UH OH

 Having some computer and camera problems - will be back on schedule ASAP!

It's Your Day

 Annoying News:

Feedburner is the company that has been notifying you whenever I post a new card.  But they have just announced that they will not be providing this email service anymore.  There doesn't seem to be a backup company waiting in the wings so we bloggers are being left high and dry.  As I said, annoying.  However, I have no intention of quitting my blog.  Until I leave the planet, I will be posting every Monday and Thursday as I've done for the last nine years.  I hope you will continue to share this creative journey with me!

Now it's on to today's card . . .

When I started with this layout, I had in mind a leafy window cut into the card front.  But that's not at all how it turned out . . .

 It wound up looking like a framed portrait of a leaf.  Funny how things get re-designed along the way . . .

The original background behind the leaf started out as a dull gold which I thought would contrast nicely with the vibrant colors in the leaves.  Didn't work.  So I painted over it with some shimmery gold watercolor.  Happily, it went from flat to fabulous!  Well, at least it improved things a great deal . . .

 

 Cardstock:   Strathmore #90 Mixed Media, Two Cool Colors Dull

                     Gold, Red/Gold embossed papers from my Scrap Stash       

Stamps:       Stampin Up It’s your day!

Inks:             VersaMark

Waterclrs:    The Art Spirits - Twinkle Glitter Paint Gold          

Emb Pwdr:  BMuse Metallic Marmalade

Dies:            Altenew Leaf Mix, Tropical Leaf Mix, Arich “Rounded

                     Corners Stitched Rectangles”      

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Weathered

Tall Vase

Having decided to break out of the A2-sized card rut I've been in for most of my twenty years of stamping, I took the plunge and invested in two styles of the new Slimline dies: Scalloped, and Embossed Edge.  WOW!  What a freeing thing it is to go large . . .

The vase is actually the body of a primitive spirit god image that my friend Carol gifted me with.  I decided I'd get more use out of him if I lopped off his head and turned him into an art deco vase.  So with her permission, I performed the bloodless surgery and this is my first attempt at playing with the result.

This is one of those cards that didn't turn out at all as I'd planned.  And because there is so much black, it's probably best viewed in real life.  Nonetheless, I can see myself having a lot of fun with these new Slimline proportions!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Nicole Black 

Stamps:       Unknown “Tall Vase”

Inks:             ColorBox Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Kat Scrappiness Nesting Slimline: Embossed Edge,

                     Stitched Scallop, Impression Obsession Branch with

                     Leaves, Hero Paper Layering Plant & Stand           

Doo Dads:    Mark Richards Metals Gold            

It's Your Day

Last week’s posting (Thursday 23^rd) used up only three of the six Washi strips I had in my stash, so I decided to have another go at playing with them . . .

 

 . . . they look so good with Kraft that I stayed with the basic color scheme while mixing up some of the other elements.  Enjoy!

 Cardstock:         Marcos Jute, Brown Bag, Bazzill Cheddar, Beckett Iceberg,

                               Washi scraps

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

Inks:                    Ancient Page Chocolate, Dylusions White Linen spray, Distress Frayed Burlap

Emb Powder:    B’Muse Devil’s Food Delight
Emb Folder:       Spellbinders Asian

Dies/Punches:   WPlus9 Banner Trio, three sizes flower punches

Doo Dads:          1/8” corner rounder

Flowering Stripes

The title of this card refers to the fact that I was looking at some striped wallpaper one day and wondered what it would look like if I changed the stripes into rows of flowers instead.  My stash includes scores of really small stamps that weren’t getting much use, so this seemed a good way to hold them accountable for their room and board.  I stamped them in loose formation, used 2^nd generation stamping as well, and didn’t stress over placement.  This is good therapy for those of us who tend to be anal retentive . . .

The background was done direct-to-paper with the same colors on water-misted and heavily textured watercolor paper to get a diffused look.  I do up whole sheets of these at a time and then cut what I need for the current project.  The remainder lives at BB’s (my Background Box) until I need it for the next stamping session:  instant inspiration and a time-saver to boot!

Cardstock:   Beckett Iceberg, Watercolor paper, Blue velvet

Stamps:       Assorted small images

Inks:             Vivid Straw, Ultramarine, Olive, and Butterscotch, Gold marker

Punches:      Assorted small leaf punches

Doo Dads:    Gold floss bow 

Tip of the Day:  Free stamping materials are everywhere!  The Navy Blue layer on this card is part of a molded flocked liner that was used to cradle my husband’s new electric razor.  Under the lid and in between the molded impressions, there was plenty of flat material I could repurpose for stamping needs.  Their waste is my gain!