Thank you for being a special friend

Once again I have a heavy heart as I say goodbye to another stamping friend. Amazing what special friendships we can make on the internet and yet never meet in person. The internet connection was the only connection Jean/micemom and I shared yet we still shared lots of e-mails filled with encouragment, inspiration and moments of laughter while writing about card making, stamping, inking as well as many related and unrelated matters. While I will miss Jean greatly, I know she is now in a more peaceful, restful place. Jean was a very supportive enabler encouraging me, as well as others, to try new supplies, techniques and challenges. She personally often took on the challenge of making a card that was considered a little more complex than the usual. So today I made this card in celebration of all the beautiful moments that Jean/micemom and I shared.

For this card I started with Mind’s Eye printed paper and embossed with the QuicKutz diamond and dots embossing folder and sanded to make the embossing stand out. I used Hero Arts real dill H3258 stamp in the background. I added liquid appliqué to the flowering tops and star dust stickles. The double layered butterfly is made with the new QuicKutz die cut. The bottom layer is a stamp from the HA Leaf cluster set D4947and sprayed with Memories Mists-Iridescent and finally embellished with gems and pearls. The top polished stone layer of the butterfly was made with alcohol inks. The black decorative border paper was sprayed with Krylon spray webbing paint and punch with the Martha Stewart lace punch.

Flood my world with color

After begining surrounded by the whiteness of snow for 8 months of the year, I can't wait for the landscape to flood with color. I tried to create a card that reminded me of the flower gardens with a single flower standing out. I started the background with my new Hero Arts stamp and used a gold dabber acrylic paint on the stamp to create a shabby chic imprint. I used Cut n' Dry sponge to blend the background distress ink colors, distressed the edges and covered the background with iridescent Memories Mist. A medium size flower from the background stamp was stamped, embossed and inked. I used the scrap of paper from inking the flower as the background for the HA sentiment. Final touches of embellishment included inking the lace and card base and adding stickles, pearl and gems.