I am always looking for new ways to use the products that I already own, so I watch a lot of videos and visit a lot of blogs to soak in as many new techniques and new ideas as possible.  Every once in a while, I come across something that just wows me, and this technique did.  I love it!!! As soon as I was finished watching the video, I pulled out my supplies and made these Thank You cards. My mind is full of other ways to use this technique and the supplies, that I already have, that I can use to make them. 

​I believe in giving credit to those I learn from.  I found this video: Faux Textured Metal Paper on the Jennifer McGuire Ink blog (the link will take you to this specific video).   She has some great stuff, so check it out. 

​The general steps to make these cards are:

• ​Cut a front card panel, I cut mine at 5  X 3 3/4. This made my front panel 1/4 smaller on each side of a standard A2 size card front.
• Next, I used washi tape to mask off 1/4 in on each side of my front panel.
• Using Tim Holtz Distress Inks, I colored my front panel, blending the 3 different colors as I went.  I used Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, and Blueprint Sketch.
• Now for the Perfect Pearls, I used a dry brush, and  Forever Blue Perfect Pearls. On the video, Jennifer used a silver and copper color to make her cards have a metal look.  I did not have either of those, so I used blue, and still got a beautiful set of cards.  Then peal away the washi tape.
• Next, wipe the card panels down with a dry cloth. This "sets" the perfect pearls and wipes away any excess.
• Then, I cut a stitched circle (My Favorite Things) out of white cardstock and "Thank you"  (Stamps of Life) from silver cardstock, and embossed each of the  card panel using embossing folders that I had in my collection. (Dots on a Line by Sizzix, and Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes by Provo Craft).
• To finish the cards off, I used some silver twine and silver sequins (both by Stamps of Life), attached the die cuts using some foam tape, then attached the card panels on a standard A2 size card base.

​I really, really love these cards and this technique.  I have a feeling that I am going to use this over and over again.  It is so beautiful and could be used with any color combination or for any type of card.

Materials Used:
​Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, and Blueprint Sketch
​Perfect Pearls: Forever Blue
​Stamps of Life: "Thank You" die, silver twine, silver sequins
​My Favorite Things: Stitched Stackable Circles
​Cardstock: Recollections

Challenges Entered:
Pause Dream Enjoy
​Glitter 'N' Sparkle
Cupcake Inspirations
Come and Get It
​Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends
​Pile it On
Crafting by Designs
​If You Give a Crafter a Cookie​
Simon Says​

I have had a lot of fun decorating my new house.  My kitchen/dinning room is done in Grey, Yellow, and White.  I love the color combination, and already had a lot of items to hang on the walls. In my new house, I found that I have more wall space than I had in my old house, so I decided to make some new things to add more color. I found some big canvas' on sale at Hobby Lobby, then cut out the words "You Are My Sunshine" using my cricut and some vinyl.  Next, I taped off the sun and rays using some washi tape and painted them yellow.  Then I used the negative space as stencils to paint the words grey.  Once it all dried, I removed all the tape/washi tape...then it was put up on my wall.  I really love how it turned out and am looking forward to making more.

So, my son and I have made our move to Cedar Park, and have been in our new home for a couple of weeks now. I was really nervous about moving so far away from my family, but I have grown to be very comfortable in our house in a very short time.  My son has already found a new "best friend," they have been become fast friends. I have been working on getting all of our things unpacked and making our house feel like a home.  The last room that I was able to unpack was my craft room, but once I got it all set up, I started to craft.  It felt like it had been years since I was able to create something new.  

​I started with a scrapbook page of some pictures I took of my cousin Mollie.  She is such a pretty and smart girl...very natural, so I wanted the page to have a natural look as well.  This was the first time that I used texture paste, and I have to say...I am in love.  I was able to use my distress inks to give the paste a light pink color, which fit in with the flowers on the pattern paper and the flowers on her dress.  I also had some cream color ribbon that I knew I wanted to use, along with some wood shapes.  I really love how the page turned out.

​Check out the pictures from this quick and fun photo shoot below.  Mollie is so easy to photograph. 

I am excited to announce that my son and I are moving to Cedar Park, which is North Austin.  I have always lived in the North and East Texas parts of the state, but I am looking forward to this new adventure.  The past year to year and a half, have been the most challenging of my life.  I had to give up a job, that I loved, in the Education department of the Texas State Historical Association. I didn't think I was going to find another job, as the summer was going by so fast. Finally, two weeks before school started I was offered a job teaching US History and to be the varsity assistant cheer coach at Allen High School. Then, right after school started, I separated and eventually divorced by husband of almost 10 years.  So, to say that I have had a lot of stress in my life would be an understatement.

​Then came the opportunity of a lifetime.  I have worked seasonally for a Showtime International.  It is a dance/drill team company that hosts dance competitions and summer officer and line leadership camps.  My boss, made me an offer to move to the Austin area and work for her full time.  I can not think of a better job for me.  I have already worked for Showtime for 13 years, and am looking forward to and am grateful for this chance.

​My son and I drove down to Cedar Park, last weekend and found the perfect house.  I have been waiting patiently all weekend, and finally received the lease today. So, after a year of stress, heartache, change that I didn't necessarily want, and worry, I feel that things are looking up and are heading in the right direction.  We are planning to move toward the end of June, and are looking forward to the adventure!

I LOVE this card so much.  I wish I could take complete credit for this card, but I can't. I got the idea from someone else, a year ago (sorry, I can't remember which blog I found it on), but just now had the chance to blog about it.  I used 3 different stamp sets from Lawn Fawn, some foam tape, a transparency sheet, Distress Inks, Spectrum Noir Markers, and cardstock to make this fantastic box card.

​To make the card, I used the same method that you would use to make a traditional box card.  The difference is that I cut out the front of the box, replacing it with a transparency sheet, then used brown cardstock, to make the "middle insert" piece. Then it was as easy as stamping my little fish friends, coloring them, an setting the scene. To put the "box card" in an envelope, you just press it down, and it folds over, just like a traditional box card.  I will admit, I tried to make an A2 size card at first, but all the pieces just didn't fit very well, so I increased the size.  When flattened, this card fits in to a 5X7 envelope perfectly, though it does have a little bulk to it.   You can see the thickness of the project, in the images below.

I hope you enjoy and that this inspires you to create something fantastic!

I know most people who come across my blog are here for the crafts, cards, and scrapbook pages, but I wanted to take some time to talk (once again) about my favorite high school drill team,.  The Quinlan-Ford High School Blue Belles have been a huge part of my life, and our family.  It started in the mid-70's when my mother's cousin joined the fairly new team, then in the early 90's one of my cousins joined.  After that, there has been a succession of girls from my family who have joined and learned valuable life skills.  We joke all the time that we have formed a "Legacy," and that may partly be true.  We have a current Belle, and a fresh new group of Baby Belles waiting in the wings.  I love that so many of us can share this experience and have a bond that goes right along with our family ties.

On April 23, 2016, a lot of us were able to get together and perform as Alumni in this year's Spring Show.  It was really fantastic to get to dance with my Belle Sisters, many of them being family.  Of course, we were there to cheer on and watch Mollie perform as well, and as a bonus the Baby Belles performed too.  It was a true family event for us to enjoy!