Watercolor Christmas

Tonight another art endeavor from my Whimsy Winter Workshop taught by Christy Tomlinson.  Actually Christy did not teach the watercolor tree and unfortunately I do not remember who it was at the present time.  I think for my first attempt - it did turn out OK.

I can not do one layer cards - so I had to trim the image, mat it and add to a card base of watercolor paper. I doodled along the edge and added a sentiment - I do wish I had not put the sentiment on the front - but it is there now and must remain.

Step out of your comfort zone - have some fun.

Let's Get Messy

and Yes I did get messy - I had a fairly new hooded sweatshirt on and it now has paint on it - OK - it is a hang out in the house sweatshirt now - ready to have more paint applied to it.

I decided to try something new (this is not the time of the year to do that - but oh heck - why not).  I decided to take an online mixed media class from Christy Campbell Tomlinson called Winter Whimsy.  So fun - and I have not even had time to watch all the videos she created.

This is my first project I made -  it is a snowman (in case you did not know) - since I am not the most artistic person in the world - it is based on a snowman stamp from Stampendous - I just drew it out to my size.  The snowman is all paper pieces and then I painted over the snowman.  The scarf ended up being painted and then I added the stripes to it.  The background is all layers of paint and gesso and lots of rub ons - I collected rub ons for many years for my cardmaking and given many of them away but luckily there were some there I could use.  I used up this sheet of "Believe" and I think it had a date of 2003 on it - and you know rub ons sometimes hae their own mind - where the heck did that R come from.

My snowman makes me giggle - he makes me smile and I had so much fun making him - I stayed up until 12:30 at night doing him and I am lucky to make it to 10 at night.

Today I did a little watercolor tree - I am not a one layer card maker - so I need to go add some layers to it - I think - if you ever want to have fun - take a Christy's class.

I was a doubter about online classes - well - you do get your money's worth.  Actually I think you get more than your money's worth.  I have a full year access to this class - after the holidays - I think I will do more playing.  The online card classes I have taken - I have lifetime access.

I hope you had a smile also.  

Oldie Moldie Monday

It is Monday - time to show some love to your old paper and supplies.  This is a Christmas collection from Echo Park - I believe it is from last year so not too old and moldie but not new.  Another Christmas card for this year - I let the paper do all the talking for me in this card design.

Thanks for stopping by.

Authentique November Sketch Challenge

Two posts in one day - but I am trying to get caught up on some challenges - plus get my own Christmas cards made.  I do try to do the monthly sketch challenge at Authentique Paper - their paper is so yummy.

Here is the November sketch.  I used their 2012 Christmas Collection - Festive - 6 x 6 pad.  As you all know - I do have a love affair with 6 x 6 pads - there are very few I have seen that I have not purchased.

The stamp used on the card is from Hero Arts - it has a coordinating die that you can use to cut out the tree. The snowflakes are also from the same set and have coordinating dies also.  The sentiment is a sticker from SRM Stickers.  I added a little bling to the tree for ornaments.

Enjoy your day - back to work tomorrow and I have to work 5 days - YUCK.  

Simon Says - Do A sketch

The weekly sketch at Simon Says Stamp is to do a card using the following sketch.

The focal point of the card is a tag I bought at Hobby Lobby - it is a quick way (cheating method) of adding a beautiful focal point with no work on your part - sometimes at the holidays we need to do that.  I can not color reds with my Copics so a cardinal would not be something I would try to do.  I will be sending this to a dear friend's Mom - she loves cardinals - my friend died from breast cancer several years ago - and she always got something with cardinals on it for her Mom.  I am also going to make the same card for my Mom because she loves to watch the birds.  

This was a fun sketch to do because I love layers but I wanted to keep it somewhat simple in the colors so that the tag was the main focal point of the card.  I added a little texture with an embossing folder to pick up the houndstooth design on the tag.  

Thanks for stopping by - come back later in the week - I am taking an online painting class - I will share my first canvas - it will be worth a giggle or two for you.  

Simon Says Thank You

The weekly challenge on Simon Says Stamp and Show is to make a Thank You card.  Well how about two cards.  I actually did stamp on the second card.  I had this paper from Pink Paislee with the great floral images.  I thought I would make some thank you cards for my next Operation Write Home Box - it will be a small box of cards but they all make some hero smile when he sends it off to family or friends.

The paper is by Pink Paislee.  The sticker is from SRM Stickers.  The stamped sentiment is from Hero Arts. I am not sure where I got the pearls.  My friend Ivanka may have sent them to me but then maybe not.

Well I have made three cards this morning - I am having fun - now where is that Authentique Christmas pad - I have a card to make out of that paper collection.

Operation Write Home Card

Good morning - hope to get some mojo started.  Life has been busy and hardly any cardmaking has occurred in this studio (mess).

I wanted to get a card made for the Our Daily Bread Design Challenge for the month of November.  ODBD will pay for shipping for up to two boxes for Operation Write Home card for our heroes overseas.  The challenge this month is to use a rarely used tool.  The tool I decided to use is this stamp.  I have had it for awhile and have not inked it up.  The paper is rarely used also - came out of the scrap pile/drawer, etc.

The stamp is from Stampendous.  The ink is Colorbox chalk ink - dark brown.  Used my distress tool around the edges.  Inked with another shade of brown chalk ink from Colorbox.  The name escapes me right now but I know it is one of their favorite colored inks by stampers and I am too lazy to walk across the room and see what the color is.  The paper - the cardstock is from a drawer where I placed pieces; the dark brown is Basic Grey and the stripes and dots is My Mind's Eye.

Well hopefully I am back in the saddle again for creating.  Everyone enjoy your Saturday.

Basic Grey and Hero Arts

Good morning - quick post before I head off to work - the Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week is

Simon Says ..... Thinking of You / Sympathy

This card is for a very special young lady who just lost her brother to cancer.  She has had to return to her job which is thousands of miles from home - I want her to know I am thinking about her and send her some love.  

This is a very simple card.  I let the paper do most of the talking for me.  The paper is from a card kit from Simon Says which I won - the sentiment is from Hero Arts (my stamp - not from kit) and the paper is from Basic Grey and the card stock is American Crafts.  I did add Glossy Accents to the flowers and outlined the leaves with my Stardust pen.  The pearls are from my supplies.  

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful day.  

Oldie Moldie Monday and Operation Write Home

Good morning  - a day late posting my sketch card for Operation Write Home - but I was not home yesterday - so it is stepping stone for a couple cards for Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for your older supplies.

The sentiment is a digi image that is free.  I don't know for sure who did it - I believe it is an OWHer.  The paper is from My Mind's Eye.

Enjoy your day.

What is Cooking today???

Since I have been gone to a conference - no cardmaking has occurred but I am cooking this morning - this is what came off the stove and out of the oven.

Creamy Wild Rice Soup                    Recipe from a former co worker  -  Mary Goeglien

4 cups water

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup uncooked wild rice

3 Tbl chopped green onion          ¼ cup shredded carrot

3 Tbl chopped pecans                 6 TBL butter or margarine

1/3 cup flour                              2 cans (14-1/2 oz each) chicken broth

½ cup diced fully cooked ham     ¼ tsp pepper

1 cup half-and-half cream (the fat free kind works well)

In a large saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil.  Add rice.  Reduce heat;

cover and simmer for 50-55 minutes or until tender.  Remove from heat. 

Let stand for 10 minutes; drain and set aside.

In a soup kettle or dutch oven, saute the onions, carrot and pecans in butter for

1-2 minutes.  Stir in flour until blended.  Gradually add broth.  Bring to a boil; cook

and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Reduce heat.   Add the ham, pepper and

wild rice.  Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Reduce heat.  Add cream and heat through (do not boil).  8 servings

Easy Pumpkin Dessert

Ingredients

1 can (30 oz.) LIBBY'S® Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix

2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

2 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) yellow or spice cake mix

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Whipped topping (optional)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

COMBINE pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk and eggs in large bowl. Pour into prepared pan.

COMBINE cake mix, melted butter and nuts in large bowl until crumbly (clean hands may be used). Sprinkle over filling.

BAKE for 50 to 55 minutes or until golden brown on top. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Top each serving with whipped topping, if desired.

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/140530/LIBBYS-Easy-Pumpkin-Crumb-Cake/detail.aspx

CAS-ual Friday Masculine Card Challenge

This week at CAS-ual Friday the challenge is to make a masculine card.  I needed a couple masculine thinking of you cards for a friend who had heart surgery and a family member who is battling cancer.

CFC77-Create a new Clean And Simple masculine project.

I chose to use Kraft as the basic color for my card with black as the accent.  The truck stamp is by Cornish Heritage Farms - since they now have a different owner - I do not know if you can still get this stamp.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I placed the top part of the card front in an embossing folder to add some texture.  I like the partial embossing - a little something different.  If you notice the kraft color on the sentiment is different than the card base - I used a scrap I had for the sentiment.  This adds more design interest - she says with a smile.  

Enjoy your evening.  

Oldie Moldie Monday, Sweet Sunday Sketch, Paper Players Unite

Welcome to Monday - time to show some love to your older supplies.  The paper is from My Mind;s Eye - I love the colors in this collection - somewhat vintage but also rustic.  I had made a card yesterday with this same paper for the sketch challenge on Operation Write Home's card blog Stars and Stamps.

The card is based on the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch.  Hard to believe, but I stayed pretty true to this sketch.  I think that is a first for me in a long time.  I used my Silhouette to cut the banner.  The sentiment is from Paula - an active Operation Write Home designer.  This sentiment makes such a wonderful card for our Heroes to send home to their loved ones.

The card is also for the challenge on The Paper Players to Give Thanks.

There are so many things to be thankful for.  We need to take a little time each day to think about the things we are thankful for - it will make each day a little better.

Today and every day - I am thankful for my family.

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge

Sunday morning - time to get your creativity jump started with the Operation Write Home - Stars and Stamps weekly sketch challenge.

Two different versions for the challenge - one using just patterned paper and a stamped sentiment and then another one with stamped images and sentiment.

I should have moved my strip up higher on the kite card - the bottom of the die cut looks very wonky down there - so people - live and learn from my mistakes - the stripe should have been moved up higher so the curves of the die cut showed..  And the kite card looks naked to me - maybe I should have added some dry embossed texture to it - live and learn from my creative blunders.

I really like the first card with just the patterned paper and the distressing of the edges of the paper - it is My Mind's Eye paper and such a great weight that the distressing is wonderful on it.

These are two of my favorite sentiment for OWH cards.  Every day sentiments - just to help our heroes keep in touch with loves ones at home.  I know the kite and hello stamp are from Hero Arts - and I think the big hugs is also.

Enjoy your Sunday - this time change will kick my butt.  I have a hard time adjusting to it.