handmade cass

I am part of a group that exchanges cards every other month, and for December we are exchanging sets of gift tags. This will be my third year as part of the group and I really want to step up my gift tags this year. So I'm starting early on some watercoloring. I have used this A Muse Artstamps "wreath and berries" stamp every year but this is my fist time watercoloring with it. Way faster than Copic markers! And of course my mini crafter wanted to watercolor too. I love when she makes family portraits!

What do you give the guy that has been married to you for 10 years? A handmade card of course! I had to think of something extra special for my husband on our anniversary, since he has seen it all. A gold stag and some watercolor did the trick I think. And the sentiment inside says, "Oh deer, I love you!" followed by some other mushy stuff.  I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday Challenge and choosing the topic "wonderful watercolor" from a couple weeks back, and the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "wrap it up" because it is a tag. Supplies : die - Savvy tag - Avery watercolors - Prang metallic cardstock - Stardream card base - Michael's

I just got the new Hero Arts Sleeping Fox stamp , and I am pretty excited about it. I fell in love with it and had to have it. But then I didn't know what to do with it once I got home. Does that happen to anyone else? After seeing the Hero Arts Holiday Card Challenge I forced myself to make something. Anything. I had seen a series of white monochromatic Christmas cards that I really liked, so I used that as my starting point. One Christmas card done. Check that off the list! Supplies : cardstock - Neenah Solar White, Limba Wood Grain, Stardream stamp - Lia Griffith by Hero Arts ink - Stampin' Up letter stickers - Basic Grey glitter - Stickles, Wink of Stella Brush paper doily vintage dictionary paper

I loved the challenge this week because I could try out a few new products and techniques that I haven't experimented with before. I created a tag that I can't wait to add to a random happy mail package for a friend. After digging through my supplies I found some things that I wanted to try for the first time (like this Any Tangerine stamp set and the translucent embossing paste).  Supplies : stamp set - Amy Tangerine by American Crafts embossing paste - Dreamweaver stencil - Heidi Swapp sequins - Avery Elle ink - Stampin' Up manila tag ribbon

I was inspired to make a colorful ombré gift tag for the Simon Says Monday Challenge this week. I started with a lace background stamp and used a sponge to dab on three ink colors from light to dark. I finished it with a metallic name tag and wide silk ribbon. Ready for gifting! Supplies : stamp and ink - Stampin' Up manila tag metallic Stardream paper silk ribbon

I made two cards this weekend that qualify for Simon Says Monday Challenge this week - Love That Technique . I needed a card for a friend that just found out she is having a baby girl. For that one I used the fussy cutting technique to cut out a dress from another part of that patterned paper. Supplies : patterned paper - Amy Tangerine, Memory Box mini clothespins twine And I also needed a birthday card, but wanted to use this "hola" stamp from an older Studio Calico set. I flipped that clear stamp over and used the back to stamp solid circles on the card - love that technique! Supplies : stamps - Studio Calico ink - Stampin' Up glitter - Wink of Stella vellum patterned card base - Michael's

Has anyone else been coloring? I have been using Copic markers for a few years and just succumbed to buying the ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. When I was checking out on Amazon this coloring book was suggested so I added it. I'm having fun coloring when I can't muster up enough crafty mojo for a full project.