Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Embossed Wedding Card


It seems summer time always brings weddings. I made a quick and easy card for my stash. Purple is my favorite color and I think it looks so elegant paired with crisp white and silver.



My Creation

Image Detail

Ins and Outs ~ Embossed Wedding Card
Stamps: SU Soft Swirls
Paper: All SU

Ink: All SU

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Brads, Misc Gem, Silver Cord

Techniques: Wet Embossing

Sunshine and Rain

In my ever quest to complete the challenges at 365 Cards Challenge Blog, I find myself making cards to fit the challenges whether or not I have an immediate need for them. That’s still good, as I can build up a bit of a stash for when I need them. I know that combining their challenges could be considered ‘cheating’, but it’s the only way I stand a chance to completing the challenges. Maybe next year I’ll aim for making 365 individual cards for each challenge. 2010 is all about just trying to fit them in.

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 112 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday
Inspiration

My Creation


Image Detail
I cut around the umbrellas and added a layer of Diamond Glaze to the umbrellas and boots for shine. I also added dots of the glaze to the designer paper on the rain drops.

Inside
Ins and Outs ~ Sunshine and Rain
Stamps: Let it Rain (Cow Girl Up Stamps), Rain & Sunshine (There She Goes)
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV Spring

Ink: Laser Printer; Copics (C3; R24, 32; E21, 50; G12, 20; B34, 97); Gelly Roll Clear Star Pen

Accessories: Diamond Stickles, Diamond Glaze, Misc Buttons and Ribbon, Creative Memories Circle Punch, Pop up dots.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Tool-rific Birthday

This was a card I made at my wonderful SU demonstrator's card class. I love mixing 'real life things' into cards as elements as what is more perfect for a handy man's birthday card than duct tape?

LOVE this photo of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. I'm even more excited as I just received a call from my public library that the Alice in Wonderland movie is in and it's my turn to check it out! I rarely go to the theater to see a movie and take advantage of library services which include checking out new movies, audio books and more!


Inspiration
Charisma Cards #25 ~ For the Boys
Everybody Art Challenge #97 ~ Birthdays
Party Time Tuesdays #5 ~ Anything Goes Birthdays

My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

Ins and Outs ~ Tool-rific Birthday
Stamps: SU Totally Tool
Paper: SU Dusty Durango, Old Olive, Going Grey, Vanilla, DP scrap

Ink: SU Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Going Grey, Summer Sun

Accessories: Silver Brads, Duct Tape

Wahoo's for me!

I really love playing in challenges and am always tickled when I actually receive an honor from one of them. Especially since there is SO much incredible talent in the crafty blog world. This week I'm doubly tickled for the following mentions.

I made the The Handy Five at Hand Full of Stamps for my Pirate Dragon Card in the water themed challenge.

I also made the Top 3 at Stamptacular Sunday for my Ants and Lemon card in their Cute as a Bug challenge.

THANKS for liking my work and I hope everyone reading this will hop over to check out their latest challenges.

Monday, June 28, 2010

One Stop Craft Saturday Challenge #86 ~ Pink and Brown


Thanks for stopping by! Today I have my latest creation as a One Stop Craft Challenge Design Team Member. The challenge this week is a color challenge - use pink and brown. I blended in a few of my other favorite challenges to create two cards. I always am stretched creatively by the sketches on the Midnight Madness Challenge blog. I admit that I often use the CAS version of the sketch just because I start to get the shakes even trying to come up with something as amazing as Priscilla and her DT crank out. I'm always trying to grow as a crafter and fears are meant to be conquered. This week I made two cards - one CAS and one fancier. I used the same image on both cards to show you how you can take a perfectly wonderful CAS card and add a feature or two to fancy things up. Hopefully you can pull an idea or two to add to your own creations.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch #59
Here are the 2 sketches I used, the one on the left is the CAS (clean and simple) version and you can see how Priscilla fancied up the sketch on the right.

Color Inspiration
One Stop Craft Challenge #86 ~ Pink and Brown (Wink Wink Ink is our sponsor this week and where I got the cute kitty I used for my cards.)

Inspiration
Cute Card Thursday #118 ~ Reuse, Renew, Recycle
My flower is made from a catalog, tossed in my recycle pile. I used my scalloped circle punch and went through punching out circles from the various images. I have a stash of various colors to use in future products. Here, I layered various pink and white 'flowers' to create a large one. I did a bit of crumpling and added the rhinestone embellishment for the center. I like the typography peeking through on some of the petals and urge you to peek at your junk mail with new eyes.
Use 3 different methods of cutting. For my fancy card, I used a punch, paper trimmer, and scissors (detail on the kitty ears).
365 Cards Day 104 ~ Life’s a Party (use the word party on card)
Rosie D’s Challenge #74 ~ Summer Birthdays
This is for my dear friend Barb, who's a fellow kitty 'freak' (although she only has 5 in her herd).
Pile it On #25 ~ Fold it, Bake it, Do Something With it (do something interesting with paper)
Hopefully my use of recycled paper for my flower counts.
 
Real Life Inspiration
This is Lily, one of my youngest babies in the cat herd. She and her sister, Dahlia, were abandoned as babies, so I don't know her full story. She's our blue eyed baby (Dahlia is black) and I believe a seal point Siamese. The recipient of my card has THREE Siamese babies.

My Creations
Image Detail
You can see the coloring is pretty much identical on both images. A few things I did to 'fancy' it up were to add Diamond Glaze to the eyes and curl the ears up. I used glitter markers and white gel highlights on both images.
The main difference between the CAS and fancy cards is the embellishments. I used the same number of layers for both card (another trick to add more oomph to your cards. I added texture and dimension with the paper flower, real wood flourish, bling and 3D sticker. I personalized the letter kitty is holding with my friend's name. I also fancied up the inside of the card.
Thanks again for stopping by and I hope I've given you a few ideas to take your CAS card to another level with just a few added embellishments and features.

Ins and Outs ~ CAS Version
Stamps: Wink Wink Ink Digital Cat
Paper: Neenah Classic Solar White, DCWV Nursery and Natural Stacks
Ink: Laser Printer; Copics (E25, 29, 30, 31, 50; RV000; B00; BG0000); Spicas (Pitch Black, Pink, Baby Blue); Uniball White Gel Pen; Gelly Roll Clear Star
Accessories: Cat File Clip, Nesties
Ins and Outs ~ Fancy Version
Stamps: Wink Wink Ink Digital Cat
Paper: Neenah Classic Solar White, DCWV Nursery and Natural Stacks
Ink: Laser Printer; Copics (E25, 29, 30, 31, 50; RV000; B00; BG0000); Spicas (Pitch Black, Pink, Baby Blue, Chocolate); UniballGelly Roll Clear Star
Accessories: Cat File Clip, Nesties, Kaiser Wood Flourishes, Me & My Big Ideas Banner It Birthday Stickers, Misc Gems, Diamond Glaze, Scrap Ribbon, Fiskars Scalloped Circle Punch, Recycled Magazine

Friday, June 25, 2010

Lemon Life Lift


I am blessed with a very good group of close friends who always lift me up. More importantly, they can always make me smile even in the most dreary of circumstance. This card is dedicated to my Chica Crew who have kept me sane through the drama of life. I think a night of adult beverages might be in order soon. {{{HUGS}}}}

Color Inspiration ~ InStyle Stamps Color Challenge


Inspiration
My Creation


Image Detail

Inside

Ins and Outs ~ Lemon Life Lift
Stamps: Lemon Ants (Doodle Pantry Digi)
Paper: SU Whisper White; DCWV Shimmer and All About Boys

Ink: Laser Printer, Copics (E31; C3, 5, 7; Y000, 04, 08; YG11, 13); Spicas (Blossom, Lemon, Melon, Sand, Pitch Black); Uniball White Gel Pen

Accessories: SU Rub On Sentiment

Mo’s 60th Anniversary Card


This card is part 2 of my identical Mo self challenge. The first card I made with the same image is here. I don't know if my experiment really shows that much versatility. The images were the same size and colored with the same Copics, so there's really not that much I could go crazy with. I found a different sketch and a few new embellies. The card is for the grandparents of a good friend of Mr. Gears. Celebrating 60 years is certainly worth a celebration, and for certain a hand made card!


Inspiration
365 Cards Day 65 ~ The 3 A’s: Apha Stickers, Arc, Anniversary
Do numeral stickers count? Do you spy my rebel arc? Look closely at the ribbon edge...a full line of arcs!
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #88 ~ Weddings/Anniversaries
Pile it On #24 ~ Stickers
Crafty Catz #38 ~ Let’s Go Digital
365 Cards Day 117 ~ Favorite 5
1) Favorite color ~ blues (in Ginger’s dress)
2) Favorite embellishment ~ Ribbon
3) Favorite sentiment ~ anything with love or friendship (crum, I didn't photo the inside verse and the cards already at the post office! I promise, it was a sweet love quote).
4) Favorite card shape and or/size ~ It’s hip to be SQUARE
5) Favorite tool ~ Cuttlebug

My Creation

Image Detail

Ins and Outs ~ Mo’s 60th Anniversary Card
Stamps: Jack and Ginger (Mo Manning Digi)
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV, SU Silver

Ink: Copics (W1, 3, 5, 7; C1, 3, 5, 7; G82, 85; B93, 95, 97; E21, 25, 29, 50; Y32; YR21); Spicas (Lipstick, Pitch Black, Gold, Olive); Uniball White Gel Pen; Gelly Clear Star; Laser Printer

Accessories: Scrap Ribbon, Number Stickers

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Mo’s Wedding Card


I tried a little experiment and took an image, printed it twice and colored them both the same. I will do this when I plan to cut out pieces and pop them up for dimension, but this time I wanted to see what I’d create. This is the first of the cards using identically colored Jack and Ginger from Mo Manning (I'll try to get the second card done soon). I wanted to make a non-traditional wedding card and I figured by pairing the image of an elderly couple with the verse, it would fit the bill. Kind of give a shapshot of what the happy couple can hope to experience in 50 years.

Sketch and Color Inspiration ~ Stamping for the Weekend #41 ~ Sketch with Blue and Yellow

Inspiration
Cinema Saturday #84 ~ Father of the Bride
This is such a classic movie and Steve Martin shines in his role. As an only daughter who’s father suddenly passed away 4 months before her wedding, I have a soft spot in my heart for the film. I often spoke to my dad about our someday walk down the aisle. It was something we’d looked forward too for 35 years. I’ll simply tell you I had tears falling when I walked the aisle with him in spirit. Sorry about that, back to the card. I choose to be inspired by the love the parents have for each other. I know my image has an older couple than the movie parents, but the look they are giving each other reminds me of the movie’s characters, and my own parents.
A Spoon Full of Sugar #109 ~ Good Luck/Best Wishes
I don’t believe in luck, just hard work; but every wedding should start with lots of well wishes.
DP2 Challenge #37 ~ Anything Goes
S2G Twisted Thursday #62 ~ Something New
I used this wonderful new digi image from Mo Manning. I shouldn’t tell you that somewhere in my house is a clear cling stamp of this image from Stampavie. I searched high and low but couldn’t find it and HAD to use the image for a few cards. I actually prefer the digi as I was able to make it larger than the clear stamp, which I found a day later.
365 Cards Day 110 ~ Love is in the Air with a Twist
Ack, I just realized part of the challenge was to have ‘love’ on the card. I’m going to be a rebel, since this is after the prize draw, and say the love is unspoken and conveyed by the longing look the couple is giving each other. C’mon, I hit all the other criteria for a non-traditional card. A girl has to take a bit of interpretative freedom now and then. :o)

My Creation

Image Detail
The silhouette of these lovebirds is pretty similar to me and Mr.Gears!
Tip - I usually use solid shading to ground my images. In this case I grabbed a few Copics and created a 'stoney' path for the couple just by using dots.
Inside
Ins and Outs ~ Mo’s Wedding Card
Stamps: Jack and Ginger (Mo Manning Digi); Computer Generated Verse
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV Café Mediterranean

Ink: Copics (W1, 3, 5, 7; C1, 3, 5, 7; G82, 85; B93, 95, 97; E21, 25, 29, 50; Y32; YR21); Spicas (Lipstick, Pitch Black, Gold, Olive); Uniball White Gel Pen; Gelly Clear Star; Laser Printer

Accessories: Pop up dots, SU Rub on (inside verse)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Ahoy Matey!

ARGH! I’m a day behind. I thought today was the 22nd! I’ve been planning my pirate card all week for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge….that ended yesterday. Plus I think the color challenge is over as well. It’s that whole ‘What the heck happened to my weekend’ thing catching up with me. I did have a blast creating a pirate scene with my images from Dustin Pike. The was their first excursion off my hard drive and aside from taking, err, a few hours, to color, cut and assemble, it was a blast!

Sketch Inspiration ~ Cute Card Thursday #117

Inspiration
The Diedrich Dare Challenge This has been inspiring me all month long, the sea, the colors, my 'wild' dragon.
Die Cut Dreams #54 ~ Blue, Green for a Teenage Boy
Okay, if you’re thinking of an 18 year old, this might not work; however it was made for a ‘new’ teen, a 13 year old boy. He has a thing for pirates.
Simon Says Challenge ~ Pirates
Hand Full of Stamps #32 ~ Nothing Like a Little H2O
ABC Challenge ~ X is for eXtra Dimension
The background was colored on my card base, the dragon and treasure chest cut out and popped on dimensionals. The treasure sign is another layer that I customized for the card.

My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

I added my own verse next the image and a black box border, before I printed it. I used the banner freebie from the challege blog and added it over the blank scroll.
Ins and Outs ~ Ahoy Matey!
Stamps: Pirate Set (Dustin Pike digis)
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV, SU Silver scrap

Ink: Laser Printer; Copics (100; BG0000; B21, 24; E25, 29, 41, 50, 53; YG0000, 11, 13; Y26, 28); Gold Spica

Accessories: Pop up dots