Sunday, June 27, 2010

Jeannie’s Last Chance Workshop

My dear friend Jeannie hosted a workshop to give friends a last chance to buy some retiring sets before they go away the end of this month.  I used flowers and sentiment out of retiring True Friends and Crushed Curry cardstock to make the first make and take, with a technique I thought was new to everyone – Black Magic, so called because it is a magic way to color on black cardstock after stamping an image with Whisper White craft ink.  Here’s what we made.  As always, click on the pic to enlarge it.

True Friend Black Magic

Wendybell did a great video tutorial on this technique here.  She used the Kind and Caring Thoughts hostess set and I CASE’d her card for a sample using True Friends.

True Friend Black Magic 3

I also made some samples using Kind and Caring Thoughts.  I really like this technique.  It works well with any mostly-solid image using watercolor pencils.  On these, I used the white Signo gel pen, but for the True Friends flowers, the white dots were from the white craft ink.  I used the scalloped trim border punch on all of these.

   Kind & Caring Black Magic Kind & Caring BM 2

Here’s two samples using the gingko out of the Kind and Caring Thoughts set.

Kind and caring gingkoKind & Caring Black Magic gingko

The second one was spritzed with the new Smooch Spritz spray.  We used it on the black magic make and take, to mixed results.  The jury is still out on that one!

I learned Black Magic long ago when one had to use SU’s retired Pure Color Pencils or Prismacolors.  I made these then with the now long retired Fabulous Flowers and Pure Color Pencils.

Black Magic Fab Flowers

Black Magic has made a comeback because it’s much easier now using watercolor pencils.

Our second make and take uses the Motorcycle out of the Summer Mini catty and retiring Dusty Durango cardstock and marker.  The diamond plate layer used an argyle embossing folder and aluminum foil.  I first tried this technique on Russel’s birthday card last August (you can find it in my archives).  My Aussie friend Tracy found an easier way to do the foil embossing and did a picture tutorial here.  That’s the way we did it yesterday.  The sentiment is from the retiring One of a Kind set.  Makes a great guy card!

Motorcycle 2

Totally CASE’d these thank you’s from Dawn here.  I love the new Elements of Style set and so glad it will be in main catty after its debut in Summer mini.  Once I had a bunch of thank you notes made, I needed something to put them in.  I knew there was a great tutorial on how to make these little totes here on Splitcoaststampers.com, so I made a couple.  Gave the Bermuda Bay set to Jeannie as a hostess gift.

Elements of Style Thank yous

This was a little post-it note pad I gave away as a drawing.  This is another of Dawn’s video you can find here.  Can ya’ll tell I spend a lot of time with Dawn!

Charming Note pad

Last, but not least, here’s an easel card I actually managed to give away in another drawing.  Rose is a Rose is another set that is retiring, but I will never sell it because it is perfect for fussy cutting and 3-D layers.  This is a card I started so long ago, I forget where I got the idea, but it uses Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette which are both coming back (wahoooo) and I had stamped and cut out these roses long ago in those  colors.  Dawn did a video on easel cards here.   Hers is newer and uses the scalloped trim border and corner punches, something I hope to demo at Pam’s workshop in July.

Rose is a Rose Stand up

That’s it for now. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Friday, June 25, 2010

Lookee what Dee Did!

When my St. Louis friend Dee saw the ship card at the end of my June Creative Images’ post, she really wanted something like it for her son’s birthday card.  Robert is a sailing fan.  Each sheet of diecuts comes with enough for two cards.  Soooo, I sent the other picture to Dee to do with what she would.  She got the ships in the mail in time to make a card, and what a card!  We were chatting on line and she shared a picture with me of her first design.  She said she was having a problem with the greeting and a punch to fit it.  I reminded her about Teeny Tiny Wishes, the word window punch and the modern label punch.  That was just what she needed.  She didn’t have the Modern Label punch, but she had the die cut from the movers and shapers and that worked, too.  With her little brass embellishments, stitching and cord, it came out perfect.  Dee gave me permission to blog her card, so here it is!

Robert's card 4

This card was truly a joint project between Dee, me and our Aussie buddy, Tracy.  Dee’s camera made the colors all weird and dark.  So when I sent a pic to Tracy, she photo shopped it to be more like the real card (Night of Navy base, Soft Suede and Whisper White card stocks).  Dee took the ships that I assembled (you can see the five twisted layers if you click on the picture) and made this gorgeous card and Tracy fixed it so it would reflect what it is in real life.  We do good work!  Robert really liked his card, too.  He oughta frame it!

That’s all for now.  Jeannie’s Saturday workshop pics will be my next post.  I have some great samples and two marvelous make and takes.

Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

What is a Shoebox Swap?

At Monday night’s stamp club meeting, there was some question about just what shoebox swap is.  Whomever signs up to come to the swap (and everybody hopefully knows how many signed up) brings everything to make a card, project, whatever.  At a shoebox swap in Mt. Dora, Pam’s swap was the fudge and creamsicle cards.  She brought a box with the cardstock already cut, the punches to do the bite in the corner and the motifs on the front, the orange and brown ink pads, the stamps for the circles and the greetings inside, the popsicle sticks and the ribbons.   Voila!  One perfect shoebox swap!

Pam's popsicles

These are two tiny favors I made five years ago.  The blue one was a cover for a tiny post it note pad and the little purse held a chocolate treasure.

Favor & Kristen's Purse 

This was my swap card at that same shoebox swap, the first one I ever went to.  I had everything to make it in one of my Longaberger baskets.

Kathy's Shoebox

At another shoebox swap in Mt. Dora, one lady had even made and decorated her own shoebox for swaps!  I took a pic of the box with her sample. 

Merci and box

This next one is a swap of a gift card holder with a belly band.  All the things necessary to make it were in a zip lock bag!

Gift card wallet

This is a pic of two shoeboxes with three samples. 

3 Swaps

We made this little bookmark at one of my workshops, but he would be a good project for a shoebox, too.  Something cute out of punches! 

Bear punch bookmark

Hope this gives you some ideas of what goes into a shoebox swap.  Can be as simple as this bookmark or a really cool technique.  My SU upline had several shoebox swaps in Mt. Dora, but she’s been unable to have them for more than a year.  I think it would be really cool to get them going in Ocala.

That’s it for now. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

June Creative Images Meeting

Wow! We had full house Monday night and I think everyone brought an exchange card (theme was “Feathered Friends”) and most of us brought ATC’s (“Layered Look”). Rosie did a great project, too! Lots of pics to share and lots to say. As always, click on a pic to enlarge it.

There was some confusion as to whether the ATC’s were to be birdies or the cards layered, but who cared. Layered cards and ATC birdies abounded. First up, Ella’s Spring is in the Air card. I think that is all one stamp, layered on some pretty BG paper. Love the blue eggs!

Ella's Spring

This is Connie’s fussy cut owlie. Love the sentiment! Who used to say that on TV long ago? Ahh, I remember. Kojak! I couldn’t stand him! LOL But if you were alive in the 70’s, you knew who loved you, baby! Link to Kojak is here.

Connie's Owlie

Because I can, here’s a pic of a card that doesn’t even exist any more! I popped out my 3-D birdies and layered them on what I thought were colors that matched the birdies. They may match, but they made me nauseous! When your friends have nothing good to say about something, you know it’s time to take that puppy apart and start over.

Kathy's 3D Birdies

This is what the three layers looked like after I dismantled the above. I hadn’t stuck them together, yet.

3D Birdies2

Ursula drew my name in the exchange. Bet she’s glad I came up with this one instead! I brought in two birdie cards and gave Ursula her choice. She took this one. While the die cut was nice and easy, I think I’ll keep doing my fussy cutting.

Kathy's 3D Birdies 2

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WE INTERRUPTED THIS BLOG DUE TO FLORIDA WEATHER! Yesterday, around 3:00, I was merrily typing away after getting all my pictures loaded to this post, when it got so dark (even next to picture window with blinds open!) I couldn’t even see my keyboard! That did not auger well! I went and took a peek out the front door, just as a huge bolt of lightning landed so close across the way that there wasn’t even thunder. Just CRAAAACK! No boom at all! Followed by KERFLOOSH! Slammed the door and came in here to turn off puter. I sat in the living room watching it blow, rain and light up for a while, then read with a lamp on until almost 5:00. By then, my mojo was gone. Click on this link here to see some pics of what the weather looked like yesterday (after the frog pic, of course) Pic 11 of 34 is real close to what it looked like around here yesterday.

We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging! LOL Good thing I could save it as a draft!

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The colors on this card by Pam are much better IRL. She made this little birdie with SU’s new two-step bird extra large punch and some patterned paper. It punches the birdie, the wing and the branch, all at once. Pam also used the scalloped edge trim and modern label punches on her feathered friend card and a tiny jewel for his eye.

Pam's Punchy birdie

Linda made this super bright, fun chicken card. Inside and on the envelope it says “From one chick to another!” I really loved this card (it has fussy cutting!) and when I pulled the last name out of the envelope for the exchange, it said “Linda!” Woo hoo!

Linda's Chicks

This is Lona’s card using a bit of a real peacock feather mounted on a layer embossed with a feathered embossing folder. Coooo-uhl!

Lona's Feather

Jeannie made this Autumny looking card with a bird punch, finishing up the birdies with gold Krylon and ruby jeweled eyes. Hey, Jeannie! It’s not purple and has no embossing! LOL We could still tell it was a Jeannie card! The Krylon and the ribbon give it away.

Jeannie's Trio

Holly made these three sparrows as her feathered friends. Lovely colors and layers and Primas, oh, my.

Holly's Trio

Ursula did some fussy cutting, too, on this cute little birdie card. Love the purples, too!

Ursula's Robin

This classy pink and silver card is Tange’s birdie card. Love the sentiment. Tange fussy cut and popped up the focal birdie.

Tange's Swallow

This is Therese’s little bluebird card. Therese has a bluebird nest in her yard, so she had to color this birdie as a bluebird. I like how she layered the circles, rather than just stacking them.

Therese's Birdie

Rosie had the project for June and here is a pic of her sample. Rosie also used the new SU two step bird extra large punch. Rosie had everything we needed, including the pearl eyes. The purple square is a left-opening flap that folds over on the peach side.

Rosie's Project closed

When you open the peach side, you see this scalloped piece we stamped a birdie on.

Rosie's Project half open

Here’s how the entire card is set up, with the sentiment inside the purple square. Rosie said she saw the fold online, but the card is her design. I don’t think Rosie can say she’s “just a beginner” any more. Great project, Rosie. Thanks!

Rosie's Project open

Here’s the outside of my finished project. Will definitely be using this fold again. Rosie punched extra wings, so I stuck mine behind the popped up birdie.

Kathy's Project

Next are three of the layered ATC’s nine of us (plus Bonnie, the sweet Priceless employee that keeps the shop open for us on meeting nights). I love how Bonnie’s little kitty is peeking out of her ATC at my two little birdies! Ella did the bright fussy cut cardinal on her popped up tree mosaic.

ATC's 3

For these four, Jeannie did the Paris Exposition ATC for another swap (I had extra, too, so I got this one). Jeannie also did the seahorse. Linda did the elegant black and white ATC. The top right corner is a flocked DSP and the lower left is glittery embossed swirls. The punched birdie is Pam’s. Love how she punched birdie in two colors to have a more realistic bird. She gave him an eye, too!

ATC's 1

These last four ATC’s start on top left with Holly’s lily, fussy cut and glittered with something that puffed up. Dark green layer is crimped. Birdie ATC is Ursula’s. How she stamped birdie on the glittery, textured light green CS is a mystery. Maybe with markers directly on the stamp? The little Asian lady is Therese’s with lots of, you guessed it, fussy cutting! Connie fussy cut the fashionable lady and embellished her hat with a feather and put a beaded necklace on her.

ATC's 2

Just because, so you can see how I designed my ATC, here is the first one I made. I used the Sizzlet Birds and Blooms for my birdie, which I layered over a Little Leaves Sizzlet. I had a 6x6” pack of double-sided designer papers and used several of the different Always Artichoke colors. The birdie looked lonely, so my final design included two birdies, flipped over so they faced each other, friend to friend, so to speak. Finished off with Modern Label and Word Window punches and sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Kathy's ATC

I brought in this card for show and tell and so whomever drew my name could decide which one they wanted. This or the 3D birdies above. I used more of the Always Artichoke double-sided DSP and fixed up the focal point the same way I would eventually do my ATC’s. I made the above ATC, then this card, then made my ATC’s in my final design. This card is an excellent example (even if I say so myself) of what one can do with an ATC, even if you’re not into ATC’s. I could make more of these bases and just slap an ATC on there.

Kathy's die cut birdies

Last, but not least, here’s another show and tell. This ship card was one I made with some die cuts called Pyramidenkarten from a company in Germany. I also got some of these in lighthouses and flowers. Here’s a link to the site, http://www.reddycards.de/, but it is in German. If you paste in these two words in the seach window, you will see the raw materials for the ships and lighthouses. Segelboote + Leuchttürme

I gave this card to Jeannie for Chip Shipp’s birthday Sunday. She was supposed to finish it with some sort of sentiment, but she and Chip liked it just fine as it was.

Chip Shipp's bd card

That’s it for now. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)