Monday, May 30, 2011

The Flag - long may she wave

Our ATC theme for our monthly Ink Spots meeting was Patriotic.  What's more symbolic (at least to me) of something patriotic than the U.S. flag??  Whenever I sing the Star Spangled Banner and hold my right hand over my heart as the flag goes by for ANY reason I have tears of love in my eyes for my country.  So, of course, I had to do the flag.


We make 10 trading cards and usually have a few to spare.  Here's my 10 and there is NO stamping!  Now don't be shocked!!  I do have them stamped on the back with a retired TAC™ stamp that says, "No.1 Collector's Edition Designed By __________________ "  And I have my name and card # (1/10, 2/10, etc) written in.


Here's the close up.  I used a tearing ruler to get nice clean tears and the star is punched out of silver metallic cardstock. 

So, how are you celebrating Memorial Day today? A parade? Picnic? Yard work? Sleeping?  We are staying home but hoping to take next weekend off for a mini vacation.  We're contemplating going to Sedona, AZ at this time but, who knows.... 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Going to the Dogs...

I'm a member of the yahoo group, AZ Stampers.  We have a monthly Above/Below swap and I try to get involved as I can.  This month's theme is Dogs.  I have NO current TAC™ stamps but a couple retired sets.  I used Dog's Life which I just love.  I also used a retired paper collection called Amelia which has such rich colors.


I colored this puppy with Copic markers....
Shadow: N1
Dog: E33, E35, & E35
Outline: Y21 & Y23


I added some cool twine from The Twinery called maraschino.  I purchased a sample pack a while ago and am still getting a lot of mileage out of it!  I also used a Black glitter pen on the eyes and nose for a shine.


I'm trying to show the background where I used small images from the stamp set and VersaMark ink.  IRL is much better.

I hope you have a safe and fun Memorial weekend.  And please remember those who fought and died for the freedom of the United States and other countries.  Freedom isn't free and they gave their all. And if you see a serviceman/woman, please thank them for their commitment to our great country.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Card a Day in May - Sketch 4

As promised Sunday evening here's another card using the Sketch 4 for the Card a Day in May on the TAC Savvy Projects blog.  Here's the sketch done by angel Heather Scott...

This is one of the cards I'll be teaching in June - in fact, my class is the day before I fly to Wichita, KS for our TAC annual convention!


I used the Baby Blossoms set - a miniature of the Blossoms & Blessings set but without text- which was a special a while back.  I got the paper at the LSS in Green Valley, AZ.  I LOVE the colors!!  I stamped the blossom with Noir and colored with PrismaColor pencils.  (I actually have the 125 count set.)


The text is from the the Bless Your Heart hostess set.  I also used the Giga Scalloped Circle punch and the Mega Circle punch along with some decorative scissors.  And how do you like the flower center??  It's from the Black Gem collection!  Those are SO cool!

So after leaving a comment or rating please click on the Card A Day link at the beginning of this post and visit the TAC blog and all the cool entries!!  The inspiration is wonderful!!!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

A card pyramid...

As you know I'm a Technique Junkie.  I subscribe and get the newsletters and CDs and love learning about and seeing all the new ideas.  And you know I share my cards here using those techniques.  I'm also in a monthly swap with other Junkies.  I borrowed a stamp from the LSS (local scrapbook store) in Green Valley, AZ to try this one called Pyramid. The stamp is by Stampabilities and is called Hemispheres. I chose it as it has a great pattern and a rectangle outline that is easy to work with.


I stamped the image 4 times using 4 different inks.  After choosing the way I wanted to layer them I cut them in various sizes and layered using foam mounting tape. The background pattern is by KaiserCraft in the Timeless Collection called World Map.  Do you see the cool gems from the Black Gem collection??






Here's a side view to see the layers better.  For the first time playing with this technique I like the results! What do you think?? TJ has a couple other similar techniques that I need to try now!  And if you choose to become a Junkie please let Pat know you heard if from me! Thanks!!


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Favorite Final Farewell Blog Hop

Now that TAC™ has released the names of the stamp sets that are being retired some of us angels are having an angel art Paper Wings Blog Hop using our favorites of those being retired.  I'm betting you know what set (or sets) I'm using.  I'm a cowgirl at heart and used to have a horse.  I showed in horse shows with my Arabian, rode in the WY Centennial Wagon Train parade and rode 10 miles of the route with the wagon train. I've gone on many trail rides and trained 2 horses.  Enough clues??  If not, it's Hieroglyph Horses!!! And I used sketch 4 for the Card a Day in May (which I've used numerous times and have another card ready to post using it).


I used Winchester SWIC and matching cardstock to make the card.  And the text is from the Be Still retiring set (bummer).  And I used Winchester hardware and ribbon.  The paper is so rich in color and I love the earthy colors!  I used the Crop-a-Dile to punch the hole in the solid cardstock circle and attach the eyelet.  the blue strip has been cut with decorative scissors but my text piece shows the pattern which is Deckle.  I bet I have about 15 scissors.... do you remember to use yours???







Here you can see I used the Crumpled Paper technique on the horse using Cognac ink.  To see this technique just click on the Resources and Tutorials button right under the banner then click on the technique title.  This is such an easy technique and gives a fun look to the image.  My hubby thinks one of the horses in the set looks like a giraffe when I use this technique with it.  And, he is right. What a hoot!

Right now TAC is having quite a sale on the retiring sets.  Just click the button above called  May Specials then click on the words Final Farewells.  The list is HUGE (I have about 30 sets retiring)!!  Then contact me to place your order so that you can get all the benefits and goodies.  The order can be shipped directly to you. Minimum shipping is $6.95 or 10%, whichever is greater. 

So, after you leave a comment or rate my card, please hop to these other blogs for great inspiration using our retiring stamps.  Also, if you want to reserve a new catalog being release July 1 please contact me.  As of yet I don't know the cost or the shipping as this catalog is supposed to be larger than our retiring one.

Rita W.
Laura Nehring
Trudy O
Angela K
Shirley H
Seleise B
Teresa J

Friday, May 20, 2011

Week 3 of a Card a Day in May

Have you been enjoying TAC's Special this month??  Such wonderful projects and great inspiration!!  I finally got a card done using this week's sketch...


I used this sketch for one of my card samples for an upcoming class at the LSS in Green Valley, AZ.  I am using paper the store sells but TAC stamps.






So, what do you think?  I used the retiring Graphic Blooms set in the Giga Scalloped Circle using Raw Sienna and Ocean Depth inks.  The text is from the A Thousand Thanks Hostess set stamped with Noir.




I also edged the scallop circle and white text piece with the Ocean Depth ink for a bit more pop and added the gem from the Clear & Pearl Gem collection.  I like how this turned out.

I won't be adding the link here for all the cool ideas on TAC as the list is HUGE!!  Please click on the link at the top of this post and enjoy!

Also a heads up that Sunday evening I'll be participating in a Paper Wings blog hop called Favorite Final Farewell.  I have a couple sets, of the approx. 30 sets that are retiring in my stash, that I'm going back and forth on.  Who knows, I may do both!!  We'll see how my time goes along with the mojo.

So, please leave a comment or rate this card and then go to TAC's site and enjoy all those!


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Watercolor plants...

I've been researching for ideas for a June class at the LSS in Green Valley, AZ and I seen a sketch that caught my attention.  I have certain papers I want to work with and this card developed...


The pattern paper is by ADORNit and is called Tweet Red from the Vintage Groove Collection.  I found some matching Bazzill cardstock and, with my Watercolor Plants stamp set, this card developed.  I stamped the images with Bordeaux and Raw Sienna as these 2 inks coordinated so well with the papers!  And with the 1/4" wide burgundy ribbon and foam mounting tape...






and some gems from the Black Gem collection, a card is born!!!  I still have 2 more cards to do for a class meeting this afternoon so more blog surfing coming up!


Monday, May 16, 2011

Surprise!!

This week I've been working on my samples for upcoming June classes at the LSS in Green Valley, AZ.  Try as I might, the classes I've been having have not lasted 2 hours each as required by the owner.  My customers don't mind and they do get their cards done but I must either have more cards or more difficult cards.  Well, this class I'm working on now is definitely more difficult.  I found a blog post from 2008 that featured Surprise Pop Up Cards and I have made these a lot WAY back when.  So, I'm going to show you 2 of the 3 using the store's papers and an Outlines Rubber Stamp called Howdy.  I won't be showing much details but the insides of the cards do use TAC stamps. 


This paper is called Fiesta by We R Memory Keepers.  I love it!! It's so bright and double-sided!


Here you can see the "pop up".   I used Copic markers on the first card and PrismaColor pencils and OMS on the second card.  Both are stamped with Happy Fathers Day from the Trendy Greetings set.  I think my 3rd card will feature golfing but I need to get some paper for that.

Are you enjoying the Card a Day in May on the Savvy Projects blog??  And yesterday chalk was featured!!!  I will post a card shortly using that great coloring medium so stay tuned!!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Poppin' Pastels Sunflowers

Yesterday the TAC Savvy Projects blog is doing a hop using chalks on your card.  There are sure some wonderful projects already posted!!  My favorite is probably Poppin' Pastels using VersaMark ink, chalks, and an applicator (usually a cotton ball or Q-tips).  My Jewel Tones chalk comes with a cool applicator tool and little pom poms for applying the chalks.  And I used one of my favorite stamp sets, Sunflowers (my favorite flower - like them even better than roses!).


I realized after assembling the card that I should have reversed the yellow and green layers.  I just wasn't paying enough attention. Rats.


Can you see the shimmer??  It's really hard to photo.  And the corners...  cool punch.  Mine is called Southwest corners but I've seen it called other things, too.  And how about the fuzzy yarn...  Interesting.


And the cute little ladybug....  I used a Stardust Black gel pen on the dots.  I have to admit that doing this technique in small detail areas is tricky.  I used my trusty chalk eraser to help clean up the smears.

Now, check out these fun chalked cards!






Friday, May 13, 2011

Another Graduation card...

Since I posted one of the two cards Tuesday I better post the other one. (It was to have posted yesterday but Blogger was down for the day....)  This was for my niece.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology Summa Cum Laude from Newman University in Wichita, KS. She'll be attending a veterinarian college this fall in MO.


I used the same retired set for the white embossed phrase at the bottom and the same stickers from Michaels.


How do you like the white vellum scalloped circle?? This is from her graduation notice she sent us. I used the Mega Scalloped Circle punch and a 3" circle punch.  I had a scrap of holographic paper and used a piece of White Cardstock Strip  (discontinued).  I couldn't get it to photo but the base card is navy blue with red and yellow specks. 

Have you checked today the Card a Day in May on the TAC blog??  Check it out!!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A Card a Day - Sketch 2

I have been busy this morning making a couple Graduation cards - one for my niece and one for a niece's son... Would he be my nephew once removed or a grand-nephew...  Well, I digress.  Have you been following the TAC Savvy Projects blog for a card every day???  There are some really fantastic cards!!!  My goodness for all the great inspiration!!  I used the following sketch for this week designed by Heather Scott.

Such a nice clean sketch!  Love it and, in fact, I believe I used it a week or so ago for a post.

 
Since Ryan's school colors are maroon, silver and white I worked through my extensive paper pile for these colors.  I purchased the cool stickers at Michaels on sale this past weekend.  The Congrats is from a retired set called Congrats Grad. 


Here's a close up of the stickers. I now see I should have used a black marker on the edge of the circular one.  That white edge is distracting.

I was going to link all the cool cards here but the list is BIG!!    Please click on the blog link at the beginning of this post and take a look!!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Amazing album!!

My friend, Kathy, made an amazing album for her sister (I think).  I just have to share this with you!  No stamping!  Take a look!

Here's the cover.  She used some Tim Holtz products and LOTS of different papers.


These are the first 2 pages.  The flowers on the left side form a pocket.  The layers on the right side are layered to give more photo pages....


Here you can see the "flaps" of pages.  Just so cool!!


Here's pages 3 and 4....   You can see more pockets with tags on the left.



Again, the flowers on the left form a pocket.  And on the right are more pockets with tags inserted.


And more pockets and tags!!  And isn't the flourish she added just wonderful??






Here's the last 2 pages.  The piece with the kittens is a flap for a photo or journaling underneath.

In real life this is way more pretty than I can show here.  Kathy is very talented, isn't she??


Friday, May 6, 2011

Leaping Frog!

Today I'm posting a card for the Card a Day in the Month of May challenge on the TAC Savvy Projects blog. We are to use the following sketch designed by Heather Scott, a very talented angel.


I used the sets Joy Found and Tag Tidbits. I stamped these using Momento Tuxedo Black.


What do you think??   I used Miss Moxie SWIC and matching cardstock and some white cardstock.  Does the text piece look a bit crooked?  It isn't really but sure looks like it here! Weird!


Here's a close up of the frog.  I didn't use a lot of markers to color, just B41, G12, and G14.  Oh, I have added dots of the Stardust Clear Gel pen to the blue dots but the photo just doesn't show the bling....  Darn.  Looks pretty cool IRL (in real life)!  I also colored some white scrappers floss (I have LOTS but TAC now sells a product called Bone Scrappers Spool) with a copic marker (B45) to match the blue background.  This new stuff looks a whole lot easier to use.


And how do you like my background?  I used a Fiskars texture plate called waves and ran it through my Wizard. I mean, frogs like water and this was a cool way to add it!

I would love to hear from you as to what you think and then visit the other projects for some great inspiration!