Colorful Congrats!

I stamped a few quick graduation cards this week.......

For this card, I chose a colorful paper from Basic Grey's Lime Rickey 6 x 6 pad. These condensed versions of the papers are great for cards! I stamped the "congratulations" band with Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink. The stamp is from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings. "You did it" is also from that set. The tag was cut with a Spellbinders die. I added the pink edge with a Copic marker. A couple flowers, big brad & a narrow grosgrain ribbon to finish it!

Supplies:
Basic Grey Lime Rickey 6x6 paper pad
Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Hero Arts Everyday Sayings
Copic marker
Bazzill Silk Flowers
Imaginisce brad
Grosgrain ribbon
Stampin Up Scallop punch

Enjoy!
judy

Celebrate

Welcome to all CHF Blog Hoppers!

I'm posting a second card for CHF today. Scroll down to see the original card posted yesterday.

I created this card from some leftovers from yesterday's card......the ribbon & star and back side of a scrap of the Reminisce paper. I added a Co'ordinations panel embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, then distressed with Adirondack Denim ink. I cut "celebrate" with a QK die. I didn't like the color of the first one.....light blue Co'ordinations paper, same as the star. I cut a 2nd one out of navy......better but not quite right so I cut the tan one & layered them all. I know, I can be a bit obsessive with my designs! smiles

You can start at the beginning of the CHF Blog Hop here!

Lianna's next in the hop. Stop over to see what wonderful card she has created for our "heroes"!
Her blog is Llama Tales

A huge Thank You to everyone who left comments! It's so fun to read them! Smiles to all of you!
I'm still working my way through the Blog Hop. The weather is way too nice to be inside on the computer so I'll get back to it tonight.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!
-judy

Sweet Land of Liberty

Today, I'm participating in Cards for Heroes Blog Hop! A great way to celebrate Memorial Day weekend!
Cards for Heroes sends handmade greeting cards to servicemen all over the world for them to use for family & friends. Head over to the Cards for Heroes website to start the Blog Hop! There are over 100 blogs participating. My blog is number 110! I posted the link for the next blog at the end of my post........

It was just by luck that I checked Shari Carroll's blog & found the information about the CHF Blog Hop.........just in the nick of time on Thursday so I could join in.

I chose a stamp from the Hero plate from Artistic Outpost for my card.

I used Adirondack Denim & Cranberry inks to color the stamp, misted it and then stamped it on cream cardstock. Next, I added Distress Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain & Black Soot to antique the image as well as highlight the flags & verse. The stamp has a "4" in the left corner. I chose to cover it because I wanted the card to be more general than just for the 4th of July.

I cut the star from Co'ordinations paper but it's really hard to tell as I distressed it until I got the color I wanted. I cut a another star out of red paper & added Snow Cap white paint to the embossed star. Then I added Distress Antique Linen & Vintage photo to age it. The striped ribbon was cream & brown (see it in the photo of supplies) until I added Denim ink to it. I rubbed the ink pad over the ribbon & then spritzed it with water. The water dissipates the ink into the ribbon & spreads the color. I did the same to the red ribbon only I used Vintage Photo to tone down the white.

I added 3 tiny brads under the verse. These were dark bronze but I added a touch of dark blue with StazOn Midnight Blue.

Supplies:

Artistic Outpost Heroes

Adirondack Denim, Cranberry

Distress Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Black Soot

Reminisce Celebrate paper

Spellbinders Star dies

Ranger Snow Cap Paint Dabber
Ribbon

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Next stop on the Blog Hop - - - - Lianna's Blog

She has a beautiful card created with red, white & blue!

* * * *

Today, I remember all our veterans who have so bravely defended our nation so that we may enjoy all the freedoms of this wonderful country! I think of my Dad who served during the Korean conflict & my husband who was in the Navy during the end of the Vietnam war. Thank you!

God Bless the USA!

Thank you so much for stopping.........please come back soon! I'll be posting another card Sunday.

-judy

Another Wisteria card......

In my quest to use my Basic Grey Wisteria Rub-Ons, I created another card........

.......a Get Well wish.

I used the large moth rub-on with a few tiny flowers added for my focal image. I used Spellbinders dies to cut the circles & scalloped circle. The card opening is offset so the circle extends beyond the edge. I used a border punch to add scallops with 3 green Hero Arts Pearls for accent. The message is stamped in Memento Sweet Plum.

...the inside says "soon".

Supplies:

Spellbinders Circle dies

Spellbinders Large Scallop Circle die

Basic Grey Wisteria paper & rub-ons

Hero Arts Everyday Sayings

Hero Arts Pearls - Green
Stampin Up Scallop border punch

Memento Sweet Plum

T

Thank you for visiting!!!
Smiles
-judy

"You're the Best"

I've been working with a few more rub-ons from Basic Grey's Wisteria line. I'm trying to make good use of the rub-ons rather than tucking them away in some drawer never to be found again.
I love the colors of Wisteria! I'm not normally attracted to purple.......yet these color combinations sure entice me.

For this card, I applied the flower rub-on to the cream floral print. Then I used the largest die of the Spellbinders Small Deckle Rectangles set to cut & emboss it. I matted it on a coordinating Bazzill paper......sorry, I don't know the name. I used two of the Spellbinders Large Deckled Mega Rectangles to cut background shapes. I stamped the verse from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings on the same paper as the main image. I used another Spellbinders die to cut & emboss it. I couldn't find a ribbon that I liked in my stash so I colored a light grey ribbon with my Copic RV04 marker. I added a few HA Pearls which I colored with Copic Y21.

Supplies:

Hero Arts Everyday Sayings stamp set

Spellbinders Small Deckled Rectangles

Spellbinders Large Deckled Mega Rectangles

Copic RV04, Y21

Hero Arts Pearls

Basic Grey Wisteria paper & rub-ons

Pale Grey Ribbon

To all my friends.....from blogger land to home......You're the Best!

Birthday Girl

A special birthday girl!

A birthday card for a special birthday girl!

* * * * *

A little closer view!

* * * * *

Supplies:

Imaginisce paper

Petaloo Glitter Sheets

Prima Flowers

MS Scallop Dot punch

American Craft Ribbon

Technique Tuesday Make Believe Alphabet

QuicKutz Paige Alphabet dies

Baseball ATC

Day 3 - Baseball ATC created with stamps from Artistic Outpost's Cracker Jack.



How-Tos:

I stamped the framed baseball player with Memento Rich Cocoa on white card stock. Then I created a mask for the player so that I could stamp the words background with Memento Danube Blue. I used Copic markers to color the whole ATC and added Distress inks to "age" it. I stamped the top & bottom titles again with Danube Blue & cut them out to mount with foam tape. I stamped the baseball with Memento Rhubarb Stalk, cut it out, and mounted it with foam tape. I cut around the image......dark blue edge......and matted it on red card stock. I used an ATC stamp from "Mini-Masterpiece" for the the back. I was trying to make this ATC look like a baseball trading card.

I hope you're enjoying all the new art from the AO designers for Cracker Jack & She-roes. It's always amazing to me to see what everyone else thinks of to create with the very same stamps.

Enjoy!

-judy

Cracker Jack!

........another card created with Artistic Outpost's new Cracker Jack stamp set.



I call this simple stamping!!! ....no distressing, no coloring, just stamped images. Adding the red to "Boston" is the most difficult for stamping on this card. To accomplish that, I put a small piece of a post-it note over "Boston", then I inked the stamp with Versafine Black Onyx. I removed the post-it and added Memento Rhubarb Stalk to "Boston". It was easy to do with the little "teardrop" ink pad. Then stamp it. Voila! a 2 color image.

Did you get a chance to look at the blogs of other Artistic Outpost designers? I posted links to all of them in yesterday's blog.
Be sure to check out AO's Gallery on their website. There are so many wonderful samples!

Have a great day!
-judy

Two New Artistic Outpost Releases!

Today, Artistic Outpost is releasing 2 new stamp sets: Cracker Jack and She-roes!

I had the opportunity to work with Cracker Jack, a collection of vintage baseball images. Here's one of my cards........

The image and verse are stamped on white glossy card stock. I used Distress inks to add color and shading. I wanted a very vintage look. The background on the card front was created with various words and a baseball from the set, all stamped with Adirondack Espresso ink. The check paper is from Graphic 45.

Can you imagine going to a baseball game in a suit??? That was the practice early on in the history of baseball. How that has changed!

Check out all the other AO Designers' blogs for more inspiration!!!

Lisa Somerville
Gerrie Johnnic
Kelly Burton
Michelle Murphy
Cathy Edgar
Debby Boltman
Debi Wind
Judy Hayes
Lynn Stevens
Rachel Hope Baird
Robin Willis
Sharon Briss
Susan Conrad
Toni Tessler

To celebrate this release, Artistic Outpost is offering discounts on the new sets. Here's the info from the website:

As we celebrate both our new summer releases as well as our new website, we're offering 20% off both the unmounted and mounted versions of Cracker Jack and She-roes. Please enter the following coupon code at check-out: cj-sr-20off We are also offering 20% off the purchase of both She-roes and Hero unmounted sets. This is a special item in our store located here. (Please note you can not combine the coupon code with this set. However, you can purchase this bundle at 20% off and use the coupon code to purchase Cracker Jack.)

What a great opportunity to get these new sets at a discount!

Have you seen the new Artistic Outpost website? It's all new and much improved. The gallery is full of beautiful art! Each stamp set has it's own collection. A super good place to go for inspiration for any of the AO sets!

I'll be posting some of my other art created for Cracker Jack over the next few days. Be sure to stop back!

Thanks for visiting!

Smiles to you!

-judy

For Mom

Today, my post is dedicated to my Mom!
She often checks my blog (which is why I couldn't post this earlier today before I could give her this card)......... so here's to you, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is the card I created for Mom.

I chose a sewing theme for Mom's card because she loves to sew. For many years, she owned and operated a fabric store. She sold sewing machines, gave classes and designed quilts. Before that, she sewed lots of clothes for my sisters & me. I remember many times that she stayed up late to make a new outfit for me because there was some special occasion that I thought I needed something new. She taught me to sew. She helped me alter patterns to create more unique styles. I learned to value quality fabric. I learned about color combinations. I learned to appreciate good craftsmanship after sewing my own clothes. She encouraged my creativity. I later learned to apply a lot of what I learned from sewing to other creative crafts. For all that you taught me and much, much more........Thank you, Mom! You're the best!

.......a closer view of the details. This scissors is so realistic.

......a glimpse of the inside edge with punched vellum, gold & DP papers.

I hope each and everyone of you had a wonderful day!

Supplies:: Stamps - Oxford Impressions "The Dressmaker", Paper Inspirations; Inks - Distress Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Ranger Archival Jet Black; Papers - Graphic 45, vellum, cream cardstock, gold stripe; Silk Ribbon, Buttons, Gold EP , Fiskars Punch

With love,
-judy

Thinking of You

Good Morning!

I worked with some of the new Basic Grey Wisteria paper to create this card. The flowers are one of the beautiful rub-ons from a collection of many that coordinate with the papers. The verse is from a new Hero Arts set called Everyday Sayings. It's full of lots sayings!

I'm off to work......no time to write more.

Have a great day!

-judy

Sky Act

I've been working on projects for a new Artistic Outpost release scheduled for next week. So sad but I can't post any of them yet! That means I haven't had time to create anything else to share.

Instead I have some photos of our entertainment after supper! As you can see we're easily entertained!

This crop dusting plane was spraying the weeds in the pasture near our house.

The farmland around our place is owned & farmed by my Dad. The field under the plane belongs to him but not the grain bins in the background.

The farmstead where I grew up is just a mile across the field from where I live now. Our place has belonged to someone in my Mom's family since about 1920...... it's getting close to a century farm now.

I was outside with my camera taking photos of some of my spring flowers when this plane was swooping over the pasture less than a 1/4 mile away at the closest point. Since he was so close, I decided to snap a few photos. I usually don't have much luck taking photos of moving things so I was thrilled with how well these photos turned out using my "sport" setting.

......and another pass....

.........a high turn preparing for another swoop close to the earth......

It was fascinating to watch him make pass after pass to cover all the pasture land.

I'll try hard to get something pertaining to stamping to post soon!

Until then, enjoy the little things!

-judy

Learn How to Fly

I just created this card for Artistic Outpost using stamps from the Happiness set. I started with the "learn how to fly" image knowing I wanted to stamp & cut out another butterfly to create dimension. Since I wanted to color the butterfly with my Copic markers, I used the Memento Danube Blue for stamping because it's water based & won't react to the Copics. Once I had the main image created, I couldn't find a paper that I liked for the card front......I only have about 3 Iris containers of DP. You'd think I could find something to coordinate!

That led me to create my designer paper. I sprayed white paper with Lemon Meringue Glimmer Mist, then added Patina & more Lemon Meringue. I stamped the small butterflies with Memento Summer Sky, Dandelion, & Bahama Blue. I added the dots & speckles along the edges using Danube Blue, sometimes stamped off first. Voila! a paper with shimmer that looks great with my butterfly!

Across the bottom, I added a strip of the yellow Bazzill Bling under the ribbon. Otherwise the ribbon color washed out over the blue of the paper. The punched edge was created with MS Lattice Arc border punch. The Hero Arts Pearls were colored with Copic B05.

....some of the supplies that I used.

I also used Spica markers, Copic YR04 and Glossy Accents on the butterfly.

I hope you're inspired to "learn how to fly" when you create! Get outside your box & try something new. It's so uplifting to try something different.

Enjoy the beauty of this day!

-judy

Happy May Day!

Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy!
-judy