Friday, September 26, 2008

TGIF!

Killing two birds with one stone today! I wanted to participate in my first SCS color challenge (CC185: Breezy Vanilla Kisses), AND I wanted to make a card for Carolyn King's blog regarding Alzheimer's caregivers (HUGE blog candy prize given!!!), so I combined the two. I adore the colors chosen for the color challenge; Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss (or Old Olive), and Baja Breeze.

Carolyn King's challenge was to "make a card for a caretaker of a person affected with Alzheimer's". Her grandmother, who died of the disease, would have celebrated her birthday today, and Carolyn wanted to do this in remembrance of her grandmother.

If any of you have seen the movie "The Notebook" (keep the Kleenex handy), you'll understand the challenges and heartbreak the loved ones have to deal with. I feel honored to be able to participate in this cause. Since I don't know anyone who is a caretaker, I will send my card to the Artman Home where her grandmother spent the last years of her life.

For this card, I stamped the image (Whiff of Joy's "Melinda Hugging Heart") on watercolor paper and colored it using Derwent watercolor pencils.
I filled in her wings with Stickles "Star Dust" glitter glue. Angels have to have sparkly wings, right? :-D

I used the Cuttlebug Textile Texture embossing folder on the Baja Breeze and layered it over Old Olive.
The stamped image was die cut with a Nestabilities Long Rectangle die, then layered over Old Olive cardstock using Stampin' Dimensionals after threading a ribbon slide on the ribbon and adhering it to the three layers of cardstock (Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Old Olive).

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Old Olive Classic ink, glued on the buttons and added the rhinestone flowers.

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze
Stamp: Whiff of Joy "Melinda Hugging Heart"
Sentiment: Hero Arts Cleardesign "Friendship" set
Ink: Old Olive Classic and Basic Black Craft ink
Embellishments: ribbon from Michael's, rhinestone flowers from Hero Arts, ribbon slide by Nunn Design from Paper Wishes and buttons from my sewing box.


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Happy Wednesday!


Here we are, halfway through the week already! Autumn started off feeling like Autumn - perfect daytime temperatures with cool nights (good sleeping weather!). My favorite time of year!!! However, now it's hot again, booo.

Today's card was made for the Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call, which is open until September 26th. I must say, I absolutely ADORE these stamps! Anyway, I don't expect I have any chance at all of winning, since I'm so new to blogging and I don't have many cards to display, yet. But I enjoyed participating, anyway ! Gotta start somewhere, right? ;-)

Whiff of Joy Stamps also launched the Whiff of Joy Challenge Blog today! I plan to participate in that as much as possible, too.

This stamp is called "Willow With Lantern". You can order it directly from W.O.J., or if you're more comfortable ordering from a U.S. retailer, All That Scraps has them, as well!

Katharina's sketch # 22 was my design inspiration. I stamped the image on white cardstock and colored it with Prismacolor pencils, using the Magic Colored Pencil (aka Gamsol) technique. There's a wonderful tutorial on You Tube that shows how to do it!

A Copic Spica Gold Glitter pen was used on the red hem of her skirt, as well as the bow behind her, though you can't see it in the photo. (I need a new camera... or maybe a professional photographer, LOL!) Then the image was cut out using the largest Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Paisley die in my Cuttlebug machine (I love that thing!).

Next, I fastened it to Stampin' Up! Real Red cardstock with Stampin' Dimensionals and carefully cut around the paisley, leaving a narrow edge of red showing. After the background was assembled using the 2 patterned papers, the ribbon was added, and the word window was punched where I wanted it. The sentiment was stamped on white paper in S.U. Real Red Classic ink and taped to the folded card base so it would show through the punched "window".

Willow was taped to the background (I use the ATG 714 tape dispenser), the dew drops were glued on with clear glue and the snowflakes were added. The last step was attaching the card front to the card base, and again, I used the Stampin' Dimensionals. I wanted there to be a little depth between the card front and the stamped sentiment.

Cardstock: Folded card base - DCWV textured cardstock. Stampin' Up! Real Red
Pattern paper: Swirls - Daisy Bucket "Wrapped Wishes". Dots - Debbie Mumm "Harvest & Holiday"
Stamp: Whiff of Joy "Willow With Lantern"
Sentiment: Heidi Grace "Christmas"
Embellishments: Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest, ribbon from Michael's bargain bin ;-), snowflakes by Jolee's Boutique, Copic Spica Gold glitter pen, Spellbinder's Nestabilities

Saturday, September 20, 2008

TA-DAAAAH!



Okay, it's not completely finished, yet, but I have a fully functioning craft room now! I was able to use existing components (wire shelves, desks, etc.) to get organized, so there was no expense there. I still have to get storage for the stamp pads and refills, and I definitely want to do something different for the window treatment - I can't stand those vertical blinds. Eventually I plan to stamp each stamp so I can organize the images by subject in a binder. I don't even know what all I have in that department! Anyway, it may not have coordinated, matching color units, but it works, and that's what counts!

You probably can't really see it, but the ribbons, Primas, and eyelets/brads are all in their color families. I even have the Stickles (on their sides) in the appropriate area. Now when I need "something" extra for a card, everything is easily accessible!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Organizing!



I've been in the notorious "black hole" for the past two days, trying to turn it into something resembling a craft room. It's a long process, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope it isn't the light from a freight train!!! LOL

I already have shelving on the wall from the inventory from a former business, so getting my stamping stuff organized into an efficient set up should be a snap (yeah, right). At this point I have my ribbon spools, Primas, and various other embellies sorted into their color families. It ought to make the card-making process a little easier having everything out where I can see it!

Still trying to get the ink pad, refill, pen storage figured out. I'd love to be able to buy one of these or one of these but they just aren't in the budget. So, I'll keep my eyes peeled for something I can use. Maybe I'll just have to build one myself!

Meanwhile, this was a secret message card I did back in April. Sorry, I was new to card making and didn't know to keep track of the recipe!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Got to Meet a Splitcoast Stamper!!!



Jen White, a fellow SCS member, is in town with her DH and adorable baby daughter (and 2 Great Danes!) to visit her DH's family for a couple weeks. I was so excited to get to meet her, since I feel like I already know her from her posts on SCS. She's so sweet and funny and nice! Anyhoo, we weighed in together at Weight Watchers and then went to Souplantation (fabulous salad bar) for lunch. Next week she's going to WW with me again, and then we'll hit the local stamp stores. Here's a quickie card I made using the same image from the blue Thank You card below. (I usually stamp a couple extra images as long as I have the stamp out.) This one looks completely different.

Cardstock: SU Always Artichoke and Mellow Moss
Pattern Paper: Colorbok Sage Stripe
Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Beary Best"
Sentiment: Penny Black "Salutations" stamped in SU Close to Cocoa and heat embossed with clear EP
Ribbon: Coffee grosgrain from JoAnn
Wooden heart button: Blumenthal
Stickles, Judy Kins Diamond Glaze
Spellbinders Scalloped Circle Nestabilities

Friday, September 12, 2008

Never Forget


I remember where I was when President Kennedy was shot.
I remember where I was when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded.
I remember where I was when America was attacked by terrorists.
I remember. . .

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Making Noise


My DH suggested a card design a couple months ago, and this is the result. I absolutely love that stamp ('Shadow Cats in Love' from Third Coast Art Rubber Stamps). They have a wonderful variety of images (over 5,000!), and all are unmounted red rubber, which allows you to use them the way you want.

This is a simple card. I didn't get too crazy with embellishing since I thought the image could speak for itself.

Cardstock; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Cover, silver metallic (mfr. unknown)
Stamp: Third Coast Art Rubber Stamps
Ink: Stampin' Up! Basic Black Craft
Sentiment done on printer in Blackadder ITC font

Friday, September 5, 2008

Wake up Call

This has been a rough week, so I haven't gotten any cards made. My younger sister had a heart attack on Labor Day. <:-( She's going to be okay. They had to put in two stents, end-to-end, because the blockage was so long. The front artery in her heart was 90% blocked! So, I guess my message today is, please pay attention to your body, especially if it is sending you signals, however subtle. If you feel tightness or pain in your chest, or if your left arm tingles, gets numb, or aches, if you have pain in your jaw, or break out in a sweat with any of these symptoms - GET TO A DOCTOR immediately. She had all those signs. And apparently, has had them in the past, too, although not as strongly.

I'll try to whip together a card later and post it tonight.