You Are Amaziing

While I was recently on crutches for six weeks with a broken ankle, two of my fantastic neighbors stepped up to the plate and divvied up the dog walking chores between them.  This card is my Thank You to Ed, my wonderful next door neighbor who took the evening shift . . .

The reason for the bunny image?  First, I think it's adorable.  Second, Ed actually has a sweet little bunny for a pet!  I think he'll like this little take on what could easily be termed his family portrait . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill “Old Gold”, Admiral, The Paper Cut Matte Coate White

Stamps:        100 Proof Press Rabbit Squared, Judikins Origami

                           Background, Amuse “You are Amazing”

Inks:               VersaFine Majestic Blue, Ancient Page Saffron

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence, Adirondack Denim

Dies:              JustRite Four in a Square, Spellbinders Classic Scalloped                                                          Rectangles Small, Savvy “Thanks”

Inspire

This card is actually a birthday card for our Orthodox priest, Father Gregory . . .

 He has been working with a group of Black protestant clergymen in South Jersey who are very interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith.  I thought a collection of African motifs and some positive text would be a nice encouragement to add to his birthday blessings . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos #110 Jute

Stamps:        Jim Stephan African Motifs, Vap Scrap “Inspire”

Inks:               Hero Black, ColorBox Black

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Ultimate Crafts Magnolia Border, DieNamics Tag Builder 5

Emb Folder: Taylored Expression Weathered

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black

Garden

Blue Ribbon winner #7 PLUS the ribbon for the Show Special!

Every time I break out a stencil, I wonder why I don't use one on every single card I make . . .

Stencils have such a variety of uses:  they work for entire backgrounds but are also unbeatable for partial use in small areas.  You can work with color sprays, sponge on the color, or the best – in my view – using stencil paste for incredible texture.  However, on this layout, I kept the background flat by sponging on the colors, as I knew I'd have plenty of texture with the popped-up words.

And thus endeth this year's romp through the Home and Hobby section of the NJ State Fair.  I hope you enjoyed the scenic tour through my stamped creations for 2016!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Simon, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper, scrap stash

Stamps:        Serendipity “Flowers”, So She Stamps “Garden”, Starving

                           Artistamps “Flora”, “Fauna”, Unknown “Fleur”, “Garden”

Inks:               Distress Peeled Paint, Pumice Stone, Faded Jeans, Perfect

                           Pearls Mist Pewter, Gelly Roll pen Clear Star

Dies:              Serendipity Bird

Stencil:          Tim Holtz Burlap

Doo Dads:    deckle edged scissors, Jones Tones Pearl Paint Sage

With Love

Blue Ribbon winner #6

This one was mistakenly posted on August 19th, so yes, you've seen this before . . . sorry about that!

Using tiny images is all the rage right now, but I hadn't climbed on board with that trend just yet – until now . . .

This set from Hero Arts is probably long since extinct (they get rid of images at an alarming rate), but they were just right for this card.  I think it's time for me to explore some more options using tiny images . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Core’dinations Just Peachy

Stamps:        Hero Wedding Set

Inks:               Hero Black, Gelly Roll Clear

Emb Powder:   Stamp Oasis Heat & Stick

Dies:              Tim Holtz Postage Dots, Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Squares,

                           Cheery Lynn Pretty Pretty Bows

Watercolors:     Gansai Tambi Silver, Zig Clean Color Light Pink

Doo Dads:    Silver floss, Art Glittering System Transparent

Violette

Blue Ribbon Winner #5 

Another favorite color combination of mine is purple, green and white.  I also love feathers, old fashioned perfume bottles, and randomly textured backgrounds.  So why not put all of these elements together . . .

On my first attempt, the dark green pine branches got lost in the dark-ish background.  Die cutting them an additional time in white and then offsetting them beneath the dark branches helped make them more evident.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Purple, Beckett Iceberg, Generic Green

Stamps:        Stampendous Peacock Feather, Lost Coast Perfume

                           Bottles, Art Impressions Wispy Background

Inks:               Distress Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail White

Dies:              Cheery Lynn Pine Branches

Doo Dads:    Grosgrain ribbon Dark Green

Enjoy the Journey

Blue Ribbon Winner #4

This one was a second attempt to use an idea that popped into my head in church one Sunday morning.  The first attempt had mixed results, but I'm happy with how things turned out the second time around . . .

After stamping the background with black ink, I used three different colors on my favorite splotchy-image stamp.  Voila: instant color with an artsy vibe!  Two kinds of stripes, some tags, and some black jute to finish it all off.  Looks like fun to me!

Cardstock:   Beckett Candlelight, Bazzill Red Devil, Generic scraps

                           Black

Stamps:        Rubbernecker Travel Background, Art Impressions

                           Background #2, Clearly Besotted Diagonal Stripes, My

                           Favorite Things Diagonal Stripes, Stampin’ Up Journey

                           Definition, Tim Holtz Playful Journey: “Enjoy the journey”

Inks:               Hero Black, Distress Wilted Violet, Candied Apple,

                           Carved Pumpkin

Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Spellbinders Back

                           to Basics Tags

Doo Dads:    Black Jute

Sweet

Blue Ribbon Winner #3

I've had sticky-back canvas in my stash for a good while and decided it was time to trot it out and give it a try . . .

I was going for subtle, and as fabric is voraciously thirsty, the ink got really sucked up big-time.  I sailed right past subtle and barely saw it in my rearview mirror.  I can foresee more practice lying just up ahead . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lagoon, Ranger Sticky Back Canvas

Stamps:        Inkadinkado Baby Carriage, Cloud Nine Baby: “Sweet”,

                           “Babies touch the world . . .”, Impression Obsession

                           Chalk Streamer

Inks:               Distress Stain Weathered Wood, Distress Paint Picket

                           Fence, Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow, Uni Posca pen White,

                           ColorBox Black

Pencils:         Inktense Scarlet Pink, Sicilian Yellow

Emb Powder:   WOW! Seafoam, Black Puff

Dies:              Lil Inker Stitched Mats Squares, Tim Holtz 

                          Tattered Banners

I Wave the Flag

Blue Ribbon Winner #2:

This was our 4^th of July card for this year . . .

When it became obvious that coloring the blue field behind the white stars would be a nightmare operation, I opted to white-emboss the stars over a navy background, which was then cut out and glued over the flag.  It added a little extra dimension which worked quite well on a flag that was designed to look like it's flapping in the breeze.

The sentiment reads:  

Sure I wave the American flag.  Do you know a better flag to wave?  

                                                                                    John Wayne

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Generic scraps Navy

Stamps:        Our Daily Bread God Bless America, Patriotic Eagle 2,

                            Impression Obsession I Wave, Eureka Fireworks

Inks:               Adirondack  Denim, ColorBox Silver

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Fine Detail White, Delafield Silver

Watercolors:     Inktense Poppy Red, Zig Clean Color Geranium Red

Doo Dads:     USArt Quest Crystal Effects

Happy Anniversary

We've arrived at NJ State Fair time once again, dear readers, and thus begins nearly a month of posts featuring cards I submitted.  I managed to collect a rather head-swelling number of ribbons:  seven blues for seven cards submitted!  Not only that, but one of those cards also won Best in Show!

The only bummer was that I broke my ankle two days before the Fair opened and was unable to go and see the display for myself.  But I have lovely friends who went themselves and took pictures for me, so I am feeling well loved amidst the pouting.

In no particular order, let's get started.  First up is a flashy blue satin lineup . . .

Blue Ribbon Winner #1

This first card shows a return to my beloved black, Kraft, and cream colors . . .

Some texture, a strip of music, a piece of stamped lace and a couple of vellum butterflies . . . a little bit of everything I love to work with!

Cardstock:   Marco’s Jute, Generic Black Linen

Stamps:        The Stampin’ Place Thinking of You Background, Lost

                           Coast Music, Hero “Happy Anniversary”, Stacy Stamps

                           Antique Lace

Inks:               Hero Black, ColorBox Cream, Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft

Emb Powder:   Stampendous Ivory Pearl

Dies:              DieNamics Stitched Cover Up Companion Vertical,

                           Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals Large

Emb Folder: Taylored Expressions Weathered, Paper Smooches 

                           Butterfly Duet, Sheena Snowfall