Fantastic Voyage Mail Art Postcard

I created this 5x7 postcard for my December mail art exchange partner (spoiler alert, Envie Addicts!).  If you think it looks a little different from my usual style, you would be right!  I have been in the doldrums this month and was not having any success with the first couple of things I tried, so I made a left turn and ended up with this funky collage that I named after one of my favorite R&B songs from back in the day (more on that below).

I started by covering a piece of watercolor paper with Tim Holtz tissue paper and spraying Dylusions crushed grape through a stencil.  While that dried, I dug through my clipart files and found a dapper gent that I had rescued from a deteriorating 1890s book.  He was the right size for the piece and had a fabulous mustache.  Unfortunately, the paper was so fragile that when I glued him to the background, part of his face came off!  It could not be repaired so I went back to the clipart files and found the lion image that I trimmed down to fit the body.

The letter V was to represent my partner's name but it also led me to the word voyage.  That, combined with how fantasy-like this postcard ended up being, reminded me of the song Fantastic Voyage by Lakeside.  I was a big fan of funk and disco music (still am, actually), and listening to this song again totally made my day.  Here's a link to the song and video on Youtube (dig the pirate costumes!).  Now please excuse me while I get up and dance.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend.

Supplies:
Strathmore hot press watercolor paper; Tim Holtz tissue paper; Tim Holtz stencil; Dylusions spray ink; miscellaneous clip art; butterfly rub-on by 7 Gypsies; Tim Holtz Idea-ology word sticker; Derwent lavender charcoal pencil; Adirondack gold acrylic paint dabber; gold Stickles. 

Merry Christmas One and All

May your Christmas be filled 

with much happiness and joy!

Clean and Crisp Sympathy

Just ten days ago I could boast that my mom still had three uncles living.  Now within one week we have lost two of them.  Both have been in declining health and lived very full lives, but it's still difficult to say good-bye.  My heart goes out to my aunt and cousins who have to deal with such sadness right before the holidays.

So among my Christmas cards I had to make another sympathy card.  I've used this sentiment numerous times because I think it's absolutely lovely and very comforting.  The floral image was colored with markers and stamped twice without reinking.

I hope I don't have to make another sympathy card for quite a while!

Supplies:
Textured white cardstock by Bazzill; green and whisper white cardstock by Stampin' Up; flower and sentiment by Stampin' Up; markers; Anna Griffin embossing folder; oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities by Spellbinders; Stickles; corner rounded punch; foam tape.

Precious Penguin Cards

I had two more penguin images already stamped, so I made two more cards and sent them on their way.

Christmas is just one week away!  Are you ready?

Supplies:
Lilac cardstock by Bazzill; green and whisper white cardstock by Stampin' Up; penguins by Stampendous; sentiment by My Sentiments Exactly; Ranger Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; Sizzix falling snow embossing folder; round, lacy round and banner die-cuts by Spellbinders; corner rounder punch; Stickles; Glossy Accents; Scotch foam tape.

White Poinsettia

As much as I was enjoying the snowman cards, I was ready to switch things up.  I get a little bored making multiples of the same card, so for Christmas I generally make several designs.  I did decide to stay with a mostly white card, however.  My eyes are appreciating a rest from all of the heavy layering and colors I tend to use.

I used the poinsettia die-cut by Spellbinders as my focal image, sponging a little gold ink around the edges of the petals.  I used gold Stickles for the centers.  In order to maintain the clean and crisp look of this card, I decided to put the sentiment on the inside.

Thanks for popping by!  Have a great day.

Supplies:
White cardstock by Bazzill; poinsettia die by Spellbinders; falling snow embossing folder by Sizzix; gold ribbon from Michaels; corner rounder punch; galaxy gold Brilliance ink pad by Tsukineko; gold Stickles; Scotch foam tape; Glue Dots; Glossy Accents.

Home Run Hitter Birthday Card

I created this card for my oldest brother who is celebrating his birthday this month.  One of his first toys was a baseball bat (and a baseball) and he grew up to be quite a good ball player.  He played first base and one of his nicknames was Ma Bell, because "when he hit the ball, it went long distance."  I think you have to be of a certain age to understand that joke.

All of the stamps on this card are by Artistic Outpost.  After creating my own background paper, I stamped the ball player image separately on white cardstock and colored it with Prismacolor pencils.  It was adhered to the card using foam tape for dimension.  I added Glossy Accents to his cap and collar for additional pop.

Thanks for dropping by and as always, I appreciate your comments.  Have a great day.

Supplies:
Blue cardstocks by Bazzill; whisper white cardstock by Stampin' Up; Ranger Archival black ink; stamps from Artistic Outpost; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; Stazon dove gray ink; Memento Danube blue ink; Scotch foam tape; corner rounder punch; Glossy Accents.

Big Oak Sympathy

I took a break from Christmas cards to make this sympathy card.  Until a few days ago my mom still had three uncles living (my grandma's three youngest brothers), now there are only two.  I'm sending this card to my aunt and cousins to express my sympathies.

This oak tree is from an older set by Stampin' Up called Lovely as a Tree.  It must be one of SU's most popular sets ever and for good reason: the images work on a variety of cards from autumn-themed to Christmas, from birthday to sympathy.  For my card, I stamped the oak on very vanilla cardstock and colored it with Prismas.  That bit of blue under the tree was an experiment at first, but the more I played with it (with odorless mineral spirits and a blending stump) the more I liked it.  It almost looks like there's a range of misty mountains in the distance.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Have a great weekend!

Supplies:
All cardstocks by Stampin' Up; tree from Stampin' Up; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; circle and scalloped circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders; Sizzix embossing folder; Provo embossing folder; Cuttlebug; Martha Stewart border punch; Scotch foam tape.

More Penguin Cards

A few more colorful Christmas cards started their journeys yesterday.  I don't think I mentioned before that I am making duplicates of all of these (two of each color scheme).  I kind of "assemble line" the process by doing all of the stamping first and then cutting all of the papers (including the pieces for the inside of the card).  That way when I'm done coloring, I have everything I need to assemble the cards toot sweet.

One copy of this card went to a cousin who attended Iowa State.  Their school colors are cardinal and gold; I figure the colors I used on the large penguin are close enough. 

This card has the unusual combination of a light aqua blue and a dark apricot.  I had extra fun coloring this card as I had to blend more than one pencil to get the hues I wanted on the scarves and hats.  I really do love to color and have gotten my money's worth from my Prisma pencils.

Have a fabulous day!

Supplies:
Colored cardstock and whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; penguin image by Stampendous; sentiment by My Sentiments Exactly; Ranger Archival black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; circle, lacy circle and banner die cuts by Spellbinders; Stickles; Glossy Accents; embossing folder by Sizzix; corner rounder punch; foam tape.

Bright Penguin Cards

I decided to use nontraditional colors for some of my Christmas cards this year, and I am really enjoying it!  I dug through my stash of 12x12 cardstock and pulled out some bright colors that I know certain friends will like.  Little did I know that I would end up liking them, too.

The penguins were stamped on whisper white cardstock and colored with Prismas.  The background is also whisper white cardstock, embossed with a Sizzix folder called Snowfall.  I added frosted lace Stickles to the hats, scarves, and snowflakes for additional bling.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous day.

Supplies:
Colored cardstock by Bazzill and Stampin' Up; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; penguin image from Stampendous; Ranger Archival black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; sentiment by My Sentiments Exactly; round, lacy round and banner die cuts by Spellbinders; Snowfall embossing folder by Sizzix; frosted lace Stickles; Glossy Accents; foam tape.

Simply Scrappy Christmas Tree Card

This is a Christmas card idea that I've seen numerous times over the years since I started stamping, always thinking "how cute!" and "how simple!" and "what a great way to use up all those tiny but pretty paper scraps!"  Well, this is the year I finally make some of my own.

I embossed the swirled frame on kraft cardstock, then cut the trunk and branches of my tree to fit.  I used a combination of old patterned papers by My Mind's Eye and vintage book and sheet music scraps.  The star was punched out of gold cardstock for a little pizazz, but since I like the rustic country look I didn't add any other bling or embellishments. This card is going to Pennsylvania with my Winter Morning artist trading card.  'Tis the season!

Have a fabulous day.  Thanks for popping in.

Supplies:
Brown cardstock by Bazzill; crumb cake cardstock from Stampin' Up; patterned paper by My Mind's Eye; vintage book pages and sheet music; embossing folder by Provo (Cuttlebug); gold cardstock; star punch.