again, I thought I'd share with you. First are 2 pages I did for the quilting group in Lowell, Oregon, as the leader of the group wanted to start keeping a scrapbook of their annual show and sale for Lowell's "Blackberry Jam" celebration each July. Ruth had given me a couple of fabric scraps from the quilt the group raffled off last summer, as well as some photos from the event . . . so I incorporated all of those into the double-page 12" x 12" layout for them. I was pleased with the way it turned out . . . but am already thinking that this year I'd like to go even more "vintage style", so that will be fun!

And, for those of you who might like to do some Graphic 45 scrapbooking, I have some kits available for these pages. Everything is already cut for you, in case you don't like to "fussy cut" . . . all you have to do is glue things down and add your own photos, to make a bright and lovely "summertime" layout! Kits are $15 for the double-page layouts. Email me if you're interested!

Happy Scrapbook Day . . . and Happy Mothers Day tomorrow to all those moms out there! Enjoy your day!

A Vintage Seaside Summer Album

I am sooooo excited to show you the next class I'm doing at "It's All About the Scrapbook" in Dixon, CA. This "mini album" uses Graphic 45's 8" x 8" kraft album, which has LOTS of pages in: pocket pages, kraft pages, vanilla pages, and vellum pages. We'll be decorating the covers of your album, and several inside pages. Then you'll have several more pages you can decorate at home, if you wish.

We'll use primarily "French Riviera" papers from Prima . . .along with embellishments GALORE!! I dug into my own stash of vintage linens, for some "one of a kind" lace and embroidered embellishments; and found lots and lots of flowers, seashells, charms, diecuts, and ribbons . .. so you can make this truly a one-of-a-kind treasure for yourself, or a stunning and unique gift for someone special!

The class is Saturday, June 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Class fee is only $65.00 for this gorgeous album. Spots are limited, so call the store to reserve yours! (707) 676-5252.

More Botannical Blooms!

. . . Just one more botannical bloom . . .

I think this might be my last "Botannical Blooms" card .  . . but ya' never know!! These dies are soooo much fun to play with! One of those sets that you think to yourself, "I could make these in every single one of my favorite color combos!"  

I also made this card for The Paper Players challenge this week . .. .check out their site to see all the wonderful submissions! www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

Enjoy!!

Bonkers for Botannicals!!

Had so much fun Sunday "just playin'" for myself . . . had seen so many gorgeous cards done with Stampin' Up's Botannical Blooms dies that I just had to make some of them! I fell in love with these stamps, dies, and designer paper the minute I saw them .. .the wonderful, rich jungle colors. . . but these flowers can really be anything you want them to be! Here's the results of my BERY fun afternoon! The second and last cards are from the amazing Ann Schach  . . just purely case'd these, they were so gorgeous! The others started out as inspirations from online, but got my modifications . . .  Enjoy! I have one more botannical card to show you, but it's for The Paper Players challenge this week, and I'll be posting it later in the week. . . If you don't have these dies, gotta' get 'em!!! Sooo fun!

Swappin' Sundays

Time for some more "swap" pictures! These cards are from my swap, for the month of March. I know you'll agree, there are some SUPER talented artists in my swap group! Enjoy!

SCRAPBOOKING AGAIN!!

I've missed scrapbooking! Just have been so busy doing card making classes, that I haven't had time. I've wanted to do Graphic 45 scrap pages for quite some time, as their 12 x 12 pads of paper are PERFECT for that. So - here are the first three double-page layouts that will soon be available at "It's All About the Scrapbook" in Dixon, CA. Call the shop if you're interested in purchasing a kit to make any of these. There will be 12 in the series; these are spring and summer oriented . . .all from Graphic 45's "Time to Flourish" line. Each kit contains everything you need to make the 2-page layout.

TAKE TIME TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE EACH DAY!!! (and don't forget to smell the roses!!)

ROSES BLOOMING: Inside and Out!

I LOVE that the roses are blooming "all over town" now, including my own! This week in my Stamp Clubs, we're also honoring roses . . .using Stampin' Up's "Rose Garden" Thinlits Dies (which coordinate with the "Rose Wonder" stamp set. LOVED playing with these gorgeous roses! Then we're also doing a fun little card with the set "Beautiful Ride". I never owned a VW "Bug" but I sure think they're cute . . . and that includes this one! We're doing this card with the "Joy Fold" pattern . . .haven't done that fold for ages, and I do love it! Happy stamping and have a great week!

The Paper Players Sketch Challenge

I decided to do the sketch challenge this week from The Paper Players. I love checking them out each week, with not only the inspiration from their challenges, but the samples created by their design team . . . and the submissions for the challenge are always fun! I took a bit of "liberty" with the actual shapes on the sketch (which is "allowed"!!) . . . .using Graphic 45 papers from "Time to Flourish". . . LOVE those papers!

Check out all the great cards this week at: www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

My First Rose of Summer!

Those of you who know me, know that I am passionate about roses! I absolutely love them . .. growing them, nurturing them, learning about them, seeing them, smelling them, and . . . well . . .just loving them! This is my first bloom this summer. I don't know what it's name is, as it's not one I planted here. It's from one of the big bushes in our backyard, originally planted by our landlord. I do take care of these bushes, as I love being able to have fresh roses in the house in the summer. I have a few plants of my own, in pots, so they will be "mobile" . . .but any way I look at it, there's nothing I love more about summer than ROSES!!!

An Oregon "Jilli Workshop"

As I had mentioned, I had a mini vacation to Oregon last week . . .and one of the FUN things was joining Jilli and her Oregon stampers for her monthly workshop. It's ALWAYS fun to stamp at someone else's workshop . .. sometimes it's just nice to be a "stamper" and not the "leader"!! Here are a couple of the cards I made. As always, Jilli had lots of samples and choices for us to pick from, using the sets she had chosen. . . .I do LOVE these cards . . . especially the one with the bird. I didn't stamp a greeting at the top, as I'm not sure what occasion I will want to use it for! But it's definitely going into my box labeled "my stash"!! Thanks for a fun workshop, Jill!