Monday, July 30, 2018

It's Your Birthday


A backyard scene ought to work well for a guy card, don't you think?


A trio of brightly colored birdhouses has been popped up over a pebbled background that I used instead of an image featuring sky and clouds because I liked the texture - even though it doesn't make much sense in the real world. That's OK - I'm the artist and I get to call the shots!

LOVE this hobby!!!

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Eames White, Strathmore #90 Watercolor
                        paper, Generic scraps Brown  
Stamps:       Tim Holtz Crazy Talk: “It’s your birthday . . .”
Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Mowed Lawn
Colorants:    Inktense Poppy Red, Iris Blue, Golden Yellow
Watercolors:   Zig Clean Color: Geranium Red, Bright Yellow, Dull Blue,
                          Deep Brown
Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence
Dies:            Impression Obsession Birdhouse Set, Beach Fence,
                        Grass Border, Pine Branch              
Emb Folder: Carabelle Mini Pebbles, Memory Box Resting Birds

Thursday, July 26, 2018

The Star


This card was inspired by another blogger's posting a few days ago.  The layout featured a recessed die cut and I thought it was very attractive . . .


I doubled the top layer in order to give the smaller cut out areas better support after popping up the layer with foam tape.  The bottom layer holds the die cut butterflies.  In order to avoid having to deal with tricky coloring of seven small butterflies, I simply scattered die powders in a loose ombre fashion on another panel and then used the die to cut them out.  I got an imprecise look which was exactly what I was after. 

The more I stamp, the more I appreciate the many adventurous aspects of this wonderful hobby!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Strathmore Ultimate White      
Stamps:       Impression Obsession Ink Splatter, Technique Junkies
                        Simple Sentiments Style C/Set 3
Inks:             Hero Black, ColorBox Black, Frost White
Colorants:    Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magicals Shabby Turbine Teal,
                        Tibetan Poppy Teal, Witch’s Potion Purple
Emb Powder:   Stamp Zia Black Sparkle
Dies:            Simon Says Butterfly Drift, Spellbinders Hemstitch                                 Rectangles (outside frame only)                     
Doo Dads:    Ranger Enamel Accents Black    

Monday, July 23, 2018

With Sympathy


The year is turning into a very sad one for our family.  We're experiencing the second death in one week:  this card is for our nephew's wife who just lost her father . . .


This image is one of my favorites to use for condolence cards - just as the bird is returning home, I love the idea that our deaths are actually a homecoming 
for us too.

Memory Eternal for everyone who has lost a loved one . . .

Cardstock:   Beckett Candlelight
Stamps:       Rubber Stampede Fly Away Home
Inks:             Hero Black, Distress Black Soot, ColorBox Black
Emb Powder:   Distress Black Soot
Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Spellbinders A2
                        Curved Matting Basics B, DieVersions Hint of Lime
Emb Folder: Spellbinders Tweets and Twigs: Design A


Thursday, July 19, 2018

Thank You

This is one of the Thank You notes I made for those who sent flowers to the funeral of my beloved husband, Igor . . .


I lost him at the end of June due to a variety of health issues that at 87, simply overwhelmed his ability to fight back.

The sunflower was his favorite flower because his birth country - the Ukraine - is overrun with them.  He always said they meant home to him.  As he has been called home now, this is my last chance to honor him.  

Memory Eternal, sweet guy . . .

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Eames White, Strathmore Watercolor paper   
Stamps:       Hampton Art Willowy Sunflower, Hero Circular Designs,
                        Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks:             Ancient Page Chocolate
Watercolors:   Gansai Tambi 43 Mid Yellow, 33 Orange, 54 Olive Green,
                           47 Dark Brown
Emb Powder:   Zing Chestnut Opaque
Dies:            Gina K Rectangle Small Set, Waffle Flower Lacy Layers                    

Monday, July 16, 2018

Live


I seem to be in monochromatic mode lately . . .


With the lacy background piece that I'd unearthed from my Scrap Stash, I thought it would be neat to continue the Kraft and cream colors throughout.  I like how it turned out, even though I started with a very different layout in mind.  It's amazing how often I get sidetracked like that . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Beckett Candlelight 
Stamps:       Stacy Antique Lace
Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy
Dies:              Waffle Flower Lacy Layers 2, Elizabeth Craft Small
                        Butterfly, DieNamics Falling Leaves, Prima Forest
                        Leaves, Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Pieces, Word
                        Fetti “Live”              
Emb Folder: Sheena Snowfall
Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear, Viva Pearl Pen Cream           


Thursday, July 12, 2018

Possibilities, Courage, Persevere


This is actually a birthday card for a dear friend who is going through some rather tough times and needs to make some difficult decisions.  I thought a little encouragement might be worth passing along . . .


I chose gentle colors for this card and as always, I love the contrast of the smooth focal point background against the texture of the card front.  I was deeply influenced by Rodin's statue of The Kiss at an early age and as a result, it factors in to nearly every card creation I make.

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, Bazzill Pear 
Stamps:       Stacy Antique Lace, Era Graphics Turkey Feather, Guinea
                        Hen Feather, Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds,
                        Starving Artistamps Positive Words
Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Peacock Feathers
Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence
Dies:            DieNamics Single Stitch Line Rounded Rectangular Frames  
Emb Folder: Taylored Expressions Weathered
Doo Dads:    DecoArt Paper Effects Peacock Gold     


Monday, July 9, 2018

All the Best


With free time continuing to be at a premium, I'm still having fun looting my Scrap Stash.  The things I unearth are real time savers.  I hate to rush my card making, but when it's necessary to maximize my time, I'm happy to have a head start . . .


The two green pieces, the leaves, and the white frame are what I excavated.  I cut them down by using stitched dies to coordinate the three pieces, and used an Italian script stamp on the largest piece.  As the recipient is Italian, I thought that bit of subtlety would be fun.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Beckett Candlelight         
Stamps:       A Stamp in the Hand Words Background, Script
Inks:             Distress Mowed Lawn, Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon,
                        Lucky Clover
Dies:            DieNamics, Pierced Rectangle Frames, Vertical Stitched Strip,
                        Marianne Flower and Leaves, Mama Elephant Femme
                        Frames, Impression Obsession “All the best”                 
Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Cubist

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Garden


More fun with some purple, white, and green . . .


 . . . some lovely old fashioned flowers against a softly colored mesh background, a few pearls, and a sparkling butterfly . . . seems like a good choice for a summer's birthday card, don't you think?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Purple Pizzazz, Cocoa, Beckett Candlelight,
                        Neenah Naturals        
Stamps:       Inkadinkado Tall Phlox, Fiskars brayer Mesh, Unknown
                        “Garden”, Stamps by Judith Dots
Inks:             Distress Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
Colorants:    Marvy Wet Looks Embossing Markers #8, 11, 72
Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence
Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Square, Creative Expressions
                        Chantilly Lace Edger, Marianne Butterflies, Yalatan
                        Stitched Tags
Emb Folder: Spellbinders Horsehair
Doo Dads:    American Craft Jute: Green, Viva Pearl Pen Cream,
                        Wink of Stella Clear  

Monday, July 2, 2018

Igor Jaworowsky

Igor  Jaworowsky

My cherished husband Igor went peacefully into the arms of Jesus in the early evening of June 29, 2018. He was an incredible person, a deeply loving husband and father, and a man of strength and integrity who made a huge and worthy mark on this world.  May his memory be eternal.

I will resume posting on Thursday, July 5 . . .