The musings and offerings of a burgeoning greetings master

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Mr Cardmaker's Ski-Crazed Nephew has a Birthday

Nephew Elliot is a ski-all-the-time kinda guy.  The winter he learned to ski, he cried when the family came home from a Florida vacation to find all the snow had melted.  He pretty much hates Florida now.  No snow.

Anyway, he turns 18 this year.  He is co-captain of his soccer team, and a mean dude with a la crosse stick, let me tell you.  He is a great artist (like, OMG) and a really NICE kid.  Wicked smaht, too. That's a New England thing....not a typo.

So, I made him this--

This makes you happy about snow and skiing, right?  That's gotta be some black diamond stuff there....just sayin'. 

This image is from GinaK Designs, the Happy Camper set by Theresa Momber.  All except for the birds.  Those are also GKD, but from the Gifts from the Sea set, by my friend Melanie Meunchinger.  The sky was in need of something....Negative space is my nemesis sometimes, let me tell you...

So, to do this, I stamped the image onto the white card stock I was using, and again onto a scrap of card stock, which I cut out to use as a mask.  I like to use a good, heavy cardstock when I make a mask, so it doesn't get all mashed up when I do my stuff on top of it. I used repositionable tape runner to hold the mask in place.

I then used a foam applicator and applied some Iced Spruce Distress Ink all over the card stock, leaving it somewhat uneven, so I could make a subtle cloud look.  Then I used some Evergreen Bough Distress ink on the lower portion, and around the edges of my shape. 

The shape is a Labels Four die from Spellbinders, btw.  The white piece behind it is also a Spellbinders die, also edged with the evergreen bough.  Each piece is mounted on foam tape to pop it up a bit.

After I was happy with my ink, I removed my mask, and colored my image with copics.  I am NOT a copics expert by ANY means, but I do love the colors and I have a small collection.  I am LEARNING how to use them.  I did not pay much attention to the colors I used, so I can't list them here.  Oh well.  I did concentrate on making the mountain in the back a bit darker, to help it look further away.  I then added some Glossy Accents to almost everything to give it an icy feeling. 

The striped paper is My Mind's Eye, Lost and Found pad, and I punched some snowflakes with a Martha punch.  The base is DCWV, edged with more Rich Cocoa ink.  I did some faux stitching, added some of my dollar bin ribbons, mounted the whole thing on some white PTI card stock and viola!  Card.

I hope that Elliot likes it, and that it makes him want to go skiing.  Like he needs any encouragement from me.....

Thanks for stooping by!  I hope I inspired you, if not to go skiing, then perhaps to make a card!!
All Best-
Richard

7 comments:

  1. No one does realistic scenery quite like Teresa. You have done an outstanding job with her set, and this is a fantastic example of a great masculine card (I always have problems with these) and you are my go-to source of great "manly" cards. Well done Richard!

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  2. Richard, this is quite striking. Very good job with the masking. I'm sure your nephew will be quite impressed. :)

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  3. DUDE!!!!! Wow that is an incredible scene!!! Lynn is right....Theresa designs these sets for making awesome scenes....but you have mastered this set!! My jaw hit the floor....it's a work of art! Not only will your nephew love it...hopefully he'll frame it!!!

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  4. I love Theresa's scenes - she's one amazing lady! You have done a beautiful job on your card for Elliott! I have to agree with Lee - this one is suitable for framing - your newphew will not only love it - he will cherish it! Thanks for sharing! P.S. I've been sorta 'laid up' with this bad ankle for a bit - don't know when you posted that snazzy new profile pic, but wowza!!! Lookin' good!

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  5. Ya know what I love about your cards Richard? Is that so much thought goes into them and nothing is done without purpose. There is so much thought there too. Your nephew will love this. Here is the line in your post that made me laugh. . ."mounted the whole thing on some white PTI card stock and viola! Card." It's like the card magically appeared. Hope you and yours are well! Best, Curt

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  6. Wow, Richard this is beautiful!!!
    a wonderful work of art!
    blessings!

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  7. Hi Mr. Cardmaker Sir!
    I'm not sure how I got here, but you do amazing stuff, and I wanted to let you know about this site!
    http://craftascene.blogspot.com/
    This card would fit in with the challenge they're having in the second post.
    P.S. I see you know my friend Curt!

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