Police Lineup: Ferns

Police Lineup: Ferns
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Here's the second in a short series of cards I made using the guidelines from two different challenges at Less Is More. (One challenge was to use three of something and the other was to make masculine cards.)

I used the same template as before (scroll down to see the first one), but I used a different stamp and a different ink.

I taped the template on the cardblank, lightly added a bit of Forest Moss Distress Ink, then stamped the ferns and the sentiment in Forest Moss ink too.

I love the colors on this one. Very springy!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Seaside Stampin' Ink (Frankincense...although they totally look like ferns to me); Hero Arts (Birthday Messages set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Handmade template for squares, made using Marvy one-inch square punch and leftover cardstock


Another day of dreary rain here. I don't know about you, but after a few days of this stuff in a row, I start getting a little depressed. :-( But since today is the last day of March, I get to work on my Year in the Life project, which is always a lot of fun for me! Maybe the creative exercise will help me perk up. =D

~Cynthia

Tree card gone south...er NORTH

Tree card gone south...er NORTH
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

OK, see, what happened was....

I was trying to pattern my card after another I had seen on Less Is More and I....uh....chose the wrong tree.

Instead of stately pine trees on a masculine birthday card...

I ended up with a small grove of Christmas trees.

*sigh*

And I try so hard.

;-)

When I realized my poor card had gone south (meaning: in the vicinity of the TRASH CAN), I decided to take it north (meaning: go with the flow and make it a snowy, Christmas landscape.)

It's not so bad.

Kind of like a Charlie Brown Christmas card.

Heh.



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Picture Show (two fir trees); Artful Legacy (Silent Night)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss and Fired Brick)
ETC: Stickles (Xmas Red)



After one day of glorious sunshine yesterday, we're now in for three straight days of rain. That just means more time in the craft room! YAY!!


~Cynthia

Police Lineup: Cattails

Police Lineup: Cattails
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I've got another short series of cards I made this past week, all based on two different challenges at Less Is More. The first few combine an older challenge (Recipe: Use three squares) with a newer challenge (make a masculine card).

I used a piece of scrap cardstock and punched three squares in a row to use as a template. I taped the template on the cardblank, inked the squares using Scattered Straw Distress Ink, then stamped the cattail image using Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink before removing the template. To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment using Walnut Stain again.

I liked the way it turned out. It's very clean and simple. The template idea could go in many different directions, depending on the colors and stamps used.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank); scrap cardstock
Stamps: Stampscapes (Cattails #016B); Hero Arts (Birthday Messages set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Scattered Straw and Brushed Corduroy)
ETC: Marvy (one-inch square punch)


The sun is out this morning and I managed to get pictures of all the cards that were stacked up, waiting for their photo shoot. :-) I hope to find time for a hike this afternoon too. Ahhh! The smell of fresh, clean, spring air!!

~Cynthia

Purple layers

Purple layers
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I was hanging out on LateBlossom's Simplity blog and she (Susan Raihala) mentioned a design tip using colors and layers. The card is made of a lighter color, the first little layer is cut from a darker shade of the card color, then the top layer is white. This gives cohesiveness to the card and provides visual interest. So I decided to give it a try on this card.

I stamped the cake image and the birthday sentiment on white cardstock using Dusty Concord Distress Ink, which matched the darker piece of cardstock. I used a Spica pen to add a bit of sparkle to the cake and the cake stand.

I think a smaller image and smaller layer pieces might have been a better idea, but I think this card is fine.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (white, lavender and purple cardstock)
Stamps: Studio 18 (#IG66871, birthday cake); Hero Arts (Birthday Messages set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Dusty Concord)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro, Spica glitter pen


Monday is housework day around here and I hope to get it all done so I can PLAY in the craft studio later! Guess that means I'd better get a move-on, eh? ;-)

~Cynthia

More Dandelions!

More Dandelions!
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Here's the twin to yesterday's card. I used a kraft cardblank instead and changed the ink color to Walnut Stain.


Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: Great Impressions (Dandelion #G298 and Seeds #A118); Hero Arts (Birthday Messages set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)


Well, it's raining cats and dogs here today. Our newest scrapbook store is having a Grand Reopening event. I hate driving in the rain, but I guess I have to suck it up, right?? ;-)


~Cynthia

Dandelion wishes

Dandelion wishes
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I love this stamp! It's so cute and summery and it can be used for so many different situations: thinking of you, sympathy, get well, and birthday, like I've done here.

I was still working under the guidelines of the Less Is More challenge: make a masculine card. I used a more masculine, less cute, ink color, but I think this could be used for either a male or female.

And because it's supposed to be a one-layer, clean and simple card, I stamped, stamped, stamped and I was done! ;-)



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Great Impressions (Dandelion #G298, Seeds #A118); Hero Arts (Birthday Messages sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Scattered Straw)
ETC: Not a darn thing! =D


Have a great weekend!!

~Cynthia

Mary Ann Moss in Paris....

If you've always wanted to see Paris and a companion is the only thing stopping you,

COME ALONE.

It is the most glorious visceral place.

Whatever kind of travel niche you would like to make for yourself you can do it.

If you have mobility issues the city busses are so fabulous!

You can ride in comfort and watch Paris roll by your window.

You will get lost and turned around.

You'll drop your map,

dribble caramel down your shirt front,

stick your ticket in the wrong slot

step on someone in the metro.

But you will be so happy.

Your heart will find new ways to be moved.

Every.

Day.

Your senses will rise up to greet you.

You will be, as Mary Oliver writes,

a bridegroom married to amazement.

And won't that be grand?

Won't that be grand?

~Mary Ann Moss

Birthday Fishes!

Birthday Fishes!
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I love this cute stamp set from GinaK! It really lends itself to one layer cards.

It was so difficult to make, however.

You know...

Stamp a fish.

Add some glitter to the fish.

Change ink color.

Stamp some bubbles.

Stamp a sentiment.

*whew*

Take a nap.

=D



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: GinaK (Best Fishes set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Dried Marigold, Tumbled Glass)
ETC: Spica Pen


I had a lovely productive day in the studio yesterday! I love it when I can have the windows open, sun streaming in, birds chirping, and creativity flowing!! I hope you have the same kind of lovely day! ;-)

~Cynthia

Another manly birthday card

Another manly birthday card
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I'm still making cards along the guidelines of the Less Is More challenge this week (make a masculine, clean and simple card.)

The idea for my card sprang from several different cards posted by cardmakers for the Less is More challenge.

I stamped the main plant image, then stamped it two more times without re-inking. I used a sticky note along the bottom of the card so the plant stems wouldn't show up below the strip of green cardstock. Finally, I stamped Happy Birthday on the far right of the strip, which actually shows up very well in real life. :-)


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: Great Impressions (#G304, plant); Hero Arts (Classic Messages, sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


I'm off to do a little yard work before it gets too hot to stand around in the sun! ;-) I hope you find time to be crafty today!!

~Cynthia

Less Is More unless you CASE somebody!

Less Is More unless you CASE somebody!
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

This card is for the Less Is More challenge

(make a masculine card),

but I wasn't going to play along

(I'm having too much fun in my art journals)

until I saw this great card

(I really enjoy CASE'ing others' cards)

over on Stamping With Klass

(Bonnie Klass' blog)

where she used Stampin Up's Pocket Silhouettes

(love that little set!)

to create a masculine-ly brown birthday card

(now why didn't *I* think of using those stamps like that!)

and decided to make one too!

(Alas, the sun was out this morning, but was it when I finished the card and got ready to take a picture of it?? No, no it was NOT.)



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (brown and kraft cardstock); Pop*Tone (Hot Fudge Designer Plain Cards)
Stamps: Stampin Up (Pocket Silhouettes); Hero Arts (Classic Messages)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro; ScorBuddy


I love how my take on it doesn't really look like Bonnie's, but she really did make a beautiful card and I was so inspired by it! THANKS BONNIE!! =D


~Cynthia

Birthday Ferns

Birthday Ferns
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Well...all I can say about this....um...INTERESTING card is that it's not my favorite.

I had such good intentions too. :-)

I think I will try to rip it apart and fix it. It needs some white cardstock.

Anyway. I stamped this cool fern-looking stamp on three pieces of the same colored green cardstock using a green ink for a tone-on-tone effect. I layered it all on a kraft cardblank.

Hmmm.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: Sea Side Stamping (Frankincense); Inkadinkado (#96614 Expressions)
Ink: VersaColor (Green Tea)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


Well, Happy Monday! I'm running late already and can't seem to find my get-up-and-go. =D

~Cynthia

Easter Card

Easter Card
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

As I was about to type up this post, I realized with a laugh that this card is also stamped "off the edge" like the challenge I've been playing along with this week at Less is More! I wasn't really thinking about that when I stamped the lily off the edge of the card. I think it looks better this way then hanging in midair. :-)

So, I stamped the flower, colored it with watercolor pencils, then stamped the sentiment. DONE.

=D


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations (HCPC 3370 Easter Lilies PreCut Set); GinaK (Basket Blessings sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pumice Stone)
ETC: Artists Loft (watercolor pencils)


I've really enjoyed doing the "off the edge" and clean and simple type cards the past few days. They are simple to do and the result is pleasing to the eye from a design standpoint. Of course, that just means I need to grunge the next card up!! ;-)


~Cynthia

Off the Edge Part 2

Off the Edge Part 2
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Here's attempt number 2 of an "off the edge" card--the current challenge at Less is More.

I used an ivory cardblank this time, but I used the same stamp and Distress Inks as yesterday's card (Peeled Paint and Forest Moss.)

Because I had an issue with the ink on the sentiment on the first card, I used a soft green pigment ink by Studio G this time. This ink worked much better than the Distress Ink I used previously. Yay! It's very creamy, almost like a thick chalk ink. And the color worked really well with the Distress Inks.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Stampendous (Agapanthus Cluster); Inkadinkado (Expressions #96614)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Forest Moss); Studio G/Hampton Arts (green pigment ink #VP0006)


Recently I've been hanging out at Shelley Starkis' blog, Shelley's Stamping Ground, and CASE'ing a few of her cards. In her latest blog post, she mentions that she was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I know God hears our prayers so would you mind saying a prayer for her healing? God is in the business of the miraculous.


~Cynthia

Off the Edge Part 1

Off the Edge Part 1
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Here's my take on Less is More's weekly challenge--to stamp off the edge of your card.

By habit, I guess, I would have stamped off the right side, but this stamp lent itself to the left side stamp off. (Yes, I just made that term up. Heh.)

Anyway, because Less is More is a clean and simple kind of challenge, this card is thus clean and simple. =D

I stamped the Agapanthus with a mixture of Peeled Paint and Forest Moss Distress Inks. The sentiment is in Forest Moss as well. The only thing I don't like about this card is that sentiment. I'm not sure if it was because I haven't used that stamp much or the Distress Ink is busy distressing, but the words have a bit of a ragged look to them.

For once, it looks better in the picture.

HA HA HA!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampendous (Agapanthus Cluster); Inkadinkado (Expressions #96614)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Forest Moss)
ETC: NOTHING. It's supposed to be CLEAN AND SIMPLE! =D


It's a rainy and dreary day here, but I have so enjoyed some peaceful hours in the craft studio. I hope you find peaceful moments to create today as well.

~Cynthia

My apologies...

I've got nothing to show today, so my apologies on that. I DO however have something to share.

Mary Ann Moss from LA Dispatch (Remains of the Day) is currently in Paris. And she's taking pictures and blogging her adventures and travel journaling and....in short, making me insanely jealous.

One of her posts included a picture, taken just past dusk, of a top story window with lights gleaming into the dark. And Mary Ann said this...

On the way home through the dark streets I looked up and saw this window. Maybe inside there is a child on a feather bed reading a storybook. Dreaming about a trip she will take when she grows up.

I always feel better when I find someone who feels the same way about travel as I do. Sometimes I think I'm the only one affected by wanderlust and then along comes someone who feels the same, who totally gets it.



Dreaming about a trip,

~Cynthia

Lil Easter Rabbit

Lil Easter Rabbit
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Back to Easter cards again. :-)

My favorite little rabbit makes an appearance, sitting over two scored lines and a simple pink Happy Easter.

I think the simplicity of it makes this one very sweet card! =D


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: JustRite (15 Point Times New Roman alphabet stamps); Endless Creations Inc (rabbits #DD24)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pumice Stone and Spun Sugar)
ETC: ScorBuddy


Happy Saturday to ya!! I'm off to work in the studio again. I've been spending a lot of time working on some art journals I've made, so I had better get going on some cards! Less is More has a new challenge up, so I might take my cue from them today.


~Cynthia

One More St Paddy's!

One More St Paddy's!
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

This is the last one, I promise!

Originally, I was following one of the Fall-to layouts, but when I put the card together, it looked funny. So I switched the layout around and got this. I'm not 100% happy with it...it needs something on the top. But, hey, it's done. =D

The St Patrick's Day sentiment is stamped on a QuicKutz die cut, which is layered over pretty much the only green patterned paper I seem to have. Heh. Then I used a border punch on a strip of green cardstock. I added a bit of Distress Ink around the edges of the die cut for a little color pop.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green and white cardstock); ADT (Great Outdoors scrapbook kit)
Stamp: Hampton Arts/Studio G
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
ETC: Recollections (border punch); QuicKutz (name plates die cut); Glue Glider Pro


I'm all done with St. Paddy's Day and these cards are ready to be mailed! Now if I can only remember to actually MAIL them.........

Happy weekend!! ;-)

~Cynthia

Bunny Rabbit

Bunny Rabbit
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I love this little rabbit!! The stamp comes with two rabbits on each side of a small wooden block. One faces the right, the other the left, so you can stamp them as if they're kissing! HILARIOUS!!

I chose to skip the kissing and just stamp the lil fella in the grass.

=D

I stamped the grass on the front of a white cardblank, then stamped the rabbit on a piece of white vellum. I adhered the vellum over the cardblank (at the top only), then cut a strip of green cardstock, used a border punch and adhered that over the vellum (also along the top only).


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); Vellum; Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamp: Endless Creations Inc (rabbit #DD24); Daisy Bucket Designs (Row of Grass)
Ink: VersaColor (Green Tea); Memento (Tuxedo Black...I probably should have used StazOn for this, but so far, the ink looks like it is permanent.)

ETC: Fiskars (border punch); Glue Glider Pro


The rains have finally stopped and the sun is now shining! We survived with no flooding problems...at least here. Our neighboring states have not been so lucky this time around. :-/


~Cynthia

Bunch o' Tulips

Bunch o' Tulips
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Another simple Easter card. I really like how this one turned out. I think it has a serene air about it. :-)

I stamped the tulip image on white cardstock, using Pumice Stone Distress Ink. I also stamped the sentiment in the same ink color.

I then used watercolor pencils to tint the flowers, adding a bit more color to the bow for some punch.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (white cardstock); Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: JustRite (Breath of Spring Borders & Centers set); GinaK (Basket Blessings sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pumice Stone)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


The rain has started already this morning. The Flood Watch is still in effect. I got all my running around done early this morning and now I'm about to hole up in the craft room for the rest of the day!! I hope you too find time to be creative!

~Cynthia

Ladybug Easter

Ladybug Easter
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I needed one more Easter card, by my count, and I threw this one together like likety-split!

I went looking for some patterned paper with lilies on it and found this one instead. I've been hoarding this flower paper for evah. THEN, of course, I had to hunt a green paper that matched.

To complete the artsy look, I used JustRite stamp letters for the Easter sentiment. It kind of makes it look like the whole card was handmade. I was thinking it might need a ribbon or something over the green strip, but the more it sits on my table, the more I like it that way. :-)


Supplies:
Paper: Creative Imaginations (Oops. I cut off the name of the paper.); Bazzill (green paper); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: JustRite (15 Point Times New Roman Alphabet stamps)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


The sun's out, so I'm going to try to do a bit of hiking today. The National Weather Service has already issued a Flood Watch for my area for tomorrow, so I want to enjoy the sun while it shines! =D I hope the sun shine wherever you are today!!


~Cynthia

Easter Crosses

Easter Crosses
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

This awesome stamp set from Heartfelt Creations just showed up at my LSS and I so jumped on it! I love love love the crosses. PERFECT for Easter, right??

I stamped the image in Pumice Stone Distress Ink then lightly brushed on more Pumice Stone and layered Mustard Seed, Spun Sugar and Milled Lavender so it would look like the sun was rising behind the hills. I added the sentiment at the bottom.

Originally I had a bit of a mis-stamp, so I sliced the back off that card, cutting it down so it would fit on another cardblank.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblanks)
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations (HCPC 3370 Easter Lilies PreCut Set); GinaK (Basket Blessings, sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pumice Stone, Mustard Seed, Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


Happy Monday to ya! If you are into journals, Julie Balzer is teaching a class LIVE! tonight in the Live with Prima classroom. Totally free! (Scroll down my page here, at the bottom on the right, for a link to Julie's blog and you will find the link to Live with Prima on her latest blog.) It's at 8:00 PM EST. I caught a class there this past week and totally loved it!

~Cynthia

Easter Sunrise

Easter Sunrise
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Finally! Enough sun to take a decent picture!! Hooray!!

This is the first in a line of Easter cards I will be making. I got this idea from...as usual lately...the Less is More blog site. I borrowed the idea from crafters such as KatheD, ShirelyAnne, Ikki, and especially Viv, among many who participated in the latest challenge. (Thanks, ladies!!)

I kind of like it. It reminds me of a display at a Pier One store. A shot of color behind some funky dried branches. =D

The only thing I DON'T like about the card is the size of the sentiment. That's the only Easter word stamp I had up until yesterday, so I won't be yelling my greetings in future cards. Yay!

Super simple to make. I pressed a clear square stamp block on a rainbow-type ink pad to get the blend of colors and stamped it directly on the cardblank. Then I stamped the branches and added the Easter sentiment, both in black ink.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Inkadinkado (Delicate Branches); Hampton Arts (Easter)
Ink: Big and Juicy (Vibrant Primary); Memento (Tuxedo Black)
ETC: Clear stamp block


Looks like another dreary, rainy day here. Can't complain because we do need the rain, but I'll have to avoid taking pictures! I hope you have a great, *creative*, weekend!!! =D


~Cynthia

Welcome to my junky Junque Journal!

Welcome to my junky Junque Journal!
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

So...I was surfing around one day and found this thing called a Junque Journal. Basically, you take all your junk mail and crafting scraps and stick it all together to make this beautifully junky journal.

Well, I'm not too sure about the beautiful part, but this is what happened when I spent WAY too much time on LA Dispatch's site, Remains of the Day.

As I was going through Sunday's paper after church, I found a paper bag from Office Max. You know, the kind where you stuff everything you can fit in the bag and you get 20% off.

Whatev. It looked like a journal-in-waiting to me.

So I cut it up, sewed junk...I mean repurposed scraps and envelopes and maps onto the paperbag pages and VOILA! A super-cool, funky, junky, Junque Journal was born!!!

I had no troubles with my sewing machine either. It zipped like buttah through those paper pages! I also found a bookbinding site and used a tutorial to hand sew/bind the pages together. (I think it was called a Coptic stitch binding thing-a-ma-jig. Ahem. Shows ya how much I paid attention!)

Anyway, the journal has lots of places for journaling and hiding stuff and posting stuff and adhering stuff. I liked the experience because it was rather freeing, artistically. No rules, just stick stuff where you want it. No color combos needed. I didn't have to go by anything (or go BUY anything either!) I just raided my stash for scraps I would probably not use on any other project.

In other words...FUN.


~Cynthia ;-)

Shamrock card

Shamrock card
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Here's another St. Patrick's Day card.

First I punched out 3 hearts and cut a thin stem. I used two different ink pads and pounced the color on, which made a cool textural effect.

I die cut the oval and stamped the sentiment, then inked the edges. (I know I looks like an ivory oval on a white background, but in real life they are both ivory. Weird.)

I adhered the stem first and the shamrock leaves over the stem.

It's a little plain, I think, but it works! ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Springhill (Vellum Bristol ivory); Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamp: Hampton Arts/Studio G
Inks: VersaColor (Green Tea); Studio G (green ink #VP006)
ETC: Spellbinders Nestabilities (Petite Ovals Large); Glue Glider Pro; Zig Two-Way Glue Pen


And that's it from here. The sun is shining and I think I'll go for a hike later this afternoon! Have a great day!!!

~Cynthia

St. Patricks's Day

St. Patricks's Day
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I made three of these cute St. Pat's Day cards because they were so easy to mass produce.

First I die cut the Lacey Circles, then the Standard Circles. I stamped the tattoo-like Irish stamp in the middle before layering it all on a white cardblank.

Inside I stamped the sentiment 'Happy St. Patrick's Day' in the same green ink as on the front.

Easy peasy! ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); Recollections (white cardstock)
Stamps: Hampton Art/Studio G (AKA Michael's Dollar Bin)
Ink: VersaColor (Green Tea)
ETC: Spellbinders Nestabilities (Lacey Circles, Standard Circles Large); Glue Glider Pro


I can't believe how busy this week has been! And when I don't have time to create in the craft room, I feel like my day has been wasted. HA HA! How goofy is THAT?? I managed to carve out some time today to finish up these cards and work on Easter cards too. Finally. A productive day!!! =D

~Cynthia