What A Weekend!

My mother came to visit this weekend to see my daughter perform at a fund raiser Sat. night. Since the weather was gorgeous I took her to Gruene, Tx where we walked around & shopped the little boutiques. There were beautiful flowers everywhere so I thought I would share them with you all. The last picture is of my daughter on stage -I wish the picture of her was better!

Watercolor Boquet

I found this stamp in our local stamp store StampAntonio. It is by Ducks in a Row, which I had never hear of, but I found their website & thought I would pass it on. I simply used Marvy markers to ink the stamp, and stamped it on to Watercolor ppr. Then with a small watercolor paintbrush with very little water, go over the image and fill in flowers to give the painted effect.
I added the ribbon after it was dry.
I spent most of the day cleaning my house since my mom is coming in town tomorrow. Saturday night my daughter is singing at The University of Incarnate Word-Night on Broadway, so she is coming to see her perform. The proud mama I am will take pictures, and if I get a good one I will post it! Hope you all have a geat weekend!!!

Blossoms for Mothers Day

Ok, Maybe you all are getting tired of seeing so many
posts with flower cards....but I just can't help myself!
With spring in the air, I see flowers blooming everywhere
and I just love them, so I have been very inspired.
These little flowers are created with the pear punch (I did
2 sizes -med & small) Punched out of cardstock. I stamped
the background leaves and vines, and added some yellow
background flowers. Then glued the flowers in place.
Leaves are stamped, then cut out & shaped, then glued
in place to fill in where needed.

I plan to do more of these in more colors. I think these
would be great for "Get Well" "Sympathy" and many
other occasions.
For anyone in the South/Central TX area, I will be
teaching a class on making 3-D flowers in New Braunfels,
TX at Scrapbook Haus in April.

I appreciate your comments & would love to hear which
color you like best!

Thank you card for Paper Garden Projects

There is a chance to win blog candy over at Paper Garden Projects Go check them out! This is my entry, which is a thank you card. This was inspired by Jadekay at SCS, see her card Here I used Nestabilities scalloped circles in 3 sizes, cut in between the scallops, then sponged & curled. I free handed the leaves. After flowers were complete, the whole flower was cut in half, then added to card.

Ribbon knot flowers

I saw this idea on SCS a while back, on a card by Barbara Welch.
See hers HERE I tried it in a couple of colors, which do you like best?
I sure appreciate all your comments, so thanks you to all of you!
I will do another challenge soon... I have a few ideas, but I am open
to suggestions.

Simply use grosgrain ribbon cut in about 5 inch strips, tie in a knot.
Punch a hole in the center of flowers & thread the ends in the hole
leaving the knot in the center.

Ding Ding Ding We have a winner!

Thanks for participating in my first challenge ever! I was hoping for more turnout, but I was impressed by the entries I did have! The Winner is Sonya at Appel Quilling Her geranium card shown here is amazing! Sonya, I will be contacting you to get your address to mail your prize!

I got called into work today, when I was supposed to be off, so I didn't get anything done today!
Now I feel so behind, so I better go get busy!!!

Simple flower

This is a simple flower using the Dogwood punch from McGill-I found the best price Here
I picked up this punch when I was recently in Oklahoma. I punched it out of coffee filters & colored with chalks. The center is punched from the "small stamen" punch by the punch bunch & colored with twinkling H2o's, I layered about 3 of these. Leaves are stamped then cut out. I had a hard time photographing this, it is much prettier in person.
Don't Forget my Blog Candy Flower Challenge! Create any 3-D flowers on anything, post your creation on your blog with a link back to my blog, then leave me a comment so I can find your creation. I am sending a fabulous Prize to the winner, and it could be You! You have until March 15th!

Rose Tutorial

This rose is made from petals punched out of coffee filters using the super giant begonia petals punch from the Punch Bunch. I have also used this punch with cardstock.
When punching coffee filters you need to layer them about 3 thick, if you try punching just 1 coffee filter it just tears.




After punching petals I colored them with twinkling H20's. On other flowers I have used chalk pastels or inks with sponge.
Starting with largest petals, I attach to snowflake that I previously punched out of cardstock. Glue is the crafters pick The Ultimate.
Then do a second snowflake using the next to largest petals. Then stack the 2 snowflakes with the petals attached with petals alternating. I use a foam for cushion under them, then press down in center & petals will pop up. Next take a med. petal, snip off tip, and curl into a tube for center of rose. Apply glue & attach to the center of rose. Then add smaller petals individually around the center tube to fill in the space.

Don't Forget my Blog Candy Challenge listed in the post below titled BLOG CANDY FOR FLOWERS. Create any 3-D flowers on anything, follow the instructions for submitting to be eligible for a Fabulous Prize! You have until March 15th!

"Purse-onalize"

I was recently in Oklahoma for my niece's wedding, when it was time to go to airport in OK city, I made sure there was a little extra time for shopping. I got my daddy to take me to a scrapbook store & a stamp store where I found this stamp and many other goodies. This stamp is by Make an impression, and as soon as I saw it, it reminded me of a purse card that Jerri Jimenez at A Touch of Grace had made to take to CHA. She used stamps by Me & Carrie Lou, and hers is so much prettier than mine! But this is the same concept. Stamped on a lg piece of wc ppr so it can be folded at bottom, then cut both layers. It is the perfect size to be a gift card holder.

Don't Forget my Blog Candy Challenge listed in the post below titled BLOG CANDY FOR FLOWERS. Create any 3-D flowers on anything, follow the instructions for submitting to be eligible for a Fabulous Prize! You have until March 15th!

Flower Girl by Sugar Nellie

I just got some stamps in from SugarNellie and I couldn't wait to play with them.....even though I have had no time lately. I stamped her on watercolor paper with black waterproof ink, then used Marvy markers inked onto my palette to color her in using w/c paintbrush. Then I cut her out & used 3/D pop dots to make her stand out!

If you haven't discovered Stamp TV Check it out-It' Awesome!

Don't Forget my Blog Candy Challenge listed in the post below. Create any 3-D flowers on anything, follow the instructions for submitting to be eligible for a Fabulous Prize! You have until March 15th!

Yesterday I took 2 watercolor classes at StampAntonio. They were taught by Susan Casto who is fabulous! These are 2 of the cards I made while in the classes. I love doing watercolors the "Art Impressions way" I included a picture of the stamps that were used for the flower cart scene. I decided to frame it because it is a bit large for a card, and I want to put it in my office at work. The glass in the frame caught a bit of a glare in the photo. I love that you can fill those baskets with anything! The bucket with flowers is also using Art Impressions stamps and the same technique of using Mary markers which are water based so they work perfectly for watercoloring.

Don't Forget my Blog Candy Challenge listed in the post below. Create any 3-D flowers on anything, follow the instructions for submitting & be eligible for aFabulous Prize!

Blog Candy for Flowers

Blog Candy

I really love the contrast of black & white....and sometimes simple is best. The flower is made from large and small daisy punches, curled & black brad in center. I have a couple of new "favorite" blogs that have some great tutorials on creating flowers, check one of them out Here and Here

I want everyone to try making a 3-D flower on a card or anything. Post it on your blog with a link back to my blog by Sunday March 15th. Spread the word because there is a Fabulous prize! Be sure to leave me a comment, so I know to look for your creation & enter you in the "fun"! I can't wait to see what you create!

Aubrey & Matt's Wedding

I am back from my trip to Oklahoma to help my sister with her daughter's wedding. It was really beautiful, I loved all the black & white. It was a lot of work getting everthing ready- and I am exhausted! My sister did EVERYTHING....I just came in a couple of days before & helped out wherever I could! I did help with decorating the cake- which she had baked in advance. I helped decorate the church & reception hall and prepare the food. It was a whole family effort, my niece Tammy & her husband Chad helped so much too! I made some cards ahead of time to give to the bride for thank you's or whatever she wanted- I was so happy that she just loved them.

Congradulations Matt & Aubrey!

Tiny Chick

Ok...I have a confession....I am a paper hoarder!

When I looked at the back of the plaid ppr I used on this card, I am embarrassed to say this is what I saw "doodlebug design inc. 2001 Cynthea Sandoval"

Wow...I have had this paper 8 yrs!

I started reminiscing back to when I started this paper collection , it was when I worked in a scrapbook store that was owned by Sharon Capshaw-"Scrapbooks from the Heart" She hired me shortly after she opened the store & I was her first employee. We were instant friends, and she never liked for me to refer to her as my boss. I worked there about 2 years and we became so very close. It was hard leaving that job, but an offer of significant more money (and responsibility) came my way, and Sharon understood. We remained friends, and she was always & I mean always there for me, even through my divorce. Wow, sitting here sharing this I have tears streaming down my face... see Sharon went home to be with the Lord. It has been well over a year ago...maybe closer to two. I have lost track of time exactly how long it has been. But I still miss her! She would have absolutely LOVED this card too.

When I stared this post, I never intended on it going in this direction, so please forgive me.

But please remember that life is unpredictable, every day is a gift, tomorrow is not promised, so tell your friends & family how much they mean TODAY!

I am going to be out of town for about a week. I will be helping my sister with her daughters wedding in Oklahoma. I won't be able to post untill I return. I appreciate your comments so much. I am thinking of a blog candy offer that I will post after I get back from this trip.

Hey Chickadee!

This "Fabulous" little chickadee stamp is from Art Impressions my wish-list from them is a mile long! She may become a "Red Hat" lady someday, but for now her hat is pink (it could be her Easter bonnet)

I stamped her on Watercolor ppr with black waterproof ink, then water colored in using markers.

Sometimes a card can take hours, or days...tyring to decide do I like this...or that..Ya know? Sometimes I just can't seem to make it work. This card took maybe 30 minuets-& I just keep looking at it thinking "she is just too prissy for words!"

I just love when it seems to come to "life" all by its self!

Mum

This card reminds me of a sunshiny day! I think I will make more of these & add some glitter to the flower, maybe a brad in the center. The stamp is a clear set from Stampendous that I bought at Archivers last weekend when I went there for the class. I stamped it twice with pink ink, colored in with prismacolors, then blended with mineral spirits & blending stump. I cut the flowers out (one smaller) then curled a little & layered. The striped ppr is from Making Memories, I layered pink ribbon over it. I used Cuttlebug for embossing & a punch on the bottom.

Last few Valentines

Since Valentines day is Saturday, I thought I would share with you these last few cards for the occasion. I used my cuttlebug on all of these. I tried to make the middle one not so "girly". The only stamp set I used was from Cloud 9-clear set-Love. On a different note I am excited that I figured out how to get a counter to work-Yea!

Scalloped Circle Flower

This is an idea a I have seen on a couple of other blogs. http://justritestampers.blogspot.com/ posing on Nov. 2008 and http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/ posting on Jan. 12th

This is simple if you have nestabilities scalloped circles. Just make cuts between the scallops & curl edges up. I use a tool from the punch bunch http://www.thepunchbunch.com/ I use this tool ALOT! Every 3-D flower uses these tools! But I bet you could use scissors on this one--like we did in elementary school (like you would curl ribbon)I free handed the leaves & used chipboard button for center-but you could use anything!

Class at Archivers

Yesterday my friend Linda & I went to Austin to take a class at "Archive rs". We made 4 cards so I wanted to share them with you all. I changed the design on my cards on 3 of the 4 for several reasons. Maybe I just needed creative freedom to do my own thing. I pretty much stayed to their design on the owl card. On the frog card I messed up & smeared the ink in the background, so after I got home I used designer ppr for background & printed off my saying from the computer. I was impressed with the store overall & wish there was one closer. (It was about an hour and a half drive) We do have some privately owned scrapbook stores here, but most don't carry much in the way of stamps. Our stamping store "StampAntonio" is good, but seems very slow about getting any new merchandise.

What's up Ladybug?

I found some great new Spring/Easter $1.oo stamps at Michael's yesterday, and this is the first card I have made using any of them. This Ladybug stamp is so cute! I colored them in with markers & put tiny red stones in the centers of the flowers. (I think they show up if you click to enlarge the picture) I printed the words "What's up Ladybug?" off the computer.

I am headed to Austin with my friend Linda tomorrow. We are taking a class at Archivers, and I am excited because I haven't ever been to one of their stores. I will give a full report tomorrow evening after I get home!