Grateful

I combined three challenges for this card. First, the sketch from Deconstructing Jen:

with some shapes ala CAS-ual Fridays:

(but I didn't use CAS-ual Fridays stamps, nor did I keep it CAS), and colors inspired by Fusion:

Now, after all of that, here's my card:

I stuck pretty much to the sketch. The circle with stamped sentiment was in my UFO pile, and now it's been used. yay  Instead of circles, I used three small ovals for the CAS-ual Fridays theme. That part is very meh to me.  And the colors were easy with that paper pack. I love that part. :)

I'm off to post another challenge card. Thanks for stopping by!

Products used: SU 3/16" oval punch, SU mini glue dots, and the following:

InLinkz.com

Free Range Birthday Cards

I started out today just playing. I had a pack of paper out that has very pretty, feminine patterns, and I thought I'd make a few simple cards with it. Two hours later ... yes, it's been a rough day. BUT, I made a lot of pretty cards, and not so much pretty trash, so I thought I'd share. :)

Here's the first card, then I'll explain:

Photos are worse than usual as it's dark and dreary outside.
I've been left to my own devices, alone, with a camera.
Sorry. 

Actually, I started with this one, messed up, set it aside, made the next two, then came back to save this one. I totally messed up the green diagonal strip and had to trim that layer within an inch of its life. I was determined to save it! It was so narrow I needed a layer, but I didn't have enough of the green left for a whole layer. What to do, what to do. I then added the two papers at the top and bottom, but it looked really dumb, so I added two more scraps remnants between them. Does it look like I meant to do that? I sure hope so.

The heart is there partly for balance, but more to cover the mystery schmear I found there. The sentiment is from a Paper Smooches set (linked below).

Here's one of the two cards I made while grumbling about that first one:

I cut the paper on the diagonal in the wrong direction. Wait, no, there are no mistakes in stamping, only opportunities for embellishment!  Gosh, I love this hobby!  I cut a strip of the red from the same paper pack, then stared at it for a while.

I don't like to be told what to do, and this card said "Stamp on the diagonal". Trust me, I tried not to, but it seemed to be the right thing to do.  I originally had a fat flower garnish on the left side of the diagonal, but opted to use the pearls instead.

Here's the other card from the other half of the paper:

Both of these use sentiments from the same Paper Smooches set.  They aren't the traditional PS funky fonts, but I like them all the same. An excellent set to have in one's collection.

The red strips down the sides of the card look the way they do since I forgot the paper was 5 1/2" instead of my usual 5 1/4", and I'd rounded the corners, and I was stuck. I think it came out okay, though.

That's my saga about these three cards. I also made some challenge cards that I'll post later.

In other news, it's raining, big time. It's even teased us by turning to snow a few times today, but I know it's been too warm lately for any of it to stick seriously. (Oh, did I say that out loud?)  This is what my yard looks like after a good rain:

Yeah, not a good spot for a garden. Maybe some pussy willows or something else that loves water. I'm sure the neighbors would appreciate that, too. What a soggy mess!

Thanks for stopping by!

Products used: Basic Grey True Love 6x6, Tombow adhesive, and the following:

InLinkz.com

Where Is Spring?

I don't know about where you live, but here in SW Ohio, Mother Nature has been having her way with us. One day it's 60F, then it snows that night. It's crazy, I tell you!

There is a robin that hangs out in my back yard, and Bobra is terribly distracted by him. He "talks" to the robin from the safety of his indoor perch, and I wonder what he'd do if I ever let him outside (which I won't.)

Also, I've made a lot of pretty trash lately, so the other day I tried to combine a few challenges to jump-start my mojo.  I tried to combine the now-expired Colours and Sketches color challenge:

(though mine ended up more on the blue side), with the also-expired Merry Monday Christmas Challenge:

where I used the sketch as a starting point, but I didn't make a Christmas card ... you see how this is going, right?

Here's my card, then I'll explain more:

I used (for the first time!) my Stampotique bird that I water colored as a robin. And yes, he is spitting.

You can see my attempts at layering in order to follow the sketch, but I only managed three of the banners. Also, my sentiment is wonky since I am old and my hands are no longer as steady as they used to be. Plus, I was too lazy to draw lines. I think the wonky letters go fine with the spitting robin, though.

I heat-embossed the robin, and knowing that Copics don't like black embossing (they seem to do fine with white, though), I chose to watercolor the robin. I smooshed some Distress Spiced Marmalade and Black Soot inks onto my craft mat, spritzed them with some water, then used a dry brush to spread it on the image. I only slipped once or twice. ;/

Then, even knowing Copics don't like black embossing, I went around the outside with a very light blue Copic, being very careful not to touch the embossed edge.

With all the layers and banners, I had to raise up the horizontal piece, so I added two black brads since the backs wouldn't be a problem. I think they anchor the horizontal piece, too.

I kinda like how this turned out, and it definitely expresses our collective sentiment about Spring. I am sooo ready for it. In fact, I've arranged for my garden to be tilled early next month. I cannot wait!

Thanks for stopping by!

Products used: Stampotique Shouting Bird, vat of clear embossing powder, SU Calypso Coral card stock, misc black brads, Tombow adhesive, and the following:

InLinkz.com