Saying Goodbye

Things change.  People change.  Interests change.  There have been quite a number of changes for me this year and some major changes (like a move between states and a new house) have caused some smaller changes.  I'm no longer doing any scrapbooking, though I think perhaps I may get back to it in the future.  I'd doing far less photography and will spend some time this winter deleting a great many of my older photos--not the family shots but definitely the landscapes, wildflowers and weird stuff I thought I might use in some art projects.  And I've decided that my blog has served its purpose and I'm eliminating it, too.  I've posted in a variety of places for a good many years and there's still much to share.  I'm still doing quite a bit of stamping, but there's the extra step of taking photos of the cards, resizing and adjusting them and doing the posting and  that doesn't appeal to me so much these days.  I'll make up for it by doing postings on Facebook so you'll probably see more of me there.

I might fear that I'm losing interest in too many things (which I don't think is a good sign, especially as a person grows older) but I have new interests like wire weaving and I'd like to spend more time doing art journals.  And I should get more family genealogy data into the computer.

So this will be my last posting.  Thank you for your visits, comments and interest and thank you for sharing in bits of my life.  I'll see you on Facebook.

Masculine Kraft

Masculine cards are more of a challenge for me because I can't rely on flowers and ribbons that are my norm.  The stenciling on kraft cardstock was perfect for a more masculine look when I chose a geometric stencil.  I applied two shades of blue ink over the white but also left some of the white uncolored.  Although I masked off a square before inking, I thought the design needed more contrast so I added a dark blue cardstock panel.  The smaller gears are commercial metallic pieces that I found in my stash but I die cut, colored and clear embossed the larger gear.  Just added a few sequins for highlights, thinking they weren't too feminine to work here.  Now which guy has the next birthday?!

Color On Kraft 2

This is an even simpler coloring on kraft cardstock using a stencil.  In this case I applied two shades of green over the bottom white ink.  Again I embellished with simple white flowers (punched) for contrast and dimension.

Technique On Kraft

We are fortunate that the internet gives us broad access to new techniques for our art.  This is actually an older technique that was again brought to my attention recently.  I applied white pigment ink through a stencil to kraft cardstock.  I let that dry and with the stencil still in place, added orange and then yellow pigment ink.  It's a subtle, unique look that I quite like.  I thought it only needed a few simple flowers and some gems.

A Softer Look

I used the powdered watercolors the same way on this flower as I did for yesterday's flower.  This time the result was softer and more blended.  I'm guessing there was maybe more water or maybe a finer grind of the powder--or both.  Totally random and marvelous--if you like that sort of thing.  Those colors are making me look good.  Well, maybe only gooder.

Speckled

Remember those powdered watercolors I tried?  I also used them for this flower.  It was stamped on white cardstock and I applied water to the iamge using a brush.  The powdered color was sprinkled on and then spread with the wet brush.  This is totally random, of course, and suits my lack of talent with watercolor.

One Last Window

The purple paper on the interior had a nice iridescence and some texture.  This time I put all of flowers on the card front and just had a butterfly on the card interior.  Flowers and leaves are die cut, with centers punched from silver paper.  This design has potential for all types of themes and color schemes and the window shape can be determined by your dies.  Are you inspired yet?

Wreaths Everywhere

Here's one last wreath card in dark purple and green.  The border is punched and I added satin ribbon.  The window piece is popped up.

"Wreath" make me think I should start making some Christmas cards.  Will need more than ever this year and I missed my traditional "Christmas In July" start.  I don't do well with the last-minute stress so need an early start.  I think I had a late start last year, too.  It always works out.

More Window Peeking

The background paper for this window card led me to a more rustic look.  I used old book pages to die cut the flowers and added some Distress Ink coloring.  Smaller punched flowers and pearls were added for more embellishment and leaves were die cut.

Powdered Watercolors

When I learned that powdered watercolors were available I thought I needed to try them out.  In this case I stamped the flowers, added the powder to some water and applied the color to the flowers with a brush--pretty much like traditional watercoloring.  I have the Brusho Crystal Colors and they are quite vibrant and easy to use.  There's a black which I diluted quite a bit for the shadowing and then I splattered some of it on the background.  Unfortunately this new product didn't improve my watercolor skills.  But they are still fun and I'll show you some other effects in the future.

Jewel Tones

Here's another wreath design made with peg stamps.  This time I chose jewel toned colors and cut the window from an embellished piece of cardstock that is popped up.  I added a ribbon bow and two layers of ribbon at the bottom.  I like the addition of the embossing--gives it a bit of softness, or something.

Lookin' Through The Window

The fold on the card front certainly adds dimension and interest but a window could also be cut in a flat gate fold and still be interesting.  Again I used patterned paper on the interior and chose matching colors for the rest card.  I added die cut flowers and leaves, some on the front and some inside.  This time I added a strip of patterned paper to the bottom.  The tag just overlaps to the right-hand side of the card.  A band could be used but my paper wasn't long enough for that.   Pretty, pretty, pretty.

Pale Popup

This is another design from the Stampendous set.  This time I used the jar rather than the vase and I included the third flower in the set.  There's more light blue coloring on the white than shows in the photo so it has more dimension in real life.  The butterfly is off gathering nectar somewhere else.

You Can Grow Flowers

Work in my journal continues, too, but sometimes at a pretty slow pace.  These pages are unique because the background is a skin of acrylic paint.  The skins were created by applying acrylic paint to a sheet protector, letting it dry and then peeling it off and adhereing it to the journal page.  (Traci Baustista technique).  In this case the left-hand page is on black paper and the right-hand is on white.  The text was computer generated and embellished with marker.  The borders are hand-drawn, flowers and butterfly are stamped and cut out.  I added some cotton thread to three triangular buttons that I found in my stash and added them for dimension.  Why am I thinking Mardi Gras?  Just needs some strings of beads. 

Folded Window

I created a series of this card design.  I admit it's a little tricky to align the die cut on the two folded edges so they line up perfectly but they don't have to be exact and it still looks okay.  Just draw the attention away with the addition of some flowers.  tee hee  Showing through the window is patterned paper and I selected a die cut flower that coordinated nicely.  Markers added color to the center of the flowers and I added some pearls and die cut leaves.  I'll show you a couple more these in the coming days.

Peg Stamping

This technique took me back in time.  Remember a few years back when those peg stamps made the scene?  You use about 9 of them in different colors to create a wreath.  I found it fun to play with them again and it's pretty easy to get a good result.  You start by stamping the same image at the positions for noon, three, six and nine and then fill in the areas between.  A few flowers, a few leaves and you're done.  Even a few little mistakes don't show much.  The addition of die cut windows makes a nice frame and that wasn't so easily possible back when.  I finished the design with some narrow satin ribbon.

Stampendous

And back to some stamping.

I haven't been buying many stamp sets lately but I liked this Stampendous stamp and die set for making popup cards.  There's a choice of three types of flowers in addition to two containers and the butterfly.  The die also includes tags and the design for the base.  And there's a die that cuts the panel that contains the tabs for the design.  I found it pretty easy to align the stamped images with the die to get a close cut and the cards are easy to assemble.  For this card I colored the images using Copic markers.  Who doesn't love getting a pretty popup card?!

Things To Be Happy About

berries, edible or not

outdoor concerts

bubbles

farmers markets

quilts

delicious new foods

visits from old friends

learning a new skill

dark chocolate peanut butter cups

chocolate hazelnut gelato