The musings and offerings of a burgeoning greetings master

Monday, November 4, 2013

Mr Cardmaker Gets Wet, Cold and Knee-ed in the Back...and Makes a Card.

We are back from East Lansing, MI as of yesterday, having watched Charlie's U of M Wolverines get heartily spanked by Michigan State.  We were asked to the game by his sister Sue and BIL Mike, and they threw an amazing tailgate at their home before the game. They went ALL out for this thing, and everyone LOVED it! They live within an easy walk to the stadium, so it is great to go to games from their house.  Most days.
 
Well, the weather was in the 40's and WET, and I must say, I met the whole affair with some serious trepidation, and by halftime, I was just about through with it all.  I had been squished into my 12" spot on the bleachers, my knees in my nose and the man-behind-me's knees in my back (I WILL hunt you down, buddy--hide and watch.); rain trickling down my face and off my rain poncho into my shoes, AND the un-bemused viewing of U of M's lack luster performance.  At halftime, I tried in vain to even find the LINE to the men's room in the vast sea of people on their way to wherever they were going, and I made my way instead to the exit. 
 
I walked back to the house, where half of our little party has ALREADY arrived (No one told me about this plan, by the way--.Charlie included.  Grrrrrr...) and made my way to a very steamy shower that lasted for about eight days, with a very large whiskey in tow.
 
So that was MY Saturday afternoon. 
 
Sunday was bright and sunny, and we had a lovely brunch and shared some birthday presents with Sue, before heading home.   Oh sweet, sweet salvaged football weekend! 
 
OK, so I made a card!  This was NOT for Sue, actually, but for another BIL, Ronny, who had his birthday a few weeks ago.. 
 
I made this--
 
I have some text print cardstock from Stampin' Up, and I inked a block of it with sponge daubers to create a grass and sunset sky on it.  I stamped it with SU's good ol' Lovely as a Tree set and some Archival black ink. That got adhered to a card base of white cardstock, and embellished with some washi tape strips.  The sentiment (from Papertrey Ink, Birthday Basics) was also stamped in Archival black ink. 
 
I die cut a tree out of black cardstock with a Memory Box tree die, and I went to mount it to the card, but it was really pretty flat looking. I decided a frame around the main image would be nice, and I used my Spellbinders Classic Squares dies (both Large and Small) to make it.  I played around with the different sized dies on the card to visualize things before I cut.
 
I mounted the frame to the card front with foam adhesive, and used more to add the tree die cut.  I used a glue pen to adhere the tree to the frame.
 
This really isn't that hard of a design, but the different blacks, the colors in limited use, and the strength of the frame really come together nicely.  I also like the juxtaposition of what is "inside" and what is "outside."
 
So, that's my card and my story for this Monday.  Hope your weekend was drier than mine, and that you had as much fun as I did (overall-wise).
 
Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--
Richard

15 comments:

  1. Wow. Wow! Wow! Wow! This is absolutely STUNNING! I so love everything about this card! Just awesome!

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  2. The details in the image and frame are gorgeous! Love this, Richard! I realized that I am too old to be sitting on the bleachers...they are simply not comfortable for this old lady :) Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Lovely card!
    Thanks for sharing the coloring of the text paper...duh!
    I always wonder 'what it will go with!'
    After seeing this, the answer is anything!

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  4. I'm sorry, I had to laugh at your description of the game! Wow. But the card, Richard, is stunning and I want to copy it - and I'll try with some things I have on hand. I'm sure yours will forever be Da'best! Hugs!

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  5. Do you mean to tell me half of your party left without you? Without even telling you? Grrrrr. Now on to the card - oh how I wish I could see into your mind. this is absolutely blindingly stunning!! A design like that would never enter my head. Guess that's the difference between a true artist and someone who just likes to make cards : ) You're fascinating!

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  6. I saw your name pop up at Unity as a winner from FWF~congrats on your goodies! This card is AWESOME~I love the dramatic black inserted throughout.

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  7. What a gorgeous card, Richard! I just love all the layers, and the color scheme is amazing!

    I wanted to stop by and thank you for the lovely comment you left on my final Moxie Fab World blog post. I had such an incredibly good time in the Moxie Fab World, and I'm *so glad* I got to know you there! I am a huge fan of your blog, so plan on me stopping by to say "hello" from time to time! Hugs and loves to you, my moxie fab friend! :)

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  8. WOW!Beautiful card!!!Sorry I have not been commenting,computer issues,you have a great week!!!

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  9. So cool! Love how you inked the text card stock and stamped the trees on it! Looks fabulous! I would certainly adopt you honey child, but I don't think you'd last one night in this crazy town of a household! Enjoy your peace and sanity over there:)

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  10. You're a trooper Richard! Games in the rain are the worst! Especially when your team loses;)

    So let's talk about something fun, like your card! I love, love, love the colorful background treatment you did! And paired with the black and white, striking!

    Hope you're all dried out and relaxing at home:) Hugs!

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  11. Dude, seriously??? This is SO super duper amazingly brilliant! I LOVE this card. The colors, the design, the texture and depth...just awesomical from top to bottom!!! The story had me laughing my ass off and your card is TRULY outstanding!! I'm pinning this now. BEAUTIFUL....
    Thanks for the great laughs too :)
    hugs,
    Lisa x

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  12. Hahaha, love your story, you have such a way with words! And apparently, you have a way with this card too. Love all the layers, yet it's still on the CAS side of things! The trees on your colored texty paper is just amazing!

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  13. Absolutely love this card. The stark white and black and that memory box die cut tree with the frame and washi. All just make the perfect card.

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  14. This is one cool card. That football game, however, sucked. And I only watched it on TV...

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  15. Love this card! Sorry for your wet day. Stacfy H-W

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