Presto Change-OH! (It's the House Pictures, Y'all!)

OK, so not so Presto, really, but there have been some "change-o" things happening here at the house.

We are FINALLY done with everything we had planned to do, so it's time for some photos! 

So, here is the way we found the house when we moved in--
(These are photos from late winter, so it really isn't AS fair as it could be...)

I am a color person, (can you guess?) and so it took a minute to appreciate all that could be done to this white on white on white house.

Never loved the tiny shutters we started with.  Yucko color for me, too.

You'll notice in the "after" pics, the scalloped header is gone from the front window--SO GLAD.  You can also see the replacement  curtains in some of the close-ups.

So, nice house with lots of potential, right?  So, some paint, new shutters, trim up some trees, yadda, yadda, yadda, and (drum roll, please).....

 

 

Viola!

 

 

I was particularly interested in getting shutters that look like the could actually close on the windows and cover  them.  I am personally not a fan of puny shutters.  I also like panel shutters over louvers.

Charlie switched out the really heavy dark screen for one that is almost invisible.  I do wish I could make the frame green, too, but I am not sure how to make that happen.  We also switched out a tiny white light fixture for a black one (to go with the black shutters) with some visual weight to it. 

The sycamore in front got some branches removed, to make things more visible, and to get a branch off the roof. and we also trimmed up the pine tree so we could walk under it and have better views of the neighborhood..  Oh, and you can barely see that our post lamp has the same light as the porch.  (lower right corner)

We did coleuses instead of flowers in the window boxes.  I love the hot pink colored ones, and that juicy lime green!  A sweet potato vine and some grass add some softness and a draping effect.  Lush and colorful!





 

 

 

 House number found on Etsy--

 

I am having some Blogger issues, but I am DETERMINED to get these posted today.  I hope all the buildup doesn't end up with a huge letdown. 

 

I love what we ended up with, and we're looking forward to doing some fun, new landscaping next year.  The ONLY thing I didn't get to do is to paint the little hexagon window on the top of the house black.  Can't reach, can't rent a long enough ladder, and can't afford somebody with a cherry picker.  Oh well, it'll have to do as is, at least for now.  Not just good, it's good enough...

 

Oh, and we'd also like to get just a little bit more of that lime green in somewhere.  Any ideas?

 

 

So that's the house!  Hope you like it. 

Thanks for stopping by!

All best-

Richard

Mr Cardmaker is Bloomin' Grateful

My sweet friend Lisa Minckler is a wicked awesome papercrafter.  She comes up with the most amazing, intricate projects, both big and small, cards and so much more than cards.  Her blog is SO worth checking out.  You can find her HERE.

Well, back in June, I shared some plans I had to spruce up the house here on the blog, with chatter about paint colors, etc.  Well, this clever girl has some serious inspiration grabbing eyepeepers, because after she read that, she came up with the most amazing card.  And it was for ME! 

This is Lisa's card--


Is this not the sweetest thing?  This looks SO much like the front of my house too, right down to the little eaves above the doorway.

(OKAY, I realize this is the perfect time for me to show you the "before and after" pics of the finished house update.  I PROMISE I will take the photos THIS WEEKEND.)

Anyway, long story short, she sent it AND a lovely housewarming gift (who can afford to do that!?),
and I am just so grateful to her for her generous spirit and friendship. 

So, I made this--

I have loved this Inkadinkadoo flowers set to DEATH, but I really love it.  Let me reiterate that I am NO Copics artist, but these were lots of fun to color up.  Coloring still makes me a calmer person, even though I've traded my Crayolas for Copics.

So, a heartfelt THANK YOU to my Lisa, and yes, I will hold true to my word about those house pics.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  CREATE something!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

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