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     

Diva

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #6

The title on this card is "Diva" and it would be hard to find a flower more deserving of the name than a Coneflower, AKA Echinacea . . .

I used a brass stencil to apply paste to the flower image.  When it was dry, I then applied brown die inks to the back of the stencil and pressed it in place around the flower.  Since metal repels die inks, I got a nice mottled background that set off the flower and leaves nicely.

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Eames White, Beckett Candlelight       

Stamps:       Starving Artistamps Positive Words: “Diva”

Inks:             Distress Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy

Watercolors:  Inktense Hot Red, Felt Green, Fern, Zig Clean

                        Color Pale Green, Pink Flamingo, LuminArte

                        H₂O’s Mandarin Blush, Olive Vine

Emb Powder:  VippiesTranscendence

Dies:            Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, Memory Box

                        Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, DieNamics Mini

                        Wavy Pennants                       

Stencil:        Lasting Impressions L953 Coneflower

Doo Dads:    Golden Light Molding Paste, Gilding flakes          

Explore

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #5

The stenciled background on this one looked like the perfect backing for an Egyptian feel on this layout . . .

The two papyrus motifs were propped up at different heights and the wheat stalks had drops of Glossy Accents added to the backside of the tips at the top ends .  This gives them dimension without having foam pop dots peeking out from the narrow stalks.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Buckeye, Strathmore Kid’s Paint Pad

                        Watercolor paper         

Stamps:       Starving Artistamps Trimmings, Stamp Diva

                        Papyrus Large & Small

Inks:             Adirondack Color Wash Cranberry, Tattered Angels

                        Glimmer Mist Peach Delight, Tsukineko Walnut Ink

                        Walnut, ColorBox Frost White, Distress Brushed

                        Corduroy, Aged Mahogany

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Fine Detail White, Ranger Antiquities

                              Claret

Dies:            Impression Obsession Wheat, Tim Holtz Adventure:                                                 "Explore”                      

Stencil:        Sweet Stamps Circle Pavers

Love Love Love

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #4

Some gold, some cream, and a little shimmer . . .

 . . . a lovely way to wish a happy marriage to the couple!

Cardstock:   Beckett Moonlight   

Stamps:       Wordsworth Love set: Love Love Love

Inks:             VersaMark

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold, Detail Gold

Dies:            Simon Says Fresh Daisies            

Emb Folder:   QuicKutz Sketchbook

Doo Dads:    On the Surface fibers Gold, Viva Pearl Pen Cream     

Wish, Fly, Live

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #3

I don't believe there's such a thing as too much texture . . .

This one employs so many favorite things:  stenciling with paste, a textural die cut, and a gauzy, lacy winged dragonfly.  YUM!    

Cardstock:   Marcos Bark Collection: Tan, The Paper Cut Eames

                        White, Nakoosa Eggplant, Generic Vellum     

Stamps:       Local King Dragon Style    

Inks:             Vivid Plum, Wink of Stella Clear

Dies:            Kaisercraft Hessian, Local King Dragon Style                          

Stencil:        The Crafter's Workshop Mini Art is . . ., Wendy Vecchi

                        Artful Words

Emb Paste:  Golden Light Molding Paste

Doo Dads:    Vivid Pearl Cream   

Christ Is Risen

Blue Ribbon Award #2

This was our Easter card for this year . . .

It was not a favorite of mine, but my trusted and highly artistically evolved friend Carol loved it.  So this is a second look at it . . .

Cardstock:   Neenah Conservation White, Generic Dark Green,

                        Dull Gold

Stamps:       Our Daily Bread Christ the Lord is Risen Today,

                        Starving Artistamps Concentric Sun

Inks:             VersaFine Onyx Black, ColorBox Gold

Colorants:    D’uva Erasable Watercolor Cardinal Red, Lemon Yellow

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Cheery Lynn Cross Set, Memory Box Arboscello Tree,

                        Verve Hope Blooms                      

Splendor

Blue Ribbon Award Winner #1

It's NJ State Fair time again, dear readers, and that means a little self-indulgent fun is on the table.  Once again, the judges liked my work and after submitting eight cards, I was rewarded with eight blue ribbons . . .

Throughout September, I will post all eight of the cards I submitted, starting with this one, entitled "Splendor" . . .

I don't know how much the camera will pick up, but the sea fans and the fish are all about shimmering silver and plenty of sparkle.  The background was done with blue and green color washes which turned out wonderfully oceanic, I thought . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper

Stamps:       Stamp Zia Betta Chop, Starving Artistamps Fan (two sizes),

                         PSX Mesh Texture, Stamp Zia “Splendor”

Inks:             Adirondack Color Wash Bottle, Sailboat Blue, ColorBox 

                         Black, White, Silver, Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow 

                         Mist: Tawny Turquoise, Gelly Roll Clear Star pen

Emb Powder:   PSX Black Sparkle, Ranger Embossing Tinsel Snowflake