Lots of Cards

For crying out loud!  I can't believe I've gone so long between posts yet again. I really need to quit my jobs.  They interfere with my free time! (actually, I'm working on this at work.  SHHHHH!)

I have made a number of cards since my last post.  I will admit, they are mostly CASEd from other places.  I will try to include the link to where I got them from, but in the essence of time, I may have to return to that later. (Yeah, like that would happen when I can't even get a post out!)

 I made this for my nephews for Easter.  I saw it here and thought it was too cute to pass up!  I was fortunate that I have so many scraps, I was able to use all scraps and not have to cut into any full pieces.

This is actually my own idea!  It's made with The Secret Garden stamps from Stampin' Up!.  I was going to do something very colorful, and then I got the idea to try just black and white.  the leaves are stamped.  The flowers are embossed with black embossing powder, then die cut, colored with a Bic black marker, and popped up on foam.  The sentiment is backed by a tag made from cutting out the middle of a longer tag punch to form a smaller one.

A friend pinned a card with this idea.  I decided to revamp it a little.  One of the great things about using an embossing folder over a completed front is that it hides a lot of things.  For example, the sentiment, which is computer generated, was actually cut almost completely apart when I tried to use it in a different card and chose the wrong size oval template to cut it. But going through the embossing folder, you can't even tell!  I found this butterfly embossing folder at Hobby Lobby.

You can find a tutorial for these collage panel cards here.  I stumbled on it and fell in love.  I immediately sat down and made these two. The sentiments are both from SU! ( I think, but not sure about the thank you one without going downstairs to look.  My daughter is waiting impatiently for me to get off the computer, though, so I don't dare go check!)

I really liked this when I saw it.  My version has smaller leaves with only the outline instead of filled (too much punching otherwise!), and I didn't use linen paper. But I still love it!  The sentiment is from SU!

I didn't use the technique described here, but I used the design concept, which I also saw here. I love the look of the stamped images extending beyond the inked panel.  The sentiment is from SU!.  The foliage is both SU! and Gina K Designs.

This technique has been making the rounds.  Here is one version of it.  I love the look of it.  I want to try it with some other stamps now.  Stamps are from Secret Garden from SU!

Can't for the life of me find the link to where I saw this idea.  I really like the embossed vellum.  I've been wanting to do a gray and yellow card forever.  So I combined the two and got this. Stamps from SU! Secret Garden.

My oldest daughter loves Hello Kitty.  For her 21st birthday I googled punch art Hello Kitty.  This is a combination of several different cards.  I thought she came out pretty cute!

I know I saw something almost exactly like this somewhere.  But I have looked through all my Pinterest pins and can't find it.  So I apologize to whomever made the one that gave me the idea.  But I do love it.  Of course, black and white is always a winner in my book.  The front panel is completely covered in diamond dust glitter.  So sparkly!  Background stamp is from SU!.  Foliage stamp is from an unknown source.

I decided to go a little nuts with this one.  The background is stamped with versamark.  Then the leaves are stamped and die cut.  The flowers were made by stamping and clear embossing  a design, then stamping and embossing with my Secret Garden stamps from Gina K. Designs. After die  cutting them, I popped tow of them up on different height foam.  A different look for me, but I like it.  I think I'll have to try something similar with other stamps and colors.

This is another one that is just mine. It ended up like this because I had ink on the side of my hand.  I left a smear right above the right hand flower.  Rather than recolor a complete new flower, I decided to just cut it out. This was the result, which I quite like.  This is from the Texas set of Stately Flowers from Gina K. Designs.

I've had this pinned forever.  I finally got around to making my version.  I'll add an appropriate sentiment when I'm ready to use it.  Stamps are from Secret Garden by SU!

I swear I got this idea from the same place as the collage cards above.  But heck if I can find it.  the background was done using the letterpress technique with an embossing folder. Portions of stamped designs were used to create each square.  I just thought this was such a cool idea instead of one stamp being the focal image.  Stamps used are from multiple sources: Club Scrap, SU!, and Gina K Designs.

I do like butterflies!  This was CASEd from here.  I may or may not add a sentiment.

I got the idea for these cards from this site.  I love her colors.  I don't have the re-inkers, though, and had to use puddles of ink from my stamp pads.  As a result, my colors are very muted in comparison.  I like them, but I really like the bolder colors of the originals.  May have to start buying re-inkers, now.  Just don't tell my husband!


My original plan for the first one was to do more layers, but I was tired and embossed the wrong layer.  Rather than add to my gazillion pieces of cardstock waiting to be turned into cards, I just used it.  But looking at it now, it looks kind of funny being so short.  May need to put another layer between the gray scallop and the burgundy base card.

Both cards had the floral panel sprayed with shimmer ink, but that doesn't show up well in the photos.  You'll have to trust me that they DO shimmer!


I'd like to say that I'll post again soon.  But I don't want to break any promises!  I got several new stamp sets for Mother's Day, however, that I've already started trying out.  So you never know....

Life Interrupted

Ok. 6 months. Wow.  Life has interrupted my blogging.  But I didn't realize it had been that long. I won't be boorish and provide details. I'll just jump right in...as soon as I figure out if I want to talk about cards or jewelry or both.  I have been busy with both of those things since I last wrote.  Although showing and describing everything since then would take forever.  So I'll just do a few now and try to add a bit more regularly until I'm caught up.

There were two big things happening in my life just after the last post.

The first is that I was fortunate enough to be cast as Truvy in a local production of Steel Magnolias.  I had a blast! Here are my head shot (best photo I've ever had taken in my life) and cast photo.

Unfortunately, the second thing was terribly sad.  One of my good friends committed suicide.  She had been having some health issues that for months had been being brushed off  by everyone, including specialists, as "all in her head".  The last specialist who said it was the final straw.  She took her life.  In the letter she left behind, she asked her husband to insist on an autopsy.  He did.  I talked to him a couple of weeks ago (it took 6 months for the results--not a day or two like they show on tv!).  Turns out there was indeed something wrong with her that could have been discovered through more intensive testing.  I miss her terribly.

During that time I was playing around with copper etching.  Here is one of the pieces I made up.  I kept this one for myself.  The copper washer was etched  with a  design I stamped on first.  The leaf does actually have etched veins, though they are hard to see here.  This is a super easy technique .  Here are some great instructions!

I just realized I don't have more photos of anything I did at that time because I've put them in the shop.  My hair stylist convinced the salon owner to let me put my stuff up for sale in her salon. I sell a couple of pieces a month, which is nice.

Finally, for now, here are some cards I CASEd.  I use Pinterest a lot, and these were from an idea I'd gotten there.  I'll try to link to the originals if I can find them...

These cards used watercolor dry embossing .  You can find the tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers here.  I used Stampin Up! ink and an aqua painter to do the coloring.  I also have the Manhattan embossing folder, so that is what caught my eye originally. I planned on using the first two right away, so I stamped sentiments immediately.  The last one is still waiting for the appropriate occasion. 

This card I made from a stamp that someone had given me several years ago.  I tried to color it the way the stamp itself showed it  I am not a good colorer, so I am rather pleased with how both the roses and the birthday cake cards turned out.

  

Ok .  Enough for now.  Yesterday was our first snowstorm of the season (I know--in March), so I didn't go to work.  Today I have the stomach 'flu. I've reached my maximum time for being upright.  I'll try to catch up a little in the next week or so.  

Will I Ever Learn? (Or when will I quit lying to myself?)

Every time I let there be a long period between posts, I promise myself I won't let it happen again.  When will I ever learn (or quit lying to myself) that I have no more control over that than I do the beating of my heart??  I get so caught up in the process of living that I forget to make time for the process of writing and sharing.

I am currently in rehearsals for Steel Magnolias at our local community college.  I am playing the part of Truvy (Dolly Parton in the movie.  No, I am not built like her!).  It's very exciting as it my largest role ever, but also very exhausting.  We have rehearsal 6 days a week.  On top of working full-time and taking care of a family, it's hard work having fun!  Laundry is behind.  I'm reconnecting with my crock-pot. And exercise has gone on vacation.  As for crafting of any kind....well, that has slowed down as well.  But not completely.

Actually, last weekend I took my mother to her 60th class reunion.  The next day a number of relatives stopped in to visit with my mother while she was in town.  I was showing my jewelry to my cousin, who ended up buying $75 worth.  And I managed to custom design a ring for her while she was there.  I also whipped up a little ring to show my sister, and ended up selling it and 2 similar ones in my Etsy shop.  Thankfully my wonderful husband has been able to get to the post office to do my shipping on these things so that I didn't have one more thing to add to my to-do list.

So, here are a few pics of some things I've made in the last few weeks.  But I'm not going to go into great detail.  I'm supposed to be memorizing lines! (And working!)

 This is my Judaica series so far.  All made out of copper clay.  I just this weekend figured out a new technique for making my molds that I think will give a clearer impression on the star and hamsa.  Time will tell.

 These are all made from silver wire.  They were ones I used to show at my hair dresser.  The salon owner is going to let me sell my things.  She says they need to be bigger--like hanging to the neck.  I did get new flyers and business cards designed and made.  Haven't had a chance to price anything and actually get it over there, though.  Maybe after the play!

This was an error.  Had a piece of wire I had started, but cut too short.  Then a friend from Facebook asked about toe rings.  Light bulb!  Sold it about 3 or 4 days after I listed it.

This is my first foray into aluminum.  I've made several things since then, but I love it.  Bends and hammers super easily.  Earrings can be huge but still lightweight.








This is copper colored aluminum.  I really like its warmth.

 My copper rings.  Fun "writing" with wire, but not as easy as I thought it would be.  It's easy to make the letters too big and end up with a necklace instead of a ring!

Another aluminum set.  This is one of the things my cousin bought.











Well, that's it for now.  Back after the play closes!

Too much!

Heavens!  How do I let so much time pass between posts?  Oh, I know...life!  So, whenever I have too much to do, I work on cards or jewelry.  Nothing like adding a little extra to my to-do lists to make me feel relaxed!

Actually, yesterday was very relaxing after I did some yard work and a little garage cleaning.  So while I was waiting for either my husband or son to go fetch dinner, I decided to work on some cards.  Now, I don't know about you, but I always have bits and pieces of cards that I started but never finished for one reason or another.  Maybe I've used a new technique to create a background, but then can't decide what to do with it.  Or I made a focal image but couldn't decide how best to showcase it.  Over the months these things tend to pile up.  I find them all again as I shove clean my space.  So last night I decided to actually use up some of these things instead of making more to add to a pile card.  Here are the results:

These two were from a piece I made about 2 years ago I think.  I intended to use the leaves as a background but couldn't decide how or with what.  Last night I decided it wasn't meant to be a background, it was meant to be an accent.  I think it has much more impact this way.  What's really unusual for me is that I didn't use texture plates or dimensionals on these.  I almost never make a flat card anymore, but I like how these came out.  Now if I could just remember how I made the background behind the leaves.....

For this one, the little bird was causing trouble.  I had bought some paper-thin wood sheets back in March.  When I got home, my new bird stamp was in, to go with my bird punch (I love stamps and punches or dies that go together!  So I immediately sat down and stamped a bird on the wood and punched it out.  And there it sat until now. Unlike the above cards, this uses both texture and dimensionals (under the wing).  I think the embossing makes it look rather elegant, while the bird adds a touch of whimsy.

I originally just planned to have this black and white.  I love this stamp.  But it looked too plain, even though I love black and white.  The solution?  Add these butterflies.  Love that punch of color!

Another bird I couldn't decide what to do with.  I'd used him to practice coloring with alcohol markers.  He finally found his perfect perch here on this bird and vine embossed background.  Too bad I didn't see that there was a stamp for feet before I glued him down!

This is a blatant copy of a card I saw on Pinterest by a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Not an exact duplicate, but close.  I've had these darn flowers stamped and punched for about 6 months....

I don't even know how long I've had this butterfly cut out.  It's so big I just couldn't decide what to do with it.  Finally thought of something!

These glitter butterflies were originally made with the intention of one being flat, and the second being placed on top of it with open wings.  I think I played around with card layering colors about 100 times.  I never could get something I liked.  Last night I decided to use them as separate pieces, and it made it much easier to make decisions.  The bottom one is adhered flat, the top one is adhered just by the body so that the wings can stand up.











So there you have it.  After months of gathering dust, these items have finally made it into finished cards.  I wish I could say I was finished, but I have so many more pieces/parts laying around.  And I have every evening free this week.  Which naturally means I won't work on a darn thing!