Escape to Stamping // Blog Redesign

I'm back today with a new blog redesign, and the winner of the Simon Says Stamp certificate from the My Purple Battle redesign!

For my second redesign, I got to work with a long-time blogger friend and fellow card maker, Cindy from Escape to Stamping.

Her blog before the redesign...

...and after! Check out Cindy's blog for the full look, and to check out her lovely cards. :)

And again, a brief of the design process...

Cindy was so fun to work with - it really makes the design process so fun and challenging when the "customer" contributes ideas. With Cindy's vision, and my newbie skills, we were able to make a blog that we are both happy with!

I couldn't shake that pretty green color out of my mind, so here's a sort of coordinating card to, well, celebrate. ;)

Thank you so much for letting me redesign your blog, and for helping me hone my design skills, Cindy! :) Make sure to hop on over to Cindy's new blog!

Before I forget, the winner of the gift card from the first redesign post is...Alice K.! Yay! Alice, please e-mail me so we can work on getting the gift certificate over to ya. ;)

Thanks for stopping in and God bless!

********************************
Cardstock: Canson
Patterned paper: Crate Paper
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Studio Calico, Versamark
Other: embossing powder, gem

Tools: Papertrey Ink dies, Cuttlebug, heat gun, Memory Box dies

It's a Good Day

...I have solved my dilemma of taking card pictures, with the notable exception of the card below.
But that's just 'cuz it has a funny border, and that makes it difficult to photograph anyways.

This card made for the MFT Color Challenge #14 - I didn't really have any of the cardstock colors except for navy, so watercolor it was. I kept looking at the screen to see if I was getting the combo right, but on further review, it looks like I didn't quite catch the spirit of Wild Wisteria. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.

**********************************
Cardstock: Canson, Bazzill
Stamps: MFT "Chalkboard Sayings"
Ink: Hero Arts, Versamark
Other: embossing powder

Tools: border punch, heat gun, Cuttlebug, Memory Box die, paintbrush and water

Finals

...are OVER! Freedom for three months! Or, semi-freedom - I have a job interview tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well. ;)

Popping in with a card made for the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge (I actually don't have any nautical themed stamps, so I just kinda went with nautical colors), Simon Says Stamp Things with Wings (the bird) and the Runway Inspired (the stripes and colors)...

For the red stripes, I was inspired by my friend Virginia - I just cut the extra rubber surroundings from a Hero Arts stamp set, inked it up, and stamped! Not a perfect impression, but it works for me!
The pearls were originally white, but using THIS nifty little trick, I painted them gold!

Stuck some gold lace on to finish the card off, mainly because I couldn't think of anything else. ;)

Thanks for stopping in and God bless!

******************************
Cardstock: LSS, Bazzill
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Sentiment Sampler", Hero Arts "Merriest Christmas Wishes"
Ink: Stazon, SEI
Other: gems, nail polish, lace

Tools: Memory Box die, Cuttlebug

A little birdie told me...

I had some free time yesterday (after getting a lot of things checked off the 'clean-up-my-life' list), and thought I'd make a card for this months Papertrey Ink hop, starring...

I don't think I've made a card with sequins yet, at least not recently, so this was a fun challenge.

I knew I wanted to string the sequins and wrap them around something, so once that part was done, the rest came together pretty quickly. 

The sequins actually came from an old headband - I didn't have any in my stash, so that was the only place to turn. 

I also wanted to add some subtle woodgrain embossing using my new PTI woodgrain embossing plate, but I forgot to purchase the pads with the rest of the order, so the plate is pretty useless to me right now...unless anyone out there knows how to make it work without the pads...? ;) Come on, I'm counting on you! 

That's it for today, peeps!

God bless and thanks for stopping in!

**************************************

Cardstock: LSS, Bazzill

Stamp: PTI

Ink: Staz-on

Other: sequins, thread

Tools: Cuttlebug, Memory Box die

Project Thursday {Mini Series Day Three}

Hiya! Clare here today for the last post in the mini series (see FIRST and SECOND posts)! With the last mini post, I'm also going to share a few ideas for what to do with your mini projects. ;)
Today's mini project is a sweet little tag with a bow that makes a big statement! Just because your projects are mini, doesn't mean that the messages they send across have to be the same size! ;)

I thought this simple sentiment from the Thanks stamp set really helped the rest of the embellishments stand out, all while standing on it's own.

And now for some ideas:

• Pin the project on a cork board, refrigerator - anything pinnable! 
• Tuck it in a lunch bag/box
• Hide it somewhere where the recipient will find it later - I like sticking things in books.
• Spots that go through a lot of traffic, such as a coffee pot.
• Mail it, even if the recipient doesn't live far away!

And there's so much more, if you put your mind to it!

Thanks so much for stopping in with me and I hope you enjoyed this little series! :)

 blog: bearydocardsinc.blogspot.com

A note

Just popping in quickly to share a card I made for Papertrey Inks ribbon challenge...

I love this coral color - after neon green and blue, it's probably my fave color. :) And of course, you can never have too many thank you cards - I keep thinking I do, but always find my stash low. Thank you notes seem to have the most demand around this house. ;)

I'm such a procrastinator - I keep meaning to blog about other cards, but I don't like posting a lot when I can't keep up with my bloggy friends post's, but then I spend hours looking at said blogs and others, when I should be commenting and then blogging myself! Ah!
But this week, I'm a changed person.
I am going to blog.
I'm going to comment.
And I'm not going to waste hours looking at pointless and/or pretty stuff!

So there!

Yes, well, now, I'm off to catch some zzzz's so I won't be too tired tomorrow to stay true to my resolutions. ;)
Thanks so much for stopping in and have a blessed day!


****************************


Supplies not shown
Stamp and ribbon: Papertrey Ink
Othe: string, pearls