Saturday, May 11, 2013

Hello! Welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by. I design and create handcrafted greeting cards. I like to call this passion of mine "visual poetry" ....imagery on paper. Please feel free to browse the photos of my cards and leave a comment.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Birthday Jazz



Inside of card


Hello, everyone! This card was made for my nephew's birthday. This was a really fun card to make!

I knew I wanted to include the guitar and music notes in my project so I began with my focal point. I printed a musical score from digital paper and then die cut it using Sue Wilson's California Basic Frames A die. I matted it in black with a larger die from the same set. Next, the guitar was cut in black card stock using Ellentina Cutting Dies Classic Collection. Since the guitar die cut had open areas, I matted it with silver glitzy paper to fill that in. "U ROCK" was computer generated and then cut with a circle die from Spellbinders Standard Circles and adhered to a circular shape cut with a die from Spellbinders Luscious Labels One. The sentiment was also computer generated and cut with Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges die and matted in black.

Having my die cut images ready, I wanted to present them on a complimentary layer and chose GKD Sweet Corn card stock and scored all four edges. This layer was then matted with black and adhered to a white base card. At this point I positioned and adhered my die cut images on the completed base to create a 3D effect.

For the inside of the card, shown above, this took some thought. I composed my own verse using musical terms and digital musical symbols. After adhering this panel to the inside, my project was complete.

Thanks so much for stopping by and viewing this post. Hope you come back again and again. Until next time, have a creative day!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Great Impressions  -  August Challenge  - Birthday Bash
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #120 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #86 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge Aug 26 - Sep 1  - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #147 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #71 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  - Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #25 - Anything Goes


Serene Lighthouse



Hello everyone!  Here it is the end of August. The new school year has begun in some areas. Labor Day is just around the corner and summer will be technically over. 

With the end of August, our optional theme here at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge is "lighthouse".  Here is my DT card that I created for this week's challenge.

I found this beautiful lighthouse scene digital stamp from Cornish Heritage and thought it would be perfect for my project. What inspired me to create this card was one I saw on line last year or so when searching for ideas to create a masculine card. What I had in mind to do with this image would take several attempts so off I went.

After printing out my image, I had planned to use an oval die with an intricate design around it to cut and emboss it with.  As you can see from the photo, the die is smooth in the center and has an intricate design around it. In coloring my image I wanted to leave the outer edge white and uncolored, therefore, I needed to create a mask to protect it while coloring.  I made my mask by taking a piece of card stock and cutting out an oval in the center, about the size of the smooth center of the oval die. I also printed out another image of the lighthouse and cut it out to use as a mask over the lighthouse when I colored around it. 

Now I was ready to color. First, I added clouds using a template and sponging Memento Summer Sky ink. (You can find cloud templates on line or you can use scalloped oval dies. If interested, here is a link to a cloud tutorial). Next, I removed the mask from the lighthouse image only...not the mask with the cut out oval. I colored my lighthouse image scene using Copic markers. After coloring and removing the mask, I cut and embossed my image panel using a die from Spellbinders Opulent Ovals.

My focal image being done, I created my base card in white card stock and layered it with patterned paper. Next, I positioned a die from Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large in the center of the patterned paper layer, making sure the oval die was  larger than my focal image die and then used the die as a guide to draw an oval in black marker inside the oval die. I added some die cut corners from Cheery Lynn Lace Corner Deco in black card stock. Finally I adhered my focal panel with dimensionals and my project was done.

Thanks for stopping by! And I hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend with friends and family and get some crafting done.


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #210 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #147 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #71 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #86 - Anything Goes
TTCRD -  Challenge Aug 26 - Sep 1  - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #25 - Anything Goes

Friday, August 22, 2014

Thank You Kitten Trio


Hello! Here is another card I made for my friend who had to put her young black cat to sleep. She wanted another card to send out to friends. I will be making 3 more of these for her.

I began with a base card in white card stock and layered it with GKD Dusty Sage. Next, I cut a layer in white using Spellbinders Marvelous Squares and adhered it to my base card. I put this aside and worked on my focal panel. 

I cut three kittens with Poppy Stamps Baby Kittens die in black card stock. Next, I cut a fence in kraft card stock using Memory Box Rounded Fence die and a leaf branch cut from Poppy Stamps Leafy Sprig die. Having prepared my die cut images, I then cut my focal layer in white card stock using another die from Spellbinders Marvelous Squares. Before removing it from the die I stamped a grass border on the bottom of the layer in Memento Bamboo Leaves ink with a stamp from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. In addition, I sponged Memento Cantaloupe and Tangelo inks at the top of this layer and then stamped my sentiment (GKD Autumn Splendor STV Kit).

After removing my focal layer from the die, I positioned and adhered the fence, kittens and leafy sprig onto my panel. This panel was then popped onto my base card with dimensionals and my project was complete.

I really enjoyed making this card and I hope that whoever my friend sends it to will enjoy it as well.
Thanks for stopping by and until next time.....make it a great day!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Creative Memories  -  Challenge #49 - Furry Friends
Sister Act -  Challenge #71 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #85  - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #146 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge 8/19 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly  -  Challenge 8/19 - To Die For
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #49 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #25 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #209 - Furry Little Friends

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Boys Will Be Boys




Hello!  I'm sure you've heard the expressions "boys will be boys". Well, for this week's Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz that's the optional twist. So for my DT card I chose to use this cute little guy cling stamp from DRS Designs, called Frog Boy Cutie Pie Kid, which I won in one of their challenges.

My first step was to stamp my image of the little guy. I needed to stamp the image in order to know where to position and color the background scene around him so I did not color him. (I would later color another image of him and cut him out to place over the stamped image.) Next, I stamped the water's edge using a stamp from Theresa Momber's GKD Follow Your Dreams stamp set. I masked the water's edge as well as the top third of my panel and used Memento Summer Sky and Danube Blue inks to create the ocean. Then I masked the ocean and used Memento Desert Sand and Cantaloupe inks to create the horizon. Again, masking the ocean, I colored the ground and water's edge by sponging with Memento Desert Sand and Rich Cocoa. I used a copic marker to color the grassy strips and stamped a flock of birds (Stampscapes) flying in the horizon.

At this point I stamped the little boy image on ivory card stock and colored him with Copics. Next, I cut him out and adhered him over the stamped image on the focal panel. This completed the scene that I had wanted to create. I die cut my focal panel using a die from Spellbinders A2 Modern Stationary and matted it with ivory card stock which was cut and embossed using the larger die from the same die set. 

My base card was prepared in ivory and layered with blue, which was scored around the edges with a single score line. I adhered my focal panel to my base and went to work on the sentiment.

I found the little frog image on line and added the "Boys will be boys" to the sign. I colored the frog with Copics and then die cut and embossed the image with Spellbinders Labels 11. Using Memento Desert Sand  ink, I sponged around the image before removing it from the die and popped it on my card with dimensionals. My project was complete.

Thanks for visiting and make it a great day!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Mod Squad  -  Challenge 8/20 - Coastal Inspiration
613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #85 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #146 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge 8/19  -  Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly  -  Challenge 8/19 - To Die For
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #49 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Challenge  -  Challenge #25 - Anything Goes

Friday, August 15, 2014

Cat in Window

 

Hello! For those of us who have pets, we know how hard it is when we lose them, especially when they are young ones. A friend of mine just lost her 4 yr. old black cat to an illness. She asked me to make her a card that she wanted to give to the kind Vet who came in on his day off to handle the matter.  Here is the card I made for her.

I began with creating a 5x5 base card in white card stock. I added a layer of GKD Dusty Sage card stock which had been embossed with a Darice EF. The casement window was cut with a Poppy Stamp Grand Madison Window die in white card stock. The window valence was created using a Cheery Lynn Border Carnivale die and the wallpaper was some digital patterned paper that I had on hand. The window, wallpaper and valence were assembled and adhered to each other and then the completed window scene was popped onto the base with dimensionals.

The cat was cut in black card stock with a Poppy Stamp Large Sitting Cat die, positioned and adhered in the window. I added a dot of green with a Gelly Roll pen to create an eye on the cat's face. The leafy sprigs, cut with Poppy Stamps Leafy Sprig die, were adhered to the window. The butterfly was cut with a die from Memory Box Butterfly Delights and adhered to the sprigs.

As a final step, my sentiment was computer generated on white card stock and then cut with a die from Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges and popped on to my card with dimensionals. This completed my card.

I hope you enjoyed this project. Thanks for visiting and please join my blog and become a follower to be notified of any new posts.

 Make it a great day!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #84 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #70 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #145 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  - Challenge Aug 12-18  -  Anything Goes
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #49 - Anything Goes (Animals)
Brown Sugar  -   Challenge #107 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #24 - Anything Goes



Thursday, August 14, 2014

Spread Your Wings


Hello, everyone! In this week's Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz the optional twist theme was "spread your wings and fly". Here is my DT card for this challenge.

I began with my focal image. Choosing the bird on a tree stump stamp from Theresa Momber's GKD Birds and Blossoms stamp set, I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on ivory card stock, colored it with Copic markers and cut it out. Putting this aside, I cut and embossed the flower petals, leaves and stems using a Memory Box Blooming Violets die, I had to cut these three times in different colored card stock to get the yellow petals, the purple petals and the green leaves and stems. This was put aside as well in order that I could prepare my focal panel.

I cut and embossed a panel in ivory card stock using Spellbinders Decorative Labels 8. Before removing the panel from the die, I sponged around it with Memento Cantaloupe and Tangelo inks. I stamped my sentiment (PTI Butterfly Dreams) in black ink. In the next step I adhered the bird image and the flowers onto the panel with dimensionals. I stamped a small butterfly from GKD Spring Mix STV Kit and colored it lightly with Copics.

For the last step, I prepared my base card in blue card stock, rounded all corners  and popped on my focal panel with dimensionals. This completed my project for this challenge.

Thanks for visiting! And please feel free to leave your comments. They are always welcome! If you'd like to become a follower of my blog, join this site or enter your email address in the slot in the column on the right.


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #84 - Anything Goes
Love to Create  -  Challenge #128 - Inspired by  Song - "Fly Away" by Mariah Carey
Joan's Touch  -  Vacation Challenge
Challenge from the Heart  -  Challenge #31 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge Aug 12-18  -  Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  - Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #145 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls   -  Challenge #24 - Anything Goes

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Men at Work


Happy August, everyone! For the first week's Twisted Thursday challenge in August at The Outlawz the optional twist is "Men at Work".  I created this card with auto mechanics for my theme.

To begin, I prepared my base card in white and layered it with red card stock followed by a layer of coordinating patterned paper from GKD Poppy Prints paper pack. Next, I cut a car image in red mirror paper using Marianne's Classic Car die. I added silver eyelets to the wheels and popped the car onto my prepared base.  The tools were cut with Memory Box Handy Man Tools and Craftman's Tools dies in silver mirror paper and adhered randomly around the car image.

To add a little humor to my project, I computer generated my sentiment and cut and embossed it with Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Seville die. This was popped onto my card and my project was complete.

Until next time, thank you for taking the time to visit and view my work. Hope you'll stop by often. In the meantime, check out the Twisted Thursday
 challenge entries by our Design Team and get inspired to participate 
and proudly display your awesome creations! 


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Papertake Challenge  -  Challenge Aug 5 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #47 - Anything Goes
Love to Create  -  Challenge #127 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #144 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #83 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge - Aug 5  - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #30 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #24 - Anything Goes

Friday, August 1, 2014

Red Poppy Wedding



Hello everyone! I recently received a request from my dearest friend to create a wedding card. Since the wedding was going to be an ethnic Ukrainian wedding it was requested that the wedding card subtly express that. Red poppies and wheat are very popular images used in Ukrainian culture and art and so I used them in my card.

I love white on white for wedding cards so I began with a white card base.  To my base I added a layer of white which was cut and embossed with a die from Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Seville. I cut and embossed yet another layer in white using a die from Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Granada. On this layer I stamped a wheat bundle image (GKD Friendship, Family, Love) in each of the four corners, first stamping on scrap paper twice and then on my panel. 

For my focal panel I composed my sentiment on my computer and, using Memento Gray Flannel inkfaintly stamped the wheat bundle image and 2 small butterflies (GKD Spring Mix STV Kit) over and around my sentiment, again first stamping it twice on scrap paper and then on my panel. Next I cut this with the largest die from Spellbinders Classic Ovals Small and adhered it to my base card.

I created a decorative oval to frame my sentiment by using a die from Spellbinders Elegant Ovals and cutting out the center with  the second largest die from Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large. This frame was then positioned on my focal panel with dimensionals.

Now to add the poppies. I adhered together 2 layers of red card stock and used Memory Box Prim Poppy die to cut out the flowers. The purpose of the 2 layers was to make the poppies more sturdy and resistant to bending since they are so delicate. These were then popped on to my card with dimensionals and my project was complete.

I did not share a photo of the inside of the card but will add that I used Melanie Muenchinger's "LOVE" sentiment from her beautiful GKD Stately Flowers 8 stamp set. This was the perfect sentiment for this wedding card.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it gave you inspiration to create. Thank you for visiting my blog and please come back again. Make it a great day!


This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Crafting by Designs  -  August Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters  -   Challenge Jul 23 - Aug 3  - Die Cuts or Punches
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #143 - Anything Goes
Sister Act Challenge  -  Challenge #68 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #82 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge Jul 29 - Aug 4  -  Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -   Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Challenge  -  Challenge #23 - Anything Goes