Birthday cards!

These birthday cards were inspired by Melissa Phillips here. (scroll down)

I used Close-to-My-Heart stamps (possibly retired?) and paper with the exception of the red piece along the top - that was another scrap that had a red-on-red pattern and I thought it looked cool run through the crimper (remember that old tool?).  I made a stash of them for my birthday card file.

I'm recovering nicely from the arthroscopy of my left knee (yes, the so-called good one).  My surgeon said the meniscus tear was larger than he saw on the MRI, but that he cleaned it up nicely and I should get a lot of relief from this surgery.  It's "day 3" today and I am sore but feeling better - the pain is a different type of pain.  Now if I can learn to walk without a limp again - golly that is a BAD habit!  My words of wisdom for you - don't wait too long to address these issues.

Hugs!!

Technique for Open Stamping 1/26

 

This is the card I designed to showcase the technique we will learn on Sunday for Open Stamping at my house.  I don't know the "real" name for it, but I call it creating "lighter images on darker paper" - that's pretty creative, huh!  (giggle)  I used a lot of different colors on the flowers just to see how the different colors looked - then I kind of liked the effect and just went with it.  

I photographed each step of the process so that my friends can see how to do this without me needing to stand at the station and demonstrate as each person gets ready to make their project (we don't all arrive, or decide to learn the technique, at the same time).  They will also have the handout to take home for the next time they want to try this one.  

I believe the person who inspired me used alcohol markers, but I opted to use sponge daubers and Close-to-My-Heart inks to color the images, even though CTMH has alcohol markers.  I like to use things people have readily available, and it's good to explore options.  

In a nut-shell: 

• you heat emboss an image with an outline
• paint inside the image with a white pigment ink and let that dry completely
• add colors over the white 

I believe I'm considered a "football widow" today.  I am not complaining!  It gave me the afternoon to play in the studio!  Hope your weekend has been wonderful!  Hugs!!

Holly Stencil - Christmas gift!

One of my dear friends gave me two darling stencils for Christmas - one was this holly, and the other is all hearts!  I thought it would be nice to make a thank you note for her using the new product (besides, it gave me an excuse to get it dirty!).  I used some washi tape to secure the stencil over a piece of CTMH White Daisy cardstock and then spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (English Ivy).  Then I used a Liquid Pearls - Rouge to dot on some holly berries.  Those were not actually in the stencil - I just imagined them!  The little stars were cut on my Cricut and were spares just laying around so they were brushed with CTMH Ruby pigment ink, embellished with a red crystal dot and put to use.  The music Washi tape was intentional, not just left-over from the spraying process.  LOL

I hope to post the technique that I'll be teaching on 1/26 for Open Stamping some time this week.  I've got an idea - but it hasn't quite gelled into a project yet.  Hopefully I'll get that done this weekend.

Hope you're not frozen - I understand I have MUCH to be thankful for living in the Valley Of The Sun!  Hugs!!

Tags!!!

I love making tags!  I forget this little fact until it's Christmas and I'm in the middle of a gift wrapping extravaganza!  Then, when the 4 or 5 that I had left-over from last year are all gone, I sit down and the creativity just FLOWS!  They are small, quick, and they use up all sorts of lovely little pieces that are all over my work table! Washi tape is perfect for tags!

The little tree tag, for instance, used scrap from making a gift album (the black piece w/writing) and the tree is one of the little stamps from Close-to-My-Heart that I colored with the new alcohol markers and quickly cut around.  Added to a package with a big red bow and it looks special!

 

 

I love this one!  (Pun not intended!) The little sentiment was cut out from one of the awesome "zip" strips with designs that come on the CTMH papers.  The white on red circles were left-overs from another project as well as the red pattern over cocoa part of a circle (left over from some valentines I made last year!).  I really {heart} the look!

This last one I did just for "love".  The little bug was colored green like my VW Beetle "Chloe" and the tree added to the top to look like Chloe was bringing home the Christmas tree.  I still miss Chloe.  The numbers are simply Washi tape.  I think I free-handed the little puffs of smoke (not that Chloe ever blew smoke!).
  
Well, it was a blast!  Maybe I'll make up a few more as I clean the room and put away the Christmas things.  Just to get me started for next year!  *grin*

Thank you Notes

And now it's time for thank you notes!  I received the most wonderful, heartfelt gifts this year - and even though we just got back into town today I feel a sense of urgency to get some thank you notes in the mail!  

Sending wishes to you all for a wonderful New Year!  A fresh slate - as they say, to write your story the way you want it to be!  Hugs!!