TEAPOT TUESDAY - David Pearce - MMTPT246

This week's card is off to Perryville MO for David Pearce. David is an avid golfer and a Miami Hurricanes fan. After two years of battling cancer, the doctor's have now diagnosed the horrid disease in his brain. To read more about David, check out the teapotter LINK

My husband, Bob also enjoys golf though he doesn't get to hit the course as often as he would like. So I had the digi image of a golf bag and clubs from a card I did a couple of years ago.

I deconstructed the image and paper-pieced it back together in David's favorite color combination.

 

I used SU Garden Green as my base, accented with Pumpkin Pie DP and Wild Wasabi. The clubs are cut from Basic Gray. I used Wild Wasabi green to represent the green and Daffodil Delight marks the 18th hole.
The FORE on the front is stamped with EK Success letters. The inside sentiment is from the SU Thoughts & Prayers

I hope this card brings a smile to David.

Magazine Monday - Halloween

I seem to be in a Halloween  mood lately. I found several cards of inspiration in the Fall 2011 issue of Paper Creations. I’ll be sharing my take on them over the next few weeks.

Today’s card was inspired by Trick or Treat by Jenny Gropp. (pg 62) Jenny chose to use a 5” square card. She matted a striped patterned paper in gray/ white/orange/ black print against a black mat. She used a white pen to create a running stitch line around the edge of the black mat to ‘enhance’ the frame effect.

Here layered ‘diamonds’ in an orange plaid and a gray print were matted on black. She then ‘top stitched’ the prints with a black pen.  She used the same prints to stamp Trick or Treat tabs.

Her shoes image (Outlines Rubber Stamps) was stamped on white CS, matted on a the orange plaid then again on black. She anchored everything with a black/ orange plaid ribbon.

I like working with what I have. I just bought these shoes as part of a Studio G Halloween stamp set. The set also included a hat and a crow. I stamped the shoes on white CS with Memento Black then colored in the stripes with LePlume yellow-green. The Trick or Treat is part of a 4-pack $1 from Micheals.

My background mat is from All My Memories. The other papers were all from a misc. slab I bought at Michaels years ago. The green and purple CS are from ValuCS packs. I used an EK Success corner punch for my mat. The ribbon is one of the new ribbons from Studio G Halloween collection. I cut it in half lengthwise to make it more narrow.

The only thing I wished I’d done differently was to mat the striped paper against black CS to help pick up the black mat in the center.

Next Monday… Spiders pay us a visit and I’ve used one of the embossing folders I picked up at convention.

Creative Blessings!

Magazine Monday!

Happy Monday, everyone!

My in-laws left this morning after a weeklong visit that included a short road trip to meet up with our daughter and her family. The gathering brought four generations together for an overnight stay in Paducah, providing lots of time for just visiting and letting ‘Grandma Great’ and Grandpa Dick spend sometime with two little ones they don’t get to see as much as they do the other grand and great grand kids. This was the first time they got to see Abby (born last Oct.) and meet our daughter’s fiancée. It was a good time, but I’m happy to be back to work.

Today’s Magazine Monday card comes from the 2007 issue of Rubber Stamps. Anna Justice created a graduation card using CTMH and The Stamping Studio products. She revisited the technique of stamping an all-over image on solid cardstock to create our own DP. She used Congratulations in various fonts to make a graduation card.

My pic didn't turn out very good today. I had to shoot it inside because the wind is blowing like crazy! I think one of my next projects is a photo box. For now, let's see how this card came to be.

I seem to be in the Halloween spirit these days. LOL I think I’m just ready for fall. I chose SU Elegant Eggplant and Pumpkin Pie. I stamped the moon/ stars image from the SU Halloween backgrounds set all over the Pumpkin Pie in Elegant Eggplant. I was afraid the image wouldn’t stand out well if I did the tone on tone so I stamped the witch and ‘wicked’ with LePlume Black on the Elegant Eggplant background. Rather than stamp the entire Best Witches image, I inked the ‘witches’ part (not inking the ‘best’) of the stamp and ‘centered’ it on the mat then stamped the witch below it.

The ribbon is a newbie I picked up at Hobby Lobby last weekend. It’s not a ‘stiff’ ribbon, but it’s isn’t light weight flimsy either. It was easy to run the Tombo across and would have fed into the Xyron very easily. I raided my Halloween embellishment tub for fibers and the embellishment drawer for buttons and brads.

Best Witches!

Recycle Wednesday

Yeahhhh

Adrian is out helping grandpa with the boat so I can sneak in here for a couple of minutes and show you my latest recycle project.

My last swap of the year (as of right now anyway hehe ) was a Altered Container/ contents Swap. We were instructed to alter a container and then fill it with contents that matched the theme of our alter. I chose May Baskets for my theme since we were mailing them out by April 1st.

I started with a Nestle Quick container. I have 3 of these every 2 months as I use it as the base for my cappuccino mix. When I'd finished wrapping it with a basket-weave patterned paper, this is what I wound up with:

I used 2 pieces of cardstock glued together then wrapped in the same basket-weave paper to make the handle and attached it with gold brads. Because of the rim of the container, I couldn't use the Crop A Dile so I used my wood burning tool to make the holes.

I signed up for this swap towards the end of last year so I've spent evenings in front of the TV making all different kinds of flowers. I used Embroidery Floss to crochet all white ones and variegated colored 5-petal flowers. My EK Success Daisy Punch is one of my favorite flower punches to work with and I made a bunch of these. Some had buttons for centers while I used bling for others. I added bright yellow silk daisies, made 2-layered flowers with brad centers from silk petals (box of about 800 in the wedding dept.) There are also some Studio G paper flowers layered in different combinations and centers. As a final flower touch, I added flower brads and eyelets. Aside from different types of flowers I also made Lady Bugs in 2 sizes and added birds and butterflies from K & Co.

Here's a shot of the basket with the contents spread out:

I had a blast coming up with the different flower combinations and sharing these embellishments with others I know who can put them to use. However, with the summer garden, freelance writing and still wanting creative time this is my last swap for awhile. I have plenty to play with.

Cya Monday! Creative Blessings

Magazine Monday

Draggin' in here late with my Monday post. I've had the card done since last week but today has been crazy. When not working in my studio, I'm also a freelance writer and for the next two weeks I'm connecting with Texas musicians. Today, I just got lost in some pretty intense eyes and awesome voice. hehe

Today's card is a take on a card by Carolyn King. I found the card as part of her collection of coffee/tea themed cards in the February 2008 issue of Crafts n Things magazine (pg118-119).

For this card, Carolyn rounded the corners of the base and all the mats except the sentiment mat in the bottom right corner. She used SU cardstocks beginning with a Chocolate Chip base. She then added a layer of Old Olive topped with a layer of Whisper White. From there she divided the card in three horizontal areas. The top 1/4th is a mat of drown designer series paper. The bottom 1/3rd was a striped soft green desig

ner paper. To bring the 2 sections together, she created a band by layering a floral dp on chocolate chip, using it as a wide ribbon. She then centered a Chocolate Chip scalloped circle, matted with Old Olive then a coordinating DP circle. In the center of the circle she matted her stamped image on square mats.

I chose to flip things a bit, using items from the swap kit.

I turned everything vertical and eliminated the multiple layers. Everything except the sentiment (Studio G) came from the kit. The cup is from SU Morning Cup.

I'll try to get my behind out of bed earlier in the morning and have the Teapot Tuesday card posted at the beginning of the day.

Magazine Monday

Good afternoon!

The weather here today was gorgeous, so instead of going down into the 'dungeon' studio, I got outside. When I did come back in to play, I found two challenges which I could use on today's Magazine Monday.

1) I knew I wanted to use one of the images from Sandie Huggett over at The Outlawz Creative Freebie Challenge. I never seem to get my cards in over there in time. I'm surprised they still let me play.

2) S2S12C - The Stamp 2 Spend Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers - Use our favorite pizza as inspiration - and make it round. I'm a garbage pizza person. You'll notice I've picked up the green pepper colors in her socks, Italian sausage on in her shoes color and her dress the color of warm tomato sauce swirled with melted Mozzarella. Her hair also brings in the extra cheese.

3) While cruising for a magazine with an inspiration card, I found a dreams card in the February 2012 issue of Crafts n Things magazine. It is a design by Sue Czosek. Sue was inspired by a design of a Borders gift card holder. She used it and a sheet of newsprint to create a beautiful round card. Sue's card was a 5.5" circle. I used a 4.5" circle and then a 4" oval mat.

4) And lastly, since Valentine's Day is approaching, I might need one or two more cards to share so I went with the heart theme. Where I have used hearts (Sizzix Sizzlet), Sue punched flowers from news print and inked them to coordinate with her color scheme.

On Sandie's original image, there was a halo above the faerie an where I have the puffy hearts going off to the side off of her hand, they were actually a print part of the image. I chose to cut them away to give a cleaner cut to the main image then added the puffy hearts in their place.

I used SU Real Red CS and DP (inside covers), My Minds Eye Candy Stripe and DCWV - sentiment The image was colored with Derwent watercolor pencils. I added EK Succss puffy heart stickers.

I love how she turned out and I hope you do to.

Magazine Monday

It appears as if we're to have a beautiful day in the Ozarks. When I get days like this it motivates me to try and conquer the world. We'll see how I do.

For today's card, I have the remake of the card gone bad I had attempted for last week. The card was inspired by 'Funky Birthday' in a 2005 issue of Stamp It! I tried to locate the artist, Julie Medeiros without success.

I stuck with her layout but changed the theme and colors. She had chosen Olive green for her base, deep red for her ribbon strip and the base of the sentiment. Her sentiment was stamped on sky blue and it was used for the base mats on the images. Julie used the present, party hat and cake from Let's Party (retired SU) and stamped everything in a blue dye ink by Hero Arts. The alphabet blocks to spell Happy Birthday were also Hero Arts.

I needed a Valentine card. Initially, I had used the 4x5.5 and the 3 mats, no matter how small I cut them, made the card look crowded. I did not like it at all. So I set it aside and found a new card for last week. But I knew if I played with it, I'd figure it out. When I switched it up to a 5.5x6, it became less cluttered. Though I think it still looks elementary, I'm positive my granddaughter will be thrilled to get mail... especially if I stick a sucker inside :-)

The heart explosion for the background and the heart image on the far left are from Doodles By Design. The other heart is from an old Valentine foam set I've had for years - you know, back when you bought stamps before more refined options came along. The sentiment is my Katie & Co. I'm still trying to use up my ValuCS so I can use those two file drawers for something else. I used Primary Red and Baby Pink. Everything is stamped in SU Real Red.

I'm proud of myself for not trashing the original but instead, making it work. Here's to a great creative week!

Friday Frenzy!

Friday Frenzy can be anything from a current project I'm working on to a Challenge(s) card.

Today I'm showcasing a Challenge card for The OutLawz Creative Freebie challenge. The ballerina figurine under glass was created by Sandi Huggett. This was such a pretty image to work with. I want to mess with it again at some point and try for some dimension with the globe.

I printed the image out on GP white and rounded the corners to complement the globe. I used Derwent watercolor pencils for the image. For the top of the wooden base, I didn't add any extra color, just the 'wash' that was left on the end of my water brush.

I used SU Concord Crush matted against a SU Lavender Lace (retired) base. The letter stamps are Antique Alphabet by EK Success. Two Lavender brads help draw the image out of the globe. Dance and girly must have some frill so I chose this feather fiber in the darker purple.

I've already downloaded the 2 new freebie images from Sandi for the next challenge round. They are Valentine themed. I'm looking forward to working with them.

Blessings for a Great Weekend!

Magazine Monday

Yep, running a little late.... okay... by several hours late. But with good reason.

I'm usually 'one of those' who can look at a design and know exactly what I want to do... and have it work the first time around. This week, when I needed it to, was not the case.

I went to my magazines for inspiration last night and found a layout I thought would work. It was a cute and simple card. So I set to work putting it together. I hated it. Yep, I couldn't bring myself to even photograph it, let alone post it to the blog. So I called it a night.

This morning began Bob's last day home before he leaves for 3 weeks. Try as I might, we just can't seem to NOT have to go anywhere on his last day. It always means last-minute errands. So before I could go back to the card, we had to leave the house for the day.

As soon as we got home (about 2 hours ago) I headed back down to the studio, put last night's card aside and pulled out a new magazine for inspiration. The very first card I spotted was the one I knew I wanted to do and it came together in 10 minutes.

I went back to the Spring 2006 issue of Take Ten and found a card called Solo Shoe by artist Clintine Steele. You can see her on FB at Bean Up The Nose Art.

Clintine's card was a 4.75 x 6.5 laying horizontal. She used a black and grey polka dot pattern on white paper, edged with black on the top and bottom as her base. Across the center she put 2 red squares and one black one as the second layer. Then the solo shoe image went on a white rectangle, stamped in black. She colored the bow on the shoe in red and used a black pen to apply a dot border around the edge of the mat. A very basic and elegant card.

To create my version, I flipped mine vertical, used SU black CS for the first mat and a scrap of pink dot patterned paper for the 2nd mat. My center mat squares were from a red oriental patterned scrap and SU black CS. I stamped one of the heart images from the new Hero Arts 'Untitled Hearts' stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black on baby pink Valu CS (I'm trying to use it up and get it out of here). I added a black satin bow. I wanted something a little lighter but the satin was all I had.

I like the way this one turned out though I think next time I'll use a slightly smaller image so more of the black mat square will show at the top and bottom.

Tea Pot Tuesday

It was nice to go down to the studio before the sunrise this morning and work. I'd love to spend the whole day there but panic calls from my daughter have begun so who knows how long I have.

For now, I have a card for Chip. Chip has had some serious foot issues resulting in adjustments to his life and passions. You can read Chip's story HERE .

One thing Chip does enjoy is fishing. So I created a small lake with a 'no limit' option. Chip can relax and enjoy a long day of drowning worms.

I used the masking technique to create a bank and lake full of fish. I chose the pine tree background from Noble Deer (retired SU), LePlume markers in green tones. The sky and lake colors were created using SU chalks. Those little fish swimming just below the surface are actually small fish buttons from Jesse James themed buttons. It looks like Chip's already snagged a big fish (Mike's $1). I used an actual fishing hook and line.

Here's wishing Chip a speedy and full recovery so he's home with his family soon!

Creative Blessings

Kelly

Magazine Monday

This week’s card covers Magazine Monday and the September challenge from the Paper Bloggers Unite! Thread at SU.

I chose Elizabeth Allen’s card from Crafts n Things Oct. 2009. You can see another of her cards at Penny Black. I also hope you’ll take time to check out their website and browse their catalog. I liked Elizabeth’s LO, though I did eliminate 1 layer from hers to create mine. Where I have black stickles, she used black brads.

I used SU Very Vanilla and Old Olive and ValuCS Orange. The SU Seasons of Thanks images were stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa. Back to watercoloring with Derwent watercolor pencils and Crayola colored pencils. I used a rich chocolate velvet ribbon for some texture.

I'm still waiting on the call from my daughter. So as of now, we'll cross fingers I get to make the Teapot Tuesday post tomorrow. :-)

Creative Blessings!

Magazine Monday - Storm Delay

Yep. Remember that 103 degrees I was battling last week. This week I get storms - and I'm to have 15 people here for a backyard cookout this afternoon. The sky doesn't look any more promising today than it did yesterday.

Anyway... here's the card I had ready to post before the thunder rolled. Last Tuesday I took my weekly stroll through the neighborhood quilt shop and found some fabrics I knew would go great with a 'new' set of stamps I'd recently purchased from a friend on SCS.

About ten years ago (man, has it really been that long since my first swap?!) I was introduced to FRAZZLES. What are 'frazzles'? Well, unlike my nerves at times, they are strips of cotton fabric, frayed on at least 2 sides, usually all four. You cut your fabric to size then begin stripping the threads away one by one until you have the desired width of 'fray' aka FRAZZLED.

This week's inspiration came from designer Rhonda Palmer. Her 'Pastel Daisies Thank You' in the Spring 2006 issue of Paper Creations Magazine gave me the idea to use the frazzles.

Rhonda chose Green Daisy, Blue Daisy and Petal Pink Daisy DP from Scissor Sisters. Her image is matted on Yellow Daisy. She accented with a 3/8" black check grosgrain ribbon and a 3/8" green button.

I used a 5x6.5 So Saffron base. My sunflower fabric was cut to a 2" width then frayed on all four sides to about 1/8" width. My image is from Simple Flowers (SU) and matted on Certainly Celery. I inked only the flower and stems on the mat. The sunflower centers are inked with Black Glaze for a bit of dimension. Then I cut the vase from a pale blue vellum and layered it over to give the water-filled vase effect. Thinking Of You is from Three Little Words (SU) and I accented with 3 green brads.

With all the wonderful fabrics SU has come out with recently, here's one more way for you to combine the fabrics and their coordinating images.

Don't let it FRAZZLE you!

Magazine Monday!

It's a Boy!

I also took the baby boy card for the BOY category of the Welcome Baby Swap from the 2005 StampIt!

Designer Bonnie Lotz did a beautiful card using a variety of materials and techniques. For the card base, she used a Navy blue matted with white CS. From the sketch below you’ll also see she used stitching, buttons and two different styles of ways to showcase the words WELCOME and BABY.

I took the design a bit simpler and utilized what I had on hand. I didn’t have a large enough handprint so I substituted the pair of foot prints from StampCraft. The letters are from EK Success. I used Bordering Blue CS with Bashful Blue ink. The blue DP is from a misc. slab.

The neat thing with doing swaps is you send out 4 alike and you get 4 different ones back, making for a nice ‘All Occasion’ set always on hand.

Next week – the Neutral card, using up the last of my Barely Banana CS.

Creative Blessings!

Magazine Monday!

This week we're going to visit Crafts n Things Magazine

I'm in a swap at SplitcoastStampers to create Valentines for the children at Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock Arkansas. I have the most adorable stamp set from Stampin Up called Greeting Card Kids. I've combined it with some $1 stamps from Michaels and HEARTS stickers from EK Success . The CASEd pic (removed for copyright purposes) is from February 2008 Crafts n Things Magazine.

In making these cards for kids, I've modified it a bit but the basic sketch is there. I used ValuCardstock in Baby Girl and Seaside collections. The stripe through the center is from ThePaperStudio. I stamped my own DP on the Baby Girl CS using a $1 stamp and SU Regal Rose. Both the little girl and the sentiment are matted on the SeaSide mint green. After coloring with Memory Maker pencils, I added a puffy heart sticker to her hand and smaller ones as an accent.

I made 5 of these for Ronald McDonald House - Little Rock AR. I have 5 I'm doing with the little boy from this same set. I used the school boy but eliminated the bundle of books from the image and placed a heart in that hand. I'm using Blue tones of the CS. I've also created this same layout in Lavender using a bear image. He appears to be drifting through the sky with a bundle of heart shaped balloons. Hopefully 15 children will like what I've created for them and make them smile when there are days they just don't feel like it.

So, What's in your Magazine?

Creative Blessings!