Drive by Greeting:

Yeah… the title leaves something to be desired. It’s better than the original, though. I went for “Drive By Birthing…” Ahem. I don’t think so.
I saw this plaid and HAD to use this truck with it. I don’t know why. Who knows what this crazy brain of mine is thinking half the time?

This is one of the cards for my readers, but I still only made two due to lack of enough plaid for more.. The other one I tried to make a “woman of color.” I chose a bad brown, but she still looks pretty good. I need to work on my darker toned coloring skills.

I do have a problem with the sentiment. It’s not very clear and I stamped it nice and crisp. I think they tried to fit too much on one little stamp.

Stamps: Stampin’ Up “Loads of Love”

Paper: SU Gray, Scraps

Paper Size: A2 (4.25 x 5.5″)

Ink: Versafine

Accessories: Twine, SU tab punch

Techniques: Colored pencils

WynneWORD Birthday

I’ve been DYING to use this stamp ever since I found out they made it. This map is actually one of the maps in my children’s series, “The Annals of Wynnewood.” The illustrator, Craig Worrell, allowed eMagine stamps to recreate it in rubber! I AM IN HEAVEN! I love the sentiment, “Find Joy in the Journey.” I thought it worked for a birthday sentiment too.

I just hope Craig doesn’t mind that I utterly destroyed the image after I stamped it. I stamped, roughed up the edges, crumpled it in a ball, and then sponged the heck out of it. It looks nice and dead–er antique. Just how I wanted it.

Stamps: eMagine “Wynnewood”

Paper: PTI Smokey Shadow and SU Naturals

Paper Size: A7 (5×7)

Ink: Unity Pallette Black, SU Suede, Crumb, Mustard, Cocoa, and Sand

Accessories: Twine, Brads, Sponges

Techniques: Destruction of perfectly fine paper.

I’ve been dying to use this snail for ages. Doesn’t he just scream, “I’m taking my sweet time to get you your birthday card?” What a perfect way to pin the blame on something cute instead of me! *cough*

Okay, so these are actually going to readers who signed up for my birthday card program just a day or two late for their birthday month. I just had to use this stamp, so I used it as an excuse to send theirs out this year. WOOT!

Stamps: Paper and Such Snail & SU Happiest Birthday Wishes

Paper: SU Pear and Daffodil and PTI Orange. Amuse gingham. Neenah

Paper Size: A2 (4.25 x 5.5″)

Ink: Memento (snail) & Versafine (sentiment)

Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon

Techniques: Watercolor pencils

Washi the Day

Fastest, easiest cards on the planet. I seriously did all 4 in about 10 minutes tops. I wanted to play with the idea of the all black and white after doing a black and white spread in my EC planner. So, I did it. Liked it. Then I wondered what colors would look like. So I did that.
Look, they’re not genius cards. They’re not super amazing CAS masterpieces either. They’re just cards. But they’re nice and I like ’em. I won’t make LOTS like this, but if I ever need a card in the space of a couple of minutes, I now know one way to make something that looks good and is fast.

And Leigh Anne (leibetty), I TOTALLY owe you kudos for loving Versafine. I’ve never gotten the appeal. But I keep trying it because I know some people–and you are the one who comes to mind–love it. After this card, I too “get” it. CRISP. Man, that ink is crisp. I never noticed it before.

Stamps: PTI Birthday

Paper: PTI White and Gina K Black

Paper Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25)

Ink: Versafine

Accessories: Washi tape, ticket punch

Techniques: Get ‘er done

Gull-p, I Sea It’s Your…

BIRTHDAY!

So, I am a SLOW colorer. Yeah, it’s not a word. It should be. Colorist? Maybe that’s better. I don’t care. Anyway. I need to learn to color faster, so I made myself go lickety split on this card. I colored 4 of that image in 15 minutes. It shows. Okay, I know it. but it doesn’t look HORRIBLE which is saying a lot. It doesn’t look good, but if I keep making myself do it, maybe I’ll get faster.
I know that Victorian-ish scroll work on the tag isn’t “beachy” but I kind of liked the eclectivity of the two together. It looked like a natural way that our possessions reflect different styles and meld together nicely.
Or that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Stamps: PSX G-2891, SU Hardwood, Vintage Labels
Paper: SU Kraft & Baja. Neenah Solar.
Paper Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25)
Ink: SU Sand and Suede. Versafine. Unity Palette Umber
Accessories: “Thread” from burlap, SU Oval punch
Techniques: Watercolor pencils and Aqua brush. Also watercolor crayons.

Have a Sunny Birthday!

Well, I don’t love it. But I do like it. I love the idea, but I tried too hard to keep it too simple. I should have stamped the sentiment on a tag hanging from the knot. I used SU Watercolor crayons to color the leaves a bit etc. I love how thatl ooks. So, it’s not exactly what I wanted, but it is nice and I do like it. At least I didn’t succeed in making it as “ugly as possible.” Sometimes failure is a good thing, no?

Stamps: SU Sunfower
Paper: SU Kraft
Paper Size: A2 (4.25×5.5)
Ink: SU Mustard and Pallette Burnt Umber
Accessories:SU Seam binding and homemade “flower-not-so-soft.”
Techniques:Trying to make it as ugly as possible

Just the Write Birthday…

Oh, my this was a fun card. I LOVED making it. It’s simple, sure, but it’s so ME. The colors, the typewriter–everything. It’s one of many I’m making in my quest to send as many of my readers birthday cards this year as I can! WOOHOO! I made six of these beauties and I’m going to try it in more “dead” colors too. WOOT!

 

 

Stamps: River City Rubberworks typewriter
Paper: PTI White, SU Pool, Gina K Black
Paper Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25) Ink: Versafine
Accessories: SU Dots embossing folder and baker’s twine from Target dollar spot
Techniques: Printing (I printed the sentiment)

The Years Flit By

So I saw this card on Pinterest. Now I can’t find it. I want to give the original designer credit, but I can’t. No idea what’s wrong and what search terms I used. I thought I “pinned” it so I could find it again, but shocker of all shockers–not there. I’m pretty sure the original didn’t use lace and did use another butterfly. That’s all I know. If you know whose it is, I’d love to give credit. If it was yours, please forgive me. I did try.

UPDATE: Thanks to Nancy on Splitcoast Stampers, I found it. She called the paper scraps, “Washi” and I thought, “HEY!  I bet I did find it under a washi search.  And I did. WOOT!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/52424783134928648/

Stamps: PTI Birthday set
Paper: PTI White, scraps from MME and SU. Oh, Amuse gingham. LOVE that stuff. SU Rose red too-I think. Talk about a run-on sentence. Yes, I are a writer.
Paper Size: A2 (4.25×5.5)
Ink: Unity Pallette Accessories: Lace trim from HL. SU Dies–Beautiful Wings and some label thing I’ve never used before. Score for finally doing that.
Techniques: Shameless copying.

Tag, You’re It!

The first one I did, I had that ribbon going across too. Didn’t thrill my soul. So I flipped it down, and bam. I likie. My daughter preferred across.  Who knew?  Basically, I wanted to use that awesome ribbon, and liked the idea of it with that PTI paper… the rest just kept coming until I got it “right.”

 

 

 

Stamps:SU Happiest Birthday Wishes (I think)
Paper: PTI Smoky Shadow, October Afternoon scrap
Paper Size:A2 (5.5 x 4.25)
Ink:Unity Pallette Accessories: Well, the kitchen sink was full, so… Ribbon from Etsy, SU Chevron ribbon, Tag from PYP, leftover butterflies Sizzlets Beautiful Wings, I think, Hardware from SU… I hope thta’s it–no, the edge punch from SU too
Techniques:fudging it

Whoooose Birthday?

So, in my quest to use up things I already have, I saw this card on Pinterest:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/55239532904109546/

I instantly thought, “I think someone sent me some of those in a swap (the background border thing). So, I decided to make it. Now honestly, I was SURE I was going to do it differently. I didn’t think I liked this and that and the other thing… until I did it. And found the original maker is a wise ol’ owl and I’m just a bird brain.

All cutified and ready to send out. I thought I was going to like the browns and blues better… but I don’t. I like the bright one the best. Shocker.

Stamps: PTI Birthday
Paper: PTI White base and scraps
Paper Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25)
Ink: Versafine
Accessories: MS border things
Techniques: Punch art

Cotton Candy Birthday

This one I kept trying to ruin. Seriously, every time I turned around, I did something to destroy it. First I tried curling the ends of the flag. Um… yuck. So now they’re bent. Then I tried adding that border–too small. Tried again. Then I stamped the image crooked–twice–WITH THE MAJIG! So, it’s a crooked, bent mess, but I love it anyway. Even if it does look like carnival cotton candy threw up on it.

Trying to use up all my precut/colored/etc. stuff in cards. I need a TON of birthday cards, so here we go.
Stamps: PTI Birthday something or another
Paper: Scraps–stripes is from a thing of paper from …whatshername Bastein from Hallmark and Vera the Mouse–MARJORIE
Paper Size: A2 (4.25×5.5″) Ink: versafine
Accessories: Tag punch and that SU thing I don’t know the name of
Techniques: Try, try again

Busy Birthday Bungle

Okay, it seemed like a good idea. I thought it’d work. It doesn’t. But I’m using them anyway–at least until I pull them out, hate them, and pull off the border and slap something else on. Sigh.

The cutouts make the H in one happy look like a K. I just hope the recipient doesn’t think I meant Kra….

Trying to use up all my precut/colored/etc. stuff in cards. I need a TON of birthday cards, so here we go.
Stamps: PTI Birthday something or another
Paper: Scraps for back cards–I think they’re PTI–and I think the others are Echo Park, but I’m not putting money on it
Paper Size: A2 (4.25×5.5″)
Ink: Versafine black Accessories: Too much–um… okay. Border musical cutout I got in a swap and striped washi tape. T
echniques: Dizzifying (making the recipient dizzy to see it)

Skye’s the Limit

I fell in love with this horse, and Janice was kind enough to share a couple of images with me. Good for the company, because I’m absolutely buying this stamp. First the goat, now the horse–she’s building my stamp farm quite nicely all by herself.
I’m in the middle of building a HUGE stockpile of birthday cards, so this was one of the first batch. I love it. The tag pulls out and works as a bookmark. 🙂
Stamps: It was a RAK from Janice–Serendipity, I think. Sentiment is PTI Birthday–something.
Paper: PTI blue and smokey shadow–DP from MME
Paper Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25)
Ink: Memento? and Unity Pallette
Accessories: Ribbon, string, SU chevron ribbon, Modern label punch, word window punch, brads, Tag punch, but not the kitchen sink.
Techniques: Copic Marker–“deadening” (making it look “dead”)

SC332- For as Long…

My niece got married in May.  I’d “heard” something about colors being blues and purples, so I went with blue.  Turns out, they were more bright and cheerful blues rather than mine, but hey.  She’s not complaining.  She’s a neat kid that way.  And I like the card regardless.  It’s not the “same old, same old” that I like to do.  I tend to be a white and ivory combo kind of gal.

Stamps: SU set… has a baby onesie, a pair of bells, these guys, and a row of bears. I think they’re trying to suggest marriage leads to something–or vice versa
Paper: SU Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Shimmer white, and some cool MME pattern.
Paper Size: 4.25×4.25
Ink: SU Not Quite Navy and Versamark
Accessories: Ribbon, SU scalloped lace punch, and scoreboard
Techniques: Heat Embossing, scoring

SC331- Almost Right Li-Bird-Y

Well, the sentiment says “live happy.” That’s TWO of the “unalienable rights” that the Declaration of Independence promises. So that counts, right? Sorta. It’s “almost right”? And well, liberty, li-bird-y… not bad. Not good, but not bad… Hee hee.

I have no idea what kind of bird this is. I just looked online for colored birds that looked like it and went with those colors. Sooooooooooo Who knows?

This should have been the world’s fastest card. First, I did it “Stacy style” (JBGreendawn). I colored the birds a few weeks ago. I stamped the sentiments a while back too. It was all ready to go. Then, to make it even easier, I used a sketch challenge. Truly a “no brainer” card, right? AHEM.

Two and a half hours later… it’s done. :S

Gulp. I like it, though. That has to count for something.

Stocking the Card Box

Now and then over the past few months, I’ve made a card or three.  Mostly, I’ve been really busy, so even when I have made one, I found it kind of hard to find the time to post.  Well, I don’t really have the time now, but I’m doing it anyway

Inspired by this card.

When I saw this stamp from ODBD, I HAD to have it. This is the entire theme of a series I’ve written and I LOVED to have it all encapsulated in one very well-written sentiment. I’ll be using this one OFTEN. In fact, I suspect I’ll be making this with Elizabeth Bell’s “Willow’s Recipe” soon. She looks like she’s writing in a journal–just like my character, Willow. With these two stamps, I don’t see HOW it could get any more perfect.

And… if that wasn’t wonderful enough, I got rid of a 1/10000000th of my scraps doing these two cards! YEEEEEEEEEEE HAW! Ahem.

I have a dear friend whose baby died at nine months. February would have been her 9th (I think) birthday. So, a group of online friends wanted to send a card. When I saw this card:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/55239532903146262/

I knew it was perfect.

So now and then, I arrange to go to stamp club and then fall asleep (it happens during my nap time). So, when that happens, I buy the card pack so I can do it later. It sits. And Sits. MONTHS PASS. I was never there, so I don’t know what it’s supposed to look like. It is just a set of papers all cut and ready to assemble. So, I try to make my own spin on ’em to get a feel for things. This is one. I thought maybe a chick wasn’t TOO far off for Mother’s Day. I like it. Sent it to my Mom. Maybe she’ll get a chuckle.

This is another envelope of cut pieces that I have NO idea what it’s supposed to be. It screamed “baby card” but I was too lazy to do that. Soooooooooooo I prayed that Neapolitan ice cream is pink, brown, and white instead of pink, green, and white (so tired I can’t remember if I’m pink, brown or white!) and went with this. I try to think of it as “scrumptious” rather than “ridiculous.” It almost works. Almost. Another random card pack bites the glue–in a manner of speaking.

Oy. Another card pack card done. It was so pretty. Then I decided to stamp on the textured paper. That would have worked (I tested it out first) except that I forgot I had it already popped up on dimensionals. Not the most brilliant move I’ve ever made. So, when half of Mother’s and Day didn’t show up, I filled it in my hand. And it shows.

I would have made it look better if I’d just written it out in the first place. Stupidity at its finest. However, I like the IDEA of it… and most of it. So I’ll be content if it kills me. It won’t. I’m too lazy to die. I will, however, go take a nap now. I obviously need one.

I suspect this was supposed to be a more masculine card. Oh, well. It works. I really like this one. It’s just a bit more “me” but hey. Another card pack done and out of storage. I think my daughter is going to use this for a friend. 🙂

“Skinny” Washi

Planner Madness:

I bought this planner (and I hate the cover, but that’s my fault and I’ve got a friend helping me fix it!).

It comes with pre-sectionalized days.  Morning.  Day.  Night.  Considering my “morning” starts just around the time that “day” begins, I wanted to shake that up.  So I tried trimming my washi tape down to “manageable” strips by cutting down the middle.  It looked like this.

Ugly to say the least. So I decided to cut one long strip.  That’d be better, right?

Crooked.  And even the better ones looked like this…

All wonky.  Not happiness.  I wanted happiness.  So I thought about it.  Then it hit me.  All tape comes rolled onto itself.  That’s how it’s made.  Add the repositionable qualities of washi tape and there’s no reason I can’t reroll it.  Or better yet, flatten it.  So I did.  It worked.  See!

Nice and straight.  Here’s how I did it.  🙂

Take one roll of washi tape–normal width. (For wide rolls, you’ll have to cut twice. I’ll try that later).

Pull out a LONG strip. About a foot to start with.

Fold the end over about 1.5″ long or so. I think you could easily go to 2 or 2.5″ but longer gets tricky in my not so humble opinion.

Start folding over and over, keeping those edges STRAIGHT, until you have a nice piece of it. You don’t want it too thick or you’ll have trouble cutting it. I think I decided five was about max but I could have meant four. I’m helpful that way.

Leave a bit of extra tape at the end to tape onto a paper cutter or onto your finger if you’re going to use scissors. I like the paper cutter method, but that’s because I get a bit nit-picky about these things. However, I did try it with good, sharp, paper scissors and because it’s such a SMALL piece, it’s pretty easy to cut straight down a 2″ strip.

CUT

Two nice little strips!

The old and the new. 😀 (I wanted to say “The Bad and the Ugly” but that wasn’t nice).

Even say… in the zip pouch for emergencies! *my apologies to Christy for using orange. I hope she’ll forgive me.*

There it is!  Fast and easy “skinny” washi tape  And it should be so easy to “trim” off a bit of my excess.

Proud as a…

of my peacock!  I took a Copic class this weekend and learned how to paint with the refills for the markers!  This was the class project.  Totally cool and fun stuff!  LOVED it.  I can’t wait to try butterflies and pansies as well as other things, of course.

Who knew painting with ink on plastic paper with cosmetic sponges could be so fun?

 

SC330- Close Your Eyes

I am now singing that song from “An Affair to Remember.” Picture it… tons of adorable kids singing, “Close your eyes, make a wisssshhhh… and you’re there…”

What does that have to do with this card? Nuttin. But there you have it. I like it. I wasn’t looking forward to it until I started making those party favors. Then I smiled. And life was good. 😉

Stamps: Ippity “Party Hat” and MFT Birthday somethings

Paper: SU Daffodil, Pool, and PTI Melon, Bazzil Basics DP

Ink: Unity’s Noir Pallette

Techniques: Color on Markers (if you count that as a technique) and Fake Paper Quilling. Mmmmwwwaahahaah

 

SC329- Bright Spot in Your Day

I’m in love with this technique… when I see it done well. So, I found THIS CARD in the gallery for this sketch.

AWESOME, right? I keep trying to achieve this level of amazingness, and I keep failing. SOOOOOOOOO

I bought that stamp. I will try again. I will not fail. HA!

Meanwhile, it’s okay. It’s fine. Someone will feel loved. That’s what counts. And I won’t cry too much as I put it in the envelope.

Stamps: Verve “Inspired by Flowers” or something like that. PTI “Big Birthday” set

Paper: PTI White and melon

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Versafine (trying to learn to like it, okay!)

Accessories: nuttin

Techniques: Badly executed spotlight and Colored pencils

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

SC328- Weathered Birthday

Favorite card of the week. Made me happy. Super duper happy. But I learned something. See how those words look all nice and worn–kind of like they got sanded off the card a bit? I did that by barely inking up the stamp. Worked perfect.

Um, the second one has a perfectly crisp image. Why? Because I wasn’t very bright. I didn’t think to wipe off the stamp first. So, second one inked up all that I missed with the first one, and voila. It wasn’t nice and old looking. Oh, well. Not everyone likes things to look half dead like me, sooo I’ll probably give that one away on my blog thing. It’ll work. Meanwhile, I have this one and it makes me smile. I think it’s gonna go to my Dad. Because he’s cool. And it’s cool. And that means they fit. I must be tired–getting nonsensical. Adios.

Stamps: PTI Big Birthday Something

Paper: PTI Smokey Shadow. And other papers. That I like. One from Authentique (bottom layer–maybe the next as well. No clue on top layer)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Unity Pallatte Burnt Umber

Accessories: Coolified nobby thread that Stacy (JBGreendawn) gave me

Techniques: Sewing Machine (kicked myself in the butler and made me go get it out)

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

SC327- Accident Waiting to Happen

Sorry. Hedgehog + Balloon has to eventually equal kablooey. That’s gonna be one sad Hedgie. Just sayin’. Still, he’s cute and he’ll enjoy it while it lasts. I think he’s watched “Up!” one too many times, but what do I know?

Still, he’s cute and he makes me smile. 😀 (<–See… smile.)

Stamps: Penny Black Hedge Hog Party something (too lazy to get up and look)

Paper: PTI White and I think some kind of melon, scraps.

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Versafine, I think. Amuse melonishness

Accessories: Crinkly ribbon. Ain’t it purty?

Techniques: Water pen with marker

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

Card Frenzy & SC326

I’m out of birthday cards.  Totally out.  So, I made a few.  🙂  This is the first.

McDonald’s Birthday.

Okay, so it looks like catsup and mustard dumped on a card. You know, McDonald’s colors. Hence the name. (My editor would kill me for spelling that out like that. I’m not supposed to do that. Tuff. She’s not here. Shhhh….)

So I have zero–count ’em ZERO–birthday cards. All gone. Kaput. So, I decided I’d better get to work. Hence this card. Now I have one. (Except that I actually have 4 thanks to the others I’ve done since then, but at the time of finishing this, it was one, so work with me here.)

Stamps: SU Happiest Birthday Wishes (I think)

Paper: PTI White, PTI Red, scraps

Paper Size: A2

Ink: SU Riding Hood Red

Accessories: marker for fake stitches (because I was too lazy to get out the machine)

Techniques: I call it “get ‘er done.”

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

SC234- What a Flake!

I should have said this one was “challenging” but it really wasn’t. My brain was just “mentally challenged” in trying to make it work. I loved my idea, but no matter what I did, I wasn’t satisfied. I finally added the pink and it really made things better. This is the IDEA of what I wanted it to be, but it’s still just kind of “okay.”

Well, actually, it’s growing on me. It’s not too bad. I’m comparing the card to the picture, and half the trouble is the incandescent lighting rather than the natural light I prefer. But I know if I don’t take the picture now, it’ll be fodder for the garbage in someone else’s house before I ever get it taken, so here she be. Can I just say, I’m REALLY looking forward to the next sketch? I got a great idea and I’m excited to try it! WOOT.

Now where’s that plaid fabric… or maybe burlap… oooh… burlap…

Stamps: Stampin’ Up “A Beautiful Christmas” & ODBD “Peace and Joy”

Paper: Gina K white, SU Midnight, and SU Sage

Paper Size: 5×7

Ink: SU Midnight and Versamark

Accessories: ODBD Snowflake dies, SU pearls, rhinestones, and crocheted flowers. PTI buttons, embossing powder

Techniques: heat embossing and die cutting

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

SC236- Goat Grandpa

This was a RAK from Janice. LOVE this goat. Gonna have to buy him. Every time I get one I like, I end up buying the stamp. It’s the smartest thing ever, that WRAK/RAK thing. Just sayin’.

So, my grandchildren have two sets of grandparents in town. There is my husband and myself. We’re Bestemor and Bestefar (Norwegian for grandma and grandpa). The other grandparents are called “Goat Grandma and Grandpa” by my older grandkids (bestekids… I made that up). They’re called this because they have goats.

I think I’m glad we don’t raise pigs. Just sayin’.

So “Goat Grandpa” is also the pastor of our church. It’s Pastor Appreciation Month. Guess what he’s getting? Mmmwwaaahahahaha.

😀

Stamps: Serendipity Goat

Paper: PTI Spring, WeRMemory Keepers Vintage T

Paper Size: 4.25×5.5

Ink: Not sure… Memento I think

Accessories: Brads, sewing machine, twine, knife

Techniques: Colored pencils

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1