Soar

My friend Allan is an American who started life in Australia.  He happens to love steampunk art.  So for his birthday, I thought I’d give him two more reasons to smile . . .

  . . . this airship die is one of the most intricate and totally fun dies I own and I plan to find lots of ways to use it.  Meanwhile, I think he’ll enjoy flying the flag of his birth country on his very own steampunk airship!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Splash, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, 

Scraps: Navy, Dull Silver     

Inks:            Stampin Up Sahara Sand

Dies:            Memory Box Puffy Clouds, TEMU Steampunk Airship, 

Impression Obsession Plane with Banner (flag loop), 

DieVersions font Noodles: “Soar”                

Doo Dads:    Australian flag Googled     

Blessings

In celebration of thirty-seven years of sobriety, my friend David has been blessed indeed . . .

 . . . so I thought his card should show that! 

 The flower pot and greenery are inserts:  after die cutting the one-piece die out of the cream paper, I did the same with the green and rust papers.  After backing the cream layer with double sided tape, I inserted the colored papers just as I would with puzzle pieces.  I love this technique, mostly because the pieces always fit perfectly!

Cardstock:   Marcos Speckletone Cover Cream, Scraps: Rust,

Green         

Inks:            Stampin Up Really Rust, Wink of Stella Clear

Dies:            DieNamics Wonky Stitch Rectangle Stax, Cugap 

Potted Plant, TKOnline Celebration Set: “Blessings’               

Doo Dads:    Flower Punches: Punch Bunch, Carl, EK Success      

The Rainbow Bridge

Pet losses are some of the most soul-searing events ever.  When my friend Sandy had to say goodbye to her much-loved Max, this is what I sent her . . .

“Losing them is the price we pay for loving them,” I was once told.  So be it . . . for the immense joy our pets have brought into our daily lives, the time of deep mourning we have to go through when we lose them is worth it.  Rest in peace, Max . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marcos Jute         

Stamps:       Our Daily Bread Never Forgotten

Inks:            Superior India Ink Black

Waterclrs:    Distress Watercolor Pencil Villainous Potion, Faded

Jeans, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Spiced

Marmalade, Candied Apple

Dies:            TEMU Cute Cat & Dog Paw                   

Emb Fldr:     Stampin Up Subtle Dynamic

Happy

Currently, there are quite a number of background dies with geometric designs.  These are tailor made for patterned papers put to use as inserts . . .

I made the focal point simple as I wanted the background to really shine forth.  I’ve put together many renditions of this design so you’re likely to be seeing a few of them again.

Cardstock:   Strathmore Natural White, Canson Aquarelle #90,

Assorted Designer Papers 

Inks:            Distress Weathered Wood

Dies:            InLoveArts Diagonal Stripe Background, Lychee

Flower Stitched Circles, Impression Obsession Vase,

Grass, Marianne Butterfly, Recollections Word Feti:

Happy

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

Celebrate

I decided it would be fun to steer in a rather flamboyant direction and observe Father’s Day with a Hawaiian shirt - a colorful garment style that surely wrote the book on flamboyant . . .

When it comes to saturated color, it’s hard to beat dried die ink powders for their vivid hues – perfect for a Hawaiian shirt, I thought.  So I’m hoping my three recipients of this card will indeed celebrate the day with at least a touch of flamboyancy . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Canson Mixed Media #98, Hanko Momi

Washi Champagne Gold   

Inks:            ColorBox Gold

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

Time Travel Teal, Hag’s Wart Orange, Urban Amethyst

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            JustRite Stitched A2 Banners & Rectangles, 

Die-Versions Hawaiian Shirt, Top Dog Photo Props (tie),

 Impression Obsession Congrats Word Set:  “Celebrate”

Thinking of You

My friend Mary is dealing with a variety of health issues, so I unearthed my Background Box and came up with this one . . .

While I absolutely love any images which feature mosaic elements, the most fun thing about the background is the gold dots.  They are neither rivets or brads but drops made from tacky glue.  There are a number of brands that make this kind of glue which is easy to find and costs no more than any other glue.  Depending on the size of the drops, it takes about an hour for them to become firm enough to embellish. 

Tacky glue remains sticky even after it’s cured and is the ideal substrate for glitter, embossing powder, or in this case, gold leafing.  You simply put a few flakes of the leafing over the cured drops and smooth it over with your fingers or a Q-tip.  The excess can be brushed away.  The leafing adheres perfectly to the glue dot which becomes very firm in a few more hours and can be mailed without fear of squishing. 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marco’s Antique Linen White, Hanko

  Momi Washi Champagne Gold

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Mosaic Scallops, All Night Media 

 Thinking of You

Inks:            Superior India Ink Black, ColorBox Black

Colorants:   Zig Clean Color Mid Green, Olive Green, Geranium

  Red, Deep Red

Emb Pwdr:   Distress Black Soot

Dies:            Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles, Stampin Up Rose                 

Doo Dads:    Gold leafing, Tacky glue    

Sending You Love

When our former neighbor Irina came from California to North Jersey for a visit, she came bearing gifts.  She always does – her generosity is legendary and it springs from an incredibly loving nature that endears her to everyone she meets.  Irina is a master gardener, so for her Thank You note, I used the same floral layering stencil set as on my previous post.  But this time with a different color scheme . . .

I used Pixie Spray on the stencil backs this time and got crisper results because of it.  I love this cheerful stencil set and I think it’ll be useful for a great variety of occasions!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rainforest, Strathmore Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       Hero Sending You Love, Unknown Spatter

Inks:            Distress Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon,

Barn Door , Stampin Up Always Artichoke

Pwdr:           Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Mama Elephant Peek A Frame, Hero Sending you 

                     love                    

Stencil:        Pinkfresh Floral Ornate Print

Doo Dads:    Judikins Micro Glaze, Green Brads, Studio Katia 

Clear Drops

Thank You So Much

When my dear friend Allan gifted me with a layering stencil set, I immediately put it to work for the background on his Thank You card . . .

I shall remain eternally grateful to the creative genius who came up with the idea of layering stencils.  Along with the Life Changing Blending Brushes, these stencils give us the opportunity to easily convince the world that we have far better artististic skills than might actually be the truth.  I’ll always be up for that!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Purple Pizzazz, Strathmore Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       DieNamics Banner Greetings 

Inks:            Distress Peeled Paint, Dusty Concord, Weathered

Wood, Faded Jeans

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Mama Elephant Peek A Frame, DieNamics Banner   

                     Greetings                    

Stencil:        Pinkfresh Floral Ornate Print

Doo Dads:    Judikins Micro Glaze, Purple Brads, TEMU Raindrops, 

Gelly Roll Clear Star