A LOVE card

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I thought it is the perfect time to share a LOVE card. I submitted this card for CARDS Challenge. You can see my card featured in brads/buttons/bling Challenge. Would you like to have your card featured in CREATE blog by Northridge Publishing!? The next challenge is calling for "punches". It's not too late to send in your cards (details here).

Supplies: Remember (Hero Arts), (sentiment) SRM Stickers

Lastly, did you know there is a new challenge blog in town? It's called Time Out Challenge (hosted by two lovely and talented blog friends Nonni and Sandie)
 
 There is a DT call going on! I know it's going to be awesome!
If you are interested, here is the detail!  

 Thanks for stopping by!

(Last) Paint Chip Card!

I just want to thank you for showing interest in my paint chip creations in the last few months. Today's card is my last installment of this series. And of course, if I come up with more ideas with paint chips, I will continue to share here.

I am entering Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge (details here) 
ANYTHING GOES WITH TWINE OR STRING

Supplies: Across the Card (Neat and Tangled), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), border punch, gold strings, sequins, gold embossing powder (Michael's), Corner Squeeze (Fiskar)

 I enjoy using the paint chips and creating them with my own stamps and supplies. A little gold embossing goes a long way.

 Most crafters are pretty frugal like me...well, we kind of have to! Since there are all sorts of NEW supplies that we want to buy, why spend money when you can salvage/take advantage of the free ordinary items?
As we draw the series to an end, let's continue to find other great ways in using existing supplies and turn them into something magical. It's part of the beauty in creating! Thanks for stopping by

P.S.  Dr. John: "I heard a sigh of relief from Home Depot."

Little Birdie in the Woods...

I am sharing a card I made last Saturday. It took me about 45 mins to make the wood/ wood-grain themed challenge. I spent at least 5 minutes cleaning the stained Wood Background...Finally I decided that only embossing can solve the problem. It will avoid the unwanted color stains. So that's how I started and came up with the design.

 

 First, I did some masking (with the help of Washi Tape to cover up the birdie) and stamped a few branches and at the end, I colored the birdie with red Marvey Marker and stamped the the branches in green--all in one stamp. Add the SRM Sticker (sentiment), strings, and heart pearl--done!

We have been having tons of  snow lately. I am longing to hear the birdies chirping and seeing them flying about in my woods. This card kind of helps me to think about Spring.

Lastly, I am sharing a few fun behind the scene photos from our Panama Cruise. I take pride in sharing these not-so-perfect photos.
 
My son David helped me take photos of my pet cat Alexia

 Can you spot David?

A silly photo that David took in Aruba's rest stop/gift shop

 We love taking stalker photos...

 Dr. John-walking on the beach

 

walking about in the rain forest, Costa Rica

Dr. John--almost stuck in Nicaragua (peaking through the gate as we left the cruise ship).
I hope these photos make you smile :)

Thanks for stopping by!

FUSION Challenge #2

This is my 2nd post today. For Fresh Squeezed Stamps post, please click here.
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 I am popping in with a card for Fusion Card Challenge

I took this chance to use a brand new set of stamps. This amazing set was designed by my uber talented blog friend/team mate over Runway Inspired Challenge Tasnim Ahmed. I was so surprised to receive this stamp set in the mail....and at the time, I didn't even know that it was designed by Tasnim! And boy, after cracking it open, I felt that Tasnim has definitely kicked up the stamp design into a new level. The details and depth from the stamp designs are amazing. You feel like a PRO after inking it up. Check out the Rose that I stamped...and you'll see what I mean.
At the bottom, I had layered two piece of vellum and silk grey ribbons.

 This gorgeous stamp set doesn't even have a name and is still being fine-tuned! Knowing Tasnim, I believe this set is going to ROCK! I will be the first to line up to buy it! Please stay tuned about her release of stamp sets! I am not done with playing with this stamp set!

Here is a sneak peek!

I hope to show you more shades and colors of the roses later in my blog.
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Fresh Squeezed Stamps (Monday's Post)

Happy Monday! It's my usual post over Fresh Squeezed Stamps. I am sharing a birthday card that I made recently.

For the details about this card, please check it out over Fresh Squeezed Stamps.
I would love to have your feedback there. The comment feature in this post has been turned off. Thanks for stopping by!

CASE Study #175

  If you are here for the Hero Hostess Blog Hop (sponsored by Hero Arts), please click here
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Hello, friends! It's another week of inspiring work from my lovely friend Donna M. over CASE Study #175. Previously, I had done some CASing of Donna's work (my two attempts--see here and here). Today I am taking this wonderful chance to stretch myself and channeling my inner Donna.

Here is my take

Supplies: Tweed Pattern (Hero Arts), sentiment from Love Notes and arrow Diecut (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps), Basic grey paper, Glossy Accent, ware-coloring pencils, gold embossing powder

 Donna's cards are generally full of happy bright colors and they are infused with a touch of chic. That's the direction that I was going for....
 I thought it would be fun to have my card posing with the souvenir I got from the market in Aruba. They are both colorful and seem to be made for each other!?

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. Your comments always make me smile:)

Hero Hostess Blog Hop

Welcome to the Hero Arts Hostess Hop, featuring fabulous stamps from the new 2014 release! If you’ve been following along, you’ve just arrived from Hero Arts Club Blog!

About this blog hop: 

Hero Arts will be awarding prizes from randomly drawn comments. For a chance to win, simply comment on ANY of the stops along the hop on ANY day, including each day’s starting post at the Hero Arts Club Blog. The more comments you leave, the better your chance of winning!

Here are my takes on some of the new fabulous stamps. Let's get started!

1st card: FYI, you rock:)

Supplies: LOL(CL7373),  paint chip (Lowe's), Crate paper, sequins, embossing powder (detailed, white) 

Special features: I used the FREE and durable paint chip/paint swatches as the base for the white-embossed iPhone image. It gives the "screen" a lovely gradient of colors without the extra work! 

  2nd card: #you mean so much to me

 

Supplies:  LOL,  CL 651 My Favorite , Tweed Pattern , Roma Background,  Shadow Inks ( Navy, Pale Tomato, Butter Bar, Cup o Joe), Clear embossing Powder (Recollections), Glossy Accent (Ranger), gems

Special features: this one layer card was first inked in Navy, then kissed the Tweed Pattern and then stamped. After that, it was clear-embossed over the image to give an extra shine. With masking, Roma Background was stamped. Add sentiment (# hashtag can be hand-drawn) and speech bubbles. Apply gems and Glossy Accent, let dry.

3nd card-you're in my thoughts

 

 Supplies: Painted Poppy (G5906),  Poppy in Wind (G5905) , sentiment Forever (AC 037), ribbons (American Crafts), sequins, Hero Arts Inks (Pale Tomato, Butter Bar, Raspberry, Soft Cantaloupe), TH Distress Ink (Ripe Persimmon, Spun sugar, Worn Lipstick, Mowed Lawn), Marvey Marker (dark green), Liquid Perfect Pearl  

Special features: To create the different shades and depth of the flowers, stamp the flowers multiple times in various inks and shades. A gadget like Stamp Positioner will help, but I managed it without using one (I used an L shape toy instead, see here)

4th (last) card: That's a Smile!

 

 (the cutie pie in the photo is my grand-niece-my nephew's daughter)

Supplies: Looks Good (CL749), Hero Arts Shadow Ink (Pale Tomato), embossing powder (detailed, fine, white), Embellishments (Fancy Pants), staples (making Memories), button and string

Special features: This set "Looks Good" is perfect for a photo card. By using a cute photo and some ready-made embellishments, this card was super easy to create! Other than cards, you can even create a scrapbook layout or a personalized picture frame with multiple photos!

 Well, that's it! I hope you get some ideas and inspiration from my humble post. I am so proud to be part of this blog hop. 

Big thanks to Hero Arts for giving us hostesses a chance to showcase these awesome stamps! 

Today is the LAST day of the hop. If you find a broken link, you'll find a master list of the hop links at the Hero Arts Club Blog. Your next stop on the Hero Arts Hostess Blog Hop is my lovely and talented friend Linda Wetterlin.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy hopping! 

Blessings

I am sharing a card that I made with some new toys and some oldies...

 

New (to me): stencil (Night Flower), Handwritten Sentiments (Simon Says Stamps)
Old:  Etched Daisy (Hero Arts)

And speaking of "blessings" (from the sentiment), these photos reminded me of all the blessings...

spending time with my love ones

 yummy cruise food

Lastly here is what's coming up...

I will be back on Jan. 24, Friday at  10 am Eastern Time with the Hero Arts Hostess Blog Hop! Start hopping here if you haven't (lots of prized are being offered!)!
NEW stamps, NEW project...lots of fun! Please be sure to stop by.

Runway Inspired Challenge # 52

Hello gorgeous!

 

 

Welcome to the latest Runway Inspired Challenge! Do you love that dress!? Oh my! I absolutely love the flora pattern and soft colors. I decided to do some simple stamping for this challenge. Here is what I came up with.
This stamp set Beautiful Blooms (PTI) are perfect for simple stamping. This card is pretty self- explanatory. Sometimes I think sticking with the basics is a good idea!

Please check out my super talented team mate's work (see here). You will love what you see!

 Aga / Jennifer/ Joni / Kristen / Mayuri / Taheerah/ Tasnim/ Pamela/ me (Virginia)

Thanks for stopping by!

Fresh Squeezed Stamps (Monday's Post)

Hello! Today's my usual Monday post over Fresh Squeezed Stamps.  I absolutely love the sentiment "you make my heart happy". It prompted me to create this happy card.

I combined all my favorite things for card-making--gold embossing, water-coloring, paint splatter, gold strings and sequins!

For all the details about this card, please head over Fresh Squeezed Stamps. 

The comment features in this post has been turned off. 

Please leave me your feedback over Fresh Squeezed Stamps if you like.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

edited: What makes my heart happy (in case you are curious). 
I have 3 F---> friends (like you and in real life), family....and food-in no particular order.

Travel Photos!

Happy Sunday, my friends! 

In the midst of winter, we crave for warm temperatures, lovely breezes and beautiful sunshine! Well, look no further, I have brought some of these back for you from my Panama Canal cruise.

Here are the BEST pictures from the entire trip. Enjoy!

 White sandy beach in Aruba

 Baby Natural Bridge in Aruba

Folk Dance in Columbia

 Panama Canal (view from the cruise ship)

 Panama Canal

 Panama Canal 

 Tropical flowers in Costa Rica

 Scrumptious lunch in Costa Rica ( BEST pineapples!!)

Evening beach scene in Costa Rica

 

Cabo San Lucas

 Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas

My family--in our last stop at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Thanks for stopping by!