Paola's Punch Art Swap Cards

Last weekend I tackled my friend Paola's Punch Art Swap cards.  Known as Sama on SCS (or Sweet P as we've dubbed her) Paola has a swap coming due on Splitcoast and the theme or challenge is to create something using our punches.

Well, I only have a few (less than 10) punches, and this was new territory for me, so of course I just had to sign up (ha ha).  Paola gave us loads of inspiration, including galleries, web sites and blogs to visit for ideas.  Then it became "what to choose?" for me.

Here is the card that I CASED for my swap.  I found Susan Rowe's SU Website during my search and thought her clever use of SU's Ornament Punch made a great flower.  Please check out her blog because she has some really great things there!

So here is what I came up with.  The base is Wasau's Stardust, it has little flecks of color in it that I just love.  The orange panel was embossed with a swirly design from a Fiskars EP.

The Top Note panel is also the Wasau Stardust CS, stamped with a leafy vine wheel from SU (not sure of the name).

The flower petals are punched using the Christmas Ornament punch, edges have been lightly dragged across the ink pad to give a hint of color.  The paper has a bit of a design in darker orange, although it doesn't seem to show up much here in the blog editor.




A scallop circle in green, smaller circle and then part of SU's punch that has 3 blossoms (sorry I can't seem to find the name of it) completes the inner portion of the flower.
The little gem in the center is actually more iridescent than purple, as it shows here.  I think it was reflecting something else around it.

Here's a side view attempting to show the panels which are popped out.  The flower is also popped, with each petal curved by rolling it from the center. (I sure hope that they don't get too flattened by shipping!)

After these pictures were taken I also added an orange panel on the inside to give it more substance.  The Wasau CS was only 80# so it was a little thin for my taste.

Well I must say that this swap made me wade into new waters, so thank you Paola!!  I sure hope that my cards are up to everyone's standards, because I've seen what some of the others have made in their weekly challenge game and it is IMPRESSIVE!!

Off to play, I need to create a special card for our son's 25th birthday this week.  He's our youngest and I have to say: "How did he get this old????"  LOL  Thanks for stopping by and thanks also for all the love you leave here for me!  It's truly a bright spot for me!

Mystery Image Challenge #9

March 18th is finally here!!  "Why?" you may ask.  Well, I am fortunate to belong to a great group of friends on Split Coast who have formed a Mystery Image Swap.  On March 18th we can all reveal the card we made with the current challenge kit.

Linda (Gimmeahaller on SCS) is this round's hostess and she chose this adorable image from My Favorite Things.  She also included the cute circle DP that I just had to include on my card!




















The image is colored with SU markers, the marshmallows are accented with a white Gelly Roll pen.  I used Flower Soft with some Dazzling Diamonds to give her scarf and gloves some texture and sparkle.  Nesties were used to cut & frame.  Bling from a local store provided some accents.  I sure hope that Linda likes my interpretation of her card kit.  It sure was a perfect one for the long winters we have up here!

Dueling Darlings March Challenge!

Here I am, two days late in posting.  Thankfully the rest of the Darlings are giving me a break since I was gone this week (thank you my friends!)

Here's my card with the Dazzling St. Patty's Day kit sent to us by Michelle!

I just love the verse she gave us to work with:

"May God give you...

For every storm a rainbow,

For every lear, a smile.

For every care, a promise

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share.

For every sign, a sweet song...

And an answer for each prayer."

The front has been embossed with a Fiskar's Harlequin plate, that was inked with SU's Garden Green, directly from the pad.  (I find that easier than using a brayer on the plates).  Michelle's kit included the pretty stitched gross grain ribbon, twine and the 3 buttons.  (don't laugh, but this is my first time using twine, ha ha!  WTG Michelle, look what you inspired!)

The frame is a Spellbinders "Frameabilities" and it's a great set to check out.  I used DCWV's Shimmer Stack green paper for the frame, and hand cut two borders for the top & bottom right corners.

 Michelle gave us some really pretty DPs which I included on the inside, along with the adorable, glittery Shamrock!

Michelle asked us to include any St. Patrick's Day traditions that we may have.  Alas, I have none!  I grew up in a German, Russian, Slovak and Swedish family.  Plenty of traditions, but none of them Irish!

Well, thanks for looking, and another big THANK YOU to the Darlings for giving me some grace period to post this month!  I {heart} all of you!!

(Off to fix hubby's requested St. Patrick's Day dinner: Beef Stroganoff)  Ha ha ha!
Hugs!!

6x6 Asian Cards

My friend Fran, PhilsMom on Split Coast, is hosting an Asian Swap.  I joined because she is a friend (a better friend to me than I think I am to her!) and because I have always loved Asian art.
Now, why-oh-why did I only have ONE Asian style stamp set???  I promptly set about to change that situation and scored a beautiful, retired SU set from the Buy/Sell/Trade forum on SCS.  These are my cards, they turned out a bit large at a 6X6 finished size, but I did like how they turned out.

You can clearly see that I need to invest in a camera and some practice with my picture taking.  Please overlook the picture quality!

The card base is 12x12 Tempting Turquoise CS from SU, layered with triangles cut from a brown damask patterned DP from K & Company.  It's richly glittered and textured.

The two front images are stamped on Barely Banana CS with Tempting Turquoise ink.  They are from the stamp set that I purchased a couple of months ago.  I believe it's called Ancient Asia.











Here's  the inside card, Barely Banana CS, border cut using the Cricut.  The copper embossed image is from my one & only other Asian stamp set: Oriental Paintings from SU.  I used a square copper brad from Recollections and computer generated the Chinese Proverb onto TT CS, rounded the corners, and mounted it below the image.

I like how these turned out, and really hope that Fran does too!  After they were finished I realized that they would not fit into my square envelopes that I had on hand.  Last weekend I did some research on making envies for these, and of course, it can be done.  However, I cheated and ordered some from an online store since each envelope would have taken one whole sheet of 12x12 CS and I just don't have much time this month due to work commitments.  I would much rather spend my time making cards, rather than envelopes!

Thanks for stopping by & feel free to leave me any constructive thoughts on how you may have made these better!  I always appreciate any advice.  Wishing you all a good day!

Reflection Technique: February's TAT Challenge

The Stamp Addicts Blogging Group on Split Coast have started at Try-A-Technique Challenge (TAT).  Each month one of us hosts: picks a technique to use for the challenge, posts links to various resources explaining the technique and generally prods us...ahem...encourages us to give it a go!

This month's TAT is Reflection Technique.  Stamp your main image(s) and create a reflection of that image by stamping onto vellum, wax paper, acetate, etc., flipping it over and Viola!  You have the inverse of the image as a reflection.

Here's what I managed to come up with:

I just love this old SU set.  The card base is Wasau cream stock, the mountain stamp is a favorite from somewhere, there is no name on it.  Likely an eBay treasure.  It's stamped in Creamy Caramel and lightly sponged with Old Olive.  The sky is sponged with Brocade Blue and Not Quite Navy.

I stamped the image & colored with SU markers, then cut her out and popped her out on top of the "lake".  I've had these clear and various colors of vellum forever, bought when I was just beginning to make cards.  I used to buy anything, thinking it was cool, and eventually I would know how to use it. LOL

The image was stamped again and colored onto the blue vellum, dried with the heat gun, then flipped over to get the reverse.  Then mounted on the card base.

Here's a view from the side so you can see (sort of)

 the depth of the mounting on the image and the sentiment.

I really liked this technique and think that there are lots of possibilities to be considered for its use.  I can hardly wait for next month's TAT challenge to be announced!




Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit the  other members of Stamp Addicts (their blogs are listed on my sidebar) to admire their Reflection Techniques!  You'll be impressed!

I Am Gifted with the Liebster Award!

My wonderful friend Barb (barbaralynn on Split Coast) has named me as one of the recipients of the Liebster Blog Award!

I am truly amazed, since being such a newbie to blogging, I hardly even know why she would do such a kind and thoughtful thing.  However she did!  Isn't that just like her?  Thank you Barb!!  Check out her wonderful blog here:
Inkingintoretirement

Well, it seems that I am to pass this award along to 5 others.  So...I am so pleased to pass this reward along to the following talented crafters who have enriched my life.  I urge you to visit their blogs and leave them some well-deserved love!

1.  Paige
2.  Joan
3.  April
4.  Shelly
5.  Lynn

Please take a few minutes and visit each of their lovely blogs, admire their wonderful creations and leave them some love!  They deserve it!!

Hugs!

Lou & Bijou's Nightly Routine

Pets like their routines, and birds are no exception to this.  Lou (our Budgie) and Bijou (our Lovebird) have this routine:
When I come home from work, the heat downstairs has been turned on for a while to warm it up (they spend most of their days upstairs, where we have the heat on).  Everyone greets me at the door, hubby, Lou & Bijou.  After greeting them all back, Lou & Bij decide whether they want to be on our shoulders or run and play tag on the kitchen & family room floor.

Eventually they always opt for the tag-you're-it game.  Bijou is usually the front runner, and typical younger-child fashion, Lou is the "wait for me, I wanna come too!" kind of follower.  We prepare our dinner with them underfoot and have become accustomed to watching out for them.  Sometimes when it gets too distracting, they are put on a towel over the back of a kitchen chair and perch there to supervise.

I tried to get them to be still long enough to grab a picture

Showing the different blues on their backs.

I shot these 2 pictures really quickly with my iPhone, so they are not the best.  But I was trying to capture how differently they are colored, even though they are both blue.

They are both the same size, weighing about 50 grams each.  But you can see that they have very different body shapes.  Hmmm, people do too!

Lou is a vibrant teal & aqua with black & white accents.  Bij has a mix of gray-blues, some violet and a peach forehead.



Wow, my floor looks dirty!  Actually the linoleum is over 20 years old and needs to be replaced.  It's seen lots of wear & tear that children can do to a kitchen LOL.  It's clean, just lots of marks on it!

They like to worry shoelaces, working on the little plastic coating on the ends.  Bijou had claimed Hubby's shoe and wouldn't let Lou get on it.  She had been running back & forth, from side to side trying to join him & he wouldn't let her play.

So I picked her up and showed her that Daddy had two shoes.  She thought that was pretty cool and got busy with her own set of laces.  Bijou of course, did not play anymore, just spent all of his time watching her to make sure she stayed put.  Pfft!

Full tummy and sleepy.

After they eat their dinner (which they refuse to do until the requisite amount of playing tag) they each retreat to specific spots. Bijou picks me or my husband and has some snuggle time.  Lou perches up high on a dried grapevine branch outside of the play cage.  She faces us and sits, preening, dozing and sometimes singing the prettiest collection of sleepy songs and little chirps.
Here's Bijou on my chest while I'm in the recliner.  He flattens out just like a little hampster or mouse, and gets a nice petting.  I usually hum to him.  Then by 8:00 or 8:30 they are ready to go to bed for the night.

That's our little family at the moment!