New Year's Eve

Greetings one and all:
I can't believe the weather. . .much of our snow has melted in the past two days AND we had several feet of the white stuff! I would say that 70% of the backyard is grass and the fire ring is empty and ready to have a fire in it! At the moment it is still 39 degrees, very foggy and raining lightly. IF the weatherman is correct, the temp is to start dropping, but no snow is in the forecast.

I wanted to share a card I completed yesterday and yes it is a snowman! If you want the snowman, please contact Amy, for she sells him. The saying is by Darcie stamps.
May you all have a very nice and safe evening as we bring in yet another year. It hardly seems possible, that 2011 is just a few hours away. It seems just like yesterday, we were waiting for the year 2000, to come in and what would it bring??? Downed computers, cars that wouldn't work and all the other talk of Y2K.

Till the New Year. . .
Inkyhive

Merry Christmas

I am finished with all my baking, until tomorrow, when I put the turkey in the oven. We're having company and I think I have it all under control or at least most of it! I know it has been several weeks, since my last post and I do apologize and in this coming year, the Lord willing, my goal is to post more. I thank all, who have been praying for me. My Bells Palsy has greatly improved!!!

May you all have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. The card below didn't scan very well and I think it is because of the paper the image is stamped on. I used a silver shimmery paper.

Thoughts and Prayers are with you all.
Inkyhive

update on me. . .

Last Friday morning, I walked into my doctor's office, thinking I might have had a small stroke, for I was having a few problems/symptoms with the left side of my face. I felt okay, yet I knew something wasn't right. Thankfully, it wasn't a stroke. I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. Hopefully and prayerfully, it will resolve itself sooner rather than later.

This is a card, I made today. I can't recall where I got the bear die-cut, but she is cute, isn't she?
I added a few brads and a couple of paper flowers to help it stand out just a bit. I brayered a piece of glossy paper and then I stamped my favorite background stamp (the flowers). Then I layered Miss Bear on and then attached it to brown card.

Not sure how I will finish it off, birthday, thinking of you, encouragement, but I do hope it will bring a smile to who ever receives it.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have some time to play!
hugs,
Inkyhive

I'm here

I'm here, really I am, though I know it's been more than a week. I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving. We did and enjoyed the company of one of Mr. Inky's sisters. While she was here, I didn't stamp and this week, for some reason, I haven't stamped much either.

This first card I made yesterday. The flower layer is from a store bought card, I received ages ago. I trimmed it and then layered it on some dark blue paper and then attached it to green card stock. I stamped the saying on it and sent it out yesterday.

The card below I made today. It is a gate fold card. I stamped the flower background, I so like that stamp. It is be Great Impressions and is about 2 x 3 inches. It is one stamp, I will always keep, IF I every have to downsize! Then I layered the girl on black paper and attached that onto the cardstock. You only attach half on the card, so that it can be opened. I hope that isn't as clear as mud. :- 0

Thanks for taking a look and may you have a restful evening.

Until next time.

Inkyhive

no stamping today

No stamping today. . .I've spent the day straightening and cleaning the house. I found out our company is arriving tomorrow evening, so I couldn't wait till tomorrow and Wednesday. Tomorrow, all I have to do is change the sheets, wipe the bathroom down and get supper going.

I hope with doing that and going to Bible Study, I will still have a little time to stamp. I really should straighten my room up a bit, but I don't think much of that will get done!

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Are you staying home, having company, fixing a big meal?
Or are you going to someones house? I hope no matter what you do, you have a very nice day and before eating, go around the table and say what you are thankful for.

Time to get supper started, so I will close for now.
May you have a grand evening and until the next time,
God Bless,
Inkyhive

another card with an old photo

My stamping friend, AJ and I got together yesterday. It was a day of fun, chatting, sharing, making cards and laughter! She had more old photo's and we both got a card completed as well as working on others.

This is a photo of a wedding couple back in the 1800's. Actually, this is a scan of a photo, for we want to keep the originals intact. The scan was done, while AJ's printer was running out of ink, thus some of the purple. I thought I would play around with it, with some of Tim Holtz's distressed inks and then I used a fine grain piece of sand paper and made some scratch marks. Some times I think I might have overdone the scratching and other times, I say, it is an old photo and has been handled a lot! I used a Label nestabilities, that AJ has and didn't write the number done. The card base is a cream color and edged it with sand ink. The scan doesn't show it very well.

This card, I put together last week, and is done with the photo (scan) that she also made into a card on our last visit. I layered the card front with a piece of paper that is made from real wood! I sure like the look and look forward to making more cards, using the wood. At first I had the idea of the photo being hung on the wall, but wondered if it looked to bare, so then I added the photo tabs. I still don't know about it, but AJ like it, and since it is all glued down, it will have to stay that way!!
Thank you, for taking a look. Until next time. . .
Inkyhive

Hope

I made this yesterday. I have a number of people who I would like to send this encouragement card to, so I will have to make more or send out different ones. This card, is going to a friend of mine, who is a wonderful sister in the Lord. She found out yesterday, she has stage 1 breast cancer and will have a lumpectomy on Dec. 3rd. If you feel lead, please add her to your prayers. I know she appreciates all the prayers being said for her and I thank you.

The little charm says "hope" and I picked up a package of them a few months back. I used some wire to attach it to the card. The saying, is from the Bible, where Jesus, is telling us, He will give us rest, when we come to Him. Do you need rest today? It is my prayer that you draw near to Him. HE loves you so much. . .

Thank you, for stopping by and may you have a blessed day.
Inkyhive

Veteran's Thank You card

I wanted to share this very simple and quick card, that I am making to send to the Veteran's that attend my church. This past Sunday, the Pastor had them stand up so, we could give them a hand of appreciation. I quickly wrote their names down and thought it would be nice to send a card of thank you to them. Some served in WWII, Korean War, Viet Nam, the Gulf War and the present day war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since the card is white, I placed it on a piece of chipboard, so it would show up. I started by stamping the image in the lower right hand corner and then I used a red and a blue marker to make the lines around the edge of the card. Lastly I stamped the Thank you. I still have 5 more to make, so they will not get mailed today. I will write a note in each of them and get them in the mail tomorrow.

I hope this gives you an idea for a card. . .be it a Veteran's Day card or Birthday or Thinking of you card. Not every card we make, needs to be elaborate or fancy. . .the point, I think, is to let another know we are thinking of them.

Thank you, for taking a look.
Inkyhive
Air Force brat
Proud wife of a Viet Nam Vet
Proud Aunt to a nephew who served in Iraq

The Never Ending Card or

. . .the card that goes on forever and ever! I visited with my stamping friend, Amy, today, more about that later. First, I wanted to share a card I made a week or so ago and I mailed it to my friend, Kathy, who received it on Saturday.

This first picture is the front of the card:



This is the 2nd fold or page 2. I have a stamp that looks like 'Hersey kisses', so I decided to cover then with aluminum foil. I think they turned out looking very real, except they are of course, flat!

this is the 3rd fold or page 3

This is the back of the card or fold 4

then you fold it again and you are back on the front of the card and thus that is where the name "Never Ending card" comes into play.

I went to visit with Amy today, who lives about 70 minutes south of me. Once, I got out of the fog, it was a beautiful drive and what a gorgeous day. It sure felt like Spring, only because it has been so cold here lately. . .more like Winter than Fall. We sure had a lot of fun chatting, laughing, and looking at old photographs. We both began a photo card, but I have not finished mine. So I am hoping to work on that tomorrow, though I would like to make 9 or so cards, for Veterans that I know. Thankfully, they all live close so if I don't get them in the mail till Wednesday, they should get them on Thursday AND. . . no they won't, since there is no mail delivery on Thursday. Okay, so I'll have to work fast tomorrow so they will arrive on Wednesday or maybe Friday won't be so back. I just got their names and idea yesterday, so that is why they aren't made yet.

God Bless you,

Inkyhive

Birthday card

Mr. Inky has a co-worker friend who is having a birthday, this coming week, so this morning this is what I made. I have had this stamp for years and it is a favorite. This is the first time, though that I have not had the foreground as water.
This time I made the bank in front of the line of trees a river and the foreground a meadow. After stamping the images, I stippled in the colors of the sky and meadow. The Happy Birthday is a Darcie stamp and the trees are by CC Rubber.

This is the inside of the card. I cut the music paper using Labels Eight, from Spellbinders. The saying is by Touche. I colored in the candle and used yellow stickles outlining the flame.

Well, that's it for now. Hope this might give you some ideas to make a card this week-end.

OH and remember to turn your clocks back, before going to bed tonight. Daylight savings ends for this year.

hugs n Prayers,

Inkyhive

Winter Bookmark

It sure is beginning to feel like winter. Today, we are in the low 30's and it has been spitting snow, since I got up at 4:30 a.m.

This is a bookmark, I made for a swap I am in. I laid it on chipboard so the scan would show up.

I had been trying to get an idea for a bookmark, for a couple of days. So many ideas and this is what I came up with. The snowmen is ribbon, I got several years ago. I ran it through my Xyron and then put it on white paper. Then, I ran 2 pieces of acetate through my Xyron and put one piece on the front and one piece on the back. It is sturdy and should hold up for awhile.

May you all have a pleasant week-end and I hope you get some time to create!

hugs n prayers,

Inkyhive

card using a photo

Do you have old photos that have no real sentiment? Have you used a photo to make a card? What type of card did you make? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Today, I wanted to share a card that I made and sent to a soldier. I used a square punch on the front of my card and then stamped the saying.
On the inside I attached a copy of the photo. A friend gave me one photo as she knew I had been looking for old photos. I have been looking at rummage sales for a couple of years and have yet to find any. Before mailing, I wrote a note.

This card was very easy to make as it is simple, but one could make a more detailed card. I have several ideas in my head, for more cards, I just have to come up with more photos.

Hoping you are having a pleasant week and that you made it out to "vote" yesterday.

Inkyhive

November already!

Hello, can you believe it is already November? Where has all the time gone, this year?!? I hope you had a pleasant week-end. This week-end went by very fast, as Mr. Inky had OT (overtime) on Saturday, so that makes the week-end short. The weather was beautiful on Saturday afternoon, so we decided to have a campfire; grill hot dogs and zucchini (which was from our garden), and a couple of marshmallows. We sat outside for a couple of hours and enjoyed the fresh air.

Here is a card, I made this morning. The scan doesn't show it, but the thermometer is glossy, for I put glossy accents on it. I trimmed around the tip of the thermometer and lifted that piece and put my nestabilitie die under it and cut out the die that way.
Take care and I hope to see you tomorrow!
Godspeed,
Inkyhive

2 cards to share

Hello. . .this first card I made for a lady who fell and broke her ankle and she is not to bear any weight on her foot for at least 6 weeks. In about 10 days, another x-ray will be taken and see if the bone is growing and what the next step is. The image is from MorningStar and I'm crazy about this stamp! I use glossy accents to make the cast 'pop', though the scan doesn't show it.

The blue or teal color background, is called faux corduroy. You brayer ink over a sheet of toilet paper and in person, it is very real looking!

This second card, you already can see is a birthday card. The lighthouse is a stamp and stencil set, from AJ's Country Stampin'. I stamped the Happy B/d image on vellum and attached it with Glue Dots made for vellum. Have you ever used them? I was skeptical, but the product works very well! I will be using them again along with vellum more!

Thank you, for taking a look.

May you have a pleasant day. . .

Inkyhive

Different Shape Card

Do you read Gina K's Stamp TV? The other day she shared how to make a Scalloped Oval Card, using your Nestabilities Die, to make a card. You can use any shape you might have. This is one that I did.

For this one, I used Labels Eight.

Thanks, from dropping in. I hope all of you are doing well and haven't been troubled too much with the HIGH winds and storms we have been having. The winds here today are much stronger than yesterday and I see some roof shingles on the ground. Not a good thing, however the roof is still on and that is a good thing! Well, back to getting some ink on my fingers and I share more, later.

Godspeed,
Inkyhive

I did make a card!!!

HI, I'm back again and I was able to make a card. The image was sent to me, so I am unable to let you know what company it is from. Nonetheless, I had fun making this card. I used my Copic markers to color the bear image and then I stipple the sky and water. I cut the image out with the rectangle scalloped nestabilities. The fish are cut from a nestabilities set or should I say a spellbinder set. The fish eyes, I acquired several years back and they are really used on fishing tackle. I really like them and must order some more, for I cannot find them locally.

Again, thank you, for dropping in and I pray you have a very peaceful week-end.

Inkyhive

no stamping today

I didn't get a chance to make a card today. I was busy cleaning the kitchen most of the morning. And some parts shine! Then I made 2 loaves of Chocolate Zuchini Bread and does the house still smell good!!! The zuchini is fresh from our garden and though it is Fall and the weather is getting cooler, we are still harvesting zuchini. Then I had to do those dishes and since it is a beautiful day here, I raked a few leaves. I didn't do the whole yard, as I couldn't rake for that long AND with the wind blowing at times, I don't know how long the leaves will stay put. We put our leaves along the curb in the front of the house. The city comes around and sucks them up, but not sure when they are coming around. I also put some leaves in our compost pile. They will break down quickly and make good soil.

I hope everyone has a nice week-end and has some time to relax, enjoy the fresh outdoor air, AND get some ink on your stamps! I know someone you know, could use some happy mail. And, too remember, this is Pastor Appreciation Month. . .did you stamp and give a card to your Pastor, Reverand, or Priest?

Till next time,
Inkyhive

Sympathy Card

Mr. Inky and I received some bad news Tuesday evening, our niece's husband, was killed by electrocution earlier in the day, while he was working. As you might think, it is quite a shock and once again we are faced with not knowing how many days any of us have. All day, yesterday, I was thinking of and praying for Michelle and her daughter and I can't begin to imagine what they are going through. Please pray for them and the family.

As you know it is always hard and sad to make and send Sympathy cards. This morning, this is what I came up with. The tree image is by CC Rubber and the verse is by AJ's Stampin. I colored the soil with my Copic marker and the sky and water is done by DTP (direct to paper) I used a cloud template for the clouds.

Thank you, for dropping in and I thank you, for your prayers.

hugs -n- Prayers,
Inkyhive

Spotlight

Do you ever do the spotlight technique? Do you only color one spot? Do you always use a circle? On this one, as you can see, I colored two spots and used a circle. Sometimes I use a square or even a puzzle piece punch. This image is my Magenta stamps.

I'd love to hear you answers and if you'd like I will post your spotlight card here, if you send it to me. Hoping you are enjoying this beautiful Fall weather and having time to get some ink on your fingers and paper!

hugs n Prayers,
Inkyhive

Sunrise

Greetings: Amy and I had a very nice visit on Wednesday. Though we didn't get a lot of cards made, we had lots of fun chatting, work on a dimensional (layered) card using Flower Soft and I stamped some images. Amy finished her dimensional card and I still need to complete it. We are hoping to have another visit, before the snow flies. No, we don't expect snow too early, but we need to find a day that works for both of us.

This barn image is one of Amy's (AJ's Country Stampin) stamp. I do so like doing scenic views. First, I did the sun, and then did the sky and then the ground. The scenic coloring was done by stippling. After, I did the coloring, I stamped the barn in gray and then stamped it on a piece of acetate and then placed it where I wanted it and pressed down, giving the shadow of the barn.


I hope you all have a nice week-end and have time to get some ink on your fingers and of course your stamps. Did you know that tomorrow is Boss's Day and this month is Pastor Appreciation month, as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Those are some good idea for making a card, if you don't have any birthday or thinking of you cards that need to be made and sent this month.

Thanks for stopping in. . .

Beautiful Fall Day

Greetings from beautiful NE Wisconsin. Though we have been having more "Indian Summer" weather, I decided to share this card with you. I so enjoy making cards, using stencils and embossing paste. The scan doesn't show it too well, but I also used crackle embossing paste this time. After the paste was dry, I then colored with my stencil brush and ink pads.


I so enjoy the season of Fall. . .with all the different colors and smells and all the great foods there are to eat this time of year. This year, it is a bit odd, for some trees are past the peak colors, others are so brillant with reds, oranges, and yellow leaves, some trees have lost all leaves AND yet, we still have some trees that are all green and full of leaves!

Thank you, for stopping in today. I hope you get a chance to make a card or two, this week. Tomorrow, I am going to visit my friend, Amy and hopefully while we chat we will get a couple of cards made or at least begun!!!

3 cards

No stamping today, busy running some errands and getting a perm. Here are a few cards, I have done recently. Thank you, for looking. Inkyhive

I'm back

Forgive me, for not posting on Monday or yesterday. Last week, I had a tooth break off at the gum line, thankfully no pain, but I had a dental appointment on Monday. AND thankfully they were able to extract the tooth then and not make me come back later in the day or some other time this week. I had to have x-rays and an exam, as it's been a little while since I was at the dentist AND because I have to take an antibiotic before dental appointments (because of my knee replacement), they took care of every thing right then.

Yesterday, I didn't do much, as I was pretty wiped out from the extraction. However, I was able to get this card made. Over, the summer, when my friend, Kathy was here, we took a class on coloring with Copic markers. I love to color and I am hooked on Copics!!! I apologize that the scan isn't better. I'm not good yet, with shading or blending, but I am having fun nonetheless.


Thank you, for taking a look. OH, did you get a chance to make at least one card last Saturday? World Card Making Day! I sure hope so.

May you have a wonderful day!
Inkyhive

Tomorrow is World Card Making Day

Can you believe it is already, October 1st??? Where has the year gone?!? Do you all know that tomorrow is World Card Making Day? Yes, it is. . .the first Saturday of October is the day we stampers, we card makers have a day just for us! I hope each and every one of you, have time or make a few minutes to get some ink on your fingers and make a card. Then on Monday, send it to someone who could use a smile and to know someone is thinking of them.

Here is a card, I put together this morning and wanted to share with you. Maybe, it will give you an idea, for a card to create.
May you have a wonderful week-end and talk to you again on Monday!
hugs and Prayers,
Inkyhive

Fall leaves. . .

I really like doing the Polish Stone Technique and I really, really like this stamp! This stamp is by Northwoods and a good friend of mine, gave it to me!!! Thank you, Kathy.

Do you like making Autumn cards? Do you like the polish stone technique? Have you given it a try?

Have some fun today and I hope you get some ink on your fingers!!!

hugs and Prayers,
Inkyhive

It's been a looonnnggg time!

I haven't blogged for almost a year and I am going to try my hand at it again! I have thought of blogging many times, but just never sat down and did it. I know a few people have asked me when I was going to post again, so. . .

Above is a card I just made this morning. Both stamps are sold by AJ's Country Stampn's and you can get then mounted or UM (unmounted) Thank you, for taking a look.

inky hugs,

Inkyhive