And here we are in March

 and I'm still straggling along with my thank you cards.   If you saw my last post, you know what this is all about.

Layering dies

I have always loved the layering dies that are out in the market...but I've never been able to afford them.  When Spellbinders started making the kaleidoscope dies, and they had a sale I jumped in.  I really love the look of them.  I don't have them all, but I do have a few and I think they are a good goto for masculine cards.  For this card, I decided to make a design b cyutting the layered dies diagonally and laying them out in a pattern.  I really like how it turned out and hope the recipient enjoys it as well.  

A first time for everything

I have had this stamp set from the Stamps of Life for at least 10 years.  I have never used it because I just couldn't think of a way to do so.  I made a thank you card for a friend of Matt's who has become like family to us.  I wanted to thank him for his constant prayers and support.  I feel honored to be his friend and humbled by his generosity to our family.  

This is an old school phone, you know, the only way we used to phone a friend???  I guess it might be considered retro by now.  HA!  I colored the phones with my triblend markers.  Added some doodles around the sides.  I added enamel dots from my stash. I hope he enjoys this card, a token of our appreciation.

For my Mom

 My mom has been such a great help to me in attending all of Lillian's doctor appointments.  She buys our meals, listens to me, and I know in spite of anything she is always there for us.  I made her this card to show her a little bit of appreciation although it does not compare to what she does for us.  

I found these card bases at my local goodwill and I thought I might find a good use for them. While I couldn't find the exact measurement for the window with my dies, I created a frame with vellum to highlight the opening in the card.  The cards themselves are on the flimsy side, so I reinforce them with other cardstock.  The floral is a piece of ephemera from a Tim Holtz package. (my mom loves sunflowers) I used clear pops of color and a clay heart that I color matched with an alcohol marker.  

More Whimsy goodies

 I have loved this donkey set since I first laid eyes on it. I love the goofy grins and faces he has.  When I won the vlog hop I was able to add this stamp set and selfie dies to my gifts. 

 I had a friend request a card for her husband's friend who recently gifted them some very expensive hearing aids.  I found the sentiment "did you hear?" in one of my old Stamps of life stamp sets.  I thought it was perfect for the occasion.  I did some dry embossing.  Popped the polaroid's onto foam tape for dimension.  I colored both donkeys with my triblend markers.  I added pops of color in marine and glossy accents over his eyes for final touches.  I think this makes a nice masculine card and I hope the recipient gets a kick out of it.  

Thank you

 I had been playing around with my three scrapbook.com inks doing some ink blending on a stencil. Those did not turn out to my satisfaction.  So, as not to waste the ink on my sponges, I just swiped them onto a panel of card stock I had on my desk.  It sat on my desk a few days and I figured I could make a card out of it, but just wasn't sure what to do.  Then, as I was scrolling through Facebook I happened to scroll past a post by Amy R and all I saw really was the rainbow and hearts.  It was just a glance, but that put my mind in gear.  This card was totally inspired by her card.  I have followed her work for years and just love it.  It wasn't until I watched her video a few days later that I realized how much I replicated her design. Sort of.  Different mediums, but same concept.  I am using my card as a thank you for a friend.  Thanks, Amy R for your constant inspiration.   As I stated my card is ink blended with three primary colors making the rainbow.  I splattered with gold watercolor paint and added a variety of gold glitter hearts. I  stacked three thanks die cuts and covered with shimmer brush pen and added a gold heat embossing sub sentiment. My card is a mini slimline.

Personalized Card

 I love to add personal  touches to a card.  I think it just makes it a little more special.  I had the opportunity to make a card for someone I also happen to know.  I took some time studying photos of her pets and incorporated them into her card.  I love how it turned out.  So fun.  She really enjoyed the card and that makes me so happy!!