Friday, June 27

These are not for a challenge...

but for two lovely ladies at work!

I cased the card in a box...


I made two for my son & daughter-in-law for Easter.
When my supervisor wanted to tell our Winter desk aides that we would miss them during the summer I knew I had to make these cards! 


The key to these is what I used for the suspending strips. I cut up the clear packaging from one of my Spellbinders.
This way you can't see how the images are suspended in the card.


It looks a lot more difficult than it actually is!

You should try it!

Sunday, June 22

Fourth of July one layer card...

Our Daily Bread is not a stamp company that I relate to one layer.
Usually they are very ornate...and gorgeous.
However I love simple cards. That's what I do, mostly.
So excited that I get to play this challenge in my comfort zone.

 ODBD has two wonderful flag images. My friend has one and I have the other. So I pulled out my image and wondered how to create a one layer???
My Distress marker were pulled out, watercolor paper and watercolor brush.

Check out what others have done for the challenge:

Watercoloring with another challenge...


Though I'm not sure this is considered "Clean & Simple".
The rules are not too much "glitz" and one color as the main color.
My problem is the blog says white, so I hope I didn't break any rules.
This is definitely a watercolor.
I took my rectangle acrylic block, inked it up with Distress ink, spritzed my watercolor paper and laid the block on the paper.
The block came off and I heat tooled it just enough to stop it from being "sloppy".
Once it dried fully I stamp the weed image. The background just reminded me of a stormy sky.
 
Check out the challenge at:
 

More watercoloring for this challenge...

The background is made with my Distress markers, scribbled onto one of my embossing folders, spritzing it and laying watercolor paper over the top. I did not run it through the Cuttlebug.
Instead I ran my brayer, with the rubber insert, over it, leaving it on for a minute or two to soak up the ink.
The flower is the Tim Holtz tattered flower garland.

It is so nice to get a sketch to use things I make and then wonder what to do with them!!!


Just click on the link above to challenge yourself!

The Mod Squad Challenge for this week....

asked us to use Summer colors! Luckily yesterday I had just Zentangled a watering can with a bunch of flowers. 
This could easily be colored in.

This was an interesting tangle. I stamped my images before, but this one I took the packaging from my Spellbinders, the watering can punch and a small flower punch.
I punched out the images away from each other in the plastic, not an easy task.

 I took the stencil I had created and placed the can on my card stock. I drew around it leaving a couple of spaces at the top for the flowers. I started drawing in the flowers.

Today I pulled out my Inktense color 
pencils and started filling my image with Summer colors!

 I couldn't resist the saying....it's from a set of Art Impressions stamps I got from JoAnns.
I really did "wet my plants" with the water coloring!

Check out the Challenge at:




Thursday, June 19

New to Fusion...

I haven't tried the Fusion Challenge yet but they had a sketch and picture that said, "You have an anniversary coming up!"
Luckily my hubby doesn't check my blog unless I link to Facebook.

So here goes...



These are the two places I will be posting my card. It's interesting to see how this works. I usually only post one card to one challenge.


From the Fusion picture I loved the gold butterfly and the candle that looked gold wrought iron like to me! Went to my embossing folders and found the wrought iron Cuttlebug folder. Over to my punches and found the butterfly 3-in-1 by EK. Started with just the black butterflies and realized I could put gold behind them.

(By the way does anyone else have trouble with their 
3-in-1 for the solid image? I struggle to punch it out. I've tried all the usual remedies but nothing seems to work?)

Back to the card. I started to go through my stamps and remembered a set from Cloud9 for weddings. Though this is an anniversary card I found the perfect sentiment for me and the hubby!

I just finished it and put it away before he comes in from mowing the lawn, all 6 acres!

Please check out the sites and try a challenge of your very own.
 

Sunday, June 15

Wedding gift and card...

I know I can post this before I leave this in my co-workers mailbox because I won't place this post on Facebook!


The picture above is the table runner I made her. I don't know her colors but I thought this could be used as a Spring or Summer runner. I've been so busy card making  for challenges that it was good to sew for a bit.

  However
she still needed a card to go with it so I tried to match some of the colors in the runner to make a wedding cake card.

I'm not the "Cake Boss" but I felt like I was rolling fondant as I rolled the cream card stock through the Cuttlebug in the Birds and Vines embossing folder.
I found the idea on Pinterest!


 
I'm hoping she likes it!

Zentangling, again...

I was dying to try cream color card stock and my brown marker.
I ran across the latest challenge for
Less is More


It seemed the perfect time to make another Zentangle. This time instead of using my stamps I cut a piece of card board with my Spellbinders Butterfly die.

It worked great for a starter outline.


I looked up a butterfly saying online and shaded the edge of the card with Vintage Photo Distress ink!
Okay so I can't spell...it's supposed to be butterflies. 
Next time I'll use a stamp!

A choose your own challenge...

Paper Players is celebrating their 200th challenge!

Paper Players

I chose the #61 Sketch. I had made this wonderful Joseph's coat background with my Distress inks, I just love Dusty Concord!
I also made the flower by using my acrylic block, inked up and spritzed onto watercolor paper. Then when it was dry I stamped the dried flower image. It's one of my favs as well.


I hope you can see the Spellbinders frame that I cut out because I have to rave about a new product I just bought.

I was having a horrible time with the "fancier" Spellbinders dies. I hated pushing each individual piece out with a toothpick...so time consuming.
One Saturday with my stamping group someone told me about the Spellbinders tool.

Eureka!!!
This tool does it all. The flat piece eases the die cut out of the die. No more ripping.
The brush cleans out ALL (and I mean in seconds) the leftover pieces in the die.
Then, if you still need it, they have a pokey thingy attachment!

I have no problem doing fancier dies now...problem is I will want to buy more.

Saturday, June 14

Zentangling....

Recently I posted about being with my
 stamping group but instead of stamping I was Zentangling...
I lied!

I was actually using this Magenta stamp


 
I stamped it onto a piece of white card stock and took it with me to group. 
Can you blame me??? 
This was one of those times I just didn't want to drag 5 different cases to complete 5 cards. Instead, I made my 5 donation cards ahead of time (they were my challenge cards for the week!) and stamped up a bunch of "open" images, took my pens and set out with one very light bag on my shoulder!!!

Now to where I lied...I don't think you can call it Zentangling when you stamp the image first. I also did more doodling with ideas that I thought would work in the "open" space, than following any written zentangle.

Here are a few of the results:
 

This, and my dear friend who is majorly hooked on Zentangle, made me want to learn more. Because I work in a library I put "holds" (that's getting books from other libraries in our system) on three wonderful Zentangle books.
The Beauty of Zentangle by Suzanne McNeil and Cindy Shepard
The Art of Zentangle by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas
Zentangle Untangled by Kass Hall
Now I know there are tangles that you can use, ideas for drawing your own "open" space  and I can relax when I do it.

The "zen" part is true. I can tune out things around me when I do it.

Now to the really fun part. I have been doing a bunch of challenges lately. they are so much fun! I found the following and thought it would be perfect to use with my Zentangled tulip. 


Here's the result...


Hope you like it and you WILL see more of my Zentangling or doodling in the future.

Thursday, June 12

A color challenge...

For those of you who think I never sleep...I do!
This challenge proves I have a bedroom as I have to use the colors in said bedroom for the challenge!


Actually my bedroom has my favorite color in the world...


RUST.

Actually it's rust and cream. 
When I moved into this house it had brand new mauve carpeting.
And it still does.
(Not in the bedroom)
I just can't get rid of something because I don't like the color, IF it's still functioning.
 But seriously look at my older posts...do I look like a pink girl??? Even my blog has a rust background!
However I did want a room that just made me "feel" when I entered it. No I didn't forget a word I really meant "feel".
When I walk in this room all my senses are calmed and I just feel wonderful.

So for the challenge I chose a Stampin' Up simple stamp and ghost stamped it. First with a cream ink then with the darker rust.

I am very interested in the cards on the "Less is More" site.
Try checking it out!
 
 

By the sea, by the sea....

Once again the challenges are making me use my "stash"!


This challenge really was fun. It's hot and muggy here in New York at the moment.
 I cranked up the air and thought of sea breezes when I started this card.


The paper was from a Debbie Mumm pack (in my HUGE stash of paper), the dolphin (from my HUGE stash of Stampin' Up stamps) and the odd shapes behind the dolphin is a punch (from my not quite as HUGE, since I donated a bunch, stash of punches).

I didn't want the dolphin in black so I pulled out my Vivid ink pads and used Cobblestone to stamp his image.
After that I pulled out another oldie, my Dove blender, to pick up the ink from a CD and give it a more water color effect.
The great part of the Dove blender was that I hadn't used it in over a year and it was still moist! 
WOW!

New Challenge for me...


I was looking all over for new challenges and when I saw coffee AND chocolate I knew I just had to try it!!!

Their Challenge #66...embossing
  is perfect for a new technique that I wanted to try.



I took my Darice embossing folder that looked like the new thing I'm trying...zentangling!

After running the folder loaded with white card stock through my Cuttlebug I pulled out my Tim Holtz mini tool and Ranger inks to start rubbing color on the part that was raised up...not so good.
It ended up placing color on the whole thing and I wasn't pleased. But a friend, long ago, said there are two sides to every paper!

I flipped it over and tried again!
YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
It gave me just the look I wanted. Color on top and the design showing through white!

After cutting it out and layering it on to other card stocks I felt it should have a saying! Punches to the rescue. A flower to match the folder with a saying on it.

It's not a coffee or chocolate color...but maybe next time!

Monday, June 9

Because I knew you....

Yes, I watched the Tony Awards last night!!!

A very dear friend and fellow stamper got me hooked on Wicked, so today's Mojo Monday challenge card is dedicated to her!


We played with our Distress markers together and I decided to make a card out of one of the results!


Once again Mojo Monday has inspired me!!!
I white embossed the flower stamp on kraft card stock. 
Colored with my Distress markers and layered it onto more card stocks!

When I found the sketch for Mojo Monday I embossed more kraft card stock and punched out a flower. 
I didn't want to hide the flower so I pulled out my Martha Stewart "Happy Birthday" punch! 
I was able to fit the flower in the end!

Now I know it's not a man card but read the fine print!
 It says this sketch could be used for a woman's card as well!
(Though I know a few guys who garden that would be very happy to get this card)

P.S. this is my friends blog...

Sunday, June 8

Then I found the Paper Players Color Challenge...

and I HAD to enter the following card:


 
This is more of the velour paper that I have from SU. I placed it in my embossing folders and ran it through the Cuttlebug!

Red, white and blue. I just love them...especially on this anniversary of D-day!
Thank you again to all our servicemen and women.

Stamping with my stamping friends yesterday...

Got me all excited to come home and make cards.
While being with my buddies I actually didn't make any cards?
I tried a new idea, for me, Zentangling!
(More on that in another posting!)

When I came home I checked out what challenges I could enter and found:


Of course never being one to totally follow the rules (hehehe) I decided to enter this card:


The flowers were stamped using Distress ink onto water spritzed (lightly) water color paper. After it dried I went back in with my Distress markers, the fine tip, to highlight the places that needed definition.
 
The sentiment is exactly how I feel about my anniversary, which happens to be this month. Thirty nine years ago I lucked out with a man who could put up with me, support our family, and love me.
That is why this day is always worth more to me than anything else!

Thursday, June 5

Inspiration for a wonderful guy...

My husband and I are friends with a terrific couple.
Not the kind of friends you are with ALL the time, but the type that when you do get together it's a joy to catch up, just as if you never had time away.

This dear friend had leukemia. Just like Robin Roberts of ABC, he was lucky enough to have a wonderful sibling to give him the much needed cells to place his leukemia in remission.
 
Unfortunately, after years of remission, the leukemia is back. Once again he is undergoing a transplant thanks to his sibling.

I pray for him everyday. I even have his name on a post it note on my computer at work.
 (Which lead my cubby mate to ask why I named my computer!)
He will really get a charge out of that!

Of course I need to send cards but none of my cards seemed appropriate that I already had. Then today while making challenge cards I came across the following challenge...


I love playing with my Ranger Distress Inks so I blotted some onto my large acrylic block and spritzed it with water. The following card shows how perfect the result was for a rainy sky!

I pulled out my Tim Holtz clear stamps and found "Charlie", at least that's what I call him. Reminds me a bit of Chaplin???

He was perfect. 
Then the saying for inside that was right next to him...
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass,
but learning to dance in the rain"

This will be going to our friend today!

 

Lots of layers, backwards...

Yes, I could have just layered card stock upon card stock for the

                 *Lots of Layers* House-Mouse Challenge
     # HMFMC171

But I decided to make it more difficult.
 I stamped my House Mouse quilting image "inside" the card! 


Pull out your circle dies and go to town, smallest one on the card front, then larger dies as you work your way through the layers away from the card front. 
You end with the largest (that will fit)!

This is from:
 

White on White, now that IS a Challenge...

The biggest part of the challenge was getting a good picture for the blog!



 Though I'm usually a very clean cut stamper. Not a lot of pearls, dies cuts and such. I decided to "challenge" myself and try thinking out of the box, after all I have these things sitting in my drawers. 
Why not use them!


 I hope you can see it! I used the Anna Griffin embossing folder, die cuts that matched the stamp from Our Daily Bread, embossing powder to put the image onto vellum, dimensional tape, my latest Sizzix "Tim Holtz" die cut tattered flowers and to top it off...
a pearl!

Now I'm going to clean up the mess and get back to some
 simpler cards!
 Though I really did like the "challenge'!

Tuesday, June 3

School's out....

At least at Magenta it is! Their challenge for June is looking forward to long days of sun and fun!


I found another photo of a quilt to use in the challenge.

 I also like to use parts of stamps. I did this by stamping the summer part of my Magenta four seasons stamp and using it on the front of the card!

Off to make more challenge cards...

Say cheese...

Photos are "hot" this time of the year. There are graduations, moving ups, vacations, etc. 
I spent Saturday night going through photos to place on 


There are so many great old black and white photos. I even found a picture of my 2nd great Grandparents on my Mother's side of the family.  I already had the picture but since no one had written anything on the back I didn't know who they were. 
I do now!!!

This Mojo Monday challenge


  I decided not to stamp but to use one of the many photos I have of quilts.


 I loved the Mojo Monday sketch and this photo was the perfect size. Inside I'm putting "A little birdie told me it was your birthday".