What Makes You Smile

Being creative has not been happening lately.  Work has overwhelmed me but the middle of July I retire and then hopefully I will be able to create at will.

I am combining two challenge for this card.  When I saw this quote on the paper from 7 Gypsies.  When I read the quote I instantly started to smile and had a flashback to a trip in the spring with a friend to the Florida Keys.  We had the conversation on the plane but how you sometimes laugh at the most inappropriate things or times.  Well, of course, at the airport, I had a battle with the escalator and yes when I finally made it to the top, we had to laugh.  So inappropriate but that flashback made me smile and laugh.  Guess what the challenge is on Our Creative Challenge - is What Makes You Smile.

The challenge on the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog is Collage with the optional element of frame.  The focal point of the card is in a frame and there are many elements which make it collage.

I started with a piece of white chipboard and covered it with crumpled up tissue paper adhered with gel medium.  Of course you don't see too much of that layer.  I colored the tissue paper with a gelato and just blended it with my fingers.  I layered a rectangle doily on top of the colored tissue paper.  I added a strip of patterned paper which I had distressed around the edges.  I colored a strip of canvas with the same gelato and then embossed it with silver embossing paste.

I added extra color to the image with a pink and silver gelato.  I then used a glitter pen to brush some glitter in various places.  I found a silk flower in my supplies and glued that to the center of the floral image to add more dimension.  The picture was matted with grey card stock which was distressed around the edges.  I wanted  to try a product that has been hanging out in my supplies for year - silver mica flakes.  I dabbed gel medium on the edge of the image and added the flakes (it was messy).  After it had dried, I then dabbed more gel medium over the top hoping it would stop the flakes for flaking off.  UGH.  I then added a button and some twine on the the image.

I took some grey polka dot crepe paper and kinda pleated it, scrunched it and placed it on the card so it would show on two different sides of the image.  The image was pop dotted at an angle on the front.  I took some of the silver embossing paste and just rubbed it on some parts of the doily.

Here are a couple close ups of different parts of the card.

A close up of the silver embossing paste on the pink colored canvas.

Here is a close up of the upper right corner of the card.  You can see the silver flakes around the image, the crumpled tissue paper and the silver colored doily.

This card was lots of fun to make.  I actually have another card I am working on.

Oldie Moldie Monday Goes Mixed Media

On Monday's I always try to use old supplies.  This Monday if you scratched the surface you would find a very old piece of patterned paper in pink and brown.  I have a drawer of very old pink and brown paper.  The coffee cup stamp is very old also.

I am combining three challenges for this post.  The first challenge is the monthly challenge on the Faber Castell blog Design Memory Craft.  Mou is challenging us to post about our favorite beverage.

My favorite beverage is coffee.  I have to start my day with coffee.  I make sure I take the first thirty minutes of my morning savoring that first and second cup of coffee.  After that - I can face my day.

I searched Pinterest for the perfect coffee quote.  I found several but decided to use this one.  Some mornings, this is exactly how I feel about my first cup of coffee.

This is a piece of recycled chipboard which I adhered patterned paper to it with gel medium.  I applied a very light coat of gesso over it.  After that I applied some pink acrylic paint and then wiped some of the paint off exposing some of the lower layers.  I have a Tim Holtz stencil that looks like coffee stains.  I added that to the front of the image with a brown gelato.  The image was stamped on tissue paper and then color was added to the backside of the tissue paper.  When you apply the tissue paper to your base with gel medium it melts into the background.

The sentiment was computer generated, cut into strips and colored with distress paint.  Tim's new January color.  I adhered that to the front of the base.  The words were then outlined with a brown marker.  I have several small stamps I like to use on my projects.  I love that circle.  You can stamp it and then add color.  I used the Big Brush to add some brighter pink.  I took another stencil and my white Big Brush pen and just colored the circles in in different areas.  I like how the white softens the colors.  I then took the bright pink Big Brush and brushed it along the outside edges and underneath the cup to ground it.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

I am also entering it into the monthly challenge at Mixed Media Monthly which is Think Pink.

It is also being entered in the Creative Corner challenge which is a Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  I used the middle row:  Paints, Stamps and Stencils.

I hope you have had your first cup of coffee and you are able to enjoy my coffee creation.

Canvas - Sew Much Fun

One of my co workers is retiring this Thursday (I think I am safe to post this project - I don't think she visits my blog too often).  Maretta is a quilter so I came up with this saying to send her on her happy stitching trail. How lucky was it that the challenge on Our Creative Corner is fashion or style and use a mannequin, fashion or stitching on your project.

I covered a canvas with patterned paper from Basic Grey.  It is a wonderful grouping.  If you are a sewer - can you pick out all the elements on this canvas.  The lace is hand stitched to half of a zipper.  I tore a piece of canvas and added a row of zig zag stitching and also a row of wobbly wavy straight stitch.  In the upper right hand corner is an old button card (I use to sew so I have all sorts of stuff left).  The third button on the card is the center of the flower in the upper left hand corner.  The flower in the right hand corner was cut with my Silhouette from recycled card stock.  It is colored with Mr. Huey Mists from Studio Calico.  The center of the flower is actually the thread that was pulled off the edge of the canvas strip.  I cut a paper circle and put gel medium on it and wound the threads into a circle.  I put more gel medium on top to hold it in place.  The center is a part of a snap - the other part is used elsewhere on the canvas.  Did you see the paper from the end of a spool of thread.  Some rubber stamps that look like stitches were put around the canvas.

I really enjoyed making this canvas and I know she will appreciate it. The back even looks nice - I should have taken a picture of it also.

Hero Arts, Creative Corner, Tim Holtz Technique

Yee gads - photo editing gone wrong - must work on my skills - the card is really more the colors of the 2nd picture.

On Creative Corner this week - the challenge - is to use your favorite Tim Holtz technique - well how can you pick a favorite - but I chose to use this one - I wanted a soft colored card to send to a friend's Mom who just had surgery.  I used the paint resist technique.  I painted (inked) up my background stamp (Hero Arts) with Adirondack paint dabber (pearl metallic) and stamped on white paper.  Let dry.  I then rubbed Distress Ink (broken china) over the card.  I also just stamped the butterfly on a separate piece of paper and colored with distress ink.  I cut out the butterfly.

A little matting, the addition of a wonderful SRM Sticker and some colored tape (wonderfully given to me by a friend) and a little bling complete the card.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Clean and Simple Stamping, Creative Corner and Operation Write Home

This is another card for my next Operation Write Home - the emphasis for this box is masculine cards for sending home for Father's Day.  I tend to not make cards that are specific "mother's day" or "father's day" - I know that this could be used for Father's Day or for any other occasion.  This card is a combination of 3 stamps.  The golf balls came from three different stamps.  They were all cut out  and pop dotted on the card.  The background is my argyle cuddlebug folder - and then a touch of argyle patterned paper.  I was so pleased with the card - I made a second one and sent it to a friend so she could send to her father - I know he likes golf.

The card is being entered into three different challenges:

Sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping
Creative Corner - Boys and Their Toys
Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Blog - Midweek Challenge - Dad

Have a wonderful day.

Crate Paper and Hero Arts plus three challenges

Good morning - Oldie Moldie Monday - time to share some cards made with papers from my collection that are a little older - this collection is from Crate Paper.  Great papers and colors and a fantastic weight to the paper.  I did use my new Hero Arts stamp set with coordinating die cuts.  The cards do look much better in person - not doing real well with my photo editing.

The card is based on three challenges:

sketch - Clean and Simple Stamping
bling - Less Is More
O Christmas tree - Creative Corner

I used brown pearls on one tree and then on the second tree I used red bling - it gives it a little bit more festive color - the insides are done - I made a total of 4 of this design.

Still fighting my cold - YUCK - no time for this. 

Jenni Bowlin Red/Black Collection and Creative Corner Unite

Good evening - a quick post tonight - I have had this card made all week and forgot to post it.

October is a full month of birthdays for me and maybe everyone will get this card - I love how it turned out.  It is just under a 6 inch square.  I had just gotten this Jenni Bowlen collection and when I saw the challenge at Creative Corner - I knew this paper would work perfectly.  The challenge is numbers.  Well I have numbers. 

Inside the sentiment will say - Happy Birthday - remember it is just a number.

Come back Saturday to see what I made for the Operation Write Home blog hop.  Candy also.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Good evening. Made it through Monday - I guess that is a good sign. I have a birthday card to make tonight for tomorrow - I kinda have an idea - I can't settle on paper though. Come back later in the week - you can see what I came up with.

Tonight I am sharing one of the cards I made for my assistant for her gift. It is based on the sketch and distressing challenge at Our Creative Corner.

Monday means it is oldie moldie Monday - time to show some old paper some love. I chose to use this Basic Grey grouping. Orange is becoming the "color" - or so in my collection of paper.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I must go get that birthday card made. Have a wonderful evening.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Good Wednesday evening - brrrrr - I found some time to create earlier in the week - last night - I laid down on the couch and watched TV through my eyelids - it was a great show.

This card is my first valentine card for the season for family - I already made 50 some valentine cards for Operation Write Home - now I need to make some valentines for family and friends. This card will be for my Mom - I started drinking coffee with my Mom when my father died so she would have someone to drink coffee with - lots of sugar and milk back then - but I am still a coffee drinker and so does my Mom but now she drinks decaf. Pink is her favorite color. The design is based on the sketch at Our Creative Corner.

The image for the card is from I Brake for Digis. It is called Heart Mug. I wanted to use this large sentiment sticker from SRM - I think it is the perfect touch to finish my card.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - off to maybe make a card or some cards.

Card Details:
Size: 5 x 7
Paper: Basic Grey (would you believe this is from a Christmas collection)
Digi Stamp: I Brake For Digis colored with Copics
Sticker: SRM Stickers
Lace and brads from supplies
Pop Dots

Tuesday, December 13, 2010

Good Tuesday morning – and may I stillsay BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR – actually I think I need to add some more RRRRR’s to that statement.

Here is the second card I made on Sunday are for my neighbors. If you wish to hear why the Raccoon – check out yesterday’s post.

The card is based on the sketch at Our Creative Corner. A very fun sketch. I could not find the brads I wanted to use – so I just colored some brads with a red copic – they turned out great (well I think they did). It is nice to know you can do things like that to get a perfect match.

Well it is time to get ready for work – potluck for the building today – I am making hot chicken sandwiches. Yum Yum. Everyone have a wonderful Monday and hope it is warm wherever you are located.

Card details:
Size: 4.5 x 6
Paper: Crate Paper
Die Cuts: Crate Paper
Stamp: Stampendous colored with Copics
SRM Stickers
May Arts twine
American Crafts button
Brads: Imginisce colored with Copics
Pop Dots

Tuesday,December 2, 2010

We are on the downward slide to the week end – but we have snow coming – so I guess that means time to get the snowblower gassed up and ready to go and pray it starts. I will get my stuff done on Thursday and Friday nights so I can stay at home and enjoy the snow.

I need to get my Christmas cards finished this week end and out the door. I need to clean up my crafting area. Maybe I will just keep out some paper and a few stamps, etc. to make some cards for Operation Write Home. Try to use up some of my paper. Of course, I will be making my cards using the wonderful images from I Brake for Digis. I already have them in my head – maybe that is why I have not been able to sleep at night.

I got this new stamp last week – sometimes I like to be a lazy stamper – one color stamping – no coloring. That is my definition of being a lazy stamper. I did try to add some red to the cardinal. Creative Corner has a challenge this week to use a tag on your card. I cut my tag using a Sizzix die. I was using paper from the Basic Grey holiday collection from last year but it was not coming together for me – I then went to this year’s collection and found the background paper. Enough color variation to make the background come to life. I believe the pretty brads are from Michael’s or from the dollar store in Canada. My personal shopper in Canada Ivanka finds the best stuff at her dollar stores.

Everyone have a wonderful day. I am heading to Hobby Lobby and the scrapbook store tonight - let me know if you need me to pick up anything for you - maybe I will stop at the liquor store also so I can relax and sip some wine over the week end and watch the snow fall.

Card Details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Stamp: Unity Stamp Color
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
May Arts Twine
Brads: Michaels

Thursday , August 5, 2010

Good Thursday morning - I thought I would do a quick post before I head out the door to work. I wanted to share a Christmas card I made - I think the secret of making cards that go fairly quickly is to not have to color them that is why you will see that I make many cards where the image just needs to be s tamped and nothing done to the image. When I color an image it seems I always have to color several images before I find one I like or don't goof up.

This image is from a local stamp company - Crackerbox Palace - located in Janesville. The image is so vintage and that is what I tried to achieve in this card. The rustic colors, brown ink, twine and buttons plus all that fun distressing.

The challenge at Our Creative Corner this week is Christmas in July - so I do believe my card qualifies.

Well I must go and get ready for work. Everyone have a wonderful day and I hope you get to do something creative.

Card Details

Size: 5 x 5

Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Cardstock: The Paper Studio
Inks: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
Stamps: Crackerbox Palace
Button: Blumenthal Lansing Company
Twine: May Arts
Punches: Stampin’ Up! and Punch Bunch
Die Cuts: Spellbinders

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Good Wednesday morning - it is the last day of June - how did that happen - it seems that summer goes much faster than winter. Pretty soon the kids will be heading back to school - don't tell any of them that - I don't think they are bored yet. My deck seems to be a favorite spot for the neighborhood children to congregate. They come sit around my table - sometimes even when I am not around - sometimes they come for popscicles. I enjoy listening to their chit chat. I am suppose to be getting a pedicure one night from the two oldest girls - I am sure I will have the most unique toes around but it will be time spent together.

My card today is based off two challenges. The sketch blog for OCC (Our Creative Corner) and the challenge at the OCC blog - to make a blue and green card. I am late getting Ben's card done - his birthday always comes in the middle of May madness. He is one of the neighbor children. Ben loves his sports and plays baseball - thus the baseball theme. This is a font I found on the internet many years ago - it makes great guy cards.

Well another day of work - check engine light came on in the car on the drive home last night - now I need to deal with that issue. Of course, by the time I got home, the dealer was already closed for the day.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card Details:
Size: 4.5 x 6
Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle
Brads: Hot Off the Press
Sticker: SRM Stickers

Tuesday 5-4-10

Prize Package offered for Monday's Post


Challenge card for Our Creative Corner

If you are interested in winning the prize package - check out Monday's post

A quick post for today before I head off to work - this is a very non traditional mother's day card - a card to make my Mom smile. I send her a card every day. Our Creative Corner has a challenge to make a Mother's Day card with no flowers - no flowers - just pigs.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card Details:

5 x 7

Patterned Paper: Chicken Noodle collection from Jillibean Soup

Stamp and Die cut: Papertrey Ink

Friday 4-30-2010

Card 1 - 365 Cards Sketch Challenge, Circles Challenge


Card 2 - Creative Corner Sketch Challenge Blog

Prize Package for Oldie Moldie Monday Challenge May 3

Good Friday afternoon - storms moving in so it will be a quick post. I was able to do some creating last night and this morning. I took the day off to get some work done and errands run. The garage looks somewhat better and I think I was safe in running the gas out of the snowblower. I guess I now need to go buy gas for the lawnmower. I also got my drivers license renewed and some blood work done. I think that was pretty good day - and I still have the evening to do more things.

I have two cards to share with you tonight. With these two cards I satisfied 4 challenges - that is pretty good for me. Sketch challenge on 365 Cards and Sketch Challenge on Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge blog. The Friday challenge on 365 cards is to use circles and the challenge on Die Cuts R Us was to post two projects.

Card one:

Sunday Sketch Challenge - 365 Cards

Friday Challenge Circles - 365 Cards

Making Memories paper

Stamp - Studio G

Buttons - American Crafts

Lace - from supplies

Card Two

Thursday Sketch Creative Corner

Making Memories paper

Flower stamp - Stampendous

Sentiment Stamp - Stampendous

Button - American Crafts

Spellbinders

Papertrey Ink Scallop Die cut

Both cards - challenge to do 2 projects - Die Cuts R Us

And you say - what is this about a PRIZE PACKAGE. Come back on Monday and play along with Ivanka and I on “Oldie Moldie Monday – the day of the week when you dig out that once loved paper that has gotten buried by new loves – dig it out and create a card or cards from it. Ivanka and I are offering up prizes (yes we each have a prize) – but of course they is a little bit more to the challenge. Come back on Monday and play with us.

My prize includes a pad of Basic Grey paper and 3 different sticker collections from SRM Stickers. Intrigued - I hope so - and you don't need a blog to play - we have a Flicker gallery where you can post your creations.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Saturday - 4-10-2020

Happy Saturday and dang it is almost over with. I did get groceries so I will be able to eat for the next couple weeks. Would you believe I went to Michael's with my 50% off coupon and I couldn't find anything to buy. I finally bought a set of B cutting mats for the Cuddlebug. OUr Michael is carrying their brand of paper now - some of it was pretty cute. I bought some monkey paper - I am thinking Shari needs to have a monkey card again. It has been a couple weeks since she got one. Her battle with cancer continues.

I did do some creating today. I have lots of birthdays and mother's day in May plus a graduation so I need to get busy and make some cards. This card will be for my adopted neighbor daughter - it is based on the Thursday sketch at Our Creative Corner - I ended up not doing any stamping on the card. I was going to stamp the sentiment but didn't want to risk ruining the card with bad stamping. The challenge at Creative Corner for Saturday is to use a bow - this card works for both their challenges.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. I need to find something to eat for dinner - it is 9:30 at night - I think I missed dinner.

Patterned Paper, Die Cut and Rub On: Crate Paper

Ribbon: Offray

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Wednesday - Downward Slide to Week end starts

Good Wednesday evening - yes we are on the downward slope to the week end - yeah!!!!! I think I can make it. Work continues to be crazy and I don't see it lightening up any. Oh well - I should be happy - I have a good job and I am busy and I am never bored so that is good.

Tonight's card is based on the sketch at Our Creative Corner. My bow is a strip of fabric - this is left from a blouse my daughter made many years ago when she was in college - or I made while she was in college - that seems to be a lifetime ago - but I kept the fabric and have it torn into strips that I used on cards - it is a lovely color - the perfect accent for many of my cards.

Everyone have a lovely evening.

Paper - Basic Grey
Stamp - Inkadinkado (owl)
Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink
Sentiment stamp - I think Prickly Pear
Rub Ons - Martha Stewart
Bow - fabric scrap

Long Day of Work

I put in a 10 hour day at work today but I did accomplish lots so that makes it worthwhile. Busy time of the year for me. I doubt if there is too much creativity in my bones tonight - maybe I will just sit on the couch and watch tennis - probably watch tennis through my eyelids.

Today's card is based on the sketch at Taylored Expressions and I guess it also qualifies for the challenge on Our Creative Corner since it is blue and green. That was a happy accident. A card to be sent to Shari to cheer her. I used some older paper which is good - now I think I will give it away to a scrapper - she doesn't have lots of money so she will love getting the paper grouping.

I also finished the inside of the card and have include a picture of it.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Size - 4.25 x 5.5

Paper - Stemma

Stamps - Inky Antics colored with Copics

Spellbinders

Sizzix diecut for buttons

Twine - May Arts

No Time like Snow Time

This is no time for Snow - Yuck. Pleasant fallish days are what I think we will be enjoying this week - beats the heat and humidity we have had lately.

Another card for the card set I am making. The challenge on Our Creative Corner - was to make a Christmas card - and I do believe this qualifies.

I don't know who makes the stamp - it is hiding from me presently - when I find it I will post the manufacturer.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday - have to go to work tomorrow - that is always good. Went to a fun wedding yesterday and not only was it wonderful to see the bride and groom but also some the guests were extra special people I love. I am so lucky that these people have crossed my path in the last few years.

My card tonight is based on the sketch at Our Creative Corner. It is going to be in a set of 6 cards - all have the same colors, all snowman cards, each card has the bling snowflake, card base is Bazzill DotSwiss Dot white cardstock and a rub on sentiment.

Rub On - Bo Bunny

Paper (red) - October Afternoon and Bo Bunny

Blue - Unknown

Stamp - Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics and Stickles

Bazzill Swiss Dot paper