The Best of 2014

I made many cards in 2014.  In choosing my favorites, I noticed that each of my favorites are technique challenges.  I love learning, and I will keep trying until I have perfected (or closely) a technique.  So without further ado ...........

I ADORE shaker cards!  This one went to my pain doctor.

This one was made for my nephew Adam for his birthday
 

The technique on this card is the importance of it - scraps were attached to plain printer paper then die cut and placed inside the same die cuts negative space

This card was made for a  card class I was taking.  The word is die cut along with some starts, then a paper colored with Copics is placed behind it.  I just love the effect.

My favorite of the year.  I made it the 1st day of "Stretch Your Stamps 2".  I stamped a background stamp with Versamark ink, then embossed it with white embossing powder.  When that was dry, I used Stampin Up ink refills on my Ranger craft sheet and painted on the colors in an umbre effect.  I die cut the word out of that paper and imbedded the words that I cut out of black.

I made this card this summer for a class and I sent it to Cora

Trying out a new die - a few new dies!  Also rainstones!  I just love love love those!!!!

Trying out a bit of vintage grunge. 

I made 20 love cards for OWH and these are 3 of them

I adore this card!!!!!!  I made it for a card class.  When I watched the video for the lesson - I thought of the song "It's Raining Men!"  I can be a bit weird sometimes.

Also for a card class.  The lesson was using a mask to maintain a white space while stamping.  I really like how this turned out

I made this card for a Mojo Monday blog challenge.  The paper is just so wonderful.

Yup! It's Olaf!  My granddaughter loves "Frozen", and she turned 2 in August.

Another new die set to try out!  I believe I added a sentiment to these before I put them in my OWH box.  It broke my heart to cut this paper!!!!!! A Stampin Up DSP beauty!

 

I am so glad 2014 is over.  What a difficult year this has been!  But Carl and I now have a baseline for awful, and anything is an improvement.  This year is going to be an adventure for Carl and I, he is 100% retired.  This means less money and more companionship, as we work on 43 years of marital bliss!!!!

Stay tuned for that adventure!

 



December ODBD Challenge

Our Daily Bread Designs gives Operation Write Home $25 - or postage for a box - to send blank cards to our troops.  This month (December) the challenge is to use primary colors.  Today is December 8th and there are only 5 cards posted.  Yikes!  So here is my card.

Operation Write Home ODBD Challenge

This month's challenge is to make a card using "hearts".   I am number 35 in the challenge!

http://operationwritehome.org/november-odbd-challenge/

Some Fun Cards

A few cards I made recently using stamps made by Sandy Allnock and colored with Coptic Markers.  the paper is Neenah Solar White 80 pong smooth.  The checked paper is the reverse side of the wood paper. 

Operation Write Home ODBD Challenge

This is a card I made for Operation Write Home Mid Month Throwdown - winter birthday challenge.  http://operationwritehome.org/mid-month-throwdown-winter-birthday/

It is going to my cousin for her December birthday.  I don't think she will be surprised!

I am entering this card in the Our Daily Bread Design challenge over at OWH.

Copics Coloring Class

Hi - I am taking an online coloring class.  I am going to add all worksheets of my coloring to this one post.  I will add the methods used for the coloring beneath each picture.




Day 1 - Blending Basics
2 and 3 color blending

Day 2 - Blending Tricks
Flicking/Feathering, Tip to Tip and Acetate

Day 3 -Getting More Mileage From Your Markers
Gray Shading

September Operation Write Home - ODBD Challenge

I recently took a class called Stretch Your Stamps 2.  I adored the class and created this card during it, creating my own background.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 - Day 10

I was a bit delayed in making this card, because I was destined to organize!  It seemed everywhere I looked in my craft room, something needed to be done/fixed/organized!  If you know me, you know that is probably not what people see - but I assure you - it was necessary!  So here is my card:

The set is a stamp/die set from MFT, it has so many possibilities!  The water bubbles are covering a stamp/embossing/stickles fiasco!  They are also part of the die and there are great shapes!  

When I pull into the area that I live in, there are 3 fountains as part of the golf course.  For some reason they have been running pea soup green this summer!  Yuk!  And this reminded me that water bubbling up from a pond or lake can be green!  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Stretch Your Stamps 2 Day 9

Hi folks!  Seems I forgot to post this yesterday - oopsie! 

Stretch Your Stamps - Day 8

Yup - I am still a day behind - but I am off to watch today's videos while eating breakfast in bed!  Two cheese sticks and a bunch of grapes!  YUM!  I struggle with the transfer of the stamps I have compared to what is used in the class.  Not always - but the last two days have been that way for me.  I have looked through all of my stamps twice, and thought ---- what was I thinking.  But, I finally went with a new Stampin' Up set that uses shapes to create letters.  I wish I could remember the name!  A one layer card got away from me, when a nail print appeared magically at the very end!  So I have a popped sort of one layer card!!! 

Stretch Your Stamps 2 Day 7

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I am a day behind on my cards, so today I am posting Monday's card and, that was day 7.    I did not complete cards for Day 5 - Friday, Day 6 Saturday or Bonus Day - Sunday.  I think I will probably work on today's card/project or Day 8 later today, and keep moving forward. 

So - with that in mind..... here is my card.

Besides being a paper/stamp/embellishment hoarder, I have quite a stash of fabric and related supplies.  So, when I saw thread being in used in a few of the videos, I thought wowie zowie!!!!!!!  It would take a few lifetimes to use up all of my thread - but this is a start!

ODBD August Challenge

I made this card for a class I am taking - Stretch Your Stamps 2.  The OWH requirements are so ingrained into my card making processes - that I made this card with that in mind!

Stretch Your Stamps 2 - Day 4

I HAD to make this card!  It may be a day late - but the image in my head was so crystal clear, it came together right as planned!  Ok - 1 snag!  Have you ever used the wrong side of a letter stamp - yup!  Hence the tie!

Stretch Your Stamps 2 - Day 3

I wish I could describe everything I did to create this card.  I wish I could remember!  It is 9:30 pm, tomorrow is back to school for my husband, and my vacation starts!!!!!!!  I must begin my celebration!  Seriously though, I used translucent embossing paste with a multi-sized star stencil. The stamp, "I thank my lucky stars for you" is from and Operation Write Home set by Hero Arts.  I also used the positive cut from Day 1's card, and a few sequins. 

My should have moment came when I saw the card in 175% size on my computer and I realized I should have distressed the word "Thanks" with a brown tone rather than a blue.  Ahhhhh......

It is still 106 degrees here, but all schools will be back in session by Monday - a bit hot on the playground perhaps????  I will miss having my husband around when I have to make my own ice tea and lunch!

Stretch Your Stamps - Day 2

Truthfully --- I did not have as much fun making today's card.  Totally my doing!  I didn't use my regular -go to- card base and, I became impatient looking for a solution to my sentiment issue.  The method, gradient color, worked well.  I enjoyed that, did a few extra sheets of that method, and will use it again in the future.  Here is my card - sigh **** 

Stretch Your Stamps Day 1

This class is gong to rock!!!!  Today's card was created using a MFT patterned triangle stamp using Versamark ink.  I used clear embossing powder on watercolor paper.  I used Stampin Up ink refills for color, placing a few dots on my Ranger craft sheet.  Using a watercolor pen, I mixed a bit of water and ink and began applying the ink to the un-embossed triangles.  After the area was colored, I applied a water wash to cover the embossed/patterned areas.  When that step was completed, I switched colors and moved on down to the next area.  I wish you could see the shiny areas!  I die cut the words our of the watercolor paper, and out of black paper, so they would be inlaid.  I added two striped of washed color as an accent on the bottom, a few embellishments, and 3 stars on the inside.  The inside of the envelope matches just enough to add interest.  I adore the way it turned out!  It took me hours, and I think it shows!

Our Daily Bread Design June Challenge - OWH Sketch 227

Here is the birthday card I made using OWH sketch 227 - and I am also submitting it for June's ODBD challenge to use die cuts or punches.

 

 

 

 

Life After a Blog Hop

Good Morning from Arizona - where the birds are chirping - "What the heck!" because it is going to be 108 today.  It isn't really hot until it reaches 110!  After that it is all relative!

I am totally confused by days of the week!  I go back to physical therapy in an hour!  Then I begin hibernation until the temperature is not offensive!!!!!

Here is the tutorial I used to make my shaker card - http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/shaker_card/. 

Watch how close you put your pop up tape - - or stuff sticks to it under your shape!  That was the mistake I made!

OWH Memorial Day Blog Hop

GOOD MORNING HOPPERS!!!!!!!  Welcome to my blog.  Since I created this blog -- let's say 2 years ago, I have had plans to update and enhance it - I still have those plans, and many, many others! 

I enjoy trying new methods and techniques, and decided to try a shaker card for the hop.  Prior to making it, I gave methodology a great deal of thought.  I watched tutorial videos, and picked the simplest one to make my favorite!  After the 1st die cut I realized my mistake and I was off and running.  I know where my 2nd mistake was, but the card was together, and hopefully nobody looking at it online can tell!  But I know!  (Those little blue hearts would stick to "my mistake" if I shook it!)

Here is my red, white and blue "I Love You" shaker card, with blue sequin hearts in the shaker.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog.  To head back to the main blog hop page, you this link:                                          http://wp.me/p2kUr6-4o6





Operation Write Home Sketch #224

I made all of the parts of this card last evening --- and yes it is an Ambien card!  Which is nothing compared the bowl of watermelon I was trying to get up from!  Note to self - STAY in bed!

For Carl's Mom

I made this card for my husband to give to his mother.  She is 94.5 and quite ill.

OWH Sketch 223 and Mid-Week Throw Down

One post - two cards - - I made the first card for OWH Sketch 223 and the second I made for my ailing 94 yr old mother in law - and also for today's MWT.



Sketch 223



 

Mid Week Throw Down
 

Mojo Monday 344

I made this card for my 94 year old mother in law who is having a hard time with her health.

 

 

Mojo344
 

Two Operation Write Home Sketch Cards

Here are two cards for sketch  221

Here is a card for sketch 222

Two Mojo Monday Cards

Mojo Monday 342

 Mojo Monday 343

Operation Write Home Sketches 218 and 219

I have managed to keep up with the OWH sketches - I just haven't managed to keep up with posting pictures!  It just seems so difficult sometimes to take the card out of the camera, walk all the way to the computer - edit the pictures, rename the pictures, then post the pictures.  I look at that and chuckle, because my craft desk is right next to my laptop!  The laziness!  I am a paper crafter - not a photographer. Yes I am!

The first 3 - are sketch 218 - and are masculine cards.  The last card is for sketch 219 and was made to cheer up an OWH friend who has been in the hospital.  Even if she sees the card, that is okay - there are surprises inside! (evil hehehehehe!)