Happy Memorial Day!

Let Freedom Ring!

I hope you're enjoying a great Memorial Day! 

I'm enjoying a day to relax.  .....and I did a little creating this morning.

I put together this card with a patriotic theme.  I started with the idea to cut the stars for a frame around the flag image - the stamp is from Artistic Outpost Hero set inked with Memento Lady Bug and Danube Blue plus Vintage Photo.  One thing led to another and ...... this card came together.

I took a few photos along the way so you can see some of the steps.....

{-------I used Spellbinders Stars Five S4-092 to cut my star frame.  The top stars are for the blue and the bottom for the red.

Then I cut Spellbinders Labels Thirteen S4-248 ------------}
out of star paper from The Paper Loft "Old Towne Tavern".

This shape didn't quite fit my design so I trimmed off 2 edges!

----------}

To get a narrow red edge for each curved end, I cut 2 red strips with Labels Thirteen again.  Once I had them glued to the star piece, I trimmed the side edges flush.

In this photo I have the pieces laid out the way I want to put them together.  I thought I'd show you the paper before distressing.  If you compare the card to this photo you'll see a big difference.  My stamped flag didn't coordinate with the papers as well as I'd like before the distressing.  The Antique Linen and Vintage Photo pulled all the elements together.   I used my JustRite Times New Roman font set to stamp "Let Freedom Ring".  I added a little Antique Linen to the edges.  The words and the star are mounted with foam tape.  I added a piece of twill tape....distressed, of course!......and an old button.   The beige card (4 1/8" x 5 3/8") shows a tiny margin around all the edges.

 Please take a few moments to remember all those who sacrificed that we may continue to enjoy all the freedoms we so often take for granted. 

God Bless America!

OWH Blog Hop

Hero

Today I'm participating in Operation Write Home's Memorial Day BlogHop!  If you're not familiar with OWH, check out their website .http://operationwritehome.org/  They collect handmade cards and send them to deployed servicemen and women to use to write home!  It's a wonderful service!  If you're a card maker, please consider making a few cards to send to OWH!  You can find all the details at Operation Write Home. 

If you're visiting from the Spellbinders blog, you can get in on the Blog Hop, too!

Red, white and blue, missing you is the theme for today.  I stretched the traditional colors for my card.  The red, white and blue are there but the blue is not flag blue, but rather a pretty aqua blue.

I chose to make a quick card because my week has been so busy.  I've had lots of deadlines to meet.....   I hope you find some inspiration from it.

I cut the frame out of We R Memory Keepers card stock using Spellbinders Polka Dot Frame S5-016. I also embossed it.  THen I stamped the verse from Hero Arts, part of the set Huge Hugs CL417, with Espresso ink and clear embossed it.  I layered the frame over the verse....fits just perfectly.... and added a dark brown Bazzill mat.  I cut Spellbinders Petite Ovals SM #5 out of the dotted paper from PinkPaislee's Cupid collection. The stripe paper is from the same collection.  I added a narrow dark brown mat to the oval and positioned it horizontally across the stripe paper.  I trimmed both ends even with the edges.   I added a piece of sheer aqua and polka dot ribbon across the oval and fastened the ends on the back of the stripe paper.  I tied the dotted ribbon around it.  I fastened it all to a white card which is 3 1/4" x 5 3/4".

Thank you for stopping!  May you be greatly inspired as you visit all the blogs!

You next stop is Anita's blog, Cards and Coffee.  You'll find lots to see there!  She'll have a link to the next blog...........so you can keep hopping!

Happy Memorial Day! 

May you take a few moments to remember all those who've helped to preserve our freedoms! 

Thank you to all you veterans! 

Somewhere...

.......beyond the sea!

I chose stamps from "Beyond the Sea" for this card.  These colors come to my mind when I think of the ocean.

First, I stamped the girl and shells on watercolor paper and colored them with watercolors.  I set them aside to dry for a few minutes.  Then, I stamped the card front.  I placed all 4 shells on an acrylic block and stamped them all at once using Versamark ink.....very quick!  For the frame, I placed the #6 Spellbinders Labels Eleven die on my magnetic mat.  Then I aligned the #5 die from Spellbinders Classic Ovals SM on the mat centerd in the Labels Eleven die.  I cut and embossed the frame.  For the brown mat, I cut around the outside of the #6 Labels Eleven die with a craft knife.  The result is a mat just a little bigger than the die cut.......much more even than my free hand cutting!   I added a piece of mesh under the frame across the card front.....I thought it looked a little like net or evern dried seaweed.  It started white but didn't look quite right so I colored it with Distress Pumice Stone and Vintage Photo inks leaving a few white spaces.  The verse is stamped with Ranger Espresso ink.

 I shaped the shells when they were still wet from the watercolor. Each one is mounted with foam tape.   You can see some of the dimension in this photo

-----------}

Are you enjoying the new Artistic Outpost releases?  Have you had a chance to check out the work of the other Design Team members?  There are links to their blogs on my post early this morning (just scroll down to the post below).

Thanks for visiting! 
-judy

Three New Artistic Outpost Stamp Sets!

Today, Artistic Outpost is releasing three new stamp sets!  All wonderful collections!

Beyond the Sea was inspired by the Bobby Darin song, “Beyond the Sea”. It features interchangeable main images including the perfect lighthouse, alluring couple, and longing clam digger. Perfect for cards, shadow boxes, and scrapbooking your seashore visits.

Bloom and Grow and Country Life represent two halves of one whole.
Bloom and Grow features more feminine elements including a perfect seed frame that you can use with so many of our stamps.

Country Life includes a little more fun “boy” imagery including the cutest little pig, chickens, and little boy. Mix and match both of these collections together or with our other collections such as Lovely Day and Home.



Enjoy all three collections together for a special price. From now until June 4th, purchase all three sets together for $36, that’s a savings of 15%. Simply use coupon code: SUMMER2010 at the Artistic Outpost website when you check-out.

Now for some inspiration!

This is a card I created with Country Life.  The little pig is just so cute, so realistic.  My Dad raised pigs when I was growing up.  I often helped with chores.  This AO pig has that inquisitive look that is so like pigs!
I stamped the barn and pig separately, of course.  I watercolored each of them. I trimmed the barn along the left edge of the stamped image.  On the right side, I left some extra space and extended the color beyond the image.  The pig hides the edge of image.  The pig is mounted on foam squares to bring it forward.   I stamped the verse, added a touch of brown watercolor and free hand cut it out.  I wanted it to look a little irregular, rough hewn.  It's also mounted with foam squares. 
The red and dark brown paper is from Core'dinations.  I embossed the texture into it by laying a piece of burlap on my Wizard cutting mat.  I misted the paper and placed it over the burlap.  Over that I placed the Spellbinders embossing sheet and 2nd cutting mat.  I ran it through my Wizard just like an Impressabilities.  The texture of the burlap was pressed into the paper.  I sanded it to show the texture and red color.  What a great texture plate!  Or should I call it a texture fabric!
The red mat around the farm is the back side of the Core'dinations paper.  There's also a narrow green mat. The card front is dark brown paper from Bazzill.....I'm not sure of the name. 
I'll post another project using a different new release set later today.  Stop back for more inspiration!
Be sure to visit the other Designers to see what they've created!  I know you won't be dissappointed!   Just click on a name to go to their blog.

Lisa  -  Gerrie  -  Cathy  -  Lynn  -  Shelly  -  Toni

Remember to stop back!

-judy

Happy 4th Birthday!

I created this card for my granddaughter.......  We're celebrating her birthday today!

I colored this cute Penny Black birthday bear with watercolors.  I added a touch of glitter to his shirt, candle and frosting.  The frosting also has fun flock on it.   I used Spellbinders Labels Eight to cut the shape.  I cut around the outside edge of the die with my craft knife for the white mat.....just 1/8" wider than the die cut.  I put the number "4" through my tiny Xyron so the adhesive was on the front, then covered it with glitter.  I added a touch of glitter around the edges of the "happy birthday" label with a glue pen and glitter. 

Supplies:

Penny Black Cupcake Glory 4051K

Penny Black Critter Party 30-013

My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary papers

Spellbinders Labels Eight S5-019

Spellbinders Labels Trio S3-147

Versafine Black Onyx

Watercolors

Glitter

Ribbon

Baseball Season

Today, I created these two cards for the Artistic Outpost blog. 
For some reason baseball came into my mind when I set out to make something for the blog.  We're big Twins fans!
The stamps are from Cracker Jack except for the film strip which is from Happiness.  I stamped the film strip 4 times, then cut an Eclipse tape mask so I could stamp the images into it.  All coloring was done with watercolors......my favorite medium right now.
I repeatedly stamped the baseballs to make the backround paper.  Again, I used watercolors for shading and color between the balls. 
Once I got all done with this card, I had a few scraps leftover......some things that hadn't worked and some left from what I used.

So I quickly put together a second card.......

You'll recognize the strip of baseball paper as the same as my first card.  The ballpark names was a piece that didn't work for the first card.  I stamped the tan card front with versamark using a mask over the baseball player.  A few mats and the verse completed the card.  When I was done, I liked this card best!
Sometimes my favorite pieces are the ones I do quickly......no time to think too much!

Have a great weekend!
 -judy

A Little "Rain or Shine"

I fell in love with these little girls from Penny Black the moment I saw them! They're vintage in such a cute way. The stamp is called "rain or shine".

I chose watercolors because I wanted a soft pastel look. By luck, I colored them first and then found the argyle paper that's the perfect colors.  It's from My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary Little Miss Muffet "That's My Girl" collection.

My little girls are cut out with Spellbinders Labels Eight S5-019.  I cut a narrow border mat in white using a technique I learned from Becca Feeken's tutorial.  You can see it here.   Working on a cutting mat, she uses a craft knife to cut around the same Spellbinders die as was used to cut the image.  By cutting around the outside edge, the mat is just 1/8" larger.  It's  a lot more even than cutting by hand.

{--------- I cut the eyelet lace piece with Spellbinders Eyelet S4-214 Borderabilities.  I cut and embossed one edge.  Then I taped the die in place to cut and emboss the other edge.  I left about 1/4" space between them.

{--------- Here' s the result.  

When I laid it on my card front, only one eyelet flower showed at one edge or the other.  I decided I wanted to see a flower on each side of the little girls. 

{---------So....I cut the eyelet piece.  No one will ever see the gap......only you know!

I added a satin ribbon over the eyelet.  There's a piece of pearl cotton over that.  I added a button with pearl cotton threaded through the holes, leaving the tails sticking out from behind.  I used a craft Glue Dot to hold the button in place......it's a really strong adhesive dot.

{--------- Here's a little closer look at these cute little girls! They were so much fun to color! Rain or Shine, they're happy!

I hope you enjoyed your visit!

-judy

A Quick Graduation Card

Here's a quick graduation card I made for my niece who graduates from college today.  We're going to her reception on Saturday.

I picked out this paper by Reminisce earlier this week.  I didn't have any idea what I'd do with it but I liked it.  Usually, I would spend a lot of time on a card for a family member.  Well, last night this idea came to mind.  I knew I wouldn't have much time today so........ta da!  This is what I put together.  I'll add a verse and it's done.  I'm way ahead of my usual last minute gotta get a card made!

The little verse is from a Cornish Heritage Farms set called Encouragement Expressions. I stamped it on glossy black card stock with Versamark and heat embossed it with Silver Pearl.  Then I cut and embossed it with the smallest of Spellbinders Double Ended Tags S3-149 which I trimmed to make shorter.  It's tied around the bow with a piece of silver crochet cord.  The silver ribbon that's not too shiny works perfect with the paper.

Have a great day!

-judy

Two Cards....Two Techniques

Today, I have a couple cards I created when I was designing a project for the Fond Memories Spring Workshop.  The stamp from Northwoods, Resting on Hammock P7420, is the same but the techniques are slightly different. 

On this first card, I used a watercolor palette and waterbrush to color the image which is stamped on watercolor paper.  I chose to keep the colors soft.  The whole image is visible as I simply trimmed around it and distressed the edges a bit. It's layered onto a white mat.  I can't remember the company for the plaid paper.  The verse is from Penny Black's Transparent set "bubbly" 30-012.  I masked off the word "silly" at the end of the verse. 

The colors of the second card aren't quite as soft for a totally different look.  I used watercolor paper again with a watercolor technique using water based markers.  I applied some color with a marker, or sometimes 2 colors of markers, into each area.   Then I used a waterbrush to move the color and fill each area.  It's an easy technique especially because there's no need to mix colors.  Yet, colors can be blended by using several different marker colors. The jeans have a touch of gray along the hammock, then blue and I didn't put any marker color on the point of the knee.  When I used my waterbrush over the colors, all the colors blended yet the knee remained lighter.   On the canoe I colored the shaded areas only with a gray marker.  I pulled the color with my waterbrush over the rest of the canoe......instant shading. The trick is to apply the marker to the areas that you want darkest, then move color to the lighter areas.
By using a frame created with Spellbinders Labels Twelve cut out of a square piece of Bazzill paper, the focal point is narrowed more to the hammock. I stamped the pail and wicker bag separately, cut them out and glued them over the frame.  The verse is from AMuse. Green paper is from Imaginisce's Live Out Loud line.

Either of these cards would make a great Father's Day card!  Or even a guy's birthday card.  A great choice for a fisherman!

Enjoy!
-judy

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all you mothers had a wonderful day!

I went out for lunch with my mom, dad, sister and DH.  We had a nice visit and good food.  Too much good food!  I had to take a nap once I got home!

This is the card I put together for my Mom. 

I learned how to make the scrunched flower at the Spellbinder retreat.  It's a fun technique that can be done with any light weight paper.   I used pages from an old book cut with Spellbinders Dahlia S4-191 using all dies except the smallest one.  Each layer is sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. Once the flower is wet, it's easy to scrunch the petals.  I dried it with my heat gun as I shaped the petals.  Once dry they hold their shape.  Each layer of this flower is stamped, too, with an image made to fit Dahlia perfectly.  The stamp set is from Heartfelt Creations, HC 228-D.  Stamping is really not necessary to get a nice flower!  Once it was all dry, I tapped Versamark ink onto the edges and embossed with gold EP.  That dressed it up a bit!
I'm not going to go into all the directions for the rest of the card.  If you have any questions, please email me.  I'll be happy to share.
-judy

Supplies:
Spellbinders Dahlia S4-191
Spellbinders Labels Six S4-230
Spellbinders Big Scalloped Circles LG S4-249
Impressabilities Circles 12-1005
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - shades of pink & dark red
Heartfelt Creations stamps - HC 228-D
Impression Obsession verse
Ranger Adirondack Raisin ink
Creative Impressions - ribbon, mesh, brad
Graphic 45 - Le' Romantique Collection
Worldwin paper: metallic gold, ivory, maroon
Ranger Queen's Gold EP

Do One Thing

..........that makes you happy!

One thing that will make me happy today is sharing this card you! 

 

I created this card with a new set by JustRite called Kaleidoscope.  My intention when I first stamped some of the images was a quick card with a few layers.  Well.......one thing led to another.  This card is the result.  Not quite the quick card I had in mind.  I love how it turned out, especially the colors.  I definitely didn't start out with the idea of using Denim & Wild Plum.  I started with Ranger Denim, one of my favorite colors.  After that it was trial and error.  This combo worked!

All the details starting with the tiny center circle and moving out:

Layer 1: I sprayed a piece of white card stock with Tattered Angels Pashmina Glimmer Mist.  Love this color! Then I stamped with Ranger Wild Plum for the tiny center and embossed it with clear EP to intensify the color. 

Layer 2: The Kaleidoscope was stamped on white card stock with Denim, clear embossed and cut with Spellbinders S4-116 Standard Circles SM, #3 die (start at smallest die counting out).  I then gave it a light spray of Midnight Blue Glimmer Mist, dabbing off the spray from the embossed image.

Layer 3:  The verse was stamped on white card stock with Denim, clear embossed and cut with Spellbinders S4-114 Standard Circles LG , #3 and 4 dies.  Then I sprayed it lightly with Pashmina Glimmer Mist.

Layer 4:   Navy card stock was cut with Spellbinders S4-114 Standard Circles LG - #3 and Spellbinders S4-247 Labels Three, die #4.  I placed both dies on the magnetic spacer plate to cut both edges at the same time creating a frame.  It's also stamped with another JustRite Kaleidoscope die using Denim ink for a very subtle pattern.  Very hard to see in the photo.

Layer 5:  Remember the card stock sprayed in Layer 1 with Pashmina.  I used it again for this layer cut with Spellbinders S4-247 Labels Twelve and embossed.  To create the pattern, I stamped around all the edges with another die from Kaleidoscope using Wild Plum ink. 

Layer 6: The decorative scrolly pieces are cut out of navy card stock using Spellbinders S4-235 Fancy Tags, the bigger rectangle.  I cut just one tag, cutting it half for the top and bottom pieces.  The side pices are the cut outs from each end.  I glue the 2 pieces to form a similar shape as the tag ends.

Layer 7:  The final layer covers the card front.  I embossed a piece of light aqua vellum using Spellbinders Impressablilities Floral and Stone 12-1006.  I then rubbed Distress Tumbled Glass ink directly from the pad over the embossed pattern. It was pretty wet, so I dabbed off some of the ink and let it dry overnight. (This was a several nights project!)  

That completes the layers. The final step was to use vellum tape to adhere it to the front of a white card. I rounded the bottom corners. I placed my Kaleidoscope composition about in the center of the card and added a sheer bow. The pearls, Creative Impressions, were added last, colored with my Copic BG05 marker.

I hope you've enjoyed this creation!  Remember to "do one thing every day that makes you happy"!

I expect a few other things to be happy about today.....  My sister is visiting! I always enjoy seeing her. We're heading out to look at furniture for Mom & Dad and check out a few stores that sell plants. I love looking at garden supplies, be it plants, tools, or garden art.  It will be a fun day!

-judy 

Sorry, no photos today!

I found some cards to share......Yeah! something to post.  It's about time, huh?
........so I took my camera & the cards with me to work on Wednesday.  (I have 1 1/2 hrs. for lunch  so I often bring stuff along to do as well as go to my favorite stamp store.)   I remembered to take the photos.  It was great lighting because it was cloudy. 
So why no photos to share?
I forgot my camera at work.....I was so bummed!  I almost drove all the way back for it.....almost....
I didn't get my camera today because I took the day off for an appointment.  I'll get it tomorrow.  Watch for photos on Friday evening!
Please stop back!
:)
Judy

Spellbinders Blog

Hey, friends!
Check out the Spellbinders Blog!  Beth has created a layout with this group photo from the Design Team retreat.  What great memories!

Front row: Latisha, AJ, Kimberly, Kazan

Back row: Mona, Deborah, Julie, Gina, Judy, Ashley

Friends

Hello blogger friends!  Happy May Day!  
It's been awhile, huh?!?  
I put all my spare time into my Spellbinders projects this past week.  They were due on Friday.  I submitted them on Thursday.  Yeah!  My first assignments done!  I'm not free to share them yet.  I will certainly show you once I can.

Since I don't have anything new to share, I went searching through my photos for something I hadn't posted.  I found this card created with Penny Black stamps.  This is to all my blogger friends.....special treasures for sure!!

The heart stamp is Penny Black "love is the message".  I inked it with Ranger Cranberry, Red Pepper, Lettuce and

Meadow applying the inks to the stamp directly from a corner of each ink pad.  This is not a precise technique but I love the look.  Once the stamp was inked, I misted it lightly and stamped it on cream card stock.  I actually stamped it twice, once for the background, and another time to cut out the heart.  I shaped the heart by rubbing a paper stump over the back side.  It's mounted with foam tape just in the center, the edges touch the card.  I added Antique Linen around the edges of the cream card stock and Burgundy Stickles to the little buds on the vine.  I used a corner rounder on the corners and added a green mat.

The vine on the card front was stamped with Penny Black "scrolling along" using Versamark ink and white EP.  The verse is PB "special treasures" stamped in Cranberry, with narrow red and green mats, again rounding all the corners. 

With the heart being a separate piece, it was easy to fasten the ribbon from the left edge under the heart.  It seems to go under the heart, through the paper and come out on the right edge.  It's really 2 pieces of ribbon made to look that way!

I hope to get some new things created this week!  I'm itching to try out some new stamps that I bought last week!  I was planning to stamp this weekend but  my plans changed.  My daughter, Sarah, is visiting.  We're heading to my other daughter's home a little later today.  Quality family time! I'll see my gandchildren, too! It will be a good change of pace for me.

Thanks for visiting! :)

-judy