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Monday, December 31, 2012

Christmas Cards

I promised myself that I wouldn't go crazy at Christmas time by making cards at the last minute.. So of course I did!



Here's the first card for the Santa group... I heat embossed the H for Ho-Ho-Ho! Then outlined it in black. I wasn't s happy as I wanted to be, but it worked okay. I did like the Santa in the three windows! The white was embossed with the all over snowflake folder.


This was my favorite card this year. I embossed snowflakes in the corner and used the pearls to shine them up and added the dazzling details.  I masked the tree and added blue for the sky with the blender and lighter blue to show the snow mounds. Then I stamped the tree with old olive mixed with some brown in spots. The star... which was heat embossed was cut out and used ---- to add dimension.



This is the new bundle from Stampin Up and I had to use it since it was such a big purchase for me!  I got this idea from Pinterest with my own spin added to it. The tree is actually the one from the above card and I just made it appear as a branch. I also used the snowflake embossing folder again and the JOY stamp to complete the card. I do love the Merry Christmas sentiment!


Card number 4 for the season! I loved the two ornaments instead of a single and left off the snowflakes. I did however use the all over snowflake folder after I stamped the tree! Dimensionals are added under the bows and ornaments so they really stand out. Also rounded all four edges. 

I also stamped all of the envelopes and am noticing that I like that for the mail!  This year I am starting early for Christmas.... I like having more than one design and LOVE getting cards! I am also noticing that I forgot to take a picture of my Thanksgiving card (Triple-Stamped) and Avery's 2 year-old's Minnie Mouse birthday card, and Emma's 7 year-old's Princess birthday card! Good to mention them though, so I will remember....


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween!

Halloween Is such a fun time for kids! I decided to send a card to each of our grandkids... Here are the selections:


The spider is cut out and hanging on a piece of twill. the goblins and the word BOO are heat embossed as is the spider. Tree embossed and Black-and-white bakers twine is wrapped around lettering. Googlie eyes set off the spider and goblins...

Again used the hanging spider and set it on embossed background of web. Washi tape is under the word BOO which is cutout. Spider heat embossed with black and dangling!


The background DSP made this card! Such an easy card to put together! I used the black-white washi tape and scalloped the edges for the witch... She also had googlie eyes!

The last is the envelope for the witch card. I also decorated the other envelopes for each design. I had such a great reaction from the kids, that I am already planning for next year...

Sunday, September 23, 2012

September Birthday cards

September is a big birthday month, so lots of opportunities to make some fun cards. There's my brother, sister and mother... and not to forget our three year old granddaughter, who is really into cupcakes.  Here goes:


Birthday card for my sister-in-law. Masked the flowers and used the blender tool to shade in background. Getting better with masking strip. Love this cling stamp set! Peach Parfait and chocolate chip from SU.

Card for my sister's birthday. Stamped happy after embossing, should have done it before. Love the flower technique in 3-blocks. Same stamp as the sunflowers, but with concord grape and pear pizazz.

Matching envelope...

Birthday card for Mom, using the rubber stamp from  online class purchase. I feel like I am finally getting the  hang of using them. Used Poppy Parade from SU with white and black. Tried heat embossing but didn't like the results. Redid the card and used blender tool to soften the edges. The red twine is an exact match for red.

Matching envelope

Three-year old cupcakes and a picture! Heat embossed the hearts and "lit" the candles with gold glitter! Used So saffron as yellow is Cami's favorite color, right now :)

Added white detail with pen, embossed the mat for card and the frosting on cupcakes. 

Get well card for my brother recovering at a sub acute care center. His days must be very long as he's not very mobile now. I added the acorns after heat embossing and using dazzling details to give them some shine. I am loving the triple layer technique.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Kick Start

New online class started today, Kick Start!  You can tell by the title it is definitely something I need... My main sources of inspiration are Pinterest and other blogs. I haven't been brave enough yet to enter a challenge because I do use other folk's designs. Maybe this will get me rolling!

So here's my first submission for the class using ideas from the other classes that I have taken. Interestingly... I added it with flickr! Next time I might try adding from this blog...


I used the stamp from last class, but did Versamark to emboss it in white. Then watercolored with Yoyo yellow and Garden green, like the effect. I decided to try the technique with three frames, wish I didn't round the corners on the card though! This is my first attempt at faux stitching in black. The butterfly is watercolored after white embossing using the lattice background stamp. Used dimensionals to attach it to vellum.

I can see that my photos need to be better to get the detail of cards. Will work on that....

Also wanted to document a few other cards for my own reminder. 
Sympathy card for a friend. Love the masking and layering technique with this set. Will definitely use again!

Matching envelope

Used for Nancy's birthday. Love Distress shading and the masking so it is all one layer. 

Colored with Copic markers. The sentiment smudged so I will use it for my Emma penpal letter but will mask and color with these gorgeous flower stamps again!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Grammy notecards


It's hard to believe a month has passed since I posted. I have done some card making, some traveling, golfing, swimming, babysitting, and vacationing too. But my pen pals have kept me busy with cards this month for sure. Below are some of the newer ones that I sent. I am enjoying the practice from online stamping classes:


Loved this technique and can't wait to try it again! Maybe not with a black background next time and black to separate the layers. Used the copic markers to color in. I am more impressed everytime I use them. I also added the butterfly just because I thought it fit.

Used the Unfroggetable Set to make this card for Will. Also used google eyes on the toad in front. Looks like one fell off before I took the picture :} I had a hard time with the pictures as you can tell!


Cupcakes for Emma! When we visited she "crafted" with the cupcake punch and had so much fun, I thought I'd try this note for her. I'm still experimenting with the alphabet stamps taking them off the wooden blocks and mounting with Aleen's Tack It Over and Over.


Also needed to send a sympathy card to a golfing friend of John's. It was so good to be able to reach into the stash and find one from my favorite set. I have a picture of the set that I made doubles of just for this kind of situation.

On a happier note, I sent a baby card to my niece who is expecting her third child, a girl, in October. I wasn't able to make the shower for her so I sent gift cards. I used those alphabet stamps again and really liked how this one came out. The pink is Regal Rose and the onesie stamp is a separate from my daughter's collection.

My first time using the triple blossom punch and although it was difficult to get out of the punch, I love it! Wante to use a ribbon, just couldn't make it work.



Today I practiced some embossing and double embossing techniques. There's so much I have to learn and I sure to love to practice! That's it from the craftroom for now...


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Time

So today I made time to play with some of the new techniques and tools from Stretch Your Stamps. I wanted to get the cards posted on the site before it closes since it is such a new thing for meUsing the ideas from class and some ideas from Pinterest, I made three cards. I spent more time than I want to admit, but it was FUN!


First was the reverse stamp, colored with Stampin Up markers. I added the vellum piece and embossed with white... then added the butterfly with dimensionals.




Next try was a flower set with my first try coloring with copic markers. Love them... and I did use watercolor paper. Also the butterfly stamp and matching diecut from the class list. Sentiment from another Stampin Up set.



Finally to finish the day, I tried the background stamp with versamark on the paper before I cut the squares, and embossed with seafoam white. Not as easy as I thought! Rounded two corners of each square, added a button center and completed with a banner. Then decided to add the black behind the large square, and some white dashes. Still feel like it needs something, just not sure what!


Hope to make some time tomorrow to play a little more! I did post to the Wrap Up Gallery. Next time I hope to link to this blog... Then I'll really be public!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Stretch Your Stamps

I am taking the online course Stretch Your Stamps and am really learning so much... Today I made a new set of stationery for Emma with the techniques from the class. So much easier than the first set that I made! I have been watching the classes for the past few days because I started late. 

My computer learning so far is all about blogging, adding comments on the forum and posting my cards on Flicker. I have a picture attached to my online name, obeewright, and thus far seems to be going pretty well. 

Here's the stationery. Since I posted on Flicker I didn't connect to my blog. Not brave enough yet ... maybe next time :}


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Anniversary Time

All three of our kids have their anniversaries within about 3 weeks! I went with the same theme for all of them just to be on time! The idea came from a card I saw on Pinterest, although I made my own pear and designed the card...



I embossed the basic card with the hearts and then embossed the pears, each with one of the dotted designs, using two different greens from SU. Like the results... but can also see some changes I could make... like ribbon colors :)

Birthday

JW had a birthday on July 9th and we become a year apart in age again. I tried making my own design... used the die to shape what I think resembles a postage stamp, since that is his passion. I do like the results and am feeling more confident about trying my own ideas... scary!





SU Not quite Navy... DSP paper with 1" squares... and white twine for bow.

Summer Penpals

PA grandchildren- Emma (6) and William (5) have agreed to penpal with me this summer. I am so excited to try new cards and LOVE getting their mail... First I made them each a set of stationery with individually designed paper and envelopes for each - some addressed to me. I also included the commemorative stamps since Grampy is a stamp collector! I have to admit- their artwork and hand written notes far exceed my notecards in return - but I am enjoying the practice making cards.

Here are some examples....




Close up of the embossing on the card. I did it on both the Concord Grape and the Summer Sun cards...


 On this card I used my own design! One of the first that I've tried...



Monday, June 4, 2012

Lyla Kate is one!

June 30th Lyla Kate will be one-year old! Hard to believe...

Knew when I saw this giraffe it reminded me of Sophie, Lyla's little giraffe! I also did one inside the card. Used some of the washi tape around the inside edge. Card colors are more mustard and so saffron, with some black and chocolate chip. The giraffe was made with punches, although I changed it from the original just a bit adding the cupcake too. I also wrote the sentiment on the card from the computer... I will try this technique more often.  Hard to see but the white on cover is embossed cupcakes.  Love those punches!



Graduation cards...

BBA, PreK and Kindergarten graduation cards! Fun...

For High School, I used the school colors of green and gold... used the pattern from pinterest to make the cap, Even cut some of the braids off my high school tassel!  Pleased with the result...



Next Emma and Carter's Kindergarten graduations... Used the cap design with the owl punch. Made both caps in white for kindergarten. Still need to make Will's PreK graduation card too! Will add picture later when I complete the three!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Retirement Card

A retirement card request for John's friend at school. Without the sentiment, I chose "congratulations!" instead...


Love the DSP banners! Used the corner punch to cut the diagonals. Colors, Marina Mist and Crumb Cake. Used the punch to make layer under twine for ribbon. Will use this pattern for more cards...

Thank yous

So many nurses and aides to thank for the care and daily TLC for Mom. It is these folks that help her day-to-day, and while it is their job, it is with love that they do the work.  Here are the two designs and final outcomes that I cased from pinterest and made my own...




Used color blocking and Pocket Silhouettes set in two different color schemes, NQ Navy, Black & White and More Mustard, Crumb Cake & Black . Like the final product. Tried a few new techniques from the card classes, water spritzing and embossing the white thank you AND my new corner chomper!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Superhero birthday

Getting ready for a five-year-old birthday grandson... He is my superhero for sure! I'm just hoping the faces aren't too scary for him :) Used the owl punch from ideas on Pinterest.. Think I may have to redo the eyebrows...  Used crystal effects over the eyes so they kind of dazzle, also the symbols for the superheros...



Just believe


The new SU set I am really enjoying is Just Believe. I had used it first at a SU demonstrator's stack-a-stamp activity.   Using that card as a model, I came up with my own take for a "missing you today" card for my mother. I used concord grape, pear pizzazz and old olive for colors. Also the little butterfly from another set. It was an opportunity to use some DSP with new embossing dots folder with white underneath. Close up of the little pearls on the flowers centers and added dimension on the cut-out butterfly. TimHoltz technique with blending color on the image added a little extra softness. Love how it came out...  so I made another in green... for my brother's wife's birthday.