Grateful Easel Card

I'm not always the first one to jump at a new technique.  But if I feel like trying something different and I can do so without having to buy a bunch of new supplies (some perhaps never to be used again; you know how that goes), then sure, I'll take a leap.  Well, in this case it was more of a hop than a leap, because all I did was make an easel card.

I used my new Basic Grey Curio papers and some favorite stamps to create this thank you card for a friend who sent me a package of delightful hand-created goodies and art-bits for my birthday.  She does such lovely work, which makes me want to step up my game for anything I send to her.  Just wait until her birthday rolls around (wink)!

Have a great Monday!

Supplies:
Brown and green cardstock by Bazzill; patterned papers by Basic Grey; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; flapper girl stamp by Hampton Art; sentiment from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; Martha Stewart border punch; small oval and small scalloped oval punches from Stampin' Up; gold ribbon and gold brads from Michaels.

The Oldest Son

I've had this photo of my grandpa lying around for quite a while and decided tonight was the time to create something with it. 

The background is a page from my grandpa's botany textbook.  I colored the cornstalk with Prismacolor pencils and added some Victorian Velvet distress ink around the edges.  I was inspired by the Found Poetry-athon at ATCs for All this weekend to pull out a 1920s novel in search of some words that were fitting for this card, and I was not disappointed.

My grandpa did not finish high school because as the oldest son, he had to leave school in order to help on the farm when his dad became ill.  He was a tall, lanky guy; quiet and kind of shy.  He may have been overlooked by some girls, but thankfully my grandma fancied him!  Together they raised three girls (my mom being one of them) on that same farm.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
 Cardstock ATC base; photocopy of a family photo; page from an early 1900s botany textbook; text from a 1920s novel; Prismacolor Premier pencils; Victorian velvet and frayed burlap distress ink; light charcoal pencil; Stazon saddle brown ink.

Two Gents Gluebook Page

It's been so long since I created a gluebook page, I almost didn't know where to begin!  And I do so want to make a real gluebook, working directly in a Moleskin with as many vintage papers as I can.  So I reviewed the lessons from the Vintage Gluebook course I took with Mary Green last year, looked at the pages I made for class, and finally created this, my first page.

Everything is vintage except the photo.  The map is from a 1930s textbook that belonged to my grandma.  I purchased the 1910 penny postcard at a flea market and the pre-1900 German prayer book at a tag sale.  As you can see, the prayer book is in terrible shape, but that only makes for a more interesting collage.



Thanks for visiting my blog.  Have a fabulous weekend!

Supplies:
Moleskin journal (5 x 8.25 inches); glue stick; vintage papers; clip art from Alpha Stamps.

Breakfast Thanks

We ran into my friend Ron at the restaurant we went to on my birthday last weekend.  He finished his meal and left before we did, but not before paying for our meals, too!  I called him later to say thank you, but I also wanted to send him a card.  Even big boys like to receive fun mail.

I just love the color combination of red and black.  The Tim Holtz stamp was part of my birthday present to myself.

Thanks for popping in!





Supplies:
Tim Holtz rubber stamp; black cardstock by Bazzill; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Basic Grey patterned paper; Archival jet black ink. 

Lone Iris

Other than a couple of hot days in early April, we've had a cooler spring.  In fact, we had record low temperatures near the freezing mark just a little over a week ago.  Because of this, most gardens are off to a slow start this season.

This is the first iris to bloom in our yard this year.  (I took the photo yesterday.)  Thankfully there are more to follow, as they are gorgeous.

Have a great Monday!

Love Comes Unbidden ATC

I'll let you in on a secret...today is my birthday.  And other than the threat of a tornado, it was a pretty relaxing day.  We went out for a big breakfast, bought a variety of colorful annuals to plant in the yard, and I even had some quiet time to play with paper.

I combined some vintage and new papers to make a collage background for this lovely young lady cut from a sheet of German scrap.  The words are from a 1920s novel that is chock full of words appropriate for a vintage collage. 



This card has a peaceful feeling that reflects how I feel today.  Thank you for allowing me to share it with you.

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; vintage German text; vintage sheet music; vintage text; patterned paper and faux postcard scrap by K and Company; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; red cardstock by Bazzill; German scrap girl; titanium white acrylic paint; frayed burlap, barn door, and pumice stone distress ink; lace backgrounder stamp by Sonlight Impressions; oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities by Spellbinders; light charcoal pencil.

Daddy's Girl ATC

I made this ATC in order to practice a gel medium transfer technique and am pleased that the image transferred so well on my first attempt.  I hope this will give me the courage to transfer an image onto a canvas.  Do you ever need to remind yourself that many of the art supplies we buy really aren't that expensive (in the grand scheme of things), so we shouldn't be afraid to "ruin" them by experimenting?  I do!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Supplies:
White cardstock ATC base; patterned paper from 7 Gypsies; main image from Mary Green of Green Paper Packages; Golden soft gel medium; letter stamps by Hero Arts; Stazon black ink; dusty concord distress ink.

The Brown Bomber II

Earlier this month I shared with you a collage I made featuring my brother's chocolate lab puppy, Bomber.  I'm happy to report that I found exactly the kind of frame I was looking for (it was on sale, too!), so here is the final piece.

I used Golden soft gel medium to adhere the collage to a piece of Bazzill brown cardstock and then to a postage stamp-themed scrapbook paper that had been dry-brushed with titanium white acrylic paint.  I'm going to call this an early 50th birthday present for my brother and get it wrapped up for shipping this week.

Happy Wednesday!

The Orangeman Cometh

I have a friend who shares my birthday, so I usually don't have any problem remembering to send him a card.  But for some reason this year it just didn't register in my mind---perhaps because I'm planning to skip my birthday this year and be 29 again.

Thankfully my brain finally kicked into gear.  I used some baseball-themed stamps from Artistic Outpost and the color-scheme of my friend's college alma mater to create this card.  For kicks I think I'll send him a box of Cracker Jack with it.


Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great Monday.

P.S. for my overseas friends:  Cracker Jack is a snack consisting of caramel popcorn and peanuts.  Back in the day it was a traditional snack at baseball games.  Each box contains a small toy "prize" (I always like the kiddie tattoos!).

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost; navy blue cardstock by Bazzill; orange cardstock unknown; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; white twine; pop-dots.

For Miss Brighton

One thing I love about my paper-crafting hobby is that it's so easy to create a quick card, pop it in the mail, and know that it will brighten the recipient's day when received.

This simple card was made with scraps from a previous project. I used a pink highlighter over the word "giggle," because I know Miss Brighton will do just that when she reads what I wrote inside.


Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great Monday!

Supplies:
Stamp by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous; decorative papers by K and Company; black cardstock by Bazzill; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; pink highlighter.

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom and I celebrated Mother's Day on Friday.  It was a perfect spring day (FINALLY!  We've been waiting for spring for...months!), so I played hooky from work.  The two of us ate a tasty lunch at a local coffee and sandwich cafe, and then we ran a few errands and did a little shopping.  It was a great way to kick off the weekend.

I hope you are able to share some time with your family on this special day.   

Thanks for visiting my blog!







Supplies:
Stamp by Hampton Art; dark green cardstock by Bazzill; patterned papers by K and Company; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier Pencils; odorless mineral spirits; oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities by Spellbinders; Martha Stewart border punch; Prisma flower; antique gold brad; sheer gold ribbon from Michaels; pop-dots.

Get Your Birthday Kicks

Once in a while I break out of my distressed, vintage mode and make something that is clean, crisp, and simple.  Today is one of those days, and we're going mid-century modern!

These retro Route 66-themed stamps by Artistic Outpost are perfect for a masculine card.  I teamed them with bold polka dot paper and the quintessential 1950s colors of turquoise, pink, and black to create this birthday card for a male friend.  It's going to be a great night for a celebration.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Artistic Outpost; black, turquoise, and pink cardstocks by Bazzill; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; patterned paper by Me and My Big Ideas, pop-dots.

The Brown Bomber

I've had this project in mind ever since my brother sent me the first picture of his new pup, Bruno's Brown Bomber.  Bomber is a chocolate lab born last year on July 4th.

 
I started with a piece of cardboard that was packaged with a small wall calendar I bought.  I picked away the outside layer to reveal the ridges, then randomly added titanium white acrylic paint and a little distress ink.  I collaged a variety of new and old ephemera (the pocket calendar is from 1903), and raided the utility closet for some old washers.  The diamond-shaped flags are made from  Grungepaper; I connected them with a waxed linen thread.

I'm so pleased with how this turned out.  I hope I can find a square frame or shadowbox for this piece, which is just shy of seven inches square.  (ETA:  Here's a link to the photo of the final piece, matted and framed.)

By coincidence this week, Helga of ArtChix Studio issued a new art challenge to create something using a postage stamp.  This collage includes two genuine postage stamps from Germany, so I am entering it in the challenge at her blog, My ARTistic Life. 

Thanks for dropping in!  Have a great Friday.

Supplies:
Corrugated cardboard; titanium white acrylic paint; dusty concord, pine needles, and brushed corduroy distress inks; new ephemera from ArtChix Studio and K and Company; old ephemera includes a page from a 1903 pocket calendar, German postage stamps, and text from an 1880s German book; Berlin cancellation stamp by Stampa Rosa; Grungepaper; K and Company decorative paper to cover the Grungepaper; black waxed linen thread; light charcoal pencil; a variety of old washers and buttons; Golden soft gel medium; Glossy Accents.

Giggle

I've had this wood stamp by Tim Holtz for several years and it is still one of my favorite images.  I'm using it on this birthday card for a friend's mom, who is also a cardmaker.

Thanks for visiting!  Have a great day.

Supplies:
Red cardstock and very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; decorative papers by K and Company; little girl stamp by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous; sentiment from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; oval and scalloped oval punches from Stampin' Up; Martha Stewart border punch; Prisma flower; black brad; black ribbon; pop-dots.