Letting Y'all Know...

Just wanted to let my wonderful blogging friends know that your comments and prayers have been much appreciated. My dad rallied for a bit, enough to see all of our family, then he lapsed into a sleep and peacefully passed yesterday. I've spent the last 12 or so hours just being quiet at home with Honey to give time for everyone in the family to absorb it. We have so much to do with cleaning out the hospice room and his 2-bedroom apartment by March 31 if possible. I feel that I must give that my attention and hit the ground running Monday if not sooner.

So I may not be posting for awhile, then again, maybe I might have something made to post. Several times today I reached for some card parts but just did not feel enthusiastic enough. I thought I might try art journaling later on and see if that's appealing to me. I'm a bit determined to try to do something creative every day, but may just get as far as thinking about it or imagining it.

I guess this is what grieving is. An unfamiliar, uncomfortable in-between empty spot that you don't want to be in but you can't leave until something lets you. That something being Time. I have lost count of how many times I have seen it suck all creativity out of an artist and I'm really hoping that doesn't happen to me.

I want very much want to continue to have creations to blog about. So, please don't give up on me. I won't give up trying, even amidst this new "job" I'm going to have. Hopefully I can get enthused again enough to create when I can. Thanks for visiting today! xoxo

Birthday Blow Dry

Hello all! Okay, super quick post to share a birthday for my miracle-worker hairdresser. My dad had a devastating stroke a week ago today and our lives have been altered quickly and tremendously. I'm still adjusting as I put out fires, so I feel lucky to have been able to get this card made.

   

I used a Lucy Chesna sketch as a 5x7 card.

Supplies:
SU Card stock
Scenic Route patterned paper
Neenah Solar White card stock for printed image
K&Co Letter stickers
Paper Nest Dolls Hairdresser Ellie digital stamp on front, Hero Arts & Avery Elle clear stamps inside and back
Stash items: 3D rolled flowers (probably Jolene's from way back)
Promarkers and Distress Markers for coloring Ellie

 

 Here's the inside and the back of card. I'll try to identify the stamps used and update this post when/if I do. I'm not doing that great a job of concentrating right now, so please excuse me.

Challenges:
1. My SketchWorld Facebook Sketchathon
2. Outlawz Monday Greetings: Girls / Women / Beauty
3. Paper Nest Dolls March Challenge: AG
4. Moo Mania #185: Women
5. Ike's World Challenge #117: AG + B is for Blue
6. Country View Challenge March: Letters and or Numbers

I hope you liked my card and thank you for visiting. Please keep my family in your prayers if you're into prayer. I would appreciate it and will elaborate more when I get a chance. Hugs! xoxox

When You Accidentally Disobey the Sketch...

Hiya, folks. I'm sharing a card today that I think turned out decently enough, but makes a fine illustration about punting when you screw up!

Ok, had you not seen the sketch, or had you not looked closely at the sketch, you'd probably be wondering what screw-up? The very moment that I glued that second strip down along the border of the dark red mat instead of a half-inch to the left, I knew I'd messed up and the double-sided tape wouldn't let me pull it up without taking some of the mat with it. Committed. So, I punted and made the third strip the only one not flush-right.

Supplies Used:
Sketch by Lucy Chesna of My Sketch World
SU card stock
Patterned card stock: Teresa Collins by Junkitz Love Line (very old)
Bugaboo Digital Image "Love Ewe", hand coloured with Promarkers
Sentiments created in PSE
Avery Elle Elle-ments Flag Die
Stash items: round paper lace, enamel dots and hearts

The Bugaboo digital ewe image was layered onto the focal point of another sketch in PSE and then printed out. That sketch was from Bugaboo's Stella Says Sketch a couple of challenges back. One that I never got around to finishing by the deadline -- story of my life. That sketch even had the two half-round circles on either side and I had pulled the little paper circle out to use for it. Anyway, I thought that frame looked good, so I kept the ewe in it and kept the half-circles too. I think they add interest and texture, and actually lessen the weirdness of my strips some. Then, because my focal is much bigger than the one in the sketch, I added the 3 heart dots for balance. I created all the sentiments in PSE and printed out on card stock, then cut them into strips.

   

Here is the inside of my card and the back. I kept the word strips going from the front. I used an AE flag die to cut the siggie stamp out for the back.

When I coloured my ewe image, I was conducting an experiment of sorts. I've had a theory that with markers, the warm greys have a tinge of brown in them and the cool and ice greys maybe a teeny tad of blue, but no brown. Here I colored the ewe's fur with the warm greys and then outlined in a darker cool grey. And I could see it! Then I took my lightest ice grey and coloured the background. I think it makes the image pop more than if it were just white. Plus, I needed some grey on the card. The ewe's eyes stand out and so do the sentiments. And the white paper circles pick up on that.

Challenges Linked To:

1. MFT Color Challenge #111

2. My Sketch World Sketch Sketch-a-thon #11 Bonus Card

3. Outlawz Festive Friday Challenge: Anything Goes Theme - I chose Valentine's Day

4. Bugaboo February Photo Inspiration Challenge - I used the red and white and grey colors

5. More Mixed Media February: AG + Optional RED - I have used the optional red

6. A Bit More Time To Craft #86: AG Always

7. CHNPPC: AG with Patterned Papers

8. Colour Crazy Wk 7: Always AG with Colouring - I coloured my focal image with Promarkers

9. TTCRD Feb. 26th: AG Always

10. Scrapbook Stamp Society #159: AG + Opt. Not Square - I did optional, mine is rectangle

11. Jo's Scrap Shack #270: Always AG

12. Crafts Galore Encore #60: AG

13. Creative Crafters #13: Always AG

14. Crazy 4 Challenges c4c472: Put A Pet On Card - Mine's a pet ewe (well, people do have them!)

15. 613 Avenue Create #218: AG + Opt. Twist Use a Critter - I took the twist, my critter's a ewe

I hope you liked my card and I thank you for visiting today!! 

XOXOX 

Unicorn Magic

Hello, Blogging Lovelies! Isn't every weekend magical in some way? Well, this this one's no exception. I have a magical birthday card to share with you.

  

I put this current Bugaboo Stella Says Sketch (ABOVE LEFT) into PSE and stretched it to the square size I wanted (ABOVE RIGHT).

 

First thing I did was plan out how to meet a few other challenges. I chose Double Trouble's current Triple Challenge and Thing 1 was Tic*Tac*Toe. I picked the middle column. I heat-embossed my background, I added 2 digital images from Bugaboo's Unicorn Set and I have two pieces of some old Doodlebug yellow vellum on the left side and overlapping that in the middle of my cardfront. These replace the patterned paper and focal point mat in the sketch. That way my homemade background shows through!

  

Here you can see my backgrounds. I used green plus pink plus blue and also the gold accents from Outlawz current Color Challenge Photo, and since the optional challenge twist is to make your own background, I created mine using the Rubberband Stamping technique to meet Mix It Up's current challenge. I wrapped rubber bands around an acrylic brayer wheel, inked up with Delicata Gold pigment ink, rolled it on straight across for the front and from the edges to the center for the back, and then heat-embossed both panels with clear powder. 

I chose Distress inks in my chosen colors and then sponged my background panels using Tim's round foam applicator tool.

 

I colored my unicorn and cloud digital images with Distress markers in the same colors as the ink and added some gray Promarker to the unicorn's hooves. Also some clear Wink of Stella for a glittering coating.

I adhered my vellum pieces with Tombow Vellum Tape Roller - it does a really nice invisible job. I then got to work cutting out my Jane Davenport by Spellbinders unicorn, hanging hearts and scalloped border that I just had to have. The hearts and the border are great, but those tiny little pieces in the unicorn above gave me permanent crossed eyes! So easy to lose and confuse, not easy to put back on. I colored the die cuts with Distress Markers and Wink of Stella Gold glitter brush pen. then a random brushing with my Clear Wink of Stella.

I stamped the Wild Rose Studio sentiment with Versafine Clair and die cut it with Spellbinders Circle Nestie. Then I assembled my card front and adhered that to a Bazzill scalloped card base that's the same blue as the drawers in the Outlaws color challenge photo. 

 

Here is the inside of my card and the back of it. I used Skipping Stones and Verve sentiments inside and a Stamp Magick siggie stamp on the back.

All of the card stock used for the background base mats, die cuts and printed digital images is Neenah Solar White. 

Some shots to show the glittery shimmer on the card:

I loved how my background came out and I hope you liked my card! 

Linking to these Challenges:

1. Bugaboo Stella Says Sketch SSS704

2. Outlawz Color Challenge for Feb. 12: Photo Inspiration + DIY Background - see post for explanation of how I created my DIY background and the colors I chose for the challenge.

3. Double Trouble Challenge #22:Do You Believe in Magic with Use Your Stuff - I believe in unicorn magic! Thing 1 - explained in post with image; Thing 2 - Linked to Use Your Stuff Thing 3 -  I believe that unicorns are mythical and magical, so they are on my card with glitter and sparkle.

    

4. Use Your Stuff #348: Do You Believe in Magic? Double Trouble Team-Up - I believe in unicorns and that they are magical!

5.  A Vintage Journey: Your Heart's Desire  - Mixed Media and a little 70's Vintage Retro look to this card - think Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony ;-) 

6. Try It On Tuesday: Powder Your... - I used embossing powder on my background, front and back.

7. A Bit More Time to Craft #86: Always AG

8. Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media: Vintage - my card has a 70's Vintage Retro feel to it. I combined dry collage layering, inks/markers, heat embossing, stamping and direct-to-paper technique.

9. Colour Crazy Wk 6 : Always AG - I coloured with my Distress Markers.

10. Mix It Up #2: AG + Rubber Band Stamping - I made my background with the Rubber Band Brayer technique

11. Through The Craft Room Door for Week of Feb. 19: Always AG

12. Card Mania #113: Love Is In The Air

13. Jo's Scrap Shack #270: Always AG

14. Cards Galore Encore #60: Always AG

15.  Sparkles Monthly #113: Include an Animal - Unicorn: mythical horse

16. Time Out Challange #129: RETRO - my card has that 70's vintage retro feel, think My Little Pony and Rainbrow Brite ;-) I did NOT choose to do the optional one layer card.

17. 613 Avenue Create #218: Use a Critter - Unicorn: Mythical horse critter

That's it for me - hope everyone has a great week! I know I will -- my birthday is on Thursday! xoxo

A Tale of Two Pretties

Happy Thursday! I'm sharing two projects today that are related. The first project is part of the second project. I made a 4x6 artist post card and then used it on a card. First, the 4x6 artist post card:

Africa was the theme at The Three Muses, where the Linky is still open so that latecomers can play.

Supplies Used:
OD Index card stock
Sweet n Sassy Landscape Silhouette Stamp
Distress Inks
Circle Punch for sun mask
Promarkers
Inktense pencils
Wink of Stella Yellow
Pentel Black Brush Pen

I began by stamping the landscape silhouette, then punching a circle on sticker paper and applying it to my card stock, then using the round Tim Tool foam ink applicator to apply my Distress Inks in assorted orange-y shades. I did my best to make streaks across the sky.

I made the foreground too dark at first, so had to work and work to get more orange in that area. I dried each layer of color with my heat tool. I then removed the sun mask and colored it with my Promarkers in a light dull yellow. Then I added some glitter to the sun with my Wink of Stella pen. Lastly, I continued the streaks I'd made in the sky across the sun with the Inktense pencils on the slightly dampened surface, rubbing scross with my finger. I

When I felt it was finished, I re-stamped the silhouette, I then scanned the piece and opened it in PSE. I made a black border and added the Africa text in PSE.

To say I love how it turned out would be an understatement. I'm thinking if someone who has written a book about Africa needs a great cover, I'm their girl hahaha.

Linking to these Challenges:
1. Three Muses: Africa
________________________________________________________________

Okay, so what did I do with my Africa artist post card?

  

I made this birthday card with it. I've used the current Outlawz Challenge Sketch, pretty straight-forwardly, even though it may not appear that way because it's basically a monochromatic color scheme - different shades of orange with dramatic black/dark brown accenting.

If you are familiar with VersaFine Clair colors, you may know that their darkest brown, Fallen Leaves, is very very very close to black. Their black, Nocturne, is a very nice true black. Fallen Leaves is what I used everywhere on this card. The only true black used was the 4x6 mat for my artist post card. And I did that because my take on orange is that it is naturally and usually a middle bridge color between yellow and brown, so I thought it a better choice over black. But then, I did not have a brown card stock as dark as that ink, so I used black. At any rate, I can see the difference and I like the look of the ink with the orange. It could also be I don't like to pair orange and black up unless it's Halloween. :-)

Supplies Used:
4x6 Artists Post card made earlier (see above)
Colormates / SU / Bazzill card stocks
Handmade woven mulberry paper
DCWV patterned paper
Stamps: Gerda Steiner, Sweet n Sassy
Inks: VersaFine Clair
Dies: Gerda Steiner, Clear Dollar, Spellbinders Nesties
Stash items: lace seam binding, glitter ribbon

Here you can see the weave texture and pattern on the handmade paper which looks brown but is a burnt orange color. It reminded me of Africa (what I know of it without actually having been there).
I distressed the edge of the orange patterned paper on the bottom layer of the front and back of the card.

I combined two of Gerda's stamp and die sets -- Party Animals and Go Wild! I decided to stamp and die cut all the little characters and the sentiment out of a lighter color of orange card stock that reminded me of my favorite childhood ice cream bar, Dreamsicle. I'm glad I did that, the lighter contrast helps them be seen because this is a rather busy card. I decided not to color the images because it looked more monochromatic that way.

 

Here are the inside and back of my card. You can see the handmade paper very well on the back. About the lace seam binding: I chose it for its rich orange color. I don't have that much orange ribbon. I see now it looks a little funny on what is a juvenile or cartoon version of a masculine card. Oh well, it also isn't that noticeable and has a pattern. It always astounds me what I do NOT think of beforehand, even though I've been making cards for over a decade.

I hope you liked my card! I think these stamps are adorable...and a little snarky too.

Challenges Linked to:
1. Cutie Pie #132: One for the Boys
2. Gerda Steiner Monthly Share: Share Your Design Feb. 2019
3. Rainbow Card Challenge #2: Orange Opulence
4. Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies
5. CHNPPC February Challenge: AG with Patterned Paper
6. Sparkles Monthly Challenge #113: Include an Animal
7. TTCRD for Week of Feb. 19: AG
8. Scrap Stamp Society #158: AG + Optional Birthday - mine's a birthday card
9. 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #23: AG with a Critter
10. Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge: Feb. 20-Mar. 5

Thanks for dropping by! See ya soon! xoxo