Graduation Card and Thank You Card Set

My niece graduated this month from college and I made this simple but nice card for her.   I wanted to use her school colors and the ever so popular chevron design that is everywhere this season.

Here is what I came up with;  navy for the card base, the Hero Arts chevron background stamp and the beautiful Cheery Lynn butterflies cut from gold card stock and backed with the same navy color.

Since I wanted to make a set of cards as part of her gift, I simplified the graduation card design a bit and was able to make 10 thank you cards!

And here is another picture of the cards.

Hope you are having a great week and setting some time aside for stamping and crafting!

A Sample of the Cards We Made in Canada

I'm happy to post some of the cards we made in Canada this past weekend.

This is a close up of one of the 3-D Pop up cards we made in a clear dome; notice the new glitter swirl peel offs!

 And I just love this new die, Anja's Roses Centerpiece, that was used to make the "window" in this sample.  There is also a matching Anja's Roses Corner die!

Here, we used this new beautiful shimmery card stock and the rose flower punch and embosser set.  We used 2 different size punches, even though there are 3 sizes available.  Notice the beautiful embellishment inside the flower!  It is so elegant and simply made with a silver spacer and a mini glitter brad.  I am sure you are going to love these!

I'm thrilled that the goodies have arrived from Canada today!  I'm going through the order and getting it out on the shelves for you!  Join us on Saturday, May 19 for the big Show & Tell and see these and more up close and personal.  (The pictures unfortunately do not do them justice.)   In addition, we will have a Make & Take  and give away the new Nellie Snellen Catalog to the first 10 customers of the day! 

Looking forward to seeing you!
               ~Anna

We're Back From Our Canadian Adventure at Ecstasy Crafts

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Soni and I were blessed to be able to spend the special weekend doing what we love most; paper crafting in Canada!  We simply had a blast!

We met up with our Canadian friends, ate at our favorite places and of course crafted, crafted, and crafted.  We saw lots of new product and got to use them in making new samples.  And so many dies are coming out........it gives the saying, "so many dies, too little time", a whole new meaning.  I'm looking forward to showing you the new cards we made as well as share with you the new product that has come out!

First though, here are some fun photos from our weekend:

Here's Soni working hard to get her card just right!

And Marilynne making sure that everyone has the supplies they need.

Soni, even got a picture of me working.............

 

and here at Montana's, waiting for our "ribs" with this fabulously refreshing drink called, "Big Momma's Afternoon Lemonade"!  Soni had one too, but unfortunately I don't have proof of her having it!  Oh well.  You'll just have to trust me; Soni enjoyed hers also!  (Can't believe that they serve them in Mason jars!!!  But, oh what fun though!)  As usual, the ribs were simply delicious!  We so look forward to our trips to Belleville so we can have them there!

For our last evening, we ate at the Boathouse with our Canadian friends Mary and Donna.  We all simply had a wonderful time.

This is the view of the waterfront from the Boathouse.  The fish here is always fresh and we always look forward to the house specialty, "Keith's Beer Battered Halibut"!  It is soooo light and tasty and the view helps make the whole evening a truly relaxing one.

Stay tuned for pictures of the cards we made!  Hopefully the sun will come out and I will be  able to post them tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing our weekend with us,

                                 ~Anna

Fabulous Card Made with Shimmer Sheetz

I have been wanting to post this card so you could see the beauty in those wonderful shimmer sheetz we have from Elizabeth Crafts! 

It's a bit difficult to photograph because they are so shinny, but I think you get the gist of it.

These sheets are made of mylar and come in a wide range of pretty colors.  This one is amethyst gemstone and it was put through the Big Shot with a Sizzix embossing folder.  It embosses so nicely and then I lightly sanded it so that the design would pop.  When you sand the shimmer sheetz, the white core comes through.  The core of the gemstone series is silver.

Stay tuned as I post more samples with Shimmer Sheetz!  Or, better yet, join us for some fun classes where you'll get to use these wonderful sheets!  So far, there are two scheduled classes for shimmer sheetz; Thursday, May 24 or Saturday, May 26!  Looking forward to playing with you!

(You can click HERE for the full calendar of classes & events).

Thanks so much for "stamping" by,
                ~Anna

Using Stacy's Stained Glass Stamps for Zentangle

Stacy Rich posted these two beautiful cards on her blog today!  She is so lucky to have Lori on her Design Team.

Aren't these cards fabulous?

I was going to try the "Stained Glass Rectangles stamp" for Zentangle but I guess Lori beat me to it!  I am just in awe of that card!!! 

In addition, Stacy posted a slide show of cards, again using her stained glass stamps; very artsy and unique!

Thanks Stacy for the great inspiration!
                   ~Anna

A Zentangle Flower!

Here is my second attempt at Zentangle.  I used the large posey flower from Outlines and just stamped it in black onto white card stock.  I then went tangling inside the petals!  It's so much fun!

I then cut out the flower and layered it onto white card stock where I had already drawn a stem and ran the card stock through my "big shot" with the Swiss dots embossing folder.  I heat embossed an Outlines leaf in white on black card stock and added an Outlines saying.  The red glitter dots really added some punch to the whole card!

Zentangle flower

If you would like to learn this fun and relaxing technique, join us for a Zentangle class on May 18th, May 23rd or26th.  You won't be able to stop tangling once you start!!!

Check our CALENDAR for more classes!

Thanks for "stamping" by,
       ~Anna

Pretty Birdhouse Shaped Card

It's May and this Saturday is the first Saturday of the month; which means it's Make & Take Saturday!  Join us and you too will be able to create this pretty birdhouse card that says, "There's no place like home."

You will use the latest stamps and die from Impression Obsession.  Add the Tim Holtz embossing folder, some distress inks, some colored pencils or Copics, Viva Decor Pearl Pens and stickles for embellishments and you'll have a unique card!

Now these house shaped cards are so awesome because they can be used for so many occasions!  Just think, "Good Luck in your New Home", We've Moved" or what about using the door and window dies (also from I/O) and create a "Christmas Front Door"!  The possibilities are endless!

Looking forward to seeing you Saturday for this fun project!
                                    ~Anna