Baby Bok Choy

Blue Ribbon #9   Decorative Recipe Card category

This last entry for the NJ State Fair 2022 isn’t a greeting card at all.  Rather it’s my take on a new category:  Decorative Recipe Cards.  The first photo shows it closed . . .

 The second photo shows it opened and ready for use on the countertop . . .

I thought it would be good to have the recipe stand up for easy reference, so I made a regular card base and turned it in the landscape position which puts the fold at the top.  I took a photo of my Baby Bok Choy recipe and mounted it onto a folded white layer, keeping the fold at the bottom.  A red enameled page clip holds it closed until you’re ready to cook.  The card base sits nicely on a countertop and once the page clip is turned, the recipe is visible and easy to read.

Thus endeth yet another fun year at the Fair!

 

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Strathmore Ultimate White      

Stamps:        KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:              Distress Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Festive Berries,

Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Dies:             Memory Box Lorelai Leaf, DieNamics Stitched Rectangle

Word Windows, Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles       

Stencil:         Pink Fresh Sweet Blooms

Emb Fldr:     Spellbinders Blistered

Doo Dads:    Page clip      

Rising Sun

Blue Ribbon #8  OTHER category       

Asian themes are among my most favorite styles to work with . . .

On one of my daily dog walking adventures, I found this twig and knew right away that it was going to wind up on a card.  Along with some beads – another favorite embellishment – I wound up with this depiction of the land of the rising sun . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Beckett Candlelight         

Stamps:        Curtis Uyeda Rising Sun, Hero Chinese Newspaper, 

                       Embossing Arts Flying Cranes

Inks:             Hero Black, Vivid Red, Orange, ColorBox Cream White

Emb Pwdr:   Stamp ‘n Stuff Ivory Pearl

Doo Dads:    Twig, beads, brass eyelets

Here are this year’s ornaments - something I make annually for my grandchildren.  The idea is for them to have a familiar collection they can use to decorate their own trees when they’re old enough to leave home and start their own traditions . . .

  Cardstock:   Constellation Jade Raster White, The Paper Cut Orion

Variety: Purple, Green, Mirri Reflective Silver       

Dies:            Spellbinders Holiday, 2010 Heirloom Ornament,

Memory Box Ornament Caps & Hooks

Doo Dads:    Metalix Glitter Silver, Wrights Jewelry Trim Fiber:

Silver, Class Appeals Stickers Silver, Mark Richards

Metals Silver, Gelly Roll Clear        

I like to pair them with matching boxes . . . hopefully they will help extend the life of the paper ornaments.

Box

Cardstock:   Cardboard, Constellation Jade Raster White, The Paper

Cut Orion Variety: Purple, Green   

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Bulk Mail Envelope, Tim Holtz

Alphanumeric             

Get Well Soon

 Blue Ribbon #7   GET WELL category  

Here’s another pierced background used in a way suggested by Jennifer McGuire . . .

 

1. Run the background layer through your die cutting machine with a pierced die.

2. Die cut three leaves.

3. Arrange them in your desired grouping on the pierced die and run through.

4. Color the leaves and arrange onto the background, matching the pierced design.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Nicole Premiere #140 watercolor 

Stamps:        Stampin Up Get Well Soon

Inks:              Distress Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Hero Black

Dies:              Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf Plate, Stitched Rectangle

Trimmings, DieNamics Layered Leaves, Impression

Obsession Flags               

Doo Dads:    May Arts Jute        

Be Art

Blue Ribbon #6   Art category 

One of the categories for submission to the NJ Fair’s stamped cards category is ‘Art’.  I figure that gives me license to shake things up a little.  Hence the black, white, and silver rainbow . . .

While I don’t think I’d enjoy living in a world that was completely black and white, such an arrangement does make an interesting statement or two . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Scraps: White, Silver, Black      

Stamps:        Moon Rose Be Art, Stampington Large Clouds

Inks:              ColorBox Silver, Black

Emb Pwdr:   B’Muse Silver, Judikins Detail Black

Dies:             Impression Obsession Sea Birds, DieNamics Rainbow,

Hero Frames with Sprigs (label)             

Cute

 Blue Ribbon #5  BABY category 

This mini slimline entry turned out to be one of my favorite cards.  The image of the dancing bears just grabbed my heart and Fun Fact:  the trouble I used to have with intricate background die cutting is now solved . . .

The intricate background die grid used on this card left sporadic areas where the design didn’t cut through.  I have experimented with a metal plate, all kinds of paper shims, and have done multiple pass-throughs to no avail.  This time, I used a piece of foam packaging placed against the back of the cardstock I was cutting.  You may get even better results if you flip the sandwich so that the blades are up instead of down.  The foam is the kind that comes in sheet form and is used to wrap around fragile items to cushion them for mailing.  It worked perfectly in one pass-through!  This will now be my go-to for every balky die I have . . .

 

Cardstock:   Nicole #140 Premiere watercolor 

Stamps:        All Night Media Teddy Bear Trio, Catslife Press Boy

Definition, Cloud Nine Stamp Baby: “Cute”, Purple

Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye,

Antique Linen, ColorBox Black, Cream White,

Hero Black

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black, Stamp ‘n Stuff Ivory Pearl

Dies:              Cottage Cuts Nested Stitched Scalloped Square,

Scastoe Grid, Mama Elephant Bold Banner,

InLoveArtShop English Letters: “Boy”                   

With Love

Blue Ribbon #4  ANNIVERSARY category

The filigree flowers on this one seemed like a great chance to use some metallic rub-ons . . .

  . . . the result gave me the subtle gleam I was after.  Some white gesso was spattered onto the white background for texture and the torn corner allowed some Italian text to peek through.  I hope it says something romantic for this Anniversary card . . .

 

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Nicole Premiere #140 watercolor       

Stamps:        Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers “Italian Type”, Stampscapes Prickly Branches, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:               Distress Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy

Dies:              Karen Burniston Border Blends: Party, Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, White Lotus “Four Size Flower”, Tattered Lace “With Love” 

Doo Dads:    Studio Gesso White, Candi Dots Choc-a-Mocha, Craft-T Products Metallic Rub-ons Deep Gold        

Happily Ever After

Blue Ribbon #3  WEDDING category    

Pierced designs make such great backgrounds, don’t you think?

 White-on-white is always a favorite of mine and the piercing provides just enough interest without overwhelming the layout . . .

 

Cardstock:   Nicole Premiere #140 watercolor, Bazzill Petal Soft,

Light Olive      

Stamps:        Simon Says Tilted Banner Sayings: “Happily Ever After”

Inks:               Ancient Page Palm Leaf

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Altenew Dotted Starburst Debossing Cover, Impression

Obsession Small Flourish Background, Memory Box

Slender Leaves, Spellbinders Anemone Flower Topper,

Simon Says Tilted Banner Sayings               

Doo Dads:    Pink beads    

All American

Blue Ribbon #2  HOLIDAY category

As I used this card for my Fourth of July mailing three months ago, this is a re-cap from my post of June 30 . . .

The text is actually taken from one image.  I stamped it five times each on red, white, and blue cardstocks, and then cut them apart into strips.  The ends were notched on the right edges and alternate ones were pop dotted to make them look like banners flying in the breeze.  It took me three mornings to make enough for just five cards!

After mounting them on silver cardstock layered onto navy, I thought I was done.  But the layout seemed bottom heavy and needed some balanced interest at the top.  Enter some patriotic ribbon, a silver star, and a very traditional tassel to add some fun movement and texture.

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red, Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle,

Scrap Navy

Stamps:        Eureka Fireworks

Inks:               ColorBox Silver, White, VersaFine Majestic Blue, Atelier

Shark Tooth White

Emb Pwdr:   All Night Media Silver Tinsel, Judikins Denim, Hero White

Dies:              Our Daily Bread Sunburst Background            

Doo Dads:    Stars and Stripes ribbon

Learn, Laugh, Live

Once again, I had me a ton of fun at this year’s NJ State Fair . . . 

I turned in nine submissions and managed to score nine blue ribbons!  As always, I enjoyed the preparation and the excitement of wondering how I was going to do.  Even after years of submitting, the excitement is always there.  May it never subside! 

Now, let’s get to the first of the submissions:

Blue Ribbon #1:  BIRTHDAY category    

I loved the background on this one but it did overpower the vase and branches.  So I inserted some vellum in between to soften the busyness . . .

The background technique is one that Jennifer McGuire recently published and it’s lots of fun to do:

1. Using a fan brush, distribute two or three dried die powders sparingly on one side of an embossing folder – for this one, I used the front side in order to make the design convex.

2. Mist to hydrate the powders and let dry (or you can run it through while still damp).

3. Run through your embossing machine.  Then, make sure the layer is completely dry.

4. Ink up a brayer with white ink and roll it over the design.  Heat emboss if you like.

5. Re-insert back into the embossing folder and run through again to restore the dimension.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Purple Pizzazz, Rain Forest, Nicole Premiere

#140 watercolor         

Stamps:        KaiserCraft Marble, Starving Artistamps Positive Words

Inks:               Atelier Shark Tooth White, Vivid Purple, Ancient Page

Pine

Colorants:    Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Pondorosa Pines Olive,

Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powder Purple Violet

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White, Ranger UTEE White, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Grove

Branch, Impression Obsession Vase Set, Bare Branch           

Emb Fldr:      Sizzix Leaves