Origami Butterfly Moth-er Day Cards

Well, here is what I have been working on for the last week or so.....my newest collection of Origami Butterfly Moth-er Day Cards. Wishin' I still had a mother to send a card to, she would have liked it very much.

I shall be putting the cards in my Etsy store, one by one, but not as a set. The cards will be $3.45 a piece. If you should desire two cards at a time, the price for two cards will be $6.50 (that is $.30 off + postage).

If you would like a different color card, just convo me via Etsy or email me and let me know what color you would like the card to be (if I have that color) and the butterfly will coordinate with that color card. Once the card or cards are finished I will let you know and you can pick them up in my Etsy store. I will mark your order with "RESERVED FOR" and your name. As soon as Paypal sends the okay, the cards should be in the mail by the next day.

Well, I am going to cut this blog short for now, have to get ready to go vote!!!!! Talk to you later, have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh........meaning Jesus is coming soon!!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

1 Cross + 3 Nails = 4 Given

Finally got my Easter cards up in my Etsy store and here on my blog. I found the stamp, "1 cross+3nails=4given" at a fellow Etsy artist's shop http://www.sweetgrasstamps.etsy.com/ I am going back there to see what else she has, a definite trip is at hand.

These cards are selling in my Etsy store for $2.75 per card or 4 cards for $11.00 + postage $2.50. Didn't want to make them toooooo expensive, thought that was a decent price. Have made 12 extra for sending out myself and have the makings for a few more.

Well, today is Monday, March 19th............where does the time go????? We are having an early spring, which is really nice, but anything can happen, like more snow, so I am not that anxious to get my gardening done. I do have my swing ready and set to enjoy these mild nights. Last year a tree limb fell of my swing and dented it, so it looks a little decrepit. But it will be okay for out there, who knows, maybe another limb will fall on it again this spring/summer when the storms come through. Right now that seems so far away, but you never know with Wisconsin weather.

Been a little busy of late, looking up my Family Tree on Ancestor.com and Archives.com, sure has been alot of fun......FINALLY am finding my relatives in Germany, never knew much about them, didn't even have any dates. But like cream, they are rising to the top and it has been fun to say "HI" to them, I don't feel so all alone anymore. 27 relatives through Archives.com have waved back at me..........lol!

Going to go now, you have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh!!
Cheers ~ Louisa (my grandmother's name)

♥♥♥Today is My 220th Post♥♥♥

WOW WEEEEEEE!!!!!!! Today is a celebration of sorts......hard to believe 220 posts, where did that time go??????? That is about 4 1/2 years of blog posts. Must do something special today, like some kind of special picture!!!! Okay here are my pictures, what better way to celebrate but with steak, fries and ice cream with a candle on top!!! (these are old pictures from 2010 but very apropos for now, my favorite place to go for a free Birthday dinner..BJ Clancey's).

Now if I can just maneuver these pictures around so they look compositionally correct. Hummmmm, wonder if that is a word...guess I will find out when I do a spell check!!!

Still working on my Easter cards, probably will have them up and going in my Etsy store tomorrow or Monday. That will give about 4 weeks before Easter, hopefully enough time for someone to see them and buy them, I have my hopes up for this one, hopefully I can get them out there on Twitter and Facebook and to all the teams I am involved in on Etsy. Time will tell.

JP is at the church right now, cleaning. When he gets home I will be going out to Copps, for 50% off on meat and $1.49 for butter plus a few other things. Such deals....wish I had a little freezer for special deals....maybe this year we will get a little freezer with the money we get from income tax, that's if Obama allows that to us.

Well, I shall close this blog for today, you all have a great day and enjoy the weather, it is gorgeous outside, gives a person spring fever plus today is daylight savings, "Spring ahead and Fall behind" So, before you go to bed tonight, set your clocks ahead and go to bed early...lol!!!

Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Something Old.....Something New....

Finally downloaded the cards we made at Sandi's home last week. The above card was not made at Sandi's though......made this one for Shirley, as we exchange cards with each other once a month....my theme for this month is "whatever I am making at the time" As I am into "vintage looking" cards this is what I came up with. An old picture from a website I found "girl with her sled". Embellished with the vellum flower and punch from Martha Stewart. Dabbed with a brown ink pad. Kinda looks like "Something old".

This card was made at Sandi's home.......and this is the card she showed us how to make. Lots. of card layering, the top layer went through the cuttlebug, with a dotted folder down the side and oval nestability. I cut out flowers and popped them up, embellishing with gems and a black flower.

This is Shirley A's card. She embossed the card then ran a brayer over in different colors, then we embellished the card with the circles gold pen and verse on the inside.

Here's the card I brought, another old looking card....printed the card out on my printer, then hearts punched out embellished with a ribbon and layered on gold cardstock. A gel pen and speckles were added to sparkle things up.

This was Shirley K's card.........I really liked this one, as I have made a few since. The vellum flower was a scalloped punch, then folded and cut in half and glued on the card........hard to explain....maybe there is a tutarial on Youtube, I shall have to look and let you know. Sparkle cardstock was run through a cuttlebug with two different folders then ribbon drawn across. I guess you can use any ribbon but this ribbon was especially nice, must look for some like it. White would go with any color vellum flower. I have some teal vellum, gosh, think that would make a lovely card, don't you????


Well, think I will close this blog for today. Looking forward to getting some new stamps in the mail that I bought on Etsy. Easter cards are whirrling around in my head, so one of the stamps will be for Easter, kind of excited to see what comes out of it. So until then, keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh.

Cheers ~ Louise

♥A Very Vintage Looking Card♥

Isn't this a pretty card.......wouldn't mind someone sending a card like this to me, I really like it. JP and I went on a date Saturday and I found these reproduced vintage replica cards - 9 postcards for $.50 and thought they would make a nice card. Needed to send an anniversary card and put this one together last night......yep, think I will make some more like these. Simple to make and put together for one of those quicky cards, yet very elegant and that needs to go out by the next day. I ran off a couple of cards on my printer, soooooo can make lots of them. The postcards are not a "copywrite" so it is legal for me to copy.

Going to add a few cards to my Etsy store today after I finish this blog....more St. Patrick Day cards. Another 4 card set for $10 + postage (just $2.50 for each card - a special for St. Patty's day) Check out my store at http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ Had a good start for the year, having 3 Etsy sales......hope that is a good sign for the rest of the year. My husband said it takes a good 5 years to get a business going, been on Etsy since 2008..........this is my 5th year, I hope he is right. Hope, hope, hope!!!!

Well, I need to close this blog for today and go on to Etsy. Then, get working on my income tax.....uge! I have till March 2nd to put it all together. Our accountant likes that I organize everything so he just has to look at it and zip, zip, zip it is all finished. We are hoping to get some money back as JP's car broke down and we could not get it fixed, needed too much work. So now we are down to just one car and that puts quite a kink into my schedule. If I have shopping to do, I need to be home in time for JP to go to work....not fun!

Well, you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

Monday ♥ Funday!!!!

So I have not decided what this cute little puppy is saying, is he sad? Embarrassed? Sorry? Maybe his toy was taken away or he is being hollered at????? Who knows, just thought his cute little face said it all. Anyways it is Monday and a Funday......not sure what I will be doing. Maybe take down my little Christmas tree and village......guess it is about time. YES, I still have some Christmas stuff up yet.......don't want to rush it you know!!!! Takes too long for me to put it up, then to take it down within the month of December? Naw.....have to enjoy it a little bit more then just one month!!!

Not too much happening, not doing too many exciting things. I always thought January and February should be times of REST and just do not much of anything, sort of like hybernate like the animals do. Sounds good to me, Spring comes fast once the snow disappears. We had the roof fixed last fall, so maybe spring won't be a frustration to us. This year we have to think about getting the ceiling fixed.....AFTER....we see if it is not leaking.

Been working on making some cards........made a few more Valentines cards last night, then on to St. Patrick cards and get some into my Etsy store and on to this blog. I am always so amazed how some of my fellow bloggers can get a card up everyday. I have this one blog I like to go to every day to see what she has made..........such good ideas they are always so fresh looking. She tells alittle about how she made it, and what stamps she used. Here is her address: http://scrappinandstampiningj.blogspot.com/ went to her blog and got the right addy! Hope this take you to her blog. Enjoy!!!

Guess I will close for now, keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

Computers and Cards

Put this set of cards up in my Etsy store the other day. Did them along with the "special order" of 12 cards that went overseas. Received an exciting bit of new this morning, sold another Valentine card to a customer in New York.......There goes another Etsy tap dance!!! Hope these tap dancing shoes wear out from so many sales..........YES!!!!!!

Went through some frustrations with my computer..........computers are like men you know, "can't live with them and can't live without them" Yep that's true. When I went to shut off my computer, the screen came up saying it was going to do some updating, not to shut off or unplug, the computer will do that automatically.............yeah right! 30 hours later it was still doing summersalts!!!! I asked on Facebook if anyone knew what was wrong...........one person said "that was not normal and that I must have something wrong with my computer" oh well, so what else is new. Asked a salesman at Walmart, he said I could shut it down, but he really did not know either. Then I called Office Depot, where I bought the computer, she said shut it down but then it could be in the middle of updating something important, call Milwaukee PC. So, I called, left a message and they called back this morning.....................he said, shut it down, it got stuck. MAN, if I had known that I would not have been so frustrated. In the midst of all this I had gone to the library, went on their computer, overstayed my time and received a $5 parking ticket from the friendly Appleton Police..................ggeeerrrrrrrrrrr I was a little upset!!!!

Not only was I facing the fact of possibly losing my computer and having to get a new one (with no money) I got a ticket on top of it..................life is just unfair, isn't it????? Well, that delima is over, just have to pay the ticket before the 21st otherwise it will be $20 then after that $32 if any later...................computers, computers, do they save us time or do they run our time???? I sure did feel cutoff from the world for 30 hours that was for sure!!!!!

Well, I shall close for now, have to go over to my Etsy store and leave a convo for my new customer that the card will be in the mail by Saturday latest, after this snow storm passes. We are to get anywheres from 4-9 inches with blowing snow. YIKES!!!!

So you all keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

♥ Half Price Valentine Cards ♥

Having a half price sale on my Valentine cards. Made them last Valentine's season, so I thought I could let them go for half price as a set. The whole set at regular price is $17.50, half price $8.75 + postage and shipping. If you will go to my Etsy store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ I go into more detail about the cards and what they say on the inside.

Below is a sweet little card can be a Valentine's card or Everyday card. "Tilda" is swinging on a swing which was fun to make for her. As she is stamped with nothing to sit on, so I thought a swing would be a likable object for "Tilda". The inside verse says "May sunshine fill your every moment" The card measures 6.25" tall x 4.25 wide. Will come with an envelope and clear plastic sleeve for protection. Cost of this card is $3.50. Tilda is not yet in my Etsy store, probably in a couple of days she will show up.......stay tuned.

Well, going to make this a short blog for today. Be sure to check out my Etsy store for other cards that I have in my inventory. I have some new ideas brewing in my brain. One of my gifts for Christmas was a gift card for Micheals........what a happy surprise that was!!! Anyways I got a Martha Stewart punch half price along with a postage border punch (that was on clearance), a few (1.00) stamps and liquid pearls. A fun spree indeed.....Thanks Sandi!!!

Have a great day and cheers to you all ~ Louise

Making Christmas Ornaments

Been busy making Christmas ornaments for my tree and for Etsy. Going to put a few up in my Etsy store today just as soon as I finish this here blog. Which won't be very long. Also need to get my regular Christmas ornaments up for the season. Got my cards all done and they are ready to be mailed on Monday. As I sit writing this blog, am watching my favorite Christmas DVD " The Christmas Card" such a neat story. In the midst of war in Afganistan, Cody Cullen is touched by a card sent by Faith Spelman from a small and picturesque town of Nevada City, California. As months pass, the card never leaves his side, giving him the strength to survive and setting him on a mission to find her. I'd encourage you to find it either on Netflex, the Library or buy it. It's a great movie, puts ya in the Christmas Spirit and might put a tear in your eye just as it puts a tear in my eye everytime I watch it.

Anyways, the ornaments are pretty fun to make. Long strips of cardstock, scored every 1/4 inch, then folded like a fan. Glued on one end, fitted together with the other end, then flatened to form a circle and glued. You can then decorate it any way you like. I'll be selling them for $1.25 a piece or 8 for $9.50 + postage and shipping. They should be up and running in my Etsy store by tonight

Well, guess I will close this blog for today, keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Friday Funday and Part 3 of Elena and Her Works of Art

Today I am going to show off some more of Elena's works of art from her Etsy Store. If you would like to visit her Etsy store and maybe even buy something from her store go to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopGift?ref=si_shop. Hope you have enjoyed this featured interview with Elena on my blog, sure was alot of fun to do. The above picture is a white tatted doily.

The above picture here are some lovely tatted book marks. Below is a beautiful tatted red box.
In the next picture below is a beautiful tatted white collar.

In this picture below a lovely tatted table runner........so pretty!

Last, but not least a lovely tatted floral runner, must have taken many, many hours to make this one.
So there you have it..........hope you enjoyed looking at Elena's tatting projects, all of them are so very pretty. Each piece worthy of a royal place in someone's home. Keepsakes to hand down to the next generation. One of my favorite things to do, is going to antique stores.....I always check out the doilies, and just looking at all the lovely stitches of each handmade doily. Wondering, who was this woman or even child that made this, what was her life like, when and where did she live........you know, questions that probably will never be answered.

In this interview, I was honored to introduce you to Elena Kozinenro from Crimea, Ukraine. If you ever run across some of her works of art, at least you can say..........."oh, I know who made this" and you won't have to wonder because you read about Elena here.

Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Garfield's Scale is Back!!!!

Tis' true, finally stamped and colored with copic markers, 8 "Garfield's Scale" cards. Made this one tonight, took a quick picture, not very professional though. Will be putting up in my Etsy store tonight also. I found that these cards moved pretty fast, am hoping that will happen again. Check out my store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com

Well, this will be a short blog tonight, have a great day and watch for more cards in the next week.

Cheers ~ Louise

New Set of Cards Listed Today

Finished these cards the other night and just listed them in my Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/listing/76107609/set-of-6-everyday-cards There are 2 Happy Birthday cards with the seagull, 2 Happy Anniversary cards with the roses and 2 Thank You cards with the lighthouse. The technique is called "Direct on paper" where you take an ink pad and swipe it across the paper, then stamp the image and saying. I used the copic marker to color the lighthouse and roses. Didn't color in the seagull as I thought it looked fine as is. Perhaps I might color just one in just to see what it looks like. Made lots of these cards and may make more as the technique is quite fun.

The Lighthouse

The Seagull

The Pink Rose

Hope you like my cards. Please leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by. Check me out at http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Cards4ubylouise/ should take you to my facebook page, "like me" please. For Twitter go to http://www.twitter.com/louisellen/ Have a great day ~ Cheers ~ Louise

♥My New Lemon/Lime Stamp♥

I made a stamp last night.......a lemon/lime/orange and grapefruit stamp. Maybe it is too small for a grapefruit, but the possibilities are still there. Saw a video on making this glass of lemonade and just felt I needed to have a lemon/lime stamp, so I made one last night. (confession.....I did order two lemon/lime stamps off Etsy yesterday, but that was BEFORE I made my own stamp). Doesn't this just look like the most refreshing and tasty little card you have ever seen???

I got the idea from another blog "Stamp and Scrape by Frenchie". I suspect it is okay to copy her ideas, otherwise she never would have made the video showing how to make this card. Although, my card is just a little bit different then hers. That's the beauty of making cards. Each person has a different slant on card making and you can take that same card and place 10 women in a room and each woman will make that same card different.........hahaha......sort of like the telephone game. Whisper in the ear of the first woman, a comment, by the 10th woman that comment has changed 10 times and has become a question.

Well, I still will be looking forward to my two new stamps, will have lots of lemons and limes to make even iced tea.......what fun this summer will be and very refreshing.

Well, you be blessed in this 90 degree weather and stay cool. Relax with a glass of lemonade.
Cheers ~ Louise

♥A Few Father's Day Cards From My Etsy Store♥

Above Father's Day card called "The Lighthouse" could also be a birthday or thank you card. And below the "Golfer" he too can be a birthday or thank you or whatever your desire.

Below is my Father's Day "deer" card, which can also be for a Birthday or Thank you. Actually all three cards can be for either or. All you need do is convo me through Etsy and let me know what you would like stamped on the inside of these cards.

Well, I am going to close this short and sweet blog for now. You have a great day!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Newest Friendship Card for Etsy

Here's my newest card that I shall put in my Etsy store today.....been awhile since I last posted on my blog so thought I would put this "Friendship card" up today. I got a lot of the paper, vellum and cardstock from the "CTI" paper company on Friday at their annual sale. This is what I came up with, just piecing it altogether. I am very happy with the outcome and am thinking of doing a set of cards like this.............but not with the inside, as seen below. Maybe a set of 6 cards "Friendship, Marriage, Celebration" Those are the three stamps I have that could be used for this card. Thinking, thinking, always thinking.

The inside of this card with done with folding the paper, first to each corner, then one fold across, then the 4 corners were folded, a little confusing at first, but when figured out, turns into a really neat card.

Well, I think I shall close this blog for tonight and go to Etsy and post this card there. If you would like to see it got to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

Have a good day and cheers~Louise

All You Need Is Love, love

All you need is love. Two ducks a huggin" so in love. The inside of the card says, "Sending Happy Thoughts".

The ducks were colored in with copic markers then run through the cuttlebug with this lace die cut. Layered on checked yellow paper then on to yellow cardstock. I embellished with paper ric-rac then used the sparkles gel pen to outline the frame, the ducks and the ric-rac.

The card measures 5.50"tall X 4.25"wide and will come with an envelope and clear plastic sleeve for protection. With the order of this card you will also receive one free bonus card or bookmark or thank you card for your use.

The card is priced at $3.00 + $2 postage, if you order a second card postage is $.50 extra. You can go to my Etsy store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ to order and pay with paypal or your credit card which will go through paypal.
Have a great day in the Lord!!!

Cheers~Louise

Easter Tilda on Her Swing

This is one of my newest Magnolia cards. I put Tilda on a swing which really adds to her sweetness!!! I used my copic markers, which has become one of my favorite mediums. Although I do not have all the colors, just getting by with what I have. The egg is free hand, free cut, free colored and decorated {smile}. Tilda was cut in an oval and layered on a yellow card. The green border was layered on top fitting the card perfectly. Each corner was embellished with green button stickers. Although you cannot see the top corners, they are there.

I am taking an Ecourse from Timothy Adam at Handmadeology. So hopefully I will be learning some new tips. One being linking my Etsy store with this blog, with Facebook and Twitter. There are a few other sites I will be visiting at and signing up with soooooo this is going to be a journey for me of learning and hopefully being more successful in selling my cards. With Gods help and direction that will be the Goal!!!

Time to close for now, so take care and hope you enjoy my blog.
Cheers~Louise

This and That............

The title of this blog is "This and That" only because I did not know what to title my blog for today. Guess I can have a "blog block" once in a while. Put this card up in my Etsy store tonight. Another one of those Crayon techniques which I love doing. This card is in the greens and silvers, looks nice in this picture. Been doing alot of Copic marker coloring lately, probably will post a few cards that I have done in recent days in the next few days or so.

Have been trying to get some of my cards packaged and priced to take into the Hospital in their gift shop, hopefully tomorrow and Tuesday. Hopefully, hopefully they will like them and I will finally have an outlit besides Etsy. Have not been very busy with my merchandising lately so I really need to find another way of making a little bit of money to finance my addiction of card making.

Found another love this past weekend.......quilling, yep made two cards doing that technique, I may put a quilling card up in my Etsy store, just as soon as I take the pictures. I have so much going in my head, things I want to do.........but alas sometimes the money is not there, guess I just need to take one day at a time.

Well, time to close this blog down, I am sure I am missing something and will think of it just as soon as I shut down............so here goes. Have a great day!!

Cheers~Louise

A New Card on Etsy

This is one of my newer cards that I put on Etsy the other day. The background for the bird is the crayon technique, which I just simply love to do. Melt crayons on an iron covered with tinfoil (so not to wreck the iron) the temp only needs to be on perm press, don't want it too hot as to burn the crayons. Smear the colors you prefer, then at each corner of the glossy white cardstock, press down and out at each corner, getting the effect your like. In this card I used gold, tourquois and green. Embossing with the bird, coloring him with copic markers and liquid gloss to stand out.

There's a few other techniques that I have tried, another one is using my old fingernail polish.....now that was fun too. As soon as I figure out where I put those squares of dried fingernail samples, I will make a card with them.....hummmmm, now where oh where are they???

Well, guess I will close this blog for today...............have a great day!!!
~Louise~

My Roses Card is in Two Treasuries

Golly.........how exciting! My Roses Card was in two different treasuries on Etsy in the last couple of days...............now hopefully someone will buy it!!!! As soon as I find the two addresses, I will add them to this blog so you can take a look.

NOTE: THESE ARE NOT THE CORRECT ADDRESSES AS YET
Roses are red...and pink...and white... http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7a592f102/roses-are-red-and-pink-and-white
Roses are red http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d6e0d4c8fd/roses-are-red

Well, there are the links, hope they take you to the two lovely treasuries.

Till then, this is Louise, signing off.