Hello!

While I've used this typewriter die before, the look changes radically when different colors are used . . .

This is a Guy card for an 18 year old computer whiz – I thought it would be fun to remind him of what the original word processor looked like . . .

Cardstock:   Core’dinations Nostalgic Greys set, Beckett Candlelight,

                        Generic Black     

Stamps:       Darkroom Door Torn Text, Marianne Eline’s Typewriter

                        set: “Hello”, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Hero Black

Dies:            Lil’ Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Marianne Eline’s

                        Typewriter, Ali Express “Pierced Labels”                      

Doo Dads:    Typewriter definition: computer generated          

A Little Birdie

This is a birthday card for a guy and it did not come together easily . . .

Initially, I colored the background with green spatters and left the embossed fern white. But there wasn't enough definition around the fern to be able to see what it was.  So I inked the tips and along the sides of each frond in black.  No go.  I darkened the space between the fronds with more green ink.  Nope.  I darkened the fronds themselves with more green ink.  TA DA!  Light at end of tunnel switches on . . .

That led me to the final solution:  ditch the pristine white frond idea and cover the whole thing in dark green ink.  I've had better results, but I'm happy that this one finally came together before I decided to make a flaming offering into the waste basket . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Light Green, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper

Stamps:       A Stamp in the Hand Words Background Script, Tim Holtz

                        Crazy Talk: “A little birdie told me”

Inks:             Distress Mowed Lawn, Hero Black

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Memory Box Stitched

                        Rectangle Trimmings, Lavany/Amazon “Bird on a Fence”  

Stencil:        Dreamweaver Fern Frond

Delight

A misty , foggy background, a flutter of butterflies, and perhaps a rain-dotted screen for texture . . .

 . . . and a sparkly star of the flutterby world shows up  as a focal point!  I hope the camera picks up some of its shimmery allure . . .

I also used a product that is new to me:  Glue Drops.  They come on a roll and are available in three sizes.  They are like glue dots except these are rounded and dimensional.  You can sprinkle glitter on them as I did here, or even embossing powder, which you can leave it as is - no heat.  This will give you textured and puffy colored dots right where you want them with no waiting for wet glue to dry.  A nice product!

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper           

Stamps:       Angel Company “Delight”

Inks:             Archival Olive, Jet Black, Distress Iced Spruce Hickory

                        Smoke

Emb Powder:   WOW Clear Matte Dull

Dies:            Avery Elle Wonky Stitches, Simon Says Butterfly Drift,

                        Elizabeth Craft Small Butterfly                 

Stencil:        A Colorful Life Grunge Dots

Doo Dads:    Faber Castell Whipped Spackle: Matte, Wink of Stella

                        Clear, Past Time Stamps Ultra Fine Glitter, Stamp On It

                        Glue Drops    

Nature

It's so much fun to use natural materials I have picked up while walking my dog, Tater. This is a guy card for a neighbor who loves to take long walks every day and presumably, he encounters many of the trees mentioned in the background image . . .

The dried twigs are from some sort of vine and as they are quite dimensional, it's probably best to hand-deliver these rather than snail them.  Since Bob lives right next door, that will be an easy thing to do . . .

While this is actually a birthday card, I've lately decided that it doesn't really have to be easily identifiable as such on the card front.  I can save the 'Happy Birthday' text for the inside and have some artsy fun with other sentiments on the outside.  What do you think?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Generic Tobacco, Strathmore Ultimate White 

Stamps:       Hero Zig Zag Pattern, Stacy Tree Name Background,

                        Stamp Zia “Nature”

Inks:             Distress Black Soot, Tea Dye, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo,

                        ColorBox Frost White

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Detail White

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Spellbinders

                        A2 Distressed Edges , Tim Holtz Labels

Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Brown, Just Splendid Wood Dots          

Soar

With Autumn well underway, some pretty, leaf-changing colors seemed appropriate for this card . . .

While in church one Sunday morning, I noticed the attractive colors of a fellow parishioner's dress and thought it would be fun to put them together on a card.

Keep your eyes open, stampers - inspiration is everywhere!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper

Stamps:       Just For Fun Zig Zag Stroke, A Stamp in the Hand Words

                        Background, Script

Inks:             Distress Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Barn Door, Peeled

                        Paint, Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            DieNamics Single Stitched Line Rectangle Frame,

                        KaiserCraft Hessian, Love Nicole Dragonfly, DieVersions

                        font Noodles                    

Doo Dads:    Adirondack Acrylics Pesto

Japan

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #8

This card is on my very short list of favorites . . .

I wanted the very elegant Japanese lady to look as if she was about to emerge from between a pair of exquisite shoji panels.  I found the twig on one of my daily walks with my dog Tater.  I painted it black (the twig, not the dog) and it seems to suit the Asian theme very well . . .

And thus endeth this year's happy romp through my newest collection of satin Blue Ribbons from the NJ State Fair.  Many thanks for accompanying me along the Victory Parade.  Now I need to start getting ready for next year's submissions!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Pulsar Paper Mulberry: Gold         

Stamps:       Acey Deucy The Calligraphy Robe, Unknown

                        text “Japan”

Inks:             Hero Black, ColorBox Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            DieNamics Accent It: Labels & Tabs                   

Stencil:        My Favorite Things Diagonal Bars

Doo Dads:    Martha Stewart Glitter Onyx, Perfect Pearls

                        mist Bronze, Twig            

Little One

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #7

I had such  a good time with this card . . .

Lots of texture, even some mesh fabric to suggest curtains.  While I don't usually use Kraft cardstock for a baby card, I thought it would set off the colorful mobile rather well.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cocoa, Marcos Jute, Strathmore Ultimate White,

                        Neenah Quest Ivory        

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Rolling Waves

Inks:             VersaMark

Emb Powder:  WOW Clear Matte Dull

Colorants:    Copic YR04 Chrome Orange, Y17 Golden Yellow,

                        B26 Cobalt Blue, B21 Baby Blue, R29 Lipstick Red,

                        R17 Lipstick Orange, Galaxy Mercury Silver, Wink of

                        Stella Silver

Dies:            Glitz Cartoon Clothes Hanger, DieNamics Pierced

                        Square Frames              

Emb Folder:  Spellbinders Brick and Bark: Design B, Memory Box

                        Hip Little One

Doo Dads:    Ivory mesh fabric