Saturday, August 25, 2012

Operation Write Home SKIP - PIZZAZ

Look at me - I am a Plain Jane - I have nothing pizzazy going for me - I know Barb could do lots more with me and these papers.  


So Barb - did a few fun things for me.  She colored me with her Copics.  Barb is not a wonderful coloring person but she knows enough to add color to the images.  For this SKIP - she broke out her bottle of Glossy Accents.  My hat band, bird, earmuffs and the stripes on the scarf now have added dimension.  She liked it so well - she did it on all the cards.  Luckily she had enough coffee in her so that she could see when she did this.  Did you notice how I am not surrounded by white?  She got out her chalks and a cotton ball and rubbed chalk around me.  I like being surrounded by color.  The background card stock is embossed with a Cuddlebug embossing folder.  She added a winter sentiment (now I am not just for Christmas but a card that can be used for all the cold months).  She added a snowflake brad and some bling.  I am pop dotted for extra dimension.


On this card - everything is almost the same - except Barb broke out the paint and put it inside the embossing folder.  The paint has some sheen to it - so I am shiny and silvery.


OK - I am suppose to be at the bottom but I am so beautiful I did not want to be last.  On this card she embossed me with white embossing powder and a snowflake background stamp.  She inked the edges of the embossed card stock.  I was matted with white so my background pops.  


OK - I am last but not the least - that is the number 1 card - he is such a loser.  On this card Barb embossed me with the Cuddlebug folder and then she rubbed me (how lovely that felt) with VersaMark and then she sprinkled me with clear embossing powder and warmed me to the core.  I shine so beautifully but I am clear.


Do you think these cards make me look fat?
I think I just look really pizzazzy.
Snowflake kisses to all of you.

Wasn't this fun looking at all the different way to do Pizzaz.  Please revisit Stars and Stamps and leave a comment telling how you are going to add Pizzaz to your cards.

60 comments:

Jen M said...

Great job, Barb! It is so neat to see the progression your card took. A few small changes and it's pizazzed out!

Unknown said...

OMG- I loved each and every card- and the different techniques you did with the embossing folder-- very creative and motivating! And I love the snowman explaining what you did- I chuckled thru your post! Thanks for sharing all of your ideas- great idea to use the sentiment so it can be sent anytime during the winter!

Katie0750 said...

Barb I love your snowman cards and your sense of humor!!

Paula S. said...

Fantastic (and funny) post! It's especially helpful to see the same design with all these various ideas. You've added at least 3 totally new possibilities to my repertoire. Great skip Barb!

Penny L. said...

Thanks for the snowman narrative!!! He had me smiling! Your progression of cards was very helpful! I hate to admit it, but now you've got me wondering if my cards look more like #1 card than they should (although even he was pretty darn nice!). Anyway, you've inspired me to step up my game!

Carol J said...

Fun Fun blog, thanks for the humor. I like all the snowmen, sorry but that includes #1 - don't want him to feel left out ! Several new ideas for the embossed background in order to add pizzaz. Thanks for the great cards.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Awesome winter time cards. I love the dry embossed backgrounds and that is something I try to use a lot myself. In no time at all, it will give a card that little extra edge to make it look outstanding. Yours are excellent examples indeed! An, I thought #1 was cool too.

Shiles728 said...

A cotton ball and chalk, I never would have thought of that. Great, great ideas Barb! Thank you so much for organizing such an inspiring skip. So many useful ideas. Thanks!!!

ShannonD said...

I had thought about doing a "before and after" but didn't get around to it. I love it! The before is still a great card and you made it that much better. Way to go! Lots of fun ideas to copy. Thanks!

Nancy said...

Such cute cards. Love the way you changed each one to give it a unique look. Amazing how just changing the background or shine can really make a difference. Thank you for sharing. (And thank you for the fun narrative)

Ann said...

Great post! I love the snowman narrator!I love all the different things you did with one card. So many possibilities with the same basics. I can't wait to try some of these! Thanks for a great skip!

Unknown said...

Frosty, Barb really went to town! I'm so inspired by all the heat embossing, sanding, and chalking. Especially love the glow around you from the chalk. Thanks for sharing!

Joan K said...

I got so distracted with the cute first(snow)person narrative that I had to go back and look at the techniques several times! What a fun stop on the skip this was. Adding shimmer paint to the embossing folder is probably my favorite. Thanks from a fellow Badger Cheesehead!

Kathy S said...

What a great way to show us the different things you can do by adding different elements to the card to make them pizazz. Wow - they are all great.

sandybear76 said...

Wow, I love your blog post as told by the snowman. Toooo cute!! I love the changes to each card with easy things to make the changes. I love it!!

conil said...

Clever girl. Your blog is a hoot. The card progressions are perfect. This truly shows how a little extra effort can change the entire look. No you don't look fat.

Cheryl L. said...

These cards are really cute! I never thought about putting paint in an embossing folder! I think the color scheme is a great one for winter cards too!

Cindy E. Rapson said...

Great transition from card to card. It never ceases to amaze me how a simple technigue like coloring or adding layers can change the whole card and give it that PIZAZZ we're all looking for! Thank you for educating me...

Velda said...

I really liked seeing how much we can do to change one plain little stamp and make each card different. Great job!

Misty said...

I loved the cards Barb as usual. But I really loved the snowman giving us the tour! LOL!
Hummer Hugs,
Misty
http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/
http://deliteful-alpha-sets.blogspot.com/
hummingbird204 at comcast dot net

Sybrina K said...

Barb,

Loved how you showed the step-by-step process for adding even more pizazz to a pretty cute "loser" card.

I'm going to have to try some of that new Versamark felt.

TFS -- and thanks for organizing this skip! :)

Amy A. said...

I love your card that has the shimmery paint with the embossing. I would love to know how to do that. (Hey Sandy-tutorial!;-))All your cards are lovely and are giving me warm thoughts of winter.

greggers said...

Your journaling was great and fun to read. It was creative how you added different accents to pizzaz up your cards. Thanks for the tips!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing! I have yet to try the ink inside the embossing folder yet - more inspiration to do it!

Over Embellishing said...

Ok I think you added pizazz to your cards just on the color choice- purple for a winter themed card! I luv it- I think many items we get stuck in a rut when it comes to colors and holidays- this was awesome!

Susan S said...

Each of these cards is so cute. And yes they make you (snowman) look fat but in a lovable wintery sort of way :D

byAnnette said...

I really love all the unexpected purple with your beautifully colored snowman. Embossing the background add just the right amount of Pizzazz.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for arranging this wonderful little skip. And certainly for sharing your cards. Mr. Snowman turned out very pizzazzy and handsome. Pat K.

Sue D said...

Fabulous pizzazzy cards and love the way you wrote the post. Thanks for showing so many ways to add pizzazz.

Dolores said...

Barb...Your terrific cards give the proper ending to this pizzazzy skip. Thanks for the great storytelling of the steps taken to add more pizzaz to a simple card, all of which took time and thought to create. You're amazing!

Sherry Butcher said...

Thanks for the pizzazz cards. I like your snow man.

Cindy's Card Co said...

You are so funny. Although, if your snowmen are talking to you, you may want to lay off the bloody marys. Love how you made so many different cards with all the same supplies. Great job. Thanks for organizing the skip and inviting me.

Donna Nuce said...

You win the prize for the best blogging on this skip! Very cute and VERY informative! Love your different dry and wet embossing ideas.

Desert Rose Stamper said...

Cute pizzaz cards. I like how you demonstrated different pizzazed (not sure if this a word??) cards. It helps seeing the differences. Thanks for a great job on your cards.

Sharon

rscholz said...

What a difference a little pizazz can make. Really enjoyed the progression of cards and the narrative from the snowman. (Sorry I didn't catch his name.) Thanks for sharing, Barb.

rscholz said...

Thanks, Barb for putting the skip together. I really enjoyed it and learned some new techniques.

sherry varga said...

Love how you added the pizzaz to your card. Awesome job. I like the colors that you used and the bling to pizzaz it up.

Debra said...

What a great way to highlight the embossed backgrounds. The one done with paint looks like it is metal, neat! Thanks for all the ideas.

Marilyn's Cricut Crafts said...

Love the snowman cards! I have never thought about adding chalk with a cottonball before! I have to try this!

Unknown said...

I love the story and the progression of the card. Great tutorial. And great idea for a winter card.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful cards, love the snowman. Mary L Schreiber

Anonymous said...

All delightful in their own way Barb! Definately love the addition of the small snowflake - Mary in Wausau.

Unknown said...

I was perfectly happy with card #1 until I saw the others -- ha! You really stepped them up along the way. Thanks for all the different techniques I now have to put on my list to try. Nice work and very funny narrative.

lindagrady said...

Great way to demo how you stepped up each card a little more each time. Love the embossing and the coloring of the snowman.

Nancy Keller said...

LOL! What an awesome post...I will ever be able to make a snowman card again without thinking of your little narrative! Awesome examples here! Best blog post of the year! :D

Linda said...

I have to agree with Nancy! An awesome blog post! Awesome examples of pizazz! Thanks for the share!

~ Kathy said...

Your snowman had me smiling the whole way through the post! I love the heat embossed snowflake background. It's also interesting to see how the same paper choices can have so many different looks!

Beth L. said...

Awesome cards! I love how you showed the progression with the cards and the different techniques we can do.

Heather C said...

Great cards! I love how you added some touches to each card and explained what you did. Great blog skip! Thanks for a great job putting it together!

ThePurplePlace said...

OMG -- I am in LOVE what you did will all these sweet and adorable snowman!! Great cards and my favorite color too!!

YOU ROCKED these for sure!!

Lisa said...

Thank you for a wonderful tutorial on stepping up a plain card!! I loved the addition of glossy accents to the scarf of the snowman and all of the amazing techniques with the embossing folders!

Rufus said...

I'm still laughing at the do these cards make me look fat! What a fantastic skip you organized and your comments through the snowman and the progression from "loser" to super pizzaz where fun. Don't think the first one is a "loser" BTW. Just a bit plain in comparison to his friends! Thanks for the skip and the laugh! OWH rocks! Oh, almost forgot...you, Mr. Snowman, are in perfect shape...not a bit fat...those anorexic scrawny snowmen just look so wrong!
R/

Operation Write Home said...

It's a before and after and after and after and after...lol! Cute Barb!

Betty: Reflections with Coffee said...

So many techniques here, I'm going to grab the giraffe cards I made Saturday and add chalk with cotton. Thanks for the idea. And snowmen are supposed to ge generously endowed with snow!

Carolynn said...

Great inspiration from your cards and the rest of the skip! If your snowmen could drive, they'd each have a bumper sticker that said "I {heart} BARB!"

Dawn C. said...

I love all your cards! Its amazing the little things you can do to make the card pop! Not to mention, they are all done in my favorite color! Who wouldn't love to get one of those cards!

Julie said...

Fun cards, Barb! I think silvery paint in the embossing folder is fabulous! Love it!

mtscrapgal said...

What a great idea to let the card guy do the talking. Great step by step tute for us. Thanks for putting the great blog skip together, Barb.

Marlene Diefendorf said...

Thank you for the gorgeous cards and humurous narrative. I love how you progressed from one technique to another. Using shimmer paint and clear embossing are new to me. I'm looking forward to trying them to add pizzaz to my cards.

Nancy M said...

Haha--very funny and informative, too! I love the narrative and the techniques you showed. I love the cottonball tip--gonna use that one!! TFS!!