Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Laura's Sketch 5

2sketches4u has a new challenge again this week. Since I haven't done one of theirs in quite a while, and since I needed a sympathy card, I decided their sketch would be just right for this job!

I can't give any specifics. The papers are coordinating papers that I have had in my drawer for quite a while. I don't know who makes them. The message is computer written. The flowers and "diamond" came out of my goodie drawer. So there you have it. I 'm thinking that might be the first card I ever made without using one stamp on it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Challenge 9# A Sketch

ooh la la creations has a challenge this week I decided to try. This is the challenge.


And this is my design....

I used Stampin' Up papers, orchid opulence and summer sun
ink is orchid opulence
the flowers are from the drawer, as are the little rhinestones
buttons are Stampin' Up
ribbons are from my collection
rubber stamps are from an English company, but I don't know who makes them

Once I thought it all out in my mind, it came together easily. I woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about all of those little squares and what to do with them. It was challenging and a fun project.... and I know I am missing some components of the sketch--just couldn't put the puzzle completely together!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Award


I have been given the "Blogging Forever Friend" award by Jose! Thank you so much Jose. I feel honored to receive such an award. I am humbled as I visit so many wonderful, creative sites.

Do visit Jose's posts and see her creative work.

1. Only 5 people are allowed to receive this award
2. 4 of them have visited your blog.
3. One has to be new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whomever gave you the award.

I pick the following people to receive this award from me:

Amy, who is so creative in all that she does, whether it is redecorating on a shoe-string, or compiling interesting pictures to share with on-line friends, or.....finding things to put on her ETSY!

Blondie, who is into gardening, homemaking, needle work, and all things interesting, plus I received the first prize I had ever won, from her!

Jen, who is a young mother from Holland, and does a variety of paper work, cards, books, and scrapbooking....

Glee, whom I've just visited a couple of times and adore her cards, already.

Do visit their blogs and see their wonderful creations...and the 5th one is Wendi, whom I only met a couple of weeks ago--she lives in France and her site is called "oooh, la, la" and is most creative!

Joan

Friday, July 25, 2008

Golden Oldies

The Daring Cardmakers have a challenge this week for "golden oldies" using old favorites with none of the "latest" papers, stamps, etc.

So.....here's mine--it really is bare basics!

All Stampin' Up supplies

Retired stamp "The Art of Life"
Paper is Ruby Red, Garden Green, Barely Banana
I used pens to color the stamp
The word is from SU's Wonderfful Words

I stamped some background on the rose red , squirted a few sprinkles on the greeting part, sponged the edges around the flower. The "gauzeie-looking" background under the stamp is from the set. The ribbon is from my ribbon stock and it isn't looking too perky. Maybe getting smashed in the copier did it in!

I enjoyed this challenge, because I like things simple--as you can tell--this one is REALLY simple!!
Thanks for lettng me play.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Dry Embossing Challenge

The Creative Corner has a new challenge for this week. It is for a dry embossing project. This is my card. It is one of four that I am making for upcoming birthdays.


Papers are SU's rose red, regal rose and always artichoke.
The stamp is by Sarah Kay
The embossing is from a new cuttlebug set which has five borders in it.
The swirley thing is a flourish design from QuickKutz. I saw this on Jo's blog and after asking her about that die cut, she kindly answered me and I went out and purchased it. The sparkles are silver, yet they show up gold--go figure. The dew drops are from The Robin's Nest.

I used my Lyrah colored pencils--this will take practice, I can already tell!
The greeting was computer generated as I wanted it to fit that punch.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Friday Sketcher #11

Here is my new sketch for Friday Sketchers. My papers come from a book of coordinating papers from K and C Company. The little fellow is a stamp I ordered from England a couple of weeks ago and I don't know from which company he comes. I know flowers and pink don't go with boys, but I had the background done before I decided on him!

Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

A 3 x 3 card challenge!! Fun!

Sketches by Tamara has a great sketch for this week, posted this morning. It is for a 3 x 3 card. I had fun with it! I am still stuck on red, white. and blue for this month. I love the combination!



I used Stampin' Up Ballet Blue and a stamp from SU Independence Day stamp set.

The rest came from stuff in my drawers. I punched the center flowers and then "tried" to give them a little shape. I sponged a little color on them.

Thanks for dropping by!

Birhday cards for my "boys!"

Totally Random is asking for red, white, and blue for the whole month. So.......since I needed birthday cards, I did some in red, white and blue!

I'm stuck on red, white, and blue for the whole month of July!!





I used Stampin' Up's 'real red, ballet blue papers'
Stamping is from SU set 'Independence Day'
All have sparkling glue-ons!

I embossed with my Cuttlebug, used my NEW nestabilities circle and star sets. (Just think, a month ago, I didn't know the nestabilites even existed and now I have 10 sets!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Friday Sketchers, week 10 challenge

Here is my card for Friday Sketchers. Be sure to visit their site and look at the wonderful, beautiful cards they created for this Sketch!! ...and after that, be sure to check the comments and you will find all of the challenges others have entered. Its like a walk through a wonderful gallary!!


When I do a challenge, I don't get anything else done that day! (I'm glad none of you can see the table behind me where I work) I seem to lose all sense of organization as I pull here, put there, etc.

Details
Papers are from Stampin' Up.
Decorative panel is from K and C Company--"berry sweet"
Ink is from two SU markers on the stamp
Ribbon is from the $1 bin at one of the craft stores.
Dew drops are from The Robins' Nest

The circles are from nestabilities.
The embossing is a Cuttle Bug polka dot.
I poked some polka dots with a small tool that I have around the so saffron circle.
The circle cluster is on double thickness 3D foam tape...so it stands very much up from the background!

Thanks for letting me take part in this challenge. It is so fun..

an inspiration challenge

The Creative Corner has given a challenge using the following picture for inspiration. There are no rules--just do what we feel from the picture.

This is what I came up with for my project.


I used white, barely banana, certainly celery, summer sun SU papers.
Inks are so saffron, mellow moss and summer sun
Background stamp is French Flair
Message stamp is from Craft Warehouse

The summer sun paper and the bird on the background are both yellow, yet they look orange.

Monday, July 14, 2008

I've been tagged!

I was tagged by Jose so I thought it would be fun! Here are the rules...Each player answers questions about themselves.

What was I doing Ten Years Ago?...

Had been retired for eight years.
 Was looking in often on my 94 year old Mom--(Dr. appointments, playing games, out to lunch, etc.) 
I was also busy with a family with three boys for whom I had become their surrogate Grandma. The boys were badly crippled from an accident and I took them to all doctor appointments, therapy, and visited them often.

Five Things On Today's "To Do" List ...

Clean up the kitchen
garbages out
lunch with sister
call phone company (I did and was on hold for over two hours!!)
Put away latest stamping order!! (there have been too many lately!)

I'm addicted to...

my computer
reading blogs
my grandkids
reading
eating out

Things I Would Do If I Were a Millionaire...

set up a trust for each of the missionary families that I know
build a duplex on my church's empty lot for missionairies home on furlough to live in
pay off my kids' houses and set up trusts for each child and grandchild
give each of my nieces and nephews $10,000
build a room off my bedroom with an exercise pool in it
redo my kitchen

Places I have Lived...

Baker City, Gladstone, Beaverton, Gresham, and Portland, all in Oregon
Santa Barbara, California
Colorado Springs, Colorado

I know I should tag others, but I think I won't this time.

Friday, July 11, 2008

two challenges--number card and 3 x's 3

Today I am using this card for two challenges, My Time to Craft, which asked for something with numbers on it, and also for Stamp Something who are asking for 3 layers, 3 colors, and 3 embellishments. I may have pushed the limit a little with that one, but it sorta fits!


The card has three colors, Always Artichoke, Pixie Pink, and White Shiny paper.

The inks are Always Artichoke, Pixie Pink, & Wheat which I have sponged on the shiny paper after I rubbed it with sand paper to give it a linen look. (not sure if it shows on photo)

I have three layers and then my main embellishment repeats the three layer colors.

My embellishments are the ribbon, the sandpapering, and the greeting on 3D sticky tape.

The stamp set is SU Petal Prints. I stamped off the color to give the light and dark to the background.

The greeting is computer generated.

And last, but not least, the green of the card is really even all the way around, even tho shadow makes the top look top heavy and uneven. I have a lot to learn about getting a perfect picture!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

The Friday Sketchers have a neat sketch this week. It is the first time I've entered, as their cards are all so outstanding, I'm a little embarrassed....but it is soooo fun to make something new.

The flower is folded circles. I am finding double sided papers in thin weight hard to find. This was pretty heavy paper, so the folding was a bit awkward.

My papers are from Stampin' Up. The prints and the pink are from a set called, "Berry Bliss". The solid color is "purely pomegranate", as well as the ink. The stamp is a single I bought at the stamp shop. The pearls are just from my drawer!
I used my square "nestability" set for the scalloped square.

Here is a close up of the flower.
Thanks for letting me enter a card this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

a winter scene challenge

I discovered a challenge from "down under" from a creative group of women. The Daring Cardmakers wanted a winter scene since it is winter in New Zealand and they are growing weary of the dark winter days, I'm thinking.



This snowman card was the only thing I could think of doing. It is from Close to My Heart acrylic stamps.

The blue isn't even from my Stampin Up stock! The card has some sparkles on the dots and snowflakes, and some on the scarf. I don't know if they will show up or not.

This is a verse, I found to go on the inside of the card.

You will probably have to double click on it to read the verse.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Something red white, blue

Totally random wanted something red, white and blue, using those colors, plus stripes and stars. I decided to make two boxes for the challenge. Both are made without glue and simply folded. There are stars and stripes and blue--hope it meets the test!

straight on photo

I thought I would take the larger one filled with Hershey's kisses for a hostess gift on the Fourth.

The embellishment papers are from SU and the box papers are from my paper drawers. The stamps are SU Big Flowers and Pieces and Starstruck.

Thanks for stopping by.

The latest card for 2sketches4you.

Monday's challenge from 2sketches4you is here. I'm sorry that I seem to be stuck on the red, white, and blue theme, but I have many, many wonderful memories of the Fourth, and I always make July my red, white, and blue month. To read about the Fourth celebrations in our family, you can click here. The round stars are raised and. of course. the flowers are dimensional.


The papers are from SU--Ballet Blue and Real Red
Stamping set is--Starstruck
Two punches--1 " and 3/4" rounds
I had the patterned paper, and the words are computer generated. Sorry its fuzzy--the bottom print is a font called 'stars and stripes.'

Thanks for stopping by.

Book Making tutorial

These books are fun and easy to make. They require (3 )12 x 12 sheets of cardstock and (5) 12 x 12 sheets of coordinating paper.

You begin by cutting all cardstock into 6 x 12 strips. Lay one aside, after scoring it, for now.

Then cut the coordinating papers into 5 3/4 squares.
With those squares cut 8 of them in half and take off another 1/8 in on one side of each half. (these are to put on the small 3" "doors". On the very front ones you will have to adjust as they aren't quite as wide due to the adjustment on each side for the thickness of the book

Begin scoring the cardstock strips 3 inches in on each end.











Fold each of the five pieces in to each other where you have scored.










glue your 3 inch parts together to form 5 sections and 3 sets of 3" doors (see below)
















Take the strip that you layed aside and on the left side score it next to the outside of the original 3" score. These two scores will be 1/4 " apart. On the right side do the same, only score 1/4" + 1/8" because when folded the book is slightly thicker on the right. Actually adjust these score lines to accommodate the thickness of the book.


At this point, using an exacto knife, you need to cut slits on each side of the back portion on the original 3 inch score lines and insert the ribbon and pull through. I like ribbon with write as it can be made so pretty on the bow.



This is a look at the thicker part of the book (right side as it is laying in front of you)

This is looking down on the book, and also showing the smaller side of the book.

This is the front of the book before the last cardstock has been added. When you have all five panels laying out flat--you fold in the first one on the right had end, then fold those two over the third one--the go to left side and fold over first one on the left and you have 2 folded on left and 3 folded together on right. Now fold them together and it should look like left had picture




Now the book is ready to be glued into the final strip which has been prepared with the ribbon, and the side allowances for the thickness of the book.






I add "hang-overs" as I go. i.e. Happy Birthday circle You just have to have something on the back side of the same size with something on it.



and this is the final book, tied and ready to present.
This book that I used for demo was a 4 x 4 birthday book for the sextuplets first birthday.

I have always used the books for photos before this and in 6 x 6 size.

I scanned in the book showing how the "doors" can open and close for more materials to be put on them. Double click on them to read the writing and see the doll babies up close.








first page with open "doors" doors closed next to whole page

















So that's how it went--its hard to see which one are side panels, either opened or closed.

****************

























I'm adding a few more pictures from a book with photos in it. I want to show an example of how I did a couple of "overhangs" in this book.

The title and group picture are mounted on one "door" and overhang the other.

This shows the "overhang" when it is opened. (on the left) You can see it extends past the "door".

This is a set of "closed" doors with a photo overhang.This is that same overhang opened...and the picture of child in black
is cut to fit the first overhang.
I hope this is clear. I realize that as a teacher, I do much better when I can show you, can help to clear something up, and have the finished project to exhibit. If you can't figure something out, don't hesitate to email me.