Hi everyone!
I wanted to let those that check up on me know that I'm still here, but severely handicapped right now! We came home from church last week and noticed our computer had suffered from the Big Blue Screen of Death. Translation: it died. My Engineer got to work that night trying to resuscitate the poor thing, but so far it is still in critical condition. I visit it often in the ICU, but leave frustrated that I can't do anything to help.
The good news is that I don't think any pictures were lost. The bad news is I haven't been online until just tonight and I feel totally lost! I had to ask Engineer if I could use his laptop just to check in on the cyberworld.
I'm not sure when I'll be able to post anything new...Engineer likes to take his time helping me with things that involve his laptop. Maybe a couple of nights with dinner on the table will help with that.
I better get started!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ghosting
I've immersed myself once again into the Twilight series. I guess I didn't think I had anything to do for a couple of days. Sunday night I was lying on my bed reading and Bio-Comp came into my room, ready to ask me something. He stopped short when he saw the cover, gave a little groan, and left. Later Engineer came in, saw the book, groaned as well, then asked if I was really reading them again. I simply said yes. His request that I read them all that night to get them over with was met with rolled eyes and a "Shoo, go away."
Why am I telling you this? Because with all the vampires and werewolves that have been running in my head lately, I thought I'd throw in a little ghost, too.
I love this technique because it is so subtle...and so easy. Here is my card.
Stamps: CTMH Butterfly Wings (March SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Lilac Mist, Spring Iris
Papers: CTMH Spring Iris, Glossy Cardstock
To do this ghosting technique, you need glossy cardstock, Versamark ink, and a brayer. With your chosen image, here it is the small butterfly layer, ink with the Versamark and stamp randomly on the glossy cardstock. Then with ink color of your choice, here it is Lilac Mist, brayer over your images. The stamped images will slowly emerge, like little ghosts. If you don't want such a subtle effect, brayer more ink onto it. I layered the pieces, and embossed the larger butterfly with clear embossing powder...as if you couldn't tell by the glaring shine coming off of it.
Now, if you'll excuse me. I must get back to Forks.
Why am I telling you this? Because with all the vampires and werewolves that have been running in my head lately, I thought I'd throw in a little ghost, too.
I love this technique because it is so subtle...and so easy. Here is my card.
Stamps: CTMH Butterfly Wings (March SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Lilac Mist, Spring Iris
Papers: CTMH Spring Iris, Glossy Cardstock
To do this ghosting technique, you need glossy cardstock, Versamark ink, and a brayer. With your chosen image, here it is the small butterfly layer, ink with the Versamark and stamp randomly on the glossy cardstock. Then with ink color of your choice, here it is Lilac Mist, brayer over your images. The stamped images will slowly emerge, like little ghosts. If you don't want such a subtle effect, brayer more ink onto it. I layered the pieces, and embossed the larger butterfly with clear embossing powder...as if you couldn't tell by the glaring shine coming off of it.
Now, if you'll excuse me. I must get back to Forks.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Stimulating
A couple of weeks ago, I had some friends stimulate my economy by placing some orders. So as a thank you for shopping with me, I made each of them one of these cards featuring one of CTMH's new Ms. images. It reads, "Born to shop...not to mop."
I colored it with my Copic markers and drew in the sidewalk. Yes, I know it's only a couple of lines. I used the Copic colorless blender to stipple the shirt to add some texture.
Stamps: CTMH Ms. On The Go
Inks: CTMH Black, Brilliance Graphite Black
Papers: CTMH Emporium Reflections Kit
Mondays are my "housework" days. If I don't get something accomplished by the end of the day, somehow the rest of my week goes down the tubes. So while I'd really love to just craft or blog away, duty calls.
But before I go, I wanted to say hello to my new followers! I never really imagined anyone other than family and friends would even be interested in this. So welcome to my closet and thank you for sticking around!
I colored it with my Copic markers and drew in the sidewalk. Yes, I know it's only a couple of lines. I used the Copic colorless blender to stipple the shirt to add some texture.
Stamps: CTMH Ms. On The Go
Inks: CTMH Black, Brilliance Graphite Black
Papers: CTMH Emporium Reflections Kit
Mondays are my "housework" days. If I don't get something accomplished by the end of the day, somehow the rest of my week goes down the tubes. So while I'd really love to just craft or blog away, duty calls.
But before I go, I wanted to say hello to my new followers! I never really imagined anyone other than family and friends would even be interested in this. So welcome to my closet and thank you for sticking around!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Too Much Time On My Hands...
Are you singing the song in your head now? Sorry about that. It's not that I really had too much time on my hands as much as I really wanted to get this card made before the idea left my head.
And I didn't want to do anymore laundry.
Did you see this cover for Martha's Wedding magazine last month?
As soon as I saw it in the store I wanted to make a card like it, and this month's Butterfly Wings seemed perfect for it.
Stamps: CTMH Butterfly Wings (March SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Black
Papers: CTMH Tulip, Sorbet, Creme Brulee, Juniper, Crystal Blue, Lilac Mist, Spring Iris, Black, White Daisy
Here's a picture that shows off the sparkle.
Does anyone have tips of shooting pictures with sparkle?
It did take me quite a while to get all the butterflies cut out. They are much more complex than stars. Give me stars any day.
The butterflies are all embossed. The little ones are stamped first with Versamark, then Black before stamping on the paper. Then they're covered in clear embossing powder and heated. The larger butterfly is embossed with a Black Sparkle powder, the I colored in the wings with markers and blending pens and cut it out. I stamped a large butterfly in the middle of the card first and colored in it's wings. Then with the cut out sparkly butterfly, I only adhered it at the body. I put mini pop dots under the wings so they stand out a bit.
The hardest part was figuring out the positions of all the little butterflies around it. It may not look exactly like Martha's cake, but I really liked the way it came out.
And it's less fattening.
And I didn't want to do anymore laundry.
Did you see this cover for Martha's Wedding magazine last month?
As soon as I saw it in the store I wanted to make a card like it, and this month's Butterfly Wings seemed perfect for it.
Stamps: CTMH Butterfly Wings (March SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Black
Papers: CTMH Tulip, Sorbet, Creme Brulee, Juniper, Crystal Blue, Lilac Mist, Spring Iris, Black, White Daisy
Here's a picture that shows off the sparkle.
Does anyone have tips of shooting pictures with sparkle?
It did take me quite a while to get all the butterflies cut out. They are much more complex than stars. Give me stars any day.
The butterflies are all embossed. The little ones are stamped first with Versamark, then Black before stamping on the paper. Then they're covered in clear embossing powder and heated. The larger butterfly is embossed with a Black Sparkle powder, the I colored in the wings with markers and blending pens and cut it out. I stamped a large butterfly in the middle of the card first and colored in it's wings. Then with the cut out sparkly butterfly, I only adhered it at the body. I put mini pop dots under the wings so they stand out a bit.
The hardest part was figuring out the positions of all the little butterflies around it. It may not look exactly like Martha's cake, but I really liked the way it came out.
And it's less fattening.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Dream Big
I'm still trying to get my house together after the card making that took place a couple of weeks ago! I think I need Engineer to take the boys away for a week...then I can get some work done around here.
Today's card offering is the one I made for the card contest at the CTMH Phoenix Regionals. I didn't win, but did place in the top 5. For a first time effort, I'm happy about that!
Stamps: CTMH Reach For The Stars
Inks: CTMH Desert Sand
Papers: CTMH Stardust Reflections Kit
The contest was to use the new White Daisy Mini-Medley Accents. After using the brads in my previous card, all I could see when I looked at them were stars. One of the metal tags always made me think of a stamp...a postage one, I'm always thinking of the other kind! The crochet flowers were easy to color with a Topiary marker, turning them into treetops. It was a pretty easy card to put together, in relation to the previous one!
Today's card offering is the one I made for the card contest at the CTMH Phoenix Regionals. I didn't win, but did place in the top 5. For a first time effort, I'm happy about that!
Stamps: CTMH Reach For The Stars
Inks: CTMH Desert Sand
Papers: CTMH Stardust Reflections Kit
The contest was to use the new White Daisy Mini-Medley Accents. After using the brads in my previous card, all I could see when I looked at them were stars. One of the metal tags always made me think of a stamp...a postage one, I'm always thinking of the other kind! The crochet flowers were easy to color with a Topiary marker, turning them into treetops. It was a pretty easy card to put together, in relation to the previous one!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Released From The Swap Mines
Oh, it is good to be home!
I spent the weekend with 200 other CTMH ladies having fun, being creative, and eating too much good food.
And that also means I am free from the swap mines! I got my cards finished with plenty of time left. I even had time to make a card for the contest that was held, but I'll save that for next time.
My mother has told me before that I do too much, whether it is painting my sons' toy room, sewing quiet books, or making cards. I have a problem with "less is more". And that definitely applies to this card. I could have made these very simple, but I don't think they would have had the same effect. From what I've heard, the ladies that received my cards liked them, and that's all that matters.
So if you'll indulge me a couple of pictures, here is the card that kept my home a wreck for a week.
Stamps: CTMH Reach For The Stars
Inks: CTMH Moonstruck, Honey, Grey Wool
Papers: CTMH Stardust Reflections Kit
Here is how I made this card: The pattern is from the Originals book offered by CTMH. I wanted to get a 3-D effect with this card so I used my Cricut to cut the concentric squares on each of the layers, then used foam tape to pop them up...lots and lots of foam tape. Each of the elements, (the stars, the ship, the sentiment, the brads) are embossed then cut out. Well, not the brads. The stars and ship are popped up with foam tape as well. It gives the whole card a diorama kind of look.
How many did I make?
15.
I know I told you 13, Mom. But I did make extras. With everything already out, it would have been silly not to. Plus, I wanted to have back ups in case I messed up.
Well, there you go. If you are one of the ladies that received this card...consider yourself lucky. I might have to go with the "less is more" thing for a while!
I spent the weekend with 200 other CTMH ladies having fun, being creative, and eating too much good food.
And that also means I am free from the swap mines! I got my cards finished with plenty of time left. I even had time to make a card for the contest that was held, but I'll save that for next time.
My mother has told me before that I do too much, whether it is painting my sons' toy room, sewing quiet books, or making cards. I have a problem with "less is more". And that definitely applies to this card. I could have made these very simple, but I don't think they would have had the same effect. From what I've heard, the ladies that received my cards liked them, and that's all that matters.
So if you'll indulge me a couple of pictures, here is the card that kept my home a wreck for a week.
Stamps: CTMH Reach For The Stars
Inks: CTMH Moonstruck, Honey, Grey Wool
Papers: CTMH Stardust Reflections Kit
Here is how I made this card: The pattern is from the Originals book offered by CTMH. I wanted to get a 3-D effect with this card so I used my Cricut to cut the concentric squares on each of the layers, then used foam tape to pop them up...lots and lots of foam tape. Each of the elements, (the stars, the ship, the sentiment, the brads) are embossed then cut out. Well, not the brads. The stars and ship are popped up with foam tape as well. It gives the whole card a diorama kind of look.
How many did I make?
15.
I know I told you 13, Mom. But I did make extras. With everything already out, it would have been silly not to. Plus, I wanted to have back ups in case I messed up.
Well, there you go. If you are one of the ladies that received this card...consider yourself lucky. I might have to go with the "less is more" thing for a while!
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