Ready-for-anything Card/Scrap Drawer #9

This card was made entirely from scraps on my table!

Spinner Grad Card

This card has everything: spinner on the outside and pop-up on the inside!

Thanks to the tutorial on SCS, this spinner card was easy and fun to do.

And yes, it IS addictive!

Another Grad Card

These shaker card kits sure do make it easy! First I stamped the Bible verse, then used my peg stamps to create a square frame for the inside of the shaker. I then colored some clear beads pink, added some green chunky glitter and placed the mixture into the shaker before sealing it.

After securing the unit behind the white overlay, I stamped the Fifth Ave. Rose below and edged the square with braided embroidery floss. I then attached the finished unit to the dark berry cardstock with SU dimensionals--done!

This is a graduation card for a friend to give and will have an appropriate sentiment for the inside. The word must be out that I have TIME ON MY HANDS!

Note: To color beads, just scribble with a marker onto the lid of a small container, add beads and shake them until coated. After they dry, clean out the container with a tissue and save for the next time.

One Layer Challenge

Susan, from Simplicity, has issued a challenge using only one layer. At first, it sounds easy; that is, until you try it!

I finally came up with this one.

Thanks for the challenge, Susan. You took me out of my comfort zone--or should I say sweet spot!

TIME ON MY HANDS!

My friend, Jackie, coined this phrase which aptly describes my situation while recovering from Shingles. Keep checking in because I'll be posting tons of cards to pass the time!

This card draws inspiration from the background paper given to me as part of a gift from Linda of my Mothers Class. The fern was stamped and cut out, which uses up some time, then applied to the cardfront with a glue pen. The sun rays above the greeting were cut out from another piece of dsp from Linda, more time used up, and tucked beneath the Nestie Ribbon Tag.

Having Shingles brings new meaning to the term "Time to stamp!"

FABULOUS FRIEND

Here's a birthday card I made for a friend using scraps I had on hand. Even the butterflies were left over from a previous project.


The color combination is unusual, but I like it for this one.






The self-adhesive paper ribbon ( brand-name KARS) is from a package I picked up at the stamp show last month.

The layout I came up with just sort of "evolved" as I went along. Seems better than the usual rectangular layers. I found that the use of threes helps balance a card. Here are 3 colors of cardstock, three main images (rose, large butterfly, scalloped oval) and 3 embellishments (button, brown gems and small foil butterfly.) Even the inside includes three butterflies, with lots of blank space left to write a note--yet another "three" (butterflies, greeting and note.)

Try experimenting with colors and shapes on your next card and see what you come up with!

ACETATE SMASH

Just had to try this technique! (It's really called "Acrylic Smash" but I used metallics instead.) Using 3 metallic paint dabbers: silver, gold and pearl, I came up with these two cards.

For the Fifth Ave. Rose, I used just the gold and pearl colors, smushing them (that's a technical stamping term) between the acetate and white cs beneath. Once satisfied with the amount and blend of colors, I stamped the image with black Staz-On ink, mounted it behind the square window overlay and attached it to a Soft Suede card. After the leaves were punched from a piece of scrap dsp, I also cut a thin strip of it to place along the bottom third of the card. The butterflies were cut out with the Embosslits Beautiful Wings die. Finally, black mini-gems were added for the butterfly "bodies." (Click for further details, click again to magnify a smaller spot.)

The second card was even easier. After smushing all three colors of dabber between the acetate and white cs, I stamped the sunflower with Staz-On ink, mounted them behind the white scalloped circle overlay, added the greeting stamped with Chestnut Roan chalk ink and the Hero Arts flower with a gold brad, and mounted it on some metallic brown cs. Then I attached it to the front of the Kraft card with SU dimensionals. The inside greeting reads "A day filled with blessings."

Acetate Smashing is fun--try it! (Third entry for today, so scroll down for more.)
For a video tutorial, look HERE.

3-D Stamping

This card was inspired by Beate Johns' card HERE (May 16 post) and is very easy to do: Simply stamp an image in white ink and then re-stamp over it in the darker ink, positioning it slightly off to create the shadow effect. While some like to use a stamp positioner (such as Stampamajig) I find it just as easy to eyeball it. Although not necessary, I also used some clear embossing powder to "pop" the image.

For this monochromatic card, I used Soft Suede for the base. The white cardstock was distressed on the edges with a distress tool, then inked on the edges with Versamark Sahara Sand. The top image was "framed" with a metallic brown paper then mounted on the angled white cardstock with dimensionals after adding the sheer ribbon.

Enjoy!

Grad Card

When a friend asked me to make a card for her grandson's high school graduation, this is what I came up with. Since I had no graduation stamps per se, I had to be a little more creative with a wise owl and a tassel with the year hanging from it.

The inside is a quote from Jeremiah: "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I hope he likes it!

Stamp: Hero Arts
Cardstock: white, red, metallic gray, black, silver
Alphabet: Making Memories, black and silver
Tools: Cuttlebug, SU Word Window punch
Accessories: Clear EP, embroidery floss

PRAGUE TRIP POSTPONED

UPDATE: We certainly made the right decision in postponing our trip. Although I have very few pox (so far) the pain is starting to increase. It's a good thing I have a "tower" full of stamping supplies!


Sadly, we've had to delay our trip because I suddenly came down with what my doctor thinks is Shingles--ugh! Today was spent canceling tickets and rearranging our travel schedule.

Although I'm disappointed, I rest in the knowledge that God knows what He's doing and has a reason for this happening now.

Meanwhile, I'll be dealing with increasing symptoms over the next few weeks. I'm just glad this is not a fatal or debilitating disease, and I have a good doctor who prescribed some medication to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Please keep me in your prayers.

I LOOKED IN MY CLOSET, AND WHAT DID I SEE?

...MISS JENNY ON MY PAPER RACK WAITING FOR ME!
(sound asleep)

FOR MY GRANDSON

Since my grandson is as disappointed as we are that our trip had to be postponed (see previous post) I came up with this card to send him. October is a long way off, but with the summer to enjoy in the meantime, it will go fast.

First, I stamped the image on white twice. After coloring the face and the scales on his back (how appropriate from someone with shingles!) for the bottom layer, I then cut out the second image and ran it through the Cuttlebug reversed in the Swiss Dots folder. I colored the image with SU markers, mounted it over the first image with SU dimensionals, and then bent back the scales to give it some more dimension (not to be confused with dementia!)

For added tactile interest, I used some black mini-gems for the eyes and a flower brad in the lower right corner. I also distressed the edges of the cloud with my fingernail and attached it with another dimensional.

The inside sentiment reads "Rawr means I love you." After writing a note, it will be on its way to Prague to cheer a disappointed little boy.

(Click once to enlarge, then click again to zero in on a special spot.)

HEADING FOR PRAGUE!

Classes have finished, and now it's time to see my daughter and her family--I can't wait! British Air is on strike, but they've assured us that we will be able to get to Prague as planned. Getting back might be another story, but it's worth the hassle.

News Flash: For my last class of this school year, I've been invited to Owen's preschool in Prague to show them how to stamp and make cards! It's scheduled for the day we arrive, which should be interesting since I will have had little (if any) sleep. His class is 13 six-year olds. Here's the card I came up with for them to color, punch and paste.

It's been seven months since our last visit, and I'm looking forward to seeing how much the boys have grown. Elliot is already 15 months and just started walking, so he'll be less of a baby and more of a toddler--a big change from when we were there in Oct.

Tomorrow we'll be shopping for all the items on Laura's list of things to bring, then trying to get everything packed in only one suitcase each. Just in case our luggage gets lost in transit, I'm packing as much of my clothing as possible in my carry-on bag. It's a good thing I'm used to traveling light!

Here's a tip: when I pack, everything gets rolled instead of folded. This takes up a lot less space and avoids wrinkles. Whatever I think I'll need for the first couple of days goes in the carry-on bag JUST IN CASE! I can always wash underwear and tee shirts there if necessary, especially since we'll have access to a washer and dryer at our daughter's flat. I wear my sweater, jacket and walking shoes (I can un-layer once on the plane, if it's too hot) and pack a pair of sandals which also double as slippers. (When we go for Christmas, I pack an extra suitcase with all the gifts, then nest the two suitcases for the return trip.)

Feminine and Masculine

Here are two cards made from the same "recipe" I found on a lovely blog, "Stamped By Hand," Wed. May 5th post, fourth card down, "Thanks for all that you do."

Isn't it amazing how two cards done with the same sketch can look so different?

Stop by Joanne's blog HERE and check out her other designs--she does beautiful work!

FATHERS DAY CARD

Magic Cards are a tough act to follow, but this Shadow Box Card turned out great! I know my dad will love it.

I ran into several challenges with this one. First, the image was not easy to color. Since most tools look alike (wooden or red handles, metal ends and similar shapes) it was hard to color them so that they didn't all look the same.

The next challenge was with the letters on the right side. First they had to be colored, and I succeeded in making them appear to be wood-grained. When I started to apply them to the card front, however, I realized that the self-stick edges over the opening would present a problem when the card was closed for mailing. After some consideration, the idea came to me: stick them onto acetate, trim them closely and then apply Scor-tape only to the parts that were on the card itself. Pretty smart, doncha think???

The final challenge was in photographing it without the image being darkened by a shadow. I could have used my flash, but it might have washed out the interior colors, already pale.

The rest was easy-- I glued the woodgrain dsp onto the cardstock before using the oval Nestie. I had the Phillips-head brads and twine in my stash for added effect. "Love you much" was just the right sentiment, too.

All that's left is to add a note on the back and send it off when it's time!