Catching up on Posts

 WhIle I haven't posted much on my neglected blog, I have been working away in the grotto.  Here are a few samples of projects.

Telescope "Card"

     The idea of this "card" is to layer concentric circles using brads so that, when opened, the card telescope up.  I created the three layers, then realized they wouldn't work using brads, so I laid ribbon between the layers and made more of a hanging mobile.  This was sent out as a swap, and I received a nice note of thanks from the recipient.

Cute and Cudley

     The August theme for an Oriental swap was Cute and Cudley, not exactly the kind of work I usually do.  However, I do own a set of stamps of a young Chinese girl who was adopted by parents who make and sell original design stamps.  I had to have this - the little girl looks like my granddaughter Kada when she was this age.

Greeting Card Swaps

     The two cards below were made for themed swaps.  The first one needed to have some acetate (you can see that I embossed it) and some elegant stickers - the gold designs and the butterfly.  The other is a card for "Autumn Leaves" swap.

ATC's - Artist Trading Cards

     Measuring 2-1/2" X 3-1/2", these little cards are often used in swaps where the sender mails out the same card to a group of people.  The two below are for a background technique swap - we began with techniques starting withe letter "A" and have now worked up to the letters "R" and "S."  I used brayered rainbow ink for the one on the left and shaving cream for "S."  We are almost through with this project - only a few months left to finish the alphabet.

 Here's another ATC for a different swap - Autumn.

     The cat is an ATC for a Halloween ATC swap.  The ATC on the  right is an illustration for the fable The Emperor and the Nightengale.

     These ATC's were made to illustrate rain using a resist technique.  I used watercolor crayons to create the resist.

Catching Up

     I've been neglecting my blog but have been working away on some projects.  I've posted scans and a brief description of each.

Background ATC's

     For the Background ABC technique I used the Pounced Ink technique to create the background for this ATC.  I crumpled up a piece of plastic wrap and pounced in on the ink  pad, then on the paper.  The is is a collage stamp from Stampin' Up.

      This background is called "Quick and Easy Tie Dye."  I couldn't find any technique for "Q," I made up a name for this.  I rolled up a piece of paper towel, wet it down with water, then dropped re-inkers of various colors on the wet paper.  I unrolled it and let it dry, then separated the layers.  Easy, messy fun!!!

    

     I made this card for an African swap for an internet group (artforthecreativemind) using a new embossing folder from Cuttle Bug called African Batik - what a good excuse to buy a new folder to add to my stash!  I carefully applied metallic  ink on the raised areas and added the palm tree and the lion image (Sampin' Up) along with some raffia.

      My  friend Bonnie (check out her blog - Google craftiblog on Wordpress)  taught me how to make the paper flowers.  We spent an evening making the roses, then assembling the card.  I knew that I had to practice, so I made a bunch more in the following days, and found a few other ways to make flowers.  Check out Bonnie's blog - craftiblog on Wordpress.

     These are a few flowers I made on my own - great messy fun!!!

     I found this product at Joann's in the clearance bin - its strips of fabric stitched down the middle.  Of course, I could make this myself, and probably will, but the price was right and I wanted to try my hand at fabric flowers.

Here's the result - I distressed them with Distress Ink to create a vintage look.

 And here is a set of tags I made for a swap.

  


     I also found another way to make the flowers using concentric punches.

  

Oriental July Swap - Lanterns

      This month's theme was lanterns and the colors black and gold.  I used Distress Ink markers to color the lantern and a Cuttle Bug folder to emboss the gold paper.

Anniversary Cards

   We send a lot of greeting cards to family and friends, especially for birthdays and anniversaries.  Dick requested more anniversary cards, so here are a few that I made.

 Here's the new Hero Arts bird collage stamp that I bought in June.

 The three panel cards were made with DSP and some purchased embellishments.

Road Trip to Appleton Card Class

     My friends Chrissy and Mary from Mukwonago and I drove to Appleton to take a card making class at The Paper Cut, a business that supplies quality paper to stores and other businesses as well as selling at Stamp/Scrap shows around the country.  A few times a year they open the warehouse for a big sale.   And, on the night before the sale, they offer classes and early entry to the sale.  We took a great class using some of their specialty papers and some interesting techniques.  I didn't quite finish up that night but have all except one completed.  Take a peek:

Silhouette ATC's

     One of my groups has an ATC swap every month - July's theme was "silhouettes."  I had purchased a wonderful set of Jane Austen stamps and dies a few months ago and used them to create these.

Card Club with Ardi and Carole

     We try to get together once a month to make cards - these are the July cards.  Mine is the one on the left, Ardi's is in the middle, and Carole's in on the right.  Carole applied white glue on white cardstock and let it dry.  We applied blue and brown Distress Inks over the dried glue which created the look of clouds and texture to the grass.  Very clever idea!

 July Shoebox

     Another group of friends and I also get together every month.  Here are the July creations.   

     Bonnie created the vase using porcelain clay and brought enough for each of us to make a flowery card.  We created the textured background using the ScorPal.  The leaves are an assortment of die cuts, punches, and hand cut and crimped.  The flower was a purchased silk flower which we took apart and reassembled

     Chrissy brought a colorful BD card design using printed paper, some die cuts and ribbon.  I love the companion stamp for the envelope!

     Jane's card featured punched butterflies and purchased paper roses.  We stamped the brown background with metallic inks - hard to see here but lovely.  The card was finished off with punched borders, ribbon, and a special antique button from Jane's grandmother's button jar.

     Here's that bird stamp again!  I showed the gals an easy background using Distress Inks and watercolor paper spritzed with water, then dried with a heat tool.  We stamped the bird and colored in areas with Distress Markers.

Thanks for taking the time to peruse my blog.

Cards for My Sister

   

     Dick and I recently visited my sister Juli and her family in NW Wisconsin.  Her birthday was last month, so brought along a set of cards I made for her.  She has always been very supportive of my "artistic" efforts.  Part of my inspiration was some paper given to me by my friend Kathy as part of an art "Play Day" with our mutual friend Chrissy.  Kathy brought some lovely papers for us to play with - no special design in mind, just play and come up with something.  Talk about intimidating!!!!  I did manage to make two cards, but each needed "something else."  I used those two to get started for inspiration.  The cards below are the two I had started and decided to add the moth embellishments from some Tim Holtz materials.

Torn Paper with Tim Holtz Embellishments

     These cards again used some of Kathy's paper and items from my "stash" - a vellum bird embellishment and an image cut from Graphic 45 paper.

    
 Another purchased element - the car - was found in a drawer of long ago purchased embellishments - there are a few more of those to use.  The butterfly is German Scrap, always a nice addition.

      The sentiment on this card is a stamp my sister gave to me - it was fun to use it as part of the gift for her.

     While I was visiting, we did have to visit the local scrap/stamp store.  They have changed ownership and now carry some wonderful stamps and supplies - we spent time looking at all the goodies, and I purchased a few things including a new Hero Arts collage stamp and some individual Distress Ink markers.  When I returned home, I created two cards using Distress Inks for the background inspired by a Tim Holtz video, the new stamp, and the new markers to color in some areas of the stamped image.  I sent one of the cards to her, thanking the family for the wonderful time we had in the North Woods.

Playing with Carole and Ardi

   My friends Carole and Ardi and I meet about once a month to make cards, chat, and generally have fun.  This month we met twice as Ardi will be out of town for two weeks.    Besides making cards, we have already started our second annual collaborative calendar.  This will be a separate post once we have completed all twelve months for 2013 - should be done in August as long we have the calendars to add to the finished pages.

Ardi's Giraffe Card

     Ardi's giraffe card is made with a dollar stamp, the festive giraffe.  It was a great card to send to my grandson for his 6th BD.

Carole's Get Well Card

     Carole found an idea for this card on Pinterest and, yes, those are real band aids!  What a clever idea!!! 

My Beach Card

     I first learned how to make this card from the owners of Seaside Stampin, Ocean City, MD.  They have come to Madison and also Waukesha (once) for stamp shows.  Kathy and Joe are really nice people and their stamps are fabulous.  The paper is a specialty paper which has a wavy appearance.  We sponged on ink to create the sand and sky, then stamped the two beach grass stamps a couple of times.  This design is a special favorite of mine.

The Following Week

Carole's BD or Anniversary Card

     I love the sophisticated look of this card - simple and elegant.  The flowers are accented with Flower Soft, and I added gold embossing to the torn edge.  I have a set of gold sticker phrases and use the anniversary one for a final touch.

Ardi's BD Card

     One of the best things about working with friends (besides just having fun together) is bringing a project that you need help with.  Ardi had some nice paper, great embellishments and a layout using the multiple BD candles, but wasn't altogether happy with it.  The three of us "fooled around" moving the paper around (it is double sided) and rearranging the pieces.  We finally decided to use just one side of the paper and to sponge the white card with the new lavender Distress Ink.    We also stamped the candles using black rather than the paler DI.  When all was said and done, we really liked our collaborative effort!

Ardi's Bonus Card

     Ardi and I had gone to the scrapbook store to see if there was anything either of us needed (I'm sure you've done that!), and she found a wonderful piece of scrapbook paper with a series of "flash cards" printed on it.  She came up with this idea - and each of us made a different card with the same layout.

Maggi's Friendship Card

     I enjoy using many of the Stmpin' Up products, and this is made entirely with things I purchased from SU.  It's a simple layered card, but I like the summery colors which make it special.

     That's all for now - hope to catch up on a few other projects in the next day or two.

Sunday Afternoon in the Grotto

     My DH likes to watch sports on TV, and Sunday was jam packed, so......I took myself to the Grotto, determined to finish up May swaps.  I had pieces for a few and some ideas, so I got busy and caught up.

ACE May

   Oriental Stamp Art runs a year long swap with specific colors and themes for each month.  This month's theme is women using pastel colors.  This is one of my favorite stamps, perfect for the theme.  I used a marker to color in the pattern on the gown, and it wasn't as tedious as I thought it would be.  I had purchased a set of cards recently and used three of this pink, floral card as the base.

ABC Background Techniques:  "N" for Napkin

      This has been a fun swap - we are about halfway through the alphabet.  I glued pieces of napkin to a base, then spritzed it with Goosebumps, a texture spray.  When it was dry, I gave each a final touch of Perfect Pearls (gold) spray.

Masculine Card of the Month

      The theme for May in the Wisconsin group was a masculine card.  I had made a similar one with a group of friends earlier in the year and had some pieces leftover.  My partners should get theirs soon as I mailed them out this morning.

ATC of the Month - May

    The them for May was "trees."  I do have some tree stamps, but most are larger stamps, so I used a $1 stamp that is a tree branch.  The bird is also a $1 stamp.  I used a gold pen and small embellishment to add a final touch.