Loving Thoughts

This card is for the wife of a New York City judge who has just succumbed to Corona.  By all accounts, he was a superb jurist and a favorite neighbor in our condo building.  He will be greatly missed . . .

I wanted something soft and gentle and hope that's what I got, despite the fact that I probably overdid it with the pearls . . .

Rest in peace, Judge Gerry . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, Bright White

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Foliage, Unknown "With loving

                     thoughts and prayers"

Inks:             Hero Shadow Soft Brown, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Elizabeth Craft Leafy Branch, DieNamics Collage 

                     Cover-up               

Doo Dads:    Nuvo Glitter Gloss, pearls  

All the Best

Every now and then, I get a yen to stick some twigs on a card.  As this one goes to a neighbor just up the street, I can hand deliver and not worry about sending it through the mail . . .

This was also my first attempt at ink lifting.  The process was quick and easy and went very well.  But I think that larger areas of color would have made a less-busy background and allowed the image to show up better.  Next time!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Saltillo, Tim Holtz Yupo, Hanko Echizen Gold  

Stamps:       Stampers Anonymous Art Deco Palm Fronds

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Terra Cotta, Bottle, Pinata Brass,

                     Tim Holtz Alcohol Lift Ink

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Impression Obsession All the Best, Vase Set                

Doo Dads:    Twigs 

Happy

When I wanted to watercolor the flowers with something richly hued and metallic, my Twinkling Waters came to mind.  I've not used them in a good while and so it was time to break them out of hiding and get going . . .

I have to laugh when I look back and remember how afraid of watercoloring I was.  One really good class was all it took to encourage me to give it a try.  The rubber stamping world is filled with countless ways to obtain a watercolor look.  It's well worth it to pull on your explorer's boots and give it a try!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Hanko Echizen Gold           

Stamps:       Yvonne Albritton Wild Roses

Inks:             ColorBox Gold

Waterclrs:    H₂O’s Gold Dust, Mallard Green, Key Lime, Rich Cobalt,

                     Wisteria

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Avery Elle Sentimental

                     Too: Happy         

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Burlap

Doo Dads:    Tulip Glitter Gold      

Laugh, Learn, Live

I had a yen to use my Life Changing Blending Brushes with a stencil, so that's what I did here . . .

The "Life Changing" name is definitely not an exaggeration - the color goes on smoothly and evenly and while these flowers are too small to show much variation, blending is so very easy on larger images.  I can't imagine going back to any of the other methods I used to struggle with in applying color.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Classic Red, Nicole #100 Bristol Smooth         

Stamps:       Starving Artist Positive Words: Laugh, Learn, Live

Inks:             Distress Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Faded Jeans,

                     Dusty Concord, Mowed Lawn, Hero Black

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Altenew Dotted Starburst Debossing Cover Die,

                     DieNamics Vertical Stitched Strip                      

Stencil:        Delta Flower Basics

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Fun

Black, white, Kraft, and a little color . . .

This one made me think of an old photo with a few selectively tinted highlights.  The embossed background is an argyle pattern that works well for a guy card.  Hopefully, the camera will catch the "golf ball" I made with raised enamel.  My golfing friend Richard is gonna love his birthday card this year!

Cardstock:   Marco’s Jute, Nicole Black, Strathmore Ultimate White           

Stamps:       Magenta Golfer and Caddy

Inks:             Gina K Amalgam Black

Colorants:    Inktense Amber, Iris Blue

Waterclrs:    Zig Real Brush Pale Pink

Dies:            Recollections Word Fetti: Fun, Gina Marie Stitched 

                     Rounded Squares

Emb Fldr:     Darice Wire Fence

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents White        

It's Your Day

The alcohol ink background was too pretty to cut down, so I kept all of it . . .

After placing a silhouette image of a tree over it, I decided that it looked a little like abundant greenery with the sun peeking through the branches.

Corona's stifling quarantine has enhanced my imagination like nothing else.  As Thomas Edison may once have said, "Reality can be beaten with enough imagination".

Cardstock:   Bazzill Simon, Yellow,  Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Cardstock         

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up It’s Your Day

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown

Colorants:    Adirondack Alcohol Ink Bottle, Meadow, Butterscotch,

                     Denim

Emb Pwdr:   BMuse Devil's Food Delight

Dies:            DieNamics Single Stitched Line Rectangle Frame,

                     Rounded Rectangle Frame                

Doo Dads:    Nuvo Glitter Gloss   

Wild Thing

1. Africa is a land of intense colors

2. I have an intensely colored piece of Tyvek

3. My friend Sandy is a long time fan of all things African

ERGO, everything I needed to make her birthday card . . .

Perhaps a little over the top, but then so's Sandy - which is why she's so lovable.  The inside message reads, "Let the adventure begin!

          Happy Birthday, dear friend!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Santillo, USPS Tyvek mailing envelope, Nicole

                     #100 Bristol Smooth         

Stamps:       Hanko #9 Africa

Inks:             Encore Copper

Colorants:    Lumiere Super Copper, Pearl Blue

Emb Pwdr:   BMuse True Copper

Dies:            Sue Wilson African Adventure, Gina Marie Stitched

                     Rounded Squares