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Saturday, January 31, 2015

OCC- Day 4 Faux Embossing

There are still some techniques from previous days that I haven't gotten to try yet, but I decided to move onto this faux embossing by Yana because I was so fascinated by it!

Here's my try...



My biggest problem was the adhesive paper! Once I ran it through the Big Shot, I couldn't get it off the card stock... There were places where I could see glue and sticky- which drives me NUTS!  So to cover some of the worst spots...


... I added 3 sequins, and stamped the clover grouping, as well as tried to make the focal point the green glitter shamrock!  Definitely need more practice on this technique!

Yana made it look so easy- I did not!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

OCC- Day 3 Layered inking

Today was another great OCC day! I first tried Jennifer's technique- layered inking. First I tried it with SU inks (most of my inks) and it didn't work... so next I tried Hero Arts Charcoal Mid-tone and Pale Tomato ink which are some of the different inks that I own!

Here's the result...


The background is just gorgeous!  The card base is PTI Smokey Shadow and the white layer is die cut with a stitched rectangle die before the inking.  Without sharing the technique,  the stamped background is from PTI Life's Music and the note and music staff are from Cas-ual Friday's Love Notes stamp and die. I used Julie's ceramic tile idea and clear embossed the center tile. It is popped up with foam tape, although you can't tell in this picture.

The greeting is stamped in black and then embossed with clear powder- love how it came out! The sentiment will say, "... your own song... Happy Birthday!"





Wednesday, January 28, 2015

OCC- Day 2 Faux Paper Cutting

Another new technique that is just so fun! It is time consuming, but somehow therapeutic too! Debby Hughes did an amazing job with her card, and I kept thinking about the birthday cards I would need... and what dies I have that would work.

Here's my try...


It looked a little grim for a birthday card in PTI Smokey Shadows, so I tried in a blue shade and it seemed a bit brighter.  I can also see the pencil lines in the gray that I couldn't see in real life!! I will erase them if I use it...


Not sure about the heart shape, but maybe I could make it more defined with other die cuts? I also felt like I wanted to add a red heart, but stopped myself as I often add just too much! Maybe at the top right?

Also noted that the gluing down is tricky, so that it dries clear... you can see some trouble up by the word happy. Maybe too, if the word birthday got all the way to the point of the heart, it would look more balanced?

Not sure if it's good enough to send, but will take another look at it tomorrow!

OCC- Day 2 Border Gap

Today was another amazing class full of ideas for card making. First I wanted to try Kristina's border gap die cutting.

Here's my try...


The picture could have been better... I used Paper Smooches Wicked Nauticool
stamp and die set. With some masking, the sailboat appears to be floating- the sails and cabin are actually paper pieced atop the stamped sailboat, allowing the thread to hold the anchor.

The silver embossed (3x) anchor, attached with foam squares for interest matches the embossed greeting. The flag on the mast is folded and appears to be blowing in the wind, giving it a bit of dimension.

Love how it looks in real life! Thanks Kristina, so fun!

OCC-Day1 Faux Ceramic Tile

Love, love,  love this new technique! I found so many examples to use just from my stash. I need more practice- but just love the results already!

Here are a couple of the ones I tried without too many details to keep the integrity of the class ...


Thinking of Valentine's Day and the grand kids, I selected these from the SSS and PTI stamp sets. Using Julie's technique, I tried it on my own 2x2" squares, since I don't have "inchies." The die did cut the object out, but I held it together with painters tape and then "glued" them with Crystal Effects before embossing, so it was more like inlaid.   


Won't chew be mine?

Using the sentiments from the set on the inside, I white embossed the Happy Valentine's Day greeting outside. The smaller card size is 3" and the larger is 4"


You're purr-fect!

The coup d'etat is the wine glasses for our daughter-in-law's birthday on March 1st. She is a wine lover like me... I just love how this tile came out! 


The colors are SU Certainly Celery, Real Red and Distress Faded Jeans. Pattern paper is from SU and has Certainly Celery in it. I added three gold sequins and adhered the layers with Scor-tape.





The PTI Uncorked stamp and die set are the basis for the tile... the greeting is also from a PTI set gold embossed on a vellum band. I didn't do the splatter on the first cards, it doesn't usually appeal to me... but I like it here.

I have so many more in process right now for the rest of the valentines...

Thanks so much, Julie!

Monday, January 26, 2015

OCC Day 1- Embossing Colors

I wasn't going to spend anymore money on my card making obsession- but then this class and the 2015 Winter Storm and here I am... I know I will love every minute of it! And really... it's a great deal for all that I get of out it!

Online Card Class- Clean and Simple Cards 4:

Here's my first take on Jennifer's background stamp...


Although hard to see - there's white embossing in between the gray... I inlaid the love script with red glitter paper, masking that area from the embossing.  The card base paper is PTI Smokey Shadows, the background stamp is the leaf background. The red glitter hearts were added...



This is the inside of the card, with white embossing on the gray paper. Red hearts were added. Although I like this card, I do not have many background stamps and usually use stencils for backgrounds, as the stamps are so pricey...

Hope to use this for John for Valentine's Day! WIll I use this technique again? Probably not, but I could see it with a stencil and different colors sponged on... Kristina's technique with double stamping maybe? ...

I really want to try Julie's faux tile next... 



Friday, January 23, 2015

Last January Birthday

A good friend has her big 50th birthday this year. I am not as connected with her as I was when I was working at the school, but she is always in my heart- just one of those kind of people! When I got her Christmas card, she mentioned that for her birthday she was asking all of her friends to suggest something to do with her that she's never done before as a birthday celebration.  What a super idea!

So I sent her a card and suggested she spend a day making cards or scrapbooking with me. Definitely not something we've done before! If not that, maybe a round of golf (she doesn't play) reminding her that I still don't keep score :) yet!

Here's her card:



Love, love the PTI Uncorked set! And it was so appropriate for this card...  I used a Simon Says stencil and sponged the front with Distress Spun Sugar first - then added the bottle die from PTI Raspberry Fizz card stock. Loved how the die worked with the white paper to make the label, all from the set.

The bottle was attached to the card front with foam tape so it actually is raised from the card- the glasses are both stamped on the card with SU Raspberry Sorbet and the wine is stamped over the glass to appear just a shade darker. Then I used Clear Wink of Stella for some glitter on the wine in the glasses and just a dot or two above them ...

The greeting is from PTI Movers and Shakers Sentiments and the Uncorked set. I hope Betsy takes me up on the offer to make some cards- I think she'd like it!



Sunday, January 11, 2015

Birthday

My niece Julie has a birthday on January 17th. She is my husband's goddaughter,  my sister's youngest child. She is a wife and mom of three children that I am sure is very surprised to receive a card from me on her birthday.

Here's my birthday card for her...

Penny Black Poppies stamp set and watercolored with Distress markers, using Antique Linen to do a no line watercoloring. I used Strathmore water color to make a one layer card, masking off the border. The greeting is from PTI Birthdays: Inside and Out. 

Now I will focus on Valentine cards, February and March birthdays to complete them before we leave for a warmer climate. It certainly has been very cold this week, barely getting to double digits!

Friday, January 9, 2015

Congratulations

Well deserved congrats are in order for our daughter, Jessica! She has just gotten her first "paying job" since her three children have arrived- eight years out of the paying work force ... anyone who has experienced the transition knows it comes with equal parts excitement and terror!

Here's my card for her:


The multistep stamp set is Altenew Vintage Rose and card is made from  Strathmore Watercolor paper. I masked off and stamped directly on it with SU Daffodil Delight and More Mustard, then watercolored with Distress Wild Honey and Scattered Straw. I used the same technique after masking for the leaves with SU Wild Washabi and Gumball Green; then watercolored with Distress Peeled Paint and Mowed Lawn. 

I am determined to get the hang of this stamp set! As you can see I still have some work to do...

So proud and excited for Jessica! 

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Off to England...

Our neighbor, Vic,  has a sister in England that will be 95 on January 28th! We have met her a couple of times and feel sad that they will probably not visit each other again due to the difficulty of traveling at advanced ages. He will be 94 in July and is now in assisted living nearby. This is my card for her birthday...


The stamp set is Altenew's Vintage Roses, and boy do I need more practice with this set! The clear stamps are arranged in sets on the packaging so that three or four stamps make one flower. Each layer will add to the completed flower. I really didn't know enough to be intimidated when I purchased it! Was so glad to visit the website and watch a video as well as use the guide for how to layer the stamps to create the best look.

So until I get better at it, I used two of the stamps and watercolored the rest of the flower! These three flowers used only one of the sets, and only two of the stamps in the set... Still I couldn't quite master the technique... I used Strathmore watercolor paper 140# for the top layer and masked off a border before stamping.

The leaves are included... and need more work too! The colors are SU Poppy Parade and Melon Mambo, the greens are SU Certainly Celery and Gumball Green. The water helped some of the blending look more real. I also did a light backwash of Broken China Distress ink around the bouquet.

The greeting is SU Curly Cute stamped with Staz-on Black. I think Gracie will like the card, and the fact that I made it with her in mind. I don't think she'll be too critical of the artwork ...

January birthdays

Our daughter Stephanie's birthday on January 3rd was a very happy time this year! A new grandbaby- Reagan Jay- 2 weeks old- and a chance for the big sisters to visit Grampy and Grammy's house for a few days... Camp Vermont!

Here's my card for Stephanie:


Using the SSS gift die, I tried the partial die cut technique from Jennifer McGuire's video, and loved the result! Then I added the dots from PTI's die beneath it, just added some interest I think. I used the presents again to cut the shapes of the gifts in different pattern paper. Finally adding the greeting with the Happy Birthday die, and putting everything on PTI Tropical Teal paper. 

I intended to use the new uncorked wine and die set for her card, but was late ordering it and it hasn't arrived yet ... so next year! I do like the look of this one, although it was very simple and worked up quickly.

While finishing the final elements of the card, we were babysitting for the big sisters and they of course wanted to make cards. Here are their cards for their mom...


Lyla Kate (3) chose to make a big card, while Campbell (5) chose to make the smallest card she could :)  


They each chose the colors and elements they wanted - thoroughly immersed in the activity! Both loved the tape runners...


I added the stamped backs with the dates and their names, although they also signed their own names inside the card :)

Ahhh ... another generation of card makers!