It's Your Day

The background on this one shows another of the plastic wrap techniques . . .

I'm loving the way the colors got concentrated along countless lines that look a little like folds.  Sure hope I can get that look again the next time I play with this technique!

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Brown Umber, Watercolor paper             

Stamps:        Too Much Fun “It’s your day”        

Inks:               Ancient Page Saffron, Sage, Distress Brushed

                        Corduroy, Wild Honey, ColorBox Frost White                       

Emb Powder:   Ranger Antiquities Ochre  

Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, Frantic Stamper

                           Fancy Frames 1, We-Buys Cute Chrysanthemum

                           (flower and bugs) 

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear, USArt Quest Prills: Gilt Trip            

Beyond Zebra

I challenged myself a little with this one.  Two shades of brown plus yellow on the background gave me pause, as I had no idea what could be used for the image that would provide contrast and yet look good with those three colors.  After taking what seemed like a risky choice with the black, I think it worked surprisingly well . . .

The text may be a little hard to read, so here's what this Dr Seuss quote says:

                             "There's no limit to how much you'll know, 

                              depending how far beyond zebra you go."

Wisdom delivered via whimsy . . . that man did have a unique way with words.

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Brown Umber, Stedmar Bright White,

                           Generic Black

Stamps:        Repeat Impressions Zebra & Frame, Technique Junkies

                           “Zebra Sayings”, Stampa Fe Zebra           

Inks:               Distress Oxide Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Fossilized

                           Amber, ColorBox Black               

Emb Powder:   Distress Black Soot, WOW Clear Matte Dull + Judikins

                            Detail Black mixed ½ and ½    

Dies:              Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Memory Box Branching Out 

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black

Wine

Several years ago, my wonderful sister-in-law Sally got to take a trip to Italy with her daughter and a few other close friends.  They had a wonderful time, learned a few useful words in Italian, had some adventures, and really enjoyed the food and the wine . . .

So I thought a card with a few Italian-themed images might rekindle some of those happy memories.  Of course a few wine-like colors such as Merlot and burgundy might also help in recalling some mighty tasty times!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pomegranate, The Paper Cut Watercolor Paper

Stamps:        Tin Can Mail Italian Background Script, Serendipity Stamps

                           “Wine”; Postoids:  Lost Coast “Republica Italiana, Uptown

                           “Salida”, Rubber Trouble “Roma Centro”         

Inks:               Ancient Page Bordeaux, Calypso, Cobalt, Distress Aged

                           Mahogany, VersaFine Majestic Blue               

Colorants:    Inktense Spring Green

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Mama Elephant Peek a Frame                

            

Celebrate

This card was a struggle.  No matter what I tried, it just wasn't coming together.  It's a Guy Card so my usual fixes with butterflies, wings, flowers, or bows weren't going to cut it.  Eventually, some splotchy gold embossing seemed to help tie things together . . . 

But it still lacked a little something that would soften the transition from the gold metal frame to the background.  I knew I wanted to use the Gold Prills in their wonderful variegated sizes, but how do I adhere them?  That has been a problem for a long time.

I have a wonderful collection of embellishments such as chunky glitter, mini beads, Prills, and all sorts of lovely textured, grainy-type goodies.  But, I've never found a workable glue to use in attaching them!  I own just about every glue on the planet and never had success with any of them for this kind of use.  Some weren't strong enough, but more often, they were shiny and the end result looked cheap and sloppy.  Even the matte-finish glues I've tried didn't work because they weren't strong enough for these tiny items:  because of their spherical shape, they have minimal contact with the card front, so the glue needs to be really strong.  Nothing I had did the job.

Until now!  Shari Carroll demonstrated this glue in one of her superb multi-media project videos and I immediately sent away for a jar.  This card was the perfect opportunity to try it out.  I used a palette knife to smear it where I wanted it.  I am over the moon with Art Basics 3-D Matte Gel, Transparent!  It is super-strong and completely invisible when dry.  This one stays on my work table!

My next project will be to see if I can get this fantastic stuff in quart-size . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bon Bon, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper       

Stamps:        Posh Impressions Dee’s Dots, Sweet ‘n Sassy Decorative

                           Frame Toppers, Creative Catalyst Twill, "Celebrate"

Inks:               Ancient Page reinkers Leaf Green, Indigo, Saffron,

                           Sandalwood

Emb Powder:   B'Muse Polished Brass  

Dies:              Spellbinders Classic Rectangles Large, Elizabeth Ropes 1 

Doo Dads:    Antique Gold oval frame and brads, Ranger Crackle Medium,

                          USArt Quest Mini Prills Gilt Trip, Art Basics 3-D Matte Gel,

                          Transparent

24 Years!

YEP! Twenty Four years of wedded bliss indeed . . .

Well, a little Full Disclosure here:  it hasn't all been exactly blissful . . . but, in truth, it's been a wonderful marriage overall and I hope it continues for many more years to come.  Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart - I love you very much!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Witch Hazel, Raven, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper,

                           Generic Dull Gold

Stamps:        Raindrops on Roses “Smudge”, 100 Proof Press

                           Checkerboard, Stampers Anonymous Chess Pieces          

Inks:               Ancient Page Sandalwood, Hero Black, Distress Old Paper,

                           VersaMark

Emb Powder:   WOW Black Puff 

Colorants:    Gansai Tambi Bluish Gold

Dies:              Lil Inker Dual Stitched Rectangles, Memory Box Alphabet 

                          Soup, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric (numbers), Memory Box 

                          Checkmate                    

Thinking of You

This card was a bit of a rescue mission:  I started with a background done with the plastic wrap technique.  The colors turned out nicely but there wasn't enough visible texture to make me happy.  So I overstamped with a busy yet open background . . .

Mission accomplished!  Here's a pic of the inside of the folder . . .

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, The Paper Cut White Matte Coate,

                           Generic Turquoise cardstock, handmade paper scraps 

Stamps:        Stampers Anonymous Cross Writing, Sweet ‘n Sassy

                           Decorative Frame Toppers

Inks:               Posh Rainbow: Wedgewood, Orange, Yellow, Distress

                           Mermaid Lagoon, Ancient Page Sage, Sunburst        

Emb Powder:   WOW Clear Matte Dull  

Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, Memory Box Stitched

                           Rectangle Trimmings, Ellentina Nesting Tag #4, Marianne

                           Flower & Leaf 

Doo Dads:    Punch Bunch/EK Success Flowers, Gelly Roll pen Clear,                                       Turquoise Clipiola, 1/8" satin ribbon, Lime and Orange brads               

The Golden Years

A friend of mine from church had cataract surgery recently and so far, she's not happy with the slowness of her recovery.  I know she'll be fine, and am hoping a little humor will help lighten her spirits  . . .

I thought a pair of glittery, flower-bedecked specs would be fun, and the text also covers the subject nicely:  in case the camera fluffs the job, here's what it says:

"The golden years!  Hmph!  Who came up with that one?"

The inside message says," Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance."  How very true . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, The Paper Cut Watercolor Paper       

Stamps:        Just for Fun Alphabet Background, Art Impressions

                           Background #2, Unknown Eyes, Onyx “The golden

                           years! Hmph!”

Inks:               Ancient Page reinkers Turquoise, Sage, Vivid Turquoise

Colorants:    Copic E000 Pale Fruit Pink

Emb Powder:   WOW Clear Matte Dull, Pipe Dream Dove Lake, Vippies                               Transcendence  

Dies:              Mama Elephant Femme Frame, Impression Obsession

                           Large Glasses, Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges    

Doo Dads:    Carl punch Flower Center, Rubber Dub Dub glitter Seaspray

Wonderful!

It's hard to beat lime green, turquoise, and white for a very happy color combination . . .

Some roughed-up edges, a little sparkly embossing powder scattered thither and yon, and a few butterflies . . . what's not to like?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper

Stamps:        Art Impressions Travel Background, Silver Crow “Wonderful”

Inks:               Posh Rainbow Inks Teal, Kiwi, Vivid Turquoise                       

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color Light Blue, Cobalt Blue, Turquoise Green,

                           Olive Green, Yellow Green

Emb Powder:   Stampendous Shabby White  

Dies:              Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Simon Says Butterfly

                           Tendrils

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

Treasure

Here is another text background, done this time over Kraft cardstock . . .

I started this one with the idea of doing an Old School layout:  no die cutting machine was to be used, just stamping and maybe some fussy cutting.  Seven dies and one embossing folder later, I dimly perceived that I'd left that plan far behind.  What can I say:  the ability to do the kind of intricate cutting that only dies can achieve still thrills me to the gills and I just cannot resist the chance to play with these tools on my cards . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper   

Stamps:        A Muse Script Background, Judikins Esponge Background,

                           Hero Designer Woodgrain, Starving Artistamps Positive

                           Words: “Goddess”

Inks:               Posh Rainbow Magenta, Sunshine, Distress Vintage Photo,

                           Festive Berries, Ripe Persimmon, Candies Apple, Peeled

                           Paint

Emb Powder:   WOW Clear Matte Dull  

Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, DieNamics Single

                           Stitched Line Rectangle Frame, Studio Katia Darling

                           Ribbon & Dotted Frames (Bow), Our Daily Bread Flower

                           Box Fillers, Impression Obsession Cat Set, DieNamics

                           Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle, We Buys Cute

                           Chrysanthemum set (Butterfly)

Emb Folder: Taylored Expressions Weathered