Purple Mountains...

Purple Mountains..., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's another steal from Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog.

Cuz it's all about the simplicity, baby. ;-)

I took the coward's way out though and cut a piece of cardstock to use with the Wrinkle Free Distress technique. I spritzed my craft mat with a bit of water after I dragged my Distress Ink Pad across it, then dragged the cardstock through that...instead of dragging the actual card blank through it. Which scared me.

Cuz I hate wasting cardblanks.

Then I stamped the mountains and the sentiment at the top.

I think it's kind of cool, but not really my favorite card. I need to practice. =D


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank); Recollections (white cardstock)
Stamps: Hero Arts (Thinking of You set); Stampscapes (Rocky Peaks)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Stains (Black Soot, Dusty Concord)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro


Happy Friday, y'all! I really cannot believe tomorrow starts October! Where has this year gone??? ;-)


~Cynthia

...up above the world so high...

...up above the world so high..., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

And this is the last in my little three part series of Cards I Shamelessly Copied From Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog.

Blue and gold is one of my favorite color combinations. Possibly because those are my high school's colors. Or possibly because they look awesome on kraft paper. ;-)

I added a bit of a twist to this one--and it's more in line with what Susan did on her blog. I stamped my sentiment then added the frame around it. I still scored two lines beneath the frame.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampin Up (large star); Rubber Stampede (Star Trio); Stampendous (Everything Happy set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire, Scattered Straw)
ETC: ScorBuddy; American Crafts (Pigment Pro pen)


We finally, finally, finally got some clear blue skies and sun today!! I hit the trails for a morning hike and stood around a lot, just letting the sun warm up my soul! =D

~Cynthia

...how I wonder what you are...

...how I wonder what you are..., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's my second take on Susan Raihala's framed cards. Same as yesterday, I just used different colors.

Oh, I forgot to mention yesterday that I took the pictures outside, in the bushes--the only place we had sun in the yard. Those blotches on the card are leaf shadows. ;-)

I really like how changing the colors changes the whole tone of the card. Yesterday's was all pink and girly, but the blue here makes it more masculine-- I could use this for a young boy's birthday too.

I also scored two lines beneath the box then added the sentiment.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampin Up (blue star); Rubber Stampede (Star Trio); Stampendous (Everything Happy set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire, Peeled Paint)
ETC: ScorBuddy; American Crafts (Pigment Pro pen)


I sat outside at lunch today, reading and enjoying the breeze and the precious sunshine. It's amazing how much the weather can change my mood! :-) I hope the weather is wonderful where you are today!!

~Cynthia

Twinkle, twinkle little star...

Twinkle, twinkle little star..., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

...how I've CASE'd you from a far...

Yes, I totally stole the idea from Susan Raihala over on Simplicity. I lerved the idea of a framed area on the card. So cute!

I blocked off the area I wanted framed using sticky notes. Then I stamped the stars, drew the lines with a pen, scored two lines beneath the frame, and stamped the sentiment.

I liked the idea of using the darker ink for the sentiment. I think it draws the eye down, while also causing the lighter color to pop.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampendous (Everything Happy set); Stampin Up (star); Rubber Stampede (Star Trio)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick)
ETC: ScorBuddy; American Crafts (Pigment Pro pen)


This past week was crazy! I spent time on Friday helping my local scrapbook store set up for a stamp convention, then spent most of Saturday shopping there! The vendors were fewer in number compared to the previous year, but I still managed to find some fun stuff!! Just doing my part to help the economy! ;-)


Thanks for stopping in today!

~Cynthia

Birthday Cake

Birthday Cake, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Wow! It feels good to be back here sharing my creations!

**As always, excuse the horrid picture....we haven't had sun in a week!**

Between the crazy plumbers and...well...LIFE...I haven't had much time to create. But my dad's birthday was yesterday and I was forced to find a bit of mojo to get a card done. Turns out this is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. I managed to make 2 birthday cards and 3 Christmas cards!

YAY!

Here's the first one. I took a nod from Susan Raihala over on her Simplicity blog. Super simple card.

I stamped the border. Then stamped the cake piece, colored it using watercolors, then cut it out. Lots of glitter pen usage too. :-)



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Fiskars (How Many Candles set); Stampology (Celebrate set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fried Brick)
ETC: Glue Dots; Spica (Glitter pen)


And that's it for me! Thank y'all so much for all the kind words on my scrapbook pages lately!! Paper crafters are a very encouraging bunch!!!! =D


~Cynthia

Still Here...mojoless

Still Here...mojoless, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Oh boy. It has taken me roughly ONE WEEK to get this page done. This is a layout from Shimelle...from what seems like ages ago.

It's a little chaotic at my house right now. The plumbers were here yesterday to replace all the faucets. My gosh they are SLOW. And they blocked the way to the craft room. And they had to turn the water off too. That meant no crafting and six hours of a CSI marathon.

And they're not done yet.

And they're two hours late today.

Which means no crafting today either.

I totally think I should deduct Negative Craft Room Time from their bill!! LOL!!


So here's my page. Shimelle's challenge was black and red, with lots of layers. I chose the paper first, then added the photo. I'm not real happy with any of it, but I had to find the end somewhere.

I distressed lots of stuff, which always makes me happy, so the page isn't a total loss. Also, I made the script faux-washi tape with ink and artist's tape. That's always fun too.

And I love ledger paper. LOVE. IT. So I distressed a piece of that also.

The photo is from Fort Polaski, Georgia. This is the interior of the fort--the outer walls, where they swing the cannons around to shoot out of the windows. Those are the track lines on the floor where the cannons travel. It's a very cool place, very well restored.


Supplies:
Paper: Jenni Bowlin (Clover Vine and Red Olives); My Mind's Eye (Meadowlark collection); stash (ledger paper); Bazzill (tan cardstock)
Stamp: Stampendous (script stamp)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo); Stazon (Jet Black); Archival Ink (Coffee)
ETC: Queen &Co Pearls (Nightfall); Staedtler (Artist's Tape); Recollections (Alphabet set); Paper Shapers (Retro Flower punch); The Paper Studio (brad); The Sewing Place (seam binding)


So I just found out the plumbers aren't coming today after all. Apparently, I'm not enough of a priority for them. Grrrrrr. At least I have running water. Just trying to be grateful for the little things, ya know? ;-)


~Cynthia

Old Sheldon Ruins

Old Sheldon Ruins, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

This layout is based on a challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog. Part of the challenge was to use 80% MME product on the page.

Sooooo....I have about 10%. And that's why I'm not entering the challenge.

But it was fun playing along. I so think that should count for something. RIGHT????? ;-)

The picture is from Old Sheldon Church, located near Beaufort, SC. I absolutely love the ruins of the church! The original name was Prince William's Parish Church and construction was begun in 1745.

Many people have their bridal pictures taken here and even get married here. It's really quite an amazing place.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (brown and teal cardstock); My Mind's Eye (Penny Lane--Free Bird "Passion" Robin's Eggs Paper); K&Co (Par Avion border strip)
ETC: K&Co (Tim Coffey--Cottage Garden Warm die-cuts); Making Memories (Shimmer Alpha--Black); Zig Two-way Glue Stick; Glue Glider Pro


And no, I didn't spritz the page. It's so late in the afternoon here that I got shadows on the page. It does look kind of cool though...


~Cynthia ;-)