Back in the Saddle Again!

I suppose with "Back in the Saddle Again!" as a title, you're expecting cowboy cards; but 'taint so! I'm just celebrating getting back to cardmaking in a big way today, as I've completed seven cards in two days and been awake 14 hours a day for three days in a row. Given the medications that I'm fighting with, all of this is HUGE! I've been feeling like aliens have taken over my body for the last month or so, but I think I'm getting ME back!



Since I still had the SU! Bright Delights rub-ons sitting out, I decided to make a few more cards with them. Card bases for the first two cards are Tangerine Tango, and the SU! designer papers are Good Morning Sunshine (current) and Recollections (retired). I added a few dots of Vintage Photo Distress Stickles on each and called these two cards done. The base for the third card is Pink Pirouette, and the design is 100% rub-ons. It doesn't get any more simple than that!



Card 1:






Card 1 inside:






Card 2:






Card 3:






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Next I decided to tackle a special swap just between myself and a friend (hi, Char!). We traded images of stamps we wanted new ideas on how to use with the agreement we would share the results with each other. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she does with what I sent her; and I hope/think she'll be pleased with what I came up with for her images.



I believe the images I picked out are from a set called Just Dream by The Angel Company. (Please correct me if I'm wrong!) I couldn't decide which of the sweet angel images to work with, so I ended up making a set of four cards.



I used plain ol' colored pencils to add color to each of the angels. I found the coolest paper with gold foil swirls in my stash to use as the background print. Card base and layers are SU! Pacific Point, and I went a little crazy with gold brads for embellishments. I used oval punches on the sentiments for each card. I adhered each angel panel with 1/16" Stampin' Dimensionals, and each of the sentiments with 1/8" Dimensionals so that each card would have a multi-layered look. The cards themselves are really simple, but I think the foil really adds POW! to the project.



Angel 1:






Angel 2:






Angel 3:






Angel 4:






Inside of cards:







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I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do next as there's so many directions I could go from here. I've been involved in some images swaps and have gotten some delightful images I'm itching to work with. However, I also have some brand spankin' new SU! sets that have never seen ink that keep calling out to me. (There's actually so many of those new sets that they're calling out to me in harmony!) I signed up for the Technique Junkies newsletter last week, so I could roll up my sleeves and begin experimenting with what I'm learning there. And then there's those digital stamps I started playing with... and some new templates I'd like to try... Oh my! What a happy dilemma! Stay tuned to see what happens next; I'll probably be just as surprised as you are!

Happy 35th Anniversary!

How can I be celebrating 35 years of friendship with Debbie on June 8th when I'm only 29?



Debbie and I met at a church picnic in 1974, and things went downhill from there. (Just kidding!) I love her even though she's into dogs and photography instead of cats and stamping/cardmaking. After all, not all of us can be perfect. :)



I broke into my Bright Delights rub-ons from Stampin' Up! to make this anniversary card for her. The patterned yellow DSP is from the Good Morning Sunshine set. The card base is Tangerine Tango. The circles on both sides of the trees are Rain Dots by Cloud 9 Design. Simple card, but I think she'll like it.









Well, Debbie, I don't think you check out my blog very often, but in case you see this: HAPPY early ANNIVERSARY! You're getting a card early this year so you can't say you forgot to get a card for ME. *grin* Hey, should we make it another 35 years? Do either of us have the stamina?

Back to Stamping... finally!

Hmmm, I think I'm awake now... ZZZZzzzz



Well, okay, maybe not. But the doctor adjusted my medications so that with any luck I'll be among the up-and-functional within the next couple weeks. That's not much help to me now, though, when I have cards due in the mail TODAY! Nevertheless, I've muddled through and made two Hero Arts swap cards this afternoon.



Hero Arts stamps: Heart Winged Butterfly (wood mounted), Anytime Messages (clear)

Colors: Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla

And: Recollections designer paper (retired SU!), Velvet ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Paper Piercing tools, Stampin' Dimensionals









I also goofed around some more with the Tri-Shutter card idea I tried out last month, and this time came up with something I like. I decided to decorate both sides of the card, and it really makes for a much sturdier piece. I could see using this template as a way to display photos.



Supplies are the same as above except that I pulled out my Always Stampin' Up! set, some other miscellaneous UMs I had in reach, the Scalloped Circle and other circle punches, and some Vintage Photo flavored Distress Stickles.

Checking In

I suppose it looks like I've abandoned this blog, but not so! I'm on a new medication that makes me EXTREMELY tired, so I've pretty much been sleeping for the last few weeks. I see the doctor tomorrow, so I'm hoping she will have some advice on how I can get my life back.



Meanwhile, the calendar pages turn and I have some swap cards that are due to be put in the mail this week. With luck or coffee or a combination of the two, I'll have some new eye candy for you soon!