Maxam Made

I love cards with dimension!  You will see cards on Pinterest and designers blogs  that look like they took a week to make and should be on top of a wedding cake!  I admire the designers that create these paper confections - how do they even think them up? While I love these masterpiece cards, they are not on my to-do list, why?  Because you really can't mail them without going to a whole lot of trouble to package them safely.  I do use foam tape and that gives cards an extra pop that is mailable.   What I am going to show you today is one of  my favorite techniques  for creating a mail-able dimensional card colored with alcohol markers. today's how-to is more focused on the dimension than coloring.  I used alcohol markers, but you can use your favorite coloring system. You can use a digital image or a stamped image, just make sure you use the ink that works with your coloring medium. For today's card, I used this beautiful  Magenta Stamp : You will

Verve Stamps has a November Challenge just about to close.  I found it the other day and I really liked the colors so I thought I would join in, why not,  I will have a nice card made and an opportunity to win a 30.00 prize!! Here is the Color Cue: My image, and a freebie to you: I like this image and thought I could pull it together with the color cue. I used alcohol markers and watercolor pencils Picked out backgrounds: every layer has a dark color lining and I rub every edge of paper against a black inkpad.  that little extra step gives everything a more vibrant look. Here is my card: I hope you stop by to Verve stamps and enter! Have a great day! Ginny M

A get well card I made tonight for a member request on my FB group Christian Card Makers   The base card was a piece of cardstock from one of the first Paper stacks I purchased in 2011 . It was DCWV 'four seasons'. I cut the whole stack in half and m ade 6x5 cards. I think I have used every piece of that stack and this was the last one! The b utterfly  stamp is a Tim Holtz stamp and is ink with memento black on Neenah solar white. Sentiment is one of my digis' Coloring done with pencil I coated it with a layer of Lineco glue - this gives it a leathery feel and makes it very durable. Another little trick I have, is to color  my dimensional's reverse image side.  Here is the finished card: Pretty simple, working with things that haven't gotten packed yet -  I forgot how much I like those papers! Thanks for stopping by! Ginny M Oh and sure why not a freebie too!!

I have a dear friend getting married next month and this week I will be going to her shower!  It is a Lingerie  shower so I came up with the perfect card (I think) Here is the image, you can save this for your  card making too! I changed the color to match her wedding dress.  Did I mention the bride is 74?  I fussy cut and inked the edges to give it demension Picked a background paper and inked it: It definitely needed some contrast framing  and a little bling!! I thought this corset was such a pretty image and then all blinged out- I love it - I hope she does! Thanks for stopping by ! Ginny M

I had a swap card to do this week, it was for was  a house mouse stamped card.  I have a few H. M. stamps and while I am not a big fan of cute, I really do like the House Mouse stamps and could easily develop a whole collection! I am gravitating more and more to the cling mount stamps because they are just so much easier to use and store.  This card was made with a stampendous cling mount  stamp and it came out perfect the first time using the Misti Stamping tool and Memento ink.  I colored using alcohol markers and created the snow with a white gel pen. Just a simple sweet card. It's in the mail already and I'm also entering it in the  Penny Black and more anything Christmas challenge  Thanks for stopping by!! Ginny M

I had to do a swap this week using a g45 stamp, any g45 stamp.  I have a bunch so that was going to be an easy swap.  Except on thing, the stamps were packed and sealed.  And I wasn't about to start unpacking and looking for one stamp.  I had a backup plan. I own  a copy of the public domain art the stamp came from in the first place!  Here it is, you can have it too!  I have some crafty stuff unpacked, but not much. I really wanted to make a card with a lot of pop.  There are so many card makers out there and so many tutorials and demos and don't even get me going on cas-ing and Pinterest - you card makers know what I mean!!  I wanted this to also be a little different!  When you only have scraps to work with you really do become a little more clever. I wouldn't have reached for this specialty as a first choice : I just added a little ink and it became quite special!! But that still leaves me with the image and a LOT of white space, I'm really not fond of

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and friends whether you are in the USA or around the World, may this day be full of Gods Bounty and Blessing! Ginny M

It is  Word Art Wednesday  Time!  I am thankful to have found this blog a few years ago. With all the free digital verses, devotions and card inspirations my card making and outreaching abilities  have soared!  If you have never been there, click on the link this is what you will find: A beautiful bi-weekly devotion by Karen Letchworth  A wonderful digital Bible verse Created by Karen Murray  which  you can use for your crafting - at no charge and links to over 300 more!! And then there are almost a dozen beautiful examples of how you can use the verse with links to blogs with all kinds of eye candy and paper crafting fun!  If that isn't enough, you have the opportunity to make a card, enter in the challenge and maybe win a really nice prize to add to your crafty stash.  Who wouldn't like a $25 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp!! If that isn't enough reason to join the Fun, sending that card you made and making someone's day is!!                    

I'm a quick stop here today!!  Join in the Fun worldwide crafty desk hop starting at Julias Blog ! This is it just a little desky left, all packed up and just about ready to go!                                              Still managing some fun cards though!! Thanks for stopping by!   Ginny M

Anyone besides me remember that show?  I can still hear him saying "Wilburrrrr" I had a horse card swap to do this weekend and this is what I came up with. Colored with pencil and alcohol blending pen - Yum   This card is going to be mailed out to my card swap  partner,but I am also entering it at a new to me challenge blog called Crafty Creations   The challenges' theme is "Animals"!   You can't see the silver Wink Of Stella I gave horse but where he looks like a dull gray, he is really a sparkly silver. Here is the image for you to play with! Hope you have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by! Ginny M

I am such a nester, you ladies who have had children may remember that "nesting " stage in late pregnancy, well  mine never ended.  When I get stressed, I nest, when I am happy I nest, when I am board, I nest.  To me, there is just always room to improve things (nesting). I think I might be a little compulsive about keeping things in order (nesting). Maybe. Since I am getting ready to move again, 2/3rds of the house is packed . I am looking forward to loading that truck , getting on the road and starting the next chapter. I am getting a little stir crazy.  In an effort to expedite the settling in of the new place I am trying to get everything ready here so that I can just  unpack, like a nest in a box, the box will open and the house will be ready.  I've got new curtains sewn,  paint picked out, furniture arranged (in my mind) for all the rooms. My new craft room will be about 12x10, which will do me just fine.  I've really purged through my crafting supplies and f