About Me

I am a new empty nester, and I love to make cards and ATCs. I am always looking for ways to use the product I have, to learn new techniques and ways to do things, and most of all, to have fun with the creating of my art.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Another card!!

Yes, I was busy yesterday... a couple of the cards, such as the one above, I had partially done for a while, I just hadn't finished it... and seeing as I have a few birthdays in July to make cards for, I thought that it would be good to make it a birthday card... the butterfly and sentiment are Hero Arts ( yes, I really REALLY like HA right now, they are making a LOT of stuff that I like), and the punches are Martha Stewart.  I can't remember who makes the scrapbook paper, all that I remember is that it came in a mini set of 6x6 papers in a magazine that someone gave to me. It's quite pretty, and if I ever remember the name, I'll try and pick some up.  To get dimension on the butterfly, I stamped it three times.  Once for the base, and on the second piece, I stamped it on each side, so even when the wings are up, it looks like a butterfly, and not just plain paper.   The cardstock the butterfly is stamped on is a white stripe that my step mom (RIP) gave to me for Christmas a few years ago.  Yes, I admit to hoarding it, because it's so lovely... that, and she got it in the USA, and I can't get there to shop. :) 
Now that I think all my July cards are done,  I can play, take some time off, or work on my August Christmas Card Challenge cards, once I figure out what the challenge is.
Thanks for looking!

Cupcakes!!

Some time ago, I bought some embossed cupcake paper, thinking that it would make some cute cards.. well, fast forward two years, I still hadn't touched it.. until yesterday.  I cut some up, and did a fun birthday card for my friend, who's turning  39 next month.  I used Stickles Christmas Red to highlight the cherries and sprinkles on the cupcakes.  I used Hero Art stamps for the cupcake ( I think) and the verse ( for sure).  The DP is from SU that I bought, and have used only twice before.  I am TRYING to use what I have, instead of buying everything that is trendy... I end up with paper sitting around for YEARS.    I really like this fun, whimsical card, so I may end up making more of them.. oh, and the tiny cupcake punch... my dear MIL bought a set of tiny punches for me from Avon some years ago, and the cupcake was a part of the set.

Faux Silk Cards

Thanks to a blog I read earlier in the week (sorry, I can't remember whose blog it was) and she had mentioned that Papertrey Ink did a faux silk technique.  Well, I am always up for learning new techniques.... so I clicked on the link HERE, and scrolled down until I saw the faux silk technique.  Watched the video, and realized I had done something very similar for years.... instead of stamping, then using white tissue paper over top, I would use any colour cardstock, then use a PRINTED tissue paper to go over top.. instant card front.  I was ready to try this, so I did two cards.   The first card I did, I used the shells from the Hero Arts set, Antique Engravings.  I stamped it in Dried Marigold (Tim Holtz distress ink), and followed the advice given in the video.  I liked the result, but the pattern is almost spaced out too much.  I used a medallion stamp for my second attempt, using SU's Purely Pomegranate (still sad to not see that and Cool Caribbean in the new colour families), then I distressed using Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick distress inks.  I don't know if it's the distressing (which I missed on my first card) or the colours, or the stamps, but I am quite happy with the card.  I am sure to be using that technique often in the coming months.

Mojo Monday 144 Card

I finally got some time to create this weekend.. for me, a whole day at home to create is  a treat!! usually there are  a million things to do, and work comes before play.  This card is Mojo Monday's 144 sketch.  I did change it up a bit, with the squares NOT going over the ribbon ( in my case, lace) and the bling, instead of being on the patterned paper, I put on the background square.  I used a Hero Art greeting, and some acetate smashing cardstock I had sitting around forever for the background of the card and the front of the squares.   The patterned paper was a 6 x 6 inch piece, I don't know where from, and the lace I got at my local fabric store.  The punch of the side of the square is from Martha Stewart.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Birthday Card for my SIL

Well, I totally forgot that my sister in law's birthday is coming up early next month.  So I went to work and tried colour layering, as seen on the Hero Arts blog this month.  I used the Hero Arts dandelion frame stamp, and just stamped part of it in Victorian Velvet and Worn Lipstick... unfortunately,  the colours didn't really blend as well as I had hoped.  I stamped the image 4 times, never cleaning the stamp between inkings.  Taking a cue from Jen McGuire on the Paperclipping podcast #25, I found some old chipboard letters I bought because they were cute, but had never used.  They didn't show up on the cardstock without something dark behind it, so I brought in the brown to pull the mauvey brown colour of the Victorian Velvet.   I just kept a simple knot and put Jen's name in the chipboard letters... the card went off into the mail today, so hopefully it will arrive by her birthday!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Card pattern 68 and Crazy 4 Challenges card

I did this card as a thank you card for one of my child's teachers.. This teacher has been instrumental in helping my child.  I used Card Patterns sketch 68 for this card.  The stamps are Hero Arts, and the base card stock SU.  I don't know what company (s) made the patterned paper.  The ribbon is American Crafts.

Mojo Monday card

This is the card I did for Mojo Monday 143.  It's hard to see, but the patterned paper is a lighter version of the green in the paint chip flower.  I used the paint chip for a swap I'm doing.  Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Blog Candy Giveaway

Ling on her blog is giving away 2 packages to 2 lucky people!!! Hop on over to her blog HERE to see how to enter.

Have a great day, and I do promise to get the Christmas Card Challenge photos up soon!! Hubby took the camera on an all day journey today with his Dad.

 2010.06.25  I finally had some time to create this week, and used the digi stamps from LDS to create a card.  I printed out the digi stamps on white paper, coloured them in with markers, and carefully cut them out.  I layered them on some pastel patterned paper, then mounted  the rectangles on a pale blue-grey card stock base.  I added some pale pink bling on the right, and some American Craft ribbon on the left.  I had some leftover scalloped ovals with the "to you from me" on it from when I did a grad class fundraiser making cards for the grads to sell.  I used foam tape for that, and the card is done.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Tracy's Christmas Card Challenge

Well, I told Tracy that I'd be happy to take over the Christmas Card Challenge for the rest of the year, so she has a break.  Being that I am new to blogging, I have no clue as to how to have you link you your  blog to me.. so, I thought of a workaround.. if you email me HERE, I can then edit my blog and add your link to this posting. Oh, and one more thing.  I'm sorry to admit that I don't have the funds or the ability to do prize draws every three months.  You are welcome to do a 3-D project each month, and I will be glad to have a link on my blog here, but I can't do any prizes.  If someone is willing to do it, please email me.

As for this month's challenge, it's POINSETTIA(S).  You need to make poinsettia (s) the main focus of your 5 cards this month.  I bought a a retired set of SU stamps last year that had poinsettias on it, and have yet to use, so this is my excuse for breaking them out. :)

If you aren't a blogger, and want to email me a photo ( please keep it under 1MB please) contact me HERE, and I'll add your photos to the blog as well.

June 17th: two things.. one, I got my cards done.  I have the group photo and a single card photo up.  Secondly, I have been asked if I would start the Christmas challenges at the beginning of the month, so that people have a month to do the cards.  That's fine with me, so July 1st, I'll have the new challenge up.. hopefully with the cards done. :)

Saturday, June 12, 2010

I won some blog candy!!

Well, I am the proverbial person who might win, but by the time I find out I win, it's past the due date to let the sponsor know....... but this time, I did win, and got a great response.  It's from DRS rubber stamps.. there blog is here:http://drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/.  I haven't had time to check out all of their stuff, but what I've seen is very nice.  DRS is giving away a stamp a day, so be sure to check their blog for more info!