How many zeros is that??

Just wanted to pop in and thank everyone for helping me to hit 60,000 hits on my blog.  I know it's not a lot compared to some "famous" papercrafting blogs but it means just as much to me as a number in the millions.  Working on some halloween things coming soon!  Thanks everyone!

The Triple Crown....

Yes ladies and gents, three posts in one day! I think I see snowflakes out there.....nah.  Anyway, the story on this card is thus:  Background papers and Basic Black and white from SU.  The red is also SU Real Red.  I used the TH Brick embossing folder on it and then distressed the embossing with Vintage Photo ink.  The door was cut from Memory Box's Madison door.  The little sentiments were punched with the SU labels punches.  The sentiments and the wonderful bunting are from the Patriotism on Parade stamp set by Flourishes. The trees were cut from  the evergreen stamp from In The Meadow stamp set by PTI.  I cut two at a time from Handsome Hunter Green and Garden Green, then cut the two whole trees in half and layered them on with dimensionals so that they were slightly offset.  I also "pounced" the top layers with Handsome Hunter for a little texture.  I'm really happy how this turned out and even though the 4th is gone, it's never out of style to be patriotic (uh, well, lately the administration discourages it and we all know what to do about that, don't we????  Hint: November!!!)  I hope you like all the cards today.  I had great fun but now the menfolk around here want dinner.  The maid is off today but I have some great leftover roast, corn on the cob and fresh string beans.  They'll have to settle. 

The Other Half.....

You know.....you get two A2 card backgrounds from one piece of cardstock.....so here's what I did with the second piece.  I know, I know......two posts in one day....must be gonna snow right?  So here we have another piece of the Island Indigo cs with the Hello Doily stamp in Versamark and detail white embossing powder (so much fun!) and I added a Recollections flower with some of the Cottage Fern die cuts behind it.  The saying is again from the SU Blessings From Heaven stamp set.  Well, I think that's it for me today......but you never know!  Enjoy!

Cooler.......at long last!

We are finally experiencing some more temperate weather than the 13 straight days of 100 or higher here in Maryland.  Whew!  I was inspired to make this card by one I saw on Pinterest and I failed to capture the name of the original cards maker.  I used SU Island Indigo cardstock and created the fancy border with the Martha Stewart Spiral Arches deep edge punch.  I highlited that with a little bling in the way of Stickles dots.  The rose was stamped with the  Fifth Avenue Floral stamp using Versamark and white detail embossing powder on a scrap of SU Designer Paper.  I then colored with TA DA--the new Tim Holtz Broken China marker and used his waterbrush to spread the color around.  This was my first time using the markers.  I mounted the rose on dimensionals and tucked some Memory Box floral die cuts behind it and the sentiment is from SU Blessings From Heaven.  I'm really loving this set of stamps.  It looked fine but at the last minute I added some dots of white with an Inkessentials white opaque pen and I think that made it!

Hope you are staying cool and comfortable where you are and using the indoor time to get a little creative.  Works for me!

The Window Box

I recently purchased the Madison Door, Small Window and Window Box dies from Ellen Hutson.  I'm still waiting on the shutters.  These dies cut so nicely and when I saw this card on Pinterest I had to case it.  I don't think I did as good a job as the original card maker on the brick background.  I used the Tim Holt Brick embossing folder and highlighted the embossed area with some Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler and a little Vintage Tea Dye.  The window and box were cut from scraps as were the flowers.  I highlighted the flower centers with some perfect pearls.  The flowers and foliage were all cut from Martha Stewart punches.  I really like this card and I think I'll make more as it's sort of an all occasion card.  Have a happy fourth tomorrow and stay cool.  We're sweltering here on the East Coast!