Color Inspiration With the Oozak Team!

Well, the heat of summer has led us on the Oozak Challenge Blog Design Team to head deep under water for our Color Inspiration Challenge-

This is our inspiration--

I decided to go in a literal vein, so I did an underwater scene of my own.
It looks like this--

I used so many stamps sets on this thing, I can't even tell you all of them.  The start, though happens at the center of the smallest circle, with grasses in several colors, then gets to the second level, here you find coral.

Then outward to those purple things-(sea anemones, maybe?), and finally to the clump of sea growth in the front.

I put the layers through an embossing folder before stacking them and attaching the sea life images.  Lots of foam adhesive used on this one, for sure!

 

The bubbles are white gel pen and glitter pen, and I tore and colored some vellum strips to give the idea of movement underwater.  The little fishies are colored with copics, and then embossed with holographic embossing powder.

 

This one was a BIG amount of work, and it actually looked like it would hit the bin at several steps along the way. Overall, I am happy with it, though.  Perseverance is a good thing, sometimes!

 

Come join us at the Oozak Challenge Blog!  Play along, or just comment on your favorite product used for a chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate. 

 

I am also entering this is A Blog Named Hero's victorious-vellum challenge.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best--

Richard

Something Funny's Going On With the Oozak Team

Well, I am tardy to this party, thanks to my attending the one thrown for ME, in honor of my 50th birthday!  I got whisked away to Stratford, Ontario, Canada! TOTAL SURPRISE!

My Charlie was the host of this affair, and we got to have along his sister Sue and her husband Mike (Another surprise!) 

We got there on Thursday afternoon (Aug 1), and we dove right into the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.  Between Thursday and Sunday, we saw FIVE shows--Three Shakespeare plays, a Noel Coward, and the musical Tommy.  WOW is the very best thing I can say about that!  Lots of great food, a charming city, and wonderful company. Couldn't ask for better!

 

THEN- Monday morning, Sue and Mike headed home, and we headed to Toronto!  My first visit there, and we had a really nice time.  We stayed right in the middle of things, and saw so much of the city!  I am happy and exhausted!

 

Meanwhile--

 

I was actually prepared WAY in advance to post this, but I forgot to set a timer on Blogger. The best laid plans...

 

SO!  This is my card that I am showing over at the Oozak Challenge Blog.  We're doing Anything Goes with Something Funny this time.

 

I made this--

 

I have owned this stamp from Stampin' Up for ages, and I think I have never used it before.  I thought it paired up with my sweet giraffe from The Alley Way Stamps very nicely.  I loved stamping and cutting these My Mind's Eye papers, especially the aqua dots that I used on the giraffe.

 

I love these flower buttons from Stampin' Up, and I used my old trick of "threading" them with teensy strips of paper, instead of fibers. 

 

I think the skinny red mats really set things off well, too.

This was a fun one!

 

Stop over at Oozak.com and check out some of their good supplies and WICKED good prices, and play along with us!  You could win a $10.00 gift certificate, just for commenting on the blog!

 

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker has a Double Background

Oooooh, doesn't that sound mysterious?  Nah, don't get your sleuthing hopes up. No double life for THIS card maker.  I barely can manage the one I lead!

I just made a project for Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday Challenge, where the theme is to stamp a double background.

I got out two of my Papertrey Ink stamp sets, Rosie Posey and Harvest Berries, got some inks, and got to work.

I made this--

I stamped the hexagon in yellow, then topped it with the leaves and a berry cluster from Harvest Berries in two greens.  I really like the mix of a graphic image paired with the flowing botanical.

Then, just because I can't leave well enough alone, I made a label for my sentiment using PTI's Mat stack 3 dies, and then die cut from that label some leaves form the Harvest Berries die set.  Then I die cut it again from a piece of the cardstock I use as my base, and inset it into the negative areas.  Now, this took some concentration; saving and placing those tiny white pieces was an, uh, interesting feat, to say the very least.

I hand drew some sketchy lines around the edges of the label, added my sentiment (Stampin' Up), added a ribbon, a bow, and some gems, and that was that.

This is a fun technique to try.  I may have to go at this again, with some other stamps, too!
Snowflakes and candy canes for Christmas, or falling leaves and pumpkins for Fall?  Worth a shot!

Your turn!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker Digs Through His Archives

I found this photo of my Mom's Mother's Day card, and I realized that I hadn't shared it with you here at the blog.  I am having a heat-induced loss of mojo, (that, and the fact that I turn 50 in two weeks), I am taking the opportunity to share some older things.

I made Mom this--

I very much dig this giant butterfly stamp from Stampin' Up, and I paired it with several stamps from other companies.  The styles are often really different when I do that, but I think if you keep it to a handful of styles (yet more than just two), you can have success  doing it.

The flowers are from a SU/Sizzix  die, and the leaves are a single Sizzix die. I colored some of the leaves with a "direct to paper" inking technique, and edged the flowers with a dauber.  I left the petals super flat, but I popped up each layer with foam adhesive.  Something different from the usual curling that is done on petals and leaves.

I actually remembered to do something to the envelope this time, too!  More good stuff, all the time!

Overall, I was happy the way it looked kind of deep and cool.  I think layering stamps is becoming a go-to move for me!

I am WAITING for my house numbers to come from Etsy, STILL.  It hasn't been any longer than what they told me; I am just impatient.  I want to take photos and show off a bit!!  Soon, I am sure...

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Oh, But For a Scrap of Paper....

I watched THIS TUTORIAL about color blocking with Beate at Splitcoast Stampers a while back, and I decided to give it a go.  I liked what I did SO much, I wanted to submit it to that once-upon-a- time aforementioned masculine cards publication that I did NOT make it into.

I was thinking these would definitely make it in...

However, just as I was doing the supply list for these puppies, I noticed that I used a 1/2" piece of DP that was a part of Stampin'Up Sale-a-bration, and was no longer available for purchase.  So much for using these cards for publication.  Wop, wop.  

They remain, however, two of my favorite cards EVER.  I am entering them into Paper Crafts Connection's Nautical themed challenge, and  Curtain Call Inspirational Challenge-Feeling Nautical.

The first one looks like this--

I did the anchor in Versamark ink, and embossed it in clear powder, then grabbed my white pencil and added some detailing.  The "for you" is embossed in white, and the die cut grateful has the paper I mentioned.  See that fun little stripe happening in the "g" and "r"?  Publication killer.  *SIGH*

Here's a detail of the anchor area...

That white pencil does WONDERS, right?

 

 

So, in this second card, I used the negative space of the die cut.  It looks like this--

 

 



I love the orange and yellow matting here, with the navy panel making the background for the die cut.  Again, the "for you" is done with white embossing powder. Man, that striped paper looks so GOOD, especially next to the circle one....Such a pity....

 

 

I LOVE the effect the color blocking gives with die cutting.  And SO easy!  Just stick the papers down and die cut.  Throwing in some textured papers is a nice addition, too.

 

I hope you'll try this technique.  You will be amazed at what you can come up with!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All best-

Richard

 

Warm and Fuzzy with the Oozak Challenge Blog!

Back again with the July 15 Oozak Challenge Blog, where we are doing "Anything goes with TEXTURE!"

 

I made this--

 

  

 

 

 

 

I have had Christmas cards on my mind lately, so I dove in with a wonderful stamp from Stampendous, and grabbed my Copics for these sweet snowmen.

 

I started with some Baja Breeze cardstock and layered some snowflake paper from My Mind's Eye that I passed through a snowflake embossing folder.  To that, I added a layer of green cardstock, embossed with a different embossing folder from Sizzix.  Then I got to work on my snowmen.

 

I love coloring white things with Copics.  I know that sounds weird, but the presence of color on a white image actually makes the white look so much better, and gives all kinds of depth.  My favorite thing though, was those cute little carrot noses.  I had to highlight them even more by applying some Glossy Accents.  Oh, and a tiny little snowflake, too!  

 

Now, I am no great shakes with blending Copics, but I think this turned out pretty well.  I had fun, at any rate! (Run over to Oozak and see the amazingly discounted prices on Copics, and SO many other things!) 

 

The scarf is paper pieced and popped up on foam adhesive, as is the fur part of their hats.  Those have a great fluffy coating of Fun Flock, too, and I am MAD about that part!

 

I did the sentiment on vellum with black embossing powder.  I used a dimensional Glue Dot, cut into pieces, to attach it, and I realized after I took the photo that you could really see one of the pieces.  I simply moved it behind the word "Warm", and it pretty much vanished!  Cool!

 

Add some vellum and rhinestone snowflakes, and you're done! 

So, there's TWO Christmas cards so far (See #1 HERE).  Sixty something (or more) to go...Don't worry, they'll get simpler as we get closer to mail date.  I'm not THAT much of a masochist!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard



Mr Cardmaker Is Such a Challenge...

I am RUSHING to get some things posted, so I can enter a couple of challenges.  I have been on the lean side of posting this week, so sorry about that, but I have lots of things to look at today, so I am hoping to make up for it.

For MOJO MONDAY, I made this--

 

Bright happy colors, and a sentiment from Wplus9.  I love those transparent sequins, too!

 

Then, for Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger--Scene in Tangerine,  I made this--

 

 

 This could be one of my weirdo faves of all time.  I LOVE that Ball jar from Paper Smooches (coated in Glossy Accents), and the sentiment from CAS-ual Fridays  kills me dead!!!  I love it in gold!  Oh, the oranges are from GinaK Designs.

I'm also entering this one at simon says stamp and show, the anything goes challenge, and the anything goes challenge at bearly mine, and at crafts and me challenges.

And, since I had the orange stuff out, I made this, too...Not sure I can enter twice, but just in case...


 
I bought a new Hero Arts set that has lots of splats and swooshes, which I like a LOT.  I doctored it all up with a water brush, and I do love the gold sentiment (Papertrey Ink).  Oh, and the texture is done with clear embossing powder.  Nothing on top of it, just digging the shine.

Then, for me, I made this--

Some of these papers are a bit on the crooked side, but I like the design, so, here it is.  It maybe goes with the crooked letters?  Child-like, let's say...That's it....

So, speaking of the HOME, I have a few details left, and then I can show you what I have been up to.  I am waiting for my new house numbers, which are being custom created by an artist I found on ETSY! I can't WAIT!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Keep your fingers crossed for me.  The more stuff I win, the more I can create to share with YOU!
All Best-
Richard

 

Mr Cardmaker has a Serious Wobble

Well, around here, it's not so summery.  I and when the sun comes out, it is beautiful, but oh, my lawdy bees, it has been SUCH a wet summer.  It was in the low 60s when I got up today.  JULY 2!

Well, my card will NOT help us in my neck of the woods cool down as much I would like, but it is kind of fun!  This was a reject from one of the more prominent US card-making magazines.  Now, some would have a snarky comment to add here, but  shall refrain!

Anyway--

I made this--

 

I used penguins from Papertrey Ink, and the ice cream sandwich is from Too Much Fun Stamps.

Do you LOVE that ice cream sandwich?!  I do!  I stamped in black onto brown card stock, and then added some flocking on the ice cream part.  Looks so icy!

 

The fun part about the penguins is that they are on springs!  "Wobbles", to be precise.  I first saw these at a make and take, and I knew I had to use them somewhere, somehow. 

 

I tried to make it look as though the penguins were using the sandwich as a diving board, and were leaping into the swirling snow, but I'm not sure how well that conveys.  I just know that I got a serious giggle putting it all together!

 

So, since it's not being published, I will add it to my Christmas card stash.  I like that it is not a holiday card per se, so I can use it for just about anyone.

 

 

Have you started those holiday cards yet?  I have ONE.  I guess I had best get started....

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best, and Happy Independence Day to my US friends!

(A belated Happy Canada Day, should that apply, too!)

 

See you soon--

Richard.

 

PS--The house now has new shutters and the CORRECT color on the door and window boxes!  (more about all that when I show you pictures)

Mr Cardmaker Gets His Girly On

Oh, Oozak, the things I DO for you!  (No, you will NOT have to suffer me in a push-up bra and sling-back heels. You deserve so much better than that horror show.)

This month were doing a "Anything goes with GIRLY" challenge at the Oozak.com blog.  I decided to go with a sweet little charm card, using some Stampin' Up cardstocks, and a Crate Paper 6x6 pad.

It looks like this--

I am big on doilies on "fancy" cards, and I just went to buy more of this tiny size at my local Wilton distributor, and they CHANGED the design!!  And, not for the better!!!  I just don't know what I'm going to do....unless someone out there has a set of doily dies they are willing to part with at a reasonable cost!

These charm cards are a hoot to create!  You just find all kinds of fun elements, many of which were just hanging around my craft table, and line them up on a piece or two of cording.  My tags are right for my paper pad, the star and heart were hanging about, and the leaves were a left over from a previous project.  I made the flower. 

Be sure to check out the Oozak design team's cards, and for REALS, check out the stuff on the website.  Bargains GALORE!!  Inkpads, Copics, Paper pads.....so much at such good prices!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

June 2013 Papertrey Blog Hop!

I made some cards to enter into a special issue of Paper Crafts Mag that deals with masculine cards.  Well, that sorta didn't work out for me.  I do not like to pay retail for my crafting supplies, and subsequently, I end up with many things that are no longer available for sale at retailers.  Yeah....That idea really rules out getting published, like EVER.  Everyone wants things they can readily get, so they can duplicate your ideas 100%. 

So....
Don't we crafters FROWN on  that idea?  CASE-ing, yes, but copying?  Meanwhile, the magazine people are fostering that idea.  I really think offering a decent substitution in your materials list should be enough to allow you to publish.

Of course, it comes down to SPONSORS.  You can't get people to sponsor stuff that they no longer sell, even if you DO send them back their way for the latest and greatest thing they sell,  I suppose.  Pity.

Anyway, I made this card, and I am entering it in Papertrey Ink's GOLD Challenge Blog Hop.

It looks like this--

See the lovely speckles going on here?  Yeah....That's the stamp in question.  And, actually, I probably would not have been able to find who made the teensy leaf punch I used either, so....

Well, my gold deer done with PTI In the Meadow die collection are rather stately, if I say so myself.  I am MAD for gold embossing!! I think I will never tire of using those dies, and the stamp set that goes with it!

I used torn vellum strips to do the snow banks, used tons of punches for elements, and the whole thing is on a PTI Kraft base. 

Oh yes, just to update those following the progress at my house, the blue paint is on the house, the shutters are ordered, and I have one coat of the lime green on the front door.  Looking good so far!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
All Best--
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is Both a Winner and a Painting Fool

I made a card for niece Jessica's birthday, recently, and I entered it into the CARDS Blog sketch challenge.  And, I was a winner!  Yay!  Three stamps sets from CAS-ual Fridays! Three, count them, THREE!! Super happy about that!

It looks like this--

I went pretty color-and-pattern cuckoo here, but I really kind of like it.  Sketch challenges kind of stump me for some reason.  I think I take them way too literally for the most part. 

(UPDATE:  I'm entering this card into Paper Crafts Magazine's Mixy-Matchy Style Challenge in the Moxie Fab World!  I think it works; don't you?  Find out about it  HERE)

Anyway, just a quickie from me today.  I am painting the brick part of my house today.  (It was already painted, for you brick purists who are freaking out about that idea).  I started it yesterday, and I LOVE the color.  The color is sort of SU Baja Breeze-y . I just ordered some new, (finally) properly sized black shutters too, so I am excited to see it all together.  Oh yes, the door will be painted lime green, as will the flower boxes. 

This is the before--

This pic is actually before we bought the place, and in winter. Note the way too small shutters on the big windows... I will DEFINITELY post pics of the new look, but that will be in about two weeks or so.  Stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Oozak is Back!

Well, my computer died this week, and I went through MAJOR withdrawal symptoms.  I have a shiny new laptop now, so I am in the process of learning lots of new things with Windows 8.  Only one call to the Geek Squad so far, so we're doing well!

For Oozak's bi-monthly challenge, which is an "anything with sentiments", I created a card with COPICS!  I am SO not a copic artist, but I actually had tons of fun doing this card.
Head over to Oozak, and play along!

I made this--

I used my old favorite Inkadinkadoo flowers stamps, along with my brand new (!) sentiments for Wplus9.  I think my favorite part is where I used my Wax White (G20) pen to outline the images. 

 

Did you know that if you use a 2-way glue pen on a doily, you get awesome glue coverage, and then the doily basically melts right onto whatever you are gluing to?  It's awesome.  Try it.

 

For those little flowers, I stacked up three different levels of foam adhesive to give some really awesome dimension.  I do wish I had a better photo, but, you can trust me!

 

Hope you have a great Father's Day.  Remember to say hi to Dad today; whether it's to a face, a phone, or to the skies above. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

Oh, for crying out loud......

Dead computer. Super ARGH.  Already spent the money for the new one, but it'll be 48-72 hours before the data transfer is done. Stay tuned.

Mr Cardmaker Is Concise (to a Fault)

So, cancer sucks.  Yeah.
Someone close to us was just diagnosed, and that also sucks.

Not only for him, but for those in the house who take care of him, the family, friends....everyone around him.  Mostly for him.  Luckily, meds are working pretty well, so that's a good thing.

I sent him a card a while ago, and forgot to take any photos.  Rats.

But for the lady of the house, who I am sure can also use some extra support, I made this--
(avert the children's eyes, please)--

This card started with the flowers I made from a scrap when I first bought this Sizzlit die.  They sat around for a good while, until I saw the other papers that you see, and decided they were good for each other.  The flowers are super simple, just curled around a pencil, and centered with some My Mind's Eye brads that I've had for a bit.  The leaves have a fun treatment though.

You can see them better here--

Well, somewhat better, anyway.  I trimmed two leaves from the remainder of the paper, curled them a bit, and adhered them with glue to keep the curl.  The one with the sequin is less obvious, but it's done the same way as the one on the quatrefoil paper.

I don't usually do the simple paper panel thing, especially not without a mat behind it, but I like the simplicity here.  I also almost never have such a big border of card base showing.  Hey, you gotta mix it up sometimes; am I right?

I hope you don't think of me as a potty mouth now.  Or is that a potty card(maker)?  In this instance, I do find this to be the perfect sentiment.  I think it's good for a laugh, too.  It says, "BIG HUG" inside. 


Thanks for stopping by!
Big Hugs to you.
All Best--
Richard

Sunshine-y Day With Mr Cardmaker

I have been playing a bit with my Claudine Helmuth stamp set called "So Retro" a bit lately.

I guess I have been wanting more sunshine, too.  We've had weird up and down temperature changes for the past several weeks, and LOTS of rain came with all the changes.  I need SUN!

So, I made my own.
I made this--

Now, that'll wake you up, right?  Lots of sunny colors here, and some requisite "shades" to go along with.

This couldn't be easier to do.  One image, two inks, and some Glossy Accents to make my orange sunglasses have "lenses".  Add a triple flag, with a sentiment from Avery Elle done in white embossing powder.  Sketch some stitch lines and add some sequins.  Oh yeah, and a tiny snip of ribbon.  BOOM.  Hot and juicy.

Your turn!

Thanks for stopping by!  That makes me feel warmer than any sunshine could.
All Best--
Richard

Friday Fix: Guts

Don't you love it when you get a new toy tool, and have to play work with it the second you unwrap it?

Well, when I got my hearts trio punch from Stampin' Up a year or so ago, I punched up a storm!  Then I gathered up all my little hearts, and I made this--

Aw.  How trite cute.  No, this is nice, really.  But there's no ka-boom.  I NEED my ka-boom!

So, I revisited this card.  Not so much to do on the outside, really.  Let's see about the inside.

Oh yeah--

Ka-boom!  I added a die cut from Papertrey Ink's Movers and Shakers die set, and attached white hearts to it.  I like the colorless contrast to the front with all the colors.

Now, if a big old heart-laden spring thing isn't some ka-boom factor, I just don't know from ka-boom (and I think I DO know something about ka-boom, ya'll.  Just sayin'...).

Go make yourself some ka-boom, now.  Go on!
Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Yup, I'm Going With Quirky.

Sometimes, things just work out.  And sometimes, weird works.  And sometimes, you just go on with your bad self.

I had that kind of day, recently.

On that day, I made this--

I bought a bunch of sequins.  Can you tell?

I love this stamp set by Claudine Helmuth Studio.  It's called "So Retro", and has great glasses, a suitcase, a phone, and other stuff.  It's great, really.

Anyway, things just sort of fell into place on this card.  The weirdness of the typewriter in the lovely floral context is weird, right?  BUT!!!  Because of the letter paper, it really works!
(Hey, it's MY card!)

I remembered, somewhere in the windmills of my mind, that once upon a time the qwerty keys on a typewriter (AKA the home row, I believe) were sometimes done in red keys, so I went for it here.  Anything for more color!  I DO wish my happy birthday sentiment was a teensy bit smaller so it would fit just perfectly, but it'll do as is.

Quirky.  That's what I'm calling this one.  Yup, quirky.  I like it!

Thanks for stopping by!  Come back and see me.
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker's Nephew is a Graduating Guy (2013!! 2013!!)

Well, the nephew Jason is a graduating kind of guy.  He's finishing up, having a last summer at home, then off to college in the fall.  Lordy Bees, that happened fast.

To help celebrate, I made him a card.  Then I stuck a check into it.  Because that's what we do, the uncles.

I made this--

 

The school colors are navy and orange, so that's where I went with this card.  The background to the numbers is actually navy, not black, but you know how navy photographs....

I absolutely LOVE, no LURVE hot air balloons and clouds.  Always have.  One day, I will go up in a balloon (if Charlie lets me.  He's a scaredy cat).  In France, please.

oh, but I digress.  So....yeah! Balloons, and clouds.  So pleasant.  So hopeful.  So peaceful.

(yeah, I KNOW all about the loud fire thing part.  Shhh...)

I always smile about the way a graduating class thinks they OWN the year.  The way the guys scream it at each others' faces after the ceremony.....good times.  I figured it would do well on the card, big and orange.  And, why not stamped with a hounds tooth pattern?  Oh yeah, I coated the card stock with clear embossing powder before cutting the numbers.  Shiny is good!

Here's another view for depth, and possibly a little better color--

Yes, that IS a better view, I think.

Thanks for stopping by.
Do me a favor and stop the clock for a while, would ya?  Or at least slow it down?

All Best--
Richard

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Well, I was given some stamps recently, by a Ms. Windy Ellard.  I made THESE cards with them, and I LOVE the stamps so much. 
She included the sweetest little mini card with them, with the nicest message. 
Oh, I just have this bad photo, but you can get the idea...

So cute, yes?  Sweet punches, a little stamping, some brads, badaboom.
Love this.

But mini cards?  Whaddat?  I have heard little mumblings about these things, but I had not known their virtues until now.  Small. Good to stick into or onto things.  You could even stick them onto a full-sized card (Hey, let's not get all crazy, now!).

So I had to make a couple, just to give it a go.
Yeah.
Let me be the first to admit that a 3"x3" card kicked my prodigious butt.
Hours.  It took HOURS to combine the right shapes, colors, inks, whathaveyous to get this thing designed.  I swear, sometimes my brain forgets to release the emergency break.

Anyway, I ended up happy with these, with one reservation.
I made this--

Whew.  Well, there it is.  Not too bad.  I stamped a little, punched some, embossed a bit, die cut some stuff.  Cute.  THIS SHOULD NOT TAKE HOURS, I'm thinking.....
This is all Stampin' Up supplies here, by the way.  I'm still a demo for a few more weeks, unless y'all need to buy something.  I'm no salesman, it seems.  No biggie.  But seriously, if y'all need something, I can order it for you.....*sigh*

Anyway, I made a small set of them--

Now, you can't make 3x3 envelopes and mail these.  The USPS won't take them, so don't try it. 
You could stick them in a regular envelope, but then why not just make a regular sized card?
Make the envelopes, and use them as enclosures, or put them with a thank you gift (which I really don't do too, too much).Or, hey!  You could leave them on your pillow for your host(ess) to find at your next overnight with friends!  Cute, right?
Try these things!  You can put the components (and some adhesive) into your bag, and assemble them at the coffee shop.  Think of all the conversations that'll start!  Being a guy, I think I'd get more weird looks than interested conversation, but you gotta be you, you know?

Hey, Happy Monday, and thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is a Team Player (Woo Hoo!!)

Well, as of 9am EDT, today marks the OFFICIAL start of my tenure as a DESIGN TEAM MEMBER at Oozak.com Challenge Blog!  Uh, excited much?!  Uh, YEAH!

This is me---- Click on my Blinky to check it all out!

Yup, that little sucker is MINE.  Check it out on my sidebar.

Here's the sneak peek from yesterday, just to whet your whistle--

In keeping with the challenge at Oozak, I have a second card that fits the theme. Once I get my star punches out, there's no stopping me, it seems.

I made this--

This was really fun, getting the stars to align, so to speak.  I worked at getting some movement happening, both from the swirl of stars, AND the depth I was able to achieve.

You can see more of the depth in this shot--

The teal stars are actually the card base peeking out from where I punched the striped background piece.  I stamped my sentiment (Stampin' Up!), and colored in some letters with a Copic marker (BG15).  I popped that piece up on foam adhesive so you could see the stars better.  There are also stamped stars in a few instances, so you're not going to get any flatter than that.

Then the stars get layered in, some flat, some on foam, some glued flat on TOP of the ones on foam.  I really am loving the vellum stars here, because you can mostly see under them to the level below.

Add some pearls, just to fill in and help with the idea of movement, and that's that!

I'm also entering this card into A Blog Named Hero's "It's a man's man's man's world" challenge.
You can play too, by going HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a safe, fun weekend.
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker---Team Member!

Well, a milestone has been reached in my card making career--

I am on a DESIGN TEAM! 

Now, I have been a "featured Gallery" owner at GinaK Designs, a "Guest Designer" for my friend Melanie Meunchinger's stamp set release, but today, I am TEAM MEMBER. 

I am working with the very talented team at the Oozak.com Challenge Blog.  We do two challenges a month, and it looks like there's a great amount of inspiration to be had with this crew.  I am very much looking forward to working with them over the next 4 months.

I'm hosting the first challenge that we'll be doing together, and it goes live at 9am EDT TOMORROW!  Check us out, and have a look at Oozak.com.  My first contact with Oozak was years ago when I was looking for a good deal on Copic markers.  These were the cheapest on the market at that moment, and SO MUCH of what they sell is a good deal below MSRP, so definitely check it out!

I want to leave you a sneak peek of my card that will be seen tomorrow.

I made this--

Come see the rest tomorrow!  I'm on the DESIGN TEAM!!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--

Richard

Mr Cardmaker Gets Negative (And Feels Really Positive About That)

You know how sometimes you get an idea in your head, and it just won't leave you alone until you do something about it? 

I bought these Labels Twenty-two dies from Spellbinders, and while making a die cut with one of them, it came to me that if I centered it just so, I could use the negative to make a card.  So I did. Oh, the card I could make with this!!
And it sat.
And sat.
I kept looking at it, putting it aside, contemplating just tossing it....and THEN!

 

I made this--

 



So, the problem with wanting to use a die negative to make a card is that there's a big hole in your card. uh, Hello!

 I decided to go Springy and bright, so I got out the Lucky Limeade card stock, and filled that sucker in, nice and tight, making sure it would NEVER fall apart.

Then, I decided to stamp. After. Wop, wop......

What followed was a lengthy series of masks and cursing, with a (finally) decent medallion motif at the end of it all. I sponged some white into the center of the medallions, and onto the edges of the sentiment tag.  I was sort of looking for an early morning mist kind of feel, despite my use of really bold colors.

 

The flowers started with Melon Mambo card stock, which I sponged with white ink to texture things up.  I crumpled them up in my hand (a good thing to do after the aforementioned stamping debacle) before assembling them with a white mini brad.  The leaves are more medallions, punched out, cut into sections, and crumpled up.  After adding the flowers to the card, I added tiny dots of Glossy Accents to make it look like dewdrops.

 

The sentiment tag is just a strip that I gave an edge to by slipping it into Modern Label punch from SU.  The punch itself would have been too small, so this works.  The sentiment is from GinaK Designs' Enjoy the Sunshine set.

 

A few green rhinestones, and that's that.  Oh, I will need to make a big envelope for this one, since it's about 1/2" thick.  No biggie. (Famous last words)

 

So that's my story, and I'm sticking with it.  Uh, PLANNING would be the watchword for today.  I would probably have been able to pump this baby out TONS faster, if only I had thought the whole thing through first.  Live and learn. 

 

 We're off to Chicago for the holiday weekend.  Any plans for you??

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

Mr Cardmaker Tries to MishMash Up the Joint

Well, it was a good long week of gardening, from carting and laying down much, to planting a new cherry tree, to filling the window boxes and planters with lots and lots of lovely things.  Now, I just have to water and enjoy.  Looks so nice, so far!

I made some cards that were inspired by Michelle Wooderson's cardmaking style. Her blog is called MishMash, and is really worth checking out at length.  She does cards, and LOTS of Project Life stuff, and she makes awesome card elements and kits which she has available at her Etsy shop.  She is SO great at doing collage cards, and the way she makes many elements come together is such a great way really had me wanting to CASE her style.

I actually showed you one of the cards HERE.  I did a few others, and I really found that it all takes some practice.  Some of these are better than others.  Let's see why.

This was the one I already showed you--



I think the reason this works so well (for me) is that you really have a hard time deciding where one layer stars and another ends.  The name of the game here is print paper and tags.  The patterns and shapes really keep your eye moving, with that one sweet resting spot which happens to hold the sentiment. 

 

Then there's this one--

Here, too, lots of movement, but fewer shapes this time.  I am late to the table, but can I just say I LOVE me some washi tape?  It took me a while to figure out what to do with it, but I love that it's semi-transparent, and works in so many places!

 

Then there's this one--

 

This one is a bit simpler, using the motif of the paper as a guide.  That little banner on the tag is paper pieced.  Of course, I love my stars.  I think we lose something here with the text paper NOT being aged down a bit, and the blue dot paper needs an edge treatment, I think.

Here's where things break down a bit, for me--

So, it's hard (read, impossible) to see in this photo, but the big dark paper has text on it.  I was trying to continue the idea of text being the watchword.  Again, I think the cream text sheet should have been aged down , and WHAT was I thinking cutting things off just short of the edge of the card?  Does the bottom left corner make you as crazy as it does me? 
The dark piece is too wide, the text sheet is wicked crooked (which is why everything else is on an angle, btw), and the folder tabs just don't really add so much, IMHO.
This was my first try in this series; can you tell?  In fact as I remember, I made each of these in direct opposition to how I show them here. 

Like I said, new ideas take practice.
Let me know what you think.  (Be kind.)

What are you trying, lately?  Who's inspiring you?

Oh, yes, update on my Mega Meet experience.  I SAW Tim Holtz, but no photo with him, or even OF him.  Oh, well.  I got some good stuff, and I am proud of my powers of restraint.

And, HEY!--Do you know that your local TJMaxx often has craft supplies in their stationary and book stuff?  I just got a BIG cluster of 6x6 paper pads for $2.99 EACH.  There are also often stamps and punches to be had, as well as ribbon packs.  You gotta have a look!

Thanks for stopping by. 
All Best-
Richard

 

 

 

 





It SERIOUSLY Doesn't Get Any CASimpler....

One of the lovely ladies in my Stampin'Up! group is Windy Ellard.  I was interested in a small group of stamps that came with the Paper Pumpkin set for April, and she wasn't using hers.  So she SENT them to me!  Just like that!  Well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, crafters are about the NICEST, MOST GENEROUS group in all the land!  What a doll, our Windy!

I had to make something with them the second I saw them.
I made these--

Sorry about the photo.  I wanted to get these up on the blog, and the iPhone was there....
Two stamps.  Two inks.  Three pieces of washi tape. Corner rounder punch.
CARD!
I am NOT known for my CAS cards, as you know.  (If you don't know, read my crazy entry HERE)
Sometimes the muse is with you. 
I hope you like!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--
Richard

Mr Cardmaker Has Been At It For TWO YEARS!!!

Well, who'da thunk it?  Two years!!!  It all started HERE , and two years later, here I am, having the time of my life, and just so happy about all the friends I made along the way.

If I could send each and every one of you a card to say thanks for your constant support and bloggy love, I'd probably send something like this--

 

The sentiment says it all.  Truth.

 

Today I am off to the Mega Meet in Novi, MI to buy me some good good stuff!!  Tim Holtz is rumored to be coming, so it will be cool if I get a pic with a real "famous" crafter MAN.  So few of us out there, you know!  (Not that I am famous...yet!  Infamous, maybe...)

 

I have some other versions of this card idea to show you, but I gotta get dressed and outta here.  Those supplies won't buy themselves, you know! 

 

A million "thank you"s to you, my friends.

You've given me a million smiles.

 

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--

Richard

 

Mr Cardmaker has No Control, Whatsoever

Well, I seem to have lost control of myself on these cards.  More, MORE, MORE seems to be the watchword here, and it just has GOT to quit!  I mean, for REALS.

Take, for instance, Charlie's birthday card. 
I made this-

I mean, is this just LUNACY? 
Now, I DO like the little cupcake.  I used my crimper to make the liner.  Yes, my crimper.  That thing I use mostly to make padding for hefty cards.  You know you have one hiding in the dusty back part of your closet somewhere. 
Oh yeah, and that's a cloud die making the frosting.  That, and some Stickles.
I used paper to "thread" that button.  Seems much easier than doing the whole needle thing.
I was pretty happy with the whole cupcake thing.

Then I think I took about an hour to do those fussy cut banner flags.  Oh, and I fussy cut the sun. And that cherry. I am SUPER glad that maraschino cherries are ALL red.

Did you notice that little banner paper pieced into the sentiment there?  Who does that?  Me, that's who.

Gave the Cuttlebug a workout too, with all the die cutting and dry embossing.  Oh, and can't leave the punches alone either.  Had to grab one for that top piece. 

And washi.  See those red dots along the bottom?  Washi.

Ridiculous.  Hoo boy.

He liked it.  A lot.  I guess I do too. 
.....................................................................

But, it's really getting out of hand.  Really.
But, trust me, it ain't getting any saner around here any time soon!
Stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

And a Happy Sunday Was Had By All

Wow, what a beautiful weekend here in Michigan.  The sun is shining, the temps are WONDERFUL, and we were able to get out and do some much needed garden and yard tending.  I hope your weekend is going well, too!

Today, I am sharing Ms. Lillian's 88th birthday card.  Nana, as she is known by the family, is the lady I call mother-in-law, even though the law isn't quite ready to comply with that assessment.  She just turned 88 (!), and is feisty as ever!  She still drives, though mostly during daylight hours. She lives in an Independent Living community, which means she has her own apartment, but gets fed twice a day, and has somebody around 24 hours a day, just in case.  Oh, and somebody comes to clean the apartment, too.  I need to move into one of these places, asap.

I made her this--

Who doesn't love a little va-voom?  Or a lot, as the case may be....
So, I went a little overboard.  So, shoot me.

The papers, cardstock, and embossing folder are all new stuff from Stampin' Up, as is the happy birthday banner with matching die. The glitter paper is from Michael's.  The edge punches are EK Tools, and the other stamps and the pull tab die and number die are from Papertrey Ink.  Oh, the coral medallion stamp and punch are also SU, and the letters on the envelope are PTI.  Man, I used a BUNCH of stuff on this thing!

When you pull the tab, (which she did NOT want to do) it finishes the sentiment, and says, "it's a matter of making your years count."  Awwwww...
Well, she loved it.

Nana keeps ALL of the cards, calendars, banners, EVERYTHING that I make for her, and every once in a while we pull them out and I am reminded of where my card making journey has led me.  THAT is a cool thing to do, for sure.

What would you see if you went back to your early crafting days?  What would you love, and what would you cringe at?  I have my share of cringe-worthy moments, let me tell you!  But you do things, you learn things, you make more things, and you get better.  And you create, you relax, and along the way you get to meet some remarkable people like you.  And you have fun.

Go have some fun, will ya?  Get OUTTA here!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  That makes me so happy!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker Walks the Walk (Since He's ALREADY Talked the Talk)

Well, after my tirade (tirade, rant, whatever...) last Friday about using bright, saturated colors on masculine cards, I decided to put my money where my (BIG) mouth was, and come up with some cards that are LOADED with color. 
These are cards that are suitable for anyone, really, but they're ones that I am planning to use for guys' birthdays. You will notice, not a HINT of dusty blue (uck! Pheew!) in the bunch!

I made this--

 

Clean, simple, bold, bright, active. 

 

Then there's this--

 

 





Same idea. Sharp, crisp, colorful, with movement.  Oh yeah, I did that flag edge with a scalloped square die, turned on the diagonal.  Fun, right?  And that's SKY blue in there, not dusty blue, btw...

 

Look at this one--

 

 

Even with the bling, I think this is fine for a man.  Yes, I do.  (Uh, Baja Breeze, thank you...)

 

Look at THIS one--

(Is anybody thinking of Scarlett Johanson doing this "marble columns" skit from SNL, like I am?)

 

 

 

Ohmygawd, who is THIS card for, the POPE?! (uh, see afore mentioned video clip....)

Nope, this is for my Uncle Rich's 60th.  Looks masculine to me! (Yet still workable for anyone!)

 

So, you see?  I CAN do more than just run my mouth.  Fooled you, didn't I?  (Hey, I fooled myself...)

Oh yeah, and a decidedly more feminine one for you--

 

Look at THIS one--

 

And while the shapes and movement are similar to the other cards, clearly the colors take it in a more feminine direction, especially when you come to the abundance of pink !

 

Don't be afraid of COLOR COLOR COLOR when you are doing cards for men!   (We like colors, really!!)

 

Happy Weekend!  I have some exciting news to share, but I am under orders to keep it on the QT for now.  Stay tuned!

 

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--

Richard

 

 



Mr Cardmaker Figures it Out





 

 

Do you ever find, in your stamp collection, that sentiment stamp that you look at and say, "WHAT am I going to do with you?"   Well, I bought Stampin Up's Smarty Pants set ages ago.  I really had just about signed off on it as a "what was I thinking?" moment when I ran across it, and decided to challenge myself.

 

I made this-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am NEVER one to feel obligated to stick to one stamp set when I'm making something (uh, unless somebody's gifting me the set and asking for samples to show).  If the image works, I'm pulling it out!  The clouds and the orange sun rays that are peeking out from behind the vellum are from two Papertrey Ink sets, (Up, Up and Away, and Funky Florals) and the birds are from Melanie Meunchinger's Gifts from the Sea set at GinaK Designs.

 

Doing the clouds was an interesting exercise.  The darkest ones are actually done with pink ink, not orange, and after stamping the first row, I just kept going up and up, letting the ink get softer as I went along.  I did the same pink with a flower stamp to make the sun's rays.  Totally reads orange.

 

The grass die is from Amuse Studio.  That bugger is tough to work with, because it almost always makes a mark on the bottom of the cardstock you're cutting.  Putting it through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder fixes that problem!  That's a green ribbon, darker than the one in front, separating the layers of grass, btw.

 

It's pretty hard to see in this photo,but the yellow circle living under the vellum has also been dry embossed, Swiss dots this time, and that little yellow brad holds it all together.  Foam adhesive pops it off the surface.

 

I think it looks like some scene from the Serengeti or something, minus the rhinoceros.  Sooooo...for what occasion is this appropriate?  And for whom? 

 

Is this suitable as a graduation card?  I guess the sentiment could be one of those things you'd shout after someone, before adding, "...and don't let the door hit you in the ass!"

Graduation card, it is!!!  ( I promise I WON'T put that on the inside.  Wouldn't that make a GREAT stamp, though?)

 

Now that I think about it, it could be a good card for someone starting a new job, or even, HEY!  How about your local doc who's about to do a Doctors Without Borders stint?  Or a teacher? Ok, so this is pretty applicable, after all.  Cool.

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

All Best-

Richard