Ya Gotta Love the Pacific NW!

Even though the sun has been shining this past week - I know the rain is going to return any day now (minute now?). This digi stamp from Bugaboo Stamps, "April," is from Ruby's Calendar Girls collection. Doesn't she seem appropriate to our weather here?  I'm pretty sure her favorite colors are pink & orange (and maybe purple too!) so I tried to stay true to her color preferences.

I colored Ruby with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Gamsol and a stump. I used a Sakura Gelly Roll clear star pen on the umbrella, rain slicker, boots & puddle to give them a wet look. I tried to show the glitter pen effect in this close-up but the sparkle doesn't seem to show that well in the photo. Operator error?

I stamped the sentiment (Dolphin Song) and cut both images and black background layers with Spellbinders Ovals & Scalloped Ovals (Nestabilities). I adhered a pink cs layer (after I ran it through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder) to a black cs layer to a white card base. I cut a rectangle of the DP paper, backed that with a black cs rectangle layer. I added four black brads to each corner of the DP. I layered three flowers (Petaloo) together and added a pink brad to the center. (Basic Grey).

Stamps: Ruby Calendar Girl (April) (Bugaboo Stamps), I Love the Pacific Northwest, (Dolphin Song)
Paper: DP: Delilah Stripe (BoBunny), CS: white, black & pink
Ink: Black dye ink (Memories)
Accessories: colored pencils (Prismacolor), Gamsol, blending stump, edge distressing tool, Spellbinders Oval & Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, brads (Basic Grey), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots ef (Provo Craft),(Fiskars paper cutter; (Fiskars), Scor-pal; (Scor-Pal), Glue Glider Pro, (Glue Glider Pro)
Size: 4-1/4 x 5 1/2 (A2)

Thanks for stopping by - have a great day!

Thinking of You Alicia!

Today I decided I was ready to go "public" with my blog so I listed it on my Facebook and sent the link to my daughter. She of the million friends told me she "shared" my blog link so now my knees are knocking big time. It was too early! But my sweetheart daughter-in-law, Alicia, became a "follower" of my blog - so now my blog has a friend who cares! How cool. Thanks, Alicia. You're always there for me! And Happy Birthday girl. Even though the birthday card we're giving Alicia this year is "store bought" (really lovely though, isn't it Alicia?) I'm dedicating this next card to her (since I can't be there with her as the family celebrates) But I'll be . . .

Stamps: Sophie (Mo's Digital Pencil) and computer generated sentiment

Paper:DP ?, CS: white and purple
Ink: computer
Accessories: Spellbinders Oval & Circle Nestabilities, edge distresser, ink dauber, flowers, brads, Tombo markers, Radiant Pearls, Fiskars paper cutter, Scor-Pal
Size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 (A2)

My First Post

This is my first post!  I can't believe we're almost halfway through August. Soon it will be fall and I haven't made that many summer cards yet. I'm so behind in my schedule!

Working with paper is my passion and my plan is to use this blog to inspire me to make more cards using all my art stash. I know hoarding art supplies is a major problem for other card designers, so I'm not alone. This card is one that I made for my friend, Carol, who was leaving on a trip to Greece.  I ended up making two (not identical) and I sent the other one to her before I got a photo taken. The flower was my first attempt at making a tissue paper flower similar to the one in Daniela Dobson's tutorial here.  I have a long way to go before I'll be satisfied with mine.  The main image is colored with Prismas and bIended with baby oil and a stump. I cut the dark brown layer on the main image down to make it fit better and then paper pierced around it. The sentiment is edged with stormy sky distressed ink and then edge distressed:

Stamps: Lounging Around (Sassy Studio Designs digital stamp), Relax & Enjoy Yourself (Impression Obsession)
Paper: DP: Granola (BasicGrey), CS: blue and dark brown
Ink: Black, Soft Baby Blue (Memories), Broken China, Stormy Sky Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories: clear embossing powder, Prismacolor colored pencils, odorless mineral spirits, stump, foam adhesive, Spellbinders Labels Six and Small Petite Circles Nestabilities, edge distresser, ink dauber, ribbon, tissue paper flower, brad.
Size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 (A2)

This is a card that I made for one of my grandsons for his birthday:

Here's the inside:

Stamps: Simon (Mo's Digital Pencil digital stamp), Computer Generated
Paper: DP: Ambrosia (BasicGrey), CS: white and dark brown
Ink: Black (Memories) Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories: Prismacolor colored pencils, baby oil, stump, foam adhesive, Spellbinders Labels, Small Petite Circles and Oval Nestabilities, edge distresser, ink dauber, Sakura GellyRoll pen, brads.
Size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 (A2)