Have a great day

Since I have a child that started school full-time this year I feel busier than I did before. I just don't get it, I should have more time but for some reason I don't.  As a result birthday cards become "Have a great day" cards. Here is a late birthday card for a friend.  

Here is a list of the supplies I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• alcohol inks
• cardstock
• chipboard
• dictionary page
• dymo label
• embossing powder (clear)
• gesso (white)
• mod podge (glossy)
• stickers (flower)
• stamp (flower)

feathers & leaves, a fun card for any occasion

An other recent card for any occasion.  Can't wait to give it to someone.

Here is a list of the supplies I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• alcohol inks
• brad
• cardstock
• chipboard
• clips
• embossing powder (for some of the stamps)
• feathers
• gesso (white)
• mod podge (matte)
• sewing pattern 
• stamps

• stencil (of letters for background)
• washi tape

once upon a time

Whenever I make cards, I tend to make a few at a time so here is another one. I think this one is just adorable, I may just have to keep this one for myself.

Here is a list of the supplies I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• alcohol inks
• cardstock
• chipboard
• embossing powder (for some of the stamps)
• flowers
• gesso (white)
• mod podge (matte)
• paper dolls
• stamps

• sticker (swirl)
• stencil (of letters for background)
• story book page (for background)
• washi tape
• wire

just a note to say 'hi'

This is a card for a friend's birthday...even though the card says 'hi'.  I recently got a feather stamp (stamped at right) and just love it.

Here is a list of the supplies I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• alcohol inks
• cardstock
• chipboard
• clips
• double sided tape
• embossing powder (for some of the stamps)
• feather
• gesso (white)
• mod podge (matte)
• punch (for the 'hi')
• recipe book pages
• silver ink

• stamps
• sticker (flower)
• stencil (of letters for background)

mixed media card

My background started off with dictionary pages on chipboard. The butterfly I found randomly on-line and did a transfer with Golden gel medium.  The butterfly turned out a bit darker than I had hoped but I was happy that I got the transfer to work.  The original image was still good so I used it on another card, which you can find here. 

Here is a list of the supplies I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• chipboard
• dictionary pages
• embellishment (word 'love')
• gel medium (Golden)

• gesso (white)
• pattern paper (for quote)
• sharpie (black)
• stamp (text over butterfly)

You may not have all these things to use but you would be amazed at what you can create with what you have.  It's worth giving it a try.

mixed media card

My background started off with dictionary pages and then I used some wrinkled aluminum foil on top of it for texture. The butterfly I used was as an image transfer for another card and since there was still a fair bit of the image left, I cut it out and used it here.

Here is a list of the products I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• aluminum foil
• card stock (for bunting)
• chipboard
• dictionary pages
• embroidery floss
• gesso (white)
• mod podge (matte)
• pattern paper (for bunting)
• sand paper (to sand away some of the paint and expose the aluminum foil)
• sewing pattern

travel book / journal

I was at my local dollar store and found these composition booklets, 3 for $1.50.  I decided to cover them with some fun paper and they would be the perfect little booklet for traveling.  The photo has double sided tape along the edges already and I added 2 more strips along the top and the bottom.  Next I found some pattern papers to use. 

The finished little book, now to find a small pencil or pen to go along with the book. It's the perfect size for a travel kit.

another June birthday card

It's my sister's birthday today and she recently got a little kitten, the perfect theme for her card. 

Here is a list of the products I used:

• alcohol inks
• card stock (cat and red paper)
• chipboard
• cotton ball (for inside the ball of yarn)
• dictionary pages
• dymo label
• gesso
• mod podge (matte)
• pastels (paw prints and the word 'meow')
• tag
• yarn
• washi tape (Tim Holtz)
• wire (silver colour)

a June birthday

June is a busy month for my family, many birthdays.  Here is a card that I made for my Mom though it has no sentiment on it, making is useful for any occasion.

I recently bought a bottle Golden Fluid Acrylic in Manganese Blue Hue and I absolutely love it, not just the colour but also the consistency. I thought I would one colour first before purchasing more and now that I know how great this product is, I can't wait to get more colours.

Here is a list of what I used:

• acrylic paint (Golden Fluid Acrylic)
• alcohol inks (silver mixatives)
• card stock (dress of girl)
• chipboard
• dictionary pages (background)
• gesso
• pastels (hair of girl)
• perfect pearls (on dress of girl)
• stamp (text in background)
• stencil

Happy Father's Day

Here is the Father's Day card I made for my Dad.  It turned out a little more feminine than I had hoped, I'm still trying to get my colours right.  I used a combination of acylic paints, papers, washi tape and inks to create this card.

Happy Father's to all the Papas our there.

mini album for baby

A mini album for a new mom with little time on her hands. It is meant to record the first year in a simple way. I keep the album small (6x6") so we don't overwhelm Mom with too many photos or journaling. 

I was fortunate enough to know the baby's name before he was born and could add his initial to the front cover. I also added some coordinating ribbon to the rings of the album to add a little bit more fun to it, I just forgot to photograph it.

I just love making these little books for a shower gift or after the baby is born.  I made one a while back for a little girl that is the pink version of this one, you can find it here.  

The idea is that each month there is space to put a photo and do a little bit of journaling but not too much, just enough. Each photo space is meant for a 3x3" photo and it will have a slight (about 1/8") border of patterned paper once the photo is in place.  I also added some double sided tape to make it easier to mount the photo.

Month number two. As you can see on the left page it would be quite easy to add another small image if desired.

Month number three and on it goes. Once the album is complete it's a great keepsake of the first year or a wonderful gift to pass along to grandparents.

These little albums are great to me for recording a year whether it's a baby's first year or a child's school year, what a great little keepsake.

mixed media card

Another birthday has come and gone. This is the card I made for a sweet friend.  I'm really enjoying how much depth one can achieve by just playing around with paints, stamps and whatever else I can find.

Here is a list of what I used, I know it looks long but it's really not that bad. I just used stuff that I had around the house.  If you don't have some of these things, just improvise.

• acrylic paint
• alcohol inks
• bubble wrap
• card stock (Eiffel tower)
• chipboard
• dictionary page
• embellishment: flower (teal and pink)
• embellishment: flower (flower behind the teal one)(tutorial found here)
• gesso
• mod podge
• pearl stickers (for center of pink flowers)
• stamp (Eiffel tower which was then embossed)

Happy creating.

mixed media card

This is probably one of my favourite cards that I've made recently. I love the whole process and not really knowing how it will turn out.  I like not painting the face of the little girl, it makes it so much easier for me to do since I can be a bit of a perfectionist.

Here is a list of what I used, I know it looks long but it's really not that bad. I just used stuff that I had around the house.  If you don't have some of these things, just improvise.

• acrylic paint
• alcohol inks
• bubble wrap
• card stock (dress of girl)
• chipboard
• dictionary page
• dymo label
• embellishment: flower
• embellishment: metal (lower left hand corner) - this is one of those extra little pieces that you may get when you buy jeans.
• mod podge
• pastels (face and hair of girl)
• perfect pearls (on dress of girl)
• stamp (flower at bottom of card)
• sticker (bling behind the word 'bold' and 'you')
• tag (cut out the butterfly)
• twine

happy birthday card

There have been a few first birthdays that we have attended but really this card could be used for any age. I love the simplicity of the card which makes it nice and quick to make. The pattern paper pad I used is from K&Company called Actopus to Zelephant (28 12x12"double sided papers). The frog is also from the same pad of paper, I just cut it out and put dimensional adhesive behind it.  Added a ribbon, a few punched circles and it's done...simple and cute.

mixed media

Here is the Mother's Day card that I made this year. I get such joy making cards for family and friends. My family jokes that if I was to every buy a store bought card that they would be disappointed. They are always so curious to see what I've come up with.

Here is a list of what I used to create the card:

• http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/ paint (pink
• alcohol inks (background)
• bubble wrap
• chipboard (base of card)
• dictionary page (start of the background)
• embellishment (metal tag in the upper right hand corner)
• feathers (guinea fowl)
• gesso
• mod podge
• pattern paper (bird and branch)
• perfect pearls (at right side of card)
• ribbon
• ric rac
• stamp (at right side of card for the perfect pearls)
• tag (leaf)
• versa mark (used to apply perfect pearls)

The list may look long but I just used what I had around the house and improvised as needed. Don't let what you do or do not have stop you from giving it a try, you will be amazed at what you can create with little.

Mini Album recording baby's first year

A mini album for a new mom all ready to go. I love keeping memories and times just seems to go so quickly once the baby arrives, so I decided to create a mini album that will record the first year as a gift. All Mom needs to do is print a photo(s), cut them down to the size indicated on the page (I made mine all 3x3") and then stick them down.  It's a bit of a time consuming project to put together but well worth the effort. Every Mom I've ever given this to has really appreciated the album.

If you look on the right side of the image, on the green paper, you will see two white lines, those are pieces of double sided tape.  Peel the backing off and the photo is ready to be mounted. 

I tried to make sure that each two pages for each month will have a photo and some space to write something.

I try to use a few colours for my papers, coordinating stickers and the odd embellishment. You can add so much more to the pages but I tend to lean toward the simple side of things...less is more.

Page three of the album and the numbers continue to twelve with the inside of the back cover left for some extra photos.  A great gift or for yourself.

You could also use this album for older kids too, recording their year and if the child is old enough, they could do it themselves. A great gift for grandparents once completed.

great little doodle booklets

I don't know about you but I have way too much scrapbooking paper but I just can't throw it away, that wouldn't be right. Right? So, I decided to make some doodle booklets for me and the kids.  I used regular printer paper (8 1/2" x 11") folded in half and stapled it together.  Each booklet has 20 pages for me to doodle on.  Love it.