And the Winner Is...

Diane of Diane's Designs--Congrats! Check out Diane's blog when you get a chance. She does great work! (Click on link at right.)

Easy Card!

This card couldn't have been easier! I found the saying in my stash of pre-stamped images, already punched out. When I saw this designer paper in one of my Basic Grey Paper Pads (Lilykate) I cut it to size, made the slit around the goose's beak and mounted it on the green cardstock. Then I edged the oval with green ink, added blue the dots with a marker and slipped the oval into the slit. After adding the brad and lining the envelope, I had a quickie new card!

Does this count as a bird card for the SCS challenge???

Martha Stewart Punch a Hit!

I'm just lovin' this Zig Zag Martha Stewart punch. Not only does it cut, but also embosses.

Here are two cards I made yesterday. The chicks will go to someone for a birthday. Unfortunately, I needed to make the purple one for a sympathy card which will go out today.

Easy peasy...

Great Saves!

Here are two cards that required correcting for various defects. Both cards are done with the Hero Arts Patterned Butterflies (set of 4.)

The orange butterfly card started out with a miss-punched scallop, covered up by one of the butterflies. Then I stamped the greeting on the bottom, not realizing that it said happy "bird-day"--duh... So I covered up the word with a letter B for butterfly!

The blue butterfly card was even more complicated! First, I punched the bottom edge too high above the blue strip on the inside, so I had to attach an extra strip of blue beneath the top flap.

Then, I inked the bottom edge in dark blue, but when I laid it down, the ink was touching the blue underneath and left a faint mark across the bottom. So I got out my sewing stitches stamp and covered that up.

Next, I tied the blue check ribbon around and snipped the ends just right; but when I opened up the card, I discovered the ribbon was twisted on the inside. So I tied a piece of embroidery floss in a bow to make it look intentional. I think it looks better that way actually! (The message inside came out fine, but the scanner made it look uneven.)

Last, but not least, I stamped the word "celebrate" across the front. Can you see where I had to fill in with a pen?

Just goes to show that there are lots of ways to save a card! (BTW, all the blues match better than it looks here.)

A CHALLENGE FOR YOU!

Actually, I could use some help!

Here's the scoop: I just became an instructor for card crafting at my local AC Moore.

Here's what I've come up with so far: for the first class, they'll do "Versatile Versamark" making 3 cards with Versamark ink techniques (shown here.) I plan to do a follow-up class using Versamark again for more advanced techniques.

Here's the problem: since I can only use what they sell in the store (no exceptions!) and students have to pay for materials, the cards have to be kept very simple. This store sells no Stickles, self-stick crystal embellishments or plain white cardstock in bulk (I buy mine at Walmart--obviously a no-no for the class.)

Here's the challenge: create a card appropriate for all levels using simple designs. Keep in mind that I need to keep supplies to a minimum so they can afford the class!

Here's how: post your card on your blog and send me the link in your comment below.

Here's the reward: I will choose a winner at random from all your comments to receive a $10 gift card from AC Moore! I'm going to have one of my Wednesday stamping buddies pick the winning number from all those who respond.

Here's the deadline: Midnight (Eastern time) July 1st

Thanks for your ideas!

For Stampaholics Over 50

For those of you who expressed interest in learning more about Silver Stampers:

Silver Stampers is a wonderful, caring group of card makers from all across the country. I've been a member since 2002 and have made many new friends through the mail as we exchange birthday and holiday (or whatever) cards!

For more information, some card samples of our members and the person to contact should you wish to join, simply click on the Silver Stamper link to the right. You'll be glad you did--if you're "mature" enough, that is!

White on White Challenge

...and a challenge it was! There's still time to join in until June 15th, so click on Stampin' Granny's site (at right) for further details.

For the background, I used my Cuttlebug directly on the card front. Then I dry embossed the flower, added Stickles in the center and mounted it to the card (over the ribbon) with pop dots. For a little bit of bling, I added a clear crystal in the lower right corner.

Enjoy!

Successful Workshop

Last Saturday, Joyce, Lucienne, Ruth and Joan each made six cards using my Cuttlebug machine for some interesting embossed backgrounds. After proudly displaying their creations for the camera, Joan took another picture with me in it.

It was a good way to spend a hot and humid afternoon with air conditioning and lots of iced tea!

I've Been Tagged--Again!

At first I thought this was a "duplicate" tag, but the questions are slightly different. Here goes:

1. Ten years ago I was a star on Broadway and had my own TV show (gotcha!) Actually, I did do some Broadway tunes with an accompanist at local nursing homes for several years on a volunteer basis.

2. Five things on my "to do list": clean house in the morning before it gets too hot (there's a severe heat/humidity warning for tomorrow and Tuesday); go to Bible study on Tuesday morning; stamp here with friends on Wed.; visit my sister and parents on Long Island Thursday through Saturday this week; and plan a nice Fathers Day celebration for my husband.

3. My favorite snacks are (top 3 from a list of hundreds!): ice cream, cookies, and of course, chocolate!

4. If I were a millionaire, I wouldn't do anything differently than I do now except that I would enjoy having more to share!

5. Places I've lived: I grew up on the north shore of Long Island and married someone from the south shore. When our son was 2, we moved to Hawthorne, New Jersey. From there, we inched our way west all the way to northwestern New Jersey, where we are now--we were originally aiming for Montana!

For more on our adventures here in our little corner of New Jersey, check out my blog (at right) for Fox Mountain.

Now it's your turn! Here are the five bloggers (at right) I've tagged:

Toni at Inky Fingers
Amy G
Diane's Designs
Rochelle
Vivlyn Designs

Please post the answers to these 5 questions on your blogs so we can all get to know you better! Then choose 5 others to do the same! Meanwhile, the rest of us can click on the list at right to visit your blogs. TFS!

On the Subject of Smudges

The question came up on SCS about what to do with a smudge, otherwise known as a "creative opportunity." Can you find it on this card? (Click to enlarge.)

Somehow, I managed to get a tiny splotch of red ink in the upper left corner, so I stamped "What's New?" over it; but that wasn't enough. To balance it out and make it look "intentional" I got out my matching red marker and added dots around the tree and on the ends of the blossoms. Then I took the red ink pad and added a few more smudges on the edges--I think it's done now!

Monogram Card

Here's another example of correcting a minor flaw. By adding 3 dots at the end of the line, it's now centered under the monogram. That one was easy...

Stamping Suspended

For the past week or so, we've had painters in the kitchen and family room. Everything was piled up in the dining room while they worked, and now it is my intention to put back only the things we really need and use. While I take this opportunity to de-clutter the downstairs, there is little time (or energy!) to do any stamping.

However, Rick and I will be taking time to celebrate our 41st anniversary tonight over dinner at a local steakhouse.

See you back here in a few days!

Birthday Butterfly

Here's a card that was fun to make, complete with matching envelope and bookmark. The stamp I used was from Stampin' Up years ago and still in my stash. I cut off the antennae from the image and replaced it with purple wire. The wings are painted with Twinkling H2O's to give them a shimmer. The dp is from Michael's and is what I used for the coordinating envelope, using The Enveloper. I also used a strip on the bookmark mounted on purple cardstock with another piece of the yellow ribbon.

Not bad for someone who got konked on the head last week... (See previous post.)

First Card Since I Got Back

Things have been interesting around here since I got home. Monday night (after a 9 hour flight home) I got vertigo, went to bed at 7:30 and woke up an hour later on the floor--don't know how I got there. I was bleeding from a gash on the back of my head and throwing up. My DH came running upstairs to see what had happened and figured I hit my head on the corner of the night table on my way to the floor. What a mess! Being an Eagle Scout, he knew just what to do, cleaned me up and tucked me back in. After 2 days and nights of almost no sleep and feeling awful, I finally started to perk up on Thursday and even went grocery shopping. I know stamping withdrawal can be severe, but this was definitely over the top!

Finally, on Thursday afternoon I finished up this card I had started before I left. Now that I'm feeling almost normal (whatever that is!) there will be more cards to follow...

OWL Be Seeing You...

...when I get back from my trip to Prague. (For updates during my trip, check out the Fox Mtn. link to the right.) Meanwhile, here's another card I made using my new Hero Arts owl and branch stamps. The colors used give it a masculine look. It's still blank inside, so I may use it for Father's Day!

Thanks to Kristina Werner

Here is my CASE of the card that Kristina posted on her blog (noted below.) If you haven't visited her site yet, don't wait another day--she has such great ideas, and her videos for Make-a-Card-Monday are terrific!

My version of her MACM for today is a 4" square with matching envelope.

For the flower on the front, I used Versamark ink and chalk. For the one on the tag, I used markers directly on the stamp (Barely Banana and Really Rust) and spritzed the stamp with water for a water-color effect.

Thank you Kristina for your great design! (Check out her video at www.kwernerdesign.com/blog.)

Colorful Coffee Cups

Here's a card I made today with one of my new stamps from the Show in Allentown. I used lacquer on the cups to make them pop, but next time I think it would be better to emboss the image in black first. The colors are fun, though!

Judith Would Be Proud (I hope!)

At the Stamp Show yesterday, I purchased a DVD at Stamps By Judith. She's the lady who was seen many times on the Carol Duvall Show with her little peg stamps and huge talent. We got to meet her in person and watch her create at her booth. One of my purchases there was her 2-hour DVD. This card is the result!

In addition to stamping techniques, she stresses several ways to enhance stamped artwork, such as using a light gray marker to make the image pop. Another is the use of a stamp with little dots to fill in some of the open areas around an image. Both are shown here, though faintly. (Click to enlarge.)

I'm really enjoying her DVD and hope to incorporate more of her tips in future projects!

Stamps by TAC (which would NOT make Judith proud...)

ALLENTOWN STAMP SHOW

I just got in from the Stamp Show in Pennsylvania where Joan, Evelyn, Mary and I spent almost the whole day and spent our whole budget too (and then some!) My feet are killing me, but it was worth it. I got lots of new paper, a few new stamps, and tons of new ideas.

The Paper Cut had a make-and-take using their acetate and cardstock. The deer on this card is actually a photo that was printed on the acetate and mounted between black and tan cardstocks. I stamped the quote with gold metallic ink and assembled with brads and double-stick tape. Easy!

Last of the Dark Cardstocks...

...now that Spring is here! I just ordered assorted packets of cardstock from SU with lots of pastels and look forward to using them for flower themed cards over the next few months.






Meanwhile, I used the last few dark green cards with flowers as a hint of what's to come.






First, there's another fern card from the preparations for my workshop. I like the way it came out, but thought it may have too many steps for a class. (See posts below.)

The rose card was done with 2 stamps I bought used from a Silver Stamper friend, and I just love them both. The rose leaves look very realistic, and I anticipate using them often. I sponged the edges of the white cardstock to soften it. The rose was done with watercolor crayons directly on the stamp, then a spritz of water to give it a watercolor look. The crystal center added a little bling. I'll use the card to thank my friend for making such a nice pair of stamps available.