Hello Blog,

Here is my latest Winter Card.  I used a Unity stamp and the Elegant Edges Cricut Cartridge.  I also used some Christmas paper from SEI from a collection I purchased last year.

I want to get some more vibrant color out of the bird.  I just haven't figured out exactly how I plan on doing that yet.

I have been busy making cards but I haven't been posting them - I need to get better about posting my new cards.  I have also moved my craft room to Emily's room in the basement because she moved in with her sister.  They grow up so fast!

Here are some cards I designed (some I stole other's designs) and the Women's Ministry group at my church helped to mass produce them.  We are doing this for Operation Write Home:

This one is not my favorite.  It needs something.  I just haven't figured out what.

 The next two are the same card with different sentiments.  I think I like these.

 And I really like the way this card turned out.  There is a tiny heart stamp with the Happy Valentines Day Stamp that I think I will add.  I know it is early for Valentine's cards, but I have to send them in the Operation Write Home by 12/31 so they will get the troops and the troops will have time to send them back home.

And last but not least a holiday card.  I used something other than a holiday sentiment, but I do like how this card turned out.   The picture does not do it justice.

Until next time which I hope to make sooner than a month or it will be Christmas!

Using Colored Pencils and Gamsol

Dear Blog,

I recently discovered that colored pencils and gamsol is not an easy way to color a card.  There is a method and it will take me some practice and time to learn how to master these waxy critters.  I am having fun learning though.

Here is my standard humming bird stamp that I've used many times before - but this time I used colored pencils and gamsol to color the image.  I like a more vibrant color and I just have to play around until I figure out exactly how to get a more vibrant color.

Happy Birthday Yorkie Style

Dear Blog,

I recently picked up a background stamp by Stampin Up called Word Search. Very cute stamp - I used it on a birthday card for a friend of mine.  I also used my Imagine and the Four Legged Friends Cricut Cartridge to create a Yorkie.  My birthday friend loves Yorkies - we both do.  :-)

 

I really like the Word Search stamp, but it is tough to use.  Next time I will stamp on a larger piece of card stock first and then trim later.  Embossing was a challenge with the small amount of room I left around the edge of the card stock.  It has all kinds of sentiments buried in the words - thus the name Word Search - very clever.

My Yorkie has long hair, but this little guy is adorable.

Dear Blog,

I have several more cards to share with you.  I've been trying some of the techniques I've seen on Youtube.

Here is a card I made using a Stampin Up embossing folder that can be used the with Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  I then used my brayer to ink over the flower and came up with this thank you card:

 

I stamped the leaves using Build a Blossom by Stampin Up and colored them with Copics.  I cut them out and attached them.

I hope you enjoy this card.  :-)  It is simple, but beautiful.

Dear Blog,

I will post my Halloween card first because Halloween will be here and gone before we know it.

I took a circle and temporarily attached it to a piece of white card stock cut at 5 1/4 X 4.
I also tore the top sticky edge of a large Post-it note and placed in along the bottom of the same piece of card stock.
I used my brayer with Night of Navy Stampin Up ink and inked the card stock.  Because the ink did not go up to the edge of the circle, I used a sponge to ink around the circle.

Here is the finished card:

As you can see I stamped Happy Halloween with an old Stampin Up Set.  I made the Pumpkin out of three oval shapes and used the same halloween stamp set to stamp the pumpkin face.  I will be loading the video for this card this evening.

I hope you are inspired.  :-)

Hello Blog,

I've just done a video for the card I made for my card swap. 

Hello Blog,

I've been working on a couple projects.  Here is one of them.

I saw a tutorial on how to paint using re inkers and a water color pen.  So here is my attempt:

You can see how the stampin up shimmer card stock glistens - it is gorgeous.  I'm very pleased with the way my flowers turned out.

I used Stampin Up reinkers - Regal Rose, Rich Razzleberry and Real Red.  I used the Fifth Avenue Floral rose stamp by Stampin up to stamp the white embossed outline.  Then I spritzed the paper with lots of water and just dabbed the re inker ink on the paper with a water painter pen.  Do a search for the Map Stamper on Youtube - she did the tutorial that inspired me to do this.

Dear Blog - it's been a while since I've posted.  I've been in the process of moving my craft room upstairs.  Lots of exercise, but not much crafting.

Here are a few items I've been working on.  I have more, but they aren't finished.

This card was done using Faber-Castell and Cretacolor colored pencils.  I'm not sure which I like best.  The Faber-Castell are definitely more waxy.  However, I sharpened one and a good chunk of the pencil is now gone.  I am new to the colored pencils scene, so I will have to do some research on the best way to sharpen so you don't eat away your pencil.  The stamp is a Stampin Up stamp - Inspired by Nature stamped in Crumb Cake Stampin Up ink.

This stamp is by Inkadinkadoo.  I used alcohol based markers by Spectrum noir that I picked up at Joanns.  Not sure if I like them or not.  I am still leaning towards the Prismacolor alcohol based markers.  I need to practice the blending.  I liked the way it turned out though.  I just LOVE this stamp.  It is so pretty.

As far as my To Do list is concerned:

Envelope Mini Album - check
Work on organizing paper - check
Use gamsol on image - check (I will have to post that)
Work on Chicago, D.C. and Disney pictures - still need to do that
Sew on a card - add to list
Use brayer on card for background - add to list


So many projects - so little time.  :-)

I just finished up my layout for our 2011 Vacation in Orland when Kraken broke down.  It was the first time it had broken down while we were on the ride.  I took advantage of the unusual situation and created a layout.

I used the Kiwi Lane Designer templates (I love those things) and created this layout.  I really like the colors of the papers I used.  I used a journaling tag from Kathy Orta and inked it with Stampin Up ink.