Toy's Haven

This will be the last of the cluster cards for awhile.  I’ve just had so much fun using them and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what type of card they will make.  By far the most versatile stamps I’ve ever used.

I’ve been sick these past few days.  Fortunately I have a very attentive husband.  He’s been fishing in the early mornings and doing the shopping and cleaning in the afternoons.  He’s been cooking, too!  I feel like I’m perking up, so it will be my turn to make him know how appreciative I am!

This was one of those times where I picked out my paper and then matched my flowers to the paper.  The flowers in this picture look way more orange than they really are.

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Floral Cluster – Spring Pansies
Kaisercraft 6.5 x 6.5 – Rosabella
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Smooth white cardstock
Memento Tuxedo black dye ink
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Floral Cluster & Sprigs
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Fishtail Sentiment Banner dies
Spellbinders – Nestabilities – Standard circles
Simple Stories – Enamel Dots
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermoweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Star Dust Stickles
Copics: R00, R01, R11, R20
Spectrum: IG1, IG2, IG4

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Thanks for stopping by!

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I have a confession to make.  In my early days of stamping, floral images gave me anxiety.  I knew a very few proper colors for flowers.  It took me years to come to the conclusion that you can color them any color you please!  Now, coloring flowers is one of my favorite things to do.

I’m still playing with these new floral cluster sets.  There is just so much you can do with them!

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I let the paper drive the color combination on this one.

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I still have another card from this set coming up next week.  Make sure you come back! 🙂

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Summer Roses
Kaisercraft 8.5×8.5 – Greenhouse
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Clusters & Sprigs
Spellbinders Nestabilities – classic ovals

Memento Tuxedo black dye ink
My Mind’s Eye – enamel dots
1/4″ scortape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Copic markers

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Thanks for stopping by!

As much as I am in love with the new four seasons Floral Cluster sets, I am equally enamored with this new (to me) Graphic 45 Kaleidoscope paper.  It just screams my name.  It has brilliant colors, beautiful patterns and ELEPHANTS!

For this card, I cut out a couple of the main flowers to decorate my amazing elephant and baby.  The black base color on these papers is right up my alley.

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I’ll admit, I didn’t want to cut out the elephants on the beautiful page, so I cut my elephants from the cover of the paper pad.

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I used:

Stamp Simple Clear Stamps – Floral Clusters Fall Flowers

Graphic 45 – 8×8 – Kaleidoscope

Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

Other:
Black cardstock
copic markers

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It really shows you how versatile these stamp sets can be!

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Thanks for stopping by!

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My second offering from the new 4 seasons Clusters sets.  I’m loving this next cluster (winter poinsettia).  I’m still just giddy over this whole release and the ONE die that cuts out all 4 clusters.  That’s simply SMART.  We all love to have dies for our images, so this is a huge savings.

When the Christmas crafting supplies start hitting the stores, around October, a good percentage of shoppers are generally put off at how early it happens.  I’m NOT in that group.  When you make dozens of cards, gifts, etc., it’s nice to be able to start early.

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I gush over the images in these new sets, but it should be noted that there are tons of sentiments, too!

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Winter Poinsettia

Authentique – Nostalgia
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock

Memento Tuxedo black dye ink

Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Floral Clusters & Sprigs

Spellbinders – pierced Rectangles

Kaisercraft – pearls – Red

1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

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Thanks for stopping by!

If you go by what I’ve posted on this blog over the last say, oh… 10 years, you probably come to the conclusion that all I do is make cards and other little paper goodies.  That is a good percentage, but definitely not all.

My husband, Don, is an amazing craftsman.  He’s been making pieces of furniture for the family for quite some time.  More recently, we’ve been collaborating on pieces for our granddaughters.  I’m going to be sharing these as we complete them.

Starting with a toy box/book shelf we’ve just finished for our youngest granddaughter, LilyAna…

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We start with a design meeting.  He usually has some idea what he wants and knows what I’ll want.  That’s one of the advantages of a 37 year marriage!

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We actually had to make a small adjustment at this point, as the toy box was a tad too deep.  Don is a master at making those adjustments!

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I should note here that the basic design came from my daughter in law.  She sent a picture to Don and we took it from there.

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Adding the base coat of paint.  My daughter in law did ask for an owl.  LilyAna’s spirit animal.

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This is the second project we’ve done with Pepto Bismol pink.  Also, I shopped and did research to find the perfect box closures.  These will not allow the box lid to fall on our Princess Rosebud (LilyAna).

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Now let me gush for a minute.  My hubby doesn’t paint details.  He usually leaves that for me.  Because of the awkward angles, he did a great deal of it himself and I’m SOOOOO proud of him!!

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He even did most of these tiny cherry blossoms by himself!

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Other details….

Owls.  I drew and colored the Owls on cardstock then cut them out.  Don applied them with Mod Podge.  The final coat of spray Mod Podge sealed it all together.

Flowers.  Same process as owls.

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The fence was all Don’s idea.  He made it out of 1/4″ plywood, assembled and tacked it on.  I think it’s the perfect addition!

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And just like that it’s ready for our granddaughter.  Tell me what you think!

I am just giddy with excitement over our new release.  Florals!  They are super clever, too.  Each season has a different cluster, yet they can each be die cut with the same die!  How smart is that?!

I love to color, so these will be in my “favorites”, for sure.  Between the four sets, there are copious amounts of sentiments, too.  All of them are interchangeable.

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These floral clusters have a wonderful crispness to them.  They’re easily fussy cut, too, so you can layer them

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Floral Clusters Spring Pansies

Kaisercraft 6.5 x 6.5 – Paisley Days
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium White Cardstock
Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Floral Clusters & Sprigs

Spellbinders – Pierced Circles

Simple Stories – I am – enamel dots

1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Teal Seed Beads

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Thanks for stopping by!

Our family has so very much to remember on Memorial Day.  We have numerous military members, some passed, some still with us.  What strikes me the most this year is the loss of our brother-in-law.  He was a Vietnam Veteran.  He survived his tour there, but suffered so much here at home over the last couple of decades.  He passed away in January.  A true hero to those who knew him.

I just love red, white, and blue.  Yes it’s patriotic.  But, it’s also fresh!

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I used a piece of corrugated paper from the inside of a cookie tin for the white star.  It was flimsy, so I backed it with another white star.

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Patriotic Sentiments

Echo Park – America the Beautiful
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth white cardstock
Divine Twine Baker’s Twine – Blueberry/white
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Fishtail Sentiment Banners

Spellbinders Die – Stars Five

Spellbinders Die – A2 Scalloped Borders One
Kaisercraft Rhinestones – Dark Blue
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares
other:
Danube Blue Ink
Corregated paper
(from the inside of a cookie tin)

Thanks for stopping by!

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So, how about that weather!?  We were at 80 degrees a few days ago and now we’re stuck at 40 with snow on the way.  I’m not sure what season it really is!

Sadly, I have several friends/family members who are dealing with some really heavy stuff.  They all live in different states, so my favorite way of telling them I am praying for them is to send them a card.  Something about having that tangible ‘hug’ in their hand cements the fact that I am with them in spirit.

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Once again, I raided my Christmas themed patterned paper for a non-Christmas card.  It’s my latest craze!  I use to just put the seasonal paper aside, whereas now I make it a challenge to use it!

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Thank You for Caring – Coneflower
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Thinking of You Rose
Authentique 6 x 6 – Alpine
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium White cardstock
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Fishtail Sentiment Banners
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Coneflower
Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink

Sequin
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Copics

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Thanks for stopping by!!

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Just moments after Mother’s Day and I’m already busy with Father’s Day cards.  I need several of them this year.  As the grandbabies start to appear, their daddies are needing celebrating.

I’m super impressed with my sons and their skills as dads.  I don’t know that I’m surprised.  Their dad is a great father and grandfather.  I knew he would be, as HIS father was an amazing dad, too.  Unfortunately, we lost him 21 years ago.

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I went super simple and crisp on this one.  This would work for any of my guys.

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The wood dots were colored with a copic marker to match the wood elements on the card.

I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – A Godly Man
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – All Occasion Sentiments Set 2

Authentique 6 x 6 – Solitude
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock

Stamp Simply Steel Dies – A Godly Man Buck
Spellbinders – Pierced Rectangles
Seam Binding – Tropic Wine
My Mind’s Eye – Just Splendid – wood dots
Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink

1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
brown/tan cardstock scraps

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Thanks for stopping by!

What a wonderful weekend it’s been!  First, I should tell you that May is always a difficult month for me.  My mom passed in May of 1992 and with her birthday and Mother’s day also in May, it has typically been a gloomy month for me.  Last May, it all changed.  It was my first May with our first granddaughter, Kaleo.  So, to kick off a brighter May, we got to babysit her this past weekend.

When I got to creating, my mood went to light and airy.  Bright spring colors and lots of white space, this is one of my favorite easy peasy cards ever.  I think I will be using my stencils more often!

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I rarely have the proper color of pearls to use, so I make them myself.  You can color white or cream pearls with copic markers to customize for your project!

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Farmhouse Signage
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Vellum
Memento Tuxedo Black
Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Carved Pumpkin
Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Mustard Seed
Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Picked Raspberry
Spellbinders – Les Papillions

Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Fishtail Sentiment Banners

Melissa Frances – pearls – white **
Daubers
Tim Holtz Stencil – Concerto
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Copic – RV09

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Thanks for stopping by!