Friday, August 30, 2013

Safari Birthday

I have FINALLY finished the first of three card samples for my end of September class using the Gatefold Easel design. Yep, I'm behind but then I've been gone and have stuff other than card making to do.  But, are you ready??


Sorry for the paper clip as the card wouldn't stay closed.  I chose not to do a slider as these cards uses enough paper and that I pay for myself out of what I make ($12 per person or kit) for the class.  The text is from a Hero Arts set that I use a lot for the classes.


Here it is open.  The papers are from Creative Imaginations and BoB8unny.  The giraffe is by Stampendous from the Serengeti set.  I used my Corner Chomper to do the rounding....


And open.  Fairly simple. No rhinestones or bling on this card.  Now, on to the next 2 cards but I also need to make a birthday card for our middle granddaughter.  Got a picture printed that I want to use..

Oh, this is the LAST WEEKEND in August!! Yikes!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

221st Workdesk and the Bronc Rider

By golly, today is Julia's (the Stamping Ground) 221st week of celebrating workdesks from around the world!  WOW!  If you figure it out that's 4 1/4 years!  I've only been doing this for about 1 1/2 years. I've had such great inspiration and giggles along with some serious moments in celebrating this international blog tour.  I have the link at the end of my post so that you may go to Julia's blog and check out all the great desks yourself. Be prepared to spend some time.  This past week I've been so busy I only got to about 10 desks, shame on me.


I'm working on my class samples for my September class at AZ Scrapbooking store in Green Valley, AZ.  Last week on my Wed. post you seen the Gatefold Easel card and that's my class.  I have 1 sample done and here I'm starting on the 2nd. There are stamps by Inkadinkado to the right called Fall Season. And more stamps further right by Hero Arts that I have used a lot.  I can only use stamps and paper that I purchase at the store.  To the left, more paper.

This past weekend our grandson-in-law was in a rodeo in northeastern Montana.  He started out on his bronco but, needless to say, the bronc won.  Sky got 3 broken ribs, a bruised lung, and other bruises.  He spend a couple nights in the Sidney, MT hospital (we used to live near Sidney many years ago) as the doctors were concerned about the lung collapsing.  They don't have insurance for the medical bills but are getting lots of help from family and friends in the taking care of their small farm (with lots of horses, dogs, and a couple calves) and Ryan, our great grandson. I wish we still lived in the area.  I made this card for Sky and am sending them a gift card to help out.


The stamp is by Stan Lynde who, many years ago, wrote the Rick O'Shay cartoon strip ( and I have a couple more of his stamps).  I've met the guy in person back in 1998 when I worked for an attorney in Red Lodge, MT as he and another were putting together the paperwork for the Montana Centennial Cattle Drive.  But I digress...


I used some burlap as a layer and colored with my Copics.  Not fancy but it gets the point across.  And, if you're a praying person, please say a prayer for Sky to heal as he can't work right now and our granddaughter is going to fill in for him at his ranch job.

Now, please click HERE to go on to the Stamping Ground and join in for some great inspiration!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Trick Or Treat

No, it's not Halloween yet but I seen a cool sketch  (#187) on Operation Write Home and had some great Echo Park paper and stickers left over and, ta da!  Light bulb!  Well, I did turn on my desk lamp.  I like to send out cards to the kids and their families for holidays, etc. and am working on my stash as I usually get "surprised" when I get ready to send the cards and I have none.  Are you ready?


There is NO stamping.  The stickers are wonderful and so no stamping needed.


I think the stickers are great with their detail.


How cool is this?  One year I sent Rice Krispie treats wrapped in plastic wrap and cool black shiny tissue paper with labels.  Not sure what I'll be doing this hear.  If you're interested in seeing my different gifts just click on the "Theme: Halloween" label in the side bar and you'll get all the posts listed of my Halloween projects.

I still have a bunch of paper in this pack and lots of stickers.  I better get them used up before I make my next Memory Works order! 

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Bee and Honeycomb

Since I've gotten home from seeing our kids, etc. in Wyoming I've had a heck of a time getting back into card making and such.  Even house cleaning has been a struggle.  I made this card Thursday but yesterday I spent the day with hubby at different work locations.  Today we're working around the house, changing oil on vehicles, and other mundane chores.  I just washed and hung out his work clothes and now I'm at my computer.  Here is the card I made using a bee I got from QKR stamps and a new embossing folder from Cuttlebug...


I'm also learning my new Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 program as my old program just was not working so good anymore.  I had it since 2000 or so.  I got this one on sale at Amazon and so far it's pretty user friendly.  Anyway, I KNOW that I should have used an odd number of flowers but I just couldn't get 2 to work on the lower right corner.  I wanted to offset all the "weight" on the left and balance the card a bit more.


I wanted to lighten this photo more but I'm still working that out with Photoshop.  Now I have to prepare at least 6 kits for my class this next Thursday so I better get it in gear.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Wednesday Workdesk and an Easel Card

It's good to be home but I already miss our kids, granddaughter, and great grandson.  I'm back to work, back to doing laundry and cooking.... yep, home.

But today is that infamous day that we celebrate our desks!  Since I've been gone I have not taken part in this fun international blog hop but now it's time. Thanks to Julia Dunnit over at the Stamping Ground for the fun and inspirational "tour"!  And I have a card made!  Wahoo!


What you see here is me preparing for a class on Aug. 29th. Yep, I finally have an actual class coming up!  I have 4 "students" and 2 kits to make.  I closed the class at this point as I have limited paper available.So, there's the little case to hold the card kits, the paper cutter getting ready to cut paper, my scissors, and assorted odds and ends.


Yeah, it's a gate fold card with a slider to hold it closed.  But there is a surprise to this card.  Oh, all stamps are from a set called Give Thanks available through Red Rubber Designs. Paper is by BoBunny mostly.


Now it's open and it still looks like a gate fold card.  But, it's something more!


It's also an easel card!  How cool is that!! But then I did tell you what this card was in my post title. This is a prototype for my end of September class that I'll be working on soon.  And the white base is cut from an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of card stock.  Pretty cool! I seen this card design on a blog by Dayanna Donng.

So now, if you'd be so kind to leave a comment, please click HERE to head over to the Stamping Ground and take the tour.  I'll be heading there later today to enjoy many desks (I usually don't have time to do all, I generally visit about 20 or so).

Monday, August 19, 2013

Be Still

I was inspired by a cool card on Pinterest and this card is the product of that inspiration.  It was made by a Sandy Mathis and it was just lovely!  My card doesn't use the same layout but just the background is kinda similar.


The scripture is by The Angel Company and the flower silhouettes by Sunday International.  The twine is a new one by The Twinery called Denim.  The only thing I would change on this card it to have the moon on the right instead of the left.  Actually the card started out in landscape format but things changed.  I should have left it as a landscape card.  Oh well....    Do you do things like that?

I have to share this sunrise with you.  I took it July 30.  To me it was just breathtaking!


There is a "dot" near the bottom center.  I know my flash went off so I don't know it that has something to do with the spot.  The mountains are the Santa Rita range east of us. I've seen some spectacular lightening storms on them and a wild fire a few years back.  Also, if you are a praying person please pray for my mom.  Her cancer doctor found a "spot" on her shoulder and he and the heart doctor are quite concerned.  We take her to a hospital today for more tests.  Thanks!

Friday, August 16, 2013

A Woman's Dress

Well, I'll be heading back south to AZ tomorrow.  Back to the grind of everyday life.

Here's a card I had fun with using BoBunny Prairie Chic paper and chipboard embellishments (purchased from Memory Works).  It's a classic layout.  My hubby asked when I showed it to him how did I match the buttons so well...  I had to say it was just luck.  The buttons came from an embellishment jar I purchased quite a few years ago by Making Memories called Audrey Collections.  There are also paper and felt flowers in the jar.


I was thinking of our oldest granddaughter when I made this.  There is a song that has a phrase something like "her favorite dress is her favorite blue jeans".  It's by Garth Brooks.  I don't think Christen wears dresses but this card will suit her.


This saying says a lot, I think. Love it.

I'll be home from my Wyoming trip this afternoon.  Put a lot of miles on my car, even had to have the power steering pump replaced this past Monday morning due to the seal going out.  Did not want take the chance of it going completely out and me needing to be towed somewhere along my way.  Been a wonderful trip and already miss my kids, granddaughter, great grandson, and sisters-by-choice.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Pine Bough

I came across a card on Pinterest a while back using a technique that I haven't used in ages.  My card bears absolutely NO resemblance to that card so I won't mention anything more about it.  And it's been a while since I made a masculine card.....


I used some cool BoBunny paper that I purchased from Memory Works (they have fabulous packs with embellies of all kinds) called Weekend Market.  I love the rich colors in the papers.  Can you tell what I did with the Pine Bough (from a The Angel Co. set called Good Timber)?  I stamped it with a VersaMagic ink then stamped again off a bit with VersaMark Ink then embossed with white powder.  Next, after cooling, I sponged the original ink around the embossed image then wiped off the excess with a tissue.  I'm bummed as the white embossing did NOT come clean


The embossing took on a beige color which I'm not overly thrilled about.  The white would have been better. Oh well.  And did you notice on the card the 3 rust colored rhinestones?  There's 1 on the short strip to the left and 2 on the long strip to the right.  You may have to click on the picture to enlarge to see them.  I also used my Corner Chomper to round the corners.  That is the BEST rounder I've ever had.   Have you done this technique and has the white embossing come clean to white?  Any suggestions or hints?

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sooo Thankful For You

I really like stamps by Red Rubber Designs.  Probably because they were first by The Angel Company with whom I was an independent consultant for 9 years until its closing in 2011.  Pam purchased the rights to many of the stamps and opened RRD almost a year later and now I have oodles of her stamps! She does a good job and I hope she has MANY years of prosperity with this company.  Anyway, I have a set called Happily Grateful that I really like.  I used the branch and flower from the set for this card.


I used VersaMagic inks for the colors.  Look close.... I did something with PrismaColor pencils on the leaves for flowers.  Oh, the text is also from an RRD set Joyful Notes.


Here, I made it easier to see.  I added some additional color to make the images pop a bit more.  Oh, yeah, I added bling to the center of each flower.  This card would be good for a get well or birthday or whatever is needed.  I like it.  What do you think?

Today I start my trip back home.  But first I have to take my car to a repair shop as the power steering pump seal is leaking it's fluid.  Don't really want to have the steering go out which will cause other issues and may cause me more problems on the road home. I have had a wonderful time with our son, his girlfriend and our granddaughter and her family. Tears may flow later.

Friday, August 9, 2013

A Cascade of Flowers

I think this card took the longest of any I've made in a LONG time.  I made my background using a stamp by Red Rubber Designs called Beauty of a Woman.  I embossed it with white embossing powder then used my brayer and 2 inks, a yellow and an orange.  I bet I heat embossed 2 different flower images and 1 leaf image and colored them and they just would NOT work with what I had in mind.  Finally, I grabbed a paper pack from The Angel Company called Maggie and some punches.  After punching some flowers and leaves I used a Cuttlebug Embossing folder and my Big Shot and here's the finished card.


I seen a very similar card on Pinterest but I wasn't on there when I made this post (prescheduled as I'm on vacation) so I can't give you any info about the person who made it.  I think I may have too many leaves but I like this.


I didn't emboss all the flowers, just the bigger ones that I knew I could sand to add some pop.  I also used a dot of Crystal Ice Stickles to the center of each and every flower.  Do you Pinterest?  Do you try and make the things you pin?  Great inspiration and I've even made some of the recipes which were delish!!

I'm in northwest Wyoming this week and having a great time.  My son installed a cool Kenwood radio in my car which I can play my MP3 player when I can't get a decent radio station.  I've spent an afternoon with our granddaughter Christen, the gal in the recent scrapbook page I've posted, and our great grandson Ryan.  We played at the kiddy pool and, needless to say, I got wet but had a ball!!  Hope to see them again tonight but will on Sunday.  So, hope you're having a great week!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Spotlight on a Dahlia

I seen another card on Pinterest that fascinated me that came from SplitCoastStampers by a RaeInReno.  I actually am a member of that group but haven't been on for AGES!  I think I'm missing out!


I used pattern paper that I purchased in a pack about 20 years ago by D.O.T.S. (now called Close To My Heart).  The dahlia is from a beautiful set designed by Nina B and sold by Penny Black (last time I checked anyway).  The text is from a Hero Arts set and the twine is a new solid style from The Twinery! By golly, I remembered all of this! Amazing!


I just can't tell you where I got the little black rhinestone that is in the flower center. And can you see where I missed inking the stamp?  I think I made the spotlighted piece 3 times with the 3rd time not having a black smudge from my thumb.   When I was making this card (July 27th) it was raining buckets with lots of lightening and thunder and I think when the lightening struck I'd jump.  Seems I was placing the inked stamp on the little piece of card stock and my jump caused my thumb to touch the paper.  My fingers are frequently inked by accident.  Do you have this problem?

I won't be taking part in the international blog hop sponsored by Julia at the Stamping Ground since I'm in Wyoming.  I'll be missing in action next Wednesday, too, as I won't be home until the evening of the 18th.  At least that's my plan as I'm supposed to work on the 20th.

Monday, August 5, 2013

A Gecko Sympathy

That's kind of a goofy title but it fits the card I made.  We had oodles of geckos around here.  They're constantly running around with their bellies high off the ground and their tails sticking up in the air.  What a hoot to see!  And I seen a card in Pinterest that inspired this that was on SplitCoastStampers by a poster by the name of Biggan.


I used scrap colored card stock that coordinated fairly good.  Also used my new Fiskars border punch called Bubbles. Oh, the scalloped squares are by a punch, too, as is the geckos.


I raised up the white gecko punched piece for a bit of dimension.  The text stamp is from a set called With Sympathy by Red Rubber Designs.  This card uses a No. 10 envelope.  I'll probably sell this card at the AZ Scrapbook store in Green Valley, AZ as they need more sympathy cards.  This area is a large retirement location with many 55+ subdivisions. Many retirees are "up north" for the summer right now.  And I'm in northwest Wyoming with our son and his girlfriend and hoping to get out to our granddaughter's to play with our great grand son!!  I'll be checking in to moderate comments as I have the laptop with me.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Our Grand Daughter, the Cowgirl

Our oldest grand daughter, Christen, is quite the cowgirl.  She trains horses, helps with branding, does roping and more in rodeos, and so much more.  Her husband is an really good cowboy and seems more comfortable on the back of a horse than in a pickup truck.  Recently Christen posted some great pics on FaceBook and, granny that I am, I downloaded them to look at and scrapbook.


I'm not the best scrapbooker and get such brain burps trying to pull pictures and elements together.  But I do like this page. The paper is from BoBunny's Prairie Chic paper package.  All the embellishments are by Paper House and are very 3D.


This Country sticker is about 3/8" high and is 3 layers not counting all the foam.


I seen this phrase somewhere and it wasn't on Pinterest but I like it and printed it using a color to coordinate with the paper.

I will be seeing our Christen in a few days as I'll be in northwest Wyoming. I'm actually driving today.  Tomorrow evening I should be in Cheyenne, WY at the daughter's home then on to the Powell/Cody area Monday evening.  And hopefully I'll get to see her barrel race at an event next week, too.  And, if my pics turn out, I'll have lots more to scrap!