Under the Weather

Have umbrella will travel. ( truly, I have one in every vehicle we own and my closet because, I cannot get my ears wet for a prolonged period and really that joke about webbed feet for people who live in Or. well, it's true for most of the state west of where I live) the funny thing is that all the umbrella's I own are black. So, I think that is the part that makes this Two Paper Diva's rain or shine stamp so fun for me is it is big enough to paper piece easily. The plaid on this version is from the new lawn fawn pad of plaid papers. the pink mulberry is unknown and the bottom print is from Basic grey. So, you see that tiny get well? ( that is a ooops, its coming in one of next weeks new release sets) This is also the card that almost didn't happen, I have those clear Tim Holtz diffusers that are for putting into an embossing folder to make part of your paper not emboss. So, I have this SU embossing folder that is supposed to look like snow falling and I thought you know some of this rain comes down Splat huge. lets try to use this diffuser plastic under the umbrella to keep the rain from falling in that particular part of the card. It kinda sorta worked (not as well as I would have liked) and then I decided to add some stickles glitter glue to the embossed dents where the rain was and there are also some drops over the plaid on the umbrella too. (It's hard to see) There is also some wink of stella over the marker parts of the handle of the umbrella. I don't remember which color it is, something that's lid looked close enough to the spring rain colored cardstock.  This one is 6" square in real life.

WOYWW #356

Happy Wednesday Deskers! (yep, it's still Wed here...) (If you'd like to play along with us shoot a shot of what you are pushing around in your space and link it up here at our hostess Julia's blog.

  So, I had not been upstairs for a couple of days so, I made this first sympathy card to have something out on the table haha.. then two more simple ones quickly followed.Because, my insurance agent needs a sympathy card. ( and I have this fairly new to me set from Impression Obsession that I have not inked all the way yet)
off to the far left are some really big poppy's that were water colored over the weekend and were stuck under the misti after they were mostly dry for pressing. The "coffee" has some hot cocoa in it...
one of the umbrella cards from last weeks loot pile went live here. and a second will follow tomorrow.

 

What that card looks like standing. the burlap flower I forget who makes it and the lace is vintage and I "think" that printed paper is from Basic Grey. This one is 6" square in real life ( as are the two below) 

 The paper the sentiment is stamped on is from Basic Grey ( I am so going to miss them making paper it's "almost" enough to make me want to collect fabric again (because, supposedly they are going to keep going with that) the printed mulberry paper is unknown and the stardream shimmer was cut into a window and up on pop dots over the star sentiment. If your curious, this is the card he ended up choosing.

Each of these cards say with sympathy in side of them. this particular one the papers are from Die Cuts With a View and the sentiment is an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp. cut with an Mama Elephant stitched tag die. ( it's up on pop dots) These were done just to bump up his choices when he comes by the office tomorrow for a card. ( I had a few already made but, some were for a pet loss so, I decided to just do some simple ones real quick after work. YAY! For daylight :) 

Morning Person

This is not actually true in my case but, it did make me smile. I had wrecked the first version card I had made for the symmetrical VSN challenge and I promptly pulled the pieces I had made ( the ugly parts) off the top of this base and then just kind of grinned at this sentiment laying on the table since I stamp things when I get them and sometimes it takes a while to use them. ( the sentiment is from Verses and that cup is a MFT diecut, I did run the belly band part of it through the big shot in a cuttlebug basket weave folder) This is only A-2 in real life.The cream colored layer was cut with a spellbinders baby bunting die and the skinny one is a MFT pierced fishtail die.

Brighter Days

 

From the March new release at Two Paper Diva's is this cute set Rain or Shine which has this really fun sized umbrella ( big enough to paper piece) with 4 sentiments. All of these printed paper are from My Minds eye. ( the red strip is the reverse side of the stripe front piece) I did use an lacey square spellbinders die for the mat and one of the 6" square mat dies for the image panel. The sentiment was diecut with an nellie snellen tag die.

This I masked in the flower from the bloom wildly watering can stamp. 

as seen below. this was colored with some distress ink markers and water, with yellow stickles in the centers of the flowers.

Because, I do not very often cut my stamps apart even though sometimes I would like to use them that way in pieces I tend to use my clear blocks with masking over the Misti because, I stamp standing up and this I think gives me a better perspective peering through it, plus its a little smaller to work around.
the umbrella had been stamped on sticky notes and placed over where the color would be and then the flowers were inked and then I placed a few pieces of clear scotch tape on the stamp where there was ink that I did not want to stray into the design. ( I tend to color more things than I paper piece and when I did this I was thinking to color the umbrella) I am guessing if you knew in the beginning that you were going to paper piece you probably would not have to mask off the umbrella because, that part would be covered with paper later.

WOYWW #355 {cleaned & Happy mail}

 Happy Wednesday! If you'd like to play along with us shoot a shot of what you are pushing around in your space and link it up here on our hostess Julia's blog.

 This was shot at about a quarter to 8 am here on wednesday. ( I never made it upstairs after work on tuesday as I was driving all day for work ( through the snow) and I get a little flash burned feeling in my eyes when that happens... but, on Monday night I did receive some of the new release stamps for April from Two Paper Diva's along with something I can play with now...
Which you can see below.
The interesting part of this shot is, you really get the effect that I am stamping in a cave up there yes? ( I really am most of the time) and I do have a third ott light near/above the big shot that is a floor model I can bend around and shine at that left side of the table as needed but, I wasn't there to play just to show you all a peek so, I didn't turn on that third light.
also on the left is a card I did for VSN on monday that was for having Mixed Media Hair. that I have not gotten to blogging yet. ( thought I would have time to make the last three tuesday and wednesday haha. I either have to make that drive again today or tomorrow. as yesterday was a emergency pit stop ice pick up until my regular order arrives)

Isn't that fun? ( it's been raining and snowing here for every day of this new spring so far) So, depending on how work goes will depend on how late it is before I make the rounds this week. Have a good day! & thanks for stopping by.

Birthday Cards

 So recently June took a request from an older guy who wanted to have 8 birthday cards for teenagers ( 2 cards for 4 kids) and 2 graduation cards... and the only details I had were one girl dances ballet,  So these ballet slippers were personalized to say Happy Birthday Olivia on the cover. the other grand daughter is grown and "finding her self" one boy is 16 ish or will be and is into dirtbikes, and the second boy is graduating this year and likes "science"... So, this started off a mental panic as that really is not much clue wise to go from and I promptly ordered this large ballet feet stamp from My Heart stamps for you and when it came I colored one yellow and one in shades of pink and ended up being able to use the yellow pair during VSN.

 So, this is what I did with the pink pair.

 Now these I was whimpering about this to Janice ( as it took a few weeks to receive the stamp order) and she said I have some ballet shoes I will stamp you off a couple just in case... and so, I ( ruined the ones on white cardstock trying to figure out where to color and what to leave blank haha) and then with these kraft ones I decided to just scribble in some white gel pen and try to keep them simple. this one the sentiment is from Verve Stamps and the one below the sentiment is geared more towards it could maybe work as her graduation card if he picks one of the big shoe cards for one of her birthdays. after he seen these Kraft and White cards he firmly told me that Ballerina's wear pink and these looked like "boy" cards... So, they are headed to the booth in the fall.

 The music sheet print is from Recollections last year at Christmas time.
 these are both A-2 in real life.

 Now, I really just mentally hit the wall with the "finding them sleves or likes science " for clues. so, I decided to do some generic-y cards that maybe will work. ( he has not seen these yet)
the balloons are from SU and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

 A warm version.

 Funnily enough right after like the day after this grandpa asked for cards the lady who gave him my work address called work and asked for a card for that man. and the only clues she gave was she wanted humorous and enduring... and that they go out to the woods and hunt trees together... so over that weekend ( she gave me a two day deadline for this card) I made a few different versions. this was one of them) and no, she did not buy any of the cards I spent the weekend worrying about to make for her to choose from. the trees are a die cut from Tim Holtz and the sentiment is from Club Scrap.

 Another generic guy card that was done real simple as a choice for the man's birthday.
The image is from Crafters Companion. ( it was a goof on Amazon the Penny black cat with the birdcage scene humorous stamp set had its picture on the words that would give you this scene... so, I decided to keep it even though I did leave them a comment that perhaps they should put the correct stamp photo onto their right purchases so, it doesn't happen to someone else.

 Found this dirt bike image also on Amazon and I was really worried it would not arrive quickly because, it came from the UK. but, it did arrive in a week and a half or so... so, this was water colored and fussy cut and is up on pop dots. and this one was personalized for Eli.

 I am not really sure who makes the stamp, it says on Amazon that it was sold by Stamp Press and fulfilled by Athena Crafts UK. its name is extreme Motorcycling Unmounted rubber stamp.

 This owl just looked so fluffy and cool to me ( Impression Obsession) kids smart about science owls are supposed to be mascots for smarts right? ( that was the thought process)
I know, I know... and I really don't have anything "science" for images... when I googled that I kept seeing Halloween sets with breakers of poisons and spiders all over them. I did find one set from maybe lawn fawn or someone but, it was a little too young I think. ( well, I never met any of these kids so, my brain says no, that set is too cute)

 something that I really don't like much. those green flowers are kind of hmmm... (sentiment is from Penny Black I think.

 This one the sentiment (SU) has some shimmery H2O's over the top of the stamping. which goes ok with the polished stone sheet under it.

in real life. I will post the graduation cards later in a separate post because, I know these posts lately have been really photo heavy and my internet gets crabby about posting them all.

 These candles are from Penny black and while I was water coloring them I decided to add in a grey shadow to the left side of every candle to give them all a little more depth.

So, some of the choices the man will have to choose from also include some of the water colored blooms from the previous post for the older girl.

Water colored blooms

 So, a few people asked how the water coloring had turned out... and these are ones that have been done over the last week or two I guess. ( tulips are from darkroom door)

 The bra-vo is from Custers last stamp, and I am trying to remember the congratulations ( I want to say Hero Arts...) hey, its one of those things that got pulled off the wood recently if its rubber and if not it probably still is hero arts as I have a set of a lot of simple sentiments on the same set sheet.

 This daisy was done on watercolor paper with distress inks and some QoR watercolors over the top of it.

 a little vintage I guess but, that is something that just comes naturally to me. the sentiment on this one is from Verve Stamps.

 The daisy's are from one of the Club Scrap OOpsie daisy sets ( they named more than one that and I have them both) the Happy Birthday is from  Mama Elephant.

 This poppy is from Sweet and Sassy stamps ( its the largest background one) and the sentiment is from (I have to check I know its a clear one)

 So, this was mostly colored with distress inks and some pencil for the background.

 This one I messed it up... of course when it was nearly done I had stamped over the lower right corner of the bloom with the sentiment you see through the window frame, first time not enough, second time lets go one more time... ( did not use the misti lol) because, of course I can see through that sentiment... ( rolling eyes here) and the third time yes, you guessed it, wiggled the word and made it blurry. So it got whacked and tucked behind a window because, most of the flower was still "OK"

 These are hero arts stamps btw.

 The mondo magnolia is from Ellen Hutson and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

 These blooms are from Altenew and the top sentiment is from Dylusions and the banner sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.

 This one the Poppies are from Penny Black and the sentiment is from Avery Elle

 This one the blooms are from Altenew and the sentiment is from teeny tiny wishes from SU.

 Now these I think the big single flower and the tall purple flowers on the left are Penny Black and the cluster on the right is Stampendous.

 All of these cards were done by scribbling waterbased markers on the rubber and misting with water before stamping.

 I had taken them down to the table where I color thinking I was going to add some background color to them but,

 I ended up leaving them all a little on the clean side.

 This one I did add some stickles to the tips of the bloom and a strip of washi tape on the edge. ( which I do not like but, I am not going to run out and buy a bunch more colors of the tape because, seriously I have to force my self to use it, and 9 times out of 10 I dont like it when its done.
I would rather see the textile things like ribbons and lace on cards.

The sympathy sentiment on this is from Impression Obsession.

 This branch is from Penny Black. ( I think it was originally a magnolia type bloom) but, I scribbled marker on the rubber and misted it with water and so the softening that does makes it more of a generic bloom I guess? The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

 And this post can finally go live because, this one has landed in Cheryl's mail box. ( she was a recent teapot destination and it took me forever to decide what to make...) and then it took me a while to mail it. :) The branch is from Penny Black and the Sentiment is from Hero Arts.

VSN {so far}

The theme for this current VSN is Here comes the sun.

 Melody's challenge is to use circles... This is A-6 in real life, the birds are from technique tuesday, the letter background is from MFT and the sentiments are from Dylusions.

 Brenda's challenge was to create a round sun shape symmetrically with something ( not a sun stamp) The two sizes of snowflakes are wood mounted so, I did not get them absolutely perfect and tied the ribbon over that as a decoy distraction. The sentiment is from Savvy Stamps.

 Sharon's challenge was to use music, lyrics and I needed a girl birthday (ballet) card so, this was done for that. it's 6" square in real life. the shoes are from my heart stamps for you and the sentiment is from Altenew (stamped repeatedly)

 Sabrina's challenge was to do a shades of grey card with a pop of Yellow... so, this butterfly ( prickley pear stamps ) was heat embossed on the shimmery gold vellum a while back and that sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Michelle had a do a vintage theme challenge and I have you know piles of things I had made in the past ( heat embossed) or things I colored and did not use at the time in a box. so, this melted pearls butterfly ( Savvy Stamps ) was done for one of the previous Dare to get dirties or HYCCT challenges and it was an extra that was not used and not discarded. same thing with the thank you sentiment from Concord & 9th.

 This paper is something I picked up recently just because it was so dang pretty and I really didnt have a plan for it but, I cut off a square and had it laying on the table and thought the colors could go vintage... the lace is vintage. the base is DCWV. and this one is 6" square.

 Misti has an things that happen out doors when it warms up theme... and I had gotten this penny black set recently and water colored it for the heck of it. ( I need more guy cards) and so, while I was water coloring it, I decided people plowing through the dirt get their tires dirty haha so, I think the dirt and the greys blended a little too much on the tires but, it's still OK. and it does give it that is being really used look.

 Now Lisa had a use a boat image on your card challenge... so this gal from Viva Las Vegas came out of the box... ( I colored her a long time ago I am guessing with copic makers and prisma pencils) the dream sentiment is from an old SU one ( where the rubber is purple) and the hang in there is from Stampa Rosa.

 just for laughs I had stamped a couple of these chicks with this sentiment (because, I just got this sentiment in the mail recently) and so, when I seen Angie's challenge was to send sunshine in a box I started smiling and colored this chick up. ( its done twice and paper pieced into the design for a little depth)

 Do you see all the eyelets? ( those are paper hole reinforcers on the die... and they are teeny tiny and it takes forever to paint liquid glue on that backs) which is not normally a big deal in my reality but, VSN challenges are timed to top out at 1 hour of actual construction time & Merla's challenge is to use something new... so, not having played with this before... I had no clue how long it would take me to figure out the die.

 

The all star sneaker die and these sentiments are all from My Favorite things.

I love chucks and I have a pair of pink lowtops actually that I wear on sunshiny days. But, June recently took an order from someone that was for 10 teenager cards... and since I did not meet the person or get any kind of a feel for what they are really after I have randomly been working on this list (that was very little to go on) to complete this for him so, this card was done for that. I think this could be given to a teenager ?

Sonja's challenge was to pick one of the heat required techniques to try. and I chose the tutorial Loll did with heating copper shim metal. I die cut it with an Memory box prim poppy and used the scrap of corrugate to stabilize it and the sentiment is from lil inkers.

I think there are like 4 more to go, but it will depend on if I can tweak them to suit other cards I need to make as to if I will get them done before the deadline next weekend. (are you playing along? you can find the details here: