Finally, some new cards to post ...

**sigh** for some stupid reason (made sense at the time, though) I piled a few items on top of my printer/scanner. Then, it became easy to add one or two supposedly important papers to the pile so I wouldn't lose them. Before long, I couldn't find the printer/scanner.

It wasn't quite that bad, but figuring out what to do with the stuff on it so I could scan a new card was more than my creativity could handle at the time. So ... it has been a while since I posted any cards.



This is my favorite of the cards I am posting today. I made it last night for a swap among members of our T.A.C. Team. The theme was "My favorite new set." Well ...

I have to admit that this card doesn't meet the "rules" of the swap -- so it is a "bonus" card. The favorite set is "Alpha Grunge" (the Letter G is from that set). But it was actually introduced in one of the supplements which are previews of new stamps for the next catalogue and idea book.

The butterfly and saying are "GWP" stamps -- free stamps available with any $30 purchase. I think I remember reading we aren't supposed to use the GWPs on swap cards ... oh well ...

I've been making cards with a friend most of the summer. We meet once or twice a week and make cards. I get tired of hauling everything in and out of my house and hers -- so I have left almost all of my ink and cardstock and stamp sets at her house. I had to use whatever I had on hand to make these cards.

The paper for the G and the "background" are really cardstock that I used Palette Ink Spots with a direct-to-paper technique to create.

These are three of six similar cards that are the actual swap card. The stamps used to make the background and of the card and the attached ATC are stamped with an older set called "Blossom Builders." The inks might be Palette Inks, or from my Whispers caddy of inks. So, once again, the cards don't really meet all the rules of the swap.

Again, the letters are from "Alpha Grunge." Love this set of letters as they are a good size -- about an inch and a quarter tall. Great to use on an envelope -- Stamp out the initials of the person you are mailing to and then hand write the rest of the name ... If there is room, maybe even the first letter of the city where they live.

Okay, these are "CIP" -- cards in progress.

I had a packet of cardstock with three or four hues of mustardy-yellow and some Basic Grey papers that I wanted to try to use up. Sat down one night and cut into cards and layers. Tried to use every scrap. Plopped the pieces into a nice storage box and draw out of it whenever I want to make a card. Half the work is done -- the card/front is waiting for me to add the layers and the stamped image.

One day I didn't bother getting out the ink or stamps sets. Just layered up what I could.






























These cats are cute. They're from an internet rubber stamp business that is closing up (sorry, I don't remember the name of it -- but things are on clearance there. If I find it again, I'll come back and edit the post to include the link.) Not quite sure about the little kitty that I used on the background of the card ... Is he holding a mug? Are they two paws? Are they supposed to be little "angel wings" on his back? Cute anyhow ...

The saying is from my "enemy" competition (LOL!!) Stampin' Up!. Love that whole set. One other great saying in the set is a WC Fields quote: Start each day with a smile and get it over with. :-)








This card is made with a 12x12 embossed cardstock I got on clearance at one of the local Anchor Paper Express stores that was moving and selling off their inventory so they didn't have to box it all and move it. The green circle was punched out with a clever lever punch (not sure what size it was now) -- I l liked the fact the dots on the cardstock and the punch were the same.













This is another of the "bonus" cards for the swap, though the set used (besides the GWP saying stamp) is new one called "For All Seasons." Yellow background is a direct-to-paper with 'thatched straw' VersaMagic chalk ink. I accidentally stamped the saying upside down -- so tore the paper to put it back together the right way up. Used the Crop-O-Dile to make the holes and to set the eyelets.

I used to HATE eyelets -- all that banging. The Crop-O-Dile is way cool! The pumpkins are colored in with Glaze Gelly pens -- first in yellow with the orange on top. I like how this card came out. Almost as much as I like the card with the same saying at the beginning of the post with the Giant G ...