Hoppy Frog Birthday

My friend, Kathy, left a comment on my blog saying I needed to get busy and do some stamping. So here's a card I did a few days ago for my step-daughter, Elizabeth's birthday. She loves frogs so I got this cute A Muse frog and added the tiny bee. I hope she liked the card. The green polka dot card and ribbon is A Muse. The layers are generic. We are off to a short trip to Oregon and will be back next week Tuesday. Then my husband's 4 kids that live out of town will be in town joining their 3 siblings that live here. His sister from Phoenix will be in town too. We will have everyone over on the 25th for a BBQ and celebrate Gerry's birthday. My birthday is the following Monday so there will be birthday cake for both of us. I hope to get busy with some stamping after everyone leaves.

Here's a non-stamping bit of news. I've been wanting some shelves put up for my teapot collection. My husband finally got them up Tuesday night!!! I've been asking for 3 YEARS!! :) So this afternoon I got the teapots put up on the shelves, including a few birdhouses that I've collected. However!!! there's not enough room to get them all up. Oh, and I also have some old tea containers I've found in antique stores. The ones I didn't get up will go back in the boxes until I figure out something else to display them. I have no idea how many I have, I guess I should count them, huh. I'll take some pictures later and post them.

On The Road Again

My husband is an avid cyclist. He asked me to make a card and he would put it on his bike club's website. So here's what I came up with. I actually made him a birthday card last year using the larger stamp.

The card is blue. The images are from Stampington & Co. I edged both white layers with blue chalk ink and colored the images with Copic markers. I added brass brads on each corner and used SU's ticket corner punch. He's talking to one of his sons on the phone and when I showed him the card, he told his son the corners were "riveted". Men, what do they know! :) I got the A Muse saying today at the Paper Garden. I thought it was quite appropriate.

Price: $3.50

Yellow Tulip

This is the last of the cards that were made for Mother's Day which can be for other occasions. The card base is yellow with an ivory layer on which I stamped a plaid background in yellow ink. The image is SU. I used SU markers to color. I intended to use the Spica clear gel pen on the tulip, which is a SU image, instead used the gold gel pen. It made the tulip darker than I wanted it to be. The ribbon is yellow stitched ribbon from A Muse. A hole was punched through the tulip layer clear through to the card base and the ribbon pulled through. I had to ask my husband to punch the hole because I couldn't. Every once in awhile I have to enlist his help to punch something for me. :)

Price: $3.50

Black and White Flower Vase

The image for this card is part of the same SU set that I used on another previous card posted. The card base is black with a white layer and a black and white layer with the image on it. I used SU markers to color the image and a black sheer with white polka dots ribbon used down the side. Another classy looking card.

Price: $3.50

Girl On A Summer Day

Another SU stamp set. The card base is SU cardstock apricot appeal with a black and white layer. I used SU markers to color the image. I also stamped an image on the card base. The corner punch is by Marvy. Again, the saying can be changed.

Price: $3.50

Gardening Tools

Another SU set. The card base is sage shadow with a lavender and confetti natural layers, all SU cardstock. I colored the image with colored pencils. There is a piece of green with lavender flowers designers paper under the lavender layer. I tied a sheer lavender ribbon over the DP layer. I like the way it turned out.

Price:$3.50

Red & Black Lady on Chaise with Bird

I love this card!!! It has a very classy look. The card base is red with a piece of black patterned designers paper down the side. The image is SU and it was stamped in black ink with no coloring. I edged the white layer with red ink.

Price: $3.50

Basket With Plants

Another card using a SU set. I used colored pencils to color this image. The card base is green and the white layers are backed with black. I used a black and white striped ribbon. The saying can be changed.

Price: $3.50

Flower Vase In Purple

I will post a few cards that I made for Mother's Day. Again, the sayings can be changed. This card base is purple with a piece of purple patterned designers paper across the bottom. The image is a SU set and was colored with SU markers. I used a Spica clear gel glitter pen over the flowers. I use this pen on just about every design. It gives a little bit of shimmer to the image. It is part of a set of 12 different colors. A piece of sheer lavender ribbon is used.

Price: $3.50

Pink Tulip

The card base is a SU cardstock, Sage Shadow. The layers are soft yellow, black and white, all SU cardstock. The tulip is a 2-step process. I stamped a flower image on the card base, it is difficult to see. Here again, the saying can be changed.

I apologize for my work space and hand in the picture. Yesterday I bought a clear display easel to use when I photograph my cards. It will look so much better than this does. LOL

Price: $3.50

Relaxing Day

The base card is blue, the strip is a lighter blue. It has some shore birds stamped on it. The main image is a SU set. I used SU markers to color it. The saying can be changed.

All cards made with SU sets will have a SU copyright stamp on the back of the card. This is a condition of SU's angel policy in order to sell cards with their images.

Price: $3.50

Cherry Blossom With Butterfly

The card is a rosy pink. I used a piece of washi paper as the first layer. It is hard to actually see what it looks like. The image is a cherry blossom branch colored in pink. I used a Spica clear gel glitter pen over the blossoms. The butterfly was colored with SU markers and a clear ribbon used at the top. The saying can be changed to whatever is desired.

I should also note that sometimes a different patterned washi paper needs to be used because I no longer have any left of what was used in the sample.

Price: $4.50

Washi Squares

Here's another Asian card. The gold and red print papers are washi (Japanese) paper. A black tassel is tucked behind the red square. Because the washi paper is flimsy, I covered a square of cardboard with the red paper, giving it a raised look. The card is an ivory cardstock that has a tiny star pattern on it. This card is very classic looking.

Price: $4.50

Asian Coins

An Asian design. The gold and red printed paper is washi (Japanese) paper. The Asian coin on the black squares are embossed in gold. There are 3 brass brads on the side and a gold Asian coin in the center of the design. The card is red. All of the dark colored cards will need a white pen used to write inside. Or I can put a piece of stationary paper in the inside of the card.

Price: $4.50

Tropical Bird

A version of a card that was made in a class at The Paper Garden. The bird had a crown on in the class sample. The first layer is 2 different designer paper patterns. It opens on the bottom.

Price: $3.50

Pay Pal

I changed my account so I can receive payment through PayPal. I am not sure if I will set up a shopping cart. So orders will need to be placed by emailing me. I forgot to mention that all cards ordered will include a white envelope and placed in a clear envelope to keep it spotless.

A Collage of Flowers

Another simple card. Card stock by A Muse and SU. Images are by A Muse and Rubber Soul. Saying is by A Muse. These were all stamped using Chalk ink from Colorbox. I actually made a set of 5 cards for my grandson's girlfriend, Britta, as part of her graduation gift. Another card that was posted earlier was another card that I made a set of for her. It is a yellow card with a single stemmed blossom. I forgot to mention it when I posted it. Her gift also included 12 Thank You cards done in the school colors. I will post more card samples later. Thanks for looking.

Price: $3.50

Mass of Sunny Flowers

Another simple card. Card stock by SU. Images A Muse Art Stamps and Rubber Soul. The larger flower was stamped in Tangerine Chalk Ink and the smaller flower was stamped in Peach Pastel Chalk Ink by Colorbox. I colored the middle of the flowers with a yellow marker and then Spica clear gel glitter pen. It made the centers look gold. The ribbon was purchased at Michael's. I really like this card, very simple but elegant too.

Price: $3.50

Shells

Another simple card. Cardstock and images are SU. The images are part of the same set called Stipple Shells as the previous card. I borrowed this set from my friend, Michelle Williams. I used Brillance Archival Pigment Ink pad in Moonlight White to stamp the shells.

Price: $3.50

Sand Dollars

This is one of several simple cards I made recently. Card stock and image is from SU.

Pink Flower Box

Image and saying by A Muse Art Stamps. Cardstock and ribbon by SU. The card is a bright pink. As the previous card, I used SU markers and the Spica clear gel glitter pen.

Price: $3.50

Red Flower Bouquet

Stamp image and saying by A Muse Art Stamps. Card stock from Stampin' Up. Ribbon purchased at Michael's. I colored the image with SU markers and used a Spica clear gel glitter pen on the image.

Price: $3.50

Colorful Butterflies

This card was made with a stamp from Judikins. It is actually a cube with the butterfly, dragonfly, bumble bee and lady bug. Ink is a Kodomo Stamp Co. water color stamp pad called Earth Tones. I used a Spica clear gel glitter pen on the butterflys.

Price: $3.50

Beautiful Zinnia Blossom

Here is the first set of card samples. This card was made using a stamp by Savvy Stamps. Cardstock and corner punch are from Stampin' Up. It can be made using another color combination and saying.

Price: $3.50

My First Post

WELCOME to my blog, Elegant Reflections. I had a little contest with a few friends to name my blog and this was the name I chose out of all the ones that were submitted. A very special friend, Michelle Williams suggested it and I will make her a set of note cards of her choice as a thank you.

Over the last 2 years, I have taken several classes at my favorite stamp store, The Paper Garden Boutique, located in the Town & Country Center in Sacramento, CA. Stephanie, the owner, and her staff, Laurie and Kelly, have been so helpful and have offered encouragement in creating a blog. They have become very dear friends.

Since January of this year, I've been selling my cards to a few friends. They along with a few family members have also encouraged me to create a blog to continue to sell my cards.

I am not sure I fully understand how to do this blogging stuff, so it will be trial and error and hopefully I don't mess up too badly!! (I am a computer dummy! I am wishing about now that one of my step-sons or my son-in-law or my grandson were here to do this for me!!) LOL

My cards are both simple and involved to a certain degree. My favorite stamp companies are: A Muse Art Stamps, Hero Arts, Memory Box, Savvy Stamps, Judikins, Hanko, Kodomo and Stampin' Up. I love to add sparkle and ribbon to my cards along with other embellishments.

I make cards for all occasions except Halloween and will do special orders if they are not too involved or time consuming. The price of my cards are $3.50 each or 2 for $6. Sets of 5 cards of the same design are priced at $16.25. Cards made using origami or washi (Japanese) paper are priced at $4.50 each.

Please contact me through my email address: bettytownsend@hotmail.com to place an order. For the time being, I will accept personal checks if you reside in the local Sacramento, CA area. If you reside outside of the local area or in another state, payment will be with a money order. I will set up a Pay Pal account at a later date. Orders will be shipped after checks have cleared the bank.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please browse the samples I've posted and perhaps you will find a card(s) that you would like to purchase.