Sneak Peeking a CDS Card Done w/ My Illustration! ;)

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Hello Everyone!

This is a pre-scheduled post because I am in the hospital.

I wouldn't let a little thing like surgery keep me from doing my sneak! LOL!

This cute little "Pansy Bunny" stamp is due to hit the Clear Dollar Stamps store on June 1st.

YOURS TRULY is the illustrator! I am having so much fun doing illustrations. It is so cool seeing other people playing with my images! Tehehehe!

Makes me giddy!  ;)

That beautiful ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbons.The ones I used on this card are Lavender and Olive wrinkled ribbon in the 1/2" width.

I used both ribbons and 2 loops in my Bow-Easy to create the bow.

Other DT's who are showing this stamp off are:

Kim Teasdale

Laurie Wilson

Katie Renz

Sarah Gilreath

Rebecca Ednie

Candy Fosta

Please visit Lori's blog: Clearly iStamp to see a list of all of the other sneaks the awesome DT girls have for you this month!

If you have not signed up for my Mega Multi Company Blog Candy....What are you waiting for? LOL!

Card Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: Pansy Bunny

CS/PAPERS: Bazzill Swiss Dots: Irish Eyes, Clover, and Berry Pretty. Bo Bunny: Sun Wash Calico

INK: Staz-On: Jet Black, Color Box cat's Eyes in: Amber Clay and Warm Violet

MARKERS: Tombos: 676, 606, 725, 746, 947, 055, 098, 879

ACCENTS/TOOLS: Green and lt. purple ribbons, Bow-easy, purple, half gems, Wizard w/ rectangle and scalloped oval Nesties, VersaMark refill, clear embossing powder, heat gun, old paintbrush, Stampin' Up's scalloped boarder punch, tiny hole punch, water brush, glue

COLORING: Water coloring with Tombos

TECHNIQUES: Dry embossing, heat embossing, water coloring, stamping

I appreciate you dropping by. Please keep me in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

A comment would be sweet too!  ;)

Hugs,

True :D

Posting a Thank You for a gift that I received awhile back.

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Hello All!

Way back in January of this year I participated in a wonderful blog hop event called "One World One Heart".

I was blessed to have been chosen the winner of about a dozen different and I might say AMAZING blog candies. I posted a Thank You as a group after I had received the majority of them. There were a couple that came later and I fully intended on posting Thanks but between health, family health, bum computer and a horrible ISP email issue, I wasn't able to post at the time I received it.

Better late then never I say...LOL!

This painting is entitled "Invoking Clarity" and was created by the super talented Carol Wiebe.

The pictures are great but the still don't do it justice!

I feel so lucky to be the recipient of this thought wonderful piece!

Thanks so much Carol! I think of your talent and generosity every time I look at it!

I hope you will head on over to Carols blog and take a peek at more of her amazing artwork.

Hugs,

True :D

Wired Ribbon Rose Video Tutorial by: True :D

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Hello!

I did this tutorial for the Really Reasonable Ramblings blog but I thought I would post it here too.

Today I am going to show you how to make a quick and easy rose out of wired ribbon.

Don't laugh at the video...it was my first attempt!

I will get better with practice...I hope! LOL!

You can use the rose on any project but I used an empty coffee can. 

It can now be used for a gift box or a trinket tin. You could also do a new, full can as a sweet gift. Wouldn't that be a great disguise for instant coffee setting on someone's desk?

It has a red lid so that kind of dictated my color scheme.

The red glitter paper was purchased at Hobby Lobby and is by Craft n Craftin. It is Wine Red glitter cardstock. The DP is a scrap piece that I can not remember who makes. If you recognize it, please let me know. I wanted to tie the rest of the can in with the rose so I added the same Wired Sheer Iridescent Red/Purple, and Moss Green organzas to the sides. Of course you know that the ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbons!

 I ran them through some pearl ribbon slides. I also added a pearl hat pin to the rose so it can be worn as a corsage if the receiver so chooses.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.

Please leave a comment and let us know if you found this helpful.

Thanks and Hugs,

True D:

Got another minute or two to surf?  Head on over to Really Reasonable Ramblings and see what the other girls have been up to.
Make sure and leave a comment on my tutorial there too! *wink* *wink*

"Buttons and Bows Flowers" ~ A 3 design team card and a SCS challenge

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Happy Friday!

Today I wanted to play along with the girls over at Splitcoast Stampers.

Today's Friday Free 4 All challenge #F4A13 is to use buttons and or bows.

I had these wonderful flower buttons in my stash for years and thought they would look great with my Lime Green Leaves trim from Really Reasonable Ribbons. That pretty purple bow is from their Purple Organza.

The sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps "Heartfelt Sentiments" set.

Lastly but not leastly...LOL!

That fabulous paper is from the "True's Favorites" package that is on sale at The Paper Temptress this month. It is made up of my pick of the cardstocks I use the most!

The colors used on this card are :

Fairway mica/metallic

Amethyst mica/ metallic

Heavenly White

Thanks again for dropping by!

Please take a second to let me know you were here by leaving a comment.

Hugs,

True :D

"Sweet Strawberry" Card and a Dozen Challenges!

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Remember...you can click on any image to enlarge!

Hi everyone!

Did the picture of that mouth watering strawberry get your attention? LOL!

Today's card was made with this month's digi freebie "Little Strawberry" from Clear Dollar Stamps.

They have started selling digis too for those of us who just have to have an image NOW! tehehe!

I will be having some illustrations in there soon but this one was done by the wonderfully talented Laurie Wilson. The birthday sentiment in the lower corner is from the "Heartfelt Sentiments" set.

I have a little secret...If you heat set the image before you color it, the ink doesn't smear. It works for water based and alcohol based. How do I know this you ask....

I don't have a big assortment of either Copics or Tombows and I had the perfect colors of red in Tombows but not greens. My fix was to break out with the Copics for the leaves. I guess you could say that this is some hybrid coloring! LOL!

The "Cherry Go Round" cardstock and bow are from CDS Clearly Coordinating line.

Another little secret...I didn't have the perfect color of designer paper either so I made my own with the same markers that I used for the image, on Premium Heavy Weight cardstock. I chose stripes so I could play along with a challenge that asked us to incorporate stripes. The green is also white cardstock with Copic greens added. 

I also made a matching bookmark to enter another challenge. Actually, just about every detail of this card was dictated by one of the dozen challenges I am entering it in!

Here is the list of challenges I am entering this card in...

Clearly Inspired ~ Flowers

Do strawberry blossoms count? I am a DT anyhow so I am really just playing along.

Charisma Cardz ~ 3D

Popped the card, popped the image.

C.R.A.F.T. ~ Birthday or Celebration

Birthday

One Stop ~ Summer Breeze

Summer colors and strawberries

All Sorts ~ Birthday

Birthday

Sweet Stampin' ~ Get Personal

For a sweet friend

Corrosive ~ Easel Card

It is!

Crafty Angels ~ Ripping and Tearing

Ripped the lower right corner.

Stamp With Fun ~ Stripes

Made my own stripe designer paper.

Creative Inspirations ~ Punches or Die Cuts

Die cut the image and frame

Project Tuesday ~ Card w/ Matching Bookmark

Made a bookmark!

ABC ~ "U" is for Unused Stash

Used the Kraft cardstock I bought but never use!

Card Recipe:

CDS STAMPS USED: Little Strawberry digi, and Heartfelt Sentiments
CS/PAPERS: Clear Dollar Stamps "Cherry Go Round", and white, Flourishes Kraft
INK: ink jet and Staz-On
MARKERS: Tombows 847,856,992 and Copics C1, Y11, YG67, YR04, C5, G21, Y08. Also Color Box Creamy brown
ACCENTS/TOOLS: Wizard, round and scalloped round Nestabilities, sewing machine with tan thread, extra thick embossing powder, Versa-mark refill, heat gun. Yellow Stickles, distressing tool, tiny hole punch
COLORING: watercoloring with Tombows and alcohol ink
TECHNIQUES: embossing, heat embossing, tearring, distressing, watercoloring, sewing, 3D, popping, easel card.

Thanks again for dropping by!
I would love it if you were "berry sweet" and left me a comment!
Hugs,
True :D

Mega Multi Company Blog Candy Teaser!

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Hello All!

Just thought I would give you a little heads up on a blog candy that I will be posting next week.

I will be in the hospital for about 5-6 days for surgery and recovery. Many of my design teams, past and present, have donated gifts to be given as blog candy after I return home and feel up to blogging. I will be throwing in some stuff from me too!

I won't show you what will be in the MEGA Candy package right now, but I can show you where some of the prizes will come from...

Thanks to all of my sponsors!

This is going to be so much fun!

Come back on the 26th to enter.

You can leave a comment on this post if you would like, but to enter, you will need to come back and do the 3 simple steps to be included in the draw.

Hope you are as excited as I am!

Hugs,

True :D

CAS "Thank You" Card

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Hello!

Sometimes you need a card quick but just can't bring yourself to go buy an impersonal store-bought card.

Or perhaps you are a beginner or want to craft with a kid. CAS  (Clean And Simple) are great for these occations! Although I usually do detailed cards with lots of coloring and "stuff", I like CAS too.

I created this card for "Really Reasonable Ribbon" It only took a 5" piece of this pretty "Funky Pink and Brown Vertical Stripe" ribbon.  that is part of this months Ribbon Club set. This ribbon is only .25 cents a yard so the piece on this card only costs about .04 cents. Not too shabby for a focal point! You could do a gift set of these for a very nice gift without spending hardly anything!

I picked my ribbon first the found 2 pieces of scrap paper that matched. Not a bad way to use up small pieces either! These pieces are from The Paper Temptress out of their "True's Favorites" package that I got to pick! It is on sale now for 20% off. The colors are Cappuccino Mica Metallic and Mountain Rose Glimmer. The card base is their Heavenly White.

The scallops were done with Stampin'Up's scallop punch and the Cappuccino CD was embossed with Cuttlebug Dots folder. Add a Prima flower and a pretty button and viola! A beautiful card in about 15 minutes! I also added a Flourishes sentiment from their "Thankful Hearts" set.

Click on the picture for a close up look at that pretty ribbon and cardstock!

Thanks for dropping by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I would love to see a comment from you!
You can also head on over to our Really Reasonable Ramblings blog and see what the other girls have been up to lately.

Hugs,

True :D

Another Card Made With "My Bird-day Hi!" illustration from CDS

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Hi Everyone,

I have done another coloring tutorial for Clear Dollar Stamps. I used the "Bird-day Hi!" stamp that I illustrated and Tombow markers. If you would like to check out the tutorial, you can see it on the "Clearly iStamp" blog.

You can also check out the awesome "Clearly Coordinating Collection" cardstock, markers, and ribbons that I used to make this card. You are gonna love 'em!

Here are some finished pictures of my tutorial card.

If you like it...please leave a comment ~ I adore them!

If you go check out my tutorial, please leave a comment there too and let us know if you found it helpful.

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Hugs,

True :D

" Beautiful Pansy Cup" and a Big Beautiful Bow!

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Hello!

On my last post, I challenged myself not to use ribbons or bows. OK...enough of that craziness! LOL!

Today's card is done with elements from 3 of my different Design Teams (past or present)

This "Favorite Flowers" image is from Fred She Said who I had the honor of DTing for quite awhile back. I still LOVE Tracey's images! This one comes colored or not. (2 different sets purchased separately) I chose to color it myself so I could match the image to the AWESOME ribbon I wanted to use.

About that AWESOME  ribbon...It is from one of my newer design teams, Really Reasonable Ribbon. They have the most beautiful selection of ribbons, trims, and embellishments! I chose to use the new Wired Solid Iridescent Blue/Violet and the Royal Blue Swirls Organza. See what I mean about how I matched the image to the ribbon? Thank goodness for watercolors. You can mix the colors for a perfect match!

I used extra thick clear embossing powder on the cup to give it some shine and depth to make it look real.

On to my 3rd DT that was incorporated into this card. My Dear Friend Patricia @ The Paper Temptress had me pick papers for a package that she is featuring this month. It is called "True's Favorites" and right now, she is offering it for 20% off! You get 20 sheets (2 of a couple of colors) for $13.19! reg. $16.49! 

Still not convinced to give it a try? Click on the picture of my swatches to enlarge and look at all of that sparkle! That is why they are my faves!!!

I even got to design the label for the packaging! Tehehe!

The colors used from my collection for today's card are Fairway mica metallic, Amethyst mica metallic, and Heavenly White.

Thanks again for dropping by!

Hope you will leave me a little love (comment)  :D

Hugs,

True :D

Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop with my very first Magnolia!

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Hello, and welcome to another installation of the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog hop!

We had so much fun with our first hop a few weeks ago, introducing the new Design Team, that we wanted to do another one. Actually, we have decided to do one on the 13th of every month! Each month, the winner of the draw will receive the "Ribbon of The Month" package from RRR.

If you came here from Kerri's beautiful  blog, you are in the right place!

If you just stumbled in, head on over to Bonnie's "Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings" blog to read the rules and start at the beginning.

OK...it's official...I have colored my very first Magnolia image! A friend gave this one to me quite awhile back and I never inked it up. Shame on me! I have redeemed myself now though! LOL!

I look back at my last several (dozen) cards and see a pattern. I LOVE ribbons and bows and love to use them....a lot!

I challenged myself to not use  ribbons or bows on this card. Bad timing for a Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop you say!!  I think not!!!! They have a wonderful assortment of other items too. On this card I used their .25 cents a yard "Light Pink Mini Ric Rac"  and my new all time favorite trim... "Moss Green Leaves".

Busted! I caught you looking for the leaf trim...didn't I? I forgot to tell you that my favorite way to use it is all cut up!

It makes wonderful shimmery leaves for flowers! And at only .80 cents a yard, it makes a lot inexpensive leaf accents!

This is the first time I have used flowers from "Wild Orchid Crafts" and I LOVE them!

The card base is Bazzill Salt Swiss Dots. The rest of the CS and the DP are "Stampin'Up".

The image was colored with Copics and paper pieced.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Fun With Shapes ~ "Pastel Inks"
Stamp Something ~ "Birthday Somethings" (Explanation...My camera pooped out on me before I got to shoot the inside. I will try to load a picture later. The inside sentiment reads "I hope you are surrounded by the ones you love and all things beautiful on your  birthday!"
Cupcake Craft ~ "Buttons"
Sweet Stampin ~ "Color Combo"

The Pink Elephant ~ "Yellow, Designer Paper, and Buttons"

Roses on Paper ~ "Pink, Yellow, and Orange

Kaboodle ~ "Spring"

My Time to Craft ~ "Tooo Cute"

Creative Card Crew ~ this "Sketch"

Little Red Wagon ~ "Brads"

The Pixie Cottage ~ "Sketch"

Paper Play ~"Stamp/digi with some bling!

Thanks again for checking in on me! I would love it if you took a second or two to spread a little comment lovin' my way!

Now head on over to your next stop @ Cheryl's blog to see her Sweet Designs! 


Hugs,
True :D

Another Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop is coming May 13th!

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Thursday, May 13th

Hope You will Join us!

Check back here for the details!

 Visit our blog.

Go shopping here.

Hugs,

True :D

Happy Mother's Day to Me! :)

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Happy Mother's Day!

My son Kurt, and his finance Kristin, are coming down to visit today!

They are some really awesome kids! Love them both to pieces!

But...yesterday the UPS man rang the doorbell and I had not ordered anything that I could remember.

He gave me a box marked "Sharis Berries" and this is what was inside....

They are delectable and  HUGE!!!

There was also a package of the creamiest chocolate fudge I have ever tasted!

I am one spoiled momma!

I should have followed the instructions on the box though...LOL!!!

Just kidding...I love to share!

I hope all of your Mother's Day's are as sweet as mine!

Kurt and Kristin, if you read my blog today....I LOVE YOU!

Hugs,

True :D

Mom's just Peachy! card

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Hello!

Hope your Mother's Day weekend is off to a good start!

My card today features a couple of different DT elements. I am a guest DT over @ "I Brake For Stamps"  this month and used the peach image  from their wonderful  MS71 Full Plate. It is just one of several images on this set. Here is a "Cherry Pie" card that I made with this same set also. If you go shopping @ "I Brake For Stamps", make sure and use coupon code SAVE10True to save 10% off of your entire order!

Like I told Della, the owner, it is funny how you can look at a stamp and think "Oh, that is nice" but then you add color and just fall in love with it! There is just something about seeing images in color that really shows off the stamp. I guess that is the reason stamp companies have us Design Team girls! LOL!

I used watercolors to paint the image then some UTEE to give the peach half some "juice".  :)

Remember, You can click on the pictures to enlarge for better detail.

The other DT element I used is that BEAUTIFUL Moss Swirls ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I also used the Bow-easy that Bonnie sent me with my 1st DT package to make that perfect bow!

I thought I would try something different instead of just running my ribbon down the card. I punched holes then weaved the ribbon through the card front. It was fun and I think it looks pretty cool!

The papers are Bazzill and a piece of stash that I don't have the name of. Sorry!

I came up with the sentiment and did it in Photo Shop, then printed it off with my computer.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers ~ Mother's Day

Stampin B's ~ Botanical

I actually made two of these cards. One for my mom and one for my mother-in-law. I hope they like them!

I would like to wish all of the Mom's out there a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I would love it if you would leave a comment...you could call it my Mother's Day gift from you!  ;)

Hugs,

True :D

"Birdie, Buttons, and Bow"

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Hi!

Today I played with the girls over @ SCS "Free For All" challenge #F4A11, which was to use gel pens on your project.

I used the "Bird-day Hi!" stamp that was illustrated by.....ME!!!  ;) You can see the entire set HERE at Clear Dollar Stamps. I doodled the background, the flowers and on the bird with my Sakura Gelly-roll pens. 

The cardstock is all from The Paper Temptress. The colors are: Neenah Solar White, Azalea Mica Metallic, Fairway Mica Metallic, and Amethyst Mica Metallic. 

The beautiful ribbon is sheer iridescent green/fuchsia that is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. I used my Bow-easy to tie that perfect double bow. I just Love that thing!!! The pretty handmade buttons are also from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Please leave a comment if you have a second or two!

Hugs,

True :D

And the winner of my blog hop candy is.....

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Sarah!

Congrats!

Please email me with your snail mail addy and I will get it going your way.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to visit and comment. I feel like I have made lots of online friends!

You all ROCK!!!!!

Hugs,

True :D

And the winners of my CardMaker mag. subscriptions and Simon Says Stamps sets are.......

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Rhonda Miller ~ Current follower

Thea ~ New follower

Congratulations girls!

Email me your snail mail addys and I will get the ball rolling on your prizes!

Thanks to all of my followers, old and new! I appreciate every single comment you have left. Your visits are the reason my blogging is worthwhile.

I wish you could all have won! Maybe next time!
To see the original post...click here.

Hugs,

True :D

"Really Reasonable Ribbon" blog hop and some candy!!!

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This candy is now closed.

Hello again!

Welcome to the "Really Reasonable Ribbon" blog hop!

If you are looking for the "Prairie Fairy" and "The Paper Temptress" blog hop, scroll down to the next post.

(but come back here when you are done!)

.

This is the second hop of the day that I am involved in. Boy have I been a busy girl!  :)

If you came here from Kerri's beautiful  blog, you are in the right place!

If you just stumbled in, head on over to Bonnie's "Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings" blog to read the rules and start at the beginning. She is giving away an awesome assortment of ribbons that you won't want to miss a chance at!

This hop is to celebrate "National Scrapbook Day" and to announce their new design team! 

Guess what......I am one of the lucky girls to have been chosen to be on it!!!! Wooohooo!

When I say lucky, I mean lucky! Just look at my May DT kit! There are about 60 yards of beautiful ribbons, buttons and my brand new favorite crafting tool, the Bow-Easy. I feel spoiled rotten but can't wait to see what Bonnie sends me next month! tehehehe!

Have you ever seen prettier organza? I think not! LOL!

I had such trouble trying to figure out which of my beautiful new ribbons to use for this hop! So....I used several! 

Remember, you can click on any picture to enlarge for a better view.

 

The bows were all tied with the Bow-easy so they are all exactly the same size.

The ribbons I used are:

Sheer Iridescent Parrot Green, Sheer Iridescent Peach, and Sheer Iridescent Light Blue

all from "Really Reasonable Ribbon".

The stamp is by Penny Black and is called "Garden Poems"

I kept the card mostly white to focus on the flowers and that pretty pretty ribbon. Just added a touch of color with some crazy stitching and a little sponging on the sentiment. I embossed the background cardstock with my Cuttlebug and folder, added a sparky rhinestone to the bow and a couple of glitter brads on the sentiment. I think these would be considered CAS (Clean and Simple) cards.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday ~ "Sew Special"
Cupcake Craft ~ "Don't be Square"
Paper Play ~ "Pretty Pastels

I am also giving away some comment candy for one lucky person who comments on either blog hop that I have going on. It is a big set of pretty glitters, a couple of jars of shaped glitters and lots and lot of ribbons.

To win, you must be, or become a follower and comment on one or both blog hops. Both gets you 2 chances. Want a third chance? Put a picture of my candy on your sidebar with a link back to my blog then come back here and let me know you have done it. ;)

Thanks so much for hopping by and playing along with us!

Now head on over to your next stop @ Cheryl's blog to see her Sweet Designs! 

Hugs,

True :D