With Sympathy

It seems the month has ended before I was ready to let it go.  Having broken an ankle last week, I am somewhat discombobulated, which likely explains my lack of perception re the fleeting days of May.  So to compensate, I’ve decided to re-print a posting from my early years of blogging.  This one comes from February 24, 2014.  Hopefully, my skills for stamping, blogging, and photographing have improved since then . . .

I thought the only annoying thing about my camera was the fact that sparkle and shine rarely show up in my photos.  Now, I’ve another annoyance to add to the list:  Color Corruption!  The phlox are actually purple – not the blue that is pictured . . .

 . . . OK, I guess this is a good time to use your imagination.  Think a rich dark purple with a few mauve accents to match the butterfly . . . whose color reproduction is accurate.  Go figure . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rope Swing, Beckett Candlelight

Stamps:       Inkadinkado Tall Phlox

Inks:            Marvy Wet Looks Markers #8, 11, 72, Copic G24

                          Willow, V15 Mallow, Distress Stain Dusty Concord,

                          Distress Old Paper

Emb Powder: Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals, Grommet tags,

                           McGill Butterfly punch

Doo Dads:      Gelly Roll Clear Star, Light Green grosgrain ribbon

 

Good Vibes

What more appropriate background on the card for my computer-savvy friend and neighbor Richard than a circuit board?

I used a favorite technique to add definition to the dry embossed background:  I inked the convex side of the embossing folder, added the cardstock, and ran it through my machine.  Normally, I repeat the inking 2-3 times in order to get an even coverage, but I inked this one only once.  The color dispersal is uneven and I really like that!  I also love the partial, grainy look the single ink application rewarded me with.  To heck with evenly applied coverage . . . this is far more interesting!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marcos Jute, Scrap Metallic Gold         

nks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Mid-size Frame, Tim Holtz 

Gears, Memory Box Alphabet Soup                  

Emb Fldr:     Tim Holtz Circuit

Doo Dads:    Marvy Marker Liquid Gold 

Alexa

My very dear and lifelong friend Sandy gifted me with an Alexa+ recently and for her Thank You note, I had fun replicating this amazing machine in cardstock . . .

 . . . right on down to the plus and minus signs it uses for volume control.  My Alexa has a textured surface so I used a spatter dot image to suggest that.  My card is very close to square, so I’ll mail it in a slightly larger rectangular envelope.  Postal sorting machines go bonkers trying to figure out which way is up on a square envelope.  This is why they charge extra postage in order to cover the labor of hand cancelling.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Strathmore Mixed Media #184 

Stamps:       Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:            Distress Candied Apple, Chipped Sapphire, Faded

Jeans, Peeled Paint

Dies:            TEMU Love, Honey Bee Blanket Set: “my”, Hero 

Alphabet Uppercase “Alexa”, Cheery Lynn Lace Corner Deco B           

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

Stand Tall

My friend Sandy loves all things African, so I’ve invested in a number of images about that breathtaking country . . .

I doubt we’ll ever encounter whimsically decorated giraffes like these, but they are surely fun to see here . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, The Paper Cut Fossil, Bazzill Raven      

Stamps:       Judikins Tribesmen, Technique Junkies Stand Tall Set, 

KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Hero Soft Brown

Dies:            Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles               

Doo Dads:    Darice Hemp Black, Berwick Wraphia Tan, Candi

Sticker Black 

Tempus Fugit

“Time Flies” says the sentiment, and indeed it does.  Amazingly, the older I get, the faster the clock spins.

Allan, my computer guru without whom I would never be able to successfully compute for any length of time, is a steam punk fan.  So I always like to use that theme when I make his birthday cards . . .

Anything with gears would seem to fill the bill and as I have lots of gear dies, I think we’re good to go for a number of birthdays yet.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marcos Jute         

Stamps:       KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Wink of Stella Black

Dies:            TEMU Steampunk Clock, DieNamics Pierced Circle

Frames, Tim Holtz Gears, W+9 Banner Trio, 

DieVersions font Noodles                    

Doo Dads:    Sparkle & Sprinkle Glitter Fantasy Gold 

Take Good Notes

This one goes to a very bright 15 year old.  I think he’s just old enough to appreciate the life lesson in the text . . .

Since the foliage was too narrow to prop up with pop dots, I decided to curve them a bit with my fingers and hope they survive the post office’s tender loving care.  

I guess I’ll find out when it reaches the other end . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore #184 Mixed Media. Marcos Jute, Neenah

Desert Storm

Stamps:       Annette Watkins Take Good Notes, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye, Superior India

 Ink Black

Dies:            Memory Box Sketch Frame, TEMU Mushrooms,

 Impression Obsession Grass, Bodoao Greenery 

 Spray                    

With Love

Another look at The Greetery’s stunning Rosemal Collection . . .

I thought some sweetly peachy colors would work well for the Mother’s Day theme.  Actually, I seem to gravitate towards this lovely color every year for this special celebration . . . it just seems like the perfect fit for this loving occasion.

 

          Happy Mother’s Day!

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Light Rosy, Dark Rosy, LCI Paper Tindalo

Brown, Marcos Jute 

Stamps:       The Greetery With Love

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            The Greetery Rosemal Reflections, Rosemal

Reflections Details, Sentiments, Capsule Fixed

Borders Small, Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness sequins Shimmering Platinum