The Queen of "Cut & Pops"

Happy Friday everyone! I know ya'll love the weekends as much as I do! Yes, once again it is after midnight and I am typing this (crazy, you're thinking, uhhuh...come on & admit it)!! I knew I wouldn't have time in the morning to get it done and then I'd stress because I really wanted to get it done--lol!

I have 2 cards for ya today, both of which I made yesterday. I actually made 4 cards yesterday, that's a record for me! It usually takes me between 2 & 4 hours to complete 1 card--I'm pretty slow I guess, how about you? But that includes figuring out what I want to do, products I want to use and playing around with the layout until I like it--I'm pretty meticulous and somewhat of a perfectionist so that always makes it more difficult. If I have to make multiples, the others always go much faster of course.

The first card I made is for the Ismaki Challenge #25 that you can see here. I really like the sketch they came up with this time, really different. I also love the fun colors in this dp from Memory Box (summer)--fun & bright. My stamp is from Magnolia (yes, again)--this is another one that I'd forgotten about. Love the cake she's holding. I used Diamond Glaze (next to stickles, its my fave) on the icing, candle and her shoes (so they look like patent leather)--love that shiny look. I cut her out after coloring her w/ my Copics--I feel like the "Queen of Cuts" because I cut and pop-up everything. I love to have depth & dimension on the card--layers give cards so much for interest and I just love it! The flowers are from Prima and most of the ribbon is Offray. The sentiment is from Hero Arts--I like that pop of black mixed in with all the other brights. Just a cute, fun birthday card!

The second card I think I'll give my brother this weekend for his birthday (maybe)--I have such a hard time letting my "babies" (creations) go! Does anyone else have this problem? In my last post I told ya'll how much I love eating my Maryland crabs (gonna have some this weekend) so I just had to break out this set from Gina K called "Just Be-Claws" (even the name is cute)! This set is not one of her new ones, but new to me because I just ordered it. I know most people color their crabs red, but live blue crabs from this area are actually a bluish-gray and don't get red until ya cook em' (just some local tidbits for those not in the know) and I wanted mine to be "alive" not cooked--lol!! The dp is from Fiskars (Kimberly Poloson) that I've had for awhile, but hadn't used yet & cs is from SU (blue bayou & river rock). I stamped my crab twice and colored him w/ Copics. I cut out both claws and popped them w/ dimensionals (see, told ya I like to cut & pop) on top of the second colored image. Crabs are always wet and shiny, so I had to apply Diamond Glaze to him (he was askin' for it, I swear)!! I used my circle & scalloped circle nestabilities and just layered. I wrapped 2 pieces of raffia around the bottom of the card and attached the circle w/ sentiment on it w/ glue dots. I love it but I might have to keep it for myself & find something else for my brother, cuz' he'll probably just toss it--OH NO, a crafter's worst nightmare--the HORRORS!!!! Maybe I'll just pick him up a card from Target instead--lol!!

Alright, scrappers--hope you all have a wonderful, sunny weekend! I'll be back on Monday with some new stuff!!

Suzanne